that did this Cobelitz vnto Amurath The dead bodie of Amurath was presently with all secrecie conueied into his tent by the Basâ—aes and captaines present at his death whether Baiazet was also brought with an ensigne before him as the successour in his fathers kingdome His younger brother Iacup surnamed Zelebi or the noble yet ignorant of that had hapned was by the great Bassaes sent for as from his father who casting no perill but comming into his fathers tent was there presently by them strangled by the commaundement of Baiazet as most histories report howbeit the Turkes annales charge him not therwith This was the beginning of the most vnnaturall and inhumane custome euer since holden for a most wholesome and good policie amongst the Turkish kings and emperours in the beginning of their raigne most cruelly to massacre their brethren and neerest kinsmen so at once to rid themselues of all feare of their competitors This Amurath was in his superstition more zealous than any other of the Turkish kings a man of great courage and in all his attempts fortunat he made greater slaughter of his enemies than both his father and grandfather his kingdome in ASIA hee greatly enlarged by the sword mariage and purchase and vsing the discord and cowardise of the Grecian princes to his profit subdued a great part of THRACIA called ROMANIA with the territories thereto adjoyning leauing vnto the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE little or nothing more in THRACIA than the imperiall citie it selfe with the bare name of an emperour almost without an empire he wan a great part of BULGARIA and entred into SERUIA BOSNA and MACEDONIA he was liberall and withall seuere of his subjects both beloued feared a man of verie few words and one that could dissemble deeply He was slaine when hee was threescore eight yeares old and had thereof raigned thirtie one in the yeare of our Lord 1390. His dead bodie was by Baiazet conuaied into ASIA and there royally buried at PRUSA in a faire chappell at the West end of the citie neere vnto the Bathes there where vpon his tombe lieth his souldiours cloake with a little Turkish tulipant much differing from those great turbants which the Turkes now weare Neere vnto the same tombe are placed three launces with three horse tailes fastened at the vpper end of them which he vsed as guidons in his wars a thing in antient time not strange There standeth a castle with a tombe made in remembrance of him in the plaines of COSSOUA where he was slaine and his entrailes buried which giueth occasion for some to report that hee was there also himselfe enterred FINIS Christian princes of the same time with Amurath the first Emperours Of the East Iohn Palaeologus 1354. 30. Andronicus Palaeologus 1384. 3. Emanuell Palaeologus 1387. 30. Of the West Charles the fourth 1346. 32. Wenceslaus son to Charles king of Bohemia 1378. 22. Kings Of England Edward the third 1327. 50. Richard the second 1377. 23. Of Fraunce Iohn Valois 1350. 14. Charles the fifth 1364. 16. Charles the sixt surnamed The welbeloued 1381. 42. Of Scotland Dauid Bruce 1341. 29. Robert Stuart 1370. Bishops of Rome Innocent the VI. 1354. 10. Vrban the V. 1364. 8. Gregorie the II. 1372. 7. Vrban the VI. 1378. 11. BAIAZET BAIAZETTHES PRIMVS QVARTVA TVRCORVM REX ANNO 1390 Fulminis in morem celeri rapit agmina motu Baizethes fidei pacis impatiens Regni Hadrianopolim sedes sibi legit vt esset Posset vt Europae iungere regna suis. Constantinopolim gemina obsidione fatigat Iam Graetas vana spe sibi spondet opes Cum Tamburlano praebet sua terga catenis Vinctus in cauea probra pudenda subit Prowd Baiazet most false of faith and loathing blessed peace His warlike troupes like lightening to shake he doth not cease Of HADRIANOPLE he makes choice for his imperiall seat That EVROPS kingdomes he might joyne vnto his empire great CONSTANTINOPLE he distrest twice with straight siege and long And vainly thought to haue possest the Graecians wealth by wrong But ouercome by Tamberlane fast bound in fetters sure Trod vnder foot and cloas'd in cage great shame did there indure THE LIFE OF BAIAZET THE FIRST OF THAT NAME THE FOVRTH AND MOST VNFORTVNAT KING OF THE TVRKES BAiazet or as the Turks call him Baiasit of his violent and fierce nature surnamed Gilderun or lightening succeeded his father Amurath in the Turkish kingdome his younger brother Iacup being strangled immediatly after his fathers death as is before declared He in the first yeare of his raign inuaded SERVIA and there besieged CRATOVA a citie of the Despots whereunto the siluer mines of SERVIA not the least cause of that warre belonged Which citie was yeelded vnto him vpon condition That the Christian inhabitants might with life and libertie depart Who were no sooner gone out of the cittie but that by his commaundement they were all most cruelly slaine by his men of warre for that purpose sent out after them At this time hee also woon VSCUPIA with diuers other castles in the countrey neere vnto CRATOVA Sigismund at the same time king of HUNGARIE a yong prince of great hope and brother to Wenceslaus then emperour of the West aduertised from the