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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15862	A relation of the late seidge and taking of the city of Babylon by the Turke. As it was written from thence by Zarain Aga, one of his captaines, to Caymaran (his brother) vice-roy in Constantinople. Setting forth all the principall passages of this siedge; with one unparreled [sic], cruell, furious and bloody assault, made by the Turks, wherein were slaine in 12 houres. 130000 of them, and above 20000 Persians. Translated out of the Turkish, into the Italian language by the drugerman to the state of Ragouza. And Englished by W.H.	Zarain, Aga.; Holloway, William, of Ragusa.	1639 (1639)	STC 26122; ESTC S120611	13,155	40

A RELATION OF THE Late Seidge and taking of the City OF BABYLON BY THE TURKE As it was written from thence by Zarain Aga one of his Captaines to Caymaran his Brother Vice-Roy in Constantinople Setting forth all the principall passages of this Siedge With one Unparreled Cruell Furious and Bloody assault made by the Turks wherein were slaine in 12 houres 130000 of them and above 20000 Persians Translated out of the Turkish into the Italian Language by the Drugerman to the State of RAGOVZA And Englished by W. H. LONDON Printed by I. Raworth for N. Butter and N. Bourne 1639. THE INTRODUCTION Describing the City of Babylon from its Originall and how often it hath been translated from one Monarch to another it being now come againe into the hands of the Turke IT is not Fortune to which the Romane Orator as he (a) 2. Ad Heren Fortunam Insanam esse caecam Brutam perhibent Philosophi Caecam quia nihil cernit quo sese applicet Insanam quia incerta instabilis est Brutans quia mu●tis incommodis conflictatur learnt from the Philosophers gives the attributes of Blindnesse Madnesse and Brutishnesse because it seeth not whither it applyeth it selfe is unconstant and variable and is encountered by many inconveniences no humane policy by which the (b) Aristot 5 polit cap. 8. Statists of the world would prescribe infallible rules for preservation of setled Kingdomes and Republiques to Eternity but the divine providence which governeth the estate of things which administring and ruling all things not simply alone but by disposing of the meanes and secondary causes makes that necessary by consequence which because not foreseen seemeth contingent and fortuitous to the Moale-eyes of blinde mortality Old Babilon the metropolis of Assyria for strength might compare with any City in the world Its first Foundresse Semiramis (c) Quem morem vestis exindegens universa te●…t Ius●… L. 8. A woman of more then masculine wit and courage whose Garbe in wrapping her head in Lawne the Persians at this day imitate first surrounded it with walls of 32 (d) Celius A●…que lectionum L. 8. Cap. 12. foot thicke and 50 Cubits high betwixt the Turrets the Towers themselves being raised 10 Cubits higher And so left it as a peece in the opinion of that age impregnable If any City might boast of its bignesse this might clayme that glory It being the (e) Babiloniaamplissima stomnium urbium orbis cogni●… Iovius Lib 33. biggest of the knowne world And the walls (f) Celius loc citato 355 (g) A Stadium is 135 paces Stadia in compasse Or according to Plinius his description (h) L. 3. c 2● The breadth of the walls being 50 foot the height 200 each foot containing more by 3 fingers breadth then our ordinary measure And in Circuite LX. M. paces To omit that conjecture of Aristotle who (i) Polit. 3. c. 2. thought it might have an equall dimension with all Peloponesses because when it was first taken the farthest part of the City knew not till 3 dayes after what had happened If any City might brag of its Elegancy and commodious situation it was this Euphrates bringing his Channell of a stadium broad through the midst of it (k) Cel. L. Citato Curtius et alij and that so arched over and adorned with pensill Gardens that afarre off it appeared like a Wood upon the top of a Mountaine and the land about being so fruitfull that it commonly produceth 200 for one and somtimes 300 (l) Herod lib. 5. If any City might glory in the happy and pregnant wits of its inhabitants it was this where Astronomy was first taught and the Arte of working in needle workes of divers Colours was first invented If ever City might glory in the puissance of its Kings this was that City wherin the Scepter was first sway'd by Phulbelochus Anno mundi 3146. under whom flourished the Persian Historiographer Metasthenes who reigned 48. yeeres Next by Phylazzer or Tegbath Phylazzer Anno mundi 3194. and reigned 23. yeeres After him by Salmanazar Anno mundi 3217. who reigned 10. yeers and subdued all Phaenicia Tyrus only excepted and carryed away the King of Israell and the 10. Tribes into Media Next by Sennacherib