the while that the great and mightie Tamerlane with his innumerable forces couered the face of the countries fast by him most part whereof Mahomet hath now since his departure againe recouered Wherefore it were best for you to send for your angrie brother Isa to CONSTANTINOPLE and to make him generall of the armie you intend to send into ASIA against Mahomet In which warres it is not vnlike but that one of your brethren will be lost whereby you shall haue one competitor of your kingdome the lesse So shall you afterwards with lesse trouble subdue him that is left or at leastwise please him with some part of that which they haue so mightely striuen for This counsell was of Soliman and all the rest well liked of and approued So was Isa presently sent for vnto CONSTANTINOPLE and a great armie leuied Who being come to HADRIANOPLE was by Soliman courteously welcommed and made generall of his armie and therewith shipped ouer the strait of HELLESPONTVS into ASIA Where at his first comming hee possessed the whole countrey of CARASIA or LYDIA and passing further in all places where he came was receiued of the people with great reuerence they all promising him their obedience if it were his fortune to preuaile against his younger brother Mahomet wherewith he held himselfe well contented So comming to the cittie of BEG-BAZER otherwise called DESPOâ—â—POLIS he there wintered with his armie In which time hee with many kind and louing letters still directed to Mahomet as his younger brother seemed to be glad that he was so well obeyed and liked of by his subjects and that presuming of his loue and fauour he was as his louing brother and not as an enemie come into ASIA to entreat with him of such matters as much concerned the good of them both Whereunto Mahomet with like dissimulation answered That hee was right glad of his comming for which he needed not as he said to make any excuse for that he was entred into a kingdome in part his owne and the rest open before him in token wherof he commaunded a rich garment to be cast vpon the messenger as a fauor sending also diuers rich presents vnto his brother with great prouision of victuals and other necessaries for his souldiors But Winter past and the Spring come Isa marched with his armie to PRUSA and â—here shewed vnto the cittizens the louing letters he had at sundry times before receiued from Mahomet and telling them that hee was in good hope that they should in short time right well agree requested to haue the castle deliuered vnto him sometime their soueraigne whereinto the better sort of the cittizens had retired themselues and made fast the gates against him but when he saw that he could by no faire words or pollicie gaine the possession of the castle enraged with that repulse he set fire vpon that goodly citie and burnt it downe to the ground Mahomet not ignorant how his brother Isa romed vp and downe his kingdome vsing all kindnesse to such as yeelded vnto him and exercising no lesse crueltie vpon such as refused his obedience and how that hee had rased the royall cittie of PRVSA hauing gathered a strong armie marched in ten daies from AMASIA to PRVSA and by the way meeting with his brother Isa in a great battaile ouerthrew him with all his forces Isa himselfe accompanied with no more but ten persons fled vnto CASTAMONA prince Isfendiar his cittie who hearing of his arriuall there entertained him with all the honour he could in recompence of the great friendship he had before found at his hands at what time he was an humble suter in his father Baiazet his court Mahomet comming to PRUSA greeued exceedingly to see that faire citie so destroied yet to comfort the poore citizens he gaue exceeding summes of money to bee bestowed amongst them and tooke order for the new building of the citie and there continued certaine daies himselfe to see the worke begun Isa in the meane time hauing incited the prince Isfendiar in his quarrell to inuade his brother Mahomet and going thether himselfe in person was by him now the third time ouerthrowne and put to flight Neuerthelesse he with some small forces twice afterwards entred into Mahomets dominion but finding few or none willing to follow his euill fortune was glad at last to flie to the prince of SMIRNA by whom he was both honourably entertained and comforted This prince of SMIRNA mooued with Isa his pitifull complaints in so manifest a wrong did not onely promise him what helpe he could of himselfe but also by his embassadours solicited the princes of AIDINIA SARUCHANIA and MENTESIA to giue him aid in so just a quarrell for the releefe of Isa against his vsurping brother These princes pitying the case of the distressed prince and moued with the request of the prince of SMIRNA and fearing also the ambitious spirit of Mahomet amongst them sent such aid that being all assembled together Isa had now twentie thousand men in armes Mahomet vnderstanding of this great preparation made against him and hauing raised a strong armie thought it not best to expect his brothers comming into his countrey where perhaps many might joyne themselues vnto him being so strong in field but entred the prince of SMIRNA his country with such speed that he was vpon him and the rest of his enemies before he was looked for where after a great bloodie fight he obtained of them a notable victorie Isa hauing lost the battaile and therewith his hope also fled into CARAMANIA and there in such obscuritie ended his daies that no man can tell where nor how he died This was the end of this noble prince alwaies of greater courage than fortune The prince of SMIRNA the chiefe authour of this warre humbling himselfe to Mahomet obtained his fauour The other confederate princes which gaue aid to Isa were shortly after by Mahomet for most part spoiled of their dominions Which done he returned with victorie to the building of PRUSA hoping now to liue at more quiet But whilst Mahomet after this victorie dreading no danger was in the middest of his pleasures at PRUSA he was certainly aduertised That his eldest brother Solyman had raised a great armie in EUROPE to inuade him in ASIA Vpon which aduertisement hee furnished the castle of PRUSA with a strong garrison and all things needfull for the induring of a long siege and placed Iacup-Beg the sonne of Firoses captaine therein and afterwards departed himselfe because that citie lately before burnt by Isa was not as yet to be defended much lesse to be accounted of as a place to retire vnto if need should so require From PRUSA he came to ANCYRA from thence directed commissions for the taking vp of souldiors in all parts of his kingdome At which time hee writ letters also to Doioran a Tartar prince whom hee had many times greatly pleasured for aid who presently came vnto him with certaine troupes
the houses and defacing the fort so much as in that sudden feare they possibly could fled into the lower towne The next day the Countie with resistance tooke the aforesaid places forsaken by the Turkes which hee manned with certaine companies of Wallons and made a bridge of boats ouer Danubius cast vp certaine mounts and did many other things for the furtherance of the siege In three daies he had againe repaired the fort vnder Saint Thomas hill abandoned by the Turkes and therein placed foure great pieces of artillerie wherewith he began to batter the lower towne and in other places to strait the besieged more than they had been the yeare before The Bassa of BVDA not ignorant of the want both of men and munition in the besieged citie and the rather for that they had but a little before sent part of their garrison with shot and pouder to RAB and DOTIS attempted thrise as he did many times after during the time of the siege to haue by the riuer put new supplies both of men and munition into the citie but was still by the diligence of the Christians excluded and enforced with losse to returne In short time the Lower towne which they call WASSERSTAT or the Water towne was with continuall batterie sore beaten so that scarcely any house or building was left whole and a counterscarfe made the last yeare beaten downe Whereunto certaine Wallons were sent only to haue viewed the breadth and manner of the ditches after whom certaine companies of the Hungarian Heidons presently followed without any commaund from their captaines who with great courage got to the top of another high counterscarfe there set vp some of their ensignes Which the Turks beholding and comming on close togither by plaine force enforced them with losse to retire Among these Hungarians were diuers also of the Wallons slaine with some others of good name and place to the great griefe of the Countie being not a little offended with that disordered seruice yet day and night the batterie ceased not and the Christians out of their trenches with their musket shot slew many of the Turks vpon the wals receiuing little hurt againe the Turkes still shooting but sparingly for feare of wanting shot and pouder at their greater need yet that they spent they bestowed so well that amongst others they had slaine foure of the Christian canoniers and one Wallon captaine About the middest of Iuly the Countie with continuall batterie had made the Water towne as he thought saultable and therefore sent certaine companies to begin the assault who hauing passed the counterscarfe found the ditch full of deepe mud and but newly cut broader certaine paces by the Turks so that it was thought scarce possible to be passed without a bridge behind which ditch was an high wall with strong bulwarkes and within all this was another new cast ditch and vpon the very brinke thereof a thicke and high parapit all which for all that certaine companies of the Wallons with great labour and danger aduentured to passe but such was the valour of the defendants and the small number of them that came on to the assault with the disaduantage of the place wherein they stood that at length they were glad to retire with the losse of many of their fellowes The Christians in the beginning of this siege had taken a little island in the riuer before the citie which was kept with some few companies of the lord Palfi his Heidons whereof the Turks hauing intelligence at BVDA with three gallies and certain other vessels landed in the island 3000 soldiors which slew the Heidons vnto whom no succour could be suddenly sent and so recouered againe the island wherein they left a sufficient garrison for the keeping thereof furnished with all things necessarie and so departed About three dayes after the former assault the Christians in hope of better successe the second time assaulted the Water towne in which assault the chiefe leaders were the lord Greis and Anthonie Zinne a famous captaine had he not stained his honor with countie Hardeck at RAâ— but being pardoned by the Emperour did now together with the rest appointed to that seruice most couragiously assault the breach but were againe by the Turks notably repulsed and enforced at last to giue ouer the assault and so to retire with the losse of an hundred and fiftie men amongst whom Zinne himselfe was slaine with one captaine Ruger and some of the counties owne guard the lord Greis was wounded in the head and the yonger lord Schuendi with diuers other captaines grieuously hurt The next day after six hundred of the mountaine people came into the campe vnto the countie with supplications to request him Not to giue ouer the siege vntill he had woon the citie promising in the name of those towns and villages from whence they were sent of their owne charges to repaire for him what harme soeuer he should doe in the citie for the taking therof yea though he should lay it euen with the ground for why the harmes they daily receiued from the garrison of that citie were wonderfull At the same time also he was aduertised by his espials of whom he maintained many for the discouerie of the enemies doings that Mahomet the Turkish Sultan had writ vnto the Bassa of BVDA carefully to prouide that his beloued citie of STRIGONIVM tooke no harme and not to spare either for men or money betime to relieue it and therein to do nothing without the aduice and good liking of his old and faithfull seruant Alis Beg who of long time had gouerned and also defended that citie and to the intent that nothing should be wanting for the performance hereof that he had sent Alexander Aga of the Ianizaries from the Court whose seruice he might euill haue spared whose approued counsell and helpe he might also vse in all things for that he had rather loose some other whole kingdome than that one citie And that therefore he should beware that it were not by the enemie woon or by any composition yielded wherein if he failed he threatned vnto him his heauie displeasure not to be appeased without the price of his head Which so seuere a commaundement of the great Sultans the Bassa sent to them of STRIGONIVM with most grieuous threats from himselfe if they terrified with any batterie vndermining or assault should yield the citie and not hold it out as became valiant souldiors vnto the last man swearing to empaile them all vpon stakes that should consent to the yielding vp thereof The old Gouernour Alis hauing receiued this so straight a commaund from him that was both able and like ynough to performe what he had threatened vtterly to deterre the souldiors from once thinking of yielding caused diligent enquirie to be made throughout the garrison if any of them had at any time made any motion of yielding vp the citie or otherwise murmured against their captaines or commaunders
written by me as meaning in any thing to preiudice thy better iudgement but to leaue it to thy good choice in such diuersitie of reports to follow that which may seeme vnto thee most true By which courtesie thou maiest hereafter encourage me to performe some other worke to thy no lesse contentment So wishing thee all happinesse I bid thee farwell From Sandwich the last of September 1603. Thine in all dutifull kindnesse R. KNOLLES The names of the Authors whom we especially vsed in the collecting and writing of the Historie of the Turks following ABrahamus Ortelius Achillis Traducci Aeneas Syluius Pont. Alcoranum Turcicum Antonius Sabellicus Antonius Bonfinius Antonius Pigafetta Antonius Guarnerius Augerius Busbequius Bernard de Girard Blondus Foroliuiensis Caelius Secundus Curio Dauid Chytreus Franciscus Sansouinus Henricus Pantaleon Iacobus Fontanus Ioannes Leunclauius Laonicus Chalcocondilas Lazarus Soranzi Leonardus Chiensis Leonardus Goretius Marinus Barletius Martinus Chromerus Nicephorus Gregoras Nicetas Choniates Nicholaus Honigerus Nicholaus Reusnerus Paulus Iouius Philippus Lonicerus Petrus Bizara Sebastianus Monsterus Thomas Minadoi Theodorus Spanduginus Germanicae Continuationes Relationum Historicarum Andreae Strigelij Theodori Meureri Iacobi Franci THE GENERAL HISTORIE OF THE TVRKES BEFORE THE RISING OF THE OTHOMAN FAMILIE WITH ALL THE NOTABLE EXPEDITIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN PRINCES AGAINST THEM THE glorious Empire of the Turkes the present terrour of the world hath amongst other things nothing in it more wonderfull or strange than the poore beginning of it selfe so small and obscure as that it is not well knowne vnto themselues or agreed vpon euen among the best writers of their histories from whence this barbarous nation that now so triumpheth ouer the best part of the world first crept out or tooke their beginning Some after the manner of most nations deriue them from the Trojans led thereunto by the affinity of the words Turci Teucri supposing but with what probabilitie I know not the word Turci or Turks to haue beene made of the corruption of the word Teucri the common name of the Trojans as also for that the Turks haue of long most inhabited the lesser ASIA wherein the antient and most famous citie of TROY sometime stood No great reason in my deeming yet giue the authors thereof leaue therewith to please themselues as well as some others which dwelling much farther off borrow or rather force their beginning from thence without any probabilitie at al and that with such earnestnesse as if they could not elsewhere haue found any so honourable ancestours Othersome report them to haue first come out of PERSIA and of I wot not what citie there to haue taken their name neither want there some which affirme them to haue taken their beginning out of ARABIA yea and some out of SYRIA with many other far fet deuises concerning the beginning and name of this people all seruing to no better purpose than to shew the vncertaintie thereof Amongst others Philip of MORNAY the noble and learned Frenchman in his woorthy worke concerning the truenesse of the Christian religion seemeth and that not without good reason to deriue the Turks together with the Tartars from the Iewes namely from the ten Tribes which were by Salmanazar king of ASIRIA in the time of Oseas king of ISRAEL caried away into captiuitie and by him confined into MEDIA and the other vnpeopled countries of the North whose going thither is not vnaptly described by Esdras where among the great Hords of the Tartars in the farthest part of the world Northward euen at this day are found some that still retaine the names of Dan Zabulon and Nepthaly a certaine argument of their discent whereunto also the word Tartar or Tatar signifying in the Syrian tongue remnants or leauings and the word Turke a word of disgrace signifying in Hebrew banished men seemeth right well to agreee Besides that in the Northern countries of RVSSIA SARMATIA and LYTHVANIA are found greater store of the Iewish nation than elsewhere and so neerer vnto the Tartarians still the mo whereunto Io. Leunclauius the most curious searcher out of the Turks antiquities and monuments addeth as a farther conjecture of the discent of those barbarous northern people from the Iewes That in his trauell through LIVONIA into LYTHVANIA in the countrie neere vnto the metropoliticall citie of RIâ—A he found there the barbarous people of the Lettoes quite differing in language from the other countrey people of the Curons and Estons no lesse barbarous than themselues who had alwaies in their mouths as a perpetuall lamentation which they with doleful moanes daily repeated abroad in the fields Ieru Ieru Masco Lon whereby they were thought to lament ouer IERVSALEM and DAMASCO as forgetfull of all other things in their antient countrey after so many worlds of yeeres and in a desolat place so far distant thence And Munster in his description of LIVONIA repeating the like words reporteth That this rude people being demaunded what they meant by these words so often and so lamentably by them without cause vttered answered That they knew no more than that they had beene so of long taught by their ancestors But to leaue these opinions concerning their beginning so diuers and vncertaine and to follow greater probabilities as concerning the place from whence they came it is vpon better ground thought by diuers others and those of the best historiographers That this barbarous nation which hath of late brought such fatall mutations vpon so great a part not of Christendom onely but euen of the whole world tooke their first beginning out of the cold and bare countrey of SCYTHIA induced thereunto both by the authoritie of the greatest Cosmographers as by most apparant reasons Pomponius Mela the describer of the world reckning vp the people neere vnto the great riuer TANAIS the bounder of EVROPE from ASIA Eastward amongst others maketh expresse mention of the Turks in these words Geloni vrbem ligneam habitant Iuxta Thyrsagete Turceque vastas syluas occupant alunturque venando Tum continuis rupibus late aspera deserta regio ad Arympheos vsque permittitur The Geloni inhabit a citie of wood And fast by the Thyrsagets and Turks possesse the vast forrests and liue by hunting Then a rough and desart countrey with continuall rocks is spaciously extended euen as far as vnto the Arympheians Plinie also in like manner reckning vp the nations about the fennes of MaeOTIS agreeing with that Mela reporteth saith Deinde Euazae Cottae Cicimeni Messeniani Costobocci Choatrae Zigae Dandari Thussagetae Turcae vsque ad solitudines saltuosis conuallibus asperas vltra quos Arymphet qui ad Riphaeos pertinent montes Next vnto them are the Euazae Cottae Cicimeni Messeniani Costobocci Choatrae Zigae Dandari the Thussagets and Turks vnto the desarts rough with wooddie vallies beyond whom are the Arympheians which border vnto the Riphean mountaines And Ptolomie in the description of SARMATIA ASIATICA maketh mention of the Tusci whom many
an hundred thousand fighting men with which so great a power the emperors lieutenant thought it not good to encounter vntill he had procured farther aid from the emperour especially out of IBERIA and therefore kept himselfe with such power as he had within his strong and fenced places which Alim perceiuing and out of hope to draw him vnto battell roming vp and downe the countrey at last besieged ARZEN an open towne but full of rich merchants by whom it was contrarie to his expectation notably defended for the space of six daies vntill that at length the Turks seeing no other way to win it set fire vpon it in diuers places by force whereof the inhabitants were enforced for safegard of their liues to flie and to leaue the towne with an infinit wealth to the spoile of the enemie By this time was Liparites gouernour of IBERIA come with a great power to the aide of the emperors lieutenant in MEDIA whereof Alim hauing intelligence without delay hasted with his armie towards his enemies and meeting with them a little before night had with them a cruell fight wherein the victorie fell vnto the Christians who had the Turks in chace a great part of the night Neuerthelesse Liparites valiantly fighting in another wing of the battell was there taken and so carried away prisoner For whose ransome the emperor sent a great summe of money with certaine presents to the Sultan all which he sent back againe and frankly set Liparites at libertie wishing him neuer to beare armes more against the Turks And with him sent the Seriph a man of great place among the Mahumetans his embassadour vnto the emperour who comming to CONSTANTINOPLE amongst other things proudly demanded of the emperour to become tributarie vnto the Sultan and so to be at peace with him for euer Which his vnreasonable demand was by the emperour with no lesse disdaine scornfully rejected and the Seriph so dismissed which contempt of his embassadour the Sultan taking in euill part as also not a little mooued with the death of his nephew and losse of his armie with all his power inuaded the Roman prouinces But being come as far as COIME without any notable harme doing for that the countrey people hearing before of his comming had in time conueighed themselues with their substance into their strong holds whereof there was great store in those countries and hearing also that the Greeke emperour was raising a great power to come against him at CESAREA not daring to proceed any further leauing so many enemies behind him he fretting in himselfe returned into MEDIA where finding the people all fled into their strong townes he laid siege vnto MANTZICHIERT a citie standing in a plaine champion countrey but strongly fortified with a triple wall and deepe ditches This citie he furiously assaulted by the space of thirtie daies without intermission but all in vaine the same being still notably defended by Basilius gouernour thereof and the other Christians therein The Sultan wearie of this siege and about to haue risen was by Alcan one of his great captaines persuaded yet to stay one day for him to make proofe in what he were able to do for the gaining thereof whereunto the Sultan yeelding committed the whole charge of the assault vnto him Alcan the next day diuiding the armie into two parts and placing the one part vpon the higher ground of purpose with the multitude of their shot to haue ouerwhelmed the defendants with the other part of the armie furnished with all things needful for the assault approched the wals the Sultan in the meane time with certaine of the chiefe Turks from an high place beholding all that was done But this so forward a captaine in the middest of his endeuour lost himselfe being slaine with a great number of his followers in approching the wall His dead bodie knowne by the beautie of his armour was by two valiant yoong men that salied out of the gate drawne by the haire of his head into the citie and his head being foorthwith cut off was cast ouer the wall among the Turks wherewith the Sultan discouraged and out of hope of gaining the citie rose with his armie pretending himselfe with other his vrgent affaires to be called home and threatning withall the next spring to returne with greater power and to do great matters But not long after great discord arose betwixt the Sultan and his brother Habramie Alim in so much that the Sultan sought by diuers meanes to have taken him out of the way which Habramie perceiuing fled to his nephew Cutlu Muses and ioyning his forces with his denounced war vnto the Sultan his brother who meeting with them not far from PASAR ouercame them in plaine battell wherein Habramie was taken and presently by the commandement of his brother put to death But Cutlu Muses with his cousin Melech six thousand Turks fled into ARMENIA and by messengers sent of purpose requested of the emperour Constantinus Monomachus to be receiued into his protection But the Sultan with his armie following them at the heeles they for their more safetie were glad to flie into ARABIA The Sultan afterwards turning into IBERIA did there great harme spoiling the countrey before him against whom the emperour sent Michael Acoluthus a valiant captaine of whose approch the Sultan hearing and that he would vndoubtedly ere long give him battell deeming it no great honour vnto him to ouercome the emperours seruant but an eternall dishonour to bee of him ouerthrown retired with his armie backe againe to TAVRIS leauing behind him one Samuch with three thousand Turks to infest the frontiers of the emperors territories which both he and other the Turks captaines afterward more easily did for that Monomachus the emperour hauing prodigally spent the treasures of the empire to encrease his reuenue had imposed a tribute vpon the frontier countries of his empire woont before to be free from all exactions in lieu whereof they were bound to defend the passages from all incursions of the enemies but now pressed with new impositions had dissolued their woonted garrisons and left an easie entrance for the barbarous enemies into the prouinces confining vpon them Besides that the emperours immediatly following and especially Constantinus Ducas abhorring from wars and giuen altogether to the hoording vp of treasure gaue little countenance and lesse maintenance vnto men of seruice which in short time turned vnto the great weakning and in fine to the vtter ruine of the Constantinopolitane empire At the same time also the gouernment of the Constantinopolitane empire by the death of Constantinus Ducas the late emperour came to his wife Eudocia with her three sonnes Michael Andronicus and Constantinus all verie yoong whose sex and tender yeeres the barbarous nations hauing in contempt at their pleasure grieuously spoiled the prouinces of the empire namely MESOPOTAMIA CILICIA CAPADOCIA yea and sometime as far as CoeLESIRIA The report wherof much troubled the empresse
Raimund in the meane time with the rest besieging the citie of TRIPOLIS who become much more insolent than before by reason of some fortunate roads he had made vpon the enemies the last winter ceased not still to maligne Bohemund and his proceedings matter enough to haue diuided the whole power of the Christians to haue turned their weapons vpon themselues which Bohemund wel considering rise with his armie and because he would not with his presence trouble the proceeding of the religious war retired himselfe to ANTIOCH After whose departure Godfrey and the earle of FLANDERS tooke GABELLA a citie about twelue miles from LAODICIA and from thence returned againe to the siege of TORTOSA whether Raimund came also with his armie hauing before driuen the gouernour of TRIPOLIS to such composition as pleased himselfe and to furnish him with such things as he wanted Thus was TORTOSA hardly on three sides besieged by the Christians but so notably defended by the Turks that after three months hard siege the Christians were glad to depart thence and marching alongst the sea side spoiled the countrey about SIDON But forasmuch as that citie was not easily to be woon they left it encamped before PTOLEMAIS which they also passed by the gouernor thereof sending them out victuals with such other things as they wanted and vpon summons giuen promising to yeeld the citie after they had once woon the citie of IERVSALEM From thence they came to CESARIA in PALESTINE where they solemnly kept the feast of Whitsontide and so to RAMA which they found for feare forsaken of the Infidels Marching from RAMA and drawing neere to IERVSALEM they in the vantgard of the armie vpon the first descrying of the Holy citie gaue for joy diuers great shouts and outcries which with the like applause of the whole armie was so doubled and redoubled as if therewith they would haue rent the verie mountaines and pearced the highest heauens There might a man haue seene the deuout passions of these most woorthie and zealous Christians vttered in right diuers manners Some with their eies and hands cast vp towards heauen called aloud vpon the name and helpe of Christ Iesus some prostrat vpon their faces kissed the ground as that whereon the Redeemer of the world sometime walked others joyfully saluted those holy places which they had heard so much of and then first beheld In briefe euerie man in some sort expressed the joy he had conceiued of the sight of the Holy citie as the end of their long trauell This most antient and famous citie so much renowmed in holy writ is situat in an hillie countrey not watred with any riuer or fresh springs as other famous cities for most part be neither yet was it well seated for wood or pasture ground But what wanted in these and such other benefits of nature was by the extraordinarie blessings of the most highest so supplied as that the Iewes there dwelling so long as they kept the ordinances of the Lord were of all other people in the world justly accounted the most happie and fortunate Yet in those so blessed times was this citie for the sinne of the people oftentimes deliuered into the enemies hand and the glorie thereof defaced as well appeareth by the whole course of the historie of holy Scripture as also by the antient and approoued histories as well of the Iewes themselues as others Neuerthelesse it still rise againe though not in like glorie as before in the time of king Dauid Salomon and the other next succeeding kings and so was still repeopled by the Iewes vntill that at last according to the foretelling of our Sauiour Christ it was with a great and of all others most lamentable destruction vtterly rased and destroyed by the Romans vnder the leading of Vespatian the emperour and his noble sonne Titus fortie yeeres after our Sauiour his pretious death and passion Sithence which time it was neuer vntill this day againe repaired or yet well inhabited by the Iewes but lying buried in the ruines of it selfe all the raigne of Domitian Nerua and Trajan vntill the time of the great emperour Aelius Adrianus it was againe by him reedified about the yeere 136 and after the name of him called AELIA who together with the name changed also in some part the antient situation of the citie For whereas before it was seated vpon the steepe rising of an hill in such sort that towards the East and the South it ouerlooked the whole ground hauing onely the temple and the castle called ANTONIA in the highest part of the citie Adrian translated the whole citie vnto the verie top of the hill so that the place where our blessed Sauiour suffred his most bitter passion with the sepulcher wherein he was also laid and from whence he in glorie rise againe before without the citie were then enclosed within the walles thereof as they are at this day to be seene Yet for all that the emperour being dead in processe of time this new built citie recouered againe the antient name of IERVSALEM whereby it hath euer since and is at this day yet known This citie so reedified the emperour first gaue vnto the Iewes whom he afterwards againe thrust out for their rebellion and gaue it to the Christians to inhabit ouer whom one Marke first bishop of the Gentiles there had the charge But forasmuch as the Romane emperours were at that time altogether idolaters and persecutors of the poore Christians the church also at IERVSALEM with others endured sundrie and many grieuous persecutions vnder the emperors Antoninus Commodus Seuerus Maximinus Valerianus Aurelianus Dioclesianus and Maxentius vntill that at length Constantine the Great conuerted vnto the faith of Christ about the yeere of Grace 320 suppressing the Pagan idolatrie gaue generall peace vnto the afflicted church whereby the Christian church at IERVSALEM for the space of three hundred yeeres after happily flourished vnder the Greeke emperours vntill the time of the emperour Phocas who hauing most cruelly slaine the good emperour Maurice with his children and so possessed himselfe of the empire gaue occasion thereby vnto Chosroe the Persian king in reuenge of the death of Maurice his father in law with all his power to inuade SIRIA who as a tempest bearing downe all before him tooke also by force the citie of IERVSALEM hauing that yeere which was about the yeere six hundred and ten slaine almost an hundred thousand christians But Phocas the vsurper being by them of his guard most cruelly slaine and Heraclius succeeding in his steed Chosroe was by him againe driuen out of SIRIA and the Holy citie againe recouered about the yeere 624. In these great wars against the Persians Heraclius had vsed the helpe of the Arabians called Scenite a warlike people of ARABIA DESERTA altogether giuen to the spoile who the wars now ended expecting to haue receiued their pay were contrarie to their expectation and without all reason rejected by them that
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
Christians was honourably buried in the church of the sepulchre of our Sauiour on the mount CALVERIE where our Sauiour suffred his passion in which the Christian kings succeeding him were also afterwards buried He departed this life the eighteenth of Iuly in the yeere of our Lord 1100 when he had yet scarce raigned a full yeere Whose tombe is yet at this day there to be seene with an honourable inscrption thereupon After the death of Godfrey the Christians made choice of Baldwin his brother countie of EDESSA who leauing his former gouernment to Baldwin surnamed Burgensis his neere kinsman came to IERVSALEM honourably accompanied and was there by the Patriarch on Christmas day with all solemnitie crowned king in the yeere 1101. He aided by the Venetians and Genowaies at sea and by Bohemund king of ANTIOCH by land tooke from the Infidels the citie of CESAREA STRATONIS standing vpon the sea side and ouerthrew certaine companies of the Aegyptian Sultans at RAMA But vnderstanding that the Christian princes of the West were comming to his aid with a new power he glad thereof went to meet them and safely conducted them to IERVSALEM alongst the sea coast by the cities of BERYTVS SIDON TIRE and PTOLEMAIS all yet holden by the enemies At which time the Turks at ASCALON hauing receiued great aid from the Arabians and Aegyptians inuaded the countrey about RAMA where betwixt them and the Christians was fought a most cruell battell wherein the Christians receiued a most notable ouerthrow many of their great commanders being there slaine and among the rest Stephen earle of CHARTERS but lately returned home from the former expedition and now come backe againe and Stephen earle of BVRGVNDIE and THOLOVS yea the king himselfe hardly escaped the enemies hands and after many dangers came at length to IOPPA after it had beene constantly before reported him to haue been in that battell also slaine Who hauing there in hast repaired his armie came againe speedily vpon his enemies fearing as then nothing lesse and ouerthrew them with such a slaughter as that they had small cause to rejoyce of the former victorie Neither were the rest of the Christian princes in the other parts of SIRIA and PALESTINE in the meane time idle but sought by all meanes to enlarge their territories Tancred prince of GALLILIE hauing raised a great power tooke APAMEA the Metropoliticall citie of CoeLESYRIA and after much toile woon also the citie of LAODICEA Baldwin also gouernour of EDESSA besieging the citie of CARRAS had brought the besieged Turks to such extremitie that they were about to haue yeelded the citie when suddenly hee was set vpon by a great armie of the Turks sent from the Persian Sultan for the reliefe of the besieged and being there ouerthrown was himselfe there taken with Benedict the bishop and one Ioscelin his kinsman who after fiue yeeres captiuitie found means with the Turke that had taken them to redeeme themselues to the great offence of the Persian Sultan of the Sultan Solyman King Baldwin after the late victorie liued for a season at some good rest in IERVSALEM vnmolested by his enemies but knowing his greatest safetie among such warlike people to consist in armes he vpon the sudden raised the whole strength of his kingdome and laid siege to PTOLOMAIS otherwise called ACON a citie of PHoeNICIA standing vpon the riuage of the sea where he found such resistance that he was glad to raise his siege and depart hauing done nothing more than spoiled the pleasant places without the citie By the way in his returne backe againe it fortuned him to meet with certaine companies of the enemies aduenturers by whom he was in a skirmish mortally wounded although he died not thereof in long time after for albeit that the wound was by his surgeans healed vp yet was the griefe thereof so great that at length it brought him to his end Yet he notwithstanding the former repulse the next yeere encouraged by the comming of the Genua fleet laid hard siege againe to PTOLOMAIS both by sea and land which after twentie daies siege was by composition yeelded vnto him Shortly after the gouernour of ALEPPO with certaine others of the Turks great captaines in those quarters hauing joyned their forces together and so inuaded the countrey about ANTIOCH were by Tancred whom Bohemund at his departure into ITALY had left gouernour of that citie notably encountred and put to flight At which time also the Caliph of AEGYPT sending great forces both by sea and land against the king of IERVSALEM was in both places discomfited at land by the Christians and at sea by tempest Bohemund in the meane time with a great armie of voluntarie men and others wherein he is reported to haue had fiue thousand horse and fortie thousand foot returning towards the Holy land in reuenge of many injuries done by Alexius the emperour vnto the souldiers of this sacred war contrarie to his faith and promise to them before giuen by the way landed his men in EPIRVS and grieuously spoiled the countrey about DIRRACHIVM part of the emperours dominion Neither made he an end of spoiling vntill he had enforced the emperour for redresse of so great harmes to make peace with him and againe by solemne oath to promise all securitie and kindnesse vnto all such Christian souldiers as should haue occasion to trauell too or fro through his countries during the time of this religious war After which agreement hee put to sea againe and so returned for IERVSALEM But whilest he staid at ANTIOCH hee shortly after there died in the yeere 1108 leauing the principalitie thereof vnto his yoong sonne Bohemund a child vnder the tuition of his nephew Tancred Yet were the cities of BERYTVS SIDON and TIRE alongst the sea coast in the enemies possession for the gaining whereof Baldwin the king raised a great armie and so came and laid siege to BERYTVS which after many sharpe assaults he at length woon the three and twentith day of Aprill in the yeere 1111 and put to sword most part of them that he found therein The same yeere also he assisted by a fleet sent vnto him out of NORWAY besieged the citie of SIDON which the citizens seeing themselues now beset both by sea and land at length yeelded vnto him by composition the nineteenth day of December After which victorie he dismissed the fleet and returned himselfe in triumph to IERVSALEM Now of all the famous cities alongst the sea coast of PHoeNICIA and PALESTINE from LAODICEA to ASCALON was onely the citie of TYRE that remained in the hands of the enemies which citie Baldwin also hardly besieged neuerthelesse it was so well defended by the Turks that after he had all in vaine lyen before it by the space of foure months he was glad to rise with his armie and depart It fortuned that within two yeeres after the Turks with a mightie armie sent from the Persian Sultan
valiant men there fell without fight and died no man killing them to be tall helped not neither did valour stand them in any stead they perished like hay and were caried away like chaâ—fe with such outcries and lamentation that they which saw it verely said That the wrath of God was broke into the campe such a suddaine inundation had ouerwhelmed all that happie was hee could make shift for himselfe without regarding one another This misfortune sore troubled the emperour with his whole armie Neuerthelesse the water being againe fallen and all put in so good order as in such a confusion was possible he marched on vnto the imperiall citie which the suspicious and malicious Greeke had before notably fortefied and so strongly manned with armed men glistring upon the wals in such sort as if it should haue presently been assaulted Conrade approching the citie was not suffered to enter but persuaded by the Greeke emperor forthwith to transport his armie ouer the strait with promise to supplie his wants with whatsoeuer he should require Which was done with such hast as if nothing had beene farther to haue been regarded but onely to haue them shipped ouer in which seruice the Greekes spared no labour or kind of vessell that might serue to transport them The Greeke emperour in the meane time by men secretly appointed for that purpose keeping account of the number that passed vntill that they wearied with the multitude ceased farther to number them But when they were once shipped ouer then began the couert mallice of the Greeke emperour forthwith to appeare For besides that they trusting vnto his promises had brought little or no prouisions ouer with them the countrey people by his appointment brought nothing unto them to sell as before and they of the townes and cities shut their gates against them as they marched not affoording them any thing but at an extreame rate for which they would first receiue their money by ropes cast downe from the wals and then deliuer them what they pleased therefore yea and oftentimes nought at all Amongst many other vile practises not beseeming Christians the mischeeuous Greekes to poyson the souldiors mingled lime with the meale which they sold unto the armie whereof many of the hungrie souldiors greedily feeding died Whether the Greeke emperour were priuie thereunto or no is not certainely knowne but certaine it is that he caused counterfeit money to be coined of purpose to deceiue them and in breefe that there was no kind of mischiefe to be practised against them which either hee himselfe deuised not or â—et not others to deuise to the intent that their posteritie terrified by this so vnfortunat an expedition might for euer be afraid to take the like in hand againe And that nothing might be wanting that mallice could deuise he had secret intelligence with the Turkes themselues concerning the strength of the armie plotting vnto them the meanes how the same might best be defeated whereby it came to passe that some part thereof was by Pamplano a captaine of the Turkes ouerthrowne neere BATHIS and many slaine But attempting to haue done the like vnto that part of the armie that marched through PHRIGIA they were themselues ouertaken in their own deuise and ouerthrowne with a great slaughter After which the Turkes in great number to stay the Christians further passage kept the riuer of MoeANDER encamping vpon the farther banke of that winding riuer with a most huge armie There these worthie Christians right well declared that it was but their patience that the Grecian legions that had before so long followed them with their countries and cities they had passed by were not vnto them become a prey For the emperour comming vnto the riuer side where was neither bridge nor boat to passe ouer and finding the great armie of the Turkes on the other side readie to giue him battell if hee should aduenture the riuer with their archers standing vpon the verie banke side he retired a little out of the danger of the shot and there encamping commanded his souldiors to refresh themselues and their horses that night and to be readie against the next morning to joine battell with their enemies they were so farre come to seeke for Little rest serued him that night early in the morning before day he arose and arming himselfe put his whole armie in order of battell as did also the enemie on the other side of the riuer with their battalions orderly placed and their archers vpon the banke side readie to giue the first charge vpon the Christians if they should aduenture to come ouer Both armies thus standing in readinesse the one in sight of the other and nothing but the winding riuer betwixt them the emperour before resolued to fight with cheerefull countenance and speech encouraged his men as followeth That this expedition was of vs taken in hand for Christ his sake and for the glorie of God and not of man you know right well fellow souldiers For for this cause hauing contemned a pleasant life at home voluntarily seperated from our neerest and deerest friends we endure miseries in forren countries we are exposed vnto dangers we pine with hunger we quake with cold we languish with heat we haue the earth our bed the heauen our couering and although we be noble famous renowmed rich ruling ouer many nations yet weare we alwaies our gorgets as necessarie bonds and are with them and our armor loaded as was the greatest seruant of Christ Peter surcharged with two chaines and kept with foure quaternions of souldiers But these Barbarians diuided from vs by this riuer to be the enemies of the crosse of Christ whom we of long haue desired to encounter withall in whose blood as Dauid saith we haue vowed to wash our selues Who is there that knoweth not except he be altogether blockish and will not with open eies see nor open eares heare If we wish to ascend straight way into heauen for neither is God vnjust that he knoweth not the cause of this our journey or will not in recompence giue vnto vs the immortall fields and shadie dwellings of Paradice which hauing forsaken our owne dwellings haue chose rather for his sake to die than to liue if we call to remembrance what things these men of vncircumcised hearts do commit against our friends and countreymen if we remember what grieuous tortures they inflict vpon them or if we be any thing touched with the compassion of their innocent blood vnworthily spilt stand now couragiously and fight valiantly and let not any feare or terrour daunt vs. Let these Barbarians know that by how much Christ our master and instructer doth excell their false prophet and seducer author of their vaine impietie so much are we superiours vnto them in all things Seeing therefore we are an holy campe and an armie gathered by the power of God let vs not cowardly loose our selues or feare for Christ his sake honourably to aduenture our
become emperour flockt in great numbers as birds about an owle to see him and with vaine praises to chatter about him In this sort he came as farre as PAPHLAGONIA in euerie place honourably receiued as if he had beene a deliuerer of his countrey sent from God And in the imperiall citie he was not longed for of the vulgar people onely as their light and load stat but diuers of the nobilitie also by secret messengers and letters persuaded him to hasten his comming and to take vpon him the gouernment assuring him that there would be none to resist him or to oppose themselues against his shadow but all readie to receiue him Especially Marie the yoong emperours sister by the fathers side with her husband Caesar who being a woman of a great spirit and grieuing much to see her fathers empire made a prey vnto Alexius the president and the empresse her stepmother whom she naturally hated had raised a great and dangerous tumult in the citie against them both which was not without much bloodshed appeased and now ceased not by often and most earnest letters to her owne destruction and her husbands as it afterwards fell out to pricke forward Andronicus and to hasten his comming who by letters and messengers dayly comming vnto him from the court still more and more encouraged leauing behind him the countrey of PAPHLAGONIA came to HERACLEA in PONTUS and still on towards the imperiall citie with great cunning and dissimulation winning the hearts of the people as he went For who was so stonie hearted whom his sweet words and abundant teares flowing from his gratious eies as from two plentifull fountaines downe by his hoarie cheeks might not haue mooued All that he did or desired was as he said for the common good and libertie of the emperour By which meanes he had drawne vnto him a woonderfull number of the rude countrey people by the way as he came But comming into BYTHINIA he was by Iohn Ducas gouernour of the great citie of NICE shut out as an enemie to the state and so at NICOMEDIA also Neuerthelesse passing by those cities he held still on his way vntill at length he was neere vnto a castle called CHARACE encountred by Andronicus Angelus sent with a great power against him by the great president Alexius who otherwise as an effeminat man giuen ouer to his pleasure spending the greatest part of the night in rioting by candle light and most part of the day in his bed with courtaines close drawn as if it had beene night yet doubtfull now of the comming of his enemie left nothing vndone which he thought might helpe for the assuring of his estate Many of the nobilitie of whom he stood in doubt he gained vnto him by meanes of the emperors mother who by her rare beautie sweet words and gratious behauiour as with a line drew all men vnto her Other some he ouercame with gifts and great summes of money whereof he now made no spare And so wrought the matter that no man of any account or marke went ouer to Andronicus Who neuerthelesse with such followers as he had joyning battell with Angelus sent against him as is before said ouerthrew him and put him to flight Wherewith Alexius much troubled in great displeasure and without reason called Angelus now fled to CONSTANTINOPLE to an account for the money deliuered vnto him for the defraying of the charges of that vnfortunat war who seeeing his misforturne to be so taken as if he had framed it himselfe and of purpose betraid the armie committed to his charge by the counsell of his six sonnes being all men of great valour and wisedome first tooke the refuge of his owne house but finding himselfe there in no safetie with his wife and his said sonnes two of which came afterwards to be emperours presently fled ouer the strait to Andronicus Who seeing of him comming towards him is reported to haue vsed this text of Scripture Behold I will send mine Angell before thy face to prepare thy wayes alluding to his name of Angelus as the presage of his good successe Wherefore encouraged with the cōming of these noblemen his kinsmen he without longer stay marched directly vnto the sea side and there a little aboue CHALCEDON encamped almost right ouer against CONSTANTINOPLE causing many great fires moe than needed to be made in his armie to make it seeme vnto them of the citie greater than indeed it was and with the sight thereof to keepe the citizens in suspence with the doubtfull expectation of some great matter to ensue Wherein he was no whit deceiued for they hauing him now as it were in sight leauing their worke ransome to the sea side some vp to the hils high towers to behold his armie a far off willing with their friendly looks if it had ben possible to haue drawn him ouer the strait into the citie Alexius knowing himselfe not able by land to encounter with so strong an enemie for now some which on foot could not goe ouer to Andronicus were secretly in heart alreadie with him othersome thought themselues sufficiently to shew their fidelitie vnto the emperor if sitting still at home they should take part with neither for so haue subtill heads aspiring minds for the furtherance of their desires taught the cōmon people both to say thinke thought it best by sea to auert the present danger And therefore commanded all the emperours gallies being before rigged vp and readie to be strongly manned and put to sea for the keeping of PROPONTIS and the strait of BOSPHORUS that Andronicus should not that way passe Now had hee determined to haue made especiall choice of some assured friend of his owne for to bee generall of this fleet as he had done of the captaines and masters being all his owne kinsmen or domesticall seruants but as he was about to haue so done Contostephanus surnamed the Great captaine opposed himselfe against it challenging that place as due vnto himselfe before all others So that ouercome by his authoritie which it was no time for Alexius now to dispute he was glad to commit the charge and trust of the whole fleet vnto him as generall Thus hauing as he thought made the sea sure he sent ouer vnto Andronicus as from the emperour for all was done in his name one George Xiphilinus with letters and other instructions wherof the effect was To command him forthwith in peace to returne vnto the place from whence he came and not farther to trouble the state promising him in so doing the emperours fauour with many great honors and preferments to bee afterward bestowed vpon him which otherwise might turne to his vtter destruction Which letters Xiphilinus hauing deliuered and done his message is reported to haue secretly aduised Andronicus to proceed in his purpose and not in any case to yeeld to that which was of him required wherewith Andronicus encouraged proudly rejected the graces offered and willed
into the rest that for safegard of their liues they betook themselues to flight some one way some another neuer thinking themselues in safetie so long as they were within the greedie tyrants reach wherof shortly after ensued no small troubles to the shaking of the state of the whole empire Isaack Comnenus the emperour Emanuels nigh kinsman tooke his refuge into CIPRVS kept that island to himselfe Alexius Comnenus Emanuels brothers son fled into SCICILIA there stirred vp William king of that island against Andronicus who with a great army landing at DYRRACHIVM tooke the city so from thēce without resistance passing through the heart of MACEDONIA spoyling the countrey before him as he went met his fleet at THESALONICA which famous city he also tooke by force most miserably spoiled it with all the countrey therabout in such sort as that he brought a great feare euen vpon the imperiall citie it selfe vnto which so great euils Andronicus entangled with domesticall troubles not knowing whom to trust was not able to giue remedie although for shew he had to no purpose sent out certaine of his most trusty ministers with such forces as he could spare For the majestie of his authoritie growing still lesse lesse the number of his enemies both at home and abroad daily encreasing the fauor of the vnconstant people who now began to speake hardly of him declining he vncertain which way to turne himselfe rested wholy vpon tyrannie proscribing in his feare not only the friends of such as were fled whom he distrusted but somtimes whole families together yea that for light occsions somtime those who were the best of his fauourits whose seruice he had many times vsed in the execution of his crueltie So that now no day passed wherin he did not put to death imprison or torture one great man or other Wherby it came to passe that the imperiall citie was filled with sorrow heauinesse euery man hanging the head and with silence couering his inward griefe not without danger to haue been then vttered Amongst many others appointed to this slaughter was one Isaack Angelus a man of great nobilitie whom Hagiochristophorites the chiefe minister of Andronicus his tyrannie and for the same by him highly promoted suspecting as one that bare no good will to the emperour cause enough of death came to his house to apprehend him finding him at home after some few hot words commanded him to follow him Whereat the noble man making some stay and abhorring the verie sight of the wretch as vnto him ominous and fatall Hagiochristophorites himselfe began to lay hands on him reuiling his followers that they had not foorthwith drawn him out of his house by the haire of his head vnto the prison by him appointed For they touched with the honour of the man and mooued with compassion forced him not but stood still as beholders Isaack seeing himselfe thus beset and no way now left for him to escape resoluing rather there presently to die than shortly after to be murdred in prison drew his sword as the rest were about to haue laid hands vpon him and at the first blow cleft the wicked head of Hagiochristophorites downe to his shoulders and so leauing him wallowing in his owne blood and like a desperat man laying about him amongst the rest made himselfe way through the middest of them And so embrued with blood with his bloodie sword yet in his hand running through the middest of the citie told the people what he had done and crying vnto them for helpe in defence of his innocencie fled into the great temple there to take the refuge of the sanctuarie where he had not long sit in the place where the guiltie flying thither for refuge vsed to sit confessing their offence craue pardon of such as go in and out but that the temple was filled with the multitude of people flocking thither out of all parts of the citie some to see the nobleman some to behold what should become of him for all men thought that he would before the going downe of the sunne notwithstanding the reuerence of the place be drawne thence by Andronicus put to some shamefull death Thither came also Iohn Ducas Isaacks vncle and his sonne Isaack to increase the tumult not for that they were any thing guiltie of the death of Hagiochristophorites but for that they had before become sureties vnto the suspitious tyrant for their kinsman Isaack he likewise for them by whose trespas they well knew themselues now brought into no lesse danger than if they had been abettors therunto And beside them also many other there were which standing in doubt of their owne estate fearing the like might happen to themselues prickt forward with hard speeches the common people flocking thither instantly requesting them to stay there and to stand by them now at their need being so injuriously wronged whose pitifull complaints moued right many to take part with them At which time also no man yet comming from the emperor being as then out of the citie to represse the sedition nor any of the nobilitie opposing themselues no friend of Andronicus appearing none of his bloodie ministers or officers shewing themselues nor any that did so much as speake a good word in his behalfe or in dislike of the tumult the boldnesse of the seditious people increased euerie man in so great libertie saying what he list and after their rude manner one encouraging another So spent Isaack that long night not thinking God wot of an empire but still expecting the deadly stroake of Andronicus Yet had he with great entreating so preuailed that diuers of the assembly shutting the church dores and bringing lights into the church staied there with him all night and by their example caused some others to stay also The next morning by the breake of the day were all the citizens flockt againe vnto the temple cursing the tyrant to the deuill as the common enemie of mankind wishing vnto him a shamefull death and the honour of the empire vnto Isaack At that time by fortune or rather God so appointing it Andronicus was out of the citie at his pallace of MELVDINVM on the East side of PROPONTIS where he was by nine a clocke at night certified of the death of Hagiochristophorites and of the tumult of the people yet that night stirred he not either did any thing more but by short letters aduised the people to pacifie themselues and not by foolish rebellion to cast themselues into farther danger In the morning Andronicus his fauourits began to shew themselues and to do what they might to haue appeased the tumultuous multitude yea and presently after came Andronicus himselfe and landed with his imperiall gally at the great pallace in the citie But with the inraged people naught preuailed either the persuasions of the one or report of the presence of the other for they all as
it were in triumph led through the market place his bald head all bare as if it had beene a dead mans scull taken out of a charnell house in a short old coat so miserable a spectacle as might haue expressed a fountaine of teares out of the eyes of a right hard hearted man But the bedlem and most insolent cittizens especially they of the baser sort as cookes coblers curriours and such like flocking about him like bees without regard that he had but the other day worne vpon his head the imperiall crowne then honoured by them as a god and extolled vnto the heauens that they had not long before solemnely sworne vnto him obedience and loyaltie ran now as men out of their wits omitting no kind of villanie they could deuise to doe vnto him Some thrust nailes into his head some cast durt in his face some the dung both of men and beasts some prickt him in the sides with spits some cast stones at him as at a mad dog and othersome opprobrious and despightfull words no lesse grieuous vnto him than the rest Amongst others an impudent drab comming out of the kitchin cast a pot full of scalding water in his face And in briefe their outrage so exceeded as if they had striuen among themselues who should do him the greatest villanie Hauing thus shamefully as in a ridiculous triumph brought him into the theatre they there betwixt two pillars hanged him vp by the heeles where hauing suffred all these despightfull indignities with many moe not without offence to be named he with an inuincible courage yet still held his patience not giuing one euill word but sometimes saying Lord haue mercie vpon me and otherwhiles Why doe you breake a brused reed yet the furious people nothing mooued with the calamitie of so great a man of all others now the most miserable stripped him of his bad clothes as he hung and cut off his priuities One among the rest to make an end of him thrust his sword in at his throat vp to the twist as he hung other two with their long swords prooued their strength who could strike farthest into his buttockes Thus miserably perished this famous emperour after he had raigned two yeeres That which was left of his bodie for many had carried away some peeces thereof being taken down from the place where he hung was cast into a base vault in the theatre where it for a space lay as the lothsome carkasse of some wild beast and the miserable spectacle of mans fragillitie for Isaack the emperour would not suffer it to be buried Howbeit afterwards the furie of the people ouerpassed it was by some more charitable men remooued thence and laid in a low vault neere vnto the monasterie of the Ephori which as Nicetas Choniates author of this historie speaking of the time wherin he liued sayth is yet there vndissolued to be seene He was a man most honourably descended of stature tall and well proportioned in his countenance sat a certaine reuerend majestie adorned with such notable vertues as might haue made him worthely to haue been compared vnto the greatest emperors of his stock and familie had he not obscured the same with too much ambition and crueltie whereof the one caused him to lead the greatest part of his life in prison or exile the other brought him vnto such a most shamefull end Isaack Angelus his successour by the fauour of the people thus exalted vnto the empire at the first gouerned the same with great lenitie and moderation as if he had altogether abhorred from the effusion of his subjects blood But afterwards not a little troubled both with forraine enemies and domesticall rebellion besieged in the imperiall citie by such of the nobilitie as thought themselues no lesse worthie of the empire than himselfe for repressing of which insolencies and the assuring of his state he became so seuere in chastising the offenders and such others as he had in distrust that he was counted of most men not inferiour in crueltie to Andronicus his predecessor few daies passing without the condemnation or execution of one great man or other besides them of the meaner sort of whom he seemed to make no great reckoning whereby he in few yeeres lost the loue and fauour of his subjects who before had him in great honour and became vnto them no lesse odious than was before Andronicus Vpon which generall dislike of the people his ingratefull younger brother Alexius by him before for a great summe of money redeemed from the Turks tooke occasion to rise vp against him and by the fauour of the souldiors depriued him together both of the empire and his sight and hauing put out his eyes thrust him into a Monasterie there to liue as it were out of the world as a man condemned to perpetuall darknesse after he had raigned nine yeeres and eight moneths being not yet full fortie yeares old Whether it were the reuenging hand of God for the hard measure vsed to Andronicus or not I leaue it to the wiser to consider who in his deepe prouidence wherewith hee best gouerneth all things would haue a moderation vsed in punishment of our most capitall enemies as hauing alwaies before our eyes the slipperie state of power and authoritie that as all worldly things are subject to change so by the just judgement of God it ofteÌ„times falleth out that what hurt we do vnto others the same we may receiue againe from others In these so great and strange mutations of the Constantinopolitane empire which I haue somwhat more at large prosecuted not so much for the noueltie of the matter although it were right strange as for that out of the losses and ruine thereof the greatnesse of the Turkes for the most part grew Clizasthlan Sultan of ICONIVM after the death of the emperour Emanuell found meanes to take from the empire diuers strong townes and castles in the lesser ASIA together with a great part of the countrey of PHRIGIA Alexius Andronicus and Isaack the succeeding emperours troubled with dangers neerer home hauing nothing to oppose against him but faire intreatie and rich present so redeeming for a while an vnsure peace with no lesse charge in short time to be renewed againe This great victorious Sultan for so he may of right be called holding in his subjection a great part of the lesser ASIA now a man of great yeeres dying left behind him foure sonnes Masut Coppatine Reueratine and Caichosroes all men growne Amongst whom he deuided his kingdome Vnto Masut he bequeathed AMASIA ANCYRA DORYLEVM with diuers other pleasant cities of PONTVS vnto Coppâ—â—ne he assigned MELYTENE CESAREA and the colonie now called TAXARA vnto Reucratine he allotted AMINSVM DOCEA with some other cities vpon the sea coast but vnto Caichosroes he left ICONIVM his regall seat and with it LYCAONIA PAMPHILIA and all the countries thereabouts as far as COTTIANYVM Of these foure Coppatine long liued not
the releefe thereof by sea Of which preparation Saladin vnderstanding as also of the kings comming by letters intercepted by his scouts directed to the besieged for the holding out of the siege with promise of speedie reliefe he presentâ—y rise with his armie and departed whereof the king being aduertised retired to SEPHOR Not long after Saladin according to his ambitious nature desirous aboue measure to extend the bounds of his kingdome and seeing the successe of his attempts against the king of HIERUSALEM not answerable to his desire conuerted his forces vnto the countries more eastward and passing the riuer EUPHRATES and entring into MESOPOTAMIA partly by force partly by corruption got into his hand the cities of EDESSA CARRAS and diuers others In which time the king of HIERUSALEM tooke occasion first to spoile the country about DAMASCO and after that diuers other places of the Sultans kingdome making hauock of whatsoeuer came in his way and so laded with the spoile of the Turkes retired to HIERUSALEM Saladin with victorie returning out of MESOPOTAMIA in reuenge of the injuries done vnto him in his absence marched directly to ALEPPO the strongest citie of the Christians in that part of SYRIA which aboue all other he longed after where hee had not long lien but that it was by the treason of the gouernour deliuered into his hands with all the countrie thereabouts wherwith the Christian princes were so discouraged that they euen then began to feare greater matters to ensue The prince of ANTIOCH sould TARSVS the metropoliticall citie of CILICIA to Rupinus prince of ARMENIA for that he saw it was not without great charge and danger to be by him defended being so farre from him and Saladin as it were now stept in betwixt him and it At the same time king Baldwin at NAZARETH fell sicke of a feauer the leprosie also his old disease growing dayly more and more vpon him in so much that dispairing of his life he called vnto him Guy Lusignan countie of IOPPA and ASCALON vnto whom he had before espoused Sybill his eldest sister and in the presence of his mother the Patriarch and all the chiefe commaunders of the souldiers of the sacred war appointed him gouernour of the kingdome reseruing vnto himselfe only the title of a king with the citie of HIERUSALEM and a yearely pension of ten thousand duckats All which was done to the great disgrace and discontentment of the countie of TRIPOLIS the old gouernour It was not long but that Saladin hauing breathed himselfe a little after so great labours came againe into the Holy land where he tooke many castles and did infinit harme in so much that the countrey people were glad for feare to forsake their houses and to flie into cities The Christian armie in the meane time lying fast by at SEPHOR not once moouing although many a faire occasion were offred For the chiefe commaunders affectionated vnto the countie of TRIPOLIS and enuying at the preferment of Guy the new gouernour were vnwilling to fight but finding one excuse or other suffered the enemie at his pleasure to spoile the countrey and so in safetie to depart which he had neuer before done in those quarters Within lesse than a moneth after Saladin with a great armie well appointed with all the habilliments of war needfull for the besieging of a citie or strong castle came againe into the land of PALESTINE and passing through the countrey beyond IORDAN sat downe at last before PETRA in hope by the taking thereof to haue made his passage betweene AEGYPT and DAMASCO more safe Of which his purpose king Baldwin hauing knowledge and taught by the euill successe of late to what small purpose it was to commit the managing of his wars vnto a generall so euill beloued and lesse regarded as was Guy his brother in law sent against him with his armie Raymund the countie of TRIPOLIS the old gouernour whom he had againe restored vnto the gouernment and displaced Guy Of whose comming Saladin hearing raised his siege after he had lien there a moneth and so departed A little before this expedition the king still growing sicker and sicker his foule disease still increasing by the common consent of the nobilitie appointed Baldwin his nephew by his sister Sybylla a child but of fiue yeares old to succeed him in the kingdome and the countie of TRIPOLIS to haue the gouernment of the state during the time of his minoritie This Sybilla the kings sister was first married to William the yoonger marquesse of MOUNT-FERRAT who dying within three months after left her with child with this his posthumus sonne Baldwin now by his vncle deputed vnto the hope of the kingdome After whose death she was married to Guy Lusignan countie of IOPPA and ASCALON the late gouernour who taking in euill part this the kings designement especially for the gouernment of the kingdome by the countie of TRIâ—OLIS departed from the court as a man discontented vnto his citie of ASCALON whereof the Patriarch and the princes of the sacred war fearing and that not without cause great danger to ensue came to the king then holding a parlament at the citie of ACON most humbly requesting him for auoiding of further danger and the safetie of his kingdome to receiue againe into his fauour the countie Guy his brother in law and to make an attonement betwixt him and the countie of TRIPOLIS But this their request sorted to no purpose so that the parlament was dissolued without any thing for the good of the commonweale in that point concluded After that time the kingdome of HIERUSALEM began still more and more to decline In the old king Baldwin sicke both in bodie and mind was almost no hope in the yoong king yet vnfit for so great a burthen much lesse and the dissention betwixt the two counties Guy and Raymund with their fauorits was like enough to bring great harme vnto the state Besides that the countie of TRIPOLIS fearing the power of Guy his enemy was thought to haue secret intelligence with Saladin the Turke in so much that the king was almost in purpose to haue proclaimed him traitour Wherefore the king now rested onely vpon the counsell of William archbishop of TYRE and the masters of the knights of the sacred war by whose aduise he sent Heraclius Patriarch of HIERUSALEM Roger Molins master of the kinghts of S. Iohns and Arnold master of the Templars embassadours vnto Lucius the third then Pope vnto Fredericke the emperour Philip the French king and Henrie the second king of ENGLAND to declare vnto them the dangerous state of that Christian kingdome and to craue their aid against the Infidels These embassadours comming to the Counsell then holden at VERONA with great grauitie and diligence in the presence of the Pope and of the emperour declared the hard estate of the Christians of the East with their humble request vnto them for aid in such sort that they mooued
and so marching directly on to ICONIVM tooke it by force and gaue the spoile thereof vnto his souldiors in reuenge of the injuries before done vnto his vncle the emperour Conrade by the Sultan of that citie Departing thence and marching through CILICIA he in another battell ouerthrew the Turkes that hauing taken the straits of the mountaines had thought to haue staied his farther passage into SYRIA After that he tooke the citie PHILOMELA which the Sultan had strongly fortefied which he rased to the ground and put to sword all the people therein for that they contrarie to the law of nations had slaine such messengers as he had sent vnto them for the summoning of the citie In like manner he entred into the lesser ARMENIA where he took the citie MELITENE and subdued all the countrey thereabouts vnto the reliefe whereof the Turkes comming with a most huge armie were by him with an exceeding great slaughter ouerthrowne and put to flight After that entring into COMAGENA and meeting with Saphadin Saladin his sonne with a great armie of the Turks he ouerthrew him in the plaine field and discomfited his whole armie But whilest he too eagerly pursueth the enemie he had then in chace his horse â—oundring vnder him as he passed the riuer SALEPH he was so ouerthrowne and his foot hanging fast in his stirrop drawne through the deepe riuer and almost drowned and at the farther side of the riuer was so plunged by his horse at his landing that he was taken vp for dead Yet breathing a little and casting his eyes vp to heauen with much adoe he vttered these few words Lord receiue my soule and so in the hands of them that tooke him vp gaue vp the ghost vnto the great greefe and hindrance of the Christian commonweale for Saladin hearing of his approch was so afraid of him as that he began to doubt not how to keepe that he had before woon in SYRIA but how to defend himselfe in AEGIPT Thus miserably perished this worthie emperour the tenth of Iune in the yeare of grace 1190 being then of the age of seuentie yeares whereof he had with much trouble raigned eight and thirtie His dead bodie was caried along with the armie and afterward with all funerall pompe buried in the cathedrall church at TYRE Fredericke the emperour thus dead Fredericke his sonne duke of SUEVIA was by the generall consent of the princes in the armie chosen generall in his steed vpon whom with the rest of the armie yet mourning for the death of the emperour the Turkes gaue a sudden and fierce charge in hope so to haue ouerthrown them But finding greater resistance than they had before supposed and hauing lost some of their men they with like speed that they came retired againe Now began famine one of the ordinarie attendants of great armies to increase in the campe for why the Turkes for that purpose had before destroied or carried away all that was in the countrie leauing nothing for the Christians more than the bare ground Wherefore Fredericke turning a little out of the way came to ANTIOCH which was easily deliuered vnto him and his hungrie souldiers well refreshed by the citizens being as yet for the most part Christians But he had not there staied past fifteene daies for the refreshing of his armie but that the plague the handmaid of famine and another scourge of the greatest multitudes began to rage among his souldiers in such sort that he was glad with his armie to forsake the citie and to get him abroad againe into the open field where foorthwith newes was brought vnto him that Dodequin generall of such forces as Saladin had sent for out of AEGYPT which were not small was by great journeis comming towards him against whom he in good order set forward with his fathers corse still carried in the middest of his armie These two armies meeting together and both willing to fight joyned a great and doubtfull battell fortune enclining now to the one side and by and by to the other the Christians exceeding their enemies in valour and they them againe in number At length the Christians in the vauntguard began to retire and they that seconded them were also hardly charged when Fredericke mindfull of his fathers valour with a troupe of valiant horsemen brake into the enemies battell with such force that the Turkes were glad to giue ground after whom Leopold duke of AVSTRIA comming presently on with his footmen brought such a feare vpon the whole armie of the Turkes that they betooke themselues to speedie flight In this battell were foure thousand of the enemies slaine with small losse of the Christians and about one thousand mo taken prisoners with fifteene of their ensignes After which victorie Fredericke marching further in CaeLO-SYRIA pacified LAODICEA then in mutinie and like to haue been deliuered vnto the Turks He also with a little labour tooke BERYTHVS with diuers other cities of SIRIA which before belonging vnto the kings of HIERUSALEM were now reuolted vnto the Turks So afterward comming to TYRE he there solemnly buried his father dead as is before said from thence certified Guy the king still lying with the other Christian princes at the siege of PTOLEMAIS of his comming who forthwith sent the Marques of MONT-FERRAT with part of the fleet to transport him with his people that were left by sea for that by land he could not so safely haue come being now but weake for meeting with Saladin who with a great armie lay still houering about his besieged citie intentiue to all opportunitie So was duke Frederick with his souldiers yet left safely by sea conducted from TYRE to the campe at PTOLEMAIS and there joyfully receiued by the king and the other princes with the generall applause of the whole campe In the meane time the Turks sayling out of the citie of PTOLEMAIS had done great harme among the Christians by whom they were not without some losse againe repulsed But after the comming of duke Frederick and his Germains it was thought good by the generall consent of all the great commanders in the armie that the citie should be assaulted round and to that purpose was euery mans regiment appointed what place to assaile The king himself with the Templars and the Italians from PISA vndertooke that part of the citie which was toward the sea vnto duke Frederick and his Germains was allotted all betwixt the bridge ouer the riuer BELE and the bishops palace the Venetians Genowaies and knights Hospitalers were appointed vnto the rest of the wall as farre as the court of Raymund the Friselanders Flemings and Hollanders tooke vp all the rest of the wall vnto the sea side Thus was the citie at once in euerie side assailed by the Christians with such furie as if they had thereon purposed to gage their whole forces seeking by a thousand wounds and a thousand kinds of death to haue by their scaling ladders gained the top of the
FRANCE with whom we also will repaire into the lesser ASIA whither the course both of the time and of the historie now calleth vs to see the other greater affaires of the Turks in those Eastern countries leauing for a season these poore remainders of so many Christians in TYRE and PTOLEMAIS now for a while in peace but to be ere long deuoured of the infidels their enemies as in the processe of this Historie shall in due time and place appeare The ruine of the Turks first Empire in Persia with the successe of their second kingdome in the lesser Asia vnder the Aladin Kings AS no kingdome or Empire vpon earth were it neuer so flourishing or great was euer yet so assured but that in the reuolution of time after the manner of other worldly things it hath as a sicke bodie been subject vnto many strange innouations and changes and at length come to nothing so fared it now with the Turkish empire which first planted by Tangrolipix in PERSIA and the other far Easterne countries increased by Axan his sonne and so by the Turkish Sultans their successors although their names and doings as too farre off be not vnto vs all knowne for the space of one hundred and seuentie yeareas continued must now I say giue place vnto a greater power and settle it selfe elsewhere the ineuitable destinie thereof so requiring It fortuned that about this time when in the space of a few yeares such mutations as had not before of long beene seene chanced in diuers great monarchies and states that the Tartars or rather Tattars inhabiting the large cold and bare countries in the North side of ASIA of all others a most barbarous fierce and needie nation stirred vp by their owne wants and the persuasion of one Zingis or as some call him Cangis holden amongst them for a great prophet and now by them made their leader and honoured with the name of Vlu-Chan that is to say the Mightie king commonly called the great Cham flocking together in number like the sand of the sea and conquering first their poore neighbours of condition and qualitie like themselues and easie enough to bee entreated with them to seeke their better fortune like swarms of grashoppers sent out to deuour the world passed the high mountaine CAUCASUS part of the mountaine TAURUS of all the mountaines in the world the greatest which beginning neere vnto the ARCHIPELAGO and ending vpon the orientall OCEAN and running through many great and famous kingdomes diuideth ASIA into two parts ouer which great mountaine one of the most assured bounders of nature that had so many worlds of yeares shut vp this rough and sauage people they now passing without number and comming downe as it were into an other world full of such natures pleasant delights as neuer were to them before seene bare downe all before them as they went nothing being now able to stand in their way Old Zingis their fortunate leader dead in this so great an expedition Hoccata his sonne eldest of his twelue brethren a man of great wisedome and courage tooke vpon him his fathers place who sending part of his great armie for the subduing of the countries Westward turned himselfe with a world of people towards the East where hauing subdued the Bactrians and Sogdians with diuers others he entred into INDIA and subduing that rich countrey on both sides the riuer INDUS euen to the East OCEAN there in the countrey of CATHAI built the famous citie of CAMBALU in circuit eight and twentie miles about for pleasure and plentie of all things necessarie for the life of man of all the cities of ASIA the chiefe where the great Cham of TARTARIE still resiant as in his emperiall citie commaundeth ouer one of the greatest and strongest empires of the world In whose kingdome also in the prouince of MANGY more towards the East hee hath another most famous citie called QUINSAY of all the cities in the world the greatest in circuit an hundred miles about as M. Paulus Venetus writeth who himselfe dwelt therein about the yeare 1260. It is situate in a lake of fresh water and hath in it twelue thousand bridges of which some are of such an heigth that tall ships with their sailes vp may easily passe vnder them In this populous citie the great Cham hath for the keeping thereof alwaies thirtie thousand men in garrison The Tartar kingdome thus planted in CAMBALU Hoccata contenting himselfe with the rich pleasures of INDIA afterward mannaged his wars by his lieutenants being for the most part his brethren or other his nigh kinsmen of whom hee sent out with his armies some Northward some Westward and some toward the South by whom he subdued the Arachosians Margians and diuers other great nations entring into PERSIA subdued the countrey with all PARTHIA ASSYRIA MESOPOTAMIA MEDIA At this time in the citie BALCH or BELCH in the countrey of CHORASAN in the farthest part of PERSIA raigned ouer the Turks one Cursumes of the Greekes called Corsantes who finding himselfe far too weake to stand before the Tartarians fled with all his people leauing vnto them both the citie and the countrey which he and the Turks his predecessours had euer since the time of Tangrolipix possessed which citie the Tartars rased and tooke the countrey to themselues In this generall flight of the Turks when as euery man was glad to make what shift he might for himselfe Cursumes their Sultan died the last of the kings of the Selzuccian family that raigned ouer the Turks in PERSIA whose sonne Vgnan Chan taking vpon him the leading of such mulitudes of Turks as followed his father ceized vpon the great citie of BABYLON now called BAGADAT neere vnto the ruines of the old BABYLON where hauing put to the sword all the inhabitants thereof he there and in the countrey thereabout seated himselfe with the Turks his followers but long he had not there rested but that the Tartars hearing thereof pursued him tooke him prisoner expulsed thēce all his people There was at the same time also another kingdom of the Turks at NACHAN a citie in PERSIA giuing name vnto the countrey wherein it stood not farre from CHORASAN wherein then raigned one Solyman of the Oguzian family as had diuers other of his progenitors before him who terrified with this dreadfull storme so suddenly risen out of the North and warned by the sudden fall of the Selzuccian Sultan his kingdome of farre greater fame and power than himselfe or his fled also with such his subjects as would follow him into the lesser ASIA But of him and his proceedings more shall bee said hereafter in the rising of the victorious Othoman family as lineally from him discended After this the Tartars together with their good fortune still extending the bounds of their empire conquered ARMENIA the greater with the countries of CHOLCHIS and IBERIA so that now their empire was become of all others the greatest and most