Seruians his allies and confederats of these proud proceedings of Baiazet by his embassadours sent of purpose requested him That as he was a just prince and wished to liue in quiet with his owne to desist from doing of such open wrong and from inuading of such countries of his friends and confederats as he had no right in Which embassadours so sent Baiazet detained without answere vntill such time as he had ouerrun a great part of the Despot his country and therein done what he thought good Then calling the said embassadours vnto him into one of the strong townes which hee had in euerie corner filled with his owne souldiours told them that they might there see that his right both vnto that towne and the rest by him taken was good inough for as much as the verie wals acknowledged the same and so giuing them leaue to depart willed them so to tell their master Which his proud answere by the same embassadors reported vnto the yong king no lesse troubled him than if open warre had by them been denounced vnto him seeing the tyrant as should seeme pretending right vnto whatsoeuer hee could by force get neuerthelesse being himselfe not yet well setled in his kingdome and in doubt of the contrarie faction that altogether liked not of his election into HUNGARIE for their king he was glad at that time to put it vp and so to hold himselfe content The next yeare Baiazet by Ferises Beg tooke the citie of VIDINA with many other strong townes and castles in SERVIA and afterwards returned to HADRIANOPLE But whilest that hee thus raged in EUROPE the Caramanian king inuaded and spoiled the frontiers of his countries in ASIA which although he was not then at
vpon the great riuer of Tanais which boundeth EVROPE from ASIA and arming fifteen thousand Tartarian horsemen deliuered them all to Selymus promising forthwith to send him greater aid if he should haue occasion to vse the same These things being quickely dispatched Selymus passing ouer the riuer Borysthenes and so through VALACHIA came at length to Danubius and with his horsemen passed that famous riuer at the citie of CHELIA His fleet hee commaunded to meet him at the port of the citie of VARNA called in antient time DIONYSIOPOLIS in the confines of BVLGARIA and THRACIA he himselfe still leuying moe men by the way as he went pretending in shew quite another thing than that he had indeed intended which the better to couer he gaue it out as if he had purposed to haue inuaded HVNGARIE But Baiazet a good while before aduertised that Selymus was departed from TRAPEZOND and come ouer into EVROPE maruelling that he had left his charge in ASIA the rebellion of Techellis and the Persian warre yet scarce quieted and that vpon his owne head hee had entertained forraine aid to make warre against the most warlike nation of the Hungarians and farther that with his armie by land he had seized vpon the places neerest vnto THRACIA and with a strong nauie kept the Euxine sea hee began to suspect as the truth was That all this preparation was made and entended against himselfe for the craftie old sire had good proofe of the vnquiet and troublesome nature of his sonne especially in that without his knowledge hee durst presume to take a wife from amongst the Tartars and afterwards with no lesse presumption of himselfe raise an armie both by sea and land Whereby he easily perceiued that he would neuer hold himselfe contented with a small kingdome so long as hee was in hope by desperat aduenture to gaine a greater Yet thinking it better with like dissimulation to appease his violent and fierce nature than by sharpe reproofe to moue him to farther choller he sent vnto him embassadours to declare vnto him with what danger the Turkish kings had in former times taken vpon them those Hungarian warres for example whereof he needed not to goe further than to his grandfather Mahomet the Great who many times to his exceeding losse had made proofe of the Hungarian forces wherefore he should doe well to expect some fitter opportunitie when as he might with better aduise greater power and more assured hope of victorie take those wars in hand Whereunto Selymus answered That he had left ASIA enforced thereunto by the injuries of his brother Achomates and was therefore come ouer into EVROPE by dint of sword and the helpe of his friends to win from the enemies of the Mahometane religion a larger and better prouince for that little barren and peaceable one which his father had giuen him bordering vpon HIBERIA and CHOLCHOS bare and needie people liuing as connies amongst the rockes and mountaines As for the Hungarians whom they thought to be a people inuincible and therefore not to be dealt withall he was not of that base mind to be daunted with any danger were it neuer so great and yet that in his opinion the warre was neither so difficult or dangerous as was by them pretended for as much as the antient prowesse of that warlike nation was now much changed together with the change of their kings and their discipline of war not onely much decayed but almost quite lost after that Vladislaus farre vnlike in policie and prowesse had succeeded the renowmed Matthias in