Anno mundi 3227. who reviling the good pious Hezekiah by a rayling Rabshekeh had a hooke put into his Nostrils forced home againe and was slaine Adoring his Idols in the Temple by his owne Sonnes when he had reigned 7 yeeres After him by Esarhaddon called by Josephus Asarocoldus Anno mundi 3233. who raigned 11 yeares And lastly by Berodach surnamed Ballad Anno mundi 3242. who at the revolution of 12. yeares transferred the Kingdome to the Assyrians and afterwards reigned 18. yeares yet the strength of its walles numerous ingenious inhabitants and the puissance of its Kings could not conserve it in its former splendour it being forced to change the ancient government and receive new Lords and Lawes first by Cyrus the Persian and after by Alexander the Great who was poysoned there by a Quacksalving Mountebanke Thessalus by name m who had so cunningly tempered his potion (o) Iustin 1.12 that no vessell of Earth or glasse brasse or Iron nor any thing else but an horses hoose could containe it unlesse it had been mingled with Cold water which for a time abated the violence though soone after contracting its power it raged more violently in which vehicle it was exhibited unto him Kings have there Fates and the great Macedon which would be thought Immortall as God thus by the hand of a base Veneficus knew himselfe to be a man and dyed like one of the ordinary princes but his limited time was come One of the Persian Wisemen called Pythagoras (n) Plutarch in vita Alexandri warned him to leave Babylon and ferry over the River unto Byrsia and his Counsell he had followed had not Anaxarchus the Philosopher met with him and told him that his Predictions were false and also uncertaine adding withall Si fatis Constant ignota mortalibus (o) Iustin Loc. Citat Si natura debeantur Imutabillia And so convincing his understanding betrayed him to the treacherous Assasinace The utter ruine of this great City attended the Fate of this great King for soon after his death it was in part demolished by the fury of the Persians in part suffered to perish by the negligence of the Grecians and almost exhausted and unpeopled by (p) Cael. L. Citat Seleucus who to that intent built Seleucia within 300 Stadia that is 44 English miles thereof and the Parthians who to the same purpose built Ctesiphon in Chalonitis Juxta tertium ab câ Lapidem But then failing of their designe Vologesus the King nuper saith Pliny (q) L. 6. c. 26 since the Incarnation of our Saviour it is certaine built an other City neere it called Vologeso-Certa and thereby so impoverished it that it

might have been said of Babylon truely which a Greeke Comick Poet spake of Megalopolis in Arcadea scoffingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The great City is become a forsaken wildernesse Thus the glory of the Easterne buildings became as an heape till the yeere of Christ 578. when it was rebuilt by the Caliph Bugiapher with the expence of 200000. talents of Gold and called Bagdat yet that splendor was soone Eclipsed againe by Alacho brother to Chyta the Tartarian king Anno 640 who expelled The Abasian family Caliph Mustiadzen the 54 th of that house then ruling and the family of Chita was againe not long after beaten out by Tangrolipix of the Zel-Zuccahian line whence it descended to the house of Ottoman Anno 1031 under whom it remained untill the yeere 1625 when it was subjected to the Persians by their puissant Prince Abas who after 14 yeeres were forced from it by the now Turkish Sultano whose processe for the recovery thereof by the great paines and charge of our English Relator is derived to us out of the Archiva of Raguza formerly called Epidaurus a City and Republique in Dalmatia but tributary to the grand Signior in the letters following The Relation of the late Siege and taking of the City of Babylon By the Turke THe desire you have to know of the true Successe and proceedings of our whole Army incited me to write 3. former letters In my first I related unto you what occurents hapned in our voyage particularly of that most (1) This Persiā Commander would usurpe both the Name and Office of our Saviour is therfore justly by styled the Turke base and wicked false and wicked man who intitling himselfe Jesus the great Prophet was not very farre from Babilon so audacious and hardy as to joyne Battle with the Invincible Army of the Arbiter of the whole universe (2) Here is base flattery and detestable blasphemy the Turks parrasit● thus entitle him and he asumes it the most mighty Emperor Sultan Amurath the right hand of the Omnipotent God and how the said bloudy fights ended by the death of the said false Prophet and all his Army Discito justitiam moniti nec temnite Iesum 3 In my second I wrote you how that approaching neere the wals of great Babilon we were assaulted by the Army of