should haue paid them with verie foule and contumelious words as that there was not money enough to pay the Christian soldiers of the Latines and the Greeks much lesse those vile dogs whom they so called for that they had but a little before receiued the damnable doctrine of the false prophet Mahomet the great seducer of the world who euen in that time flourished Vpon which discontentment they at their returne reuolted from the empire and joyned themselues vnto their great prophet and so afterwards vnto the Caliphs his successors extending his doctrine together with his soueraigntie to the vttermost of their power and that with so good successe that in short time they had ouerrun all AEGYPT SIRIA the land of promise and taken the Holy citie With these the disciples of Mahomet and his successors the Sarasins for so now they would be called the Greeke emperors ensuing had for certaine yeeres diuers conflicts with diuers fortune for the possession of SIRIA But at length wearied out by them ouercom they left the aforesaid countries wholy vnto their deuotion Hereby it came to passe that the Sarasins for the space of 370 yeeres following held those countries with many others in great subjection oppressing still the poore Christians in IERVSALEM with most grieuous tributes and exactions vnto whom they yet left a third part of the citie for them to dwell in with the temple of the Sepulcher of our Sauiour and mount SION not for any deuotion either vnto them or those places but for that it yeelded them a great profit by the recourse of deuout Christians trauelling thither reseruing in the meane time vnto themselues the other two parts of the citie with the temple of Salomon before reedified by the Christians Now whilst the Sarasins thus triumph it in the East and not in the East onely but ouer a great part of the West also contenting themselues with such tributs as they had imposed vpon the subdued nations and countries vp start the Turks a vagrant fierce and cruell people who first breaking into ASIA as is before declared and by rare fortune aspiring vnto the kingdome of PERSIA subdued the countries of MESOPOTAMIA SIRIA with the greatest part of the lesser ASIA and IVDEA together with the Holy citie who both there and in all other places held the poore oppressed Christians in such subjection and thraldom as that the former gouernment of the Sarasins seemed in comparison of this to haue beene but light and easie Neither was there any end or release of these so great miseries to haue beene expected had not God in mercie by the weake meanes of a poore heremit stirred vp these most woorthie princes of the West to take vp armes in their defence who hauing with their victorious armies recouered the lesser ASIA with a great part of SIRIA were now come vnto this Holy citie The gouernour of IERVSALEM vnderstanding by his espials of the proceedings of the Christians had before their approch got into the citie a verie strong garrison of right valiant souldiers with good store of all things necessarie for the holding out of a long siege The Christians with their armie approching the citie encamped before it on the North for that towards the East and the South it was not well to be besieged by reason of the broken rocks and mountaines Next vnto the citie lay Godfrey the duke with the Germans and Loranois neere vnto him lay the earle of FLANDERS and Robert the Norman before the West gate lay Tancred and the earle of THOLOVS Bohemund and Baldwin were both absent the one at ANTIOCH the other at EDESSA The Christians thus strongly encamped the fift day after gaue vnto the citie a fierce assault with such cheerfulnesse as that it was verily supposed it might haue beene euen then woon had they beene sufficiently furnished with scaling ladders for want whereof they were glad to giue ouer the assault and retire But within a few daies after hauing supplied that defect and prouided all things necessarie they came on againe afresh and with all their power gaue vnto the citie a most terrible assault wherein was on both sides seene great valour policie cunning with much slaughter vntill that at length the Christians wearie of the long fight and in that hot countrey and most feruent time of the yeere fainting for lacke of water were glad againe to forsake the assault and to retire into their trenches onely the well of Siloe yeelded them water and that not sufficient for the whole campe the rest of the wels which were but few being before by the enemie either filled vp or else poysoned Whilst the Christians thus lay at the siege of IERVSALEM a fleet of the Genowaies arriued at IOPPA at which time also a great fleet of the Egyptian Sultans lay at ASCALON to haue brought reliefe to the besieged Turks in IERVSALEM whereof the Genowaies vnderstanding and knowing themselues too weake to encounter them at sea tooke all such things out of their ships as they thought good and so sinking them marched by land vnto the campe There was amongst these Genowaies diuers enginers men after the manner of that time cunning in making of all manner of engines fit for the besieging of cities by whose deuice a great moouing tower was framed of timber and thick plancks couered ouer with raw hides to saue the same from fire out of which the Christians might in safetie greatly annoy the defendants This tower being by night brought close vnto the wall serued the Christians in steed of a most sure fortresse in the assault the next day where whilst they striue with like valour and doubtfull victorie on both sides from morning vntill midday by chance the wind fauouring the Christians carried the flame of the fire into the face of the Turks wherewith they had thought to haue burnt the tower with such violence that the Christians taking the benefit thereof and holpen by the tower gained the top of the wall which was first footed by the duke Godfrey and his brother Eustace with their followers and the ensigns of the duke there first set vp to the great encouraging of the Christians who now pressing in on euerie side like a violent riuer that had broken ouer the banks bare downe all before them All were slaine that came to hand men women and children without respect of age sex or condition the slaughter was great and the sight lamentable all the streets were filled with blood and the bodies of the dead death triumphing in euerie place Yet in this confusion a woonderfull number of the better sort of the Turks retiring vnto Salomons temple there to do their last deuoire made there a great and terrible fight armed with dispaire to endure any thing and the victorious Christians no lesse disdaining after the winning of the citie to find there so great resistance In this desperat conflict fought with woonderfull obstinacie of mind many fell on both sides
for want of victuals if he should there long stay leauing there his sonne Saladin or as some call him his nephew with a thousand horsemen for the keeping of the citie secretly by night departed thence himselfe with the rest of his armie and passing through the deserts did great harme in the vpper parts of AEGYPT Of whose departure Almericus vnderstanding was about to haue followed him but that he was otherwise persuaded by the Aegyptian captaines to continue his former purpose for the gaining of the citie Wherefore now after the departure of Saracon he began to approch the wals and with diuers engines of war to disturbe the defendants wherwith the citizens better acquainted with the trade of marchandize than the feats of war discouraged began now to consult among themselues for the turning out of those troublesome guests whom they had so lately receiued which Saladin perceiuing certified Saracon his vncle thereof requesting his speedie reliefe in that his so dangerous estate and with much intreatie persuaded the citizens for a while to hold it out vntill he might from him receiue answere of all which the Christians and Aegyptians without hauing intelligence laid so much the harder vnto the citie Gladly would Saracon haue done what hee was by his nephew requested but perceiuing it to be a matter of no lesse danger than difficultie he by the means of Hugh countie of CESAREA one Arnolphus another noble Christian both then prisoners with him concluded a peace with the king whereupon the citie was foorthwith yeelded vp and Saladin with his Turkes suffred in safetie to depart At which time also all prisoners were on both sides freely and without ransom set at libertie Thus Saracon for this time disappointed of his purpose for the conquest of AEGYPT returned backe againe to DAMASCO and Almericus with great glorie to ASCALON where he arriued with his armie the 21 of September in the yeare 1167. In this late expedition king Almericus on the one side enflamed with the wealth of AEGYPT and on the other encouraged with the weaknesse of that effeminat people resting for the most part vpon forreigne strength had purposed himselfe to inuade the kingdome so if possibly he might to joyne it to his owne For colour whereof it was pretended that the Sultan contrarie to his faith before giuen had secretly sought to joyne in league and amitie with Noradin the Turke king of DAMASCO The chiefe stirrer vp of the king vnto this war was one Gerbert master of the Templars who in respect of the aid by them of his order to be giuen had obtained of the king after the victorie gained to haue the citie of PELVSIVM with all the rich countrey about the same giuen vnto him and his brethren the knights of the order for euer Vpon which hope he contrarie to the mind of many of the knights for the furtherance of that war gaged his whole wealth and credit with all the treasure of his house So all things now in readinesse for so great an enterprise Almericus with his armie set forward in October and hauing in ten daies passed the sandie desert came to PELVSIVM which citie he after three daies siege tooke by force and put to sword all them that were therein without respect of age sex or condition which citie he according to his promise before made gaue vnto the Templars After that he began also to besiege CAIRE at which time his fleet sacked the citie of TAPIVM In the meane time Sanar the Aegyptian Sultan considering the danger he was in to satisfie Almericus his greedie desire offred to pay him twentie hundred thousand duckats to withdraw his forces and foorthwith sent him one hundred thousand for the ransom of his sonne and his nephew taken prisoners at PELVSIVM and for the rest to be paid within few daies after he gaue two of his nephews hostages Neuerthelesse the payment he deferred from day to day of purpose in the meane time to raise the whole power of AEPGYT as also to receiue aid from the Turks by Saracon which he dayly expected of whose speedie comming Almericus vnderstanding left part of his armie at PELVSIVM with the rest went to haue met him but missing him by the way Saracon with his Turks came in safetie to CAIRE vnto the Sultan as he had desired Wherefore Almericus dismaid with the multitude of two so great armies now joyned together retired backe againe to PELVSIVM and there taking with him the garrison before left returned home to HIERUSALEM hauing in that expedition begun with the breach of faith laid the foundation of the ruine of his kingdome as in few yeeres after it by proofe appeared by the euill neighbourhood of the Turks by that meanes brought downe into AEGYPT Saracon the Turke after the departure of Almericus easily perceiuing a most fit time and opportunitie to be offred for him now to obtaine that which he had in vaine before both sought and fought for encamped with his armie neere vnto CAIRE and notably counterfeited himselfe of all others the most deuoted friend of the Sultans so that betwixt them two passed all the kind tokens of loue and friendship that could possibly be deuised the Sultan oftentimes feasting the Turke and in kindnesse likewise being feasted of him But at length going as his manner was vnto the campe to visit him he was by the Turks slaine So Saracon hauing brought to passe what he desired and entring the citie with his armie was by the great Caliph from whom the Aegyptian Sultans as from their superiours the true successours of their great prophet Mahomet tooke their authoritie appointed Sultan the first of the Turks that euer enjoyed the same which royall dignitie he had not possessed fully a yeere but that he was taken away by death In whose steed Saladine his brothers sonne by and by stept vp who altogether a martiall man not regarding the reuerend majestie of the Caliph as had his vncle Saracon all the Aegyptian Sultans before him with his horsemans mase strucke out his braines and not so contented vtterly rooted out all his posteritie the better to assure himselfe and his successours the Turks in the possession of his new gotten kingdome and after that diuided the great treasures of the Aegyptians among his Turkes to encourage them the more to follow him in his warres against the Christians This glorious kingdome so much spoken of in holy Scripture and renowmed of the learned historiographers of all ages after the ruine of the Romane empire was somtime part of the Constantinopolitane empire and a notable member of the Christian common weale vntill that about the yeere of our Lord 704 the Aegyptians wearie of the pride couetousnes of the Graecians reuolted from them vnto the Sarasins whose superstition they also receiued and so vnder the gouernment of the Sarasin Caliphs the successors of the false prophet Mahomet liued about 464 yeares vntill that now being
to send him about midnight certaine companies of souldiers into the citie assuring him to receiue them in by a gate neere vnto the pallace which should be opened vnto them by certaine of his trustie seruants there left for that purpose Of this plot Alexius Ducas of his bittle browes surnamed Murzufle whom of a base fellow the emperour Isaack had promoted vnto the greatest honours of the court was not ignorant who being a man of an aspiring mind and in these troublesome times hauing long thirsted after the empire tooke now this occasion to worke vpon The night following he by his agents men instructed for the purpose raised a tumult in the citie not inferiour vnto that which had happened the day before and at the same instant as if he had had nothing to do in the matter came suddenly vnto the yoong emperour in the dead time of the night which he might at all times do by reason of the great confidence the emperour had in him and with a sad countenance told him That the people were vp againe in an vprore and especially they of his guard and that they were comming towards him to do him some violence for the loue he bare vnto the Latines With which vnexpected newes the yoong emperour terrified demaunded of him as of his most faithfull counsellor what were best in that case for him to doe Who presently embracing him in his night gowne lead him out by a secret dore into a tent hee had of his owne in the court as if hee would there haue kept him safe but far was that from his traiterous thoughts who departing from him as if he had gone to appease the tumult had before taken order That he should presently after his departure be cast in bonds and so be clapt vp into a close stinking prison Which done the false traitor openly shewing himselfe made an oration vnto the people wherein he shewed himselfe to haue great compassion of the Greeke empire of the Greeks his countrymen themselues especially in that they were gouerned by a youth vnfit for the gouernment who suffered himselfe to be misse-led according to the pleasure of the Latines And that it was high time for the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE the seat of the Greeke empire to looke about it and to haue an eie vnto it selfe sith it was betraied sold by them which ought to preserue and keepe the same that they had now need of a man that loued his countrey and countreymen before that which yet remained of the Graecian name were vtterly extinguished by the Latines This his speech fitted of purpose vnto the humour of the seditious was receiued with the great outcrie and applause of the windie headed people Some cried out that hee and none but he was to be made chiefe of the common weale that was by them to be established othersome cried as loud to haue him made generall of the armies and forces of the state but the greatest crie was to haue him chosen and created emperour whereunto the rest giuing place hee was by the generall consent of the tumultuous people without longer stay chosen and proclaimed emperour Alexius the traitour by no lawfull election or rightfull succession but onely by the furie of the tumultuous people thus created emperour was of nothing more carefull than how to breake the forces of the Latines of whom onely he now stood in dread And therefore to begin withall he first attempted by certaine gallies filled with pitch flax brimstone and such like matter apt to take fire to haue burnt the Venetian fleet which gallies so set on fire carried with a faire gale of wind amongst the fleet had beene like enough to haue done great harme had it not by the warinesse of the Venetians bene preuented who being good sea men not vnacquainted with such deuises easily and without danger auoided the same by keeping themselues aloofe one from another in the sea This finenesse sorting to no purpose he to colour the matter sent certaine messengers to the generall and other commaunders of the armie to giue them to vnderstand that that which was done for the firing of the fleet had beene done without his priuitie by the malice of the tumultuous people and that for his part he would be glad of their fauour and friendship assuring them likewise of his and promising them to aid them both with men and money and whatsoeuer else they should haue need of in their wars against the infidels Whereunto an answer was giuen by Dandulus the Venetian generall That he would beleeue it when Alexis the sonne of the emperour Isaack whom the Latines had placed in the empire should assure them thereof and intreat for the people vpon whom the fault of that outrage was laid which answere the more mooued the traiterous tyrant to rid himselfe cleane of the feare of the yoong prince by taking him out of the way to the intent to hinder the people of the hope and great desire they had to grow to some peace with the Latines by taking him out of prison and receiuing him againe for their emperour For the people by nature mutable and not desirous of the good of themselues but according to the occurrents present without any great regard of that they haue alreadie done or ought to haue done began now to repent themselues of that they had done against the yoong emperor Alexis in the fauour of the tyrant and commonly said That they must find some meanes whatsoeuer it were to remedie their fault together with their troubles Wherfore Murzufle fearing this sudden mutation of the people with his owne hands most villanously strangled the yoong prince Alexis in prison hauing as yet not raigned much aboue six months and immediately after caused it to be bruited abroad That the said yoong prince dispairing of his estate had as a man desperat hanged himselfe The tyrant in vaine hauing thus attempted the burning of the fleet and still fearing the reuenging sword of the Latines resolued now by plaine force to meet them in the field and there to dare them battell So hauing made readie and armed the whole strength of the imperiall citie he with cheerfull speech encouraged his souldiers requesting them valiantly to maintaine and defend their countrey of Greece the monuments of their fathers the glorie of their ancestors their honour present and the future hope of their posteritie that hauing before their eies the wals of their citie within which they were borne nourished and brought vp in hope of great matters they would haue pitie and compassion of their temples their wiues their children and in no case to suffer them to fall againe into so miserable and wretched a seruitude but rather to die a thousand deaths And the more to grace this his enterprise taken in hand for the defence of his countrey as he would haue the world to beleeue it with the colour of a superstitious deâ—otion also hee caused the
the way towards CROIA But when he began to draw neere to the citie he sent Amesa before with two seruitours attending vpon him as if he had been his Secretarie to certifie the Gouernour of his comming This young gentleman as he was of a most sharpe wit and well spoken so had be framed his countenance and attire that he seemed to be a naturall Turke who assoone as he was come into the citie he went vnto the gouernor whom after he had saluted according to the Turkish manner hee deliuered his message as from Scanderbeg his maister with so good grace and words so well placed that all he said was verily beleeued for truth But when Scanderbeg himself came and had deliuered the great commaunders letters the Gouernour made no further question of the matter but presently deliuered vnto him the gouernment of the citie and the next day departed out of CROIA with all his houshould towards HADRIANOPLE Scanderbeg hauing by this pollicie got the gouernment of the cheefe citie of EPIRVS the night following found meanes in the dead time of the night to receiue into the citie the souldiors of DIBRA who were by this time come according as he had before appointed most part of them hee placed in most conuenient places of the citie and for the speedie suppression of the Turkish garrison hee with the rest first set vpon the Turkes which kept the watch vpon the wall and slue them and afterwards breaking into their priuate houses slew many of them in their beds the Christian citizens also taking vp armes at the same time helped to increase the slaughter of the Turks so that in the space of a few houres there was none of the Turkish garrison left aliue except some few which were content to forsake their Mahometan superstition and to become Christians Many of the Turks might so haue saued their liues and would not choosing rather to die and as it is reported also to kill themselues than to forsake their damnable superstition so small is the regard of life vnto resolute mindes in what quarrell soeuer The citie of CROIA being thus happily by Scanderbeg recouered wherein appeared both the greatest difficultie and hope of his good or bad successe in so great an attempt he presently sent Amesa backe again into DIBRA and other speedie messengers likewise into all the parts of EPIRVS to dispierce the newes and to stirre vp the people to take vp armes for the recouerie of their lost libertie but flying Fame the speedie post had preuented the messengers by him sent and alreadie filled euerie corner of EPIRVS with report of Scanderbeg his comming and of all that was done at CROIA And the oppressed Epirots which had long wished to see that happie daie were now vp in armes in euerie place wanting nothing but leaders whose comming although they greatly desired yet they stayed not therevpon but running together by heapes as the mâ—ner of the common people is in all great tumults they set vpon the Turkes garrisons which lay abroad in the countrey and slew most part of them whereby it came to passe that no Turke could stirre in the countrey but that he was snatched vp and slaine so that in few daies there was not a Turke to be found in EPIRVS but such as lay in garrisons in strong townes In this 〈◊〉 of the people the Gouernour of CROIA with all his reâ—â—nue was by the countrie people by the way as he went set vpon and slaine and all his goods taken as a prey When Scanderbeg had thus recouered CROIA and scoured the countrey yet to remooue the garrisons which Amurath had put in euerie strong citie was thought to be a matter of great importance and more difficultie For which purpose he commaunded those whom he had appointed for captaines speedily to repaire vnto CROIA with all the power they could make 〈◊〉 which time also diuers noble men his nigh kinsmen resorted vnto him with their followers so that within a few daies he had together at CROIA twelue thousand souldiours well appointed With this armie he marched from CROIA to PETRELLA a strong citie 25 miles distant from CROIA and encamped before it This citie is strongly scituate vpon the top of a steepe rocâ—e mountaine as all the rest of the cities of EPIRUS be and was by the Turks well furnished with men munition and others things needfull yet Scanderbeg was in good hope that the Turkish garison there terrified with the fortune of the garrison of CROIA and the slaughter of the Turks in the countrey round about would be glad to hearken vnto reasonable conditions Which to make proofe of as soone as he was encamped he sent one of those souldiours which had followed him out of HUNGARIE a faithfull and wise fellow vnto PETRELLA to offer vnto the souldiors That if they would yeeld vp the citie it should be at their choice either to continue in seruice with Scanderbeg with whom they should find most bountifull entertainement or else to depart in safetie with bagge and baggage at their pleasure with an honourable reward to bee diuided amongst them The subtile messenger comming thether and framing his tale according to the present occasion and necessitie of the time first declared vnto them how that Amurath of late vanquished by the Hungarians in a great battaile and looking euerie day to bee set vpon by diuers other Christian princes was so busied that he had no leasure to looke into EPIRVS or to send them any releefe after that he in the name of Scanderbeg offered them the conditions before rehearsed setting the same forth with many great words willing them oftentimes by the way to consider the dreadfull miserie that but the other day befell to the garrison at CROIA and other their fellowes abroad in the countrey whose dead bodies as then lay in euerie corner of EPIRVS for a prey to the hungrie dogs and greedie wolues which thing was easily beleeued of them of the garrison for that diuers of the Turks lately fled out of the countrey into the citie had themselues seene the same to be true The Gouernour hauing a little considered of the matter was content to giue vp the citie vpon condition that he with the souldiours might in safetie depart with such things as they had not couenanting vpon any further reward because it should not be said that he had sould the citie Which when Scanderbeg had faithfully promised to performe the Turkish Gouernour comming forth with all his garrison yeelded vp the citie and Scanderbeg mindfull of his promise gaue vnto them both meat and money and sent them with a sufficient conuoy of horsemen in safetie out of EPIRVS When Scanderbeg had thus gained PETRELLA he placed therein a conuenient garrison and set all things in order as he thought good but suffered none to enter into the citie more than the appointed garrison although it was then verie cold and frostie weather This done he presently raised his campe and
Italians as I vnderstand haue skill in that kind of seruice and take pleasure therein wherefore now at this present I haue need of your helpe and cunning There be certaine townes of our enemies in EPIRVS yea almost in the heart of our kingdome which eye-sore I haue of long desired if it pleased God to take out of my sight but being occupied with continuall wars had no leisure vntill now happely to attempt any thing against them This time I haue chosen as most fit to satisfie my desire both for the seasonablenesse of the time of the yeare and for that Mahomet spareth me leisure whose furie I haue twise calmed You vnderstand in few words what I haue need of all other things are almost in readinesse and we only looke for your helpe Lend me such souldiors as know how to fight a farre off I meane harquebusiers and canoniers for of others we haue store plenty But happy is APVLIA my Alphonsus vnder thy gouernment from whence men fit for all seruices may be drawne as out of a most plentifull treasurie Whensoeuer we haue requested men fit for seruice either in peace or warre you haue beautified both our court and campe By you the kingdome of EPIRVS hath been supported with ciuile pollicie and warlike strength all sort of people of what condition soeuer yea euerie corner of EPIRVS soundeth forth thy praise both at home and abroad But for mine owne part I doe so louingly embrace your kindnesse and so firmly retaine the remembrance of your deserts towards me that sometime I wish you that fortune although in so doing I may seeme vnkinde which as the common saying is proueth but getteth not friends to the intent that you might by some more certaine proofe know how much I am to you deuoted When Scanderbeg had sent away his embassadours he with all diligence began to prouide things necessarie for the siege of BELGRADE wherein he had purposed also to haue vsed the seruice of Moses But he now in heart a traitor both to his prince and countrey and a friend to Mahomet found many excuses to stay at home in DIBRA alleadging first that it was to be thought that so soone as the Turkish king should heare of the siege of BELGRADE he would inuade some part of EPIRVS thereby to withdraw his enemies from the siege and then that no part of all EPIRVS lay neerer vnto the Turkes or more in danger than DIBRA and that therefore he could not doe any better seruice than to see vnto the safetie of that countrey long before committed to his charge and in which also most part of his liuing lay These his excuses proceeding indeed from deepe treason were yet neuerthelesse thought reasonable and he for his prouident care highly commended and authoritie giuen him with new supplies to augment the garrison vnder his commaund as time and occasion should require By that time that Scanderbeg had fully made his preparation for the entended siege the embassadours before sent to Alphonsus were returned into EPIRVS and with them such aid as Scanderbeg had before requested and a great deale more For Alphonsus fearing the greatnesse of the Turkish emperour in what he could furthered Scanderbeg his actions reckoning EPIRVS not aboue 60 miles distant from his dominions to be the strongest wals of his kingdome in APVLIA as not many years after it by proofe appeared when as the Turks hauing taken OTRANTO put all ITALY in no small feare With this aid he also wrote louing letters vnto Scanderbeg thanking him for his presents and for the good opinion he had of him willing him to make as bold of all his things as of his owne But when he came to make mention of the souldiours he had sent Alphonsus after the manner of his pleasant nature merrily wrote vnto Scanderbeg That he had sent him Italian souldiors which could according to his desire fight well both with men and wals but better with women and that therefore the Epirots were best to take heed that they whose helpe they required for â—ight a farre off proued not also good warriours at hand at home in their houses The great commendation Scanderbeg had giuen of the king was by him referred vnto the excesse of his loue and by the king requited with like Scanderbeg now furnished with all things needfull set forward and according to his former determination came and encamped before BELGRADE with an army of fourteene thousand good souldiours and in short time had so distressed the citie that the Turkes were glad to take truce with him for sixteene daies which time expired they promised to deliuer vp the towne if they were not before relieued Vpon conclusion of this truce Scanderbeg encamped himselfe vpon an high hill neere vnto the citie with three thousand horse and a thousand foot and appointed Musachius and Tanusius with the rest of the army to remoue farther off into a large plaine where they might encampe themselues in a more wholsome and fresh ayre in that hoat season of the yeare during the time of the truce At which time he appointed also 25 scouts to keepe continuall watch vpon the top of the highest mountaine to discouer a farre off the comming of the enemie and to giue warning therof vnto the campe by making a fire vpon the mountaine by the negligence of which watch Scanderbeg receiued a great ouerthrow as hereafter followeth The newes of the siege of BELGRADE was brought vnto Mahomet at such time as he was readie to haue passed into ASIA against the emperour of TRAPEZOND which great enterprise he was loath to giue ouer for the reliefe of BELGRADE and yet to lose that citie vnto Scanderbeg grieued him much wherfore he resolued with himselfe so to do the one as that he would not altogither neglect the other And so holding on his entended journey into ASIA himselfe with such fortune as is aforesaid he sent Sebalias one of his great Bassaes with fortie thousand horsemen to relieue BELGRADE promising him great rewards if he could bring him Scanderbeg either aliue or dead This Bassa was of the Turks accounted for a warie captaine but not so couragious alwaies more politike than forward he hauing receiued his charge set forward with all speed possible no lesse carefull of that he was commanded than was Mahomet himselfe and by great journies came on so fast that he still preuented the fame of his comming and by his â—orerunners intercepted or rather as some write corrupted the watch which Scanderbeg had before placed vpon the mountaines so that no signe was giuen vnto the campe of the enemies as was expected By meanes whereof Sebalius with all his power were vpon that part of Scanderbeg his army which lay in the plaines before they were well aware of his comming so that most part of them had not so much leisure as to bridle their horses or to put on their armor In which so sudden a feare Musachius armed himselfe and put his