that kingdome Neither had he as he said from his cradle learned to be afraid of death or of the common chances of warre as knowing that neither God nor man would bee wanting to him who with an honourable resolution did aduenture vpon vertuous and worthie attempts and that therefore hee was fully resolued for his owne honour which his father had in some sort blemished by the immoderate aduancement of his brethren either to die honourably in the field in battaile against the enemies of the Mahometane religion or els gloriously to extend the bounds of the Turkish empire and that he would not though one of the yongest in the Othoman familie bee accounted inferiour to any of his brethren in vertue and prowesse Thus was the Hungarian warre neuer by Selymus entended notably by him pretended and with no lesse dissimulation by Baiazet dissuaded The embassadours although Selymus in all his speeches shewed no token of peace yet in his fathers name presented vnto him diuers gifts therby if it might be to appease his fierce and cruell mind Vnto his old gouernment they adjoyned SAMANDRIA which the Hungarians call SCHENDEROVIA a strong citie of SERVIA vpon the borders of HVNGARIE with many other strong townes in the same countrey they gaue him also threescore thousand duckats beside a thousand garments of cloth and silke with good store of prouision wherewith to relieue and content the souldiors by him entertained least that they drawne farre from home in hope of spoile should take it in euill part if they should be sent away emptie handed Selymus in a happie time hauing receiued these gifts returned the embassadours vnto his father with more doubtfull answere and vncertaine hope than before yet changing nothing in himselfe of his former resolution secret messengers and letters from his friends in the court still whetting him forward too much alreadie enflamed with desire of soueraignetie persuading him to make hast and to repose his greatest hope in his quicke speed for that they vnderstood that about the time of his setting forward his brother Achomates was comming with a great power being sent for out of CAPADOCIA by his father In the meane time Baiazet moued the rather with the feare of Selymus resolued vpon that whereof he had long before in his mind deeply considered and now said openly That he would appoint his successour who in stead of himselfe spent with yeares and sickenesse should bring with him the flower of youth and strength of bodie fit to gouerne so great an empire But when these things were propounded vnto the souldiours of the court by the foure great Bassaes who in all things both of peace and warres had next place vnto the emperour himselfe it was forthwith gainesaied by those martiall men crying aloud with one voice That they would know no other emperor but Baiazet vnder whose conduct and good fortune they had now serued aboue thirtie yeares and therefore would not suffer him to liue a priuat life in obscuritie who with so many victories and strong cities taken had brought the Othoman empire vnto that height of renowme and glorie They said moreouer that there was in him yet strength ynough if he would but with the reuerend honour of his age retaine the majestie of his place and the glorie he had gotten with his long and happie raigne and most famous victories and that of his children such a one should
there were ten gallies from the RHODES commaunded by Halyport a man of seuentie yeares two gallies of MITYLENE and about seuenteene galliots and other small pyrats ships With this strong fleet the Turks departing from METHONE the thirteenth of May arriued at MALTA the eighteene of the same moneth and put into a hauen in the Northeast part of the isle which the inhabitants call MARZASIROC but perceiuing themselues not to bee there in safetie they remoued to another port called MAIOR The island of MALTA lying betwixt AFFRICA and SICILIA might be doubted whether it were to be accounted in AFFRICKE or EVROPE but that the auntient Cosmographers and the Moores language which the Maltases haue alwayes vsed challenge it for AFFRICKE It is in length from the Northeast to the Southwest twentie miles and in the broadest place twelue It regardeth AFFRICKE Southward ouer against LEFTIS PARVA and SICILIA towards the North but more towards PACHINVM than LILYBEVM and is in circuit about threescore miles It seemeth to haue taken the name of MELITA of Mel or honey wherof it yeeldeth plentie The trees there beare fruit twice a yeare and they haue oftentimes twice haruest especially of barley and cotten wooll yet is the isle in some places stonie grauellie and bare of wood neuerthelesse it beareth figs apples almonds grapes and other fruit trees planted by the industrie of man date trees also but not fruitfull it beareth thistlâ—s of such bignesse that the inhabitants vse them for wood fresh water is there wonderfull scarce and such wels as they haue are filled with raine in Winter for in Summer they are either cleane drie or els the water becommeth brachie The inhabitants are so burnt with the Sunne that they differ little in colour from the Aethyopians they are of a wholesome