Han Lord of Persia and how dreadfull the Battaile was as also how a great part of our Army then perished and how the aspect of the awefull countenance of our most majesticall Emperor at least forced the Enemy to retire one part of his Army flying into places farre off and the other part seeking refuge within the wals of Babilon In my third I signified unto you that the Babilonians hearts fayled them at our approach when they beheld the vaste and great Channell and Trenches made by our Army to divert the river Euphrates annother way the great paines of our supreame Lord the admirable diligence of Hussaim Bassaw the incomparable vertue of Mahomet Bassaw the couragious vallour of Mustapha Bassaw and the generall and cordiall fidelity of the whol● Imperiall Army all which presaged the following Victory as also of the foure Batteries planted in each of which were 50. Peeces of Ordnance in all 200 peeces wherewith we continually battered the great Babilon without giving the Enemies any leave to take the least respit As also of the great Assault and Trenches made against the strong Castle of Venlo by the Noble favorite of our Emperour Silixtar Bassaw there I also wrote unto you how wee then numbred our Souldiers and how many wee found wanting namely the number of such as perished in the fore named Battels in the raysing of the 4 Bastions and in the assault amounted to 73,589 light Horse with their Riders amongst whom the old Dants Bassaw sanctified by our holy faith who appeared alwayes like thunder and lighting to the Enemies terror (4) That is were slaine the Turks superstition accounting them as Saints Martyrs which dye by Warre in their Princes service with many other Lords and great Captaines of the Countreies of Greece Albania and Morea which wee hope that like so many Cherubins the chiefest of the Angels have conducted their soules to Heaven into the Bozome of Mahomet our Prophet whom the great God hath so washed with the water of Martyrdome suffred by them for their faiths sake There were lost also in the same actions 35000 footmen in part Janissaries and in part a new sort of Souldiers named Simeani amongst whom was Beleaver Bostanga Bassaw who that very same day on which he was preferred to the dignity of Bassaw before he could enjoy terrestriall Rule conducted to heaven these his Souldiers being drawne to enjoy those Celestiall waters the which GOD hath granted to the Faithfull through the intercession of our great Prophet (5) There is no cheate like that which cloaths it selfe in the habit of Religion This the Iugling Mahomet promised Azoara 2 and is it this day by them firmely beloved After which I also advised you how that the great Ingeneere of Afrique had caused more than 1000 Barques to be built And how that 25 Canons of unmeasurable greatnesse were laid upon skins blowne full of wind like bladders and so were supported and swame on the River Euphrates but to what end no one knew I further advized you of the great preparations and toyle in making the great frame for the Bridge ouer the River and how that the said River being diverted another way we presented the aforesaid Cannons before the strong walls of Babylon and then layd the Bridge at one instant fortifiing it with strong and long barres of Iron that upheld it in all those places which are held necessary and how our designes tooke effect and a great part of the walle of Babylon by uncessant Battery was broke downe and how the said Artillery together with an Infinit number of our men the diverted River by force returning suddenly into its Antient Channell were carried away thereby And not onely so but that the River also broake into the Citty of Babylon through the breaches in the wall which our Emperour perceiving commanded the aforesaid Barques full of Souldiers to row into the City 6 as you have had in my former large information After this there came a commandement from our Omni Potent Emperour the bridge being finished that we should fill up the trenches by us made It was a strange command and dangerou● but ●elc●… piet ●…iura regn●nai cupiditas The Sultan is more ambitious to enlarge his Dominions th●… to preserue his men and careth not for losse of the last so he may gaine the first and that about the distance of a mile from Babylon we should begin a great trench of the length of a mile in a direct line but about miles in its wandring turnings and windings so larg that 30 men in file might commodiously march forward therein This done the