the rest of the nations in EVROPE but that they will say That we for the greedie desire of trade and filthie gaine haue forsaken and for our parts betrayed whole kingdomes and nations agreeing with vs both in manner and religion and to haue stood still looking on vntill they were subdued and brought in thraldome by the Turkes Wherefore in few words to shut vp the matter if we shall joyne in league with the Hungarians and enter into armes we shall so be able to keepe our owne whereas if we shall vse delayes and hunt after peace we shall in short time see that he will suddainely deuour vs being vnprouided and wrest from vs all our prouinces and territories which border vpon him And therefore it is in my opinion best to send our embassadours into HVNGARIE with a great masse of money to stir vp that warlike nation into the fellowship of this warre And beside the nauie we now haue in readinesse to put to sea as many moe ships and gallies as we are able The great Bishop also is not to be forgotten but by all meanes to be drawne as a cheefe man into this warre Besides all this we must doe what wee can to raise vp rebellion against the Turke in PELOPONESVS which will be no hard matter to bring to passe For if the Peloponesians rise in armes with one of their poore princes which reuolted from the Turkish king and forsaking all that they had aduentured themselues into all manner of perill and danger what thinke you they will doe if they shall see so great forces comming both by sea and land against the Turkish king It were good also that we should send two thousand Italian horsemen into PELOPONESVS to animate the people who when they shall see vs thus to proceed will vndoubtedly presently reuolt from the Turks and yeeld themselues with their countrey vnto vs from whence we may most commodiously vex and molest this tyrant For there is no where better entrance into his kingdome than by the way of PELOPONESVS So that joyning in league with the Hungarians we shall be set him on euery side they all along the riuer of DANVEIVS and we out of PELOPONISVS Let vs not therfore sit still with our hands in our bosomes suffring our countries to be taken from vs our subiects made bondslaues to the Turks but encouraging them by our example animate them to take vp armes and valiantly to resist the cruell and barbarous tyrant The greater part of the Senat mooued with this graue Senatours speech decreed without delay to make warres and to send their embassadours to the Pope the king of HVNGARIE and other the Christian princes their neighbours to pray aid of them in these warres against the Turkes According to this decree the Venetians for defence of their territorie sent one Bertholdus Este a valiant captaine with an armie into PELOPONESVS where at his first comming he in short time recouered the cittie of ARGOS before lost And departing thence maâ—ched through the country with his armie of fifteene thousand men vnto the strait of CORINTH called ISTHMVS At which place Alouisius Lauretanus Admirall for the Venetians by appointment before made met him and there joyning their forces together with great labour in the space of fifteene dayes fortified all that strait from the Ionian vnto the sea Aegeum with a continuall rampier and double ditch in length about fiue miles In which worke they vsed the helpe of thirtie thousand men and in doing thereof were much furthered by the ruines of the old wall before destroyed by Amurath The Venetian commaunders hauing fortified this strait encamped before CORINTH and laied strait siege vnto it where at the second assault Bertholdus the Generall desirous by his owne forwardnesse to encourage his souldiours was in that assault greeuously wounded with a stone cast downe vpon him from the wall of which hurt he shortly after died Neuerthelesse the siege was still contiued by Betinus Calcinatius who succeeded in Bertholdus his place But whilest the Venetians lay thus at the siege of CORINTH suddainely newes was brought vnto the campe that Mahomet was comming with a great armie himselfe in person to raise the siege and to destroy the new fortifications at ISTHMVS Whereupon the Venetians left the siege with purpose to haue defended the late fortified strait But after that it was certainely knowne that Mahomet was euen now at hand with an armie of fourescore thousand Turks Betinus distrusting with his small number to be able to defend the strait against so puissant an armie left the place so lately before fortified and with all his armie retired to NEAPOLIS to keepe the sea coast Shortly after Mahomet without any resistance at all entered with a world of men by the strait into PELOPONESVS and when he had with the great slaughter of the countrey people roamed vp and downe about ARGOS he came to NEAPOLIS and in most terrible manner assaulted the cittie twice both which times hee was notably repulsed by the Venetians and many of his men slaine Departing thence he destroyed and wasted the countrey about METHONE now MODON and CORONE and assaulted the cittie of IVNCVM but with no better successe than he had before NEAPOLIS Wherefore Winter now drawing on hee returned with his armie to CONSTANTINOPLE After his departure the Venetians spoiled all that part of ARCHADIA which was subject to the Turkes requiting him with like injuries as he had done them before Not long after Lauretanus the Venetian Admirall had the Island of LEMNOS deliuered vnto him by one Cominius a famous pyrat who had surprised the same and taken it from the Turkes but distrusting how he should be able to keepe the same deliuered it ouer vnto the Venetians Shortly after Vrsatus Iustinianus a great magnifico amongst the Venetians was sent to succeed Lauretanus their Admirall But whilest he was scouring the Aegeum with a fleet of two and thirtie great gallies Andreas Dandulus Generall of their forces at land inconsiderately encountering with the Turkes horsemen betweene MANTINEA and PITHEME was by them ouerthrowne and slain and with him diuerse other gentlemen of great account In which skirmish fifteene hundred of the Venetians were slaine also with their Generall And as fortune is neuer more constant than in mischeefe so at the same time Vrsatus Generall at sea landing his men in the Island of LESBOS besieged the citie of MITYLENE and gaue thereunto two great assaults wherein he lost fiue thousand men And vnderstanding that the Turkes fleet was comming to releeue the cittie raised his siege and sailed into EVBoeA and from thence passed ouer into PELOPONESVS where hee shortly after died for sorrow and greefe of mind In whose place the Venetians sent another famous captaine called Iacobus Lauretanus The Venetians well considering the great power of the Turkish emperour laboured by their embassadours to draw as many of the Christian princes as they could into the fellowship of this warre
thousand of his best souldiors and with euery one of the other eight captaines seuen thousand moe departed himselfe with the rest of his armie from CROIA towards CONSTANTINOPLE But by the way as he went he tooke from Scanderbeg certaine small forts and with faire promises corrupting the Gouernour of a place called CHIDNA wherein eight thousand of Scanderbeg his souldiours lay had the same deliuered into his power vpon his faith before giuen That all the souldiours with the rest of the people should in safetie depart thence But after the tyrant had them in his power without regard of faith or promise hee caused them all most cruelly to bee cut in peeces sparing neither man woman nor child to the great greefe and weakening of Scanderbeg who had not at any time before receiued so great a losse And after hee had so raged hee in great melancholie returned vnto CONSTANTINOPLE Scanderbeg disdaining to haue his cheefe cittie besieged by Balabanus sometime one of the basest of his fathers subjects and yet finding himselfe vnable to releeue the same for as much as his souldiors were with continuall warres sore wasted and his warie enemies lay so encamped as that they were not but by a strong armie to bee remoued sent vnto the Venetians and other the confederat princes of ALBANIA ILLYRIA and DALMATIA praying of them aid now at his need against that enemie which preuailing against him would forthwith set vpon them All which princes promised forthwith to send their succours At the same time also hee passed ouer into ITALIE secretly and disguised in simple attire came to ROME to craue aid of Paulus the second of that name then great Bishop by whom he was honourably entertained but obtained nothing of that he came for so cold was his holy deuotion onely at his departure hee gaue vnto Iunetrio Scanderbeg his treasurer a poore almes of three thousand duckats Scanderbeg returning into EPIRVS found all such aid readie as was promised from the confederat princes but especially from the Venetians which was for most part drawne out of their garrisons of SCVTARI DRIVASTO ALYSSA and DIRRHACHIVM so that hee had in few daies in his armie thirteene thousand foure hundred choice soldiors With this strength he marched towards CROIA but vnderstanding by the way that Ionima was within a daies journey comming with a new supplie to his brother Balabanus hee drew out certaine troupes of his best horsemen and coasting ouer the countrey in the night suddainly came vpon the Turks and put them to flight where amongst others Ionima himselfe with his sonne Hedar were taken prisoners whom he shewed the next day in bonds to Balabanus This exploit so happily performed he with all speed returned to his armie and so marching to CROIA by plaine force driue the Turks from the mountain CRVINA their greatest strength and nearest to the citie of CROIA Which thing when Balabanus saw he with certaine troupes of horsemen rid euen to the gates of the cittie persuading the defendants to yeeld the citie making them in the name of his master such offers and promises as he thought might most moue them But they nothing regarding his words but rather incensed with his presumption sallied out vpon him and enforced him to retire but he therewith enraged and halfe mad for anger came vpon them with a fresh charge thinking by plaine force to haue driuen them backe into the citie In which skirmish he was by one Georgius Aâ—exius with a bullet shot quite through the throat and feeling himselfe mortally wounded setting spurres to his horse ran as fast as he could to his campe where he presently fell down from his horse and died The Turkes discouraged with the death of their Generall and the comming of Scanderbeg rise the same night and with great silence retired themselues vnto the plain of TIRANA about eight miles from CROIA Scanderbeg the next morning entring the forsaken tents of the Turks found therein great store of corne and other victuals which he caused to be forthwith conueyed into the citie and in great triumph followed after himselfe to the great joy and comfort of his late besieged subjects whom he highly commended for their fidelitie and bountifully rewarded according to their deserts The same day he sent certaine companies of souldiors to take the strait passages whereby the Turkes must needs passe in their returne out of EPIRVS which when the Turkes vnderstood they sent two messengers vnto Scanderbeg who seemed to be men of good account in the armie offering in the name of the rest of the captaines and commaunders to deliuer vnto him their horses and armes so that they might in safetie depart with their liues Which their request Scanderbeg propounding vnto his counsellors captaines was by them diuersly disgested In conclusion they receiued this answere from Scanderbeg himselfe That as they came into his country without his commandement so should they not by his leaue depart thence The Turkes receiuing this short answere by their messengers and considering that they must needs in that bare countrey in short time perish either with famine or with the sword the very same night departed from TIRANNA and in the dead time of the night entering the aforesaid straits by plaine force desperatly brake through and escaped but not without their great losse for whose escape the common souldiors murmured greeuously against Scanderbeg and were not without much ado appeased In short time after Scanderbeg recouered all such places as Mahomet had before taken from him and put to sword the soldiors he had left for the keeping of the same which done he brake vp his armie retaining only two thousand horsemen and a thousand foot for the defence of his frontiers The Turkish tyrant hearing of the euill successe of his affaires in EPIRVS as that his Generall was slaine CROIA releeued his armie discomfited and all that he had done brought to nought fretted thereat exceedingly and was therewith so much greeued that hee could not for a season eat or drinke or take rest his discontented thoughts so much troubled him In the end to remedie the matter he resolued the next Spring to goe againe in person himselfe with a most puissant armie into EPIRVS and so if it were possible to make a full conquest thereof of which his purpose Scanderbeg vnderstanding prouided for his comming as he had in former time The Spring being come Mahomet according to his former resolution with a mightie armie entred into EPIRVS and there with exceeding labour and charge first repaired or rather reedified the old ruines of the citie of VALMES wherein he left a strong garrison of purpose to trouble that part of the countrey From thence he marched to DIRRACHIVM now called DVRAZZO but of old time EPIDAMNVM a citie vpon the sea coast then in the possession of the Venetians famous for many things in the time of the Romane empire but especially for the flight of the Romane Senate thither and their
their naturall king or rather their brother borne and brought vp amongst them they all with one consent answered That they would spend their liues and goods in his quarrell so long as he should keepe his armie whole and defend the citie of CAPVA But if it should so chance that the Aragonians should be ouerthrowne or els for feare abandon that citie and the French king as victor to approch the citie of NAPLES he should doe both against reason and equitie if by exacting fidelitie and allegeance of his subjects apprehended with so just a feare he should so expose that noble citie with the fruitfull countrey thereabout to bee spoiled and destroyed by a mercilesse and cruell enemie Whilest Ferdinand was thus busied in appeasing and confirming his wauering subjects at NAPLES the French king had taken diuers cities and was come before CAPVA The citizens of CAPVA although they were alwayes well affected to the Aragonian kings yet seeing the French king as a most violent tempest to beare downe all before him began now to consult amongst themselues of yeelding vp the cittie whereunto they were the more prickt forward by the suddaine reuolt of the great captaine Triuultius with his followers as also by the departure of Verginius and Petilianus two great and famous commaunders who seeing themselues forsaken of Triuultius fled with their companies vnto the citie of NOLA In this discomfiture of king Ferdinand his armie the Frenchmen had entered into the suburbes of the citie which thing Gothfredus and Gaspar two valiant Germane captaines beholding sallied with their companies out of the citie of purpose to abate the pride of the French to confirme the doubtfull citizens These worthie captaines when they had with exceeding valour repulsed the French and thought to haue againe returned into the citie could not be suffered to enter but were by the citisens shut out of the gate in danger to haue had their throats cut by the enemie In which perplexitie they were glad vpon their knees to entreat the cowardly citisens standing vpon the wals not in such traiterous manner to betray their friends readie in their defence to bestow their liues and with much entreating at length obtained of those heartlesse men that they might by ten and ten in a companie be receiued in at one gate of the citie and so put out at another farthest from the danger of the enemie in which sort when they had passed through the citie they tooke the way towards NAPLES and vpon the way met with the king at AVERSA vnto whom they declared all that had happened in his absence at CAPVA Who although he saw his armie dispersed and all things now desperat yet went hee on forward and came to the very gates of CAPVA and there called vpon diuers of the cheefe men of the citie requiring to be let in But when hee saw there was none to giue him answer and an ensigne of the French king displayed vpon the wall in token that the citie was become French hee returned to NAPLES where he found the gates now shut against him and all the citisens vp againe in armes and not willing to receiue any of the souldiors which came from CAPVA more than the king himselfe for flying fame preuenting his returne had filled euerie corner of the citie with report That all the cheefe captaines of his armie were either gone ouer to the enemie or els for safegard of their liues fled That the whole armie was broken vp and CAPVA yeelded to the French Wherfore the Neapolitanes framing their fancies according to the condition of the time began now also to fawne vpon the good fortune of the French and to haue king Ferdinand in contempt which hee well perceiuing and fetching a compasse farther off from the cittie came vnto the castle whereinto he was receiued with his followers by his faithfull captaines therein before left But prouidently foreseeing that he could not there long stay but that hee should bee besieged by his enemies both by sea and land he commended the keeping of that peece vnto Alphonsus D'aualus a most valiant captaine and departed himselfe with twentie gallies well appointed vnto AENARIA an Island not farre from NAPLES hauing in it a commodious harbour and a strong castle where fortune neuer firme but in miserie seemed againe to deride the poore remainder of his honor For comming thether the captaine of the castle vnworthely named Iustus forgetting his dutie towards his soueraigne of whom he had before receiued many extraordinarie fauours most traiterously now in his so hard distresse shut the gates of the castle against him at his landing and vnkindly refused to receiue him With which vnexpected ingratitude the poore king was wonderfully perplexed and almost abashed yet with earnest entreatie and ample commemoration of the benefits and preferments which both his father and himselfe had in times past bestowed vpon him he preuailed so much with this vnthankefull man that hee was content to receiue him into the castle so that he would come but himselfe alone of which his offer when no more could be got the king seemed to accept So the captain hauing opened a port to receiue him in was in the very entrance thereof suddenly stabd to the heart with a dagger by king Ferdinand and slaine in the middest of his armed souldiours Which was done with such a countenance and majestie that the warders with their weapons in their hands dismayed with his look forthwith at his commaundement opened the gate and receiued him in with all his followers Whereby it appeareth That in the countenance of princes resteth a certaine diuine majestie in all fortunes aboue the common course of nature which is of power to daunt the hearts of most disloyall traitors in the performance of their vnnaturall treasons The next day after the departure of king Ferdinand from the castle of NAPLES Charles the French king was receiued into the citie with such pompe triumph and acclamation of the Neapolitanes as if they had euen then by the benefit of that forraine king been restored vnto perfect libertie and deliuered out of some long and hard bondage Shortly after the castle of NAPLES with all the strong places thereabout were yeelded vnto the French and embassadours sent from all the princes and people of that kingdome yeelding themselues into the power of the French king Then Ferdinand seeing all lost and gone departed from AENARIA where he lay expecting the euent of his hard fortune and sailed into SICILIA Thus the house of ARAGON in lesse than fiue moneths lost the kingdome of NAPLES about 63 yeares after that it was first taken from the French by Alphonsus the elder this Ferdinand his great grandfather The report of the great preparation made by the French for this warre had long before filled the eares of them which dwelt in any part of the Turks dominions in EVROPE but when they saw the French ensignes displayed vpon the wals of the castles and
affections also was become a great fauourit of Mustapha Now to colour so manifest a wrong and breach of the Turkes faith Mustapha the Generall according to the Turkish manner a little before his arriuall in CYPRVS gaue the Venetians there to vnderstand by letters of his comming as also of his purpose for the taking of that island from them for that without some such slender denouncing of warre vnto them against whom it is intended the Turkes generally account their expeditions not to be altogither so lawfull or fortunat as otherwise and therefore writ vnto them in this sort Mustapha Bassa vnto the Venetians That the kingdome of CYPRVS by auntient right belongeth vnto the kingdome of AEGYPT you are not ignorant which being conquered by the Turks is togither with it become of right apart also of the Othoman empire that island we come to challenge leading after vs two hundred thousand valiant souldiors vnto which power and the wealth of the Othoman kingdomes all which the most mightie emperour is about if need shall be to send thither and to bend his whole strength theron all the vnited forces of the Christian kings are not comparable much lesse the Venetians so small a part of EVROPE forsaken of their friends can suffice Wherefore we will and exhort you for the auntient amitie which hath been betwixt your State and the glorious Othoman family to yeeld this kingdome vnto the most puissant emperour whose verie name is become dreadfull vnto all the nations of the world and quietly and without resistance to leaue the island with the loue and friendship of so great a monarch to be for euer inuiolatly kept betwixt him and you Whereas if you shall before such wholsome counsell fondly preferre your vaine hopes you are to expect all the calamities of warre with such dreadfull examples as the angrie conquerours vse to make of their vanquicted enemies For resolution whereof wee yet giue you halfe a moneths space to bethinke your selues in and so fare you well All this being now in readinesse and a most royall gallie of wonderfull greatnesse and beautie by the appointment of Selymus prepared for the great Bassa the Generall he togither with Haly Bassa and the rest of the fleet departed from CONSTANTINOPLE the six and twentith of May and at the RHODES met with Piall as he had before appointed The whole fleet at that time consisted of two hundred gallies amongst whom were diuers galliots and small men of warre with diuers other vessels prepared for the transportation of horses with this fleet Mustapha kept on his course for CYPRVS They of the island in the meane time carefully attending the enemies comming from their watch towers first discouered the fleet at the West end of the island not farre from PAPHOS from whence the Turkes turning vpon the right hand and passing the promontorie CVRIO now called DEL LE GATE landed diuers of their men who burnt and spoiled certaine villages and with such spoile and prisoners as they had taken returned againe vnto the fleet which holding on the former course came at length to a place called SALINae of the abundance of salt there made where they knew was best landing and there in an open road came to an anchor where the Bassaes without any resistance vpon a plaine shoare landed their armie Now all the hope of the Christians was to haue kept the Turkes from landing which they should with all their strength and power haue done neither was it a matter of any great difficultie for had the defendants but kept the shoare and from the drie and firme land valiantly repulsed their enemies they might vndoubtedly with their shot and weapons haue kept them from landing or else haue done them greater harme knowing in the meane time that in all the island was no good harbour for them to put into and that riding in an open road subject to all wind and weather they could not long without danger of shipwracke ride it out But they either terrified with the greatnesse of the fleet or preuented by the celeritie of the enemie to their great hurt omitted so faire an opportunitie as the wofull sequell of the matter declared It exceedingly encouraged the Turks that they had so easily footed the island which they thought they should not haue done without a bloudie fight The Bassa now landed presently entrenched his armie and forthwith sent the fleet to transport the rest of his forces out of PAMPHILIA into the island And at the same time sent out certaine scouts to take some prisoners of whom they might learne the situation of the countrey the best waies to passe them with his armie the strength of his enemies and what they did and many other such like things which it concerned him to know But the greatest question amongst the Turkes themselues was Whether they should first set vpon FAMAGVSTA or NICOSIA FAMAGVSTA standeth low altogether subject to the scorching heat which was then great according as the time of the yeare and nature of the countrey required wherefore the Bassa for feare of diseases to arise in his armie of the immoderat heat and vnwholesome situation of the place thought it better to begin his warres with the siege of NICOSIA and to make that citie the seat of the warre for the conquest of the rest of the island So hauing put all things in order and well viewed the countrey and finding nothing he needed to stand in doubt of he set forward with his armie toward NICOSIA which was about thirtie miles distant being the cheefe and richest citie of all the island Which way soeuer the armie marched it spread a great deale of ground and the neerer it came the greater was the slaughter of the countrey people and the number of prisoners taken of all sorts But when newes of the enemies approach was brought into the citie a generall feare presaging future miserie possessed the hearts of all men There was not in the citie any valiant or renowmed captaine who as the danger of the time required should haue taken vpon him the charge neither any strong armie in the island to oppose against the enemie The Gouernour of the citie was one Nicholaus Dandulus a man too weake for so great a burthen who alwaies brought vp in ciuile affaires was to seeke how to defend a siege Of the citisens and countrey people he had taken vp foure thousand footmen and a thousand horsemen all raw souldiors commaunded by the gentleman of the countrey men of all others most courteous but as well the captaines as the souldiors as men brought vp in a plentifull countrey fitter for pleasure than for warre The greatest hope and strength of the citie was reposed in twelue hundred Italian footmen and six hundred horsemen The whole number of the souldiors in garrison for defence of the citie was deemed about eight thousand horse and foot too weake a companie against so fierce and strong an enemie
