Summons given promising to yield the City after they had once won the City of Ierusalem From thence they came to Cesarea in Palestine where they solemnly kept the Feast of Whitsontide and so to Rama which they found for fear forsaken of the Infidels Marching from Rama and drawing near to Ierusalem they in the Vantgard of the Army upon the first descrying of the Holy City gave for joy divers great Shouts and Outcries which with the like applause of the whole Army was so doubled and redoubled as if therewith they would have rent the very Mountains and pierced the highest Heavens There might a man have seen the devout passions of these most worthy and zealous Christians uttered in right divers manners some with theâ—r Eyes and Hands cast up towards Heaven called aloud upon the name and help of Christ Jesus some prostrate upon 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 brief every man in some sort expressed the joy he had conceived of the sight of the Holy City as the end of their long travel This most ancient and famous City so much renowned in holy Writ is situate in an hilly Country not watred with any River 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 extraordinary blessings of the most High so supplied as that the Jews there dwelling so long as they kept the Ordinances of the Lord were of all other people in the World justly accounted the most happy and fortunate Yet in those so blessed times was this City for the sin of the people oftentimes delivered into the Enemies hand and the glory thereof defaced as well appeareth by the whole course of the History of holy Scripture as also by the ancient and approved Histories as well of the Jews themselves as others Nevertheless it still rose again though not in like glory as before in the time of King David Solomon and the other next succeeding Kings and so was still repeopled by the Jews until that at last according to the foretelling of our Saviour Christ it was with a great and of all others most lamentable destruction utterly rased and destroyed by the Romans under the leading of Vespasian the Emperor and his noble Son Titus forty years after our Saviour his precious Death and Passion Since which time it was never until this day again repaired or yet well inhabited by the Jews but lying buried in the ruines of it self all the Reign of Domitian Nerva and Trajan until the time of the great Emperor Aelius Adrianus it was again by him re-edified about the year 136 and after the name of him called Aelia who together with the name changed also in some part the ancient situation of the City For whereas before it was seated upon the steep rising of an hill in such sort that towards the East and the South it overlooked the whole ground having only the Temple and the Castle called Antonia in the highest part of the City Adrian translated the whole City unto the very top of the hill so that the place where our blessed Saviour suffered his most bitter Passion with the Sepulchre wherein he was also laid and from whence he in Glory rose again before without the City were then inclosed within the Walls thereof as they are at this day to be seen Yet for all that the Emperor being dead in process of time this new built City recovered again the ancient name of Ierusalem whereby it hath ever since and is at this day yet known This City so re-edified the Emperor first gave unto the Jews whom he afterwards thrust out again for their Rebellion and gave it to the Christians to inhabit over whom one Mark first Bishop of the Gentiles there had the charge But forasmuch as the Roman Emperors were at that time altogether Idolaters and Persecutors of the poor Christians the Church also at Ierusalem with others endured sundry and many grievous Persecutions under the Emperors Antonius Commodus Severus Maximinus Valerianus Aurelianus Dioclesianus and Maxentius until that at length Constantine the Great converted unto the Faith of Christ about the year of Grace 320 suppressing the Pagan Idolatry gave general Peace to the afflicted Church whereby the Christian Church at Ierusalem for the space of three hundred years after happily flourished under the Greek Emperors until the time of the Emperor Phocas who having most cruelly slain the good Emperor Maurice with his Children and so possessed himself of the Empire gave occasion thereby unto Chosroe the Persian King in revenge of the death of Maurice his Father in law with all his Power to invade Syria who as a tempest bearing down all before him took also by force the City of Ierusalem having that year which was about the year Six hundred and ten slain almost an hundred thousand Christians But Phocas the Usurper being by them of his Guard most cruelly slain and Heraclius succeeding in his stead Chosroe was by him again driven out of Syria and the Holy City again recovered about the year 624. In these great Wars against the Persians Heraclius had used the help of the Arabians called Scenite a warlike people of Arabia Deserta altogether given to the Spoil who the Wars now ended expecting to have received