flourishing This great conquerour the Tartar had in his proud conceit purposed to haue subdued all ASIA and to haue made the sea the onely bounder of his empire but ouercome with the delicacies of INDIA hauing diuided amongst his people those great prouinces and fruitfull countries with the rich cities and pleasant fields he so rested embracing the maners and superstition of the people he had ouercome Long it were and farre from our purpose to recount all the famous victories and conquest of this bare Northren people sufficeth it to the historie we haue in hand that the Turks were by them then driuen out of PERSIA with the countries thereabouts and their Togran kingdome as they call it first founded by Tangrolipix there extinguished about the yeare of our Lord 1202. The Turkes thus driuen out of PERSIA and their kingdome ouerthrown retired themselues into the lesser ASIA possessed by the Turkes their countreymen long before brought thither by Cutlu-Muses and his sonnes as is before declared and by them euer since in some part though with diuers fortune holden Where these Turkes now arriuing out of PERSIA vnder the leading of Aladin the sonne of Kei Husreu discended also of the Selzuccian family in PERSIA and taking the opportunitie offred them by the mortall discord of the Latines with the Greekes and the Greeks among themselues ceized vpon CILICIA with the countries thereabouts and there first at SEBASTIA and afterward at ICONIUM erected their new kingdome which of this Aladin is by the Turks called the kingdome of the Aladin kings although their names were not all so Now about this time and within the course of some few yeares after such great and strange mutations happened in the Constantinopolitane empire as had not therein at any time before beene seene whereby the whole estate of that great empire which sometime commanded ouer a great part of the world was almost vtterly subuerted and a fit opportunitie giuen vnto the Turks and infidels for the sure setling of themselues and establishing of their kingdomes both in SYRIA and the lesser ASIA which briefly to run thorow shall not be from our purpose their affaires prospering by these troubles and their proud and stately empire that now braueth all the rest of the world being raised out of the ruines of that Christian empire and at this present triumphing euen in the same imperiall citie wherein these so great innouations hapned through the working of ambitious heads to the lamentable ruine and destruction of a great part of the Christian commonweale Alexius the vsurper but now emperour not contented as is before declared traiterously to haue depriued Isaack his elder brother of his empire and sight together sought also after the life of the young prince Alexius his brothers sonne and heire apparent of the empire who seeing the villanie committed in the person of his father saued himselfe by flight from the furie of his vncle and so accompanied with certaine great lords of the Greekes his fathers friends fled to craue aid of the Christian princes of the West whom the Grecians commonly call the Latins And first he tooke his way to Philip the Germane emperour who had married Irene his sister the emperour Isaack his daughter by whom he was most honourably receiued and entertained This great ladie not a little mooued with the miserie of her father and the flight of her brother ceased not most instantly to solicite the emperour her husband not to leaue vnreuenged so great a villanie by the example thereof dangerous vnto himselfe and others of like majestie and state She declared vnto him what an execrable indignitie it was to see her father the emperor vnworthely imprisoned depriued of his empire and sight and of the societie of men by his brother that had by him receiued and recouered his life his light and his libertie and to see the heire apparent of the empire banished by the wickednesse of his vncle to wander vp and downe here and there like a beggar a great part of which disgrace as shee said redounded vnto her selfe the daughter of Isaack and sister to the young wandering prince and to himselfe also the sonne in law vnto the vnfortunat emperour her father Moreouer she said that the murderer Alexius durst neuer haue been so hardie as to commit so great and detestable a villanie if he had not lightly regarded and contemned the majestie of the said Philip whom if he had had in any reuerence or honour or at all feared he durst not haue attempted so villanous an act This Greeke ladie mooued with just griefe with these and such like complaints so preuailed with her husband that he promised her to be in some part thereof reuenged which he could not for the present performe letted by the wars he then had with Otho his competitour of the empire At the same time it fortuned that great preparations were in making in FRAUNCE and ITALIE and diuers other places of Christendome for an expedition to be made against the Turks into the Holy land The chiefe men wherin were Theobald countie of CHAMPAGNE a man of great fame and generall of the Christian armie Boniface marquesse of MONT-FERRAT Baldwin earle of FLANDERS and HENAULT and Henrie his brother earle of S. Paul Henrie duke of LOVAINE Gualter earle of BREAME with diuers other noble gentlemen which to name were tedious vnto whom resorted also many valiant and deuout Christians out of diuers parts of Christendome ready to haue spent their liues in that so religious a war so that now the number of them was great and the armie right populous But being thus assembled together they thought it not best to take their way to CONSTANTINOPLE through HUNGARIE and THRACE and so to passe ouer into BITHINIA for that the Greeks had still in all former times shewed great vncourtesie vnto the Latins in passing with their armies that way and therfore they thought it much better now by the way of ITALIE to take their journey by sea into the Holy land and for their transportation especially to vse the helpe of the Venetians whom they found much the easier to be intreated for that by the means of so great an armie they were in hope to scoure the Adriaticke then much infested by the Dalmatians as also to recouer IADERA with some other cities vpon the coast of Sâ—LAVONIA before reuolted from their state to the Hungarians as indeed they afterward did But by the way as this armie was marching out of FRANCE and come into PIEMONT the noble countie of CHAMPAGNE generall thereof there fell sick and died to the exceeding griefe sorrow of the whole armie in whose stead the marquesse of MONT-FERRAT a man of great nobilitie and well acquainted with the wars of the East was chosen generall This great armie transported by the Venetians into SCIAVONIA took IADERA with diuers other port townes along the sea coast and hauing there done what the Venetians most desired was
spoile vnto the Venetians by whom they were all taken but not a man found in them The hauen thus gained Theodorus Lascaris the emperours sonne in law was presently readie vpon the shore with a select companie of the brauest gallants of the citie and of the court to haue hindered the Latines from landing who running their ships a ground landed with such cheerefulnesse and courage and with such hast that in one moment you might haue seene them leape out of their ships take land enter into the battell and lay about them like mad men This hote skirmish endured a great while for that they were onely footmen that sustained this brunt for the horses could not so soone be landed and the Greekes were brauely mounted All this great fight the Constantinopolitanes beheld with doubtfull hearts expecting what should bee the euent thereof There were in the citie sixtie thousand of the flower of Greece which brauely sallying out made the battell much more doubtfull yet such was the valour and resolution of the Latines that in fine the Greekes discomfited were glad to retire themselues againe into the citie but with what losse was not certainely knowne easie it were to guesse that it was right great for that the old tyrant Alexius discouraged therewith and doubtfull of his owne state with Theodorus Lascaris his sonne in law and some few others of his trustie friends hard to be found in so dangerous a case the next night following secretly fled out of the citie carrying away with him a wonderfull masse of treasure which hee against all such euents had caused to bee secretly hidden by his daughter Irene in a monasterie of Nuns within the citie whereof she was the abbesse and so saued himselfe The flight of the tyrant once bruted the next morning the Constantinopolitanes taking the old emperour Isaack out of prison saluted him againe for their emperour rejoycing greatly for his deliuerance and the safegard of his life and after that opened the gates of the citie vnto the Latines calling and saluting them by the names of the reuengers and sauiours of the libertie of the Greekes as also of the life and majestie of their emperour they requested them that they might see and salute Alexius their young prince whom they had so long desired and so was the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE by the submission of the citizens for that time saued from saccage and spoile The old emperour thus deliuered and together with his sonne Alexius again placed in the imperiall seat gaue the most heartie thanks that possibly he could vnto the Latine princes for that by their bountie charitie and valour the Greeke empire had beene deliuered out of a long and miserable seruitude and for his owne particular that he had receiued of them so great good that albeit his sight could not be restored to him againe neuerthelesse hee acknowledged his life his libertie his empire his countrey his sonne to haue been vnto him by them restored and he likewise to them for which their so great deserts he could not as hee said render them condigne thankes or deuise rewards or honours answerable to their demerits and valour and that therefore he did ratefie and confirme whatsoeuer his sonne had before promised vnto them for his deliuerance and not onely that but farther promised That if they were not therewith contented hee would of his owne bountie giue them better contentment not meaning they should goe discontented that had saued his life and otherwise so highly pleasured him Hereupon this good old emperour began to consult with his friends about the meanes whereby he might satisfie and content the Latines in such things as the young prince his sonne had vnto them promised And to the intent that the citizens of CONSTANTINOPLE might the more willingly doe that he was to command them and the more cheerefully pay such impositions as hee was to lay vpon them hee intreated all the Latines to retire themselues out of the citie into their campe or about their ships which they accordingly did But the imposition being set downe and what euery man was to pay seemed vnto the Greeks as men of long accustomed to receiue tribute of others and not to pay tribute to others a matter most heauie and intollerable In this verie instant that this exaction was required died the old emperour Isaack who hauing of long beene kept in a darke and stinking prison in continuall feare of death and now deliuered and restored to his empire could not endure so sudden and vnexpected a change both of the aire and of his manner of liuing but so suddenly died At this exaction imposed for the contentment of the Latines the light Constantinopolitans grieuously murmured and exclaimed saying That it was a villanous thing to see the Greeke empire engaged and bound by a yoong boy vnto a couetous and proud nation and so to bee spoiled and bared of coyne That the great and rich island of CRETE lying in the midst of the sea was by him giuen as a gift vnto the Latines That the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE and the Greeke church had by him beene enforced and constrained to yeeld vnto the See of ROME to receiue the opinions of the Latine church to submit it selfe vnto the obeisance of old ROME from whence it had once happily departed euer since the time that the empire was by Constantine the Great translated thence to them Thus euerie one said for himselfe in particular thus all men said in generall And therof the noble men in their assemblies and the vulgar people in their meetings grieuously complained whereupon a great sedition and tumult was raised in the citie Some presently tooke vp armes and the common people all enraged ran furiously disordered vnto the palace with a purpose to haue committed some great outrage vpon the person of the yong emperour Alexius who in that so sudden an insurrection as might well haue troubled a right constant man without longer stay resolued vpon a most wholesome and necessarie point for the appeasing of the peoples furie vnto whom assembled in a woonderfull multitude he shewed himselfe from aboue in his pallace promising them to remaine in their power and not from thencefoorth to do any thing without their aduice and liking but wholy to depend vpon them with which good words the people held themselues well content and so was the tumult for that time appeased But foorthwith the yoong emperour considering the injurie done vnto him began to burne with the desire of reuenge and to change his purpose Hee could not together satisfie the citizens and the Latines for if he would keepe his promise with the Latines he must of necessitie offend his owne people neither was there any meanes to bee found to satisfie both the one and the other But thinking himselfe more bound to keepe his promise with the Latines whose forces he knew not how to withstand he sent secretly to request the marques of MONT-FERRAT generall of the armie
LYDIA euen from the windings of the famous riuer MaeANDER Southward vnto the EUXINE sea Northward he with the generall good liking of the people tooke vpon him the state of an emperour and so in the renowmed citie of NICE made the seat of his empire At the same time also Dauid and Alexius Comneni the nephews of the tyrant Andronicus sometime emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE by his sonne Manuel possessing the more Eastern countries of PONTVS GALATIA and CAPADOCIA erected vnto themselues another empire in TRAPEZOND where their posteritie of the honourable house of the Comneni raigned in great glorie many yeares after vntill their empire together with the empire of CONSTANTINOPLE was by the great emperour of the Turks Mahomet the second subuerted and brought to naught as shall bee afterward in due time and place declared Thus the Greeke empire exposed as it were to the generall spoile was no longer one but many empires Baldwin raigning in CONSTANTINOPLE the marques of MONT-FERRAT in THESSALIE Theodorus Lascaris at NICE Alexius Comnâ—nus in TRAPEZOND the Venetians in the islands all in royall dignitie Besides whom were many other â—eller princes which had here and there according to their abilitie seized vpon some one or other part of the empire and there erected their Toparâ—hies raigning therein as pettie kings as did Aldebrandinus in ATTALIA Michael Angelus in EPIRVS with diuers others too long to rehearse Baldwin as is aforesaid created emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE by the helpe of the Venetian Admirall Dandulus and other great commanders of the armie in short time brought vnder his obeisance all the cities of THRACIA excepting the citie of ADRIANOPLE whereunto the better sort of the discontented Greekes together with Theodorus Lascaris disdaining the gouernment of the Latines were fled as vnto a most safe sanctuarie which Baldwin knowing and withall desiring whilest yet he had his friends about him to set his new empire in some good stay without farther delay came and laid hard siege to the same Now the Greeks generally euill entreated by the Latines grieued to be gouerned by them were some of them fled into other their neighbours princes countries but especially into BVLGARIA otherwise called MISIA a large kingdome lying betwixt the great mountaine AEMVS and DANVEIVS by whose persuasion Iohn king of that countrey aided by the Scythians a fierce Northren people but lately come into those quarters and by the fugitiue Greekes themselues tooke vpon him to relieue the besieged citie and so with a great armie approching the same sent before certaine troupes of the Scythian archers on horsebacke to fetch in such booties of horses or cattle as they should find neere vnto the emperours campe and withall commaunded them that being charged by the imperials they should foorthwith retire so to draw them out of their trenches into the place where the king with the greatest part of his armie lay couertly to entrap them Which the Scythians well acquainted with such seruice so well performed vnder the leading of one Cozas their generall that hauing once or twice drawn their enemies vnto some light skirmishes and so retyring and ere long againe with a greater number returning they at length cunningly drew the emperour with all his armie in hope to doe some great matter vpon them euen as they wished into the place whereas the king with his armie lay in wait among the woods and mountaines for them where they wearied and out of breath in the former pursuit and now on euery side beset with fresh enemies were ouerthrowne with a great slaughter In which conflict to increase the losse Baldwin the emperour himselfe was taken and sent prisoner in bonds to TERNOVA where afterwards by the commandement of the Barbarous king he was most cruelly put to death hauing his hands and feet cut off and so dismembred was cast out into a deepe valley where he yet lay miserably breathing three daies after and so died leauing his bodie as fortunes scorne for a prey vnto the wild beasts and birds of the aire no man vouchsafing to burie it Thus perished this woorthie prince for his vertues commended euen of the Greeks themselues being about the age of three and thirtie yeeres and not hauing raigned yet a full yeare in the yeare of our Lord 1206. The victorie thus gained the citie relieued the barbarous king with his sauage souldiors hauing tasted the wealth of the Latins ouerthrowne in the late battell and the pleasures of THRACIA now subject to their lust greedily pursued their good fortune without respect of all humanitie the open countrey they ouerran spoiling whatsoeuer came to hand the rich and famous cities they rifled and afterward rased them downe to the ground namely SERRae PHILIPPOPOLIS APRI RHEDESTUM PERINTHUS DAONIUM ARCADIOPOLIS MESENA ZURULUS and ATHYRA the citizens and countrey people fled into the cities for refuge they put all to the sword without respect of age sex or condition except some few whom they carried away with them prisoners so that of all the prouinces of that rent and ruinated empire the countrey of THRACE was most miserable as first spoiled by the Latines and now laid desolat by the Bulgarians and Scythians Onely some few of the strongest cities as DIDYMOTICHUM and ADRIANOPLE valiantly defended by the Greekes and Latines escaped this furie of the Barbarians all the rest that fell into their hands being laid wast and desolat In this so troubled a State of the new erected Empire of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE the Latines made choise of Henrie the late Emperour Baldwins brother as of all others the fittest to succeed him in the empire who aided by the marquesse now king of THESSALIE and the other Latine princes notably repulsed the Barbarians and left them not vntill that at length he had recouered from them all such townes and cities as they had before taken and driuen them quite out of the countrey and so well established himselfe in his new empire But to leaue this dismembred empire now in the hands of many and to come neerer vnto our purpose Alexius Angelus the vsurper driuen out of the imperiall citie by the Latins to saue himselfe fled into THESSALIE and from thence vnto Leo Scurus then a man of great fame among the Greekes who tyrannising at NAUPLUS as had his father before him was in these troublesome times growne greater by surprising of the two famous cities of ARGOS and CORINTH by whose meanes he cunningly entrapped Alexius Ducas surnamed Murzufle the traitor and for a secret grudge not commonly knowne put out his eyes himselfe an exiled man being a most heauie enemie vnto the other also exiled and himselfe thrust out of the empire a deadly foe vnto the other oppressed with the like calamitie Shortly after which losse of his sight he was by chaunce taken by the Latines and so brought backe to CONSTANTINOPLE where he was for murdering the young emperour Alexius worthily condemned vnto a strange and horrible
kind of death for cast off from an high tower and tumbling heeles ouer head downeward he was with the waight of himselfe and violence of the fall crushed all to pieces and so miserably died a death too good for such a traitour Not long after it fortuned also that Alexius himselfe wandering vp and downe in THRACIA was by the marquesse of MONT-FERRAT going against SCVRVS taken and stript of his great treasure and whatsoeuer else hee had and so sent away naked long time after in beggers estate wandered about in ACHAIA and PELOPONESVS now farre vnlike that Alexius which sometime proudly raigned in CONSTANTINOPLE but such is the assurance of euill gotten honour He hearing that Theodorus Lascaris his sonne in law raigned in ASIA and there held the state of an emperour rejoyced not thereat as a kind father in law but inwardly greeued thereat as an enemie sorrie that any other but himselfe should be honoured with the title of the Greeke emperour in which malicious humour he sayling out of GREECE into ASIA ouer the Aegeum came secretly vnto the Turkes Sultan Iathatines his old acquaintance then lying at ATTALIA which famous citie he had not long before taken from the Christians vnto whom he declared his heauie estate and how his empire had been rent from him as well by the Greekes as the Latines requesting that by his meanes he might be restored againe into some part thereof especially that in the lesser ASIA which was by Theodorus Lascaris together with the honour of the Greeke emperour vnjustly as he said detained from him This Iathatines now Sultan of ICONIVM was the younger sonne of Sultan Aladin who not long suruiuing his father Cai-Chosroe left his kingdome vnto his two sonnes Azadin and Iassadin of the Greekes called Azatines and Iathatines where long it was not but that these two brethren falling out for the soueraignetie which admitteth no equalitie Iathatines was by Azatines his elder brother driuen into exile and for the safegard of his life glad to flie vnto this Alexius then raigning at CONSTANTINOPLE by whom he was honourably entertained and as some write conuerted and baptised But Azatines the Sultan shortly after dying this Iathatines returning home againe and renouncing the Christian religion was by the Turks receiued for their Sultan of whom the emperour Alexius in like extremitie now craueth aid The Sultan not forgetfull of his owne troubles before passed or of the kindnesse hee had receiued and mooued with the pittifull complaint of his old friend together with his large offers beside that he was in hope to share out some good part of whatsoeuer he got for himselfe tooke him into his protection and foorthwith sent embassadours to Lascaris threatening vnto him all extremities except he did foorthwith giue place vnto Alexius his father in law vnto whom as vnto the Greeke emperour those countries which were by him possessed of right as he said appertained With which vnexpected message Theodorus was not a little troubled as fearing both the Sultans power and the inclination of the people to their old emperour Neuerthelesse hauing propounded the matter in counsell and finding the minds of his subiects well affected towards him and a readinesse in them in his quarrell to aduenture their liues he encouraged therewith accompanied onely with two thousand choise horsemen together with the Sultans embassadour without farther stay set forward to PHILADELPHIA the Sultan at the same time with Alexius whom he carried with him as a bait to deceiue the people withall and twentie thousand Turkes besieging the citie of ANTIOCH situate vpon the winding banks of the riuer MEANDER Which the emperour Theodorus well vnderstanding and that the Sultan by gaining that strong citie standing vpon the passage of the great riuer the bounder of his empire should open a faire way for himselfe into the heart of ROMANIA ASIATICA to the great hazard of his whole empire resolued with those few he had to doe what hee might to relieue his citie And so setting forward vpon the spurre carrying nothing with him more than a little victuall and now come neere vnto the citie sent before the Sultans embassador following him at the heeles Who comming vnto the Sultan and telling him of the emperours approch with so small a power could hardly persuade him that it was so although hee bound it with many oathes yet at length persuaded of the truth of the matter and that indeed it was so hee in all hast put his armie in the best order he could vpon such a suddain but not to his best aduauntage being hindred so to do by the straitnesse of the place wherein he lay Of the two thousand select horsemen in the emperours armie were eight hundred Italians all most resolute men who giuing the first charge brake through the midst of the Sultans armie disordering his whole battell as they went after whom followed also the Greeks though not with like courage but those Italian horsemen now deuided from the rest in number but few in comming back again were by the disordered Turks some on horseback some on foot so beset on euery side as that there was no way left for them to passe but there valiantly fighting were altogether slaine hauing both before and at the time of their death made such a slaughter of the Turks as is hardly to be beleeued to haue been possible for so few men to haue made The Greekes also hardly laied to by the Turkes and discouraged by the slaughter of the Latines were euen vpon the point to haue fled when as the Sultan now almost in possession of a certaine victorie descrying the Greeke emperour and trusting to his owne great strength singled him out being as readie as himselfe to meet him when as at the first incounter the Sultan with his horsemans mase gaue him such a blâ—w vpon the head as might haue killed a bull so that the emperour therewith astonied fell downe from his horse who yet euen in the fall comming something againe vnto himselfe and although dismounted yet quickly recouering his feet with his faulchion hoxed the hinder legs of the mare whereon the Sultan rid being a most beautifull beast and of a woonderfull height which now suddainely faultring vnder him and so the Sultan tumbling downe as from an high tower before he could recouer himselfe had his head cut off by the emperour which by and by put vpon a launce and so holden vp with the sight thereof so dismaied the Turks that strucken with a suddaine feare they presently fled leauing the victorie vnto the emperour before more than halfe ouercome who for all that considering his small number durst no farther pursue them but entering the citie gaue thankes to God for so great a victorie Vnto whom the Turks shortly after sent their embassadours and so vpon such reasonable conditions as it pleased him to set downe concluded with him a peace Alexius himselfe author of these troubles taken in this battell and
to haue deceiued the Christian sentinels and so indeed came neere vnto the towne vnseene or discouered And now the foremost of those companies were alreadie entred the towne when the Christians perceiuing them and raising an alarme put themselues in armes and so furiously assailed the hindermost of them and in such sort that they which were before within and those that were but now entred fearing least the enemie in that hurly burly should pell mell enter in with the râ—st shut them out of the gates exposed to the butcherie where they were all presently cut in peeces The Christians encouraged with this victorie the next day leauing a great part of the armie before the town to continue the siege presented themselues before the Sultans campe to giue him battell who for all that well considering that the losse of a battell might endanger the whole state of his kingdome would by no meanes be drawne out of his trenches but lay still wherewith the Christians especially the Frenchmen in their first charge naturally furious greatly incouraged attempted to haue forcibly entred their rampiers but not with successe answerable to their courage For the Aegyptians perceiuing the small number of their enemies notably repulsed them and in fine enforced them to retire hauing lost Gualter one of their chiefe commanders with diuers others yea king Iohn in assailing the camp lost many of his men grieuously burnt in his face hardly escaped himselfe with life After which discomfiture they resolued not to thinke of any thing els but of the siege aboue all things to prouide that no succours should be broght vnto the towne They in the citie more straitly beset besieged than before now broght vnto extreame necessitie famine out of all hope of reliefe assembled themselues to consult of their affaires and what were best for them to doe in so dangerous a state Some one or other of them by night or otherwise secretly flying into the campe And that more was the citie had vndoubtedly beene yeelded by the greater part had not the chiefe commanders within mured vp the gates and commaunded that none of the inhabitants vpon paine of death should come vpon the wals or rampiars to the intent they should not get out or cast themselues from aboue ouer the wals into the ditches The chiefe commaunders and captaines went here and there vp and downe the citie to search and view all things especially the shops and storehouses where finding small store of Wheat they deuided it in small portions among themselues the common people inforced with want eat whatsoeuer came to hand were it lawfull or vnlawfull or forbidden by their superstition wholsome or vnwholesome good or bad salt or fresh rosted or raw and so prolonged their liues with such things as they could find Now the besieged not able to endure these extremities of the Famine being the passion that most grieuously and often troubleth mankind they were also attached with the wrath of God for the Plague the furie whereof had before attainted the campe of the Christians and afterward quite ceased was now got into the citie where it made a great slaughter which mortalitie day by day in such sort increased that men were not onely now no more to be found to visit comfort succour serue and helpe the sicke but were wanting also to burie them to draw them out of their beds and houses and to seperate the liuing from the dead the streets and houses full of dead bodies gaue foorth a most horrible stinke with a most grieuous and infectious aire there was not any place cleare from the plague or any man that could boast that he had not beene attainted therewith or the feare thereof and remedie was there none The rage and furie of these two deuourers the Famine and Plague deuoured them without number chusing rather so to die than to submit themselues vnto their enemies or to humble themselues so low as to craue their fauour That they within were thus pinched with famine the Christians knew but that the plague so raged among them they knew not Now the Christians had of purpose cast vp certaine trenches and baricadoes for the keeping in of such as the famine should enforce to come out of the towne thinking that the besieged to ease their wants would thrust the baser sort of the people and vnprofitable mouths out of the citie vnto whom the Christians meant not to giue any passage for they hauing long before so straitly enuironed the citie as that no reliefe could be brought vnto it lay now still expecting when the besieged enforced by necessitie should yeeld themselues and so without losse of any man to become masters of so strong and rich a towne It was now more than a yeare that the Christians had thus lien at the siege of DAMIATA when as certaine of the souldiours vpon a brauerie aduentured with a few scaling ladders to mount the wall in which doing finding no resistance and withall hearing so great silence as if there had beene no bodie within the citie they stood still a great while hearkening but seeing that dumbe silence still to continue they returned vnto the campe giuing the captaines to vnderstand how the matter stood who at the first thought it to bee some pollicie and finenesse of the deceitfull enemie yet afterward they thought it good to aduenture certaine men to prooue their fortune and to cause certaine companies well appointed to scale one of the bulwarkes of the citie in such sort as if they should haue gone against a puissant enemie that had had the power to resist them And hereupon were scaling ladders brought foorth and all things made readie as for a great assault So the Christians couragiously mounting the ladders without resistance tooke the bulwarke But as they were entring farther into the towne a small companie of the Turkes and Barbarians all the souldiors that the furie of the plague had left and they also with the famine and infection of the aire very weake and feeble met them and began to make some small resistance but to no purpose being forthwith all cut in pieces Which done the matter wherewith the gates of the citie were muâ—ed was presently remooued the gates set open and the Christians with ensignes displaied let in But euen at the very entering in at the gates they were attainted with a most greeuous and horrible stinke they saw a faire citie dispeopled and that which was most fearefull to behold the streets couered with bodies of the dead and such a dreadfull desolation as might mooue euen the enemie himselfe to compassion The Christians were entred as men appointed to haue done a great execution and to haue made the channels run with blood as men justly prouoked with the long siege and the paines they had endured they had their swords and weapons in their hands but found none against whom to vse them for a man could not enter into any house
all the cheefe commaunders were then at variance among themselues euery one of them laying claime not woorth a rush vnto the vaine title of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM Henry king of CYPRUS comming thither with a great fleet charged the Templars to deliuer vnto him the crowne of that kingdome which they had as he said wrongfully taken from Almericus and Guy his auncestors And Charles king of SICILIA by his embassadours laid claime vnto the title of that kingdome as due vnto the kings of that Island and vnderstanding it to be giuen vnto Henry king of CYPRUS caused all the reuenewes of the Templars within his dominion to be brought into his treasuries and their lands and houses to bee spoyled Hugh also prince of ANTIOCH laboured with tooth and naile to defend the ouerworne right that his father and grandfather had vnto that lost kingdome And the countie of TRIPOLIS laied in for himselfe that hee was descended from Raymund of THOLOUS and that beside himselfe remained no prince of the auntient nobilitie which had woon that kingdome out of the hands of the Sarasins and that therefore that regall dignitie did not of better right appertaine vnto any other than vnto himselfe Neither did these foure princes more striue for the title of the lost kingdome than for the present gouernment of the citie straight way about to perish The Popes Legate pretended thereunto a right also for that king Iohn Brenne had before subjected it vnto the See of ROME As for the claime vnto the citie of PTOLEMAIS the Patriarch of HIERUSALEM challenged vnto himselfe the preheminence for that the metropoliticall citie of TYRE vnder which the citie of PTOLEMAIS was the third episcopall seat was vnder his jurisdiction euen by the decree of the West church The Templars also and the knights Hospitalers whose power in the citie was at that time farre the greatest pretended the gouernment thereof of best right to belong vnto them as the just reward of their blood alreadie and afterward to be spent in the defence thereof promising great matters if it might be wholly referred vnto them Neither spared the French king or the king of ENGLAND by their messengers to claime the soueraignetie of the cittie by their predecessours sometimes woon And they of PISA hauing still a Consull therein and by often marriages with the naturall inhabitants growne into great affinitie with them did what they might to get the gouernment into their hands The Venetians also by their authoritie and great wealth laboured to gaine the good will of the people sparing therein no cost And they of GENUA no lesse cunning than the rest supplanted the strongest factions by giuing aid both apertly and couertly vnto the weaker that so hauing weakened the faction they most doubted and hated they might by the joint fauour of the weaker aspire vnto the gouernment of the stronger and so consequently of the citie it selfe The Florentines also by their continuall traffique thither were not out of hope by one finenesse or other amongst so many competitours to find a meane to step vp aboue the rest But the greatest part of the people for all that were most enclined vnto the Armenians and Tartars as both for their neerenesse and power most like of all other to stand them in stead All these aymed at one marke which was the gouernment and commaund of the cittie and most of them had in the same their owne proper lawes and courts to deside their causes and controuersies in Whereby it came to passe that euery man might without checke or controulement almost doe what he list the offenders from one court to another remoouing their sutes as best serued their turnes Thus were murders as is beforesaid dayly committed in the streets men abused houses robbed shops broken vp and many other outrages done to the hastening of the wrath of God and greefe of all good men Diuision and dissention the ruine of all commonweales thus raigning in the cittie the souldiours of late sent thither or in zeale come of themselues for the defence thereof gaue occasion for the speedie destruction of the same Such is the power of the Almightie in his wrath and judgements for sinne euen by those things wherein wee most trust and joy to worke our vtter ruine and destruction These souldiors for want of such pay as was promised them were enforced to seeke abroad and therefore contrarie to the league before made with the Aegyptian Sultan oftentimes went out in great parties into the frontiers of his territories taking the spoile of such things as they light vpon Whereof the Sultan vnderstanding demaunded by his embassadours That restitution might be made and the offendors deliuered vnto him to bee punished according vnto the league But in that so sicke a state of a dying commonweale neither was restitution made as reason would or yet the embassadors courteously heard With which insolencie the Sultan prouoked sent Emilech Araphus a notable captaine and as some say his sonne with an hundred and fiftie thousand men to besiege the citie who comming thither and hauing made his approches had by a mine in short time ouerthrowne a peece of the wall but in seeking to haue entered by the breach he found such strong resistance that hee was glad with losse to retire Whilest Araphus thus lay at the siege of PTOLEMAIS Alphir the Sultan died at DAMASCO in whose stead the Mamalukes made choice of this Araphus for their Sultan who more desirous of nothing than of the glorie of the vtter rooting vp of the Christians in SYRIA was so farre from raising of his siege either for the death of the Sultan or the newes of his kingdome that hee more straitly beset the citie than he had in the three moneths space that he had there lien before Now had they in the citie chosen Peter the master of the Templars their gouernour a man of great experience and valour vnto whom and the rest of the nobilitie the Sultan offered great rewards and vnto the souldiors their pay with free libertie to depart so that they would without more adoe yeeld vnto him the citie which they could not long hold Which his offer the master rejected and flattly told him That hee had not learned of his auncestours to sell for money vnto the Infidels a citie bought with so much Christian blood either did so much regard his vaine threats as therefore to forget his seruice due vnto his Sauiour Christ and the Christian commonweale With which answere the tyrant enraged the next day with all his forces assaulted the citie and that in such desperat and furious manner as if hee would euen then haue carried it hauing before filled the ditches and promised the spoile vnto his souldiors the more to encourage them Yet hauing done what he could and lost a number of his men slaine both in the assault and in a sallie which the Christians made out at the same time he was inforced to retire backe
againe into his trenches In this so terrible an assault not repulsed without some losse also of the Christians the Grand master and gouernour of the citie was wounded with a poysoned dart whereof hee in three dayes after died with whom the courage of the defendants fainted also no man being left like vnto him to vndertake so great a charge although many there were that ouerweening of themselues desired the same In the beginning of this siege the Christians had sent away all their aged and weake people vnfit for seruice into CYPRUS where they in safetie arriued But now many of the better sort both captaines and others discouraged one after another conuaighed themselues away out of the citie of whom a great number in passing thence to CYPRUS were vpon the coast of the Island together with the Patriarch drowned In the citie remained only twelue thousand which were thought sufficient for the defence thereof who afterwards as some report fled also by sea after their fellowes and so left the citie emptie vnto the barbarous enemie some others reporting of them more honourably as that they should right valiantly defend the citie against the assault of their enemies vntill such time as that most of them beeing slaine or wounded and the rest by force driuen from the wals into the market place and there for a while notably defending themselues in flying thence vnto the ships were by the way all cut in sunder or else drowned But howsoeuer it was the Sultan entering the citie by the Christians abandoned or by force taken gaue the spoile thereof vnto his souldiors who after they had rifled euerie corner thereof by his commaundement set it on fire and burnt it downe to the ground and digging vp the very foundations of the wals churches and other publicke and priuat buildings which the fire had not burnt left there no signe of any citie at all but purging the place euen of the very heapes of the stones and rubbidge left of the rased citie made it a fit place for husbandmen to plough and sowe corne in which he did both there at SYDON BERITUS and other townes alongst the sea coast because they should neuer more serue for a refuge vnto the Christians or giue them footing againe into those countries Thus together with PTOLEMAIS was the name of the Christians vtterly rooted out of SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE in the yeare 1291 about 192 yeares after the winning of HIERUSAREM by Godfrey of BUILLON and the other Christian princes his confederats This losse as tending to the great disgrace of the Christians in generall mooued not a little euen the greatest of the Christian princes wronged all or most part of them in the persons of the Templars or knights Hospitalers their subjects so shamefully now quite cast out of SYRIA and the land of promise howbeit troubled with their owne turbulent affaires at home or with their neighbour princes not farre off none of them once stirred for the redresse or reuenge thereof Onely Cassanes the great Tartar prince hauing of late subdued the Persians and married the daughter of the Armenian king a ladie of great perfection and of a Mahometane become a Christian at the request of his wife and his father in law tooke the matter in hand And for that purpose hauing raised a most puissant armie of two hundred thousand fighting men and aided by the Armenians and Georgians passing ouer the mountaine AMANUS into SYRIA not farre from the citie HAMA met with Melcenaser the Aegyptian Sultans lieutenant with a mightie armie whom hee ouerthrew in a great and mortall battell wherein fortie thousand of the Aegyptians are reported to haue beene slaine and so draue him quite out of SYRIA sending Molais one of his captaines with part of his armie to pursue him who neuer left him vntill hee had chased him ouer the desart sands into AEGYPT The victorious Tartar after this battell tooke the citie of HAMA where lighting vpon the great treasures of the Sultan hee bountifully deuided it together with the spoile amongst his souldiours reseruing nothing thereof vnto himselfe more than a sword and a casket full of secret letters The Aegyptian thus put to flight he without resistance tooke in most of the cities of SYRIA with the citie of HIERUSALEM also which in many places by the Turkes and Aegyptians defaced he againe repaired and together with the temple of our Sauior gaue it to the Armenians Georgians and other Christians repairing thither out of CYPRUS CRETE and other places to inhabite And hauing himselfe honoured the holy places with great gifts returned with his armie to DAMASCO which was foorthwith deliuered vnto him But lying there with purpose in Autumne following to haue gone into AEGYPT and to haue vtterly destroyed that kingdome hee was certefied of new troubles arising in PERSIA and some other parts of his empire for repressing whereof hee with the greatest part of his armie returned himselfe into PERSIA leauing one Capcapus gouernour of DAMASCO who after the ouerthrow of the Sultans armie had reuolted vnto him and Molais of whom wee haue before spoken gouernour of HIERUSALEM commaunding them at his departure to reedifie the citie of TYRE and to send embassadours vnto the Christian princes of the West to joine in league with them for the more sure holding of those new gained countries And so TYRE was indeed repaired as he had commaunded and deliuered to the Christians with a conuenient garrison for the keeping thereof but the embassadours comming to the proud bishop Boniface the eight then Pope whom of all others it beseemed to haue furthered their businesse they could of him obtaine nothing but returned as they came For he at the same time fallen out with Philip the French king thundering out his excommunications discharging his subjects of their loyaltie and so much as in him was depriuing him of his kingdome had giuen the same vnto Albertus duke of AUSTRIA whom he had declared emperour whereof arise great troubles Besides that he being of the Guelphes faction was not in any thing more carefull than of the vtter extinguishing of the contrarie faction of the Gibellines especially of the most honourable family of the Columnij of whom some hee had slaine some he had depriued of their honours some he had imprisoned and driuen othersome into exile so that thus wickedly busied for the maintenance of his owne proud estate he had no leisure to further the good of the Christian common weale which his intollerable pride and forgetfulnesse of dutie long escaped not the reuenging hand of God being when he thought least suddenly taken prisoner at his fathers house in the citie of ANAGNIA where he was borne by Sara Columnius his mortall enemie whom but lately before redeemed out of a pirates gally the French king had sent for that purpose with one Longaret or as some call him Nogaret a French knight By whom the proud prelate brought to ROME in the castle S.
amongst the Christians in hope of like good fortune and for the zeale towards his superstition accounting all well gotten that was gained from the Christians tooke his way after him with such of his kinsmen and subjects as would accompanie him in his new aduentures And comming to ARTEZERVM a citie in the borders of ARMENIA and CAPPADOCIA thereabout in the countrey according to the season of the yearâ— seated himselfe with his followers being in number many who with their wiues and children after the manner of the Tartar Nomades their ancestours in poore tents and carts couered with a course kind of cloth had followed him being indeed nothing else but a verie rude and rough kind of sturdie heardsmen not wedded to any place but still remoouing with their tents and carts vp and downe as best serued for their purpose and the feeding of their cattell as doâ— the Turcoman nation the true discent of the Turks in many parts of ASIA at this day and were thereof not onely called Nomades that is to say heardsmen by which name the proud Ianizaries will oftentimes in contempt call euen the greatest of the naturall Turkes but Hamaxophoretie and Hamaxobij that is to say people carried or liuing in carts Solyman hauing staâ—ed a while about ERZERVM remoouing thence came to AMASIA and there spoiling the countrey then inhabited by the Christians did them much harme oftentimes encountring them in the plaine field and sometimes ceazing vpon their townes and cities vntill he had subdued vnto himselfe a right large territorie yet at length hauing in so many battels by him fought and cities by him besieged lost a great number of his people and so wearied the rest as that they were not willing farther to follow him and fearing also with such small power as he had left to be able to defend and keepe the countrey by him alreadie gotten in the midst of so many enemies thought it best to depart thence and to seeke his better fortune elsewhere At the same time it was rifely reported that the affaires of PERSIA after so long trouble for all this was not a while in doing began to grow againe to some good quiet the furie of the Tartars being now well abated and that storme ouerblowne wherefore Solyman resolued now to returne home againe and to visit his natiue countrey of him and his people aboue all others desired So passing through SYRIA for that was now his way neere vnto ALLEPO he ceazed vpon a castle called ZIABER-CALA and there staied a space for the refreshing of his people Afterward setting forward againe he came at length to the great and famous riuer EVPHRATES ouer which he must needs passe But finding there neither bridge nor foord or other meanes to get ouer he stood still as a man dismaid not knowing what to do Stay there he would not go further he could noâ— his desire bid him goe but the great riuer said not so In this perplexitie Solyman himselfe with his horse oftentimes taking the riuer in hope to haue found some passage but finding none aduenturing too far was with the force of the streame carried away and so together with his horse drowned His bodie after long seeking being at length found was with the great lamentation of his people buried neere vnto the castle ZIABER not long before by him taken whereof they say the place is at this day in their tongue called Mesari-Zuruc that is to say the Turkes Graue Some of these Oguzian Turks after the death of their Sultan wearie of their long trauell seated themselues in the countrey therabouts vnto whom the Turks that now hold that castle do refer their beginning The rest of that great tribe and familie diuersly diuided went vnto diuers places as their fortunes led them some of them into the wast ground and desarts of ARABIA and SYRIA and are at this day called the Damascene Turconians othersome returned backe againe into ROMANIA the same way that they came of whom are descended the Turconians of ICONIVM and ANATOLIA who yet with their wiues and children as heardsmen in great companies wander vp and downe the countrey after the manner of their ancestors Solyman thus lost left foure sonnes Sencur-Teken Iundogdis Ertogrul of some called Orthobules the father of this Othoman founder of the Turks empire that now is and Dunder With these foure brethren most part of these Oguzian Turks that were left returning into ROMANIA as is aforesaid after they had there rested themselues a while marching vp a long the riuer EVPHRATES came to a place called PASIN-OVASI about ten miles aboue ARTERVM where Ertogrul and his brother Dunder with foure hundred families not willing to go any farther staied with their tents and carts their best dwellings Sencur and Iundogdis their other two brethren in the meane time passing the riuer returned with the rest into PERSIA whom we there leaue vnto their vnknowne fortunes In this place Ertogrul with his brother and his three sonnes stayed a while and had diuers conflicts with the countrey people thereabout vntill that at length he thought it best to returne againe into ROMANIA So setting forward he came to ANCYRA and from thence vnto the blacke Mountaines and so to a plaine called of the Turks Sultan-Vngi about 75 miles Eastward from the citie of NICE in BYTHINIA where he had many skirmishes with the Christians Now a good while before this Aladin the elder of whom we haue before spoken in the former part of this historie fled out of PERSIA had subdued diuers great prouinces and countries in ROMANIA ASIATICA or the lesser ASIA for so it is more truly called so that he was of all the people thereabouts accounted for a great prince and of the Turks themselues honoured with the name of their Vlu Padischach that is to say their great king or emperour Hauing placed his regall seat first at SEBASTIA and afterward at ICONIUM which two cities before ruinous he repaired and therein raigned as did some few of his posteritie after him as is before declared Neither was Ertogrul ignorant of the honour glorie and power of this great Sultan But hauing three sonnes namely Iundus Sarugatin and Othoman sent Sarugatin his second son a bold well spoken man vnto him to request him in that his so large a kingdome and as yet not well peopled by the Turks to graunt vnto them his poore exiled countreymen of long time oppressed with diuerse fortunes some small corner for them with their families and cattell to rest in Which his request the Sultan not forgetfull of his owne distresse sometime in like case graciously heard with great courtesie vsed the messenger Now for the furtherance of his sute it fortuned that this Sultan before driuen out of PERSIA by the Tartars and by them also much troubled in these his new gotten countries in the lesser ASIA had with them diuers hot skirmishes and sharpe conflicts in one of which it fortuned the
was sent for being persuaded by the messenger that Othoman had sent for him because he had occasion to vse his woonted faithfull counsell and seruice in a great exploit which he had intended as he had oftentimes before Cosâ—i thinking of nothing lesse than of that which ensued came accompanied with such souldiours as he thought to vse in that seruice But comming vnto Othoman and vnderstanding the very cause why he was sent for and seeing danger imminent on euery side kissing Othomans hand after the manner of the Turks requested him in courteous manner to enter him in the principles of the Mahometane religion which he promised euer after to imbrace And so saying certaine words after Othoman he turned Turke to the great displeasure of God and the contentment of Otâ—â—man and his nobilitie For which his reuolting Othoman presently gaue him an ensigne and a rich robe tokens whereby the Mahometane Sultans assure their vassales of their fauour and the vndoubted possession of such land and liuing as they then hold Oftentimes after this Othoman for the contenting of his souldiors inuaded the countries bordering vpon him tooke many strong castles and forts subdued the most part of PHRIGIA Mâ—SIA and BYTHINIA and other great regions vnto the Euxine sea and being now very aged and diseased as is aforesaid with the gout and thereby vnable to goe into the field in person himselfe oftentimes sent his sonne Orchanes against his enemies who to the imitation of his father atchieued many great enterprises Othoman his father yet liuing Now happily might the considerat reader and not without just cause meruaile what dead sleepe had ouerwhelmed the Greeke emperours of those times first Michaell Paleologus and afterward his sonne Andronicus both men of great valour and still resiant at CONSTANTINOPâ—E thus to suffer the Turkes not Othoman for he as yet bare no sway but others the sharers of Sultan Aladins kingdome to take their cities spoile their countries kill their subjects and dayly to incroach vpon them in the lesser ASIA and especially in BYTHINIA so neere vnto them and as it were euen vnder their noses But let him with me here as in a most conuenient place but breath a little and consider the troubled estate of that declining empire now hasting to an end and he shall plainely see the causes of the decay thereof and how like an old diseased bodie quite ouerthrowne and sicke to death it became at length a prey vnto the aspiring Turks Michaell Paleologus hauing by great trecherie obtained the Greeke empire and by rare fortune recouered also the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE from Baldwin the emperour as is in the former part of this Historie declared fearing the power of the princes of the West but especially of Charles king of SICILIA then a prince of great fame and power whom he knew Baldwin the late emperour ceased not to sollicite for the restitution of him againe into his empire and to haue also joyned with him a neere bond of affinitie by marrying his daughter vnto Charles his sonne to auert this danger and to intangle Charles with troubles neere home he by his embassadours offered vnto Gregorie the tenth then bishop of ROME to vnite and conforme the Greeke church vnto the Latine and to acknowledge the bishops supremacie in such sort as that it should be lawfull for any man to appeale vnto the court of ROME as vnto the higher and more excellent court of which his offer the Pope gladly accepted promising to performe what he had before requested for the keeping of Charles otherwise busied But when it came to the point that this reformation and alteration of religion in the Greeke church should be made Ioseph the Patriarch to begin withall gaue vp his place and shortly after forsaking the citie retired himselfe into a monasterie neer vnto the strait of Bosphorus where he at quiet deuoutly spent the remainder of his life The rest of the cleargie also discontented with this innouation in their sermons openly inuaighed against it persuading the people not to receiue it crying out That now was come the time of their triall the time of their martirdome and the time wherein they were to receiue the glorious crowne of their painefull suffrings insomuch that great tumults were therupon raised and all the citie and the countrey in an vprore for it was not the cleargie onely and the vulgar people by them mooued which disliked and abhorred these the emperours proceedings and made these stirs but many of the better sort yea of the cheefe magistrates themselues also So that Michaell Paleologus the emperour leauing all other forraine businesse was inforced to conuert all his power and studie vnto the appeasing of these domesticall troubles as deeming them of greater danger than his wars abroad And first to persuade his discontented subjects he told them That this alteration was made not for any good liking he had therunto but in respect of the dangerousnesse of the time and that it was a point of wisedome to foresee dangers hanging ouer our heads and not to delay if any thing were to be altered for the auetting thereof for if the enemies as he said should come the citie yet in many places rent or but lately repaired and as it were but newly raised from death to life the present mischiefes would be far greater than those forepassed and that then their enemies would become lords not of their religion and ceremonies onely but of all at once their wiues their children and whatsoeuer else they had where their liberty changed into bondage they should be constrained to conforme themselues not with their bodily seruice onely but euen with their minds also vnto the wils of the Latines their enemies And that so it would come to passe that no man should bee able to keepe the old customes and manners of his ancestors but should see euen their most sacred rites and ceremonies changed and quite ouerthrowne Which he carefully foreseeing had not as he said refused to yeeld vnto necessitie and as wisdome would neglected a little harme in respect of a greater benefit and in the lesse to haue yeelded vnto his enemies to enjoy the benefit of the greater With which the emperours persuasion some were mooued and so held themselues contented and some others not against whom he was enforced to vse other more seuere remedies as against his rebellious subjects of whom some he imprisoned some he banished some he tortured some he dismembred some he depriued of their sight or confiscated their goods vsing in breefe all the meanes whereby the minds of the resolute or the weake were to be mooued All which things they whose zeale was grounded vpon knowledge in number the fewest with patience endured but the greater part void of judgement and the refuce of the people in simple attire ran roguing abroad some into PELOPONESUS some into THESSALIA some into ACHAIA and some as far as COLCHOS as men persecuted for their conscience
not regarding greatly whether so it were out of the emperours jurisdiction and something fitting their owne humors neither conforming themselues vnto the religion then commonly by the emperour established neither yet agreeing among themselues but taking vnto them diuers names some as the disciples of Arsenius some of Ioseph and some of others some of them themselues deceiued and deceiuing others also Thus for the auoiding of forraine danger out of the West was the empire at home no little indangered and the state thereof shaken Wherewith the emperour was so encombred as that he had no leisure to prouide for the tempest arising by the Turks out of the East but was inforced wholly to imploy himselfe and all his indeuours vnto the keeping of his people subjects in their due obedience at home All whose deepe deuises first in aspiring vnto the empire no way vnto him due and great trauels afterwards for the assuring of the same vnto himselfe and his posteritie against all right euen with the alteration of the religion of his fathers yeelded him in the winding vp of all not so much as the credit of an honourable sepulture But dying in these troubles not far from LISIMACHIA as he was making preparation against the prince of THESSALIE was there by his sonne Andronicus his commaundement for whose aduancement he had strained both his faith and honour obscurely buried in the field a good way from his campe as vnworthie of a better sepulture for reuolting from the antient religion of his ancestors although his obsequies were for fashion sake afterwards with some solemnitie celebrated This was the end of the great emperour Michaell Paleologus in whose time the Turks the successors of Aladin greatly incroched vpon him in the lesser ASIA as is in part before declared a man greatly adorned with the good gifts both of the bodie and the mind had he not for the aduancement of himselfe and his posteritie stained the same with foule trecherie and apostasie for which as some say he euer after liued in conscience troubled and dying was euen by his owne sonne not thought worthie of an honourable funerall A notable example vnto all such as with greedinesse seeke after vaine glorie and foolishly expose themselues vnto such aduentures as oftentimes ouerwhelme their deepest deuises hauing in themselues no certainetie preferring their inordinat desires either for themselues or their posteritie before that which is good and vertuous Twice wretched in so doing first in their folly and then in their indeuours Who beside that they find God himselfe against their designes and purposes they by and by also euidently meet with other things than what they had forecasted contrarie vnto them and so themselues oftentimes contrarie to their expectation cast headlong into extreame miserie for loe euen he of whom we now speake otherwise a man of great wisdome and happie in his doings ouercome with his affection towards his children in desiring to leaue vnto them the empire when as he ought to haue cast all the care both of himselfe and of them especially vpon the prouidence of God he like a blind man following his own deepe conceits not grounded vpon the fear of God but mans wisdome only cast himselfe before he was aware into miserable troubles and became odious euen vnto his subiects them also for whom he had so forgot himselfe For wheras God had euen from his childhood alotted vnto him the empire as was by many euident signes tokens to haue bin gathered if he could haue moderated his vntimely desires kept his tongue from periurie and his hands from blood and not turned out of the way after strange doctrine he had by many degrees excelled euen the best emperours his predecessors whereas now he lieth obscurely buried shrouded in the sheet of defame the report of his foule faithlesse dealings far exceeding all his other worthy vertues Andronicus Paleologus succeeding his father in the empire and thinking by restoring again the gouernment of the church together with the rites and customes of the Greeks to haue appeased all such troubles as were before by his father raised by bringing in those of the Latines found himselfe therein much deceiued and his troubles no lesse than his fathers they which had before receiued the Latine customes and well liking of them with great obstinacie defending the same and the other of the contrarie faction now countenanced by the emperor without modestie or measure insulting vpon them whereof arose exceeding great stirs and troubles especially in the beginning of his raigne to the great benefit of the encroaching Turks who in the meane time ceased not by all meanes to increase their territories in ASIA and not onely there but in the islands of the Mediterranean sea also For Andronicus by the death of Charles king of SICILIE deliuered of the greatest feare for which both he and his father before him had to their great cost and charge both built and maintained a strong fleet of gallies now persuaded by some whose actions and speeches were after the manner of the court all framed vnto the princes appetite as the readiest way to thâ—iue without respect of the coÌ„mon good to spare that needlesse charge as they tearmed it which yearely cost him more than any other thing else had discharged all his mariners and sea men and commanded all the gallies to be laied vp some in one creeke some in another where neglected not looked vnto they in time for most part rotted and perished As for the mariners they went some one way some another as their fortunes lead them to seeke for their liuings in forreine countries euen with the emperours enemies and some gaue themselues to husbandrie thinking it better by doing something to liue than by sitting still to perish which good husbandrie at the first seemed to be verie profitable vnto the emperour but especially vnto such as being neere vnto him and couetously giuen made small reckoning of all other the most necessarie defences of the empire in comparison of hoording vp of money vntill that it was afterwards too late by experience found hereof to haue sprung many great mischiefes vnto the great weakning of the Greeke empire For besides that the Turkes without lette did great harme on the sea the pirates now out of feare of the emperours gallies at their pleasure tooke the spoile of the rich Islands in the Mediteranian and robbed the townes all along the sea coast to the vnspeakable griefe of the poore countrie people And yet not so contented came with their gallies sometime two sometime three and sometime moe as it were in contempt euen close vnto the imperiall citie Yea the Venetians were so bold as vpon a right small displeasure to rifle and afterward to set fire vpon the suburbes thereof which they would hardly haue aduentured had the emperours fleet bene preserued and maintained in the woonted strength At the same time also Andronicus the emperour to the great hinderance
of the affaires of the empire and aduantage of the forreine enemie was not a little troubled with a jealous suspition of his brother Constantine commonly called Porphyrogenitus as if he had sought to haue aspired vnto the empire seeking by all meanes to win vnto himselfe the loue and fauour of all men but especially of the nobilitie both at home and abroad and so by that meanes to mount vnto the height of his desires All which as most men thought were but meere slanders maliciously deuised by such as enuying at his honour and taking occasion by the emperours suspition ceased not to increase the same vntill they had wrought his vnwoorthie destruction The first ground of this false suspition in the emperours head was for that this Constantine was euen from his childhood for many causes better beloued of the old emperour his father than Andronicus as better furnished with those gifts of nature which beautifie a prince and of a more courteous behauior than was his brother insomuch that had he not been the yoonger brother his father could willingly haue left him his successour in the empire This was one and the cheefest cause of the emperours grudge and the ground of his suspition Yet was there another also and that not much lesse than this for that his father in his life time had of long thought to haue seperated from the empire a great part of THESSALIA and MACEDONIA and to haue made him absolute prince thereof and had happely so done had hee not beene by death preuented which thing also much grieued Andronicus and the more incensed him against his brother Which his secret hatred he for all that according to his wisdome cunningly dissembled not only during the time that his father liued but three yeares after his death also making shew of the greatest loue and kindnesse towards him that was possible Constantine in the meane time of such great reuenues as were by his father assigned vnto him reaping great profit most bountifully bestowed the same vpon his followers and fauorits and others that made sute vnto him as well the meaner sort as the greater and with his sweet behauior woon vnto him the hearts of all men for affabilitie courtesie in high degree easily allureth mens minds as doe faire flowers in the spring the passengers eyes This was that precept of the wise Indians That the higher a prince was in dignitie and the more courteous he shewed himselfe vnto his inferiours the better he should be of them beloued He therefore that should for the two first causes blame Constantine should doe him wrong as both proceeding not of himselfe but of his fathers too much loue but in the third hee was not altogether blamelesse for if for want of experience hee prodigally gaue such gifts as for the most part might haue besâ—emed the emperour himselfe he ignorantly erred yet did he no little offend but if he knew that for his too profuse bountie he could not be vnsuspected of his brother and yet without regard held on that course hee was greatly to bee blamed therein For if nothing els might haue mooued him yet he should haue considered to what end the like doings of others in former times had sorted and how many it had brought to vntimely end So although perhaps that Constantine meant no harme vnto his brother or any way to supplant him yet did these things not a little increase and agrauate the former suspitioâ—s and open the eares of the emperour his brother vnto such calumniation as commonly attendeth vpon immoderat bountie But to returne vnto our purpose This honourable Constantine then liued in LYDIA but lately maried and in good hope long to liue being not past thirtie years old but pleasantly spending the time with his wife at NYMPHEA in LYDIA at such time as he was thus secretly accused vnto his brother the emperour thought it good as vpon other occasions of businesse to passe ouer into ASIA himselfe but indeed with a secret resolution vpon the suddaine to oppresse his brother vnawares as by proofe it fell out For at his comming ouer Constantine fearing nothing lesse was forthwith apprehended with all his greatest fauorits of whom one Michaell Strategopulus sometime a man in great authoritie with the emperour his father and of all other for wealth honour and noble acts most famous was cheefe who together with Constantine were fast clapt in prison where we will leaue them euery houre looking to die their lands and goods being before confiscated But these woorthie men especially Constantine and Strategopulus thus laid fast who many times in great battailes discomfited the Turks and notably defended the frontiers of the empire alongst the East side of the riuer MEANDER they now finding none to withstand them forraged not only all the rich countrey beyond the riuer but with an infinit multitude passing the same did there great harme also so that there was no remedie but that the emperour must of necessitie make choice of some other woorthie captaine for the defence of those his cities and countries by the incursion of the Turks then in danger in that part of ASIA There was then in the emperours court one Alexius Philanthropenus a right valiant and renowned captaine and then in the flower of his youth of him the emperour thought good to make choice for the defence of those frontiers of his empire in ASIA against the Turks which were before the charge of his brother Constantine and Strategopulus joyning vnto him one Libadarius an old famous captaine and a man of great experience also appointing vnto him the gouernment of the cities of IONIA and vnto the other the frontiers along the winding bankes of MEANDER Where Alexius hauing now gotten a charge woorthie his valour and in many great conflicts with the Turks still carying away the victorie became in short time of great fame besides that he was exceeding bountifull and courteous vnto all men a costly but a readie way vnto dangerous credit and renowne Thus at the first all things prospered in his hand according to his hearts desire yea the Turks themselues bordering vpon him hardly beset on the one side by the Tartars and on the other by himselfe and yet not so much feared with their enemies behind them as mooued with his courtesie came ouer vnto him with their wiues and children and serued themselues many of them in his campe but as they say That in Iupiters court no man might drinke of the tun of blisse but that he must tast also of the tun of woe so fell it out with this great captaine who hauing but tasted of the better tun had the worse all poured full vpon his head For Libadarius seeing all so prosper with him and somewhat enuying thereat began to feare and suspect least he proud of his good fortune and now growne very strong casting off his allegeance should aspire vnto the empire and so first begin with him as the neerest vnto him
with all things necessarie were with some other forces also shipped ouer into ASIA vnder the leading of Michael Paleologus the emperours eldest sonne and then his companion in the empire Who marching alongst the countrey came and encamped about MAGNESIA where the Turks at the first after their woonted manner retired themselues into the high mountaines and thick woods that from thence they might more safely learne what strength their new come enemies were of and what discipline of war they kept for they knew that vpon the comming of great armies many false reports did run and that things were made far greater than indeed they were as did of these also as of a people inuincible and therefore they thought it best so to protract the time vntill they might see in what sort best to deale with them But so houering ouer their heads and perciuing them oftentimes without order to roame abroad into the countrey seeking after prey for why they after the manner of mercenarie men spoiled their friends no lesse than if they had beene their enemies they came downe in good order from the mountaines from whence at the first they aduentured but a little but afterward they came on further and with greater confidence in such sort as that it seemed they would â—are long assault the yoong emperour in his campe Wherewith he with the rest discouraged without any stroke giuen retired the Turks still folowing him at the heeles For neither he neither the rest any thing considered the small number of their enemies but as drunken men whose heads filled with grosse vapours are deceiued in the greatnesse of the object that they see and oftentimes thinke one thing to be two so were they also in like manner with their owne feare blinded Beside that most commonly it falleth out that the armie which insolencie and iniurie forerunneth is appointed to destruction and by the fearfulnesse of it selfe ouerthrowne before the enemie set vpon it they themselues becomming enemies vnto themselues and God his iust vengeance appointing vnto them such an end as their deeds haue deserued neither was it like that they should do any great good that at their first setting foorth in steed of prouision carried out with them the bitter curses and execrations of their friends Michael the emperour seeing the Massagets flie and not daring with those few he had left to oppose himselfe against his enemies retired himselfe into the strong castle of MAGNESIA there to expect what would become of these mischiefes But the Massagets spoiling the countries of the poore Christians as they went marched directly vnto the strait of HELESPONTVS and there againe passed ouer into EVROPE as if they had beene therefore onely sent for ouer the riuer ISTER to shew the Turkes the sooner the way vnto the sea in ASIA For it was not many daies after but that Michael the emperour being returned to CONSTANTINOPLE the Turks comming downe with a great power subdued all the countries euen vnto the coast of LESBOS to the great weakning of the Greeke empire It was not long after these great sturs made by the Massagets but that one Ronzerius some time a notable pirate but as then a most famous captaine hearing of the great intertainment that the Greeke emperor gaue vnto strangers by messengers sent for that purpose offered vnto him his seruice in his wars against the Turks as had before the Massagets This Ronzerius of whom we speake had out of CATALONIA a prouince of SPAINE and out of that part of FRANCE which is called NARBONENSIS and some other places also gathered together a great number of base needie naked men yet lustie able bodies and fit for seruice either by sea or land with whom he manned foure tall gallies and so as a notable pirate long time robbed not onely the marchants trading too and fro in the Mediteranean but landing his men oftentimes in the rich islands carried away thence much rich spoile also vntill at length by the mischiefe he did being become famous and great wars then arising betwixt Charles king of NAPLES and Theodorus king of SICILIA he was by Theodorus sent for and requested of aid which hee liuing of the spoile easily graunted and so came vnto him with a thousand horse and as many foot all old expert souldiours whose good seruice stood the king in those wars in great steed But as the end of war is peace so at length vpon the euill successe of Charles a peace being concluded betwixt the two kings and confirmed by a mariage betwixt their children Ronzerius liuing altogether by his fortunes was to seeke for new intertainment both for himselfe and his men as hauing neither house nor certaine dwelling place to repaire vnto but being as needie men met together some out of one place some out of another in hope of bootie as their fortune led them In which case Ronzerius their generall thought it best to offer his seruice vnto the Greeke emperour in his warres against the Turkes whereof hee gladly accepted and so sent for him vnto whom hee shortly after came with two thousand good souldiours called after the proud Spanish manner by the name of CATALONIANS for that they were for the most part Spaniards of the countrey of CATALONIA Of whose comming the emperour rejoycing more than hee had cause as afterward by proofe it fell out in token of his greater fauour honoured him with the name of the Great Captaine and afterwards gaue him his neece Marie in mariage But within a while after when as one Tensa another Catalonian captaine sent for by Ronzerius was come thither also with more aid the emperour to gratifie them both gaue vnto Ronzerius the name of Caesar and vnto the other the name of the Great Captaine But when these new come captaines with their followers were to be transported into ASIA it is not to be spoken what harme they did by the way vnto the countrey people and in the villages alongst the sea coast abusing the men and women as their slaues and spending their substance at their pleasure for which they had many a bitter curse and this was their first yeares entertainment The next Spring they set forward to relieue the great citie of PHILADELPHIA being as then long besieged by the Turks and hardly bestead without with the enemie and within with extreame penurie and famine which good seruice they most valiantly performed and raised the siege For the Turks beholding the good order of these Latine souldiours their bright armour and couragious comming on rise presently and departed not onely from the citie but quite out of the emperours territorie Besides that in this armie were joyned vnto these Catalonians great numbers of the best souldiours of the Greeks and all the power of the Massagets so that had not the emperour expresly before commaunded not to pursue them too far it was by many thought all those cities and countries might then againe haue beene in short time recouered from the
solemnitie of words promised to whomsoeuer could bring vnto him the Despot either quicke or dead which were of purpose giuen vnto the country people passing too and fro to be dispersed abroad in the high waies and about in the country neere vnto the Despots campe And after that he caused the death of the emperour his grandfather to be euerie where proclaimed and how that he was by the Constantinopolitans in a tumult slaine which the deuiâ—â—â—s thereof in euery place reported Yea some there were that swore they were themselues present at his wofull death and saw it with their eies othersome more certainely to persuade the matter shewed long white goats haires or such like gathâ—â—ed out of white wooll as if they had beene by the furious people pluckt from the old emperours head or beard at such time as hee was slaine Which things being commonly reported in euery towne and village but especially in the Despots campe wonderfully fillâ—d mens heads with diuers strange and doubtfull â—houghts then diuers also of the dispersed edicts being found and brought vnto the Despot strucke him and not without cause into a great feare insomuch that by the persuasion of his best friends he without longer stay retired in hast to THESSALONICA Whither shortly after came a gallie from CONSTANTINOPLE with secret letters from the emperour to the Despot for the apprehension of fiue and twentie of the cheefe cittizens vehemently suspected for the stirring vp of thâ— people to rebellion and so to haue deliuered the citie vnto the prince all whom the Despot should haue sent bound in that gallie to CONSTANTINOPLE but they in good time perceiuing the danger they were in secretly stirring vp the people and by and by after ringing out the bels the signall appointed for the beginning of the rebellion had in a very short time raised a woonderfull tumult in the citie insomuch that all the citizens werâ— vp in armes who running headling vnto the house of the Despot found not him for he forewarned of their comming was fled into the castle but slew all they met of his or els robbing them cast them in prison As for the Despots house they tooke what they found therein and afterwards pulled it downe to the ground Then comming to the castle they fired the gates which the Despot seeing and not able to dâ—fâ—nd the place tooke horse and fled vnto a monasterie not far off where being taken by them that pursued him he full sore against his will for thâ— safegard of his life tooke vpon him the habit of a monke neuerthelesse he was froÌ„ thence caried prisoner to the yong prince his nephew who shewed himselfe much more courteous vnto him than all the rest of his nobilitie waiters for they as if they would haue eaten him vp were euen foorthwith readie to haue torne him in peeces hâ—d noâ—â—he prince embracing him in his armes saued his life Yet the next day after by the persuasion of his counsell he sent him to DIDIMOTICHVM where hee was cast into a most loathsome prison being verie deepe and straight in manner of a well no bodie to attend vpon him but one boy where he lay in miserable darkenesse and stinke they which drew vp his ordure from him and the boy whether by chance or of purpose pouring it oftentimes vpon his head Where after he had lien a great while in most extreame miserie wishing to die and could not he was at length by the princes commandement entreated thereunto by certaine religious men remooued into a more easie prison where we will for euer leaue him Things falling out crosse with the old emperor and although they were neuer so well deuised still sorting out vnto the worst he became verie pensiue and doubtfull what to do So it fortuned that one day in his melancholy mood hauing a Psalter in his hand to resolue his doubtfull mind he opened the same as if it were of that heauenly Oracle to aske counsell where in the first verse that he light vpoÌ„ was Dum coelestis dissociat reges niue conspergentur in Selmon When the Almightie scattered kings for their sakes then were they as white as snow in Selmon Which he applying to himselfe as if all those troubles and whatsoeuer else had happened in them proceeded from the will of God although for causes to him vnknowne hee by and by sought to reconcile himselfe vnto his nephew contrarie to the mind of Syrgiannes desiring nothing but trouble For as we haue before said the yoong prince although he was desirous of the power and libertie of an emperor yet he left the ornaments and care thereof vnto his grandfather had he not oftentimes and earnestly been egged forward by his companions to affect the whole empire happily could and would haue contented himselfe with the former pacification for being now sent for he came first to RHEGIVM and there visited his mother now set at libertie and sent thither for the furtherance of the desired pacification where he with her and by her counsell did whatsoeuer was there done So within a few daies the matter was brought into so good tearms that an attonement was made and he himselfe went and met the emperour his grandfather before the gates of the citie the old emperour sitting then vpon his horse and the prince lighting from his a good furlong before he came at him and although his grandfather was verie vnwilling and forbad him so to doe yet he came to him on foot and kissed his hand and foot as he sat on horesebacke and afterward taking horse embraced him and there kissed one another to the great contentment of the beholders and so hauing talked some few words departed the old man into the citie and the yoong man into his campe which then lay neere vnto PEGA where staying certaine daies he came diuers times into CONSTANTINOPLE and so went out againe for as then his mother partly for her health partly for the loue of her sonne lay at PEGA But Syrgiannes nothing glad of the agreement made betwixt the emperour and his nephew walked vp and downe sicke in mind with a heauie countenance especially for that in time of peace his busie head stood the commonweale in no stead Wherefore in all meetings assemblies he willingly conuersed with them which most disliked of the present state and spake hardly as well of the emperour as of his nephew wronged as he thought by them both whereas in the time of their greatest distresse hee had as hee said stood them in good stead But seeing one Asanes Andronicus walking melancholie vp and downe as a man with heauinesse oppressed who hauing done good seruice for the yoong prince and not of him regarded had fled vnto the old emperour and there found no such thing as he expected for the ease of his greefe although he were a man honourably borne and otherwaies indued with many good parts with him Syrgiannes acquainted himselfe as grieued with the like