trouble to bring them into his danger Hereupon the Ianizaries cheerfully and with all due reuerence receiued their new Gouernor but shortly after to be sure they by an vnexpected guile when as nothing was lesse feared compassed in all the new come souldiors and slew them euerie mothers sonne and not so contented seized also vpon the gallies that brought them Which second outrage though Amurath tooke in euill part as seeing his majestie therein contemned yet was he content to passe it ouer being loth to adde domesticall troubles to the great wars he had in hand with the Persian But to end this matter with the opinion of one of their own greatest Bassaes concerning these maisterfull men It fortuned that whilest Busbequius embassadour for Ferdinand the emperour vnto Solyman lay in the Turkes campe at such time as Solyman in person himselfe was gone ouer the strait into ASIA to countenance his eldest sonne Selymus against his younger brother Baiazet that vpon a light quarrell though heauily taken betweene the followers of the said embassadour and certaine Ianizaries washing themselues at the sea side the embassadour for the quieting thereof was glad to vse the helpe of Rustan the great Bassa Solyman his sonne in law who vnderstanding the matter by a messenger sent of purpose aduised the embassadour to cut off all occasion of contention with those most naughtie fellowes asking him farther if he knew not that it was now the time of warre in which time they so raigned as that Solyman himselfe was not able to rule them but stood in feare of them Which speech fell not rashly from Rustan a man right well acquainted with his lord masters griefe for that most notable prince feared nothing more than least some secret dangerous treason should lie hidden among the Ianizaries which breaking out vpon the sudden might worke his finall destruction whereof hee needed not to seeke for any farther example than to his grandfather Baiazet For as true it is That great are the commodities of a perpetuall armie of a princes owne so are the incommodities also not small if they be not carefully met withall but especially for that the prince is euer in doubt of rebellion and that it is still in the power of those armed souldiors at their pleasure to translate the kingdome to whom they list Whereof there haue been many great examples although there are many waies for the remedying of the same But now that we haue by occasion of the occurrents of that time a little stept out of the way let vs returne againe vnto the wars of PERSIA the chiefe object of Amuraths hautie desires Now according to the commandements gone out through all the cities of the empire the souldiors of all sorts began to flock togither and all those that were either desirous to be established in their former charges and gouernments or ambitiously sought to be now promoted repaired to Osman as vnto a king and the soueraigne moderator of the Turkish empire presenting him verie large and liberall gifts whereby he gathered togither a huge heape of infinit treasure and so entertaining them with all affable courtesie and promising both rewards and honours to such as would follow him in his purposed expedition he leuied a wonderfull great number both of men and monies And now was the time come that called him away to go towards ERZIRVM where he was greatly expected of his huge armie there assembled togither And notwithstanding the great dearth of victuall that commonly raigneth in those quarters yet thither he must where he arriued about the latter end of the moneth of Iuly in the yeare 1585 and there taking a view of his whole armie and of all the prouision necessarie for so important and famous an enterprice he daily laboured to hasten his departure In this citie of ERZIRVM were met togither all the souldiors of the prouinces that were wont to send helpe but yet in a greater number than euer was gathered by any Generall before for that euerie man forsooke his owne priuat businesse and vpon assured hopes of new rewards and vnwonted honours were all induced to follow the fame of this their new Visier and Generall onely the people of AEGYPT and DAMASCO were busied with other more priuat quarrels at home whereof because they were both of great importance and also fell out at this verie instant leauing Osman with his armie for a while at ERZIRVM I will in as few words as I may make a briefe rehearsall Amurath had heretofore taken Hassan Bassa the Eunuch out of the Serraglio from the charge he had there to serue in the queens Court and at her instance sent him as Bassa to CAIRE the great citie of AEGYPT Which great office beside the honour belonging vnto it is also beneficiall to them whose good hap it is to be aduanced thereunto the riches the multitude of people inhabiting therein being so great that it seemeth not to be one citie but rather to containe within the large circuit thereof many cities This man being exceeding couetous and therefore desirous to handle the matter in such sort as that he should little need to seeke for any more such grants at the kings hands sought by all manner of meanes to oppresse the whole nation and by all importunities to wring and extort from them rewards and bribes without regard of honestie or reason By which his sinister and corrupt dealing he had now made himselfe so odious and intollerable to the people in generall that they in great number and many times began to go to CONSTANTINOPLE and with humble petitions to request the king to take from them such a cruell and vnjust Gouernour so that generally in the Court there was no talke but of the villanies and mischiefes that were reported of the couetous Eunuch At last Amurath seeing that these publike exclamations went daily so farre as that he could not for shame let them go any further without due punishment he resolued with himselfe to call him to the Court and hauing sent vnto him certaine messengers admonished him sundrie times to returne home But the Eunuch loth to leaue so fit an occasion to enrich himselfe did still delay his returne alleadging diuers faigned excuses for his longer stay Which thing when Amurath vnderstood thinking himselfe thereby deluded he determined to prouide for so great a disorder and by punishing of the mischieuous Eunuch to satisfie in some part the discontented minds of his oppressed subjects in CAIRE There sat at that time among the chiefe Bassaes of the Court one Ebrain or as most call him Ibrahim by nation a Sclauonian a young man of the age of two and thirtie years or therabouts of verie faire conditions and of a reasonable judgement vpon whom Amurath himselfe had determined to bestow his owne daughter to wife and so to make him his sonne in law And therefore being now minded to remoue the Eunuch from his office and to satisfie
enforced to forsake it and to retire into the citie But shortly after sallying out againe they with such force assailed the Turkes now got within the counterscarfe that hauing slaine most part of them that were entered they forced the other out againe at the brute whereof an alarum being raised throughout the campe infinit numbers of the barbarous enemies came running thither with such beastly furie that without regard of their liues they as desperat men pressing still on fell twice as many as before insomuch that the Christians wearie of that long and bloudie fight and on euery side charged or rather ouerwhelmed with the enemies shot were glad againe but not without great losse to abandon the place With which skirmishes and diuers others that they had the number of the defendants was greatly deminished yet was not the courage of the valiant Gouernour any whit therewith abated but by his letters gaue the Archduke Matthias to vnderstand in what case things stood with them in the citie requesting him with all speed to send them reliefe for that otherwise the citie would be in danger to be lost as well for that many of the garrison souldiors were alreadie slaine in the defence thereof as also that diuers of the Hungarians forsaking the wals daily fled vnto the Turks campe promising yet neuerthelesse himselfe to doe the vttermost of his deuoire Vpon the receit of which letters the Archduke gaue order vnto the lord Russworm master of his campe to goe forthwith to COMARA and there with such forces as were from diuers places come thither to go forth and to proue if by any meanes the weake garrison of ALBA REGALIS might so be relieued by putting in some good supplie of fresh souldiors According vnto which commaund Russworm comming thither without delay tooke the field with twelue thousand men which he found there to see if he might with them put into the citie the desired reliefe But whilest the matter was in the performance thereof too long delaied by discord arising betwixt him and the other colonels about the commaund the Bassa had time to effect his purpose who the eight and twentith of the same moneth of August after a long and terrible batterie caused a generall assault to be giuen vnto the citie which the Turkes from time to time renewing continued all that day and the next night with some part of the day following also without intermission so that the defendants now brought to a small number and they also so wearied or wounded as that they were not well able to make any longer resistance and the Countie himselfe who gaue as it were life vnto them all being now also carried away dangerously hurt in the thigh with a musket shot gaue vnto the enemie a signe of their yeelding Whereupon the furie of the assault being staied whilest they were yet talking with the enemie from the wall about the conditions of their yeelding a renegate Christian which knew the citie well in the meane time conducted a great squadron of the Turkes vnto a place but weakely defended who forcing the wals entered the citie and with a great crie gaue signes of their enterance vnto the rest of the armie on the other side who thereupon breaking off the parley presently renewed the assault and by force gained the wals where the few Christians that were left now both before and behind enclosed with their fierce enemies were there valiantly fighting for the most part slaine the Countie onely with some few others found wounded in their lodgings the furie ouerpast being taken prisoners and spared So the Bassa hauing in eighteene daies taken ALBA REGALIS now being eleuen moneths possessed by the Christians caused the breaches he had made to bee againe repaired and the citie well prouided for both of victuals and munition leauing therein a strong garrison of six thousand good souldiours and with his people hauing ouerrun all the countrey as farre as STRIGONIVM rise with his armie and retired againe to BVDA where as he was making a bridge of boats ouer the Danubius betwixt BVDA and PESTH for the more easie transporting of victuall and better relieuing of the one the other as need should require and hauing brought that worke to passe and was about to haue gone to the siege of STRIGONIVM commaundement came from the great Sultan That he should with all speed returne to CONSTANTINOPLE for that Mahomet accounting of him as of a most valiant man was now minded to employ him in his warres against his rebels in NATOLIA where things now went not well as shall hereafter be declared Vpon which commaundement the Bassa gaue leaue to all such in his armie as had charge of any place forthwith to returne to their seuerall places of gouernment appointing some others with thirtie thousand souldiors in the companie of Zachael Moises but of late prince Sigismund his lieutenant to goe with him into TRANSYLVANIA who after the ouerthrow he had there receiued by Basta was come vnto this great Bassa offering vnto him with such an aid as was now appointed for him and the helpe of such other his friends as he had in TRANSYLVANIA to chase Basta with his Germanes from out thence and to reduce that prouince againe vnto the deuotion of the Othoman emperours as it had in former time beene And so by the way of BELGRADE hasted himselfe with the rest of his armie towards CONSTANTINOPLE which hee was thought the more willingly to doe for that the great Sultan before his setting forth had put him in good hope to marrie one of his aunts a woman of great wealth and honour if by the winning againe of ALBA REGALIS he should make himselfe worthie so honourable a match after which he now longed But long it was not after his departure but that the Imperials now at last assembled together at COMARA to the number of about thirtie thousand men with twelue Nassadies and two gallies some by water some by land marched downe alongst the riuer to STRIGONIVM where were also twentie other ships readie to receiue them and so all embarked were by the lord Russworm and other the imperiall captaines conducted to BVDA there with some notable enterprise to redeeme the disgrace by them before receiued in not relieuing of ALBA REGALIS Whose comming was so sudden and so vnlooked for of the Turkes there as that they had no time to take in any greater helpe or prouision than was alreadie in the citie And for as much as the Christians knew the good successe of this their enterprise taken in hand not so much to depend of their strength as of their politicke proceeding and speedie dispatch of the matter begun they thought it not good to vse any long delay or to spare for any labour but so soone as they might by taking of the Water citie or as some call it the Iewes suburbes so to cut off the passage of them of BVDA to PESTH as also from thence to
an old grudge betwixt the emperour Alexius and his father would not come to CONSTANTINOPLE but marching with his armie thorow the vpper MISIA and THRACIA came sooner than any man had thought vnto the strait of HELLESPONTVS and so passed Now had Gualter and the hermit Peter with their armie lyen two months in the countrey about NICE expecting the comming of the rest of the Christian princes for why they thought it not good before their comming to attempt any thing against the enemie whom they knew to lie not far off verie strong But the common souldiers wearie of so long lying and naught doing and pinched with some wants and withall disliking of Gualter their chiefe commander and the hermit Peter of whose integritie and holinesse they had a greater opinion than of his prowesse and direction rise vp in mutinie and displacing Gualter made choise of one Raymund a valiant Germain captaine for their generall by whose conduct they tooke EXOROVM a towne of purpose forsaken of the Turks For they long before vnderstanding what a tempest of war was growing vpon them out of EVROPE sought by all meanes to cut off these that were alreadie come ouer as the forerunners of a greater armie following and therefore had left them this towne as a bait to traine them out of their trenches And after that the Christians were thus possessed of the towne hauing laid certain strong ambushes they draue out certaine heards of cattell the more to allure them all which certaine companies of the Christians brought in without any losse the Turks still winking thereat With which bootie the Christians encouraged went out three thousand of them to take in a tittle towne not far off who were by the Turks cut off and slaine euerie mothers son as they were about to haue diuided the spoile which ouerthrow reported into the towne discouraged euen the chiefe commanders of the armie so that they resolued no more to try the fortune of the field before the comming of theâ—â— friends Neuerthelesse the common souldiers condemning them of cowardise chose them a new generall one Godfrey Burell whom they now requested not but enforced to go out to reuenge the death of their fellowes which their rashnesse not long after turned to their owne destruction For ten thousand of them going out of EXORGVM to forrage the countrey were by the Turks entrapped and almost all slaine except some few which by speedie flight escaped The Turks prosecuting their victorie laid hard siege to them in the towne also vntill they had partly with famine and partly with the sword consumed the most part of them The hermit with the poore remainder of his armie tooke his refuge to CINITE a towne not far off before abandoned by the Turks where with much adoe he defended himselfe vntill the comming of duke Godfrey and the rest of the princes Cutlu-Muses the Turke was now dead hauing left vnto his son Sultan Solyman many large countries prouinces altogether gained from the Christians in ASIA whom he held in great subjection thraldom This warlike prince hauing discomfited and almost brought to naught the hermits forces was no lesse carefull for the withstanding of the great army following which now being come into BYTHINIA lying before NICOMEDIA remoouing thence laid siege to the citie of NICE called in antient time ANTIGONIA of Antigonus the son of Philip that built it and afterwards NICEA of Nicea the wife of king Lisimachus In this citie dwelt many deuout Greeks Christians but in such thraldom vnto the Turks as that they could not do any thing for the deliuerie of themselues This siege endured longer than the Christian princes had at the first supposed who although they to the vttermost of their power forced the citie on three sides yet was it still notably defended new supplies still comming from the Turks by the lake of ASCANIVS joyning vpon the other side of the citie But after that the Christians possessed of the lake began on that side also to lay hardly vnto the citie the Turks discouraged and seeing themselues beset round with their enemies yeelded vp the citie the fift of Iuly in the yeere 1097 after it had beene fiftie daies besieged But whilst the Christians thus lay at the siege the Turks assailed that quarter of the campe where the Legat lay by whom they were notably repulsed and with great losse enforced to retire vnto the mountaines In this citie amongst the rest of the Turks was taken Solymans wife with two of her children whom the princes sent prisoners to CONSTANTINOPLE This citie so woon was according to the agreement before made restored vnto Alexius the emperour whose fleet had in that siege done good seruice by taking the lake from the Turks The citie of NICE thus woon the Christian princes remoouing thence with their armie and marching thorow the countrey came the fourth day after vnto a riuer which watred many rich pastures where as they were about to haue encamped for the commodiousnesse of the place and refreshing of the armie suddenly newes was brought into the quarter where Bohemund lay now busie in casting vp his trenches That the Turks with a great army were ready euen at hand to charge him For Solyman hauing raised a great power of his owne and aided by the Sultan of PERSIA his kinsman was now come with an armie of threescore thousand strong to giue the Christians battell of whose approch Bohemund aduertised left the fortifying of his trenches and putting his souldiers in array set forward to meet him sending word to the rest of the princes that lay a far off to be readie as occasion should require to relieue him These two armies conducted by their most resolute chieftaines meeting together joyned a most fierce and terrible battell where in a short space the Turks lay slaine vpon heapes in such sort that they serued the Christians in steed of bulwarks But whilst Bohemund thus preuaileth in the battell certaine of the Turks horsemen wheeling about brake into Bohemunds campe not as then altogether fortified but slenderly manned where among the women other weake persons there left they raised a great tumult outcry to the great appauling of them that were fighting in the battell which Bohemund perceiuing withdrew himselfe with certaine companies vnto the campe from whence he with great slaughter repulsed the enemie But returning againe into the battell he found there a great alteration for his souldiers whom before he had left as it were in possession of a most glorious victory were now so hardly laid vnto by the Turks as that they were readie to haue turned their backs and fled Neuerthelesse by his comming in the battell was notably restored and againe made doubtfull when the enemie perceiuing how much the assaulting of the campe had troubled the Christians in battell sent out certaine troupes of horsemen againe to assault the same and had not failed vndoubtedly to haue taken it being as
againe out of the countrey after whom the king thinking it not good to make further pursuit turned a little out of the way and tooke by force GARAZE one of the strongest castâ—ls of the kings of DAMASCO built but the yeere before which because it was not without great charge and danger to be holden he rased downe to the ground Baldwin notwithstanding that hee had many times thus honourably repulsed his enemies wisely considering how he was on the one side beset with the Turks and on the other side with the Sarasins which yet raigned in AEGYPT the kingdome of IERVSALEM lying as it were in the mouth of them both thought it good betime to pray aid of the Christian princes of EVROPE and to that purpose had sent diuers his embassadors vnto diuers of them but especially vnto the Venetians whom of all others he thought fittest at his need to yeeld him reliefe by sea It fortuned in the meane time that Balac the Persian Sultan with a great armie of the Turks inuaded the countrey about ANTIOCH whereof Baldwin vnderstanding although he certainly knew he should ere long receiue aid from the other Christian princes his friends but especially from the Venetians might therfore with great reason haue protracted the war vntil their comming yet being therewith much mooued or else his destinie so requiring raised such forces as he had of his owne and without longer staying for his friends with greater courage than good speed set forward and so joyning battell with the enemy was therein ouerthrown with the greatest part of his armie and himselfe taken prisoner in the fight with certaine other of his best commanders who altogether were carried away captiues vnto CARRAS Vpon the report of this ouerthrow and taking of the king the Caliph of AEGYPT on the other side tooke occasion with all his power to inuade the kingdome of IERVSALEM and hauing in himselfe purposed the vtter ruine thereof beside the great armie which he sent thither by land which lay encamped not far from ASCALON he put to sea an huge fleet also of seuen hundred saile for the distressing of the sea townes which he well knew were not otherwise to be woon This fleet of the Sarasin kings for AEGYPT with the kingdomes of TVNES and MOROCCO were yet in possession of the Sarasins ariuing at IOPPA there put a shore their land forces and hardly besieged the towne both by sea and land But whilst they thus lay in great hope to haue woon the towne Dominicus Michael duke of VENICE stirred vp by Calixtus then bishop of ROME was come to CIPRVS with a fleet of two hundred saile for the reliefe of the Christians in SYRIA and the Holy land And hearing of the distresse of IOPPA nothing dismaid with the number of the enemies fleet hasted thither and came so suddenly vpon them that he had as some report ouerthrown them before they could put themselues in order or be in readinesse to fight or as some others say after a great and doubtfull fight hauing sunke or taken a great number of them and put the rest to flight he obtained of them a most glorious victoritie With like good fortune also were the Sarasins ouerthrown in a notable battell at land neere vnto ASCALON by the lord Eustace vnto whom the defence of the kingdome was committed after the taking of the king who not long after so great a victorie died IOPPA relieued as is aforesaid the duke of VENICE trauelled by land to IERVSALEN where he was honourably receiued by Guarimund the Patriarch and the confederation before made betwixt king Baldwin the Venetians vpon the same conditions solemnly againe renued The Sarasins thus notably discomfited both by sea and land and the Christians thereby not a little encouraged and joyning their forces together with the Venetians came and the first of March laid siege vnto the antient and strong citie of TYRE which they hauing beset both by sea and land gaue thereunto many a sharpe assault which the Turks as men fighting for their liues and wiues right valiantly repulsed In which sort the siege was continued longer than the Christians had at the first thought should haue needed yet at length after foure months siege the Turks sore weakned with often assaults and hardly pinched with want of food all their store being spent yeelded the citie by composition Thus was the citie of TYRE the most famous port of PHoeNICIA yeelded vnto the Christians the nine and twentith of Iune in the yeere 1124. The third part of this citie was giuen vnto the Venetians according to the composition made betwixt them and the kings of IERVSALEM That of all such cities as were by their helpe woon from the Infidels in SYRIA they should haue a third part with one street and free traficke in all the rest of the cities of the kingdome of IERVSALEM Shortly after was king Baldwin set at libertie for the ransom of an hundred thousand ducats after he had beene eighteene moneths prisoner among the Turkes The duke of VENICE hauing now spent almost three yeares in this sacred expedition well confirmed the state of the Christians in SIRIA returning home by the way tooke the islands of CHIOS RHODUS SAMOS MITYLEN and ANDRUS with the citie of MODON in PELOPONESUS all places belonging vnto the Greekes empire Which hee did in reuenge of the injuries done by the emperour in the time of his absence who enuying at the successe of the Christians in SYRIA as had his father Alexius before him had in the absence of the duke infested the territories of the Venetians for the which he was now justly requited with the losse of a good part of his owne Baldwin also not vnmindfull of the injuries vnto him before done by the Turkes in requitall thereof inuaded the countrey about DAMASCO and there in three notable battels ouerthrew the king and spoiled the countrey wherin he tooke so great a prey that therewith he redeemed his daughter whom he had at the time of his deliuerance left in hostage with the Turks for the payment of his ransom He also ouerthrew the Sarasins at ASCALON who aided by the Caliph of AEGYPT had sundrie times inuaded the countrey about IERVSALEM And so hauing well repressed his enemies for a space liued in peace Not long after Hugh Paganus first master of the Templars an order of knights first begun in the raigne of this Baldwin before sent to craue aid of the Christian princes of the West against the Turks and Sarasins returned with a great number of zealous Christians readie to lay downe their liues for defence of the Christian faith and religion with whom Baldwin and the other Christian princes of SYRIA joyning their forces set forward and besieged DAMASCO the regall seat of the Turks in those quarters But such was the strength of this citie with the valour of the defendants and contagiousnesse of the aire that the Christians the heauens as it
vnto them the desperate danger they were in together with his resolution which was secretly himselfe to flie and to leaue the rest euery man to make what shift he could for himselfe Which his base determination so foule as fouler could not be they all wondering at as proceeding from a distraughted mind and by chaunce ouerheard by one of the common souldiors that stood without the tent the same souldior fetching a deepe sigh in detestation thereof cried out with a loud voice What meanes the emperour and so turning himselfe vnto him said Art not thou hee that hast thrust vs into this desolat and strait way and cast vs headlong into destruction and hast as it were in a morter enclosed vs in these rockes and mountaines readie as it were to ouerwhelme vs. What had we to doe with this vaile of mourning and mouth of hell Wherefore came wee into these mischieuous and rough straits What can wee particularly complaine of the Barbarians which in these inextricable windings and straits haue thus entangled and beset vs Was it not thou that broughtst vs hither And wilt thou now as sheepe appointed to the slaughter thy selfe betray vs With which so sharpe a reprehension the emperour throughly pierced changed his former determination for flight resoluing now to stand by it whatsoeuer happened But what should hee now doe beset with his enemies still readie to deuour him helpe he saw none either in himselfe or to be expected from others nought remained but death and despaire In this extremitie all mans helpe now failing it pleased the most mightie which chastiseth and healeth againe which striketh and yet giueth life and suffereth not the staffe of the sinners alwaies to rage into the portion of the just with mercifull eye to looke downe vpon these distressed men and with an vnwonted kind of clemencie to touch the Sultans heart in such sort as that he which but the other day stood in dread of the emperour and now hauing him as it were in his power was ouercome with his miserie or as in times past hee by Husai ouerthrew the counsell of Achitophell and changed the mind of Absolon to follow such aduise as should bring him to destruction so then also he turned the mind of the Turkish Sultan that persuaded by certain of the chiefe men about him who in time of peace had vsed to receiue great gifts and presents from the emperor he of his own accord by his embassadors offred peace vnto the emperor before that he in so great distresse sued vnto him for any that vpon the selfesame conditions they had made their leagues before The Turks in the meane time ignorant of the Sultans resolution early in the morning were readie to assault the emperours campe in hope at once to haue ouerthrowne his whole power and with a barbarous outcrie still riding about it came so nigh that with their arrowes they slew diuers of the Christians within their owne trenches Against whom the emperour sent out Iohn the sonne of Constantinus Angelus and after him Macroducas Constantinus but to little or no purpose In the meane time came one Gabras a man of the greatest reputation among the Turkes embassadour from the Sultan by whose commandement the Turks ceased farther to assault the campe This Gabras comming vnto the emperour and after the manner of the Barbarians honouring him with reuerence done euen downe to the ground First presented him with a goodly horse whose furniture was all of siluer as if it had beche for triumph and a faire two edged sword Afterwards falling into a large discourse concerning a peace to be made and with many kind words as with an enchantment appeasing the emperours heauinesse conceiued of his late losse he among other pleasant conceits then vttered seeing the emperor in a rich roab of yellow ouer his aâ—mour told him That that colour was not fit for war as ominous and portending euill lucke whereat the emperour a little smiling gaue it him with the fortune thereof and receiuing the horse and sword sent him from the Sultan signed the peace Amongst other conditions of the peace which the dangerousnesse of the time suffred not the emperour curiously to examine one was That DORILEVM and SVBLEVM before by him fortified and the ground of this vnfortunate war should be againe rased Peace thus beyond all hope being concluded and the emperour deliuered of a great feare purposed another way to returne home to auoid the sight of the slaine yet was he by his guides euen of purpose as it was thought lead backe the same way to behold with his eies those miserable spectacles of the slaine which could not with any teares be sufficiently lamented for the straits were made plaine the vallies were raised into hils and the forrest lay couered with the carkasses of the slaine no man passed by but with heauinesse and griefe calling by name vpon their friends and familiars there lost Hauing again passed those dolefull straits the Turks were againe in the taile of the armie for it was reported that the Sultan repenting himselfe to haue suffered his enemies so to escape out of his hands had giuen leaue vnto such as would to pursue them but followed not himselfe with his whole power as before for most of the better sort of his souldiers loaded with the spoile were now returned home Yet these that followed after the armie slew many especially such as were weake or wounded and so vnable to follow the rest although the emperour to helpe the matter had for the repulsing of them placed the best of his captaines and souldiers in the rearward Being come to CHONAS and now out of feare of his enemies he gaue vnto euerie one of his hurt souldiers money to pay for the curing of their wounds and to bring them into their countries And comming to PHILADELPHIA there staid for the refreshing of himselfe after so great miseries In his returne he rased SVBLEVM according to his promise but not DORILEVM whereof the Sultan by his embassadors complaining he answered That what he had enforced thereunto by necessitie promised he greatly forced not to performe In reuenge whereof the Sultan sent out one of his most valiant captaines called Atapacke with foure and twentie thousand good souldiers chosen out of his whole armie with strait charge to waste and destroy all the emperours prouinces and townes euen vnto the sea side without sparing man woman or child and in token thereof to bring with him some of the sea water an oare and some of the sea sand who according to his charge spoiled PHRIGIA with the cities along the riuer MEANDER euen vnto the sea side And so returning with a rich prey by the way spoiled what before he had lest vntouched But in passing the riuer MEANDER when he feared least he fell into the hands of Iohn Bataza the emperours nephew and of Ducas Constantine a most valiant captaine of purpose sent against him by the Emperour
