greefe that he himselfe was with whom as with his friend without any dissimulation he plainly discoursed of all such things as his greefe desired But Asanes handling him with great wisedome did himselfe with like words speake hardly both of the emperour and his nephew but yet curiously noted whatsoeuer Syrgiannes said for he had before hated him for his ambition and as then tooke it in displeasure that he was enemie vnto Catacuzenus his sonne in law who was all in all with the yoong prince and did oftentimes comfort him But the song being throughly set Asanes came secretly vnto the old emperour and told him the whole matter and in fine that except hee betime laid hold vpon Syrgiannes affecting the empire he should in short time be by him brought to his end Whereupon Syrgiannes was forthwith clapped fast in prison whose house with all his wealth the common people tooke the spoile of and not contented to haue rased it downe to the ground conuerted the site thereof together with the pleasant vineyards adjoyning vnto the same into a place to feed goats and sheepe in a worthie reward for his manifold trecheries The yoong prince shortly after going to CONSTANTINOPLE was there crowned emperor as fellow in the empire with his grandfather vnto which solemnitie in the great temple of Sophia both the emperors riding it fortuned the old emperour by the stumbling of his horse to be ouerthrowne and foulely beraied in the myre the streets being then very foule by reason of the great raine but a little before fallen which many tooke as ominous and portending the euill fortune which shortly after befell him During the time of this peace it fortuned that as the yoong prince was a hunting in CHERSONESUS seuentie Turkes aduenturers were by force of weather driuen on shore who before they would yeeld themselues prisoners made a great fight with the emperours men and slew diuers of them in which conflict the yong emperour himselfe was wounded in the foot wherewith he was a great while after exceedingly tormented Andronicus the late prince and now fellow in the empire with his aged grandfather held not himselfe long so contented but after the manner of ambitious men and continually prickt forward by his aspiring fauorits longed to haue the whole gouernment vnto himselfe which hardly brooketh any partener and therefore wearie to see his grandfather liue so long resolued no longer to expect his naturall death although it could not by course of nature be farre off but by one deuice or other to thrust him from the gouernment or if that might not bee wrought at once to dispatch him both of life and state together And the surer to lay the plot whereon so foule and horrible a treason was to be built he by the counsell of his mother others by whom he was most directed sent for Michael the prince of BULGARIA his brother in law though before to him vnknowne as was his wife his sister also to make with him a firme league to the intent by him to prouide That if the prince of SERVIA who had but lately married the old emperours nigh kinswoman and so to him much deuoted should take part with him he should by the Bulgarian his neighbour bee intangled Who so sent for with his wife the old emperours daughter came to DIDYMOTICHUM where they were many dayes most honourably entertained both by the yoong emperour and his mother for why this meeting plotted vpon great treason was finely coloured with the desire the yong emperour had to see his sister and her husband as before vnto him vnknowne and the empresse her daughter whom she had not seene in three and twentie yeares before But the secret conclusion betwixt them was That the Bulgarian prince should to the vttermost of his power aid the yong emperour against his grandfather and he likewise him against the Seruian as he should haue need and further That if his grandfather being deposed he should recouer the whole empire then to giue him a great sum of mony with certaine speciall cities and prouinces confining vpon him as in dowrie vnto his kind brother in law and companion in his labours So Michael the Bulgarian prince honourably entertained by the yoong emperour and the old empresse his mother in law loaded with rewards and promises of greater returned home into his countrey This matter thus dispatched the yoong emperour therewith incouraged and knowing also the Constantinopolitans besides the other cities of THRACIA exceedingly to fauour him and his proceedings by whom also he was secretly inuited to hasten his comming thither as wearie of the long life and lazinesse as he tearmed it of his grandfather thought it best cunningly to go about the matter that so his grandfather being with as little stur as might be deposed he himselfe might alone enjoy the empire But needing money for the effecting of so great matters he by force tooke all the money from the collectours whom the old emperour had sent into THRACIA for the taking vp of money there telling them that he was an emperour also and in need of money and that the common charge was likewise by the common purse to be discharged After that he tooke his way towards CONSTANTINOPLE pretending that vpon speciall causes hee had occasion to send embassadours vnto the Sultan of AEGYPT for the transporting of whom he was there to take order for the setting forth of a great ship and other things necessarie for the journey Neither went he slenderly appointed but with a great power and the cities of THRACIA before well assured vnto him such as he suspected being thrust out of office and others more assured vnto him placed in their steads But whilst he thus besturreth himselfe one of those that were most inwward with him detesting so foule a treason secretly fled from him vnto his grandfather from point to point discouering vnto him all the intended treacheries and withall how that his nephew had determined to depose him from his empire or otherwise to bereaue him of his life if he should stand vpon his guard but if in the attempt hee should find easie successe then to spare his life and depriuing him of the imperiall dignitie to thrust him as a monke into a monasterie and therefore aduised him to beware how he suffered him after his woonted manner to come into the citie for feare of a generall reuolt but rather by force to keepe him out Which the emperor hearing and comparing with other things which he had heard of others yet sounding in his eares deeming it to be true stood vp and in the anguish of his soule thus complained vnto God Reuenge my quarrell ô God vpon them that do me wrong let them be ashamed that rise vp against me and preserue thou vnto me the imperiall power which by thee giuen vnto me he commeth to take from me whom I my selfe begot and aduanced After he began to consider what course to take for the
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
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
lamented but hardly or neuer remedied vntill that afterwards led with a more earnest desire to know the strange and fatall mutations by this barbarous nation in former time brought vpon a great part of the world as also so much as I might to see so great a terrour of the present time and in what tearmes it standeth with the rest I had with long search and much labour mixt with some pleasure and mine owne reasonable contentment passed through the whole melancholie course of their tragicall Historie yet without purpose euer to haue commended the same or any part thereof vnto the remembrance of posteritie as deeming it an argument of too high a reach and fitter for some more happie wit better furnished with such helpes both of nature and art as are of necessitie requisit for the vndertaking of so great a charge than was my selfe of many thousands the meanest Not vnmindâ—ull also of that which the Poet keeping decorum saith in like case though farre lesse matter of himselfe Cum canerem reges praelia Cynthius aurem Vellit admonuit Pastorem Tittere pingues Pascere oportet oues deductum ducere carmen When I did sing of mightie kings or els of bloudie warre Apollo pluckt me by the eare and said I went too farre Beseemes a shepheard Titterus his fatlings for to feed And for to fit his rurall song vnto his slender reed Besides that so many difficulties euen at the first presented themselues vnto my view as that to ouercome the same if I should take the labour in hand seemed to me almost impossible for beside the sea and world of matter I was to passe through requiring both great labour and time full of the most rare example â—oth of the letter and worse fortune in men of all sort and condition yeelding more pleasure vnto the reader than facilitie to the writer I saw not any among so many as had taken this argument in hand whom I might as a sure guide or loadstarre long follow in the course of this so great an Historie many right worthie and learned men whose memorie my soule honoureth contenting themselues to haue with their learned pennes enrolled in the records of neuer-dying fame some one great expedition or action some another as in their times they â—ell out yea the Turkish Histories and Chronicles themselues from whom the greatest light for the continuation of the Historie was in reason to haue beene expected being in the declaration of their owne aâ—â—aires according to their barbarous manner so sparing and short as that they may of right be accounted rather short rude notes than iust Histories rather pointing things out than declaring the same and that with such obscurâ—tie by changing the auntient and vsuall names as well of whole kingdomes countries and prouinces as of cities townes riuers mountaines and other places yea and oftentimes of men themselues into other strange and barbarous names of their owne deuising in such sort as might well stay an intentiue reader and depriue him of the pleasure together with the profit he might otherwise expect by the reading thereof whereunto to giue order perspicuitie and light would require no small trauell and paine Not to speake in the meane time of the diuersitie of the reports in the course of the whole Historie such as is oftentimes most hard if not altogether impossible to reconcile Notwithstanding all which difficulties with many others more proper vnto my selfe hauing with long labour and diligent search passed through the course of the whole Historie and so in some reasonable sort satisfied my selfe therein I thought it not amisse as well for the worthinesse of the matter as for the zeale I beare vnto the Christian common-weale and for the satisfying also of some others my good friends much desirous of the same to make proofe if out of the dispersed workes of many right worthie men I could set downe one orderly and continuat Historie of this so mightie an Empire with the great and fatall mutation or rather subuersion of many right strong and flourishing kingdomes and states the proper worke of all mightie rising Empires still encreasing by the fall of others wherewith this proud monarchie hath alreadie daunted a great part of the world being so many and so strange as that moe or more wonderfull were not euer to be seene in any of the greatest monarchies of auntient time or memorie and so together and as it were vnder one view and at one shew to lay open vnto the Christian Reader what I was glad to seeke for out of the defused labours of many a worke so long and laborious as might well haue deterred a right resolute and constant mind from the vndertaking thereof being as yet to my knowledge not vndergone or performed by any wherein among such varietie or more truly to say contrarietie of writers I contented not my selfe as a blind man led by his guide happily of no better sight than himselfe to tread the steps of this or that one man going for a while before me and by and by leauing me againe stumbling in the darke but out of the learned and faithfull workes of many according to my simple iudgement to make choice of that was most probable still supplying with the perfections of the better what I found wanting or defectiue in the weaker propounding vnto my selfe no other marke to aime at than the very truth of the Historie as that which is it selfe of power to giue life vnto the dead letter and to couer the faults escaped in the homely penning or compiling thereof Which the better to performe I collected so much of the Historie as possibly I could out of the writings of such as were themselues present and as it were eye-witnesses of the greatest part of that they writ and so as of all others best able most like also to haue left vnto vs the very truth Such is the greatest part of so much of the Historie of the Greeke Empire as I haue for the better vnderstanding of the rising of the Turkes in this Historie set downe gathered out of the doings of Nicetas Choniates Nicephorus Gregoras and Laonicus Chalcocondiles all writing such things as they themselues saw or were for most part in their time and neere vnto them done Such are the wonderfull and almost incredible warres betwixt old Amurath the second and his foster child the fortunat prince of Epirus of the Turks commanly called Scanderbeg and by that wayward tirant at his death together with his kingdome deliuered as it were by inheritance vnto his sonne the great and cruell Sultan Mahomet all written by Marinus Baâ—letius himselfe an Epirot and in all those troublesome times then liuing in Scodra a citie of the Venetians ioyning vpon Epirus Such is the wofull captiuitie of the imperiall citie of Constantinople with the miserable death of the Greeke Emperour Constantinus Palaeologus and the fatall ruine of the Greeke Empire written by Leonardus Chiensis Archbishop
and bootie onely as in former time but now to conquer and to hold the same Against whom Michael the emperour sent Isaack Comnenus his lieutenant with a great armie who meeting with the Turks and joyning battell was by them ouerthrown with all his army and taken prisoner and glad afterwards for a great summe of money to redeeme himselfe After which ouerthrow the emperour sent his vncle Caesar with an other armie against them who was by Ruselius that had before reuolted from the emperour ouerthrown at the riuer SANGARIVS and taken prisoner whom he for all that shortly after set at libertie againe and joyning with him against the Turks were both together by them discomfited and taken prisoners but afterwards redeemed Caesar by the emperour and Ruselius by his wife This Ruselius was a notable traitour who joyning with the Turks did what he list in the prouinces of the empire in the lesser ASIA for the repressing of whom the emperour sent Alexius Comnenus a yoong man but verie politike and couragious who secretly practising with the Turks that were great with Ruselius had him at last by them for a summe of money betraied into his power who forthwith sent him to CONSTANTINOPLE to the emperor by whom he was imprisoned but afterward set at libertie and employed against Bryennius and his brother then vp in rebellion against the emperour But to come neerer vnto the Turkish affaires Cutlu-Muses who with his cousin Melech and others were for feare of Tangrolipix their cousin fled into ARABIA as is before declared now in the beginning of the raigne of Axan returned and as the enuious competitours of his kingdome hauing raised a great power of their friends and partakers were now ready to haue tried the matter with him by plaine battell Against whom also the Sultan on the other side had brought into the field his whole forces and was now readie likewise to haue encountred them neere vnto the citie of ERE 's But whilst the Turks thus diuided stood ready to destroy themselues the Caliph of BABYLON from whom though the Turks had taken all temporall soueraigntie yet in matters of religion still held him in great reuerence and esteeme as their chiefe bishop and the successour of their great prophet considering that nothing could be more dangerous vnto his sect and religion than that ciuile dissention the late confusion and vtter ruine of the Sarasin empire and authoritie of the Caliphs and fearing the like effect in these new Sarasines now the chiefe stay of the Mahometane superstition setting aside all his pontificall formalitie whereby he was bound not to go out of his owne house came with all speed euen as the armies were now ready to joyne battell and thrusting himselfe into the middest betwixt them what with the reuerence of his person what with his effectuall persuasion wrought so much and preuailed so far with both parties that they were content to lay downe their weapons and to stand to his order and judgement which was That Axan the Sultan should still enjoy his kingdome and territories whole and entire vnto himselfe as he did and that Cutlu-Muses and his sonnes aided by him and so inuading the prouinces of the Constantinopolitane empire should thereof subdue so much as they could vnto themselues and to be thereof accounted the onely lords and gouernours Which order as it was vnto the Turks and for the maintenance of the Mahometane superstition verie wholesome commodious so was it vnto the Christian common weale and religion most dangerous and hurtfull as in processe of time by proofe it appeared For by this meane in short time after Cutlu-Muses with his cousin and sonnes subdued all MEDIA with a great part of ARMENIA CAPADOCIA PONTVS and BYTHINIA and so a great part of the lesser ASIA By the aid of this Cutlu-Muses the fauour of the souldiers Nicephorus Botoniates aspiring vnto the empire of CONSTANTINOPLE displaced his master the emperour Michael Ducas after he had raigned six yeeres and six months and in the habit of a munke thrust him into an abbey which vsurper by the just judgement of God was at length required euen with the same measure and in like manner serued by Alexius Comnenus who thrusting him out succeeded himselfe in the empire Much it was that this Cutlu-Muses with his sonnes and kinsmen did for the enlarging of the Turkish empire by the helpe of the great Persian Sultan whose forces together with their owne in diuers countries conducted by these worthy leaders his nigh kinsmen and doing great matters gaue occasion for themselues to be accounted Sultans though in deed they were none neither their names such as are by some antient writers and some others of later time also reported but vnto the Turks themselues by those names either for Sultans vnknowne Out of these great commanders all borne of the Selzuccian family hath Aithonus and others following his report deriued their Dogrissa Aspasalemus Meleclas and Belchiaroc whom they suppose to haue orderly succeeded Zadoc otherwise called Tangrolipix in the Turkish empire and to haue done great matters whereas both by the report of the Turks themselues and the relation the Greeks it appeareth plainly Axan more truely called Ax-Han that is to say the White king to haue beene the sonne of Tangrolipix and to haue succeeded him in the empire and that by him the emperour Diogenes was taken and not by Aspasalemus as they vainely imagine As for Aspasalemus whom the Turks by that name know not either any thing of his doings it seemeth to haue beene a name corrupted of Aspam Sallarius the brother of Tangrolipix and Habrami and not his sonnes sonne as they would haue it In like manner Meleclas also seemeth to haue beene forged of Melech the sonne of Habrami Tangrolipix his brother and not of Aspasalemus as some without any good ground report Whom they finding to haue beene all great men in the Selzuccian family with some others also haue both corrupted their names and giuen vnto them an imaginarie soueraigntie and succession in the Turks first empire such as beside that the Turks themselues acknowledge not is easily to be refelled out of the histories of the Greeks who had with them still much to doe Wherefore leauing these supposed princes of the Turks with their imaginarie succession and doings vnto the authors thereof following more certainties to returne againe vnto the course of our historie Axan the Sultan at the same time that he had by the mediation of the Chaliph or not long after fallen to agreement with his cousin Cutlu-Muses to encrease the honour of his nation and the bounds of his empire gaue vnto Ducat and Melech two of his nigh kinsmen the gouernment of DAMASCO and ALEPPO with that part of SIRIA which joyneth vnto them of purpose that way to encroch vpon the Aegyptian Chaliph who then had vnder his jurisdiction all as far as LAODICEA in SIRIA yet not with so large priuiledges as had
sword man woman and child and amongst them also many of the Christians the furious souldiers taking of them no knowledge Great wealth was there found but small store of victuals Casstanus the late gouernour flying out of the citie to saue himselfe in wandring through the mountaines fell into the hands of the Christian Armenians who lately thrust out of IERVSALEM were fled thither for refuge by whom he was there slaine In the citie were slaine about ten thousand persons Thus was the famous citie of ANTIOCH which the Turks had long before by famine taken from the Christians againe recouered the third day of Iune in the yeere of our Lord God 1098. The poore oppressed Christians in IERVSALEM hearing of this so notable a victorie gaue secret thanks vnto God therefore and began to lift vp their heads in hope that their deliuerie was now at hand Of this victorie the princes of the armie by speedie messengers and letters certified their friends in all countries so that in short time the fame thereof had filled a great part of the world Amongst others Bohemund prince of TARENTVM vnto whom the citie was deliuered sent the joyfull newes thereof vnto Roger his brother prince of APVLIA whose letters as the most certaine witnesses of the historie before reported I thought it not amisse here to set downe I suppose you to haue vnderstood by the letters of your sonne Tancred both of the great feare of some of vs and the battels which we haue of late with our great glorie fought But concerning the truce and the proceeding of the whole action I had rather you should be certified by my letters than the letters of others King Cassianus had required a time of truce during which our soldiers had free recourse into the citie without danger vntill that by the death of Vollo a Frenchman slaine by the enemie the truce was broken But whilst it yet seemed an hard matter to winne the citie one Pyrâ—hus a citizen of ANTIOCH of great authoritie and much deuoted vnto me had conference with me concerning the yeelding vp of the citie yet vpon condition That the gouernment thereof should be committed to me in whom he had reposed an especiall trust I conferred of the whole matter with the princes and great commanders of the armie and easily obtained that the gouernment of the citie was by their generall consent alotted vnto me So our armie entring by a gate opened by Pyrrhus tooke the citie Within a few daies after the towne ARETVM was by vs assaulted but not without some losse and danger to our person by reason of a wound I there receiued I assure you much of the valour of your sonne Tancred of whom I and the whole armie make such account and reckoning as is to be made of a most valiant and resolute generall Farewell from ANTIOCH Whilst the Christians thus lay at the siege of ANTIOCH Corbanas the Persian Sultan his lieutenant with a great armie besieged EDESSA with purpose after the taking thereof to haue relieued the citie of ANTIOCH But this citie being notably defended by Baldwin left there of purpose with a strong garrison for the defence thereof the Turke fearing in the meane time to loose ANTIOCH the safest refuge of the Turks in all those parts rise with his armie and set forward against the Christians where by the way it was his fortune to meet with Sansadolus Cassianus his sonne but lately fled from ANTIOCH by whom he vnderstood of the losse of the citie and by what meanes the same was most like to be againe recouered vpon which hope Corbanas with his mightie armie kept on his way with a full resolution to set all vpon the fortune of a battell Whose comming much troubled the Christians for that although they were possessed of the citie yet was the castell still holden by the Turks Neuerthelesse leauing the earle of THOLOVS in the citie with a competent power for the keeping in of them in the castell they tooke the field with the whole strength of the armie and so in order of battell expected the comming of their enemies who couragiously comming on as men before resolued to fight joyned with them a most terrible and bloodie battell Neither were they in the citie in the mean time idle for that the Turks in the castell hauing receiued in vnto them certaine supplies from Corbanas sallied out vpon them that were left for the safegard of the citie and had with them a cruell conflict Thus both within the citie and without was to be seene a most dreadfull fight of resolute men with great slaughter on both sides yet after long fight and much effusion of blood the fortune of the Christians preuailing the Turks began to giue ground and afterwards betooke themselues to plaine flight whom the Christians hardly pursuing made of them a woonderfull slaughter In this battell were slaine of the Turks aboue an hundred thousand and of the Christians about foure thousand two hundred There was also taken a great prey for besides horses and other beasts for burden were taken also fiue thousand camels with their lading The next day being the 28 of Iune the castell was by the Turks now dispairing of releife yeelded vp vnto the Christians ANTIOCH thus taken Hugh the French kings brother surnamed the Great was sent from the rest of the princes to CONSTANTINOPLE to haue deliuered the citie vnto Alexius the emperour according to the agreement before made But he guiltie in conscience of his owne foule dealing with them vnto whom he had sent no reliefe at all during the long and hard siege of ANTIOCH neither performed any thing of that he had further promised and therefore knowing himselfe hated of them had in distrust so great an offer of the princes so euill deserued and therefore refused to accept thereof Whereupon Bohemund by the generall consent of the whole armie was chosen prince or as some call him king of ANTIOCH After this long siege and want of victuals ensued a great plague in the armie of the Christians the Autumne following whereof it is reported fiftie thousand men to haue died and amongst them many of great account But the mortalitie ceasing the Christians in Nouember following by force tooke RVGIA and ALBARIA two cities about two daies journey from ANTIOCH where dissention arising betwixt Bohemund Raimond who of all others only enuied at his preferment vnto the principalitie of ANTIOCH Bohemund for the common causes sake gaue way vnto his aduersarie retired with his soldiers backe againe to ANTIOCH after whom followed the duke Godfrey and the earle of FLANDERS with their regiments The rest of the princes wintred some at RVGIA some at ALBARIA from whence Raimund made sundrie light expeditions further into the enemies countrey But the spring approching the Christian princes with all their power tooke the field againe Bohemund with them that remained with him departing from ANTIOCH besieged TORTOSA
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
but the Christians came on so fiercely with desire of blood that breaking into the temple the foremost of them were by the presse of them that followed after violently thrust vpon the weapons of their enemies and so miserably slaine Neither did the Turks thus oppressed giue it ouer but as men resolued to die desperatly fought it out with inuincible courage not at the gates of the temple onely but euen in the middest thereof also where was to be seene great heaps both of the victors and the vanquished slaine indifferently together All the pauement of the temple swam with blood in such sort that a man could not set his foot but either vpon some dead man or ouer the shooes in blood Yet for all that the obstinate enemie still held the vaults and top of the temple when as the darknesse of the night came so fast on that the Christians were glad to make an end of the slaughter and to sound a retrait The next day for that proclamation was made for mercie to be shewed vnto all such as should lay downe their weapons the Turks that yet held the vpper part of the temple came down yeelded themselues Thus was the famous citie of IERVSALEM with great bloodshed but far greater honor recouered by these worthie Christians in the yeere 1099 after it had beene in the hands of the infidels aboue foure hundred yeeres The next day after hauing buried the dead and cleansed the citie they gaue thanks to God with publicke praiers and great rejoycing The poore Christians before oppressed now ouercome with vnexpected joy welcomed their victorious brethren with great joy and praise and the souldiers embracing one another sparing to speake of themselues freely commended each others valour Eight daies after the princes of the armie meeting together began to consult about the choice of their king amongst whom was no such difference as might well shew which was to be preferred before the others And although euerie one of them for prowesse and desert seemed woorthie of so great an honour yet by the generall consent of all it was giuen to Robert duke of NORMANDIE who about the same time hearing of the death of the Conquerour his father and more in loue with his fathers new gotten kingdome in ENGLAND in hope thereof refused the kingdome of IERVSALEM then offered vnto him which at his returne he found possessed by William Rufus his yoonger brother and so in hope of a better refusing the woorse vpon the matter lost both After whose departure Godfrey of BVILLON duke of LORAINE whose ensigne was first displaid vpon the wals was by the generall consent both of the princes and the armie saluted king He was a great souldier and endued with many heroicall vertues brought vp in the court of the emperour Henrie the fourth and by him much emploied At the time of his inauguration he refused to be crowned with a crowne of gold saying That it became not a Christian man there to were a crowne of gold where Christ the sonne of God had for the saluation of mankind sometime worne a crowne of thorne Of the greatest part of these proceedings of the Christians from the time of their departure from ANTIOCH vntill the winning of the Holy citie Godfrey by letters briefly certified Bohemund as followeth Godfrey of Buillon to Bohemund king of Antioch greeting After long trauell hauing first taken certaine townes we came to IERVSALEM which citie is enuironed with high hils without riuers or fountaines excepting onely that of Solomans and that a verie little one In it are many cesterns wherein water is kept both in the citie and the countrey thereabout On the East are the Arabians the Moabits and Ammonits on the South the Idumeans Aegyptians and Philistians Westward alongst the sea coast lie the cities of PTOLEMAIS TIRVS and TRIPOLIS and Northward TIBERIAS CESAREA PHILIPPI with the countrey DECAPOLIS and DAMASCO In the assault of the citie I first gained that part of the wall that fell to my lot to assaile and commanded Baldwin to enter the citie who hauing slaine certaine companies of the enemies broke open one of the gates for the Christians to enter Raymond had the citie of Dauid with much rich spoile yeelded vnto him But when we came vnto the temple of Soloman there we had a great conflict with so great slaughter of the enemie that our men stood in blood aboue the ancles the night approching we could not take the vpper part of the temple which the next day was yeelded the Turks pitifully crying out for mercie and so the citie of IERVSALEM was by vs taken the fifteenth of Iuly in the yeere of our redemption 1099 39 daies after the beginning of the siege 409 yeeres after it fell into the hands of the Sarasins in the time of Heraclius the emperour Besides this the princes with one consent saluted me against my will king of IERVSALEM who although I feare to take vpon me so great a kingdome yet I will do my deuoir that they shall easily know me for a Christian king and well deseruing of the vniuersall Faith But loue you me as you do And so farewell from IERVSALEM Whilest these things were in doing at IERVSALEM such a multitude of the Turks and Sarasins their confederats now in their common calamitie all as one were assembled at ASCALON a citie about fiue and twentie miles from IERVSALEM to reuenge the injuries they had before receiued as had not before met together in all the time of this sacred war Against whom Godfrey the late duke and now king assembled the whole forces of the Christians in those countries and leauing a strong garrison in the new woon citie set forward and meeting with them joyned a most dreadfull and cruell battell wherein as most report were slaine of the Infidels an hundred thousand men and the rest put to flight The spoile there taken far exceeded all that the Christians had before taken in this long expedition Godfrey after so great a victorie returning to IERVSALEM gaue vnto God most humble thanks The rest of the princes returned either to their charge as did Bohemund to ANTIOCH Baldwin to EDESSA Tancred into GALLILEY whereof he was created prince or else hauing now performed the vttermost of their vowes returned with honour into their owne countries This was of all others the most honourable expedition that euer the Christians tooke in hand against the Infidels and with the greatest resolution performed for the most part by such voluntary men as mooued with a deuout zeale to their immortall praise spared neither life nor liuing in defence of the Christian faith and religion all men woorthie eternall fame and memorie Not long after ensued a great pestilence the readie attendant of long war and want whereof infinit numbers of people died and among the rest Godfrey the first Christian king of IERVSALEM neuer to be sufficiently commended who with the generall lamentation of all good
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
part in reuenge thereof by certaine men of warre whom he put to sea grieuously infested the frontiers of the emperours dominions Now during the time that the marriage was in solemnising the king made his abode at ANTIOCH at which time he fortefied the castle of PONTISFER vpon the riuer ORONTES against the incursions of the enemies But lying there he according to his wonted manner to preuent sicknesse vpon the approch of Winter tooke physicke of Baraca Iew the countie of TRIPOLIS his physician After the taking whereof he fell presently into the bloudie flix and afterward into a consumption whereby it was verely supposed that he was poysoned by the Iew and the rather for that some little part of the same medicine that was left being giuen to a dog he thereof in short time died The king thus languishing in paine to change the aire remooued first to TRIPOLIS afterward to BERYTUS where he departed this troublesome life to liue with his Sauiour Christ in blisse for euer His dead bodie was afterward with the generall mourning of his subjects conueied to HIERUSALEM and there solemnly enterred by the bodie of his father He departed the 13 of Februarie in the yeere of grace 1163 when he had raigned 21 yeeres He was a man so gracious that not onely his friends but euen the infidels themselues as it is reported lamented his death Insomuch that Noradin king of DAMASCO his antient enemie being incited by some of his captaines to inuade his kingdome at such time as his funerals were in solemnising refused so to doe answering That compassion and regard was to be had of the just sorrow of the Christians his subjects for that they had lost such a king as the like was hardly againe to bee found in the world But leauing the kingdome of HIERUSALEM with the greater part of SYRIA thus victoriously gained from the infidels let vs for the orderly continuation of our historie againe returne to see thâ— proceedings of the Turkes at the same time in the lesser ASIA also wherein they yet held the state of a kingdome though not so great as before the comming of the princes of the West into those countries After the death of Sultan Solyman with whome duke Godfrey and the other Christian princes had much to doe as they passed into SYRIA as is aforesaid one Muhamet succeeded him betwixt whom and Masut Sultan of ICONIUM great discord arise which at length brake out into open warre to the farther weakening of that late shaken kingdome For the maintenance of which quarrell as profitable for his state Iohn Comnenus the Greeke emperour gaue aid to Masut against his enemie Muhamet Neuerthelesse in short time the two infidels professing both one superstition became friends and joyning their forces ouerthrew the emperour with his whole armie as he lay at the siege of ICONIUM at which time he himselfe with much adoe escaped by flight Masut afterwards hauing got into his hands the whole kingdome of the Turks at the time of his death deuided the same amongst his three sonnes Vnto Clizasthlan his eldest sonne hee gaue ICONIUM his cheefe citie with the townes and prouinces subject thereunto Vnto Iagupasan his other sonne or rather as some will haue it his sonne in law he allotted AMASIA and ANCYRA with the fruitfull country of CAPPADOCIA and the places adjoyning But vnto Dadune his other sonne or sonne in law hee gaue the great cities of CESARIA and SEBASTIA with the large countries thereabouts all sometime part of the Greeke empire but then the portions of the Turks Long it was not after this deuision of the kingdome but that these brethren after the manner of ambitious men forgetfull of the bonds both of loue and nature fell at discord among themselues the Sultan seeking the destruction of Iagupasan and he likewise of him and that not by secret meanes but euen by open force of armes Emanuell the Greeke emperour in the meane time wishing the destruction of them both heartely rejoycing thereat and by his embassadours secretly animating the one against the other yet in open shew more fauouring the part of Iagupasan than of the Sultan by whose aid he obtained against him many a notable and bloodie victorie insomuch that the Sultan wearie of the quarrell was glad not onely by his embassadours to seeke the emperours sauour but euen in person himselfe to go and meet him as he came with his armie out of SIRIA and so to accompanie him vnto CONSTANTINOPLE where he was together with the emperour most honourably receiued with all the signes of joy and triumph that could possibly be deuised The emperour no lesse rejoycing to be sued vnto by so great a prince than did the Sultan at his so honourable entertainment Among other queint deuises of many for the solemnizing of so great a triumph there was an actiue Turke who had openly giuen it out that against an appointed time he would from the top of an high tower in the tilt-yeard flie by the space of a furlong The report whereof had filled the citie with a woonderfull expectation of so strange a noueltie The time prefixed being come and the people without number assembled the Turke according to his promise vpon the top of the high tower shewed himselfe girt in a long and large white garment gathered into many plites and foldings made of purpose for the gathering of the wind wherewith the foolish man had vainely persuaded himselfe to haue houered in the aire as do birds vpon their wings or to haue guided himselfe as are ships with their sailes Standing thus houering a great while as readie to take his flight the beholders still laughing and crying out Flie Turke flie how long shall we expect thy flight The emperour in the meane time dissuading him from so desperat an attempt and the Sultan betwixt feare and hope hanging in doubtfull suspence what might happen to his countrieman The Turke after he had a great while houered with his armes abroad the better to haue gathered the wind as birds do with their wings and long deluded the expectation of the beholders at length finding the wind fit as he thought for his purpose committed himselfe with his vaine hope vnto the aire But in steed of mounting aloft this foolish Icarus came tumbling downe headlong with such violence that he brake his necke his armes and legs with almost all the bones of his bodie This foolish flight of the Turke gaue such occasion of sport and laughter vnto the vulgar people alwaies readie to scoffe and jest at such ridiculous matters that the Turks attending vpon the Sultan could not walke in the streets vnderided the artificers in their shops shaking their armes with their tooles in their hands as did the Turke and still crying out Flie Turke flie whereof the emperour hearing although he could not chuse but thereat smile himselfe as not ignorant of the scoffes and taunts of the vulgar people yet in
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
for want of victuals if he should there long stay leauing there his sonne Saladin or as some call him his nephew with a thousand horsemen for the keeping of the citie secretly by night departed thence himselfe with the rest of his armie and passing through the deserts did great harme in the vpper parts of AEGYPT Of whose departure Almericus vnderstanding was about to haue followed him but that he was otherwise persuaded by the Aegyptian captaines to continue his former purpose for the gaining of the citie Wherefore now after the departure of Saracon he began to approch the wals and with diuers engines of war to disturbe the defendants wherwith the citizens better acquainted with the trade of marchandize than the feats of war discouraged began now to consult among themselues for the turning out of those troublesome guests whom they had so lately receiued which Saladin perceiuing certified Saracon his vncle thereof requesting his speedie reliefe in that his so dangerous estate and with much intreatie persuaded the citizens for a while to hold it out vntill he might from him receiue answere of all which the Christians and Aegyptians without hauing intelligence laid so much the harder vnto the citie Gladly would Saracon haue done what hee was by his nephew requested but perceiuing it to be a matter of no lesse danger than difficultie he by the means of Hugh countie of CESAREA one Arnolphus another noble Christian both then prisoners with him concluded a peace with the king whereupon the citie was foorthwith yeelded vp and Saladin with his Turkes suffred in safetie to depart At which time also all prisoners were on both sides freely and without ransom set at libertie Thus Saracon for this time disappointed of his purpose for the conquest of AEGYPT returned backe againe to DAMASCO and Almericus with great glorie to ASCALON where he arriued with his armie the 21 of September in the yeare 1167. In this late expedition king Almericus on the one side enflamed with the wealth of AEGYPT and on the other encouraged with the weaknesse of that effeminat people resting for the most part vpon forreigne strength had purposed himselfe to inuade the kingdome so if possibly he might to joyne it to his owne For colour whereof it was pretended that the Sultan contrarie to his faith before giuen had secretly sought to joyne in league and amitie with Noradin the Turke king of DAMASCO The chiefe stirrer vp of the king vnto this war was one Gerbert master of the Templars who in respect of the aid by them of his order to be giuen had obtained of the king after the victorie gained to haue the citie of PELVSIVM with all the rich countrey about the same giuen vnto him and his brethren the knights of the order for euer Vpon which hope he contrarie to the mind of many of the knights for the furtherance of that war gaged his whole wealth and credit with all the treasure of his house So all things now in readinesse for so great an enterprise Almericus with his armie set forward in October and hauing in ten daies passed the sandie desert came to PELVSIVM which citie he after three daies siege tooke by force and put to sword all them that were therein without respect of age sex or condition which citie he according to his promise before made gaue vnto the Templars After that he began also to besiege CAIRE at which time his fleet sacked the citie of TAPIVM In the meane time Sanar the Aegyptian Sultan considering the danger he was in to satisfie Almericus his greedie desire offred to pay him twentie hundred thousand duckats to withdraw his forces and foorthwith sent him one hundred thousand for the ransom of his sonne and his nephew taken prisoners at PELVSIVM and for the rest to be paid within few daies after he gaue two of his nephews hostages Neuerthelesse the payment he deferred from day to day of purpose in the meane time to raise the whole power of AEPGYT as also to receiue aid from the Turks by Saracon which he dayly expected of whose speedie comming Almericus vnderstanding left part of his armie at PELVSIVM with the rest went to haue met him but missing him by the way Saracon with his Turks came in safetie to CAIRE vnto the Sultan as he had desired Wherefore Almericus dismaid with the multitude of two so great armies now joyned together retired backe againe to PELVSIVM and there taking with him the garrison before left returned home to HIERUSALEM hauing in that expedition begun with the breach of faith laid the foundation of the ruine of his kingdome as in few yeeres after it by proofe appeared by the euill neighbourhood of the Turks by that meanes brought downe into AEGYPT Saracon the Turke after the departure of Almericus easily perceiuing a most fit time and opportunitie to be offred for him now to obtaine that which he had in vaine before both sought and fought for encamped with his armie neere vnto CAIRE and notably counterfeited himselfe of all others the most deuoted friend of the Sultans so that betwixt them two passed all the kind tokens of loue and friendship that could possibly be deuised the Sultan oftentimes feasting the Turke and in kindnesse likewise being feasted of him But at length going as his manner was vnto the campe to visit him he was by the Turks slaine So Saracon hauing brought to passe what he desired and entring the citie with his armie was by the great Caliph from whom the Aegyptian Sultans as from their superiours the true successours of their great prophet Mahomet tooke their authoritie appointed Sultan the first of the Turks that euer enjoyed the same which royall dignitie he had not possessed fully a yeere but that he was taken away by death In whose steed Saladine his brothers sonne by and by stept vp who altogether a martiall man not regarding the reuerend majestie of the Caliph as had his vncle Saracon all the Aegyptian Sultans before him with his horsemans mase strucke out his braines and not so contented vtterly rooted out all his posteritie the better to assure himselfe and his successours the Turks in the possession of his new gotten kingdome and after that diuided the great treasures of the Aegyptians among his Turkes to encourage them the more to follow him in his warres against the Christians This glorious kingdome so much spoken of in holy Scripture and renowmed of the learned historiographers of all ages after the ruine of the Romane empire was somtime part of the Constantinopolitane empire and a notable member of the Christian common weale vntill that about the yeere of our Lord 704 the Aegyptians wearie of the pride couetousnes of the Graecians reuolted from them vnto the Sarasins whose superstition they also receiued and so vnder the gouernment of the Sarasin Caliphs the successors of the false prophet Mahomet liued about 464 yeares vntill that now being
inuaded by Almericus they praid aid of Noradin the Turke Sultan of DAMASCO who vnto their reliefe sending Saracon with an armie repulsed indeed the Christians but oppressing their libertie tooke vnto himselfe the kingdome which he left vnto his nephew Saladine in whose posteritie it remained vntill it was from them againe taken by the Circassian slaues the Mamalukes vnder whose seruile gouernment it was holden of long time vntill that by the great emperor of the Turkes Selymus the first it was againe conquered and the Mamalukes vtterly destroied In the gouernment of whose posteritie the mightie emperors of the Turks it hath euer since remained as part of their empire vntill this day as in the processe of this historie God willing shall appeare Saladin thus possessed of the great kingdome of AEGYPT and all things set in such order as he thought best for the newnesse of his state with a great armie entred into the land of PALESTINE in the yeare 1170 and there besieged DARON which towne he woon and ouerthrew such as were sent by king Almericus to haue relieued the same with which small victorie contenting himselfe as with the good beginning of his rising fortune he returned backe againe into his kingdome Yet was his armie so great and populous as that the like armie of the Turkes had neuer before beene seene in the Holy land Wherefore Almericus considering in what great danger he stood his kingdome now being on both sides beset by the Turks sent out his embassadours vnto the Christian princes of the West to craue their aid for the defence of that kingdome which their fathers had woon And for the same purpose went himselfe in person vnto the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE of whom he was royally entertained and afterwards sent backe loaded with the promises of great matters as were also his embassadours from the princes of the West All which for all that sorted vnto nothing but vanished into smoake The yeare following viz. 1171 Saladin besieged PETREA the metropoliticall citie of ARABIA but hearing that Almericus with a great power was comming to the reliefe thereof hee raised his siege and retired As he did also the next yeare after hauing in vaine attempted the strong castle of MONT-ROYALL on the further side of IORDAN In like manner also the third yeare he came againe into the Holy land and spoiled the countrey beyond IORDAN but hearing of the kings comming against him he foorthwith returned againe into AEGYPT All these light expeditions this politike prince made not so much for hope of victorie or to prooue his enemies strength as to traine his souldiers especially the effeminat Aegyptians and to make them sitter to serue him in his greater designes Shortly after died Noradin Sultan of DAMASCO and in his time a most notable champion of the Turks after he had raigned nine and twentie yeares Vpon whose death Almericus foorthwith besieged the citie of PANEADE in hope to haue againe recouered the same but he was by the widow of the late dead Sultan for a great summe of money and the deliuerie of certaine noble prisoners intreated to raise his siege and depart So hauing sent away his armie and trauelling with his ordinarie retinue to TIBERIAS where hee had the summer before beene sicke of the flix feeling himselfe not well he returned on horsebacke by NAZARETH and NEAPOLIS to HIERUSALEM where his old disease increasing vpon him he was also taken with a feuer wherewith after he had beene some few daies grieuously tormented hee requested his physitians with some gentle potion to loose his belly which was now somewhat staied which they refusing to do he commaunded the potion to be giuen him vpon his owne perill hap thereon what hap should which being giuen him and his belly againe loosed he seemed therewith to haue been at the first well eased but his woonted feauer with great vehemencie returning before his weake spent bodie could be with conuenient meats refreshed he suddenly died the tenth of Iuly in the yeare 1173 when he had raigned about ten yeares His dead bodie was with the great lamentation of all his subjects solemnly buried by his brothers Hee was a most wise prince and withall right valiant amongst many most fit for the gouernment and defence of that troublesome kingdome so hardly beset with the infidels if it had pleased God to haue giuen him longer life Foure daies after the death of Almericus was Baldwin his sonne then a youth about thirteene yeares old by the generall consent of the nobilitie chosen king and by Almericus the Patriarch in the temple with great solemnitie crowned in the yeare 1173 vnto whom as not yet by reason of his tender age fit himselfe to mannage the waightie affaires of the kingdome Raymund countie of TRIPOLIS was by the whole consent of the nobilitie appointed tutor to supply what was wanting in the yoong king Noradin Sultan of DAMASCO dead as is aforesaid left behind him Melechsala his sonne yet but a youth to succeed him in his kingdome Whose gouernment the nobilitie disdaining sent secretly for Saladin Sultan of Aegypt vnto whom at his comming they betrayed the citie of DAMASCO the regall seat of the Turkes in SYRIA Whereof Saladin possessed and entring into CELESIRIA without resistance tooke HELIOPOLIS EMISSA with the great citie of CESAREA and in fine all the whole kingdome of DAMASCO the citie of ARâ—THUSA onely excepted But thus to suffer Melechsala the young prince to be wronged and the kingdome of DAMASCO to be joyned vnto the kingdome of Aegypt was of the wiser sort thought not to stand with the safetie of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM lying in the middle betwixt them both Wherefore the countie of TRIPOLIS gouernour of that kingdome made out certaine forces to haue hindred his proceeding At which time also Cotobed prince of PARTHIA and Melechsalas vncle sent certaine troupes of Parthian horsemen to haue aided his distressed nephew who were by Saladin ouerthrowne and almost all slaine neere vnto ALEPPO where Melechsala lay As for the countie of TRIPOLIS and the other Christian princes with whom Saladin in the newnesse of his kingdome had no desire to fall out he appeased them with faire intreatie and rewards vnto the countie hee sent freely the hostages which yet lay for his ransome at EMISSA vnto the other princes he sent rich presents and therewith so contented them all that they returned without any thing doing against him After which time three or foure yeareâ— passed in great quietnesse to the great strengthening of him in those his new gotten kingdomes At length vpon the comming ouer of Philip earle of FLANDERS the Christian princes in SYRIA encouraged consulted of an expedition to be made into AEGIPT whereof Saladin hauing intelligence drew downe into that countrey the greatest part of his strength But Philip disliking of that expedition and the rather for that he saw no great cheerefulnesse in the countie of TRIPOLIS and the rest thereunto they