constitution of bodie spare of diet industrious rather painefull than warlike dying more for age than of sicknesse their buildings except it bee in the citie which is in the middest of the island and in the suburbes are long and low like vnto the Moores couered with turfe or reed It is commonly supposed that S. Paule was by shipwracke cast vpon this island but it is with greater reason to be thought that it was the other MELITA in the Adriaticke betwixt CORCYRA and ILLYRIA and better agreeth with that which Luke writeth of the Apostles trouble and shipwracke in the Adriaticke out of which sea it is not to be gathered of the text that Paule with the rest were driuen But againe to our purpose That side of MALTA which respecteth SICILIA hath in it many good harbours and commodious hauens fit for shipping where beside the port MARZASIROO towards the East where the Turkes fleet first landed and the port of S. THOMAS with another called SCALA not farre off it hath two other notable hauens the one called MAIOR and the other MARZAMOXET deuided the one from the other by a narrow peece of ground which with a ridge runneth in length from the South to the North almost in manner of an island hauing the hauen MAIOR on the East and MARZA MOXET on the West Vpon the head of this high ridge standeth the castle of S. ELMO of great strength both by nature and art As a man entreth into the hauen MAIOR vpon the left hand are foure promontories pointing farre into the hauen on that side almost in manner of islands making so many bayes Vpon the first standeth the gallowes whereof also it taketh name vpon the very point of the second on a rough and high rocke standeth a most strong castle called the castle of S. ANGELO whereunto adjoyneth the towne seperated from the castle onely with a wall and a ditch and is placed in a hollownesse cut out of the maine rocke strengthened also with the sea and the industrie of man and is of some called the Burg of others the new citie in this castle resideth the Grand master and the souldiors in the Burg vpon the third promontorie standeth another strong castle which they call also the Burg of S. MICHAEL the fourth promontorie is not inhabited from whence the sea runneth alongst the winding bankes almost into the midst of the island vnto a place called AQVA MARSIA Againe after the port MARZA MOXET Westward is the harbour S. GEORGE and after that another called BENORRAT then followeth the port of S. PAVLE no lesse than the port MARZASIROC after which commeth the port called SALINARVM SINVS but on that side of the island towards AFFRICK is only one port called MILLIARIA neere vnto the island of MALTA lie certaine other little islands as GAVLOS now GOZO two other called CVMINIA and another called PIPER all subject to the Malteses Thus much I haue thought good to set downe concerning the Turkes fleet and for the description of those places wherein this great action was performed the brute whereof then filled the world Now shall it not be amisse in like manner to declare vpon what strength next vnto God Valetta the Graund master stood against so mightie and puissant an enemie First there was in the island thirteene hundred mercinaries some Spaniards some French some Florentines and the rest of NAPLES there was also a thousand seamen of the knights fleet and fiue hundred in the towne of S. Angelo and of the countrey people which were fled into the strong places fiue thousand men not altogether vnskilfull of the wars there was also fiue hundred knights of the Order besides priests and squires for of these three sorts of men are they which are called brethren of the Order This was the number of them which defended the castles towns of S. Elmo S. Angelo and S. Michaell wherunto they were proportionably diuided and in the citie it selfe which is called MELITA being in the middle of the island was two hundred souldiors and as many citisens with three hundred of the countrey people all horsemen commanded by Io. Vagno a valiant captaine Besides this euerie place was furnished with plentie of victuall armour weapons artillerie and whatsoeuer else was needfull for the enduring of a long siege and a warre that should want many things and that which passed all the rest minds armed with inuincible courage against whatsoeuer should chance which oftentimes maketh of the vanquished victors All these things being in readinesse and orderly disposed as soone as they vnderstood that seauen and twentie of the Turks gallies had put into the hauen MARZASIROCK and were there landing their men Gyon Admirall for the Order a valiant and couragious knight marched thither with fiue hundred harquebusiers to haue skirmished with them but as soone as the Turks saw them comming they retired againe to their gallies On the other part where the great fleet lay two hundred of the Turkes going on shoare met by chance with Riuerius a Frenchman and eight knights moe who hauing his horse killed vnder him and one of his companions slaine fell with the rest into the hands
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