assurance of himselfe and his state in so great a danger And first he sent vnto his nephew come halfe way to forbid him from entring the citie and to tell him That it was a great folly for him being so manifest a traitour both vnto his grandfather and the state to thinke his traiterous purposes to bee vnknowne vnto the world and beside in way of reproofe to rehearse vnto him how many occasions he had giuen for the breaking of the league with his grandfather first in taking away the money from the collectors whereof the state neuer stood in more need by reason of the diuision of the empire which required double charge then in that hee had in the citie euerie where displaced such gouernours and magistrats 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 citie After that the old emperour by secret letters craued aid of Crales prince of SERVIA and Demetrius the Despot his sonne who was then gouernour of THSSALONICA and the countries adjoyning commaunding him with Andronicuâ— and Michael his nephews gouernours of MACEDONIA with all the forces they were able to raise and such aid as should be sent vnto them out of SERVIA with all speed to joyne together and to go against the yoong emperour But these letters thus written vnto the prince of SERVIA the Despot and others as is before said were for the most part intercepted by such as the yoong emperour had for that purpose placed vpon the straits of CHRISTOPOLIS 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 deliuered And in truth nothing was done or about to be done in CONSTANTINOPLE but that the yoong emperour was by one or other aduertised thereof whereas the old emperour on the other side vnderstood nothing what his nephew did abroad or intended For all men of their owne accord enclined vnto him some openly both bodie and soule as they say and such as could not be with him in person yet in mind and good will were euen present with him and that not onely the common sort of the citizens of CONSTANTINOPLE but the chiefe Senatours the great courtiers yea and many other of the emperours neerest kinsmen also who curiously obseruing whatsoeuer was done in the citie foorthwith certified him therof Amongst whom was also Theodorus the marques one of the old emperors owne sons who many years before by the empresse his mother sent into ITALY and there honorably married was by his prodigall course of life there growne far in debt so that leauing his wife and children behind him he was glad after the decease of his mother to flie vnto his father at CONSTANTINOPLE and there now liued who beside that he most honourably maintained him in the court and bestowed many great things vpon him paid also all his debts which were verie great All which fatherly kindnesse he forgetting went about most Iudas like to haue betraied his aged father For he also dreaming after the empire and for many causes but especially for that hee was in mind religion manners and habit become a Latine by him rejected thought he could not do him a greater dispite than by reuolting vnto the young emperour so that the neerer he was in blood the more he was his fathers vnnaturall enemie Shortly after Demetrius the Despot hauing receiued the emperours letters at THESSALONICA called vnto him Andronicus and Michael his nephews the gouernours of MACEDONIA with whom joyning all his forces and dayly expecting more aid out of SERVIA he first spoiled the yoong emperors friends and fauourits in MACEDONIA giuing the spoile of them in all the cities and townes of MACEDONIA vnto their souldiours who made hauocke of whatsoeuer they light vpon and whosoeuer seemed any way to withstand them or dislike of their proceedings their goods and lands they confiscated and draue the men themselues into exile Neither was the yoong emperour Andronicus in the meane time idle but secretly sent out his edicts into all parts of the empire yea into the verie cities of CONSTANTINOPLE and THESSALONICA and ouer all MACEDONIA whereby he proclaimed vnto the people in generall a releasement of them from all tributs impositions and payments and frankly promised vnto the souldiours and men of war the augmenting of their pensions and pay which were no sooner bruited but that most men were therewith mooued both in word and deed to fauour his proceedings doing what they could to further the same and by secret letters inuiting him to hasten his comming into the citie who thereupon comming to RHEGIVM by his embassadours sent from thence requested the old emperour Either to giue him leaue according to the league betwixt them to come into the citie or else to send him certaine of the chiefe of the nobilitie and cleargie with some of the better and more vnderstanding sort of the Burgers and citizens also vnto whom he might frankly speake his mind for them faithfully to deliuer the same againe vnto the emperor his grandfather and the people Which requests the old emperour perceiuing to be full of deceit and trecherie for a good space answered thereunto nothing at all but stood all silent as doubting which to graunt for to suffer his nephew to come into the citie he saw was dangerous the cittizens as he well knew being for the most part enclined to reuolt vnto him so soon as they should once see him within the gates and to send any forth vnto him as he desired might be as he feared an occasion of some tumult to be after raised in the citie for he knew that his nephewes drift therein was openly by faire words and secretly with great gifts and large promises first to gaine them and by them the rest of the citizens Both which things being dangerous he made choice of the easier and sent forth vnto him two of the most noble Senators two of the most reuerend bishops two other graue prelates and foure of the cheefe burgesses of the citie vnto whom at their comming vnto him hee in the open hearing of all men deliuered this premeditated and craftie speech It is not vnknowne vnto the world you my subjects to haue alwaies been vnto me more deare than I haue been vnto my selfe and how that I haue not vpon any ambitious conceit or desire of the sole gouernment against my grandfathers good will gone out For you see how that I neither spare mine owne life or attend my pleasure for the care I haue of you I come not vnto you compassed about with a guard of armed men as is the manner not of kings only for the enuie of their high place but of others also of farre meaner calling whom
long experience know not now in so great a hurle and tempest which way to turne my selfe how can I with safetie commit vnto my nephew so great a charge who as yet is both an vnstayed youth and so carelesse of his owne good as that he knoweth not how well to gouerne his owne priuat affaires For giuing ouer his power vnto yoong vnskilfull men and hauing flung away his imperiall possessions amongst them hee himselfe liueth in penurie and want neither regardeth any thing more than his dogs and kites of whom hee keepeth few lesse than a thousand curres and as many hawkes and not much fewer men to looke vnto them Wherefore vnto such a man how may I safely commit either my life oâ— the administration of mine empire by God committed vnto me But I will neuer witting and willingly cast away either my subjects or my selfe For my nephew I haue loued not onely more than my wife and children but to say the truth more than my selfe also as you all know how tenderly I haue brought him vp how carefully I haue instructed and aduised him as purposing to haue left him the heire and successour both of my wisedome and mine empire that so hee might the better please both God and man But he contemning my good counsell hath spent whole nights in banquetting and riot and brothelhouses wherein hee hath also slaine his owne brother and to bee breeâ—e he hath risen and lifted vp his hand against me his grandfather and a grandfather that had of him so well deserued attempting such a villanie as the Sunne neuer saw Wherfore you ought also to hate and detest his wickednesse and to rise vp to restraine his impudent disloyaltie and by your ecclesiasticall censure to denounce him vnworthie of the empire and the communion of the faithfull is one seperated from God that so ashamed and corrected he may louingly thither returne from whence he is shamefully departed and againe be made heire both of mine empire and staiednesse For there is no man aliue whom I had rather haue promoted vnto the empire so that he would heare my precepts and obey my counsell As for the conclusion he vsed in his former speech it was altogether fained craftie and malicious for you haue heard how many reproches he hath giuen me in all that speech wherewith his conclusion agreeth not but the more to stir vp the hearers thereof against me did of purpose so conclude his speech Vpon this most of the foresaid graue and learned bishops agreed that the young emperour should no more be named in the praiers of the Church vntill he had better conformed himselfe Howbeit the patriarch and some others secretly fauouring both him and his proceedings liked not thereof and therefore saying nothing thereunto returned home vnto their owne houses But meeting once or twise afterwards in the patriarch his house they there conspired together against the old emperour with whom also diuers of the nobilitie consented and thereupon an oath was conceiued in writing whereby they bound themselues to continue constant in that their wicked resolution Whereupon about three dayes after the patriarch causing the bels to be rung and a great number of the vulgar people flocking together pronounced the sentence of excommunication against all such as should in their publike praiers omit the name of the young emperour or refuse to doe him all honour due vnto an emperour Which thing not a little grieued the old emperour as appeared by his speech in saying If the doctor of peace be so mad against vs in hope of reward promised by my nephew that casting off all shame and grauitie he doubteth not to be the authour of sedition who shall represse the rash attempts of the vulgar people against vs if we respect but mans helpe For the Patriarch so much as in him lieth is I see the murtherer of vs. So the bishops of the contrarie faction moued with the notable impudencie of the patriarch excommunicated him likewise as he had done them with his mad followers as the authours of sedition and faction and incited with bribes to the troubling of the state for which cause also he was by the Emperours commandement committed vnto safe keeping in the monasterie called MANGANIUM But about two daies after the young Emperour came to the wals of CONSTANTINOPLE to know how his grandfather had accepted the messengers sent vnto him earnestlie requesting that it might be lawfull for him alone to enter into the citie to do his dutie to his grandfather But neither he neither his words were at all regarded but was by such as stood vpon the wals himselfe with stones driuen away who could not abide to heare him speake but shamefully railed at him saying all his talke to bee nothing els but deceit and fraud and so for that time he retired a little from the wals But night being come certaine busie heads amongst the common people they not few secretly meeting together gaue him knowledge That about midnight when as all the cittizens were asleepe and the watchmen in securitie he should come vnto the wals where they would be readie with ropes to draw him vp vnto the top of the bulwarkes which done the matter as they said were as good as dispatched for that they were persuaded that the citizens so soone as they should once see him in the middest of the citie amongst them would foorthwith all reuolt vnto him So he according vnto this appointment about midnight approching the wals found there no such matter as he had well hoped for the receiuing of him into the citie but contrariwise the watchmen carefully watching all alongst the wall and calling one vnto another Wherefore finding there no hope he with Catacuzenus and Synadenus his cheefe counsellors leauing the South side of the citie in a little boat rowed softly all along the wall that is towards the sea if happely they might there find their friends and so be receiued in but there the watchmen also descrying them from the wals and calling vnto them but receiuing no answere began to cast stones at them and to make a noise so that deceiued of their purpose and out of hope they were glad to get them farther off and to depart as they came But the euill successe of this exploit was shortly after with his better fortune recompenced for by and by after secret letters were sent vnto him from THESSALONICA requesting him with al speed to come thither assuring him in the name of the bishop with diuers of the nobilitie and the good liking of the people in generall at his comming to open the gates of the citie vnto him whereupon he leauing a great part of his armie with Synadenus to keepe short the Constantinopolitanes he himselfe with the rest of his power set forward towards THESSALONICA where he in the habit of a plaine countrey man entred the citie vnsuspected but being got with in the gate and there casting off that simple attire
others whereof some he vtterly rased and into the â—est put strong garrisons At this time also Chasi-ilbeg and Eurenoses two of his most valiant captaines tooke certaine forts standing vpon the riuer MERITZA in auncient time called HEâ—â—US Whereby they much troubled the inhabitants of the countrey thereabouts Wherwith the captaine of DIDYMOTICHUM offended gathered his souldiors together intending to haue intercepted the great captaine Chasi-ilbeg in which attempt he lost most of his followers and was himselfe there taken prisoner For whose ransome and certain other conditions the citizens of DIDYMOTICHUM yeelded the citie vnto the Turks Shortly after Amurath sent his tutor Lala Schahin to besiege HADRIANOPLE now called ANDRINOPLE but in antient time ORESTIAS of whose comming the Christians hearing encountred him vpon the way and fought with him a great battaile wherin many were on both sides lost but in the end the Christians being put to the worst retired againe to the citie Of this victorie Schahin sent newes vnto Amurath with certaine of the heads of the slaine Christians who thereupon sending Chasis and Eurenosis before he himselfe with a great armie followed after to the siege of HADRIANOPLE of whose comming the gouernour of HADRIANOPLE vnderstanding fled secretly out of the cittie by night to AENUS The citizens seeing themselues so â—orsaken of their gouernour yeelded their citie vnto Amurath in the yeare of our Lord 1362. The taking of these strong cities in THRACIA especially of DIDYMOTICHUM and HADRIâ—NOPLE is by some of the Turks owne Histories otherwise reported which because it is neither improbable nor disagreeing from the subtile dealings of the Turkes and of themselues also receiued I haue thought good to set downe as their owne Historiographers report the same The Turkish king Amurath had as they say and as truth was in the beginning of his raigne concluded a peace with the Christians of THRACIA during which peace the Gouernour of DIDYMOTICHUM intending to fortifie his citie with new and stronger fortifications against the assaults of the Turkes entertayned all the masons carpenters and other workemen hee could by any meanes get which Amurath vnderstanding secretly caused two hundreth good and lustie workemen and labourers to come out of ASIA to offer their seruice vnto the gouernour who gladly entertained them vsing their helpe in that his great and hastie worke Which thing some of the wiser sort of the citizens disliking wished the Gouernour to beware of those Asian workemen as by them suspected But he presuming vppon the peace made with Amurath and considering they were but base workemen and no souldiers had the lesse care of them neuerthelesse vsing their work all day he commanded them to lodge without the wals of the citie euery night Amurath vnderstanding that these workemen were thus by the Gouernour entertained sent for the valiant captaine Chasis-Ilbeg and requested him with thirtie other good souldiours disguised as poore laborers to go to DIDYMOTICHUM to seeke for worke and in doing thereof to espie if any oportunitie might be found for the surprising of the citie Chasis with these thirtie according to Amurath his direction comming as poore men lacking worke found entertainement at DIDYMOTICHVM where they caried stones morter and such like things euer shewing themselues verie diligent in their worke Chasis with vigilant eye still awayting what might best serue his turne for the surprising of the citie When night was come the Turkish workemen and labourers after their accustomed manner and as they were by the gouernour appointed went out of the citie into the suburbs to their lodgings from whence Chasis secretly departing in the night came to Amurath and shewed him how one of the gates of the citie might vpon the sudden be taken if it would please him to place a sufficient number of Turks in ambush neere vnto the citie to joyne with him and the other Turkish labourers when occasion should serue Which being resolued vpon Amurath sent him backe againe to put this his deuise in execution so Chasis returning to DIDYMOTICHVM brake the matter to so many of the Asian workemen as hee thought conuenient fully instructing them what was to be done The next day according to his appointment the Christians being then at dinner these Turkish workmen and labourers fell at wordes among themselues and from wordes to fayned blowes in which counterfait brawle tumult they suddenly ran to one of the gates of the citie fast by as was before appointed and there laying hands vppon the warders weapons as if it had beene to defend themselues against their fellowes suddenly set vpon those warders being in number but few and then at dinner also and so presently slew them which done they opened the gate of the citie and let in the other Turkes which lay in wait not farre off who with great celeritie entring the citie presently took the same and there put the cheefest of the citizens to the sword sparing the rest of the meaner sort The citie of RHODESTUM of the old writers called RHoeDESTUM was by Amurath his commaundement in this time of peace by sudden assault giuen in the night by the lord Eurenoses taken also With this foule dealing and breach of league yet in force the Christians hardly charged Amurath who turned it ouer to the vnrulinesse of his captaines and men of warre whom he threatned with great seueritie to punish and to giue the better colour that it was done without his priuitie he had fained himselfe sicke all the while these things were in doing But being requested to restore these cities so wrongfully taken froÌ„ the Christians he vtterly refused so to do saying That it was against the law of his great prophet Mahomet to deliuer againe vnto the Christians any towne or citie wherin the Mahometan religion had ben once openly taught Wherevpon waâ—s began againe to arise on fresh betwixt the Christians and him wherein somtime the one preuayled and sometime the other in such sort as that those warres at length became vnto them both verie tedious Wherefore Amurath made peace againe with the Christians of HADRIANOPLE SELYBRIA and CONSTANTINOPLE yet desiring nothing more in heart than to take the citie of HADRIANOPLE which the better to bring to passe he caused Chasis-Ilbeg as a discontented captaine to flye to HADRIANOPLE pretending himselfe to haue been hardly vsed by the tyrant his master where hauing in his companie other such dissembling fugitiues as was himselfe he oftentimes issued out of the citie and valiantly skirmished with the Turks which so â—reatly pleased the gouernour of HADRIANOPLE that he thereby grew into his great fauour Many other Turkes also vnder pretence of like discontentment resorted vnto Chasis wherewith finding himselfe well strengthened he writ letters secretly vnto Amurath That he would deliuer one of the gates of HADRIANOPLE vnto him at a certaine appointed time if he would â—gainst the same time be readie to send him present succors All things being agreed vpon Chasis at the appointed
their forces against them but were readie to turn their weapons one vpon another and so by their owne discord more than by the enemies force were made a prey vnto the Turks by whoÌ„ they were put to flight slain with so great a slaughter that the place wherin they fell not far froÌ„ GERMIA is thereof at this day called Zirf Zindugi that is to say the place wherein the Seruians were ouerthrowne The news of this so notable a victorie with the fift part of the spoile a great number of the heads of the slaine Christians were after the barbarous manner of the Turks sent to Amurath into ASIA being now readie with a great power to haue come ouer CALLIPOLIS who joyfull therof glad to see such a present the assured witnesse of the victorie returned againe to PRUSA This was done in the yeare 1366. In which yeare also Amurath with wonderfull triumph circumcised his two sonnes Baiazet and Iacup At which time he also built a temple with a monasterie and a colledge at BILEZUGA and another faire church at NEAPOLIS at PRUSA he also built a stately pallace in the castle with a great church at the gates thereof in which citie he also founded an abbey and a colledge Germean Ogli a great Mahometane prince in ASIA whose territorie for the most part lay in the greater PHRYGIA and the countries thereabout bordering vpon the Othoman kingdome hauing alwaies enuied at the rising of the Othoman kings as did all the rest of the Mahometane princes of the Selzuccian familie and fearing that their greatnesse might after his death grow dangerous vnto his sonne Iacup being now himselfe very aged thought good for the more safetie of his sâ—ate to joyne in alliance with Amurath And for that purpose sent Isaach a learned doctor of the Mahometane law embassador vnto him with many rich presents and to offer his daughter the ladie Hatun in marriage vnto his sonne Baiazet promising with her in dowrie diuers great cities and townes with their territories in PHRYGIA and BITHYNIA adjoyning vpon the Othoman kingdome namely CUTAIE SIMAU EGREGIOS TAUSANLE and others Neither was this a small dowrie but well beseeming so great a prince the citie of CUTAIE being at this day the place whereat the Turkish emperours great lieutenant or viceroy in ASIA is alwaies resiant as in the heart of his kingdome in the lesser ASIA Of which match so offered Amurath liking well contracted his sonne Baiazet vnto the said ladie and for solemnization of the mariage prepared all things with great magnificence sending his embassadours to most of the Mahometane kings and princes both farre and neere to inuite them thereunto commaunding also most of the nobilitie of his kingdome to honour the same with their presence The time of this marriage drawing neere embassadours came to Amurath his court from all the princes before inuited amongst whom the embassadour from the Aegyptian Sultan had the highest place These embassadors brought with them many great and rich gifts such as well beseemed the great princes their masters which they with all reuerence presented vnto Amurath At length amongst the rest of his owne nobilitie came the lord Eurenoses whom he had before left gouernour of the frontiers of his kingdome in EUROPE who besides many other rich gifts not easily to be valued presented vnto Amurath an hundred goodly boyes with as many beautifull yong maidens all Christian captiues sutably attired in garments richly embrodered with gold and siluer euerie one of them carrying a cup of gold in the one hand and a cup of siluer in the other the cups of gold hauing in them diuers precious stones of great value and the cups of siluer being filled with gold The richnesse of this present was so great that all the embassadours of the forraine princes much wondered thereat All which rich gift Amurath most bountifully bestowed vpon the strange embassadours and the presents which were sent vnto him from other princes he liberally gaue to Eurenoses The learned and religious which came to that mariage hee so bountifully rewarded also that none came to the same poore but he went away rich He had before sent diuers of his nobilitie with an hundred ladies and gentlemen and a guard of three thousand horsemen to attend the comming of the bride On the other side the old prince Germean-Ogli meeting this honourable companie vpon the way saluted euery man of account according to his degree and bringing them to one of his cities in most royall manner feasted them bestowing vpon them many rich and princely gifts all which things with great solemnitie performed he deliuered his daughter the bride to two of the most antient ladies whereof the one had beene Baiazet his nurse and so taking leaue of his daughter sent her away accompanied with his wife Ienses and other of his courtiers who conueying her to PRUSA she was there in most roiall manner married to Baiazet The cities and townes promised in dowrie were accordingly deliuered into the possession of Amurath who shortly after tooke possession of the same and furnished them with his owne garrisons At this marriage Chusen Beg prince of AMISUM in GALATIA by his embassadour sold his territorie of AMISUM vnto Amurath with many faire citties and townes doubting as it was thought how to be able to keep them now that Amurath was come so neere him whom he saw not to let slip any occasion offered vnto him for the enlarging of his kingdome When Amurath had in this sort spent great time in ASIA hee gathered a strong armie to returne into EUROPE but before his departure he committed the gouernment of his kingdome in ASIA which the Turks call ANATOLIA vnto his sonne Baiazet joyning with him Temurtases a valiant man of great experience and hauing set all things in order in ASIA passed ouer HELLESPONTUS to CALLIPOLIS from whence hee marched towards HADRIANOPLE and because hee would take some thing in his way he besieged MAGALGARA which hee in short time woon where Lala Schahin and Eurenoses with all their forces came to him which two captaines he sent to besiege the citie PHERoe which was by them after a few dayes siege taken Buâ—â—e himselfe to bee reuenged vpon Lazarus the Despot led his armie into SERVIA where after hee had without resistance forraged the countrey foureteene daies vnderstanding by his captaines that the strong citie of NISSA being the metropoliticall citie of SERVIA was as it were the key of that kingdome he presently marched thither and laid siege to the same and by the aduice of Iaxis Beg the sonne of Temurtases in short time woon it Which thing so daunted Lazarus Despot or lord of SERVIA that he despairing in his owne forces hauing so soone lost one of his strongest citties foorthwith sent embassadours to Amurath to entreat a peace offering to pay him a yearely tribute of fiftie thousand pounds and to aid him with a thousand men in his wars whensoeuer he should require