with one consent changed their purpose for AEGIPT and turning their forces quite contrarie way miserably and without resistance wasted the countrey about EMISSA and CESARIA Whilest the Christians were thus busied in CALOSIRIA Saladin on the other side tooke occasion out of AEGIPT to inuade the kingdome of HIERUSALEM of whose comming king Baldwin hauing intelligence with such small forces as he had left hasted himselfe to ASCALON In the meane time Saladin with a great armie was entred into the holy land where burning the countrey before him and raging in the blood of the poore Christians hee came and encamped not farre from ASCALON and strucke such a feare vpon the whole countrey that they which dwelt in HIERUSALEM were about to haue forsaken the citie As for the king himselfe he lay close within the citie of ASCALON not daring to aduenture vpon so strong an enemie Wherwith Saladin encouraged and out of feare of his enemies dispersed his armie some one way some another to forrage the countrey Which the king perceiuing secretly with all his power issued out of the citie if happily so he might ouertake the Sultan vnawares Neither was he deceiued in his expectation for comming suddainly vpon him and secretly charging him he had with him for a good space an hard and doubtfull battell vntill that the victorie by the power of God at length enclining to the Christians Saladin with his Turkes fled ouerthrown with a great slaughter most part of his great armie being either there slaine or lost afterward with hunger and cold This victorie fell vnto the Christians the 25 day of Nouember in the yeare 1177 not without the mightie hand of God the Turke hauing in his armie about six and twentie thousand horsemen and the king not past foure hundred horse with some few footmen After which victorie Baldwin in great triumph returned to HIERUSALEM and there shortly after with great care and diligence repaired the decayed wals of the citie Saladin in reuenge of this ouerthrow made diuerse incursions into the frontiers of the Christians and did great harme especially in the countrey about SIDON For the repressing whereof the king put himselfe in armes and going against him ouerthrew part of his armie as they were carrying away a great bootie Of which ouerthrow Saladin vnderstanding came in such hast with the rest of his armie as if it had been a suddaine tempest vpon the Christians then in great securitie deuiding the spoile of whom they slew a great number and put the rest to flight In which so suddaine a confusion Otto grand master of the Templars and Hugh the eale of TRIPOLIS his sonne in law were both taken prisoners The earle himselfe with a few fled to TYRE the king also at the same time was glad to shift for himselfe and by flight to saue himselfe as he might After which victorie Saladin besieged a strong castle which the king but the yeare before had built vpon the banke of the riuer of IORDAN and giuen it to the Templars with the countrey round about which castle Saladin tooke by force and put to sword all that were therein except some few whom he carried away prisoners By this victorie Saladin became dreadfull vnto the Christians in SYRIA which caused them especially such as had any charge with more vigilancie to looke about them Yet shortly after a peace was for a time concluded betwixt the Sultan and the king whereby their troubled estates breathed themselues almost the space of two yeares But this so welcome a calme was by domesticall troubles againe by the kings friends suddenly troubled For the countie of TRIPOLIS to whom the gouernment of the kingdome was committed comming towards HIERUSALEM being by the suggestion of his enemies brought into suspition with the king as if he had affected the kingdome was to his great disgrace by the way commanded to stay The cheefe authors of which discontentment were the kings mother a woman of a turbulent nature and her brother the kings steward who in the absence of the earle had wrought the kings sicke mind according to their owne appetites But the rest of the nobilitie wisely foreseeing vnto what great danger that discord might tend in despight of them with much labour caused him to be sent for againe and so reconciled vnto the king By which meanes that dangerous fire of dissention was for that time appeased which afterwards brake out againe to the vtter ruine of that kingdome Saladin now wearie of the league he had before made with king Baldwin as no longer standing with his hautie designes renounced the same and raising a great power in AEGIPT set forward toward DAMASCO Of whose comming king Baldwin hauing knowledge with the whole power of his kingdome went to haue met him not farre from the dead Sea and there encamped at an old towne called PETRA But Saladin turning out of the way into the kings territorie came and encamped before MOUNT-ROIALL a castle which Baldwin had giuen vnto the Templars about three daies march from the place where the king lay There Saladin with the spoile of the countrey refreshing his armie now wearie of long trauell set forward againe and so without resistance arriued with his armie at DAMASO At the same time the Turks captaines about DAMASCO BOSTRUM and EMISSA perceiuing the frontiers of the Christians thereabout to be kept but with small strength passed ouer IORDAN and spoiling a great part of GALILEY besieged the castle of BURY at the foot of mount TABOR not farre from the citie of NAIM which castle they in few dayes tooke and hauing there made a great slaughter carried away with them about fiue hundred prisoners Saladin being come to DAMASCO called together all the garrisons of that kingdome and joyning them vnto the forces he brought out of AEGYPT entred into the Holy land at which time the countie of TRIPOLIS gouernour of the kingdome lay sicke of a burning feauer Neuerthelesse the king encouraged by the knights of the order went out with his armie against him and encountring with him neere vnto a village called FROBOLET ouerthrew him in a great battell wherein and afterward in the flight most part of the Sultans armie perished Saladin himselfe being glad by speedie flight to escape the danger and so by long marches to get him againe to DAMASCO In reuenge of this ouerthrow Saladin hauing repaired his armie and sent for his fleet out of AEGIPT came and besieged BERYTVS both by sea and land at which time also his brother whom he had left gouernour in AEGIPT besieged DARVM a strong towne in the vttermost bounds of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM towards AEGIPT Both whose forces Baldwin being not able at once to represse by the counsell of his nobilitie thought it best first to relieue BERYTVS as the place of greater importance And for that purpose set forward with his armie by land hauing also rigged vp three and thirtie gallies at TYRE for
them with all the princes there present to compassion From thence they were by the Pope directed vnto Philip the French king with whom hauing dispatched their affaires they from him passed ouer into ENGLAND afterward into GERMANIE and had at length broght their negotiation to so good passe that in euerie place great preparation was made for a great expedition to be vndertaken against the Turks for the reliefe of the Christians in the East with which good newes the embassadours returning to HIERUSALEM filled the sicke king with the hope of great matters But greater quarrels shortly after arising betwixt the Pope and the emperour and sharpe war likewise betwixt the French king and the king of ENGLAND and the other Christian princes also being at no better quiet the notable expedition that had with the expectation thereof so filled the world was againe laid aside and quite dashed Whereof king Baldwin vnderstanding both by messengers and letters from his friends oppressed with griefe and heauinesse more than with the force of his disease a man for his prowesse and painefulnesse not inferiour to any his predecessours died without issue the 16 day of May in the yeare 1185 being but fiue and twentie yeares old whereof he had raigned twelue His bodie was afterward with the generall mourning of his subjects solemnly buried in the temple neere vnto the mount CALVARIE together with his predecessours the kings of HIERUSALEM King Baldwin thus buried Baldwin the fift of that name yet but a boy was crowned king But then began the sparks which had of long lien raked vp hidden in the ashes to break out into a great fire For Raymund countie of TRIPOLIS contended the whole gouernment of the kingdome tuition of the king to be due vnto him by the appointment of the late king consent of the nobilitie and did so much that he had almost obtained it to haue beene confirmed vnto him in open parlament But Sybilla a woman of a most haughty spirit sister vnto the late king mother vnto the yoong king yet liuing prickt forward her husband Guy in no case to giue place vnto his competitour Raymund and so animated him that by the helpe of his owne fauourits and the countenance of Boniface marquesse of MOVNT-FERRAT who euen then was come with a great power into SIRIA he extorted from the nobilitie whatsoeuer hee desired But seuen moneths were scarce well passed but that this yoong king Baldwin was dead and buried poysoned as was reported by his mother for the desire shee had of the kingdome herselfe whose death she with all secrecie concealed vntill she had obtained of the Patriarch and other princes of the kingdome That Guy her husband might be proclaimed king So by her meanes it was so wrought that vpon one and the selfe same day the yoong king Baldwin was buried by his vncle and Guy the countie crowned This yoong king Baldwin by reason of his tender yeares and short raigne is of some not reckoned amongst the kings of HIERUSALEM howbeit seeing he was by his vncle and the princes of that time thought woorthy of the kingdome let him also haue his place amongst the rest as the eight king of HIERUSALEM When Guy was thus possessed of the kingdome the countie of TRIPOLIS seeing himselfe out of all hope of the gouernment and highly therewith discontented did what he might by all meanes to crosse the doings of the king whose sicke and aspiring mind Saladin prickt dayly more and more forward promising him his helping hand whensoeuer hee should need which courtesie the countie desirously imbraced For now the fatall period of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM drew fast on and all things tended to destruction discord raigning in euerie place which Saladin well perceiuing after that he had compacted with the countie by messengers sent of purpose inuited the Turks Sarasins Aegyptians as men agreeing in one and the same religion generally to take vp armes in so fit an oportunitie of the discord of the Christians assuring them of great prey and spoile besides the honour of the conquest The citie of PTOLEMAIS was the place by him appointed where all this power should meet whether such a multitude of the barbarous Mahometanes partly for the hatred of the Christian religion partly for the hope of the rich spoile which Saladin had promised them came flocking out of all places that in short time there was met together about fiftie thousand horsemen besides an infinit number of foot And vnto such as could not safely passe by the borders of HIERUSALEM to them the false countie gaue safe conduct by the countries of TIBERIAS NAZARETH and GALILEY All the power of the infidels thus assembled Saladin laid siege vnto the citie of PTOLEMAIS which the Templars and the knights Hospitalers had notably fortefied and strongly manned as before vnto them giuen by the kings of HIERUSALEM to defend against the infidels and therein now were both the masters of both those honourable orders with the whole flower of the knights of their profession Vnto this citie Saladin gaue a most terrible assault vpon May day in the morning in the yeare 1187 which was by the Christians notably defended and the enemie with great slaughter still beaten downe In the heat of this assault the two great masters sallying out with certaine troupes of their most readie horsemen assailed the enemies campe and bearing down all before them raised there a great tumult and by and by turning vpon the backs of them that were assaulting the citie made there an exceeding great slaughter Insomuch that Saladin dismaied first with the confusion in his campe and now with the suddain danger behind him was glad to giue ouer the assault and to turne his whole forces vpon them where was fought a most bloodie and terrible battell Amongst others that there fought the countie of TRIPOLIS now an enemie vnto God and his country disguised in the habit of a Turke notably helped the infidels and meeting with the great master of the knights Hospitalers vnhorsed him who surcharged with the waight of his armour and oppressed with the multitude of his enemies there died Neuerthelesse such was the valour of these woorthie men and new succour still comming out of the citie that Saladin hauing in that battell and at the assault lost fifteene thousand of his Turks was glad with the rest to betake himselfe to flight Neither was this so notable a victorie gained by the Christians without blood most part of the worthie knights Hospitalers being together with their grand master there slaine Saladin by this ouerthrow perceiuing that by open force he should not be able to doe much against the Christians thought it good vnto his forces to joyne also pollicie Wherein the false countie of TRIPOLIS was the man he thought best to make choice of as his fittest instrument to worke by Him hee compacted withall to seeke for grace at the king of HIERUSALEM his
hands as of his dread soueraigne and after so long discord to sue to be reconciled vnto him as now wearie of the Turkes amitie with whom he should make shew to be vtterly fallen out At which time also to giue the matter the better grace Saladin of purpose with a great armie came and besieged TIBERIAS a citie of the counties jurisdiction for the reliefe whereof the traiterous countie craued aid of the king and the other princes of the sacred warre Who with an armie though not great yet very well appointed came according to his desire encamped neere vnto the fountaine of SOPHOR where they had not long stayed but that they met with the huge armie of the Turkes being in number one hundred and twentie thousand horse and one hundred and sixtie thousand foot with whome they joyned a most sharpe and terrible battell which by reason of the extremitie of the heat of the weather it then beeing the twelfth of Iuly and the approch of the night was againe giuen ouer both armies as if it had been by consent retiring The next day the battell was againe begun wherein the Turkes by the treason and shamefull flight of the false countie of TRIPOLIS gained the victorie In this battell Guy the king himselfe with Gerard master of the Templars Boniface marquesse of MONT-FERRAT and diuers others men of great marke were taken prisoners And to say the truth in this battell was broken the whole strength of the Christians in the East The Christian commonweale by the treason of the false countie thus betrayed vnto the Infidels Saladin without any great resistance had the cities of PTOLEMAIS BIâ—LIS and BERITHVS deliuered vnto him in all which places he vsed his victorie with great moderation not enforsing any Christian more than the Latines to depart thence but suffering them there still to remaine as before yeelding vnto him their obedience with such tribute as he had imposed vpon them With like good fortune he within the space of one moneth tooke all the port townes betwixt SIDON and ASCALON alongst the sea coast excepting only the auncient citie of TYRE vnto the citie of ASCALON also he laid siege by the space of nine daies but loath to stay the course of his victorie by the valour of the defendants resolued there to spend their liues hee departed thence and marched directly vnto HIERUSALEM the chiefe citie of that kingdome And approching the same gaue summons thereunto persuading the citizens yet whiles they had time to yeeld themselues together with the citie vnto his mercie Which they refusing to doe he inclosed the same with his armie and by the space of foureteene dayes laid hard siege vnto it leauing nothing vndone or vnattempted that might helpe for the gaining thereof At which time the citizens considering the danger they were in and that the strength of the kingdome with the flower of their chiualrie were in the late battell lost and that they were not now to expect any forraine aid agreed vpon certaine conditions to yeeld vp the citie which were That such Christians as would might remaine still with their libertie and goods and that such as would not might in safetie depart with so much of their goods as they could carie vpon their backs These conditions being by Saladin granted the holy citie was vnto him deliuered the second of October in the yeare 1187 after it had been by the Christians holden froÌ„ the time that it was by Godfrey of BUILLON other Christians woon about 89 yeares Saladin entring into the citie prophaned first the temple of the Lord conuerting it vnto the vse of his Mahometane superstition the other churches he vsed as stables for his horses onely the temple of the sepulchre was by the Christians for a great summe of money redeemed and so kept vndefiled The Latine Christians he thrust out of the citie yet with leaue to carrie with them such things as they were able themselues to beare who trauailing with heauie burdens but much more heauie hearts some to TRIPOLIS some to TIRE some to ANTIOCH for onely these three cities were now left vnto the Christians in SYRIA were by the false countie of TRIPOLIS by the way lightened of their burthens to the increasing of the heauinesse of their hearts most of them being by him and his followers spoiled of that little they had by the mercie of their enemies saued in the ruine of their state Vnto the other Christians that were naturall Syrians Greekes Armenians Georgians and such like Saladin appointed certaine places of the citie for them to dwell in where some of their posteritie were long time after to be found All the monumenss of the Christians were by the barbarous Mahometanes and Turkes defaced onely the sepulchre of our blessed Sauiour Christ with the monument of Godfrey of BUILLON and his brother Baldwin for the reuerence of the men were by them spared In these so great troubles aboue twentie thousand of the Christians perished amongst the rest the countie of TRIPOLIS was shortly after found dead in his bed and as some say circumcised a manifest token of his reuolt not from the king onely but from the Christian faith also HIERUSALEM thus woon Saladin returned againe to the siege of ASCALON which after he had by the space of tenne dayes most straitly besieged was vnto him by composition deliuered wherein amongst other things agreed vpon for the safe departure of the citizens was comprised also that he should freely set at libertie Guy the king and Gerard master of the Templars both before taken prisoners as is before declared which he afterward performed Thus the victorious Turke still vrging his good fortune departing thence attempted to haue taken TRIPOLIS but hauing made some proofe of his owne forces and the valour of the defendants he was glad to giue ouer the siege and to depart as he came Marching thence with his armie because he would leaue no place vnattempted he laid siege vnto the citie of TIRE where Conrade marquesse of MONT FERRAT was a little before arriued with Isaack Angelus the Greeke emperours fleet and a supplie of certaine companies of good souldiors Vnto which place were come great numbers of the poor distressed Christians fled from HIERUSALEM and other places so that the citie was full of men This citie Saladin most furiously assaulted but was by the Christians notably repulsed not without the great losâ—e of his best souldiors At which time also the admirall of SICILIA discomfited his fleet at sea and landing his forces came vnlooked for vpon the backe of him so that hauing his hands full before by them of the towne and charged behind by these newcome enemies he was glad to retire in such hast as that he left his tents with all that therein was vnto the spoile of the Christians Within a few daies after Saladin hauing againe repaired his armie inuaded the countrey about ANTIOCH with fire and sword destroying whatsoeuer was
subject to his furie euen to the gates of the citie but knowing that so strong a citie was not without great charge and long siege to be woon he thought it good to make proofe if it might by pollicie or corruption bee gained Wherein he so cunningly dealt with the Patriarch that he had by his meanes the castle otherwise almost impregnable for gold betrayed vnto him By meanes whereof hee in short time became lord and master of that famous citie about ninetie yeares before hardly gained by the whole power of the Christians after eleuen moneths siege and with it fiue and twentie cities moe that depended of the fortune thereof with all the prouinces belonging thereunto alwayes deemed to haue been the third part of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM The losse of this so great a citie together with the ruine of the whole kingdome had in short space filled euery corner of Christendome with the heauie report thereof Wherwith the Christian princes of the West namely Frederick the Germane emperour with Frederick his sonne duke of SUEVIA Philip the French king Henry the second king of ENGLAND Otto duke of BVRGVNDIE Leopold duke of AUSTRIA with many other great princes and prelats of GERMANIE ITALIE and other places not a little mooued as also with the pittifull complaints of the embassadours at the same time sent from the distressed Christians and the effectuall persuasions of Clement the third then Pope promised and all or most part indeed made great preparations which they afterwards though not all at once as letted by other occasions but at diuers times imployed for the most part with the danger of their owne persons against the Turks for the reliefe of the poore oppressed Christians and recouerie of the holy land but with what successe shall hereafter God willing be declared Of which so great preparations made against him Saladin not ignorant set at libertie Guy the king of HIERUSALEM whom contrarie to his promise made at ASCALON hee had now detained a yeare in prison yet before his enlargement exacting of him an oath Neuer by force of armes afterwards to seeke to recouer his kingdome or to reuenge the wrongs hee had sustained hoping thereby to stay the comming of the other princes in his quarell Which oath for all that the Pope dispensed withall as extorted by constraint from him at such time as Saladin had longer detained him in prison than of right he should Guy now at libertie and yet in mind a king came to TYRE but could not be there receiued the citizens hauing before sworn their obedience vnto Conrade marquesse of MONT-FERRAT by whom they had been notably defended against the furie of Saladin Wherefore departing thence with such power as he had and the dispersed Christians daily repairing vnto him out of all parts of SIRIA he came and besieged PTOLEMAIS Where he had not long lien but that first came vnto him the Venetian fleet with them also of PISA and after them the Flemmings with a fleet of fiftie saile who all joyned their forces together for the winning of the citie But whilest the Christians thus lay at the siege of PTOLEMAIS came Saladin with a great armie to the reliefe of the besieged where betwixt him and the Christians was fought a great battaile wherein the Christians at the first had the better but afterward fainting and readie to flie had there vndoubtedly receiued a notable ouerthrow had not Geffrey Lysignan the kings brother left for the guarding of the campe in good time come in with new supplies and not only staied their flight but also repressed the farther pursute of the fierce enemie now almost in possession of the desired victorie Neuerthelesse there were two thousand Christians there slaine and amongst them Gerard master of the Templars Saladin by that which was now done perceiuing how hard a matter it would be for him by land to relieue his citie sent for the fleet which he had strongly rigged vp at ALEXANDRIA and so by force put new supplies both of men and victuals into the besieged citie Wherewith the Turks encouraged made often sallies vpon the Christians and in despight of the Christian religion whipped the image of Christ crucified which they had for that purpose in the sight of the Christians set vp vpon the top of the wall With the same fleet also he so scoured the seas that no victuals or new supplies of men could that way without great danger be brought vnto the campe whereby such scarcitie and want of all things began shortly after to arise among the Christians that some of them not able longer to indure the famine fled vnto the Turks campe then lying not farre off crying out for bread Of which distresse in the campe of the Christians Saladin knowing right well both by such fugitiues as daily came ouer vnto him and by his owne espials yet made shew as if hee vnderstood nothing thereof but suddainly rising with his armie as doubtfull of his owne strength departed leauing his campe full of all manner of victuals Whereof the Christians vnderstanding and supposing him to haue for feare been gone indeed in great numbers hasted vnto the forsaken campe as vnto a most desired prey where whilest they were gorging themselues Saladin suddainly returning and getting betwixt them and home made of them a great slaughter Neuerthelesse the Christians hauing now lien before the citie six months continued the siege all the Winter ouercomming with patience the hardest difficulties in hope of aid from the other Christian princes whose comming they expected with the first of the next Spring during which time many an hot skirmish passed betwixt them and the Turkes both by sea and land Whilest the Christians thus lay at the siege of PTOLEMAIS Frederick the emperour with diuers of the great Germane princes and others before resolued vpon an expedition for the recouerie of the Holy land and the reliefe of the distressed Christians in SYRIA hauing now raised a great armie furnished with all things necessarie for so long a journey set forward from RATISBONE and so comming to VIENNA and passing through HVNGARIA BVLGARIA and THRACIA arriued at length at CONSTANTINOPLE where he was by Isaack Angelus the emperour that then raigned honourably entertained but indeed more for feare and fashion sake than for any loue or good will for that he after the suspicious manner of the Greekes hauing in distrust so great a power of the Latine emperors wished rather for his absence than his presence And therefore ceased not in what he might to hasten his passage ouer into ASIA pretending for the colour thereof The necessitie the Christians had of his present aid So the emperour with his armie passing ouer the strait and without resistance marching through the greatest part of the lesser ASIA entred into LYCAONIA where meeting with a great power of the Turks that were come from the Sultan of ICONIVM to stay his farther passage hee ouerthrew them in a great battell
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
wals the Turks with no lesse courage still beating them down againe But in the heat of this so dreadfull and desperat an assault Saladin still houering aloofe came now vpon the sudden assailed the camp of the Christians filling the same with feare and tumult whose charge they that were left for the defence of the same at the first notably receiued but finding themselues too weake began to giue ground by which means the Turks tooke certaine tents with some ensignes and fired some other of the pauilions of the Christians hauing slaine somewhat mo than an hundred of the defendants The Christians in the meane time little preuailing in the assault troubled with the danger of their campe retired to the reliefe thereof But the Turke perceiuing himselfe too weake for the whole power of the Christians retired also yet not with such hast but that he had there almost lost himselfe This notable assault was giuen the fourteenth of October after which many light skirmishes passed betwixt the Christians and the Turks but more for bootie than for any other great purpose In the meane time diuers great princes of the West that had vowed themselues vnto this sacred warre came thither whose number rather increased the want of victuals than furthered the seruice At which time also the discord betwixt Guy the king whose wife and children were now dead and Conrade marquesse of MONT-FERRAT who had married Isabell the late queenes sister by whom he pretended a claime vnto the title of the imaginarie kingdome did much harme vnto the proceedings of the Christians So pleasing a thing these haughtie stiles be vnto the loftie minds of the ambitious Shortly after the Christians yet lying at the siege the contagion and famine still encreasing it fortuned that duke Frederick fell sicke of the plague whereof he died and with the great mourning of the whole armie was afterward solemnly buried fast by his father in the cathedrall church at TYRE After whose death the Christians attempted no great matter against the citie although they were oftentimes by the Turkes prouoked but lay still strongly entrenched expecting some greater aid from the princes of the West Now all the hope of the Christian affaires in SIRIA and in the land of PALESTINE rested vpon the comming of the two mightie princes Philip the second of that name king of FRANCE and Richard the first king of ENGLAND who hauing agreed betwixt themselues with their combined forces to relieue the distressed Christians of the East and againe if it were possible to repaire the broken state of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM were now met together at MARSEILLES in PROVENCE From whence the French king first departing with his fleet for CICILIA and with a prosperous gale for certaine daies holding on his course now come nigh vnto the island was by force of a furious tempest suddenly arising so tossed and tumbled in the deepe that many of his ships there perished eaten vp of the sea others by force of weather driuen vpon the sands and rocks were there broken all to pieces and the rest some with their masts broken some with their tacklings and sailes rent and all in generall sore weatherbeaten with much adoe arriued at MESSANA the desired port at which place king Richard afterwards but with better fortune arriued with his fleet also Both the kings now met together resolued there to winter the French king enforced by necessitie so to doe for the repairing of the late losses he had receiued as well in his people and prouision as in his shipping all which was to be relieued by new supplies out of FRANCE and the king of ENGLAND staying to take order for the dowrie of his sister Ioan widdow of William the late king of CICILIA with Tancred the base sonne of Roger that had now aspired vnto the kingdome of that island About which matter great stirs arise betwixt king Richard the queenes brother and Tancred the new king in so much that it was like to haue broken out into open warre had it not to the good contentment of king Richard beene otherwise taken vp and so the controuersie ended But whilst these two great kings thus wintred in this fruitfull island and oftentimes as good friends met together sometime for their disport and sometime to confer of their so waightie affaires the way as was thought to haue appeased all former displeasure and to haue encreased loue it fell out cleane contrarie jealousie and distrust not onely reuiuing the old but also still raising new quarrels betwixt them to the great hinderance of the common good by them intended which may serue for a warning to all great princes willing to continue in amitie to hold a good opinion one of another Neuer to see one the other or comming so to an interuiew not to conuerse or stay long together which as it is not often done without the danger of their persons so can it not possibly be long continued but that it will engender in themselues as well as in their followers jealousie enuie hatred and mistrust as we haue before said and hereafter in the course of this historie may appeare There was an old quarrell betwixt these two great kings Richard and Philip about Adela the French kings sister whom Richard hauing before his father yet liuing affianced had now rejected as her whom his aged father Henrie the second had too familiarly vsed and in steed of her to the great disgrace of the French espoused the ladie Berengaria daughter to the king of NAVAR which indignitie with diuers others then arising betwixt the French and the English as then with great heart burning smouldred vp in respect of the common cause then in hand afterwards brake out againe to the shamefull ouerthrow of this most honourable expedition and lamentable disturbance of both realmes Winter past and the Spring now come the French king not altogether the best pleased first loosed from MESSANA and with his fleet in safetie arriued at PTOLEMAIS where he was by the Christians now the third yeere lying at the siege so joyfully receiued as if he had beene to them sent with succours from heauen After whom shortly after followed also king Richard of whose fleet by force of weather sore beaten dispersed two ships by the rage of the tempest driuen a ground vpon the coast of CYPRUS were by the island people spoiled and the men that in them had hardly escaped the danger of the sea with most barbarous inhumanitie some slaine and some taken prisoners the rest of the fleet arriuing there also were with like inciuilitie forbidden to land the Cipriots readie at hand in all places to keepe them off With which so great an indignitie the king justly mooued and by force landing his people with incredible celeritie and successe ouerran the whole island neuer ceasing vntill he had made a full conquest thereof and taken Isaack Comnenus commonly called the king of that island and of some
to send him about midnight certaine companies of souldiers into the citie assuring him to receiue them in by a gate neere vnto the pallace which should be opened vnto them by certaine of his trustie seruants there left for that purpose Of this plot Alexius Ducas of his bittle browes surnamed Murzufle whom of a base fellow the emperour Isaack had promoted vnto the greatest honours of the court was not ignorant who being a man of an aspiring mind and in these troublesome times hauing long thirsted after the empire tooke now this occasion to worke vpon The night following he by his agents men instructed for the purpose raised a tumult in the citie not inferiour vnto that which had happened the day before and at the same instant as if he had had nothing to do in the matter came suddenly vnto the yoong emperour in the dead time of the night which he might at all times do by reason of the great confidence the emperour had in him and with a sad countenance told him That the people were vp againe in an vprore and especially they of his guard and that they were comming towards him to do him some violence for the loue he bare vnto the Latines With which vnexpected newes the yoong emperour terrified demaunded of him as of his most faithfull counsellor what were best in that case for him to doe Who presently embracing him in his night gowne lead him out by a secret dore into a tent hee had of his owne in the court as if hee would there haue kept him safe but far was that from his traiterous thoughts who departing from him as if he had gone to appease the tumult had before taken order That he should presently after his departure be cast in bonds and so be clapt vp into a close stinking prison Which done the false traitor openly shewing himselfe made an oration vnto the people wherein he shewed himselfe to haue great compassion of the Greeke empire of the Greeks his countrymen themselues especially in that they were gouerned by a youth vnfit for the gouernment who suffered himselfe to be misse-led according to the pleasure of the Latines And that it was high time for the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE the seat of the Greeke empire to looke about it and to haue an eie vnto it selfe sith it was betraied sold by them which ought to preserue and keepe the same that they had now need of a man that loued his countrey and countreymen before that which yet remained of the Graecian name were vtterly extinguished by the Latines This his speech fitted of purpose vnto the humour of the seditious was receiued with the great outcrie and applause of the windie headed people Some cried out that hee and none but he was to be made chiefe of the common weale that was by them to be established othersome cried as loud to haue him made generall of the armies and forces of the state but the greatest crie was to haue him chosen and created emperour whereunto the rest giuing place hee was by the generall consent of the tumultuous people without longer stay chosen and proclaimed emperour Alexius the traitour by no lawfull election or rightfull succession but onely by the furie of the tumultuous people thus created emperour was of nothing more carefull than how to breake the forces of the Latines of whom onely he now stood in dread And therefore to begin withall he first attempted by certaine gallies filled with pitch flax brimstone and such like matter apt to take fire to haue burnt the Venetian fleet which gallies so set on fire carried with a faire gale of wind amongst the fleet had beene like enough to haue done great harme had it not by the warinesse of the Venetians bene preuented who being good sea men not vnacquainted with such deuises easily and without danger auoided the same by keeping themselues aloofe one from another in the sea This finenesse sorting to no purpose he to colour the matter sent certaine messengers to the generall and other commaunders of the armie to giue them to vnderstand that that which was done for the firing of the fleet had beene done without his priuitie by the malice of the tumultuous people and that for his part he would be glad of their fauour and friendship assuring them likewise of his and promising them to aid them both with men and money and whatsoeuer else they should haue need of in their wars against the infidels Whereunto an answer was giuen by Dandulus the Venetian generall That he would beleeue it when Alexis the sonne of the emperour Isaack whom the Latines had placed in the empire should assure them thereof and intreat for the people vpon whom the fault of that outrage was laid which answere the more mooued the traiterous tyrant to rid himselfe cleane of the feare of the yoong prince by taking him out of the way to the intent to hinder the people of the hope and great desire they had to grow to some peace with the Latines by taking him out of prison and receiuing him againe for their emperour For the people by nature mutable and not desirous of the good of themselues but according to the occurrents present without any great regard of that they haue alreadie done or ought to haue done began now to repent themselues of that they had done against the yoong emperor Alexis in the fauour of the tyrant and commonly said That they must find some meanes whatsoeuer it were to remedie their fault together with their troubles Wherfore Murzufle fearing this sudden mutation of the people with his owne hands most villanously strangled the yoong prince Alexis in prison hauing as yet not raigned much aboue six months and immediately after caused it to be bruited abroad That the said yoong prince dispairing of his estate had as a man desperat hanged himselfe The tyrant in vaine hauing thus attempted the burning of the fleet and still fearing the reuenging sword of the Latines resolued now by plaine force to meet them in the field and there to dare them battell So hauing made readie and armed the whole strength of the imperiall citie he with cheerfull speech encouraged his souldiers requesting them valiantly to maintaine and defend their countrey of Greece the monuments of their fathers the glorie of their ancestors their honour present and the future hope of their posteritie that hauing before their eies the wals of their citie within which they were borne nourished and brought vp in hope of great matters they would haue pitie and compassion of their temples their wiues their children and in no case to suffer them to fall againe into so miserable and wretched a seruitude but rather to die a thousand deaths And the more to grace this his enterprise taken in hand for the defence of his countrey as he would haue the world to beleeue it with the colour of a superstitious deâ—otion also hee caused the
hands of the Latines the twelfth of Aprill in the yeare 1204 or after the account of others 1200. CONSTANTINOPLE thus taken and the tyrants put to flight the princes and great commanders of the armie held a counsell to consider what were best to be done concerning the citie and the new gained empire for after so great a victorie they thought it not good to rase so auncient and important a citie seated as it were a watch tower vpon the theatre of the world ouerlooking both ASIA and EUROPE from the one to the other as an eye of the vniuersall and so commodiously planted as was no other citie of the world for the keeping vnder of the enemies of the Christian Religion but that it were much better to place there a Latine gouernour to establish there the Latine lawes and customes and to vnite the Greeke church as a member vnto the church of ROME In which consultation some were of opinion not to haue any moe emperours in Christendome but one and therefore to make choice of Philip the Germane emperour author of this warre whose wife Irene was the onely daughter and heire of the late emperour Isaack Angelus vnto whom by all right the inheritance of her fathers empire belonged But the greater part considering that the troubled affaires of GREECE in so great a change and newnesse of the empire had need of the personall presence of a prince thought it better to make choice of one among themselues who there still resiant in that place might at all times giue aid vnto the Latines in their sacred warres taken in hand against the infidels which opinion as the better was approoued of them all The cheefe men in this election of the new emperour were Baldwin countie of FLAUNDERS and HAINAULT Henry his brother Lewis countie of BLOYS Symon de Montfort Iohn de Dammartin Gualter de Brienne Hugh countie of S. Paul Iohn countie of BRENNE Boniface marques of MONT-FERRAT Stephen countie of PERCH and fiue gentlemen of VENICE vnto whom also were joyned two Bishops of SYRIA the one of BETHLEM the other of PTOLEMAIS who had oftentimes come to the campe of the Latines to stirre them vp for the taking in hand of the sacred warre in SYRIA with two bishops of FRANCE also namely of SOISSON and TROY in CHAMPAGNE the abbot of LEMELY These great lords and prelats assembled into the church of the holy Apostles after they had there with great deuotion craued of God to enspire them with his spirit for the choice of a good and just prince fit for so great a charge with one consent made choice of Baldwin countie of FLAUNDERS and HAINAULT for emperour of GREECE a braue and valiant prince about two and thirtie yeeres old who was afterward the sixteenth day of May in the yeare 1204 or after the computation of others in the yeere 1205 in the great temple of S. Sophia solemnely crowned by Thomas Maurâ—cenus a Venetian first Patriarch of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE From which time the Greeke church in CONSTANTINOPLE began to receiue the rites and ceremonies of the Latines and to acknowledge the supremacie of the church of ROME It was not long after that CONSTANTINOPLE was thus taken by the Latines but that they diuiding their forces without any resistance tooke in the most part of the great countries and prouinces on EUROPE side belonging to the Greeke empire in the time of Isaack Angelus the late emperour the fortune of the whole empire as it were following the fortune of the imperiall citie Which large countries so gained from the Greeks the Latines diuided amongst themselues as good prize taken from their enemies Vnto Baldwin the emperour and his successors in the empire was assigned the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE and the countrey of THRACIA with a limited soueraigntie ouer all the rest of the prouinces by the Latines alreadie or afterwards to be gained Vnto the Venetians in this diuision of the empire was allotted for their share all the rich islands of the AEGEUM and IONIAN with the famous island of CANDIE also which although it were before by the yoong emperour Alexis in the beginning of these warres giuen vnto the marques of MONT-FERRAT yet in this diuision of the empire it was taken from him not without his good liking and giuen to the Venetians as for them more fit In steed and lieu whereof the marques had the citie of THESSALONICA with all the kingdome of THESSALIE and a great part of PELOPONESUS assigned vnto him with the royall title of a king Of the aforesaid islands in number many and exceeding rich the Venetians in the name of the state fortified some few of the greatest with conuenient garrisons the rest they left to be possessed and defended by the better sort of the citizens at their priuat cost and charges who according to their abilitie tooke into their possession some one island some another and some two or three one as they were able to set out their gallies one two or mo for the keeping of the same ouer all which the seigniorie neuerthelesse had a generall care still keeping a fleet with one of their admirals at sea by whom they not onely repressed the Genua pirats then busie in those seas but also tooke in certain strong townes in the maine vpon the cost of PELOPONESUS namely MODON and CORONE all which they of long time after held as a part of their seigniorie Some other particular places yet parts also of the empire were giuen vnto particular men as the dukedome of ATHENS vnto one Geffrey of TROY in CHAMPAIGNE a Frenchman a valiant captaine whom they also made prince of ACHAIA Another dukedome was also giuen to the countie of BLOYS as were diuers other countries and townes also vnto other more priuat men who neuerthelesse were bound to hold the same of the emperour as of their lord and to pay him yearely a fourth part of the reuenue arising thereof towards the maintenance of his state Yea the Greekes themselues in this shipwracke of their state and empire although they disdained nothing more than the strange gouernment of the Latines yet could they not be persuaded to joyne together in so common a calamitie but after their woonted maner sought euerie man how to share out something for himselfe without regard of the common good one seized vpon one strong towne or citie and so likewise another which for all that they held not long driuen thence for the most part by a greater power either of the Latines or of their owne countreymen The man whom the discontented Greeks most looked after was Theodorus Lascaris the emperour Alexius Angelus his sonne in law who at the taking of the citie fled to ADRIANOPLE and afterward into BYTHINIA where he was of the people not of that countrey onely but of others also farther off joyfully receiued and honoured as their emperour So taking into his hands the countries of BYTHINIA PHRIGIA MISIA IONIA and
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
or goe into any street but hee must passe ouer the dead or others which being not yet altogether dead were miserably drawing toward their end Of seuentie thousand persons in the citie were not found aboue three thousand aliue and those for the most part yet young children for all the rest were dead taken away either with the sword famine or the plague the greatest part whereof lay yet stinking aboue the ground vnburied These three thousand that were left were so maigre and poore that pitie it was to behold them vnto whom their liues were graunted vpon condition that they should make cleane the citie and burie the dead which they were three moneths in doing Thus was DAMIATA taken by the Christians the fift day of Nouember in the yeare 1221 after it had ben more than a yeare by them besieged The spoile there taken was great for besides the rich marchandise brought thither from farre was found great store of gold siluer and precious stones The Christians thus enriched and the citie made clean staied there more than a yeare after as in a Colonie wherein they had been willing to dwell forgetfull of their owne countrey In the beginning of these warres the princes of the armie had with one consent agreed That whatsoeuer citie or territorie should by them be taken from the Turkes or Infidels should be giuen vnto the king of HIERUSALEM whom after the departure of the king of HUNGARIE they had made generall of the whole armie But now that the citie was taken Pelagius the legat pretending That by the vertue of his legation it belonged vnto him to dispose of all things taken in that sacred warre as a man not vnmindfull of his master adjudged the citie from thenceforth to belong vnto the See of ROME With which indignitie wrong the king inwardly discontented and yet for the authoritie of the Legate dissembling the matter withdrew himselfe and so retired to PTOLEMAIS The yeare following Pelagius wearie to see the armes of the Christians to corrupt with rust and nothing doing considering the desire and hope he had vtterly to haue ruinated the infidels together with their superstition commaunded That euery man should againe take vp armes for the prosecuting of this warre against the Sultan and the besieging of CAIRE But for all that when he had commanded what he would or could the soldiors little regarding his command with one voice cried out That they would not be commanded by any but by the king of HIERUSALEM onely So that the Legate enforced by the souldiors was glad to send vnto the king to request him to returne againe vnto DAMIATA and to take vpon him the charge for the managing of that warre taken in hand for the defence of the Christian religion who for all that excused himselfe from so doing one while by his owne particular affaires another while by his owne indisposition yet in fine pressed and ouercome with the praiers and requests of the other Latine princes he returned to DAMIATA at the selfe same time that the duke of BAVARIA arriued there with a goodly companie of braue men brought thither out of his owne countrey after he had been now from thence ten moneths absent The Legate desirous of the prosecution of this warre requested and vrged the king with the rest of the princes and great commanders without delay to take the field telling them That the enterprise of the Holy warre was growne old and cold by those long delaies and protracting of the time and that they which kept wars so far from home ought to make hast to force the enemie to take all occasions to lose no time but euer to be doing and to prooue all things for the annoying of the enemie and that that was the way whereby the woorthies of antient times both kings and emperours had gained vnto themselues empires glorie greatnesse and wealth That it was for them that were inuaded and assailed vpon whose liues depended the safetie of their countrey their wiues their children and goods to delay and prolong the time as they might to delude the enemie to frustat his designs to defeat his attempts and with delaies to dally him off vntill that hauing thereby weakned his forces he should together with his courage loose also his hope CAIRE he said to be indeed a great citie but yet that the greatest cities that euer were had by warres become great desarts forced by the power of their puissant and speedie enemies And that great empires as were those of the Sultans ought not to be inuaded or assailed by any forraine force if they were not at the first onset ouerthrown or at leastwise so weakned as that they could not afterwards lift vp their heads or recouer themselues for otherwise that they which had prepared a distruction for others should fall into the same themselues That it behooued either not to haue attempted or assailed AEGYPT at all or else now after it had beene once assailed not so to giue it ouer before it were conquered The king of HIERUSALEM whether it were that he were pricked with the griefe That being called the king of the Holyland he could not haue the citie of DAMIATA vnder his leading and conduct woon by the Christians come to the sacred war giuen vnto him by the Legate or that he had before prooued that the higher countrey of AEGYâ—T was not without great and manifest danger to be attempted said That that he would not in any case go alleaging that honorable and sacred war to haue ben taken in hand onely for the recouerie of the Holy land and not for the winning of MEMPHIS BABYLON or THEBES in AEGYPT which after they were taken would not for any long time continue in their fidelitie or alleageance and could not possibly be kept by force Whereas SYRIA by Godfrey of BUILLON and the other great princes his associats entred into conquered and possessed and since his time by diuers other Christian kings and princes holden was in right their owne And that therefore he greatly commended the forwardnesse the dilligence the courage the desire and whatsoeuer thing else Pelagius commended but that hee ought to employ the same in SYRIA and not there where no need was or from whence no profit was to be drawne or expected Neuerthelesse the Legat wedded to his owne opinion by the power of his authoritie commanded the king of HIERUSALEM the duke of BAVARIA with the rest of the great commanders and captaines to take vp their armes and to get them into the field vpon the expedition by him appointed against the Sultan threatning the paine of the high sentence of excommunication against him or them that should â—hew themselues backward or vnwilling to doe what he had commaunded So as it were enforced by the Legat they began with euill will and woorse speed to set forward in August in the verie hottest time of the yeare At which time the Sultan beholding the great armie of the