caused him to bee arrayed with three severall rich Garments and with his owne hands girt his Sword about him and then assigned to him his Treasury saying unto him Take into thy custody my right hand the Privic Seale and shew thy self my valiant a Wolfe Conveneunt rebus Nomina The Wol●… ie Annimal fero● non generos●… rapax nunquam turatum let me see how thou wilt behave thy selfe in guiding of mine Army in the remainder of the victory The great Bashaw without the least answer casting himself downe upon the ground most humbly kissed the Emperours hand and presently with much hast tooke horse gallopping amaine towards that part of the City which was by us already overcome where lighting from his horse he was received of all the Army with great tryumph The almighty God the recompencer of our true valour which overcommeth all oppositions infused into all our Camp unspeakable jollity prosperity and supplyed us with abundance of all things necessary for life c. Numerus Ternarius turcis Saceritidem decimus Now the 30th day b since our first arrivall under the said City which was Friday neerely approaching all the chiefe Commanders of the Army began to put all things in a readinesse being resolved on the next morning to give the last assault unto the remainder of the City yet being in the possession of the Babilonians and in which was the Castle Venlo being one halfe of the whole well fortified with about 16000 Defendants vvho seeing hovv things passed amounted their Artillery some part to the left side of the City and the other part to defend the Walls without on that side which out-faced the Battery of the great Bashaw Thus being provided and all things in order they attended our comming with great acclamations loude noises and sounds of warlike Instruments shewing more courage then ever they did before c. But the Reader hath by the way to understand that before the comming of the Turkes under Babylon The Persians had sent away all unprofitable and unserviceable persons as old Men women and children unto other retired Cities and strong holds of Persia there being left for guard of the City onely 40000 able garrison Souldiers over which were foure principall Commanders namely the first and chiefest was called Obet Han the second Mentisen Ebas the third Asmaean and the fourth Sacker Now it happened that the three aforesaid last named Commanders by certaine passages had some suspition that their chiefe Generall Obet Han was corrupted by the great Turke and held private correspondency with him whereupon with an unanimous consent they imprisoned the same Obet Han in a Tombe but he soone after clearing himselfe was againe set at liberty This night all the aforesaid Commanders called a Councell wherein after much conference being propounded what medicine was best to cure so desperate a disease The opinion of the said Obet Han was to deliver up the remainder of the City upon any indifferent tearmes But the other three chiefe Captaines were so farre from consenting thereto that they plainly told him if he would not hold out even unto the last man all the Persians in the City would rise up against him and cause him most shamefully and disgracefully to loose his life Whereupon he knowing that they jested not and fearing so great a storme would ensue at midnight gave a secret signe to our Camp that he would yeeld and give himselfe into the pious hands of our Emperour which he accordingly did the great Turke promising him gracious entertainment (a) A valiant man cannot bee a Traytor but Cowardice and Treason commonly walke hand in hand and such was Han. upon which security he feigned to his Countrymen that his desire was the next morning to be the first which would withstand the furie of the Turkes first assault whereupon they no way dreaming of his intention commended his forwardnesse and incouraged him to behave himselfe valiantly so betimes the next morning hee issued forth of his hold with 3000 Souldiers as if it were to withstand us but instead thereof hee went straight forwards with the said Souldiers unto the lodging of our great Vizier who with much humanity entertained him and advised our Emperour of what had hapned who hearing the processe caused the said Obet Han to come before his presence who immediately presenting himselfe Here the old Rule is crossed Amo Proditionem proditore ode our Emperour cloathed him with a plaine red Velvet gowne lyned with Zebelines and a very rich Pendant which his Highnesse had worne in the front of his Turbant and also a Dagger named Hangiaw and unto all the other 3000 Soldiers which accompanied him hee gave very great pay So that those which were Heretiques even unto that (d) Must he needs be a Mussulman that is subject to the House of Ottoman Quis l●…g●t hoc in ●…chinnor non solvitur houre became beleevers of the most happie truth of Mahomet The aforesaid donatives and presents were given unto the aforesaid Obet Han because hee had alwaies underhand kept correspondency with our Emperour which was as aforesaid almost revealed but the Omnipotent God preserved him in safety to the end his honourable actions by future Writers might be published