the reuolt of Lazarus Despot of SERVIA was therewith much disquieted Wherefore he commanded Alâ—â—â—Bassa his cheefe counsellour with all speed to send foorth commissions into all parts of his kingdome for the leuying of a royall armie which was done in such post hast that it was thought he would haue taken the field before the beginning of the Spring At which time also the other Mahometane kings and princes of ASIA Caraman Ogli Teke Ogli and the rest bound vnto him by homage with diuers others of smaller power were sent for to aid him in this war who partly for feare and partly mooued with the zeale of their Mahometane superstition brought their forces with great deuotion Vnto this war against the Christians came also great numbers of the Mahometanes from far countries as voluntarie souldiors Baiazet his sonne also then gouernor of CUTAIE with a great part of GALATIA gathering all his forces came to aid his father in this religious war as it was by theÌ„ tearmed The Christian tributarie princes were not then forgotten of whom two came namely Custendyll and Seratzill other two forsaking Amurath came not which was Sasmenos prince of BULGARIA and the prince of VARNA and DOERITZA with whom Amurath was highly offended In the time of this so great a preparation old Lala Schahin Amurath his tutor and faithfull seruitor died being a man of great yeares and Temurtases was appointed gouernour in his place The reuolting of the two Christian princes Sasmenos and the prince of VARNA much grieued Amurath wherefore hee commaunded Alis Bassa with an armie of thirtie thousand to inuade and spoile Sasmenos his countrey now called BULGARIA and in antient time the lower MYSIA Alis Bassa according to that was giuen him in charge calling vnto him Iaxis Beg the sonne of Temurtases Vlu Beg Suratze Bassa with other captaines and commaunders of the Turks prouinces in EUROPE assembled an armie of thirtie thousand for the inuasion of BULGARIA With this armie the Bassa tooke many strong townes and castles in BULGARIA as PIRAVADE VENVZINA MADRA SVNI with others In the meane time whilest Alis Bassa had thus begun the wars against the Christians in BVLGARIA Amurath hauing gathered a great armie in ASIA determined in the beginning of the Spring to passe ouer with the same into EUROPE commending the gouernment of his countries in ASIA to Temurtases Bassa Ferices Beg Temurtaces Subbassa Cutlu Beg and Haza Beg and so all things set in order in ASIA he drew down his Asian forces towards HELLESPONTVS where he was a while staied with coÌ„trary winds but was afterwards transported to CALLIPOLIS by Ienitze Beg Sanzacke there This was the third time that Amurath brought his armie out of ASIA into EUROPE But whilest he staied at CALLIPOLIS Baiazet his sonne with a great power came unto him thither Alis Bassa also vnderstanding of Amurath his arriuall in EUROPE retired out of BVLGARIA and came to him at CALCIDE recounting vnto him the whole successe of his expedition into BVLGARIA Sasmenos prince of BVLGARIA seeing his countrey spoiled his strong cities and castles taken by the Turks and withall hearing of their great preparations for warre by the aduice of his nobilitie thought it best betimes againe to submit himselfe vnto Amurath wherefore tying a winding sheet about his necke in token that he had deserued death after the manner of the Barbarians he came to Amurath at CALCIDE where falling flat vpon the ground at the horses feet whereon Amurath sat he in most humble wise craued pardon offering by a certaine day to deliuer SILISTRIA the chiefe citie of his dominion into Amurath his possession as a pledge of his fidelitie who thereupon graunted him pardon and to assure him of his fauour commaunded a rich garment to be cast vpon him after the manner of the Turks sending Alis Bassa at the time appointed to take possession of SILISTRIA But Sasmenos repenting himselfe of that hee had so largely promised would not deliuer his citie but in strongest manner he could presently fortified the same Wherewith Amurath more offended than before commaunded the Bassa with fire and sword againe to spoile and wast his countrey who according to his commaundement entred againe into BULGARIA and strucke such a terrour of his comming into the hearts of the people that many strong places were voluntarily yeelded into his power namely DIRITZE COSSOVA with the citie TERNOVA the seat of the princes court TZERNEVI NOVAKESTRI ZISTOVA with diuers others and proceeding farther he laid siege to NICOPOLIS the strongest citie of BULGARIA vpon the side of the great riuer DANVBIUS whither Sasmenos was for feare himselfe fled Who finding himselfe vnable to hold out the siege once again with shame ynough tying a winding sheet about his necke as he had done before and taking his sonne with him went out of the citie and in most abject manner falling downe at the Bassa his feet craued pardon which the Bassa mooued with compassion to see the miserie of so great a man and hauing alreadie taken from him the greatest part of his dominion and now out of feare of further resistance easily graunted And hauing thus ended the Bulgarian war returned to Amurath of whom he was right joyfully receiued Amurath had now made great preparation for the inuading of SERVIA for which purpose he had drawne ouer into EUROPE the greatest forces he possibly could out of ASIA sending also for his youngest sonne Iacup gouernour of CARASIA who vnderstanding his fathers pleasure repaired vnto him with all the power hee could make This armie by Amurath thus assembled was the greatest that euer was before that brought by the Turks into EVROPE Lazarus not ignorant of this great preparation made by Amurath had drawn into the societie of this war the king of BOSNA as is aforesaid with Vulcus prince of MACEDONIA his sonne in law who both brought vnto him great aid hee had also by his embassadors procured great supplies from other Christian kings and princes out of VALACHIA HVNGARIA CROATIA SCLAVONIA ALBANIA BVLGARIA and ITALIE besides great numbers of other voluntarie deuout Christians which all assembled and met together did in number far exceed the great armie of the Turks With this armie Lazarus the Despot encamped vpon the side of the riuer Moroua the greater not far from whence stood the strong castle of SARKIVE which Alis Bassa had of late taken from Sasmenos the Bulgarian prince standing as it were betwixt BVLGARIA and SERVIA this castle being now possessed of the Turks was thought by Lazarus dangerous to his countrie who therefore sent one Demetrius a right valiant captaine with certain companies of select men to take in the same The name of this captaine Demetrius was a generall terrour vnto the Turks for the harme he had done them so that they in the castle hearing that he was come without further resistance yeelded the same vnto him Whereof Amurath vnderstanding sent Eine and Sarutze Bassa to recouer the same but
good word for them When suddenly the aforesaid Aethiopian jeaster stept foorth earnestly requesting the king not to shew them any fauour but to execute them presently as villaines and traitours rayling vpon them as if he had knowne some great fault by them Baiazet thinking he could haue accused them of some great crime because of his earnestnes asked what reason hee had so to exclaime against them Reason quoth the jeaster because the knaues bee good for nothing and they say that Tamerlan is with a great armie comming against vs if you will but take vp an ensigne in your hand and I goe before you with a drum I will strike vp such a terrible march and you make such a dreadfull shew that wee shall neede none of these bad fellowes or their souldiours in the field to get the victorie ouer our enemies This conceit of the jeaster strucke such a melancholie imagination into Baiazet his head that hee stood musing a great while as it were in a deepe studie at last hauing well considered the drift of the jeasters speech and his furie now somewhat assuaged graunted them pardon which they looked not for This Aethiopian jeaster Baiazet vpon a time sent vnto the old queene his mother to bring her news of the good successe of his wars against the Christians for that she had so desired who comming vnto her and by her commaunded to sit downe she began to demaund of him how the king her sonne did and of the successe of his wars Wherevnto he answered that he did verie well and had won from the Christians a great countrey and greatly enriched his souldiours But after a little more talke the queene mother desirous to heare againe the good newes or else after the manner of some which thinke nothing sufficiently told except it bee told an hundreth times asked him againe how the king her sonne did and how he sped in his wars Wherevnto he answered euerie word as before but asking him the third time the verie same question how her sonne did Doest thou aske me so often said the Aethiopian how hee doth Bre Cachpe O whoore said he thou hast brought forth a sonne like a diuell who roaming vp and downe doth nothing but burne and destroie the world where he commeth Whereat the queene crying out vp start the Aethiopian and betaking himselfe to his heeles was neuer more afterwards seene In the wars which Baiazet had against Sigismund the Vayuod of VALACHIA had giuen aid vnto the Hungarian king wherewith Baiazet being offended determined now at length to be reuenged and therefore intending to make warre vpon the Valachian prince left Temurtases his great lieutenant at ANCYRA in ASIA so passed ouer HELLESPONTUS himselfe against the Valachian Vpon whose departure Aladin his sisters sonne the yong king of CARAMANIA with a great power came suddenly in the night to ANCYRA and tooke Temurtases prisoner who then feared nothing lesse than in time of peace to haue been so surprised and caried away in bonds into CARAMANIA But when he vnderstood that Baiazet had ended his wars in VALACHIA and was with victorie returned to PRUSA he fearing his heauie indignation for so great an outrage presently released Temurtases out of prison apparelled him richly after the maner of that nation craued pardon for the wrong he had done him and set him at libertie to goe whither he would and withall sent one of his noblemen with great gifts and presents to Baiazet to make his excuse in best maner he could vnto which embassador Baiazet yet in choler would not giue audience or suffer him to come in his sight but at the same time leuied a great armie to inuade CARAMANIA Which Aladin vnderstanding and now out of all hope to appease this mightie enemie leuied all the forces he could in his owne kingdome and withall entertained all the mercenarie soldiors he could get intending to trie his fortune in the filed as a man of valour rather than to be thrust out of his kingdome like a coward so in readinesse hearing of the cōming of Baiazet met him vpō the way at a place called ACZAC gaue him battell but being too weak he was ouercome put to flight in which flight his horse stumbling he so falling to the groūd was there before he could recouer himself takē by his enemies which had him in chase so brought boūd to Baiazet his two sons Muhamet Beg Alis Beg being takē in that battell also were sent prisoners to PRUSA Aladin himselfe was by Baiazet his cōmandement deliuered to his enemy Temurtases who in reuēge of the wrong he had before done him presently caused him to be hanged which when Baiazet vnderstood hee seemed very sorrie that he had so put him to death for that he was his owne sisters sonne Baiazet following the course of his victorie woon ICONIVM LARENDA NIGDE with all the rest of Aladin his kingdome About this time also AMASIA the great metropoliticall citie of CAPADOCIA was by the prince thereof deliuered vnto Baiazet being too weake himselfe to defend the same against the force of Casi-Burchanidin prince of the great and strong citie of SEBASTIA his enemie now growne to be a man of great power in that part of ASIA and had solicited the Sultan of AEGYPT to aid him against Baiazet Whereupon Baiazet returning from the conquest of CARAMANIA led his armie towards SEBASTIA where the cittizens had a little before depriued Casi-Burchanidin of his gouernment for his crueltie and placed his sonne in his stead but in short time no lesse wearie of the sonne than before of the father they with like inconstancie sent word to Baiazet that if he would come that way they would yeeld vnto him the citie vpon whose approch Casis his son for feare fled out of the citie to prince Nasradin his brother in law After whose departure the cittizens according to their promise deliuered the citie vnto Baiazet at his comming wherein hee left Solyman his eldest sonne gouernour And so hauing in this notable expedition conquered the kingdome of CARAMANIA and taken the great citties of AMASIA and SEBASTIA with most part of CAPPADOCIA and all that part of ASIA which the Turks call RUMILIA ASIATICA he returned to PRUSA and there wintered The next Spring Baiazet hearing that his old enemie Cutrun Baiazet prince of CASTAMONA and PONTUS was dead came to CASTAMONA with a great armie of whose comming Isfendiar Cutrun Baiazet his sonne and then prince of that country hearing fled out of the citie to SYNOPE a little citie vpon the coast of the Euxine from whence he sent an embassador vnto Baiazet humbly requesting him to suffer him to haue that little citie as his seruant to liue in which he was sure he would otherwise bestow vpon some other of his seruants not to seeke the innocent blood of the sonne for the fathers offence Which his request Baiazet moued with pitie graunted yet neuerthelesse
Turkish kingdome as well in EUROPE as in ASIA And here the Turkish histories begin the raigne of this Mahomet fifth king of the Turks accounting the troublesome time from the captiuitie of Baiazet vnto the death of Musa as a time of vacancie or Anarchi wherein the Turkish kingdome was not at any time wholie possessed by any one of Baiazet his sonnes Isa possessing one part whereof hee was by Mahomet dispossessed who afterwardes vsurped all that part of the Turkish kingdome in ASIA being the right of his eldest brother Solyman Who at that time raigning in EUROPE was deposed and strangled by his brother Musa who was in like manner serued by his youngest brother Mahomet the onely sonne of Baiazet then left as is before at large declared Which diuers mutations and interrupted successions was the cause that the Historiographers doe so greatly discent vpon the successour of Baiazet some reckoning one some another and some more some fewer and some such as neuer were But forasmuch as Mahomet held all or most part of the Turkish kingdome in ASIA during this troublesome time and in the end possessed the other part thereof in EUROPE also I reckon him for the fifth king of the Turks and successour to his father Baiazet including also in this Historie of his life all that intestine and serpentine-like tragedie wherin he himselfe was the principall actor Whilest Mahomet was as is aforesaid thus busied in his wars in EUROPE against his brother Musa the king of CARAMANIA taking the aduantage of his troubles there with a great armie inuaded his kingdome joyning vpon him in ASIA burning and spoiling all before him as he went Eiuases Bassa Mahomet his lieutenant then lying at PRUSA not able to withstand him and fearing his comming thether because it was the seat of the Othoman kings in ASIA caused the citizens to bring the greatest part of their wealth into the castle whereinto he also receiued so many of the citizens as he conueniently could willing the rest to shift for themselues as they might in such case of extremitie Shortly after the king of CARAMANIA according to his expectation came to PRUSA and without resistance tooke the citie not as yet fully fortified which he without delaie caused the second time to be burnt downe to the ground and afterwards laid siege to the castle giuing many great assaults thereto by the space of thirtie daies but was alwaies valiantly repulsed by Eiuases the Bassa who ceased not continually to encourage his souldiours still putting them in comfort That Mahomet hauing now ouercome his enemies in EUROPE would in few daies vndoubtedly come to their releefe It chaunced at the same time that the dead bodie of Musa sent to PRUSA to be buried was honourably conuaied vpon the way with much people following it The Caramanian king hearing of the comming of such a multitude and fearing it to haue been Mahomet with his power raised his siege and with speed departed whereat the Turks long time after jeasted saying If the Caramanian king runne away for feare of the dead bodie of the Othoman king what would he doe if hee had come against him aliue but the truth was he feared Mahomet and his power Orchanes the sonne of Solyman yet a boy hauing liued at CONSTANTINOPLE euer since the death of his father about this time departed thence because of the league but lately made between the emperour and his vncle Mahomet purposing to haue gone into VALACHIA but by the way as hee was trauelling the Turkish voluntarie souldiours vnderstanding that hee was the sonne of their late king Solyman resorted vnto him in great numbers offering in his quarrell to spend their liues Of which insurrection Mahomet hearing marched thether in all hast with a great power to suppresse the same of whose coming the souldiors with Orchanes vnderstanding dispierced themselues and fled As for Orchanes himselfe he was by his vnfaithfull tutor Zaganos betraied vnto his vncle Mahomet who presently caused his eies to be put out and so sent him to PRUSA allowing him great reuenewes to liue vpon and euer after vsed him with great honour The sister of this Orchanes he gaue in marriage to one of his noblemen with a great dowrie This is that Orchanes whom some historiographers reckon vp among the Turkish kings as one of the successours of Baiazet and that hee was betrayed to his vncle Moses erring as I suppose both in the succession and the name mistaking Moses for Mahomet Now Mahomet calling to remembrance the injurie which the Caramanian king had done to him in his absence returning to PRUSA assembled a great armie to reuenge himselfe of that wrong At which time he sent to the prince Isfendiar for aid who sent him his sonne Cassumes He commanded also the prince Germian Ogli to make prouision for the victualing of his campe as he should passe by his countrey which was accordingly done And so prouided of all things necessarie he with his armie entred into the Caramanian countrey Where he tooke the cities ASPROPOLIS DESPOTOPOLIS HIEROPOLIS and besieged ICONIUM but by reason of the imoderate raine which at that time fell he was glad to make peace with the Caramanian king called also Mahomet And so raising his siege departed towards PONTUS where hee had not long staied but that newes was brought vnto him That the Caramanian king renouncing his league was againe vp in armes Wherefore returning into CARAMANIA and so to ICONIUM he there ouerthrew the king in battaile and tooke both him and his son Mustapha prisoners who redeemed themselues by deliuering diuers of their strong cities and castles into his hands and afterward concluded a peace they receiuing from him an ensigne as the Turkish maner is in token they were now become his vassales The Caramanian warre thus happily ended he went ouer into EUROPE and passing ouer DANUBIUS foraged the countrey of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA making there great spoile for redresse whereof the Valachian prince by his embassadours sent him such tribute as hee demaunded and his son also to serue him in his court About which time happened a great earthquake in PRUSA and other places of ASIA wherby many houses towers were ouerthrown after which ensued great troubles in most parts of ASIA howbeit Mahomet going thether by his presence kept all his dominions in peace and quietnesse Isfendiar prince of CASTAMONA and part of PONTUS reseruing vnto himselfe CASTAMONA with a little part more of his dominion gaue the rest vnto Mahomet vpon condition that he should restore no part thereof againe vnto his sonne Cassumes who hauing long time serued in Mahomet his court and warres could not be persuaded to returne againe vnto his father and therefore was by him thus disinherited Which great gift Mahomet thankefully accepted and in lieu thereof assigned vnto Cassumes other great and large possessions within his owne kingdome Mahomet after the death of his brother Musa had sent Scheiches Bedredin his brothers
most part the faithfulnesse of all the rest they will looke vpon you whom they may praise or accuse and whose example they may follow in the fortune of these warres But to what purpose should men of woorth in their actions pretend the necessitie of faith or chaunce of fortune whereas by reason things are both best begun and accomplished It seldome chaunceth that fortune faileth the sound aduice or is not obedient vnto vertue and you haue all things which most politicke care could prouide for your safetie You want not armour you want not plentifull prouision of victuals you want not valiant men the superfluous multitude of vnnecessarie people the pitifull lamentation of women and troublesome crying of children shall not withdraw you from your publike charge from your seruice and defence of your countrey I haue left you alone to your selues for defence of your citie your religion and dwellings that you might be encouraged onely with the prouocations of honour and libertie with the emulation of aduenture and danger and the very sight one of another and I my selfe will not be far off with my courageous souldiors a silent beholder and encourager of your vertue where although I may not auert from you all the force of the cruell enemie by rash aduenture nor trie the whole fortune of this war in plaine field yet will I turne a great part of your dangers vpon my selfe and trouble the enemies designes with many a hot skirmish For as much as there is no better manner of fight nor safer kind of warre for vs amongst such a multitude of men and so many thousands of souldiors than neuer to offer battaile vnto the enemie in plaine field neither to aduenture all vpon the fortune of one conflict although a man did see apparent signes of victorie He will of purpose at the first giue vs the oportunitie of good hap hee will feed our hardinesse with the blood of his base souldiors the easilier to intrap and oppresse our rashnesse allured with the sweet bait of good fortune but the craftie deuises of the Othoman king are by great policie and consideration to be frustrated This mightie enemie is by little and little to bee cut off as time and place shall giue occasion For truly that victorie should bee vnto me lamentable which I should buy with the blood of my souldiors and beleeue me it would be vnto me a more sorrowfull than pleasant sight to see eight or ten thousand of my enemies slaine with the losse of a few of you I will praise and honour my subiects of EPIRVS for valiant conquerours if they shall not suffer themselues to be conquered of the Turkish king The rest I had rather you courageous souldiors of DIERA should consider with your selues than that I should seeme to distrust of your assured faith by giuing you a carefull and tedious admonition When Scanderbeg had with cheerefull persuasion thus encouraged the minds of them of SFETIGRADE he departed thence and visited diuers other cities of EPIRVS where finding all things politickely ordered by Moses and the other captaines whom he had put in trust he returned to his armie then lying neere vnto CROIA Whilest Scanderbeg was with great carefulnesse yet thus prouiding for the safegard of his kingdome in the meane time Amurath his armie was assembled at HADRIANOPLE to the number of a hundred and fiftie thousand men whereof many were pioners and men appointed for other base seruices necessarie at the siege of townes Of this great armie Amurath sent fortie thousand light horsemen before him to SFETIGRADE who according to his commaund came and encamped before the citie the newes of their comming with a great deale more than truth was forthwith brought to Scanderbeg then lying with his small armie neere CROIA whereupon he with foure thousand horsemen and a thousand foot took the way toward SFETIGRADE and strongly encamped his armie within seuen miles of the citie Where hauing set all things in good order he accompanied with Moses and Tanusius went by certaine blind waies through the mountaines and woods vntill he came so neere vnto the citie that from the place where hee stood vpon the top of a hill he might easily discouer in what sort the enemie lay encamped and so returning backe againe to his campe rise with his armie in the night following and drawing as neere vnto the Turks armie as he could vndiscouered placed all his armie in the couert of the woods and secret valleyes vnperceiued of his enemies After that hee sent forth Moses and Musachi his nephew with thirtie of his best horsemen apparelled as if they had been but common souldiors but passing well mounted driuing before them certaine horses laden with corne by a by-way as if they had purposed to haue secretly got into the cittie The day then breaking they were discouered by the Turks scouts and set vpon where at the first Moses and the rest began of purpose to flie but when he saw that they were pursued but with like number to themselues hee returned backe vpon the Turks and slew fiue of them and chased the rest vnto the campe The Generall seeing what had happened sent foorth foure thousand horsemen to pursue these supposed victualers whom they quickly recouered the sight of for that Moses of purpose had made small hast to flie but when the Turks began to draw nigh Moses left the horses laden with corn and fled yet so that he still drew on the Turks with hope to ouertake him vntill he had brought them where Scanderbeg with his armie lay in wait by whom they were suddainly assailed on euerie side and with great slaughter put to flight In this conflict two thousand of the Turkes were slaine and a thousand of their horses taken of the Christians were lost but two and twentie This was the first welcome of the Turks armie to SFETIGRADE About eight daies after came Amurath with all his armie in the beginning of May in the yeare of our lord 1449 and hauing made the greatest shew he could with his huge armie to terrifie the defendants he encamped the baser sort of his footmen at the foot of the hill whereon the citie stood and lay himselfe with his Ianizaries and other his most valiant souldiors about three quarters of a mile further off where after he had line still one daie well considered the strength of the place towards euening he sent a messenger to the citie who requested to speake with the Gouernour Perlat Whereof hee hearing came to the wall of whom the messenger requested That he would commaund the souldiours standing by to goe further off for as much as he had some thing in secret to say vnto him from his master Vnto whom Perlat merrily answered It is like indeed to bee some great secret that you would haue kept not onely from the hearing of my soldiors but from the verie light of the dale and therefore haue chosen the night but I
Islands of the AEGEVM which after the losse of CONSTANTINOPLE had for the most part put themselues vnder the protection of the Venetians and commanded his admirall with that fleet to take his course through the straits of Bosphorus into the great Euxine sea now called the blacke sea and so sailing alongst the coast to come to anker before SINOPE the cheefe citie of PAPHLAGONIA and there to expect his comming thither with his armie by land This great citie of SINOPE standeth pleasantly vpon a point of the maine which runneth a great way into the Euxine sometime the metropoliticall citie of that prouince but as then with CASTAMONA and all the countrey thereabout was vnder the gouernement of Ismael a Mahometane prince vpon whom Mahomet had now bent his forces for no other cause than that he was in league with Vsun-Cassan the Persian king Now with great expedition had Mahomet leuied a strong armie and passing therwith ouer into ASIA was come before he was looked for to SINOPE Ismael seeing himselfe so suddainely beset both by sea and land in his strongest citie although he wanted nothing needfull for his defence hauing in the citie foure hundred peeces of great artillerie and ten thousand souldiours yet doubting to be able with that strength to endure the siege offered to yeeld vp the citie to Mahomet with all the rest of his dominion vpon condition That he should freely giue him in lieu thereof the citie of PHILIPPOPOLIS in THRACIA with the countrey therevnto adjoyning Of which his offer Mahomet accepted and so taking possession of SINOPE with the strong citie of CASTAMONA and all the rest of the princes territorie sent him away with all his things to PHILIPPOPOLIS as he had promised This Ismael was the last of the honourable house of the Isfendiars who had long time raigned at HERACLEA and CASTAMONA in PONTVS From SINOPE he marched on forward with his armie to TRAPEZOND This famous citie standeth also vpon the side of the Euxine or Blacke sea in the country of PONTVS where the emperors of CONSTANTINOPLE had alwayes their deputies whilest that empire flourished and commaunded the East part of the world as farre as PARTHIA but after it began againe to decline as all worldly things haue but their time one Isaack whose father emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE the Constantinopolitanes had for his euill gouernment slaine flying to TRAPEZOND tooke vpon him the gouernment of that citie with the countries of PONTVS and CAPADOCIA and many other great prouinces and was at first called the king of TRAPEZOND but after hee was well established in that gouernment both he and his successours tooke vpon them the name and title of emperours which they maintained equally if not better than the late Constantinopolitane emperours and therefore are of most accounted for emperours Hee that then raigned was called Dauid Comnenus which most honourable familie of the Comneni had long time before raigned in CONSTANTINOPLE and out of the same were many other great princes descended which ruled in diuers places of MACEDONIA EPIRVS and GRaeCIA Mahomet comming to TRAPEZOND laied hard siege vnto the same by the space of thirtie dayes both by sea and land burnâ— the suburbs thereof as he had before at SINOPE The fearefull emperour dismayed with the presence of so mightie an enemie and the sight of so puissant an armie offered to yeeld vnto him the citie with his whole empire vpon condition That hee should take his daughter to wife and deliuer vnto him some other prouince which might yeeld him such yearely profit as might suffice for the honourable maintenance of his state Mahomet perceiuing the weakenesse of his enemie by his large offers refused to accept therof and attempted by force to haue taken the citie which not sorting to his desire the matter was againe brought to parle where after long debating too and fro it was at last agreed vpon That the emperour vpon the faith of the Turkish king for his safe returne should in person meet him without the cittie if happily so some good attonement might be made betwixt them Whereupon the emperour following the Turkes faith before solemnly giuen for his safe returne as was before agreed went out of the citie to meet him in hope to haue made some good agreement with him but as soone as hee was come out Mahomet according to the damnable hellish doctrine of his false prophet That faith is not to be kept with Christians presently caused the emperour to be cast into bonds and so to be detained as prisoner Which when it was bruted in the citie the citizens vtterly discouraged without farther resistance yeelded themselues with the citie into his power Mahomet now lord of TRAPEZOND entring the citie tooke prisoners the emperors daughter with all the rest of his children and kindred and all such of the nobilitie as hee found in the citie whom he caused forthwith together with the emperor to be sent by sea as it were in triumph to CONSTANTINOPLE Of the rest of the cittizens he chose out so many as hee pleased for his owne seruice and appointed eight hundred of the Christian children in whom appeared most towardlinesse to be brought vp for Ianizaries many also of the other citizens were sent into captiuitie to CONSTANTINOPLE the beautifull women and virgines hee deuided amongst his friends and men of warre certaine chosen paragons of whom hee sent as presents to his sonnes After he had thus taken his pleasure in the citie and left none there but the basest of the people he put a strong garrison of his Ianizaries into the castle and a great garrison of common souldiors into the citie appointing his admirall to gouerne the same The rest of the emperours strong townes discouraged with the taking of TRAPEZOND and the miseries thereof in short time submitted themselues vnto the Turkish thraldome wherein they haue euer since most miserably liued So Mahomet in the space of few moneths hauing reduced that empire into the forme of a prouince returned in great triumph to CONSTANTINOPLE when hee had in this expedition subdued PAPHLAGONIA PONTVS and a great part of CAPADOCIA with some other prouinces neere vnto the Euxine sea When he was come to CONSTANTINOPLE he sent the emperour with his children prisoners to HADRIANOPLE But afterwards vnderstanding that the Persian queene the wife of Vsun-Cassan sought meanes to get some one of her vnckles children whom by the power of her husband she might if it were possible aduance vnto her fathers empire he sent for Dauid the wofull emperour to CONSTANTINOPLE and there cruelly caused him withall his sonnes and kinsmen to be put to death and to the vttermost of his power rooted out all that most honourable familie of the Comneni excepting George the emperors youngest sonne who at his first comming to HADRIANOPLE turned Turke whose sister the emperours daughter Mahomet afterwards tooke to be one of his concubines This Christian empire was by the Turkish