repaire vnto CYPRUS as Robert duke of BURGUNDIE who hauing wintred in ACHAIA came now in the beginning of the Spring vnto the king with a number of good horsemen and with him William prince of ACHAIA with a great fleet out of PELOPONESUS which countrey with most part of GRECIA was then vnder the commaund of the Latines amongst others came also William surnamed Long-espie earle of SARISEURIE with a band of lustie tall souldiors So the armie being met together and all things againe in a readinesse king Lewes departing from CYPRUS and tossed at sea with cōtrary winds about fiue daies after fell with the coast of AEGIPT there with all his fleet came before the strong towne of DAMIATA being as we haue said the key of that kingdome The Sultan long before vnderstanding of the French kings purpose for the inuasion of his countrey had strongly fortified his frontier townes and put into them strong garrisons beside the great power he kept with himselfe in readinesse at all assaies as occasion should require Vpon the approch of the Christians the gouernour of DAMIATA was ready vpon the shore with a number of braue souldiers to keepe them from landing who neuerthelesse resolutely before set downe for the performing of that they came for manning foorth their long boats with their archers and crossebowes to beat the enemie from the shore ran a ground with their other small boats made of purpose for the landing of men and so without longer stay came to handie blowes where for a while was fought a most sharpe and cruell battell the Christians striuing to land and the Turkes to keepe them off many falling on both sides But what should an handfull doe against so many The Turkes oppressed with the multitude still landing more and more and hauing done what was possible for them to doe fled into the towne leauing behind them their gouernour with fiue hundred of their best souldiors dead vpon the shore This citie of DAMIATA was exceeding rich and populous and had in the former warres not been taken but by more than a yeares siege as is before declared and that not so much by the valour of the Christians as by the extremitie of the plague and famine since which time it had been strongly fortefied by the Turks with deepe ditches high wals and strong bulwarkes and was at that time well stored with victuals also and all things else for the enduring of a long siege Neuerthelesse the souldiors that were left and the citizens discouraged with the losse of their gouernour and remembrance of the miseries before endured in the former siege and seeing the Christians now readie againe to besiege the same the night following a little before the breake of day set fire euery man vpon his owne house and so by a bridge which they had made of boats fled ouer the great riuer breaking the bridge when they were ouer for feare their enemies should thereby haue followed after them The Christians perceiuing their flight without resistance entred the citie and being strangers did what they could to quench the fire and to saue that which the inhabitants themselues would faine haue with fire destroyed and so afterwards found great abundance of riches with plentifull store of all manner of victuals wherewith the souldiors both enriched and refreshed themselues This so happie vnexpected a victorie happened vnto the Christians about the beginning of October in the yeare 1249. Sultan Meledin himselfe discouraged with the losse of so strong a citie offered vnto the French king for the redeeming thereof and to haue peace at his hands more territorie in SIRIA and the land of PALESTINE than the Christians had of long time before which large offer was by the French especially by the earle of ARTHOI◠the kings brother proudly rejected and ALEXANDRIA the most famous port and metropoliticall citie of AEGIPT further demaunded to the great discontentment of the Turkes and Sarasins In these troubles died Meledin the old Sultan a man not much beloued of his people in whose stead Melechsala or Melexala as some call him a valiant and couragious prince well beloued of his subjects and but euen then returned out of SIRIA and ARABIA where he had been to craue aid of the other Mahometane princes was chosen Sultan Which princes especially the Sultan of DAMASCO although they had not of long been at any good accord among themselues or with the Aegyptian yet in this common danger of their superstition which by the losse of AEGIPT was like to be greatly weakned they joyned hands together and so sent him great aid The new Sultan thus strengthened drew neerer vnto the Christians which then lay encamped not farre from DAMIATA and had with them a hot skirmish wherein hee was put to the worse and so with some losse glad to retire But the Christians the next day in hope of like successe sallying out againe were ouerthrowne with ten times more losse than was he the day before and so faine to flie vnto the campe By which victorie the Sultan encouraged began now to conceiue better hope of the successe of his wars and by stopping the passages both by water and land to prouide that no victuals could without great perill bee brought either vnto the citie or the campe insomuch that at length victuals began to grow scarce in both whereof the Sultan was not ignorant as being thereof throughly informed by such fugitiues as for want or other causes oftentimes fled out of the French campe into his Winter thus passing and wants still increasing it fortuned that the gouernour of the great citie of CAIRE vpon the fortune whereof depended the state of the whole kingdome a man not euill affected vnto the Christian religion and in his heart highly offended with the Sultan for the death of his brother by him wrongfully executed by secret messengers persuaded the French king to come on with his armie to the citie the regall seat of the Sultan promising him to deliuer it into his power with full instructions what he had in all points to do for the gaining thereof Whereupon the king who had before of himselfe purposed the same exploit but now filled with a greater hope assembled together the greatest forces he was able to make At which time also he sent for the earle of SALISBURIE with the rest of the English men who for many proud indignities offered them by the French especially by the earle of ARTOIS the kings brother whereof they could haue no redresse were gone to PTOLEMAIS without purpose to haue any more serued in those warres But now being sent for by the king with promise of better vsage and honourable recompence for the wrongs past returned againe into AEGIPT there to doe their last endeuour With whose comming the king strengthened but more by the new supplies brought vnto him by his brother Alphonsus out of FRANCE leauing the duke of BURGUNDIE with a conuenient garison with the queene his
wife Odo the Popes Legat and diuers other great ladies in DAMIATA he himselfe set forward with his armie towards CAIRE Of whose comming the Sultan hearing and loath vpon the fortune of one battell to aduenture his whole estate offered by his embassadours to restore vnto him all the land of PALESTINE with a great summe of money for the defraying of the charges of those wars and all the prisoners he had taken so that he would redeliuer vnto him the citie of DAMIATA and joine with him in league and amitie Which faire offer for all that the French king by the persuasion of the Legat and others reâ—used So the king marching still on was to passe an arme of the great riuer NILUS the Sultan on the other side still readie with his armie to stay his passage which he had thought to haue made by a bridge of boats prepared for the same purpose but better conducted by a fugitiue Sarasin vnto a foord before to him vnknowne sent his brother Robert earle of ARTOIS with the third part of the armie before him accompanied with the master of the Templars and the earle of SALISBURIE with their followers Who passing the riuer at the aforesaid soord suddainly assailed the Turks in their tents the Sultan being then absent in solemnising one of their prophane feasts put them to flight With which victorie the French earle aboue measure encouraged would needs on forwards as if he would himselfe alone haue carried away the glorie of the whole conquest Whome for all that certaine of the auncient Templars better acquainted with the manners of that deceitfull nation than he and better considering also of their owne abilitie and strength persuaded him to content himselfe with the honour he had alreadie got and not to proceed any further in prosecuting of the enemie vntill the comming of the rest of the armie especially in that desperat estate of the enemie wherein he was to win or lose all Vnto whom the proud earle in great despight replied That he would prosecute his victorie and follow his good fortune calling them dastards and cowards opprobriously objecting vnto them the common fame whereby it was commonly reported That the Holy land might long since haue beene againe vnited vnto the bodie of the Christian commonweale but for the foule collusion of the false Templars and Hospitalers with the Turks and Infidels With which reprochfull speech the master of the Templars not without cause mooued answered for himselfe and his fellowes That he should when he would and where he durst display his ensignes and he should find them as readie to follow as hee was to goe before them The earle of SALISBURIE also willing to stint this strife persuaded earle Robert not to bee so wedded to his owne opinion but to listen vnto the graue and wholesome counsell of the Templars being men of great experience and so turning vnto the master of the Templars began likewise with gentle words to pacific him also But whilest hee was yet speaking the earle interrupting him with many opprobrious words called him dastard and coward and wished that the armie were rid of him and the fearefull cowards his countreymen Whereunto the earle of SALISBURIE answered Well Generall on in Gods name and wheresoeuer you dare set your foot mine shall be as farre as yours and I beleeue wee goe this day where you shall not dare to come nigh my horses taile as afterward indeed it proued Howbeit the earle so said for that earle Robert and the Frenchmen had many times in reproch and disdaine after their manner called him and his followers English tailes The proud earle constant in his former purpose and not to be otherwise persuaded set forward and first assaulted a little towne or castle not farre off called MANSOR whereunto hee inconsideratly approching was notably repulsed and hauing lost a number of his men was as a man discouraged about to haue retired When suddainly the Sultan neerer at hand than the earle had thought stirred vp with the noise of the alarum came on with his whole power and finding the armie of the Christians now deuided as he had long wished with the multitude of his people enclosed them round and had with them a great and mortall fight wherein though the Christians right woorthely behaued themselues for the small number they were yet oppressed with the multitude and on euery side beset they were slaine downe right Then but all too late it repented the earle of his foolish rashnesse and that he had not hearkened vnto better counsell and seeing the earle of SALISBURIE valiantly fighting cried out vnto him to flie seeing God as he said fought against them Whereunto the noble earle answered no more but God forbid that my fathers sonne should run away from the face of a Sarasin The French earle thinking by the swiftnesse of his horse to haue saued his life flying out of the battell and taking the riuer of THAâ—NES ouerladed with his armour was there drowned The earle of SALISBURIE couragiously enduring the enemies charge with his owne hand manfully slew many a Turk and Sarasin that day vntill that at length hauing his horse slain vnder him and himselfe so wounded in the legs as that he was not able longer to stand yet vpon his knees laying about him like a desperat man and selling his life as deere as he could was there slaine but not vanquished With him perished the whole armie so enclosed by the Sultan that scarce any one escaped aliue more than two Templars one Hospitaler and one common souldiour the messengers of this heauie newes About the same time also sicknesse daily increasing in the French campe the king purposing to march forward to CAIRE sent a great number of sicke and weake people downe the riuer of NILUS to DAMIATA of whose going the Sultan vnderstanding caused a great number of small boats to be caried in carts by land vnto the riuers side which well manned and meeting them by the way set vpon them and burnt or drowned them euery mothers sonne sauing one only Englishman called Alexander Giffard who wounded in fiue places of his bodie escaped yet into the French campe reporting there what had happened vnto the rest Now had the Sultan also got intelligence of the compact betwixt the gouernour of CAIRE and the king for the betraying of the citie and thereupon had caused him to be suddainely apprehended and put in safe keeping vntill hee were at better leisure to vnderstand farther of the matter which no lesse troubled the French king than did the former misfortune all his hope for the yeelding vp of the citie being thereby cut off Thus his hopes together with his strength daily decreasing he would haue gladly accepted of the coÌ„ditions which he before refused which the Sultan now growne very strong would by no meanes heare of but in stead thereof by way of derision sent to know of him What was become of all his mattocks
saued vnto himselfe some good part of his kingdome Wherein he was much deceiued being as some say carried away a farre off into exile because hee should not hinder the Tartars proceedings or as others report and happely with more probabilitie being by him detained as his prisoner and afterwards to the terror of his sonne cut in peeces in his sight vnder the wals of DAMASCO after that it had in vaine beene twice assaulted by the Tartars which strong citie for all that he afterwards tooke by strong hand and sacked it and by the persuasion of his wife ouerthrew all the Mahometane temples as he had before in euery place where he came But purposing to haue gone on forward to HIERUSALEM and to haue conquered the whole land of PALESTINE newes was brought him of the death of his brother Mango the great Chan whereupon he staied his journey and returned backe againe in hope of that great empire hauing in this expedition spent almost six yeares Thus by the Tartars was the kingdome of the Turks at DAMASCO ouerthrowne At which time the broken affaires of the Christians in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE might easily haue beene repaired and those two goodly kingdomes againe restored to the Christian commonweale had the Christian princes of the West then in time put to their helping hands on the one side as did the Tartars on the other But they then at fatall discord among themselues and busied with their warres at home let slip that so faire an opportunitie the like whereof they seldome or neuer had since Haalon the Tartar prince in token of his good will toward the Christians and their affaires at his departure from DAMASCO left his sonne Abaga there with twentie thousand horsemen to aid them in their warres if they should come as was expected for the recouerie of the Holy land who hauing there stayed some while and hearing of his fathers troubles at home followed himselfe after him but yet left behind him Guirboca a valiant captaine with ten thousand of his horsemen to like purpose that his father had him who by the insolencie of certaine Christian souldiors in garrison about SIDON was of a friend together with his Tartars made a foe These garrison souldiors hauing by chance fet in some bootie out of the Tartars territorie not onely refused to restore the same againe but also foulely intreated such as the Tartar had sent for the demaunding thereof Whereupon further quarrels arising it fortuned a nephew of Guirbocas a valiant yoong gentleman to be slaine in reuenge whereof hee besieged SIDON and hauing taken it sacked it and burnt it downe to the ground After which time he and his Tartars became vtter enemies vnto the Christians doing them all the harme they could deuise This discord betwixt the Tartars and the Christians gaue occasion vnto Melech the Aegyptian Sultan now jealous of the Tartars neerenesse with a great armie of his Mamalukes others to enter into SYRIA and to spoile the countrey about DAMASCO against whom Guirboca with his Tartars although both in strength and number far inferiour went out But joyning battell with him at too much oddes and the victorie inclining vnto that side where most strength was he there valiantly fighting was slaine with most part of his Tartars such as escaped fled into ARMENIA vnto the friendly king By this victorie all SYRIA with the land of PALESTINE excepting some few places yet holden by the Christians fell again into the hands of the Aegyptian Sultans as did some of them shortly after also for Bandocader succeeding Melech in the Mamaluke kingdome comming into SYRIA with a great armie took ANTIOCH from the Christians with it most of the other places before by them defended The citie he burnt rased the castle down to the ground and afterward entring into ARMENIA did there great harme also Whilest the Turks kingdome thus goeth to wracke in SYRIA ruinated by the Tartars but possessed by the Mamalukes their affairs in the lesser ASIA now the whole hope of that nation went not at that time much better for Iathatines the Turkes Sultan there also inuaded by the Tartars and hauing lost ICONIUM his regall citie fled with his brother Melech to the Greeke emperour Michaell Paleologus in hope to be of him relieued for the kindnesse hee had not long before shewed him in like case when as he fled from the late emperour Theodore whereof now putting him in remembrance he requested him either with some conuenient force to aid him or els to assigne vnto him some corner in his large empire where hee might in safetie rest with his wife and children and other followers whom with much wealth hee had brought with him in great number The emperor on euery side himselfe incombred with warres thought it not good in so great newnesse of his empire to deminish his owne forces and to assigne vnto him any place to inhabit seemed no lesse dangerous for that he hauing been a great prince and commanding ouer many great countries and brought vp in all princely royaltie was not like to content himselfe with a little beside that his nobilitie then dispersed by the Tartars were like ynough in great numbers to resort vnto him as vnto their head so soone as they should once heare that he were seated in any place and yet vnkindly to cast him off that had so honourably vsed him in like extremitie the emperour was loath And therefore feeding him vp with faire words and foording him on from time to time with delaies he held him a great while as a man in suspence betwixt hope and despaire At length in the absence of the emperour though happily not without his priuitie he was commaunded with all his traine in number about twelue hundred to get him to AENUS a citie of THRACIA standing vpon the sea coast where he much discontented liued like an honourable prisoner at large but with the watchfull eyes of so many vpon him as that he could by no meanes as he desired escape In which case we will for a while leaue him to feed vpon his owne melancholy thoughts Now had Michaell Paleologus the emperour raigned at NICE two yeares when new troubles began againe to arise in the West part of his empire on EUROPE side by the trecherie of Michaell Angelus Despot of EPIRUS For the speedie repressing whereof he sent one Alexius Strategopulus a worthie captaine and a man of great nobilitie whom for his good seruice against the said Despot he had in the beginning of his raigne made Caesar with little aboue 800 Bythinian souldiors and commission for the taking vp of so many mo as he should for that seruice need in MACEDONIA and THRACIA commaunding him when he had passed the strait with those souldiers to take his way through the suburbs of CONSTANTINOPLE to terrifie the Latines whom he was loth to suffer too long to liue in rest and quiet or to stir too far out
ANGELO within fiue and thirtie daies after most miserably died in his madnesse as some report renting himselfe with his teeth and deuouring his owne fingers This worthie Tartar prince Cassanes by whom the Christian common weale might haue againe risen in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE had not the pride of the great bishop and the dissention of the Christian princes hindered the same was as Aitonus writeth who was present in this warre following his vncle the Armenian king a man of a verie short stature and exceeding hard fauour but with valour bountie and other vertues of the mind plentifully recompensing what wanted in the feature of his bodie After whose departure into PERSIA Capcapus gouernour of DAMASCO considering that the power of the Tartars there left was not great and that no aid was to be expected from the other Christian princes of the West to recompense his former treason of reuolting from the Sultan with a new reuolt from the Tartar rise vp into open rebellion drawing after him not onely the citie of DAMASCO but the greatest part of SYRIA also whereof Molais gouernour of HIERUSALEM vnderstanding was about to haue gone against him with his Tartars but aduertised by his espials that Capcapus in this his conspiracie had compacted with the Aegyptian Sultan also perceiuing himselfe too weake to withstand so great a power he retired with his Tartars into MESOPOTAMIA there expecting new supplies both from Cassanes and the king of ARMENIA Of whose departure out of SYRIA the Aegyptian Sultan vnderstanding came directly with his armie to HIERUSALEM which he tooke being forsaken of the inhabitants and profaned the temple sparing onely the sepulchre of our Sauiour at the humble sute of the religious making there a greater shew of deuotion than of crueltie After that he woon all the other lesser townes which the Tartars had either kept for themselues or giuen to the other Christians and vtterly rased all the castles and forts of the Hospitalers and Templars which valiant men without other helpe for the space of almost a yeare held out against the Tyrant in which time most of them were honourably slaine the rest that were left aliue being taken by the enemie had neuerthelesse leaue giuen them with bag and baggage in safetie to depart hauing before by solemne oath for euer abjured the countrey of SYRIA and so these woorthie men the great ornaments of the Christian common weale the Hospitalers and Templars which to the vttermost of their power had by the space of 300 yeares right woorthily defended both the Christians the Christian religion against the infidels in SYRIA the Holy land were now for euer driuen out thence about the yeare of our Lord 1300 to the great dishonour of all Christendom Wherefore with them now taking our leaue of SYRIA and the Holy land leauing the same in the possession of the Aegyptian Sultan and the Mamalukes although it were shortly after like enough to haue beene againe recouered from them by the Tartars had not the death of the great Tartar prince Cassanes and their domesticall troubles letted we will againe returne vnto the troubled affaires of the Turks in the lesser ASIA whither the course of time had somwhat before called vs with the occurrents thereof more proper vnto our purpose and the argument we haue in hand but that all cannot be at once told And for the better vnderstanding of the desirous Reader I thought it not good abruptly to breake off the course of the aforesaid historie drawing so neere vnto an end but to make him partaker of the heauinesse thereof Now had the Turkes no kingdome left in the lesser ASIA and that also at the pleasure of Gazan the great Tartar Chan diuided betwixt Mesoot and Cei-Cubades as his vassals bound vnto him by a yearely tribut as is aforesaid who both kept in awe by the greatnesse of the Tartar did nothing woorth the remembrance but as they liued so also died almost buried in obscuritie Of these two Mesoot died without issue but Cei-Cubades departing left behind him his sonne Aladin who by the name of Aladin the second succeeding in the kingdome vnited againe the same before diuided yet paying still tribut vnto the Tartar his soueraigne as had his father with the other late Sultans of the Turks before him Much it was not that this Aladin did albeit that the power of the Tartars in his time began to decline not to lie so heauie vpon the Turks as before He was a man of a quiet spirit therefore much delighted in peace a great freind vnto Othoman the first founder of the glorious and mightie Othoman empire as in his life shall appeare But this Aladin the last of the Turkes Sultans of the Selzuccian family dying without issue one Sahib his Vesir-Azemes or chiefe counseller and then a man of greatest authoritie aspired vnto the kingdome which he had for most part himselfe swaied all the raigne of the late Sultan his master which vsurped soueraigntie no way vnto him due he could neither himselfe long hold or deliuer to his posteritie for that many others of the nobilitie men of great power and borne of greater families than he enuying at his honour and disdaining to be gouerned by him or any other no greater than themselues laid hold some vpon one countrey or prouince some vpon another where they were able to do most erecting vnto themselues greater or lesser Satrapies according to the measure of their owne strength and power without respect of any superioritie one should haue ouer another but euerie one of them absolutely commaunding ouer so much as he was able by strong hand to hold So that as it had oftentimes before chanced That great Monarchies destitute of their lawfull heires had in part or all become rich preis vnto such as could first lay strong hand vpon them euen so fell it now out in the great kingdom of the Turks euery one of their great princes measuring the greatnesse of his territorie not by the measure of his right but by the strength of his owne power Wherein they shared so well for themselues that Sahib at first in possession of all was in short time thrust quite out of all and so the great kingdome of the Turkes in the lesser ASIA brought vnto a meere Anarchie no king now left among them the whole kingdome being now diuided into diuers Satrapies or other lesser Toparchies The greatest of these princes that thus shared the Turkes kingdome amongst them was one Caraman Alusirius who as strongest tooke vnto himselfe the citie of ICONIUM the regall seat of the Turkish Sultans with all the great countrey of CILICIA and some part of the frontiers of the countries of LYCAONIA PAMPHILIA CARIA and the greater PHRIGIA as far as PHILADELPHIA and the citie of ANTIOCH vpon the riuer MEANDER All which large territorie was of him afterward called CARAMANIA and by the same name is
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
said vnto the confederate princes that were with him Verilie Amurath threatneth to take from vs our cities of ICONIUM and LARENDA but let him take heed that we take not from him his faire citie of PRVSA Then demaunding of the embassadour of what strength Amurath might be It was answered by him that he deemed him to bee about seuentie thousand strong Whereat Aladin not a little rejoycing said Assuredly when he shall see our armie he will not dare to giue vs battaile or if he do he shall fight vpon great disaduantage his men being both fewer in number than we and sore wearied with long and painefull trauaile In the meane time Amurath held on his way towards CARAMANIA daily encouraging his souldiours with persuasions and gifts bountifully bestowed vpon them filling their heads with promises of greater the warres once happily ended At length he came to the great plaines in CARAMANIA called the French plains because in former time the Christians whom the Turks for most part call Frankes in those places encamped their great armies as they went to the winning of IERVSALEM as in the former part of this historie is declared into these plaines also came Aladin with his armie and was now encamped within one daies march of Amurath and so rested that night The next morning Amurath put his armie in order of battaile appointing the leading of the right wing to his youngest sonne Iacup with whom he joyned Cutluzes Beg Eine Beg Subbassa Egridum Subbassa Seraze and Custendil two Christian princes all captaines of great experience the left wing was led by Baiazet his eldest sonne with Ferize and Hozze both valiant captaines in which wings were also placed the Christian souldiors sent by Lazarus out of SERVIA according to the late conuention of peace in the maine battell he stood himselfe the vauntgard was conducted by Temurtases and the reareward by the Sabbassa of OXYLLITHUS called also Temurtases and Achmetes Aladin on the other side with no lesse care and diligence set his men likewise in order of battaile placing himselfe in the maine battaile as did Amurath and the princes his Allies with his other expert captaines some in the right wing and some in the left as he thought most conuenient in such sort as that in all mens iudgement he was in force nothing inferiour to his father in law These great enemies thus ranged with ensignes displaid came on couragiously one directly vpon the other where approaching together the confused noise of trumpets drummes fifes with other instruments of warre the neighing of horses and clattering of armour was so great that whilst warlike minds thereat rejoyced cowards thought heauen fell But the signe of battaile on both sides giuen Samagazes one of the confederate princes with exceeding courage first charged Temurtases in the vauntguard and broke his rankes at which time Teberruses a Tartar prince and Varsacides another of the confederats deliuered their arrowes also vpon the vauntguard as if it had been a shower of haile Which Baiazet seeing and how hardly Temurtases was charged hauing before obtained leaue of his father brake in vpon the enemie with such violence as if it had been the lightening whereof he was euer after surnamed Gilderun which is to say the Lightening Ferizes and Hozza with the other valiant captaines in that wing following Baiazet with inuincible courage entred the battaile where for a great space was made a most dreadfull and doubtfull fight A man would haue thought two wrought seas had met together swaying one against the other doubtfull which way the current would at length fall In this conflict many thousands were on both sides slain so that the field lay couered with the dead bodies of worthie men and valiant souldiors yet at length these confederate princes finding themselues ouermatched by Baiazet and his souldiors reseruing themselues to their better fortunes turned their backes and fled when Aladin seeing a great part of his armie thus ouerthrowne and himselfe now readie to be charged with Amurath his whole power despairing of victorie sped himselfe in all hast to ICONIUM his strong citie The spoile which Amurath got in this battell was great most part whereof he gaue in reward to Temortases and his souldiors which had endured the greatest furie of that battaile Amurath after this victorie with all speed marched to ICONIUM and there besieged Aladin the Caramanian king in his strongest cittie giuing out proclamation in the mean time That none of his souldiours vpon paine of death should vse any violence to any of the countrey people or take any thing from them to the intent it might appeare vnto the world that he made that warre against that Mahometan king rather to propulse injurie and wrong than for desire of soueraigntie or spoile Which his so straight a proclamation the Christians sent by Lazarus amongst others transgressed and therefore by his commandement suffred many of them exemplarie punishment which was the cause of the Seâ—â—ian waâ— which not long after ensued fatall both vnto Amurath and Lazarus the Despot as hereafter shall appeare Aladin now on euerie side besieged in ICONIUM and without all hope of escape sent vnto the queene his wife Amuraths daughter bewailing vnto her his desperat estate and requesting her by all the loue that so honourable a minded ladie might beare to her miserable husband to aduenture her selfe to goe to her angrie father and to craue pardon for his great trespasse and offence The queene forthwith attiring her selfe as was fittest for her husbands present estate came vnto her father where falling downe at his feet vpon her knees with wordes wisely placed and teares distilling downe her faire cheeks from her fairer eies as if it had been from two fountaines in most sorrowfull manner craued her husbands pardon imputing vnto the heat of youth whatsoeuer he had done and would not be comforted or taken vp vntill she had obtained grace Amurath most entirely loued this his daughter and therefore for her sake not onely graunted vnto her her husbands life which in short time was like to haue been in his power to haue spilt but also his kingdome which he as a victorious conquerour might by law of armes haue of right detained She now assured of her fathers promise sent vnto her husband Aladin willing him the next day without feare to come out of the citie and in humble sort to acknowledge his fault before her father Who the next morning accordingly came out and prostrating himselfe before Amurath acknowledged his vndutifulnes of whom for his wiues sake he obtained pardon and restitution to his kingdome with many other great gifts contrarie to his euil desert The Latine histories mistaking the man report that this Caramanian warre to haue been fought against the king of CARAMANIA Amurath his owne grandfather by the mothers side and that he was by Amurath then spoiled of a great part of his kingdom but it agreeth not with the Turkish histories which make
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
friendship was the best bargaine they could make therein But they receiued answere from this worthie prince farre beyond their expectatation For he with a mild countenance beholding them answered them That he was not come from so farre a countrey or vndertaken so much paines for the enlargement of his dominions alreadie large inough too base a thing for him to put himselfe into so great danger and trauaile for but rather to winne honour and thereby to make his name famous vnto all posteritie for euer And that therefore it should well appeare vnto the world that hee was come to aid him being requested as his friend and allie And that his vpright meaning therein was the greatest cause That God from aboue had beheld his power and thereby brused the head of the greatest and fiercest enemie of mankind that was vnder heauen And now to get him an immortall name would make free so great and flourishing a citie as was CONSTANTINOPLE gouerned by so noble and ancient an house as the emperours That vnto his courage hee had alwaies faith joyned such as should neuer suffer him to make so great a breach in his reputation as that it should be reported of him That in the colour of a friend he came to inuade the dominions of his allies That he desired no more but that the seruice he had done for the Greeke emperour might for euer be ingrauen in the memorie of his posteritie to the end they might for euer wish well vnto him and his successours by remembring the good he had done them That long might the noble emperor liue happily to gouern his estate And that before his returne he would so well consider for the establishing of the same as that he should not lightly fall againe into the like jeopardie alwaies assuring himselfe of his good will and fauour towards him Easie it is to judge what joy these Greeke embassadours receiued to heare this so kind an answere from the mouth of Tamerlane himselfe who rather than he would seeme to breake his faith refused an empire offered vnto him with one of the most stately and magnificent cities of the world Few princes I suppose would performe such a part but so there be likewise but few Tamerlanes in the world These embassadours by the commaundement of Tamerlane were by Axalla royally feasted and all the honour done them that might be One of them being sent backe to carrie these vnexpected newes vnto the Greeke emperour filled both him and all the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE with exceeding joy and gladnesse which both he and his subjects in generall spared not with bonfires and all other signes of joy and pleasure to manifest And the more to shew his thankefulnesse shortly after by the aduice of his graue counsailours passed ouer the strait into ASIA to see Tamerlane at PRUSA and in person himselfe to giue him thankes who hearing of his comming and very glad thereof presently vpon the first dayes journey sent the prince Axalla to meet him and to certefie him of the joy that he conceiued to haue the good hap for to see him as also to conduct him to PRUSA where those two great princes with the greatest magnificence that might be met and so spent one whole day together The Greeke emperour the next day taking his leaue was by Tamerlane with much honour conducted out of the cittie Now had Tamerlane himselfe conceiued a secret desire to see this so famous a citie as was CONSTANTINOPLE from which he was not now farre yet would he not goe thither as a conquerour but as a priuat person which by the meanes of Axalla was accomplished and he thereinto by the Greeke emperour priuatly receiued and with all familiaritie possible entertained the emperour shewing vnto him all the rare and excellent things that were therein to be seene and the other Greeke princes deuising all the meanes they could to do him pleasure and them which did accompanie him who were in a manner all apparrelled after the Greeke fashion At which time the Greeke emperour himselfe was curious to shew vnto him all the faire gardens alongst the sea coast a league or two from CONSTANTINOPLE and so priuatly conducting him spent fiue or six daies with all the mirth that might be possible Tamerlane by the way oftentimes saying That he had neuer seene a fairer citie and that it was indeed the citie considering the faire and rich situation thereof of right worthie to commaund all the world He wondered at the costly buildings of the temples the faire ingrauen pillars the high pyramides and the making of the faire gardens and oftentimes afterwards said That he nothing repented him of his so long and dangerous a voyage if it had been onely but to haue preserued from fire and sword so noble a citie as that was In the Greeke emperour he commended greatly his mild nature and courtesie who knowing him aboue all things to take pleasure in faire seruiceable horses gaue vnto him thirtie of the fairest strongest and readiest that were possible to be gotten all most richly furnished and sent likewise faire presents vnto all the princes and great commaunders of the armie and bountifully caused to bee deliuered vnto them all things which he thought to be necessarie for the armie So after many great kindnesses in short time passed and a strait bond of friendship made and by solemne oath confirmed betwixt the two great princes Tamerlane with great contentment tooke his leaue of the emperour and returned againe to his armie at PRUSA Wherewith he now at his pleasure without resistance wasted and spoiled all Baiazet his dominion in ASIA no man daring to make head against him The yeare being now well spent and Winter drawing on Tamerlane dispersed his armie into diuers of the prouinces of the lesser ASIA expecting still when some of Baiazet his sonnes or other friends should make sute or meanes vnto him for his deliuerance but none came some fearing Tamerlane his heauie indignation and others no lesse dreading the fierce nature of Baiazet himselfe who if hee had beene deliuered was like ynough as was thought to haue taken sharpe reuenge vpon all them which forsooke him in the late battaile and therefore neuer made intercession for him Whereupon Tamerlane one day passing by him said vnto him I maruell that none of thy sonnes or friends either come to see thee or to entreat for thee it must needs be that thou hast euill deserued of them as thou hast of others yet how thinkest thou If I should set thee at libertie would they againe receiue thee as their lord and soueraigne or not To whom Baiazet boldly answered Were I at libertie thou shouldest well see how that I want neither courage nor meanes to reuenge all my wrongs and to make those disobedient forgetfull to know their duties better Which his proud answere made Tamerlane to keepe a straighter hand ouer him In this great and bloodie warre wherein the Othoman empire
filled them with the hope of a great spoile promising vnto them that should in the battaile valiantly behaue themselues not onely the spoile and prey but whole villages towns and cities and other great preferments according as they should deserue As for the victorie considering the weake power of their enemies and the great number of themselues hee assured them thereof if they would but a while valiantly fight it out like men In conclusion he told them that hauing ouercome Huniades whom onely as hee confessed he had found to bee the most valiant and skilfull captaine of the Christians nothing should afterward be able to stand in their way or to hinder their farther conquests and that if this day they should vtterly ouerthrow him they should gain the most honourable victorie that was euer yet got in EVROPE Wherefore hee willed them aboue all things in the battell to seeke after him promising vnto him that should kill him a great reward with most honourable preferments Hauing thus sufficiently as he thought encouraged his Turks he set forward with his armie in order of battaile His horsemen and footmen he deuided into two great wings betwixt which marched the Ianizaries in a square battaile all men of approoued valour after whom followed the rereward vnto the wings he had also joyned certaine loose companies of light horsemen to begin the battaile and to flie about the enemies and so as occasion should serue either to charge or retire Huniades likewise had placed in both wings two square battailions of men at armes and with them certaine horsemen with crosse-bowes before these wings he had also placed certaine troupes of light horsemen to encounter the enemies in the middest stood two square battailes of men at arms and betwixt them a strong squadron of armed men guarded behind with a conuenient number of pikemen and archers both the wings he had compassed about with a multitude of carts and waggons and they also well manned So marching forward and both armies being come within a quarter of a mile together the signall of battaile was on both sides giuen and the battaile begun Huniades seeing the multitude of his enemies cast his first battaile into the forme of a wedge the more easily to deuide them and they on the other side in forme of a paire of sheeres were readie to receiue him where on both sides they encountered together with such furie and outcrie as neuer was thing more terrible to be heard or seene The Turks trusting vnto the multitude of their nimble light horsemen first with their light staues and afterward with their crooked Scimators fiercely assailed the Christians light horsemen in which first encounter many fell on both sides But the wedge battaile of the Christians could not of the Turks be broken as consisting all of valiant expert souldiors and they also strongly armed who doe the Turks what they could with a great slaughter cut their armie in sunder but not without a great fight and some losâ—e also vnto themselues In the wings also the light horsemen for a while fought courageously and with like hope But the Turks with that kind of fight better acquainted than the Christians better appointed for that purpose and exceeding in number also put the Christian light horsemen to the worst and enforced them to retire to the men at armes Here began the fortune of the Turks to stay where both parts desperatly assailing the one the other was made a most terrible fight wherein most part of the Turks light horsemen were slaine for why they were not able to abide the force of the men at armes although in comparison of them but few but were with their launces arming swords ouerthrowne and slaine no otherwise than if they had beene naked men so that in both wings the Turks began now to faint But the battaile in both the wings yet wauering and the victorie doubtfull in the maine battaile was fought a most cruell fight the Ianizaries with a strong power of men at armes and certaine troupes of light horsemen compassed about the men at armes that stood as we said in the maine battell of the Christians where the old Ianizaries with their crooked Sâ—imitaries with great courage cut in sunder the legs of the horses of the men at armes of whom many fell downe and lying along vpon the ground were made shorter by the head as likewise on the other side the Ianizaries whilest they seeke the destruction of the men at armes were themselues ouerborne and troden vnder foot Whereupon such a slaughter was made that the bloud ran like riuers whilest they desperatly fight with furious rage both on the one side and the other In this cruell fight most part of the Ianizaries were slaine and many of the Christian men at armes also The Bassa now perceiuing the Hungarians to haue the better both in the wings and in the maine battaile and yet in hope that with long fight they would faint although hee saw great slaughter of his men in euery place came on with the rereward and a number of other fresh souldiors which he had left for the guarding of his baggage all yet sound men in good hope so to ouerwhelme the wearied Hungarians It was now foure houres that this cruell fight had endured when as the Bassa began it afresh neither was this by him done without reason for why he was afraid least if his men should turne their backes and flie the whole armie should follow after and therefore to make vse of all the men he had he brought on his rereward in hope that his enemies now spent with long fight would not longer endure a fresh charge And the more to encourage his men he commaunded them to compasse in the Hungarians round and to dispatch their wearied enemies vainely boasting That it would bee the last battaile that euer the Hungarians would fight On the other side Huniades perceiuing the enemies purpose suffered his men to bee in part enuironed and by and by caused the waggoners with the armed carts and waggons to thrust in behind them and so to compasse them in deuided in part from the rest and afterward with fresh supplies renewed the battaile with the enemie The fight was great and in euery place right terrible and albeit that the slaughter of the Turks was in many places great yet by reason of their multitude they felt it not much but fought yet still most desperately vntill that they in the right wing seeing themselues compassed in behind with the waggons so from them charged with shot darts and other such missiue weapons standing in doubt which way to turne themselues and beset with danger on euery side began to faint and fearing the danger behind them shruncke from the fight On the other side the Hungarians now in good hope of victorie with great and cheerefull outcries as men inspired with fresh spirits more furiously assailed their fainting enemies afront than before encouraging them also
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
the Christians in that place fighting with them as if it had been vpon euen ground still sending vp fresh souldiors in stead of them that were slaine and thereby preuailed so far that they had set vp certaine of Amurath his ensignes vpon the wall to the great comfort of the Turkes and astonishment of the besieged Christians The Gouernour seeing the imminent danger hasted to the place with a companie of fresh and valiant souldiors by whose force the Turks were quickly repulsed from the wall their ensignes taken and sent into the market place the tower of wood with many ladders and much timber by the Turks brought to that place was quickly consumed with wild fire cast vpon the same from the wals Perlat hauing deliuered the citie of this feare presently placed fresh soldiors in stead of them which were slaine or hurt and so worthely defended the citie Whilest Amurath was giuing this great assault to Sfetigrad Scanderbeg to withdraw him from the same came with nine thousand souldiours to assaile the Turkes campe as Amurath had before suspected and was now come verie neere the same Feri-Bassa glad of his comming opposed his armie against him which Scanderbeg seeing retired a little of purpose to draw the Bassa farther from the campe and then forthwith began to joyne battaile with him The Bassa considering the small number of his enemies and his own greater power withdrew foure thousand horsemen out of his armie to fetch a compasse about and to set vpon the rearward of Scanderbegs armie hoping so to inclose him that he should neuer escape thence but there either to be slaine or taken aliue and his armie vtterly defeated But the expert captaine perceiuing his purpose to meet therewith left Moses to lead the maine battaile and he himselfe with two thousand horsemen so valiantly charged those foure thousand of his enemies before they were well departed from the rest of the Bassaes armie that they had now more cause to looke to their own safetie than how to circumuent others In this conflict Feri-Bassa hand to hand as he had oft times before desired encountring with Scanderbeg was by him there slaine All this while that Scanderbeg was in fight with Feri-Bassa in the right wing of the armie and Musachie in the left Moses stood fast receiuing the assault of the enemie without mouing anie thing forward expecting the successe of the wings But Scanderbeg hauing discomfited the right wing and slaine the Generall comming now in he set forward with such force and courage that the Turkes not able longer to abide his force turned their backs and fled of whom manie were slaine in this chase though Scanderbeg doubting the great power of his enemie so nigh at hand durst not follow them farre but sounding a retrait put his armie againe in good order for feare of some sodaine attempt from the campe and after appointed some of the meanest of his souldiors to take the spoile of the slaine Turkes When Amurath had vnderstood what had happened to Feri-Bassa he was so ouercome with anger and melancholy that for a while he could not speake one word but after the heat was a little past he commaunded certaine small peeces of ordinance which he had before vsed against the citie to be remoued into the campe and there placed vpon that side which was most in danger to the enemie He also presently sent thither foure thousand souldiours to joyne with the remainder of Feri-Bassaes armie for defence of the campe with straight charge that they should not issue out of the trenches Neuerthelesse he himselfe continued the assault of the citie all that day but when night drew on and no hope appeared for him to preuaile he caused a retrait to be sounded and leauing the assault he returned againe into his campe At this assault Amurath lost seuen thousand men beside manie that died afterwards of their wounds but of the garrison souldiours were slaine but seuentie and nintie mo hurt The terror of the turkish armie began now to grow into contempt throughout EPIRVS and Scanderbeg was in good hope that Amurath after so manie ouerthrowes and shamefull repulses would at length raise his siege and be gone yet he sent spies continually to discouer what was done in the Turkes campe and he himselfe with two thousand souldiours would oftentimes shew himselfe vpon the sides of the mountaines neere vnto Amurath his campe of purpose to draw the Turkes out that hee might take them at some aduantage But the old king had giuen commandement vpon paine of death that no man should go out of the trenches without leaue or once to speake of giuing battaile or assault so that hee lay certaine daies in his campe not like a king besieging of a citie but more like a man besieged himselfe the which his still lying Scanderbeg had the more in distrust fearing greatly that he was hatching some mischiefe which so soone as it was ripe would violently breake out Amurath considering with what euill successe he had manie times assaulted the citie and holding it for a great dishonour to raise his siege and depart hauing done nothing worth the remembrance thought good once againe to prooue if it were possible to ouercome the minds of the garrison soldiors with gifts whom he was not able to subdue by force For which purpose he sent an embassadour vnto the citie offering vnto the besieged and garrison souldiors easie conditions of peace with such large gifts and rewards as had not been heard offered to any garrison in former time All which his magnificall promises were lightly rejected by the common consent of all the whole garrison preferring their faithfull loyaltie before all his golden mountaines For all that Amurath was in good hope that amongst so manie some would be found into whose minds his large offers might make some impression wherein he was not deceiued For one base minded fellow amongst the rest corrupted with the Turkes great promises preferring his owne priuat wealth before the welfare of his countrey waiting his time had secret conference with the Turks espials and promised vpon assurance of such reward as was before by Amurath proffered to find meanes that in few daies the citie should bee yeelded into his power This corrupted traitour had laid many mischieuous plots for the effecting of this horrible treason but the first deuice he put in practise which of all others a man would haue thought to haue been of least moment serued his wicked purpose in stead of all the rest All the garrison souldidiours of SFETIGRADE were of the vpper countrey of DIBRA put into that citie by Moses for their approoued valour aboue all the other souldiours of EPIRVS But as they were men of great courage so were they exceeding superstitious both in their religion and manner of liuing putting nice difference betwixt one kind of lawfull meat and other accounting some cleane some vncleane abhorring from that which they fondly deemed vncleane with more