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
disaster fortune banished from their parents and kinred hath enforced to wander here and there with death alwayes before their eyes Let any man tell me how I came by these wounds which I yet beare in my bodie but in fight with the enemies of my countrey which passe ouer out of ASIA into THRACIA or els dwelling neere vnto ISTER doe with their incursions from thence miserably wast that side of THRACIA which is next vnto them For I to tell you the very truth seeing the old emperour by reason of his great yeares to become slothfull and blockish and not possibly to be awaked out of his drowsie sleepe neither any whit to greeue when as the poore Christians his subjects were both by day and night some as sacrifices slaine by the barbarous enemies some carried away into most miserable captiuitie and the rest poore and naked to be driuen out of their houses and cities not to speake in the meane time of the greater mischeefes in ASIA and how many cities haue beene there lost through the old emperours slouth and negligence when I saw these things I say strucken with a piercing greefe which my heart could not indure I went out for two causes Either by some kind of honourable death to end my greefe together with my life or els to the vttermost of my power to stand my countrey in some stead For by no meanes it can come to passe but that a man and he that hath of long time raigned must at length become loathsome vnto his subjects and incurre their deadly hatred For why God hath made nothing in this life immutable and firme whereby it commeth to passe as we see that all worldly things joy and delight in change But if a man will as it were force fortune to his desire and striue to bind things vnto a certaine firme and constant course he shall but lose his labour and in vaine striue against nature But whatsoeuer is contrary vnto nature or exceedeth the just bounds thereof hath in it neither comfort nor delight This was it that caused the wise men to say and to leaue vnto vs as rules Not to dwell too long vpon any thing and a measure to be the fairest vertue For you see how that my grandfather being grown to great years and hauing raigned so long I may almost say as neuer did any but he is become hatefull vnto all his people and yet regardeth not either how to discharge himselfe of so great a burthen or how to releeue the declining state of the empire or so much as greeueth to see the successours of the empire to die before him for my father is dead without any fruit of the empire except the bare title only and others also neerest to him of blood and farre yoonger than he are dead likewise and happely I my selfe may die also before I shall receiue any profit thereof For what can more easily happen especially vnto a man that shunneth no danger and regardeth not his life But some perhaps will suspect me of ambition for departing from the emperour my grandfather and for refusing to bee ruled by him Which thing I neither flatly denie nor altogether confesse for might I see the empire encrease and the bounds thereof enlarged I could willingly content my selfe and at my case take my rest cheering my selfe vp with such hope as doe they that beare with their cookes making them to stay long for their dinner in hope thereby to fare the better But seeing the state of the empire daily to decline from euill to worse and the miserable people carried away captiues or slaine by their enemies euen at the gates and vnder the wals of the imperiall cittie what deeme you mee then to thinke For most men ease their present greefe with the hope of future good although the same be but vaine but vnto mee is not left euen such vaine hope vnto my false comfort And can you meruaile at the impotent affection of the Great Alexander of MACEDON greeued and displeased to see his father to heape victorie vpon victorie and to cut off all the hope of his sonnes glorie by leauing him so few occasions of war and not thinke me to whom you see the quite contrarie is chanced and from whom not only the hope of the empire is cut off for the wasting thereof but euen the course of a quiet life to fret and greeue thereat Mooued herewith and not able longer to endure it at length I rise vp and requested of the emperour my grandfather but a thousand men at armes promising him by the power of God with them to preserue the cities in BYTHINIA and to driue his enemies farther off before that hauing them they should passe ouer the strait and besiege the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE which so small a request he not onely denied me but hath euer since taken me for his mortall enemie But this and many other things els let passe I haue now another request vnto him by you which is That he would giue me eight thousand duckats to content my souldiors withall who now of long haue from place to place romed vp and downe with mee following mine vncertaine fortune which graunted I will no more bee vnto my grandfather troublesome but dismissing my forces hold my selfe right well contented Hauing thus said he rise out of his seat and taking them apart one after another courteously discoursed with them so filling them with great hopes sent them away who departing from him comming into the citie became as it were the open proclaimers of his praises enflaming the people with a greater desire of him than before Which the old emperour hearing and perceiuing almost all his friends in the citie to be in heart reuolted from him and withall fearing to be of them in some suddaine concourse slaine was therewith exceedingly vexed Yet he thought it best before any such thing should happen to prooue their minds and to heare the counsell of the Patriarch and Asanes and the other bishops also vnto whom being by one of the Senators called together he declared his mind as followeth Were I assured that hauing deposed my selfe of the imperiall dignitie I should my self liue in safetie and see my people well gouerned I would I should neuer be of the company of the faithfull if I did not by much prefer a pleasant quiet contented life before an empire For if a man would seek for the pleasure of the mind what can be more pleasant than to be disburdened of all cares and free from such dangers as attend high estates But if for my sinne and the sins of my people as also for the sinne of mine ancestors the vengeance of God in manner of a violent tempest raging against vs subuerteth our empire and I yet but a youth by the helpe of God reformed and quieted the state of the empire greeuously troubled with discord in the Church and the often inuasion of the enemie and taught by
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
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
foorthwith yeelded the cittie to Tamerlane in hope so to haue saued their liues but hee as the Turkes report being entered the cittie commaunded a great number of deepe pits to be digged and all the people of the cittie without respect of age sex or condition to be throwne into the same and there buried quicke Which done the citie was by his commaundement vtterly rased also After that calling vnto him Malcozzius the gouernour of the cittie whom he had for that purpose onely spared he commaunded him to goe and tell his master what was happened to his strong cittie of SEBASTIA and what hee had there himselfe seene Of which tragicall action Malcozzius hauing made true relation vnto Baiazet was by him demanded whether of the two armies he thought bigger or stronger for now Baiazet had assembled a mightie armie of three hundred thousand men or as some report of three hundred thousand horsemen and two hundred thousand foot Whereunto Malcozzius hauing before craued pardon answered That it could not bee but that Tamerlane might in reason haue the greater number for that hee was a commaunder of farre greater countries Wherewith proud Baiazet offended in great choller replied Out of doubt the sight of the Tartarian hath made this coward so afraid that he thinketh euery enemie to be two Most of the Latine histories report that when Tamerlane had taken SEBASTIA he put all the men to the sword and bringing the women and chidren into the fields without the citie there ouer-ran them with his horsemen excepting some few which were reserued for prisoners As also that Baiazet there lost his eldest sonne Erthogrul of some called Orthobules whose death with the losse of the citie so much greeued him as is reported that marching with his great armie against Tamerlane and by the way hearing a countrey shepheard merrily reposing himselfe with his homely pipe as he sat vpon the side of a mountaine feeding his poore flocke standing still a great while listening vnto him to the great admiration of many at last fetching a deepe sigh brake foorth into these words O happie sheepeheard which haddest neither Orthobules nor SEBASTIA to loose bewraying therein his owne discontentment and yet withall shewing That worldly blisse consisteth not so much in possessing of much subject vnto danger as in joying in a little contentment deuoid of feare Howbeit the Turkes themselues reporting the taking of SEBASTIA speake not 〈…〉 at all but giue him lost six yeares before in the warres against Casi Burchaniâ—â—n and â—eth buried by his father at PRUSA In this cittie of SEBASTIA was lost twelue thousand Turkes men women and children as their histories report The rest of the cities all the way as Tamerlane marched warned by the destruction of SEBASTIA yeelded themselues for feare of like danger the cittizens whereof he courteously vsed especially the Christians whom he set at libertie in respect of Emanuel the Greeke emperour whom hee seemed wholly therein to gratifie But he had not gone farre into the Turkes dominion but that hee was certainely aduertised how that Baiazet with a great armie was comming against him and now within thirtie leagues of him which caused him after that time to march with his armie more closely Axalla leading the vantgard sent forth Ghianson prince of CIARCAN with foure thousand Parthian horsemen to get knowledge of the Turkes armie and where Baiazet lay as also what countrey that was beyond SENNAS and if he could learne any thing thereof to make relation of it vnto him This prince of CIARCAN was Tamerlane his kinsman a man of great reputation and next vnto Axalla whose absence he had the coÌ„manding of the avantgard his charge who also sent before him another Parthian captain with 500 horsemen So he had not ridden ten leagues but that he heard news of Baiazet his comming hauing surprised SENNAS vnderstood there the certaine estate of the Turks armie which was then at TATAIA so marching forward Wherof Tamerlane certified coÌ„manded him not to retire froÌ„ that place vntill he did see the arriuall of the enemie and thereof to giue him aduertisement euery hower being himselfe resolued to passe on no farther as come to a faire large plaine and a countrey of aduantage for the order of his battaile for he knew that his armie was farre greater than Baiazets and therefore made choice of those great plaines Yet for that his armie consisted of diuers nations and withall considering that hee was not to fight against the Chinois a soft effeminate people as of late but against the Turks a most warlike nation and well acquainted with all manner of fights and martiall stratagemes hee thought it good to be well aduised how he proceeded against them Wherefore hee presently sent for Axalla with him to view the said place and to haue his opinion Whether it would be for his aduantage or not there to stay who not misliking of the choice of the place yet aduised him also to keepe SENNAS so long as he possibly could and so sent word vnto them that were therein vpon the approch of the enemie to set fire vpon the same and so to withdraw themselues from thence to the end that the enemie should not haue any desire to encampe there but come still forward neere vnto those plains where Tamerlane desired to fight especially for that he was stronger in horse than Baiazet Thus the Turks still marching on thought to haue surprised some of their enemies in SENNAS who as soone as they drew neere retired all excepting some hundred left of purpose to fire the towne who hauing performed the same retired of purpose in great disorder Now the prince of CIARCAN had diuided his forces into two parts and giuen commaundement to the first that as soone as they perceiued the enemies to pursue the hundred horse that so disorderly of purpose fled they should receiue them and so retire all altogether He in the meane time with the rest of his power stood close in a valley neere vnto a wood side vnseene at all Where hauing suffered two thousand of the enemies horse the avauntcourriers of the Turks armie to passe by him he following them in the taile charged them home the other which before retired now turning vpon them also so that the Turks seeing themselues thus beset and hardly laied vnto both before and behind as men discouraged fled in which flight most of them were slaine and the rest taken prisoners This was the first encounter betwixt the Turks and the Parthians all the prisoners there taken were by the prince as a present sent to Tamerlane and amongst the rest the Bassa of NATOLIA who led these troopes of whom Tamerlane earnestly demaunded what caused Baiazet so little to esteeme of him as to shew so great contempt of his armie which he should find strong ynough to abate his pride Whereunto the Bassa answered That his lord was the Sunne vpon earth which could not endure any equall and
he caused his vauntgard to march towards ALEXANDRIA and hauing passed ouer the riuer euen in an instant turned directly vnto CAIER to the great astonishment of the Sultan who made prouision for the defence of ALEXANDRIA as the neerest vnto danger But vnderstanding of these newes vsed such diligence that he entred into the citie with fortie thousand horse and threescore thousand foot euen as Tamerlane his armie aproached purposing in person himselfe to defend it By whose comming the great citie readie before to haue reuolted was againe in his obedience confirmed to the great hinderance of Tamerlane his affaires for to remaine long before it was impossible for want of victuals for so great an armie in the enemies countrey Yet notwithstanding all this did not Tamerlane forbeare to draw neere vnto it and with all his armie to encampe neere vnto the same hauing caused a great trench to bee made for to couer his horsemen and thereby to lodge his armie more safely during which time he caused diuers onsets to be giuen as well to trie what confidence the enemie had in himselfe as to see how the people of the cittie especially the slaues which in that populous cittie are infinite were affected towards him who certainely enformed him of the state of the cittie and the armie as glad to see the same by him shut vp and the proud Mamalukes still put to the worst But thus lying still at the siege one day he thought it good to shew his armie before the citie for to trie whether the enemie had a desire to come to a daie of battaile or not as also to view what forces he had and so indeed to seeke occasion to fight In hope also that if the Sultan did come foorth with all his armie into the field some reuolt might happen within the cittie as well by the slaues vnto whom libertie was by him promised as by the cittizens themselues discontented with the insolencie of the Mamalukes entered of late into the cittie with the Sultan vnto whom he had made it knowne by certaine slaues for that purpose fled as fugitiues out of his armie into the cittie how that hee was not come to hurt them but onely for the destruction of the Mamalukes both his and their enemies But betimes standing so in battaile array no man came foorth neither was there any tumult or sturre raised in the cittie as hee had expected For the Sultan in so great a cittie well prouided of all things was resolued to wearie him out with lying still and not to put all to the hazard of a battaile Which Tamerlane perceiuing and set downe not to depart thence but victorious resolued likewise to force him euen in his greatest strength in the heart of his greatest citie although it were not to be done but with great aduenture such confidence he had in the strength and multitude of his armie Now his purpose was first to take one of the cities for CAIRE is diuided into three therin encamping himself by litle litle to aduance forward as he might stil fighting with the enemy Vpon which resolution he commaunded an assault to be giuen and hauing brought his footmen vnto the place where he would haue them to giue the onset for the citie was not walled but onely fortified with ditches and trenches he commaunded the prince of THANAIS with fiftie thousand footmen to begin the assault euen in the face of the enemie which hee most valiantly perfourmed and there began a most terrible and cruell fight Axalla in the meane time deeming as the truth was that the Sultan had drawn his greatest forces vnto the place where the prince of THANAIS sought to enter as vnto a place of greatest danger fet a compasse about and vpon another quarter of the citie with small resistance passed the trenches where he presently left thirtie thousand men to fill vp the ditches and to make way for the horsemen to enter aduancing forward himselfe against twentie thousand sent by the Sultan to haue stopped his further passage the prince of THANAIS being at the same time almost beaten backe by the Mamelukes But the way being made plaine by them that were for that purpose left by Axalla and ten thousand horse entred which charged vpon the backs of the Mamelukes where the Sultan himselfe was and they seconded by ten thousand moe sent in by Tamerlane following himselfe after with all his power the Sultan retired vnto a second strength which he had made in the next citie The fight endured full the space of seauen houres wherein were slaine of the Sultan his men aboue sixteene thousand and of Tamerlanes betwixt seauen and eight thousand Who contented to haue dislodged the enemie and gained a third part of the citie caused a retrait to be sounded in hope the next daie to winne all the rest as indeed he did For the prince of THANAIS the next daie forcing the enemies trenches in one place and Axalla in another the Sultan after a great fight finding himselfe hardly pressed by the obstinate enemie and too weake long to hold out retired and so forthwith abandoned the citie and encamped himselfe along the side of the riuer NILUS with purpose to passe the same and to flye to ALEXANDRIA his second strength and refuge Which Tamerlane suspecting followed after him with his horsemen who onely were in order and some few foot hardly drawne from the citie which their fellowes were in spoiling so as hee was glad to promise them especially to regard and reward their good seruice Against whom the Sultan vpon a narrow cawsey had opposed twelue or fifteen thousand men whom he called his slaues to fauour his passage but were indeed his best souldiours and stood fast the place seruing greatly for their aduantage who for all that at length forced by their enemies still increasing vpon them though not without great losse cast themselues into the great riuer and made a most honourable retrait euerie man hauing his weapon in the one hand and swimming with the other to the farther banke The Sultan flying with some eighteene thousand horse for the rest were sundrie waies fled or else drowned is reported in his flight to haue comforted his men by telling of them That they were not men that had vanquished them but gods there appeared in them so great wisedome force and valour diuers of the Mamelukes taken in the late fight being brought before Tamerlane and by him courteously vsed were of him demaunded if they could be content to serue him now that their maister was fled and gone which they all vtterly refused Whom notwithstanding for their fidelitie Tamerlane set at libertie to goe againe vnto the Sultan as no lesse desirous to be admired of his enemies for his bountie and courtesie than feared for his force and valour The wonderfull wealth of this so great and famous a citie became a preie vnto his souldiours who for the space of foure and twentie houres
of his loue and good will as hee that had of long time eaten bread and salt as the Turkes vse to say in his fathers court and therefore could not but wish well vnto him being one of his lord and maisters sonnes These letters something troubled Mahomet breeding in his head many a jealous conceit for all that he ceased not for six or seauen daies space to giue many a hot skirmish for the gaining of those straight passages but all in vaine In which time it chaunced one of his seruants neere about his person to flie vnto the enemie which caused him the more to suspect all that to be true whereof Alis Bassa had forewarned him Which considered and that by lying there he preuailed nothing but lost and wearied his men for it was all that while exceding foule weather and withall doubting to be betraied returned as he came to AMASIA And Solyman glad also of his departure retired to PRUSA giuing order into all parts of his kingdome for the assembling of a great armie but vnderstanding that the king of CARAMANIA had made a league with his brother Mahomet and that they were agreed to joyne their forces against him for the driuing of him out of ASIA he forthwith drew all his forces to ANCYRA as a place of more safetie Whilest Solyman thus lay at ANCYRA it fortuned that Musa which had all this while remained with his brother Mahomet since he was set at libertie by Tamerlane though not altogether well pleased with his owne estate one daie by way of talke thus spake vnto his brother You see said he how our elder brother Solyman ceaseth not to vex and molest vs daily and is not vnlike in the end to preuaile against vs to our vtter destruction Now if it might please you to giue me leaue I would goe to Isfendiar prince of CASTAMONA and PONTUS our brothers enemie and of him procure shipping to passe ouer the Euxine sea into EUROPE where I doubt not to find oportunitie to make some great innouation in that kingdome now in my brothers absence by reason whereof Solyman shall of necessitie be driuen to leaue ASIA to be again by you solie possessed or else be brought in danger there to lose his kingdome in EUROPE Which if it shall be my good hap to gaine out of his hands by your supportation I promise you faithfully to hold the same of you as of my lord and soueraigne This greatly pleased Mahomet and therevpon not long after they concluded betwixt themselues one to stand fast vnto another and the one to help the other in what they could during life confirming the same with great solemnitie of their Turkish faith giuen and taken Wherevpon Mahomet furnished his brother Musa with great summes of money and other needfull things for the taking in hand of so great an enterprise Musa thus furnished taking his leaue of his brother set forwards towards the prince Isfendiar who hearing of his comming met him on the way and entertained him as a great prince But after that Musa had made him acquainted with his purpose for passing into EUROPE and had obtained graunt of his helpe therein he tooke his leaue of him for a time and went to visit the king of CARAMANIA who also most honourably entertained him and the rather in despight of Solyman But whilest Musa was thus passing the time in CARAMANIA it fortuned that Marke of some called Mirxes prince of VALACHIA hauing his countrey much spoiled by Solyman his garrisons and hearing that Musa one of Baiazet his sonnes was with the prince Isfendiar he writ vnto him promising to bestow his daughter and heire in mariage vpon Musa if he would come ouer into EUROPE and reuenge the wrong done vnto him by Solyman wherof Musa aduertised by the prince Isfendiar gladly returned out of CARAMANIA and was by him transported ouer the EUXINE or blacke sea into EUROPE where the prince of VALACHIA glad of his comming receiued him with great honour and according to his promise gaue him his daughter in mariage The fame of Musa his comming into EUROPE and of his mariage was in short time bruted through all Solyman his kingdome in EUROPE and wrought such effect in the minds of the mutable vulgar people alwaies desirous of noueltie that they all as it were with one consent submitted themselues vnto him as vnto their lord and soueraigne In so much that comming to the royall citie of HADRIANOPLE in the absence of his brother Solyman hee was there receiued as their king Solyman now lying at ANCYRA in ASIA vnderstanding of these proceedinges of Musa in EUROPE and that he was possessed of a great part of his kingdome there was therewith exceedingly troubled Wherfore leauing his deputie in ANCYRA he with all his army came to the strait of BOSPHORUS and there of Emanuel the Greeke emperour obtained passage promising for the same to restore vnto him certaine places before taken from him in ASIA for Musa had so prouided that he could haue no helpe of the Turkish shipping which was by his commaundement all before brought ouer vnto EUROPE side Musa hearing of Solyman his ariuall in EUROPE made towards him with a great power but after that both their armies were come the one within view of the other and now readie to joyne battaile many of Musa his captaines forsooke him and fled to Solyman the elder brother and their vndoubted king which Musa beholding was glad to flie and to take the safegard of the woods and mountaines for his refuge After which victorie Solyman returning to HADRIANOPLE tooke againe possession of his kingdome and there without measure gaue himselfe to riot and excesse according to his woonted manner After the departure of Solyman out of ASIA Iacup-Beg but lately before againe receiued into Mahomet his fauour and now left as Solyman his deputie deliuered ANCYRA with the castle of PRUSA and all the rest that Solyman had gained in ASIA to Mahomet who shortly after led his armie through the countries of CARASIA AYDINIA SARUCANIA TEKENSIS and GERMEANIA reducing them once again vnto his obeisance and afterwards returned to PRUSA where he now the second time tooke possession of his fathers kingdome in ASIA Musa still aided by the Valachian prince his father in law gaue many great attempts against his brother Solyman but was still put to the worse At length hauing gathered some good strength and diligently attending the least smile of better fortune drew neere vnto the place where Solyman lay who at that time was as his manner was banqueting with great pleasure in his campe and full of wine In so much that when newes was brought vnto him That his brother Musa was at hand with a great power he in his drunkennesse caused the messenger that brought the newes to be beaten and when he with greater earnestnesse than was to his liking affirmed that his report to be true he commaunded him to be slaine for troubling
this Christian cittie then in the protection of the Venetians Amurath encamped his great armie of misbeleeuing Turkes and laied hard siege to it with most terrible batterie at which time hee by secret meanes corrupted certaine of the wicked cittizens to haue betrayed the cittie by a secret mine and to haue let him in which treason was by the Venetian gouernors perceiued and the plotters therof for safegard of their liues glad to leape ouer the wals and to flie into the Turks campe Amurath hauing greatly battered the wals of the cittie the more to encourage his souldiors promised to giue them all the spoile thereof if they could by force winne it The greedie desire of this rich prey wherein euerie common souldior promised vnto himselfe whatsoeuer his foolish fancie or vnbrideled affection could desire so inflamed the minds of these barbarous souldiors and especially of the Ianizaries that giuing a most terrible assault to the citie they by force entred the same and wan it The Venetian souldiors fled to their gallies lying at anchor in the hauen and so got to sea but the infinite miseries which the poore Christian citizens indured in the furie of that barbarous nation no tongue is able to expresse or pen discribe Death was lesse paine than the ignominious outrages and vnspeakeable villanies which many good Christians there suffered heartily wishing to die and could not and yet the furious enemies sword deuoured all the people without respect of age or sex except such as for stength of bodie or comelinesse of person were reserued for painefull labour or beastly lust which poore soules were afterwards dispersed into most miserable seruitude and slauerie through all parts of the Turkish kingdome The infinite riches of that famous cittie became a spoile vnto the barbarous souldiours the goodly houses were left desolate void of inhabitants Thus the beautifull cittie of THESSALONICA sometime one of the most glorious ornaments of GRaeCIA the late pleasant dwelling place of many rich Christians was by the tyrant giuen for an habitation to such base Turkes as at their pleasure repaired thether to seat themselues and so is by them at this day possessed This calamitie happened to THESALONICA in the yeare of our Lord 1432. THESALONICA being thus taken Amurath returned to HADRIANOPLE himselfe and at the same time sent Caratze with the greatest part of his armie into AETOLIA Charles prince of that countrey dying a little before the comming of Amurath to THESALONICA and hauing no lawfull issue had diuided the countrey of ACHARNANIA amongst his three base sons Memnon Turnus and Hercules leauing all the rest of his dominion to his brothers sonne called also Charles But shortly after such discord fell among these brethren that Amurath sending his Turks to aid one of them against the other as he was by them requested in fine brought all that countrey of AETOLIA into subjection to himselfe leauing nothing for the foolish brethren to striue for more than the bare titles of imaginatiue honour The other Graecian princes of ATHENS PHOCIS BOETIA and all the rest of GRaeCIA vnto the strait of CORINTH terrified by their neighbours harmes were glad to submit themselues to the barbarian yoke and to become tributaries vnto the Turkish tirant vnder which slauerie they of long time most miserably liued if intollerable slauerie joyned with infidelitie may be accounted a life Thus the Grecians lost their libertie which their auncestors had many times before to their immortall praise worthily defended against the greatest monarchs of the world and are now so degenerate by the meanes of the Turkish oppression that in all GRaeCIA is hardly to be found any small remembrance of the ancient glory thereof insomuch that wheras they were wont to account all other nations barbarous in comparison of themselues they are now become no lesse barbarous than those rude nations whom they before scorned Which miserie with a thousand more they may justly impute to their owne ambition and discord At this time amongst the distressed princes of MACEDONIA and GRaeCIA one Iohn Castrioâ— raigned in EPIRUS who seeing how mightily the Turke preuailed against the princes his neighbours and considering that hee was not able by any meanes to withstand so puissant an enemie to obtaine peace he was glad to deliuer into Amurath his possession his foure sonnes Stanisius Reposius Constantine and George for hostages whom Amurath faithfully promised well and honourably to intreat But assoone as he had got them within his reach he falsified his faith and caused them to be circumcised after the Turkish manner and to bee instructed in the Turkish superstition to the great griefe of their Christian parents and afterwards when he vnderstood of the death of Iohn Castriot their father hee poisoned all the three elder brethren And by Sebalie one of his great captaines ceized vpon CROIA his cheefe citie and all the rest of his territories as if they had by good right deuolued vnto him But George the youngest whom the Turks named Scander-beg or lord Alexander for his excellent feature and pregnant wit he alwaies entirely loued and as some thought more passionatly than he should haue loued a boy Him he caused to be diligently instructed in all kind of actiuitie and feats of warre wherin he excelled al other his equals in Amurath his court and rising by many degrees of honor came at last being yet but verie yong to be a great Sanzack or gouernor of a prouince and was many times appointed by Amurath to be generall of his armies in which seruice hee so behaued himselfe that he got the loue of all that knew him and increased his credit with Amurath vntill at last he found oportunitie by great policie and courage to deliuer both himselfe and his natiue countrie from the horrible slauerie of the Turkish tyrannie as shall be afterwards declared Shortly after that Amurath had thus daunted the princes of GRECIA he turned his forces into SERVIA but the prince of SERVIA vnable to withstand so mightie an enemie to procure his fauour sent embassadours offering to pay him a yearely tribute and to doe further what he should reasonably demaund Amurath beside the yearely tribute required to haue Marie this princes faire daughter in mariage and that he should not suffer the Hungarians to passe through his countrey to inuade him and further not at any time to denie passage vnto the Turkish armie when he should send forth the same for the inuasion of the kingdome of BOSNA All which vnreasonable conditions the prince was glad to agree vnto and sent his faire daughter by Saratze who was afterwards maried to Amurath About this time Iosephus and Machmutes Amurath his brethren and Orchanes the sonne of Solyman who had his eies put out by his vncle Mahomet with many other men of great account among the Turks died of the plague at PRUSA Whilest Amurath was thus busied in his wars in EUROPE the king of CARAMANIA his brother in law inuaded his
at BELGRADE where hee was of his subjects honourably receiued And hauing there staied certaine daies and well refreshed his armie departing thence and passing the riuer SAVUS came to the royall citie of BVDA where he was of all his subjects joyfully receiued also The Legat and Huniades going on his right hand and the Despot on the left after whome followed other colonels captaines and lieutenants with their companies who at the first meeting with the cittizens more than a mile out of the cittie in token of their mutuall joy gaue together such joyfull acclamations and outcries as that the heauens seemed to resound and the earth to shake with the noise thereof Before the king at his comming vnto the cittie went a long companie of the notable Turkes captiues and next before him Carambey bound in chaines vpon whom all mens eyes were fixed With them were also carried the enemies ensignes and such spoyles as had beene saued Behind the king came Huniades in a triumphant robe in the middest betwixt the Legate on the right hand and the Despot on the left as he that next vnto the king had best deserued the honor of the triumph Next vnto them followed the deuout Christians that for the zeale of religion had most honourably of their owne charges voluntarie serued in those wars and on both sides of them the ciuile magistrates and best of the citizens behind them came the rest of the legions and about them both vpon the right hand and the left the promiscuous common people doubling and redoubling the praises of the king and Huniades Before all these went the prelates and priests in solemne procession singing hymnes and psalmes of thanksgiuing vnto almightie God Vladislaus comming vnto the gate of the citie acknowledging God to haue been the authour of so great a victorie alighting from his horse on foot went first vnto the Cathedrall church of our ladie and there giuing most hartie thanks vnto almightie God hanged vp the enemies ensignes and part of the spoile in perpetuall remembrance of so notable a victorie which hee afterward caused to bee most liuely depainted in a faire table of most curious worke and there in the same church to bee hanged vp as were also the armes of all the noble Christians that serued in that most famous expedition which there long time after remained Which solemnities ended he went to his pallace in the castle and there hauing giuen vnto euerie man but especially vnto Huniades his due commendation gaue them leaue to depart Thus the Hungarians with whom also the Polonians in most part agree report of this notable expedition of their king Vladislaus howbeit the Turks notable dissemblers of their own losses confessing the great ouerthrow call the Bassa so ouerthrowne not by the name of Carambey but of Cassanes and the noble prisoner that was taken by the name of Mechmet Beg Sanzacke of ANCYRA Amurath his son in law and brother to Cali-Bassa Amurath his great councellour of some called Carambey after the name of his father Out of this late slaughter of the Turkes wherein Carambey was taken escaped that valiant prince and famous warriour George Castriot of the Turks called Scanderbeg as is before declared whose noble mind had long time desired to breake out of the golden fetters of the Turkish thraldome and to be reuenged of the intollerable injuries by Amurath done to his countrey his parents his brethren and himselfe Although hee had alwaies most warily dissembled the same for feare of the old tirant being often times solicited and animated therevnto by secret letters and messengers from his friends in EPIRVS knowing right well that the least ouerture thereof had been vnto him present death But finding no fit meanes for the accomplishing thereof wisely dissembled the same with all the shewes of loue and loyaltie vnto Amurath that might be vntill that now in this great ouerthrow of the Turks armie vnder the leading of Carambey and in so great a confusion he tooke occasion to put in practise what he had long before in his deepe conceit plotted for the deliuerie both of himselfe and his countrey from the Turkish bondage and slauerie At which time Scanderbeg for so from henceforth we will call him hauing a little before imparted the matter vnto some of his trustie friends and countrey men no lesse desirous of libertie than himselfe but especially vnto his nephew Amesa the sonne of his brother Reposius a young man of great courage in that great confusion of the Turkish armie when euerie man was glad to shift for himselfe had euer in his flight a vigilant eie vpon the Bassaes principall secretarie whom accompanied with a few Turks he with his nephew Amesa and other of his faithfull friends closely followed as he fled from the slaughter but when he had got the secretarie with his few followers in place most conuenient for his purpose he set vpon the Turks and slew them euerie one and carying the secretarie away with him fast bound when hee had brought him whether he thought good with great threats compelled him sore against his will to write counterfait letters as from the Bassa his maister vnto the gouernour of CROIA commanding him in Amuraths name Forthwith to deliuer vnto Scanderbeg the new choseÌ„ Gouernor the charge of the citie with the garrison there cunningly enterlacing many other things in the same letters wherby the matter might seeme more probable Which letters so extorted he presently slew the Secretary as many more of the Turks as came in his way of purpose that his doings might be the longer kept from knowledg of Amurath who not hearing what was become of him might reasonably conjecture that he was slaine by the Hungarians amongst the rest of the Turks Whilest the fame of this great ouerthrow is going to HADRIANOPLE and there filleth the Turks court with sorrow and heauinesse in the meane time Scanderbeg hauing with him three thousand Epirot souldiours which followed him out of the battaile as men desirous rather to fight for the libertie of themselues and of their countrey than in the quarrell of the Turkâ— was with incredible celeritie come into the vpper country of DIâ—RA in the borders of EPIRUS about seauenty miles from CROIA into which countrey he was most joyfully receiued where he staied but one daie and chose a few of those three hundreth which he brought with him to wait vpon him when he went to CROIA as if they had been his domesticall seruants the rest with other three hundreth lustie souldiours which were then come vnto him out of DIBRA he appointed to be led by secret by-waies through the woods and mountaines by perfect guides vntill they came so nigh CROIA as was possible for them to come vnperceiued and there to sâ—aie vntill he might find oportunitie to conuaie them into the citie to oppresse the Turkish garrison So hee with a small companie of his followers as if they had been his priuat retinew tooke
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
heard the answere that was sent him from the citie deliuered by the mouth of a coÌ„mon soldior he smiled thereat said He is vndoubtedly a valiant soldior if his deeds be answerable to his speeches but if my force faile me not I will also make him happy amongst the happy ghosts of theÌ„ of STELLVSA and by by commanded the gouernor of STELLVSA with the other captiues to be brought before him there caused some of theÌ„ which were content voluntarily to forsake their Mahometane superstition to be presently baptized to the great greefe of the other Turks Desdrot the Gouernour with the rest to the terrour of the defendants were in their sight put to death whereupon the garrison souldiors with great indignation gaue a great shout from the wall and bitterly rayled vpon the Christians Scanderbeg considering the strength of the citie with the time of the yeare vnfit for souldiors to keepe the field for Winter was now growne on left Moses Golemus a most valiant captaine with a garrison of three thousand souldiors to keepe in the Turkes garrison at SFETIGRADE and to defend the borders of EPIRVS vntill he might at more conuenient time himselfe returne againe to the siege and so with the rest of his armie repaired to CROIA when hee had in the space of little more than one moneth to his immortall praise recouered his kingdome and driuen the Turks out of euery corner of EPIRVS excepting onely SFETIGRADE which citie also not long after was by composition deliuered vnto him During all this time from his first comming into EPIRVS he neuer slept aboue two houres in a night but with restlesse labour prosecuted his affaires He euer fought against the Turkes with his arme bare and that with such fiercenesse that the blood did oftentimes burst out of his lips It is written that he with his owne hand slew three thousand Turkes in the time of his warres against them But of his great and worthie victories obtained against the two mightie Turkish kings Amurath and Mahomet his sonne more shall be said hereafter in due time and place After that Scanderbeg had thus by great force and pollicie wrung his inheritance out of Amuraths hands and scoâ—red the Turks out of euery corner of EPIRVS he proceeded further and ouerran part of MACEDONIA making sundrie incursions into the heart of that countrey being then in the Turks possession whereby he so enriched his souldiours that they desired of him no better pay Which was so vsuall a thing with this restlesse prince as that it began to grow into a prouerbe in most princes courts That the spoile of Amurath his dominions was Scanderbegs reuenewes Complaint hereof came daily to Amuraths court which the craftie aged sire being then troubled with the Hungarian warres seemed at the first to make no great account of but as of that hee could easily and at his pleasure remedie although hee was therewith inwardly greeued at the heart But when the certaine report of one mischeefe as it were in the necke of another continually sounded in his eares and that he saw no end to be expected of these miseries he sent Alis Bassa one of his greatest men of warre with an armie of fortie thousand select souldiors at once to subdue the countrey of EPIRVS and to bring it againe vnder his obeisance The setting forth of this great armie vnder the conduct of so famous a captain replenished the minds of the Turks with such an assured hope of victorie that a man would haue thought Scanderbeg had been alreadie taken and now brought to execution yea the common souldiors before their setting forth were oftentimes at vaine contention for the diuision of the spoile they were neuer like to haue So readie are men to promise wonders to themselues whilest they conferre but with their owne desires And on the other side Fame the forerunner of great attempts had filled all the small countrey of EPIRVS with great terrour and feare of Alis Bassaes comming The countreymen with their families fled into the strong citties and the cittizens within their wals fell to fortifying the same and kept continuall watch and ward as if the enemie had thenâ—lien euen fast by them â—he aged men and women commended themselues and all theirs first vnto God by prayers and then to the courage of the lustie souldiors with teares as in case of extreame perill and danger Onely Scanderbeg was nothing mooued either with the terrible report of the Bassaes comming or the vaine feare of his subjects but alwayes kept the same cheerefulnesse both of countenance and speech as he was wont being well acquainted with the tumult of the Turkish wars and hauing as was supposed certaine intelligence before from his secret friends in the Turkes court of all Amuraths designes So that hauing set all things in order for the safetie of his countrey he began to leuie an armie at CROIA at which time most part of his subjects of EPIRVS which were able to beare armes repaired vnto him the confederate Christian princes also his neighbours and for most part his kinsmen sent vnto him great supplies beside other deuouâ— and warlike minded Christians which voluntarily resorted vnto him from farre in great numbers Out of which multitude of people he chose only eight thousand horsemen and seuen thousand foot when as he might haue raised a far greater armie and placing some few in garrisons in the frontier cities where he thought most conuenient all the rest he sent home againe to their dwellings At which his confidencie his friends yea and his enemies also much maruelled that when hee might haue had so many he would take the field with so few With which small armie of fâ—teene thousand he marched from CROIA fourescore miles to DYBRA where hearing by his espials of the approch of his enemies after he had with cheerefull speech encouraged his soulâ—â—ors he encamped with his armie in the lower countrey of DYBRA neere vnto a wood side righâ— in the way where the Bassa must needs passe In which wood he placed Gnee Musachee and Amesa in ambush with three thousand men commanding them to stand close vntill they saw 〈◊〉 had throughly joyned battaile with the Bassa and then with all their force to breake forth vpon his rereward The Bassa marching forward came and encamped neere vnto Scanderbeg a little before the going downe of the Sunne and there rested that night making great shew of mirâ—â— and joy with great fires in euerie corner of the campe as the Turkish manner of encamping is Wheras in Scanderbegs campe all things were silent and no shew of any fire at all for so Scanderbeg had commanded which made the Turks the more carelesse deeming thereby the Christians as good as alreadie discouraged The next morning Scanderbeg ranged his armie in order of battaile placing Tanusius in the left wing with fifteen hundreth horsemen and as many foot and Moses in the right with like number and
Caragusa was by Manessi at the first encounter stroke through the head and slaine Manessi alighting disarmed the dead bodie and stroke off his head and so loaded with the armour and head of the proud challenger returned with victorie to the armie where he was joyfully receiued and brought to Scanderbeg of whom he was there presently honourably both commended and rewarded Scanderbeg seeing his men by this good fortune of Manessi greatly encouraged and the Turkes as men dismaied with the death of their Champion hanging their heads like an inuincible captaine himselfe set first forward toward the enemie as it were in contempt of their multitude and had charged them as they stood before they had set one foot forward had not Mustapha to encourage his souldiours with certaine disordered troupes opposed himselfe against him which the whole armie seeing faintly followed but as they set forward with small courage so were they at the first encounter easily driuen to retire Which when Mustapha saw he called earnestly vpon them to follow him and the more to encourage them by his owne example put spurres to his horse and fiercely charged the front of Scanderbegs armie as one resolued either to gaine the victorie or there to die after whom followed most of the principall captains of his armie which would not for shame forsake their generall thus by his valour the battaile was for a while renued But Moses preuailing with great slaughter in one part of the armie the Turks began to flie in which flight Mustapha the Generall with twelue others of the cheefe men in that armie were taken prisoners but of the common souldiours few were saued There was slaine of the Turkes armie ten thousand and fifteen ensignes taken whereas of the Christians were lost but three hundreth The Turks tents and campe with all the wealth thereof became a prey to Scanderbegs souldiours Wherewith although he had satisfied the desires of them all yet to keepe his old custome he entred into the confines of MACEDONIA and there burnt and spoiled all that hee could And afterwards leauing a garrison of two thousand horsemen and a thousand foot for defence of his frontiers returned againe with the rest of his armie to the siege of DAYNA Not long after the Venetians made peace with Scanderbeg and Amurath desirous to redeeme his captaines about the same time sent great presents vnto Scanderbeg with fiue and twentie thousand duckats for the ransome of Mustapha the other chieftaines whom Scanderbeg so honourably vsed as if there had neuer been any hostilitie betwixt him and them and so with a safe conuoy sent them out of his countrey The raunsome of Mastapha and the other Turks he deuided amongst his souldiours When Scanderbeg had thus made peace with the Venetians hee forthwith led his armie againe into MACEDONIA with the spoile of that countrey to make his souldiours better pay as his vsuall manner was And to doe the greater harme he diuided his armie into three parts wherewith he ouerrunning the countrey wasted and destroied all before him putting to the sword all the Turks that came in his waie As for the Christians that there liued amongst them he spared but left them nothing more than their liues the buildings of the countrey he vtterly consumed with fire so that in all that part of MACEDONIA which bordereth vpon EPIRVS nothing was to be seen more than the bare ground and the showes of the spoile by him there made Which vnmercifull hauocke of all things he made to the end that the Turks should find no releefe in those quarters whensoeuer they should come either to lie in garrison in that countrey or to inuade EPIRVS The spoile hee made was so great that it was thought hee left not in all that countrey so much as might releeue the Turkes armie for one daie Of all these great harmes by Scanderbeg done in MACEDONIA Amurath was with all speed aduertised and therewith exceedingly vexed howbeit he resolued with his great counsellors no more to send any of his Bassaes or captaines but to goe himselfe in person with such a royall armie as should be sufficient not to conquer EPIRVS but if need were to fill euery corner thereof Wherefore hee commaunded commissions to bee speedily directed into all parts of his kingdomes and prouinces for the leuying of a great armie for HADRIANOPLE yet whither he intended to imploy the same was not knowne to any in the Turks court more than to the Bassaes of the counsaile Which caused all the bordering Christian princes to make the best preparation they could for their owne assurance euery one fearing least that growing tempest should breake out against himselfe But Scanderbeg of long acquainted with the Turkish policie easily perceiued all that great preparation to be made against him which he was the rather induced to thinke by reason of the vnaccustomed quietnesse of Amurath who all that while had neither sent any armie to reuenge the ouerthrow of Mustapha nor so much as a garrison for defence of the borders of his kingdome but had let all things negligently passe as if he had beene in a dead sleepe Besides that it was also thought that he had secret intelligence from some of his old friends and acquaintance in Amurath his court who probably suspected the matter Wherefore Scanderbeg setting all other things apart gaue himselfe wholly to the preparing of things necessarie for the defence of his small kingdome against so mightie an enemie First hee by letters and messengers aduertised all the Christian princes his neighbours and friends of the greatnesse of the danger of that warre wherein Amurath as he said sought not onely his destruction but the vtter ruin of them all exhorting them therefore to consider how farre the danger of so great an armie might extend and therefore to stand fast vpon their guard Then hee sent Moses and other his expert captaines into all parts of EPIRVS to take vp souldiors and all the prouision of corne and victuals that was possible to be had Wherein he himselfe also busily trauailed day and night not resting vntill he had left nothing in the countrey whereupon the enemie might shew his crueltie Most part of the common people with their substance were receiued into the strong cities the rest tooke the refuge of the Venetian and other Christian princes townes and countries farther off vntill this furie was ouerpast all such as were able to beare armes were commaunded to repaire to CROIA where when they were all assembled there were ynow to haue made a right puissant armie But out of all this multitude Scanderbeg made choice onely of ten thousand old expert souldiors whom he purposed to lead himselfe to encounter with the Turkes great armie as he should see occasion and placed a thousand three hundred in garrison in CROIA The cittizens also themselues were throughly furnished with all manner of weapons and other prouision meet for the defence of their cittie Then
proclamation was made That all the aged men vnfit for warres with the women and children should depart the citie and none to bee therein left but the garrison souldiors and such citizens as were willing to tarie and able to beare arms This cittie of CROIA was the cheefe citie of EPIRVS and of the fortune thereof seemed to depend the state of all the other strong townes and citties and so consequently of the whole kingdome for which cause Scanderbeg had the greater care for the defence thereof It was a miserable sight to see the lamentable departure of this weake companie out of CROIA all was full of weeping and wailing no house no street no part of the cittie was without mourning but especially in the churches was to be seene the very face of common sorrow and heauinesse where all sorts of people in great numbers flocking together poured forth their deuout praiers with fountaines of teares wringing their hands yea and some in the impatiencie of their greefe forgetting themselues seemed to expostulate their greefe with God But when their sorrow was with teares assuaged and their hearts somewhat eased the aged mothers kissing their sonnes gaue them many a fearefull commandement sometime rehersing how louingly and tenderly they had brought them vp and othersome times shewing vnto them their feeble limmes and hoary haires willing them to bee mindfull of them The wiues presented their children vnto their husbands bewayling to leaue them as childlesse wydowers and their houses desolat The old men mute with sorrow carefull of their children durst neither encourage them for feare of making them too forward neither dissuade them from aduenturing themselues least they should seeme to loue them more than their natiue countrie In the middest of these passions commandement came from Scanderbeg that they must now depart that the souldiors might take their places charge Then began their sorrowes afresh with pittious scriching teares A man would haue thought the cittie had euen then been presently taken by the Turks They could hardly be drawne from the embracing of their friends all now desiring to remaine still with them in the citie partakers of their common dangers But when they saw the officers begin to be earnest vpon them and to hasten their departure then with heauie hearts they tooke as it were their last farewell and departed out of the citie setting their feet many times they wist not where for desire they had to looke backe againe vpon the citie This great multitude was conueyed also into the Venetian cities and other places free from danger whither all the countrey people which were not before receiued into the strong cities resorted also with all their substance and cattell leauing nothing in all the countrey of EPIRVS but the bare ground for the Turks to prey vpon After this multitude was departed and all well quieted and none left in the citie but men fit for seruice Scanderbeg throughly stored it with all things needfull for the defence thereof and for the enduring of a long siege besides that he gaue to euery souldior conuenient armour with some small reward Then he placed Vranacontes a valiant and famous captaine honourably descended gouernour of the cittie And so hauing set all things in order for the safegard thereof after hee had in few words exhorted them courageously to endure the siege and not to listen to Amurath his flattering and deceitfull charmes he departed out of the cittie vnto his armie then lying within view and began presently to march towards DYBRA But he was not farre gone before he met with Moses with a gallant troupe of horsemen comming from SFETIGRADE a strong citie of DYBRA situate in the confines of EPIRVS bordering vpon MACEDONIA which citie was Scanderbeg his second care for that it was like to be the first that should endure the angrie tyrants furie standing first in his way as it were the fortresse of that countrey Moses had there set all things in like order as had Scanderbeg in CROIA and had there placed one Peter Perlat a graue and polliticke man Gouernour with a strong garrison of souldiors chosen out of all the countrey of DYBRA which were alwaies accounted the best men of warre in all EPIRVS and was for so doing greatly commended of Scanderbeg Who deliuering vnto him all the forces hee had prepared for the defence of the other castles and citties of EPIRVS sent him with diuers other of his nobilitie and captaines to take order for the safetie of those places appointing vnto euery man his charge As for himselfe he with a small troupe of horsemen went to SFETIGRADE carefull of that citie aboue measure as it were before deuining the ensuing danger Being come thither and all the souldiors assembled by his commaundement into the market place hee there in open audience spake vnto them as followeth Almightie God could not this day offer vnto you worthie souldiours of SFETIGRADE better matter neither could a fairer occasion be presented vnto braue minds and souldiors desirous of honor than that which now hath caused you to take vp most just armes Wherein you may for euer by worthie example make knowne your constant faith and worthie valour both towards me in priuat and the people of EPIRVS in generall Hitherto we haue horne armes for the honour of our kingdome but now we must fight for our liues our libertie and the wals of our countrey You must now force your selues that you doe not by reproch and cowardise staine the worthie praises you haue alreadie deserued by the great victories by you obtained vnder my conduct The greatest part of the fortune of this war dependeth vpon you For the first passage of Amurath into EPIRVS that I my selfe may be vnto you the first messenger of that danger will be this way the first furie of the Turkes will assaile you that hauing here as it were broken downe the strongest fortresse of EPIRVS hee may afterwards breake through the countrey more subject to danger The first fruits of this war is yours you if you beare the hearts of courageous men mindfull of your libertie may beat downe the proud strength of the haughtie enemie and discourage his high conceits The Othoman king shall haue the beginning both of his hope and feare of you if he shall find you so minded as I now see you gallantly mooued and with joy heare your violent indignation he will in euery place feare a great force of danger and thereby learne to abstaine from the other cities of EPIRVS neither will he lie here long at a vaine siege except the waâ—ward old man will foolishly hereupon gage all his forces for such is the situation and strength of this citie that it may easily set at nought an angrie enemie Wherefore resolue with your selues worthie souldiors and cittizens only by constancie and faithfulnesse without bloodshed to gain vnto your selues an honourable victorie Of your valour which I willingly speake of dependeth for the
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
than a Iewish superstition chusing rather to die than to eat or drinke thereof such is the strong delusion of blind errour where it hath throughly possessed the minds of men The cittie of SFETIGRADE as is aforesaid is situat vpon the top of a great high rocke as most of the cities of EPIRVS now be and was then watered but with one great well in the middest of the cittie which sunke deepe into the rocke plentifully serued both the publicke and priuat vse of the inhabitants Into this common well the malicious traitour in the night time cast the foule stinking carion carkas of a dead dog knowing that the conceited garrison souldiors of DYBRA would rather indure the paines of death and starue or els yeeld vp the citie vpon any condition than to drinke of that polluted water In the morning when the stinking carrion was espied and drawne out of the well the report thereof was quickly bruted in euery corner of the citie and that the well was poysoned so that all the people were in manner in an vprore about the finding out of the traitor The citizens were exceeding sorrie for that had happened but the garrison soldiors detested that loathsome and vncleane water as they accounted it more than the Turkish seruitude protesting that they would rather perish with thirst than drinke thereof Whereupon some of them desired to set fire vpon the citie and whilest they had yet strength to breake through the enemies campe or there manfully to die And they which thought best of the matter requested That the cittie might be yeelded vp for now they discouraged with a superstitious vanitie could be content to hearken to the former conditions of peace yea they were readie ynough of themselues to sue vnto Amurath for peace though it had beene vpon harder tearmes The Gouernour troubled with that had happened and astonied to see so great an alteration in the minds of his souldiours vpon so small occasion could not tell whether hee might thinke it to proceed of a superstitious conceit or of some secret compact made with Amurath But the better to pacifie the matter hee came into the market place and there in the hearing of all the garrison with many effectuall reasons exhorted them to continue faithfull vnto their prince and countrey in that honourable seruice and in a matter of so great conseqence to make small reckoning to vse that water which would easily in short time be brought againe to the wonted puritie and cleanenesse And to persuade them the rather he went presently to the well himselfe and in the sight of them all drunke a greater draught of the water whose example the cittizens following dranke likewise But when it was offered to the captaines and souldiors of the garrison they all refused to tast thereof as if it had been a most loathsome thing or rather some deadly poyson and with great instance cried vnto the Gouernour to giue vp the citie for which cause many thought they were corrupted by Amurath his great promises Howbeit none of that garrison except that one traitour did euer afterwards reuolt vnto the Turkish king or yet appeared any thing the richer for any gift receiued whereby such suspition might be confirmed When the Gouernour saw that the obstinate minds of the garrison were not to be mooued with any persuasion or reward whereof hee spared not to make large promise nor by any other meanes which he could deuise hee called vnto him his cheefe captaines with the best sort of the citizens resolued with them full sore against his will to yeeld vp the citie to Amurath vpon such conditions as they themselues there agreed vpon which were That it should be lawfull for all the captaines and souldiors to depart in safetie with their armour and all other things and that so many of the citizens as would stay might there still dwell in the citie in such sort as they had done before vnder the gouernment of Scanderbeg the rest that listed not to remaine there still might at their pleasure with bag and baggage depart whether they would Glad was Amurath when this offer was made vnto him and graunted them all that was desired sauing that hee would not consent that the citizens should continue in the citie yet was he content that they should liue vnder him as they had before done quietly enjoying all their possessions but to build their houses without the wals of the citie which condition some accepted and some forsaking all went to Scanderbeg When all was throughly agreed vpon the keyes of the gates were deliuered to Amurath and the Gouernor with the captaines and all the garrison souldiors suffered quietly to passe through the Turkish campe as the king had promised Howbeit Mahomet the sonne of Amurath a prince of a cruell disposition earnestly persuaded his father to haue broken his faith and to haue put them all to the sword saying it was one of their prophet Mahomets cheefe commaundements to vse all crueltie for the destruction of the Christians But the old king would not therein hearken vnto his sonne saying That he which was desirous to be great amongst men must either be indeed faithfull of his word and promise or at leastwise seeme so to be thereby to gaine the minds of the people who naturally abhorre the gouernment of a faithlesse and cruell prince The traitor which corrupted the water remained still in the citie and was by Amurath rewarded with three rich suites of apparell and fiftie thousand Aspers and had giuen vnto him besides a yearely pension of two thousand duckats But short was the joy the traitour had of this euill gotten goods for after he had a few daies vainely triumphed in the middest of Amurath his fauours he was suddenly gone and neuer afterwards seene or heard tell of being secretly made away as was supposed by the commandement of Amurath whose noble heart could not but detest the traitour although the treason serued well his purpose Amurath entring into SFETIGRADE caused the wals to be foorthwith repaired and placed one thousand two hundred Ianizaries in garrison there And raising his campe the first of September departed out of EPIRVS hauing lost thirtie thousand of his Turks at the siege of SFETIGRADE much greeued in mind for all that that hee could not vanquish the enemie whom he came of purpose to subdue In his returne the viceroy of ASIA marched before him with the Asian souldiors in the rereward followed the viceroy of EVROPE with his Europeian souldiors in the middest was Amurath himselfe compassed about with his Ianizaries and other souldiours of the court Scanderbeg vnderstanding of Amurath his departure followed speedily with eight thousand horsemen and three thousand foot and taking the aduantage of the thicke woods and mountaine straits to him well knowne wherby that great armie was to passe oftentimes skirmished with the Turks charging thē sometime in the vaward sometime in the rereward sometime on the one side
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
as being before vnder the Constantinopolitane empire had vpon the losse of the citie put themselues vnder the protection of the Venetians but especially the isle of MITYLENE called in auntient time LESâ—OS pretending that Nicholaus Catelusius prince therof did harbour the pyrats of ITALY and other places and also bought of them such prisoners and other bootie as they continually tooke from the Turkes at sea or alongst the sea coast out of many places of his dominions pretending also the chastising of the said prince for that he had by treacherie slaine his eldest brother and so vnjustly taken vpon him the gouernment His fleet thus set forward he himselfe with a small army passed ouer into ASIA and came by land to POSSIDIVM a citie of IONIA ouer against MITYLENE From whence he embarked himselfe ouer the narrow straite into the island where after he had once landed his army he in short time ouerran the whole island and miserably spoiled the same leading away all the inhabitants thereof into captiuitie who shortly after were sold at CONSTANTINOPLE like flocks of sheepe and from thence dispersed into all parâ—s of his dominions After he had thus harried the countrey and left nothing therein vnspoiled he besieged the Prince in the citie of MITYLENE whereof the island now taketh name and with his great ordinance continually battered the same by the space of 27 daies In which time many sharpe assaults were also giuen by the Turkes whereby the defendants were greatly diminished and wasted The prince perceiuing himselfe not able long to hold out offered to yeeld vp the citie with all the strong holds in the isle vpon condition that Mahomet should therefore giue vnto him some other prouince of like valew to the island which his offer Mahomet accepted and by solemne oath bound himselfe for performance of that he had promised Whereupon the prince came out of the citie and humbled himselfe before him excusing himselfe for the receiuing of the men of warre wherewith he was charged as done for no other purpose but that they should forbeare to spoile his owne countrey much subject to their furie vtterly denying that he had at any time bought or shared any part of such prizes as had by those pirats by sea or land been taken from the Turkes With which his excuse Mahomet seemed to be reasonably well contented and with good words cheered him vp neuerthelesse as soone as the citie with all the other strong holds in the isle were by the princes meanes deliuered into his hands hee no longer made reckoning of his Turkish faith but cruelly caused many of the chiefe citizens of MITYLENE to be put to death and three hundreth pirats whom he found in the citie to be cut in two peeces in the middle so to die with more paine And when he had placed conuenient garrisons in euerie strong hold in the isle he returned to CONSTANTINOPLE carrying away with him the prince and all the better sort of the inhabitants of MITYLENE that were left aliue togither with all the wealth of that most rich and pleasant island leauing it almost desolat none remaining therein more than his owne garrisons with a few of the poorest and basest people Mahomet after he was arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE cast the prince Nicholaus with Lucius his cosin whose helpe he had before vsed in killing of his elder brother into close prison where they seeing themselues euerie houre in danger of their liues to winne fauour in the tyrants sight wickedly offered to renounce the Christian religion and to turne Turke Which Mahomet vnderstanding caused them both to be richly apparelled and with great triumph to be circumcised and presently set at libertie yet still bearing in minde his olde grudge he shortly after when they least feared any such matter clapt them both fast againe in prison and there caused them to be most cruelly put to death A just reward for the bloodie murtherers and apostacie who to gaine a little longer life were content to forsake God Shortly after it fortuned that Stephen king of BOSNA in antient time called MaeSIA SVPERIOR who supported by the Turkish emperour had wrongfully obtained that kingdom against his owne brethren refused now to pay such yearely tribute as hee had before promised for which cause Mahomet with a strong armie entered into BOSNA and laied siege vnto the cittie of DOROBIZA which when he had with much adoe taken he deuided the people therof into three parts one part whereof he gaue as slaues vnto his men of warre another part he sent vnto CONSTANTINOPLE and the third he left to inhabit the citie From DOROBIZA he marched to IAZIGA now called IAICA the cheefe citie of that kingdome which after four months siege was deliuered vnto him by composition In this citie hee tooke the kings brother and sister prisoners with most of the nobilitie of that kingdome whom he sent as it were in triumph vnto CONSTANTINOPLE The other lesser cities of BOSNA following the example of the greater yeelded themselues also But Mahomet vnderstanding that the king of BOSNA had retired himselfe into the farthest part of his kingdome sent Mahometes his cheefe Bassa with his Europeian souldiors to pursue him wherein the Bassa vsed such diligence that he had on euery side so inclosed him before he was aware that hee could by no meanes escape which was before thought a thing impossible So the king for safegard of his life was faine to take the citie of CLYSSA for his refuge where he was so hardly laied to by the Bassa that seeing no other remedie hee offered to yeeld himselfe vpon the Bassaes faithfull promise by oath confirmed that he should be honourably vsed and not to receiue in his person any harme from the Turkish emperour Wherupon the Bassaes oath to the same purpose was with great solemnitie taken and for the more assurance conceiued in writing firmed by the Bassa and so deliuered to the king which done the king came out of the citie and yeelded himselfe The Bassa hauing thus taken the king prisoner carried him about with him from place to place and from citie to citie vntill he had taken possession of all the kingdome of BOSNA and so returning vnto his master presented vnto him the captiue king who was not a little offended with him for that hee had vnto him so farre engaged his Turkish faith But when the poore king thought to haue departed not greatly fearing further harme he was suddenly sent for by Mahomet at which time he doubting the worst caried with him in his hand the writing wherein the Bassaes oath for his safetie was comprised neuerthelesse the faithlesse tyrant without any regard thereof or of his faith therein giuen caused him presently to be most cruelly put to death or as some write to be flaine quicke Thus was the Christian kingdome of BOSNA subuerted by Mahomet in the yeare 1464 who after he had at his pleasure disposed thereof and reduced it
which persuasion the Turkes were againe encouraged accounting it a great dishonour to flie and leaue their chieftaine in the field But when they saw Scanderbeg still to preuaile vpon them and that no helpe came as they hoped for many were by Scanderbeg his horsemen slaine as they were arming themselues many were by the way cut off as they were comming and the rest put to flight they which before fought valiantly with Amesa turned their backs and fled also Scanderbeg his horsemen pursuing the chase made great slaughter of the Turkes and in the same chase tooke Amesa prisoner Scanderbeg hauing ouerthrown that part of the Turkes battell was comming with a thousand footmen and some horsemen to haue ayded Moses against the Bassa but before his comming Moses to blot out his former infamie had with inuincible courage put the great Bassa with all his army to flight and Scanderbeg following the chase gaue him not leaue to looke behind him vntill he was got out of EPIRVS Many were in this chase taken prisoners and amongst the rest one Mesites a Sanzacke a man of great account amongst the Turkes In this battell beside the prisoners were taken twentie of the Turkes fairest ensignes As for horses armour and other spoiles taken in the field and in the campe all which fell vnto the souldiors share it is almost incredible to be told The number of the slaine Turkes is of diuers diuersly reported they which write of the most reckon vp thirtie thousand and they which speake of the least account twentie thousand Of the Christians were lost but sixtie Now if any account it strange that so great a victorie should be gained with so little losse not to speake of that is written in holy writ let him but read the auncient histories of the Romans or the chronicles of our owne country and he shall in them find victories no lesse strange There was to be seene the sudden and strange alteration of these worldly things no more indeed whatsoeuer we account of them to be reckoned of than of things we haue not Scanderbeg possesseth the rich pauilion erst belonging to the great Bassa and other of his captaines enioy tents with much other rich furniture neuer prepared for their vse Amesa which the same day as a victorious conquerour ouerran a great part of AEMATHIA with his horsemen and was in triumph carried vp with the generall acclamation of many thousands of valiant souldiors and honoured as a king and of them so called is now led through the Christian army to his vnkle with his hands bound behind him as a slaue speechlesse and confounded vnable to hold vp his head for shame whose miserie moued most of the beholders to compassion and forced teares out of the eies of many The next day after this great victorie Scanderbeg caused the bodies of the slaine Turkes to be buried togither with their horses which he did not for any regard of them but that their loathsome carkases should not infect the countrey and after that returned in great triumph to CROIA By the way as he went the countrey people which were before for feare of the Turks fled into the woods and mountaines in great multitudes met him as did others also out of the citties whose mouthes were all full of his worthy praises Before him went the captiue Turkes with their hands bound behind them excepting such as were enforced to carrie the Turkes ensignes Next vnto them followed the great Bassaes rich pauilion in such manner supported by the souldiours as if it had been in the field Then came Scanderbeg himselfe with the Turkish Sanzacke and Amesa following him for Amesa had with great and humble sute obtained of his vnckle that he might not as he well deserued be carried bound amongst the other captiues Last of all came Scanderbeg his victorious souldiours in goodly order euerie man leading a spare horse taken from the enemy and loaded with spoyle So when he was come to CROIA and there of his subjects joyfully receiued he brake vp his army and gaue euerie man leaue at his pleasure to depart The Sanzacke and Amesa were committed to safe keeping vntill farther order was taken for them Amesa afterwards was for his treason worthely condemned to perpetuall prison and by an embassador from Scanderbeg sent vnto king Alphonsus to NAPLES there to be kept in durance and with him was also sent an honourable present of part of the spoile taken from the Turkes in token of the victorie What became afterward of this Amesa concerneth not much the course of our historie yet to satisfie the desirous I think it not amisse with him to stray a little out of the way When Amesa had remained a yeare in prison at NAPLES Scanderbeg vnderstanding of the death of Alphonsus by his embassadour requested of Ferdinand his sonne to haue Amesa restored to him againe By which meanes he was brought backe againe into EPIRVS and cast in prison at CROIA but not in such straight manner as before for Scanderbeg according to his accustomed clemencie began now to forget the injurie to him before done and at last ouercome with the continuall supplication and teares of his nephew pardoned him his life and restoring him to his former libertie receiued him also into his former fauor But Amesa remembring what pledges of his loyaltie hee had left with Mahomet at CONSTANTINOPLE and fearing what would become of his wife and children if he should hastely vse that his libertie giuing his vnckle most humble thankes brake vnto him his mind concerning that matter as followeth Whereas you of your owne gracious goodnesse onely without any desert of mine haue regarded my life and welfare it behooueth me also to be carefull for the life of others least whilest I receiue your exceeding bountie with too much desire of mine owne health and honour I doe at this present by this same benefit of yours cast away them whom I haue long sithence by mine owne trecherie vndone Mine vnfortunate and guiltlesse wife is with Mahomet my little and innocent children are with him also these yet liue and shall liue so long as the tyrant shall thinke that I liue in heart his but when he shall once perceiue by this your gracious dealing that I am fallen from him the cruell creditor will foorthwith cut and rend in peeces the pledges of my faith and their innocent blood shall pay the guilt of their fathers offence Wherefore the Othoman tyrant is of me by some deuice to be deceiued that I may in the meane time preserue those pledges vntill I may by some fit occasion afterwards redeeme the same I will by your leaue this night take my flight out of CROIA as if I had broken prison and escaped against your will and so flie vnto Mahomet making the greatest shew I can of my wonted loue and loyaltie towards him not omitting to heare or speake vnto that credulous king such things concerning your estate as I was wont
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
gally who generally grieued to see him so great a commaunder to let slip so faire an opportunitieâ— But he fearing to come any neerer came to an anchor and moued not neither gaue any signe of comfort or reliefe to the besieged Which thing the Turkish king quickly perceiuing and therwith encouraged hauing now in diuers places beaten downe the wals and made them sauâ—table brought on his men to the breaches promising them the spoile of the citie with many other great rewards and hie preferments according to their particuler deserts whereof he said he would himselfe be an eye-witnesse Hereupon the Turkes gaue a most fierce and furious assault which the defendants with inuincible courage receiued and made such slaughter of them that the ditches were filled and the breaches made vp with the bodies of the dead Turkes But such was the number of that populous armie the greatest strength of the Turkes that the liuing little felt the losse of the dead Mahomet continually sending in new supplies of fresh men in steed of them that were slaine or wounded So that one could no sooner fall but two or three slept vp in his roome and so successiuely as if new men had sprong out of the bodies of the dead Twise they had euen woon the breaches and were both times with wonderfull slaughter beaten out againe This deadly and dreadfull assault was maintained a whole day and a night without intermission At length the defendants being for the most part slaine or wounded and the rest wearied with long fight and vnable to defend the towne now assaulted almost round retired from the breaches into the market place and there like resolute men sold their liues at a decre price vnto the Turkes Amongst the slaine Christians were found the dead bodies of manie notable women who seeing the ruine of the citie chose rather to die with their friends in defence thereof than aliue to fall into the hands of their barbarous enemies Mahomet being now become lord of the citie and hauing lost fortie thousand of his Turks in that siege in reuenge thereof caused all the men that were found in the citie aliue to be put to most cruell death especially the Italians vpon whom he shewed his tyrannie with most exquisit and horrible torments Paulus Ericus gouernour of the citie with a few others who with him were fled into the castle without resistance deliuered the same vnto him vpon his faithfull promise that they might in safetie depart but after that he had got them into his power the perfidious tyrant without regard commaunded them all to bee cruelly murthered The gouernours daughter a maiden of incomparable beautie was amongst the rest taken prisoner and for her rare perfection by them that tooke her presented to Mahomet as the mirrour of beautie The barbarous tyrant greedie of so faire a prey sought first by flattering words and faire persuasion to induce her to consent to his desire but when hee could not so preuaile he fell into an other vaine and began to shew himselfe in his owne nature threatning her with death torture and force worse than death it selfe if shee would not otherwise yeeld vnto his appetite Whereunto the constant virgin worthie eternall fame answered so resolutely and so contrarie to the tyrants expectation that hee being therewith enraged commaunded her to bee presently slaine The horrible and monstrous crueltie with the filthie outrages by that beastly and barbarous people committed at the taking of that cittie passeth all credit CHALCIS thus woon the rest of that fruitfull island without farther resistance yeelded vnto the Turkish slauerie vnder which it yet groaneth This calamitie happened to the Venetian state or rather to say truely to the generall hurt of the Christian common-wealâ— in the yeare of our redemption 1470. Canalis the Venetian Admirall who all the time of the siege had in the sight of the cittie lien at anchor as a looker on fearing now that the cittie was lost to bee set vpon by the Turkes fleet hoised saile and laded with dishonour returned in hast vnto VENICE where hee was by the commaundement of the Senat committed to prison and afterward with all his family exiled to VTINVM Shortly after when Mahomet was departed with his armie out of EVBoeA and his fleet returned to CONSTANTINOPLE the Venetians with their gallies attempted to haue vpon the sudden surprised the cittie a little before lost But Mahomet had therein left so strong a garrison that when the Venetians had landed their men they were againe enforced to retire to their gallies and to forsake their island CHALCIS thus lost with all the island of EVBoeA the Venetians chose Petrus Mocenicus a valiant and discreet gentleman Admirall of their fleet instead of Canalis and by their embassadours sollicited Sixtus the fourth of that name then bishop of ROME and Ferdinand king of NAPLES with Lewis king of CYPRVS and the grand master of the RHODES to joyne their forces together with theirs against the great and common enemie which thing all the aforesaid Christian princes promised them to doe And the more to entangle the Turke they at the same time sent Caterinus Zenus their embassadour with rich presents vnto Alymbeius Vsâ—n-Cassanes the great king of PERSIA to incite him on that side against the Turke in which negotiation Zenus so well behaued himselfe that the next yeare following that great king tooke vp armes against Mahomet and had with him mortall warres as shall be in conuenient place hereafter declared Mahomet not ignorant of these proceedings of the Venetians and that they did what they might to stirre vp as many enemies as they could and to bring him if it were possible into hatred with the whole world and well knowing how much he had offended the minds of the Christian princes with the crueltie he had of late vsed against them of CHALCIS thought it not best as then further to prouoke them and so happily to bring all at once about his eares but for a season to lie still at CONSTANTINOPLE as if he had beene desirous now to liue in peace not meaning further harme hoping therby that although he concluded no peace with any of them which indeed he was not desirous of yet that tract of time might mitigate the hainousnesse of the fact and coole the heat of their displeasure whereby it came to passe as hee wished that nothing worth the speaking of was that yeare attempted against him And because the Persian king was the man of whom he stood most in doubt hee sought by his embassadours to pacifie him and to withdraw him from the league of the Christians requesting him if it were for nothing els but for the communitie of the Mahometane religion wherein they well agreed and were thereby the professed enemies of the Christians to withdraw his hand and in their cause to cease to take vp armes vrging now for that it so stood with his purpose the zeale of religion whereas