in e holy paper to the whole World It might bee charta Sacra and so passe After which we heard in the Persians fortifications a great tumult and confusion and in that instant certaine of the Defendants desired a Parley the which being by us perceived some were sent to know their minds which being understood they returned opened it to the Emperour and his Councell who concluded that the following day there should be on both sides a cessation from Armes and likewise ordered that the following night at the darke Posterne doore of the Castle all the Persian Soldiers upon agreement should issue foorth with as much Baggage as they vvould carry and keepe their vvay through the ordinary street towards Persia And to this end order was given that the Camp of Silixtar great Bashaw should make them way and retire from these Frontiers but there arose a suspition it vvas the cōmon bruit amongst our Soldiers that the Persians fled and that in a tumacious māner without rendring the least Obedience to our army though perswaded thereunto one vvhile by admonitions another vvhile by menaces which this their intollerable obstinacy caused our men to rush all in an Impetous fury tovvards those parts where the Persians vvere vvho knowing full well in vvhat desperate case they were Death threatning them on all sides prepared themselves for their best defence vvhich preparation caused a rumour the rumor so affrighted the Turks which were Iodged in that part of the City already won fearing some great ayd was come from the King of Persia to succour the distressed Babilonians that thereupon they forsooke all the holds they had before conquered and fled Insomuch that had not the

Captaines of the Ianizaries assured them of the truth and incouraged them immediatly to returne all that was gotten with so great an effusion of guiltlesse blood had been all in a trice lost again In this bloody Fight was a most horrible slaughter on both sides and a mortall destruction fell upon all those Persians which as aforesaid had issued foorth the most part of them were slaine the ground drinking in their Hereticall blood with the blood of many holy Imperials insomuch that but 300 of our Enemies escaped death that day who being taken Prisoners alive and said that the faithlesse Promise of our Emperour had deceived them But wee answered them that though our Emperor had given them his faith not to molest them in their passage yet this his pleasure was not proclaimed through the Campe therefore we were not bound to observe it where upon presently after they were brought to a place neere the Dudiglien or Tent of the great Vizier and were all beheaded This tragedy being seen by the Persians which kept the Castle made them prepare for their defence unto whom our Emperor ingaged his faith and promised them to proclaime it through the whole Campe according to their own hearts desire neverthelesse they remayned obstinate and notwithstanding that all day long they were perswaded to accept thereof they would not consent thereto for which cause there came out a Comaund that the next day following both in the Ditches and without a generall assault should be made which was accordingly performed and wee approaching to the outward ditch of the Castle which was a pike long in depth and another in breadth which hindred our entrance into a broader green we indeavoured with a great quantity of beames and timber to fill up the ditches and as it were to make a kind of a Bridg wherby our designe might take effect But whilst we were thus seriously imployed about this work the defendants from the out wals of the Castle with their musket shot and from their Bastions with their Artillery made great havock of our men yet neverthelesse in the space of an houre we had laid our beames and made a kind of Bridge by the which our Souldiers thronged over to the aforesaid greene where being come wee found another Ditch halfe as deep and as broad as the other thorow which passed a river and whilst some of our men earnestly attended with their musket shot not giving leave to the defendants once to shew themselvs upon the wals of the Castle others of our renowned best Souldiers by their scaling Ladders mounted up the walles a mine was sprung the violence whereof not only blew up all those which had passed the aforesaid bridg but also the very bridg it selfe and not only so but as it happened this mine fired another mine which was under the second ditch and wall which unsuspectedly taking fire blew up many of the defendants who were on the outwals and the stones of the said 2 mines also greatly damnified all those of our Camp which were in the 3 quarter-conquered-City and as many as were neere thereunto being one of the most horrible and dreadfull sights vvhich hath beene seene by any mortall since the Creation This