another to endure all manner of perill and danger that might possibly chance but especially the worthy Gouernour Vranacontes who going through the middest of his souldiours and shaking some of them by the hands withall said These these are the fortresses of our citie these are the inuincible bulwarks these are the irremoâ—able stones and surest sement What honour what praise what triumph should we hope for if these wals standing whole and strong we should lie shrouded vnder the defence of them and not they defended by vs So can cowards defend cities and sheepe feare not the wolues rage when they are safely shut vp within the wals of their sheepcoats But that is the praise of the wals and not of the men Worthie Castriot our prince hath commended this his citie to bee defended by vs and not vs by it Honour is attended vpon with danger and fostred vp amongst perils euerie base mariner may be a master in faire weather and firme things stand of themselues and need not our vpholding Wherefore men of worth shun such things which being kept or lost yeild like praise Things readie to fall need shoaring and thether hasteth honour and there worthie souldiours appeareth courage and valour Wherefore let our valiant right hands defend these broken breaches and in stead of these dead wals couragiously oppose our lustie and liuely armed bodies against the force of our enemies If these wals stood still firme and vnbattred you should then fight from the top of them like women but now that they are something shaken you shall as men stand vpon somwhat more euen ground and encounter your enemies hand to hand the better to satisfie your furious desire Where I also in the thickest shall easily view and judge of euerie mans priuat courage in perticular and of all your valour in common And yet if we well consider of the matter the place it self doth yet notably make for vs and our former good hopes are little or nothing by these small breaches diminished For this rising of the hill not possible to be taken from vs although it be not so high as it is in other places yet doth it not serue vs suficiently at great aduantage to charge our enemies and hinder their assault the steepenesse whereof as it will be troublesome vnto them so will it keepe vs most fresh in strength and make our shot more forcible Wherfore this had been a thing of vs to haue been wished for if we desire the slaughter of our enemies at this siege or if wee wish for perpetuall honour and glorie by this warre For this breach of the wals wil encourage these barbarians allure their armed men to clime vp in greater multitude than if the wals were whole whereof so many shall on euerie side bee easily slaine as wee shall but ayme at except you had rather sit still holding your handes together in your bosomes as cowards Their dead bodies shall fill vp the breaches againe if you be men mindfull of your libertie What is there worthy captaines and souldiors that letteth our victorie or memorable slaughter of our enemies by whom onely these two places of the citie can bee assaulted all the rest is out of daunger and feares no enemies force Here onely is the paines to be taken this onely is left for you to defend and here shall you all be the courage force and strength of you all shall in this place appeare How will you so many worthie captaines and valiant souldiours in so little roome bestow your selues we are too many defendants for so small breaches Yet let vs play the men and doe our endeauour let vs in one conflict weaken the tyrants strength and burst his proud heart he will forsake this citie and raise his siege vnfortunatly begun so soone as he shall see his first assault to cost him the liues of so many thousands of his men When Vranacontes had with this comfortable speech thus encouraged his souldiours against the assault which he expected the next day and had with great care and diligence set all things in order for the same and repaired the breaches as well as was possible in that case hee gaue them leaue for that night to take their rest In the morning Amurath commaunded the assault to bee giuen to both the breaches which was forthwith by the Turkes cheerefully begun and euerie man busie to performe the seruice hee was appointed vnto But by that time that the assault was well begun a suddaine allarum was raised throughout all the Turks campe for Scanderbeg with fiue thousand valiant souldiours had suddainely broken in vpon one side of the Turkes great campe and at the first encounter had slaine six hundreth of the Turks and was now spoiling their tents The rumour whereof troubled the whole campe and made the Turks with lesse courage to assault the breaches for feare of the danger behind them Amurath although hee had great confidence in them whom he had before left for the sauegard of his tents yet for more surety sent Seremet one of his greatest captaines with foure thousand souldiours backe into the campe for more suretie saying That nothing could be too sure against that wild beast meaning the furie of Scanderbeg Mahomet also the yong prince hasted thether in great choler with his guard much against his fathers will But Moses Scanderbeg his lieutenant knowing himselfe too weak to withstand the multitude that was swarming thether contenting himselfe with that which was alreadie done had before Mahomet his comming speedily retired with all his armie into the safegard of the mountaines from whence he came hauing done great harme in the Turks campe with the losse but of ten men Scanderbeg in the heat of this skirmish forgetting himselfe had so farre engaged himselfe among the Turkes that hee was by them on euerie side enclosed and in great danger to haue been slaine or taken yet valiantly breaking through them hee escaped the danger and recouered the mountaines and with much adoe came at length to his campe to the great joy and comfort of them all being before in great feare hee had been lost This was accounted the greatest ouersight of Scanderbeg in all his warres for so much as the office of a good Generall consisteth not in aduenturing of his person to manifest danger but in the politike gouernment of his charge During the time that Scanderbeg thus assailed the Turkes campe Amurath but faintly assaulted the breaches expecting the successe in the campe but when he vnderstood that Scanderbeg was retired and all quieted he brought all his forces to the wals and first with the multitude of his archers and small shot laboured to driue the defendants from the wals ouerwhelming them with arrowes falling as thicke as haile And likewise at the same time other common souldiours of baser account brought scaling ladders and other things needfull for the scaling of the wals After whom also followed the Ianizaries and other chosen
your hurt you shall alwaies haue these tents in your eyes and at your gates vntill long famine which mastereth all things tame your courage also I pray you what hope haue you left from whence ariseth in your resolute minds such dâ—sperate contempt of danger Can Scanderbeg victuall you being so straightly besieged which bideth himselfe poore man in the woods all day and flâ—eth ouer the tops of the mountains loaden with trauaile and care scarce able to releeue his owne miserie Or will the Venetians releeue you which daily bring vnto vs and store vs with too too great plentie of all things necessarie for this war against you Wherefore repent your too much hardinesse and gather your wits together Behold I your enemie aduise you You haue long ynough continued in your obstinacie Your countrey and libertie is not so far to be defended as that you should therefore fight against God But wherefore doe I call this libertie You must giue place vnto your fortune and learne to obey them that be too strong for you You shall find assured libertie rich rewards perpetuall rest with Amurath Prouide for your selues if you be wise whilest all things are yet whole for you to determine of whilest we your enemies exhort and request you and had rather haue you our voluntarie companions and friends than our enforced seruants and slaues This the Bassa spake with great grauitie and no lesse vehemencie expecting some great motions to haue risen in the minds of the souldiors But when he perceiued that his speech had rather filled them with indignation than with feare and that it was but a vaine thing to goe about to terrifie them with words whom all the power of Amurath could not make afraid with weapons he requested to talke alone with the Gouernour in secret which was also graunted For all men had no lesse good opinion of the worthie Gouernours fidelitie than of his great wisedome and valour The craftie Bassa hauing him by himselfe began with great cunning to deliuer his more secret message when Vranacontes perceiuing by a little what the whole tale meant interrupted him in the middle of his speech and without more adoe commaunded him to depart straightly charging him That neither hee nor any other should after that time presume to come from his master to the cittie to speake with him about any such dishonourable matter for if hee did he would in detestation thereof cause their hands their noses and their eares to be cut off and so returne them dismembred in stead of answere And so the Bassa was with his presents againe turned out of the citie and no man suffered to receiue any thing of him in reward although the soldiors could haue beene well content to haue eased him and his seruants of that carriage if the Gouernour would but haue winked thereat Great was the expectation in the Turks campe of the Bassaes returne but when they saw the presents were not receiued they easily guessed that all went not as they wished But when Amurath himselfe vnderstood the Gouernors resolute answere he in great rage commanded all things to be made readie for a fresh assault which he did rather to satisfie his anger than vpon any hope he had to preuaile therein The next day he caused a furious assault to be giuen to the citie but with greater losse to himselfe than before the Christians still valiantly defending the citie against the Turkish furie In this assault many of the Turks were slaine at the breach with their owne great shot for whilest Amurath sought therewith to driue the Christians from the defence of the breach he slew a great number more of the forwardest of his owne men than he did of the defendants But wearied at length to behold the endlesse slaughter of his men he gaue ouer the assault and returned into his campe as if he had been a man halfe franticke or distract of his wits and there sat downe in his tent all that day full of melancholie passions sometimes violently pulling his hoarie beard and white locks complaining of his hard and disaster fortune that hee had liued so long to see those daies of disgrace wherein all his former glorie and triumphant victories were obscured by one base towne of EPIRVS His Bassaes and graue counsellours labouring in the meane time with long discourses to comfort him vp sometimes recounting vnto him his many and glorious victories and other whiles producing antient examples of like euent But darke and heauie conceits had so ouerwhelmed the melancholy old tirant that nothing could content his waiward mind or reuiue his dying spirits so that the little remainder of naturall heat which was left in his aged bodie now oppressed and almost extinguished with melancholie conceits and his aged bodie dried vp with sorrow hee became sicke for griefe Wherevpon by the counsaile of some of his Bassaes he sent an embassadour to Scanderbeg offering him peace if he would yeild to pay vnto him a yearely tribute of ten thousand duckats thinking by that meanes his honour to be well saued if before his departure out of EPIRVS hee could but make Scanderbeg his tributarie This embassadour was by Scanderbeg honourably entertained in his campe but the offered peace at the same time vtterly refused The embassadour returning to Amurath declared vnto him the euill successe of his embassage which greatly encreased his melancholie sicknesse And Scanderbeg to greeue him the more vnderstanding that he was dangerously sicke and that the great Bassaes were more carefull of the kings health than of the successe of the warres diuers times assailed the Turks campe Which thing though the Bassaes kept from his knowledge with all carefulnesse yet he often times suspected the matter by the often allarums and tumults in the campe and with the greefe thereof languished So feeling his sicknesse daily to increase and that he could not longer liue lying vpon a pallet in his pauillion greeuously complained to his Bassaes That the destinies had so blemished all the former course of his life with such an obscure death that hee which had so often repressed the furie of the Hungarians and almost brought to naught the pride of the Grecians together with their name should now be enforced to giue vp the ghost vnder the wals of an obscure castle as hee termed it and that in the sight of his contemptible enemie After that turning himselfe to his son Mahomet he earnestly commended him to the faithfulnesse of his Bassaes and gaue him many graue aduertisements sometimes in secret betwixt themselues and sometimes in the hearing of others want of strength abundance of teares running down his aged face vpon the sight of his son often times interrupting his speech Yet sick vnto death as he was and drawing fast vnto his end he forced himselfe to warne his sonne of such things as now at his death greeued him most Let mine example quoth he be a warning vnto thee my sonne neuer to
faith vnto these also were joyned diuers other Christians which came out of GERMANIE BOHEMIA and HVNGARIE to serue the Turke in his warres This hath been none of the least meanes whereby the Turkish kings haue growne so great and their kingdome so mightily enlarged by enforcing and alluring Christians to fight against Christians to the vtter confusion of themselues Amongst the great multitude of the European Christians were mingled his effeminat soldiors of ASIA and his naturall Turks and Ianizaries which were in number fewest and yet commaunded all the rest With this great armie well appointed with all warlike prouision came Mahomet the Turkish king from HADRIANOPLE and the ninth day of Aprill in the yeare 1453 encamped before CONSTANTINOPLE and with the multitude of his armie filled all the maine land before the citie from the sea side of BOSPHORVS vnto the place where the same sea compassing in the citie on two parts and running farre into the land betwixt CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA maketh there a goodly hauen betwixt them This citie of CONSTANTINOPLE called in ancient time BIZANTIVM is in fourme of a Triangle situated in EVROPE in the pleasant countrey of THRACIA vpon a point of the main land shooting out towards ASIA called of Plinie Solinus The promotorie CHRYSOCERAS where the sea of PRODONTIS joyneth vnto that strait of sea which diuideth ASIA from EVROPE called in ancient time BOSPHORVS THRACIVS sometime the strait of PONTVS and the mouth of PONTVS and of the moderne writers the strait of CONSTANTINOPLE and about 200 yeares past or more S. George his aâ—me This point of the maine whereon the citie standeth lyeth about two Italian miles more Northward than doth the antient citie of CALCEDON on the other side of the strait in ASIA more than thirtie miles distant from the Euxine or blacke sea lying from it Northward and two hundreth miles from the strait of HELLESPONTVS or CALLIPOLIS from thence South Which noble citie of all others most fitly seaâ—ed for the empire of the world and with great majestie ouerlooking both EVROPE and ASIA is by the Cosmographers accounted to stand in the height of 43 degrees vpon seuen little hils of no great and easie ascent and was there first built by Pausanias the Lacedemonian king and called BIZANTIVM and so many yeares flourished as a populous and rich cittie vntill the ciuile warres betwixt Seuerus the emperour and Niger what time it endured the siege of the Romanes vnder Seuerus three yeares with such obstinacie that it yeelded not vntill it was brought to such extremitie that the citizens did eat one another and then yeelding had the wals ouerthrowne by Seuerus and the citie it selfe destroyed and brought to the low estate of a poore countrie village and so by him giuen to the Perinthyans In which base estate it continued vntill the time of Constantine the Great the sonne of Helena whom some will needs haue to haue ben an English woman by whom it was new built and beautified with buildings so stately and sumptuous that vnto the strange beholders it seemed a dwelling place for heauenly wights rather than for earthly men And to grace it the more translated his imperiall seat thether and called it NOVA ROMA or new ROME and all that pleasant part of THRACIA alongst the sea coast of HELLESPONTVS PROPONTIS and BOSPHORVS by the name of ROMANIA of the faire Romane collonies there by him planted which name it at this day retaineth and is of the Turks called RVMILIA and RVMILI that is to say the Romane countrey But as for the citie it selfe the glorious name of the founder so preuailed that the citie was and yet is of him called CONSTANTINOPLE or Constantine his citie and now of the barbarous Turkes commonly but corruptly STAMBOLâ— It is as we said built in the forme of a Triangle whereof the longest side which runneth from Northeast to Southwest is on the South side washed with the PROPONTIS and towards the ending of the point which is about the seauen towers is somewhat indented being commonly reputed to be eight miles long The other side lyeth East and West fiue miles in length being washed with the hauen which is somwhat more thaÌ„ eight miles long before it meet with the fresh water and about a quarter of a mile broad on the farther side whereof standeth the citie of PERA commonly called GALATA sometimes a colonie of the Genowaies This hauen is very deepe and by that reason as commodious as deepe bearing ships full fraught close to the shoare so that they may discharge their burthens with the least trouble that may be and is of Strabo called CORNV BIZANTII or the horne of Bizantium The third side of this citie towards the Continent lyeth almost North and South fiue miles also in length those two sides that lie vpon the sea and the hauen are enuironed and guirt in with a single wall built after the antique maner with many high towers which strongly defend flanke the same Without which wals especially towards the hauen there lyeth a street between them and the shore But the other side which is the third and regardeth the main land beside the ditch which is also fenced is defended with three wals the first wall standing vpon the ditch being but low and the second not farre distant from the first raised somewhat higher but the third ouerlooketh and commaundeth both the other from whence as from an high fortresse both the other wals and all the ditch without may easily be defended But the two vtter wals with the whole space betwixt them are now by the Turks but slenderly maintained lying full of earth and other rubbish euen as they were in the time of the Grecians some cause why they with lesse heart and courage defended the same against their barbarous enemies In the East part of the cittie on that point which in the raigne of the Grecians was called the cape of S. Demetrio distant from ASIA not much more than halfe a mile standeth the Seraglio or pallace of the great Turke containing in it selfe a great part of an hill enclosed round with a wall as if it were it selfe a citie in circuit more than two miles wherein amongst other stately buildings neere vnto the sea standeth a verie faire and sumptuous gallerie built for pleasure with a priuie gate well fortified and planted with great ordinance and other munition whereby the great Turke at certaine times passeth when he is disposed in his gallie to take his pleasure vpon the sea or to passe ouer the strait vnto his houses or gardens of delight on the other side in ASIA In this great citie are also many other most stately and sumptuous buildings as well of late erected by the Turkish Sultans since they became lords thereof as before by the Greeke emperours amongst all which the Temple of S. Sophia standing in the East side of the citie not farre from the Seraglio now reduced vnto
Iacuppe was but a little before departed where he rested one whole day The next morning to terrifie his enemies who as yet had not heard of the ouerthrow of Balabanus he caused diuers of the Turkes heads which were slaine in the late battell which he had brought for that purpose to be cast before the trenches of the enemie and withall diuers of them which were taken prisoners to be showne Which Iacuppe beholding in great dispaire said I see the euill hap of Mahomet Immediatly after Scanderbeg sent forth 500 horsemen to skirmish with the Turkes commaunding them so soone as they were charged by the enemie to retire if happily they might so be drawne into battell which fell out accordingly For Iacuppe now seeing his fellow was not to be looked for and willing also without farther delay to trie his fortune came readily into the field and began a fierce battell which endured not long for Scanderbeg perceiuing in what part of the armie Iacuppe was bent his greatest force that way and singling him out with his owne hand slew him Wherewith the Turkes being discouraged forthwith betooke themselues to flight and in flying were for most part slaine or taken Those which escaped the present furie of the sword stragling through the countrey by thicke woods and blind waies were by the countrey people either slaine or taken prisoners In these two battels were slaine of the Turkes foure and twentie thousand and six thousand taken And of Scanderbeg his men were lost about a thousand Scanderbeg and his souldiours were so wearie of the slaughter of the Turkes that when it was told him the next day that Balabanus was fled but with one cornet of horsemen and might easily be surprised if he were well pursued he said O let some of our enemies liue to report their owne slaughter and our victorie After that Scanderbeg had in this sort vanquished these great captaines he presently entered into the frontiers of the Turkes dominions and roaming vp and downe at his pleasure without resistance made hauocke of all that came in his way And after returning to CROIA with victorie brake vp his armie and gaue his souldiours leaue to depart euerie man to his owne dwelling Whilest these things were in doing Mahomet had with great rewards procured two Turks to vndertake to kill Scanderbeg These traitors came vnto Scanderbeg as fugitiues making such shew of the detestation both of Mahomet his tyrannicall gouernment and vaine superstition that they were both of Scanderbeg and others reputed to be in deed the men they desired to be accounted and so after they had learned the principles of the Christian religion were by their owne desire baptised But treason against princes whom God hath in his most mightie protection cannot be long couered much lesse without his great sufferance performed So fortuned it that these two false dissembling traitors expecting nothing but opportunitie to performe their diuelish deuise vpon some occasion fell at variance betwixt themselues and in their heat let some such words fall as being taken vp by some there present drew them both into suspition and therupon being straitly examined it was at last by them confessed that they were sent by Mahomet of purpose to haue slaine Scanderbeg for which their treason they were both presently executed as they had right well deserued When Mahomet vnderstood that Balabanus was ouercome Iacup slaine and both their armies almost quite destroied he after his impatient manner fell into a great rage and became as a man almost franticke and afterwards calling togither his great Bassaes resolued by their aduise not to send any mo generals against Scanderbeg but to go himselfe in person with such an armie as should at once make an end of his warres in EPIRVS for euer Hereupon commissions were directed through all his kingdome and an armie raised of two hundred thousand men whereof Scanderbeg hauing certaine aduertisement fortifyed all his cities and strong holds especially the citie of CROIA vpon the fortune whereof depended the whole state of his kingdome Into this cittie he put a strong garrison of his most valiant and faithfull souldiours and throughly furnished the same with all things necessarie for the enduring of a long siege and left one Balthasar Perduci a graue and worthy captaine gouernour thereof With like care he prouided for the safetie of his other cities and tooke order that the countrey people were either receiued into the strong townes or else conuayed into other places of refuge and left nothing abroad in the countrey for the Turkes to prey vpon as he had in like case done long before at the comming of old Amurath to the siege of CROIA as is before in his life declared By that time that Scanderbeg had set all things in order his old friend Balabanus with eightie thousand horsemen the forerunners of Mahomet his armie was entred into EPIRVS and ranging ouer the countrey two daies came and sat downe before CROIA Vpon whom the gouernour at his first comming made many brauesallies In few daies after came Mahomet with his huge armie and there encamped also Who at his first comming summoned the citie requiring to haue it deliuered vnto him vpon such vnreasonable conditions as it pleased himselfe as the manner of the Turke is whereunto the worthy gouernour returned him no other answere than by continuall thundring shot into his campe Whereupon Mahomet caused such ordinance as he had to be planted for batterie and commanded other new to be cast of such mettall as he had for that purpose brought in masse all which he did rather to strike a terror into the minds of the defendants than for any great hope he had of taking the cittie by force knowing by his owne experience that it was a place almost impregnable Whilest Mahomet was thus busied and little or nothing preuailed Scanderbeg lying abroad in the woods and mountaines with a small army of most valiant and couragious souldiours continually cut off the forragers of Mahomets armie and such as brought in victuall or necessaries for his campe and manie times in the night suddenly brake into one quarter or other of the Turks great camp with great slaughter and with continuall alarums neuer suffered them to rest in quiet Mahomet seeing his army to decrease daily and no hope of winning the citie but by famine which would require a long siege and fearing also to make that same place again famous by some notable mischance which might happen vnto himselfe vnder the wals of CROIA as had before vnto his father Amurath determined to returne himselfe to CONSTANTINOPLE and to leaue Balabanus with a great part of his armie to continue the siege Vpon which determination he committed the charge and ordering of the whole matter for the continuing of the siege to Balabanus joyning vnto him eight of his most expert captaines yet so as that they should be all at Balabanus his commaund And so leauing with him three and twentie
Turkes to breath vntill he had by force wrested all that kingdome out of their hands Wherewith Mahomet being exceedingly grieued in great furie came with a strong armie into BOSNA and laid hard siege to IAZIGA which was by the Christians right valiantly defended vntill Mathias with a puissant armie came to the reliefe thereof who so troubled the Turkes campe with continuall skirmishes on the one side and they of the towne with desperat sallies on the other that at length the prowd Turke was driuen to such extremitie that he was glad secretly to steale away by night with all his army into SERVIA and for hast to leaue behind him both his tents and great ordinance which the Turks histories report he caused to be cast into the riuer because it should not come into the hands of the Christians Mathias after he had thus valiantly put to flight his enemies and relieued his citie followed the Turkes into SERVIA and tooke part of that countrey also which togither with BOSNA he vnited to the kingdome of HVNGARIE In these warres Mahomet had such proofe of the force and power of Mathias and the Hungarians that for a good while after he had no great stomacke to prouoke them farther for why the name of Mathias was now become vnto the Turkes no lesse dreadfull than was sometime the name of his father the valiant Huniades The Venetians at the same time also with their gallies scoured the seas and landing their men sometime in one place sometime in another did great harme in manie places of the Turkes dominion neere vnto the sea coast Amongst other their generals at diuers times sent from that state one Nicholas Canalis succeeding Lauretanus whom we haue before spoken of as soone as he had receiued his charge came with his fleet into the bay of SALONICHI and landing his men burnt diuers townes and villages alongst the sea side Afterwards returning into PELOPONESVS he fortified the towne of LEGOSTICIVM in the gulfe of PATRAS which worke the Turkes with their often skirmishes laboured to haue hindred but in despite of all they could doe it was brought to perfection and a strong garrison therein left for the defence thereof which done he returned againe to EVBoeA Shortly after he with the same fleet put to sea againe and sayling alongst the coast of MACEDONIA and THRACIA surprised the citie of AENUS which standeth vpon the mouth of the riuer Meritza called in auntient time Hebrus vpon which riuer the famous cities ANDRINOPLE and PHILIPPOPOLIS are also situate Canalis after he had taken the spoyle of the citie returned to his gallies carrying away with him two thousand captiues into EVBoeA At the same time also the Venetians giuing aid vnto Nicholaus Duchaine against his brother Alexius then at variance for the principalitie of ZADRIMA neere vnto the riuer of DRINO in EPIRVS gaue a great ouerthrow to the Turkes which came in the quarrell of Alexius Mahomet not a little offended with the harmes done vnto him by the Venetians and perceiuing that the island of EVBoeA now called NIGROPONTE was for the commodious situation and strength thereof the chiefe place from whence they wrought him all these wrongs and whither they afterwards retired againe as vnto a most sure place of refuge determined with himselfe at once to be euen with them for all and to imploy his whole forces both by sea and land for the gaining of that place This island of EVBoeA is about an hundred miles in length and lieth ouer against that part of GRECIA which was of old called BaeOTIA from whence it is separated with a narrow strait of the sea it aboundeth with corne wine oyle fruit and wood fit for shipping The chiefe citie thereof was in auntient time called CHALCIDE and of later time NIGROPHONTE by which name also the whole island was knowne albeit the Turkes now call it EGRIBOS a populous rich and strong cittie so fortified with wals and bulwarks that in most mens iudgement it seemed a place impregnable Vnto this strong citie Mahomet resolued to lay siege knowing well that vpon the fortune thereof depended the state of the whole island Wherefore he assembled a mightie army and made great preparation both by sea and land and when all things were in readinesse sent Mahomet the great Bassa of the court with a fleet of three hundred gallies and certaine other small vessels well furnished with souldiours mariners and all things necessarie by sea into EVBoeA and with a great armie marched himselfe by land through ACHAIA vntill he came ouer against the citie of CHALCIS The Venetian Admirall hearing of the comming of the Turkes fleet set forward to haue met them neere vnto the straits of HELLESPONTVS but after he had by his espials descried the great number of the enemies fleet finding himselfe too weake shaped his course to the island of SCIROS The Bassa comming out of the straits of HELLESPONTVS couered the sea with his fleet and holding on his entended course without let came to EVBoeA where at his first landing he tooke STORA and BASILICON two small townes which he rased to the ground and from thence went directly to CHALCIS As soone as this great fleet was there arriued Mahomet caused a bridge to be made of his smaller vessels ouer the strait betwixt ACHAIA and EVBoeA whereby he passed all his armie and so belaid the citie round both by sea and land And after he had planted his batterie began most furiously to shake the wals wherein he had in short time made faire breaches and the sooner for that one Thomas of LIBVRNIA chiefe canonier of the citie before corrupted by the Turkes by signes agreed vpon gaue them certaine knowledge in what places the wals were weakest whereby they so aptly planted their batterie as if they had taken view on the inside of the wals Which foule treason was at length perceiued and the traitor therefore worthely executed Yet little preuailed the tyrant thereby for such was the industrie of the defendants that whatsoeuer he had by the furie of his great ordinance beaten downe by day that they with restlesse labour repaired againe by night Thus was the siege continued thirtie daies in which space many a sharpe assault was giuen by the Turkes to their great losse and the citie still valiantly defended by the Christians At length the Venetian Admirall to the great comfort of the besieged came with his fleet within view of the cittie making semblant as if he would haue giuen the Turkes battell Whereupon it is reported that Mahomet was about to haue raised his siege and haue got himselfe ouer into the maine for feare the Venetians should with their gallies haue broken the bridge and so haue shut him vp into that island Which thing it was thought the admirall might haue done to his great praise if he would as a couragious chieftaine haue aduentured the matter as he was earnestly requested by the captaines of euerie priuat
The Christian defendants on the other side first by heartie prayer commended themselues and their citie to the protection of the most mightie and afterwards with restlesse labour and no small perill speedily repaired and new fortified whatsoeuer the furie of the artillerie had ouerthrowne or shaken omitting nothing that could be done or deuised for the defence of themselues and the citie Now as soone as the new Moone began to shew her selfe the Mahometane priests going about the armie gaue the souldiours knowledge thereof as their manner is by singing of a song in manner of a procession wherunto the whole armie answered with a short responde but with such a terrible noise as was wonderfull to heare and at the same time bowing themselues to the ground saluted the Moone with great superstition All their fond ceremonies performed they began to drawnie the citie so thicke and in number so manie that all the ground for the space of a mile round about SCODRA was thicke couered with men The Christians expecting euerie houre to be assailed were readie vpon the wals and rampiers of the citie to repulse the enemie but especially at the great gate where most danger was feared for that the Turks with their great ordinance had made that place of all others most saultable Here Iacobus Moneta a noble captaine with his brother Moncinus a valiant gentleman tooke vpon theÌ„ to receiue the first assault which is commonly of all others most terrible for the Turks vse in their assaults to giue three attempts whereof the first is most furious and dangerous as performed by their best souldiours the other two are of lesse force but if they faile in all three they forsake the enterprise as men discouraged Whilest both the assailants and the defendants stood thus in readinesse the one as it were facing the other a great part of the night Mahomet before day went vp to the top of the Bassaes mount from whence he had before beholden the former assault at whose comming there were presently eleuen cannons discharged and twelue smaller pieces the signal appointed for the assault The Turkes vpon this signe giuen with exceeding tumult and most hideous outcrie as their manner is began to assaile the citie round and with such wonderfull agilitie of bodie and courage mounted the rampiers at the great gate that they had there as it were in a trice set vp one of their ensignes which was foorthwith pluckt vp by Moneta and the Turkes with great slaughter driuen downe where many of them were slaine with stones timber fire and such other things cast downe vpon them beside a great number slaine or wounded with shot arrowes and darts whereof none fell to the ground in vaine by reason that the Turkes stood so thicke that they violently pressed one another forward in such sort that the formost could by no meanes shun any danger were it neuer so great or terrible In this sort the assault was with great slaughter of the Turkes continued vntill it was day they striuing to win the breach and the Christians most valiantly defending the same Moneta himselfe in this fight receiued diuerse wounds and was twice beaten downe to the ground yet still recouering himselfe encouraged his souldiors and woorthily repulsed the enemie Mahomet seeing his souldiors beaten from the breach caused a tyre of his great Ordinance to be discharged vpon the Christians which stood therein thicke for the defence thereof by force whereof many of them were rent in peeces and the rest sore dismayed which the Turkes quickly perceiuing and therewith encouraged came on againe with a fresh charge forcing themselues to the vttermost to haue entred But the valiant captaine nothing discouraged either with the losse of them that were slaine or with the danger of himselfe couragiously withstood the furious enemie and maintained the place vntill new supplies came to relieue him and neuer departed thence either suffered any man to depart vntill the assault was ended Many were slaine on both sides yet nothing troubled the defendants so much as the great ordinance which being discharged from the Bassaes mount into the breach at such times as the Turkes were driuen backe slew many of the Christians leauing the breach almost cleare so giuing occasion for the Turkes to haue entred had not other couragious souldiours stept vp in stead of them that were slaine who manfully repulsed the enemie The tyrant from the mouâ—â— seeing the inuincible courage of the defendants was therewith exceedingly troubled but fully resolued now or neuer to haue it commaunded all his forces to be drawne from all other parts of the citie vnto the great gate there to renew the assault straightly charging his captaines neuer to returne thence vntill they had taken the citie Hereupon the greatest part of that hugâ—â— armie was forthwith in the sight of himselfe brought vnto the appointed place and there gaue a sharpe and cruell assault at the breach with such desperat furie that in short time they had slaine most of the defendants there present and aduanced diuers of their ensignes vpon the top of the rampiers Which Mahomet beholding from the mount rejoyced exceedingly making sure account that the citie was now his owne but by that time he had well conceiued this hope new supplies of fresh and couragious men of purpose reserued for all euents came to the place of danger and with great resolution encountring the wearied Turkes draue them backe cleared the breach and ouerthrew their ensignes Which so sudden an alteration in the breach wrought no lesse alteration in the prowd tyrants mind his hope was turned into despaire and his rejoycing into choller insomuch that in his furie he commaunded all his great artillerie to be at once discharged into the breach whereby manie of his forward and couragious souldiours were slaine togither with the defendants At the same time the great commaunders and captaines knowing themselues to bee in the eye of their imperious lord and maister with their drawne swords forced the poore souldiours againe forward to the breach and the more to encourage them aduentured themselues also amongst them whereby the fight became more fierce and terrible than before Manie of the Turkes were there slaine yet such was the force and multitude of them which still stept vp in their place and bullets and arrowes flew so thicke that the defendants oppressed with multitude and ouerwhelmed with shot were hardly able longer to maintaine the place being for most part either slaine or wounded Whereupon a great one ran vpon the sudden through the citie that euerie man without exception should forthwith repaire to the breach Which was with such cheerfulnesse done that in lesse time than was to haue been thought a wonderfull multitude of all sort of people was there met togither encouraging one another against the present danger who all as men resolued to lay downe their liues in defence of their countrey valiantly encountred the Turkes vpon the top of the rampiers
many reasons on both parts alledged at length it was by generall consent concluded That they should all forsake the citie and the house of bondage as dangerous both to their soules and bodies and liue as it should please God amongst other Christians So the Turks giuing pledges for the safe departure of the Christians in SCODRA they all at an appointed day with bag and baggage came out of the citie and were by the Venetians carefully transported into other paâ—â—s of their territorie in ITALIE where they liued in peace The Turks who had now besieged the citie a whole yeare after the departure of the Christians entered the citie with great joy and triumph which with many others therabout hath euer since to the great ruth of all Christendome remained in the possession of the faithlesse infidels Thus was the strong citie of SCODRA lost and the long warres ended betwixt Mahomet and the Venetians which happened in the yeare 1478. Mahomet now at peace with the Venetians sent the same Achmetes Bassa by whom he had but a litle before taken in SCODRA with his fleet of gallies against one Leonard prince of NERITVS ZACYNTHVS and CEPHALENIA islands neere vnto PELOPONESVS where the Bassa arriuing easily tooke the same islands the poore prince for safegard of his life being glad to flie into ITALIE with his wife treasure to king Ferdinand whose nigh kinswoman he had maried About the same time Alis-Beg surnamed Michal Ogli Isa Beg the sonne of Cassanes and Bâ—lâ— Beg surnamed Malcozogli men of great account amongst the Turks and most honourably descended entred into TRANSYLVANIA with a great armie of an hundred thousand men and brought such a generall feare vpon the country that Stephanus Batore the Vaiuod was glad with all speed to flie vnto Matthias king of HVNGARIE to declare vnto him the danger of his countrey and to craue his aid Matthias at the same time lay sicke of the gout neuerthelesse he tooke such order by his captaines Stephanus Cherepetrus and Paulus Kinisius countie of TEMESWARE that the Turks were encountred not farre from ALBA IVLIA and there in a great and bloudie battell ouerthrowne wherein Isa one of their great captains was slaine with 30 thousand Turks mo Neither was this victorie gained by the Christians without losse Bator the Vayuod himselfe being sore wounded and eight thousand men slaine Mahomet in his ambitious humour had long time desired to haue in his subjection the island of the RHODES For why it grieued him that so small an island should lie so nie his great dominions in ASIA holden by a few Christians to the great trouble of his merchants trading in the Mediteranean beside manie other harmes daily from thence receiued and to haue no feeling of his greatnesse But forasmuch as the winning of that place was thought to be a matter of great difficultie and in former times vnfortunatly attempted by some of the Mahometane princes he purposed now with good aduise to take this enterprise in hand Wherefore calling togither his graue counsellors and most expert men of warre after he had declared vnto them the manifold injuries receiued from them of the RHODES he propounded the matter Whether it were best to attempt the winning of that island or not Some forward men persuaded him to reuenge those injuries done by those Christians and to subdue that island which for the neernesse vnto CARIA might of right be accounted as part of his dominion and not to forbeare that enterprise for feare of repulse forasmuch as he was able to bring mo men to assaile it than were stones in the wall about it Others better aduised declared the strength of the island with the valour of the defendants men alwaies brought vp in armes and as it were chosen out of all parts of Christendome so that it was as they said like to proue a matter of more difficultie than was by some supposed whereof some of the Mahometane princes had to their no small dishonour alreadie made sufficient triall Alleadging farther that that small island which scarcely appeared in the sea was not of that worth as that he should thereon gage his honour with the liues of so manie good men and most valiant souldiours as might serue for the conquest of a kingdome For all that Mahomet prickt forward with the spurs of ambition and continuall solicitation of Anthonius Meligalus a fugitiue knight of the RHODES resolued to follow the counsell of them which persuaded the warre This Meligalus was a knight of the order which when he had prodigally consumed his substance which was great with two others Demetrius and Sophonius men of his owne qualitie and disposition fled vnto the Turkish emperour presenting vnto him a perfect plot of the citie with all the strength both of it and the isle wherein it stood and which way he might with most ease win it In which seruice they frankly offered to spend their liues but hoping indeed by such foule treacherie to repaire their broken estate All things being now in readinesse Mahomet appointed Mesithes Paleologus one of his chiefe Bassaes the neere kinsman of Constantinus Paleologus the last emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE Generall for that expedition committing to his charge the whole managing of that so great an action Mesithes embarking his armie in number eightie thousand and throughly furnished with all things necessarie for the siege set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE and with a pleasant gale of wind sayled alongst the coast of ASIA the lesse towards the RHODES where by the way he called vnto him Demetrius one of the fugitiue knights to learne of him the best meanes for the safe landing of his aâ—mie As for the arch traitor Meligalus and chiefe author of this warre he was fallen sick vpon the way and in the extremitie of his sicknesse growing both troublesome and loathsome vnto the Turkes that were with him in the same gallie was by the marriners throwne ouer-boord aliue crying out in vaine for helpe no man vouchsafing to haue anie compassion vpon him and so swallowed vp of the sea receiued amiddest the waues the just guerdon of his treacherie At this time Peter Damboyse a Frenchman an Auergnoies a man of singular gouernment was Great Master of the RHODES whose valiancie was such that commonly once in eight daies he had certaine intelligence what great matters passed in the Turkes court and therewith oâ— such deepe judgement that he was seldome or neuer ouertaken or deceiued with anie false aduertisements This carefull Graund Master was not ignorant of all these great preparations neither of the comming of the Bassa and therefore had before strongly fortified the citie and so stored the same with all things needfull as might well haue serued for manie yeares siege but especially with such shot and powder that it was deemed as indeed it was an especiall meanes whereby the citie was afterwards preserued At the same time manie noble and valiant gentlemen hearing of the Turkes designes
through ROME And neuer satisfied with bloud which he without measure shed he tooke the citie of FAVENTIA from Astor Manfredus a young gentleman of rare perfection whom after the beastly tyrant had most horribly abused against nature he caused to be cruelly strangled and his dead bodie to be cast into Tiber. Hauing thus filled the measure of his iniquitie and as a fretting canker hauing either deuoured or driuen into exile most part of the Roman nobilitie and purposing by the supportation of his father to make himselfe lord and soueraigne both of the citie and of all LATIVM in the pride of his thoughts he was by the hand of the most highest attached and cast downe and that by such meanes as he least feared For being with his father at a solemn supper in the Vaticane of purpose prepared for the destruction of certaine rich Cardinals and some other honourable citizens they were both poisoned by the fatall errour of one of the waiters who mistaking of a flagon gaue the poisoned wine to the accursed bishop and his sonne which was prepared for the guests whereof the old bishop in few daies after died But his sonne who had drunke the same more delaied with water although he died not of long time after yet presently fell into such an extreame sickenesse that he was not able to helpe himselfe or to commaund his desperat followers whereof he had great store but lying sicke in short time saw himselfe of them forsaken and two of his enemies Pius the Third and Iulius the Second one after another sitting in his fathers place Of which two Pius enjoyed that pontificall dignitie but sixteene daies and Iulius succeeding him caused this Caesar Borgia who of right had deserued a thousand deaths to bee shut vp in the castle called MOâ—ES ADRIANI from whence he set him at libertie vpon the deliuerie of certaine strong holds which were yet holden by his garrisons After he had thus rid himselfe out of Iulius the bishops hands he fled to OSTIA and so by sea to NAPLES where he was by the commaundement of Ferdinand king of SPAINE apprehended by Consaluus the Great and transported into SPAINE for feare least he being of a most troublesome nature and much resorted vnto by his old fauourits should raise some new stirs in ITALIE He was no sooner arriued in SPAINE but he was cast into prison in the castle of MEDINA where after he had lien three yeares he deceiued his keepers and with a roape which he had gotten let himselfe downe from an high tower of the castle and so escaping fled to the king of NAVARRE whom he afterwards serued in his wars and was in an hoat skirmish against the kings enemies wherin he had obtained the victorie slaine with a small shot Vnworthy after so manie horrible villanies to haue ended his daies so honorably His dead bodie was found stript and so brought vnto the king vpon a bad beast as if it had been a dead calfe all naked which was by his commandement honourably buried at PAMPILONA But to returne againe from whence we haue something too long with this troublesome body gone astray The French king hauing thus lost both his great hostages Zemes the Turke by death and the Cardinall Borgia by escape held on his journey towards NAPLES and with wonderfull successe preuailed as hee went all places yeelding vnto him without any great resistance Alphonsus seeing himselfe destitute of such aid as he had in vaine requested both of the Turkish emperour and of the Venetians and now almost beset with his mightie enemy to whom so manie strong places had in shorter time been deliuered than anie man had before imagined and withall considering with himselfe how that he had lost the hearts of his subjects the strongest defence of princes for that most of the nobilitie and especially the Neapolitans hated him for his too much seueritie in punishing the offenders in the late rebellion wherein the princes of SARNE and SALERNE were chiefe and the common people were no lesse offended with the grieuous and heauie exactions required of them for the maintenance of these warres insomuch that their murmuring speeches came oftentimes to his owne hearing as oftentimes it falleth out That the hatred of the subjects against their princes which hath for feare of long time beene dissembled during their prosperitie more frankly and fiercely breaketh out in their declining estate For these causes Alphonsus fearing to be forsaken of his people as a man in despaire with aboundance of tears openly in the sight of all the Neapolitans resigned his kingdome of NAPLES vnto his sonne Ferdinand when as he had as yet scarcely raigned one whole yeare after the death of Ferdinand his father and with foure gallies passed ouer to MAZEREA a citie of CICILIA His son Ferdinand a prince of rare perfection and singularly graced with all the vertues of true nobilitie and thereto deerely beloued of all the people was to the wonderfull contentment of the Neapolitans with great joy and acclamations saluted king and so hauing performed all the ceremonies belonging to his coronation returned presently to his armie By this time the French king with all his forces was entered farre into the kingdome of NAPLES and hauing taken by assault certaine cities which trusted too much to their owne strength strucke such a generall terrour into the minds of the Neapolitanes that they thought no place now strong ynough to abide his batteries or power sufficient to encounter his forces Ferdinand the young king with his armie had taken the straits of the forrest of S. Germane thereby to impeach the further passage of the French king But whilest he was there busied he was suddenly aduertised that Fabritius Columna with a great power of Frenchmen had by the Appenines broken into CAMPANIA and so was marching towards him wherefore doubting to bee shut vp betwixt two strong armies of the enemies he retired speedily to CAPVA a strong citie situat vpon the riuer Vulturnus purposing there by meanes of that deepe riuer to stay the French from passing farther But whilest hee lay there newes was brought vnto him That all the cittie of NAPLES was in an vprore and that the citizens were all vp in armes as men in doubt which way to turne themselues Ferdinand not a little troubled with these bad newes commended the charge of his armie and the defence of the citie of CAPVA to his cheefe captaines and rid himselfe in post backe againe to NAPLES It is a strange thing to tell what a suddaine alteration ensued vpon his arriuall there for suddenly all the tumult was appeased euery man laied downe his armes and welcommed him with a generall gratulation for he was a man of a great and an inuincible courage and of so comely a personage as might easily win the hearts of his subjects insomuch that when he earnestly requested them that they would not traiterously betray him vnto his barbarous cruell enemies being