part in reuenge thereof by certaine men of warre whom he put to sea grieuously infested the frontiers of the emperours dominions Now during the time that the marriage was in solemnising the king made his abode at ANTIOCH at which time he fortefied the castle of PONTISFER vpon the riuer ORONTES against the incursions of the enemies But lying there he according to his wonted manner to preuent sicknesse vpon the approch of Winter tooke physicke of Baraca Iew the countie of TRIPOLIS his physician After the taking whereof he fell presently into the bloudie flix and afterward into a consumption whereby it was verely supposed that he was poysoned by the Iew and the rather for that some little part of the same medicine that was left being giuen to a dog he thereof in short time died The king thus languishing in paine to change the aire remooued first to TRIPOLIS afterward to BERYTUS where he departed this troublesome life to liue with his Sauiour Christ in blisse for euer His dead bodie was afterward with the generall mourning of his subjects conueied to HIERUSALEM and there solemnly enterred by the bodie of his father He departed the 13 of Februarie in the yeere of grace 1163 when he had raigned 21 yeeres He was a man so gracious that not onely his friends but euen the infidels themselues as it is reported lamented his death Insomuch that Noradin king of DAMASCO his antient enemie being incited by some of his captaines to inuade his kingdome at such time as his funerals were in solemnising refused so to doe answering That compassion and regard was to be had of the just sorrow of the Christians his subjects for that they had lost such a king as the like was hardly againe to bee found in the world But leauing the kingdome of HIERUSALEM with the greater part of SYRIA thus victoriously gained from the infidels let vs for the orderly continuation of our historie againe returne to see thâ— proceedings of the Turkes at the same time in the lesser ASIA also wherein they yet held the state of a kingdome though not so great as before the comming of the princes of the West into those countries After the death of Sultan Solyman with whome duke Godfrey and the other Christian princes had much to doe as they passed into SYRIA as is aforesaid one Muhamet succeeded him betwixt whom and Masut Sultan of ICONIUM great discord arise which at length brake out into open warre to the farther weakening of that late shaken kingdome For the maintenance of which quarrell as profitable for his state Iohn Comnenus the Greeke emperour gaue aid to Masut against his enemie Muhamet Neuerthelesse in short time the two infidels professing both one superstition became friends and joyning their forces ouerthrew the emperour with his whole armie as he lay at the siege of ICONIUM at which time he himselfe with much adoe escaped by flight Masut afterwards hauing got into his hands the whole kingdome of the Turks at the time of his death deuided the same amongst his three sonnes Vnto Clizasthlan his eldest sonne hee gaue ICONIUM his cheefe citie with the townes and prouinces subject thereunto Vnto Iagupasan his other sonne or rather as some will haue it his sonne in law he allotted AMASIA and ANCYRA with the fruitfull country of CAPPADOCIA and the places adjoyning But vnto Dadune his other sonne or sonne in law hee gaue the great cities of CESARIA and SEBASTIA with the large countries thereabouts all sometime part of the Greeke empire but then the portions of the Turks Long it was not after this deuision of the kingdome but that these brethren after the manner of ambitious men forgetfull of the bonds both of loue and nature fell at discord among themselues the Sultan seeking the destruction of Iagupasan and he likewise of him and that not by secret meanes but euen by open force of armes Emanuell the Greeke emperour in the meane time wishing the destruction of them both heartely rejoycing thereat and by his embassadours secretly animating the one against the other yet in open shew more fauouring the part of Iagupasan than of the Sultan by whose aid he obtained against him many a notable and bloodie victorie insomuch that the Sultan wearie of the quarrell was glad not onely by his embassadours to seeke the emperours sauour but euen in person himselfe to go and meet him as he came with his armie out of SIRIA and so to accompanie him vnto CONSTANTINOPLE where he was together with the emperour most honourably receiued with all the signes of joy and triumph that could possibly be deuised The emperour no lesse rejoycing to be sued vnto by so great a prince than did the Sultan at his so honourable entertainment Among other queint deuises of many for the solemnizing of so great a triumph there was an actiue Turke who had openly giuen it out that against an appointed time he would from the top of an high tower in the tilt-yeard flie by the space of a furlong The report whereof had filled the citie with a woonderfull expectation of so strange a noueltie The time prefixed being come and the people without number assembled the Turke according to his promise vpon the top of the high tower shewed himselfe girt in a long and large white garment gathered into many plites and foldings made