entertainement there in the time of the ciuile wars betwixt Caesar and Pompeius This citie Mahomet thought to haue taken vnprouided and so vpon the suddaine to haue carried it but was therein much deceiued finding it strongly fortified and manned both by the Venetians and Scanderbeg Where when he had there spent some time and to his great losse in vaine attempted the cittie hee rise vpon the suddaine and retiring into EPIRVS came and sat downe againe before CROIA of purpose by his suddaine comming to haue terrified the cittizens and vainely persuaded that he had left Scanderbeg in DIRRACHIVM for that in the assailing thereof he had discouered many of Scanderbeg his men and thereby supposed him to haue beene there also the greatest cause why he so suddenly rise and came to CROIA At his first comming he offered great rewards and large priuiledges vnto the cittizens if they would forthwith yeeld vp their citie otherwise he threatened vnto them all the calamities of warre vowing neuer to depart thence before he had it whereunto he receiued no other answere out of the cittie than was sent him by the mouth of the Cannon or brought him by many most braue sallies Scanderbeg in the meane while continually molesting his campe and euery night falling into one quarter or another thereof Mahomet taught by experience to what small purpose it would bee for him to lie there long rise with his armie marched againe to the sea side to a place now called the head of REDON vpon the gulfe of VENICE not farre from DIRRACHIVM where Scanderbeg had begun to build a new cittie called CHIVRILL not yet finished which Mahomet in despight of the man rased downe to the ground After that hearing that many of the Epirots were retired into the mountaines hee went to seeke them out and was with greâ—â— losse by those mountaine people repulsed Scanderbeg still following him at the heeles and awaiting all oportunities daily cut off part of his armie So that at last the tyrant despairing of any good to bee done in that expedition was glad to depart out of EPIRVS hauing atcheeued nothing worth his comming and so full of discontentment and melancholie returned to CONSTANTINOPLE After all these great troubles Scanderbeg rid ouer most part of EPIRVS to view the state of his kingdome and so at last came to LYSSA a citie of the Venetians which he had alwaies specially liked there to conferre with the Venetian legate and other the confederate princes of matters concerning their state in generall as his manner was but more particularly how they might take the citie of VALMES which Mahomet had the last yeare built in the siegnorie of Aryannites Comynat and much troubled that part of EPIRVS But whilest he lay there he fell sicke of a feauer which daily so encreased vpon him that he became sicke euen vnto death and now perceiuing his end to draw nigh sent for his wife and sonne with the princes and lords his confederates and the embassadours of the Venetians into his bed chamber Where after he had at large with greater paine notably discoursed of his troublesome life led amongst them than he had before passed the same and carefully forewarned them of the dangers like to ensue he earnestly exhorted them to continue in vnitie and concord and valiantly to stand in defence of their religion countrey and libertie And afterwards turning his speech to his wife and his sonne commended them both with his kingdome to the tuition of the Venetians who by the articles of the confederation betwixt him and them were in honour bound to protect his sonne and kingdome during the time of his minoritie and afterwards peaceably to place him in the same In fine he willed his wife after his death to passe ouer with her sonne into APVLIA where they might in safetie and quiet liue vpon such possessions as he there held by the gift of king Ferdinand And so after he had with most feruent prayer commended his soule into the hands of Almightie God departed in peace the seuenteenth day of Ianuarie in the yeare of our Lord 1466 when hee had liued about 63 yeares and thereof raigned about 24. His death was worthely lamented of all Christian princes but especially of the Venetians and princes of ALBANIA who had now lost their most carefull watchman and inuincible champion the sorrow of his subjects is not to bee expressed euery man bewayling him as the onely stay of the commonweale and as if with him they had lost all their hope His deadâ—bodie was with the generall lamentation of all men royally buried in the cathedrall church of S. Nicholas at LYSSA where it rested in peace vntill that about nine yeares after the Turkes comming to the siege of SCODRA by the way tooke the citie of LYSSA and there with great deuotion digged vp his bones reckoning it in some part of their happinesse if they might but see or touch the same and such as could get any part thereof were it neuer so little caused the same to be set some in siluer some in gold to hang about their neckes or weare vpon their bodies persuading themselues by the wearing thereof to be partakers of such good fortune and hap as had Scanderbeg himselfe whilest he liued which is not vnaptly by Gabriell Fairnus of CREMONA thus in verse expressed SCANDERBEG In English thus The bloudie bane of faithlesse Turkes and terrour of their name EPIRVS strong defence and guard lay buried there with fame Within that tombe wherein long since Great Castriotus lay But now those limbs and tombe defac'd are carried quite away The remnants of that worthy wight out of his graue were torne And being dead could find no rest but were for jewels worne For after he farre spent with age gaue place to fatall doome And left his fathers kingdome got and kept with great renowme Forthwith the cruell Turkes preuaild and all things there possest Who worshipping his stately tombe and place of quiet rest Dig'd vp his bones and brake the tombe wherein he did remaine And glad was he that could thereof some little part obtaine As if in them some martiall force or vertue great had beene Or fortune rare such as before in him was liuing seene So vertue which to others giues a sepulture and graue Bereft it him yet forst his foe in honour it to haue Most part of the time of these warres betwixt Mahomet and Scanderbeg the Venetians by sea and the Hungarians by land kept the Turkes throughly busied Mathias Coruinus king of HVNGARIE according to his promise made vnto the Venetians entred into the kingdome of BOSNA where by force he ouerthrew the strong forts which the Turks had built for the defence of their frontiers and manfully draue them out before him vntill he came to IAZIGA of some called IAITZE the chiefe citie of BOSNA which he at length tooke and following the course of his victorie scarcely suffered the
Ionian and Adriaticke that he might from thence but looke toward ITALIE which he began now to long after he determined with himselfe first to subdue those countries as standing in his way both for the inuasion of ITALIE and of the territories of the Venetians And for as much as the strong cittie of SCODRA otherwise called SCVTARIE then in the possession of the Venetians for the commodious situation thereof seemed to giue him the best entrance into the countries of ALBANIA EPIRVS DALMATIA and to such cities as the Venetians held alongst the sea coast he resolued there to begin his wars This citie was of great strength as well for the naturall situation thereof as for the strong fortifications therein made by the hand of man which thing Mahomet was not ignorant of but presuming of his owne strength and power vainely persuaded himselfe that no place was now able long to hold out gainst him Wherefore hauing prepared all things fit for the besieging thereof he sent Solyman Bassa an Eunuch whom hee had made his lieutenant Generall in EVROPE in the place of Amurath Bassa before slaine by Vsun-Cassanes with eightie thousand souldiours to besiege SCODRA This great Bassa according to his charge came and with great pompe encamped round about the citie the fiue and twentieth of May. Shortly after hauing planted his batterie hee began most furiously to shake the wals and ceased not by all meanes hee could deuise to â—rouble the defendants and when he had by force of the cannon done what hee could gaue diuers sharpe assaults vnto the cittie but was still with great losse valiantly repulsed by them of the citie Long it were to declare how often and in what terrible manner that warlike Bassa Mahomet his cheefe captaine attempted to haue woon the citie as also to shew how they of SCODRA directed by their worthie Gouernour Antonius Lauretanus valiantly defended themselues and their cittie nothing was omitted that the enemie could doe or deuise for the gaining thereof but all his deuises and attempts were so met withall by the defendants that they serued him to no other purpose but to the destruction of his people Whilst the Bassa thus lay at the siege of SCODRA Mocenicus hauing receiued such commaundement from the Senate came and joyned himselfe to Grittus the new Admirall who then lay with his fleet in the mouth of BOLIANA a great riuer running out of the lake whereupon the cittie of SCODRA standeth These two great commaunders being met together were both as one man and with a wonderfull consent did what they might for the furtherance of the common good a thing not common first they put strong garrisons with all things necessarie into CHOLCHINVM LYSSA DIRRHACHIVM and other citties of their signorie vpon the sea coast After that they went vp the riuer BOLIANA with certaine gallies and came within sight of SCODRA and there by fires in the night and other tokens of comfort encouraged the defendants as with an assured promise of releefe which thing it greeued the Turkes to behold who therefore went about to haue shut in those same gallies with a great chaine drawne crosse the riuer where it was narrowest betwixt them and the sea but in doing thereof the Venetians out of their gallies slew fiue hundred of the Turkes and wounded diuers others and so returned againe to sea It was afterward attempted by the aforesaid Admirals if a new supplie might haue beene put into the cittie but the enemie had so beset the same that it was not possible to be done In the meane time Mathias king of HVNGARIE receiuing a great yearely portion of the Venetians for the defence of their countries against the Turke hearing that SCODRA was besieged began to make such spoile in the Turkes dominions bordering vpon him that Mahomet was glad to call home the great Bassa from the siege of SCODRA to defend his owne frontiers So the Bassa after he had lien three months with his great armie at the siege and lost foureteene thousand of his men whereof the greatest part died of sickenesse taken by long lying in the rotten moorish ground neere vnto the riuer by commaundement from his mastâ—r rise with his armie and departed The Venetians also which lay all that while thereabout in their gallies were toucht with the same contagion Triadanus Grittus died thereof and Mocenicus the other Admirall fell thereof dangerously sicke but being somewhat recouered returned home and was shortly after for his good seruice chosen duke of VENICE Marcellus the old duke being then dead With this dishonour taken at SCODRA Mahomet was so discontented that he appointed a yearely fee vnto one to put him in mind dayly of the siege of SCODRA The same yeare that this great Bassa Solyman had in vaine besieged SCODRA hee was afterward sent with a great armie into VALACHIA where he was so entangled in the woods and fens by Stephanus the Vayuod that hee lost all his armie and with much adoe escaped himselfe by the wonderfull swiftnesse of a mare whereon he rid The yeare following which was the yeare 1476 Mahomet sent out a great fleet to sea vnder the conduct of Geduces Achmetes his cheefe counsellour and man of warre whose very name was dreadfull in all places where hee came in hope to haue by treason surprised the Island of CRETE But that plot was in good time by the Venetians perceiued the traitors executed and he of his purpose disappointed Whereupon he changed his former purpose for CRETE sent the same Achmetes with his fleet into the Euxine or as the Turkes call it the Blacke sea to besiege the rich citie of CAFFA This citie was in antient time called THEODOSIA situate in the countrey of TAVRICA CHERSONESVS fast by the sea side and had of long time beene in possession of the Genowaies and was a place of exceeding great trade vntill that this great emperor Mahomet hauing taken CONSTANTINOPLE and falling out with the Venetians had by his strong castles built vpon the straits of HELLESPONTVS and BOSPHORVS taken away both the trafficke of marchants into those seas and all possible meanes for the Genowayes to send succour to that citie yet it is credibly reported that one valiant captaine vndertooke to carrie his companie in number not aboue an hundred and fiftie men by land from GENVA to CAFFA not much lesse than two thousand miles and worthely performed what hee had vndertaken Achmetes comming thither with his fleet enclosed the citie both by sea and land which deuided in it selfe by reason of the diuers disposition of the inhabitants being of diuers nations some Genowayes some Greekes some Armenians but most Tartars could not long hold out but was in short time giuen vp to the Bassa vpon condition That the Genoway marchants who were there both in number many and exceeding rich might in safetie depart thence with their wealth Which promise the Bassa performed not but when he was possessed of the
Were they not nay are they not still readie with great assurance and courage at all assayes to encounter vs. You take a wrong course by force to constraine them They haue taken vpon them the defence of this place and are not thence to be remoued there shall you be sure still to find them either aliue or dead And what account they make of their liues you see they will sell them vnto vs deare for their countrey and preferre an honourable death before a seruile life Wherefore against men so set downe policie is to be vsed and them whom we cannot by force subdue let vs by delay and time ouercome If you will win SCODRA blocke it vp build strong forts in places conuenient round about it and furnish them with good souldiors make a bridge ouer BOLIANA with a strong castle on either side to stop the passage which done besiege the other weaker cities of the Venetians which are as it were the lims of SCODRA and subdue the countrey round about which will be no hard matter for you to doe being master of the field so must SCODRA at length of necessitie yeeld vnto you as of late did CROIA enforced thereunto by famine Thus may you in safetie without slaughter of your people come to the full of your desires The wholesome counsell of the Bassa so well pleased Mahomet himselfe and the rest there present that the assault was laid aside and present order taken for the speedie execution of that which was by him so well plotted Whereupon the Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE with his forces was sent to ZABIACHE a citie in the borders of DALMATIA standing vpon the lake of SCVTARIE not farre from ASCRIVIVM which in few daies was yeelded vnto him The Bassa possessed of the citie thrust out all the inhabitants and leauing therein a garrison of Turks returned againe to the campe at SCODRA At the same time the great Bassa of ASIA was also sent by Mahomet against DRIVASTO a citie also of the Venetians which when hee had besieged and sore battered by the space of sixteene dayes the great tyrant came thither in person himselfe and the next day after his comming tooke the citie without any great resistance Such as hee found vpon the wals he put to the sword of the rest he tooke three hundred away with him vnto the campe at SCODRA and there in the face of the citie caused them all to be cruelly slain of purpose so to terrifie the defendants The next day after hee sent the great Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE to LYSSA called also ALESSA a citie of the Venetians situated vpon the riuer Drinus about thirtie miles from SCODRA The Bassa comming thither found the citie desolate for the citizens hearing of his comming were for feare before fled for which cause he set the citie on fire Here the Turks digged vp the bones of the worthie prince Scanderbeg for the superstitious opinion they had of the vertue of them and happie was he that could get any little part thereof to set in gold or other jewell as a thing of great price as is before declared All these things thus done Mahomet committed the direction of all things concerning the siege of SCODRA vnto the discretion of Achmetes By whose persuasion he leauing a great power for the continuing of the siege departed thence himselfe with fortie thousand souldiors for CONSTANTINOPLE cursing and banning by the way all the countrey of EPIRVS all the inhabitants therein and euery part thereof their corne their cattell whatsoeuer els was fruitfull but aboue all other things the citie of SCODRA with all that therein was for that he had neuer receiued greater dishonour or losse than there After his departure which was about the seuenth of September the two great Bassaes of CONSTANTINOPLE and ASIA according to order before taken built a great bridge ouer the riuer Boliana and on either side a strong castle to the intent that no releefe should that way bee brought into the citie Which worke when they had brought to perfection and furnished both castles with garrisons ordinance and all things necessarie they left Achmetes Bassa with fortie thousand souldiours to continue the siege and returned themselues the one to CONSTANTINOPLE and the other into ASIA The warie and politicke Bassa mindfull of the charge he had taken vpon him tooke such order that no releefe could possibly be brought vnto the citie either by land or by water and so lying still before it a long time brought it at length into such distresse and want of all things that the poore Christians were faine to eat all manner of vncleane and loathsome things horses were daintie meat yea they were glad to eat dogs cats rats and the skins of beasts sod it exceedeth all credit to tell at what exceeding great price a little mouse was sold or puddings made of dogs guâ—s All these bare shifts and extremities the poore Christians were content to endure euen vnto the last gaspe rather than to yeeld themselues into the hands of their mercilesse enemies Whilest SCODRA thus lay in the suds the Venetians wearie of the long and chargeable warre they had to their great losse now maintained against so mightie an enemie by the space of sixteene yeares and hauing no meanes to releeue their distressed subjects in SCODRA thought it best to proue if they could procure a peace from the tyrant For which purpose they sent Benedictus Triuisanus a graue Senatour and a man of great experience to CONSTANTINOPLE who so well vsed the matter that after long debating too and fro at length a peace was concluded whereof the cheefe capitulations were That the Venetians should deliuer vnto Mahomet the citie of SCODRA the island of LEMNOS and the strong castle of TENARVS in PELOPONESVS and pay him yearely eight thousand duckats That they might freely after their wonted manner trafficke into the Euxine by the straits of Hellespontus and Bosphorus Thracius other parts of his dominions Concerning the citizens of SCODRA it was comprised in the same peace That it should bee at their owne choice either to liue there still vnder the gouernment of the Turkish emperour or els at their pleasure to depart in safetie with their goods whether they would Triuisanus hauing in this manner concluded a peace in his returne homeward the fourth of Aprill found the Venetian Admirall riding at anker in the mouth of Boliana from whence they both by letters certified the Gouernour and citizens of SCODRA in what manner the peace was concluded with the Turke and what prouision was therein made for them Vpon receit of which letters the gouernor calling together the citizens declared vnto them how the case stood and there with them entered into consultation vpon this hard question Whether they would remaine there still in their natiue country vnder the Turkish tyrannie or forsaking the same liue amongst other Christians in perpetuall exile But after the matter had beene throughly debated and
them in battell but still crept alongst the coast of MOREA not daring to put farther off into the sea In this their course the Venetians troubled them exceedingly sometimes making shew as if they would haue constrained them to fight and otherwhiles giuing them chase neuer departing far from them wisely accounting it right good seruice if they could but keepe that hugie fleet from landing in ITALIE or other places of the Venetian territorie Most men were in good hope that if those great fleets should haue joyned in battell the Venetians should haue had a notable victorie for that the enemie as afraid kept so dangerous a course and so neere the maine The longer they thus sailed the more was the state of VENICE offended with their Admirall that he contrarie to all expectation delaied to fight and still suffered the dangerous enemie to approach neerer and neerer their territories and there were none which had not rather he should haue set all vpon the hazard of one battell than to protract by delay a long and doubtfull warre Whilest all mens minds were thus in expectation of some great exploit to be done vpon the enemie newes came to the citie That the Turks fleet had put into the hauen SAPIENâ—â—A in the island SPHRAGA to water and was there embayed by the Venetians This report was of most men joyfully receiued as if the victorie had been alreadie assured and so much the more for that it was vainly supposed that it would be gained without anie great losse But others which better knew the place deemed of the matter farre otherwise saying That the place wherein the enemie lay was such as that he might safely at his pleasure depart thence Yet forsomuch as â—he Turkes fleet was more subject vnto danger in putting out of the harbour than in the wide sea there was no man but was of opinion That the Venetian Admirall would set vpon them as they should come forth againe Whilest men were thus diuining too and fro and the Venetians attended the comming forth of the enemies fleet it fortuned that Andreas Lauredanus and Albanus Armerius two valiant gentlemen but a little before come from CORCâ—RA of purpose to be present at the battell were the first that began the fight and with their two nimble ships after they had changed a few bullets bourded a tall ship of the Turkes being of such beautie and burthen that she seemed rather a castle than a ship wherof one Baruch of SMYRNA a notable pirat was captaine who after a long and cruell fight perceiuing that he must either yeeld or by force be taken desperatly set fire on his owne ship by rage whereof both she and the Venetian ships fast grapled vnto her were all three togither burnt downe to the water manie of the men to shun the violence of the fire leapt ouer boord into the sea where some of them were taken vp by other ships and some perished Some few others of the Venetian fleet couragiously assailed the Turkes at their comming out and doing great harme put the Turkes whole fleet in no small feare But the most part of the Venetian gallies lay looking on a farre off vnto whom the other before in fight with the Turks after they had done what they could retired also But by that they had done it appeared plainly that the Venetian Admirall that day let â—lip out of his hands a most notable victorie if he as a resolute man had with his whole fleet charged the enemie After this fight the Turkes held on their course still keeping MOREA on the right hand whom the Venetians still followed at length the Turkes fleet was come to the entrance of the gulfe of PATRAS where the Venetians againe faintly setting vpon them suffered them to recouer the gulfe with no lesse dishonour than they had before let them escape at the port SAPIENTIA For the Venetians hauing the aduantage of the place and better appointed for fight at sea might easily as it was supposed haue gained the victorie if the commanders but especially the admiral had been so forward in the seruice as became men of their place But manie of theÌ„ afraid to fight lay aloofe so that Dauthes the Turks Admirall who perceiuing himselfe too weake had purposed to haue run his gallies on shoare and so to haue fled to the armie at land if he had felt himselfe ouer charged by the Venetian fleet had now contrarie to his expectation recouered the gulfe he desired though not without losse of some of his gallies Within this gulfe standeth the auntient citie of NAVPACTVM now called LEPANTO then subject to the Venetians whither Baiazet was then come by land with his armie and now by the comming of his fleet into the gulfe laid hard siege vnto the citie both by sea and land They of the citie seeing themselues on euerie side beset with their enemies without anie great resistance fell to composition with Baiazet and so yeelded vnto him the citie which the Turks hold at this day Grimanus the Venetian Admirall returning to Venice was for his euill seruice or rather for that he according to his mild nature had not vsed seueritie against such captaines as refused to fight cast into prison and although he was a man mightely friended yet was he by a publike decree banished into one of the Absyrtides islands vpon the coast of LIBVRNIA From the first foundation of the citie of VENICE was neuer man impugned with more spight or defended by greater friends but common hatred preuailing he was neuerthelesse exiled Thus Baiazet hauing made a road into the Venetian territorie by Scander Bassa and taken from them the citie of NAVPACTVM with the countrey thereabout returned with victorie to CONSTANTINOPLE The next yeare following which was the yeare 1500 Baiazet put to sea a greater and stronger fleet than he had the yeare before and himselfe in person with a puissant armie of an hundred fiftie thousand men entred by the strait of CORINTH into PELOPONESIVS and marching through the countrey came and encamped before the strong citie of METHONE now called MODON then vnder the gouernment of the Venetians At which time his great fleet met him there also by sea as he had before appointed When he had thus beset the citie both by sea and land and with long and continuall batterie made three great and faire breaches in the wals he gaue vnto the same two terrible assaults and that with such desperat furie that manie of them which went formost vnto the breach ouerthrowne by the presse of them which followed were troden to death Yet neuerthelesse the citie was both times valiantly defended by the citisens and garrison souldiors so that when he had done what he could he was glad to retire from the wals hauing filled the towne ditches with the bodies of his slaine Turkes The Venetian Admirall Triuisanus lying at the islle of ZACYNTHVS but farre too weake to fight with the enemie in