their naturall king or rather their brother borne and brought vp amongst them they all with one consent answered That they would spend their liues and goods in his quarrell so long as he should keepe his armie whole and defend the citie of CAPVA But if it should so chance that the Aragonians should be ouerthrowne or els for feare abandon that citie and the French king as victor to approch the citie of NAPLES he should doe both against reason and equitie if by exacting fidelitie and allegeance of his subjects apprehended with so just a feare he should so expose that noble citie with the fruitfull countrey thereabout to bee spoiled and destroyed by a mercilesse and cruell enemie Whilest Ferdinand was thus busied in appeasing and confirming his wauering subjects at NAPLES the French king had taken diuers cities and was come before CAPVA The citizens of CAPVA although they were alwayes well affected to the Aragonian kings yet seeing the French king as a most violent tempest to beare downe all before him began now to consult amongst themselues of yeelding vp the cittie whereunto they were the more prickt forward by the suddaine reuolt of the great captaine Triuultius with his followers as also by the departure of Verginius and Petilianus two great and famous commaunders who seeing themselues forsaken of Triuultius fled with their companies vnto the citie of NOLA In this discomfiture of king Ferdinand his armie the Frenchmen had entered into the suburbes of the citie which thing Gothfredus and Gaspar two valiant Germane captaines beholding sallied with their companies out of the citie of purpose to abate the pride of the French to confirme the doubtfull citizens These worthie captaines when they had with exceeding valour repulsed the French and thought to haue againe returned into the citie could not be suffered to enter but were by the citisens shut out of the gate in danger to haue had their throats cut by the enemie In which perplexitie they were glad vpon their knees to entreat the cowardly citisens standing vpon the wals not in such traiterous manner to betray their friends readie in their defence to bestow their liues and with much entreating at length obtained of those heartlesse men that they might by ten and ten in a companie be receiued in at one gate of the citie and so put out at another farthest from the danger of the enemie in which sort when they had passed through the citie they tooke the way towards NAPLES and vpon the way met with the king at AVERSA vnto whom they declared all that had happened in his absence at CAPVA Who although he saw his armie dispersed and all things now desperat yet went hee on forward and came to the very gates of CAPVA and there called vpon diuers of the cheefe men of the citie requiring to be let in But when hee saw there was none to giue him answer and an ensigne of the French king displayed vpon the wall in token that the citie was become French hee returned to NAPLES where he found the gates now shut against him and all the citisens vp againe in armes and not willing to receiue any of the souldiors which came from CAPVA more than the king himselfe for flying fame preuenting his returne had filled euerie corner of the citie with report That all the cheefe captaines of his armie were either gone ouer to the enemie or els for safegard of their liues fled That the whole armie was broken vp and CAPVA yeelded to the French Wherfore the Neapolitanes framing their fancies according to the condition of the time began now also to fawne vpon the good fortune of the French and to haue king Ferdinand in contempt which hee well perceiuing and fetching a compasse farther off from the cittie came vnto the castle whereinto he was receiued with his followers by his faithfull captaines therein before left But prouidently foreseeing that he could not there long stay but that hee should bee besieged by his enemies both by sea and land he commended the keeping of that peece vnto Alphonsus D'aualus a most valiant captaine and departed himselfe with twentie gallies well appointed vnto AENARIA an Island not farre from NAPLES hauing in it a commodious harbour and a strong castle where fortune neuer firme but in miserie seemed againe to deride the poore remainder of his honor For comming thether the captaine of the castle vnworthely named Iustus forgetting his dutie towards his soueraigne of whom he had before receiued many extraordinarie fauours most traiterously now in his so hard distresse shut the gates of the castle against him at his landing and vnkindly refused to receiue him With which vnexpected ingratitude the poore king was wonderfully perplexed and almost abashed yet with earnest entreatie and ample commemoration of the benefits and preferments which both his father and himselfe had in times past bestowed vpon him he preuailed so much with this vnthankefull man that hee was content to receiue him into the castle so that he would come but himselfe alone of which his offer when no more could be got the king seemed to accept So the captain hauing opened a port to receiue him in was in the very entrance thereof suddenly stabd to the heart with a dagger by king Ferdinand and slaine in the middest of his armed souldiours Which was done with such a countenance and majestie that the warders with their weapons in their hands dismayed with his look forthwith at his commaundement opened the gate and receiued him in with all his followers Whereby it appeareth That in the countenance of princes resteth a certaine diuine majestie in all fortunes aboue the common course of nature which is of power to daunt the hearts of most disloyall traitors in the performance of their vnnaturall treasons The next day after the departure of king Ferdinand from the castle of NAPLES Charles the French king was receiued into the citie with such pompe triumph and acclamation of the Neapolitanes as if they had euen then by the benefit of that forraine king been restored vnto perfect libertie and deliuered out of some long and hard bondage Shortly after the castle of NAPLES with all the strong places thereabout were yeelded vnto the French and embassadours sent from all the princes and people of that kingdome yeelding themselues into the power of the French king Then Ferdinand seeing all lost and gone departed from AENARIA where he lay expecting the euent of his hard fortune and sailed into SICILIA Thus the house of ARAGON in lesse than fiue moneths lost the kingdome of NAPLES about 63 yeares after that it was first taken from the French by Alphonsus the elder this Ferdinand his great grandfather The report of the great preparation made by the French for this warre had long before filled the eares of them which dwelt in any part of the Turks dominions in EVROPE but when they saw the French ensignes displayed vpon the wals of the castles and
the beginning of the siege sent Valerius Marcellus and Baptista Polanus with two gallies full of men and munition in reliefe of the besieged and now doubting their farther wants sent Io. Maripetrus Alex. Cothius of CORCYRA and Cachuris of HYDRVNTVM with three other great gallies with men munition and such other things as he thought needfull for the deâ—ence of the citie These three resolute captaines comming with a full wind and packing on all their sailes brake through the Turks fleet lying in their way and ran themselues a ground vnder the wals of the towne for they of the towne had so barred the hauen for feare of the enemie that they could not that way possibly get in The citisens and souldiors joyfull of the comming of this fresh supplie and withall fearing least the gallies should be fet off againe from them by the enemie came running by heapes from all parts of the citie towards the sea to receiue this new come aid which was done with such a confused disorder that diuers places of the citie towards the land were left without defendants as if there had beene no enemie neere Which the Ianizaries quickly perceiuing presently entered by those forsaken places with little or no resistance Then the citizens all too late began to make head for the Ianizaries alreadie entered made way for the rest of the armie which swarming into the citie slew without pitie all that came in the way as well Grecians as Venetians with all the souldiours but euen then newly landed out of the three gallies In this slaughter Anthonius Fabrius and Bardella gouernours of the towne with Andreas Falco bishop of METHONE in his pontificalibus and his mytre on his head were slaine none escaped the furie but such as were for their strength reserued for seruile labour or for their beautie to the victors lust and of these a thousand bound fast together in long ropes were brought to Baiazets pauilion and there in his sight by his commandement cruelly murdered The cities of CORONE and PYLVS now called NAVARRINVM sometime the dwelling place of old Nestor terrified with the taking of METHONE yeelded themselues by composition to Baiazet This citie of CRISSEVM now knowne by the name of Caput S. Galli was taken also by Cherseogles Baiazet his sonne in law All these were cities belonging to the Venetians NAVPLIVM was also besieged by Haly Bassa but yet still defended by the Venetians Baiazet hauing new fortified the citie of METHONE and stored it with new inhabitants left in it a strong garrison and so with victorie returned to CONSTANTINOPLE At this time Triuisanus the Venetian Admirall died of greefe of mind as some supposed in whose place the Senat sent Benedictus Pisaurius a noble and valiant gentleman who with the Venetian fleet followed the enemie then departing from the siege of NAVPLIVM pursuing them euen vnto the straits of Hellespontus still cutting off such as stragled or tarried behind the rest of the fleet by which meanes hee tooke aboue twentie of their ships and gallies and in his returne tooke from the Turkes the Island of AEGINA and landing in diuers places of the Turkes dominions left vnto them the wofull remembrance of his being there Afterwards meeting with Consaluus surnamed the Great sent by Ferdinand king of SPAINE to aid him against the Turkes at ZACYNTHVS he inuaded CEPHALENIA which Triuisanus his predecessour had in vaine attempted the yeare before and laied hard siege to the citie which was for a space valiantly defended by the Turkes yet at length by the good conduct of Consaluus it was by force taken when as Gisdare the Gouernour thereof with his garrison of Turkes had before fought it out euen to the last man The citie being taken all the whole Island yeelded forthwith to the Venetians Pisaurius hauing taken CEPHALENIA repaired the citie and leauing a strong garrison for defence of the isle departed to CORCYRA where hee was aduertised That the Turkes were rigging forth a great fleet against the next Spring wherof some part lay in the bay of AMâ—RACIA not farre from CORCYRA some at EANTE and the rest within the straits of HELLESPONTVS Wherefore purposing to do some exploit vpon those gallies which lay in the bay of AMâ—RACIA to auert the mind of the enemie from perceiuing of that he had secretly with himselfe intended he sent the greatest part of his fleet vnto the island of NERITOS who suddenly landing should put the inhabitants in feare The captaines sent about this businesse cheerefully put in execution what the Admirall had commaunded and by their sudden landing raised such a tumult that all the countries thereabout were filled with the expectation of that which should ensue thereof The Bay of AMERACIA is so straitened on either side with the mountaines of EPIRVS that the entrance thereof is but halfe a mile ouer but by and by opening it selfe into a great widenesse and running vp into the land maketh a most pleasant and safe harbour for ships and gallies to ride in Pisaurius with a faire wind comming thither with eight gallies well appointed when the Turkes thought him to haue been at NERITOS and entring the strait rowing farther into the bay burnt one of the Turkes great gallies to the terrour of all them that dwelt round about the bay and carried away with him eleuen moe laded with munition and victuall through the strait the Turkes in vaine fretting thereat and doing what they could with their great ordinance from shore to haue sunke him in going out of the bay But hauing done what he came for he returned with his prey againe to CORCYRA Not long after he also recouered the castle of PYLOS in MOREA which as it was suddenly gotten so was it as suddainely lost For Camalia a notable pyrat of the Turkes who had been abroad seeking after purchase putting into that harbour by chance tooke three gallies there left by the Admirall for defence of the place and so terrified the faint-hearted captaine that hee fell to composition with the pyrat to yeeld him the castle so that hee and his souldiours might in safetie depart which the pyrat graunting had the castle deliuered vnto him which he could not with farre greater strength haue possibly woon So was PYLOS for feare twice in one yeare yeelded vp vnto the Turks and was both times the death of the cowardly captaines which gaue it vp being both beheaded by the commaundement of the Admirall About the same time Pisaurius attempted to haue burnt other of the Turkes gallies lying in the riuer EANâ—E vpon the coast of MACEDONIA but not with so good successe as before For the Turkes made more carefull by the losse they had but a little before receiued at AMâ—RACIA did now more vigilantly looke vnto their gallies So that when Pisaurius had in certaine small vessels made of purpose for that seruice embarked two hundred resolute souldiors to haue gone vp the riuer to haue fiâ—ed the gallies
Moratchamus for the kingdome and hauing vanquished him draue him out of ARMENIA and PERSIA and afterwards as it commonly falleth out in the winding vp of ciuile warres had caused diuers of the cheefe citisens of TAVRIS which had taken part with his brother against him to be seuerely executed filling the eyes of their friends with the horrible spectacle of their dismembred bodies and the hearts of most men with sorrow and heauinesse whereby he had so alienated the minds of the citisens from him that now vpon the approch of Hysmaell they were all readie to forsake him of which their disposition Hysmaell was before-hand enformed and vpon the good hope thereof had hasted his comming Eluan the Persian king thus ouertaken on the suddaine had not time to raise such forces as might suffice either to encounter his enemie or defend the citie wherefore despairing of his owne strength and justly fearing the reuolt and furie of the discontented citisens as a man dismayed suddainely fled out of the citie After whose departure the gates were presently set open vnto Hysmaell For the citisens which in those troublesome times wherein the two brethren contended for the kingdome had suffered great calamitie chose rather in that present danger to receiue a conqueror of so great fame as was then Hysmaell than to their vtter destruction to oppose themselues against him in the quarrell of their cruell king and the rather for that they saw a generall securitie and open way to preferment proposed vnto all such as should receiue the reformed religion of this new conquerour Hysmaell entering the citie slew certaine of the kings guard which were not yet departed and then vtterly rased the stately tombe wherin his vncle Iacup was after the manner of the Persian kings royally buried And to mitigate the sorrow hee had so long conceiued of his fathers death and with reuenge to appease his angrie ghost he caused the tyrants bornes to be digged vp and scattered abroad and the memoriall of his name to bee quite rased out of all places of the citie Although Hysmaell was thus possessed of the regall citie of TAVRIS and had therby made a way for the obtaining of the whole kingdome yet hee knew that so long as Eluan liued his conquest was not vnto him assured and therefore to the vttermost of his power he augmented his armie with new supplies taken vp in that populous citie whom he furnished with armour and weapons taken out of the kings armourie In the meane time newes was brought vnto him that the Persian king before fled into the farthest part of his kingdome was now comming from SCYRAS with a great armie against him and that Moratchamus his brother forgetting in this common danger all former quarrels had raised a great armie about BABILON in ASSYRIA in short time to joine with his brother Hysmaell neuerthelesse nothing terrified with the report of the great preparation of the two brethren against him to the intent hee might seeme to vndertake this warre by the appointment of God and vpon a greater assurance than vpon his owne strength resolued to go against them And so after he had mustered his armie and in best manner he could prouided all things necessarie he set forward from TAVRIS vsing no other persuasion to encourage his souldiors but that they should as became resolute men make hast and follow him whom God had giuen them for a cheefetaine and leader vnto a most assured victorie The Persian king was at the same time ten dayes journey from TAVRIS when Hysmaell with incredible celeritie preuenting the fame of his comming was come to the mountaine NIPHATES which parteth ARMENIA from ASSYRIA which mountaine Eluan purposing shortly to passe ouer with his populous armie had sent before his scouts to discouer the straight passages and a multitude of pioners to make the wayes more commodious for his great armie to passe Which thing Hysmaell vnderstanding and politickely considering that it should be much for his aduantage if hee should first himselfe passe ouer those great mountaines and so vpon the suddaine set vpon his enemies then lying in securitie and fearing nothing lesse than such a desperat attempt vpon that resolution aduanced his ensignes vp the mountaines and hauing with small resistance discomfited them which kept the passages came downe the same mountaines like a tempest and furiously assailed the king then lying in his campe on the other side at the foot of the mountaine vpon the approch of whom such a hurly burly was raised in the kings campe that what for the confused tumult of the souldiors and fearefull outcries of the multitude of base people which followed the campe the king could scarcely giue order vnto his captaines what he would haue done or yet encourage his souldiors or put them in order of battaile So that Hysmaell giuing a fierce onset with his Armenian souldiors there was suddainely begun a most terrible and bloodie battaile Neither did that day the fortune of Hysmaell faile him whose courage and prowesse neuer failed For assailing the kings battaile of footmen with three squadrons at once he had ouercome them and put them to flight before that the horsemen could arme themselues and mount their horses which were for most part vnsadled and vnbrideled at his comming The king who had nothing either feared or foreseene this so suddaine a mischeefe but had vainely persuaded himselfe That the very fame of his comming with so huge an armie would so terrifie his enemies as that hee should find none either at TAVRIS or in all ARMENIA that durst make resistance was glad now to run too and fro to encourage his souldiors to stay his discomfited battailes yea and to come to handie blowes himselfe But when neither his captaines nor souldiors could put in execution his suddaine directions which he was enforced to giue in that imminent danger being at once ouercome with shame and desperation he resolutely thrust himselfe into the head of his battaile and there valiantly fighting was slaine Whereupon the Persian horsemen the greatest strength of the kings armie hauing now no king for whom they should fight betooke themselues to flight after whom followed the archers and all the rest of the kings armie When as Hysmaell had with lesse losse than a man would haue thought so great a victorie could haue beene atchieued possessed the enemies tents hee made no great pursute after them for that he thought it more requisit to refresh his souldiors throughly wearied and almost spent with long trauell and the late fight wherefore for certaine dayes he reposed himselfe with his armie in those his enemies forsaken tents Afterwards when hee had receiued embassadours from diuers places yeelding their cities and townes and that the fauour of the people generally enclined to him together with the victorie he marched with his armie to SCYRAS where hee was of the citisens who had before heard of the victorie joyfully receiued and his armie relieued with all
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
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
it best to cut him off at once from all hope of conference or accesse vnto his presence Wherfore seriously blaming him that he had vpon his owne head brought his armie into another mans prouince that he in armes required audience and last of all so insolently abused his fathers lenitie and patience hee by the same messenger sent him farther word That he should not presume to approch any neerer vnto him or expect any thing appertaining to peace who guarded with forraine power had without his fathers leaue entered into armes and spoyled the countries of his friends and that therefore he should doe well with all speed to depart out of THRACIA yea and out of EVROPE also and disbanding his forces againe to retire himselfe vnto his owne charge in PONTVS in which doing he should find greater fauour and kindnesse with him his father than euer he had before but if he would needs proceed in the course by him begun that then he would no more take him for his sonne but for his enemie and before it were long sharpely chastise him for his malapert insolencie little differing from vnnaturall treacherie The messenger with this answere dismissed it was not long after but that Baiazet was by his espials aduertised that Selymus the night following was risen with his armie and marched directly towards CONSTANTINOPLE whether he was sent for by his friends in hope that vpon his approch with his armie some suddaine tumult and vprore would to his auaile arise in that so great and populous a citie Whereupon Baiazet fearing least in staying at HADRIANOPLE hee might loose the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE early in the morning by breake of the day departed from HADRIANOPLE towards CONSTANTINOPLE vpon whose departure Selymus peaceably entered the citie of HADRIANOPLE the citisens fearing that if they should haue made any resistance their vnseasonable faithfulnesse towards Baiazet might haue turned to their vtter destruction Selymus after he had a while refreshed his armie with the plentie of that citie according to his former determination set forward againe of purpose by long and speedie marches to haue preuented his fathers comming to CONSTANTINOPLE Baiazet was yet scarcely come to CHIVRLVS or rather TZVRVLVM an antient ruinous citie almost vpon the mid way betwixt HADRIANOPLE and CONSTANTINOPLE when warning was giuen him of them that followed his armie that the forerunners of Selymus were at hand cutting off the straglers of his armie and with hot skirmishing stayed and troubled his rereward The aged emperour more mooued than terrified with the strangenesse of the matter because his marching should not seeme as if it were a flight or chase commaunded his standerd to be set vp and all his armie to make a stand of purpose that if Selymus should so fiercely come on to giue him battaile he might â—ind him in readinesse The great captaines and noblemen then present with Baiazet whether it were for old acquaintance or vpon some new inclination of their affection or els vpon hope of new aliance and preferment wishing well vnto Selymus and therefore indirectly and cunningly fauouring him seemed not to like of Baiazet his resolution to be so farre mooued as they said with the youthfull heat and lightnesse of his sonne as to seeke reuenge by battaile whereas the victorie it selfe could yeeld him nothing but sorrow but the ouerthrow threatened destruction both to himselfe and all them that were with him the imminent euent whereof seemed to bee so much the more dangerous and fearefull by how much hee was at that time inferiour vnto his sonne both in warlike prouision and number of men Wherefore it were good for him they said to moderate his anger and not now in the winding vp of his life to make too much hast by a miserable death in a wofull battaile to staine the whole glorie of his former life There was as they would haue persuaded him but one onely course to bee taken full of wholesome policie and safetie and that was That he should with such speed as he had begun march on forward to CONSTANTINOPLE that so Selymus excluded out of the citie his chiefest hope and then not knowing which way to turne himselfe should either of his owne accord or for feare of his fathers greater forces thinke of returne and so with his rascall followers more honestly perish by the hands of them whose countries he had spoiled and vpon whom he must of necessitie liue in his retire than by the sword of his father The author of this counsell was Mustapha the most auntient Bassa of those which being in greatest authoritie about the emperour are onely of his priuie counsell and sway all matters of importance concerning either peace or warre he then vpon an vnthankfull and malitious mind loathing Baiazet as one that had too long raigned hated him also for certaine priuat displeasures conceiued of the emulation of the other younger Bassaes by him promoted and secretly bare great affection to Selymus both in condition and fauour resembling his grandfather the Great Mahomet by whom he was brought vp himselfe and him of all the sonnes of Baiazet he thought most worthy of the empire This Mustapha was borne in the towne of SERES neere vnto AMPHIPOLIS the sonne of a Greeke priest a man of a slie craftie and subtile wit alwaies subject to corruption which diseases of mind were in him well to haue been discouered by his froward looke and squint eies the certaine notes of a nature to bee suspected Next vnto this Mustapha was Bostanges Bassa borne of the honourable familie of Ducagina in AETHOLIA and thereof called Ducaginogli a man for his couetousnesse ambition and treacherie infamous as the foule and miserable end of his life afterwards declared Vnto this man Selymus had by secret promise betrothed one of his daughters now mariageable as a reward of his corrupted faith By which slight he had also allured Aiax Aga or captaine of the Ianizaries and great master of the houshold to promise his aid for the obtaining of the empire whereunto he said he was by destinie called and by his meanes drew other inferiour captaines secretly to fauour his quarrell vnto whom hee spared not to promise whatsoeuer might please them Yea the captaines almost generally either corrupted with reward or for feare following the inclination of the greater commaunders of themselues leaned that way Of all the rest only Cherseogles Bassa whom the Turks histories call also Achmet Hertezaec-ogli a faithfull constant and vpright man free from all double dealing and deceit a fast and assured friend vnto Baiazet his father in law was of opinion That the immoderat pride and insolencie of Selymus was euen there by force of arms and strong hand forthwith to be repressed before he should approch any neerer vnto the imperiall citie for feare of raising some farther trouble and tumult there than were well to be appeased which was the thing that Selymus his friends most of all desired
that for as much as he had by manly force nothing preuailed in open field he would now altogether vse policie as hee which of late hauing vnfortunately made proofe of his strength his forces yet all whole thought it not good againe to aduenture the fortune of a battell neither was hee in hope if he should so doe to be able with his small power and desperat supplies to protract the warre vntill the heat of Summer as he desired Wherefore he resolued by night to assaile the Turkes campe and if possibly he could to set it on fire For which his deuice hee seemed to haue two reasons whereof the one consisted in the speedie execution that he might desperatly attempt to doe some notable exploit in the night before the enemie should perceiue the weakenesse of his power which was not great and scambled vp vpon the sudden as also before hee himselfe should grow into contempt with the naturall Aegyptians who desiring nothing more than to cast off the seruile yoke of the Mamaluke gouernment with wauering minds expected but some fit occasion to rebell the other was that by the benefit of the night hee might auoid the danger of the great ordinance which in sudden accidents and especially in the darknesse of the night serueth to little or no purpose in which kind of strength he had before to his great losse learned that his enemies were farre too good for him But these his reasonable policies when all things were in readinesse to haue put the same in execution were in like manner as the first ouerthrowne by the treason of such as secretly reuolted from him to the enemie For Selymus vnderstanding the whole plot by certain Mamalukes which hauing the kings euill fortune in contempt as it commonly falleth out with men in miserie daily forsooke him commaunded his armie to be alwaies in readinesse and making great fires in diuers places of his campe kept most carefull and vigilant watch By which his diligence it came fitly to passe that the night following Tomombeius approching his campe was repulsed with no small losse of his first troups which vnaduisedly were gone on too far and had no doubt that night thereby receiued his last ouerthrow but that he wisely misdoubting the vnwonted light of the fires shining in all parts of the campe in time called backe his hasting troups which were themselues with more hast than good speed marching into the verie mouth of the Turks great artillerie bent of purpose vpon them Tomombeius disappointed of his purpose by persuasion of his chieftaines retired to CAIRE for the Mamalukes still put to the worse in plaine field thought it best to proceed in another manner persuading him with the whole strength of his armie to man all the conuenient places of that great citie otherwise exposed to the enemies pleasure and so to keepe the Turkes from entring For they as men brought to this extremitie that they must now fight for their dwellings liues wiues and children thought it more honourable and better agreeing with their antient glorie so to doe in their sight and in the entrance of their houses than elsewhere farther off Wherefore the Mamalukes comming home to CAIRE furnished all their families and flâ—â— roofes of their houses with all manner of weapons euerie one of them now humbly requesting the Aegyptians their neighbours to take vp armes against the Turks their antient and mortall enemies and not to suffer themselues to be cowardly slaine their goods spoiled and their wiues and children carried away into most miserable captiuitie forasmuch as the mercilesse and greedie enemie if he should once get the victorie would no whit spare them although they should as neuters stand looking on and helpe neither partie for victorie as they said alwaies full of insolent pride would know no friend but such as with resolute hand did their vttermost deuoire in time of danger for the obtaining thereof There were many of the wealthiest of the Aegyptians who as they thought the change of the state would be hurtfull to their trades and wealth so were they readie in all they could to helpe the Mamalukes their old lords So on the other side there were many of the middle sort of the citisens and a farre greater multitude of the basest sort of the vulgar people who hauing little or nothing to lose liued in hope now to make a gaine of other mens losses and withall remembring what miserie and slauerie they had endured about the space of three hundred years vnder the proud gouernment of the Mamalukes kept themselues close in their houses expecting the last euent of warres and secretly rejoycing in their hearts that the time was come God so appointing wherein their outragious and cruell masters should be justly and worthely punished for their oppression and hard dealing and that which gladded them the more that the reuenge should be taken by the hazard of other mens liues with which wished spectacle they well hoped shortly to fill their desirous eies Tomombeius with much labour and greater care fortified all the gates and entrances of the citie appointed vnto euerie street a particular captaine in euerie publike place encouraged the people omitting nothing that could possibly be done or deuised and that which in so great a calamitie and danger was of all other things the hardest with cheerfull countenance and vndaunted courage made shew of greatest hope The Mamalukes also beside the necessitie which in cases of extremitie is of power to encourage and make desperat the faint hearted coward prouoked with emulation straue amongst themselues who should best performe all the dueties of worthie captaines and souldiours for euerie one of them according to his conceit and deuise caused deepe ditches or great timber logs to be cast ouerthwart the streets some in couert trenches set vp sharpe stakes whereupon the enemie falling vnawares might be gaged othersome according to their store furnished the windowes and fronts of their houses in the greatest and most open streets with harquebusiers all which things with many mo were done with such celeritie that none of the best or most honourable of the Mamalukes refused to handle a spade or a mattocke or to put his hand to any other base labour so that nothing could be sooner deuised but it was forthwith performed This great and auntient citie of CAIRE was not compassed with any wals yet were there diuers gates and entrances which led into it whereof one broad straight street came directly from the East gate vnto the castle and middle of the citie the rest were so narrow and crooked that by them no great artillerie could possibly be brought or souldiours enter without great danger Into this place especially had Tomombeius conuaied his chiefest strength for that he knew his enemies must of necessitie come in that way for the largenesse of the streets the other parts of the citie he kept with lesse garrisons But the innermost part where the castle stood was
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
the mouths of the riuer Nilus where it falleth into the sea is from thence well to be seene and that for the great height of them a man cannot shoot an arrow so high as the middest of the lower tower whereon the spire standeth Of these outragious buildings are written many strange and almost incredible things as that an hundred thousand men should be occupied continually by the space of twentie yeares in building of one of them during which time the charges for roots garlike and oinions only amounted to 1600 talents of siluer These wonderfull Pyramides only excepted nothing is in the three cities more to be wondered at than the multitude of the people who in number almost incredible go vp and downe euerie street but for most part ragged and torne for that they which held any wealth durst not make any shew thereof for feare of the Mamalukes The common people did then generally liue with mutton hens and rise whereof the countrey yeeldeth plentie neither had they as yet the knowledge of the curious but vnwholsome forced dishes and prouocations of gluttonie which other nations had to their great cost and hurt inuented But againe to our purpose When Selymus vnderstood assuredly that Tomombeius was retired into CAIRE and that the Mamalukes hauing thither assembled all their strength were resolued there to proue the vttermost of their fortune he with his armie drew neerer vnto the citie exhorting his souldiours to set downe themselues that day for euer to vanquish and subdue their enemies whom they had so many times before ouerthrowne and now a little to force themselues for the gaining of the rewards due to their former labours and victories which as he said would be so many and so great as they had not the full thereof before in their immoderat desires imagined Telling them moreouer that there was but a few good souldiours left with the desolat Sultan who alreadie wounded and terrified and not able longer to keepe the field had made choice to end their daies in the sight and armes of their wiues and children Beside that he made them beleeue that hee was voluntarily sent for by the Aegyptians deadly enemies vnto the verie name of the Mamalukes whose vtter destruction they earnestly expected and had therefore promised him for the rooting vp of that wicked and cruell kind of men to assaile them as occasion serued out of their houses and so to further his victorie yet neuerthelesse he said That the accomplishment of the whole matter and to make a full conquest consisted in the subduing of those weake remainders of the vanquished and scattered armie for as much as they were not to be accounted as men quite ouercome which did yet liue in hope with weapons in their hands possessed of the chiefe citie and seat of their empire Wherefore that they should thinke that in the fortune of that day rested the good or bad estate and condition of all their liues honours and fortunes Assuring them that it would be a matter but of small labour and trauell to bring it to a wished end if they would in that new kind of fight as they had alwaies valiantly in other battels vnder his conduct but resolue with themselues that they would ouercome This his speech much enflamed the minds of his souldiours but the hope of so great a prey much more so that being in good order and readie they expected but the signe of the assault When Selymus entring by the gate called Basuela did at one instant thrust in his horsemen at diuers places of the great citie but his Ianizaries he brought in by the greatest and largest street At the first entrance of the citie horsemen encountred with horsemen and made a bloudie fight in the narrow streets and lanes but the footmen placing their eâ—â—uerings falcons before them and suddenly discharging them where they saw the thickest troupes of their enemies cleâ—red the street directly before them But when they came to the baricadoes and trenches and were by force to remoue the timber logs and other like things lying crosse the streets and so to passe the trenches the Mamalukes on the other side valiantly withstanding them they fought with such force and obstinacie on both parts that in the memorie of man was neuer a more fierce or cruell battell seene For both the Mamalukes and the Turkes in that fight showed the vttermost of their strength and power not ignorant that in that as in the last they were to fight not for honour onely but euen for their liues and empire when as greatest rewards or else extreame miserie were by dallying fortune on both sides propounded both to the vanquished and vanquisher At these baricadoes the Turkes receiued great losse as also at the trenches for they vnaduisedly running on the hindermost still bearing forward the formost tumbled by heapes one vpon an other into the couert trenches and were there miserably empailed vpon the sharpe stakes for that purpose before set vp by the Mamalukes The women also and children with manly courage threw downe stones and tiles and such other things from the tops of their houses and out at their windowes vpon the Turks and they on the other side as they could espie them fetcht them off from those high places with their harquebusies or else violently brake into the houses from whence they were assailed there fought with diuers successe But most part of the Aegyptians diligently obseruing the fortune both of the one and of the other accounting them both for enemies with diuers affection assailed sometimes the Turks and sometime the Mamalukes seeming still notably to helpe that part whom they saw for the time to haue the better Many cruell and most terrible encounters were at once made in diuers places of the citie for as they crossed from street to street sometime the one and sometime the other hapned vpon new troupes of enemies and they which as victors pursued their enemies a front were by others following them at the heeles slaine downeright so that in the victorie no man could assure himselfe of safetie The lanes and streets a most horrible thing to behold did so flow with the bloud of them which lay by heapes slaine that the dust which at the first rise wonderfull thicke was quite laid as with a plentifull shower of raine the ayre was darkened with the smoke of shot and showers of arrowes and such was the clamour of the people and souldiours the clattering of armour and report of the artillerie that the earth seemed to tremble and the houses to fall downe This dreadfull and doubtfull battell endured two whole daies nights without intermission yet so that the Mamalukes in number few and vnable to endure so long labour and watching giuing ground by little and little and forsaking their first munitions retired themselues farther into the citie The third day beset with the greatest dangers that could be as to lose themselues with all that
the Turkish emperours with whom they for most part liued in hostilitie either the Turkes to them By this messenger he answered Solymans letters with other of like vaine as followeth Philippus Villerius Lilladamus Great Master of the Rhodes to the Turke I right well vnderstand your letters which your messenger brought vnto me The friendship you write of is as pleasing to me as displeasing to Cortug-Ogli your seruant who went about to haue intercepted me vpon the suddaine as I came out of FRAVNCE but failing of his purpose stealing by night into the Rhodian sea he attempted to haue robbed certaine merchants ships bound from IOPPE to VENICE but sending my fleet out of my hauen I staied his furie constrained the pirat to flie and for hast to leaue behind him the prises he had before taken from the marchants of CRETE Farewell from the RHODES By this answere Solyman perceiued that he was well met withall in his owne finenesse and that he should not so easily carrie the RHODES as he had before done BELGRADE Yet being fully in himselfe resolued to trie his fortune therein hee called vnto him certaine of the cheefe commaunders of his warres to whom he opened his whole determination in this sort Although I doubt not worthie cheefetaines but that you are of the same mind now that you haue been alwaies of in the inuading of other nations yet I haue thought it good in matters tending to the common glorie and good of vs all to vse your generall aduice and counsell Since the time that my father left this world we haue made warre with diuers nations and people The Sirians by nature vnconstant and prone to rebellion we haue by force reduced to their former obedience The Sophi that mightie king nephew vnto the great king Vsun-Cassanes by his daughter the sister of king Iacup in heart and deed our mortall enemie not contented with the kingdomes of ASSIRIA MEDIA ARMENIA the greater PERSIA and MESOPOTAMIA we haue by our forces shut vp within the compasse of his owne dominions The last yeare running through HVNGARIE both on this side and beyond Danubius we tooke BELGRADE the strongest fortresse of that kingdome and whatsoeuer els we attempted we subdued Yet for all that to speake plainely of my selfe my mind greater in conceit than mine empire and the bloud of Othoman findeth no contentment in these victories For whatsoeuer you haue yet done although it be great yet I deeme it all but little in regard of your worth my desire carrieth me further This haue I alwaies aboue all things most earnestly desired to set vpon the RHODES and vtterly to root out all the strength and forces yea the very name of those Rhodian souldiours And haue not you also no lesse than my selfe desired the same How often haue I heard you crying out The RHODES The RHODES I haue expected the time that being discharged of other warres I might here employ my whole strength and power That we so long desired is now come there was neuer greater oportunitie of good successe offered a great part of the wals of the citie of the RHODES now lying euen with the ground which cannot in short time be repaired especially in their want of coine Beside this the garrison in the castle is but small and their aid from FRANCE farre off which will either come too late when the citie is lost or that which I rather beleeue neuer For neither will the French king being at mortall warres with the Germane emperour and lord of ITALIE suffer his storehouses to be disfurnished or his ports bared of the necessarie defence of his shipping neither doe you beleeue that the Spaniards distressed at home with famine warre and ciuile discention will easily come hither out of SICILIA and CAMPANIA with supplies of men and victuall But you may perhaps thinke that great danger is to be feared from the Venetian fleet and the Isle of CRETE which I assure you is not so for I know although I will not now manifest the same how I haue preuented that mischeefe Wherefore courageous souldiors borne to the subduing of all Christendome much more of the RHODES with cheerefull hearts follow me your Soueraigne against these your most perfidious and cruell enemies How long I pray you will 〈◊〉 suffer that staine and disgrace to sticke vpon the Othoman familie and generally vpon all the name of the Turkes which these Rhodians cast vpon vs the last time they were besieged Which was not so much done by their valour as by the vnfortunat counsell of my great grandfather Mahomet calling home Mesithes Paleologus his Generall in that warre for one vnluckie assault But admit that their valour gained them the victorie will you therefore alwaies suffer these piraticall excursions vpon our maine and Islands the ransacking of our cities and countries the carrying away of your câ—â—tell and richest substance the captiuitie and slaughter of your wiues and children the slauerie of your neerest friends and kinsmen So helpe me great Mahomet it shall not so bee I vow in despight of Christ and Iohn in short time to set vp mine ensignes with the Moone in the middle of the market place of the RHODES Neither doe I seeke any thing vnto my selfe more than the honour of the enterprise the profit I giue vnto you my fellow souldiors their coine plate iewels which is reported to be great their riches and wealth is all yours to carrie home with you vnto your wiues and children Wherefore let vs now with all our forces and courage set forward to the besieging of the RHODES Solymans purpose thus made knowne and the same with one accord of all his captaines well liked Pirrhus the eldest Bassa and of greatest authoritie who at the first dissuaded the warre standing vp in the middest of the rest said I cannot but much admire the great wisedome and rare vertues of our young emperour who so wisely and aduisedly hath declared all the deepe counsels of a worthie cheefetaine in taking of warre in hand Blessed be Mahomet thrice and foure times blessed is this empire blessed is our estate and blessed are we with such a prince which carrieth with him in his warres not onely men and habilâ—ments of warre but most deepe wisedome and policie Which wholsome manner of proceeding if we had alwaies before our eies and would follow we should in short time bring vnder our subiection not the RHODES onely but all the kingdomes of the Christians Yet beside that which our emperour hath most carefully and consideratly deuised mine age and experience would exhort you by gifts promises rewards and all other meanes whatsoeuer to corrupt if it were possible the very cheefe and principall citizens of the RHODES thereby to enter into their most secret deuices and counsels which how it may be wrought I will in few words giue you to vnderstand I as a man indifferent desirous of peace and quietnesse will by messengers and letters induce the Great
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
came by night in a small pinnesse to the RHODES hauing deceiued the Turks watch at whose comming the Rhodians wonderfully rejoyced for the souldiours reposed greater confidence in no man than in him And if any great exploit were to be done him the Master trusted aboue any other he alwaies in armes during the siege encouraged the souldiours searched the watch suruaied the bulwarks repaired the breaches and such labours as others accounted extreame miseries he cheerfully endured as if they had been but his pleasures and recreation At the same time also Gabriell Martiningus of BRIXIA a most skilful enginer came to the Rhodes out of CRETA by whose industrie and cunning 55 mines which the Turks did with infinit labor and charge make by reason of the springing of the water and hardnesse of the rockes during the siege were all by countermines disappointed and defeated The citie of the RHODES is scituatâ—on a plaine ground on euerie side to be besieged onely Northward it is defended with a goodly hauen from whence it lieth all Westward betwixt it and the hils round about it lieth a stonie plaine ground not verie broad but of greater length these hils are full of springs and orchards planted with Oliues Figtrees Vines and such other fruits as such drie and sandie ground will beare But what by nature wanted was by the hand and industrie of man supplied for it was compassed about with a most strong double wall and deepe trenches threatning the enemie with thirteene stately towers and sure against all assaults with fiue mightie bulwarks with diuers goodly faire gates and that which was the greatest defence of all within the citie was alwaies kept a most exact and straight forme of warlike discipline The defence of the whole citie was thus proportioned From the French tower which with the greatnesse and height thereof seemed to mate the skie stood the Frenchmen with the French Lillies in their ensignes vnder their Commander Ioannes Abbinus a noble knight of the Order from thence to S. Georges gate lay the stout Germains with the Eagle in their ensignes in the third station were placed the French Auergnois with the Spaniards for that the ditches in that place were neither so deepe nor broad as elsewhere in the fift place lay the English garrison ouer whom the Graund master himselfe commaunded after them succeeded they of NARâ—ONA and last of all the Italians in valour noâ— inferiour to any of the rest vnder the leading of Petrus Ballnus and Gregorius Morgutas In euerie one of these stations were diuers valiant knights of the Order whose names worthie of eternall memorie for breuitie we passe ouer all men of themselues sufficient to haue taken vpon them the whole charge The enemie was not busier without the citie in placing his batterie but traiterous minds were as busie within to haue betrayed the same A Turkish woman slaue to one of the rich citisens had conspired with certaine other her complices at such time as the Turkes should giue assault vnto the towne at one instant to set on fire the houses wherein they dwelt in diuers places of the citie that the defendants drawne from the wals to quench the fire the Turks in the meane time might the more easily enter But this treason was in good time reuealed and the offenders worthily executed The Turkes had not as yet placed their batterie when as they tooke a certaine hill whereon stood the church dedicated to Cosmus and Damianus directly ouer against the English station from thence as it seemed rather for exercising of their souldiors than for any great harme they could doe so farre off they began with small battering peeces to shoot into the citie and afterwards they began to dig mines and to cast vp trenches for the performance of which kind of worke and for the filling vp of the towne ditches they had brought with them fiftie thousand pioners men better acquainted with countrey labour and keeping of cattell than with warres which being enforced vnto their labour day and night sometime with stripes and somtime with death did with incredible celeritie bring that to passe which was before thought impossible They cut wayes through the most hard stonie rockes raising the plaines as high as mountaines with earth brought two miles off and laying the mountaines euen with the plaines and yet they neuer wrought in safetie but were miserably rent in sunder with the great ordinance out of the towne and that which most of all troubled them the Rhodians sallying out vpon these ouer-laboured people hauing neither courage nor skill to defend themselues but trusting onely to their heeles slew great numbers of them and not of them only but of others also appointed for their defence whom the Rhodians taking courage of their feare fiercely pursued slew downright And when many others issuing out of the campe in great companies thought to haue releeued their fellowes the great ordinance before of purpose placed to most aduantage so thundered from the wals amongst the thickest of them that the ground lay couered with the bodies and weapons of the dead Turks With which manner of fight after the Rhodians had twice or thrice troubled the enemie the Turkes for their more safetie wrought most vpon their mouâ—â—s by night keeping most strong watch for defence of their pioners which for more assurance they doubled in the day time and bent their artillerie against the places which the Rhodians vsed to sallie out at which did not so much keepe them in as the feare of weakening themselues by often sallies knowing that one man was vnto them a greater losse than vnto the enemie an hundred Amongst others which in the beginning of this great siege forced the vttermost of their deuices to the destruction of the Turkes were certaine marriners who hauing the Turkish language perfectly by leaue of the Grand Master disguising themselues in the habit of Turks departed by night out of the hauen in a small boat loaded with apples plums peares mellons grapes and such other fruits as the time of the yeare affoorded and in the darknesse came alongst the coast vnto that part of the Island whereunto the passage was out of the maine There as if they had been Turkes come from the maine they landed their commodities which the Turkish souldiors bought greedily When they had thus sold their fruits and in selling thereof diligently noted the speech and talke of the souldiors concerning the siege and were now ready to depart certaine Turks which greatly disliked the hard beginning of this siege seeing themselues if they did but stir in danger to be fet off with shot out of the towne earnestly requested the marriners to take them with them into the maine which to doe at the first the marriners dissembling refused as a thing dangerous besides that their boat was too little to receiue so many as would willingly haue gone with them Yet with much adoe they suffered