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
sight not farre from the other side of the riuer and vpon a signe giuen presently to discouer themselues and charge the enemie The next morning verie early he sent certaine troups of his readiest horsemen ouer the riuer which by offering to skirmish with the Venetians might so draw them into the field and then as men in doubt whether to fight or to flie to tole them on vnto the place where the ambush lay The Venetians had diuided themselues into three battalions wherof the Generall himselfe had the leading of the first who seeing these disordered troups comming to skirmish with him encountred them fiercely and easily put them to flight being so determined before and in that flight earnestly pursued them especially the Counties sonne a valiant young gentleman who with others like himselfe thought by that daies good seruice to gaine vnto themselues great honour When the Turkes Generall saw that the Venetians following the chase were gone a great way from the riuer he forthwith passed ouer with the rest of his armie and followed the Venetians at the heeles which the Turks which before fled now beholding turned againe vpon their fierce enemies and valiantly withstood them At which verie instant the other Turkes vpon signe giuen arising out of ambush came downe from the hill LICINIS with such violence clamor that the Venetians therwith discouraged would haue fled if they could haue told which way but they were on euerie side so beset that there was no way left for them to escape but were there all slaine except some few which yeelded themselues and so were saued The other two battalions of the Venetians discouraged with the slaughter of the first fled incontinently and in flying were manie of them slaine In this battell the Countie himselfe with his sonne and manie other notable gentlemen and halfe the horsemen were lost The Turks encouraged with this victorie the next day spoiled all the countrey of FRIVLI betwixt the riuers of Sontium otherwise called Lisonzo and Tiliauentum and cruelly burnt all the countrey before them so that at once an hundred countrey villages were to be seene on a light fire togither which stood so thicke that it seemed as if one continuall fire had wholy couered all the face of the countrey The barbarous Turkes laden with the spoile of that rich countrey and driuing before them great numbers of miserable captiues as if they had beene flocks of sheepe returned to Sontium But when they had passed the riuer and had trauelled homeward one daies journey and all men thought they had now beene quite gone they suddenly returned backe againe and posting through the countrie they had before spoiled came to the riuer of Tiliauentum which they desperatly passed and did no lesse harme on that side the riuer than they had before on the other and so carrying away with theÌ„ what they pleased returned by the same way they came hauing filled all that part of ITALY with terror and feare This ouerthrow at Sontium the Venetians account amongst the greatest losses which they receiued from the Turkes in all these their long warres The next yeare about Haruest the Turkes came againe with a farre greater power and passing the riuer of Sontium came before the forts at GRADISCA where Carolus Fortebrachiâ—â— lay with a strong garrison of the Venetians offering him skirmish so to haue drawne him into the field But the warie captaine considering the great strength of the enemie and the losse receiued the yeare before would not be drawne out of his strength but stood vpon his guard expecting to take the enemie at some more aduantage which thing the Turkes fearing durst not disperse themselues abroad for the spoile of the countrie leauing so strong a garrison of the enemies behind them And therfore when they had gone about foure miles into the countrey they turned their course vp into the mountaines which are part of the Alpes towards GERMANIE and there grieuously spoiled the mountaine people strangely passing through those abrupt and hie mountaines with their horses where men could hardly either go or stand on foot without somthing to stay vpon And so when they had done what harme they could taking a great compasse about returned home another way Mahomet remembring the shamefull repulse hee had about foure yeares before receiued at SCODRA and hauing the name of that citie daily sounding in his eares determined now once againe to gage his whole forces vpon the winning thereof and so to giue peace to his ambitious desires And because he would not againe be dishonored with that he purposed to take in hand he gaue out order into all parts of his dominions both in EVROPE and ASIA for the assembling of his best souldiours and men of warre Now when all things were in readinesse and such an armie assembled as he seldome or neuer had a stronger first he sent forth Aly-Beg warden of the frontiers of his kingdome alongst the riuer Danubius with eightie thousand of the souldiours called Achanzij towards SCODRA These Achanzij are horsemen which for their good seruice according to their deserts haue certaine lands giuen them by the king to liue vpon during their liues for which they are of duetie bound to serue vpon their owne charge as the forerunners of the Turke his armie whensoeuer he goeth to besiege anie place These be they which first enter into the enemies countrey burning and spoiling what they can vntill they come vnto the place appointed and haue this priuiledge That so soone as all the armie is come to the place to be besieged they may then at their pleasure either depart or stay The gouernour of SCODRA vnderstanding both by common fame and certaine intelligence of the Turks designs with all care and diligence fortified the towne labouring continually both night and day at the rampiers as if the enemie had been alreadie present and plentifully prouided all things necessarie for the enduring of a long siege The aged and vnnecessarie people he sent out of the citie into other places of more safetie farther off in whose stead hee tooke in great numbers of strong and able men which dwelt in the countrey round about among whom were manie marriners taken out of the gallies and other men of like qualitie which got their liuing vpon the riuer and lake of SCODRA lustie bodies enured to hardnesse who in the long siege following did great seruice Whilest this preparation was making in SCODRA behold the mountains a farre off Northward from the citie began to shine with manie great fiers and all the country was couered with thicke smoake which euerie houre seemed to draw neerer and neerer when within short time after the poore countrey people which as yet were not all fled with such trash as they could well carrie came running for life all ouer the countrey to the strong cities vpon the sea side crying out that the Turks were come The next day which was the fourteenth of
SCODRA being in circuit about an hundred mile came many times down the riuer by night and did much harme in the Turks campe for remedie whereof they were enforced to build certaine small gallies to keepe them in who for all that many times stole secretly vpon them and much troubled them The two and twentieth of Iune the Turkes mounted two great peeces of Ordinance vpon the top of the hill whereon the Bassa lay whereof the one carried a bullet made of an hard kind of round stone of three hundred pound weight and the other a bullet of foure hundred wherewith they began to batter the towne foure daies after that they placed a third peece of artillerie at the foot of the same hill which deliuered a bullet of foure hundred pound weight and the next day they planted a fourth peece greater than the rest about the middle of the same hill which carried a shot of six hundred and fiftie pound weight In this while eight thousand of the Turkes souldiours called Asapi which are knowne from the Ianizaries by their red caps whereas the Ianizaries weare white came into the campe And shortly after came Mahomet himselfe with all his armie to the riuer of Drimon whether the two great Bassaes of ASIA and CONSTANTINOPLE went with great pompe and triumph to meet him The second of Iuly Mahomet with all his armie before the rising of the Sunne came to the campe before SCODRA where after he had well viewed the situation thereof he is reported to haue said O what a faire and stately place hath the Eagle chosen out for her selfe to build her neast and to hatch her young ones in Diuers rich pauilions were set vp for Mahomet himselfe but one farre greater than the rest distant from them about a flight shoot which was the place wherein he held his counsell the other were for his owne priuat vse Round about these his tents lay the Ianizaries encamped a good distance off yet so close one to another as if it had been a perpetuall rampire or strong trench whereinto was but one entrance continually guarded with a most strong guard Round about the Ianizaries lay all the rest of the armie encamped so that all the countrey as farre as a man could see was couered and white with tents much like as when the ground in Winter is couered ouer with a deepe snow and still moe people resorted to the campe dayly so that it was dâ—emed by men of great experience that Mahomet had then in his armie of all sort of people about three hundred and fiftie thousand men all gaping to deuour that poore citie a sight of it selfe sufficient to haue daunted the courage of right valiant men But what can be terrible vnto them that feare not to die Against this terrour of the enemie the defendants were notably encouraged by the comfortable persuasions and exhortations of one Bartholomâ—us a preacher sometimes one of the worthie Scanderbeg his soldiors who afterwards giuing himselfe to the studie of diuinitie became a zealous preacher and in this siege did notably comfort the Christian defendants against the terrour of so great an armie of miscreants All this while the batterie was still maintained and the fifth of Iuly the Turks mounted two other great peeces whereof the one was like vnto the former before mounted but the other placed vpon the middle of the Bassaes mount was of an incredible greatnesse discharging a shot of twelue hundred pound weight and was called the Princes peece in whose name it was with much cunning and industrie made with which huge peece the Turkes euen from the beginning of the siege had threatened the besieged willing them to expect the comming of the Princes Peece The next day they planted vpon the same mount a seuenth peece which caried a shot of fiue hundred and fiftie pound weight from which time they battered the citie with the aforesaid seuen great peeces and ceased not oftentimes by night out of their great mortar peeces to cast great bals of wild fire into the citie so to haue set it on fire whereby diuers of the citizens were enforced to vncouer their houses couered with shingle and by men appointed for that purpose to watch the fall of such fireworkes and so to quench the same which they so carefully looked vnto as that the deuise of the enemie tooke none effect at all At the same time also the Turkes out of their short mortar peeces cast huge great stones of incredible weight which falling from high did most terribly crush in peeces whatsoeuer thing they light vpon wherewith the defendants were wonderfully troubled In few daies after the enemie mounted three other great peeces whereof one was greater than that was called the Princes and caried a bullet of thirteene hundred weight from which time they daily battered the citie with ten such peeces as the like hath seldome times been heard of and arrowes fell so thicke into the citie as if it had beene continuall-showers of haile so that no man could goe or well stirre in the streets without hurt Yet in the middest of alâ— these dangers the Christians valiantly defended the citie and with their deadly shot from the walâ— and mounts exceedingly annoied the enemie The eleuenth of Iuly the Turks mounted another great peece like vnto the former vpon the Bassaes mount and the same day battered the wals with 178 shot of this hugie artillerie Mahomet hauing by the furie of his great ordinance beaten downe a great part of the wall and that now nothing stood in his way but such simple repaires as the defendants had made of timber and plankes with earth cast in betwixt was in good hope in short time to become master of the towne and therefore sent certaine companies of his Ianizaries and other soldiors which he with continuall supplies of fresh men still releeued to assault the breaches so if it were possible to enter the towne or at leastwise to burne such fortifications of timber as the defendants had made But that which seemed vnto him at first so easie hee found in execution full of difficultie and danger for the Turkes approching the breach found there resolute men a surer defence than any wall whose valiant courage serued in stead of a strong bulwarke So whilest the Turks desperatly striue in the face of the breach either to enter or to set fire vpon the new fortifications made for most part of timber and the defendants with no lesse resolution doe what they may to the vttermost to repulse them many were on both sides slaine but especially of the assailants Which Mahomet well perceiuing and that by that manner of assault he gained nothing but notable losse and spoile of his best men caused a retreat to be sounded and his batterie to be againe forthwith renewed euery day shaking the wall with 160 or 180 most terrible great shot and one day with 194 which was the greatest batterie he made in one day during
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
to carrie newes home Calibeius and Cherseogles the Bassaes were in that flight both taken prisoners and afterwards presented to Caitbeius the Sultan at CAIRE with eighteene ensignes of the Turkes Sanzackes which are great men amongst them hauing euerie one of them the regiment and commaund of some one prouince or other and are in degree next vnto the Bassaes. Neither was the fortune of Baiazet his nauie at sea better than that of his armie at land for as it lay at rode vpon the coast of SYRIA at the mouth of the riuer Orontes which runneth by the famous citie of ANTIOCHIA his gallies were by tempest and rage of the sea put from their anchors and in the sight of their enemies swallowed vp of the sea or else driuen vpon the main and there with the surges of the sea beaten in peeces Baiazet not a little troubled with these losses both by sea and land at length with much adoe by his embassadours concluded a peace with the Sultan vnto whom he restored all such places as he had before taken from him for which the â—ultan deliuered vnto him Calibeius Cherseogles Achmetes and Ishender with all the rest of the â—urkes prisoners which he had in great number in his keeping â—hortly after this peace was concluded betwixt these two great and mightie princes Caitbeiâ—â— the Sultan died who of a Circassian slaue by manie degrees of honour and by the fauour of the Mamalukes his fellowes obtained the rich kingdome of Aegypt which he right worthely gouerned to his immortall praise by the space of two and twentie yeares commaunding at one time the great and rich countrey of AEGYPT with all AFFRIKE as farre as CIRENE Westward and IVDEA with a great part of ARABIA and all SYRIA vnto the great and famous riuer Euphrates Eastward In the latter end of his raigne he ouercome with the importunitie of his wife Dultibe an Arabian borne a woman of an hautie spirit joyned his sonne Mahomethes a young man of about foure and twentie yeares old with him in the fellowship of his kingdome that so possessed of it his father yet liuing hee might the better enjoy it after his death Contrarie to the custome of the Mamalukes who of long time had not vsed to haue their king by succession but by their free election Who grudging to be thus defrauded of their wonted choise immediatly after the death of Caitbeius slew Mahomethes his sonne and in a few moneths after foure mo who one after another without their good liking had aspired vnto the kingdome neither could they be contented vntill such time as that they had according to their wonted custome set vp a Sultan of their owne choise About the same time that the aforesaid peace was concluded betwixt the two great Mahometane princes Baiazet and Caitbeius Charles the French king was making great preparation against Alphonsus king of NAPLES giuing it out That after he had recouered that kingdome he would forthwith from thence inuade the Turkes dominions in GRaeCIA Which great attempt the haughtie king was induced to take in hand by the persuasion of diuers of his nobilitie but especially by the solicitation of Lodouicus Sfortia duke of MILLAN whereby the whole state of ITALIE was in short time after sore shaken and Sfortia himselfe author of those troubles at last carried away by the French miserably ended his dayes as a prisoner in FRAVNCE Alphonsus the Neapolitane king doubting the greatnesse of the French king his enemie entered into a confederation with certaine of the states of ITALIE against the French but especially with Alexander the sixt then Bishop of ROME for the beter assurance whereof he gaue his base daughter in marriage to Godfrey Borgia the Bishops sonne and made him prince of CARINVLA his other sonne Francis he entertained also in great pay to serue him in his wars And by his embassadour Pandonius Camillus lately returned out of FRANCE gaue Baiazet to vnderstand what the French king had purposed against them both requesting him to aid him with six thousand horsemen and as many foot against their common enemie promising to giue them honourable entertainement during those warres And to further the matter Alexander the great Bishop sent George Bucciarde a Ligurian skilfull in the Turkish language embassadour to Baiazet to declare vnto him with what great preparation both by sea and land the young French king desirous of honour and the enlargement of his kingdome was about to inuade NAPLES and then with what great power after he had dispatched his warres in ITALIE he purposed to passe ouer into GRaeCIA and that hee had to that end earnestly trauelled with him to haue Zemes his brother deliuered into his hands whom he desired to vse as a most fit instrument for the troubling of his state and empire by reason of his many friends yet that his Holinesse hauing the French in distrust as a proud and ambitious people as also carefull for the danger of the citie of ROME and of the state of ITALIE in generall had entered into a confederation with Alphonsus king of NAPLES with their vnited forces to withstand that proud nation both by sea and land wanting nothing more for the accomplishment thereof than mony by which onely meanes Baiazet might as hee said prouide for the safetie of his kingdome in GRECIA if he would put to his helping hand to furnish them with mony for the entertainment of souldiors for as much as the citie of ROME and the kingdome of NAPLES were the surest wals of that side of the Othoman empire if hee not altogether refusing the charge would not spare for a little cost to maintaine the warre rather in that forraine countrey than to receiue it brought home to his owne dore concluding That it were much more commodious and easie with his treasures to represse his enemie in a strange countrey a farre off than by dint of sword and plaine battell in his owne A thing by experience well knowne that they which haue neglected and set at nought remote dangers for sparing of charge haue afterwards been enforced with greater danger to receiue the same into their owne bosomes when as they were become desperat and past remedie Baiazet who both by his espials and often letters and embassadours from Alphonsus knew all this to be true gaue great thankes to the bishop by his embassador for that he sitting in so high place did so friendly and in so good time admonish him both a stranger and of a contrarie religion of things of so great consequence yet for answere hee willed him to returne againe to his master with one Dautius his embassadour who should carrie with him both money and his other secret resolutions concerning those matters Amongst other things giuen him in charge was an Epistle written in Greeke wherein the barbarous king with great cunning persuaded the bishop to poyson Zemes his brother as a man of a religion altogether contrarie to his for indeed of
Erdebil whom Iouius calleth by the name of Harduelles a man honorably discended amongst the Persians who contemning worldly honour riches pleasure and whatsoeuer else belonged vnto delicacie of life commonly accounted the greatest part of humane felicitie as meere vanities and trifles led such a straight and austerâ— kind of life with such continencie and contempt of the world as that the vulgar people for most part giuen to pleasure wondering at that in him which they could not or would not themselues imitate began to haue the man in singular admiration for the opinion they had conceiued of his vpright life and rare vertues The fame of this new prophet for so he was accounted was growne so great in the Persian kingdome that people without number resorted out of all parts of PERSIA and ARMENIA vnto the great citie of TAVRIS to see the man And he the more to seduce the multitude delighted with nouelties began to inuay against the common receiued opinion of the Mahometanes concerning the true successours of their great prophet and to reuiue the opinion of Giâ—ni surnamed Soâ—i persuading the people as if he had been inspired with some diuine inspiration That none of the professors of the Mahometane religion should inherit the kingdome of heauen after they were dead but such as were the followers of Haly the true successour of the great prophet Mahomet and his fellow in writing Whom he taught them onely to honour as priuie to the mind of the great prophet and so to receiue his writings as of all others most authenticall rejecting Ebubekir Omer and Osman with their writings as most wicked accursed men whom the Turkes had euer and yet doe with the other Mahometanes honour and worship as the true successours of their great prophet Mahomet and his sincere interpretors togither with the aforesaid Haly whom the Persians doe onely acknowledge and therefore in their praiers doe commonly say Cursed be Ebubekir Omer and Osman and God be fauourable to Haly and well pleased with him Which their difference about the true successor of their prophet in whom was no truth hath been and yet is one of the greatest causes of the mortall wars betweene the Turks and Persians and not the diuers interpretation of their law as manie haue written which among the Turkes and Persians is all one Vsun-Cassanes mooued with the fame and vertues of this new prophet or rather as some thought desirous to win the hearts of the multitude of them that had receiued this new phantasie gaue him in mariage his daughter Martha begotten of the Christian ladie Despina the daughter of Calo Ioannes emperour of TRAPEZONDE Which marriage the Christian emperour made with that Mahometane prince and he also accepted thereof thereby to strengthen themselues against the Turkish emperour Mahomet the Great whose power was then become a terrour vnto all his neighbour princes but to how small purpose this policie serued them both is before declared in the life of the same Mahomet At the conclusion of this marriage the emperour had specially couenanted with Vsun-Cassanes that his daughter Despina might haue the free exercise of the Christian religion Whereby it easily came to passe that this Martha her daughter instructed by her mother became a Christian also who now married by her father vnto this precise hypocrit Haider Erdebil in short time bare him a sonne called Hysmael whom she so much as she could trained vp in the principles of the Christian religion Whereby it came to passe that afterwards when hee had by rare fortune obtained the kingdome of PERSIA he alwaies during his life had the Christians in good regard and neuer found fault with their religion Haider thus graced with the marriage of the great kings daughter Martha only for his rare vertues and puritie of life as was commonly supposed grew now into farre greater credit and estimation of the people than before So that his doctrine and opinions began to be generally receiued and the number of his followers so greatly augmented that Iacup succeeding his father Vsun-Cassanes but lately dead began to haue the power and credit of Haider his brother in law in suspect and to distrust least the Persians who secretly fauoured the remainder of the posteritie of their auntient kings should assemble togither vnder the colour of this new superstition and raise some dangerous rebellion before he were well setled in his seat For he was not ignorant that Asembeius Vsun-Cassanes his father had but by force and pollicie vsurped the kingdome hauing killed Moloonchres the lawfull king whereof there arose two factions some fauouring the vsurper and other some the poore remainder of the discent of their auntient kings of the race of Tamerlane For which causes Iacup as hee was of suspitious and troublesome nature and aboue measure jealous of his state nothing regarding the neere alliance or reputed holinesse of his godly brother in law caused him suspecting no such matter to be secretly murthered and so hauing strucke off his head with fire and sword persecuted all the professors of that new doctrine so to deliuer himselfe for euer of that his vaine and needlesse feare Hysmael the sonne of Haider who was afterwards called the great Sophi of PERSIA being then but a child as it were by fatall destinie escaped the furie of his cruell vncle Iacup and fled into HIRCANIA vnto one Pyrchales his fathers friend who then ruled in a small territorie neere vnto the Caspian sea Amongst many other of the disciples and followers of Haider which in that cruell persecution were glad to flie for safegard of their liues the two before named Chasan Shelife and Schach Culi afterwards surnamed Cuselbas in outward shew both of vertue and learning not inferiour vnto their master flying that dangerous tempest and passing ouer the riuer Euphrates came into ARMENIA the lesser and there tooke vp their dwelling at the great mountaine ANTITAVRVS at the foot whereof the broken rockes haue diuers darke and obscure caues made partly by art and partly by nature which place is of the inhabitants called Teke-Ili whereof diuers historiographers I know not whether deceiued by the name of the place or else wittingly transferring the name of the place vnto the man that liued therein haue called this Schach Culi who of the two proued of greater fame by the name of Techellis by which name we will also from henceforth call him A thing heretofore much vsed amongst the religious and also some of the children of great princes who oftentimes bare the names of the places where they were borne or where they most liued This place is both wholsome and exceeding pleasant for the varietie of fruits and liuely springs wherwith the plaines adjoyning are continually watered and the mountains at all times of the yeare garnished Here Shelife with his companion Techellis hauing separated themselues farre from the companie of men and giuen themselues wholy to a contemplatiue life for diuers
yeares liued most straitly and austerely contenting themselues with such things as the earth of it selfe affoorded them without seeking for better These hipocrits were first seene and afterwards acquainted with the sheepheards and heardsmen liuing vpon the mountaines and in processe of time with the rude husbandmen and countrey people who wondring at their strait and deuout kind of life relieued them with all things necessarie Yea Baiazet himselfe hearing of their austere and deuout manner of liuing sent them yearely six or seauen thousand aspers as his almes giuen them vpon charitie and deuotion But afterwards when they began to tell fortunes and as it were by the way of diuination to prognosticat of things to come the rurall people held them for more than men and conceiued of them a firme opinion that they were some diuine prophets And so were by the countrey people first drawne into the countrey villages and afterwards as if it had been against their wils into the cities where they had in short time filled all the countrey farre and neere with the admiration of their fame But after they began to publish their new phantasied doctrine concerning the true successour of their great prophet Mahomet they wanted not their new-fangled followers as had Haider their master before among the Persians who had them in singular reuerence persuaded now by them that they should be condemned for euer if they did not as they were by them taught giue the honour of the true succession of their great prophet onely to Hali and him onely to reuerence and call vpon next vnto the great prophet himselfe When they had thus with their often sermons and blind prophecies seduced the people and in short time woon great credit amongst the vulgar sort of themselues too much giuen to noueltie and superstition they commanded their disciples and followers to weare vpon their Turkish hats a red band or riband whereby to be knowne from others that were not of their profession Of which red bands or ribands they which professed this new superstition were and yet are ouer all the East part of the world called by the name of Cuselbassas which is to say Red heads Hysmaell also liuing in exile most earnestly embraced that new superstition which Haider his father had before taught in PERSIA but with farre better fortune and successe For as soone as he was growne to mans estate he following his fathers manner of life and being by nature wonderfull eloquent comely of person exceeding wise and of an inuincible courage was of the rude vulgar people accounted of more like a god than a man so that he grew to be of great fame and power amongst those barbarous people with whom he liued And not the base and vulgar sort only but diuers noblemen also and others of good reputation once allured with the noueltie of his doctrine the more to manifest their good will towards the author of their sect after they had forsaken their old superstition ceased not as the manner of men is to cōmend him in the highest degree of vertue honor And he himselfe as yet but a youth altogether bending his wit to the setting forth of himselfe making semblant of more than was indeed in him obtained as if it had beene against his will riches honour fame and authoritie of all which things hee as a notable dissembler seemed to make no account or reckoning neither were there some wanting which would sweare that Haider his father as he was an excellent Astronomer calculating his natiuitie should say That he should prooue a great prophet and the author of true religion who subduing the greatest part of the East should become as glorious both in matters of religion and martiall affaires as was Mahomet the Great prophet himselfe Which report being bruted abroad amongst the vulgar people greatly encreased his authoritie and gaue them occasion to talke of wonders Not long after Hysmaell was first by the admiration or rather assentation of his friends and followers and afterwards as if it had ben by a generall consent surnamed Sophos which amongst those people signifieth a Wise man or the interpreter of the gods These prosperous beginnings with the troubled state of the Persian kingdome encouraged him to take in hand great matters for his vncle Iacup the Persian king was long before dead being together with his sonne poysoned by his adulterous wife which thing he presently perceiuing enforced her to drinke of the same cup and because he would be sure that she should not escape with his owne hand strucke off her head and immediately after died with his sonne After whose death great troubles arose about the succession and diuers great men one after another aspired to the kingdome which they enjoyed not long And amongst the rest Eluan-beg whom Iouius calleth Aluantes at that time stood in no sure possession of the kingdome being mightily impugned by his brother Moratchamus Hysmaell taking hold of this opportunitie armed diuers of the most able men of his followers and receiuing some small aid from his poore old friend Pyrchales entered into ARMENIA and there partly by the fame that ran of him and partly by the good will of the people rather than by any force recouered his fathers inheritance whereunto the remembrance of his dead father did not a little further him He encouraged with this good beginning dayly grew stronger and stronger by the continuall repairing vnto him of such as hauing once receiued the doctrine of Haider were glad of long for feare of persecution to dissemble the same but now hauing got an head and cheefetaine to cleaue vnto began openly to shew themselues againe and in great number to resort vnto him in hope of the good successe of their religion not so happely begun by his father His power thus dayly encreasing beyond his expectation he laied siege vnto SVMACHIA a citie in the confines of MEDIA which he tooke by force and sacked and with the spoile thereof both enriched and armed his souldiors which before were for most part naked men The taking of this citie wonderfully encreased both his fame and courage as oftentimes it falleth out That haughtie minds courageously attempting high exploits by the good euent of their first attempts make way vnto the full of their stately desires So after this Hysmaell his thoughts were not so low as to thinke of the taking of this or that litle citie but how he might now compasse the great citie of TAVRIS the very seat of the Persian kings and afterwards the kingdome it selfe Whereupon reposing no lesse confidence in his owne good fortune than the valour of his souldiors he marched with his armie directly to the citie of TAVRIS and that with such expedition that he was come before it before any such thing was feared much lesse prouided for Eluan the Persian king was then at TAVRIS and had but a little before fought a great battaile with his brother
things he could desire Hysmaell there entertained with the greatest honours that the fearefull citisens could possibly attribute vnto him did oftentimes preach vnto them of the truth and excellencie of his fathers doctrine and withall gaue out straight proclamations That he would account all them for his enemies which did not within the space of thirtie dayes renounce their old superstition and receiue this new found veritie as he would haue it Wherefore for as much as on the one side were proposed most certaine rewards by the happie course of his victories and on the other was threatened exile and torture to such as should obstinatly persist in their opinion in short time hee drew all the vulgar people to embrace his new doctrine And afterwards hauing payed his souldiors with the riches of that great citie he gallantly furnished both his old and new souldiors that wanted armour with most excellent armour and furniture for in that citie one of the greatest and most famous of the East were many shops full of all kind of armour which the armourers with wonderfull cunning vsed to make of yron and steele and the juice of certaine hearbes of much more notable temper beautie than are those which are made with vs in EVROPE not onely headpeeces cuirasses and complete armors but whole caparisons for horses curiously made of thin plates of yron and steele Departing from SCVRAS he tooke also the great cities of SAPHA supposed to haue been the citie in antient time called SVSA and SVLTANIA which for the wonderfull ruines of the huge buildings is deemed to haue been the antient and famous citie TIGRANOCERTA These great matters quickely dispatched and hauing in euery citie placed gouernours of his owne sect hee passed ouer the riuer of TIGRIS into MESOPOTAMIA of purpose to expulse Moratchamus the late kings brother out of BABILON who was yet in armes and had entended as is before said to haue passed into ARMENIA to haue joyned his forces with the king his brother but now terrified with his brothers calamitie who together with a most puissant armie and the strength of the Persian kingdome was in one day fallen from the height of so great a fortune thought it not best to trie his fortune in the field against so fortunate an enemie but forthwith to withdraw himselfe into the remotest places of that large kingdome and from thence to expect some better fortune For he well knew that he was not able to withstand his victorious enemy now leading after him a most puissant armie who not long before had with a small power vanquished slain his brother in a great battell Hysmaell now by the greatnesse of his fame and forces and as it were by the fauor of God himselfe become a terror to all the princes of the East entered into MESOPOTAMIA after the flight of Moratchamus receiued all that great prouince into his subjection euery man as it were striuing who should first by his speedy submission purchase the fauor of the victorious conqueror To be breefe Moratchamus alreadie terrified and reposing no great hope in himselfe or his own power neither deeming it for his safetie to shut himselfe vp within the wals of any strong citie trussed vp his things of greatest price and with his wiues and children fled into ARABIA This Moratchamus is he whom some historiographers call Mara Beg and is in the Turkes histories called Imirsa Beg who as they report afterwards marrying the daughter of Baiazet and recouering part of the Persian kingdome was suddenly murthered by some of his nobilitie whom he purposed secretly to haue put to death if they had not preuented the same by murthering of him first Hysmaell hauing victoriously subdued a great part of the Persian kingdome and filled all the East part of the world with the glorie of his name returned out of ASSYRIA into MEDIA and tooke in such cities and strong holds as were yet holden by the garrisons of the late Persian king And afterwards returning into ARMENIA made wars vpon the Albanians Iberians and Scythians which dwell vpon the borders of the Caspian For that those nations in auntient times tributaries vnto the Persian kings taking the benefit of the long ciuile warres wherewith the kingdome of PERSIA and all the Easterne countries with the ruine of the kings house had been of late turmoiled had neither paied anie tribute by the space of foure yeares nor sent anie honourable embassage as they were wont and as was expected especially in so great a victorie and alteration of the state Hysmaell hauing thus obtained the Persian kingdome in short time became famous through the world and was justly accounted amongst the greatest monarchs of that age But nothing made him more to be spoken of than the innouation he had made in the Mahometane superstition for by his deuise and commaundement a new forme of prayer was brought into their Mahometane temples farre differing from that which had been of long time before vsed By reason whereof Ebubekir Homer and Osman the successours of their great prophet Mahomet before had in great regard and reuerence began now to be contemned their writings nothing regarded and the honour of Hali exalted as the true and onely successour of their great prophet And because he would haue his subjects and the followers of his doctrine knowne from the Turkes and other Mahometanes he commaunded that they should all weare some red hatband lace or riband vpon their heads which they religiously obserue in PERSIA vntill this day whereof they are of the Turkes called Cuselbas or Redheads And in short time he had so vsed the matter that he was wonderfully both beloued and reuerenced of his subjects insomuch that his sayings were accounted for diuine oracles and his commaundements for lawes So that when they would confirme anie thing by solemne oath they would sweare by the head of Hysmaell the king and when they wished well to anie man they vsually said Hysmaell grant thee thy desire Vpon his coine which he made both of siluer and gold on the one side was written these words La illahe illalahu Muhamedun resul allahe which is to say There are no gods but one and Mahomet is his messenger And on the other side Ismaill halife lullahe which is to say Hysmaell the Vicar of God Whilest Hysmaell was thus wrestling for the Persian kingdome Chasan Chelife and Techellis whom wee haue a little before declared to haue beene brought out of the mountaines and desarts into the countrey villages and afterwards into the cities and to haue filled the countries of ARMENIA and a great part of the Lesser ASIA with the noueltie of their new doctrine and opinions first phantasied by one Giunet Siech and afterward reuiued by Haider Erdebill Hysmaell his father hauing gathered a great armie of such as had receiued their doctrine inuaded the Turkes dominion For after that Techellis this cold prophet had with wonderfull felicitie in the
presence of manie prognosticated of things to come and Hysmaell the Sophi of late a poore exiled and banished man was thought to haue growne vnto the highest type of worldly honours not by mans helpe but by vprightnesse of life and the fortunate passage of an vndoubted religion such a desire of receiuing that new superstition possessed the mindes of the people in generall that the cities and townes thereabouts were now full of them which in token of their new profession had taken vpon them the wearing of the red hat the knowne 〈◊〉 of the Cuselbas First they met togither at the citie of TASCIA at the foot of the mountâ—â—â—ne ANTITAVRVS or as the Turkish historie reports at the citie of ATTALIA to the number of ten thousand vpon a great Faire day where they laied hands vpon the chiefe magistrate of the citie and executed him setting his quarters vpon foure of the highest towers of the citie and farther persuaded by these new masters of this new superstition to take vp armes in defence of themselues and of their sincere religion as they tearmed it in case that anie violence should be offered them by the irreligious Turkes they all swore neuer to forsake their captaines for anie distresse or yet refuse anie labour or aduenture for the honour of their most holy religion as they would haue it in defence whereof they had alreadie vowed their soules and bodies These ringleaders of rebellion seeing the minds of their franticke followers so well prepared for their purpose and reposing a great confidence in their valour and resolution and withall considering that the money which was bountifully brought in vnto them by the countrey people partly for deuotion partly for feare was not sufficient to maintaine so great a multitude gaue leaue by publike proclamation to their vnruly followers to forage the countrey round about them and to liue vpon the spoile of them which would not receiue that new found doctrine Whereupon they deuiding themselues into diuers companies and raunging vp down the country brought into the campe great abundance of cattell and other such things as the countrey yeelded and forthwith their multitude still encreasing they entered into LYCAONIA a populous and fruitfull countrey where they refreshed themselues manie daies roaming vp and downe to the great grieuance and terrour of the people and brought such a feare vpon the whole countrey that they which dwelt in open dorpes and villages were glad to flie with their wiues children and goods into the strong citie of ICONIVM for proclamations were in manie places set vp in the names of Chasan Chelife and Techellis wherein manie both spirituall and temporall blessings were in most ample manner proposed to all such as should forthwith take part with them and follow that their new doctrine alreadie established in PERSIA But vnto such as should obstinatly perseuere in their old superstition after they had once drawne their sword was threatened vtter destruction without hope of pardon or life So that all the inhabitants thereabouts terrified with the terrour of this proclamation some for feare of death some vpon vnconstancie some for safegard of their goods and possessions dearer vnto them then any religion some other indebted infamous in danger of law beside manie fugitiue seruants daily resorted to these new masters Not long after whilest the Turks were making preparation for the suppressing of this dangerous rebellion certaine troupes of horsemen sent from Hysmaell came in good time to these new prophets for Hysmaell in fauour and furtherance of that new superstition had a little before by fit messengers exhorted them to proceed couragiously in their so religious an enterprise and to joyne martiall force vnto the religion they professed promising further not to bee wanting vnto them at their need but to send them skilfull leaders and from time to time to furnish them with coine for the maintenance of that warre All this Hysmaell did openly in despight of Baiazet of small beginnings to sow the seed of greater warre For he bearing an old grudge against Baiazet for the former warres betwixt the Turkes and the Persians as also for their disagreement in matters concerning their superstition and prickt forward with the heat of youth desired nothing more in the greatnesse of his power and prosperous successe of his affaires than to haue occasion to make wars with the Turkish king For which purpose he sent his embassadours vnto the state of VENICE to joyne with them in league and amitie in such forme ond sort as they had long time before by Catarinus Zenus Barbarus and Contarenus their embassadours concluded with Vsun-Cassanes the great Persian king his grandfather The chiefe things that he requested of the Venetians was That they would send him out of ITALIE by the way of SYRIA men skilfull in the casting of great ordinance and with their fleet to trouble Baiazet by sea promising in the meane time himselfe to fill ASIA the lesse with his army by land and so to giue a faire occasion vnto them to recouer by sea all such places as they had before in the late warres lost vnto the Turkes vpon the coast of PELOPONESVS and GRaeCIA The Venetians hauing with all courtesie entertained the embassadours gaue them answere That they would neuer be forgetfull of the antient league and amitie they had made with the Persian king the remembrance whereof was vnto their state a thing most pleasant and that they were wonderfull glad that the new king was an enemie vnto the Turke and had them in suc◠〈◊〉 as to participat vnto them the causes of that warre and farther to promise vnto them those tâ—â—ngs which if his grandfather Vsun-Cassanes or his vnckle Iacup would haue performed he should not now haue had need to make warres with the Turkish emperour But such was the alteration of things and times that as the Persian kings then liuing at home in peace thought it not good to stir whilest Baiazet was busie in EVROPE so now their state standing in far worse condition and fortune could not performe that which they heartily wished and most of all desired for that they thought it not good to breake the league which they had not long before made with Baiazet the Turkish emperour especially then when sundrie warlike nations of EVROPE conspiring togither and diuers mightie kings prouoked with no injurie but onely enuying at their happie estate made warres vpon them yet were neuerthelesse in good hope that God would stand in their just defence and still preserue their state which no enemies power had for the space of 700 yeares and more euer beene able to ouercome Wherefore they should shew vnto their king that they would as occasion should serue and as it should stand with the good of their state doe their vttermost deuoire to make him vnderstand that nothing was deerer vnto them than the friendship of so great a king nor anie thing more honourable than by mutuall counsell and combined
forces to assaile the Turke their common enemie Shortly after the embassadours hauing obtained nothing more than the hope of a league to be in time concluded and being honourably rewarded returned with their gallies to CYPRVS and so from thence to SYRIA where they had secret conference with Petrus Zenus the sonne of Catarinus Zenus a man famous for his embassage vnto Vsun-Cassanes into PERSIA gouernour of the Venetian merchants at DAMASCO Which thing Baiazet hauing intelligence of and of the passage of the Persian embassadors that way cōplained grieuously both by his embassadors and letters vnto Campson Gaurus Sultan of Aegypt that he dealt not as a friend and confederat with him in suffering those embassadours so to passe through the middest of SYRIA vnto the Christians their common enemies to stir them vp to warre Whereupon all the Venetian merchants which were at TRIPOLIS ALEPPO DAMASCO BERYTVS and ALEXANDRIA and especially Zenus himselfe were forthwith apprehended by the commandement of the great Sultan and carried in bonds to CAIER where they were manie times enforced in chaines to answere vnto such things as were laid to their charge and after they had by the space of a yeare endured the manifold despights of the prowd Mamalukes hardly obtained to escape with life and libertie The two seditious prophets Chasan and Techellis well strengthned with the aid of the Persians were now come vnto ICONIVM the most famous citie of LYCAONIA and wasting all the country before them drew a great multitude of people to receiue their new doctrine For the repressing of which outrages Orchanes and Mahomethes two of Baiazet his nephews who insteed of their fathers Alem Schach and Tzihan Schach the sonnes of Baiazet before dead gouerned those countries gathered togither their forces and disdaining to suffer such disgrace by such a rabble of rascall people in the sight of so famous a citie came into the field to giue them battell But they in their youthfull heat making too much hast and joyning battell in a place of disuantage were by the rebels ouerthrowne and put to flight Neither would these ringleaders in that victorie haue forborne to haue assailed ICONIVM but that they wanted artillerie and engines of war requisit for the besieging of cities Corcutus also one of the sonnes of Baiazet hauing at the same time leuied a conuenient army about THYATIRA SYPILVS MAGNESIA and PHOCEA durst not farther stur or set forward against the rebels although they lay dispersed about the countrey fast by him These new prophets with ensignes displaied marching from countrey to countrey through the heart of the lesser ASIA entered at length into BYTHINIA where neere vnto the riuer Sangarius they met with Caragoses Bassa the Viceroy of ASIA comming against them with a great army well appointed which he had a little before raised vpon the bruit of the comming of these rebels and had also commaunded Acomathes whom the Turkes call Achmetes the eldest sonne of Baiazet then liuing gouernour of the great countries of CAPADOCIA and PONTVS to raise his power and to follow at the backe of the rebels who if they should hap to be put to the worse would neither be able to retire neither to keepe the field being so shut vp betwixt two great armies But Techellis by his speedie comming frustrated these designes of the Viceroy for marching with all possible speed he was vpon Caragoses before he was well aware of his comming neere vnto the mountaine HORMYNVS as he was then taking vp of mo souldiours and daily expected the comming of others as if he had beene going against some puissant enemie The Viceroy seeing the rebels approach although he had before not purposed to haue encountred them before he had raised farre greater forces thought it not now to stand with his honour to refuse to giue them battell although his armie for most part consisted of the rude countrey peasants taken vp vpon the sudden out of PAPHLAGONIA GALATIA PONTVS and BYTHINIA raw souldiours and for most part vnarmed as commonly they are which in those countries are pressed against their wils out of the townes and villages and are of the Turkes called Asapi who of the Ianizaries are scarcely accounted for men But his greatest confidence he reposed in the approued valour of his auntient horsemen by whose meanes he doubted not in safetie to retire out of the battell and to saue himselfe if anie thing should fall out otherwise than well making no great account of the common souldiours more than by them if he could to weaken the force of the rebels who on the other side their greatest force consisting of footmen had no hope to saue themselues by flight but onely by plaine valour and dint of sword Which Techellis well considering exhorted his souldiours to remember into what countrey they were come and that there was no cities of refuge no new power no other gods of defence to flie vnto if they should not that day play the men Wherefore let vs couragiously said he set forward against our enemies and by victorie defend our liues togither with the truth of our religion for which we haue vowed both our soules and bodies He had scarce said thus much but that his whole army in token of cheerfulnesse gaue a most terrible shout without farther stay set vpon their enemies The Viceroy had placed his footmen in the maine battell in the middle and his horsemen in the wings thereby to haue compassed in his enemies but Techellis had set all his footmen in one great square battell and his Persian horsemen for a refuge But the Viceroy his freshwater souldiors could scarcely abide the sight of Techellis his army for in the front of the battell stood souldiours throughly armed and all the rest of his armie with red hats vpon their heads as if they had been embrued with bloud which wonderfully terrified the Bassaes cowardly and vnskilfull souldiors so that hauing endured the fight scarcely halfe an houre they all turned their backs and fled The Turkish horsemen which had valiantly assailed the rebels army on both sides although they had slaine manie with their arrowes and launces and somewhat disordered the battell for that the footmen were enforced to leaue their places and to presse still on forwards against them yet when Techellis his souldiours hauing ouercome the footmen and diuiding themselues into diuers squadrons began with their long pikes to kill their horses and to lay hardly vnto them they likewise betooke themselues to flight also Then the Persian horsemen which all this while had stood still as lookers on left their standings and following the chase slew manie of the Turkes in their disordered flight and following fast on enclosed the Viceroy as he was staying of his horsemen and could not for the thicknesse of the dust well discerne his enemies so that he had beene there taken if he had not beene speedily rescued by his guard and so deliuered from that danger The rest
of the Turkes horsemen saued themselues by flight In this battell seauen thousand of the Turkes footmen were slaine and all their ensignes taken with great store of prouision After which victorie Chasan and Techellis resting their armie one day marched to the citie of CVTAIE neere vnto the mountaine HORMINIVS This citie is scituated as it were in the middest of ASIA the lesse and is the seat of the Turkish emperours Viceroy in ASIA as SOPHIA in MoeSIA is for his other Viceroy in EVROPE For it was reported that the country people had for feare of the present warre conuaied thither the greatest part of their wealth and the rebels well knew that the Viceroy himselfe with his chiefe horsemen were fled thither also Neither doubted they but that all the armie might be greatly enriched by the wealth of that cittie if they should without delay employ their whole forces for the gaining thereof their enemies now altogither discouraged with their late ouerthrow Techellis also deeming that enterprise of so much worth as whereon to gage his whole forces comming before the citie placed such field pieces as he had before taken in the battell and his archers in such fit places as might most annoy the defendants afterwards hee caused scaling ladders to be set vp and proclamation made through all his campe That the whole spoile of the citie should be the souldiours if they could take it with promise of greater rewards to them that should first recouer the top of the walles Filled with this hope the rebellious multitude approched the wall fearing neither enemies force multitude of shot or danger of death striuing who should first mount the ladders and some clambering one in the necke of another so to get vp by the ruines of the wall The defendants in the meane time from aboue casting downe vpon them great stones timber fire scalding water lime sand and such like without measure Wherwith although many were ouerthrown and crusht to death or spoiled yet others presently stept vp in their place neither was anie of them seene for feare of so present danger to shrinke backe or be discouraged For the Viceroy on the one side and Techellis on the other were both eyewitnesses of euery mans valour in that hot seruice the one prickt forward with doubtfull hope for feare to be enforced to giue ouer the assault so begun and the other with the due regard of his honour life and state all subject to that danger and therefore in person himselfe performed all the parts of a woorthie cheefetaine and couragious souldior But at length the defendants wearied with the fierce assault of the enemie and for most part wounded Techellis continually sending in fresh men and withdrawing such as were hurt by plaine force brake into the citie in two places ouer the heapes of the dead bodies and hauing repulsed the defendants burst open one of the gates and thereby brought in his whole armie Then began a miserable slaughter of the souldiors and poore citisens in euery house and corner of the citie At which instant the pallace whether the viceroy had retired himselfe with his familie was also taken The viceroy himselfe with his wiues and children were there also taken prisoners and the stately pallace built of marble in a trice consumed with fire The rich citie of CVTAIE the seat of the great commander of the Turkish empire in ASIA thus taken by Techellis and his whole armie both beautified and enriched with the spoile therof he persuaded himselfe that it was now no hard matter for him to take the citie of PRVSA also the antient seat of the Turkish kings in BYTHINIA and so to endanger the whole state of the Turkes empire in ASIA if he should now without delay carrie the terrour of himselfe thither before the Turkes could in that countrey make head against him or the citizens be able in so suddaine a feare to make any sufficient prouision for the defence of themselues and their citie and so in the course of his good fortune to vse the courage and cheerefulnesse of his souldiors Wherefore appointing a day when he would set forward he commaunded all things necessarie to bee made readie for the taking of that rich citie being neither strongly walled neither furnished with any good garrison for the defence thereof But whilest hee was making this preparation a new armie lately shipt ouer the Hellespont from CALLIPOLIS into ASIA enforced him to change his former determination For Baiazet awaked at the name of Techellis and the fame of the new superstition now generally receiued in PERSIA had long before giuen commaundement to his sonnes nephewes and the viceroy of ASIA That they should with all carefulnesse prouide that that part of his kingdome tooke no harme thereby But after he saw Techellis of a poore hermit become a great captaine and backt also with the Persian king and all his dominions in ASIA now in danger of some great alteration he sent Alis Bassa ouer with his Europeian armie This Alis an eunuch borne in MACEDONIA yet for his courage comparable with the greatest captaines had for his many and worthie deserts in the time of the great emperour Mahomet Baiazet his father got vnto himselfe both the honour and name of a most famous cheefetaine He hauing made choice of the principall horsemen of EPIRVS MACEDONIA SERVIA ILLYRIA and THRACIA and joyning vnto them seuen thousand Ianizaries the most assured hope of the Turkes in all their expeditions passed ouer from CALLIPOLIS into PHRYGIA and vpon the way directed his letters vnto Achomates and Corcutus Baiazet his sonnes and to all the other Sanzackes and Gouernours of the Turkes prouinces in ASIA That they should with as much speed as they could raise their forces and meet him in GALATIA But Techellis aduertised of his comming thought it best for him to depart out of PONTVS and to retire to some place of more safetie least by longer staying he should be enclosed by his enemies repairing thither wards on euery side or els vpon some great disaduantage be enforced to joyne battaile for he saw that if he stayed neuer so little he should find no safe passage or place of refuge to retire vnto hauing left such large and spacious countries so many enemies cities so many great riuers so many discontented people behind him all which the first fauour of the vulgar sort and speedie course of his victorie had a little before laid open vnto him Wherefore calling together his captaines and most expert men of warre to consult vpon the matter it was generally thought to bee a point of meere madnesse or els of extreame necessitie with so small a power of vnskilfull souldiors without any sufficient strength of horsemen to joyne battaile with such an enemie as better knew the country than he and farre exceeded him both for the number and expertnesse of his souldiors Wherefore Techellis trussing vp the rich prey he had before gotten began now
peeces and plentie of victuals which he brought with him for feare of want in that bare countrey Techellis terrified with his comming hauing of late receiued no aid from Hysmaell the Persian king and wanting also great artillerie and besides that seeing his souldiors greatly both deminished and discouraged with the late battaile at OLYGA determined not vpon so great disaduantage to meet his enemie in the plaine field but to keepe the rough mountaine and thicke woods hoping that if he could be able any time to keepe those strong places hee should either receiue some aid from Hysmaell or by the heat of the Turkes leaders take them at some notable aduantage In the meane time many notable skirmishes passed betwixt the souldiors on both sides for the Turkes fetching a compasse oftentimes about the mountaines and seeking for the best passages by the easie rising of the hils came to skirmish with their enemies and Techellis his souldiors on the other side sallying many times out of the woods and abrupt places of the mountaines valiantly assailed the Turkes After they had a long time in this sort as if it had beene in disport rather proued their forces one vpon another than done any great matter the Turkes prying into euery corner at length perceiued two wayes whereby their whole armie with ensignes displayed might without any great difficultie bee brought vnto the top of the mountaine and so into their enemies strength The Bassa hauing well viewed and considered the places caused the Ianizaries at one instant to march vp to the mountaine by one of the aforesaid wayes and the rest of his armie by the other who with soft pace climing vp the steepe mountaines with their targuets defended themselues as well as they could against their enemies darts and shot For Techellis his souldiours hauing before taken the high mountaines and places of aduauntage cast downe vpon the Turkes great stones and shot without number as if it had beene out of some strong forts But the Turkes bending certaine small field peeces against the places which most annoied them easily draue them from their standings the harquebusiers still following their ensignes shrouded close vnder the targuetiers and deliuering their deadly shot as showers of raine vpon their enemies Whose desperat approch Techellis perceiuing caused a retreat to be sounded and with all his armie retired farther off into the higher mountaines and rougher woods The night following perceiuing that by the euill successe of the former skirmish he had lost a great part of his credit and strength he with great silence forsooke the woods and passing quite ouer the mountaines fled into ARMENIA then part of the Persian kingdome Neither did the Turkes perceiue their departure vntill it was light day and that their scouts entring the thicke woods and finding the enemies baggage with some wounded souldiors not able to flie brought newes vnto the Bassa of the enemies departure and of his speedie flight into ARMENIA Which thing when hee by them which were taken vnderstood to be certainely true fretting and chafing like a mad man that hee had not presently vpon the enemies retreat beset the wood round he sent his horsemen forthwith to pursue them but all in vaine for Techellis was by direct and knowne wayes gone into ARMENIA Some few straglers not able to make so much hast as the rest were ouertaken by the Turkes horsemen and brought backe to the Bassa Techellis thus put to flight Ionuses caused strait inquisition to be made through all the cities of the lesser ASIA for all such as had professed the Persian religion and them whom he found to haue borne armes in the late rebellion hee caused to be put to death with most exquisit torments the rest to be burnt in their foreheads with an hot yron thereby for euer to be knowne whom together with the kinsfolkes and friends of them that were executed or fled with Techellis he caused to be transported into EVROPE and to be dispersed through MACEDONIA EPIRVS and PELOPONESVS for feare least if Techellis now fled into the Persian kingdome should from thence returne with new forces they should also againe repaire vnto him and raise a new rebellion This was the beginning course and ending of one of the most dangerous rebellions that euer troubled the Turkish empire wherein all or at leastwise the greatest part of their dominions in ASIA might haue been easily surprised by the Persian king if he would thoroughly haue prosecuted the occasion and opportunitie then offered The remainder of Techellis his followers flying into PERSIA by the way lighting vpon a Carauan of merchants laden with silkes and other rich merchandise tooke the spoile thereof for which outrage comming to TAVRIS the captaines were all by the commandement of Hysmaell executed and Techellis himselfe to the terrour of others burnt aliue The next yeare which was the yeare 1509 the fourteenth day of September chanced a great and terrible earthquake in the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE and the countries thereabouts by the violence whereof a great part of the wals of that imperiall citie with manie stately buildings both publike and priuat were quite ouerthrowne and thirteene thousand people ouerwhelmed and slaine The terrour whereof was so great that the people generally forsooke their houses and lay abroad in the fields yea Baiazet himselfe then verie aged and sore troubled with the gout for feare thereof remoued from CONSTANTINOPLE to HADRIANOPLE but finding himselfe in no more safetie than before he left the citie and lay abroad in the fields in his tent This earthquake endured by the space of eighteene daies or as the Turkes histories report of a moneth with verie little intermission which was then accounted ominous as portending the miserable calamities which shortly after happened in the Othoman family After this earthquake ensued a great plague wherewith the citie was grieuously visited and for the most part vnpeopled But after that the earthquake was ceased and the mortalitie assuaged Baiazet caused the imperiall citie to be with all speed repaired and to that purpose gaue out commissions into all parts of his dominion for the taking vp of workmen so that there were at once in worke eightie thousand workmen who in most beautifull manner in the space of foure moneths againe repaired the ruines of that great citie Baiazet had by his manie wiues eight sonnes and six daughters which liued to be men and women growne and the sonnes all gouernours in diuers prouinces of his large empire whom the Turkish histories reckon vp in this order Abdullah Zelebi Alem Schach Tzihan Schach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Muhamet Yet Antonius Vtrius a Genoway who long time liued in Baiazet his court and as he of himselfe writeth waited in his chamber at the time of his death reckoning vp the sons of Baiazet maketh mention but of these six Sciemscia Alemscia Achomates Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus naming the forenamed by names something differing from the
kept with a verie great and strong garrison of most valiant soldiors that whither soeuer the clamour of the enemie or danger of the battell should call they might speedily from thence come with reliefe For why that citie of all others the greatest could not with so small power as Tomombeius then had be in euerie place and entrance sufficiently defended for within the circuit of MEMPHIS now called CAIRE are contained three great cities which joyned one to an other with stragling bridges make one citie whereof the greatest and most populous is at this day called New CAIRE It lieth in length six miles alongst the riuer Nilus from which it is equally distant a mile the breadth thereof exceedeth not a mile and a quarter In the middest thereof is a castle standing vpon a little rising ground somewhat higher than the rest of the citie more notable for the greatnesse and beautie thereof than for the manner of the fortification for in it were many princely gardens a faire street with many large galleries diuers faire tilt-yardes and courts with stately chambers opening euerie way the vtter part thereof was garnished round about with towers fortresses and beautifull battlements from whence all parts of the citie the riuer Nilus running by and the high Pyramides were most pleasantly to be seene Not far from this princely pallace is a lake made by the hand of man the water wherein deriued from the riuer Nilus is on euerie side enclosed with most stately buildings and is a place of wonderfull pleasure when as a man standing at a window may take both fish and soule whereof there is in the lake great store Another lake there is farre greater and fairer than this in forme of a triangle in the vttermost part of this New citie of CAIRE toward BVLACH it is filled at the rising of Nilus by a great sluce made of stone with yron floudgates and being joyned to the great riuer by a broad channell is able to beare small boats and barges wherin gentlemen for their disport vsed to solace themselues both by day and night in courting their mistresses The houses were all gallantly built afront all about the lake with porches garnished with open galleries and paued with smooth marble euen to the brim of the lake there the citisens in their more prosperous times vsed to row vp and down in boats and with pleasant musicke to delight the listening eares of the hearers On the East side of this lake stood a most sumptuous and stately pallace the late worke of queene Dultibe wife of the great Sultan Caitbeius for manner of the building and inward beautie farre exceeding the other proud buildings of this pleasant place for the wals glistered with red marble and pargeting of diuers colours yea all the house was paued with checker and tesseled worke the windowes and gates were made of alablaster white marble and much other spotted marble the posts and wickets of massie yourie checkered with glistering blacke ebonie so curiously wrought in winding knots as might easilier stay than satisfie the eies of the wondering beholder neither was the furniture in it inferiour to the magnificence of the building but such as might fitly answere both a princes state and a womans queint desire All which things shortly after Selymus hauing obtained the victorie carried to CONSTANTINOPLE not sparing the verie wals but plucking them downe so to take out the curious stones whole Beside the goodly buildings about that lake in euerie place of New CAIRE was to be seene the faire houses of the chiefe Mamalukes more commended for their commodiousnesse than for the manner of their building The rest of the buildings of the citie was but low replenished with the common sort of base people There are yet extant in diuers places of the citie three churches of the Christians whereof one is holden in greater reuerence than the rest for the fame of a low vault in the ground where it is reported the virgin Marie flying the furie of Herod to haue reposed her selfe with her child Christ Iesus the Sauiour of the world another dedicated to the virgin Barbara and the third to S. George which amongst those nations are of great fame Vnto the citie of New CAIRE the citie of BVLACH is joyned almost with continuall buildings It is of an high and stately building lying close vnto the riuer Nilus and was in Sommer time frequented by the Mamalukes and other noble men that they might at their pleasure from their high places behold the inundation of that famous riuer There land all the shipâ— which come vp the riuer yet the great meeting of the merchants is at New CAIRE On the other side of the riuer ouer against BVLACH are many cottages made of hurdles and leaues of date trees the dwellings of poore fishermen and watermen A little aboue BVLACH is old CAIRE which is also joyned vnto the new citie with continuall buildings yet distant from it about two miles and an halfe and standeth also fast by the riuer of Nilus Oueragainst it in the middest of the riuer is an island notable for the pleasantnesse of the gardens and banqueting houses therein In it is an antient temple famous for the loue of king Pharaos daughter and the danger of Moses a most auntient historie yet euerie where there still fresh in memorie But most part of the buildings of old CAIRE are now growne into gardens and rude ruines It is supposed by many probable conjectures that there sometime stood the auntient citie of MEMPHIS Vpon the banke of the riuer the late Sultan Campson built a sumptuous tower ouertopping the castle in new CAIRE to conuay water thither out of Nilus which being by many wheeles and ingenious deuises forced into the top thereof and there receiued into great cesterns was from thence by pipes of stone and lead conuaied into all places of the kings great pallace at new CAIRE About fiue miles distant from old CAIRE on AFRICKE side stand the Pyramides monuments of the barbarous Aegyptian kings vanitie whose proud names and titles Time hath worne out of those huge and wonderfull buildings of purpose made for the vaine eternising of their fame and endlesse wealth so that of them it may now well be said Miramur perijsse homines monumenta fatiscunt Interitus saxis nominibusque venit What wonder we that men doe die the stately tombes doe weare The verie stones consume to naught with titles they did beare Within them are the sepulchers of the old Aegyptian kings deuided into chappels garnished with stone of great price curiously wrought Yet are those places loathsome of smell and for darknesse thereof dreadfull to behold for as men go downe to come into them by a narrow way almost swarued vp with rubbidge their lights arâ— oftentimes put out with the dampe of the earth and swarmes of reremise flying about their eares Some hauing got to the tops of them report that the watch tower of ALEXANDRIA and
8. SOLYMAN SOLYMANNVS MAGNIFICVS TVRCARVM IMPRATOR QVARTVS FLORVIT ANNO 1520 Imperij Soliman patrij moderatur habenas Regnaque Christiadum cladibus vsque metit Antiquam capit ille Rhodon Naxumque Parumque Tyrrheni infestat Littora curua maris Pannonios multo populatur milite fines Et cingit muros clara Vienna tuos Inclyta Sigethi dum moenia concutit armis Cogitur hinc Stygiam nudus adire domum His fathers empire Solyman doth rule with mightie power And Christian kingdomes ceaseth not with slaughter to deuour The antient RHODES with NAXOS Isle and PAROS he did take And on the coasts of ITALIE did wofull hauocke make Faire HVNGARIE with armies great he often did annoy And with a world of men had thought VIENNA to destroy But whilest to SIGETH he laied siege in hope the same to haue Cut off by death in his great pride went naked to his graue THE LIFE OF SOLYMAN THE FOVRTH AND MOST MAGNIFICENT EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES THe death of Selymus was with all carefulnesse concealed by Ferhates the onely Bassa then present for feare least the Ianizarâ—es and souldiours of the court getting knowledge thereof should after their wonted manner in the time of the vacancie of the empire spoile the merchants and strangers in places where they lay in garrison and especially in the imperiall citie and not so contented after their accustomed insolencie prescribe vnto the greatest Bassaes at their pleasure For preuenting whereof Ferhates dispatched a trustie messenger with letters in post to Solyman the onely sonne of Selymus then lying at MAGNESIA certifying him of the death of his father and that he should deserue well of his peaceable subjects by hastening his comming to CONSTANTINOPLE whilest all things were yet in good order in time to represse with his presence the feared disordered proceedings of his men of warre Solyman hauing to his great content perused the Bassaes letters as one desirous enough of the empire yet considering the cruell disposition of his father who vpon a meere jealous conceit of his aspiring mind and for certaine words by him let fall in dislike of his fathers extreame dealing had practised most vnnaturally to haue taken him away by poison which danger he escaped onely by the carefulnesse of his mother who misdoubting the worst caused the poisoned rich shirt sent to him from his father to be first worne by one of his chamber whereof he in short time after died and also that the letters were signed onely by Ferhates and the newes not seconded from any of the other Bassaes fearing some hidden secret plot of his father tending to his distruction durst not aduenture to remoue from his charge but returned the messenger as one to whom he gaue little or no credit Ten daies thus spent and the death of Selymus nothing as yet suspected Ferhates vnderstanding by his messenger the warinesse of Solyman and that he expected more assured aduertisement sent presently vnto the other great Bassaes Pyrrhus and Mustapha at HADRIANOPLE that they should without delay repaire vnto the court vnto whom at their comming he declared the death of the emperour Which after they had seene to be true they by an other secret and speedie messenger aduertised Solyman againe thereof firming those letters with all their hands and seales whereby Solyman now assured of his fathers death presently put himselfe vpon the way and by long and painfull journies in few daies came to SCVTARIVM called in auntient time CRISOPOLIS ouer against CONSTANTINOPLE Where he was met with the Aga or captaine of the Ianizaries and by him transported in a gallie ouer that straight passage to CONSTANTINOPLE where at his landing the Ianizaries by the appointment of their captaine were readie to receiue him knowing as yet nothing of the death of Selymus vntill that Solyman being now in the middest of them the captaine with a loud voice said vnto them Behold your emperour Whereupon they all with great acclamation cried out Long liue the great emperour Solyman which consent of the men of warre is vnto the Turkish emperours the greatest assurance of their estate And so with much triumph he was by them brought into the royall pallace and placed in his fathers seat in the yeare 1520 in which yeare also Charles the fift was chosen emperour of GERMANIE The Ianizaries disappointed by the Bassaes of the spoile of the merchants especially Christians and Iewes receiued of the bountie of Solyman a great largious and in the beginning of his raigne had their accustomed wages somewhat augmented also to their wonderfull contentment Solyman was about twentie eight years old when he began to raigne and was at the first supposed to haue been of a mild and peaceable disposition so that the princes to whom the name of Selymus was before dreadfull were now in hope that a quiet lambe was come in place of a raging lyon But in short time they found themselues in that their expectation farre deceiued and especially the Christian princes bordering vpon him vnto whom he became a farre more dangerous enemie than was his father before him conuerting his forces most part of his long raigne vpon them which Selymus had almost altogither emploied against the kings of PERSIA and AEGYPT the greatest princes of the Mahometane superstition The first that felt his heauie hand was Gazelles Gouernour of SYRIA who presently vpon the death of Selymus thinking himselfe now discharged of the oath of obedience which he had giuen to Selymus but not to his successours and earnestly desiring to restore againe the kingdome of the Mamalukes lately ouerthrowne gathered togither the remainder of the dispersed Mamalukes which speedily resorted vnto him out of all parts of ASIA and AFRICKE and alluring with rewards the leaders of the wild Arabians with great numbers of the countrey people of SYRIA discontented with the Turkish gouernment entred into open rebellion and by force of armes draue the Turkes garrisons out of BIRTHA TRIPOLIS and diuers other cities of SYRIA taking them into his owne possession And the better to effect that he had taken in hand he sent embassadours to CAIRE vnto Cayerbeius who had of Selymus receiued the gouernment of Aegypt the vnworthie reward of his horrible treason persuading him by any meanes to take reuenge of the injurie and wrong before done to the Mamalukes and by killing of the Turkes garrisons to make himselfe Sultan of Aegypt and restore againe the kingdome of the Mamalukes offering him therein the vttermost of his deuoire and seruice But Cayerbeius either not trusting Gazelles his old enemie or ashamed by new treason to augment his former dishonour or els which was most like misdoubting his own strength in performance of so great an enterprise after he had attentiuely heard what the embassadours had to say caused them presently in his owne sight to be put to death as traitors and with all speed certified Solyman therof who without delay sent Ferhates bassa with a strong armie