of purpose for the gathering of the wind wherewith the foolish man had vainely persuaded himselfe to haue houered in the aire as do birds vpon their wings or to haue guided himselfe as are ships with their sailes Standing thus houering a great while as readie to take his flight the beholders still laughing and crying out Flie Turke flie how long shall we expect thy flight The emperour in the meane time dissuading him from so desperat an attempt and the Sultan betwixt feare and hope hanging in doubtfull suspence what might happen to his countrieman The Turke after he had a great while houered with his armes abroad the better to haue gathered the wind as birds do with their wings and long deluded the expectation of the beholders at length finding the wind fit as he thought for his purpose committed himselfe with his vaine hope vnto the aire But in steed of mounting aloft this foolish Icarus came tumbling downe headlong with such violence that he brake his necke his armes and legs with almost all the bones of his bodie This foolish flight of the Turke gaue such occasion of sport and laughter vnto the vulgar people alwaies readie to scoffe and jest at such ridiculous matters that the Turks attending vpon the Sultan could not walke in the streets vnderided the artificers in their shops shaking their armes with their tooles in their hands as did the Turke and still crying out Flie Turke flie whereof the emperour hearing although he could not chuse but thereat smile himselfe as not ignorant of the scoffes and taunts of the vulgar people yet in
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
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
Achmetes Bassa the great champion of the Turkes a man reuerend and of great authoritie for his birth yeares and rare experience in martiall affairs and one by whom Mahomet had done great matters standing vp with pleasing speech calmed his furious mind and with substantial reasons persuaded him to desist from that his entended purpose and to take another surer course as followeth Your great valour and worthie praises inuincible emperour said he who is able to expresse the greatnesse wherof the mind of man cannot conceiue and my dull spirit but wonder thereat my tongue faltereth to speake of them neither would this time serue so much as to recount them It is of all men deemed a thing of great honour most dread soueraigne when a prince hath receiued a kingdome from his ancestors to be able in safetie to keepe and defend the same greater than this is it honourably to encrease and augment it so left but of a small thing by worthie prowesse to bring it to the highest type of worldly honour is of all other things the greatest Which most rare excellencie all men worthily ascribe vnto your perfection and felicitie and I of all others can thereof bring the most assured testimonie who haue oftentimes heard it of mine ancestors which following the fortune of the Othoman princes out of ASIA into EVROPE that your worthie predecessors at their first comming into EVROPE without offence be it said possessed but a corner thereof to whom you afterward by diuine appointment succeeding haue adioined so many prouinces kingdomes and empires as were tedious to rehearse them For who can worthily expresse how you haue in EVROPE subdued CONSTANTINOPLE the imperiall citie of the East empire with all THRACIA ACHAIA GRECIA PELOPONESVS BEOTIA THEBES and the noble citie of ATHENS the mother and nurse of all good learning The empire of TRAPEZOND with the emperour thereof is by you ouerthrowne the kingdomes of SERVIA and BOSNA with the princes of PELOPONESVS are by you gloriously vanquished You haue at your commaund twelue kingdomes in ASIA the lesser PONTVS BYTHINIA CAPPADOCIA PAPHLAGONIA CILICIA PAMPHILIA LYCIA CARIA LYDIA PHâ—IGIA NICHOMEDIA and NICEA with the famous citie of PRVSA Besides these IONIA DORIS SMYRNA COLOPHON EPHESVS MILETVM HALICARNASVS PERGAMVS with the countrey of TAVRICA are vnder your subiection The great countrey of ARMENIA hath felt your force the Islands of LESBOS CHIOS and EVEoeA are parts of your empire What should I speake of infinit people and nations by you most victoriously vanquished This may suffice for all that you haue gained from the Christians twentie prouinces and two hundred great citties For it were too long to rehearse the Mahometane kings and princes by you also vanquished in all your expeditions 〈◊〉 things haue yet giuen place to your fortune The antient monuments may now cease to extoll the praises of Caesar Scipio Pyrrhus Hanniball and other cheefetaines of ROME and forraine nations for why they are all inferior to you both for victories and countries subdued The Othoman familie is vndoubtedly fatall for soueraignetie all the world shall in short time come vnder your gouernment and all nations shall serue you As for this towne of SCODRA let it not so much greeue you worldly things as you know doe oftentimes deceiue our expectation in them fortune beareth great sway Yet for this matter quiet your selfe for I dare gage my faith vnto your imperiall maiestie that I will in short time find meanes that this citie