Lewes the king of Portingals brother whose sister Isabell Charles the emperour had married with fiue and twentie Carauels ships which the Portingals vsed in their Indian voyages amongst whom was also one huge Galeon all ships well appointed and fit for seruice wherein were embarked two thousand Portingals beside marriners There also arriued sixtie saile of tall ships sent out of FLANDERS and the low countries wherein were a great number of condemned persons whose liues was spared that they might serue in the gallies Vnto this warre Paulus the third of that name then bishop of ROME sent ten gallies vnder the conduct of Virginius Visinus the Great Master of MALTA sent thither his fleet also At the same time that all this preparation was in making in other places that worthie chiefetaine Alphonsus Daualus Vastius whom the emperour had appointed Generall of all his forces at land had by the emperours commaundement taken vp fiue thousand new souldiors in ITALIE which were led by Hieronymus Tutauilla countie of SARNE Federicke Caracte and Augustina Spinula all famous captaines The old Spanish garrisons which lay in LOMBARDIE the emperour commaunded to be straightly looked vnto that none of them should leaue their places to goe in this new expedition but to remaine there still vnder their Generall Antonius Leua which worthie captaine although he would faine haue had him with him as of all his greatest commaunders the best yet he thought it good to spare him both for that he was much troubled with the gout and also for that it was necessarie as he thought to leaue such a valiant captaine with his garrisons in that countrey so neere vnto the French and Swissers whom he durst not so well trust as to disfurnish that countrey either of so great a commaunder or of the wonted garrisons At the same time Maximilian Eberstein an old commaunder came to Vastius with eight thousand Germans ouer the Tridentine Alpes to MILLAINE and so to GENVA amongst whom were diuers noble gentlemen who then as voluntarie men serued of their owne charges With these Germanes and the fiue thousand Italians Vastius embarked himselfe at the port called PORTVS VENERIS in LIGVRIA hauing before persuaded them with patience to endure the tediousnesse of the sea and to comfort themselues with the hope of the victorie in AFFRICKE where they should fight in the quarrell of God and for the emperour who did neuer forget his religious and valiant souldiors So sailing alongst the coast of ITALIE he came to NAPLES where the viceroy and diuers other of the nobilitie had of their owne charges euery man according to his deuotion or abilitie built or furnished some one gallie some moe for that seruice It was a wonder to see with what cheerefulnesse the gallants and lustie youths of NAPLES and all that part of ITALIE came and offered themselues vnto Vastius so that it seemed there was none left behind in NAPLES for he had with singular courtesie so woon the hearts of the old soldiors and lustie youths of that kingdome that both the one and the other thought it a most honourable thing to adorne the one their before deserued pensions and the other their first entrance into martiall affaires with the participation of so notable a victorie But whilest euery man was thus busied in setting forward certaine mutinous souldiours wearie of the sea and fearing the dangers of so long a voyage began to cast many perils to find fault with their small wages and to discourage the multitude persuading them with seditious speeches to forsake their colours to run away for redresse whereof Vastius caused the authors of that mutinie to be taken and thrust into sacks and in the sight of the whole fleet to be cast into the sea So Vastius departing with his fleet from NAPLES came in few dayes to PALERMO in SICILIE The emperor also loosing from BARCELONA came to the port of MAGO in the Island of MINORICA and from thence to CARALIS in SARDINIA whether Alphonsus Vastius was a little before come with all his fleet out of SICILIE Noâ— long after the emperour now that all his forces were come together passed ouer from SARDINIA into AFFRICKE and with a faire Westerly wind put into the port of VTICA which is of the seafaring men called FARINA In the entring whereof the admirall gallie wherein the emperour himselfe was by great mischance strake vpon a sand and there stucke fast which so much more troubled the emperour for that his father Philip had by like mishap beene like to haue beene cast away vpon the coast of ENGLAND as he was sayling out of the low countries into SPAINE howbeit by the good direction of Auria she was quickly got off the sand againe and entred with the rest to the great rejoycing of the whole fleet So presently departing againe from VTICA and sayling alongst the coast he doubled the promontorie of CARTHAGE yet famous for the ruines of that proud citie and came to anker before a castle which of a well beneath it is called by the name of AQVARIA or the Water castle The Moores who from the hils of VTICA and their watch towers had taken view of the Christian fleet and of the course it held aduertised Barbarussa That the Christians were comming against him with an innumerable fleet for there was of one sort and other almost seuen hundred saile whereof 82 were great gallies which gallantly garnished with flags and streamers made a shew of moe than indeed they were and wonderfully terrified the enemie But that troubled Barbarussa most that he was by messenger vpon messenger certainely enformed That the most mightie Christian emperour Charles was in person himselfe in the fleet with such a world of people that it should seeme he had left none in SPAINE and ITALIE that were able to beare armes Which newes was brought by certaine Mahometane slaues who getting loose in the gallies had in the night swum ashore and reported the certainetie of the emperours comming for the proud Turke a great contemner of the Christian forces neuer thought that the emperor would haue aduentured his person vnto the dangers of the sea and chaunces of warre especially in an vnknowne barren and scorching countrey but would rather haue attempted to doe something by his lieutenants or els by Auria his admirall seeke to surprise some base places alongst the sea coast but not to come directly for the regall citie of TVNES in which opinion he was chiefly confirmed by Aloysius Praesenda a gentleman of GENVA who tooken at sea was kept as prisoner at large in TVNES of whom Barbarussa had learned many things concerning the state of ITALIE the manner of the Christians and strength of the emperour craftily feeding him with the hope of libertie if he would truly declare vnto him such things as he desired to know Wherefore now in his rage he caused him to be brought before him charging him bitterly that he had craftily and
preuented by renewing the league with Solyman This matter was with great heat debated in the Senat too and fro either part hauing great faultours so that the Senatours spent almost whole Winter nights in the court in discoursing and consulting what were best to be done But whatsoeuer was there said or decreed was forthwith by one of the factions or other made knowne not onely to the embassadours present in the citie but by letters also discouered into prouinces far off a thing neuer before in that state knowne which had euer vsed as it were with a religious silence to keepe secret whatsoeuer was there decreed Which thing Marcus Foscarus an old Senator and a man of great wisdome perceiuing said openly That the state was betrayed by the multitude and corruption of voices and must needs shortly perish if it were not speedily committed to the graue and faithfull judgement of some few for there was almost two hundred of them which gaue voices reducing that multitude to the number of fiftie who for their experience and loue toward their countrey were holden for men of greatest grauitie and secrecie so was the madnesse of many stayed by the discretion of a few But Foscarus shortly after fell into such hatred of the multitude grieued to be as light headed men without discretion so excluded out of the counsell that he was by the voices of the multitude first thrust out of the counsell himselfe and by them kept a great while after from all the preferments and honours of the citie being indeed one of the grauest Senatours and a man of deepest judgement Which disgrace turned afterward to his great honour and credit as one that had foreseene much after they were once found out and condemned which had traiterously reuealed the secrets of the State But this long consultation concerning the confederation came to this end That the Senatours doubting the vnion of those two great princes and yet willing to expect the euent decreed forthwith to send three embassadours whereof two should be sent to the emperour and the French king to discouer their designes and the third which was Aloysius Badoerius a wise and well spoken man was with all speed dispatched away to Solyman to preuent the fame of the distrust to be conceiued of the agreement of those great Christian princes and if he could by any meanes to spare for no cost to saue vnto the Venetians their cities of NAVPLIVM and EPIDAVRVS which Solyman required of them before he would graunt them peace Which if it could not be obtained of the proud and craftie tyrant than to yeeld vnto necessitie and to conclude a peace with him vpon any conditions which course the Decemviri thought to be most expedient for the State yet concerning the yeelding vp of the cities they gaue him secret instructions and warrant fearing forsooth the force and tumult of the headstrong multitude who if they had knowne any such thing would vndoubtedly thereupon haue taken occasion to haue crossed and ouerthrowne that most wholesome decree for there was no doubt that if they had delayed the matter and sought for peace too late but that Solyman would vpon another mans weakenesse and necessitie haue encreased his insatiable desire and not graunted them peace being brought low forsaken except they would deliuer vnto him the islands of CEPHALENIA ZACINTHVS and CORCYRA a matter no lesse grieuous than the destruction of the very citie of VENICE it selfe So that the great embassadours Vastius and Hanebald who came of purpose to haue hindered the league with the Turke by their great diligence wrought nothing more effectually than that the Venetians the better foreseeing the danger of their estate should as they did make hast to conclude the same for it falleth out in mens purposes and actions That a good and happie successe otherwise well hoped for is oftentimes marred with too much diligence and caâ—e Neither was it any doubt but that Hanebald was sent by the French king but for fashion sake and secretly vnderhand by Pelliterius the old embassadour persuaded the Venetians to hasten the conclusion of peace with Solyman Which as Badoerius their embassadour was carefully solliciting the matter at CONSTANTINOPLE and being loth to yeeld the strong cities which Solyman required offering vnto him in stead of them a great summe of money Solyman tooke him vp with threatening words as a shamelesse dissembler earnestly protesting That he would neuer graunt him peace without the yeelding of those cities rehearsing vnto him the most secretest points of his embassage and how that he was authorised from the Decemviri to yeeld them vnto him which thing the embassadour little thought Solyman had knowne Wherefore Badoerius so shamefully reprooued and standing in doubt of his life seeing the greatest secrets of his embassage reuealed to Solyman and his Bassaes was glad to accept of peace by yeelding vnto him NAVPLIVM and EPIDAVRVS two cities in PELOPONESVS and with them NADINVM and LABRANA two castles of DALMATIA to the great greefe of the whole Senate for gâ—aunting whereof the common people ignorant of the secret decree of the Decemviâ—i and supposing that Badoerius had giuen away that which he had no authoritie to giue were so enraged against him at his returne that it was much adoe to saue the guiltlesse man from exile and his goods from confiscation although the traitors were then knowne which had discouered the secrets of the state vnto the Turkes These were Mapheus Leonius a Senatour and Constantinus Cobatius secretarie to the colledge of the Decemviri and Franciscus Valerius one of the Senators base sonnes the traiterous disperser of the Turks money for the corruption of others who with other his complices were for the same fact hanged in the market place when as Leonius and Cobatius were a little before fled into FRAVNCE About the same time which was in the yeare of our Lord 1540 died Ioannes Sepusius king of HVNGARIE Solymans tributarie after whose death ensued great warres in HVNGARIE and the lamentable subuersion of that flourishing kingdome for the better conceiuing whereof it shall not be amisse with as much breuitie as the plainnesse of the historie will permit to open the causes and grounds of the endlesse calamities which afterwards ensued and neuer tooke end vntill that warlike kingdome was to the great weakning of Christendome vtterly subuerted King Ferdinand and this tributarie king Iohn had with like desire of peace and quietnesse made betweene them a league profitable to them both as their estates then stood rather than honourable yet most welcome to the Hungarians who deuided into factions and hauing followed some the one king and some the other enjoyed neuerthelesse their lands and goods by the benefit of this peace the townes and castles being still kept by them in whose possession they then were at the making of the peace In the capitulations of which peace it was comprised That Ferdinand should from
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
notable men some fighting some flying were there slaine amongst whom was Octauianus Serosactus author of the euill counsell whereof ensued that calamitie Barcotius the Generall flying on horsebacke to the little gate which was not to be passed thorow and crying in vaine to them that fled to haue the great gate opened was by the comming in of Ianizaries slaine whose head and right hand full of rich rings was by the barbarous enemie carried about in derision vpon a launce The rest of the flying multitude finding the little gate shut vp with the bodies of the dead and the bridge maliciously drawne vp desperatly threw themselues into the deepe ditch where some of them labouring to swim out were caught by the legs and armes by other that could not swim and both together drowned Some hardly crauling ouer were shot in the head or backe with the Turkes arrowes othersome sticking fast in the mud were as if it had beene in sport shot to death by the Turkes some few there was which got ouer and were saued There was yet left in the citie the Generall of the German horsemen and Vscasades of CRâ—MONA an Italian captaine these two gathering the remainder of the souldiors which were left placed them vpon the wals but the citisens were strucke with such a feare that they could not tell which way to turne themselues For now Birrous the maior with the aldermen and other chiefe citisens seeing the slaughter of the Italians and Germans were so ouercome with despaire that they thought no hope of their well doing was to be reposed in making of any farther resistance but onely in the mercie of Solyman Wherefore Birrous spake vnto the Turks from the wall That he might safely send embassadours to Solyman to intreat with him vpon reasonable conditions for the yeelding vp of the citie which thing Achomates easily granted With these embassadours for the citisens went also the generals of the German horsemen and Carolus Rufus an Italian captaine who of all others had borne himselfe most valiantly in all the assaults to the great admiration of the Turks to intreat for the safetie and libertie of the souldiors The embassadours being brought before the great Bassaes requested That yeelding the citie the citisens might enjoy their liues and libertie whereunto they were so answered as that it seemed they should not all be pardoned yet was the generall feare well diminished for that the punishment respected but some few Rufus was courteously entertained and easily obtained that the Italians might in safetie depart with bag and baggage to VIENNA the like grace also obtained the Generall of the Germans for his soldiors Solyman the eunuch Bassa offered vnto Rufus honourable entertainment if he would haue serued Solyman which when he refused as bound to king Ferdinand by oath in honour of his valour he gaue him a rich cloake wrought with flowers of gold The embassadours returning into the citie and telling how they had sped deliuered the citisens of a great feare Shortly after the citie being yeelded Achomates by open proclamation in the market place commaunded the Italians and Germans to make themselues readie against the next day to depart and to take good heed that no Hungarian went with them hee also straightly charged the citisens to keepe their houses vntill the strange souldiors were departed At the time appointed the Italians and Germans set forward conducted by Homares with a companie of the Turks horsemen who faithfully defended them against the Tartares running vp and downe the countrey after spoile neither was any thing taken from them but their dags which the German horsemen after a new fashion carried at their saddle bowes these the Turks greatly desired delighted with the noueltie of the inuention to see them shot off with a firelocke without a match But after the departure of Homares they were in their trauell set vpon by the Hungarians with whom they had many hoat skirmishes and had hardly escaped vnspoiled had they not been rescued by the kings souldiors lying in garrison in the castles as they passed alongst the countrey The few which remained after many troubles came at last to VIENNA more like ghoasts than men Solyman entring quietly into the citie first visited the sepulchers of the Hungarian kings and gaue out proclamation That the Hungarians should feare of him no harme for that he was not come to conquer them but to deliuer them from the bondage of the Germans and so to restore againe that entire kingdome vnto Stephen the right heire of king Iohn But within three or foure daies after he called out the chiefe citisens into a field not farre off wherein the bodies of condemned men were woont to be buried as if he would haue there taken an oath of them for their fidelitie whither after they were all assembled in the best manner they could as to some solemn feast the cruell tyrant without regard of his faith or promise caused them all to be slaine Howbeit some report that he caused them onely to be put to death which bare office in the citie at such time as they reuolted from the obedience of the queene and the infant king vnto Ferdinand and had then brought in German souldiors and that he sent the rest into exile to BVDA and BELGRADE So Solyman leauing Baâ—ibeius gouernour of ALBA REGALIS and Mahometes sometime gouernour of BELGRADE his lieutenant generall for the whole gouernment of that kingdome returned againe toward CONSTANTINOPLE Winter now beginning to approach after he had that Sommer woon Sâ—IGONIVM and ALBA REGALIS two of the chiefest cities of HVNGARIE All this while king Ferdinand had raised no power worth the speaking of to withstand so mightie an enemie onely at VIENNA lay seauen thousand Germans and foure thousand Italians at such time as Solyman departed from ALBA REGALIS which were shortly after discharged Whilest Solyman thus lay at the siege of ALBA REGALIS he sent his Tartarian horsemen which serued him to small purpose in the siege to spoile the countrey round about these sauage people doing much harme were in diuers places circumuented by the Hungarians and about three thousand of them slaine one of them being taken prisoner had found in his knapsacke halfe a child of about two yeares old the loathsome remainder of his barbarous feeding Barbarussa all this while lying with his fleet as we haue before said at MARSEILâ—ES fretted exceedingly that he had to his dishonour vndertaken so long a voyage by sea to pleasure him which was not able as he said to direct his owne dessignes to any certaine resolution but shamefully suffered the best time of the yeare for seruice negligently to passe away without any thing doing the blame wherof would as he said be imputed to him at CONSTANTINOPLE and that Solyman who desired to aid the king his friend and confederat and by all â—eanes to annoy his enemies would take in euill part to haue it reported that he had
amongst the Moores of the Island who commaunded the rest and had before pluckt downe the ensignes of Dragut and set vp the king of SPAINES That he should yearely pay vnto the king of SPAINE as he had defore vnto Dragut six thousand crownes one cammell foure ostriches foure sparrow hawkes and foure blew faulcons a tribute fit for such an Island But shortly after viz. the ninth of May the Great Master of MALTA by another pinnace gaue the Christians at ZERBI againe to vnderstand That the Turks fleet was euen now at hand and alreadie departed from the Island of GOZO well appointed and strongly manned and that therefore he aduised them with speed to hoise saile and to get them to some place of more safetie or els to come to him to MALTA for feare of being by so great a power of the Turks suddenly oppressed Whereupon Iohn Andreas Auria the Admirall sent vnto the Generall requesting him presently to come aboord that so they might before the comming of the Turks fleet retire themselues to some place of more assurance But he for all that stayed still at the castle where the Christians had built foure strong bulwarkes whereof they had named one Auriaes another Gonzagaes the third the Viceroyes and the fourth the Knights not yet all perfectly finished as for the castle it selfe they called it Philip-Alcazer by the name of the king But whilest the Generall is thus busie and vainely hopeth to keepe both the castle and his ships he the next day descrying from farre the comming of the Turkes great fleet hasted with the Admirall to be gone and putting twice to sea was both times by a contrary wind driuen againe into the hauen so that he and the Admirall had much adoe in time to get themselues into the castle for the wind was so fauourable for the Turks and brought them so fast on that the Christians dismayed with their suddaine comming knew not now well what to doe or which way to turne themselues But by good hap the greater part of the ships and foureteene gallies were got out and gone the night before and the Great Master had in Aprill called home his gallies wherewith and ten others of his owne he afterwards defended the frontiers of his Island As for the rest of the fleet that stayed for the Generall and the Admirall some few gallies escaped by flight othersome ran themselues aground ten of which were presently taken by the Turkes as were the rest also that were left although they for a while did what they might to haue saued themselues The night following the Viceroy and the Admirall secretly stole out of the castle and so by good fortune in two small frigots fled to MALTA Carauanus also the Moore king with the prince of TVNES got them away into the maine Gonzaga the Viceroy departing from MALTA into SICILIA prouided as he might for the safetie of that countrey Auria in the meane time gathered together the remainder of the dispersed fleet hauing lost in this vnfortunat expedition seuenteene gallies with a great part of the ships Now in the castle was left as Generall Don Aluarus de Sandes a valiant gentleman of great spirit and long experience with fiue thousand footmen some Germanes some Italians but for the most part Spaniards besides a thousand other that were no souldiors So that the Turks beginning to besiege the same the seuenteenth of May were by them many times notably encountered and in their assaults repulsed Vnto this siege at length came Dragut the pyrat who with fifteene great pieces which he brought with him from TRIPOLIS encreased the furie of the Turks batterie Neither were the Christians in the meane time wanting vnto themselues hauing in the castle fortie great pieces of artillerie wherewith they slew a number of the Turkes and Moores and sometimes sallying out fought with them hand to hand and hauing slaine and wounded many retired againe into the castle In this manner the siege continued three months with many an hot and desperat skirmish during which time nothing more troubled the defendants than thirst in that hot and drie climat and intemperat time of the yeare for why in the castle there was but one great cesterne which although it yeelded some good store of water yet was it not ynough to suffice so great a multitude but was by measure still sparingly giuen out vnto the souldiors so farre as it would serue no man hauing more allowed him than would suffice to keepe him aliue the quantitie whereof some augmented by distilling of the sea water and mingling it with their allowance and so well eased their thirst vntill such time as hauing spent all their wood they wanted that poore helpe also There might a man haue seen many poore soules lying vpon the ground halfe dead gaping and still crying out nothing but water water into whose drie mouths if any man vpon compassion vouchsafed to poure a little water they as men reuiued therewith would presently sit vp vntill that for thirst they fell downe againe and so at length as men rosted gaue vp the ghost Thus many died daily beside them whom the chance of warre and other diseases without helpe consumed in so great a distresse Don Aluarus the Gouernour considering the great extremitie they were now brought vnto attempted with Don Sanchius de Leyua Admirall of the Neapolitane gallies Bellingerius de Requesenes Admirall of the Sicilian gallies and some others by night to haue escaped away into a gallie which lay vnder the castle but in doing thereof were perceiued by the Turks and so all taken Whereupon such soldiours as sicknesse and the enemies sword had yet left aliue pinched with extreame necessitie forsaken of their best captaines and out of all hope of releefe also couenanting their liues only with the enemie yeelded themselues into most miserable captiuitie In this vnfortunat expedition perished about eighteene thousand Christians some with sicknesse some drowned but most slaine beside the losse of a great part of the fleet also Of this victorie Piall sent newes by one of his gallies to CONSTANTINOPLE which for the more manifesting thereof dragged at the poupe thereof a great ensigne of the Christians with the picture of Christ crucified therein Which was no sooner come into the hauen but that the rumour of the ouerthrow of the Christians was forthwith blowne through the whole citie the Turks exceedingly rejoycing one with another for the newes of so great a victorie yea many of them not so contented came by heapes to the gate of the house where the emperour Ferdinands embassadour lay and there meeting with his seruants by way of derision asked them if they had any brethren kinsmen or friends in the Spanish fleet at ZERBI for if you haue said they you shall shortly see them here Besides that they with many words most insolently bragged of their owne valour and scorned the cowardise of the Christians asking who were able to withstand
large for that were to write an historie but breefely and in few words Sultan Solyman the most mortall enemie of the Christian name and especially of our societie not contented to haue spoiled vs of the most famous island of the RHODES the castle of TRIPOLIS and almost whatsoeuer we had els commaunded a great and strong fleet to be made readie against vs which departing from CONSTANTINOPLE the one and twentith day of March arriued here the eighteenth day of May which fleet consisted of almost two hundred and fiftie gallies galliots and other ships The number of the enemie that beare armes according to the truth was about fortie thousand more or lesse Generall of the land forces was Mustapha Bassa and of the fleet Pial Bassa was Admirall who hauing spent a few daies in landing their forces viewing the places pitching their tents and setting things in order as the manner of warre is they began first to assaile the castle of S. Elmo scituat in the mouth of the hauen with great force and a most furious batterie Which when they had many daies done without intermission and had opened a great part of the wall and with all kind of weapons assaulted the breach yet was it by the valour and prowesse of our knights and other worthie souldiors kept and defended by the space of thirtie fiue daies with the great losse and slaughter of the enemie although the castle it selfe in the iudgement of many seemed not possible to be but a few daies defended against so great a force At length the foure and twentith day of Iune when our men could no longer indure the multitude and furie of the enemie enuironed and shut vp both by sea and land and destitute of all helpe the castle was taken by the Turkes those few of our men which were left being all slaine Of which victorie they being proud began to besiege the castle and towne of S. Michael and this new citie especially at the castle and Portingall bulwarke and as their manner is with great diligence and greater force and number of great artillerie and warlike engines they began in diuers places at once to batter and beat downe the wals Which siege the dreadfull armie of the Turkes both by sea and land made to be most fearfull and terrible with such huge great ordinance as the like for bignesse and force was in no place to be seene day and night thundring out their yron and stone shot fiue and seauen hands about wherewith not the thickest wals but euen the verie mountaines themselues might haue been beaten downe and ouerthrowne by furie whereof the wals in many places were so battered that a man might easily haue entred as on plaine ground Where when the barbarous enemies had with wonderfull force and hideous outcries oftentimes attempted to enter so often were they with great slaughter and dishonour repulsed and beaten baâ—ke many of their men being slaine or wounded Their Generals as well at sea as land after that they had in so many places with all their forces in almost foure moneths siege and assault with exceeding furie in vaine attempted the breaches and lost the greatest part of their old souldiors especially winter now comming on wherein all wars by law of nations ought to cease thought of nothing else but of departure or rather of flight which the comming of Garzias of TOLEDO Viceroy of SICILIA and Admirall of the king of SPAINE his fleet with ten thousand select souldiors amongst whom was at the least two hundred and fourteene of our knights and many other noble and valiant gentlemen which onely with a Christian zeale voluntarily met togither from diuers parts of the world to helpe and relieue vs caused them to hasten So haue you summarily and in few words the proceedings and flight of the Turkes fleet and the victorie by vs by the power of God thereof obtained It shall be your part to consider and coniecture in what state our Order and this island now standeth into what poore estate we are brought how many things we want wherein except we be relieued by the helpe and aid of our brethren especially such as you are as we well hope and assuredly beleeue we shall our state will quickly take end Fare you well from MALTA the ninth of October 1565. The Great master thus deliuered of so great a siege and bountifully relieued by the Christian princes and the great commenders of his Order speedily repaired the breaches and places battered and with new fortifications strengthened such places as he had by the late passed dangers perceiued to be most subject to the enemies force After the returne of the Turkes fleet to CONSTANTINOPLE Solyman being exceeding angrie with the Gouernour of the island of CHIOS his tributarie as well for that he had during the late siege of MALTA had intelligence with the Great master and reuealed vnto him many of the Turkes desseigns as also for detaining of two yeares tribute which was yearely ten thousand duckats and had also neglected to send his wonted presents to the great Bassaes who therefore the more incensed the tyrant commaunded Pial Bassa his Admirall to make readie his fleet and by force or pollicie to take that fruitfull and pleasant island wholly into his owne hand Who without delay with a fleet of eightie gallies the fifteenth day of Aprill in the yeare 1566 being then Easterday arriued at CHIOS The chiefe men of the island vpon sight of the fleet forthwith sent embassadours to the Bassa with presents courteously offering vnto him the hauen and whatsoeuer else he should require Pial with great kindnesse accepted their offer and presently possessed himselfe of the hauen in three places and afterward landing sent for the Gouernor of the citie twelue of the chiefe citisens to come vnto him as if he had had some speciall matter to conferre with him about from the great Sultan before his departure thence for MALTA or ITALIE Who hauing a little conferred togither went to him with great feare and that not without cause for as soone as they were come before him he commaunded them to be laid hold vpon and cast fast into yrons which done the souldiors forthwith tooke the towne hall and without resistance pulling downe the townes ensigne wherein was the picture of S. George with a red crosse in stead thereof set vp one of the Turkes the like whereof was done with the great rejoicing of the Turkes thorow the whole island After that they rifled the Churches and againe consecrated them after their Mahometane manner The Gouernour of the citie and the Senatours with their families the Bassa sent in fiue ships to CONSTANTINOPLE as for the vulgar people they were at choise either there to tarrie still or depart as best stood with their liking And so the Bassa when he had there placed a new Gouernour one of the Turks with a strong garrison and set vp the Mahometane superstition in that most fertile island departed
vnto the Turks Court with some resolute answere concerning that matter So it was that during the reigne of the late emperour Ferdinand that the Turke his subjects in HVNGARIE payed all their taxes and tributes vnto their old lords and masters abiding and liuing in the emperours jurisdiction as did the subjects of Ferdinand to their lords that dwelt in the Turks dominion and territories Now in this treatie for peace the Turks amongst other their vnreasonable requests demanded to haue their subjects freed and yet the subjects of the emperour to pay as they were before accustomed Which as it was a request nothing indifferent so was it no lesse prejudiciall and hurtfull vnto the emperour his subjects in HVNGARIE for which cause the embassadours would not by any meanes consent thereunto before they knew the emperours farther pleasure concerning the same Whereupon they dispatched one Sig. Odoardo a gentleman of MANTVA very skilfull in the Turkish language and in such like affaires by reason that as well about this businesse as at diuers times before about other the like he had beene employed from VIENNA to CONSTANTINOPLE in the emperours seruice So Selymus shortly after viz. the twentieth of October departing from CONSTANTINOPLE in great magnificence passed by the gate where the embassadours lay with his whole Court in armes and in the same order that is vsually kept when he goeth to warre or taketh any great journey After whose departure the embassadours hauing sufficiently viewed the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE and then at good leisure to passe the time and to see the countries they had so often both heard and read of together with the ports and hauens on both sides that narrow sea which deuideth EVROPE from ASIA embarking themselues and crossing the mouth of the hauen betwixt CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA passed all alongst the coast on EVROPE side vnto the Euxine or blacke sea and so backe againe by the other side of that straight sea curiously noting the great ruines of the antient cities of BITHYNIA with some others alongst the Asian shore together with the pleasant situation they in former times had whilest they yet flourished in their glorie but now for most part or rather altogether laied in the dust brought to nought and so returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE But whilest they thus deceiued the time and lay long expecting the returne as well of their owne messenger sent vnto the emperor as of Selymus himselfe they were aduertised in all hast to repaire vnto him to HADRIANOPLE whether the aforesaid messenger was now come with full instructions of all things concerning the treatie for peace For which cause they with great speed making themselues ready and taking their leaue of Piall Bassa who for that he was Selymus his great Admirall then lay at CONSTANTINOPLE set forward the first of Ianuarie in the yeare 1568 and so after nine dayes trauell at length arriued at HADRIANOPLE about an hundred fiftie three Italian miles distant from CONSTANTINOPLE Here they stayed vntill the peace was concluded which was the seuenteenth of Februarie the cheefe capitulations whereof were That either of those great princes should still hold what they had got each from the other in the late warres That the emperour should yearely pay thirtie thousand duckaâ—s to the Turkish Sultan as a tribute for HVNGARIE the tribute to begin in the beginning of Ianuarie last past this yeare 1568 That the subjects of the Turke should pay nothing to the subjects of the emperour neither the emperours any thing to the Turks but to be both of those paiments free And that vpon these conditions there should be a firme sure peace betwixt these two great Monarchs for eight years next following wherin the Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA was as the Turkes tributarie to be also comprehended Neuerthelesse all things at this time thus agreed vpon the Turkes after their subtile manner finding sundry cauillations and raising many doubts about the aforesaid capitulations did what they might to haue in some part altered what they had before agreed vpon to the bettering of themselues and the hurt of the Christians and so with many their vnreasonable demaunds stayed the departure of the embassadours vntill the twentith of March following At which time hauing their dispatch and taking their leaue of the Great Turke and the Bassaes accompanied with Hebraim-Beg Selymus his embassadour vnto the emperour they by land returned towards VIENNA where they with the joyfull newes of peace the tenth of May arriued being there two daies after at the Court most honourably receiued And fiue daies after audience was giuen vnto the Turks embassadour who well heard and better rewarded shortly after returned with a full conclusion of peace from the emperour to CONSTANTINOPLE But whilest this peace was thus in concluding and the embassadours yet resident at HADRIANOPLE the sixteenth of Februarie came an honourable embassage from Shach Tamas the Persian king vnto the Great Sultan Selymus to entreat a peace betwixt them or rather to conclude the same being before agreed vpon the controuersies for which they afterwards fell to open war Which embassage for that it is no lesse truly than plainely set downe in a letter sent from ERZIRVM a citie then in the confines of the Turkes dominions towards the Persians written by a Chiaus to Muhamet cheefe of the Visier Bassaes which Chiaus was of purpose sent from CONSTANTINOPLE to meet the said Persian embassadour I thought it not amisse for the better vnderstanding thereof to set downe the effect of the same letter as it was translated out of the Turkish into the Italian by the emperours embassadours interpreter The effect of the letter written to Muhamet Bassa the cheefe Visier by a Chiaus sent of purpose to meet the Persian Embassadour After due salutations this is the effect of that which we thought good to make knowne vnto your lordship Now at this present to wit in the beginning of the month Giuma Sulacchir is in good health arriued the embassadour of Persia the kings cheefe counsellour called Schach Culi Soltan attended vpon with a hundred and twentie gentlemen with guilt turbants on their heads well furnished with spare horses led in mens hands Besides whom he was accompanied also with two hundred knights all apparrelled in cloth of gold with foure hundred Persian marchants in all aboue seuen hundred persons with a thousand nine hundred beasts cammels mules and horses fiue couple of drums euery couple being placed vpon a seuerall cammell fiue Nacars three trumpets fiue flutes and other instruments in all about thirtie musitions playing vpon these instruments There were also two queristers or chaunters of the Alcoran one Organist one playing vpon a Turkish instrument like a Lute two players vpon Sagbuts with two other musitions eight in all There were also foure bondwomen seruing in the embassadours owne chamber Who when he was with all this magnificent pompe come within one dayes iourney of ERZIRVM the Sayms and
offering to pay vnto him the wonted tribute and to allow vnto Iames a yearely pension of ten thousand duckats during his life But all in vaine for Iames still present in the Sultans court and wisely following his own sute at last concluded with the great Sultan who thought it more honour to make a king than to confirme a king and receiuing of him a great armie returned into CYPRVS where in short time he so distressed Lewes that he was glad to forsake the island with his wife and to returne into his countrey leauing the kingdome of CYPRVS againe to Iames who now by the supportation of the Aegyptian Sultan possessed thereof yet liued not without care of Carlotte and her husband Lewes whom he knew the Cypriots wonderfully affected Wherefore for the more assurance of his estate he thought it best to joyne in league and friendship with the Venetians whom he knew to be of great power at sea and of all other fittest to crosse whatsoeuer Lewes should in the right of his wife attempt against him Which league he afterwards made the better to confirme the same tooke to wife Catherine Cornelia the daughter of Marcus Cornelius a magnifico of VENICE being before adopted by the Senat and euen after their reputed daughter Not long after this mariage Iames died in the yeare 1470 leauing the queene great with child who in due time was deliuered of a faire sonne vnto whom with the mother the Venetian state became tutors as their adoptiue fathers and in their behalfe tooke vpon them the gouernment of the realme This child shortly after died also not without some suspition of poyson after whose death great troubles arose in the kingdome insomuch that Andreas Cornelius the queenes vncle a most graue counsellour and Gouernour of the realme vnder the queene was by the conspiracie of certaine noble men slaine and all the island readie to reuolt from the queene For appeasing of which troubles the Venetians were glad oftentimes to send their Admirals with their gallies into CYPRVS to take order in the matter and to aid the queene who at length persuaded by George Cornelius her brother whilest it was yet in her power as a louing daughter to yeeld vp the kingdome vnto her adoptiue fathers which she destitute both of counsell and power could not long hold so farre from her friends beset on the one side with the great Turke and on the other with the mightie Sultan of AEGIPT She I say thus persuaded by her brother came to VENICE where she was with the greatest honour that could be deuised receiued by the duke and the whole State at sea in their great and goodly ship the Bucentaure and so with all royall triumph brought through the middest of the citie vnto the place most richly for the time appointed for the receiuing of her where shortly after attired in all her royall habiliments she came in great majestie into the Senat house and there before the Tribunall seat of Augustinus Barbadicus then duke of VENICE layed downe her crowne and scepter and as a most louing daughter resigned vp her kingdome to the great honour and profit of her countrey Thus the kingdome of CYPRVS was deliuered into the hands of the Venetians in the yeare 1473 which they peaceably held from that time paying vnto the Sultans of AEGIPT such tribute as they had the late king Iames which yearely tribute they in like manner payed vnto the Turkish emperours after that the kingdome of AEGIPT was by Selymus the first conquered in the yeare 1517 as due vnto them by law of armes with which yearely tribute both Selymus himselfe and Solyman after him held themselues well contented But now this Turkish emperour Selymus the second of whom we speake desirous both of the honour of such a conquest and of so rich a prey made no account of the accustomed tribute but of the fruitfull island it selfe whereof he as is before declared hath by his embassadour made a proud demaund but is thereof denied by the Senat. Selymus throughly furnished with all things necessarie for the inuasion of CYPRVS in the beginning of Februarie sent a great power both of horse and foot into EPIRVS and the frontiers of DALMATIA to forrage the Venetian territorie especially about IADERA of purpose by that warre so neere at home to withdraw them from the defence of CYPRVS so farre off About the middle of Aprill following he sent Piall Bassa with fourescore gallies and thirtie galliots to keepe the Venetians from sending aid into CYPRVS This Piall was an Hungarian borne of base parents but turning Turke and giuing himselfe to armes was first preferred for his valour shewed against the Christians at ZERâ—I and afterward by many degrees rise to the honour of one of the greatest Bassaes. He departing from CONSTANTINOPLE and cutting through PROPONTIS and HELâ—ESPONTVS came to EVâ—oeA and there for certaine dayes lay in such order as if he should haue presently giuen the enemie battell but vnderstanding by his espials that the Venetians greeuously visited with the plague and slowly releeued by their friends were not like in hast to come out he tooke his course to TENOS an island of the Venetians to haue taken it from them This island is one of the Cyclades and was by nature strong but stronger by the industrie of the defendants who lying far from the Christian countries and compassed about with such cruell and warlike enemies as people farre distant stood in dread of could neuer for any fear or danger be remooued from the Christian religion or induced to submit themselues to the Turkes gouernement as most of the other islands had Piall here landing his forces sought both by faire means and foule to haue persuaded the inhabitants to haue yeelded vp their towne but when he could get nothing of them but foule words againe he began by force to assault the same Two daies the towne was valiantly both assaulted and defended but at length the Turkes perceiuing how little they preuailed and that the defendants were resolutely set downe for the defence of themselues and their countrey shamefully gaue ouer the assault and abandoning the island directed their course toward CYPRVS For Mustapha author of that expedition for his auntient hatred against the Christians made Generall by Selymus had before appointed Piall Bassa at a time prefixed to meet him at the RHODES and that he that came first should tarrie for the other that so they might togither saile into CYPRVS Mustapha hauing before sent a great part of his armie by land into PAMPHILIA embarked the rest with Haly Bassa Generall of the forces at sea who yet staied for him with the rest of the fleet at CONSTANTINOPLE This Haly was one of the chiefe Bassaes a man of great account and sometime an especiall and noted follower of Muhamet Bassa but now as it is oftentimes elsewhere seene that men together with the change of fortune change their minds and
affections also was become a great fauourit of Mustapha Now to colour so manifest a wrong and breach of the Turkes faith Mustapha the Generall according to the Turkish manner a little before his arriuall in CYPRVS gaue the Venetians there to vnderstand by letters of his comming as also of his purpose for the taking of that island from them for that without some such slender denouncing of warre vnto them against whom it is intended the Turkes generally account their expeditions not to be altogither so lawfull or fortunat as otherwise and therefore writ vnto them in this sort Mustapha Bassa vnto the Venetians That the kingdome of CYPRVS by auntient right belongeth vnto the kingdome of AEGYPT you are not ignorant which being conquered by the Turks is togither with it become of right apart also of the Othoman empire that island we come to challenge leading after vs two hundred thousand valiant souldiors vnto which power and the wealth of the Othoman kingdomes all which the most mightie emperour is about if need shall be to send thither and to bend his whole strength theron all the vnited forces of the Christian kings are not comparable much lesse the Venetians so small a part of EVROPE forsaken of their friends can suffice Wherefore we will and exhort you for the auntient amitie which hath been betwixt your State and the glorious Othoman family to yeeld this kingdome vnto the most puissant emperour whose verie name is become dreadfull vnto all the nations of the world and quietly and without resistance to leaue the island with the loue and friendship of so great a monarch to be for euer inuiolatly kept betwixt him and you Whereas if you shall before such wholsome counsell fondly preferre your vaine hopes you are to expect all the calamities of warre with such dreadfull examples as the angrie conquerours vse to make of their vanquicted enemies For resolution whereof wee yet giue you halfe a moneths space to bethinke your selues in and so fare you well All this being now in readinesse and a most royall gallie of wonderfull greatnesse and beautie by the appointment of Selymus prepared for the great Bassa the Generall he togither with Haly Bassa and the rest of the fleet departed from CONSTANTINOPLE the six and twentith of May and at the RHODES met with Piall as he had before appointed The whole fleet at that time consisted of two hundred gallies amongst whom were diuers galliots and small men of warre with diuers other vessels prepared for the transportation of horses with this fleet Mustapha kept on his course for CYPRVS They of the island in the meane time carefully attending the enemies comming from their watch towers first discouered the fleet at the West end of the island not farre from PAPHOS from whence the Turkes turning vpon the right hand and passing the promontorie CVRIO now called DEL LE GATE landed diuers of their men who burnt and spoiled certaine villages and with such spoile and prisoners as they had taken returned againe vnto the fleet which holding on the former course came at length to a place called SALINae of the abundance of salt there made where they knew was best landing and there in an open road came to an anchor where the Bassaes without any resistance vpon a plaine shoare landed their armie Now all the hope of the Christians was to haue kept the Turkes from landing which they should with all their strength and power haue done neither was it a matter of any great difficultie for had the defendants but kept the shoare and from the drie and firme land valiantly repulsed their enemies they might vndoubtedly with their shot and weapons haue kept them from landing or else haue done them greater harme knowing in the meane time that in all the island was no good harbour for them to put into and that riding in an open road subject to all wind and weather they could not long without danger of shipwracke ride it out But they either terrified with the greatnesse of the fleet or preuented by the celeritie of the enemie to their great hurt omitted so faire an opportunitie as the wofull sequell of the matter declared It exceedingly encouraged the Turks that they had so easily footed the island which they thought they should not haue done without a bloudie fight The Bassa now landed presently entrenched his armie and forthwith sent the fleet to transport the rest of his forces out of PAMPHILIA into the island And at the same time sent out certaine scouts to take some prisoners of whom they might learne the situation of the countrey the best waies to passe them with his armie the strength of his enemies and what they did and many other such like things which it concerned him to know But the greatest question amongst the Turkes themselues was Whether they should first set vpon FAMAGVSTA or NICOSIA FAMAGVSTA standeth low altogether subject to the scorching heat which was then great according as the time of the yeare and nature of the countrey required wherefore the Bassa for feare of diseases to arise in his armie of the immoderat heat and vnwholesome situation of the place thought it better to begin his warres with the siege of NICOSIA and to make that citie the seat of the warre for the conquest of the rest of the island So hauing put all things in order and well viewed the countrey and finding nothing he needed to stand in doubt of he set forward with his armie toward NICOSIA which was about thirtie miles distant being the cheefe and richest citie of all the island Which way soeuer the armie marched it spread a great deale of ground and the neerer it came the greater was the slaughter of the countrey people and the number of prisoners taken of all sorts But when newes of the enemies approach was brought into the citie a generall feare presaging future miserie possessed the hearts of all men There was not in the citie any valiant or renowmed captaine who as the danger of the time required should haue taken vpon him the charge neither any strong armie in the island to oppose against the enemie The Gouernour of the citie was one Nicholaus Dandulus a man too weake for so great a burthen who alwaies brought vp in ciuile affaires was to seeke how to defend a siege Of the citisens and countrey people he had taken vp foure thousand footmen and a thousand horsemen all raw souldiors commaunded by the gentleman of the countrey men of all others most courteous but as well the captaines as the souldiors as men brought vp in a plentifull countrey fitter for pleasure than for warre The greatest hope and strength of the citie was reposed in twelue hundred Italian footmen and six hundred horsemen The whole number of the souldiors in garrison for defence of the citie was deemed about eight thousand horse and foot too weake a companie against so fierce and strong an enemie