it best to cut him off at once from all hope of conference or accesse vnto his presence Wherfore seriously blaming him that he had vpon his owne head brought his armie into another mans prouince that he in armes required audience and last of all so insolently abused his fathers lenitie and patience hee by the same messenger sent him farther word That he should not presume to approch any neerer vnto him or expect any thing appertaining to peace who guarded with forraine power had without his fathers leaue entered into armes and spoyled the countries of his friends and that therefore he should doe well with all speed to depart out of THRACIA yea and out of EVROPE also and disbanding his forces againe to retire himselfe vnto his owne charge in PONTVS in which doing he should find greater fauour and kindnesse with him his father than euer he had before but if he would needs proceed in the course by him begun that then he would no more take him for his sonne but for his enemie and before it were long sharpely chastise him for his malapert insolencie little differing from vnnaturall treacherie The messenger with this answere dismissed it was not long after but that Baiazet was by his espials aduertised that Selymus the night following was risen with his armie and marched directly towards CONSTANTINOPLE whether he was sent for by his friends in hope that vpon his approch with his armie some suddaine tumult and vprore would to his auaile arise in that so great and populous a citie Whereupon Baiazet fearing least in staying at HADRIANOPLE hee might loose the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE early in the morning by breake of the day departed from HADRIANOPLE towards CONSTANTINOPLE vpon whose departure Selymus peaceably entered the citie of HADRIANOPLE the citisens fearing that if they should haue made any resistance their vnseasonable faithfulnesse towards Baiazet might haue turned to their vtter destruction Selymus after he had a while refreshed his armie with the plentie of that citie according to his former determination set forward againe of purpose by long and speedie marches to haue preuented his fathers comming to CONSTANTINOPLE Baiazet was yet scarcely come to CHIVRLVS or rather TZVRVLVM an antient ruinous citie almost vpon the mid way betwixt HADRIANOPLE and CONSTANTINOPLE when warning was giuen him of them that followed his armie that the forerunners of Selymus were at hand cutting off the straglers of his armie and with hot skirmishing stayed and troubled his rereward The aged emperour more mooued than terrified with the strangenesse of the matter because his marching should not seeme as if it were a flight or chase commaunded his standerd to be set vp and all his armie to make a stand of purpose that if Selymus should so fiercely come on to giue him battaile he might â—ind him in readinesse The great captaines and noblemen then present with Baiazet whether it were for old acquaintance or vpon some new inclination of their affection or els vpon hope of new aliance and preferment wishing well vnto Selymus and therefore indirectly and cunningly fauouring him seemed not to like of Baiazet his resolution to be so farre mooued as they said with the youthfull heat and lightnesse of his sonne as to seeke reuenge by battaile whereas the victorie it selfe could yeeld him nothing but sorrow but the ouerthrow threatened destruction both to himselfe and all them that were with him the imminent euent whereof seemed to bee so much the more dangerous and fearefull by how much hee was at that time inferiour vnto his sonne both in warlike prouision and number of men Wherefore it were good for him they said to moderate his anger and not now in the winding vp of his life to make too much hast by a miserable death in a wofull battaile to staine the whole glorie of his former life There was as they would haue persuaded him but one onely course to bee taken full of wholesome policie and safetie and that was That he should with such speed as he had begun march on forward to CONSTANTINOPLE that so Selymus excluded out of the citie his chiefest hope and then not knowing which way to turne himselfe should either of his owne accord or for feare of his fathers greater forces thinke of returne and so with his rascall followers more honestly perish by the hands of them whose countries he had spoiled and vpon whom he must of necessitie liue in his retire than by the sword of his father The author of this counsell was Mustapha the most auntient Bassa of those which being in greatest authoritie about the emperour are onely of his priuie counsell and sway all matters of importance concerning either peace or warre he then vpon an vnthankfull and malitious mind loathing Baiazet as one that had too long raigned hated him also for certaine priuat displeasures conceiued of the emulation of the other younger Bassaes by him promoted and secretly bare great affection to Selymus both in condition and fauour resembling his grandfather the Great Mahomet by whom he was brought vp himselfe and him of all the sonnes of Baiazet he thought most worthy of the empire This Mustapha was borne in the towne of SERES neere vnto AMPHIPOLIS the sonne of a Greeke priest a man of a slie craftie and subtile wit alwaies subject to corruption which diseases of mind were in him well to haue been discouered by his froward looke and squint eies the certaine notes of a nature to bee suspected Next vnto this Mustapha was Bostanges Bassa borne of the honourable familie of Ducagina in AETHOLIA and thereof called Ducaginogli a man for his couetousnesse ambition and treacherie infamous as the foule and miserable end of his life afterwards declared Vnto this man Selymus had by secret promise betrothed one of his daughters now mariageable as a reward of his corrupted faith By which slight he had also allured Aiax Aga or captaine of the Ianizaries and great master of the houshold to promise his aid for the obtaining of the empire whereunto he said he was by destinie called and by his meanes drew other inferiour captaines secretly to fauour his quarrell vnto whom hee spared not to promise whatsoeuer might please them Yea the captaines almost generally either corrupted with reward or for feare following the inclination of the greater commaunders of themselues leaned that way Of all the rest only Cherseogles Bassa whom the Turks histories call also Achmet Hertezaec-ogli a faithfull constant and vpright man free from all double dealing and deceit a fast and assured friend vnto Baiazet his father in law was of opinion That the immoderat pride and insolencie of Selymus was euen there by force of arms and strong hand forthwith to be repressed before he should approch any neerer vnto the imperiall citie for feare of raising some farther trouble and tumult there than were well to be appeased which was the thing that Selymus his friends most of all desired
was gouernour thereof But he when the matter came to proofe was not to be woon either by promise or reward to betray the citie Wherefore Solyman resolued to take it by force neither did his fortune faile him therein for as soone as Mahometes vnderstood that Vlemas was at hand with the forerunners of the Turkes armie and that Solyman with all his power was comming after who as he thought would neuer haue come so farre he not prouided to withstand so mightie an enemie and not beloued of the citisens fled out of the citie Solyman comming in short time after was of the Babylonians receiued without resistance This citie of BABYLON commonly called BAGDAT rise out of the ruines of the old citie of BABYLON so much spoken of in holy writ from whence it is not farre distant standing vpon the riuer Tygris which not farre beneath falleth into the riuer Euphrates In this famous city is the seat of the great Caliph the chiefe Mahometane priest whom all the Mahometane princes haue in great reuerence hath an old prerogatiue in the choise and confirmation of the kings of ASSIRIA and the Sultans of AEGYPT of which Caliph Solyman according to the old superstitious manner receiued at his hands the ensignes and ornaments of the Assyrian kings and with great bountie woon the hearts of the people and thereupon resolued to spend that Winter there billiâ—ing his armie in diuers places of that fertill countrey The other cities of ASSIRIA and MESOPOTAMIA also namely CARAEMIDA MEREDINVM ORSA and ASANCESA hearing that Solyman had without resistance taken BABYLON yeelded themselues and receiued his garrisons Yea the fame thereof was so great that embassadours came vnto him as farre as ORMVS a citie in the mouth of Euphrates where it falleth into the Persian gulfe famous for the great traffique out of INDIA thither suing vnto him for peace Thus the auntient citie of BABYLON with the great countries of ASSIRIA and MESOPOTAMIA sometimes famous kingdomes of themselues and lately part of the Persian kingdome fell into the hands of the Turkes and became prouinces of the Turkish empire in the yeare 1534. Where Solyman after he had spent that Winter in great joy and triumph according to the manner of the Turkish gouernment placed a great Commander which they by a proud name call the Beglerbeg which is as much as to say the lord of lords and vnder him diuers others for the gouernment of these countries by parts which they call Sanzacks who are euer at the commaund of the Beglerbeg Whilest he thus wintered at BABYLON he caused Ashender Zelibi which is to say Alexander the noble his great treasurer for the warres to be hanged for that he had vnfaithfully dealt in his office and confiscated all his goods Tamas hearing that Solyman was gone to BABYLON returned to TAVRIS of whose speedy comming the Ianizaries and other captaines there left by Solyman vnderstanding fled in hast out of the citie leauing all such things as were committed to their custodie for a prey vnto the Persian souldiors Solymans armie being mightily increased by the comming vnto him of the great Bassa of CAIRE with the Sanzacks of ALEXANDRIA IVDEA SYRIA and COMAGENE by the persuasion of Abraham and Vlemas the Spring now well come on departed from BABYLON againe towards TAVRIS with purpose either to draw Tamas to battell or else to his eternall infamie before his face to sacke that his regall citie But Tamas aduertised of his comming and knowing himselfe too weake to giue him battell forsooke the citie and fled into the mountains of HIRCANIA destroying all the countrey before him as he went and carrying away the inhabitants leauing nothing to relieue the Turkes if they should pursue him Solyman vnderstanding that Tamas was againe fled sent Vlemas with all the choise horsemen of his armie to ouertake him if it were possible and to fight with him But when he had followed him two or three daies journey and still found the countrey desolat as he went yeelding neither forrage for his horses nor reliefe for his men and saw no hope to ouertake the king he began as a prouident Generall to forecast the extremities like to befall in his returne thorow those desolat countries with the enemie at his heeles and thereupon in time retired backe againe to Solyman declaring vnto him what had happened Who fretting in his mind that the Persian king was not to bâ— drawne to battell marched forthwith to TAVRIS entred it without resistance the citisens submitting themselues vnto him whose liues spared he gaue that rich citie for a prey vnto his soldiors who left neither house nor corner thereof vnransacked abusing the poore citisens with all manner of insolencie euerie common souldiour without controlment fitting himselfe with whatsoeuer best pleased his greedie desire or filthie lust Tamas had in this citie a most stately and royall pallace so had also most part of the nobilitie their sumptuous and rich houses which by the commaundement of Solyman were all rased downe to the ground and the greatest part of the best citisens and beautifull personages of all sort and condition at his departure thence carried away captiues Solyman contenting himselfe to haue done the Persian king this disgrace in spoiling this his rich and royall citie returned againe towards MESOPOTAMIA destroying the countries all the way as he went killing the verie beasts and cattell thereby the more to impouerish the Persians wishing to leaue nothing vnto them but penurie and miserie He was scarcely past COIM and the Calderan fields famous for his fathers victorie against Hysmaell but that certaine troupes of the Persian horsemen were in the taile of his armie and had taken away some of his baggage and slaine diuers of the sicke and stragling souldiours and with their often skirmishes did not a little trouble his whole armie Besides that it was noised thorow all his campe That Tamas himselfe was comming after him with a great power of horsemen taken vp in HIBERIA ALBANIA PARTHIA MEDIA and ARMENIA and would be at their backes before they could get out of ARMENIA for which cause hee appointed the two great Bassaes of CAIRE and SYRIA for so they were called and Vlemas the Persian with eighteene thousand good souldiours to follow him in the rearward of his armie to receiue and represse the sudden assaults of the Persians if need should require and so still kept on his march vntill he was come to AMIDA now called CARAEMIDA an antient citie of MESOPOTAMIA In the meane time Tamas the Persian king was returned to TAVRIS with a mightie armie in hope there to haue suddenly surprised his enemie surcharged with the pleasures of so rich a citie but finding him gone and beholding the miserable spoile and desolation he had made in the citie moued with indignation he resolued to pursue him whither soeuer he were gone and was now on his way as farre as COIM Where vnderstanding that Solyman
and the Germanes glad to forbeare comming into HVNGARIE vnlesse they will rashly and vnfortunately hazard both STYRIA and AVSTRIA But Solyman thinking it good to doe sacrifice before he would resolutely determine of so great a matter entred into BVDA with his two sons Selymus and Baiazet the thirtith day of August in the yeare 1541 and there in the Cathedrall church dedicated to the virgin Marie being before by his priests purified after the manner of their superstition sacrificed the first Mahometane sacrifice in BVDA Shortly after he as it were moderating the opinions of his great counsellors prouided out of them all both for his owne securitie and honour and published a decree the fatall doome of that flourishing kingdome where vnder it yet groneth at this day That BVDA should from that day be kept with a garrison of Turks and the kingdome conuerted into a prouince of the Turkish empire and that the queene with her young sonne should presently depart the citie and liue in LIPPA in a fertile and quiet countrey beyond the riuer of Tibiseus which something to comfort her was neere vnto the borders of her father Sigismund his kingdome to be safely conducted thither with all hir wealth and jewels by his Ianizaries Wherefore the queene and her sonne according to this decree with teares and mourning detesting in her heart the tyrants perfidious dealing which necessitie enforced her then to dissemble departed from BVDA constrained by the Turkes to leaue behind her all the ordinance in the castle and citie with all other the warlike prouision store of victuall The noblemen went with her also who although they went sorrowfull for this wofull and vnexpected change of things yet were they verie glad of their libertie and safetie whereof they had for the space of three daies despaired Only Valentinus was kept in safe custodie in the campe because he was a martiall man of greatest power amongst the Hungarians and besides that much hated of the Turkes for the hard pursuit of Cason and his horsemen slaine at STORAMBERG in AVSTRIA Thus the roiall citie of BVDA fell into the possession of the Turkes whereupon not long after ensued the finall ruine of that great kingdome sometime the strong bulwarke of Christendome but lost to the great weakning of the Christian common-weale which may justly be imputed to the pride ambition and discention of the Hungarians amongst themselues and the calling in of the common enemie the due consideration of whose onely comming might well haue sufficed to haue set them agreed Whilest these things were doing at BVDA king Ferdinand expecting the euent of this war at VIENNA and hearing of the shamefull ouerthrow of his armie and that the Generall deadly wounded was fled to COMARA and that Solyman fame encreasing the euill newes was comming towards VIENNA sent Leonardus Velsius who neuer liked of the siege of BVDA to COMARA to stay the further flight of the souldiors and to gather togither so well as hee could the dispersed reliques of the scattered armie and to comfort againe the discouraged men with the hope of new supplies of a pay And somewhat to stay Solyman who as it was thought would suddenly come to VIENNA he sent countie Salma and Sigismund Lithestaine a noble and graue counsellor his embassadours with presents and new conditions of peace to Solyman The presents was a high standing cup of gold after the German fashion curiously set with rich stones and a wonderfull globe of siluer of most rare and curious deuise daily expressing the hourely passing of the time the motions of the planets the change and full of the moone the motion of the superiour orbes euer mouing by certaine wheeles and waights curiously conuaied within the same and exactly keeping due time and motion liuely expressing the wonderfull motions and conuersions of the celestiall frame A most curious and strange piece of worke deuised and perfected by the most cunning Astronomers for Maximilian the emperour whose noble mind neuer spared for any cost to obtaine things of rare and strange deuise These embassadours passing downe the riuer of Danubius were at their landing first receiued by Cason the Admirall of Solymans fleet and by him brought into a rich tent the ground vnder their feet being all couered with rich carpets to whom Rustan Bassa sent such good cheere as the campe affoorded but especially most excellent wine no lesse forbidden the Turks by their law than desired of the Germans The next day after the great Bassaes feasted the embassadours Solyman himselfe dining not farre off in his pauilion at which feast the Bassaes for the more courtesie dined with the embassadors not sitting with their legs gathered vnder them flat vpon the ground as their manner was but sitting in chaires at a high table after the manner of the Christians only Mahometes Gouernour of BELGRADE for his age and valour an extraordinarie guest sat downe vpon a cushion beneath the Bassaes. Their cheere was onely rice and mutton and that so plainely and sparingly dressed as if they had thereby noted our gourmandise and excesse who measure not our cheere by that which nature requireth but that which greedie appetite desireth as if therein consisted the greatest nobilitie And the drinke for the great Bassaes themselues right easie to be had was faire water out of the riuer Danubius After dinner the embassadours were brought in vnto Solyman each of them lead betwixt two Bassaes holding them fast by the armes as if it had been for honour sake and so brought to kisse his hand For the Turks suffer no stranger otherwise to come vnto the presence of their superstitious emperour but first they search him that he haue no weapon about him and so clasping him by the armes vnder the colour of doing him honour dissemblingly bereaue him of the vse of his hands least he should offer him any violence yet hath he alwaies as he sitteth in his throane lying at hand readie by him a targuet a scimiter an yron mase with bow and arrowes The great globe was also brought in by twelue of the embassadours seruants which with the strangenesse thereof filled the mind of Solyman and the eyes of his Bassaes with admiration for Solyman was of so sharpe a wit that he was not learned onely in such books as contained the lawes and rites of the Mahometane superstition but had also curiously studied Astronomie and especially Cosmographie in which profitable and pleasant studies he much recreated himselfe as his leisure serued The embassadours desired that he would giue the kingdome of HVNGARIE to king Ferdinand almost vpon the same conditions that Lascus had before required it for him at CONSTANTINOPLE paying him such yearly tribute as king Iohn had vsually paid and promising farther to draw Charles the emperour his brother into the same league so that Solyman deliuered of all feare that way might at his pleasure turne his forces vpon the Persian which it was thought he
repulsed In which assaults amongst others Bultaces Sanzacke of SELYMBRIA a man of great account among the Turkes was lost Whilest the defendants were thus busied many of the souldiors and marriners which came vp the riuer with all things necessarie for the armie from BVDA went on shoare and lay in the suburbs of the citie in such securitie as if there had been no enemie nigh which thing they in the citie perceiuing suddenly sallied out vpon them fearing no such matter and slew many of them before they could arme themselues and draue the rest to their fleet so that betwixt fighting and flying there was about two hundred of them slaine Zymar a Persian Admirall of the fleet in rescuing of them which to saue their liues fled vnto the riuer was shot thorow with a small shot and slaine Whilest these things were in doing and the Turkes hauing in many places sore shaken the wall did with greater force daily assaile the citie and the defendants with their continuall losses and out of hope of all reliefe were more and more discouraged an old Calabrian enginer which had long time serued king Ferdinand fled out of the citie to the Turkes who being courteously entertained by Solyman and examined by the Bassaes of many things concerning the strength and state of the citie satisfied them in all that they desired and farther directed them in planting their batteries in places most conuenient for the speedie taking of the towne In the meane time whilest the Turkes were with restlesse labour battering the wals and working in their mines it fortuned that a gilt brasen crosse which stood vpon the top of the steeple of the Cathedrall church was by the continuall shooting of the Turkes thereat at length beaten downe at the sight whereof it is reported that Solyman after the superstitious manner of that nation taking the chance as a token of his good lucke cried out presently STRIGONIVM is woon Liscanus and Salamanca fearefully consulting of the euent of the siege and secretly conferring together resolued to saue themselues and to giue vp the towne Liscanus was no great souldior and yet by continuall spoile growne exceeding rich and therefore thought it but follie to buy the name of a resolute captaine at too deare a price with the losse of his life and wealth The like feeling was also in Salamanca who preferred the safetie of himselfe and of that which he had got in long seruice before all credit and honour were it neuer so great This their purpose was not kept so secret but that it was noised abroad amongst the common souldiours of whom almost the third part was now either slaine or with wounds or sicknesse growne weake yet were they all of opinion generally That they were still strong ynough to defend the towne But the vnder captaines and auntients vsing to flatter their Generals liked well of the motion to yeeld vnto Solyman vpon reasonable conditions rather than to expose themselues to most certaine death which should nothing better king Ferdinands cause Not long after an Auntient was by night let downe ouer the wall and hauing by an interpreter receiued the Turks faith called forth Salamanca that he might vpon better conditions goe thorow with them for the yeelding vp of the towne Who without further delay comming out went to Achomates commaunding before he went them which defended the water tower next vnto the riuer side a place of great danger for safegard of their liues to get themselues into the citie who terrified with that newes and hastily retiring were by the vigilant Turks which lay at the siege thereof perceiued who suddenly breaking in slew such as were not yet gone possessed the castle But Salamanca being brought before the great Bassaes when he had stood vpon many nice tearmes and required many things to haue beene graunted him obtained no more but that they should without delay yeeld vp the citie and put themselues wholly to the mercie of Solyman So the Spaniard being there stayed himselfe writ to Liscanus how he had sped willing him forthwith if he loued his owne safetie to yeeld the citie without standing vpon further tearmes Liscanus vpon receit of these letters comming forth to the souldiors declared vnto them the necessitie of yeelding vp of the towne and what hope there was to escape with life and libertie But whilest the souldiors filled with indignation stood as men in doubt what to doe Halis commaunder of the Ianizaries came vnto the gate and with cheerefull rather than sterne countenance required to haue it opened vnto him according to the agreement made by Salamanca in the campe which was forthwith opened by Liscanus and the keyes deliuered vnto him the Ianizaries entring peaceably into the citie possessed themselues of the wals and fortresses round about commaunding the Christian souldiors to giue place out of whom they chose all the beardlesse youths and commaunded the rest to cast downe their harquebusiers and other weapons in a place appointed which they all for feare did expecting nothing but some cruell execution to be done vpon them by the barbarous enemie Which their feare was the more encreased by a strange accident then vnluckily chancing For whilest the souldiors did as they were commaunded with their harquebusiers cast their flaskâ—s full of pouder also one of them suddenly tooke fire of a match which was by chance cast in amongst them with fire in it which firing the rest blew abroad all that heape of weapons amongst the Turks which so filled them with anger and feare of some sudden trecherie that they fell vpon the Christians slew diuers of them vntill such time as Halis persuaded that it was a thing happened rather by chance than mallice commaunded his Ianizaries to stay their furie This tumult appeased Halis caused proclamation to be made That all such Christian soldiors as would serue Solyman in his warres should haue such place in his armie as their qualitie required with bountifull entertainement yet of all the Christian souldiors were found onely seuentie which carefull of their liues accepted the offer fearing that the Turkes would vpon such as refused exercise their wonted crueltie Halis entertaining them courteously sent them away with the other youths whom he had before culled out downe the riuer to BVDA the other souldiors he tooke into his protection and vsed their labour to helpe the Turks to make cleane the castle But Liscanus who to saue his gold had made shipwrack of his honour and reputation was glad to giue vnto Halis the faire chaine of gold which he had most couetously and insolently before taken from Perenus when as Halis who would otherwise haue taken it from him by force by way of militarie courtesie now craued it of him as a strange kind of ornament amongst the Turks with which gift he was in hope to haue saued the rest of his coine But fortune fauoured not so much the couetous coward For when he was about to