shall stand at your deuotion Did not I of late bring into your subiection the impregnable citie of CROIA which you so long desired But whereas you would now agaiâ— forthwith attempt to win it by assault I therein craue your pardon in that I cannot be of that opinion but must needs thinke farre otherwise for to attempt warre and to be ouerthrowne is an easie matter for euery man to doe but to vanquish the enemie and to carrie away the triumph that right few men know He that consulteth of such great and weightie matters ought to be free both from furie and desire both euill counsellours The Christians of SCODRA are not in my opinion to be againe assaulted for in so doing you shall but lose your labour For if you could not subdue them your armie being then fresh and strong how shall you now ouercome them with much fewer and they wounded weake and feeble I haue viewed the whole campe and searched euery tent and found no place no tent yea scarcely any cabbin without groning sighing weeping or wailing in euery place was heauinesse sorrow mourning and death it selfe for in the last assault you lost thirtie thousand and more of your best souldiorâ— many moe are greeuously wounded and maimed none but he carrieth about him some signe that hee was there few or none there be that dare againe mount the hill to giue a fresh assault they are all afraid and discouraged Whom when I demanded how so great a feare was come vpon them and what was the cause they had so lost their wonted courage they answered me That it was the looke euen the very looke of them of SCODRA whose eyes did seeme vnto them to burne and sparkle with fire their sterne and terrible countenances said they haue strucke this terrour into vs. Wherefore I thinke it not good to giue a fresh assault with men so dismayed but rather to vse policie and delay against such resolute enemies This citie of SCODRA is the eye and head of all this prouince which the Venetians haue notably fortified and planted with store of ordinance and of all things els necessarie for defence thereof but especially with most valiant souldiors of purpose chosen out of many their garrisons for defence of this citie you haue not now to doe with the weake and effeminate people of ASIA but with the hard and rough people of EPIRVS And you know most mightie emperour the strength and courage of this nation it is now thirtie yeares that you haue made warre against this people and haue not yet altogether subdued them and how dangerous and chargeable this warre hath beene vnto you who knoweth not It is now six moneths since we came first before this citie we haue intrenched our selues round about it we haue day and night laid hard siege vnto it we haue battered it of long with eleuen cannons I speake not of other smaller peeces or engines of warre with all kind of shot and fire-worke and whatsoeuer els we could deuise We haue many times to our cost assaulted it what could be done by force strength or multitude of valiant men is alreadie done in the former assaults Nothing hath been left vnattempted no policie no direction hath wanted in your leaders neither courage in your souldiors What should I recount the innumerable great shot or speake of our arrowes and darts deliuered into the citie as showers of haile Did all this or any thing els we could doe any thing terrifie these defendants
with twelue gallies who landing here and there vpon the coasts of ITALIE did much harme causing it to be reported in euery place where he landed That this was but the beginning of a greater war and that a wonderfull fleet was to follow him which raised a great feare as well in other places as in ITALIE Howbeit no such fleet afterwards appeared for why the Turkish emperor much troubled with the reuolt of TRANSYLVANIA VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA and the great mortalitie then raging both among his souldiors and their horses was not at leisure to looke into the sea hauing his hands full ynough with the troubles of HVNGARIE where his men of warre enjoyed little rest in the frontiers of his territories Sigismund the Transyluanian prince had vpon some just causes of late suspected Aaron the Vayuod of MOLDAVIA to haue intelligence not onely with the Polonians but also with the Cardinall Bator and other his mortall enemies and secretly to haue beene about to make his peace with Mahomet and so againe to fall off from him vnto the Turke Which vehement suspition growing dayly more and more was about this time manifestly confirmed by certaine letters intercepted concerning that matter For the preuenting whereof the prince caused Aaron to bee apprehended and with his wife and sonne to be sent as prisoners to PRAGE in whose roume he by the consent of the nobilitie of the countrey placed one Stephen Rozwan a wise and discreet man amongst them and such an one as had been vnto him alwaies faithfull So as much as in him was prouiding that that countrey should not be rent from him and the vnion of the other But against the secret practises of the Polonians he protested openly by letters vnto the emperour by the power of God and aid of his faithfull subjects