the citie yet left aliue should in safetie enjoy their liues libertie and goods with the free exercise of the Christian religion That the Gouernour with the rest of the captaines and souldiors might in safetie depart with bag and baggage and at their departure to take with them fiue great pieces of ordinance and three horses which soeuer it should please them to make choise of and that the Turkes should safely conduct them into CRETE finding them both victuall and shipping all which things were with more kindnesse promised than with fidelitie performed Yet all these matters agreed vpon and conceiued into writing as also by solemne oath on both sides confirmed the Gouernour sending a messenger before requested that he might haue leaue to come to see the Bassa and to deliuer vnto him the keyes of the citie Leaue being granted Bragadinus the Gouernour Baleonius Andreas Bragadinus Laurentius Theupolus earle of PAPHOS Io. Anthonius Quirinus Aloysius Martinengus with a great sort of other captaines came into the campe but before they entred into the Bassaes pauillion they were commaunded to deliuer their weapons which they all did At the first meeting Mustapha entertained them courteously and with many glorious words as if it had beene in admiration extolled their worthie valour and courage saying that he was glad now to know them by face whose valiant minds he had before knowne by their most valiant deeds Now prowesse and valour seemed not onely in safetie but also honoured euen of the enemie when after a long discourse the false Bassa reuolued vnto the mischeefe and trecherie he had before resolued vpon complaining that certaine of his men taken at the siege had beene afterward against all reason and order slaine Which the Gouernour and the rest vtterly denying he start vp as in a rage and with high words and sterne countenance vrging the fact commaunded them all to be forthwith cast in bonds and so bringing them out of his pauillion in the sight of the armie contrarie to his oath and promise caused them all to be slaine At which time Bragadinus and Theupulus were oftentimes commaunded to lay downe their heads to haue had them strucke off yet was their execution deferred and their liues reserued not to saue them but with more exquisit punishment and torture to satisfie the barbarous crueltie of the faithlesse and vnmercifull tyrant The next day after Bragadinus hauing his eares before cut off in despight was brought forth to be wondered at and tortured with the most extreamest kind of torture that tyrannie it selfe could haue deuised for despoyled of his jewels and attire and a basket layed vpon his shoulders filled with earth he was enforced oftentimes to carrie the same to repaire the rampiers that were ouerthrowne and euer as he passed by the proud Bassa insulting vpon him to fall downe and to kisse the ground at his feet and so buffeted with the Turks fists and spurned as a dog with their feet was in great derision and despight asked Whither he hoped that Christ his God would come to helpe him or not Which indignitie of it selfe bitter and miserable the dignitie of the man made much more miserable whose comely and stately countenance with his long and reuerend beard euen in that extreame miserie added vnto him a certaine majestie and grace In this so foule a sight of vertue troden vnderfoot the poore Christians could neither well stay their teares nor let them fall for feare of the displeasure of the Turks But the forsworne Bassa not onely forgetfull of all humanitie but enraged rather with extreame crueltie caused that noble and woorthie Bragadinus to be fet in a chaire and his skin to be flaine off from him quicke a punishment vnworthie of him that suffered it but most worthie him that inflicted the same Yet in so great and horrible a torture he was not heard to let fall any word not beseeming a faithfull Christian and the honour of his countrey onely he called vpon God for mercie and detested the Turks perfidious trecherie and so breathed out his life But the tyrant worthie eternall infamie not satisfied with the torture of the liuing man caused the head to be cut from the dead bodie and vpon the point of a speare to be set vp on an high place for all men to looke vpon His skin also stuffed with chaffe he caused to be hanged vp at the yards arme and so to bee carried about not so true a trophie of his victorie as a testimonie of his perfâ—lious and Turkish crueltie Two dayes after countie Theupolus after he had beene most shamefully entreated full of the markes of the Turks crueltie was to make an end withall shamefully hanged in the market place With what crueltie the Bassa had tyrannized vpon the nobilitie with the same he also raged vpon the meaner sort of the citisens of whom some he slew some he chained in the gallies and carried away the rest into bondage Three hundred Christians some souldiors some citisens which came forth with the Gouernour to see the Turkes campe were there also all slaine Nestor Martinengus a famous captaine escaped the tyrants hands being hidden by one of the Bassaes eunuchs who by the helpe of a Greeke fisherman got to LEPTIS and from thence to CRETE and so afterwards to VENICE where he faithfully reported to Aloysius Moceniâ—us the duke the whole processe of that warre with the losse of the citie and that in the space of threescore and ten daies there was aboue an hundred and fortie thousand great shot discharged against the citie Such noblemen and gentlemen as escaped out of this so generall a slaughter banished their countrey and in miserie dispersed without hope of returne led afterward a miserable and vagrant life though some of them euen at this day as I haue beene credibly enformed are by the Venetian state right well maintained The countrey people and artificers were generally by the Turks spared for the peopling of the countrey This was the fatall ruine of CYPRVS one of the most fruitfull and beautifull islands of the Mediterranean the losse wherof not without cause grieued many Christian princes as sometime a kingdome of it selfe and now a prouince of the Turkish empire our sinnes or the euill agreement of Christian princes or both the cause thereof I know not neither if I did durst I so say Whilest Mustapha yet lay at the siege of FAMAGVSTA the other two great Bassaes Partaâ—â— and Haly the one the Admirall and the other Generall of the souldiors appointed by Selymus for the keeping of the sea that no releefe should be sent by the Venetians to FAMAGVSTA and further as occasion serued to infest their dominions about the middest of May arriued in EVBoeA with two hundred and thirtie gallies whether Vluzalis viceroy of ALGIERS with diuers other the Turks notable pyrats resorted vnto them with their gallies With this fleet departing from EVBoeA and sayling alongst the coast of MYSIA
setting forward calling together the captaines and cheefe commaunders of the fleet Partau the more to encourage them spake vnto them as followeth We are to fight said he fellowes in armes with that kind of men whom our ancestors haue driuen out of EVBoeA the RHODES MYTILENE PELOPONESVS and TRIPOLIS and wee our selues but yesterday out of the famous island of CYPRVS whose cities and strong townes in number infinit our emperour hath as the rewards of his warres whom we haue alwayes vanquished as well by sea as by land and shall it then now repent you that you in this warre embrued in the Christian blood haue sunke or taken many of their ships and gallies That you haue caried away great and rich spoils That you haue taken whole islands and cities at the first assault That we haue by proofe shewed vnto the world what force is in the Turke to subdue strong cities and townes and what little power is in the Christians to defend the same What direction brought vs victorie before the same shall also at this present giue vs the like Not to speake of that that we farre excell them both in number of men and gallies this is more to be reckoned of that we excell them in valour and prowesse for you being old expert souldiors from your infancie trained vp in the warres hardened in infinit battels and full of courage and strength shall fight against weake fresh water and effeminat souldiors who entertained for pay of the refuse of all nations know nothing belonging to the warres or forcibly pressed out of cities serue not because they would but because they must neither will nor chuse But not to speake more of the manner of the Christian souldiors who are nothing els than the perpetuall exercise of your renowne and prowesse and to come vnto him vnder whose fortune and conduct they serue What should I say should I compare either of vs who haue spent our liues in victories and triumphs who borne and brought vp amongst armes haue with our right hands gained vnto our selues honour and fame with this stripling and halfe moneths captaine who neuer saw battels but these who in a lesse matter neuer shewed proofe of himselfe why should he be accounted of in a greater who in so weightie a cause needeth a tutor and such a one as indeed beareth the name of a Generall more for his honour than for any worth in himselfe Besides amongst the enemies is such dissention that euerie man regardeth his owne priuat serueth as pleaseth himselfe contemneth and is contemned Whereas with vs is such consent that it cannot be deuised how the souldiors in generall should more trust their commaunders or the commaunders their souldiours What things were by the discipline of warre or carefulnesse of a Generall to be prepared all those you haue abundantly and plentifully in readinesse onely this last warlike labour remaineth which once dispatched our enemies shall be discomfited euen in that wherein their greatest confidence resteth They shall be despoiled of their honour and trafficke at sea and that citie once subdued which is alone the glorie of the sea there shall be no hope left for the Christians neither by sea nor land and that we haue alwaies wished ITALIE faire ITALIE wherein these matters are plotted against vs shall be in our hand and power wherefore let vs with such courage assaile our enemies as beseemeth most victorious conquerours men so many times conquered And so set forward as if you saw our emperour himselfe encouraging you and giuing you the signall of battell of his bountie and the present victorie expecting all felicitie and blisse This comfortable speech with great grauitie deliuered by the Bassa so encouraged the Turks as that they all with one voice and mind seemed to desire nothing more than battell for they still possessed with the first report of Caracoza and encouraged by the Bassaes speech were in god hope to haue fought the battell vpon great aduantage and therefore thought vpon nothing but present victorie Whereupon setting forward with great cheerfulnesse they came out of the gulfe and shaped their course for the islands ECHINADES about midway betwixt LEPANTO and PATRAS before little islands or rather obscure rocks scarcely appearing in the sea but now to be made famous throughout the world by the most notable battell that euer was fought in those seas The Christians also comming still on towards the enemie the seauenth of October in the afternoon vnderstood by their espials that the Turkes fleet was comming and euen now at hand whereupon the Generall commaunded the great ensigne of the confederats the appointed signall of battell to be forthwith displaied and a great warning piece to be shot off out of his Admirall gallie And himselfe glistering all in bright armour with Cardona Admirall of SICILIA and Soto his secretarie in a long boat went to all the squadrons of the fleet one after another exhorting them with cheerfull countenance to follow their leaders and to play the men remembring that they that day carried in their hands the wealth honour glorie and libertie of their countries yea and the verie religion of their forefathers and that that daies victorie would bring vnto them and theirs perpetuall felicitie whereas otherwise if they should as cowards suffer themselues to be ouercome and vanquished it would be vnto them the beginning of all manner of most wofull calamities To which and other his like speeches the captaines and souldiors before of themselues cheerfull enough in euerie place where he came gaue such applause with the joyfull crie of Victorie Victorie so often and so cheerfully in all places resounded as that it was taken as a luckie aboadment of the glorious victorie shortly after ensuing In like manner Auria in the right wing and Barbadicus in the left for the fleet kept the same order that they had appointed before at MESSANA ceased not by all comfortable speeches to encourage their followers shewing vnto them That now the time was come they had so long wished for wherein they not oppressed with multitude might at length shew their true valour against the false and faithlesse enemies who being in deed nothing else but base and contemptible slaues borne to bondage and hauing lost their owne libertie came to impugne the libertie of others bringing with them a greater terrour of their name than valour of their persons and that therefore if euer they would now shew themselues valiant and couragious and that day wherein of all others true force was to be seene to abate the pride of the barbarous and cruell enemie and to make their rejoycing for the conquest of CYPRVS short before they had well tasted the pleasure thereof At which time also the captaines generally throughout the fleet with cheerfull countenances and couragious speech encouraged their souldiors leauing nothing vnsaid that might harten them on or vndone that might further the victorie Neither were the Turks wanting to themselues
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
great quiet of the Christian commonweale Stephen Bathor the late Vayuod of TRANSYLVANIA but now by the commendation of Amâ—rath become king of POLONIA in the beginning of his reigne by his embassador the great lord Iohn of SYENNA entered into a strong league and confederation with the great Turkish Sultan Amurath at CONSTANTINOPLE Which for that it sheweth in what tearmes that famous kingdome then and yet standeth with the Turkes great empire and withall containeth matter well worth the Christian consideration it shall not be impertinent to our purpose omitting the long and glorious stile of that barbarous Monarch seruing to no other end but to shew the greatnesse of his power plainely to set it downe as it was on his part at the same time by him confirmed The League betwixt the most puissant and mightie Princes Sultan Amurath the Turkish emperour and Stephen king of POLONIA agreed vpon and concluded at CONSTANTINOPLE in the yeare of our Sauiour Christ Iesu 1577 and of the Prophet Mahomet 985. I Sultan Amurath the sonne of Selym Chan the sonne of Solyman Chan the sonne of Selym Chan the sonne of Baiazet Chan the sonne of the Great Emperour Mahomet Chan c. Prince of these present times the onely Monarch of this age of power able to confound the power of the whole world the shaddow of diuine clemencie and grace Great Emperour of many kingdomes countries prouinces cities and townes lord of MECHA that is to say of the house of the glorie of God of the resplendent citie of MEDINA and of the most blessed citie of IERVSALEM prince of the most fruitfull countrey of AEGIPT IMEN ZENAN ADEN and many other such like in most louing manner declare That the most glorious and renowmed Stephen king of POLONIA great duke of LITHYANIA RVSSIA PRVSIA MASOVIA SAMOGITIA KIOVIA LIVONIA and many other countries moe prince of the couragious followers of Iesus Gouernour of all the affaires of the people and familie of the Nazarets the welcommest cloud of raine and most sweet fountaine of glorie and vertue eternall lord and heire of the felicitie and honour of the aforesaid noble kingdome of POLONIA vnto whom all the distressed repaire for refuge wishing a most happie successe and blessed end to all his actions offering vnto vs many religious vowes and eternall praises worthie our perpetuall loue and most holy league and with great deuotion performing these and other like honours as for the dispatch of his letters to our most glorious court for the new confirming of the most sacred league and confederation with vs sending the honourable lord Iohn of SYENNA his most faithfull counsellour his embassadour to our imperiall court declaring his loue and integritie and purging himselfe of all the suspition of hostilitie hath requested the league and confederation to be renewed At whose instance we haue giuen these our letters confirming the said league of peace and confederation wherein we commaund that none of our Counsellors Beglerbegs Sanzacks Generals of our armies Captaines or seruants shall doe or on my behalfe presume to doe any hurt vnto the kingdome countries cities castles townes islands or whatsoeuer else to the kingdome of POLONIA belonging And in like manner that none of the Nobilitie Generals Captaines or others whosoeuer belonging vnto the king of POLONIA shall dare to doe any harme vnto my kingdomes cities castles or towns confining vnto the kingdome of POLONIA In briefe my will is that he being a mortall enemie vnto mine enemies and a fast friend vnto my friends shall doe no grieuance or harme vnto any my subiects or things whatsoeuer vnto my iurisdiction belonging So in like manner communding also that no hurt by any meanes or for any occasion be done by our people vnto the subiects or whatsoeuer else vnto the iurisdiction of the king of POLONIA appertaining The creatures embassadours messengers and men of whatsoeuer condition else shall on both sides freely without let or trouble come and go without any harme receiuing either in their persons or goods It shall be lawfull also for the king of POLONIA his subiects to seeke throughout out empire for any the Polonian captiues taken before the time of this league and the same so found if they haue not receiued the Turkish religion but still remaine Christians to redeeme without the contradiction of any man And that whatsoeuer shall be taken and carried away after the confirmation of this league shall be all againe freely and without any thing paying deliuered and restored That the merchants on both parts may freely traffique with all kind of merchandise in the blacke and white sea as also vpon the maine and so paying their vsuall and lawfull custome to be in nothing wronged or molested If any of the Polonian merchants shall die in our dominion the goods of him so dead shall not be embeseled but kept in safetie vntill his brethren or other his friends shall come with the king of POLONIA his letters vpon the shewing whereof hauing also our letters mandatorie the goods shall be forthwith restored vnto the dead mans heires In which sort also my merchants shall be dealt withall if any of them shall chance to die in the kingdome of POLONIA If any wrong be done within the limits of mine empire vnto any belonging vnto the kingdome of POLONIA after the date of these letters confirming the league the dooer of the wrong shall by my commaundement be sought out and being found shall be punished and the wrong done without any delay or contradiction forthwith recompenced And the like iustice to be also on the behalfe of the king of POLONIA administred If any debtor shall depart out of mine empire into the Polonian territorie wheresoeuer he shall chance to be found by his creditor he shall be brought to the iudge of that place to be examined and whatsoeuer it shall be proued him of right to owe the iudge of that place shall according to the equitie of the cause make the creditor to be satisfied But if the debtor cannot himselfe personally be found no other man shall by reason of an other mans debt be taken detained or molested neither shall the innocent be troubled for the guiltie in either or both our kingdomes In briefe vpon whatsoeuer conditions and capitulations the league of peace and confederation was in the time of my father my grandfather or great grandfather of famous memorie made with the kings of POLONIA vpon the same conditions and capitulations be it now made also Whatsoeuer hurt hath hitherto been done to either part by reason of the disagreement of the Gouernors and captaines shall all be on both parties neglected and forgotten Also after the time of these letters confirming the league and confederation Whereas the king of POLONIA shall in time 〈◊〉 a certaine summe of money vsed to be paied vnto the Tartars the Tartar Chan and his sonne Mirzeleby their princes shall restore the same againe and not to dare to suffer his armies by any meanes
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
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
doubted of any but onely by those that were acquainted withall or borne thereabouts Which their policie the rebell Maxut Chan and with him Daut Chan as being well acquainted with those places perceiuing gaue notice thereof to Cicala Bassa who presently caused a great compassing wing to be made commaunding them to set vpon the Persians and to charge them home which was forthwith put in execution so that their forefront opened it selfe with very large and spacious cornets vpon the prince who no sooner saw this their vnwonted order of comming on but by and by he perceiued that his purpose was discouered And thereupon without any stay he began to retire calling his people after him which could not so readily be done but that three thousand of them remained behind all miserably stifled ouertroden in the mire with very little losse to the Turkes and this onely battell of fiue that were fought vnder TAVRIS and in those quarters was lesse hurtfull to the Turks than to the Persians The prince returned to the king his fathers campe recounting vnto him the whole action together with the departure of the enemie And so the Turkes came to SALMAS where the death of the Generall was published from SALMAS they went afterwards to VAN where they tooke a suruey of their armie and found wanting therein about fourescore and fiue thousand persons or as some say more At VAN all the souldiors were dismissed and Cicala from thence gaue notice to Amurath at CONSTANTINOPLE of all that had happened Where first was published the death of Osman the Generall for whom were made many signes of great sorrow and together with his death were blazed the bloudie and mortall actions that were in that expedition performed so that the whole citie seemed to be greatly discomforted and in many places were heard much secret railing vpon the king many curses of this warre and insolent maledictions of these manifold mischiefes After that was dispersed the great fame of the new fortresse erected at TAVRIS of the sacking of the citie and of all the losse that had happened therein and a generall edict published in the kings name That through all the cities of his empire they should make solemne feasts with other expresse tokens of joy and rejoycing which was accordingly done both in CONSTANTINOPLE and other places There was also word sent to the embassadours of HVNGARIE of FRANCE of VENICE and of other countries that they should doe the like but they all with one accord answered That it was neuer the custome of embassadours to make any such signe of rejoysing but onely when the king himselfe in person returned from the like victories In the meane time consultation was held at VAN for the sending of succours to TEFLIS in GEORGIA vnto which important seruice Daut Chan to deserue some reward at Amuraths hand offered himselfe vnto whom Cicala Bassa deliuered thirtie thousand Cecchini to be conueyed to the fort at TEFLIS Which piece of seruice the renegate performed and without trouble relieued the souldiors in the fort which was so well accepted of Amurath that he for the same good seruice honoured him with the dignitie of the Bassa of MARAS Maxut Chan also the other Persian rebell that guided the Turkish armie to Reiuan and afterwards to TAVRIS was in like manner by the same Amurath honoured with the great rich office of the Bassa of ALEPPO The miseries the Turkish armie endured in this expedition for TAVRIS beside the losses before rehearsed were wonderfull for as the Sanzacke of AMAN a citie of SORIA called in antient time APAMEA present in all this action reporteth in a letter which he wrote to Ali Bassa of ALEPPO there was such a dearth in the Turks armie that they were enforced to giue their cammels bisket and rice and when that failed they gaue them their pack-saddles to eat and after that pieces of wood beaten into pouder and at last the very earth which dearth endured vntill they arriued at VAN. And at TAVRIS whiles the fortresse was in building they were of necessitie constrained to giue their horses their dung in very drie pouder By reason whereof there followed a grieuous mortalitie of horses cammels mules and men and the stinke which grew of this mortalitie became so great that euery man was faine to carie a piece of a strong smelling oynion still vnder his nose to auoid the heauinesse thereof The fort so lately built in the royall citie of TAVRIS exceedingly grieued the Persians in generall but especially the king and the prince his sonne to let it alone they reckoned it too great a shame and how to demolish it they well knew not finding themselues not onely destitute of artillerie but also of such sufficient strength as was requisit for the performance of so great an enterprise yet prickt on with desire of glorie and the necessitie of the cause they determined euen in the sharpenesse of Winter to gather new forces and with trenches of earth to approch the ditch and to trie if they could aduance a countermure as high as their wals and so to attaine to the conquest thereof But in the gathering of their men they discouered new difficulties for to hire any souldiors either from HERI or GHEILAN was denied them by Abas and Amet Chan and the Turcoman nation which might haue been the readiest and the neerest at such a need for the late death of Emir Chan and for the succession of Aliculi were growne verie contumatious so that neither the king nor the prince nor the presidents and gouernours of the kingdome could tell which way to turne themselues At last for the common safetie they determined to draw the Turcomans to a reconciliation hoping that by promising them any honest satisfaction for the wrong wherwith they challenged themselues grieued for the death of their captaine they would become more tractable to doe them seruice in their common necessities Whereupon the king sent kind letters to the heads and captaines of those nations and principally to Mahamet Chan and to Calife the Sultan declaring plainly vnto them the perill of his state and of the libertie of the whole kingdome with the confidence he had in their valour and that therfore forgetting all that was past as done not in shame or scorne of their nation but onely for zeale and loue to the kingdome they would demaund such satisfaction as they desired and that he would be readie to agree to any just request they should make To which letters they readily answered That they would come vnto him to put in execution whatsoeuer he should for the common necessitie or the honour of his State commaund Now they had craftily among themselues alreadie concluded not to suffer any other to sit in the roume of Emir Chan their late Gouernour but onely young Tamas the kings third sonne Which conclusion they had plotted to themselues with a resolution in the end to cause him to be accepted for king at CASBIN in
his defence in a vault vnder ground was there smothered The third escaped by flight but was afterwards the same yeare taken with diuers others as shall be forthwith declared The eight of August following foure of the Turks great commaunders in HVNGARIE viz. the Bassa of ZIGET the Sanzackes of MOHAS of QVINQVE ECCLESIae and the new Sanzacke of KOPPAN with fiue thousand souldiors brake into the borders of the Christians and in most cruell manner destroied seuenteen countrey villages about LIMBACH carrying away with them all the miserable countrey people with the spoile of the countrey Whereof George Countie Serinus sonne to that most valiant Countie Nicholas Serinus slaine at ZIGET commaunder of the garrison of CANISIA vnderstanding with as much speed as was possible raised such forces as he was able out of his territorie betwixt the riuers of Drauâ—s and Mura and calling vnto his aid the Countie Nadasti the Lo. Bathianius and some other valiant captaines that had the charge of those frontiers with such diligence tooke the straits and passages whereby the Turkes must needs returne amongst the marishes that the Turkes comming backe againe that way with a verie rich prey and many prisoners being in the breake of the day hardly charged by those most expert and resolute souldiors in those straight and troublesome passages about a mile from CANISIA were at length discomfited and put to flight with such a miserable slaughter that many of them yeelded vp their scimitars pitifully crying for mercie othersome fled backe into the woods and forrests and many running headlong into the marishes there perished or sticking fast in the deepe mud cried togither for mercie and helpe of their enemies In this conflict Muhamet the Sanzacke of QVINQVE ECCLESIae sonne to Hali Bassa slaine in the battell of LEPANTO was taken prisoner Sinan Beg Sanzacke of MOHAS thinking to escape thorow the marish stucke fast with his horse and was shot through the head with a small shot and there died The Bassa of ZIGET with Chasan the new Sanzacke of KOPPAN seeing all desperat and lost fled betimes out of the battell but he of KOPPAN wandring vp and downe in the woods was the next night after the battell with others taken the Bassa of ZIGET almost spent with hunger and griefe of mind escaped on foot seauen daies after to BRESENZA There were taken of the Turkes a thousand three hundred of whom manie died afterwards of their wounds In this battell there was slaine of the Turks with them that perished in the marishes and woods about two thousand and of the Turkes horses were taken aboue fifteene hundred All the prey before taken by the Turkes with the miserable captiues was againe recouered The number of them that performed this notable seruice was in all but fifteene hundred foot and fiue hundred horse of whom there was but eleuen slaine but most of the rest wounded Foure hundred heads of the slaine Turkes were after the manner of those bordering souldiors carried for shew to CANISIA with fiue hundred prisoners The Christian souldiors with the helpe of the countrey people ceased not for certaine daies to hunt after the Turkes that were fled into the woods as after wild beasts of whom they found a great number diuers others also seeing no means to escape came forth of their lurking places and yeelded themselues Amurath vnderstanding of all these troubles that had so happened commaunded Aly the Bassa of BVDA to be strangled for that he had broken the league and not restrained the insolencie of his Sanzackes whom he might haue commaunded And in his stead placed Sinan Bassa whom before in disgrace he had now at the request of his wife againe receiued into fauour and restored to his former dignitie About this time also Sigismund the king of SVVEDEN his sonne now after the death of king Stephen chosen king of POLONIA and Maximilian the emperours brother rejected euen in the beginning of his raigne sought to renew the league which Stephen his predecessour and other the Polonian kings had before made with Amurath and his predecessours the Turkish Sultans And to that purpose writ vnto him as followeth Sigismund the third king of Polonia vnto Amurath the third emperour of the Turkes sendeth greeting The Almightie long keepe and preserue your maiestie in health and honour Most mightie prince our best beloued friend and neighbour after that we by the grace and goodnesse of God were chosen to gouerne the kingdome of POLONIA and the embassadours of that kingdome had signified so much vnto vs we prouiding vs of necessaries came to DANSKE the 18 day of October from whence we send Iohn Zamogil our Secretarie to giue your maiestie to vnderstand of this our comming For being told by the Polonian embassadours that we were chosen vnto the gouernment of that kingdome vpon condition That according vnto the custome of our predecessours the Polonian kings we should keepe loue and friendship with the most excellent Mussulman emperours we promise vnto your soueraigne maiestie that we are willing with the like or greater zeale and deuotion to continue that amitie and friendship with your most excellent maiestie and the Othoman emperours your successours For confirmation whereof so soone as we shall come vnto CRACOVIA the regall citie of POLONIA and there be crowned we will forthwith send our great embassadour vnto your maiestie In the meane time we most earnestly request your maiestie that our kingdome may on your maiesties behalfe rest in safetie and peace which we persuade our selues you will easily grant So wishing vnto you all health and happinesse we bid you farewell from DANSKE the 18 of October in the yeare 1587 and of our raigne the first Vnto which the kings request and letters Amurath not long after returned this answere in writing Amurath the third emperour of the Turkes vnto Sigismund king of POLONIA greeting I take it well and as a token of your loue that your embassadour Iohn Zamogil came with your letters vnto our most high and glorious Court the refuge of distressed princes wherein you haue giuen vs to vnderstand how that in stead of the most excellent and famous king Stephen of worthie memorie late king of POLONIA you descended of the same noble stocke and race of the Polonian kings are by the free election of the whole State of the famous kingdome of POLONIA and the great kingdome of LITHVANIA chosen king of POLONIA and being sent for by lawfull embassadours by the fauour and goodnesse of God to be come vnto the citie of DANSKE and from thence to be about to go vnto CRACOVIA the chiefe citie of the kingdome of POLONIA And when you are there arriued to send your great embassadour vnto our most high and glorious Court to confirme preserue and establish the league and amitie commodious and necessarie for both our kingdomes honoured and kept by your auntient predecessours with our grandfathers and great grandfathers yea and that with greater
territorie built PETRINIA a most strong fort hurtfull to all that countrey out of which he had done incredible mischiefe in CROATIA WINDISMARCH and the most fruitfull island TVROPOLIE and had out of those places carried away aboue fiue and thirtie thousand Christians into most miserable captiuitie Of which shamefull injuries and breach of faith he had many times by his embassadours complained vnto the Turkish Sultan at CONSTANTINOPLE and requested that all hostilitie set apart due restitution might haue been made but to haue therein preuailed nothing and that the same Bassa in stead of condigne punishment had been for the doing thereof honoured by the Great Sultan his lord with honourable gifts the sure tokens of his fauour Whereby he was so confirmed in his barbarous proceedings that he began to make open warre and hauing raised a full armie and strengthened also with certaine companies of Ianizaries sent from the Court had passed ouer the riuer of Kulp and besieged the castle of SISEG but by the just judgement of God the reuenger of wrongs had there receiued the reward of his faithlesse and cruell dealing being there slaine and almost all his armie vtterly destroied by his small forces raised in hast for his owne lawfull defence Neuerthelesse the faithlesse Turke as if he had beene highly wronged himselfe to haue made this his breach both of league and faith forthwith knowne to all the world by commanding open warre to be solemnly proclaimed against the kingdome of HVNGARIE both in CONSTANTINOPLE and BVDA and by the Beglerbeg of GRaeCE to haue againe besieged and taken the strong fortresse of SISEG Whereas on the other side because nothing should on his part be wanting which might make his desire of peace more knowne he had againe and oftentimes by his embassadour put the Turke in remembrance of his league made and confirmed by his faith who for all that had changed nothing of his purpose but sent his great Visier Sinan Bassa with the Beglerbeg of GRaeCIA and many inferiour Bassaes and Sanzacks into HVNGARIE who with fire and sword enforced the inhabitants and countrey people such as they left aliue to sweare vnto the Turke obedience and to become his subjects and at the same time tooke VESPRINIVM and PALOTTA two famous fortresses of that kingdome And that the same Bassa by commandement from his lord and master had contrarie to the law of nations imprisoned Frederik Kreckowitz his embassadour first at CONSTANTINOPLE and caused the greater part of his followers to be thrust into the gallies and afterwards to haue sent him with a few of his seruants to BELGRADE and there to haue kept him so long in prison that he there miserably died In reuenge of which so great and open wrong and for the defence and comfort of his afflicted subjects so neere the enemie he had raised a good strength both of horse and foot by whose helpe and the assistance of almightie God the Bassa of BOSNA had reaped the fruit of his perfidious dealing as had also the Bassa of BVDA with many thousands of their great souldiors ouerthrowne neere vnto ALBA REGALIS besides many of their castles and townes taken or rased Yet for all that was it easie to be seene these so great victories by the goodnesse of God had and obtained against so mightie and cruell an enemie not to suffice but that there was still need of a perseuerant and continuall supply for the maintenance of a perpetuall warre and that it was daily to be expected or rather euen now presently to be descried That the Turke in his quarrell which he deemeth alwaies just against the Christians and in reuenge of these ouerthrowes would draw forth all his forces and aduenture his whole strength For which causes he had by the knowledge and consent of the Princes electors of the sacred empire appointed that present Diet of the empire and not for the aforesaid causes only but for diuers others both necessarie and waightie also as the generall peace of the empire the pacification of the Low countries the reformation of justice and amendment of the coine but especially and aboue all other things to make it knowne vnto the world how much it concerned to haue the Turkes pride betime abated and some effectuall defence for HVNGARIE now in danger at length prouided being the most sure defence and strongest bulwarke of that part of Christendome And that whereas his owne hereditarie prouinces were not of themselues alone sufficient to maintaine so chargeable a warre he therefore requested the Electors Princes and States both present and absent not to grudge to be present with their helpe their counsell and whatsoeuer else should be needfull against so puissant and dangerous an enemie So ending his speech he caused all his demaunds before conceiued into writing to be read and so deliuered vnto them For answering whereunto the Princes electors and others there present required time which granted after many sittings long consultations they at last with one consent answered That it was a hard matter by reason of the late dearth and other like occasions for them to grant such helpe and aid as the emperour had in writing required yet hauing before their eies the great and imminent danger wherin the Christian common weale then stood they not regarding their owne proper and neere difficulties had in regard of his sacred and imperiall majestie for the comfort and defence of the endangered Christians and for the repressing of the Turkish furie of their owne free will and meere compassion granted beside their accustomed contribution such farther reliefe for the space of six yeares as they thought sufficient for the maintenance of a defensiue warre both for the present and the time to come What was by them farther decreed concerning the emperours other demaunds as not pertinent to our purpose we willingly passe ouer Of all these things as also whatsoeuer else had happened at STRIGONIVM HATVVAN or other places of HVNGARIE was not Sinan Bassa ignorant who now euen vpon the departure of the Christians from STRIGONIVM was come with an huge armie betweene BVDA and ALBA REGALIS vnto whom also fortie thousand Tartars that by force had made themselues way through PODOLIA and the vpper part of HVNGARIE had now joyned themselues so that in his armie were reckoned aboue an hundred and fiftie thousand fighting men to the great terrour not onely of HVNGARIE AVSTRIA STIRIA CROATIA BOHEMIA and the prouinces therabout but also of the whole State of GERMANIE With this great armie the old Bassa had purposed to haue ouerwhelmed the Christians in their campe at STRIGONIVM but now that they were before his comming departed ouer the riuer towards KOMARA he resolued to keepe on his way and to besiege the strong citie IAVRINVM now called RAB And to make all sure before him he thought it best to take in his way DOTIS a strong towne of the Christians in the mid way betweene STRIGONIVM and RAB about fiue Hungarian
state For the appeasing of which so dangerous a tumult Mahomet called vnto him certaine of the chiefe men among these seditious such as were thought to be able to do most with them whom he sought by faire persuasions and large promises to win vnto him and by them to pacifie the rest Which serued him to little or no purpose vntill such time as the great Bassaes themselues came out with their followers who with many faire persuasions mixt with most grieuous threats and firme promise of a generall pardon with much adoe appeased the tumult yet for the more safetie kept all the chiefe streets of the citie with strong watch and ward This broile thus ouerblowne a new tent was by the commaundement of the new emperour set vp before the temple of Sophia wherein on the right hand was placed the dead bodie of the late Sultan Amurath his father and on the left hand the bodies of his nineteene strangled brethren layed forth of purpose as an heauie spectacle for the people to behold who all not long after were together with their father with great solemnitie after the Turkish manner buried and Mahomet himselfe being about nine and twentie yeares old now openly proclaimed great emperour of the Turks and lord of all from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same After that returning to his pallace he made vnto his Bassaes and other great men a sumptuous and royall feast as the manner was but whilest they were in the middest of their mirth vpon the sudden all the citie was againe in an vprore and the people in armes in such sort as that it was thought scarce one man would haue escaped aliue from that banket had not the chiefe Bassa with his grauitie and wisdome and wonderfull labour in good time appeased their furie and withall to their greater terrour caused all the great ordinance in the citie to be brought forth into the streets readie charged to be shot off amongst them Whilest these troubles thus passed at CONSTANTINOPLE vpon the late confederation made betweene the emperour the Transyluanian prince the Valachians and Moldauians diuers fortunate inrodes and skirmishes were by them made in the frontiers of the Turkes dominions many strong places were surprised many rich booties taken and notable exploits done which we will but briefely passe ouer as the precedents of a greater warre The citie of WELTZE before taken by the Turks was now againe in the beginning of this yeare recouered and the Christians about SCVTHIA in number about foure thousand breaking into the Turks frontiers carried away an exceeding rich prey with diuers notable captiues The like did also the Christians of VIVARIA at which time also the garrison souldiors of ALTENBVRG making a rode into the countrey about RAB encountered with foure thousand Turks of whom they slew two hundred tooke certaine prisoners whom they sent some to PRESBVRG some to ALTENBVRG and Sinan Bassa the late Generall returning towards CONSTANTINOPLE with much treasure which he had greedily scraped together in the late wars in HVNGARIE was by the Valachians set vpon by the way not farre from BELGRADE and stript of all that he had hauing much adoe to escape himselfe with some few of his followers The same Valachians together with the Transyluanians vnder the conduct of their valiant captaine Gestius Ferens entering further vpon the Turkes tooke from them diuers of their townes and castles as PONDESIE NICOPLISE KILLA and REBNICHI and meeting with twelue thousand Tartars slew a great number of them and put the rest to flight With this insolencie of the Valachians his late tributaries but now his enemies the Turkish emperour was highly offended and therefore sent one Bogdanus a Valachian borne descended of the Palatines house with a great power to expulse the old Vayuod and to possesse himselfe of that honour as his tributarie promising vnto him all fauour and kindnesse Bogdanus thus supported and furnished came with his power into VALACHIA yet thought it best before he attempted any great matter to expect the comming of the Tartars left the last yeare in HVNGARIE by Sinan of whose comming the Valachians and Transyluanians hauing vnderstanding met them by the way and joyning battell with them slew eight thousand of them put the rest to flight and so returned vnto whom presently after this victorie the Transyluanian prince sent foureteene thousand souldiours moe to aid them against the Turkes But Bogdanus vnderstanding both of the ouerthrow of the Tartars and the comming of this new supplie durst not proceed any farther in his enterprise but kept himselfe still in his trenches Not long after by the commaundement of the Turkish emperour Han the Crim Tartar with a great power of his Tartarian horsemen entred into MOLDAVIA with purpose to haue by fire and sword reduced that countrey againe vnto the Turks obeisance of whose comming Aaron Vayuod of MOLDAVIA hauing knowledge and aided by his neighbour Michael Vayuod of VALACHIA so belayed the Tartars that he in three diuers battels ouerthrew them and hauing slaine twelue thousand of them enforced the rest to retire againe out of his countrey and following the course of this victorie presently after tooke BENDAR SCHINITZ TIGNA MECâ—NIS with some other castles and fortresses of the Turkes neere vnto the riuer of Danubius all which he furnished with his owne garrisons and withall tooke in the rich countrey of BOâ—RAGA the inhabitants thereof willingly submitting themselues vnto him as men wearie of the Turkish thraldome With like good fortune aided by the Polonian Cossackes he ouerthrew Ianicula the sonne of Bogdanus sometime Vayuod of MOLDAVIA now sent by Mahomet with a great power as a most fit instrument to trouble the Vayuod and to recouer againe that countrey with whom Aaron couragiously encountering at SCARPETRA a mile from Danubius ouerthrew him in plaine battell and hauing slaine eight thousand of his Turkes put him to flight and tooke the spoile of his whole campe Neither yet so contented marched presently to NESTER ALBA where he put the Turkes in a great feare and afterwards burnt the suburbs of the citie and so retired How Amurath the late Sultan in the beginning of these troubles had at CONSTANTINOPLE shut vp in prison Frederick Krecowitz the emperours embassadour is before declared This embassadour Sinan Bassa brought with him the last yeare when he came into HVNGARIE who after many indignities by him suffered both vpon the way and at BELGRADE there died fiue of whose seruants the false Bassa caused to be kept in straight prison as guiltie of their masters death so to auert the infamie thereof from himselfe But now lying himselfe at BELGRADE for the better mannaging of this yeares wars vpon the comming of a new treasurer from the Court he caused these fiue poore prisoners to be brought before him and most impudently charged them with the death of their master saying that they should answere for the same vnto God and their
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
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
appointed time about midnight committed themselues with all that they had vnto the conduct of them of STRIGONIVM sent out of purpose for them by whom they were in safetie brought to STRIGONIVM Amongst them were many rich men who brought with them good store of coine with an exceeding great number of cattell Vnto these newcome guests Palfi assigned certaine fields betwixt STRIGONIVM and VIVARIA on the North side of Danubius where they so commodiously liued as was possible in so troubled an estate of a countrey Shortly after six hundred garrison souldiors of LIPPA seeking after bootie and aduenturing too farre into the enemies territorie were discouered by the Turkes scouts and so beset by the Turkes and Tartars billeted in the countrey about TEMESWAR that there was no way left for them to escape Which they well perceiuing resolued among themselues as became valiant men to fight it out euen vnto the last man and with no lesse resolution performed what they had before determined for being on euerie side beset and hardly charged by their enemies they as men before resolued to die although scarce one to twentie fought most desperatly seeking for nothing else but to sell their liues as deare as they could vnto their enemies and so fighting were all slaine except some few which by great fortune escaped leauing vnto the enemie a right bloudie victorie Yet by this losse of so great a partie was the garrison of LIPPA greatly weakened which the enemie knew right well and thereupon began forthwith to prepare to besiege the towne Which Barbelus the Gouernour a most valiant man wisely foreseeing sent in post vnto the Transyluanian prince to request him with all speed to send him foure or fiue thousand good souldiors with which power he doubted not by the helpe of God to be able to defend the towne against all the forces the enemie was at that time able to bring against it Vnto whom the prince without delay sent eight thousand who all in safetie in good time arriued at LIPPA for shortly after their arriuall fortie thousand of the Turkes and Tartars came and sat downe before the towne enclosing it on euerie side and so lay for certaine daies without any thing doing worth the speaking of they of the towne in the meane time doing them all the harme they could with their great shot which they sent amongst them not sparingly But they had not thus long lien but that newes was brought into the campe that the Transyluanian prince was with a great power comming thither to relieue the towne whereupon they presently rise and retired to the place where they had before encamped about two miles from LIPPA where certainly vnderstanding that the prince neither was neither could in short time be in such readinesse as was before reported they forthwith returned and more straitly besieged the towne than before They had now brought with them seuenteene pieces of batterie eight wagons laded with shot and pouder and fortie six others laded with scaling ladders and other warlike prouision thus appointed they began to batter the towne and afterwards gaue therunto diuers desperat assaults which the Christians valiantly receiued and still with great slaughter repulsed their enemies For that strong towne was with towers and bulwarkes flanking one another so fortified that out of them the Christians with their murthering pieces made great spoile of their enemies and still enforced them with losse to retire no bullet almost flying in vaine In the heat of one of these assaults the Gouernour caused one of the gates of the towne to be set open hauing before within in the towne placed sixteene great pieces at the verie entrance of the same gate charged with all kind of murthering shot vnto which gate as of meere desperation set open by the defendants the Turkes and Tartars desirous of reuenge came thronging as thicke as might be thinking to haue thereby entred when suddenly and as it were in the turning of an hand they were with the aforesaid murthering pieces cut downe as with a sithe and so againe and the third and fourth time before they could cleare themselues of the danger thereof their heads armes legges and other rent limbes flying in the ayre most miserably to behold Neuerthelesse the siege was by them continued and the often assaults so resolutly maintained as if they had thereon purposed to haue gaged all their liues But this so obstinat a resolution was by an vnexpected accident when they least thought conuerted into such a desperat feare and astonishment that they vpon the sudden no man forcing them forsooke their trenches wherein they lay encamped and leauing behind them their tents their great ordinance and whatsoeuer else they had they betooke themselues to a most disordered flight The Transyluanians who by chance were euen then comming thither pursuing them slew diuers of them and tooke some others of them prisoners At this siege the Bassa of TEMESVVAR himselfe was mortally wounded and Hamat Sanzacke of GIVLA with diuers others of good place slaine and foure thousand of the common souldiors The cause of the Turks so great and sudden feare was this Whilest the Bassa of TEMESVVAR lay at the siege of LIPPA as is aforesaid they that were left in the citie fearing no harme liued in great securitie in the meane time the Gouernour of LVGAZ sent out six thousand souldiors towards TEMESVVAR now in the absence of the Bassa to seeke after bootie who comming to TEMESVVAR with great speed rifled the suburbs of the citie slew all the Turks they could light vpon and set at libertie a thousand captiues and so hauing trussed vp their bootie set on fire all the suburbes and departed Which fire grew so great and so terrible that it was plainly seene into the campe at LIPPA making a shew as if the whole citie had beene on a light fire Which so daunted the hearts of the Turkes at the siege that they presently fled as is before said leauing all that they had behind them The Transyluanian all this while busied in raising of his armie and prouiding of things necessarie for the maintenance of his warres was come into the confines of HVNGARIE towards TEMESVVAR euen as the Turkes fled from LIPPA At which time certaine Hungarian Heidons that serued him getting ouer Danubius not farre from NICOPOLIS tooke PLENIA a little towne of the Turkes which they ransacked and burnt and hauing slaine in the countrey thereabout aboue three thousand of the Turks returned with a rich prey vnto the prince Not long before the Christians had surprised CLISSA a strong frontier towne of the Turks in DALMATIA not far from SPALATO which towne the Bassa of BOSNA sought now againe to recouer and thereto layed hard siege for the reliefe wherof Leucowitz gouernour of STIâ—â—â— and the other prouinces thereabouts belonging to the house of AVSTRIA and the gouernâ—â—â— of ZENG with a fleet of two and fortie ships wherein they had embarked foure thousand