miserable accident being over those of our men vvhich vvere left alive tooke quiet possession of the doores of the Castle first and aftervvard by plaine force of the Castle it selfe there remaining in it alive only 300 Persians and those unarm'd and vvithout any thing left vvherevvith to defend themselves save that each of them had a short crooked svvord by their sides called Simytars their povvder and all their materials for defence being spent stood upon their guard and fought so desperatly that in the terrible conflict many of our Just Imperials lost their lives But at last our multitudes overcame them and put them all to the sword Thus after the above said maner the great destroy'd Babylon became wholy ours But as the valor expressed by our Souldiers is beyond beleeve so was also the courage of the defendants which will adde unto us an eternal fame so strong a Fortresse being never heretofore taken by force neither ever any Souldiers more obedient to their Superiours than ours were neither ever any Emperor King or Potentate from the Creation so liberall in gifts as this our God of the Earth was I thanks be to God remaine yet alive but wounded by a Musket shot in the thigh when wee became masters of the Castle doore and thus wounded I write this relation unto you being untill this present day in the behalfe by direction and order from our terrestiall God daily visited by Selictar Bassaw whereby notwithstanding the wound greatly molesteth me yet I have comfort and heartely rejoyce that my body is marked for the holy faiths sake and I shall not too much emulate the felicity of our dead since that the pious God knew well the ambition I had to dye in defence of our most holy faith and in service of my Emperor who so often shews such evident signes of his affection towards me as I my selfe could neither expect or desire wherfore my longing is to meet with an opportunity whereby I may give a testimonie that after God he is my soule As for the rest there remaine yet alive unto me foure horses and 3 servants whom God blesse send them good fortune that they may deserve their stipends and leave fame to their children As for the victuals for our Camp by the Providence of God wee found great store in the City and also by the diligence of our Emperour wee have great abundance of all things making continuall feasts with roaring of Artillery and praying to God for the prosperity happy successe of our Almighty Emperor as you also ought by the Emperors command to give notice to all his subjects that they observe the like In this City we found 145 Canons for battery the which carried shot of 50 and 70 pound weight 92 morter pieces in the which any man might stand most cōveniently but little or no wealth at all because all before our coming was carried away from thence nothing remaining but what was necessary to maintain the life of the above said 40000 Souldiers there left in guarde of the City There were also sufficient victuals found to maintaine 40000 soules for the space of 2 years We found also 200 Runtars of powder the City wholy destroy'd which we are about to refortifie If any other matter of moment shall happen I will exactly informe you Thus praying that whatsoever you desire may be fulfilled in as much as it aymeth to the prosperity of our Emperor and his Crown Farewell From the Camp FINIS The Coppy of a letter sent to a private Merchant of London from Ragouza THis foresaid Relation is here of all held for a certaine truth this State having sent the selfe same news to the Pope and Vice-Roy of Naples and to many other Christian Princes and hath also beene confirmed to bee true by a 100 severall Carryers wherefore be pleased to make much thereof assuring you if you knew how I laboured to get out the Coppy of the Originall out of the private News booke of this State kept in the hands of their chief Secretary you would questionlesse esteeme it so much the more My paines in translating it though not small yet far lesse than the procuring of the Originall by which above said discription I take notice of 3 points viz. 1 of the proud blasphemy of the great Turk in Intituling himself the right hand of God Arbiter of the Vniverse and God on Earth 2 Of their foolish superstitions and idle opinions to beleeve that all those their Souldiers that dye in fight must necessarily thereby gaine Heaven 3 Of their bestiall precipitated resolution and vaine glory of the great Turk that so hee may gaine and accomplish his ambitious desires regards not to see before his face the Bucherlike slaughter of multitudes of his men and bravest Souldiers c. Read this Relation to as many as your discretion thinkes fit but I desire you to let no Coppy bee taken thereof that it may not on the suddaine become common And thus I humbly rest Your obed Ser to command WIL HOLLOWAY