to redresse those so great injuries himselfe by the sword In the middest of these troubles came three Chiaus embassadours from the Turkish Sultan vnto the prince to persuade him againe to put himselfe into his protection and to giue him passage through his countrey as in former time into HVNGARIE promising him that all the injuries by him or his people done should bee for euer forgotten and forgiuen and that hee should haue those three countries of TRANSYLVANIA VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA as his owne free inheritance without paying any tribute and so to be accounted as the Turkes most louing friend and vassale What the prince answered thereunto was not knowne but by his doings afterwards it was easily to be gathered that he hearkened not vnto the deceitfull charmes of the faithlesse tyrant trusting more vnto the league he had with the Christian Emperour These embassadours were scarce gone but that a secret messenger came with letters from the chiefe of the Christians in BVLGARIA to the prince declaring vnto him That if he did with any good successe prosecute his warres they would be readie to follow his fortune and to joyne hands with him against the cruell tyrant and to shut vp all the passages that way into VALACHIA MOLDAVIA and HVNGARIE Whilest these troublesome times thus passed in TRANSYLVANIA and HVNGARIE one of the old Ianizaries called Wasuode Giezi an old souldior but a confident bold spoken fellow mooued as should seeme with the discontentments of the time came vnto Mahomet the great Sultan at CONSTANTINOPLE and there openly set vpon him with this rough abrupt speech How long at last most mightie Emperour wilt thou endure thy selfe to be seduced and blinded by the great Bassaes of thy Court and commaunders of thine armies How long wilt thou suffer thy selfe to be deceiued to the great danger of thy selfe and hurt of thy subiects Seest thou not how ouerthwartly fraudulently and cunningly they mooued onely with their owne couetous and ambitious humor haue hitherto dealt with thee and thy father especially in that that persuaded by them thou hast dishonourably broken thy league and taken vp armes against the Christian emperour At length open thine eyes and see their deceit and how much they abuse thy power Sinan Bassa who must haue himselfe honoured and exalted aboue all others hath not by strong hand honourably woon RAB as hath beene the manner of thine auncestors but hath craftily bought it with thy money and thereby cast thee into a most dangerous warre and infinit troubles O RAB RAB now the cause of great triumph and reioycing as if thereby all Christendome should in short time bee subdued to thy scepter But thou art therein much deceiued thy barnes thy store-houses as are TRANSYLVANIA VALACHIA MOLDAVIA BVLGARIA and other prouinces adioyning from whence this thy imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE with the countrey about it thy Court yea thy selfe art to be relieued are by this warre shut vp so that downe the riuer of Danubius out of the West or by the Euxine out of the East thou art not to looke for any prouision From whence then ò mightie Emperour wilt thou maintaine thy selfe thy Court this populous citie and the countrey hereabout Not to speake in the meane time of thy mightie armie now in HVNGARIE flesh fish corne all manner of victuall are now at such a price that the common souldior cannot buy them In this extreame dearth of all things not men onely but euen the very beasts and cattell starue for hunger Thy horses goe fat perhaps into HVNGARIE but neither thou nor thy select souldiors can liue by grasse and weeds all that is left in that countrey This miserie and calamitie of thy people thou seest daily and yet thou wilt not with sound iudgement lift vp thine eyes to see from whence these harmes come and how that they by thee put in greatest trust studie not for thy profit or the profit of the commonweale but onely how by all meanes to enrich themselues Mahomet much moued with this confident speech of the old Ianizarie commaunded him to be forthwith committed to ward and by faire meanes to bee examined by whose setting on and for what cause he had so boldly vttered this rude speech vnto his Soueraigne and what further thing he had intended but the rest of the Ianizaries hearing thereof rise presently in a tumult and by strong hand tooke him out of prison and by solemne oath combined themselues to defend him euen to the spending of their owne bloud whereat Mahomet was glad to winke The greatest part of the aid promised by the Christian princes for the maintenance of this yeares warres against the Turke being now come to VIENNA in AVSTRIA countie Mansfelt lieutenant Generall vnder the Archduke forthwith called a counsell of the colonels captaines and other great commaunders of the armie to consult with them what course to take for the beginning of this great warre as whether they should presently lay siege to some towne of the enemies or els to expect him in the plaine field and to giue him battell All things well considered and that resolued vpon which was thought most expedient he remoued from