condition women were slaine great with child and yong children hanging at their mothers breasts it booted not to crie for mercie the bloudie sword deuouring all The furie of the Wallons here exceeded who ript the children out of their mothers wombs and made thongs and points of the skins of men and women whom they had flaine quicke Which their crueltie they afterwards excused when they were therefore reproued by pretending that thereby they did teach the Turkes hereafter not so wickedly to blaspheme against Christ or with such their wonted and barbarous crueltie to torment the Christians that fell into their hands for feare of like themselues In this assault and furie perished of the Turkes about foure thousand and of the Christians not past three hundred In this towne beside that which the fire deuoured was found a verie rich prey The first that entred the towne was one Terskie a notable captaine with his companie after whom followed Ruswurme who each of them were thought in their entrance at the breach to haue slaine with their owne hand eight or ten Turkes Now in the meane time Mahomet the great Sultan being come to BELGRADE remoued thence to come downe into the heart of HVNGARIE sending Cicala Bassa before him and at length after long looking for the second of September arriued at BVDA hauing in his armie about two hundred thousand men and three hundred field pieces From thence he presently sent fortie thousand to TEMESVVAR but staied there himselfe with the rest of his armie The Christians yet lying at HATVVAN and doubting least the Sultan suddenly passing the riuer should come vpon them not yet readie for battell departing thence and retiring backe againe came and encamped not farre from VACIA And albeit that the Archduke before his departure from HATVVAN had left a conuenient garrison for the keeping of the towne yet such was the terrour of the Turkes approach that the next day after they that were there left in garrison forsooke the towne and setting it on fire followed themselues after the campe This comming of the Turkish Sultan to BVDA brought also a great feare vpon them at VIENNA as much doubting least he should that way haue turned his forces which caused them both day and night to labour for the better fortification of the citie and for the prouision of all things as if it had been for a present siege But Mahomet not prouided for the vndertaking of so strong a place and not ignorant of the disgrace his great grandfather the victorious Solyman had sometime receiued vnder the walles thereof had no purpose thereto as hauing bent his thoughts quite another way In the vpper part of HVNGARIE is an auntient famous citie well fortified and honoured with a bishops See called AGRIA not farre from HATVVAN Vpon this citie as the chiefe fortresse of the Christians in those quatters had Mahomet at his comming into HVNGARIE cast his eyes and began now that way to make head with purpose by taking of that citie and placing there of a strong garrison to hinder the vniting of the emperours forces with the Transyluanians for the mutuall strengthening of the one the other by the way of the vpper HVNGARIE Which the Archduke perceiuing sent thither forthwith the valiant Colonell Terskie with a notable companie of Italians and Germanes and a thousand other harquebusiers who all arriued there in safetie At which time also the lord Teusfenbach sent into the citie three thousand footmen vnder the conduct of countie Turn with good store of warlike prouision needfull for the defence thereof The one and twentith of September Mahomet attended vpon by the great Bassaes Ibrahim Giaffar Hassan and Cicala for old Sinan was now dead with his armie of an hundred and fiftie thousand men came and encamped betweene the two riuers of Danubius and Tibiscus couering a great part of the countrey with his tents Approaching the citie he with wonderfull celeritie cast vp fiue great mounts and from them with such furie battered the wals that the Christians were glad night and day to stand in armes for the defence thereof And although that the wals were so great and in many places so weakly fortified as that they were not but by a greater garrison to be defended against so puissant an enemie and that therefore the defendants with their honour lawfully might euen the first day haue set the citie on fire and retired themselues into the castle which was both faire and strong and the onely place to be trusted vnto yet for the space of six daies they worthily defended the whole citie against the furie of the enemies and out of it did them great harme But seeing the danger daily encreasing and that the citie was not longer to be holden they set it on fire hauing before conuaâ—ed all the best of their substance with themselues into the castle which the Turkes quickly perceiuing brake so suddenly into the citie as if they would togither with the Christians haue entred â—he castle also but in the attempting therof they were notably repulsed and many of them slaine Adjoyning to the castle was a great and strong bulwarke against which the Turks for certaine daies furiously thundred with their great ordinance and that without intermission and hauing in diuers places sore shaken it in the space of two daies assaulted it twelue times but not without the wonderfull losse of their men and yet gaue it not so ouer but as men with their losse more enraged came on againe with 〈◊〉 furie than before and so at last by plaine force tooke iâ— and there put to the sword all them they found therein except such as by good hap got betimes into the castle This bulwarke thus lost the Christians the next day sallying out againe recouered wherein they slâ—w a great numbeâ— of the Turkes with the losse of some thirtie men and as many moe wounded The besieged now diuers times both by letters and messengers craued aid of Maximilian the Generall giuing him to vnderstand that they could not long hold out for want of shot and poâ—der if they were not betimes relieued whereof the enemie also was not ignorant yet were they resolued to hold it out euen to the last man although the great Sultan had oftentimes by messengers sent of purpose willed them to yeeld it vp with promise that they should in safetie with life and good depart otherwise threatning vnto them greater extremities than was of late shewed vnto the Turks at HATVVAN if they should as obstinat men hold it out vnto the last Whereunto they neuer answered him any thing for Terskie had forbid them all parlâ—y with the enemie and in the middest of the market place had caused a paire of gallowes to be set vp threatning to hang him thereon whosoeuer he were that should once make motion of yeelding vp the citie Whilest the besieged thus liue in hope of reliefe the Archduke vpon the comming oâ—er of the Sultan towards
lord Teuffenbach and Palsi and so of all their vnited forces made one armie consisting now of two and thirtie thousand horsemen and eight and twentie thousand foot who drew with them an hundred and twentie field pieces and twentie thousand wagons wherewith they euerie night enclosed their armie as with a most sure trench So orderly marching they kept on their way towards AGRIA with a full resolution to giue the Turkes battell whereof the whole armie seemed to be verie desirous By the way at length they came to a faire heath two miles long and foure broad where they were to passe ouer a certaine riuer the passage whereof Giaffar Bassa had before taken with twentie thousand Turkes and Tartars the rest of the Turkes armie lying still not farre from AGRIA Now the purpose of the Bassa was to haue enlarged the passage of the riuer and so to haue made way for the whole armie to haue afterwards passed vnto the other side as most commodious for many purposes especially for water whereof they so might themselues haue had plentie and yet kept the Christians from it But of this his purpose by the comming of the Christians he was quite disappointed for the next day being the three and twentith of October they skirmished with him in diuers places especially at the passage of the riuer where at the first encounter he lost three hundred of his men in the end seeing himselfe too weake to withstand the whole power comming on fled to the Sultan hauing lost two of his ensigns and twentie field pieces but of his men not many both for that he fled betime and the approch of the night hindered the pursute of the Christians who were now become masters both of the passage of the riuer and of the place where the Bassa lay which they finding not so commodious for them as they had at the first supposed especially for lacke of wood the weather then being extream cold as also hearing of the approch of the Sultan with his whole armie they forthwith forsooke the same and retired again ouer the riuer vnto the place where they lay before enclosing themselues with their waggons as if it had beene a citie strongly enclosed with wooden wals The next day which was the foure and twentith of October towards night Mahomet with all his army shewed himselfe vnto the view of the Christians and sent three thousand Tartars to passe the riuer of whom the Christians slew a great number with their great shot and put the rest to flight Both the armies were populous and strong and couered a great deale of ground a most goodly sight to behold both drunke of the same riuer as well the men as their horses and therefore kept continuall watch all that night on both sides of the riuer especially at the passage In the morning betwixt six and seuen a clocke Mahomet with his armie raunged in order of battell came within sight of the Christians his squadrons as it were couering all the countrey on that side of the riuer as farre as the Christians could well see and now againe sent part of his armie ouer the riuer with whom the Christians skirmished from morning till night both the armies parted but by the riuer all this while standing fast and as it were facing the one the other But being at length on both sides well wearied and many slaine the Turks retired againe ouer the riuer to the campe in the meane time as if it had beene by consent they resolued on both sides the next day to trie the fortune of a battell and so commaundement was giuen through both the armies for euery man against a certaine appointed time to make himselfe readie So the next day being the six and twentith of October Mahomet brought forth his armie againe out of his campe which was not farre from the Christians and began now to draw downe towards the riuer Neere vnto this place were the ruines of an old church where Mahomet placed certaine companies of Ianizaries and foure and twentie field pieces and commaunded ten thousand of his select souldiors to passe the riuer which they readily did The Christians also readie for battell and now thinking it time vpon the comming ouer of the enemie to begin with part of their armie thereunto appointed so fiercely charged the Turkes that were alreadie come ouer that they quickly ouerthrew them and not them onely but certaine companies of Tartars also that were in another place come ouer the riuer and not so contented but following them they had in chase put to flight them also that stood on the further side of the riuer of whom they slew a great number and by the comming on of the rest of the armie tooke from them an hundred and ninetie great pieces of artillerie whereof so great a feare rise in the enemies campe that Mahomet with Ibrahim the great Bassa seeing the discomfiture of the armie fled in all hast towards AGRIA shedding some teares by the way as he went and wiping his eyes with a peece of Mahomets garment which he for reuerence carried about him as a relique It drew now towards night and the Archduke was about to haue caused a retreat to be sounded and that day to haue done no more But the Transyluanian prince the lord Palfi and the rest persuaded him in that so great feare of the enemie to prosecute the victorie and the rather for that the Turks began againe to make head and to repaire their disordered battels Wherefore the Christians still keeping their array charged afresh the front of their enemies restored battell consisting of fortie thousand men and that with such violence as that they in short time had slaine the most part of them and put the rest to flight and with the like good fortune charging the bodie of the maine battell forced the discouraged Turkes with great slaughter into their owne campe Now commaundement was before giuen throughout the Christian armie that no man vpon paine of death should in seeking after spoile breake his arraâ— or forsake his place before the victorie were assuredly gotten But they in this hot pursute breaking together with the Turks into their tents there killing a great number of them and seeing in euery place great store of rich spoile contrarie to the aforesaid commandement left the pursute of the enemie and disorderly fell to the spoile of the tents vntill they came to the very tent of the great Sultan But here began all the mischiefe with a most sudden change of fortune For here these greedie disordered men not now worth the name of souldiors light vpon a strong squadron of resolute men with good store of great ordinance readie charged which they discharged amongst the thickest of their enemies and rent in sunder a number of them and after that came on resolutely themselues when in the meane time Cicala Bassa with his horsemen yet vntouched brake in vpon them also and with
of the whole action But now the Turkes perceiuing that all their chiefe commaunders were slaine retired most part of them into the citie some three hundred of them crept vnderneath one of the bulwarkes where stood certaine barrels of gunpouder which they desperately set on fire and so together with themselues blew vp 300 Christians that were aboue vpon the bulwarke the greatest losse the Christians had in all that victorie who were otherwise supposed not to haue lost therein aboue 200 of their men Thus the Turkes discomfited and altogither full of feare loosing both their force and courage fled in euerie place before the Christians they in euerie corner making of them a most horrible slaughter The Turkish women all this while out of their windowes and other high places ceased not to cast downe stones timber and such like things vpon the heads of the Christians whom they sought by all meanes to annoy and to helpe the Turks The bloudie execution continued all that day vntill night the Christians still finding one or other hidden in the most secret places of the citie vpon whom to exercise their wrath who ransacking also euerie corner thereof were by the wealth therein found greatly enriched But comming to the pallace of Giaffer the great Bassa they found such great store of rich furniture as better beseemed some great prince than a Turkish slaue There they found also letters written in caracters of gold from the Bassa of BVDA to this Bassa greeting him and promising him in his behalfe to deale with the grand signior against the next Spring with the first that his armie should take the field That he might therein haue some honourable place of commaund to the end he might in the field shew his greater valour and no longer lie idly in that strong towne So found they there also many things written from the great Sultan himselfe vnto this Bassa with great store of coine which all fell to the souldiors share insomuch that by this so notable an exploit so well performed the publicke state together with the souldiors priuat was not a little bettered There amongst other things were recouered threescore and six pieces of artillerie which were knowne to haue beene sometime the Emperours and foure and twentie others which the Bassa had caused to be brought from BVDA with great store of shot and pouder and other small pieces and meale sufficient to haue serued foure thousand men for a yeare and a halfe but of wine little vsed of the Turkes onely foure vessels In the Bassaes pallace was also found of armour and weapons of all sorts great store with abundance of cloth and apparrell which was all giuen in spoile to the souldiors Thus RAB one of the strongest fortresses of Christendome not full foure yeares before besieged by Sinan Bassa with 150 thousand men by the space of almost three moneths and then at length by the treason of the Gouernour to him betraied was now in one night by the valour and pollicie of a few resolute men to their immortall glorie againe restored to the Christian common-weale the nineteenth day of March in the yeare 1598. Of which so notable a victorie the Christians rejoyced not a little both in HVNGARIE and elsewhere the great Sultan with the Turkes in the meane time no lesse grieuing and storming as well for the losse of the towne before got with no small charge as for the death of his people there slaine to the number of about six thousand and moe with the losse of scarce six hundred Christians Yet for all this Mahomet the great Sultan ceased not to make great prouision for his wars in HVNGARIE and that greater than before and so with greater furie also to prosecute his wrathfull indignation to be reuenged vpon the Christians Whereunto order was giuen vnto Ibrahim Bassa his brother in law and Generall of his armie with all conuenient speed to take the field which for all that fell out farre otherwise for that now thinking to haue had all things in good forwardnesse a great dissention rise betwixt the Ianizaries and the Spahi the Ianizaries being the best footmen and the Spahi the best horsemen of the Turkish empire both the faithfull keepers of the person of their prince and the greatest strength of his state whereby it commeth to passe that in setting forward towards the wars these two sorts of valiant souldiors the one standing vpon their strength and the other vpon their honour and both jealous of their reputation and credit haue no good liking of one the other but oftentimes and especially of late in this corruption of their martiall discipline vnder their degenerat emperours fall at ods among themselues as now they did to the great hinderance of their affaires and trouble of their Generall Insomuch that to appease this tumult he was glad to put to death certaine of the insolent Ianizaries refusing to set forward as they were by their Aga commaunded But proceeding farther and thinking to haue executed some others of them also to the farther terrour of the rest he was by them and their adherents put in such feare of his life that to auoid the present danger he was glad to excuse himselfe by his lieutenant laying all the blame vpon him as the cause therof who was therefore as a sacrifice deliuered vnto the furie of the Ianizaries by whom he was presently slaine with some others of the Bassa his followers So these broiles with much adoe ouerpast Ibrahim hauing taken a generall reuiew of his armie at SOPHIA there staied expecting order from the great Sultan where to begin his wars in HVNGARIE oâ— in TRANSYLVANIA for as yet that was in question which could not well be before the beginning of Iuly by reason of the scarcitie of victuals euen then arising in the campe for the supplying whereof Mahomet himselfe had no small care But this long delay was the cause that a great number of the Ianizaries comming from HADRIANOPLE and hearing by the way that the Generall would not as yet set forward not knowing the cause of his stay and doubting to be deceiued of their promised entertainment were about to haue returned backe againe which knowne at the Court commandement was presently sent thence vnto the Generall without longer stay to set forward towards HVNGARIE which the more hastened his departure with his armie In this the Turks so long delay the Christians had good leisure to prepare their new forces being now the latter end of Sommer for well they might thinke that the enemie slept not knowing what prouision hee had made as well in CONSTANTINOPLE as in other places Wherefore reasonably doubting that Sommer well spent and August now at hand he would not so late turne his forces into the lower HVNGARIE they thought it best to prouide for the safetie of the vpper countrey And to the end that the enemie approaching those frontiers might there find forces readie to encounter him the lord George Basta a
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
disturbance of the Christian peace Whereunto he receiued no answere So the eight and twentith of October a day dedicated to the commemoration of the Apostles Simon and Iude these messengers were sent backe againe vnto the Cardinall who presently returned them back vnto the Vayuod with new instructions being then busie with his young sonne in setting his men in order of battell presently to goe against the Cardinall of whom they could get no other answer but that he was resolued forthwith to come vnto the triall of a battell with him So the two armies lying encamped not past a quarter of a league the one from the other and the same day meeting together joyned a most terrible and cruell battell which for the space of fiue houres was with such desperat obstinacie fought as if they had euery man vowed to haue carried away the victorie ouer his enemie or there to haue left themselues dead vpon the ground vntill the Cardinals people at length ouercome in a long and bloudie fight were there vtterly ouerthrowne amongst whom were thirtie thousand Turkes and Tartars sent vnto him from Ibrahim Bassa the Turks Generall The Cardinall himselfe seeing the discomfiture of his armie was by some reported to haue saued himselfe by flight but by some others was said to haue beene drowned in passing a riuer as hee fled from the Valachians that had him in chase But the truth was that the Vayuod now master of the field sent out certaine troupes of horsemen diuers waies still to pursue him and himselfe with the rest of his armie prosecuting the victorie came to the Cardinals campe now by the Transyluanians and Turkes quite forsaken wherein he found fiue and fortie pieces of artillerie with great store of coine and wealth beside a number of tents and horses all which became vnto him a prey From thence he marched vnto ALBA IVLIA where he was with great joy receiued of his friends and confederats there for though the greater part of the Transyluanians especially the nobilitie had together with the Cardinall submitted themselues vnto the Turkes protection and followed his ensignes yet were there diuers others also who still fauoured the emperour and therefore rejoyced not a little of this victorie The Vayuod after that sent his lieutenant to CLAVDIOPOLIS to see if they would yeeld also which they willingly did with many other cities and castles in diuers parts of that countrey which hauing none to rest vpon now yeelded also in such sort that shortly after all TRANSYLVANIA submitted it selfe againe vnto the emperours obeisance and swore vnto him obedience most of the nobilitie of that countrey being either slaine in the battell or afterwards put to death by the Vayuod amongst whom were fiue which corrupted by the Cardinall had before vndertaken to kill him Now the foureteenth of Nouember after diuers reports of the Cardinals escape his vngratious head was for all that presented vnto the Vayuod which to the terrour of others being for a while set vp in ALBA IVLIA where he but a little before had commaunded as a prince was afterwards taken downe and sent for a present from the Vayuod vnto the Emperour and the Archdukes his brethren his headlesse bodie being afterward by the commaundement of the Vayuod honourably buried in a monasterie at ALBA IVLIA in the same tombe he had before made for his brother beheaded by his cousin Sigismund Bathor The Cardinals treasure also fell into his hands which was said to haue beene three millions of gold Thus the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA lately before by the Cardinall yeelded vnto the obeisance of the Turke was againe by this worthie Vayuod recouered and restored vnto the Christian empire the proud Cardinall cast out and brought to confusion hauing not yet possessed these his new honours full eight moneths His cousin Sigismund the late Transyluanian prince who almost all this while had stayed at BORVSIA and in disguised apparrell seene DANSKE and diuers other the free cities thereabouts now hearing newes of the Cardinals ouerthrow secretly got him away from thence into POLONIA to seeke againe his new fortunes The lord Swartzenburg at the same time vniting his forces in the lower HVNGARIE with them of STIRIA and now twentie thousand strong sought by all meanes to reduce so many places vpon those frontiers as he could vnto the emperours obeisance and so tooke in aboue two hundred villages But afterward thinking to haue surprised the strong castle of CAPISVAR and by night secretly approching one of the gates with a Petarde which tooke not the expected effect he was discouered by the watch and so by the garrison souldiors now raised with the alarum repulsed and enforced to retire with the losse of about an hundred men and diuers others wounded all men of good account in reuenge whereof Swartzenburg afterwards sent out diuers troupes of horsemen which scouring all ouer the countrey as farre as SIGETH burnt it also and so returning carried away with them a great bootie Ibrahim Bassa hearing of this ouerthrow of the Cardinall with all the forces he had sent him much troubled therewith sent newes thereof in post to CONSTANTINOPLE the brute wherof brought a generall feare vpon the whole citie also insomuch that commission was forthwith sent vnto him from the great Sultan giuing him power if it might be to come to some honourable peace with the Emperour and to bring it with him to CONSTANTINOPLE whither he was shortly to returne being now no longer time to keepe the field with his armie which beside the cold season of the yeare suffered great want of bread the plague also then raging therein with the death of many his best souldiors both horse and foot beside the wonderfull mortalitie of their cattell also in such sort that the souldiors not able longer to endure the famine and wants increasing fell to robbing of one another and so at length into mutinie wherein diuers of them being slaine and cut in pieces by their fellowes the rest for the most part brake in sunder of themselues and so by diuers waies returned home not well trusting one another So that nothing more was now done with the great preparation of the Turkes their armie being discomfited with wants and the euill successe of their affaires as well in HVNGARIE as in TRANSYLVANIA Neither did Ibrahim the great Bassa for the reliefe of those euils at his returne bring any conclusion of peace vnto his great lord and master as was commonly expected Now beside these troubles of TRANSYLVANIA and the other reuolted countries Cusahin or as some call him Cassan the sonne of one of the Sultanesses brought vp in the Seraglio according to the manner thereof and hauing long serued in the wars of PERSIA and in HVNGARIE and so at length made Bassa of CARAMANIA a man of great spirit and not able to endure the imperfections he daily saw in the Othoman empire and the cowardise of the grand signior vpon the report
liues For if Christ died for vs how much more right is it that we for him should die also vnto this so honourable an expedition let vs also giue an honourable end let vs fight in Christs name with a most assured hope of an easie victorie For none of them I trust shall be able to abide our force but shall all giue way euen to our first charge But if we shall die which God forbid there shall be an honourable place of our buriall wheresoeuer we shall for Christ fall Let the Persian archer for Christ his sake strike me I will die in an assured hope and with that arrow as with a chariot I will come vnto that rest which shall be to me deerer than if I should with a base ordinarie kind of death in my sinnes end my daies in my bed Now at length let vs take reuenge of them with whose impure feet our kinsmen and Christian brethren troden downe are gone into that common sanctuarie in which Christ our Sauiour equall and associat to his father is become a companion of the dead We are those mightie men we all haue drawne our swords which stand about the liuely and diuine sepulchre as about Solomons bed Wherefore we that be free borne let vs take out of the way these Agarens the children of the bondwoman and let vs remooue them as stones of offence out of the way of Christ whom I know not why the Grecians feed vp as greedie wolues to their owne destruction and with shame fat them with their blood when as with couragious minds and thoughts beseeming wise men they ought so to haue beene driuen from their prouinces and cities as rauening wild beasts from their flocks Now for as much as this riuer as it seemeth is not but by some aduenture to be passed ouer I my selfe will shew you the way and be the first that shall take it Let vs serred together forcibly breake into the riuer and we shall well enough ride through it I know that the water beaten backe by our force will be at a stand and breake the course returning as it were backward By not vnlike meanes the Israelits in antient time on foot passed ouer IORDAN the course of the riuer being staid This attempt shall be spoken of in all posteritie it shall by no tract of time be worne out or forgotten but still remaine in fresh remembrance to the great dishonour of the Turks whose dead bodies ouerthrown at this riuer shall lie like a mountaine and be seene as a Trophey of our victorie vnto the worlds end and our immortall praise and glorie Hauing thus said and the signall of battell giuen euerie man hauing before by deuout praier commended himselfe vnto almightie God he was the first that put spurs to his horse and tooke the riuer after whom followed the rest so close and so forcibly with such a terrible outcrie that the course of the water being by the force of their horses staid and as it were beaten backe towards the fountaine the whole armie passed ouer with lesse trouble than was feared And then charging the Turks alreadie discouraged to haue seene them so desperatly and contrarie to their expectation to haue passed the riuer after some small resistance put them to flight wherein such infinit numbers of them fell the Christians like fierce lyons pursuing the chace that all the vallies ran with blood and the fields were couered with the bodies of the dead Many of the Italians were wounded with the Turks arrowes and but few or none slaine But what a multitude of the enemies there fell the sundrie and hugie heapes of bones to be compared vnto great hils did long time after well declare whereat euerie man that trauelled that way did woorthily woonder as did I my selfe saith Nicetas Choniates in reporting this historie Not much vnlike that is reported of the Cimbers slaine by Marius in such number that of their bones the countrey people about MARCELLIS where the field was fought long time after made wals for the defence of their vineyards After this so great a victorie the Christians without resistance came to ICONIVM the chiefe seat of the Turkish kings in the lesser ASIA which they hardly besieged Neuerthelesse such was the strength of the citie being strongly fortified both by nature and art together with the valour of the defendants that lying there long they little preuailed pressed in the meane time with greater extremities and wants in the campe than were the besieged in the citie whereupon ensued such a mortalitie people dayly without number dying in the armie that the emperour was glad to raise his siege and to returne into his countrey The chiefe cause as well of this so great a mortalitie as of the ouerthrow of so notable an action most men ascribe vnto the malice of the Greeks who not without the priuitie of their emperour as it was commonly bruited mingled lime with the meale which they brought to sell into the armie whereof the hungrie souldiers desirously feeding were therewith poysoned and so miserably died Of the certaine time of this journey of the emperours into ASIA authors agree not howbeâ—t most refer it vnto the yeere 1146. This expedition though not so fortunat as was at the first well hoped of yet profited the Christian common weale in this That the Turks therewith throughly busied and doubtfull of the euent thereof Baldwin in the meane time fortified GAZA sometimes a famous citie of the Philistines but as then ruinous which serued as a most sure bulwarke for the defence of that part of his kingdome toward AEGYPT and also for the distressing of ASCALON the onely refuge of the Aegyptians then left in that country which strong citie standing vpon the sea side he with all the power of his kingdome afterward besieged both by sea and land vnto the reliefe whereof the Caliph of AEGYPT after it had beene fiue moneths by the Christians besieged sent a strong fleet of threescore and ten gallies At which time also on the other side Noradin the Turke who had now got into his hand all the kingdome of DAMASCO to withdraw the Christians from the siege of ASCALON besieged PANEADA from whence he was by the valour of the citizens repulsed as was also the Caliphs fleet at sea and the siege at ASCALON continued Where at length the Christians after long batterie had made a breach in the wall but giuing thereunto an assault they were with great losse of their men repulsed and the breach againe by the enemie repaired who to the greater despite of the Christians hanged ouer the walles in roaps the dead bodies of their slaine with which spectacle the chiefe commanders of the armie were so mooued that they with all their power returned againe to the assault with a full resolution to gage thereon their whole forces which they so couragiously performed that the besieged discouraged with the great slaughter of their men and now with
true valour ouercome craued parley and so couenanting that they might with their liues in safetie depart agreed to yeeld vp the citie which they accordingly performed The spoile of the citie was giuen to the souldiers and the gouernment thereof vnto Almericke the kings brother earle of IOPPA By this victorie great securitie was gained vnto that side of the kingdome the enemie hauing now no place left in those parts whereon to set his foot About the same time also or as some write euen at the same time together with the emperour Lewis the French king the eight of that name tooke vpon him the like expedition for the reliefe of the Christians in the Holy land who setting forward with all the chiualrie of FRANCE and accompanied with diuers other great princes with a right puissant armie came to CONSTANTINOPLE where he was by Emanuel the emperour honourably receiued with all the outward shews of faigned courtesie that could be deuised But hauing passed the strait and landed in ASIA he found nothing answerable to that the dissembling Greeke had before most largely promised And to distresse him the more was by false guides before corrupted by the emperour conducted through the most desolate and barren countries where by the way a wonderfull number of his souldiers perished of hunger and thirst many of them also being cut off in the strait and difficult passages or as they straied from the armie by the Greeks themselues appointed by the malicious emperour for that purpose Yet after many dangers passed and his armie sore wasted he came at length into SYRIA and laid siege vnto DAMASCO the royall seat of Noradin the Turkish king which he so notably impugned that the defendants were almost out of hope to be able for any long time to hold him out Neither had it otherwise hapned had not enuie the inseperable attendant of all honourable actions frustrated so great an hope for the besieged Turks being brought to great extremitie and now euen at the point to haue yeelded the citie certaine of the Christian princes of that countrey vnderstanding that the king had promised the gouernment of that so famous a citie vnto Philip earle of FLANDERS if it should be woon and secretly grudging to haue a stranger preferred before themselues corrupted also as some say with the Turks gold fraudulently persuaded the king to remooue from that part of the citie where he lay and might in fine haue taken the same vnto another far stronger where after he had lyen a great while striuing with no small extremities he was inforced for want of victuals to raise his siege and to depart And so without any thing done woorth the remembrance returned againe into FRANCE detesting the verie name of Emanuel the Greeke emperour by whose sinister dealing so notable an expedition was brought to be of none effect to the great discouraging of all other Christian princes for taking the like againe in hand Now had the state of the Christians in SYRIA for certaine yeeres after the aforesaid expeditions rested in good peace when Noradin the Turke mooued with some injuries done by the Christians vnto the Turks and Arabians who by the leaue of king Baldwin dwelt in the forrest of LYBANVS came and straightly besieged PANEADE a citie of the Christians there by vpon whom the Christians in the citie now brought vnto great extremitie made a most desperat sally and had with the Turks a sharpe and cruell fight but oppressed with the multitude enforced to retire they were so hardly pursued that the Turks together with them entred the citie and put to sword all that came in their way Neuerthelesse the greater part of the citizens by good fortune had in good time before retired themselues into the castle which was of great strength and there stood vpon their guard Of whose distresse with the taking of the citie Baldwin hearing raised a great armie so set forward to relieue thē But Noradin hearing of his comming doubtfull of his owne strength after he had takē the spoile of what he could set fire on the citi◠so departed The citizens thus deliuered repaired againe the wals of the citie the kings power still defending them Noradin with his power all the while lying close in the woods not far off still awaiting the offer of some good opportunitie to take the Christians at aduantage which shortly after fell out according to his owne desire For the king doubting no such matter but supposing him to haue been quite gone hauing at his returne sent away all his footmen followed after himselfe accompanied onely with his horsemen and they also not verie strong but as he was passing the riuer IORDAN he was suddenly set vpon by Noradin and the Turks and after a sharpe conflict ouerthrown The king himselfe with some few hardly escaped to SAPHET a towne therby most part of his nobilitie being there either slaine or taken prisoners amongst the rest Bertrand of BLANQVEFORT master of the Templars with diuers others of great name fell at that time into the enemies hands and so were carried away prisoners After this victorie Noradin strengthened with new supplies from DAMASCO came againe and besieged PANEADE in good hope that the citizens discouraged with so great an ouerthrow of the king and out of hope to be by him relieued would now either yeeld the citie or else not be able long to hold it out But the king contrarie to his expectation had in shorter time than was thought possible raised a great power and aided by the prince of ANTIOCH and the countie of TRIPOLIS was marching to the reliefe of his citie of whose approch Noradin vnderstanding although he had made diuers breaches in the wals brought the citizens almost vnto vtter despaire rise with his armie and departed And so Baldwin hauing now twice relieued the besieged citie returned also to IERVSALEM Many an hard conflict with the Turks had this young king afterwards during the fortunate time of his raigne wherein that troublesome kingdome happily flourished amidst the miscreants all which to recount were long and tedious Yet among other things it is woorth the remembrance how that Noradin the Turke then king of DAMASCO besieging SUETA a castle belonging to the kingdome of HIERUSALEM was in a set battell by Baldwin ouerthrowne and put to flight with the losse of the greatest part of his armie King Baldwin had before married Emanuell the Greeke emperours neece and now the same emperour by Guido Stephanus and Trisillus his embassadours requested to haue giuen him againe in marriage one of the kings nigh kinswomen Vnto whom the king after mature deliberation had concerning that matter offered him Matilde an honourable ladie the sister of the countie of TRIPOLIS whom the emperour refused and afterward by the consent of the king made choice of Mary the daughter of Raymund prince of ANTIOCH lately dead Which the countie of TRIPOLIS taking in euill
after his father for whose inheritance Reucratine prince of DOCEA and Masut prince of ANCYRA his two brethren fell at variance and so at last into open war But Masut finding himselfe too weake for his warlike brother Reucratine yeelded vnto him the territories which he saw he must needs forgo and glad now to keepe his owne so made peace with him Reucratine being a man of an ambitious and haughtie spirit with his forces thus doubled denounced war vnto his brother Caichosroes who doubting his owne strength fled vnto the emperour Alexius Angelus for aid as had his father done before him vnto the emperour Manuel although not with like good fortune For the emperour but of late hauing obtained the empire by the deposing of his brother and altogether giuen to pleasure reputing also those domesticall warres of the Turkes some part of his owne safetie sent him home without comfort as one strong enough of himselfe to defend his owne quarrell against his brother Howbeit he was scarcely come to ICONIUM but that he was by Rucratine expulsed thence and driuen to flie into ARMENIA where he was by Lebune king of that country a Turke also honourably receiued and courteously vsed but yet denied of the aid he requested the king pretending that he was alreadie in league with Reucratine and therefore could not or as some thought fearing the dangerousnesse of the matter would not intermeddle therein Wherewith the poore Sultan vtterly discouraged returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE and there in poore estate as a man forlorne passed out the rest of his daies Now hauing thus passed through the Turkish affaires in the lesser ASIA together with the troubled estate of the Constantinopolitan empire no small cause of the Turks greatnesse the course of time calleth vs backe againe before wee passe any further to remember their proceedings also at the same time and shortly after in SIRIA IVDEA AEGYPT and those more Southerly countries where these restlesse people ceased not by all meanes to enlarge their empire vntill they had brought all those great kingdomes vnder their obeisance After the death of Baldwin king of HIERUSALEM of whom we haue before spoken Almericus his yoonger brother earle of IOPPA and ASCALON being then about seuen and twentie yeeres old was by the better good liking of the cleargie and people than of the nobilitie elected king not for that there wanted in him any good parts woorthie of a kingdome but for that some of them enuied vnto him so great an honour Neuerthelesse he was as we said by the generall consent of the people elected proclaimed and by Almericus the Patriarch with all solemnitie crowned the seuenteenth day of Februarie in the yeare of Grace 1163. To begin whose troubled raigne the Aegyptians first of all denied to pay vnto him their woonted tribute In reuenge whereof he in person himselfe with a puissant armie entred into AEGYPT and meeting with Dargan the Sultan ouerthrew him in plaine battell and put him to flight who to stay the further pursuit and passage of the Christians cut the bankes of the riuer NILUS and so drowned the countrey that the king was glad to content himselfe with the victorie he had alreadie gotten and so to returne to HIERUSALEM The next yeere Almericus was againe drawn downe with his power into AEGYPT by Dargan the Sultan to aid him against Saracon whom Noradin the Turke king of DAMASCO had sent as generall with an armie to restore Sanar the Sultan before expulsed and to depose Dargan In which expedition Dargan being slaine and Saracon hauing woon certaine townes kept them to himselfe Sanar doubtfull of his good meaning joyned his forces with Almericus and by his helpe expulsed Saracon out of AEGYPT But whilest Almericus was thus busied in AEGYPT Noradin the Turke making an inroad into the frontiers of the Christians neere vnto TRIPOLIS was by Gilbert Lacy master of the Templars in those quarters and the other Christians when he least feared so suddenly set vpon that he had much adoe by flight to saue himselfe halfe naked for hast most of his followers being at the same time slaine In reuenge of which disgrace he not long after with a greater power came and besieged ARETHUSA For reliefe whereof Bohemund prince of ANTIOCH Raymund the yoonger earle of TRIPOLIS Calaman gouernour of CILICIA and Toros prince of ARMENIA came with their power Of whose comming the Turke hearing raised his siege and departed After whom these Christian princes eagerly following were by the Turks shut vp in certaine deepe and rotten fennes whâ—â—einto they had vnaduisedly too far entred and there with a great slaughter ouerthrown In which conflict all the chiefe commanders of the armie were taken except the prince of ARMENIA who forecasting the danger had retired after he had in vaine dissuaded the rest from the further pursuit of the flying enemie The prince of ANTIOCH there taken was about a yeare after for a great summe of money redeemed but the countie of TRIPOLIS was after eight yeares strait captiuitie hardly deliuered Noradin after this victorie returning againe to the siege of ARETHUSA in few daies woon the towne and encouraged with so good successe and the absence of the king laid siege to the citie of PANEADE which was also deliuered vnto him vpon condition that the citizens might at their pleasure in safetie depart At the same time Saracon generall of Noradin his forces tooke from the Christians two castels the one in the countrey of SIDON the other beyond IORDAN vpon the borders of ARABIA both in the custodie of the Templars twelue of whom the king at his returne hanged vp for treason Shortly after Saracon king Noradin his great man of war with all the power of the Turkes came downe againe into AEGYPT with purpose to haue fully subdued all that notable kingdome vnto his lord and master Of whose power Sanar the Sultan standing in dread praied aid of Almericus promising vnto him beside his yearely tribute the summe of fortie thousand ducats for his paines The matter fully agreed vpon and all things now in readinesse Almericus set forward with his armie and encountring with Saracon and his Turks at the riuer NILVS ouerthrew him in a great battell yet not without some losse for the Turks in their flight lighting vpon the kings carriages with the whole baggage of the armie and ouerrunning them that had the charge thereof caried away with them a most rich prey whereby it came to passe that as the Christians had the victorie so the Turkes enjoyed the spoile Saracon after this ouerthrow hauing againe gathered together his dispersed souldiers tooke his way to ALEXANDRIA where he was by the citizens receiued after whom the king following gaue no attempt vnto the citie for that he knew to be but vaine but encamped close by the side of the riuer NILVS from whence the citie was chiefly to be victualed Whose purpose Saracon perceiuing and betime foreseeing the distresse of his whole armie
man of great experience and valour was appointed lieutenant Generall for that countrey to the great contentment of the souldiors in generall all shewing themselues most readie at his commaund The lord Swartzenburg in the meane time remaining in the lower HVNGARIE at RAB with eight thousand good souldiors and the Archduke Matthias at VIENNA for the dispatch of George Basta and the hasting of him foeward for that the vpper HVNGARIE to the great hurt thereof began now to feele the incursions of the Turkes and Tartars besides that he was afterwards to returne himselfe to speake with the emperour his brother still expecting a Chiaus of the Turkes by the appointment of the Grand signior sent by the way of POLONIA for PRAGE to intreat with the emperour concerning a peace They of BVDA in the meane while seeing the delay of the Turks of whom not one band yet appeared in those quarters and on the other side perceiuing the great preparation of the Imperials and the great garrison at RAB so neere at hand began now to doubt some new resolution of the Christians wherein they were no whit deceiued for no armie of the Turks being then in field in the lower HVNGARIE and the countrey plaine and open the lord Palâ—i with a conuenient power and certaine pieces of batterie set forward to attempt the enterprise and the sixteenth of October with sixteene pieces of artillerie began to batter the citie of BVDA to the great feare and discomfiture of them within hauing first taken the fort S. Gerarde with hope to haue gained the rest also For which cause the men the women and all that dwelt in the citie most instantly besought the Bassa not to endure the destruction of the same with the inhabitants and wealth thereof altogither but being not able long to hold out against so furious a batterie in time to hearken vnto some reasonable composition that so they might yet euerie man at least with life depart Whereunto the Bassa for all that would not hearken but put them still in hope that they should be presently relieued Howbeit the batterie still continuing and they not able longer to endure the force of the Imperials nor any reliefe yet comming they were glad at length to abandon the citie with the losse of two thousand of the Ianizaries and but three hundred of the Christians slaine and eight hundred hurt the rest of the Turkes at the same time retiring themselues into the castle where they might for a space deeme themselues safe So the lord Palfi possessed of the citie with all his forces laid siege vnto the castle which although it were in some places shaken with the continuall furie of the cannon yet were the defendants still readie to make good the same insomuch that Palfi vpon good hope of successe giuing thereunto a generall assault was by their valour enforced to retire they within in the meane time with great labour and industrie repairing the breaches and gaules made by the artillerie So that Palfi considering the difficultie of the assault thought it better by vndermining to shake the rock whereon the castle stood than by a new assault to expose so many worthie men vnto so manifest a danger which his purpose by the enemie discouered was by them also by countermining disappointed yet for all that were the Christians still in good hope by an other mine not yet by the enemie perceiued to sort to the full of their desire and the more for that they saw not so much brauerie or shew of courage in the defendants as before Who now kept themselues silent and quiet as if they had been consulting about the yeelding vp of the castle as men bereft of all hope of reliefe and succour the Christians being now possessed of a strong abbey and fortresse fast by and hauing broken downe all the bridges ouer the Danubius in such sort as that the besieged could not receiue any reliefe either by land or water But forasmuch as the time of the yeare began now to grow tedious and the winter weather sharpe the Christians thought it not best there long to protract the time and therefore resolued to present vnto the castle another generall assault and at the same instant to blow vp the mine but in giuing this assault they were againe repulsed with the losse of two hundred men At which time also a number of the Turks â—allying out of the castle couragiously encountred the Christians but not with successe answerable to their valour being there almost all cut in pieces neither did the mine take the desired effect but being blowne vp did little or no harme at all So that the Christians wearie of their long suffering of the extremitie of the weather and withall considering the great courage of the defendants were euen vpon the point to haue risen yet willing to giue a fresh attempt by the mine they began againe to worke in the same and in hope to preuaile began to parley with the defendants about the giuing vp of the castle but all to little or no purpose for that the mine hauing taken no effect the souldiors could hardly be drawne on through the deepe and muddie ditches to giue a new assault In fine seeing no hope to preuaile and hearing also of the comming of a great armie of the Turkes for the reliefe of the besieged they raised their siege and at their departure burnt their suburbs carrying away with them a great bootie and so retiring towards STRIGONIVM expected farther direction where to winter Where shortly after order was taken that the forces disbanded should be dispersed some into the garrisons and some into the countrey thereabout to the intent they might so be in the more readinesse with the first of the next Spring to take the field or as occasion should serue to be otherwise imploied But Sigismund the Transyluanian prince in the mean time repenting himselfe of the vnequall exchange he had made with the emperour in disguised apparell hasting in post out of SILESIA came to CLAVSENBVRG in TRANSYLVANIA and there joyfully receiued of his subjects and taking of them a new oath of obedience by messengers sent of purpose certified Maximilian the Archduke appointed by the emperour for the gouernment of TRANSYLVANIA and now vpon his way as farre CASSOVIA of the causes of his returne persuading him rather to conuert his forces against the Turkes for the recouerie of AGRIA than to trouble himselfe to come any farther for TRANSYLVANIA now againe by him to the great contentment of his subjects repossessed as did also the princesse his wife Maximilian his cousin german wishing him to consider what hurt and dishonour he should doe vnto the Emperour his majestie himselfe the Roman empire and the whole Christian common-weale in generall if in so dangerous a time hee should attempt any thing against the prince her husband and vnto him by her so neerely allied Now the Turkes great armie being come into the vpper HVNGARIE lay