into SYRIA Which thing Gazelles hearing and hauing in his power most of the cities of SYRIA retired himselfe with all his armie into the strong citie of DAMASCO whither at length Ferhates the great Bassa by long march came also Gazelles resolued to trie the fortune of the field and so either by speedie victorie or honourable death to end the matter rather than to suffer himselfe to bee shut vp within the wals of the citie vpon the comming of the Bassa valiantly issued forth with all his power and gaue him battell which for the space of six houres was most cruelly fought and many slaine on both sides At length Gazelles being oppressed with the multitude of his enemies being eight times more in number and hardly assailed on euerie side was enforced to fight in a ring and there performing all the parts of a worthie Generall and valiant souldiour honourably died togither with his Mamalukes in the middest of his enemies leauing vnto them a bloudie victorie Gazelles thus slaine the citie of DAMASCO with all the countrey of SYRIA without any more adoe yeelded againe vnto the Turkes obedience which the Bassa tooke in so good part that he would not suffer his souldiours to enter into the citie then richly stored with commodities of all sorts brought thither by merchants out of diuers parts of the world SYRIA thus pacified the Bassa went to CAIRE in AEGYPT and there commending Cayerbeius for his fidelitie confirmed him in his gouernment and enuying against the crueltie of Selymus so to please the Aegyptians wished them to hope for all happinesse vnder the peaceable gouernment of the new Sultan Solyman And so when he had set all things in order in both the prouinces of SYRIA and AEGYPT returned againe to Solyman The yeare next following Solyman by the counsell of Pyrrhus Bassa his old tutor a mortall enemie vnto the Christians and by the persuasion of the Ianizaries resolued to besiege the strong citie of BELGRADE otherwise called TAVRVNVM scituat vpon the borders of HVNGARIE where the riuer Saâ—us falleth into Danubius Which citie his great grandfather Mahomet surnamed named the Great and before him the warlike Amurath had with all their power long time before to their great losse and dishonour vainely attempted Wherein vntill that time were reserued the ensignes then taken from the Turkes to their no small griefe with other trophies of the glorious victories of the worthie captaine Huniades and the great king Mathius Coruinus his sonne Wherefore Solyman sending his armie before was come as farre as SOPHIA a citie in SERVIA the place where the Turks great lieutenant in EVROPE is alwaies resiant before that the Hungarians were aware of his comming for they liuing at ease all the time that Vladislaus raigned and now sleeping in securitie vnder the young king Lodouicus his sonne a man of no experience who contenting himselfe with the title of a king suffered himselfe to be pilled and polled by his nobilitie and great cleargiemen inuerting all the wealth of the land to their owne priuat gaine that he was not able to raise any sufficient power to go against his puissant enemie especially his nobilitie in whose hands rested the wealth of his kingdome promising him much but performing indeed nothing Huniades with his hardie souldiours the scourge and terror of the Turks was dead long before so was also Mathias that fortunat warriour after whom succeeded others giuen all to pleasure ease to whose example the people fashioning themselues forgot their wonted valour and gaue themselues ouer to sensualitie and voluptuous pleasure So that Solyman without let presented his armie before the citie of BELGRADE and with batterie and vndermining in short time became lord thereof hauing lost few of his people in that siege How much the losse of that strong citie concerned the Christian common weale the manifold and lamentable miseries which afterwards ensued by the opening of that gap not vnto the kingdome of HVNGARIE onely but to all that side of Christendome did and yet doth most manifestly declare It was woon by the Turkes the nine and twentith day of August in the yeare 1521. After the taking of the strong citie of BELGRADE Solyman returning to CONSTANTINOPLE brake vp his armie and there lay still almost all the yeare following During which time he caused great preparation to be made at GALIPOLIS and other his ports for rigging vp of a great fleet which caused the Italians Venetians and them of the RHODES to looke about them as men carefull of their estates fearing that those forces would eare long be imploied against some or all of them About the same time Philippus Villerius a man of great wisedome and courage then following the French court was in his absence by the knights of the RHODES chosen Great master of that honourable companie who embarking himselfe at MARCEILLES after a long and dangerous journey being not without the knowledge of Solyman hardly laid for at sea by Cortug-ogli a famous pirat of the Turkes whose two brethren the knights of the RHODES had but a little before surprised at sea and slaine and then held the third in prison arriued in safetie at the RHODES where he was with great joy and triumph receiued The great Bassa by whose graue aduise Solyman was contented in all his waightie affaires to be directed consulting with the other Bassaes of diuers great exploits which was first to be taken in hand for the honour of their emperour and enlarging of his empire were of diuers opinions concerning the besieging of the RHODES Pyrrhus the Bassa of greatest account dissuaded the taking in hand of that action as too full of difficultie and danger producing for proofe thereof the example of the great emperour Mahomet Solymans great grandfather by whom it was vnfortunatly attempted and in fine shamefully abandoned But Mustapha next in place and reputation to Pyrrhus extolling the power and fortune of Solyman said That the greatnesse of their emperor was not to be concluded within the attempts of his predecessors as well appeared by the late taking of BELGRADE from whence first Amurat and after him Mahomet two of the most warlike princes of the Turkes had with great dishonour beene repulsed and should no doubt with like good fortune preuaile against the RHODES also being able if need were to bring more men before it than were stones in the wals thereof Which he so confidently affirmed with extenuating the power of the Rhodians that he seemed to make no doubt of the good successe of that warre presumptuously affirming that vpon the first landing of Solymans great armie they of the RHODES would without delay yeeld themselues and their citie into his hands Amongst others of great experience whose opinions Solyman was desirous to haue before he would take so great a matter in hand was the famous pyrat Cortug-Ogli a man of a mischieuous and cruell nature but of great experience in sea matters Who presented to
Solyman by Mustapha and Ferhates two of the greatest Bassaes going before him after due reuerence done and commaunded to deliuer his opinion spake vnto Solyman as followeth The greatnesse of your deserts most mightie and puissant emperour maketh me being by you so commaunded at this time frankely to speake what I thinke may be for the glorie and honour both of your maiestie and empire I dayly heare the pitifull lamentation of the miserable people of MITYLENE EVBoeA PELOPONESVS ACHAIA CARIA LYCIA and all alongst the sea coast of SYRIA and AEGIPT bewayling the spoile of their countries the ransacking of their cities the taking away of their cattell and people with other infinit and incredible calamities which they dayly suffer of the crossed Rhodian pirats no man withstanding them many a time haue these wretched people holden vp their hands to me for helpe most instantly requesting me to be a meane for them to your imperiall Maiestie whereby they might be protected from the iniurie rapine and slaughter of these cruell rouers Wherefore in their behalfe I beseech your sacred Maiestie by the most reuerend name of the holy prophet Mahomet and by your owne most heroicall disposition to deliuer your afflicted subiects from these their most cruell enemies and at length to set them free from the furie captiuitie and feare of these pyrates more greeuous vnto them than death it selfe and consider with your selfe that this iniurie and insolencie tendeth not so much to the hurt of your poore subiects and oppressed people in priuat as to the dishonour and disgrace of your imperiall name and dignitie which if any other Christian king or prince should offer your Maiestie I know would not suffer vnreuenged and will you then suffer these robbers cut-throats base people gathered out of all the corners of Christendome to wast your countries spoile your cities murder your people and trouble all your seasâ— for who can passe by sea to TRIPOLIS DAMASCO ALEXANDRIA CAIRE CHALCIDE LESBOS CHIOS nay vnto this your imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE without most certain and manifest danger of these rouers What haue we heard euerie Spring this manie yeares but that the Rhodians had taken some one or other of your ports led away your people into miserable captiuitie and carried away with them the rich spoiles of your countries And that which is of all other things most dishonourable this they doe vnder your nose and in your sight in the middest and heart of your empire Pardon me I beseech you most mightie emperour if I too plainely speake what I thinke For whatsoeuer I say I say it to no other end but that you should now at length doe that which should manie yeares agoe haue been done We your most loiall subiects may not nor ought not for the encrease of our Mahometane religion and for the enlarging of your empire and honour to refuse to aduenture our goods our bodies our liues to all hazard and danger without exception If you likewise be caried with loue of glorie and renowne or rauished with the desire of neuer dying fame in what wars can you more easily gaine the same or better imploy vs your seruants than in vanquishing and subduing the RHODES the reputed bulwarke of Christendome which onely keepeth vs from their countries But some will perhaps say your auncestors haue in former times vnfortunately attempted that citie so did they also BELGRADE in HVNGARIE yet hath your happie fortune to your immortall fame brought the same vnder your subiection being far more strongly fortified than it was in times past and doe you then despaire of the RHODES Cast off such vaine and needlesse misdoubt the Turkish empire hath alwaies growne by aduentures and honourable attempts therefore make hast to besiege it both by sea and land If your subiects mourning vnder the heauie burthen of the Christian captiuitie built it with their owne hands for the Christians cannot they now at libertie desirous of reuenge and fitted with oportunitie with like hands destroy the same If it please you to vouchsafe but to looke into the matter most dread Soueraigne you shall see that there is a diuine occasion by the procurement of our great prophet Mahomet presented vnto your most sacred Maiestie now that the Christians of the West are at discord and mortall warre amongst themselues Your Maiestie is not ignorant that in managing of warres the oportunitie of time is especially to be followed and that when occasion serueth all remissenesse and delay is to be carefully auoided the changes of times are most tickle and if you suffer your good hap now to passe ouer you shall perhaps in vaine afterwards pursue the same when it is fled and gone Solyman by nature an ambitious young prince prickt forward thus also by the persuasions of Cortug-Ogli and others seeking their further credit and preferment by fitting his ambitious humour but most of all by the instigation of the Bassa Mustapha resolued to goe in person himselfe against the RHODES And first to make some proofe of what spirit and courage Villerius the new chosen Great Master was of in whose sufficiencie the greatest part of the defence of the citie was supposed to consist to him by way of a little cold friendship he sent a messenger with this short letter thus directed Solyman by the grace of God King of Kings Lord of Lords greatest Emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE and TRAPEZOND most mightie king of PERSIA ARABIA SIRIA and AEGIPT lord of ASIA and EVROPE prince of MECHA and ALEPPO ruler of HIERVSALEM and Master of the Vniuersall sea to the reuerend Father Phillippus Villerius Lilladamus Great Master of the RHODES and Legat of ASIA greeting I am glad of thy comming and new promotion which I wish thou maiest long and happely enioy for that I hope thou wilt in honour and fidelitie exceed all them which haue before thee ruled in the RHODES from whom as my ancestors haue withdrawne their hand so I after their example ioine with thee in amitie and friendship Ioy thou therefore my friend and in my behalfe reioice of my victorie and triumph also for this last Summer passing ouer Danubius vith ensignes displaied I there expected the Hungarian king who I thought would haue giuen me battell I tooke from him by strong hand BELGRADE the strongest citie of his kingdome with other strong holds thereabouts and hauing with fire and sword destroied much people and carried away many moe into captiuitie as a triumphant conquerour breaking vp mine armie am returned to my imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE from whence farewell The Great Master hauing read these letters and well considered of the same perceiued forthwith Solymans meaning and that peace was offered him in words and shew but war in deed and meaning Which because he was readie by force to repulse he rewarded the Turks messenger and sent backe with him another of his owne a priuat person For the Rhodians did seldome vouchsafe to send any honourable embassadours to
thereof before you haue attempted the warre Beware you deceiue not your selfe mens expectations neuer deceiue them more than in warres Farewell from the RHODES The other letters written to Pyrrhus were to this effect Philippus Villerius Liladamus Great master of the Rhodes to Pyrrhus the Bassa I haue aduisedly considered thy letters with the behauiour and disposition of thy messenger As I contemne not thy counsell so will I not follow the same whilest my men of warre doe spoile the countries and ports of thy lord and master which I beare withall by reason of the iniuries they haue sâ—stained of the Turkish pirats But I will call them home and will send embassadours vnto thy great lord so that thou before send me safe conduct vnder thy masters great seale for their safe comming and returne Farewell from the RHODES But these letters were neuer deliuered vnto the great Turke or the Bassa for as soone as the Turkish messenger was come ouer into the maine he presently tooke horse which was there in readinesse for him and posted towards CONSTANTINOPLE with as much speed as he could leauing the Christian messenger his companion behind him who returning backe againe to the RHODES and telling what he had heard and seene gaue them all great occasion to dispaire of peace whereupon Villerius sent into CRETE to hire certaine companies of Cretensian archeâ—â— In the meane time aduertisement was giuen vnto the Great master by letters from the island of NAXOS That the Turkes were readie to put their fleet to sea with the first appearance of the new Moone which thing they most superstitiously obserue in the beginning of all their great actions The same newes was brought also by certaine merchants of the island of PATâ—MOS who came to the RHODES with a great ship laded with corne from EVBoeA vnder the colour of the sale whereof they by the commaundement of the Turkes to whom they were tributaries diligently noted all that was done in the citie shortly to be besieged The Great master with no lesse diligence sent diuers of his small gallies amongst the islands and alongst the maine to learne what might be of the enemies doings Ioannes Lupus one of the knights of the order and captaine of one of these gallies meeting with a great ship of the Turkes laded with corne tooke her and brought her home to the RHODES But Alphonsus captaine of another of the gallies lying in harbour in one of the islands and suffering his men to straggle too farre into the land was set vpon by a Turkish pirat and taken About the same time the Turks by often fires made vpon the maine in the night season gaue signe vnto the Rhodians that they were desirous to haue some parley with them as their manner was Wherupon one Meneton a French man one of the knights by commandement of the rest of the order was sent with a gallie well appointed to the maine to see what the matter might be and with him was joyned Iacobus Xaycus paymaster for the gallies that he might of the inhabitants of the place and his friends there dwelling diligently enquire of all things concerning the intended warre for this Xaycus besides that he was a skilfull sea man and one that knew the coast well had also good experience in ciuile affairs and was wonderfully beloued and made of by the Turkish merchants whose language hee had perfectly learned Drawing neere the shoare he found the Turkish merchants making merrie vpon the maine with their carpets cotten wooll and such like merchandise about them as they vsed to exchange with the Rhodian merchants for woollen cloathes vnto these merchants he gaue due salutations gaging his faith for their safetie and they likewise to him But being requested to come ashoare to make merrie vntill one of his familiar and old acquaintance might be sent for who as they said was not farre off he answered that he could not so doe except they would first deliuer a pledge for him a shipboord The perfidious Turkes laughing as it were at his needlesse feare willingly sent their merchandise and a pledge aboord the gallies Xaycus then going ashoare and embracing the Turkish merchants which met him vpon a signe giuen was forthwith beset on euerie side and taken prisoner and by post horses conuaied with all speed to CONSTANTINOPLE where he was with most exquisit torments that could be deuised for any man to endure enforced to confesse whatsoeuer his cruell enemies could desire After Xaycus was by treacherie thus lost then began their prouident wisedome to be highly commended which were the occasion that the decree made for sending embassadours vnto the Turke was againe reuoked The hostage giuen for Xaycus being brought to the RHODES and examined was found to be a simple countrey fellow whom the Turkes had of purpose well apparelled to deceiue the Rhodians who frankly and plainly according to his simple knowledge answered to all things that were of him demaunded as that the Turkes were making great preparation for sea vpon the coasts of CARIA and LYCIA and had taken vp many souldiours in the countries thereabouts to send vnto the frontiers of his dominions towards SYRIA for defence of the same against the Persians All which was true For Solyman to put the Rhodians out of all suspition of inuasion whom hee knew carefully to obserue his doings sent those souldiours whom he had leuied in the countries neerest vnto the RHODES farre away against the Persian as if he had meant nothing against the RHODES and so vpon the sudden to set vpon them with his armie brought out of EVROPE before they were aware But this his deuise serued to small purpose for the Great Master perceiuing by many circumstances but especially by that late calamitie of Xaycus that the RHODES was the place the Turkish tyrant longed after and fearing that delay might bring farther danger caused a cessation from all other businesse to be proclaimed vntill all things necessarie for defence of the citie were accomplished watch and ward was kept in euerie street the great artillerie planted vpon the wals and bulwarks companies appointed for the defence of euerie place the publike armorie full of all warlike prouision was open all the streets were full of men carrying weapons some to one place some to another At which time a generall muster was taken by the chiefe men of the Order where were found about 5000 free men able to beare armes amongst whom were 600 knights of the Order and 500 souldiours of CRETE the rest were for most part marriners able bodies who in the time of the siege did great seruice encouraged by their sea captaines the island people which repaired into the citie serued to little other purpose but to dig and carrie earth vnto the rampiers and the citizens except it were some few of the better sort were for the most part weake and of small courage not able to endure any labour or paines and yet hardly to be
kept in order and gouerned great speakers but small doers greater in shew than in deed The Great Master hauing carefully prouided and ordered all things needfull for defence of the citie and fearing nothing more than the faint hearts of the citisens caused them all to bee called together for encouragement of whom hee spake vnto them as followeth Valiant gentlemen and worthie citisens we heare that the Turke our mortall enemie is comming against vs with a huge armie raised of diuers nations from whose naturall crueltie and wonted periurie except we defend our selues by force one and the selfe same danger is like to befall me my knights and you all For wee haue with common consent and hand greeuously spoiled him both by sea and land and you are by booties taken by strong hand out of his dominions enriched and at this day we keepe his people in greeuous seruitude and he ours but he iniuriously and we most iustly For his ancestors wearie of the darke dennes and caues of the mountaine CAVCASVS their naturall dwelling without right title or cause incited onely with couetousnesse ambition and the hatred of our most sacred religion haue driuen the Christians out of SYRIA and afterwards oppressed the Grecians in GRECIA where not contented to haue destroied the people with one simple kind of death as barbarisme is euer cruell and mercilesse they haue with most exquisit and horrible torments butchered many thousands of that nation All whom this wicked proud youth whose mischeefe exceedeth his yeares aâ— euill neighbour to all men not contented with the dominions of ARABIA SYRIA AEGIPT the greatest part of ASIA and of many other places moe seeketh in tyrannie murther spoile periurie and hatred against Christ and Christians farre to excell and forceth himselfe to the vttermost of his power to take from vs our Islands and to subdue the Christian countries that so at length being lord of all and commaunder of the World he may at his pleasure ouerthrow the Christian cities kill the Christians and vtterly root out the Christian name which he so much hateth For the repulsing of which intollerable iniurie we haue especially chosen this Island of the RHODES for our dwelling place because the same seemed more commodious than any other for the annoying of this barbarous nation We haue done what in vs lay holpen by you we know by proofe your great valor and fidelitie which we now haue not in any distrust Wherefore I will not vse many words to persuade you to continue in your fidelitie and loyaltie neither long circumstance to encourage you to play the men sithence worthie minds are not with words either encouraged or dismaied But concerning my selfe and my knights of the Order I will speake a few words I wiâ—â— them with whom as I hope the Christian princes and other my knights of the West will in good time ioine their forces are most readie and prest to defend your selues your children your wiues your goods the monuments of your ancestours and sacred temples dedicated to the seruice of our God Which opinion that it may remaine firme and fix in your minds if nothing els my faithfulnesse in your warres my bodie not yet altogether spent but able enough to endure paines and trauell the nobilitie of these worthie knights of the Order their loue towards you and their hatred towards your enemies were sufficient to confirme but beside this the strength of this citie which this noble Order hath with infinit charges so notably fortified with ditches wals towers and bulwarkes against all the force and furie of artillerie is such that no citie may worthely be compared much lesse preferred before the same It is wonderfully stored with all kind of weapons and war like prouision we haue laid vp plentie of wine flesh and corne in vaults so that neither wet weather nor wormes can attaint the same of wood and wholesome water not to be taken from vs things necessarie for men besieged we haue plentie and able men ynow for the defence of the citie All which things promise vnto vs assured victorie and such end of the warre as we wish for Besides this Necessitie which giueth courage euen vnto cowards will enforce vs to fight Yet standeth on our side true religion faith conscience deuotion constancie the loue of our countrey the loue of our libertie the loue of our parents wiues children and whatsoeuer els we hold deare Wheras they bring with them the proud commaund of their captaines infidelitie impietie vnconstancie a wicked desire of your bondage of your bloud and the bloud of your parents wiues and children Out of doubt beloued citisens our good God will not suffer so many good vertues to be ouercome by their foule vices Wherefore be you in minds quiet and secure and trouble not your selues with forboding feare of your enemies onely continue in the fidelitie and loyaltie which you haue alwaies kept inuiolat and vnspotted toward this sacred and honourable fellowship in most dangerous wars and hardest chances of fortune and if need shall so require with courageous hand shew your valour against your enemies and 〈◊〉 it knowne vnto the Spaniards French Italians Hungarians and English That the Rhodians are of power to daunt the Turkish pride and to auert their fleets and armies from ITALIE which they haâ—e so many yeares threatened with fire and sword and will no doubt thither with all speed hasten and come if that which my mind abhorreth to speake they should here preuaile Neither will this ambitious youth in courage falshood and crueltie exceeding Hanniball imitate him in that that hauing ouerthrowne the Romanes in the great battell at â—ANNAS knew not to vse his victorie but he will presently with more than Caesarsâ—eleritie â—eleritie bring forth the treasures his father got in AEGIPT and with great fleets and huge armies inuade APVLIA CALABRIA and SICILIA from whence he will forthwith breake into FRANCE and afterwards into SPAINE and other Christian countries raging through them with all kind of crueltie But I am caried away further than I purposed and than need is For your fidelitie and valor most worthie citisens to endure the siege and repulse the enemie is such as needeth not my persuasion and of greater resolution than that it can be shaken with the dangers incident to men besieged Yet the greatest and most forcible miseries of all which is hunger and thirst I assure you you shall neuer feele which pinching calamities for all that some people in faithfulnesse courage and valour nothing comparable to you haue neuerthelesse most constantly endured For they of PETELINVM besieged by the Carthaginensians for want of victuall thrust their parents and children out of the citie the longer to hold out the siege and liued themselues with hides and leather sod or broiled and leaues of trees and manie other homely things by the space of eleuen months and could not be ouercome vntill they wanted strength longer to stand vpon the wals and to
hold their weapons in their hands They of CASSILINVM besieged by Hanniball held out vntill a poore mouse was sold for much monie You must of necessitie keepe watch and ward in your Stations if your houses chance to be beaten downe with the enemies artillerie you must haue patience for why they shall bee repaired againe and it is not a matter of such importance that we should therfore yeeld vnto our enemies in whose courtesie and fidelitie no assurance is to be reposed For besides that he is by nature cruell and vnfaithfull he can by no meanes be gentle and faithfull towards vs which haue done him so much harme who onely as he himselfe saith haue oftentimes to his greefe interrupted the course of the victories of him the conquerour both of sea and land whom he hath so manie times assailed by open force with all his strength wit craft deceit and policie yet alwaies hetherto in vaine almightie God still protecting vs whom aboue all things most deare citisens I wish you to serue and call vpon For except he keepe and defend the citie the watchmen doe but watch in vaine This cheerefull speech wonderfully encouraged the hearets especially the vulgar sort easily carried away with pleasing words But whilest they in their jolitie dreame of nothing but of triumph and victorie the wiser sort possessed with care ceased not to doe what in them lay to procure That the good commonly forewished might in fine come to effect Amongst others Clement bishop of the Greekes a man both for his place and deuout manner of liuing had in great reputation amongst them laboured earnestly by dayly exhortations to persuade the Greekes his countreymen in that great and common danger with heart and hand to joine with the Latines in defence of the citie for although the gouernment was altogether in the Great Master and his Knights which were Latines yet the people both of the Island and citie were for most part Greekes who liked not altogether so well of the Latine gouernment but that they did many times repine thereat Howbeit the matter was at that time so ordered by the good persuasion of the bishop and good gouernment of the Great Master that they all agreed as one man to spend their liues in defence of the citie and were so farre from feare of the comming of the barbarous enemie that many of the vulgar people in whom appeareth commonly more heat than wit wished rather for his comming than otherwise But looke what they had fondly wished proued afterwards to their costs ouer true For within a few nights after the Turkes by fire made in the night time vpon the maine gaue signe of parley vnto the Rhodians Whereupon a gallie well appointed with a long boat was presently set forth to see what the matter was which drawing neere vnto the shore was hailed by a Turke accompanied with a troupe of horsemen desiring the captaine of the gallie to send some on shore with whom they might more conueniently parley which thing the captaine refusing What said the Turke art thou afraid of Xaycus fortune To whom the captaine in threatening manner answered againe Xaycus whom you haue contrarie to your faith and oath taken troubleth me not neither am I afraid of you whom I trust not but if you haue any thing to say let me heare it or els get you further off otherwise I will speake to you by the mouth of the cannon Then one of the Turks comming to the water side laid downe letters vpon a stone saying that in them was contained that they had in charge which said he presently set spurs to his horse and departed with the rest of his companie The captaine sending out his long boat for these letters found them directed in this sort Solyman by the grace of God King of Kings Lord of Lords most mightie Emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE and TRAPEZONDE c. vnto the reuerend father Philippus Villerius Lilladamus Great Master of the RHODES to his knights and all his people in generall The purport of which letter was as followeth The compassion I haue of my distressed subiects and the great iniurie you doe me hath moued â—e to wrath Wherefore I commaund you without delay to yeeld vnto mee the Island and citie of the RHODES willingly and charitably graunting you leaue safely to depart with all your riches or to tarrie if you 〈◊〉 please vnder my obeisance your libertie and religion in no part infringed with anâ—e tribute or imposition If you be wise preferre friendship and peace before bloudie warre for vnto them which are by force subdued are reserued all extremities which the miserable vanquished vse to suffer of the angrie conquerour from which neither your owne force nor forraine aid nor huge wals which I will vtterly ouerthrow shall be able to defend you fare you well All which shall assuredly be performed if you shall make choice rather of my friendship than of my force wherein you shall neither be deceiued nor circumuented I take to witnesse God the creator of heauen and earth the foure writers of the Euangelicall historie the fourscore thousand prophets descended from heauen amongst them out highest prophet Mahomet the reuerend ghosts of my father and grandfather and this my sacred and imperiall head From our pallace at CONSTANTINOPLE When these letters were openly read in the Counsell chamber at the RHODES some were of opinion That it was good to answere the Turkish tyrant roundly thereby to giue him to vnderstand that they were not afraid of his threats othersome thought it no wisedome with hard words to prouoke so great an enemie to further displeasure Thus whilest euery man would haue framed an answere according to his owne disposition in conclusion it was agreed vpon to giue him no answere at all The same day these letters came to the RHODES which was the foureteenth day of Iune one of the Turkes great commaunders at sea with thirtie gallies the forerunners of the Turkish fleet arriued at the Island of CHOS famous in antient time for the birth of Hippocrates the great physition and the wonderfull picture of Venus left there vnperfited by Apelles which for the excellencie thereof neuer man durst afterward take in hand to perfect which fruitfull and pleasant Island was then at the arriuall of the Turkes part of the dominion of the RHODES The Admirall of this fleet here landing his Turkes began to burne the corne which was then almost ripe with the countrey villages round about With which injurie Preianes gouernour of the Island a man of great courage and valour moued with a chosen companie of footmen and certaine troupes of horsemen suddainely set vpon the Turkes in diuers places disperced abroad far into the countrey with such a terrible crie of the countrey people and instruments of warre that the Turkes being therewith amazed ran away as if they had been mad and were many of them slaine without resistance and had not the gallies lien neare the
shore to receiue them that were able to flie thither there had not one of them which landed escaped the hands of the Island people The Turkes hauing receiued this losse left the Island and put to sea againe The Rhodians for the most part now assured and out of doubt of the comming of the Turks by the persuasion of Gabriell Pomerolus vicemaster and other men of great experience pluck downe the suburbes of the citie and laid them euen with the ground their pleasant orchards also and gardens neeâ—e vnto the citie they vtterly destroyed the Great Master for example sake beginning first with his owne beeing a place of great delicacie lying vnder the wals neere vnto the French bulwarke and taking into the citie all such things as they thought needfull for the enduring of the siege they vtterly destroyed all the rest were it neuer so pleasant or commodious within a mile of the towne leauing all that space as euen and bare as they could possibly make it to the intent that the enemie at his comming should find nothing neere the citie whereof to make vse But whilest the pleasures and delights of the suburbes are thus in defacing another more heauie and wofull sight presented vnto the eies of the citisens filled the citie with greater mourning and pensiuenesse than did the comming of the enemie The miserable multitude of the poore countrey people some bringing wood some corne some cattell some foules and other such necessaries as they had out of the countrie into the citie for so the Great master had commaunded after whom followed great numbers of women and children weeping with dischiueled haire scratching their faces and tearing themselues after the manner of the countrie wringing their hands and casting vp their eies to heauen beseeching God with heauie countenance and flouds of teares to defend the noble citie of the RHODES and themselues from the furie of their enemies Which multitude of countrie people with their prouision being packt vp into narrow roomes in the houses of the citisens and their cattell staruing for want of fodder afterwards corrupted the aire whereof ensued rotten agues and the flix during the time of the siege But after the citie was giuen vp such a plague and mortalitie followed as destroied great numbers of the Turkes and poore Christians which knowing not whither to go chose rather there to die than to forsake their natiue countrey The Generall of the Turkish fleet which landed in the island of CHOS and was of purpose sent by Solyman to prouoke the Rhodians to battell at sea before he with his whole power came to besiege the island came daily with twentie gallies halfe those narrow seas ouer betwixt LYCIA and the RHODES leauing the rest of his fleet riding at anchor at the promontorie called GNIDVM not farre from the citie of the RHODES readie to aid him as need should require this manner of brauerie he vsed many daies togither hoping thereby to allure the Rhodians out of their hauen to giue him battell knowing that if he should therein obtaine the victorie it were at that time little lesse than the taking of the citie or if he could by cruell fight but weaken the forces of the Rhodians he should therein doe his master good seruice and greatly further his victorie by diminishing the number of the defendants When he had many daies without intermission in this proud manner come halfe seas ouer and sometimes passing further came and lay at the mouth of the hauen as it were daring them to fight the Rhodians not wont to be so braued at their owne doores moued with the intollerable insolencie of this proud Turke by their continuall importunitie caused the Great Master to call a counsell to consider whether they should fight with this fleet of the Turkes or not The counsellors by the appointment of the Great Master assembled the Chancelor a man of great authoritie and spirit famous for his noble acts both at home and abroad and chiefe of them which were of opinion this fleet of the Turkes was to be fought withall said So great disgrace was not longer to be suffered but presently reuenged For said he the hugie fleet of the Turks I do not sate at whose force sight but at whose verie name many men do tremble and quake which for all that is vnto vs no great noueltie for euerie yeare we heare of the like is as a head to be ioined vnto these piraticall gallies as members and then will it be most expedient which will be a most easie thing for vs to doe hauing the better both for strength of shipping and number and valour of men to giue that great head such a blow and wound by cutting off these limbes that it shall euer after stagger and faint for want of strength or else there is no other fleet at all prepared against vs to follow this and then this discomfited we shall be at quiet Which thing in my iudgement though others which feare their owne shadowes and the falling of heauen say otherwise is most like to be true for the great Turke is not so sottish to come hither the fittest time of the yeare being so far spent in the latter end of Iune to besiege this citie and such a citie as he knoweth to be most strong wanting nothing that is needfull and thorowly manned with valiant souldiours from whence his auncestors haue been with losse and shame repulsed when as the remainder of the Sommer will be spent before he can encampe himselfe and place his batteries and Winter time as you know is vnfit for anie siege especially in this island wherein they can find no hauen or harbour to rest in Wherefore on Gods name let vs set vpon our proud enemies and let vs not for a few threatning words sent vnto vs from a fearfull youth vpon a finenesse and pollicie least we should follow the taile of his sleet bound for some other place sit still like cowards within our wals with our hands in our bosomes as men which for feare and dread durst not shew their heads Which our cowardise and want of courage we forsooth call Fabius his pollicie but I would to God we were like Fabius but I feare we shall prooue more like Antiochus the Aetholians the Vitellians all whose courage consisted in words vainly hoping to gaine the victorie by sitting still and wishing well But the helpe of God is not to be gotten by womens praiers and supplications or these faint-hearted pollicies which cowards call aduised counsell but victorie is gained by aduenturing and exposing our selues to danger and perill With these and such like speeches he so moued the multitude which commonly conceiueth most courage vpon the greatest vncertainties that they desired that they might fight saying That they would wash away that foule disgrace with the bloud and slaughter of their enemies for why they wanted not weapons courage or hands as they said to doe it withall For all
this the grauer sort of the counsell without whose consent the master might in such cases doe nothing thought it not good in so dangerous a time to aduenture any great part of their forces which they should afterwards want for the defence of their citie The Turkish generall deceiued of his expectation and perceiuing that the Rhodians would not be drawne forth to battell at sea withdrew his fleet twelue miles off vnto a place called VILLANOVA where casting anchor and landing his men he burnt the corne all thereabouts which was now almost ripe but forsaken of the people as a thing desperat as for the people themselues they were all fled and had retired themselues either into the citie of the RHODES or els into strong castles in other places of the island At the same time certaine troupes of horsemen sent forth to haue skirmished with the Turks that were burning of the corne were by a messenger sent from the Great master commanded to retire For the prouident Generall sought by all meanes to reserue his soldiors for greater dangers which he justly feared in the expected siege during which time he shewed himselfe a most politike captaine and braue soldiour he would many times by day eat his meat with his soldiors as one of them and most part of the night keepe watch himselfe walking vp and downe resting himselfe when he was wearie vpon some stone or piece of timber or other homly seat as it chanced In time of assault he was alwaies more forward and aduenturous than the graue counsellors wished fearing neither shot nor enemie yet did he alwaies more commend discreet counsell grounded vpon reason than prosperous actions commended but by their euents And that which a man would wonder at amongst so many cares in middest of such diuers and dangerous chances he carried alwaies such a grace and majestie in his cheerfull countenance as made him to be of the beholders both reuerenced and loued All the time he could spare from the necessarie cares of his waightie charge from assaults and the naturall refreshing of his bodie he bestowed in prayer and seruing of God he did oftentimes spend the greatest part of the night in the church alone praying his headpiece gorget and gauntlets lying by him so that it was commonly said that his deuout praiers and carefulnesse would make the citie inuincible The six and twentith day of Iune early in the morning newes was brought into the citie from the watch-tower standing vpon S. Stephens hill about a mile from the citie That a most hugie fleet was descried at sea making thitherwaâ—ds all alongst the Westerne coast of LYCIA This bad newes much troubled the citie although it was not of most men vnexpected all places was filled with tumult and hurly burly euerie man measured the greatnesse of the danger by the measure of his owne feare and such a pitifull crie was in euerie place as is vsually in cities presently to be besieged Hereupon publike praiers were made through all the citie and euerie man with great deuotion besought the God of heauen That as it was his pleasure that the Rhodians should at that time be the champions of the Christian religion so he would giue them strength and victorie against their enemies and to turne the calamities of warre vpon the enemies of his name Their deuotion ended the gates of the citie were shut vp and people from all places ran vnto the wals great flocks of women children and aged men not able to stand without a staffe going forth of their houses to gaze vpon that dreadfull fleet wherein was aboue 200 sailes as is reported filled the streets the tops of the high towers and houses The formost of the fleet was the Admirall of CALIPOLIS to whom Solyman had committed the charge of all his name and to assaile the citie by sea The rear admirall was Cara Mahometes an arch pirat who was afterwards slaine with a great shot out of the citie The viceadmirall in the middle of the fleet with a great squadron of gallies hauing a faire Westernly wind strucke saile directly before the mouth of the hauen which was on both sides defended with two strong towers well furnished with great artillerie and began to row towards the citie whereupon an alarum was raised the trumpets sounded and many hasted vnto the bulwarke which defended the left side of the hauen which the enemie seemed to direct his course vnto and was indeed more subject to danger than the other But the Turke seeing himselfe in danger to be sunke with shot from the bulwark was glad to get himselfe farther off vnto the rest of the fleet the Rhodians from the wals with lowd outcries scornfully deriding him for his foolish attempt This great fleet in exceeding brauerie and triumph passing by the citie in sight of the Rhodians standing vpon their wals with ensignes displaied did not more terrifie them than they were themselues terrified to behold the strength of the citie and cheerfulnesse of the defendants But passing on they came to the promontorie which the inhabitants call Bo about three miles distant from the citie Eastward which small harbour being not able to receiue so great a fleet many of the gallies were enforced to ride it out at sea where they were by shot out of the citie oftentimes endangered and enforced to get them farther off Whilest the enemie was there landing his great ordinance and other instruments of warre prepared for the siege chusing a place for his campe transporting his land souldiours from the maine into the island viewing the strength and situation of the citie and in what place he might with most ease assault the same the Rhodians in the meane time were not idle but sunke diuers deepe sounds in many places of the citie neere vnto the wals to discouer the enemies mines and fortified their bulwarks with greater rampiers in which worke euerie man put to his helping hand without respect of age or calling The Graund master about that time sent Lodouicus Andugus one of the knights of the Order into SPAINE to Charles the emperour and Claudius Ducenuillus another of the Order also to ROME to the Cardinals and Italian knights of the Order and from thence into FRANCE vnto the French king with letters crauing the aid of these Christian princes for reliefe of the citie by sea and land besieged But all in vaine for they carried away with the endlesse grudge of one against another or respecting only their owne estates returned the embassadors with good words without reliefe At this time Preianes Gouernour of CHIOS of whom we haue before spoken a man comparable with any of the captaines of that age an excellent souldiour both by sea and land valiant and thereto fortunat of an inuincible courage brought vp in the wars from his childhood when he had by the space of two or three daies hid himselfe in the rocks at sea for feare of the Turkes great fleet
in sunder that a greater slaughter for the time was hardly in any place seene Achimetes beholding the wonderfull slaughter of his souldiours and that he fought with great disaduantage and losse against desperat men who resoluing to die feared no danger gaue ouer the assault and againe retired leauing behind him in the breach and towne ditch the carkases of fiue thousand of his dead Turkes besides many more which afterwards died vpon the hurts there receiued This assault was giuen vnto the towne the last day of Nouember a day dedicated to S. Andrew after which time the captaines of the Turkish armie although they dispaired not of the victorie yet terrified with so great slaughter of their men resolued with one accord no more to attempt the citie with any notable assault but by sundrie great trenches to be made thorow the middest of the ruines of the wals to get into the citie and with mattocks and pickaxes to ouerthrow the new made wall and another baricadoe which the defendants had made within the same and in the meane time whilest this was in doing to keepe the Rhodians still busied with continuall skirmishes and alarums This deuise put in execution by the wonderfull labour of such a multitude of people serued the enemie to greater purpose than all that he had before done who daily ouerthrowing or destroying the new fortificatiōs which the Rhodians made in steed of them which were before ouerthrowne and by little and little creeping on further draue the defendants to that extremitie that they were glad to pull downe many of their houses therwith to make new fortifications and to make their citie lesse by casting vp of new trenches so that in short time they were brought to that point that they could not well tell which place to fortifie first the enemie was now so farre crept within them for the ground which the enemie had thus gained within the citie was almost 200 paces in breadth and 150 paces in length Solyman although he did now assure himselfe of the victorie and was by nature cruell and desirous of reuenge yet persuaded by Achimetes and Cassius two of his most valiant captaines that for the enlarging of his empire nothing was better than the fame of clemencie commaunded Pyrrhus the old Bassa to proue if the Rhodians might by parley be drawne to yeeld their citie vpon reasonable conditions Whereupon the Bassa sent one Hieronimus Monilia a Genoway vnto the wals who crauing of the defendants safe conduct said hee had something to say tending to the common good of the distressed citie All mens minds were presently filled with expectation of some great matter and he commaunded to speake Who answered That hee might not deliuer his message openly but would either by speech in secret or by letters deliuer the same vnto one Matthias de Via his countrieman one of the citisens of the RHODES When Fra. Fornouius one of the knights of the Order a French man of a cholericke disposition whose great courage was well seene in all that siege hauing as is reported with shot out of S. Georges tower himselfe slaine 500 Turks during the time of that siege being now present and mooued with indignation to heare a motion made of priuat conference with the enemie bent his piece vpon the messenger and caused him forthwith to depart without doing his message Many who in time of the assault feared not any danger but were become altogither desperat and carelesse of themselues after that they vnderstood that the enemie had offered parley and that they began to conceiue some hope of life resorted vnto the Great master requesting him that hee would prouide for the safetie of his louing people whose warlike forces was with many assaults sore weakened the citie beaten downe about their eares and most of them which were left either wounded or sicke They had as they said now sufficiently proued both their force and fortune wherefore he should doe well to beware least while he were too long in consulting the enemie should conceiue a further indignation in seeing his offers refused With these and such speeches they enforced the Great master to send embassadours to Solyman The men that were sent were Anthonius Groleus a French man ensigne bearer for the Order a man of great reputation for his wisedome and experience and with him Robertus Barusius a man of great grauitie and skilfull in the Greeke tongue for whom were receiued as pledges a kinsman of the great captaine Achimetes and a certaine Epyrot which fled out of the citie vnto the Turks because one of the Graecian captains had struck him with his open hand a man of a sharpe wit and one that could perfectly speake the Greek Turkish and Italian tongues as appeared to his great credit amongst the enemies being had of them in great regard although he was not knowne whilest he dwelt in the citie that he was any such man After that came also Solymans interpreter for he himselfe could speake no other language more than his owne accounting it a great disgrace and against the Othoman empire to vse any other language The embassadours admitted vnto Solymans presence told him That they were sent to know for what cause he had sent to require parley Who in a flaming heat as if he had knowne nothing thereof said there was no such matter and commaunding them presently to void his campe sent them away with letters to the Great master and the citisens to this effect If I had not compassion of humane infirmitie which oftentimes tumbleth headlong mens ambitious and hautie minds into most dangerous and vnnecessarie mischiefes truely I would not haue directed vnto you these letters at this time but as you haue well deserued persecute you with death and most miserable seruitude which how easie a thing it were for me to doe you your selues know But hauing now sufficiently tried my force if you be wise make proofe of my clemencie You haue alreadie satisfied your owne furie your owne mad humor and now aduise your selues lay your hand vpon your heart and without delay yeeld your selues as I command your liues I giue I giue you your wealth and more than that your choise to tarrie there still or to depart Refuse not the grace frankly offered which was of you to haue beene most heartily desired It shall not alwaies be lawfull for you as at this present to make choise of both From our campe Vpon the returne of the embassadors the poore of all sorts flocke togither to the Great master his house not farre from the breach where after the multitude of the common people was dismissed and the chiefe of the Burgers sent for the imperious letter of the Turkish tyrant was openly read before the knights of the Order and the better sort of the citisens Whereunto the Great master accounting it both honour enough and sufficient tearme of life honourably to die answered in this sort
You heard sacred fellowes in armes and valiant citizens of the RHODES these imperious and sorrowfull letters whereunto how we are to answere requireth no great deliberation we must as resolute men either yeeld or die all hope of victorie is gone except forraine aid come Wherefore if yâ—â— will follow my counsell let vs with weapons in our hands vntill the last gaspe and the spending of the last drop of our bloud like valiant men defend our faith and nobilitie receiued from our auncestours and the honour which we haue so long time gotten both at home and abroad and let it neuer be said that our honour died but with our selues This speech of the Great Master seemed vnto many heauier than the imperious commaundement of the Turkish tyrant and a great while men stood silent heauily looking one vpon another many with changing of their countenance and outward gesture more than by words expressing what they thought in heart At length a certaine Greeke priest with great compassion of mind as it seemed and teares trickling downe his cheekes brake forth into these words And I would also hold my peace if I were a priuat man and not first of all in so great and troubled an assemblie broach mine owne opinion But for as much as the regard of our common preseruation can wring a word out of no mans mouth and all men know that now is the time to speake and say what euery man thinketh best which shall neither alwaies nor long be graunted vnto vs I will not let it now ouerpasse and slip away Wherefore let vs suppose that no commaund of a most mightie prince besieging vs were come vnto vs but that I were reasoning as a priuat man with his neighbor or one friend with another by the fire side or in our cups without care without any great affection to either partie as men indifferent not liking or hating as men oftentimes doe of princes affairs which cencerne them nothing and then as I hope my speech shall be vnto you neither vnpleasant nor vnprofitable We Greekes and Latines with ioined armes haue now this six moneths withstood our deadly enemies not onely abroad before our wals but also in the very bowels of our citie without any forraine helpe which as we haue of long time all vainely looked for so are we now euery one of vs out of hope thereof And yet our enemie either moued with the secret goodnesse of God or els ignorant of our strength and forces spent with wounds slaughter sicknesse and perpetuall labour doth voluntarily offer that vnto vs which was of vs to be most of all desired and earnestly sued for Your publicke and priuat treasures the bodies of your selues your wiues and children he keepeth vnuiolated he taketh from vs only the citie which he hath for most part alreadie beaten downe and taken Worthie Great Master and you most valiant Knights I haue knowne your prowesse and valour in many battailes at sea but especially in this siege whereof seeing there is no more vse in this our desperat estate I doe appeale vnto your wisdome and discretion Sithence all is now the conquerors in that he leaueth vnto vs our liues and goods is to be accounted gaines and the yeelding vp of the citie and Island no losse which the victorious enemie alreadie commaundeth which although it be a heauie matter and greâ—uous vnto the nobilitie yet your fortune persuadeth you thereunto Wherefore if you be to be moâ—â—d with any compassion I account it better to yeeld than to be slaine your selues or to see your wiues and children by law of armes to be led away before your faces into miserable captiuitie and seruitude If any Christian compassion remaine in your warlike minds I beseech you seeke not the vtter destruction of this innocent people who I may with modestie say hath not euill deserued of you whom Christ Iesus whom the enemie himselfe would haue preserued That I say this which I speak vnto you for Christian charitie and for no other cause let this be a sufficient testimonie That so long as you were able to resist by your owne power or hoped for aid from forraine princes I neuer spake word or once thought of yeelding but now seeing the fatall ruine of all things about vs our common estate brought vnto the vttermost extremitie our deadly enemie in the heart of our citie no hope and that the warre cannot longer be protracted I wish you to yeeld and for my part had rather make choise of peace thâ—â— warre and to proue the enemies fauour than his furie Most of them there present were of the same mind with the priest But as nothing can be so reasonably spoken as to content all men so this speech was not of them all liked some there were though not many which considering the harmes they had done vnto the Turkes and doubting with what safetie they might yeeld themselues into the power of that faithlesse people had rather to haue fought it out to the last man and so to haue left vnto them a bloudie victorie Amongst these one bold spoken fellow stept forth and in presence of them all dissuaded the yeelding vp of the citie in this sort I haue not been with any thing more vnacquainted than to deliuer my opinion before princes or in such great and publicke assemblies being alwaies more desirous modestly to heare other mens opinions than impudently to thrust forth mine owne But now seeing extreame necessitie will not longer suffer me to keepe my wonted course of silence I will frankely speake my mind and tell you what in my opinion is to be answered vnto the heauie message and imperious commaund of the most perfidious tyrant This cruell enemie hath ouerthrowne our wall and is entred three hundred foot and more within our cittie and as a most troublesome guest liueth and conuerseth with vs as it were vnder the same roofe Such as list not longer to endure such an vnwelcome guest and troublesome neighbour persuade you because he is troublesome to giue him all But worthie and sacred knights I am of far different opinion neither doe I thinke a possession of 214 yeares is so lightly to be deliuered vp and the ground forsaken but rather that this troublesome intruder is in like manner to be himselfe troubled and with deadly skirmishes continually vexed whom after we had by force of armes and vndaunted courage maugre his head held out fiue moneths at length he brake into our citie not by any valour in himselfe but holpen by time which tameth all things and since his first entrance it is now almost fortie daies in which time for all his hast he hath scarcely got forward 130 paces hindered by the blockes we haue laied in his way and will not cease continually to lay if we be wise men and mindfull of our former valour Destroy me you heauenly powers before I see with these eies these sacred knights to yeeld vp this famous citie
poore wretches depart in safetie with a little trash Except these worldly considerations haue moued him to mercie and compassion then out of doubt it is wrought by diuine power and the secret fauor of God towards vs of our Sauior Christ Iesus crucified Whereunto if you be men well aduised if religious if mindfull of the dutie of Christians it becommeth you not to oppose any obstacle and with the ruin of your selues to destroy this miserable people which for this halfe yeares siege hath scarcely had so much rest as might suffice the necessitie of nature â—tanding for you in battell enduring both wounds and death for your honour and victorie by whose faithfull labour and diligence you haue beene alwaies holpen both at home and abroad whether you inuaded the Turke by land in MYTILENE NAVPACTVS METHONE PATRAS or other parts of Pâ—LOPONESVS or els by sea thrust him out of the possession of the Ionian or Egeum whereby it may appeare euen vnto a blind man how iniurious it is far from truth to obiect vnto vs That enioying the fruits of peace we refuse the charges of wars nay we neuer refused wars But now it is come to that point that if we would neuer so faine make wars we are not able so to do the flower of our youth being slaine and the small remainder that is left not only weakened in bodie with wounds sicknesse watching and restlesse labour but also in mind discouraged whilest all things fall out prosperously to our enemies and to vs aduerse the greatest and best part of our great artillerie being broken with continuall vse which if it were whole we could haue thereof small vse or profit for want of pouder which not only this citie 〈◊〉 wanteth but also your strong holds LERVS LINDVS HALICARNASVS ARANGIA I was neuer desirous or curious to looke into other mens doings much lesse into your manner of wars but yet Great Master you cannot denie but it is so who haue caused soldiors to be brought from thence hither openly and gunpouder secretly by which prouident foresight you haue withstood your forraine enemie these six months and deceiued the trecherie of one or two domesticall traitors But I gladly admit we haue all these things I stand not vpon the truth I say not what most men say but I speake to please a few and suppose we wanted neither armour nor courage I would then aske you this whether they would aduise you to vse them to your defence or to your destruction for vnto both it cannot be no more than at once to be a freeman and a slaue To vse them to your destruction that were madnesse and sencelesse pride hatefull to God and man you should therefore vse them to defence But how shall we defend a citie I doe not say as the truth is alreadie lost and possessed by the enemie wherein he raigneth rangeth and turneth all vpside down but hauing the wals battered down a great breach in the Spanish station and another not like but euen now as good as made in the Italian station how shall we be able to keepe this vnfortunat towne battered and rent at the French English and Auergne stations and the tower of S. Nicholas Which if it were not so battered and bared of all warlike prouision but sound and thorowly furnished with munition and victuall yet necessitie enforcing and reason persuading you ought to forsake it for so much as all power of further resistance is taken from you Doe you not see how easily and almost without any trouble the enemie by means of the castle he hath new built vpon the mount PHILERMO not past two miles distant can take from you all manner of prouision both by sea and land and restraine you from going out or in Truly notable gentlemen honourable for your martiall prowesse you see and haue long agoe foreseene these things better than I altogether ignorant in martiall affaires altogether busied in the trade of merchandise and caring for my familie yet suffer me to say the truth All the powers wherby this kingdome stood are departed and gone against the force of our enemies no policie or force of man remaineth and to expect armies of angels or soldiours from heauen and other such like miracles is in my iudgement more and more to prouoke God to anger although in his anger he be vnto vs mercifull Wherefore being destitute of all worldly helpe let vs as we may prouide for our safetie I beseech thee worthie Great Master by these my aged teares by the naturall pitie ingrafted in thy noble nature expose not this miserable citie to the spoile of the enemie our old and middle aged men to the sword our wiues and daughters to be rauished our boies and youths to the vnnaturall filthinesse of our barbarous enemies and to be corrupted with the mad and grosse opinion of the vngodly Mahometane superstition I would noble knights you had seene with what teares with what mourning our heauie families and children crying about their mothers sent vs hither and what prayers they made for vs at our departing I would you knew with what mind and how great hope they expect their safetie from your clemencie and aduised resolution This speech of the aged Greeke might haue moued a heart of flint but the Great master who in his countenance shewed a greater courage than his present state required commaunding euerie man to his charge after the matter had beene thus most part of the night discoursed gaue them no other answere but That he would be carefull of all their well doing The next morning he sent for Preianes Martiningus and a few other of greatest judgement and experience by whom he was fully resolued that the citie in so many places by the enemie laid open and shaken was not possible to be long defended Whereupon he caused a common counsell to bee called of all the knights of the Order togither with the Burgesses of the citie where after long debating Whether they should fight it out to the last man or yeeld vpon such conditions as was to be obtained it was by generall consent concluded That the citie should be yeelded and therupon a decree made which was by the Great master pronounced Whilest these things were thus in doing a truce was taken with the enemie for foure daies but full of feare and danger During which time diuers of the Turks presuming vpon the truce came by great companies to behold the wals and rampiers of the citie wherewith Fornouius the Frenchman of whom mention is before made being sore moued in his choller without further commaund discharged a tire of great ordinance amongst the thickest of them contrarie to the truce taken At which time also the Rhodians receiued into the citie secretly by night a ship loaded with wines out of CRETE and in her Alphonsus a Spaniard chiefe pilot of the Rhodian gallies and with him one hundred voluntarie souldiours all Latines all which went out of
CRETE without the knowledge of the Venetian Senat for at that time the Venetians were in league with Solyman The Turkes justly offended with the breach of the truce and the taking in of new supplies which they supposed to haue beene farre greater than in truth they were without commaund of any captaine or ensigne displaied in great numbers thrust in thorow the ruines of the breaches into the citie as farre as the rampiers and baricadoes new made and furiously assailed the defendants in which conflict many were slaine and wounded on both sides But after the Turkes had to their cost againe made proofe of the courage of their enemies as without commandement they began that skirmish so of themselues they brake it off and retired After the truce was thus broken the captaine of the Turkes fencers a bloudie cruell fellow hauing taken three Christians prisoners cut off their hands eares and noses and sent them so dismembred into the citie with letters to the Great master charging him with the vnjust breach of the truce barbarously threatning within three or foure daies to make like example of him to all posteritie Amongst other none was more troubled with this sudden and vnexpected breach of the truce than Robertus Perusinus Raymundus Marchet and Raymundus Lupus three knights of the Order men of singular wisedome and grauitie embassadours at that time in the Turks campe whom the barbarous people in their furie had vndoubtedly slaine or put to torture if they had not feared the like measure to haue beene shewed to their hostages in the citie But after that Nicholaus Vergotâ—s and Georgius Sandriticus two of the Burgesses of the citie were come into the campe with articles containing the conditions whereupon the Rhodians were contented to deliuer vp the citie all their furie and rage was quickly appeased Solyman for his greater majestie and the more terror of these messengers beset round about with his great armie and guarded about with his Ianizaries in their richest attire and glistring armour gaue them audience who admitted to his presence with great humilitie offered vnto him in writing the conditions whereupon the Rhodians would yeeld vp vnto him the citie The chiefe points whereof were That the churches should remaine vnto the Christians inuiolated that no children should be taken from their parents that no Christian should be enforced to forsake his religion and turne Turke that such Christians as would tarrie still in the citie might so doe at libertie without paying any tribute for the space of fiue yeares that all they which would depart might go with bag and baggage furnished with conuenient shipping and prouision as farre as CRETE and to carrie with them so much great ordinance as they pleased and that the Christians should appoint a reasonable day for the time of their departure All which articles Solyman condescended vnto and solemnly swore faithfully to performe the same But how they were indeed performed the writers of that age doe much varrie it should seeme they were neither altogither kept nor broken but so performed as pleased the conquerour certaine it is that many great outrages were through militarie insolencie committed by the proud Turkes vpon the poore Christians contrarie to the mind of Solyman Iacoâ—us Fontanus a Ciuilian and at that time one of the judges of the citie out of whose writings this historie is for most part collected reporteth That the Turks not expecting the departure of the Christians brake into the citie vpon Christenmas day by the gate called COSQVINIVM polluted the temples shamefully abused the Christians and made hauocke of all things and that he himselfe falling into their hands after he had with such money as he had redeemed himselfe hauing not sufficient to content all their greedie desires was by them hardly entreated and grieuously beaten The Great master by the counsell of Achimetes putting on such simple attire as best beseemed a vanquished man that was to humble himselfe before the conquerour went out of the citie into the campe attended vpon with a few knights of the Order where after he had waited in the raine most part of the day before Solymans tent at last he had a rich gowne cast vpon him and so brought into the proud tyrants presence Where after they had a while at the first with piercing eies one earnestly beholden the other the Great master humbling himselfe before him was in token of grace admitted to kisse his hand and welcomed by Solyman in this sort Although said he I might worthely and iustly infringe the articles I haue prescribed concerning the yeelding of the citie with thy most wicked crossed compieres the people of the RHODES and thee especially such a capitall enemie from whose deserued punishment neither faith nor oath ought to stay a most iust conquerour yet I haue determined to be not onely gratious and mercifull vnto thee so great an offender deseruing exemplarie punishment but also liberall and bountifull who if thou wilt by well doing amend the grieuous transgressions of thy former life I promise vnto thee most honourable entertainment great preferment and the highest places in my empire in my armie iâ— time of warre and in counsell in time of peace Not to refuse this my offer both thy present estate persuadeth thee and the Christians whose quarrell thou tookest vpon thee to defend against me with better beginning than successe deserue at thy hands no better for what should let thee forsaken of all thy friends a man as it were betraied and vanquished to cast thy selfe into the perpetuall faith and protection of a most mightie and mercifull conquerour of himselfe offering thee this vndeserued grace and fauour Whereunto the Great master presently answered Most mightie and gratious emperour your offered fauours before your other worthie captaines I deserue not neither is my present estate and desert towards you such as that I dare or ought to refell the same yet I will speake freely in the middest of your victorious armie a man vanquished in presence of the conquerour whose great mercie I neuer dispaired of and whose faith I neuer doubted I had rather now I haue lost my soueraigntie forthwith to lose my priuat and vnfortunat life or else for euer hereafter to liue in obscuritie than of my people to be accounted a fugitiue rather than a vanquished man For to be vanquished is but chance of warre and of so great a conquerour no shame to him that is conquered but afterwards to forsake his owne people and to turne to the enemie I account it shamefull cowardise and treacherie Solyman maruelling at the courage and majestie of the hoarie old prince in his so great extremitie dismissed him and sent him againe into the citie guarded with his owne guard vntill he was come into his pallace and vnto euery one of the knights attending vpon the Great Master was giuen a rich garment in token of Solymans fauour Within a few daies after Solyman comming into
present our selues before the gates of TVNES Then shall it be at your pleasure to appoint whom you will haue to gouerne the Numidian kingdome it shall be vnto me glorie enough when the greatest part of AFFRICKE conquered shall be peaceably deliuered into your hands at your returne with the triumphs of PERSIA But by the way as I returne I assure you vpon mine owne priuat so to vse the matter that the Christians shall also haue good cause to bewaile their calamities and if I hap to meet with Auria he shall haue smal cause to reioyce of the mischiefe he hath done for him alone I challenge to persecute as my proper and peculiar enemie both for the remembrance of the harmes we haue receiued at his hands and for the despight I haue at his fame who once taken out of the way the seas shall be open onely to you and your fleets And beleeue me he that shall be able to commaund the seas shall easily also subdue the kingdomes by land But Solyman who after the manner of wise princes vsed well to consider and afterward with ripe judgement to resolue of such matters as he had with attentiue eare hearkened vnto commending Barbarussa for his forwardnesse in his seruice for that time brake vp the counsell Not long after a decree was made according to Abraham the great Bassa his aduise That Barbarussa should be joyned as fourth with the other three chiefe Bassaes of Solymans counsell and be made great Admirall so that all the islands ports and people all alongst the sea coast thorow out Solymans empire should be at his commaund and that it should be lawfull for him to take vp such marriners and souldiours for seruice at sea as pleased him in what place soeuer This being solemnly proclaimed Solyman with his owne hand deliuered him a scepter and a sword willing him by worthie deeds to performe what he had promised After which Aiax and Cassimes the two great Bassaes with the captaine of the Ianizaries brought him with exceeding pompe from the court to the Nauie at which time was carried before him all the tokens of his new obtained honour And toward the maintenance of that warre at sea he had deliuered vnto him out of Solymans treasures eight hundred thousand duckets and eight hundred Ianizaries But for as much as much it was that he did in the seruice of Solyman and more is of him hereafter to be spoken it shall not be amisse here to present vnto the view of the world the sterne but liuely countenance of this so famous a man who liuing kept all the Mediterranean in feare as it is by Boisardus expressed togither with the Elogium following BARBARVSSA Littora te Hesperiae timuere vtriusque Lybesque Oppressi dextra succubuere tua Nunquam te Lypare Corcyraue diliget harum Cum sis immeritos depopulatus agros The coasts of ITALY and SPAINE of thee were sore afraid And so the Moores did stoupe to thee by thy right hand dismaid LYPPAROS will thee neuer loue ne yet CORCYRA strong For that thou causelesse didst to them so great and open wrong Barbarussa sped of that he desired staied not long after at CONSTANTINOPLE but departing out of HELESPONTVS with eightie gallies and certaine galliots shaped his course towards ITALIE leauing Amurathes a sea captaine with twelue gallies to transport Solyman and his armie readie to set forward against the Persian ouer that narrow sea into ASIA Who after hee had so done ouertooke Barbarussa at METHONE who holding on his course to AFFRICK and sodainly passing the strait betwixt ITALIE and SICILIE brought a great feare vpon both the countries but passing by the bay of HIPPONA alongst the coast of the lower CALABRIA he set vpon the towne of S. Lucidius called in auntient time TEMPSA which although it stood vpon a rocke and was reasonable well walled yet such was the violence of the Turkes assault that it could not be defended but was taken with so much more hurt to the inhabitants for that the Maior of the towne to keepe the people from flying away had lockt vp the gates on the other side of the citie from the enemie From thence he with rich spoile and many prisoners went to CITRARIVM where he had learned of his prisoners a fleet of gallies was in building This towne forsaken of the inhabitants for feare he tooke without resistance ransaked and burnt it where he also fired seauen gallies not yet altogither finished But after he was come with his fleet as farre as the island CAPRI within the sight of NAPLES such a terrour was strucke into the minds of all that dwelt alongst that coast that it was thought if he had landed and gone directly to NAPLES the Neapolitanes would for feare haue abandoned the citie But holding on his course he came to PROCHITA which he tooke and rifled so passing by the port of CAIETA which he might easily haue taken he came to SPELVNCA a towne in the hithermost part of the kingdome of NAPLES They of the towne dismaied with the sudden arriuall of so great a fleet yeelded the same without resistance The enemie entring the towne tooke twelue hundred prisoners Pelegrinus a chiefe man amongst them of SPELVNCA was fled into the castle him Barbarussa commaunded to yeeld which if he would presently doe he promised to let him go free but if he should stand vpon his defence he threatned in short time to make him repent his foolish hardinesse with the vtter destruction both of himselfe and the towne The fearefull gentleman without delay came out of the castle and fell downe at his feet who according to his promise gaue him his libertie and with rare courtesie restored to him his wife his sonne and niece whom hee had taken prisoners who receiued them with many teares falling from their eyes for joye The same night also two thousand Turkes came from the fleet thorow the rough and bushie mountaines to the citie FVNDI ten miles distant from SPELVNCA in the vttermost borders of the kingdome of NAPLES conducted as was thought by certaine Italians of that countrey who a few yeares before taken at sea and ouerwearied with the heauie burthen of the Turkish slauerie had reuolted to the Mahometane religion But such was the suddennesse of their comming and their celeritie in entring the citie that Iulia Gonzaga the paragon of ITALIE and the chiefe prise which they sought after had scarce time to get to horse halfe naked and so with much difficultie to escape into the mountaines It is reported that Barbarussa which thing he himselfe afterwards seemed not to denie moued with the same of her incomparable beautie and wonderfull perfection desired exceedingly to haue taken her as a present for Solyman The citisens were for most part either slaine or taken prisoners by the Turkes who loded with the spoile of the citie returned againe to the fleet Another part of Barbarussa his fleet came to TARRACINA which the
pleasantly all alongst the country from the ruines of old CARTHAGE to the wals of TVNES which was vnto the citisens whose greatest possessions lay there a most heauie and lamentable spectacle But Muleasses had so attempered their minds with faire speeches and large promises of recompensing euery man to the full for all such harme as they should sustaine by his brothers furie in the countrey and beside that had the citie in such strong possession by reason of his souldiors that the citisens either would not or could not reuolt to Roscetes The Numidian princes wearie of that long and vaine expectation according to the leuitie of that nation accounting it no shame after victorie once gotten to depart began one after another to shrinke away to their owne dwellings persuading Roscetes also to prouide for himselfe whilest he had time and to attend his better fortune Wherefore he fearing to be betrayed by the Numidians or circumuented by his cruell brother fled to Barbarussa then raigning at ALGIERS in great glorie where he was honourably entertained and there remained vntill such time as by his persuasion he went with him as is aforesaid to CONSTANTINOPLE to craue helpe of Solyman by whom he was detained in safe custodie although it was in policie giuen out by Barbarussa that he was in the fleet and that he should by Solymans power be restored to his fathers kingdome at TVNES This was the state of the kingdome of TVNES at such time as Barbarussa with Solymans great fleet contrarie to all mens expectation suddenly departing from the coast of ITALIE landed in AFFRICKE at BISERTA a famous port of the kingdome of TVNES They of BISERTA wearie of the gouernment of Muleasses and of themselues desirous of change as soone as they heard the name of Roscetes forthwith draue out their Gouernour and receiued the Turkes into the towne For Barbarussa had before sent certaine of Roscetes his familiar friends ashore which bare the people in hand that he was in the fleet but not able yet to come on shore for that he was as they said seasicke and troubled with an ague BISERTA thus possessed by Barbarussa he presently departed thence and sayling by VTICA thirtie miles distant from BISERTA and so keeping alongst the coast and passing the promontorie of CARTHAGE came before GVLETTA a strong castle within the bay of TVNES so placed vpon a strait that it commaundeth all the passage by sea vnto the citie of TVNES Before this castle Barbarussa in token of friendship discharged all his great ordinance which they of the castle answered with like but being required to deliuer it vp to Roscetes they said it should be alwayes at his commaund that ruled in the citie of TVNES The newes of Roscetes his supposed comming flying swiftly by land from BISERTA to TVNES and the great fleet once discouered set all the citie on an vprore for the citisens were in great expectation of their new king both for the loue of Roscetes who had alwayes shewed himselfe to be of a mild and bountifull nature and also for the hatred of Muleasses whose tyrannous and couetous gouernment they thought they had too long endured Neither was he ignorant what report ran of himselfe and how he had lost the hearts of his subjects which was euidently to be seene in the eyes and countenances of the cheefe men of the citie And that which more encreased their hatred was for that he had not according to his promise to them in time of his distresse made them any recompence for their goodly houses and oliue gardens destroyed in the countrey by Roscetes in the former warres wherefore at such time as he came now out of the castle and in the greatest assemblie of his people began to persuade them to play the men and to continue constant in their obedience promising vnto them such reward as they knew he was neuer able to performe they all departed and left him alone yea some of them vnder the colour of friendship and amongst them Abdahar then Mesuar which was cheefe officer next vnto the king persuaded him to giue place to his hard fortune forthwith to flie for by chance at the same instant it was in euery mans mouth that the Turks were euen at hand which thing caused Muleasses forsaken of his subjects of himselfe fearefull and worthily doubting to be betrayed to flie in such hast out of the citie that he left behind him both his treasure and jewels which afterwards came into the hands of his enemies The first that reuolted was Abezes a man of great authoritie and Fetuches captaine of the castle both renegate Spaniards Fetuches presently after the flight of Muleasses brought out Roscetes wife and children whom Muleasses had long time kept in prison to welcome their father placed them in the kings royall seat Abezes also forthwith aduertised Barbarussa of the departure of Muleasses and with what longing the people expected their desired king wishing him without delay to repaire vnto the citie and for a present sent him a goodly Barbarian horse richly furnished and diuers others for his other cheefe captaines Hereupon Barbarussa without longer stay set forward with fiue thousand Turks which he had alreadie landed and comming to the citie was of the citisens joyfully receiued But after long looking when they could no where descrie Roscetes their supposed king and heard nothing but the name of Solyman and Barbarussa doubled and redoubled by the Turkes in their militarie acclamations as they marched thorow the citie towards the castle they began to distrust as the truth was that in stead of their new king whom they so much desired they had receiued the Turkish gouernement which they vtterly detested Which suspition once confirmed by certaine of Roscetes friends whom Barbarussa had brought with him of purpose to delude the people who grieued to see the ruine of their natiue countrey spared not for feare of the present danger to tell their friends and acquaintance as they went That they did in vaine looke for Roscetes whom they had left in bonds at CONSTANTINOPLE it was a wonder to see how suddainely the minds of the people were changed how speedily they ran to their weapons and how furiously they assailed the Turkes now fearing no such matter and were not as yet all got into the castle The cheefe leader of the citisens in this tumult was Abdahar the Mesuar who but a little before vpon the comming of the Turkes by augmenting the danger and the vnfaithfulnesse of his subjects had persuaded Muleasses to flie but now perceiuing himselfe deceiued of his expectation for the comming of Roscetes and repenting of that he had done sought by all meanes to driue out the Turkes and to recall Muleasses And the more to animate the people as he stood on high from whence he might best be heard he cried vnto them with a loud voice We are most villanously betrayed worthie citizens for