fathers concubines Muleasses landed as we haue before said at GVLETTA with such forces as he had brought with him out of ITALIE was aduised by Touarres the Spaniard not to aduenture with such a handfull of men to go to TVNES before he were well assured of the good disposition of the citisens towards him And was the more earnest with Lofredius not to go because the Viceroy had expressely written that he should in no case go any further than GVLETTA except the king according to his promise had a good strength of Numidians to joyne with him But certaine of the noble men amongst the Moores which vnder the colour of friendship were fled out of the citie and had after the solemne manner of their nation put their swords vnto their throats and sworne to be faithfull vnto him wonderfully prickt forward both the king and Lofredius too hastie of themselues to their owne destinie bearing them in hand That Amida vpon the first sight of his father would forsake the citie and betake himselfe to flight so without more staying Muleasses with ensigne displaied set forward towards TVNES Lofredius cheerfully following him Touarres requesting them in vaine to beware of the Moores treacherie Muleasses marching still forward was come so nigh the citie that they might from the wals descrie him when suddenly a strong troupe of Moores sallied out of the gate with a terrible crie and fiercely assailed him whom the kings horsemen valiantly receiued many falling on both sides Muleasses in this hoat skirmish fighting couragiously against his enemies was wounded in the face and bled exceedingly which discouraged them about him that they doubting of his life turned their backes and fled when presently a wonderfull number of horse and foot suddenly issuing out of the oliue gardens had beset Lofredius and his souldiors round vpon whom the Italians discharged certaine field pieces but after they had once discharged them they had no leisure to charge againe for the barbarous enemie came on so thicke and so fast that the Italians seeing themselues too weake and compassed in round let fall their weapons as men discouraged and cast themselues into the lake so by swimming and taking hold of the little boats to saue themselues from the enemies sword which boats stood those distressed men in great steed for being furnished with small pieces they did beat backe the Moores who eagerly pursued them euen into the lake with their horses Lofredius as a man amased with the sudden comming of the enemie tooke the lake with his horse and was there vnhorsed by the enemie and slaine as were diuers with him Some few there were that fought couragiously chusing rather honourably to die in the middest of their enemies than shamefully to be strangled in the stincking lake Muleasses soiled with his owne bloud and with the dust flying amongst the rest was knowne and taken nothing more bewraying him than his odoriferous perfumes In this conflict thirteene hundred Italians were lost the rest which escaped Touarres relieued and shortly after shipped them ouer into SICILIE from whence they trauelled home to NAPLES but so poore as well shewed the miserie of their fortune Amida hauing thus obtained the victorie was more carefull of nothing than to make his father vnfit for gouernment which he did by cutting the sight of both his eyes with a hoat penknife the like crueltie he vsed vpon Nahasar and Abdallas his brethren then taken with his father After that he certified Touarres captaine of GVLETTA That he had taken a few youths prisoners which he would deliuer vnto him and that he had bereft his father of his sight who had deserued a worse punishment as he that had long before done the like to his brethren but had yet left him his life as an example to other tirants and to shew that he dealt not altogither vnmercifully with so perfidious a father Last of all he confirmed vpon certaine conditions the same league which his father had with him which he well saw was to great purpose especially in that newnesse of his kingdome Neither did Touarres refuse the same as standing with his present profit for vpon this agreement Amida was to giue him certaine money to pay his souldiors and to deliuer him the prisoners he had taken with the ensignes and bodie of Lofredius For more assurance wherof he gaue Sehites his sonne then nine yeares old in hostage yet vpon condition that if an assured peace could not be agreed vpon but that they must needs enter into warre then Touarres should forthwith restore him his sonne Schites in safetie These capitulations although they seemed not vnreasonable and were of them well liked yet Touarres thought it not altogither agreeing with the honour of the emperour that he should enjoy the kingdome who by most hoâ—rible treason and detestable villanie had thrust himselfe thereinto without the emperours leaue Wherefore he entred into a new deuise to call in the rightfull heire who might at the emperours pleasure offended with the injurie done by Amida raigne in TVNES There was in exile amongst the Numidians one Abdamaelech euer since the time that Roscetes fled to Barbarussa Him because he was Muleasses naturall brother Touarres sent for putting him in hope of the kingdome supported by Anemseha a great prince amongst the Numidians who had all that long time courteously entertained him Neither was Abdamaelech slow to accept the occasion presented especially encouraged thereunto by the Numidian prince his good friend and the predictions of the Astrologers who had foretold him That he should die king of TVNES Which vaine kind of diuination hauing in it no manner of assurance yet causeth great minds oftentimes to vndertake great attempts beyond reason which falling out with more hap than they were with reason foretold giueth some credit to that vanitie and causeth those cold prophets to be of some accounted as great wisards And to worke this feat such a time was offered as a better could not be wished for Amida hauing set all things in order as he pleased in the citie and casting no perill was gone to BISERTA to take order for his customes which was there great vpon fishing Wherefore Touarres to keepe his promise sent backe Sâ—hites Amida his sonne in a boat to TVNES and receiued Abdamaelech who trauelling most part by night was secretly come to GVLETTA and there resting himselfe and his horses a few houres to preuent the fame of his comming posted in hast with a troupe of his Numidian followers to TVNES and passing thorow the citie went directly to the castle which he entred without resistance of the warders supposing him to haue beene Amida come from BISERTA for Abdamaelech had after the manner of the Moores couered his face with a scarfe as if it had beene to haue kept him from the Sunne and the dust and by that happie sleight got into the castle before it was knowne who he was The warders perceiuing their â—rror
euerie man requested to haue the places of most danger and from thence with couragious hand repulsed the Turkes with exceeding great slaughter But for all that the furious enemie maintaining the assault not onely by day but by often alarums in the night also kept the Christians continually in doubtfull suspence and readinesse as if they should haue receiued a present assault and as soone as it was day with fresh men that had slept their fill desperatly assailed the Christians almost spent and maigre for lacke of sleepe and rest Force not preuailing the restlesse enemie leauing nothing attempted by a queint deuise was like to haue taken one of the gates of the citie There was growing in the island great plentie of a kind of wood much of the nature of the firre or pitch tree easie to be set on fire but hardly to be quenched but differing in this that in burning it gaue foorth such a noysome smell as was not by any man well to be endured of this kind of wood the Turkes brought a wonderfull quantitie to one of the gates called LIMOSINA which once set on fire could not by the defendants by any meanes be quenched although they cast whole pipes and tuns of water at once into it but most terribly burning close vnto the gate by the space of foure daies with the vehemencie of the heat and loathsomnesse of the smell so troubled the defendants that scarce any of them could endure to stand vpon the wall but forsaking the same were euer and anone like to haue giuen the enemy leaue to enter Bragadinus the Gouernour more carefull of the common safetie than of his owne danger ceased not still to be going about from one place to another telling the Italians That now was giuen the fittest occasion they could desire for them to shew their valour in and to gaine great honor of their barbarous enemies that it would be to their eternall glorie if by their only means without any other helpe the citie so farre off from the reliefe of the Christians might be defended and the great power of the Turke defeated This he said was the onely time wherein it stood them most vpon to play the men for if they could keepe that little was left the rest of the island would be easily recouered and although the Turkes army exceeded farre in number yet did they excell them in prowesse and valour whereby a few and as it were but an handfull of men had oftentimes preuailed against most infinit multitudes Now all the eyes of the world as well friends as foes to be fixed vpon them so that if they held out against so great a power both their enemies would admire their valour and all Christendome extoll their inuincible courage and prowesse and that they themselues should thereby reape both great profit and honour Neither that any thing could be alleadged why they should not be compared with the worthie knights of MALTA who to their eternall fame had deliuered themselues out of the mouth of the Turke and left vnto the world a most faire example for men valiantly to stand in so good a quarrell vpon their owne defence NICOSIA he said was lost rather by the cowardise of the defendants than by the valour of the enemie He also praised the fidelitie and courage of the Graecians who for any feare or danger could neuer be remoued from the Venetians or induced to submit themselues vnto the Turkes gouernment and persuaded them with the same resolution to defend their owne citie that they saw in the Venetian souldiors fighting for them and for their owne honour to striue with the Italians in defence of their State their countrey their wiues and children against the tyrannie of the Turkes for as much as aid would in short time come and set them free from all danger The Senat also in like manner had sent letters to FAMAGVSTA willing them to be of good cheere and yet a while to hold out the siege and that they should be in short time relieued Baleonius also Generall of the garrison souldiors himselfe in armes was present at euerie skirmish carefully foreseeing what was in euerie place and at all times to be done and by encouraging of his souldiors and aduenturing of his person shewed himselfe to be both a worthie commaunder and valiant souldior Neither did the souldiors alone but euen the women also what they might striuing aboue the power of the strength both of their minds and bodies some bringing meat some weapons vnto the defendants and others stones beds chests such like stuffe to make vp the breaches But victuals beginning now to wax scant 8000 of the vulgar sort of the people were turned out of the citie who all in safetie were suffered to passe thorow the midst of the Turks army to seeke their liuing in the countrey Thus whilest open force preuailed not according to the Turkes desire they began in foure places to vndermine the citie in hope so to haue found entrance But the defendants doubting such a matter by diligent listening and great vessels set full of water neere vnto the wals and drums laid vpon the ground by the mouing thereof discouered their workes and with countermines frustrated those of the enemies yet in so great a stirre and hurly burly all things were not possibly to be discouered Whereby it came to passe that whilest the defendants were altogither busied in defending the wals a mine not perceiued was suddenly blowne vp neere vnto the tower standing vpon the hauen by force whereof a great part of the wall thereabout was in a moment with a most horrible noise ouerthrowne With the fall whereof the Turks thinking the citie as good as taken with an horrible shout and outcrie mounted the wall and in the breach set vp their ensignes Countie Peter who had the charge of that part of the wall being not now able to defend the same so suddenly ouerthrown which Nestor Martinengus quickly perceiuing came speedily from his owne station to repulse the enemie now readie to haue entred The fight became there most fierce and terrible on the one side hope on the other desperation enraged their minds the Turks were in hope that if they forced themselues but a little they should forthwith win the citie and the defendants propounding nothing vnto themselues but shamefull death and torture fought as men altogither desperat The Turks trusted to their multitude and the Christians to their valour In the meane time Andreas Bragadinus with certaine great pieces aptly placed out of the castle slew a number of the Turks as they were comming to the breach Baleonius hearing of the danger came in hast with a companie of couragious souldiors to relieue them that were fighting at the breach and chearing vp his followers thrust himselfe with the formost into the face of the breach and there not only appointed what was to be done and with cheerfull speeches encouraged his souldiors but with
was accordingly done and those incursions for a while staied and the former peace continued Amurath still making shew as if he were willing that the league agreed vpon for eight yeares should not be in any wise on his part infringed At which time the Persian kings sonne the league not long before concluded died in the Turkes Court where he lay in hostage whose dead bodie Amurath caused to be honorably sent home to his father into PERSIA with an Apologie in defence of himselfe against the suspition conceiued by some that he should haue beene the cause of the vntimely death of that young prince still vrging withall the confirmation of the league which by the death of the prince was like enough to haue been broken Whereof Amurath was the more desirous for that persuaded by his Bassaes as is aforesaid to make warres with the emperour although he notably dissembled the same he was in hope thereby to adde vnto his empire the reliques of HVNGARIE with some good part of the territories of the house of AVSTRIA also and so to open himselfe a way into the heart of GERMANIE For which purposes he now caused very great preparation to be made and a strong armie to be raised and at the same time put a great fleet of gallies into the Archipelago for the safetie of his islands in that sea According to these designments the Bassa of BOSNA by the commandement of Amurath with an armie of fiftie thousand entred into CROATIA and without resistance burnt and destroied the countrey before him sparing nothing that came in his way And not so contented laid siege to the citie of WIHITZ being the metropoliticall citie of that countrey strongly situat as it were in an island compassed about with the riuer Yna Which citie after he had sore battered and twise assaulted was by the distressed defendants now despairing of reliefe and vnable longer to hold it out yeelded vnto the Bassa vpon composition That the Germain souldiors there in garrison might in safetie with bagge and baggage depart and that such of the Christian citisens as would might there still remain without hurt from the Turks either in bodie or goods Which conditions the Bassa faithfully performed to the garrison souldiors whom in number but foure hundred he sent with safe conuoy into their owne territorie but afterwards contrarie to his faith and promise exercised all manner of Turkish tyrannie vpon the poore citisens The emperour troubled with this vnexpected inuasion of the Turkes sent the lord Petzen whom he had many times employed in embassages to the Turke to pray aid of the Germain princes against the common enemie who according to the greatnesse of the danger in large tearmes promised their helpe The first that made head was Ernestus archduke of AVSTRIA the emperours brother who with fiue thousand souldiors came from VIENNA to SAVARIA commonly called GREIS the Metropolis of STIRIA to whom repaired daily more strength out of CARINTHIA In the meane time the Turkes armie daily encreasing in CROATIA enclosed six thousand footmen and fiue hundred horsemen of the Christians who had taken the mountaines woods and strait passages and so straitly beset them that of all that number few escaped with life amongst whom many valiant souldiors and expert captaines were slaine namely Iames Prants George Plesbach and Iohn Weluerdurff The Bassa after the barbarous manner of the Turkes to make his victorie more famous laded six wagons with the heads of the slaine Christians The Turkes thus raging in CROATIA brought a generall feare vpon all HVNGARIE BAVARIA BOHEMIA STIRIA CARINTHIA SILESIA and the rest of the prouinces thereabouts Whereupon the emperour calling togither the States of SILESIA and MORAVIA declared vnto them the imminent danger persuading them to joyne their forces with the rest for the repulsing of so dangerous an enemie and so imminent a danger After long delay Ernestus the archduke the tenth of August came to the emperour his brother with the embassadour of HVNGARIE and the seauenth day after were called togither the embassadours of the kingdomes and prouinces of the empire where it was throughly debated how the Turkes were to be resisted and their attempts infringed as also from whence forces money and other warlike prouision was to be raised For now it was manifestly seene that longer to delay the matter was dangerous and the rather for that the Beglerbeg or great commaunder of GRaeCIA with threescore thousand select souldiors both horse and foot of long time exercised in the Persian warres was ere long expected who joyning with the rest of the Turkes armie might doe great matters both in HVNGARIE and the places adjoyning For preuenting of which so great and manifest dangers they sat daily in counsell at PRAGE yea oftentimes euen from morning vntill night for the Hungarians and especially the lord Nadasti a most noble valiant gentleman amongst them instantly vrged to haue succours sent into HVNGARIE for as much as the Turkish emperour if he should get into his hands the rest of the townes and castles yet holden by the Christians in HVNGARIE it was to be feared least he should in short time after endanger the whole State of GERMANIE the strength whereof the Turke feared not so much as hee did those poore reliques of HVNGARIE Others were no lesse carefull of the dangers of CROATIA and STIRIA as more proper to themselues the enemie now there raging In these so great dangers the Hungarians with the rest of the distressed cried vpon the emperour for helpe and he likewise called vpon the princes of the empire Diuers assemblies were made in BOHEMIA HVNGARIE MORAVIA SILESIA and the other prouinces of the emperours and embassadours sent from almost all the Germane princes to the emperour all was full of consultation but as for helpe that came in verie slowly yet such as was to be had was forthwith sent into CROATIA to defend the fortresses there against the farther attempts and proceedings of the furious enemie The eighteenth of September the Turkes with all warlike prouision vpon the sudden by night assaulted the strong castle of TOCCAY in the vpper HVNGARIE in hope to haue surprised it but finding it a matter of more difficultie than they had before imagined they departed thence and attempted the lesser COMARA which standing in a marrish ground was also easily defended At which time also the Bassa of BVDA with his power entred into the frontiers of the Christians but hauing well viewed the cities townes castles and forts vpon those borders and finding nothing for his purpose he without any thing doing returned againe to BVDA The six and twentith day of September Hassan the Bassa of BOSNA encamped with his army betwixt the riuers of Kulp and Sauus and in the darknesse of the night passing ouer part of his armie into TVROPOLIS with fire and sword most miserably spoiled all that pleasant and fertile island the lord Bonny to whom the keeping thereof was committed
Christian campe About night certaine bals of wild fire were shot into the citie whereof one fell vpon the tower called S. Adelbert and set it on fire wherewith first the church and afterward a great part of the towne fell on fire The Sanzackes house with all his horses and armour and a great quantitie of pouder was then burnt and inestimable hurt done in the citie The next day the Christians had with continuall batterie made a breach in the castle wall but adjoyning vnto the wall was an high and broad sandie rampier which could hardly be battered for all that the Germanes gaue a fierce assault vnto the breach hoping to haue entred by the ruines of the wall but being not able to get ouer the sandie rampier were enforced with losse to retire The day following they began againe the batterie with eighteene great pieces when about eight a clocke in the morning the Rascians that were in the old citie gaue the Generall to vnderstand That if he would at a place by them appointed assault the greater citie to draw the Turks thither they would in the meane time deliuer vnto the Christians certaine little posternes and receiue them into the old citie vpon condition that no violence should be done vnto them or theirs Which being so agreed vpon the Christians accordingly gaue the assault the eleuenth of May in the euening and by the helpe of the Rascians tooke the citie who according to promise were all taken to mercie and the Turkes slaine except such as by their good hap recouered the new towne The keeping of this citie was committed to the charge of two companies of Germane footmen and six hundred Hungarians with three hundred Rascians and other townesmen Thus was the old citie of STRIGONIVM gained by the Christians the suburbs whereof they presently burnt neuerthelesse the new towne with the castle was still holden by the Turkes Wherefore the Christians hauing cast vp certaine trenches and mounts and placed their artillerie as they thought most conuenient began againe to batter the castle and after they had by the furie of the cannon made it saultable with great courage assailed the breach which the Turkes valiantly defended so that the Christians were glad to retire leauing behind them about an hundred and thirtie of their fellowes slaine in the breach The Turkes a little before the comming of the Christians had fortified an hill wherunto the castle was something subject called of the Christians S. Nicholas his hill this hill so fortified the Christians with continuall batterie and assault gained the 17 of May and put all the Turkes left aliue therein to the sword and turning the ordinance from thence also battered the castle The two and twentith of May a little before the going downe of the Sunne certaine ensignes of footmen were drawne out of the campe to haue the next day assaulted the lower towne who taking the benefit of the night attempting to haue entred the towne in the dead time of the night were notably encountred by the Turkes sallying out of the towne vpon them The Christians for all that hauing enforced them to retire prosecuted their former resolution and with much adoe got ouer the vttermost wall but finding there contrarie to their expectation such a deepe and broad countermure as was not possible to be passed they stood as men dismaied neither could they in the darknesse of the night well see how to get back againe ouer the towne ditch but disorderly retiring stucke fast many of them in the deepe mud and there perished In this assault there were about a thousand of the Christians wounded and slaine and albeit that they twise or thrise renewed the assault yet preuailed they nothing but were still repulsed with losse Many also of the Turkish garrison were likewise slaine yea the Sanzacke himselfe hurt with a great shot with many other wounded men sent downe the riuer to BVDA brought thither true newes of the aforesaid assaults and of the state of the besieged In the meane time newes was brought to the campe That Sinan Bassa the old enemie of the Christians and the Turkes great lieutenant comming towards HVNGARIE with a great armie and hauing by boats conuaied ouer part thereof was set vpon by â—he Rascians these are poore oppressed Christians dwelling on both sides of Danubius who weary of the Turkish thraldome and desirous of their auntient libertie haue oftentimes taken vp armes against the Turkes as they now did encouraged by the good successe of the Christians on the other side of HVNGARIE and that after diuers skirmishes they had taken thirteene of the Turkes vessels wherein beside victuals and certaine great pieces of artillerie they found about 2400 waight of pouder 447 hundred of lead 46454 bundles of match 1200 great shot whereof 1005 were of 66 pound waight and of small shot for harquebusiers 48500 with much other warlike prouision a great part whereof was brought into the campe at STRIGONIVM and the rest reserued to future vses This losse so troubled the great Bassa that he altered his purpose before entended for CASSOVIA The fourth of Iune about fiue hundred Turkes sent vp the riuer from BVDA conducted by two Sanzackes vnder two red and white ensignes landed neere to GOKARA on the farther side of Danubius ouer against STRIGONIVM where after they had a while refreshed themselues and left some few for the more assurance of the place all the rest were conuaied ouer the riuer into STRIGONIVM where they had been long looked for the old garrison being now sore weakned by the former assaults Foure daies after the Turkes encouraged with this supply sallied out vpon a sudden and had entred one of the forts of the Christians but were forthwith againe repulsed hauing lost six and twentie of their men and two of their ensignes not farre off lay a troupe of horsemen who if they had in time come in not one of the Turks had escaped Long it were to tell how often and in what manner the Christians assaulted this citie but were by the Turkes so receiued that in fiue assaults they lost fiue thousand of their men amongst whom were diuers captaines lieutenants auntients and others of good account three and twentie canoniers were also slaine and ten great pieces of artillerie so spoiled as that they were no more seruiceable The garrison of this citie consisted for most part of the Ianizaries the Turkes best souldiors whose notable valour in holding out of this siege was both of their owne people and their enemies much commended whatsoeuer was beaten downe by day that they againe repaired by night and still relieued with victuall and things necessarie from BVDA did what was possible to be done for defence of the citie About the same time certaine Turkes chancing vpon a troupe of Germane horsemen in fight slew about fiftie of them and put the rest to flight whereupon an alarum being raised in the campe many ran out to the
appointing them to any seruice and such as he found to haue so done he to the terror of others caused to be presently executed and after that went down himselfe into the lower towne to see that nothing were there wanting or amisse where most danger was But when he would haue againe returned into the vpper towne he was stayed by the Ianizaries who told him That seeing he was of so valiant and couragious a mind and their Gouernour he should there stay with them and take such part as they did were it better or worse and so would he or would he not there needs stay he must Now the Bassaes of BVDA and TEMESVVAR with diuers Sanzackes as well of those parts of HVNGARIE which the Turks possessed as other places were assembling their forces for the reliefe of the besieged in STRIGONIVM Whereof the Transyluanian prince hearing made shew as if he would forthwith haue besieged TEMESVVAR so that the Bassa thereof leauing the intended expedition for STRIGONIVM was glad to returne for the defence of his own charge They also of STIRIA CARINTHIA CROATIA with the troupes of countie Serinus had so stopped all the passages that twelue thousand Turks which were comming from ZIGETH and the places thereabout could by no meanes come to joyne themselues with their fellowes for the reliefe of the distressed citie The countie leauing nothing vnattempted or vndone that might helpe for the gaining of STRIGONIVM had made a notable fort vpon S. Thomas hill and therein placed fiue great culuerines wherewith he furiously battered the higher citie and did therein great harme and thereby also brought to passe that no man could goe vp or downe the hill betwixt the vpper towne and the lower but he was in danger to be set off with those pieces or the musketiers who defended by those great pieces lay vpon the side of the hill in caues and bushes awaiting for such as should goe vp or downe betwixt the two townes Thus the Christians at one time battered the vpper towne the lower towne and the strong towne and fort of GOKARA standing on the farther side of Danubius oueragainst STRIGONIVM besieged by the lord Palfi But of all these places GOKARA was with the furie of the great ordinance most shaken which the countie perceiuing caused the batterie to be encreased and so continued vntill he had beaten downe the counterscarfe and made certaine faire breaches in the wall Whereunto the Morauians vnto whose lot it fell the one and twentith of Iuly gaue an assault in fiue diuers places whom the lord Palfi seconded with his Hungarians of whom certaine were of purpose appointed beside their armes to bring things with them for the firing of the towne which they in the time of the assault found meanes so well to bestow that in a while the towne was all on a light fire The Turkes at first made notable resistance but finding themselues ouerpressed and seeing the towne now on a fire about their eares which with the force of the wind so encreased that it caught hold of the lower towne on the other side of the riuer they retired to the riuers side where some of them by boats got ouer to STRIGONIVM othersome perished in the riuer the rest falling into the hands of the Christians were by them all put to the sword GOKARA thus taken and the fire quenched the Christians repaired the breaches and storing it with all warlike prouision left in it a strong garrison Within a night or two after were two hundred of the Turks horsemen descried in a field fast by which caused an alarum to be raised in the campe as if the whole armie of the Turks had beene at hand howbeit those horsemen retiring and no other appearing it was afterwards knowne that they were onely scouts sent out by the Turkes to take view of the armie of the Christians and in what sort they lay encamped The latter end of this moneth it fortuned that a young countrey fellow secretly sent out of the citie by the Gouernour and falling into the hands of Palfi was by him sent to the countie by whom he was in friendly manner demanded From whence he came whether he was going and whereabouts Whereunto the youth frankely answered That he was sent from the Gouernour with letters to the Bassa of BVDA which he presently drew out of his bosome and deliuered them vnto the countie who after he had read them caused them to be closed vp againe and so deliuered them to the young man with some few crownes commaunding him to carrie them to the Bassa as he was about and in his returne to bring him the Bassaes answere promising for his so doing to reward him bountifully which the young man vndertooke to doe and so departed Now the purport of the Gouernours letters was That if the Bassa did not within six or seauen dayes send him aid and relieue him he should for want of victuals and other things necessarie for the holding out of the siege be enforced either to abandon the citie or to yield it vp into the enemies hands Whereunto the Bassa returned answere by the aforesaid messenger That he would within the appointed time bee with him willing him in the meane while to be mindfull of his wonted valour and not to be with any thing discouraged appointing him the day the houre the way the meane with all the other circumstances how he would relieue him Which letters the young man according to his promise deliuered vnto the countie who thereupon prouided accordingly for the welcomming of the Bassa Within a day after also one of the Turkes canoniers considering the danger the citie lay in and feating that it would be lost fled out of it into the campe who besides that he aptly declared the state of the citie and the wants the besieged were in did also afterwards good seruice during the time of the siege The Turkes had in this while many times sallied out to their great losse yet now vpon hope of better successe they aduentured the nine and twentith of this moneth to sallie out againe but with like fortune as before leauing fourescore of their men behind them hauing slaine but fiue of the Christians Now had the Turks in great wants by the space of a moneth right worthily defended STRIGONIVM expecting still for reliefe At length newes was brought into the campe That the Bassa of BVDA with twentie thousand men was comming to raise the siege who the second of August came accordingly and with his armie encamped within foure miles of the Christians lying so nigh certaine of the Turkes horsemen seeking after bootie came very neere vnto the campe of the Christians and out of the pastures euen vnder their noses carried away some few horses against these desperat aduenturerers certaine troupes of the Hungarian and Germane horsemen issuing out had with them an hot skirmish but the Turkes of purpose retiring as men ouercharged and the Christians still following