with Kezien-bassa a prince of the Corasine Hircanians so that the citisens of TAVRIS destitute of all helpe yeelded themselues and the citie vnto the Bassa at his first comming Tamas the Persian king vnderstanding what was happened at TAVRIS drew neere with his power warily expecting to haue taken the Turkes at some aduantage and so by pollicie to haue defeated his enemies whom hee was too weake to meet with in plaine battell Which thing the warie Bassa well perceiuing for more assurance by speedie courrors aduertised Solyman of the taking of TAVRIS and of the enemies purpose requesting him with all speed to repaire with his armie to TAVRIS Solyman was then come farre on his way with a strong armie not by the way of ANCYRA SEBASTIA AMASIA the borders of TRAPEZONDE and so ouer Euphrates at ARSENâ—A into ARMENIA as his father Selymus had done before him because that way was thought longer and more troublesome but quite another way on the right hand from NICE in BYTHINIA to ICONIVM and by CaeSARIA to MALATHIA where is the notable passage ouer the riuer Euphrates bursting out by the vallies of the mountaine ANTITAVRVS from whence the plaines of MESOPOTAMIA then part of the Persian kingdome begin to open themselues thorow which countrey Solyman marched peaceably with his armie paying the poore countrey people for whatsoeuer he tooke and so in foure and fiftie dayes march came from NICE in BYTHINIA to the citie of COIM in ARMENIA the greater which is supposed to be built in the ruines of the famous and antient citie ARTAXATA But hearing such news as is aforesaid from the Bassa he doubled his march and so in short time after came and joyned his forces with the Bassa at TAVRIS Tamas who yet dayly expected the comming of the Georgian light horsemen vnderstanding that Solyman was comming against him with a world of men thought it not good to abide the comming of so puissant an enemie but with delay to wearie him out that drew such a multitude of people after him and by taking of him at all aduantages to cut off his people spent with long trauell wanting victuall and falling into diuerse diseases as it commonly chanceth to populous armies in strange countries where the change of the aire with the ineuitable necessities alwaies attending vpon a great armie most times causeth grieuous and contagious diseases Wherefore Tamas to shun the comming of Solyman retired further off into SVLâ—ANIA about six daies journey from TAVRIS Wherof Solyman hauing knowledge departed from that rich citie without doing any harme therin following after Tamas into SVLTANIA to joine battell with him if he could possible leauing behind him for hast a great part of his carriages and baggage with fiue hundred Ianizaries and three of his Sanzackes with their companies The citie of SVLTANIA was in auntient time one of the royall seats of the Persian kings but ruinated by the Scythian Tamerlane retained no shew of the auntient majestie but onely in the churches by him spared Neere vnto this citie Solyman lay encamped many daies expecting that the Persian king in reuenge of the injurie to him done and for the safegard of his honor should at length come out of the mountaines and shew himselfe in plaine field and giue him battell Which was a thing so farre from Tamas his resolution vpon the due comparing of his owne strength with his enemies that he retired in such sort that Solyman could by no meanes learne what was become of him or which way to follow him The countrey neere vnto the citie of SVLTANIA wherein Solyman lay encamped at large is on euerie side enuironed with hugie mountaines whose tops are to be seene a farre off alwaies couered with deepe snow these mountaines were in auntient time called NYPHATES CASPIVS COATHRAS and ZAGRVS taking their beginning no doubt of CAVCASVS the father of mountaines and joyning one to another some one way some another doe diuide most large and wide countries Whilest Solyman in those plaine fields most fit to fight a battell in expected the comming of Tamas such a horrible and cruell tempest as the like wherof the Persians had neuer before seene at that time of the yeare fell downe from those mountaines which was so much the more strange for that it fell in the beginning of September with such abundance of raine which frose so eagerly as it fell that it seemed the depth of Winter had euen then of a sudden been come in for such was the rage of the blustring winds striuing with themselues as if it hâ—d beene for victorie that they swept the snow from off the tops of those high mountaines and cast it downe into the plaines in such abundance that the Turkes lay as men buried aliue in the deepe snow most part of their tents being ouerthrowne and beaten downe to the ground with the violence of the tempest and waight of the snow wherein a wonderfull number of sicke souldiours and others of the baser sort which followed the campe perished and many others were so benummed some their hands some their feet that they lost the vse of them for euer most part of their beasts which they vsed for carriage but especially their camels were frozen to death Yea Solyman himselfe was in great danger to haue beene ouerwhelmed in his tent all the tents round about him being ouerthrowne with the violence of the tempest Neither was there any remedie to be found for so great mischiefes by reason of the hellish darknesse of that tempestuous night most of their fires being put out by the extremitie of the storme which did not a little terrifie the superstitious Turkes as a thing accounted of them ominous And that which troubled them no lesse than the miseries of the tempest was the fear of the enemie whose sudden comming they deadly feared vntill that after so tedious a night the Sunne breaking out the next morning with his cheerfull beames reuiued many before readie to giue vp the ghost for cold and gaue comfort to them all in generall by discouering the open fields cleare of their feared enemies It was a dreadfull thing to haue seene what miserie that one night had brought into the Turkes campe the ground lay almost couered with bodies of the dead and many liued but so as that they accounted the dead more happie than themselues Many of the Turks vainly thought that horrible tempest was brought vpon them by the charmes and enchantments of the Persian Magicians whereas it was vndoubtedly by the hand of him which bringeth the proud deuises of princes to naught Solyman troubled as well with the strangenesse of the accident as the losse he had receiued after he had a little refreshed his discouraged soldiors rise with his armie and tooke his way on the left hand into ASSIRIA Vlemas the Persian persuading him therunto for many causes but especially by putting him in hope of the taking of BABYLON for that Mahometes a friend of his
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
order of his fleet that so he might at his most aduantage surprise his gallies as he had alreadie done vnto which fire Iunusbeius his interpreter Barbarussa and Aiax laid new coales more and more incensing the tyrant who was of himselfe sufficiently enflamed persuading him by all meanes they could to breake the league with the Venetians Wherein Iunusbeius sought to reuenge his owne priuate injuries and the other two after their greater profit and credit gaping after the spoile of the Islands neere hand especially of CORCYRA now called CORFV ZACYNTHVS and CEPHALENIA all subject to the Venetian siegnorie finding the warres in ITALIE more dangerous and difficult than they had before imagined For the French king came not then into ITALIE as was by them expected and it was commonly reported That Petrus Toletanus viceroy of NAPLES hauing put strong garrisons into the townes all alongst the sea coast was comming himselfe with a great armie beside that the horsemen sent ouer from AVLONA raunging about in the countrey of SALENTVM for spoile were many times cut off by Scipio Sommeius a noble gentleman there Gouernour for the emperour Wherefore Solyman changing his purpose for the inuasion of ITALIE in his mad mood proclaimed warre against the Venetians and so rising with his armie from AVLONA and marching alongst the sea coast vntill he came oueragainst CORCYRA he encamped neere vnto the mountaines called ACROCERAVNII where the fierce and wild people inhabiting the high and rough mountaine of CHIMERA a part of the Acroceraunian mountaines by the instigation of one Damianus a notable theefe and very perfit in the blind and difficult passages amongst the rockes and woods in those desolate mountaines conspired to attempt a most strange and desperat exploit which was by night to spoile Solyman in his owne pauilion These beggerly wild rogues liuing most part by murther and robberie altogether without law or any manner of religion in hope of so great a prey and to become famous by killing one of the greatest monarchs of the world in the middest of his strength guarded with so many thousands of his souldiors were not afraid of any danger how great soeuer hoping in the dead time of the night to steale into the campe vndiscouered and there so to oppresse Solyman sleeping in his tent Which as was by many afterwards supposed they were like ynough to haue performed to the astonishment of the world had it not been by chance discouered for when they had put all things in readinesse for their purpose Damianus ringleader of these desperat sauage people by secret wayes stealing downe the broken rockes of those huge mountaines and comming very neere vnto the campe to view the standing of Solymans pauilion with the order of the Turkes watch was by the cracking of a bough espied by the Ianizaries where he stood in a tree prying all ouer the campe and being there taken and afterwards put to torture and confessing what he had intended was by the commaundement of Solyman torne in pieces Whereupon he forthwith sent a great part of his armie vp into the mountaines which hunting after these wild people as if they had been wild beasts slew many of them and by Solymans appointment did what they possibly could to haue quite destroyed them as an infamous people enemie to all men When Solyman had thus fully reuenged himselfe vpon this barbarous nation he purposed to inuade the Island of CORCYRA now called CORFV part of the Venetian sieginorie sending before Barbarussa with his great artillerie whom he had but a little before called out of ITALIE with his forces Pisaurius the Venetian Admirall in good time foreseeing the tyrants purpose strengthened the garrisons in both the castles of CORFV with new supplies of good souldiors sent out of the gallies and knowing himselfe vnable to encounter with the Turkes great fleet at sea withdrew himselfe farther off from the island into the gulfe of the Adriatique to the entent to joyne his power with Ioannes Veturius who kept that sea with another fleet of the Venetian gallies and so with joyned forces to defend the Venetian coasts against the Turkes whom he thought himselfe strong ynough for with the helpe of Veturius and of Auria whose comming was dayly expected Solyman sending a great part of his armie out of the maine into the island burnt and destroyed the countrey villages leading away a wonderfull number of poore countrey people into most miserable captiuitie Aiax the Bassa and Barbarussa in two small pinnaces came as neere vnto the citie of CORFV as they possibly could to see which way they might most conueniently lay siege vnto it but perceiuing the great strength thereof being wonderfully fortified and thorowly manned they aduertised Solyman that it was a place inpregnable Aloysius Ripa and Symon Leonius two Senators of VENICE were then gouernors of CORFV who not without cause standing in doubt of the great strength of the Turkes both by sea and land caused the suburbs of the citie which were verie great and sumptuously built to be pluckt downe for feare that the Turkes shrowding themselues in them should with more case besiege the towne This was a wofull and lamentable thing to behold when as at the same time a man might haue seene the magnificent houses of the Venetian merchants built in time of long peace both for profit and for pleasure in euerie place of the island all set on fire by the Turkes But the regard of the publike state in so great a danger made all those goodly things which went so to wracke to be lightly accounted of in comparison of their liues and libertie for as much as those lost things might with new charge be againe in short time recouered The two Venetian gouernours aforesaid fearing a long siege and not prouided of victuall to suffice such a multitude as were got into the citie for any long time vsed a heauie and sharpe remedie by turning a great number of weake people and children vnable for seruice out of the citie of whom many especially children died in the towne ditches in their mothers armes vnder the wals of the citie not daring to go any further for feare of the enemie who had fast by in places conuenient cast vp great mounts and planted his ordinance against the citie onely the castle called S. Augelo standing in the middle of the island about fifteene miles from the citie of CORFV being valiantly defended by the inhabitants against the assaults of the Turkes happily saued aboue three thousand poore people which fled thither from the furie of the Turkes who in all other places of the island had made all desolate The Turkes the more to terrifie them of CORFV taking a hill not farre from the citie couered the same with their tents and from the rocke called MARIPETRVS shot with their great ordinance into the towne some of them in the meane time standing close in the ruines of the suburbs did with their harquebusiers kill
or wound them which appeared vpon the wals The gallies also did oftentimes out of their prows discharge their great pieces against the citie to the greater terrour than hurt of the defendants Solyman perceiuing that he did but lose his labour in besieging the citie as he was told at the first by his great captaines Lutzis Aiax and Barbarussa determined now to raise his siege and to returne to CONSTANTINOPLE greatly ashamed that he had no better sped neither in ITALIE nor at the siege of CORFV But when he was about to haue departed it was told him how vnfaithfully some of his soldiors had dealt with them of CASTRVM in ITALIE who yeelding themselues vpon the Turks faith to them giuen for the safegard of their libertie and goods were neuerthelesse most injuriously spoiled of all that they had and caried away into bondage Which fact as tending to the dishonour of his name and the deterring of others from yeelding Solyman tooke in so euill part that for amending thereof he caused the authors of that fact to be put to death and the captiues of CASTRVM to be diligently sought out and sent home againe into their countrey well deseruing therein the commendation of a most just prince The Turks left the siege of CORFV and departed out of the island about the twelfth of September in the yeare 1537 carrying away with them aboue sixteene thousand of the island people into perpetuall captiuitie So Solyman rising with his armie marching thorow ACARNANIA and AETOLIA returned thorow MACEDONIA to CONSTANTINOPE hauing in this his expedition done great harme both in ITALIE and CORCYRA but yet nothing encreased his empire or honour Before his departure calling vnto him Lutzis his Admirall he commaunded him also to returne with his fleet to HELESPONTVS who passing by ZAZINTHVS and landing some of his men in the night tooke diuers of the countrey people prisoners But vnderstanding that the citie it selfe was both strong and well manned he departed thence to CYTHERA where vnfortunatly attempting to haue taken the castle and disappointed of his purpose he made what spoile he could vpon that island and with eight hundred prisoners returned into AEGEVM to AEGINA a rich and famous island and well peopled both with marriners and other inhabitants Approching the island he by his messengers sent before vnto the Gouernour of the citie attempted first by faire meanes and afterwards by threats to haue had the citie yeelded vnto him and not so preuailing but perceiuing them to stand vpon their defence he landed his men and gaue the signall of battell Which they of the island refused not but manfully met him and at the first encounter slew many of his men wherewith the Admirall grieuously offended and still landing fresh men euen with his multitude oppressed them of the island being but in number few and wearie of long fight and so enforced them them to retire into the citie To be reuenged of this injurie the Bassa caused certaine pieces of great ordinance to be landed and a batterie planted against the citie by force whereof he had in short time in diuers places opened the wals and then with all his power assaulting the breaches forthwith tooke the citie which after he had rifled he burnt it downe to the ground rased the wals and put the men euerie mothers sonne to the sword As for the women he gaue them without respect vnto the lust of his souldiors and marriners whom afterwards togither with the boies and young children he shipped into the countrey neere vnto ATHENS to be from thence conuaied to CONSTANTINOPLE into most miserable seruitude AEGINA thus vtterly rased he with much like force and crueltie raged vpon them of PAROS and the other islands thereabouts killing the old men and such as made resistance and thrusting the rest into his gallies Shortly after he came to the island of NAXOS where all the island people were for feare of his comming fled out of the country into the citie there landing his men he made hauocke of whatsoeuer came to his hand And in the meane time sent a messenger vnto the duke to will him to yeeld himselfe and his citie to the obedience of the Turkish emperour Solyman Which messenger admitted into the citie and brought before the duke in blunt and plaine tearmes without farther circumstance deliuered his message as followeth If thou wilt without more adoe yeeld thy selfe thy citie and territorie to the Constantinopolitane emperour thou shalt deserue his fauour and so saue thy selfe with that thou hast But if thou otherwise aduised shalt now refuse this grace thou shalt neuer hereafter haue the like offer but for euer vndoe thy selfe thy wife and children thy citisens and subiects in generall Here is present a most mightie fleet with most valiant and victorious souldiours furnished with all the habiliments of war requisite for battell or siege Be warned by them of AEGINA PAROS and other thy neighbours princes of the islands Thy hap is good if thou be not misaduised and warned by other mens harmes wilfully refuse to remedie thine owne and when thou mightest be safe wilfully cast away thy selfe This said he was commaunded by the duke to stand aside and a while to expect his answere who with the chiefe of his subjects there present but much troubled and all full of heauinesse and sorrow consulted what answere to make But after they had according to the waightinesse of the cause and necessitie of the time fully debated the matter it was with generall consent agreed That for as much as they were not themselues of power to withstand so furious an enemie neither to expect for helpe from others they should therfore yeeld vnto the present necessitie which otherwise threatned vnto them vtter destruction and reserue themselues vnto better times Whereupon answere was giuen vnto the messenger by the duke That he was readie to yeeld himselfe vnto Solyman as his vassaile and of him as of his soueraigne to hold his seignorie for the yearely tribute of fiue thousand duckats Of which offer the Bassa accepted receiuing in hand one yeares tribute So was that notable island yeelded vnto the Turkish obeisance the 11 of Nouember this yeare 1537 from whence Lutzis the proud Bassa laded with the rich spoile of the countries and islands he had passed by returned to CONSTANTINOPLE with his fleet Not long after this great Bassa then in credit and authoritie next vnto Solyman himselfe fell at ods with his wife Solymans sister for that he after the vnnaturall manner of those barbarous people kept in his house a most delicat youth in whom he took more pleasure than in his wife Which she being a woman of great spirit not able to endure and knowing her husband by marrying of her to haue been from base degree aduanced vnto the highest honours that the emperour her brother could heape vpon him in great rage reproued him with most bitter words saying That she had married
into a shattered house which joyned vnto the wall and certaine other companies one souldiour helping vp another had almost recouered the top of the rampier and were there readie to haue set vp their ensignes When they of BVDA with wonderfull constancie and resolution withstood the assailants George the bishop encouraging them and fighting amongst them who hauing laid aside his hood was now to be seene with his helmet on his head running too and fro as need required all alongst the rampier At length the Germans seeing themselues to striue in vaine against resolute men were enforced to retire In this assault Rogendorff lost aboue 800. men Perenus was also in like manner but with lesse losse repulsed at the other breach he had made at the gate SABATINA After that Rogendorff attempted by vndermining to haue taken the citie but was by countermines disappointed of his purpose Yet for all this they in the citie began to feele the want of many things so that it seemed they were not able to endure any longer siege the common people pinched with hunger crying openly out in mutinous sort that it was time to yeeld and make an end of those common miseries but such was the authoritie of the bishop with his prouident foresight of all vrgent euents that once shewing himselfe in the market place as if he would haue preached he could turne the peeuish minded people which way he pleased After all this it missed but a little but that this citie which could not by enemies force bee woon had by shamefull treason beene lost there was at that time in BVDA one Bornemissa a lawyer who had in former time beene maior of the citie this Bornemissa exceedingly hated the bishop for taking part with a banckerout Iew against him and being full of malice and desirous of reuenge promised to Reualius martiall in the enemies campe to deliuer vnto him a blind posterne in S. Maries churchyard whereby he might enter the citie which gaâ—e serued the citisens in time of peace to go thorow to the riuer Rogendorff the Generall made acquainted with the matter so liked thereof that he in himselfe thought it not good in a matter of so great importance to vse at all the seruice of the Hungarians Quite contrarie to that Bornemissa had requested of Reualius who desirous to haue the matter brought to passe without the slaughter of so many guiltlesse people as was by him to be betraied would haue had it altogither performed by the Hungarians who he was in good hope would shew mercie vnto their countrey men and kinsmen and vse their victorie with more moderation than the Germans who prouoked with many despights and comming in by night were like enough to make great effusion of bloud But Rogendorff after the manner of his nation to be counted polliticke vsing to keepe promise with no man and hoping by excluding the Hungarians to haue all the glorie of the conceiued victorie wholy to himselfe made as if he would haue vsed onely the Hungaans and glosed with Reualius whose son for the more assurance he tooke as pledge For against the appointed houre which was about midnight hauing before giuen straight charge that no man should stir in the campe he sent foure select companies of Germans with great silence vnto the posterne at which time his sonne Condi stood with a strong troupe of horsemen readie to haue entred at such time as the Germans receiued into the citie should breake open the great gate as was before agreed Neither did Bornemissa faile to performe what he had as a traitor promised but opening the posterne wee spake of had with great silence receiued in most part of those German companies But when he still asked softly of them as they came in for Reualius and heard them answere nothing but in the German language although hee was otherwise a man of a bold spirit yet then surprised with a sudden feare as it oftentimes chanceth in such actions to men deceiued of their expectation he stood as a man amazed that knew not what to doe forgot to conduct the Germans who altogither vnacquainted with the citie knew not which way first to go and stealing on softly in the darke went on with no great courage for feare of treason still asking of them that followed for him that should direct them The Germans could not go so closely but that they were by the clattering of their armour and the light of their matches descried by the watch who asking for the word and they not giuing it presently raised an alarum but now all too late the citie being as good as halfe taken had the Germans well conducted resolutely gone on with the matter so well begun but they ignorant of the way and now descried and chased with their owne feare ran backe againe to the posterne in such hast that one of them miserably wrong another in striuing who should get out first and their passage out much letted by the pikes and weapons which they which fled first had cast crosse the way to run the lighter into the campe The first that set vpon the Germans was Bacianus who had that night the charge of the watch and after him Vicche who kept the court of guard in the market place and hearing the alarum came thither with a strong companie both of horsemen and footmen Many of the most valiantest Germans who comming in first were in flight become last were slaine or taken and amongst them many of Bornemissa his familiars and friends as for himselfe he was got out amongst the formost from whom the bishop by exquisite torture wrong out the whole plot of the treason and afterwards caused them to be seuerally executed to the terrour of others Reualius in the meane time complaining in the campe That he was deceiued by the Generall and Bornemissa wofully lamenting That hauing worthely got the name of an infamous traitour hee had thereby lost all his substance and vndone his friends and kindred The Generall Rogendorff condemned euen of the common souldiors for his foolish arrogancie and pride was hardly spoken of thorow all the campe as he that by too much insolencie had ouerthrowne the fairest occasion of a most goodly victorie wherefore from that time he attempted no great matter but set himselfe downe by long siege to tame his enemies and so to win the citie Solyman vnderstanding of the queenes distresse in HVNGARIE and with what desire Ferdinand supported by the emperour his brother thirsted after that kingdome consulted with his Bassaes of the purposes and power of his enemies both there and elsewhere and politikely resolued at one time with his deuided forces to withstand their attempts in diuers places and those farre distant one from another wherby the greatnesse of his power is well to be perceiued First he sent Solyman Bassa an eunuch to BABYLON to defend the countrey of MESOPOTAMIA and the frontiers of his empire alongst the riuer Tygris
any thing of the fleet fell into the bay amongst them before they were aware the bigger whereof Viscontes Cicada stemmed with his gallie and sunke him the other with wonderfull celeritie got into the hauen In the meane time Mendoza with his gallies had passed the promontorie of Apollo now called the cape of CASSINEVS and in token of honour saluting the emperour after the manner at sea with all his great Ordinance gaue him knowledge that the Spanish fleet was not farre behind In this fleet was aboue a hundred tall ships of BISCAY and the low countries and of other smaller vessels a farre greater number In these ships besides the footmen was embarked a great number of braue horsemen out of all parts of SPAINE for many noble gentlemen had voluntarily of their own charge gallantly furnished themselues with braue armour and courageous horses to serue their prince and countrey against the Infidels Ouer these choice men commaunded Ferdinand of TOLEDO duke of ALBA for his approoued valour then accounted a famous captaine These ships going altogether with sailes were not yet able to double the cape as did Mendoza with his gallies for now it was a dead calme howbeit the billow of the sea went yet high by reason of the rage of the late tempest and did so beat against the plaine shore that it was not possible to land the souldiors but that they must needs be washed vp to the middle which thing the emperour thought it not good to put them vnto and so to oppose them seasicke and thorow wet against the sudden and desperat assaults of their fierce enemies He also stayed for the comming of the Spanish ships for two causes first that he might with his vnited power more strongly assault the citie and terrifie the enemie then to communicat the whole glorie of the action with the Spaniards at whose request and forwardnesse and greatest charge he had vndertaken that warre Which fatall delay of two dayes although it was grounded vpon good reason did not onely disturbe an assured victorie but to the notable hurt of the whole armie opened a way to all the calamities which afterwards ensued In the meane while the emperour sent a conuenient messenger to Asanagas otherwise and more truly called Assan-Aga or Assan the eunuch who with a little flag of truce in his hand making signe of parley and answered by the Moores with like as their manners is went on shore and was of them courteously receiued and brought to Assan This Assan was an eunuch borne in SARDINIA brought vp from his youth in the Mahometane superstition by Barbarussa a man both politicke and valiant and by him left for the keeping of his kingdome of ALGIERS in his absence with Solyman This messenger brought into his presence required him forthwith to deliuer the citie first surprised by force and trecherie by Horruccius and afterwards to the destruction of mankind fortified by Hariadenus Barbarussa his brother to Charles the mightie emperour come in person himselfe to be reuenged on those horrible pyrats which if he would doe it should be lawfull for the Turks to depart whether they would and for the naturall Moores to abide still with their goods and religion wholly reserued vnto them vntouched as in former time and for himselfe he should receiue of the emperour great rewards both in time of peace and warres so that he would remember himselfe that he was born in SARDINIA and was once a Christian and accept of the fairest occasion which could possibly be offered for him to returne againe to the worshipping of the true God and to enjoy the fauour and bountie of the most mightie emperour and withall to reuenge himselfe of the cruell tyrant Barbarussa for the vnnaturall villanie done vnto his person But if he would needs dallie on the time and make proofe of the strength of so great a preparation he should vndoubtedly with the rest of his followers receiue the same reward of his obstinacie which they had to the example of others receiued at TVNES Wherunto the vngratious eunuch answered That he thought him altogether mad that would follow his enemies counsell and with a grinning countenance asked him Vpon what hope the emperour trusted to be able to win the citie the messenger pointing with his finger directly to the fleet told him That which you see with his great artillerie and valour of his souldiors both horse and foot Whereat the eunuch scornefully laughing replied And we with like force and valour will defend this citie and make this place alreadie famous for your ouerthrowes here twice now the third time of all others most famous by the emperours discomfiture It is reported that there was in ALGIERS an old witch famous for her predictions who had as it was said foretold the shipwrackes and miserie of Didaco Verra and Hugo Moncada to them of ALGIERS and also prefixed a time when as the Christian emperour aduenturing to besiege that citie should there receiue great losse both by sea and land The fame of which blind prophecie seruing fitly to confirme the hope of good successe in the minds of the vulgar multitude Assan so fed and augmented although hee himselfe being a craftie wise fellow beleeued no such vanitie that he did therewith not only encourage his owne souldiors but also strucke a terror into the minds of the weaker sort of his enemies seeing themselues cast vpon so dangerous a coast vpon the approch of Winter There was in garrison in the citie but eight hundred Turkes and most of them horsemen but such as whose valour and resolution farre exceeded their number For Assan had lost many of his best men some in fight against Mendoza and othersome at sea slaine or taken by Auria in CORSICA and in other places by the Rhodian Neapolitane and Sicilian gallies but many moe were by his leaue gone to aid the Moores against the Portingals the other multitude did scarce make vp the number of fiue thousand which were partly naturall Moores borne in that countrey and partly such as were born in GRANADO to whom was joyned many fugitiues out of the islands of MAIORCA and MINORCA who in former time hauing entred into rebellion and fearing condigne punishment were fled to ALGIERS and there reuolted to the Mahometane superstition But the captaines of the wild Numidians made vp a great number both of horse and foot which lying stragling without the citie in the open fields should night and day vex and molest the Christians This brutish people naturally enemies vnto the Christians had Assan with rewards and hope of a rich spoile allured out of the countries thereabout to aid him neither was it lawfull for any man to carrie his wife or children out of the citie into places of more safetie farther off or to shew any small token of feare paine of death being by the imperious eunuch proposed to whosoeuer should but looke heauily for feare of danger or speake a
sent Amurathes Gouernour of DALMATIA and Vlamas the Persian gouernour of BOSNA to besiege WALPO a strong town scituaâ— vpon the riuer Dranus not far from EXEK famous for the ouerthrow of the Christian armie vnder Cazzianer after whom followed also Achomates the great commaunder of his Europeian horsemen This towne part of Perenus his possessions was against all these forces kept and worthily defended by Perenus his wife her husband then lying in prison at VIENNA and her friends by the space of three months but was at last by the trecherous souldiors deliuered to the enemie togither with their Generall whom when they could by no means persuade to consent to the yeelding vp thereof but that he would needs hold it out to the last they tooke him perforce and so deliuered him with the towne to the Turkes who receiued him with all courtesie and vsed him honourably but those traiterous souldiors whether it were in detestation of their treacherie or for the spoile of them were all put to the sword the just reward of their treason The rest of the citisens were by the Turks taken to mercie and well vsed The bishop and chiefe men of QVINQVE ECLESIE a famous citie not far off on the other side of Dranus hearing of the losse of WALPO and terrified with the greatnesse of the Turkes armie fled for feare leauing none but the meaner sort of the people in the citie who willingly yeelded the same vnto the Turks The next towne of any strength was SOCTOSIA belonging also to Perenus which for a while held out against the Turks for that diuers gentlemen of the countrey which were fled into the citie encouraged the citisens to stand vpon their defence But after much harme done on both sides when they were no longer able to hold out they retired into the castle in hope to haue so saued their liues and libertie by yeelding but Amurathes was so offended with them that he would come to no reasonable composition or promise them any thing more than that they should at their pleasure come forth and so as they came out at the gate slew them euerie mothers sonne thereby to terrifie others from making like resistance Solyman vnderstanding all these things gaue those townes which were taken to Amurathes the Generall and hauing put all things in readinesse departed from BVDA with all his armie to besiege STRIGONIVM which was then kept by Liscanus and Salamanca two proud couetous Spaniards with a garrison of thirteene hundred souldiors whereof some few were Spaniards and Italians and the rest Germans Paulus bishop of STRIGONIVM got himselfe out of the citie betimes despairing of all mercie if he should haue fallen into the power of Solyman by whose intermission he had been once before reconciled to king Iohn and had againe reuolteâ— from him to king Ferdinand The castle of STRIGONIVM was scituat vpon a high hill ouerlooking Danubius running vnderneath it the wals were built euen without any flankers after the old manner of building before the inuention of guns For which cause Vitellius and Tâ—â—niellus two expert captaines the yeare before sent from the king to view the place and the manner of the fortification were of opinion that the citie could hardly be defended if it were be sieged by any strong enemie being subject also vnto a hill not far from the gates of the citie â—gainst which inconueniences the old garrison souldiors which wintered in STRIGONIVM cast vp new bulwarks and fortifications and after the manner of windie headed men making great boast before the danger what they would do seemed to wish for the comming of Solyman But after that the barbarous enemie had with his tents couered the fields and mountains round about the citie and withall brought a gallant fleet vp the riuer all those brags were laid in the dust euery man began to grow doubtfull of his owne safetie for that they being but few although men of good worth were to withstand the infinit number of such enemies as oftentimes vsed â—â—ost desperatly to expose their liues to all maner of dangers This their feare was also increased by the comming of certaine messengers from Solyman who vnderstanding of what nations the garrison consisted sent vnto the citie three of his owne guard one a Spaniard another an Italian and the third a German all renegate Christians that euerie one of them might without an interpretor speake vnto their countreymen in their owne language These men admitted into the citie offered great rewards and large entertainment in the name of Solyman to such as would in time yeeld denouncing all torture and extremities vnto them which should endure the summons of the cannon Whereunto it was answered by the captaines That those faithfull and valiant souldiors who had reposed their last hope in their armes were neither to be woon by gifts nor terrified with threats With which answere the messenger returned and the same day the Turkes great ordinance was planted vpon the hill before the gate of the citie and the weakest parts of the wals round about the citie so well pickt out by the Turks to be assaulted as that they could not more skilfully or commodiously haue been chosen out of them which had within most diligently viewed euerie thing so that it is to be thought that the Christians wanted not onely fortune against the Turks but also faith amongst themselues Salamanca distrusting the fortifications of the suburbs retired into the citie contrarie to that he had before vainly boasted Achomates Generall of the Europeian horsemen laid siege to that part of the wall which was next to the bishops gardens Vlamas the Persian besieged the towre neere vnto the gate towards BVDA The Asapi or common souldiors were by their captaines brought on to dig trenches and cast vp mounts as was thought most conuenient It is incredible to be spoken with what furie the great ordinance was discharged without ceasing insomuch that the towre with a great part of the wall neere vnto it shaken with continuall batterie fell downe with such violence as if all had been shaken with a most terrible earthquake neither was any man able to stand vpon the wals but that the Ianizaries with their harquebusiers out of their trenches and from their mounts would most certainly fetch him off and many which stood within farther off were with the Turkes arrowes falling from high as if it had beene out of the ayre grieuously wounded But that which most troubled the defendants and did them greatest harme was the stones which beaten in sunder with the great shot and not to be auoided did with their pieces kill or maime the souldiors neere hand With which dangers they were enforced to forsake the vttermost wall and to cast vp new fortifications within that they might with lesse danger defend the place Neither in the enemy wanted courage to assaile the breach thrise they desperatly attempted to haue entered and were alwaies with losse
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
depart away with his horses of seruice which he kept very good and had cunningly stuffed the saddles full of gold thinking so slyly to haue conueyed it the Turke laughing at him tooke from him his horses furnished as they were saying That he which was to goe by water needed no horses So was the couetous wretch at once quit of the great wealth which he had in long time euill gotten The captaines with the rest of the souldiors dispoiled of their armes were conueyed ouer the riuer of Danubius and so trauelled on foot to POSSONIVM where the countie Salme by the commaundement of the king apprehended Liscanus Salamanca and some other of the captaines for suspition of treason and committed them to safe custodie there to answere for their cowardly yeelding vp of the citie Solyman entred into STRIGONIVM the tenth of August in the yeare 1543 and there conuerting the Christian churches into temples for the Mahometane superstition first sacrificed for his victorie as he had before done in BVDA and after with all speed so strongly fortified the citie as if he would thereby for euer haue taken from the Christians all hope of recouering the same againe deriding the slouthfull negligence of the Germans who possessed of it foureteene years had neglected all that time to fortifie it Not long after Solyman leauing Ossainus a valiant captaine gouernour of STRIGONIVM and sending his Tartarian horsemen to spoile the countrey on the left hand as farre as ALBA REGALIS went himselfe to besiege the castle of TATTA called in auntient time THEODATA The garrison souldiours terrified with the losse of STRIGONIVM and the sight of the Turkes armie vpon the first summons yeelded the castle without resistance and were so suffered quietly to depart That castle after the manner of the Turkish discipline who with few and those very strong holds keepe their prouinces in subjection was by Solymans commaundement presently rased downe to the ground Torniellus Generall of the Italians caused Hanniball captaine of the castle to haue his head strucke off for his cowardly yeelding vp of the peece he had taken charge of thereby to admonish others which had the charge of strong places not to refuse an honourable death in defence of their countrey for feare of an ignominious death attending their cowardise TATTA thus layd in the dust Solyman marched with his armie towards ALBA surnamed REGALIS for that the kings of HVNGARIE by an auntient custome vsed to be there crowned and also buried BVDA STRIGONIVM and ALBA REGALIS three principall cities of the kingdome of HVNGARIE stand in manner of a triangle almost equally distant one from another about a hundred miles in compasse BVDA and STRIGONIVM are siâ—â—at vpon the riuer of Danubius but ALBA standeth more into the land strongly seated in the midst of a great lake but not so wholesomely especially in the Summer time the Winter waters then decreasing and grosse vapours arising with the heat of the Sunne From the citie thorow the marrish or lake vnto the firme land lie three broad and high causeyes in manner of the strakes of a cart wheele well built with faire houses and gardens on either side and a broad way in the middle whereby men passe in and out of the citie At the end of euery causey towards the land were cast vp strong bulwarkes which the citisens vsed not to watch but in dangerous times of warre so that by these bulwarkes the houses of the suburbs standing vpon these causies were safe from the danger of the enemie the lake filling vp all the spaces betwixt the causies which what for the depth what for mud flaggs and bulrushes growing in it was not by horse or man to be passed thorow And the citie it selfe standing in the middest of the lake compassed round about with a strong wall and a deepe ditch alwayes full of water was hardly to be besieged for which causes a great number of the countrey people vpon the comming of Solyman fled into it with their cattell as vnto a most sure hold In the citie lay in garrison two companies of Germans and two hundred horsemen vnto whom were joyned fiue hundred Hungarian horsemen such as in time of peace liued by robbing and are by an infamous name called Vsarous vnto these the Italian countie Torniellus who with his Italians was come as farre as IAVARINVM or RAB sent foure captaines with their companies such as were most forward in that seruice after whom followed Barcocius captaine of the kings guard with a companie of horsemen appointed by the king for Generall Who was no sooner come into the citie but news was brought of Solymans approch Whereupon he in hast called together the other captaines with Birrous then maior of the citie and other the cheefe citisens to consult with them What was best to be done for the defence of the citie but especially Whether the suburbes of the citie standing vpon those three broad causies were to be destroyed or not that so the citie standing in the middest of the great marrish might both with lesse labour and danger be defended This question was seriously debated and great reasons alleadged on both sides at last the citisens cried out with one voice against the matter and said That they would neuer suffer those goodly suburbs wherein were so many churches and faire buildings as might compare with the citie it selfe to be so shamefully destroied to the vtter vndoing of so many rich citisens for what could be said they more dishonourable or lamentable than to the encouraging of the barbarous enemie to shew such a token of extreame feare and with their owne hands to burne and destroy those stately buildings which might by strong hand be well enough defended against the enemie if they did not play the shamefull cowards Of which opinion with the citisens was also Octauianus Serosactus an Italian captaine alleadging that both the citie and the suburbs might both with like danger be defended forasmuch as they were equally fortified with the benefit of the marrish and if the worst should happen the defendants might yet safely enough retire into the citie At last standing vp as one thrust forward both with the publicke hard fortune and his owne said Valiant gentlemen what shew will you giue of your valour or what honour shall you haue of your seruice If you shall defend so famous a citie by deforming of it your selues and cutting off the suburbes as it were the armes thereof before the danger vpon too hastie desperation Verily you shall doe nothing either in the seruice of the king or the honour of your selues except this citie if God so please be of you whole and sound valiantly defended Vpon this speech they all arise the wiser sort and of greatest experience giuing place to the importunitie of the ignorant and simple Barcotius himselfe full of care and ouercome with the vaine opinion of the greater part yeelded also vnto that fatall resolution
of sauing the suburbes For it often falleth out that they who wisely weighing dangers in the ballance of reason and doe therefore fearefully resolue of the euent of things and doe thereupon oftentimes giue more hard and resolute iudgement of things than men of greater courage yeeld neuerthelesse to be partakers of other mens follies yea euen to most assured death rather than by maintaining their fearfull opinion to be deemed cowards So fell it out with Barcotius the Generall who setting a good countenance on the matter which nothing liked him went out to the souldiours declaring vnto them the reasons why the suburbes were to be defended exhorting them with like valor on their parts to answere that honourable resolution promising to prouide whatsoeuer should be necessarie for the obtaining of the victorie assuring them of great rewards and preferment which should by their good seruice deserue the same Hereupon the suburbes were by the common labour of the souldiors and the citisens quickly fortified the great ordinance in places conuenient orderly planted and watch and ward kept by the captaines and their companies by their turnes day and night But the Turks drawing neere to the citie bent their forces onely against the suburbes of the gate leading towards BVDA for that they perceiued the marrish was in that place drier than in the other and the sandie ground more vnfit for the making of bulwarkes and other fortifications for the safetie of the defendants than in the other places where the ground yeelded better turfe Barcotius perceiuing the enemies purpose drew all the Italians and Germanes from the other gates into the suburbes of the gate of BVDA leauing the countrey people which were fled into the citie and the citisens in their places At the first comming of the Turkes the Hungarian and Germane horsemen with the Italian footmen sallied out of the suburbes and after certaine light skirmishes retired Which manner of fight was continued by the space of three daies without any great harme done on either side for the captaines had warily commaunded That the souldiors should not aduenture out too farre But after that Solyman himselfe was come and had with the multitude of his tents beset the citie farre and neere to the terrour of the beholders the Christians shut vp all the gates and sallied out no more Which thing caused the wild Hungarian Vsarous vsed to open skirmishes to prouide for themselues in time and not to suffer themselues to be coupt vp as they tearmed within the wals of the citie So for fashion sake asking leaue to be gone who were not against their wils to be stayed they by night departed being not to bee entreated by the Generall or citisens to stay and by knowne wayes escaped thorow the woods from the enemie In the meane time the Turkes were come with their winding trenches within shot and with their arrowes and small shot so scoured the top of the bulwarke that no man could there possibly appeare but he was straight wounded and such was the furie of the great artillerie that it had in short time battered in sunder the plankes and timber which kept in the sandie mould whereof the fortresse was made more for shew than for strength in such sort that the great shot flying quite thorow all slew and wounded many that were a far off in which distresse of the defendants the Turkes Asapi with small danger filled vp the ditches of the bulwarke and diuers places of the marrish with earth and wood which they brought continually from a wood thereby with six hundred waggons so that in the space of twelue dayes they had made a firme way for them to passe ouer vpon both to the bulwarke and the suburbes a worke before thought impossible to haue been performed The ditches thus filled vp the Turkes valiantly came on seeking by plaine force to enter the bulwarke First came on the Asapi whom as men of least worth the Turks captaines vse to thrust to the first danger After whom followed the horsemen now on foot with swords and targuets or else their horsemens staues couering the Ianizaries who vpon their knees with their harquebusiers sore gauled the defendants This hot fight endured aboue three houres with equall hope and courage but the Turkes still relieued with fresh souldiors repulsed the Christians and gained the vttermost bulwarke neuerthelesse the Italian fort was that day valiantly defended the very women and religious helping to defend it in which assault a tall Hungarian woman whose courage farre exceeded the weakenesse of her sex thrusting in amongst the souldiours vpon the top of the fort with a great sythe in her hand at one blow strucke off two of the Turks heads as they were climing vp the rampier This assault was giuen the nine and twentieth of August on which day the Turkes had before taken Bâ—LGRADE and also slaine king Lewes at the battell of MOHACHZ and were therefore after their superstitious manner in obseruation of their fortunat and vnfortunat dayes in good hope to haue then taken the citie wherein they were much deceiued being not able at that time further to enter but enforced againe to retire Wherewith Solyman offended sent for Abraham Achomates and Halis the cheefe captaines in that assault into his tent and reprooued them sharpely for that the bulwarke being so valiantly and fortunatly woon they had not with more courage prosecuted the victorie but cowardly as he thought giuen it ouer being in a manner alreadie woon and therefore with sterne countenance commaunded them to prepare all things readie within three dayes for a fresh assault and neuer to returne vnto him except they did win the citie Whereunto the captaines answered no more for were they neuer so guiltlesse they might not before him stand to excuse themselues but that they would in short time accomplish his desire Wherefore hauing made all readie and encouraged the souldiors to this last assault they terribly assailed the rampiers and brought a great feare vpon the defendants for taking the benefit of a thick mist as it oftentimes chanceth in marrish grounds they were with great silence contrarie to their manner got vp to the top of the rampiers and come to handy blows before they were well discouered The fight was for the time fierce and terrible but the Ianizaries preuailing at length put the Germanes to flight and after them the Italians also so that now well was he that could run fastest towards the citie But that their hastie flight little auailed when as they were to passe out by a little narrow gate in manner of a wicket and they in the citie without regard of them that fled had plucked vp the draw bridge ouer the ditch For naturally it commeth oftentimes to passe that the feare of the present danger without blushing excuseth our foule dealing So the barbarous and fierce enemie pursuing the flying Christians at the heeles all the length of those suburbes with most cruell execution many
with so great charge set out so great a fleet and so far off to helpe his friend hardly beset with his enemies and 〈◊〉 done nothing besides that he tooke on like a Turke that he who in time of seruice neuer vsed negligently to let slip the least opportunitie should now blemish his former credit and estiâ—ation by lying still all that Sommer in the harbour of MARSEILLES where his souldiors grew lazie with doing nothing Wherefore Polinus going to the king told him of the proud Turkes great discontentment for lacke of imploimenâ— and returning to Barbarussa brought oâ—der from the king that he should lay siege to NICE a citie of PROVINCE then holden by the Duke of SAVOY This citie standing vpon the sea was by one of the French kings for a great sum of money pawned vnto the duke which money king Francis had many times offered to haue repaid but could neuer get the citie out of the dukes hands Vnto which seruice the French king sent also his fleet of two and twentie gallies and eighteene ships wherein were embarked eight thousand footmen and victuall for many daies This fleet departing from MARSEILLIS keeping close by the shoare came to the port called MONOC whither two daies after came Barbarussa also with an hundred and fiftie gallies From thence Polinus by commandement from the king writ vnto the State of GENVA That they should not feare of that great fleet any hostilitie which was not to hurt any but them of NICE and not them neither if they would yeeld themselues For more assurance whereof he obtained of the Turks diuers GENVA captiues which had long time been chained in their gallies and courteously set them at libertie and sent them home without raunsome After that he friendly exhorted the citisens of NICE to yeeld themselues againe vnto their auntient and lawfull prince renowned for his bountie and power rather than to aduenture their state to all extremities for that poore and distressed duke who betweene the emperor and the French king despoiled of the greatest part of his dominions saw no other end of his miseries but to leaue that little which yet remained as a prey to the one or the other that should first lay hand thereon Whereunto the magistrates of the towne answered That they knew no other prince or soueraigne but Charles their duke wherefore he should desist farther to solicite them by letters or messengers whom they would make no other account of but as of their enemies Wherefore the Frenchmen and Turks landing their forces laid siege to the towne in three places The citisens had but a little before newly fortified their wals by the direction of Paulus Simeon captaine of the castle and one of the knights of the RHODES a man of great experience who long before taken at sea by pirats had sometime serued Barbarussa and therefore persuaded the citisens as resolute men to withstand the Turks Which that they should more constantly performe he tooke their wiues and children and weaker sort of the people into the castle and from thence furnished the citisens with all things necessarie for their defence The citie was at once in diuers places battered by the Turks and French both by sea and land so that at last the Turks had beaten downe one of the new built bulwarks and made so faire a breach that with their ensignes displaied they attempted to haue entred whose forwardnes Leo Strozza then seruing the French king with a band of Italians imitating sought to haue entred also but the citisens standing valiantly vpon their defence manfully repulsed both the Turkes and Italians and caused them with losse to retire In this assault were slaine about an hundred Turkes and of Strozza his souldiors two and twentie Presently after Barbarussa with all his force began a fresh batterie in such terrible manner that the citisens seeing their wals in diuers places opened and the few souldiors they had sore wounded and no hope to be in conuenient time relieued began to parley with the French Generall from the wall concerning the yeelding vp of the citie vpon condition that they might in all respects liue vnder the French king as they had done vnder the duke for performance whereof the Generall gaue them his faith But Polinus fearing least the Turks should violate this composition and for greefe of the losse of their fellowes or for hope of the spoile breake into the citie entreated Barbarussa to recall his souldiours and to cause them to goe abourd his gallies For which cause not long after the Ianizaries as men deceiued of their hoped prey were about to haue slaine both Polinus and Strozza as they came from talking with Barbarussa The citie thus yeelded they began to consult for the taking of the castle the performance whereof consisted first in the assailing of the castle it selfe and then in defending of the citie from the sudden sallies of them in the castle and likewise in defending of them which besieged the castle so that no enemie should come to raise the siege of which two things Barbarussa put the French to choice which they would take shewing himselfe readie either to besiege the castle or to keepe the field The French standing in doubt of which to make choice the proud old Turk scorning their slow resolution and them also as men vnfit for the readie accomplishment of any martiall exploit caused seuen pieces of batterie whereof two were of wonderfull greatnesse to be placed in a trice in place most conuenient and the same quickly entrenched and fortified to the great admiration of the French with which pieces he had quickly beaten downe the battlements of the wals and centenell houses so that no man was able to shew himselfe vpon the wals The Frenchmen likewise on the other side did with their great ordinance continually batter the castle but with long shooting they came to such want of shot and pouder that Polinus was glad to request that he might either borrow or buy some of Barbarussa whereat the Turke fretted and fumed exceedingly That they should in their owne countrey stand in need of his prouision who at MARSEILLES had better fraughted their ships with wine than with necessaries for the warres For the rough and seuere old Turke could not forbeare to taunt them and oftentimes complained that he was deluded with the hope of great matters which Polinus had promised at CONSTANTINOPLE and that in such a rage that he would threaten to lay hands vpon Polinus who had brought him from CONSTANTINOPLE thither whereas he must either lose his honour or hauing spent his shot and pouder expose himselfe and his fleet to all dangers Wherefore being exceeding angrie with the French he suddenly called a counsell of his captaines other cheefe officers giuing it out That he would presently return toward CONSTANTINOPLE seeing that among these cowardly and vnskilfull men as it pleased him to tearme them he found nothing readie or
that it was well knowne that a peacocke and two feisants dressed after the manner of the kings kitchin cost aboue an hundred duckats so that not onely the dining chamber when they were carued vp but all the house was so filled with the strange and fragrant smell that all they that dwelt neere thereabouts were partakers of the pleasure of that vnusuall and delicat perfume From NAPLES he was about to haue trauelled by land to the emperour being then in conference with the Pope at BVXETVM fearing to aduenture the sea possessed by his enemies fleet had not the emperour by his letters willed him to stay still where hee was But whilest he made his abode at NAPLES and carefully attended what course Barbarussa would take who furnished with so great a fleet was departed from NICE disappointed of his purpose he was by certaine messengers aduertised out of AFFRICKE That Amida his sonne was risen vp against him and possessing himselfe of the kingdome had slaine his captaines polluted his wiues and taken the castle of TVNES With which newes he being exceedingly troubled determined without delay to passe ouer into AFFRICKE and though late yet as he might to remedie his domesticall troubles in hope to oppresse that rebellion in the beginning and his sonne also before he could gather any strength to rest vpon Wherefore he with all the hast hee could opened his cofers and entertained souldiors the viceroy giuing leaue to all such banished men as would to come and giue their names to passe ouer as souldiors into AFFRICKE vpon report whereof such a number of malefactors condemned persons came flocking to NAPLES that it was thought a sufficient armie might haue beene made of such kind of men euery one of them chusing rather to enter into pay and blot out the infamie of banishment and proue the fortune of warres than to liue wandering vp and downe in the woods and in danger euery houre to be hanged Of these infamous men one Ioannes Baptista Lofredius a man well borne but of a fierce and couetous disposition vndertooke the leading he couenanting with Muleasses to haue three moneths pay before hand leuied eighteene hundred men which he presently shipped and keeping the greatest part of their pay to himselfe passed ouer with the king into AFFRICKE and landed at GVLETTA But how Amida rise vp against his father and what was the end of that bloudie rebellion shall not be amisse briefely to rehearse There were certaine noble men of great authoritie about Amida when Muleasses departed which at their pleasure ruled the young prince who easily harkened vnto their counsell and followed the same the chiefe of these was one Mahometes sonne of Bohamer who in the raigne of Mahometes Muleasses his father was Maniphet whom Muleasses possessed of the kingdome put shamefully to death by cutting off his priuities because he had by hastie marriage deceiued him of Rhahamana a maiden of incomparable beautie the daughter of Abderomen captaine of the castle whom he most passionatly loued for which cruell fact Mahometes his sonne had of long time conceiued a deadly hatred against Muleasses which he had many yeares dissembled that he might as occasion serued be the more cruelly reuenged Next vnto him was another Mahometes surnamed Adulzes whom Muleasses was wont commonly to call his worst seruant These two with a few others conspiring togither gaue it out that Muleasses was dead at NAPLES and before his death had most irreligiously as they accounted it reuolted to the Christian religion With which report they perceiuing Amida moued came vnto him and persuaded him quickly to enter into his fathers seat least Mahometes his younger brother then lying in hostage with the Christians at GVLETTA should by the fauour and helpe of Touarres whose garrison was euer readie be preferred before him For Mahometes was eighteene yeares old resembling his grandfather in name fauour and disposition and therefore of the citisens of TVNES best beloued wherefore Amida came in post hast out of the campe to TVNES to lay first hand vpon his fathers kingdome The people which as yet had heard nothing of the kings death receiued him with doubtfull countenance and as many stood maruelling that he was so rashly come into the citie without his fathers commaundement Mahometes appointed by Muleasses to gouerne the citie came out and sharpely reproued him as guiltie of high treason persuading him to returne againe vnto the campe and seeing him stay by force of the multitude thrust him out of the citie Amida deceiued of his expectation got him out of the way into the pleasant country of MARTIA betweene VTICA and the ruins of old CARTHAGE But Mahometes Gouernour of the citie after he had repulsed Amida got him with all speed by water to Touarres at GVLETTA to know of him more assuredly if any such euill newes were brought from SICILIE of the death of the king and to complaine of the rashnesse and intollerable presumption of Amida Where staying somewhat long in discoursing with the captaine and afterwards returning to the citie he was suspected to haue practised with the captaine to make Mahometes the pledge in GVLETTA king in his fathers steed for so the common voice went The Moores are by nature a faithlesse people vnconstant hastie suspitious desirous of newes which true or false they for the time interpret as serueth best their factions whereunto they are exceedingly giuen So at the first there rise in the citie a doubtfull rumour of the making of a new king the suspition wherof more and more encreasing set all the citie on an vprore By occasion whereof certaine of the citisens to whom the verie name of Muleasses was odious speedily certified Amida then in the gardens of MARTIA sighing and grieuing at his hard fortune how all stood and that now was the time to doe himselfe good He reuiued with that vnexpected newes and encouraged by the persuasion of Bohamar and Adulzes and other his followers resolued to take hold vpon that good offer of fortune which would not alwaies frowne and to follow his good hap So in hast returning to TVNES and entring in at the gate which he then found open ran presently to the gouernours house and finding him not at home cruelly slew all his houshold and with his bloudie companie went presently to the castle where Fares the captaine seeking to haue kept him out and boldly laying hands vpon his horses bridle to haue thrust him backe was by a desperat Ethiopian one of Amida his followers thrust thorow with a sword and slaine ouer whose bodie yet sprawling Amida forcing his horse brake into the castle with his friends and finding Mahometes gouernour of the citie presently slew him also And so by this meanes Amida in the space of an houre a little before a man in despaire obtained the citie the castle and the kingdome togither After that he murthered his younger brethren and embrued with bloud without shame polluted his
of ELBA belonging to the duke of FLORENCE oueragainst POPVLONA where vnderstanding that one of the sonnes of Sinan his old friend was there kept prisoner he writ vnto Appianus gouernour of the island for his deliuerance to this effect I know that a young man a Turke serueth thee the sonne of Sinan surnamed the Iew a famous captaine taken of late at TVNES him I would haue thee friendly to restore which gift I will make thee vnderstand to be vnto me most acceptable for this our great fleet in passing by you shall faithfully forbeare to vse any hostilitie But if thou shalt in this so small a matter refuse to gratifie me expect vpon the coast of thy countrey all the harmes which an angrie enemie can doe Whereunto Appianus shewing his men vpon the wals in token that he was not afraid answered That the young man was become a Christian and therefore might not in any case bee deliuered to the Turkes but that he would in any other thing gratifie him in what he could and for his sake vse the young man as his sonne And to mollifie the vnkindnesse of his answere he sent him fresh victuall with other presents But Barbarussa offended with the answere landed his men round about the island and commanded them to make what spoile they could which they performed accordingly hunting the island people vp and downe the rockes and mountains like Hares vntill that Appianus not without cause doubting the vtter spoile of the island redeemed his peace by deliuering the young man to Salec the pyrat who brought him to Barbarussa gallantly apparrelled after the Italian manner of whom he was joyfully receiued as the sonne of a most valiant captaine his old friend and thereupon Barbarussa stayed his souldiors from doing any further harme vpon the island and gaue Appianus great thanks for him This young man Barbarussa honoured with the commaund of seuen gallies and afterwards sent him to his father then lying at SVETIA a port of the red sea Admirall for Solyman against the Portingals who greatly troubled those seas But the old Iew ouerjoyed with the sudden and vnexpected returne of his sonne whom he had for many yeares before giuen as lost in embracing of him fainted and so presently for joy died This man for valour was accounted little inferiour to Barbarussa but for discretion and just dealing farre beyond him nothing of so furious and wayward a disposition as was he Barbarussa departing from ELBA came into the bay of TELAMON in TVSCVNIE and in short time took the citie which he spoiled and burnt but especially the house of Bartholomeus Telamonius whose dead bodie but a little before buried he caused to be pluckt out of the graue his bones to be scattered abroad because he being Admirall of the bishop of ROME his gallies had in the island of LESBOS wasted Barbarussa his fathers poore possession and marching by night eight miles further into the land surprised MONTENVM and carried almost all the inhabitants away with him into captiuitie The like mischeefe he did at the port called PORTVS HERCVLIS but purposing to haue taken ORHATELLO and there to haue fortified he was by Luna and Vitellius two valiant captaines before sent thither the one by the State of SIENA and the other by the duke of FLORENCE repulsed So though disappointed of his purpose yet hauing done great harme and put the whole countrey of TVSCANIE in exceeding feare he departed thence and landed againe at IGILIVM now called GIGIO an island about twelue miles distant from PORTVS HERCVLIS where he quickly battered the towne and caried a wonderfull number of all sorts into miserable captiuitie keeping on his course he passing the cape LINAR comming oueragainst CANTVMCELLE had burnt that citie for the same reason he did TELAMON had he not been otherwise persuaded by Strozza the French embassador fearing to draw the French king into further obliquie From thence he came with a direct course to the island of ISCHIA where landing in the night he intercepted most part of the inhabitants of the island as they were flying into the mountaines and in reuenge of the hatred he had conceiued against Vastius at the siege of NICE he burnt FORINO PANSA and VARRANIVM three cheefe townes of that island but PITHACVSA the dwelling place of Vastius standing vpon a broken rocke somewhat distant from the sea he durst not aduenture vpon Then scraping along the island PROCHITA with lesse hurt because most part of the inhabitants were before fled to PITHACVSA he put into the bay of PVTEOLI and sent Salec the pyrat with part of his fleet to make proofe if the citie of PVTEOLI might from sea be battered Salec drawing neere the citie shot into it with his great ordinance and by chance slew one Saiauedra a valiant Spaniard vpon the wals and put the citisens in a great feare least the whole fleet should haue landed they themselues as then vnprouided but the viceroy came presently with a power both of horse and foot from NAPLES which Barbarussa discouering from sea as they came downe the mountaines called backe Salec and leauing the Island of CAPRI and passing by the promontorie ATHENEVM was about to haue seised vpon SALERNVM when a tempest suddenly arising dispersed his fleet and driue him beyond the promontorie PALINVRVS vpon the coast of CALABRIA where he did exceeding much harme especially at CARREATO From thence he departed to the island of LIPARI betwixt ITALIE and SICILIE which island he miserably spoyled and with fortie great pieces so battered the citie that the citisens were constrained for feare to yeeld whom he carried away all prisoners about the number of seuen thousand of one sort of people and other and burnt the citie So loaded with the rich spoile of ITALIE and the islands vpon the coast he returned towards CONSTANTINOPLE with such a multitude of poore Christian captiues shut vp so close vnder hatches amongst the excrements of Nature that all the way as he went almost euery houre some of them were cast dead ouer boord euery man detesting the endlesse hatred betwixt the emperour and the French king the very ground of all this and many thousand other most wofull and vndeserued calamities of their poore subjects With this rich prey and an infinit number of captiues Barbarussa arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE in the beginning of Autumne in the yeare 1544 where he was honourably receiued of Solyman and highly commended for his good seruice both by sea and land Solyman triumphing at CONSTANTINOPLE of the good successe he had in HVNGARIE in the middest of all his glorie was aduertised of the death of Mahomet his eldest sonne whom of all his children he held deerest whose dead bodie was shortly after brought from MAGNESIA and with wonderfull solemnitie and no lesse mourning buried at CONSTANTINOPLE How entirely Solyman loued this his sonne well appeared by the great sorrow he conceiued of his death and not contented to
with him seauen thousand captiues and all the spoile of the citie And not so contented did all the harme he could with fire and sword all alongst that coast of AFRICA to the intent that the Turks should there find no reliefe and tooke 12 prisoners out of MONASTERIVM a towne not far from the citie of AFRICA and so hauing done that he came for returned againe into SICILIE Dragut thus at once thrust out of all he had with a few of his friends fled to Solyman at CONSTANTINOPLE and so incensed him with the grieuous complaint of the wrong done vnto him by the Christians that in reuenge therof he resolued to make warre both vpon the emperour and king Ferdinand notwithstanding that the fiue yeares league he had before taken with him at his going into PERSIA was not yet expired So with cheerfull words and courteous entertainment comforting vp the desperat pirat the Spring following which was in the yeare 1551 he furnished him with a great fleet in most warlike manner appointed to reuenge the injurie done to him by Auria in AFFRICKE With this fleet in number one hundred and fortie saile Sinan one of the Turks great Bassaes accompanied with Dragut the pirat by the appointment of Solyman departed from CONSTANTINOPLE and cutting thorow the seas arriued at length in SICILIE where they suddenly surprised the towne and castle of AVGVSTA which they presently sacked Departing thence they came to the island of MALTA and there landed their men in the port of MARZA otherwise called MOXET neere vnto the castle which they battered with certaine pieces of great ordinance but so as was to no great purpose At which time diuers companies of the Turkes running farther into the island made hauocke of whatsoeuer came in their way After they had thus few daies in vaine battered the castle and saw themselues both there valiantly repulsed and in other places by ambushes and such like meanes cut off by the souldiors and inhabitants of the island they remoued thence to the road of S. Paul where they landed their ordinance with purpose to haue besieged the citie but perceiuing by a little what small hope there was to preuaile and seeing diuers of their men dying thorow the extreamitie of the heat they forsooke the island and went to GAVLES now called GOZA a little island about thirtie miles in compasse fiue miles distant from MALTA Westward subject vnto the knights of the religion and there landing their men miserably spoiled the island and whatsoeuer they light vpon and carried away with them of one sort of people and other six thousand and three hundred captiues into most wofull bondage With which bootie they put againe to sea and sailed directly to TRIPOLIS in BARâ—Aâ—IE called of old LEPTIS MAGNA which citie Charles the emperour had before giuen to the knights of MALTA and was at that time by them kept This citie was the marke whereat the Bassa and the pirat shot for taking whereof they landed their forces and by long and winding trenches approched as neere the same as they could which they did not without great losse of their people for they of the castle hauing good store of great ordinance and most expert canoniers did with continuall shot so annoy the Turks that they were oftentimes enforced to retire yet with much troublesome labour and no lesse perill they came at last within eight hundred paces of the wals where the Bassa caused his gabions made of thicke plankes to be placed in the night and his batterie planted And the next day which was the eighth of August the cannon began to play which was againe answered from the castle with like and euerie houre some of the Turks slaine the great shot still flying into their trenches so as that day foure of the best canoniers in the armie were slaine with certaine other men of good account also and the clearke generall of the armie a man of great estimation and welbeloued of the Bassa had his hand shot off and many other of the Ianizaries and common souldiors either slaine or hurt moreouer they brake one of their best pieces and dismounted foure others which for that day made them to leaue the batterie The next night the Turkes approached yet neerer vnto the castle vpon whom the Christians in the breake of the day sallied out euen vnto their verie trenches and afterwards retired With the rising of the sunne which the Turkes haue in great reuerence they renued their batterie with greater force than before yet with such euill successe that the Bassa was almost mad for anger for about the euening the fire by mischance got into their pouder wherewith thirtie of the Turkes were burnt many hurt and one piece broken At length the Turks were come so neere that they had planted their batterie within an hundred and fiftie paces of the wall which they continued with such furie that they had made a faire breach euen with the ditch but what was beaten downe in the day time the defendants repaired againe by night in such sort as that it was not to be assaulted Yet in conclusion a traiterous souldior of PROVINCE before corrupted by the Turkes found meanes to flie out of the castle into the campe where he declared vnto the Bassa the weakest places of the castle by which it might be most conueniently battered and soonest taken and especially one place aboue the rest which was against the gouernors lodging which standing towards the ditch and hauing vnderneath it sellars to retire the munition into could not if it were once battered well be repaired againe or fortified Which the Bassa vnderstanding caused the batterie there to be planted laying the pieces so low that they did easily beat the sellars and vaults in such sort that in short time the wals were so shaken that the rampiers aboue thorow the continuall batterie began greatly to sinke which so amased the soldiors seeing no conuenient meanes to repaire the same that setting all honour aside they requested the Gouernour That sithence the matter began now to grow desperat and that the place was not longer to be holden he would in time take some good order with the enemie for their safetie before the wals were farther endamaged With which motion Vallter the Gouernour an antient knight of DAVLPHINIE and one of the order was exceedingly troubled which Peisieu another of the knights perceiuing he as a man of great courage and of all others there present most antient in the name of the other knights declared vnto them That the breach was neither so great nor so profitable for the enemie but that it was defensible enough if they would as men of courage repaire the same saying That it was more honourable for worthie knights and lustie souldiors to die valiantly with their weapons in their hands fighting against the infidels for the maintenance of their law and Christian religion than so cowardly to yeeld themselues to the mercie of
vnworthie or vnthankefull client and to carrie word backe againe vnto his father That he would aboue all things haue care of his commaund if he might so doe for his brother Selymus whose injuries and trecheries he had much adoe to brooke Partau the great Bassa so sent away assured Solyman what the very mind and purpose of his younger sonne was And albeit that Baiazet to make it seeme as if something had beene done by that embassage made shew as if he would haue presently gone towards AMASIA yet Solyman neuerthelesse fearing the worst made all the preparation he could against him commaunding the Beglerbeg of GREECE although then sicke of the gout to make hast and with his horsemen to passe ouer with all speed to aid Selymus and Mehemet Bassa but lately returned he sent forthwith backe againe for the same purpose to Selymus with certaine of the most trustie companies of the Ianizaries and the old man in readinesse made semblant as if he would himselfe in person haue gone ouer also But the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court came with euill will together detesting that warre betweene the brethren as altogether abhominable for against whom should they draw their swords was it not against the emperours sonne and happily the heire of the empire Wherefore this warre might as they said well ynough be let alone as altogether vnnecessarie and not they to be enforced to embrue their hands one in anothers bloud and to pollute themselues with such impietie as for that which Baiazet did was to be holden excused as proceeding from necessitie Which speeches of the Ianizaries being brought to Solymans eares he forthwith declared them to the Muphti whom in all matters of doubt they flie vnto as vnto a most sacred Oracle demaunding of him How he was to be entreated who of himselfe presumed whiles he yet liued to leuie souldiors raise an armie ransacke townes and trouble the state of the whole empire and what also he deemed of them that were his followers and tooke part with him and last of all of them also that refused to beare armes against him and said that he had in so doing nothing offended Whereunto the Muphti answered That both the man and his part-takers were all worthie of death and that such as refused to take vp arms against him were as prophane and irreligious men to be accounted intestable Which the great priests answere was published vnto the people and by the cheefe Chiaus sent to Baiazet to see if he might be therewith moued Within a few dayes after there came to CONSTANTINOPLE one of the Chiaus whom Baiazet had intercepted being sent from Solyman to Selymus by whom Baiazet gaue his father to vnderstand That he was in all dutie his and that he had not taken vp armes against him neither refused to be vnto him in all things obedient but that he had onely to doe with his brother and with him to fight for his life by whose sword he must needs die or els he by his for that a mischeefe was to be by one of them performed which quarrell he was resolued to trie whiles he yet liued and that therefore he should doe best not to meddle in their quarrell or giue aid to either But if so be he would needs as the report was passe ouer the sea to aid Selymus he should not thinke easily to get him into his hands for that he knew right well if the worst came how to escape and saue himselfe and would before he could get ouer into ASIA make such spoile with fire and sword as neuer had Tamerlane or other the cruellest enemie of the Turks that euer was Which message did not a little trouble Solyman And withall it was reported that the towne of AXVAR where one of Selymus his sonnes ruled as Sanzacke was alreadie taken by Baiazet and shamefully sacked But Selymus hearing that his brother was gone toward AMASIA and now on his way as farre as ANCYRA being out of all suspition of danger which he feared vpon the way so long as his brother was yet lingering in those quarters hasted now towards ICONIVM which was with a strong garrison kept for him for amongst other cares wherewith Solyman was vexed it was not the least That Baiazet intercepting ICONIVM should get into SIRIA and from thence into AEGIPT an open countrey and not yet throughly established vnder the Turkish gouernment neither forgetfull of the old gouernment of the Mamalukes and therefore desirous of change from whence it would haue beene an hard matter to haue driuen Baiazet especially the Arabians being alwayes readie and at hand at euery light stirre where any hope of prey was out of which prouince also in case of extremitie he might easily transport himselfe into any of the Christian kingdomes Solyman therefore tooke great care that this passage which might seeme the last refuge of Baiazet his deuices might be stopped and concerning the same had giuen commandement vnto most of his commanders in ASIA to be alwayes in readinesse to aid Selymus whensoeuer he should call With them Selymus lay encamped vnder the wals of ICONIVM attending euerie stirring of Baiazet resolued there to expect farther aid from his father and not by vntimely fight to commit his safetie to the hazard of one doubtfull battell But Baiazet on the other side not vnmindfull what a matter he had taken in hand slept not thereupon but first entertained a valiant sort of horsemen which the Turks call Chiurts and are supposed to be of that people which were sometimes called Gordij men for their knowne valour famous He yet lay in the plaine and open fields by ANCYRA of the commodities of which citie which were indeed great he made great vse In the castle thereof he bestowed his concubines and children of the rich marchants he tooke vp money to be repaid with the vse vpon the good successe of the warre and from thence he tooke whatsoeuer was needfull for the arming and furnishing of his men Besides his owne familie which was very great and those Chiurts which we spoke of many repaired vnto him which had beene in former time beholden to his mother his sister and Rustan the great Bassa many also of the reliques of the valiant Mustapha and Achomates the great Bassa valiant men and expert souldiours who desired to reuenge the vnworthie death of their lords and masters euen with their owne Neither was there wanting an exceeding rablement of such as wearie of the present state desired some new innouation and change The commiseration also of the state of the vnfortunat Baiazet easily drew many to take part with him whose whole trust was in his valour they fauoured the young prince liuely resembling his father when as in Selymus appeared no likenesse of himselfe but the expresse lineaments of his mothers face and bodie a woman whilest she liued generally hated of all the people he went heauily as ouercharged with his greasie
the life to come There was in this expedition a Colonell of the Turks well acquainted with Busbequius the emperours embassadour then lying at CONSTANTINOPLE into whose hands in that discomfiture of the Christians by chance was come the imperiall ensigne of the gallies of NAPLES wherein within the compasse of an Eagle were contained the armes of all the prouinces belonging to the kingdome of SPAINE Which faire ensigne the embassadour vnderstanding him to purpose to giue for a present vnto Solyman thought good to preuent the matter and to get it from him which he easily obtained by sending him two sutes of silke such as the Turkes make reckoning of for it so prouiding that one of the imperiall ensignes of Charles the fift should not to the eternall remembrance of that ouerthrow remaine still with the enemies of the Christian religion This so miserable a calamitie receuied by the Christians at ZERBI made that island before little or nothing spoken of to be euer since famous About this time to end this vnfortunat yeare withall the fiue and twentith day of Nouember died Andreas Auria that second Neptune being ninetie foure yeares old a man in his time of great fame and of the greatest princes of that age had in no small reputation but especially of Charles the fift in whose seruice he did much for the benefit of the Christian common weale being for most part imploied in his greatest warres against the Turks and Moores Yet amongst all the notable things done to his immortall glorie the kindnesse by him shewed vnto his natiue countrey was greatest which oppressed by the French he set at libertie and when he might haue taken vpon him the sole gouernment thereof as had diuers others before him moderating his desires and respecting the onely good thereof appeased the great dissention that had of long raigned therein and established such a forme of gouernment confirmed with so good and wholsome lawes and orders no mans libertie infringed as that it hath euer since to his eternall praise in great wealth state and libertie thereby flourished Vnto whose remembrance for that we haue before of him much spoken in the course of this historie I thought it not amisse to joyne the liuely counterfeit of his reuerend aged countenance by nature framed answerable vnto his noble vertues ANDREAS AVRIA Genua quem genuit genui quam deinde vicissim Auria qui merui Carolo sub Caesare quinto Turcarum terror Piratarumque Subactor Barbara quem sensit tellus capta Thunissa Arx Aphrodisium Moreaeque vrbs celsa Corone Mors rapuit Lustris decies prope quinque peractis As Genua me begat so I preseru'd the same And seruing vnder Charles the fift exalted haue my name A terrour to the Turkes I was I brought the pyrats low And spoiling their Barbarian coast made them by force to know Faire TVNES and strong APHRODISE both by my helpe were woon And CORONE in MOREA by me was ouerrun So hauing spent ninetie foure yeares in treading honours trace Full fraught with honour and with yeares I ended haue my race The Turkes the yeare following with their gallies robbed and spoiled diuers places vpon the coasts of ITALIE SICILIE and MALTA against whom Phillip king of SPAINE sending forth his gallies by force of tempest lost twentie fiue of them the eighteenth day of Nouember togither with Mendoza admirall of that fleet Ferdinand the emperour hauing with long sute and much entreating obtained peace of Solyman and being now well stricken in yeares and carefull both of the state of the empire and of the aduancement of his posteritie began to deale with the princes Electors for a choice to bee made of a king of the Romans who after his death might without the trouble of GERMANIâ— succeed him in the empire commending vnto them his sonne Maximilian a prince of great hope then king of BOHEMIA Whereupon an assemblie of the princes Electours was appoâ—â—â—ted to bee holden at FRANKFORD who there meeting at the appointed time with generall consent the 24 day of Nouember in the yeare 1562 chose Maximilian the emperours some king of the Romans and with all the accustomed solemnities crowned him who also the yeare after was at PRESEVRO the eight of September with much solemnitie crowned king of HVNGARIE Vnto this solemne assemblie of the empire at FRANâ—FORD Solyman the Turkish emperour sent Ibrahim Bassa otherwise called Abraham Strotzza a Polonian borne of whom we haue before spoken his embassadour with presents and letters to Ferdinand the emperour to confirme the peace for eight yeares betwixt them before concluded who the seuenteenth day of Nouember in presence of the emperour the king of the Romans and all the princes Electâ—â—â— had audience where after much glorious speech in setting forth his masters greatnesse with his loue towards the emperour and his sonne the new chosen king as wishing vnto them all happinesse he deliuered his letters of credence vnto the emperor the copie wherof I haue not thought amisse here to set downe for that therein is notably to be seene the most insolent pride of that barbarous prince and miserable estate of the â—ent kingdome of HVNGARIE deuided as it were at his pleasure betwixt him and the emperour I the lord of lords ruler of the East and of the West who am of power to doe and not to doe whatsoeuer pleaseth me lord of all GRaeCIA PERSIA and ARABIA commaunder of all things which can be subiect to king and commaund the great worthie of these times and strong champion of the most wide world lord of all the white and blacke sea and of the holy citie of MECHA shining with the brightnesse of God and of the citie of MEDINA and of the holy and chast citie of IERVSALEM king of the most noble kingdome of AEGIPT lord of IONIA and of the citie of ATHENS SENAV of the sacred temple of God ZABILON and BASSIO RETHSAN and MAâ—ODIM the seat and throne of the great king Nashin Rettam and lord of the island of ALGIERS prince of the kingdomes of TARTARIE MESOPOTAMIA MEDIA of the Georgians MOREA ANATOLIA ASIA ARMENIA WALACHIA MOLDAVIA and of all HVNGARIE and of many other kingdomes and territories whereof I am emperour the most mightie Monarch Sultan Solyman sonne of the great emperour Sultan Selym who haue power from God to rule all people with a bridle and strength to breake open the gates and bars of all cities and strong places into whose mightie hand are deliuered all the ends of the world none excepted I the ruler of the East from the Island of TSEIN vnto the farthest bounds of AFFRICA whom God hath appointed a mightie warriour in the edge of the sword amongst whose most mightie kingdomes the impregnable castle of CESARae is reputed for the least and in whose hereditarie dominions the kingdome or empire of Alexander the Great is accounted as a trifle with me is the strength of the whole world and
the least two spans in height some of them being double cups after the high Dutch manner The embassadours whose comming a great multitude of the Ianizaries attended below at the gate of their lodging beside many of the Spahies and Chiausis and others of good sort which were come to honour them with their presence to the pallace putting themselues in readinesse betimes in the morning and taking horse set forward toward the Court. The formost were they that did beare the present in their hands the people of the citie in euery street flocking together in exceeding multitudes to behold them as they passed and verily there had been seldome times seene the like embassage in those parts For besides the fame that was blowne abroad in euery quarter That they were men sent from one of the greatest princes of Christendome the diuersitie of their attire so few as they were more than any thing beside did represent the majestie of the Christian emperour to them that gased vpon his embassadours and their traine the people conceiuing thereby that he was lord and ruler of many prouinces and countries For they that were Hungarians belonging to the bishop of AGRIA the cheefe embassadour being attired in long and sober garments of very fine purple cloth hauing their shooes pieced ouer the soles with yron plates and halfe of their heads shauen seemed to differ from them but little But on the other side the high Dutch attired in blacke with their veluet caps and short cloakes layed with siluer lace and long breeches little lesse than Rutter wise and chaines of gold about their neckes appeared very strange and vncouth to the Turkish people and so accompanied in this honourable wise the embassadours entred the first gate of the Great Turks pallace This gate is built of marble in most sumptuous manner and of a stately height with certaine words of their language in the front thereof engrauen and guilt in marble So passing through the base Court which hath on the right side very faire gardens and on the left side diuers buildings seruing for other offices with a little Moschie they came to the second gate where all such as come in riding must of necessitie alight Here so soon as they were entred in at this second gate they came into a very large square Court with buildings and galleries round about it the kitchins standing on the right hand with other lodgings for such as belonged to the Court and on the left hand likewise roomes deputed to like seruices There are moreouer many hals and other roomes for resort where they sit in counsell handling and executing the publike affaires either of the Court or of the Empire with other matters where the Bassaes and other officers assemble together Entring in at this second gate in one part of the Court which seemed rather some large street they saw the whole companie of the Solaches set in a goodly ranke which are archers keeping alwayes neere vnto the person of the Great Turke and seruing as his footmen when he rideth they vse high plumes of feathers which are set bolt vpright ouer their foreheads In another place there stood the Capitzi in like array with blacke staues of Indian canes in their hands they are the porters and warders at the gates of the pallace not much differing in their attire from the Ianizaries who stood in ranke likewise in another quarter And beside all those with many more that were out of order as well of the Court as of the common people those knights of the Court which accompanied the embassadours thither with other great ones also of like degree were marshalled all in their seuerall companies And among the rest the Mutfarachas men of all nations and all religions for their valour the onely freemen which liue at their owne libertie in the Turkish empire stood there apparrelled in damaske veluet and cloth of gold and garments of silke of sundrie kinds and colours their pompe was great and the greater for the turbants that they wore vpon their heads being as white as whitenesse it selfe made a most braue and goodly shew well worth the beholding In breefe whether they were to be considered all at once or in particular as well for the order that they kept as for their sumptuous presence altogether without noise or rumour they made the embassadours and the rest of their followers there present eye witnesses both of their obedience and of the great state and royaltie of the Othoman Court. Passing through them the embassadours were led into the hall where the Bassaes and other great men of the Court were all readie to giue them entertainement they of their traine being at the same time brought into a roome that stood a part vnder one of the aforesaid lodgings all hung with Turkie carpets Soone after as their vse and manner is they brought in their dinner couering the ground with table clothes of a great length spred vpon carpets and afterward scattering vpon them a maruellous number of woodden spoons with so great store of bread as if they had beene to feed three hundred persons then they set on meat in order which was serued in two and fortie great platters of earth full of rice pottage of three or foure kinds differing one from another some of them seasoned with hony and of the colour of hony some with soure milke and white of colour some with sugar they had fritters also which were made of like batter and mutton beside or rather a daintie and toothsome morsell of an old sodden Ewe The table if there had any such beene thus furnished the guests without any ceremonie of washing sat downe on the ground for stooles there was none and fell to their victuall and dranke out of great earthen dishes water prepared with sugar which kind of drinke they call Zerbet But so hauing made a short repast they were no sooner risen but certaine young men whom they call Giamoglans with others that stood round about them snatcht it hastily vp as their fees and like greedie Harpies rauened it downe in a moment The embassadours in the meane time dined in the hall with the Bassaes. And after dinner certaine of the Capitzies were sent for the twelue of the embassadours followers before appointed to do the great Sultan reuerence by whom their presents being alreadie conueied away they were remooued out of the place where they dined and brought on into an vnder roome from whence there was an ascent into the hall where the Bassaes were staying for the embassadours who soone after came foorth and for their ease sat them downe vpon the benches whiles the Bassaes went in to Selymus who before this time had made an end of dinner and was remooued in all his royaltie into one of his chambers expecting the comming of the embassadours All things now in readinesse and the embassadors sent for they set forward with their traine and came to the third gate
for wealth allured the pouertie of the people of ROME to lay hold vpon it so that we haue rather couetously than justly got the rule thereof In the heart of the island standeth NICOSIA sometime the regall and late metropoliticall citie thereof And in the East end thereof FAMAGVSTA sometime called TAMASSVS a famous rich citie the cheefe and onely port of all that most pleasant island Other faire cities there be also as PAPHOS AMATHVS now called LIMISSO and CYRENE This island of it selfe long time maintained the majestie of a kingdome as then when Richard the first king of ENGLAND passing that way with his fleet for the releefe of the Christians then distressed in the Holy land about the yeare 1191 was prohibited there to land and certaine of his people by force of tempest there cast on shore were by the Cypriots either cruelly slaine or taken prisoners which barbarous violence king Richard tooke in so euill part that he there by force landed his armie and rested not vntill he had taken Isaak the king prisoner and subdued the island The king he sent in chaines of siluer to TRIPOLIS there to be kept in close prison the kingdome he kept a while in his owne hand which not long after he gaue or as some say exchanged with Guido the titular king of HIERVSALEM for which cause the kings of ENGLAND for a certaine time afterwards were honoured with the title of the kings of HIERVSALEM This kingdome by many descents came at length to Ianus son of king Peter who in the yeare 1423 was by Melechella Sultan of AEGIPT taken prisoner but afterwards for the ransome of an hundred and fifteene thousand Sultanins was set at libertie and restored to his kingdome paying vnto the Sultan and his successours a yearely tribute of fortie thousand crownes This Ianus left a sonne called Iohn who after the death of his father married the daughter of the Marques of MONT-FERRAT after whose death he married one Helena of the most noble house of the Paleologi in GRaeCIA by whom he had one onely daughter called Carlotte but by another woman a base sonne named Iames. This king Iohn was a man of no courage altogether giuen to pleasure and according to the manner of his effeminate education shewed himselfe in all things more like a woman than a man which Helena his wife a woman of a great spirit quickly perceiuing tooke vpon her the soueraignetie and whole gouernment of the realme gracing and disgracing whom she pleased and promoting to the ecclesiasticall dignities such as she best liked abolishing the Latine ceremonies and bringing in them of the Greeks and tooke such further order as pleased her selfe in matters of state concerning both peace and warre her husband in the meane time regarding nothing but his vaine pleasure whereby it came to passe that all was brought into the power of the Greekes the queenes friends Now the queene her selfe was much ruled by the counsell of her nurse and the nurse by her daughter so that the people commonly said The daughter ruled the nurse the nurse the queene the queene the king The nobilitie ashamed and wearie of this manner of gouernment by generall consent of the people sent for Iohn the king of PORTINGALS cousin Germane whom some call the king of PORTINGALL to whom they gaue Carlotte the kings daughter in marriage with full power to supplie that want of gouernment which was in king Iohn his father in law He taking the authoritie into his hands quickly reformed the disordered kingdome as well in matters concerning religion as ciuile policie The Latine ceremonies were againe restored and the gouernement of the daughter the nurse and the queene brought to an end But the mischieuous daughter doubting the countenance of the new king persuaded her mother as she tendered her owne life to poyson the king Which thing the wretched woman by the consent of the queene mother as was reported in shorttime performed and so brought that noble prince well worthie longer life vnto his vntimely end whereby the gouernment was againe restored to the Greeke queene who in the name of her weake husband commaunded againe at her pleasure But aboue all the nurse and her daughter insulted vpon the young queene Carlotte which shee not well brooking grieuously complained thereof to Iames her base brother requiring his helpe for redresse therof who not long after slew the nurses daughter not so much in reuenge of the wrong by her done vnto his sister as to prepare a way for himselfe for the obtaining of the kingdome grieuing inwardly that shee or her husband whosoeuer should bee preferred before himselfe Which thing Helena the queene quickly perceiuing persuaded the king her husband to cause his base sonne to enter into the orders of priesthood and so to become a church man thereby to cut off all his hope of aspiring vnto the kingdome which the king at her instance did and made him archbishop of NICOSIA In the meane time Carlotte by the persuasion of her mother and the nobilitie of the countrey married Lewes sonne to the duke of SAVOY who being for that purpose sent for came with all speed to CYPRVS After that the queene mother and the old nurse desiâ—ing nothing more than to reuenge the death of the nurses daughter vpon Iames now archbishop deuised first how to thrust him out of all his spirituall promotions which were great and afterward quite banish him the kingdome Hereupon the queene wrote letters against him to the Pope to haue him disgraded for that he being a man base borne with his hands embrued with guiltlesse blood was vnworthie of holy orders Which letters by chance came to Iames his hands who enraged therewith accompanied with a number of his friends and fauorits suddenly entred the Court slew such of his enemies as he found there deuided their goods amongst his followers and as king possessed himselfe of the regall citie In this broile the Greeke queene Helena died and shortly after her husband also All things being thus in a hurle and out of order certaine of the nobilitie for redresse thereof sent for Lewes the husband of Carlotte as for him to whom that kingdome in the right of his wife most justly belonged who vpon his arriuall was of all sorts of men joifully receiued and welcommed as their king Iames the vsurper vnderstanding before of the comming of Lewes and perceiuing the inclination of the people towards him fled with diuers of his friends to ALEXANDRIA to craue aid of the Aegyptian Sultan in whose Court he found such fauour as that he was by the Sultans commaundement royally apparrelled and honoured with the title of the king of CYPRVS which he promised for euer to hold of the Sultans of AEGIPT as their vassale and tributarie At which time the Sultan also by his embassadours commaunded Lewes to depart the isle who by all meanes sought to haue pacified the Sultan declaring vnto him his rightfull title yet
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
were many noble gentlemen of great account which might haue done their countrey good seruice had they been in time imploied Sommer now almost halfe spent and the plague well ceased the Venetian Admirall wearie of expecting of the comming of Auria the Spanish Admirall gathering togither his fleet which he had before dispersed to auoid the infection sailed to CORCYRA where he met with Venerius another of the Venetian commaunders who there staied for him hauing but a little before taken from the Turks CESTRIA now called SVPPOTO a town vpon the sea coast ouer against CORCYRA The whole fleet of the Venetians being assembled togither was an hundred and seauenteene saile amongst which were twelue great gâ—leasses but all too weake to giue battell to the Turkes as being themselues stronger in shipping than in men Neuerthelesse the Admirall sorie and wearie to see the spoile of the Venetian territorie and moued with the distresse of the besieged in NICOSIA rather than for any hope he had with that strength to doe any good against the Turkes fleet departed from CORCYRA towards CRETE and the twelfth of August landed at SVDA a port of that island In the latter end of this moneth Columnius the Popes Admirall and Auria Admirall for the king of SPAINE arriued there also whom the Venetian Admirall welcomed with great joy and triumph The whole fleet of the confederaâ— princes now at length met togither consisted of an hundred ninetie two gallies and twelue galeasses beside victualers and other small vessels laded with munition and other necessarie prouision for the fleet Of these gallies the Pope had set forth twelue the king of SPAINE fortie two the rest with the galeasses were the Venetians In this fleet were embarked thirteene thousand six hundred threescore souldiors of whom the Pope sent eleuen hundred the king of SPAINE three thousand nine hundred and the Venetians eight thousand six hundred and sixtie These three great commaunders entring into counsell what course to take in their proceedings in this warre after long discourse too and fro at length by the persuasion of Zanius the Venetian Admirall resolued to go directly for CYPRVS and to giue the Turkes battell in hope thereby to raise them from the siege of NICOSIA About the middest of September this great fleet furnished with all things needfull for such an expedition loosed from CRETE and with a faire gale of wind set forward for CYPRVS in all their course keeping such order as if they should presently haue met with the enemie In the middest of these troubles died Petrus Loredanus duke of VENICE leauing the rest of the care of that warre to Aloysius Mocenicus who succeeded him in the dukedome Whilest the Christians thus slowly proceed in their so waightie affaires Mustapha in the meane time laied hard siege to NICOSIA and diuiding his armie into foure parts assaulted foure of the bulwarks of the citie with greater force than at any time before from the beginning of the siege The assault was both long and terrible furie and the verie sight of the warlike Generall who was there a present witnesse and beholder of euerie mans forwardnesse or cowarddise a matter of great moment besides their naturall fiercenesse carried the Turkes headlong without any perill or danger And on the other side the greatnesse of the danger the feare to loose both life and libertie with the hope of reliefe encouraged the defendants to dare any thing so that the Turks could not approach the wals or mount the scaling ladders but they were presently slaine or togither with the ladders throwne to the ground Many of the Turkes were there slain but especially such as were most forward and of the defendants were also more lost than stood with the safetie of so small a number and for as much as few or none escaped out of that fight vnwounded the poore defendants were brought vnto a small number Many skilfull men were of opinion that the citie might haue been that day taken if the assault had by the Bassa been longer maintained by bringing still on fresh men but such was his losse as that he was glad for that time to giue ouer the assault and so with dishonour to retire After this assault it was by some of the captaines thought good that they should whilest they were yet of some reasonable strength in the citie sallie forth vpon the enemie so to make shew that they had yet some good hope in themselues and withall by so sudden an eruption to performe something vpon the secure enemie Of which motion Dandulus the Gouernour in no case liked as loath by such a dangerous peece of seruice to deminish the number of the defendants and so to giue the enemie an easier meanes to take the citie Yet seeing all the captaines generally of another mind he yeelded vnto their desire So in the hotest time of the day when as the Turkes least thought that the Christians would haue sallied out certaine Italian companies vnder the conduct of Caesar Plouianus of VICENTIA and Albertus Scotus issued out by the gate that leadeth to FAMAGVSTA and vpon the sudden brake into the enemies trenches where they found the Turks some playing some sleeping but fearing nothing lesse than that the Christians whom they daily braued durst to haue aduentured to come forth At the first entrance the Italians preuailed and brought a great feare vpon that quarter of the Turks armie and slew many But when the Turks awaked with the alarum came running in on euery side the Italians oppressed with the multitude were glad to retire in which retreat diuers of them were slaine and amongst them their two leaders Caesar and Albertus so that this sallie serued to no other purpose than to weaken the defendants themselues and to cause the Turkes to keepe better watch and ward afterward against such sudden eruptions All hope of long defending the citie now almost lost and that the defendants could hardly stand vpon the wals or shew their heads without present danger they for want of better counsell rather than for any hope of good successe sent out certaine scouts men skilfull of the wayes and passages of the countrey whom they had for great reward enduced to vndertake the matter to craue aid of the countrey people that were in great multitude fled into thâ— safetie of the mountaines and to tell them that if they came not in time to their releefe their wiues and children whom they had before sent into the citie must needs in short time fall into the enemies hand or perish with hunger but these messengers were by the vigilant enemie intercepted and in the sight of the besieged tortured to death About the same time diuers letters were shot with arrows into the citie to persuade the besieged Christians to yeeld themselues for that in so doing they should find the Bassa a mild mercifull conquerour whereas otherwise if they should by wilfull holding out delay his victorie
light vpon a companie of Italians who for a while fought desperatly but were in the end ouerthrown and slaine When he had thus cleared the wals and left such companies as he thought good in places conuenient for the keeping of them he came downe into the more open places of the citie and seeing them that were gathered together into the market place to haue cast themselues into a ring and to fight as men altogether desperat he caused certaine murthering pieces to be bent vpon them which they perceiuing layed downe their weapons and yeelded themselues vnto the mercie of the enemie By and by all the gates of the citie were strongly guarded by the enemie to the intent that no man should goe in or out Dandulus the Gouernour and Contarenus bishop of PAPHOS with the rest of the nobilitie and better sort of the citisens had got themselues into the towne hall and there stood vpon their guard vnto whom Mustaphaâ—ent â—ent word that hee would take them all to mercie if they would without further resistance yeeld themselues But whiles messengers run too and fro the Turks violently brake in vpon them and there slew them euery man After the death of these noblemen the cruell enemie spared none and hauing slaine such as they found abroad in the streets brake into the houses where they made hauocke of all things yong babes were violently taken out of the armes of their mothers virgins were shamefully rauished and honest matrones before their husbands faces dispightfully abused churches were spoyled and all places filled with mourning and dead bodies the streets were in all places stained with bloud for in the citie was slaine that day foureteene thousand eight hundred threescore and six persons Neither was there any end of the spoile vntill the greedie enemie had carried away all the wealth that long peace had heaped vp It is reported that the prey there taken amounted to twentie hundred thousand millions of duckats two hundred of the most goodly and beautifull youths were chosen out of purpose to be sent vnto CONSTANTINOPLE for a present for Selymus In the citie were taken also two hundred and fiftie pieces of great ordinance whereof some were by the enemie carried away and the rest left for defence of the citie Thus the famous citie of NICOSIA sometime the regall seat of the kings of CYPRVS fell into the hands of the Turks the ninth day of September in the yeare 1570 in whose power it still remaineth Mustapha hauing as he thought best disposed of all things in NICOSIA with the very terror of his name rather than by any force brought most part of the rest of the townes in the island vnder his obeisance and by faire entreatie and promise of good vsage brought backe againe vnto their wonted dwellings the rude countrey people who vpon the comming of the Turks were fled with all that they had into the mountaines them as men not to be feared he commaunded to till and sow their land as they were wont The citie of CYRENE is strongly situated not farre from the sea and was then well furnished of all things needfull for the enduring of a long siege Hither the Bassa sent one of his Sanzackes to summon the citie more to prooue the courage of the defendants than for any hope he had to haue the citie deliuered vnto him But Alphonsus Palacius then Gouernour of the citie terrified with the losse of NICOSIA no sooner saw the enemie but that without any further deliberation or force vsed against him he deliuered vp the towne vnto the Sanzacke couenanting only in reward of his cowardise That he might in safetie depart from thence with all his garrison souldiours which was easily graunted and the citie surrendered Not long after Mustapha leauing a thousand horsemen and three thousand foot in garrison in NICOSIA marched with the rest of his armie to besiege FAMAGVSTA And the more to terrifie them of the citie he by a poore countrey fellow whom he had for that purpose set at libertie sent vnto them in a basket the head of Nicholaus Dandulus late Gouernor of NICOSIA and at the same time sent before him diuers horsemen who vpon their horsemens staues carried the heads of many of the noblemen slaine at NICOSIA wherwith they rid as in triumph about the wals of the citie Which thing he did in hope that they of FAMAGVSTA terrified with such a spectacle and the late ouerthrow of NICOSIA would for feare of like miserie yeeld themselues But deceiued in this his expectation he encamped his armie about three miles from the citie Afterwards hauing taken view of the citie and well considered of the situation thereof he with wonderfull celeritie cast vp diuers mounts against the same and at the same time caused batterie to be layed against the great tower which defended the hauen he himselfe also in the mean while battering the gate that leadeth to AMATHVS But perceiuing by the desperat sallies of the defendants their great courage and that he was like to haue much more to doe in this siege than he had in the winning of NICOSIA and Winter also now drawing fast on being about the later end of September he thought it best betime to prouide that by lying there he hazarded not the honour he had with so much labour and danger before gained and the rather for that it was commonly reported that the Christian fleet was at hand wherefore he rise with his armie and retired himselfe further off into the countrey where he shortly after billitted his souldiors in the villages round about for that Winter The Bassaes at sea Haly and Piall lying before FAMAGVSTA doubting the comming of the Christian fleet which then lay at CRETE sent out six galliots to discouer the doings of the Christians who returning with certaine prisoners taken in the Island of CRETE declared vnto the Bassaes what they had learned concerning the Christian fleet and that it was alreadie vpon the way for CYPRVS Vpon which intelligence the Bassaes put their fleet in order of battell and set forward towards LIMISSO to haue met with the Christians who with a prosperous wind were comming betwixt the islands of CARPATHOS and the RHODES but there vnderstanding by their espials that NICOSIA was lost and that the Turks were come to besiege FAMAGVSTA they called a counsell of all the cheefe commaunders in the fleet to consult what were best to doe in so dangerous a case Columnius the Popes Admirall and then cheefe commander in the fleet with Zanius the Venetian Admirall were of opinion That it were best to hold on their course for CYPRVS and to relieue FAMAGVSTA for that it was like that the Turks proud of their late victorie were for desire of prey for most part gone ashore into the island and so left their fleet but slenderly manned Beside that they alleadged That the Venetian Senat had expressely decreed that they should giue the Turks battell
much as the Christian princes had made a perpetuall league amongst themselues he would for two yeares expect the euent and afterward as occasion serued so to resolue vpon peace and warre This improuident resolution of the king brought afterward vnprofitable and too late repentance vnto the whole Persian kingdome when as within a few yeares after all the calamities which the Senat had by their embassadour as true prophets foretold redounded vnto the great shaking thereof For the Cyprian warre once ended and peace concluded with the Venetians Amurath the sonne of Selymus succeeding his father in the Turkish empire inuading the Persian king tooke from him the great countrey of MEDIA now called SILVAN with a great part of ARMENIA the great and the regall citie of TAVRIS as shall be hereafter in due place declared At which time the Persian who now refused to take vp armes or joine in league with the Christian princes repented that he had not before hearkened vnto the wholsome counsell of the Venetians and taught by his owne harmes wished in vaine that the Christian princes would againe take vp armes and joyne with him against the Turke Mustapha the great Bassa and Generall of the Turks armie furnished of all things that could be desired for the maintenance of his siege and souldiors in great number daily repairing vnto him out of CILICIA SYRIA the Lesser ASIA and the countries thereabout beside great supplies brought vnto him by Haly Bassa from CONSTANTINOPLE insomuch that it was thought he had in his armie two thousand men began now that Winter was past in the latter end of Aprill to draw neerer vnto FAMAGVSTA and with incredible labour to cast vp â—â—enches and mounts against the citie of such height that the defendants from the highest places of the citie could scarcely see the points of the Turks speares or top of their tents as they lay encamped which was no great matter for the Bassa to performe hauing in his campe fortie thousand pioners alwaies readie at his commaund The citie of FAMAGVSTA is scituat in the East end of the island in a plaine and low ground betwixt two promontories the one called S. Andrewes head and the other the head of GRaeCIA It is in circuit two miles and in forme fouresquare but that the side toward the East longer and more winding than the rest doth much deforme the exact figure of a quadrant it is almost on two parts beaten vpon with the sea the other parts towards the land are defended with a ditch not aboue fifteene foot broad a stone wall and certaine bulwarks and parapets Vpon the gate that leadeth to AMATHVS standeth a six cornered tower other towers stand out also in the wall euerie of them scarce able to containe six pieces of artillerie It hath a hauen opening toward the Southeast defended from the injurie of the weather by two great rockes betwixt which the sea commeth in by a narrow passage about fortie paces ouer but after opening wider giueth a conuenient harbour to ships whereof it cannot containe any great number and was now shut vp with a strong chaine Neere vnto the hauen standeth an old castle with foure towers after the auntient manner of building There was in the citie one strong bulwarke built after the manner of the fortifications of our time with palisadoes curtaines casamets and such like in such manner as that it seemed almost impregnable All which although they made shew of a strong and well fortified citie yet for that there wanted many things it was thought too weake long to hold out against the great power of the Turke but what wanted by reason of the situation and weake fortification that the Gouernour and other noble captaines supplied in best sort they might with a strong garrison of most valiant souldiours the surest defence of strong places There was in the citie two thousand and fiue hundred Italians two hundred Albanoies horsemen before entertained by the Gouernour and of the Cypriots themselues were mustered two thousand and fiue hundred mo all men resolutly set downe to spend their liues in defence of their countrey Mustapha with wonderfull celeritie hauing brought to perfection his fortifications planted his batterie of sixtie foure great pieces amongst which were foure great basilisks of exceeding bignesse wherewith he continually without intermission battered the wals of the citie in fiue places but especially that part of the wall that was betweene the hauen and the gate that leadeth to AMATHVS And with great morter pieces cast vp huge stones which from high falling into the citie with their waight brake downe the houses they light vpon and fell often times through their vaults euen into the bottome of their sellars to the great terrour of the besieged The wals in diuers places sore shaken and the houses beaten downe he began to assault the citie which the defendants their forces yet whole valiantly repulsed and not onely defended their wals and draue the Turkes from the breaches but furiously sallied out vpon them and hauing slaine and wounded many wonderfully disturbed their fortifications and abated their courage neither did the enemy with greater furie maintaine the batterie or assault than did the Christians the defence of the citie still sending their deadly shot into the thickest of that great multitude insomuch that in few daies the Bassa had lost thirtie thousand of his men and the captains themselues wondering at the valour of the defendants as if they had not now to doe with such Christians as they had before so oftentimes ouerthrowne but with some other strange people began to dispaire of the winning of the citie The Turkes thus doubting and almost at a stand the Christians in the meane time made vp their breaches with earth baskets wool-sacks and such like not sparing their verie beds and bedclothes chests carpets and whatsoeuer else might serue to fill vp the breach Amongst many wants they feared the greatest was the want of pouder which with continuall shooting began greatly to be diminished wherefore to reserue some part thereof against all extremities they thought it best whilest yet some store was left to vse the same more sparingly and to shoot more seldome But the Turks still drawing neerer and neerer the citie and casting vp mounts higher than the wals of the citie with earth and fagots filled vp the ditch which done they of the broken stones made wals on either side to saue themselues from the flankering shot of the Christians then giuing a fresh assault they vsed not onely their shot and other missiue weapons but came foot to foot and notably fought in the breach hand to hand Which manner of fight as if it had been so agreed vpon they euerie day maintained for the space of six houres And although the Turkes by reason of their multitude were diuided into many parts and fresh men still succeeded them that were wearie yet such was the courage of the defendants that
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
his owne hand hauing slaine manie tooke one of the Turks ensignes when as he had before slaine the bearer thereof and tumbled him headlong into the ditch With the sight whereof others encouraged both on the right hand and on the left made there a notable battell as men fighting for their last hope In fine the Turks were glad to retire leauing behind them foure thousand carkases of their slaine fellowes in the towne ditch with fourteene of their ensignes which were brought into the citie Neither was this victorie gained without some losse of the Christians about an hundred were slaine among whom were Robertus Maluetius Dauid Nocius Celsus Feto Erasmus Firmo all captaines For all this they in the citie tooke small rest the Turks great shot still thundring in amongst them and that in such furious sort as that in one day which was the eighth of Iune were numbred about fiue thousand great shot shot into the citie With which continuall batterie one of the round bulwarks of the towne was so shaken as that a part of the front thereof was fallen downe into the ditch and another part stood leaning readie to fall in such sort as that it was not longer to be defended which the Christians perceiuing presently vndermined the same bulwarke and in the mine placed certaine barrels of gunpouder The Turkes comming to assault the place they had so sore battered the defendants after some small resistance faigned themselues to retire for feare so to draw the enemie the faster on who was no sooner come to the place desired but that fire being put to the mine blew vp the bulwarke with all them that stood thereon of whom some were ouerwhelmed with the earth it selfe othersome were blowne vp into the aire and falling downe againe miserably perished and othersome shot as it were out of a gun fell downe a great way off and so were rent in pieces which was vnto the defendants a most pleasant sight About six hundred of the Turkes perished at this assault amongst whom were Mustapha Generall of the voluntarie souldiours and Feregates a man of great marke amongst the Turks But by the hastie fiering of the mine there perished also about an hundred of the Christians ouertaken in their owne deuise amongst whom were also some of great account The Turkes enflamed with their losses were more enraged with the speeches and persuasions of Mustapha their Generall who most earnestly exhorted them with one consent to assaile their enemies now driuen into a corner of the island spoiled of their countrey trusting more vnto the strength of the place than of themselues entreating for nothing more than with their liues to depart thence But what place said he is there impregnable for the Turks NICOSIA ZIGETH and such other strong townes woon what are they but the monuments and testimonies of the cowardise of the Christians and the prowesse of the Turks This day said he will confirme all your former labours and victories which you before vndertooke for honour but here shall you haue honour mixt with gold and a prey sufficient to make you all rich The Turks encouraged with this speech of their Generall as men forgetfull of all dangers began a more terrible siege than euer before and hauing with incredible labour made three great mines and blowing them vp ouerthrew a great part of the wall with the castle the notable defence of the hauen which done they with all their force oftentimes assailed the citie as if it should haue been their last labour neither ceased they so to doe night or day At which time also that part of the citie which is beaten vpon with the sea was assaulted by them in the gallies also The poore Christians spent with deadly wounds continuall labour perpetuall watching both night and day and now brought to a small number hardly withstood the furious enemie assailing them in so many places at once and held out that tempest rather with courage than strength In the meane time the enemies armie encreased daily the Turks in hope of the like spoile they had at NICOSIA continually repairing out of the countries round about vnto the campe The Christian captaines seeing their men with continuall assaults sore spent insomuch that how many soeuer they seemed to be there was not aboue three hundred sound men left but seauen barrels of pouder remaining want of all things daily increasing hope of aid still decreasing and the Venetians their only comfort so farre from them the captaines I say themselues began to quaile in courage and the rather for that such reliefe as was sent from VENICE could not possibly be brought vnto them but staid at CRETE the Turkes gallies still lying before FAMAGVSTA so that nothing could in safetie be brought thither This feare of the captaines themselues could not long be hid or dissembled but that it was by the citisens perceiued who hauing neither power to hold out the siege neither place left to flie vnto ouercome with necessitie came flocking to the Gouernour crauing of him aid and comfort and with abundance of teares besought him in this common desperation to take compassion on them their wiues and children a people that had alwaies so well deserued of the Venetian State Their wals they said were beaten downe their bulwarks ouerthrowne the few souldiors that remained spent with wounds watching and famine the enemies strength encreasing daily so that they must needs in short time all perish with the sword if the citie were by force taken wherefore they besought him that yeelding to necessitie which no power was euer able to withstand he would at last while time yet serued prouide for the safetie of so faithfull and kind a people and not to refuse any conditions how hard soeuer The requests and teares of the citisens of FAMAGVSTA with the due consideration of the desperat state of the citie moued Bragadinus to compassion who comforting them in best sort he could persuaded them to be of good cheere for that he had care both of them and their state and would so prouide for them as that they should neuer repent themselues of their fidelitie and loyaltie to the Venetian State He in the meane time considering the greatnesse of the danger which presently hung ouer all their heads propounded the matter in a generall counsell called togither for the same purpose wherein after a little debating of the matter they all agreed to yeeld onely Baleonius at the first dissenting as doubtfull of the Turkes faith but afterwards yeelding vnto the opinion of the rest So an herauld being sent vnto the Bassa a truce was taken for certaine daies to parley in and hostages on both sides giuen during which time not so much as a dart was throwne or an arrow shot from either side After a few daies parley the conditions were agreed vpon whereupon the citie should be yeelded into the power of the Bassa which were these First that the inhabitants of
their auntient libertie Two dayes after this victorie Venerius sent Humfredus Iustinianus with newes thereof vnto the Senate at VENICE who comming in at the Adriaticke port about noone the nineteenth of October by shooting off of certaine great pieces gaue warning vnto the citie of his comming which at that time hung in great suspence betwixt hope and feare The citiâ—â—ns generally awaked with the report of the great ordinance came flocking by heapes to 〈◊〉 port euery man longing to heare the first newes There they might see Iustinian comming afarre off with his gallie but when he was come neerer they might perceiue all the marriners attired like Turkes and foure of the Turkes ensignes hanging behind at the poupe of the gallie which filled their minds with the hope of good newes deeming it to be as indeed it was part of the spoyle of the enemie But after that Iustinian was landed which he had much to doe for the prease and was gone to the Court with a world of people following after him crying out for newes and had there deliuered his letters and at large discoursed of all the successe of the battaile which was forthwith blowne into the citie and the marriners also after his departure had reported the victorie and that the enemie was in a great battaile ouerthrowne good God how the people as men ouerjoyed ran vp and downe the streets doubling and redoubling the joyfull name of victorie The Senatours also rejoycing together gaue thankes to God with publicke prayers and joyfull hymnes in euery church and afterwards by ringing of bels peales of ordinance bone-fires and other such like things shewed all the tokens of joy possible And to make this joy the more generall all prisoners were set at libertie and all debts that exceeded not the summe of fiue and twentie crownes payed out of the common treasurie which was generally done through all the Venetian seigniorie and a decree made That that day whereon the victorie was gotten which was the seuenth of October dedicated to the memoriall of Iustina should for euer be kept holyday and for the perpetuall remembrance thereof a great masse of money was coyned with the impression of Iustina vpon it and an inscription declaring the victorie Many also their neighbour princes sent their embassadours gratulatorie to VENICE namely the dukes of SAVOY FLORENCE FERRARA PARMA MANTVA and VRBIN and the knights of MALTA In which so publicke joy no man was seene to put on any mourning garments or to shew any token of heauinesse although many had lost their dearest friends and neerest kinsmen whose liues they reckoned not lost but giuen vnto the Christian commonweale The like rejoycing was also made in ROME in SPAINE NAPLES SICILIA and MALTA especially at such times as embassadours from their neighbour princes came to joy them of this victorie yea and afterwards in other countries further off was like rejoysing and signes of joy as with vs here in ENGLAND This is that notable battell commonly called the battell of LEPANTO fought neere vnto the islands CVRZOLARI the seuenth day of October in the yeare 1571 the like whereof was neuer fought at sea against the Turke wherein he lost his cheefe strength at sea with most of his best sea captaines and might thereby well perceiue what he and his successours were to feare if the Christian princes at vnitie amongst themselues all discord set apart should in zeale of their religion joyne their inuincible forces against them In the middest of all this joy generally conceiued of the late victorie one of the cheefe prisoners of the Turks hearing it compared with the losse of CYPRVS for that Selymus had therin lost his fleet his best men of warre with great store of ordinance by a fit comparison shewed it not to be so saying That the battell lost was vnto Selymus as if a man should shaue his beard which would ere long grow againe but that the losse of CYPRVS was vnto the Venetians as the losse of an arme which once cut off could neuer be againe recouered Declaring therby the great inequalitie of the losse The rich spoyle taken from the enemie in this most glorious victorie was thus deuided amongst the princes confederat Vnto the Pope were allotted nineteene gallies two galliots nine great pieces of ordinance two and fortie lesser pieces and fourscore and one prisoners Vnto the king of SPAINE eight and fiftie gallies and an halfe six galliots and an halfe eight and fiftie great pieces and an halfe eight great murthering pieces and an halfe an hundred twentie eight lesser pieces and a thousand seuen hundred and thirteene prisoners Vnto the Venetians were assigned for their share nine and thirtie gallies and an halfe four galliots and a halfe nine and thirtie great pieces and a halfe fiue great murthering pieces and a halfe fourscore and six lesser pieces and a thousand one hundred threescore and two prisoners The rest were bestowed vpon such other princes as had giuen aid aid or otherwise well deserued in that seruice The joy conceiued of this victorie was not so great amongst the Christians but that the sorrow thereof was amongst the Turks farre greater Selymus himselfe was then at HADRIANOPLE where eight dayes after the battell newes was brought vnto him That his fleet was ouerthrowne and almost all taken or sunke by the Christians Which so soone as he heard he was strucken with exceeding greefe and ouercome with melancholie would not that day suffer any man to speake with him And the rumor of the ouerthrow still encreasing had in short time filled all places with feare teares mourning and heauinesse some bewayling their parents some their children some their husbands some their friends or kinsmen there lost But that which most grieued the Turkish emperour was the losse of so many worthie and expert captaines of so many skilfull masters and notable souldiors who brought vp all their liues at sea were not thought inferiour to any then liuing besides the perpetuall ignominie and vnwonted disgrace thereby inflicted vnto him and his posteritie for euer Wherefore full of wrath and indignation he was about to haue commaunded all the Christians in his dominions in number infinit to be put to death Doubting indeed nothing more than that they wearie of the Turkish thraldome and desirous of innouation should with weapons put into their hands rise vp against him and take part with the other Christians his enemies But whilest the other Bassaes as men dismaied with the crueltie of the commaund stood all silent Muhamet Bassa for his former deserts in great fauour with the tyrant thought it good to make proofe if his furie might by reasonable persuasion be mitigated and some better course taken both for the honour of Selymus himselfe and the common good of the State Yet well knowing how full of danger it was in that tyrannicall gouernment openly to speake any thing contrarie to the good liking of the wilfull emperour he durst not apertly
pretending that he was by the king commaunded forthwith to returne So the expectation of great matters to haue been this yeare done came to nought but vanished into smoake and nothing performed worth so long a discourse more than to see with what difficultie great actions are managed wherein the hands of many great ones are required who jealous of their owne honour or enuying at others corrupt with delaies the fairest opportunities and by their crosse dealing no lesse than the enemie hinder the common good whereat they would all fainest seeme to aime From CORCYRA Don Iohn departed to MESSSANA and Columnius vnto ROME Fuscarinus with greater honour than successe returned to VENICE where he was with great joy receiued both of the Senat and the citisens in generall and so no lesse famous for his patience and moderation towards the other confederats than for his pollicie and valour with the good liking of all men gaue vp his charge in few yeares after to receiue a greater About this time Amida king of TVNES of whom much is before spoken in the life of Solyman being but a little before driuen out of his kingdome by the Turkes who had of long by little and little encroached vpon him and as a priuat man liued in exile with his two sonnes at GVLETTA with Franciscus Touares Gouernour thereof hearing of the great ouerthrow of the Turkes at LEPANTO and of the good successe of the Christians sent embassadours to Don Iohn Generall of the confederat princes then lying in SICILIA humbly requesting his aid for the recouerie of his kingdome promising to defray the whole charges of the warre and for euer to hold his kingdome of the king of SPAINE as his vassaile and tributarie Which his request well considered of and the matter thought of no small consequence for the safetie of the Christian countries lying ouer against that part of AFFRICKE to haue so dangerous an enemie remoued Don Iohn the yeare following in the beginning of October by the commaundement of the king of SPAINE his brother departing from DREPANVM in SICILIA with an hundred and fiue gallies and fortie ships arriued the next day about noone at GVLETTA where the gallies of MALTA came vnto him and shortly after Io. Andreas Auria the Admirall with nineteene mo and Columnius the Popes Admirall with fourteene mo all well appointed At his arriuall at GVLETTA he vnderstood by Amida and the Gouernour the whole estate both of the citie and of the kingdome of TVNES and that the Turkes and Moores terrified with so great a fleet were about to forsake the citie Wherefore hauing well viewed the place he the next day after landed his forces about foure miles from the citie and sent 2500 footmen before the rest of the armie to the citie who found it all desolat the Turks and Moors being before for feare fled some to CARAVANA some to BISERTA who entring without resistance came to the castle wherein they found two hundred Moores who said they kept it for Amida their king but yet would by no meanes suffer the Christians to enter All which was forthwith made knowne to Don Iohn who then because it was almost night would not moue but early the next morning set forward with his whole armie and entring the citie before abandoned by the inhabitants and so comming to the castle found nothing therein but great store of oyle butter and wooll Amida the late king by the commaundement of Don Iohn all this while staied at GVLETTA But whilest Don Iohn was yet at TVNES newes was brought vnto him the thirteenth of October That the Turks garrison before fled out of TVNES with diuers Moores comming to BISERTA were there kept out by the citisens and not suffered to enter For which cause they began to burne and spoile the countrey thereabout Whereupon the Generall sent Touares the captaine of GVLETTA thither with part of the armie who encountring with those Turks ouerthrew them and had the citie by the citisens peaceably deliuered vnto him The kingdome of TVNES thus easily once againe recouered from the Turkes Don Iohn throughly enforced of the faithlesse and cruell dealing of Amida the late king and that in detestation of the Christians and their religion he had alreadie had intelligence with the Turkes and procured the death of some of the Christians gaue this definitiue sentence vpon him being yet in the castle of GVLETTA That for as much as he had of long time been the authour of great discord and endlesse troubles in that kingdome and had most vnnaturally depriued Muleasses his father first of his kingdome and afterward of his sight and in like manner tyrannized ouer his naturall brethren the rightfull heires of that kingdome whereby the Turks had taken occasion both to inuade and possesse the same he should therefore by the commaundement of the king of SPAINE be carried prisoner with his two sonnes into SICILIA there to remaine for euer Which heauie doome hee taking most grieuously and yet crying out for mercie was forthwith thrust into a gallie and with his wife and children transported into SICILIA there to liue in perpetuall exile the just reward of his mercilesse and vnnaturall dealing with his father and brethren God no doubt requiting him with the like measure he had before measured vnto them After that the king of SPAINE so commaunding Mahomet Amida his elder brother and right heire of that kingdome was appointed king in his place who departing from GVLETTA to TVNES was receiued as king and there by solemne oath promised for euer to be the king of SPAINE his vassaile and to doe whatsoeuer he should commaund There was before departed out of TVNES fortie thousand Moores who now came and offered their supplication to Don Iohn that they might againe returne and liue with their new king which their request being easily granted they in great numbers euerie day returned into the citie Shortly after fifteene hundred Turks with three thousand of those wild people which some call Arabians some Alarbes sore troubled all the passages about the citie who were at last by the Christians ouerthrowne and an hundred and fiftie Christians whom they had taken prisoners rescued After that Don Iohn by the aduise of his most expert and skilfull captaines commaunded a strong castle to be built in the middle way betwixt GVLETTA and TVNES and for the performing thereof lest Gabriell Serbellio with two thousand Italians and Salazar a Spaniard with other two thousand at GVLETTA And so hauing performed that he came for and disposed of all things as he thought best returned againe into SICILIA A griefe of griefes it is and sorrow almost vnconsolable when worthie actions most happily begun sort not to such happie end as was in reason hoped for The greatest and the most famous victorie of all ages gained against the Turke seemed to haue lightened the Christian common-weale and great hope there was that the Christians falling into vnitie among themselues
and the other miseries of warre And so Winter comming on very sharpely euery man withdrew himselfe from the field wholly attending the keeping of that they had alreadie gotten vntill the comming on of the next Spring Amurath aduertised by letters from Mustapha of all that had happened in the late expedition against the Persians vpon these prosperous successes which the Bassa had for the aduancing of his owne credit described to be farre greater than indeed they were began to cast many deuices in his head touching such matters as were to be attempted the next year And first he thought it necessarie to send his forces againe into SIRVAN to recouer such places as were first conquered by Mustapha but afterward againe subdued by the Persian so to establish his gouernment in that countrey But vpon better consideration he ceased further to thinke of that matter for the great hope he had conceiued of the aid that was promised him by Tatar Chan who had faithfully assured hoth him and Osman that he would ouerrun that prouince anew and do great matters in furtherance of the Turkes desseignes all which for all that fell out to be but windie words yet in respect of this hope he layed SIRVAN aside and committed the defence thereof to the false promises of the Tartarian and the valour of Osman And pleasing his ambitious desires with more haughtie thoughts he began to deuise with himselfe for sending his armie directly to TAVRIS there to erect a fortresse which being strongly fortified and furnished with a garrison of most valiant souldiors should neuer be againe subdued by all the power of PERSIA and by this meanes to keepe in subjection all those great countries betweene TAVRIS and ERZIRVM Which his conceit being of great weight and importance was much encreased by the persuasion of others very inward with him euery man being almost of opinion That it was an easie matter for so great an hoast in few dayes to performe that seruice and to pierce not onely into TAVRIS but further to passe whether soeuer he would desire Yet after he had more deeply considered of an enterprise of so great importance and with more indifferent judgement compared his owne forces with his enemies he began to find many difficulties and dangers which in the heat of his ambitious desires he at the first saw not For beside the length and tediousnesse of the journey he doubted that in sending his armie for TAVRIS it might be on the one side assailed by the Georgians of whose obedience he had as yet no great assurance and on the other side by the Persians and so brought into great danger which he was alwayes to feare whensoeuer he should haue occasion to send new supplies vnto the fortresse by him entended at TAVRIS Whereupon laying aside all his former conceits as too eagre and perillous he resolutely concluded with himselfe first to make sure his owne borders and afterwards by little and little to enter into the enemies countrey still fortifying in conuenient places as he went and so surely although but slowly to triumph ouer his enemies rather than by thrusting his armie headlong vpon vncertaineties into places strongly fenced both by nature and the power of most mightie enemies to be enforced with shame to abandon the enterprise so hastily begun Of this his resolution he aduertised Mustapha by writing giuing him in charge against the next Spring to prouide all such things as should be necessarie for the building of certaine forts vpon the way that leadeth from ERZIRVM into GEORGIA that hauing made those wayes safe and brought the people vnder his obedience he might afterwards attempt greater matters Whereupon Mustapha presently directed forth precepts to the cities of ALEPPO of DAMASCO CARAEMIT and other places of SORIA and MESOPOTAMIA for the taking vp of cunning workemen of pioners and such like to the number of twentie thousand and likewise wrot to all the countries out of which he had raised his armie the last yeare That all their souldiors yea and in greater number also should be in readinesse against the next Spring to returne to the wars The rumor whereof he caused to be spread euen as far as AEGIPT He commaunded also the taxes and tenths of those countries to be collected and further vsed the chambers of ALEPPO and other places for such masses of mony as he thought necessarie for these purposes In this while the two Georgian brethren Alexander and Manucchiar sent as we haue before said by Mustapha to Amurath at CONSTANTINOPLE in doubtfull hope expecting the end for which they were sent vnto the Court were both examined and exhorted to embrace the Mahometane religion whereunto Manucchiar easily yeelded Whereas on the other side Alexander his elder brother could by no allurements or meanes bee induced to consent to so infamous and damnable a change of his religion although he knew he should therefore be depriued of his state but protesting his obedience at all times to Amurath and his loue to his brother requested onely That he might but as a priuat man goe and liue in his countrey there to be buried amongst his auncestours Which his request the Turkish emperour referred to the discretion of Manucchiar to doe therein as he saw good who consented thereunto Hereupon Manucchiar was circumcised and the name of Mustaffa giuen him with the title of the Bassa and Gouernour of ALTVNCHALA and of all his mothers and brothers countries and being thus created a Turke had his brother Alexander a Christian committed vnto him and so both returned into their owne countries Now in the Persian court at CASBIN were many consultations had for the repressing of the inuasions of the Turks And among others carefull of those matters Emanguli Chan Gouernor of GENGE doubting to loose his honourable gouernment by reason of the late sacke of his citie and spoile of his countrey by the Tartarian by those plots that were daily in contriuing for the sending of men into SIRVAN to impeach the dessignments of Osman Bassa and if it were possible to driue him out of DERBENT tooke occasion to offer vnto the king vpon paine of his head to defend SIRVAN and not to suffer Osman the Turke to attempt any new fortifications or further conquests in that prouince Of which his offer the king accepted and thereupon the gouernment of GENGE and guarding of the countrey of SIRVAN against the forces of Osman was frankly committed vnto him And commandement giuen to the Gouernours of TAVRIS REIVAN and NASSIVAN and to diuers other captaines that were neerest to be readie at all times with their power to assist Emanguli Chan if it should fortune either the Tartarians or Turks with any great power to enter into SIRVAN which order so taken was thought sufficient for the securitie of that prouince But how to protect the Georgian countrey was thought to be a matter of greater importance euerie man being almost of opinion That some great power
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
the citie and being also willing withall to giue meanes to his said sonne in law to enrich himselfe he resolued to send him as generall Syndic and soueraigne judge into AEGYPT giuing him in particular charge to remember how wickedly his predecessour had dealt before him And so this new Bassa tooke his journey towards AEGYPT although there ran before him a great rumour of his comming and of the great authoritie wherewith he was sent At which report as the Aegyptians rested content and joyfull so the Eunuch waxed verie sad and sorrowfull persuading himselfe that this alteration could not but engender some strange issue and effect against him Whereupon aduising himselfe to prouide better for his owne affaires and the safetie of his life he resolued not to stay the comming of the new Gouernour but departing out of AEGYPT with great care and circumspection for feare of meeting with Ebrain he trauelled towards CONSTANTINOPLE in hope to appease the kings wrath or at least by mediation of bribes and by the intercession of the queene to find him more fauourable than he should find Ebrain who without doubt would not haue spared any extremitie or crueltie to haue bereft him both of his goods and life togither Amurath aduertised from Ebrain of the sudden flight of the Eunuch Bassa out of AEGYPT and hearing withall that he kept not the high way from CAIRE to CONSTANTINOPLE began to feare least when he came into SORIA he should flie into PERSIA to the king and so worke him double and treble domage as one that had alreadie gathered a huge treasure and hauing long liued in the Court knew the most secret affaires thereof and had learned all the priuie deuises and fashions of the Serraglio Whereupon he with all diligence dispatched his Imbrahur Bassi whom we may call Master of his horse with fortie of his Capigi all gentlemen Vshers and officers of most secret neerest roomes about him with charge and commaundement that if they met him they should bring him to the Court vsing all the aid and assistance of his people that might be requisit and for that purpose deliuered vnto him verie effectuall and large letters after the best manner of the Court This messenger with his appointed traine departed and without any extraordinarie enquirie found the Eunuch in SORIA encamped in the plaines neere vnto the citie now called AMAN but in times past APAMEA the principall citie of that countrey As soone as the Eunuch vnderstood of the comming of the Imbrahur himselfe he gaue order to his guard of slaues which in great number with speares and arcubuses did ordinarily keepe his pauilion that they should not grant entrance into his tenâ— to any but onely vnto the Imbrahur himselfe and if need were by force to keepe the rest of the Capigi from comming in Which order was in verie good time giuen for as soone as the kings officer had discouered the tents of the fugitiue Bassa in all hast he ran towards the same and seeking out the greatest among them went presently thither to haue entred with all his followers but the slaues being in armour opposed themselues against them and permitting onely the Imbrahur to enter in entertained the rest of his traine without The Imbrahur being come in read vnto him the commaundement which he had from the king to bring him to the Court and most instantly moued him that without any further resistance he would quietly go with him To whom the warie Eunuch answered Behold how without any calling of the king or conducting by you I come of my selfe well assured to find not onely pardon and pitie but also fauour and grace in the sight of my lord whose vpright and mild nature the wicked treacheries of my false accusers cannot abuse to the preiudice of me an innocent And so without more adoe they went all to CONSTANTINOPLE the Eunuch yet still standing vpon his guard The polliticke and craftie Eunuch had in this meane time dispatched diuers postes with letters to the Sultan ladies certifying them of his comming and principally beseeching the queene to protect him and to appease the kings wrathfull indignation that happily he might haue conceiued against him and so at length they arriued at SCVTARI As soone as Amurath vnderstood of his comming thither he caused all the treasure which he had gathered to be taken from him with all the rest of his priuat substance and the wretch himselfe to be clapt vp in prison in the Iadicula or seauen towers Where after he had languished many daies still fearing some deadly blow he at length receiued from the queene an vnexpected but most welcome aduertisement That he should be of good cheere and quiet himselfe for that his wealth had alreadie saued his life and that she hoped in short time to procure him also his libertie Which in deed she brought to passe for she her selfe made earnest petition to Amurath her husband that for as much as he had bereft her Eunuch of all his goods he would yet at least deliuer him out of prison and restore him vnto her againe Which request of the queenes was granted accordingly and the Eunuch enlarged but the treasure that he had so vnjustly scraped togither in AEGYPT that remained still among the gold and other jewels of the kings But Ebrain Bassa with his new commission now arriued in AEGYPT had in short space by far more sinister deuises than had the Eunuch before him scrapt togither such an infinit heape of riches as was able onely of it selfe to make him worthie of his promised wife and therefore he was called home to the Court to accomplish the intended marriage With this commaundement to return to CONSTANTINOPLE he receiued also in charge to make his journey through the people of DRVSIA and such as he should find loyall to confirme them in their due obedience and to make them pay their antient duties but such as he should find stubborne and disobedient he should quite root them out and destroy them This commaundement Ebrain presently put in execution and hauing packt vp togither all the riches he had gathered in the time of his gouernment and raised good store of souldiors in that prouince he tooke with him thirteene Sanzackes that were ordinarily accustomed to sit as assistants vnder the gouernment of the Bassa in the ruling of the populous territories of CAIRE and so set forwards towards GAZA passing ouer those vast and huge wildernesses of sand that lie betweene CAIRE and GAZA From GAZA joyning the Sanzacke thereof with him he went to IERVSALEM from thence causing the Sanzacke there also to follow his traine he turned by SAFFETTO by LEZIVM by NAPLOS called in times past SAMARIA still taking with him the Sanzackes of all those places and at last turned himselfe towards DAMASCO so that before he joyned with the band of DAMASCO he had gotten together eighteene Sanzackes with all their squadrons of souldiours and slaues Besides these hee had
himselfe to thrust him into the gallies and because he could not carrie the money vnto the king yet at the least to bring him his debtor But for as much as he doubted to put this his determination openly in execution for feare of some insurrection amongst the people as well for that he was within the territories of the said Ebne-mansur as for that he saw him greatly beloued and fauoured of the other two Drusian lords Ebne-frec and Ebne-carâ—us he therefore thought it better pollicie by concealing this his purpose to shew him in his outward actions all good countenance and by secret and subtile meanes to take him prisoner Whereupon he deceitfully told him That for as much as he was to stay there for his businesse that night and was resolued the next day to make a road into the countrey of Man-ogli he therefore praied him to doe him the fauour to be his guide and for that purpose when he should send for him at midnight that he would come vnto him verie secretly because he was minded to depart without any stirre onely with fiue hundred men in his companie The Drusian lord verily beleeued the matter that so it was and withall was in good hope by that means to find some way to escape his hands Wherupon being called vp at midnight he readily went to the tent of Ebrain who presently charging him whom all men thought he had especially affected with many abhominable and foule tearmes caused a chaine to be cast about his necke and his armes and so fast bound to be carried into the gallies And yet not so contented tooke the spoile of all his countrey whereby there was leuied such a prey as was maruellous to behold for besides money wherof there was a verie huge summe the store of clothes of silke and gold was such and so great as might better beseeme some great prince than such a mountaine rusticall lord as he was When the Bassa had conueied all this into his gallies he sailed to TRIPOLI where he found Serafadin in the custodie of Veis Bassa and Ali Bassa and hauing stayed there some few dayes wherein he committed sundrie villanous and abhominable robberies he caused the said Serafadin to be put into the gallies with all his silkes and other wealth and so departed for CONSTANTINOPLE where at such time as he entered into the channell of the citie accompanied with foure and twentie gallies hee was encountered and receiued by a wonderfull number of his friends and fauourits and saluted with an honourable peale of artillerie out of the Seraglio Iohn Thomas Minadoi the best reporter of this historie as also of the late warres betwixt the Turkes and the Persians being then at CONSTANTINOPLE and hauing as he reporteth of himselfe good meanes to see the bountifull and beautifull presents which the spoyling and rauenous Bassa gaue the Turkish king reporteth the summe thereof to haue beene a million of gold besides the yearely reuenue of CAIRE amounting to six hundred thousand duckats with threescore horses most richly garnished of singular beautie but especially of the Arabian race a liue Elephant and a liue Giraffâ—e which is a beast like a Cammell and a Panther two great Crocodiles dead a chaire of massie gold richly set with pretious stones a casket also beset with pretious stones and gold many packs of most fine clothes woollen and silkes certain other clothes with fringe of gold and siluer and the Barbarian cutworke most fine linnen of ALEXANDRIA and all the arcubuses taken from the Drusians besides sundrie rich presents giuen by the prowd Bassa to the great ladies of the Court reported by Leunclauius to haue beene worth two hundred thousand Sultanines But now for as much as we haue before made mention of the Sanzacke of IERVSALEM and his flight it shall not be altogether impertinent to our historie though somewhat out of time in few words to declare what passed between him and the Arabians of PALESTINE a little before the comming of Ebrain the great Bassa into those quarters by which little the desirous Reader may easily perceiue the wofull and troublesome state of that sometime most blessed and fruitfull but now most miserable and barren land of IVRIE and of those places in holy Writ so much renowned In the confines of SODOME and in the places that lie not only betweene the lake ASPHALTITES and DAMASCO but also in the plaines and in the vallies of IERICHO and of SAMARIA and in other places about BETHLEHEM EMAVS BETHANIE BETHFAGE CAPHARNAVM NAZARETH LEVIR BETHSAIDA NAPLOS and other townes of name thereabouts there doe haunt and liue sundrie Arabian captaines who spreading themselues euen as far as RAMA and IOPPA ouerrun at their pleasure all the countries there round about and continually commit grieuous outrages as well against the said cities as also vpon the goods and wealth not onely of the inhabitants there but also of strangers yea and their insolencie oftentimes groweth so great that they dare to assault the fenced cities beside the spoiling of trauellers that by reason of their businesse haue occasion to passe from one citie to another They are good horsemen but vse no armour their horses are very swift to run and spare of diet and are themselues bold and aduenturous theeues These Arabians hauing had intelligence that the aforesaid ambitious youth appointed Sanzacke of IERVSALEM was in mind to raise all the Sanzackes thereabout and joyning himselfe with them and his father the Bassa of DAMASCO to restraine their insolent libertie and to worke their destruction resolued with themselues not to stay vntill he and his confederats were readie but rather by sundrie inuasions vpon him euen vnto the gates of IERVSALEM to prouoke him to come out into the field And the rather to induce him so to do they compacted with a certaine Subbassi of BETHLEHEM their friend to encourage and animate the Sanzacke thereunto by promising vnto him good successe and prosperous euents The ambitious young man seduced with the glorious persuasions of the false Subbassi of whom he made good reckoning and prouoked by their insolencies resolued as they had wished to issue out of the citie into the open field and thereupon hauing armed an hundred of his vassales and raised all the horsemen that were vnder his gouernment to the number of six hundred he made a rode towards IERICHO sending before defiance vnto them against whom the Arabians came accordingly and with their arrows and Indian canes ouerwhelming his arcubuses as if it had been a raging floud wrought him great woe when in the very nicke the battell yet being at the hotest the traiterous Subbassi fled towards BETHLEHEM and left the souldiors of IERVSALEM in the hands of the Arabians who put most part of them to the edge of the sword and scarcely gaue libertie to the Sanzacke to saue himselfe by flight The Sanzacke certainely enformed of this fraud of the dissembling Subbassi to be reuenged vpon him began
their arrowes and some few arcubuses they did the Turks that entred great harme Yet were they not able to kill and destroy so many of their enemies but that at the last they were too mightie for them and wrought many grieuous mischiefes in that wofull citie And so a great number of this rascall people that remained aliâ—e returned to the Turkish campe carrying away with them too manifest tokens of the poore oppressed citie wherein the miserable women and impotent soules stood embracing and straining the doores and poasts of their houses and kissing their natiue soile with prayers mournings and complaints bewailing their present miserie and yet fearing worse to come Osman the Turks Generall now made acquainted with these calamities caused proclamation to be published That no man should be so hardie as to molest the Taurisians in the meane time went himselfe about the citie viewing throughly the situation of it and surueying the place wherein he might both encampe himselfe safely and with better foundation and greater securitie erect a castle or fort for the more assurance of that conquered countrey The citie of TAVRIS is seated at the foot of the hill ORONTES about eight daies journey from the Caspian sea and is subject to winds cold and snow yet of a verie wholesome ayre abounding with all things necessarie for mans life and wonderfull rich with perpetuall concourse of merchandise brought thither out of the East to be conuayed vnto the West and also of others brought out of these Westerne parts to be dispersed into the East It is verie populous so that it feedeth almost two hundred thousand persons but yet open to the furie of euerie armie without wals and vnfortified The buildings after the manner of those of the East are of burnt clay and rather low than high For all things it carrieth the name and was the place of the Persian kings residence vntill such time as that the late king Tamas remoued his seat from thence farther into his kingdome to CASBIN neuerthelesse both before and since although it had been sundrie times molested by the inrodes and furie of the Turkish emperors yet was it still in great estimation and renowme Of this citie Osman Bassa hauing taken diligent view caused his tents to be pitched on the South side thereof where was a spatious garden all flourishing and beautifull replenished with sundrie kind of trees and sweet smelling plants and a thousand fountaines and brookes deriued from a pretie riuer which with his pleasant streame diuided the garden from the citie of TAVRIS and was of so great beautie that for the delicacie thereof it was by the countrey inhabitants called Sechis Genet that is to say the eight Paradises and was in times past the standing house of their kings while they kept their residence in this citie and after they had withdrawne their seat from thence to CASBIN became the habitation and place of aboad for the Gouernors of TAVRIS Of these gardens and places Osman made choise to build his castle in whereof he gaue the modell himselfe and commaunded that all the whole circuit of those pleasant greenes should be enuironed with wals and trenches digged round about them to conuay the water from the foresaid riuer Which was accordingly begun with the greatest care that possibly might be the foundation of the embatteled wals laid the ditches digged fourteen foot broad a mans height in depth and in the space of six and thirtie daies the whole worke finished and brought to an end great store of artillerie mounted vpon the walles and diuers bathes lodgings and such other houses necessarie for the Turkish vses built within the castle The first day of this building Osman fell sicke of a feauer with a bloudie flix which happily was the cause both of the slownesse of the building and of many other losses that afterwards happened as shall be hereafter declared Fiue daies after the building of the castle was begun newes was brought into the Turkish camp That eight Ianizaries and diuers Spaoglans were seene strangled in a bath within the citie of TAVRIS Whereupon the Zaini Spahini and Ianizaries came presently vnto the Generall declaring vnto him That although he had with too much clemencie giuen order that no man should hurt or molest the Taurisians and that according to his pleasure euerie man had vsed modestie towards them and obedience to him yet the Taurisians themselues had most audatiously strangled in one of their baines eight Ianizaries and certaine Spaoglans which injurie and insolencie they said in their judgement was not to be suffered This outrage so moued the Generall that without any farther delay he commaunded the citie to be sacked leauing it wholly to the pleasure of his souldiors who forthwith so vsed the matter not as if they would haue reuenged an injurie but rather at once haue brought an vtter destruction vpon the whole citie Euerie place was filled with slaughter rauishment rapine and murther virgins were deflowred men-children defiled with horrible and vnspeakable sins younglings snatched out of their parents armes houses laid euen with the ground and burnt riches and money carried away and in briefe all things ruinated and wasted Neither were these mischiefes committed once onely but the second followed worse than the first and the third vpon that worse than the second so that it was a miserie almost inexplicable to behold that citie so populous so rich sometimes the court and pallace of the Persian kings and honour of that empire now subject to the furie of the Turkes plunged in calamitie and vtter destruction The wofull aduertisement hereof sore troubled the Persian king but the young prince his sonne much more who moued with the passions of most inward griefe disdaine and dispaire and desiring nothing more than reuenge resolued to attempt any thing whereby to require so great a wrong In which resolution hauing confirmed his armie he commaunded fiue hundred of his horsemen to present themselues euen to the verie sight of their enemies tents and as it were to dare them to battell which thing they performed accordingly and made a gallant show of themselues At the discouerie whereof the Turks imagining that the Persians were come in great number to assaile the armie order was giuen by the sicke Generall that Cicala Bassa and Mahamet the Bassa of CARAEMIT with the people of GRaeCIA and all their owne forces should go to encounter the enemie who presently with their ensignes displaied vnder which there stood about foure and thirtie thousand strong besides a number of seruile people yet men exercised in labours and perils in all well neere fortie thousand set forward Now the fiue hundred Persians with a maruellous cunning kind of skirmishing dallied with the Turkish souldiors and drew them forward for the space of eight miles and more and being brought so farre on and now forewearied with the skirmish were lustily assailed by the Persian prince who with part of his
also kept backe others that brought water for the quenching therof and togither with the other souldiors of the court did what they might to make it burne the faster With the rage of this fire were consumed seauen of their temples fiue and twentie great Innes fifteene thousand houses with many warehouses and shops To appease this dangerous stirre and to preuent farther mischiefe commaundement was giuen to the Beglerbeg of GRaeCIA and Dauid Passy a Iew the first authors of this new imposition that they should either gather the aforesaid tribute by them deuised and pay the souldiors or by some other meanes to giue them contentment But here began the priests publikely to dissuade the people from payment of this new tribute or any other such like persuading them in any case to defend their auntient liberties and customes whereupon the churches were by the priests shut vp publike prayers for the health of the Sultan intermitted the Bassaes houses assaulted and all the citie on a new hurly burly For the appeasing whereof Amurath was glad to yeeld vnto the Ianizaries to pay the souldiors out of his owne treasurie to reuoke his mandates giuen out for the exaction of the new tribute and to deliuer the two persuaders thereof to the pleasure of the Ianizaries who drew them vp and downe the streets at horses tailes and afterwards cutting off their heads in scorne tossed them from hand to hand one to another as if they had beene tennise balls About the latter end of September Sinan Bassa of BVDA hauing with the assistance of the Sanzacks about FILLE raised an armie of eleuen thousand soldiors with purpose to haue spoiled all the vpper part of HVNGARIE came the sixt of October before the castle of PVTNOC and gaue thereunto summons but finding them in the castle better prouided and more resolute than he had before supposed he departed thence and passing the riuer Schayo came to SIXO a towne of about fiue hundred houses which after a sore batterie he tooke and burnt it downe to the ground In the meane while Claudius Russell Generall for the warres in that part of HVNGARIE hauing assembled his forces came vpon him and after an hard fight put him to the worse when he had slaine of his Turkes about two thousand fiue hundred besides three hundred other drowned in the riuer Schayo Shortly after the Christians in like manner breaking into the frontiers of the Turkes tooke from them the castles of BLAVENSTIEN GESTES with some other small forts thereabouts in the vpper part of HVNGARIE Sinan for that he had contrarie to the league and without commaundement from Amurath so vnfortunately attempted warre in HVNGARIE was the next yeare in great displeasure sent for to CONSTANTINOPLE and Ferat Bassa of BOSNA late Generall of the Turkes armie against the Persians and now but newly come home placed in his roume at BVDA Amurath before not ignorant of the great preparation that Philip the king of SPAINE had made and of the inuincible Armado as it was tearmed by him set forth for the inuasion of ENGLAND the fame whereof had long before filled a great part of the world as also of the euill successe thereof the last yeare viz. 1588 and of the purpose her Majestie of ENGLAND had for the troubling of his rich trade especially into the West Indies and for the relieuing of Don Anthonio by him driuen out of PORTINGALL writ vnto her about this time concerning those and such like matters as he had beene moued of by her Agent as followeth Amurath the third Emperour of the Turkes vnto Elizabeth Queene of ENGLAND FRANCE and IRELAND greeting Most honourable Matrone of the Christian religion mirror of chastitie adorned with the brightnesse of soueraignetie and power amongst the most chast women of the people which serue Iesu mistris of great kingdomes reputed of greatest maâ—estie and praise among the Nazarets Elizabeth queene of ENGLAND to whom we wish a most happie and prosperous raigne You shall vnderstand by our high and imperiall letters directed vnto you how that your Orator resiant in our stately and magnificent Court hath presented vnto the throne of our Maiestie a certaine writing wherein he hath certified vs how that about foure yeares agoe you haue made war vpon the king of SPAINE for the abating and breaking of his forces wherewith he threateneth all other Christian princes and purposeth to make himselfe the sole Monarch both of them and all the world beside as also how that the same king of SPAINE hath by force taken from Don Anthonio lawfully created king of PORTINGALL his kingdome and that your intention is that his ships which go and come into the Indies may from henceforth be embarred and stayed from that nauigation wherein are yearely brought into SPAINE pretious stones spices gold and siluer esteemed worth many millions wherewith the aforesaid king as with a great treasure enriched hath meanes to molest and trouble all other Christian princes which if he shall still proceed to doe he will make himselfe dayly stronger and stronger and such an one as may not easily be weakened After that your aforesaid Oratour requested our Highnesse in the beginning of the next Spring to send out our imperiall fleet against him being assured that the king of SPAINE could not be able easily to withstand it for that he had now alreadie receiued a great ouerthrow by your fleet and being scarce able to withstand you alone if he should be on diuers parts inuaded must needs be ouercome to the great benefit of all the Christian princes as also of our imperiall state Besides this that whereas the aforesaid Don Anthonio is by force driuen out and depriued of his kingdome that we to the imitation of our noble progenitors of happie memorie whose graues the Almightie lighten should also giue the aid and succour of our magnificent state as did they vnto all such as had recourse vnto their high Courts and pallaces for reliefe In briefe all these things with many others which your aforesaid Oratour hath at large declared vnto our imperiall throne we haue well vnderstood and layed them vp in our deepe remembrance But for as much as we for many yeares past haue made warres in PERSIA with a full resolution and intent vtterly to conquer and subdue the kingdome of that accursed Persian hereticke and to ioyne the same vnto our auntient dominions and by the grace of God and helpe of our Great Prophet are now vpon the point for the satisfying of our desire that once done due prouision shall be assigned vnto all such things as you haue of vs requested or desired Wherefore if you shall sincerely and purely continue the bond of amitie and friendship with our high Court you shall find no more secure refuge or safer harbour of good will or loue So at length all things shall goe well and according to your hearts desire in your warres with SPAINE vnder the shaddow of our happie
other prouinces for commodious situation the wholesomenesse of the aire the plentie of all things necessarie for mans life for great faire and most rich cities for the auntient glorie and majestie of the Romane empire and many other causes also Neither that this expedition was to be deemed of much difficultie for that ITALIE was vnder the rule of diuers princes vnto whose commaund most of their subjects vnwillingly obeyed as also for that the inhabitants of that countrey had now for many yeares liued in continuall peace and were therefore the more effeminat and fearefull and so vnfit for the warres and that if that expedition were in one or diuers places taken in hand before the corne were full ripe the Turkes in that so fruitfull a countrey could neuer want necessaries for them to liue vpon whereas the inhabitants in great number wanting the same and shut vp within the wals and fortifications of their cities and strong townes should be brought into extreame wants which was the more euidently to bee seene for that at this time wherein they were at peace they had not corne sufficient in the countrey for such a multitude of people to liue vpon but were glad to haue it brought vnto them from other places especially from PELOPONESVS CONSTANTINOPLE and the cities vpon the coast of the great Ocean Furthermore that it was to be considered That most part of the Italians liued by no other meanes than by their handie labour or the trade of marchandise of which meanes if they were depriued they should in short time be brought to that point as to be glad to accept of such conditions as the victor should propound vnto them or as tributaries to submit themselues vnto the Othoman gouernment Neither that the souldiors would vnwillingly be drawne vnto that war for that they were not to passe through barren regions of the enemie frosen with yse or desolate either by rough woods or inaccessible mountains but were all the way thither to trauell throgh their owne country and as it were in the sight of their own houses and if the Turks could oftentimes enter so farre when as they had their confines more remote and their passages more difficult that the same might now much more easily be effected when as they had a far greater opportunitie and their enemies so neere at hand The seuenth opinion was theirs which thought it best to haue the war transferred into POLONIA and from thence into HVNGARIE and GERMANIE for which they alleadged these reasons First for that they thought it a disgrace vnto the majestie and reputation of the Othoman empire That the king of POLONIA had somtime refused to pay his tribute due for so the Turks account of all such presents as are vnto their Sultan vsually sent by their neighbour princes of courtesie and that therefore he was by force of armes to be compelled thereunto Which they thought would the more easily be obtained for that there was much secret hatred and heart-burning amongst the Polonian nobilitie Neither that it would be any difficult or dangerous warre to bee taken in hand for as much as POLONIA was confined with MOLDAVIA the Tartars and the Sanzacks of ACHERMAN BENDERA and VOSIA and moreouer for that the Turkes could neuer haue any assured or full possession of MOLDAVIA or VALACHIA except the insolencie of the Polonians were repressed the Vayuods of which countries when they had enriched themselues with much wealth vsed still to flie into the kingdome of POLONIA Besides that they should thereby reuenge themselues for the injuries done them by the Cossackes and haue more free and safe trafficke into MVSCOVIE and bring a terrour vpon the duke of MVSCOVIE by reason of the nighnesse of the country which great duke was an impediment vnto the Othoman emperour that he conquered not the whole kingdome of PERSIA And when they had by this meanes by little and little drawne neere vnto GERMANIE happily it might so come to passe as that the Christian emperor should thereby receiue some notable losse his empire being still more and more exposed and enuironed with the Turks forces garrisons POLONIA they said to be a plaine and open countrey neither to haue any strong places for to withstand them and the inhabitants to haue small skill in martiall affaires for that they had now long liued in peace For as for the war that they had with Maximilian the Archduke of AVSTRIA it continued not long and king Stephen in the late wars he had with the Muscouite vsed for most part the Hungarian souldiors and ended those wars rather by besieging than fighting They which in the eight and last place deliuered their opinions concerning the intended war persuaded to haue it conuerted vpon the Christian emperour whom the Turks call the king of VIENNA The causes they alledged for the beginning of this warre was For that the Vscocchi were growne so insolent as to make good prise of the Turkes both by sea and land in such sort as that not onely for the harmes which they did but euen for the majestie and honour of the Othoman empire their insolencie was not longer to be suffered By whose injuries it was especially brought to passe that the marchants to their great hinderance in priuat and the Sultans great losse in common hauing left the towne of NARENTA or NARONA in the Turkes dominion had remoued their mart to SALONA now called SPALATO a towne of the Venetians and that yet for all that was not so sufficiently prouided for the securitie of the said marchants although there were peace betwixt the emperour and the Venetians for that these vnruly men for most part liuing vpon the spoyle troubled all both by sea and land with their robberies driuing away mens cattell burning the villages and taking away the young babes out of the mothers armes and laps Whereby it was easily to be seene what mind they were of and that it was not to be doubted but that if occasion should serue for them to surprise any of the Turkes strong holds vpon the frontiers they would with all their power attempt the same which what a dishonour and infamie not to speake of the losse it would be vnto the whole Othoman empire euery man might easily ghesse Neither that it was vnknowne how little the Christian emperor had esteemed of the Turke at such time as he was in warres with the Persian paying his tribute too late at his pleasure an euident signe rather of violating thaâ— of establishing the league And that the good successe of this warre was not to be deemed either difficult or doubtfull for that the attempt might be giuen both by CROATIA HVNGARIE and AVSTRIA countries abounding with all things necessarie for the maintenance of a great armie as also for that they were almost to trauell all the way in the Turkes owne territorie Beside that the chiefe fortresses of HVNGARIE namely BELGRADE BVDA and ALBA REGALIS with many other strong places
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
vp in armes of stature great but of courage greater and painfull aboue measure not the least cause of his vntimely death All the time of this siege he tooke little rest either by day or night scarce so much as to lie downe vpon his bed in two or three nights togither The little meat he did eat he most part eat it standing or walking yea and sometimes on horsebacke he was a most seuere obseruer of martiall discipline which caused him to be of his souldiors both beloued and feared His bowels were with due solemnitie buried at KOMARA where he died but his bodie was brought backe againe to LVXENBVRG there to be honourably enterred with his auncestours About this time Theodore the Great duke of MVSCOVIA hearing of the warres betwixt the emperour and the Turke sent two embassadours with letters and presents to the emperour which embassadours comming to PRAGE the sixteenth of August accompanied with two hundred and fiftie horse were there by the emperours appointment honourably receiued and entertained And afterward hauing audience first deliuered the letters of credence from the Great duke reported to haue been of this purport Your Maiestie hath sent vnto vs your embassadour Nicholas Warkotsie requesting our brotherly aid against the hereditarie enemie of all Christianitie the Turkish Sultan Wherefore we also desiring to liue with you our deare and welbeloued brother in all perpetuall amitie and friendship send vnto you by our faithfull counsellor and seruant Michael Iwanowitze and Iohn Sohnie aid out of our treasurie against the said enemie vnto whom we haue also giuen other things in charge to be propounded to your Maiestie requesting you to giue vnto them in all things full credit Giuen in the great Court of our power at MVSCO in the yeare of the world 7103 and from the natiuitie of Christ 1595 in the moneth of Aprill What things in particular these embassadours were sent for was not commonly knowne but among others it is said That the Muscouite requested the emperour to send an embassadour vnto the Persian king to draw him also into the league with them against the Turke which embassadour should first come into MVSCOVIA and that way to passe into PERSIA The presents which the Great duke sent vnto the emperour were an hundred and fiftie thousand Florens of gold great store of most rich furs and pretious perfumes deemed to be of exceeding valour two white faulcons and three leopards aliue And Iwanowitze the embassadour himselfe presented vnto the emperour of himselfe certaine rich Turkie Persiâ—â—â— and Babylonian hangings and carpets certaine timbers of Sables with other rich furs no lesse pretious than Sables so many as eight porters could hardly carrie These embassadours tarried at PRAGE vntill the seuen and twentith day of December and then taking their leaue returned with the emperours answere to the duke But to returne againe vnto SRIGONIVM The Christians now possessed of the lower towne bent their whole batterie vpon the higher towne where it fortuned the fourteenth of August that the old Gouernour Alis-Beg whilest he was carefully walking from place to place to see where most danger was had his arme strucke off with a great shot of which hurt he presently died He was a man of great grauitie about the age of eight and twentie yeares and had of long time notably both gouerned and defended that famous citie the losse whereof was like enough to haue been vnto him greater griefe than was the losse of his life there Much about the same time also died the Aga of the Ianizaries being before mortally wounded Both the chiefe commaunders thus slaine the Ianizaries with the other souldiors and citisens made choise of the Bassa of NATOLIA who as is aforesaid escaped out of the late battell into the citie for their Gouernour who with heauie cheere tooke vpon him that forlorne charge The Christians not ignorant of the death of these two worthie men in whose great and approued valour they supposed the chiefe defence of the citie to haue rested were in good hope that now the rest would the more readily hearken to some good composition and therefore sent a messenger to demand if they would yet whilest there were some mercie left yeeld the citie Who though they had lost their chiefe commaunders with the greatest part of the garrison and were in great wants both of victuals and all things else necessarie for their defence yet their answere was in few words That they would hold it out euen to the last man The greatest cause of which their obstinat resolution was the strait charge the Bassa of BVDA had giuen them for the defence thereof besides that they accounted their citie holy as woon by their magnificent emperour Solyman whom the Turkes generally yet haue in a deuout remembrance and therefore thought it a great impietie to deliuer it vp vnto the Christians The next day after came Matthias the archduke into the campe who after he had well viewed the whole armie and the manner of the siege he called togither into his tent the chiefe commaunders namely the Marquesse of BVRGAVV his cousin Iohn de Medices the Florentine and the lord Palâ—i the Hungarian to consult with them what were farther to be done for the winning of the citie Shortly after he commanded the citie to be at once in two places assaulted which was by the Wallons and Germanes couragiously performed but such was the valour of the defendants that when the Christians had done what they could they were glad at last to giue ouer the assault and with losse to retire About this time came the duke of MANTVA with the three Counties his brethren to the siege and now the Turkes began againe to draw togither neere vnto BVDA there to make head for the reliefe of STRIGONIVM and to be reuenged of the losse they had there before receiued Whereof the Archduke hauing intelligence sent out against them eight thousand chosen souldiors out of the campe who suddenly setting vpon the Turkes in their campe before the rising of the Sunne made a great slaughter amongst them and tooke certaine prisoners of whom the Sanzacke of COPAN was one and so with victorie returned to the siege The besieged Turkes in STRIGONIVM vnderstanding of this ouerthrow of their friends from whom they expected most speedie reliefe and beside the terrour of the continuall batterie and still feared assaults pinched also with extreame wants of all things began now to faint Wherefore the Bassa with the other captaines ouercome with the aforesaid difficulties and the generall outcrie of the fearfull people resolued with one consent to come now to parley and vpon reasonable conditions to yeeld vp the citie whereupon a flag of truce was set vp and parley craued Which granted the Archduke after the going downe of the Sunne came into the lower towne where nine of the Turks attended his comming who entring into parley required that they might vnder safe conuoy with bag and baggage depart
encamped vnder the wals of the strong citie of VERADINVM where that worthie captaine George Basta was lieutenant Generall for the emperour but not hauing such strength as without farther helpe to go against so mightie an enemie or to relieue the besieged citie not as then furnished with a sufficient garrison he gaue knowledge thereof vnto Maximilian the Archduke who as is aforesaid with a conuenient power was but a little before come to CASSOVIA to haue gone into TRANSYLVANIA had he not there by the way been staied by embassadours from the prince Sigismund but lately before returned out of SILESTA and hauing againe taken vpon him the gouernment by these his embassadors requested him no farther to trouble himselfe with that journey offering to giue him aid against the Turkes whensoeuer he should require it The besieged neuerthelesse in the meane time notably defended themselues and with certaine braue sallies did the enemie great harme still expecting that Basta the lieutenant or the Transyluanian prince or Maximilian the Archduke or they all with their vnited forces should send them reliefe vnto whom they gaue knowledge the nineteenth of October how that the Turkes with all the force and furie they had vsed had as yet little preuayled being by their valour still repulsed and with many sharpe sallies to their great losse encountred and some of their great ordinance cloyed in such sort as that they were in good hope to protract the time vntill they might by them their friends be relieued yet not doubting but that the Turkes according to their wonted manner would doe what they might to subdue them According to whose expectation the Transyluanian prince with a great power taking the field to haue relieued them was letted so to doe by the Tartars to that purpose stirred vp by the Turks so that he could by no meanes joyne his forces with Maximilians for looking to the safetie of his owne people and countrey Yet in token of forwardnesse he sent certaine companies of braue souldiors vnto the lieutenant Basta who vnderstanding that of two thousand good souldiors in garrison in the citie at the beginning of the siege there were scarce seauen hundred left aliue all the rest being with continuall assaults slaine or mortally wounded vsed a notable stratageme to delude the enemie withall for hauing put his men in good order and comming brauely on as if he would euen presently haue joyned battell a thing which the Turkes most desired whilest they likewise with great stirre were putting themselues in order of battell and wholly busied therein he by an other way of the Turks least suspected cunningly thrust into the citie eight hundred good souldiors and that done presently retired againe into his trenches wherein he strongly encamped feared not all the Turkes forces who thinking euen then to haue come to a day of battell and still in vaine expecting the same returned deceiued by this finenesse And so shortly after enforced by continuall foule weather raised their siege not withouâ— great difficultie and danger reliefe lying so neere at hand and the defendants strengthned with new supplies to haue beene longer maintained So passed the troubles of this yeare with no gaine but great losse of the Turkes who at their departure enforced by the vnseasonablenesse of the weather and feare togither left behind them in their trenches many tents with some great pieces of artillerie being not able to conuay the same by water to BVDA and withall fearing greatly to be encountred by the forces of Basta strengthned with new supplies euen then sent vnto him from the emperour The Archduke Matthias Swartzenburg and the other commaunders of the armie in the lower HVNGARIE being twelue thousand strong with the garrison souldiors of RAB STRIGONIVM and KOMARA in the meane time because they would not stand idle togither with the Hungarian horsemen ouerran all the countrey thereabout euen vnto the gates of BVDA in good hope also to haue met with 8000 Turks as they were by their espials aduertised comming towards PESTH with victuals for the reliefe of the castle of BVDA Whilest things thus passed in HVNGARIE Mahomet to shew his greatnesse as also the more to keepe the Christian princes in suspence sent Cicala or as the Turkes call him Cigala Bassa his Admirall with a great fleet to sea wherewith being come vpon the coast of SICIâ—IA he requested the Viceroy of that kingdome to send him abourd his fleet the ladie Lucretia his mother which dwelt in MESSINA for that he greatly desired to see her and to doe her honour promising so quietly to depart without any harme doing And the Viceroy againe considering how that the angrie renegat for the like courtesie to him at an other time before denied had in his rage done great harme all alongst the sea coast couenanting with him to send her in safetie backe againe sent her honourably accompanied abourd the Admirall gally whom Cicala her sonne receiued with great joy and triumph and hauing kept her with him one day with all the honour that might be according to his promise sent her backe againe to MESSINA and so without any harme done for her sake to any part of Christendome peaceably returned baâ—ke againe with his fleet Now in the meane time Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA with good forces of his owne because he would be doing something also resolued to giue an attempt vpon NICOPOLIS a citie of the Turkes in BVLGARIA and so giuing order to his people caused a bridge to be made ouer Danubius to passe that great riuer by Whereof the Bassaes of SILISTRIA and BADOVA vnderstanding thought good with all their power to disturbe him in that worke and so comming as the said bridge was by the Vayuod his souldiors laid ouer the riuer vpon boats without farther stay attempted to haue broken the same to the intent that the Vayuod should not that way passe Who hasting thither with his armie rescued his worke and enforced the Bassaes to forsake the exploit by them begun where betwixt them for a space was fought a most hard conflict vntill at length the Turks were with a great slaughter ouerthrowne and so glad some here some there by flight as they might to saue their liues After which victorie he without let passing ouer the riuer with his whole forces came encamped vnder the wals of NICOPOLIS where they of the citie vnderstanding of the late slaughter of the Turks and finding themselues not able to hold out against the force and valour of the Valachies and now out of hope of any helpe or reliefe in time to come from the Turkes without farther resistance yeelded themselues into the power of the Vayuod Who hauing sacked the citie and set it on fire caried thence a great spoile and bootie with a number of the Bulgarians chusing out the best and most able bodies amongst them to serue him in his wars and appointing the rest to inhabit manure the wasted places of VALACHIA
safetie retired themselues into the castle a place of great strength leaâ—ing the citie vnto the Imperials then readie to haue besieged it but doubting of the Turkes great armie which as they heard was marching thitherwards the auauntguard thereof being come to MOAâ—â—ESH where Sarâ—es Bassa was also looked for the report being giuen out that the Turkes hauing relieued BVDA would go to besiege CANISIA or else Sâ—â—Iâ—ONIVM they staied to go any farther as men in doubt what to resolue vpon So were sent certaine colonels â—nd other captaines with their souldiors to fortifie certaine passages whereby the Turkes armie was to passe The rest in the meane time retiring for that the puissant enemie began now to approch as also for that they knew the great desire that Ibrahim Bassa had to recouer again STRIGONIVM and had therefore sent a great number of Tartars to forrage and wast the countrey and so suddenly hauing relieued BVDA and AGRIA there to resolue whether to turne his forces The Imperials in the meane time encamping neere vnto HATWAN and ZOLNOK to hinder the Turkes from victualling of BVDA as they desired cut off fiue hundred of them at their first arriuall who to that purpose were going towards BVDA and tooke also one of the Turkes Chiaus prisoner who sent from Ibrahim the Generall was going to AGRIA to put them in hope of their speedie reliefe They also at the same time attempted to haue surprised ZOLNOK where a good number of them with certaine Petardes approching the gates in hope so to haue broken them open being discouered by the watch were inforced to retire leauing fortie behind them slaine and carrying away with them many moe of their fellowes wounded in reuenge whereof the rest shewed their furie vpon the countrey thereabout destroying the villages and intercepting a great deale of munition which together with other victuals they met by the way as it was going to BVDA and AGRIA Summer now almost spent Ibrahim the great Bassa in the beginning of September came to BVDA with an armie of an hundred and thirtie thousand strong and from thence in the name of his great lord and master gaue the emperour to vnderstand at PRAGE That for the sauing of further effusion of innocent bloud and not for any feare or distrust of his owne strength and power hee could bee content to hearken vnto some reasonable conditions or treatie of peace Whereunto both these great princes hauing well wearied themselues with these long warres and exhausted their treasures seemed not now vnwilling expecting as was thought nothing more than for the honour to be the first entreated and the rather for that the old Sultannesse Mahomet his mother whom by the weakenesse of her sonnes gouernment such as neuer was in any the Othoman kings or emperours before beareth the greatest sway in his affaires seemed in what she might to further the same Wherefore in the latter end of September a place was agreed vpon for a parley for peace which was in an island in the riuer of Danubie beneath STRIGONIVM whither the lords Swartzenburg Nadasti Palfi and the bishop of VACCIA being come for the emperour and Amurath the Bassa of BVDA with the lieutenant Generall of the Tartars and some others for the Grand signior the Turkes at the first after their vnreasonable manner demaunded to haue RAâ— STRIGONIVM FILEK SETCHIN with all the rest of the townes and castles in fiue yeares before taken from them by the Christians to bee now againe surrendered vnto them with a certaine yearely tribute by the emperour to be paied vnto the great Sultan at CONSTANTINOPLE as also there to haue his embassadour leiger continually attending vpon the Turkes Court for which they offered to deliuer againe vnto the emperour the citie of AGRIA onely All which their proud and vnreasonable demaunds being by the aforesaid commissioners on the emperours behalfe rejected they were contented to come to some more reasonable talke offering to leaue vnto the emperour RAE and AGRIA whereof RAE was his owne alreadie onely for STRIGONIVM exchanging as it were STRIGONIVM for AGRIA Which when it could neither bee obtained the parley was so broken off and nothing concluded and so the warres againe continued without any memorable thing more this yeare betwixt them done either on the one side or the other the Christians contenting themselues to haue distressed the chiefe cities the Turkes held in HVNGARIE and the Turks no lesse apaied to haue relieued the same But whilest things thus passed betwixt the Christians and the Turks in HVNGARIE Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA yet the emperours friend and confederat and vnder his protection certainely enformed his life to be sought after in the Turkes Court by the ambitious Cardinall Bathor his enuious neighbour but lately become the prince of TRANSYLVANIA as is before declared by commaundement from the emperour and to be reuenged of so great a wrong as also betimes to prouide for his owne safetie with an armie of threescore thousand strong suddenly entered into TRANSYLVANIA in most horrible manner burning the countrey and killing the people before him as he went Where whilest the Cardinall who was thought to haue purposed to haue serued him in like sort had he not beene by him preuented was making head against him 〈◊〉 the mean time had the citie of 〈◊〉 commonly called BRASSO with the strong castle of Fogaras yeelded vnto him from whence he marching towards ALBA IVLIA the six and twentith of October with all his armie before deuided into three parts but now againe vnited came into the plains neere TEMISON about three leagues from HERMENSTAT where vnderstanding that his lieutenant corrupted by Ibrahim Bassa had promised to kill him and now well assured thereof to rid himselfe of that danger with his owne hands presently cut his throat and so dispatched him When by and by after came vnto him the Popes Nuntio sent by a finenesse from the Cardinall accompanied with another embassadour the better to countenance out the matter telling him that the same embassadour had commission from the emperor to will him forthwith to desist from armes and without further delay to depart out of TRANSYLVANIA Which thing seeming vnto the Vayuod very strange and almost impossible hee desired to see the said commission Whereunto the Nuntio before instructed answered that he had left it with the Cardinall himselfe but I said the Vayuod haue one here present from the emperour of another purport which I purpose fully to put in execution yet was he for that day entreated by the Nuntio to stay his armie And so in the meane time lying both still and in great suspence the Vayuod desired to know of the Nuntio the cause why the Cardinall forgetting himselfe so troubled that countrey by intruding himselfe thereinto to the great prejudice of them vnto whom it of better right belonged not attending vnto the gouernment of the Church better beseeming his calling than the managing of arms to the
of the euill successe of the affaires of HVNGARIE on the one side and the desire he saw in the Persians to recouer their lost fortresses on the other and grieued also with more particular wrongs concerning himselfe as a man altogither discontented resolued to take vp armes and calling vnto him his souldiors and as he was a well spoken man laying before them the deformities of the present state gallantly persuaded them with the promise of honour soueraigntie and rich rewards what an easie thing it were to chase the grand signior out of ASIA and to set themselues with all that part of the empire at libertie And so euen at the first hauing woon vnto him three thousand harquebusiers and fiue thousand horsemen tooke the field to the great hurt of the Turkes and trouble of the state A strange matter in that tyrannicall empire The newes whereof comming in post to the Court commission was forthwith directed vnto foure of the Sanzackes of ASIA neerest vnto him for the speedie suppressing of that rebellion but euen then arising Whereof Cusahin vnderstanding and that they with ten thousand horse and foot were comming to oppresse him without farther stay went couragiously to meet them and so encountring of them ouerthrew them with a great slaughter and tooke from them their baggage with six pieces of great ordinance And after with his people seized vpon all the castles thereabouts giuing whatsoeuer he found therein for a prey vnto his souldiors who also much enriched themselues with the spoile of the Iewes as the people whom they most hated and neuer rested vntill he had made almost all the countrey of CARAMANIA his owne After that he laid siege to COGNA a citie in the confines of NATOLIA which was forthwith yeelded vnto him And yet not so contented gaue it out by open proclamation that for the reformation of the disordered state he would ere long go to besiege the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE and that therfore all such as would follow him should of him be intreated as his friends and companions threatning vnto the rest most cruell death and destruction Of which his proceedings Mahomet as then disporting himselfe at his gardens of pleasure in the countrey all alongst the side of PROPONTIS vnderstanding and fearing to be there surprised or that some sudden innouation might be raised in the citie hasted with all speed to CONSTANTINOPLE and from thence in all hast dispatched Mehemet one of the Visier Bassaes the sonne of Sinan with all the forces he could make to go against him Who passing ouer into ASIA with a great power and yet fearing to come to the triall of a battell with him whom he knew to be a man of himselfe desperatly set and not a little fauoured also euen of his owne souldiors so secretly wrought by large promises that Cusahin his footmen were euen vpon the point to haue forsaken him Which he quickly perceiuing fled forthwith through SIRIA into ARABIA with his horsemen and the horsemen of Simon the Georgian purposing the next Spring by the helpe of Arabians and Persians to appeare in the field with greater forces than before After whom Mehemet the great Bassa following came with his armie to ALEPPO there to Winter and to expect the returne of the rebell together with the Spring This so dangerous a rebellion with the troubles of TRANSYLVANIA and VALACHIA were the cause that the grand signior seeing himselfe in so many places forsaken of his subjects was the readier to encline vnto peace with the emperour whereunto for all that the emperour was not hastie to hearken but vpon honourable conditions as knowing that the Turke required the same not for any desire he had to liue in quiet but for that his troubled affaires both at home and elswhere abroad so required his Ianizaries and other men of warre in this his so weake gouernment being growne so insolent as that they were hardly to bee by him commaunded openly threatening in their discontented humors not only the deposing of the principall officers about him but of himselfe also and of the banishment of the Sultanesse his mother saying that she had bewitched him to the end she might her selfe rule which she indeed doth in all his greatest affaires But the rebell Cusahin the next yeare growne againe very strong was now come into the field and euen readie to haue giuen the Bassa battell who as hee was a man of great wisedome and experience well considering with what a desperat enemie hee had to doe thought it best againe to proue if his rebellious followers might by faire meanes bee drawne from him and so comming neere vnto him by open proclamation promised a free and generall pardon to all such as had followed the rebell in those wars if forsaking him they should forthwith returne home to their dwellings and so to the obedience of their just and lawfull prince and soueraigne Which generall pardon so proclaimed was the ruine of Cusahin for that the greatest part of his followers now enriched with the great booties they had gotten and now also hauing free pardon offered them returned home into their owne countries there at ease to liue of their euill gotten goods leauing their captaine with some few others which staied with him with little hope to be saued So that within a few daies after Cusahin thus forsaken of his followers was himselfe taken and brought prisoner to CONSTANTINOPLE where shortly after hee was with most exquisit torments tortured to death The troubles of this yeare thus past Rodolph the Christian emperour with the beginning of the next whilest the ground yet couered with snow and the vnseasonablenesse of the weather would not suffer the souldiors to keepe the field caused a Diet of the princes of the empire to be called to consider with him of such helpes as were by them to be giuen against the Spring for the maintenance of the warres which yet he had against the Turke who all promised to send their souldiors with their pay and such further contribution as might serue for the maintenance of that defensiue warre against the common enemie Whereunto also Clement now bishop of ROME this yeare of Iubilie put to his helping hand as he had diuers times before by sending thither such aid both of men and money as hee had before promised so that by this meanes great preparation was made by the Christians for the taking of the field with the first of the Spring At which time the Turkes also began to stirre who although Ibrahim Bassa their Generall by the appointment of his great lord was then in some speech with the emperour about a peace yet ceased not they in the meane time that this treatie was from day to day prolonged with their companies scattering here and there to doe what harme they could vpon the frontiers of the emperours territories the cause why he with more speed called vpon his friends for their promised aid And for the
of God as yet contained together with the strength and power thereof as also in what regard it hath the neighbour princes bordering or confining vpon it with some other particularities tending vnto the same purpose All or most part whereof although it be by the considerat well to be gathered out of the whole course of the Historie before going yet shall it more plainely here together in the full thereof appeare than by the long and particular consideration of the rising and encrease thereof be perceiued not much vnlike the ouergrowne tree at the greatnesse whereof euery man wondereth no man in the meane time either perceiuing or marking how by little and little in tract of time it grew vp to that bignesse as now to ouertop all the rest of the wood The imperiall seat of this so great and dreadfull an empire is the most famous citie of CONSTANTINOPLE sometime the glorie of the Greeke empire but now the place where Mahomet the third of that name and thirteenth of the Othoman emperours acknowledging no man like vnto himselfe triumpheth ouer many nations a citie fatally founded to commaund and by the great conquerour Tamerlan of all others thought to be the best seated for the empire of the world In which citie taken from the Christians by Mahomet the second by the Turkes surnamed the Great and the Greeke empire by him subuerted as the Othoman emperours haue euer since seated themselues so haue they wonderfully euen to the astonishment of the world out of the ruines of that so glorious a State encreased both their strength and empire almost altogether fixed euen in the selfesame kingdomes countries and regions as was sometimes that though not as yet God be thanked able to attaine to the vttermost bounds that that empire sometimes had especially in EVROPE albeit that it haue oftentimes in pride thereof most mightily swolne and in some few places thereof somewhat also exceeded the same Amongst the rest of the Othoman emperours this great Monarch of whom we speake namely Mahomet the third which now raigneth in that most stately and imperiall citie hath at this present vnder his commaund and empire the chiefe and most fruitfull parts of the three first knowne parts of the world onely AMERICA remaining free from him not more happie with the rich mines thereof than in that it is so farre from out of his reach For in EVROPE he hath all the sea coast from the confines of EPIDAVRVS the vttermost bound of his empire in EVROPE Westward vnto the mouth of the riuer Tanais now called Don with whatsoeuer lieth betwixt BVDA in HVNGARIE and the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE in which space is comprehended the better part of HVNGARIE all BOSNA SERVIA BVLGARIA with a great part of DALMATIA EPIRVS MACEDONIA GRaeCIA PELOPONESVS THRACIA the ARCHIPELAGO with the rich islands contained therein In AFRICA he possesseth all the sea coast from VELEZ or as some call it BELIS DE GOMERA or more truly to say from the riuer Muluia the bounder of the kingdome of FEZ euen vnto the Arabian gulfe or red sea Eastward except some few places vpon the riuage of the sea holden by the king of SPAINE viz. MERSALCABIR MELILLA ORAN and PENNON and from ALEXANDRIA Northward vnto the citie of ASNA called of old SIENE Southward in which space are contained the famous kingdomes of TREMIZEN ALGIERS TVNES and AEGIPT with diuers other great cities and prouinces In ASIA all is his from the straits of Hellespontus Westward vnto the great citie of TAVRIS Eastward and from DERBENT neere vnto the Caspian sea Northward vnto ADENA vpon the gulfe of ARABIA Southward The greatnesse of this his empire may the better be conceiued by the greatnesse of some parts thereof the meere of MEOTIS which is all at the Turkish emperours command being in compasse a thousand miles and the Euxine or Blacke sea in circuit two thousand and seuen hundred and the Mediterranean coast which is subject vnto him containing in compasse about eight thousand miles But to speake of his whole territorie together he goeth in his owne dominion from TAVRIS to BVDA about three thousand two hundred miles The like distance is from DERâ—ENT vnto ADENA From BALSERA vpon the Persian gulfe vnto TREMISENA in BARBARIE are accounted little lesse than foure thousand miles He hath also in the sea the most noble islands of CYPRVS EVBoeA RHODVS SAMOS CHIOS LESBOS and others of the ARCHIPELAGO In this so large and spacious an empire are contained many great and large countries sometime most famous kingdomes abounding with all manner of worldly blessings and natures store For what kingdome or countrey is more fruitfull than AEGYPT SYRIA and a great part of ASIA What countrey more wealthie or more plentifull of all good things than was sometime HVNGARIA GRaeCIA THRACIA In which countries he hath also many rich and famous cities but especially foure which be of greatest wealth and trade namely CONSTANTINOPLE CAIRE ALEPPO and TAVRIS CONSTANTINOPLE for multitude of people exceedeth all the cities of EVROPE wherin are deemed to be aboue seuen hundred thousand men which if it be so is almost equall to two such cities as PARIS in FRANCE ALEPPO is the greatest citie of SYRIA and as it were the centre whereunto all the marchandise of ASIA repaire TAVRIS of late the royall seat of the Persian kings and one of the greatest cities of that kingdome from whom it was in this our age taken by Amurath the third hath in it aboue two hundred thousand men CAIRE amongst all the cities of AFRICA is the chiefe leauing all others farre behind it although that some make the citie CANO equall vnto it in greatnesse being as it were the store-house not of AEGYPT onely and of a great part of AFRICA but of INDIA also the riches whereof being brought by the red sea to SUES and from thence vpon cammels to CAIRE and so downe the riuer Nilus to ALEXANDRIA are thence dispersed into all these Westerne parts albeit that this rich trade hath of late time beene much empaired and so like more to be the Christians especially the Portingals trafficquing into the East Indies and by the vast Ocean transporting the rich commodities of those Easterne countries into the West to the great hinderance of the Grand signior his customes in CAIRE The Othoman gouerment in this his so great an empire is altogether like the gouernment of the master ouer his slaue and indeed meere tyrannicall for the great Sultan is so absolute a lord of all things within the compasse of his empire that all his subjects and people be they neuer so great doe call themselues his slaues and not his subjects neither hath any man power ouer himselfe much lesse is he lord of the house wherein he dwelleth or of the land which he tilleth except some few families in CONSTANTINOPLE vnto whom some few such things were by way of reward and vpon speciall fauour giuen by Mahomet
against thy state and will in short time be present to destroy thee thy kingdome Wherfore worthie Mahomet I haue thought it good in regard of our old friendship although the same hath by you been greatly empaired and violated to â—orewarne you of all these things that you might gather your wits together and in time prouide for the safetie of your selfe and of your kingdome You see the force and power of so many great princes from which whether you can escape or no I know not yet you may if you will follow my aduise you may â— say make both your name and empire of great greater of famous most renouned of fortunate most happie and blessed if casting off from you the grosse errours of the Mahometane superstition you will embrace the â—aith and truth of Christ Iesus and at length haue regard of your soules health And you which excell all your predecessours in highnesse of spirit and pregnancie of wit suffer not your selfe and your subiects as it were by inheritance to be longer blinded in your wilfull errours but doe that as a wise prince of your owne accord which otherwise you will shortly of necessitie be constrained to doe To say Had I wist hath euer been accounted a great disgrace from the mouth of an emperor At length amend and measure your selfe Behold Almightie God doth offer you means whereby you may quiet the whole slate of your kingdome and all our kings and princes loue honour and reuerence you Neither let the ambitious desire of soueraignetie or immoderate care of those things you possesse trouble you from so doing For whatsoeuer you haue vniustly and vnlawfully vsurped the Christian princes will grant confirme and establish vnto thee as if they had been your owne by antient inheritance So shall you be a true monarch indeed and rule and raigne lawfully if you shall embrace this faith and worship God aright which so soone as you shall feele the sweetnesse of you will be sorrie that you knew it no sooner you will greeue at the time you haue lost and vtterly detest and abhorre all that filthie superstition which the most filthie false Prophet Mahomet hath left amongst you From our campe the 26 of May 1463. With these letters Scanderbeg dismissed the Turks embassadour About which time he receiued letters from the great bishop That he accompanied with the Christian princes would without delay come ouer into EPIRVS with a strong army of valiant Christians to joine their forces with his against the common enemie of the Christian religion exhorting him in all their names to denounce war against the Turkish king Which thing Scanderbeg most joyfully vndertooke and without delay with all his power brake into the Turkes dominion burning and destroying the country before him as he went from whence he returned laded with the spoile there gotten When Mahomet had perused Scanderbeg his letters and certainely vnderstood of the great preparation made against him in ITALIE as also of the great spoile of late made by Scanderbeg hee became exceeding melancholie as a man much troubled in mind which dayly more and more encreased for that hee saw not the wonted cheerefulnesse in his men of war but all full of heauinesse and dispaire as if they had beene men alreadie vanquished Neuerthelesse he speedily took order for the leuying of a great armie fortifying his cities and strong holds leauing nothing vndone that was possible for the assurance of his state And to represse the furie of Scanderbeg sent Seremet Bassa with fourteene thousand souldiours to lie vpon the borders of EPIRVS with charge onely to attend vpon him Who mindfull of his charge came into MACEDONIA vnto the citie OCRIDA now called ALCURIA in the verie confines of MACEDONIA towards EPIRVS and there lay with his armie some part thereof lodged in the citie and the â—est in places more conuenient neere about the same The comming of the Bassa as also the manner of his lying was not vnknowne to Scanderbeg who desired nothing more than to bee doing with him Wherfore he secretly in the â—ight marched towards OCRIDA with twelue thousand souldiours and being come within three miles of the towne lay close in ambush and vpon the breaking of the day sent out 500 horsemen towards the enemie vnder the conduct of Peicus Emanuel and Petrus Angelus two valiant and expert captaines to draw him if they could into the field But Scanderbeg had before commanded them that if the enemie did come foorth to fight they should make but small resistance but retire backe as if they had fled and so to traine him on to the place where the armie lay Which was so well performed by the two skilfull captaines that the Bassa with all his power was according as they could haue wished drawne into the field and brought to the verie place where Scanderbeg lay Who suddenly rising vp with all his armie assailed the Turkes on euerie side and slew them as deere enclosed in a toile In this battell ten thousand of the Turkes were slaine the treasurer of the armie with twelue other of great marke were taken prisoners and brought bound to Scanderbeg who were presently ransomed for 40 thousand duckats Scanderbeg hauing obtained the victorie returned with triumph into EPIRVS daily expecting the comming of the great armie out of ITALY but fatall destinie the mightie controuler of mens highest designes had not so appointed For when Pius the great bishop had out of all parts of Christendome assembled a great armie wherof the greatest part were voluntarie soldiors and all things were now in such readinesse that he had put himselfe vpon the way and was come to ANCONA a citie vpon the sea side where Christophorus Maurus duke of VENICE came vnto him with ten gallies well appointed to haue accompanied him in those warres and all men were now in expectation of some great matter to haue beene done suddenly he fell sick of a feuer and died in the yeare 1464. Whereupon the armie was forthwith dispersed and all that great preparation frustrated to the exceeding griefe of many Christian princes and no lesse joy of the Turks who now rejoiced to see themselues deliuered of so great a feare About this same time Victor Capella chiefe persuader of this warre betwixt the Venetians and the Turkes was by the Senat sent Generall of their forces at sea in stead of Lauretanus whose yeare was then expired He hauing receiued the charge from Lauretanus and sayling out of EVBoeA in short time tooke from the enemie the citie of AVLIS in PELOPONESVS ouer against CHALCIS and also the cittie of LARSVM in the gulfe of THESSALONICA with the isle of HIMBER Afterwards landing his men by night at PYRaeVS he suddenly surprised the cittie of ATHENS now called SETâ—INae sometime the mother of learning and most noble cittie of GRaeCIA and from thence caried away with him into EVBoeA all the people he there found as his prisoners togither with the rich spoile
of that citie Whilest he lay in EVBoeA he was persuaded that the citie of PATRAS in PELOPONESVS would be deliuered vnto him by the Christians that dwelt therein if hee did but shew himselfe before it Whereupon he departed from EVBoeA and comming into the gulfe of PATRAS landed 4000 footmen vnder the leading of Barbaricus and 200 horsemen of whom one Nicholaus Ragius was captaine Barbaricus marching toward PATRAS was come within a mile of the cittie when manie of the horsemen and of the vnruly mariners disorderly scattering abroad neglected the intended seruice and sought after pillage all about the countrey The Turkes garrisons taking this opportunitie set vpon them with their horsemen and so easily ouerthrew them being scattered and out of order At the first encounter Barbaricus himselfe was slaine Ragius captaine of the horsemen was taken aliue empailed vpon a sharpe stake Of all them that were landed scarce a thousand were left who saued their liues by flying vnto the gallies With this ouerthrow Victor the Venetian Admirall was greatly discomfited yet hauing conceiued some hope of better successe in few daies after attempted againe to haue taken PATRAS but with like hap as before For hauing lost a thousand of his men about the citie and the rest glad to take their refuge to the fleet he was constrained with great dishonour to depart thence And so full of sorrow and heauinesse returning into EVBoeA oppressed with melancholy there suddenly died The Venetians deceiued of the great hope they had conceiued of the generall preparation made against the Turkes and much troubled with the hard proceeding of their warres against so mightie an enemie by their embassadours solicited Mathias not long before chosen king of HVNGARIE to joyne in league with them and to take vp armes against the common enemie offering presently to furnish him with a great summe of money beside a large yearely pention for the maintenance of those warres for which he should to his power by land defend all their territorie betwixt the Rhetian Alpes and the Adriatique against the inuasion of the Turke This Mathias surnamed Coruinus was the yonger sonne of the most famous captaine Io. Haniades whose elder brother Vladislaus a gentleman of such courage as might well shâ—w whosâ— sonne he was being not able to disgest the injuries and disgraces done vnto him and his brother by Vlricus countie of CILIA and vnckle vnto Ladislaus the yong king of BOHEMIA and HVNGARIE for the despite he alwaies bare vnto their father Huniades slew the same Vlricus at ALBA REGALIS euen in the kings court Which outrage the yong king was glad for the present to winke at and also to grant him pardon as hauing taken away the man whose immoderat power well stood not with the kings safetie but in deed fearing the citizens of ALBA the men of war who exceedingly fauoured the sonnes of Huniades for their fathers sake For all that Ladislaus returning into BOHEMA caused both the sons of Huniades vpon the sudden to be apprehended and most cruelly executed Vladislaus being then about six and twentie yeares old Mathias the yonger brother was kept in prison expecting nothing else but to be partaker of his brothers hard fortune as vndoubtedly he had had not Ladislaus the yong king vpon the sudden as hee was vpon the top of his marriage with Magdalaine the French kings daughter by vntimely death beene taken away After whose death the Hungarians for the loue they bare vnto the remembrance of Huniades by a militarie election chose this Mathias his youngest sonne theâ— in prison at PRAGE to be their king Wherof Pogebrache who after the death of Ladislaus of an old gouernour had made himselfe the young king of BOHEMIA hauing speedie intelligence as he was sitting at supper sent for Mathias his prisoner and when he was come commaunded him to sit downe at the vpper end of the table whereat the young gentleman being then but about eighteene yeares of age and sore abashed began to craue pardon But when the king would needs haue it so and that he was set the king to quiet his troubled thoughts willed him to be of good cheere for that he had good newes to tell him Good newes said he if it would please your majestie to grant me libertie Yea that said the king and more to and then saluting him by the name of the king of HVNGARIE brake vnto him the whole matter how that he was by the generall consent of the Hungarians chosen their king And so in few daies after married vnto him his daughter which done he furnished him with all things fit for his estate and royally accompanied him into HVNGARIE where he was with great joy and triumph receiued of the Hungarians ouer whom he afterwards gloriously raigned for the space of eight and thirtie yeares In which time he notably enlarged the kingdome of HVNGARIE and became a farre greater terrour vnto the Turkes than euer was his father Huniades And therewithall which is not to be accounted in the least part of his praises was alwaies a great fauourer and furtherer of good letters and ingenious deuises But to returne againe to our purpose Mathias hauing well considered of that the Venetians had requested answered them that they had many times before in like case refused to giue aid vnto the Hungarian kings his predecessours yea and that more was thought it a thing not reasonable that anie such thing should be requested at their hands forasmuch as they then receiued no harme from the Turke but were in league and amitie with him so that the Hungarian kings wanting their helpe had manie times receiued greater losse from the Turke than otherwise they should haue done if they had beene by them aided Yet for all that he was content to forget all such vnkindnesse and to grant them what they had requested promising the next Spring to inuade the Turkes dominion and according to their request to take into his protection all their territorie betwixt the Rhetian Alpes and the Adriatique which thing hee most honourably performed For with the first of the Spring he passed ouer Danubius at BELGRADE with a puissant armie and rased the forts which the Turkes had built thereabouts and so entring into SERVIA laid all the countrey waste before him and afterwards laden with spoile returned home carrying away with him twentie thousand captiues Neither so rested but with great good fortune maintained great warres against Mahomet during all the time of his raigne and afterwards against Baiazet his sonne also wherein he most commonly returned with victorie so that it is of him as truely as briefly written That no Christian king or chieftaine did more often or with greater fortune fight against the Turkish nation or had of them greater victories Mahomet deliuered of the great feare he had before conceiued of the generall preparation of the Christian princes against him determined now to worke his will vpon such as were neerest vnto
from CAIRE to SVETIA a port of the Red sea called in antient time ARSINOE From which place eightie miles distant from CAIRE the antient kings of AEGYPT seeking by vaine and wonderfull workes to eternise the memorie of themselues had with incredible charge cut thorow all that maine land so that vessels of good burthen might come vp the same from ARSINOE to CAIRE which great cut or ditch Sesostris the rich king of AEGYPT and long after him Ptolomeus Philadelphus purposed to haue made a great deale wider and deeper and therby to haue let in the Red sea into the Mediterranean for the readier transportation of the Indian merchandise to CAIRE and ALEXANDRIA Which mad worke Sesostris preuented by death could not performe and Ptolomeus otherwise persuaded by skilfull men in time gaue ouer for feare least by letting in the great South sea into the Mediterranean he should thereby as it were with another generall deluge haue drowned the greatest part of GRaeCIA and many other goodly countries in ASIA and with exceeding charge in steed of honour haue purchased himselfe eternall infamie Yet by the singular industrie of Solyman the eunuch who with seuere commaundement enforced all the people of the countries therabouts to the furtherance of the building of that fleet he had with wonderfull celeritie in short time new built eightie tall ships and gallies at ARSINOE and furnished them with men and all things else needfull for so long a voiage At which time he vpon a quarrell pickt without cause but not without the good liking of Solyman most injuriously confiscated the goods of the Venetian merchants at ALEXANDRIA and CAIRE and thrust the marriners into his gallies as slaues With which fleet in most warlike manner appointed Solyman the Bassa accompanied with Assan-beg commonly called the Moore of ALEXANDRIA a most famous pirat and an excellent seaman set forward against the Portingals and sayling thorow the Red sea and so Eastward by the gulfe of PERSIA came at length as far as the great riuer Indus where with all his power he assaulted DIVM a castle of the Portingals scituate vpon the mouth of that great riuer but in conclusion after he had many daies besieged the castle both by sea land and tried the vttermost of his strength he was so repulsed by the Portingals that he was glad to forsake the siege and leauing his great ordinance behind him for hast returned backe againe to ADEN a citie of great trade in ARABIA FELIX Where discouraged with the euill successe he had against the Portingals because he would be thought to haue done something he allured the king of that rich citie to come vnto him vpon his false faith before giuen for his safe returne but as soone as he had him aboord he like a perjured wretch hanged him vp at the yards arme of his Admirall galley and so surprising the citie enriched himselfe with the spoile thereof The like barbarous crueltie he vsed at ZIâ—YTH another famous port of ARABIA where the pilgrims of the East doe commonly land when they after the manner of their superstition come to visit the temple of their false prophet at MECHA The king of which place togither with all his nobilitie he cruelly murthered contrarie to his faith giuen and so trauelling himselfe by land to MECHA as if he had been some deuout pilgrim sent backe his fleet by the Moore to SVETIA hauing performed against the Portingals nothing at all At the same time Solyman by the persuasion of Lutzis and Aiax the Bassaes of greatest authoritie about him now that Abraham was dead turned all his forces from the Persians as men agreeing with him in the cheefe points of his Mahometane superstition with purpose to conuert the same vpon ITALIE wherunto he was earnestly sollicited by Iohn Forrest the French kings embassadour then lying at CONSTANTINOPLE of purpose to incite Solyman against Charles the emperour assuring him that he was not of such power as at one time to defend APVLIA against him and the dukedome of MILLAINE against the French king who as he said was determined that Summer to inuade that part of ITALIE And to further the matter about the same time one Troilâ—s Pignatellus a noble gentleman sometime commaunder in Charles the emperours armie but then exiled out of NAPLES fled vnto Solyman and for so much as hee was a man of name and like to doe him great seruice in the inuasion of APVLIA as one which knew the countrey well and promised vnto him good successe in that warres was by Solyman honourably entertained amongst his Mutfaracas which is a certaine companie of horsemen for their approued valouâ— chosen out of all nations hauing the free exercise of their religion whatsoeuer without controulement and are onely bound to attend vpon the person of the great Turke when he goeth to warres The cause of his reuolt was for that the viceroy of NAPLES had executed Andrew his brother one of the knights of the RHODES But being now grown into great fauour with Solyman and the Bassaes and oftentimes called to counsell in the preparation of that warre casting off all naturall loue of his countrey ceased not by all meanes to persuade Solyman to inuade the same assuring him that the people of APVLIA and SALERNE oppressed with grieuous tribute and exactions by the emperours officers would at the first reuolt especially if they saw any of the French nation to cleaue vnto And that which mooued him more than all the rest the auntient Turkes told him into what a feare all ITALIE was strucken at such time as Achmetes the Bassa hauing taken HYDRVNTVM had vndoubtedly conquered not onely the kingdome of NAPLES but the citie of ROME also and all the rest of ITALIE had not the vntimely death of Mahomet his great grandfather interrupted the course of that victorie Which persuasions wrought such effect in Solyman that he once fully resolued for the inuasion of ITALIE made such expedition both by sea and land that he himselfe in person was come with two hundred thousand men vnto AVLONA the most conuenient port of MACEDONIA for the transporting of his armie before it was thought in ITALIE that he was set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE where he had not long stayed but Lutzis Bassa his Admirall accompanied with Barbarussa sayling alongst the coast of PELOPONESVS and EPIRVS and so passing by CORCYRA where Hieronimus Pisaurius Admirall of the Venetian fleet lay with his gallies after mutuall salutation done after the manner of sea by shooting off their great pieces in token of friendship put into the hauen of AVLONA also Solyman not purposing to lose any time and hauing ITALIE now in his sight commaunded Lutzis and Barbarussa to passe ouer with the fleet vnto OTRANTO and to prooue the minds of the people that if the first enterprise fell out well he might presently follow after with all his armie With them went also Troilus Pignatellus as forward to
the destruction of his country as any of the rest He knowing that the great cities of HYDRVNTVM and BRVNDVSIVM were kept with strong garrisons of Charles the emperour leauing HYDRVNTVM on the right hand directed the Turks to a towne vpon the sea coast eight miles off called CASTRVM neere vnto which standeth a castle vpon a hill then belonging to Mercurinus Catinarius who being a man vnacquainted with warres and terrified with the sudden comming of the Turkes and persuaded by Troilus yeelded vp his castle vpon condition that the Turkes should offer no violence or injurie vnto him or his either in bodie or goods Vpon which condition the towne of CASTRVM was also deliuered vnto them But the Turkes especially the greedie marriners being got into the castle and the towne moued neither with the intreatie of Troilus nor the commaundement of Lutzis and Barbarussa rifled the towne and castle and carried away with them Mercurinus himselfe with all the floure of the people to their gallies as prisoners But Lutzis ashamed of such faithlesse dealing presently set Mercurinus at libertie againe At the same time also Solyman had by night sent ouer certaine troupes of light horsemen in great palendars which running all alongst the sea coast from TARENTVM to BRVNDVSIVM carried away with them both the people and cattell and whatsoeuer els came in their way by the space of fortie miles So that all that covntrey of SALENTINVM now called OTRANTO was filled with feare and danger and had not there stayed but was like ynough to haue ouerwhelmed all ITALIE by the comming ouer of Solyman wâ—â—h his whole armie had not the rashnesse of one Venetian captaine by vnexpected chance turned that tempest from the Italians vpon the Venetians themselues Alexander Contarenus a valiant captaine of the Venetians meeting with certaine of the Turkes gallies which would neither vaile their top sailes nor in token of reuerence and friendship discharge any of their great Ordinance as of dutie they ought to haue done in those seas where the Venetians commaunded offended with their proud insolencie fieâ—câ—ly assailed â—â—em and in fight sunke two of them wherein Vstamenes Gouernour of CALIPOLIS a man of no small reputation amongst the Turks was reported to haue perished Which outrage done by Contarenus in a most vnfit time to the great hurt of the Venetian estate as it appeared afterward was imputed to his owne priuat grudge which he bare against the Turks for that they had intercepted a ship of his as she was comming out of the East countries laden with rich merchandise so that it was thought that he to please himselfe in reuenging of his owne priuat injurie regarded not what might in that dangerous time ensue thereof to the common state A little before the comming ouer of the Turks into ITALIE Andreas Auria the emperors Admirall lying at MESSANA in SICILIA vnderstanding that Solyman was come with his armie to AVLONA and that his fleet was arriued there also put to sea directing his course towards the Islands of CEPHALENIA and ZACYNTHVS hoping as indeed it fell out to meet with the taile of the Turkes fleet for there according to his expectation he chanced vpon diuers of the Turks victuallers whom he easily tooke The marriners he chained in his owne gallies for slaues and furnishing his fleet with the victuall which was not for him prouided fired the ships Whilest Auria was thus beating too and fro in the Ionian sea it fortuned that Solyman sent Iunusbeius his cheefe interpreter a man whom he made no small account of with two gallies on a message to Lutzis his Admirall This proud Turke comming neere CORCYRA where the Venetian Admirall lay with his fleet offered scornefully to passe by without vailing which his pride tending to the disgrace of the Venetians certaine of the Venetian captaines not enduring set vpon him with such furie that the Turkes were enforced to run both their gallies on shore vpon the coast of EPIRVS neere vnto the mountaines called ACROCERAVNII where hauing escaped the danger at sea they fell almost all into the hands of the cruell mountaine people liuing for the most part by theft and waiting for wrackes as hawkes for their prey by these shauers the Turkes were stript of all they had and Iunusbeius with much adoe redeeming himselfe out of their hands returned to Solyman Auria sayling alongst the sea coast chanced vpon these gallies and finding them sore brused set fire on them For these vnkind parts the Turks were wonderfully offended with the Venetians and greeuously complained of them to Solyman although the Venetian Admirall laboured by all means he could to appease Iunusbeius and to excuse the matter as a thing done by great ouersight on both sides Vpon these small occasions the Turkes sought to breake off the league with the Venetians which fell out so much the sooner for that about the same time Auria sayling vp and downe in the Ionian sea and diligently looking into euery harbour to intercept such as stragled from the Turkes fleet happened by night to light vpon twelue of Solymans great gallies neere vnto CORCYRA all filled with his Ianizaries and choice horsemen of the court the best souldiors of the Turkes who had by land sent their horses to the campe by their lackies and were comming themselues with the Ianizaries by sea Auria falling vpon these gallies had with them a cruell and deadly fight For they as resolute men wishing rather to die than to yeeld vnto their enemies with inuincible courage maintained a most bloudie fight against Auria with his thirtie gallies excellently appointed vntill such time as most part of them were slaine and the rest sore wounded who seeing no remedie but that they must needs come into the hands of their enemies threw their scimitars ouerbourd because those choice weapons should not come into the hands of the Christians In this conflict Auria lost also many of his best souldiors yet hauing got the victorie and possessed of the gallies he ankered neere vnto CORCYRA there to take view of his owne harmes and the enemies but whilest he rid there at anker he was aduertised that Barbarussa was comming against him with fourescore gallies Wherefore knowing himselfe too weake to encounter so strong an enemie he departed thence and returned againe to Mâ—SSANA to repaire his fleet Solyman thorowly chafed with the losse of his gallies and best souldiors and with the double injurie done vnto him by the Venetians fell into such a rage that he cursed Barbarussa as one who in those warres had done him no good seruice and thundered out greeuous threats against the Venetians saying he was vnder the colour of an auntient league by them deceiued and greatly abused and that they were secretly confederated with Charles his enemie and had for that cause as they had alwaies holpen Auria with intelligence and all things necessarie receiuing him into their harbours and by their espials giuing him knowledge of the
his horsemen Another great part of his strength consisteth in his footmen and especially in his Ianizaries in whom two things are to be considered their Nation and Dexteritie in arms Concerning their Nation such of the Azamoglans as are borne in ASIA are not ordinarily enrolled in the number of the Ianizaries but such as are borne in EVROPE for they of ASIA are accounted more effeminate as they haue beene alwaies more readie to flie than to fight whereas the people of EVROPE haue euen in the East beene accounted for better and more valiant souldiours hauing there to their immortall glorie set vp the notable trophees of their most glorious victories The souldiors of ASIA be called Turkes after the name of their nation and not of their countrey no countrey being indeed so properly called and they of EVROPE Rumi that is to say Romani or Romanes as the country especially about CONSTANTINOPLE is called by the name of RVM-ILI that is to say the Romane countrey as it was in auntient time of the notable Romane colonies therein knowne by the name of ROMANIA Now as concerning their Dexteritie such male children are culled out from the Christians as in whom appeareth the greatest signes of strength actiuitie and courage for these three qualities are in a souldior especially required This choice is made euery third yeare except necessitie enforce it to be made sooner as it happened in the late Persian warre wherein not onely oftener choice was made but they were glad to vse the Azamoglans also a thing neuer before by them done For those youths the children of Christian parents being by them that haue taken them vp brought to CONSTANTINOPLE are taken view of by the Aga of the Ianizaries who causeth to be registred the name of the youth with the name of his father and countrey wherein he was borne which done part of them are sent into the lesser ASIA now called NATOLIA and other prouinces where learning the Turkish language and law they are also infected with the vices and maners of them with whom they liue and so in short time become right Mahometanes Another part of them and those of the most towardliest is deuided into cloisters which the Grand signior hath at CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA of whom the fairest and most handsome are appointed for the Serraglio of the great Sultan himselfe All the time that these youths thus sent abroad liue in the lesser ASIA or other the Turkes prouinces they are not appointed to any certaine exercises but still kept busied some at husbandrie some in gardening some in building some in other domesticall seruices neuer suffered to be idle but alwaies occupied in painefull labour where after certaine yeares they haue beene thus eâ—ured to labour and paines taking they are called thence into the cloysters of the Azamoglans for so they are called all the time vntill they bee enrolled into the number of the Ianizaries and are there deliuered vnto certaine speciall gouernours appointed to take charge of them who keepe them still exercised in painefull worke and labour entreating them euill ynough as well in their diet as in their apparell and lodging they sleepe together in large roumes like vnto the religious Dormitories wherein are lampes still burning and tutors attending without whose leaue they may not stirre out of their places There they learne to shoot both in the Bow and Peece the vse of the Scimitar with many feats of actiuitie and being well trained in those exercises are enrolled amongst the Ianizaries or Spahi of whom the Ianizaries receiue not lesse than fiue aspers nor more than eight for their daily pay and the Spahi ten Being recorded among the Ianizaries they are either sent away into the warres or into some garrison or els attend at the Court These last haue for their dwelling three great places like vnto three monasteries in the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE there they liue vnder their gouernours to whom they are deputed the younger with great obedience and silence seruing the elder in buying of things for them in dressing of their meat and such like seruices They that be of one seat or calling liue together at one table and sleepe in long walkes If any of them vpon occasion chance to lie all night abroad without leaue the next euening hee is notably beaten with such nurture and discipline that after his beating he like an Ape kisseth his gouernors hands that so corrected him These Ianizaries haue many large priuiledges are honoured although they be most insolent and are feared of all men yea euen of the great Sultan himselfe who is still glad to make faire weather with them In their expeditions or trauell they rob the poore Christians cottages and houses who must not say one word to the contrarie When they buy any thing they giue for it but what they list themselues They can be judged by none but by their Aga neither can they be executed without danger of an insurrection and therefore such execution is seldome done and that very secretly They haue a thousand royalties some of them are appointed to the keeping of embassadours sent from forraine princes othersome of them are assigned to accompanie strangers trauellers especially them that be men of the better sort to the intent they may safely passe in the Turkes dominions for which seruice they are commonly well rewarded They haue made choice of their prince namely of Selymus the first his father Baiazeâ— yet liuing neither can any the Turkes Sultans account themselues fully inuested in their imperiall dignitie or assured of their estate vntill they be by them approued and proclaimed Euery one of their Sultans at his first comming to the empire doth giue them some great largesse and sometime the better to please them encreaseth also their pay In euery great expedition some of them goeth forth with their Aga or his lieutenant and are the last of all that fight There is no office among the Turkes that moe enuie at than at the office of the Aga of the Ianizaries for the greatnesse of his authoritie and commaund onely he and the Beglerbeg of GRaeCIA chuse not their owne lieutenants but haue them nominated vnto them by the Grand signior Vnto this great man the Aga of the Ianizaries nothing can portend a more certaine destruction than to be of them beloued for then is he of the great Sultan straightway feared or mistrusted and so occasion sought for to take him out of the way The number of the Ianizaries of the Court is betwixt ten and foureteene thousand This warlike order of souldiors is in these our daies much embased for now naturall Turkes are taken in for Ianizaries as are also the people of ASIA whereas in former times none were admitted into that order but the Christians of EVROPE onely beside that they marrie wiues also contrarie to their antient custome which is not now forbidden them And because of their long lying still at
CONSTANTINOPLE a citie abounding with all manner of pleasure they are become much more effeminate and slouthfull but withall most insolent or more truly to say intollerable It is commonly reported the strength of the Turkish empire to consist in this order of the Ianizaries which is not altogether so for albeit that they be indeed the Turks best footmen and surest guard of the great Sultans person yet vndoubtedly the greatest strength of his state and empire resteth nothing so much in them as in the great multitude of his horsemen especially his Timariots Beside these Ianizaries the Turkish emperour hath a wonderfull number of base footmen whom the Turkes call Asapi better acquainted with the spade than with the sword seruing rather to the wearying of their enemies with their multitude than the vanquishing of them with their valour with whose dead bodies the Ianizaries vse to fill vp the ditches of townes besieged or to serue them for ladders to climbe ouer the enemies wals vpon But as the Romanes had both their old Legionarie and other vntrained souldiors which they called Tirones of whom the first were the chiefe strength of their warres and the other but as it were an aid or supplie euen so the Turke accounteth his Timariot horsemen the strength of his armie and the Acanzij which is another sort of base and common horsemen but as an accessorie and so amongst his footmen he esteemeth of his Ianizaries as did the Romanes of their Praetorian legions but of his Asapi as of shaddowes The Ianizaries are by none to be commaunded more than by the great Sultan himselfe and their Aga as for the Bassaes they much regard them not but in their rage oftentimes foule entreat euen the greatest of them The Asapi as they are but base and common souldiours so haue they also their ordinarie captaines and commaunders men of no great place or marke The whole state of the great empire of the Turkes is commaunded by the great Sultan by the graue aduice and counsell of his Visier Bassaes which were not wont to be in number aboue foure so prouiding for the secrecie of his high designes or important resolutions hardly by a greater multitude to be concealed howbeit that the Sultans of later times haue had sometimes moe sometimes fewer as their pleasure was These men are of all others in that empire the greatest and for their high places most honoured vnto them euen the greatest princes that haue any thing to doe in the Turkes Court sue and send their honourable presents By their aduice the great Sultan taketh his warres in hand neither without them concludeth he any peace They giue audience vnto the embassadours of forraine princes and from them receiue their dispatch The greatest honours and preferments which are many in that so great and large an empire are all by their meanes to be obtained which maketh them of all others to be sought vnto Some one or other of them are still Generals ouer the great armies of the Turkes especially in these their late wars their three last emperours neuer themselues going forth into the field excepting once that this Mahomet which now raigneth for the maintenance of his credit with his men of warre came downe into HVNGARIE and there woon the citie of AGRIA which leading of such mightie armies is still with great emulation and ambition of the Visier Bassaes amongst themselues sought after as well for the great profit thereby vnto them arising as for the honour therof which is of all other the greatest But leauing these great ones the chiefe counsellours for his state the whole bodie of his so large and mightie an empire all in the hands of martiall men is gouerned by other great Bassaes whom they by a most proud barbarous name call Beglerbegs that is to say Lords of Lords euery one of them hauing vnder him certaine Begs or Sanzackes who are lords and rulers also ouer some particular cities and countries with the Timariots therein yet all still at the commaund and becke of their Beglerbeg In auntient time there was wont to be but two of these proud Beglerbegs in all the Turkes empire the one commaunding ouer all the prouinces the Turke had in EVROPE and the other ouer all that he had in the lesser ASIA now of the Turkes called NATOLIA But the Turkish empire greatly augmented in ASIA by Selymus the first and also afterwards much enlarged both in EVROPE and ASIA by Solyman his sonne the number of the Beglerbegs were by him encreased and in some part also changed who although that they be all Beglerbegs and that one of them especially in time of peace in the managing of his souldiors and affaires of his countrey is not subject to any other but is onely at the commaund of the great Turke yet notwithstanding in time of warre where the Beglerbeg of ROMANIA is all are obedient vnto him as the chiefest of the rest insomuch that none of them but onely he and the Bassa of NATOLIA are called by the stately name of Beglerbegs the others being then onely called the Bassaes of such and such places as of BVDA ALEPPO and such like although indeed they are in nature Beglerbegs and so written in their records For the more manifesting of which their gouernment as also that they which come hereafter may by comparing of that which is here written with the state that then shall be see how much this great empire in the mean time encreaseth or deminisheth I haue thought good here briefely to set downe all the said Beglerbegs with their Sanzackes and Timariots and as neere as I could either by reading or the credible relation of others well trauelled in those countries together and as it were at one shew set forth the whole strength and power of this so mightie an empire as also in what countries and prouinces the same is especially placed The Beglerbegs or great Commaunders of the Turkes Empire in EVROPE The first and chiefest of all the Beglerbegs in the Turkish empire is the Beglerbeg of ROMANIA or GRaeCIA called of the Turkes RVM-ILI or as wee say the Romane countrey the principall residence of whose Beglerbegship is at SOPHIA a citie of BVLGARIA so appointed for the commodious situation thereof for the better commaund of the rest of the prouinces of EVROPE howbeit that he for the most part or rather altogether abideth at the Court which the other Beglerbegs cannot doe for that they are bound not to depart from the gouernment of their prouinces in which charge they ordinarily continue but three yeares only the great Sultan still changing and altering them at his pleasure This Beglerbeg hath vnder his owne ensigne and commaund fortie thousand Timariots alwaies readie at his call vnder the conduct of these one and twentie Sanzackes following namely the Sanzacke of 1 Sophia in Bulgaria 2 Nicopolis 3 Clisse or Quadraginta Ecclaesiae 4 Vyza in Thracia 5 Kirmen all in Macedonia 6