their pay were contrary to their expectation and without all reason rejected by them that should have paid them with very foul and contumelious words as that there was not mony enough to pay the Christian Souldiers of the Latines and the Greeks much less those vile dogs whom they so called for that they had but a little before received the damnable Doctrin of the false Prophet Mahomet the great Seducer of the World who even in that time flourished Upon which discontentment they at their return revolted from the Empire and joyned themselves unto their great Prophet and so afterwards unto the Caliphs his Successors extending his Doctrin together with his Soveraignty to the utmost of their power and that with so good success that in short time they had overrun all Aegypâ— Syria the Land of Promise and taken the Holy City With these the Disciples of Mahomet and his Successors the Sarasins for so now they would be called the Greek Emperors ensuing had for certain years divers conflicts with diverse fortune for the possession of Syria But at length wearied out and by them overcome they left the aforesaid Countries wholly to their Devotion Hereby it came to pass that the Sarasins for the space of 370 years following held these Countries with many others in great subjection oppressing still the poor Christians in Ierusalem with most grievous Tributes and exactions unto whom they yet left a third part of the City
charge from the Emperor himself not to do any thing against the Enemy tending to the breach of the ten years League which the Turks well perceiving and that they had to do but with these new come Guests and some few others their partakers having gathered together their Forces lay in ambush for them in every corner to cut them off Neither was it long but that these of Gaza going far into the Country and returning laded with spoil were set upon by the Turks whom they casting away the spoil they had before taken notably repulsed and put to flight the day now drawing to an end But early the next morning appeared a far greater number of Turks than before which now putting on charged the Christians who all that night had stood watching in their Armor and so joyned with them a most cruel battel wherein the Christians shewed so much valour as was possible for men to do but wearied with the long fight and oppressed with the multitudes of their Enemies they were overcome and slain almost every Mothers Son. Amongst the rest the two Counts Almericus and Henry fell the King of Navar Himself hardly escaped by the exceeding swiftness of his Horse and by uncertain ways wandring up and down the Country not knowing well which way to take after two days came by good fortune to Ioppa some few others escaped by flight to Ptolemais the heavy Messengers of the misfortune of their Fellows The King afterwards visiting the holy places at Ierusalem returned home into his Country with some few of his Followers having performed nothing of that the World expected About four years after Raynold Duke of Bavaria whom Frederick the Emperor had left his Lieutenant in Ierusalem died having by the space of five years peaceably governed that bruised Kingdom After whose death the Templars who he yet living would oftentimes have broken the League but that they were by his wisdom restrained now took occasion to stir up the people to take Arms against the Turks without respect unto the League yet in force or of the dangers like thereof to ensue Whereof the Egyptian Sultan hearing raised a great Army sending also for the Chorasines a War-like Nation then lying near unto Babylon to come unto his Aid Thus become very strong he first laid siege to Gaza but a little before repaired and fortified by the King of Navar and the Templars which he at length took by force and put to Sword all that were therein as well the Citizens as the Garrison Souldiers in like manner he dealt also with them of Ascalon and other places as he went. To repress this his fury the Templars and Hospitallers had assembled the whole strength of that weak Kingdom and near unto Tyberias came to have given him battel Who upon their approach hastily retired as if he had for fear shunned battel But whiles the Christians as Victors the night following lay negligently incamped along the River side he returning back again with his Army came upon them before they were well aware half-sleeping half-waking but altogether unarmed with a most horrible Out-cry The Christians now altogether awaked and not a little troubled with the suddenness of the matter hastily and disorderly as must needs in so great a confusion took up their Weapons such as came first to hand and so couragiously opposed themselves against their Enemies There was fought a most terrible and doubtful battel and that also for a long space the Christians still encouraging one another to do their last devoir but the Turks still keeping their Order against the disordered Christians and far more also than they in number prevailed and there overthrew them with a great slaughter but not without the loss of many thousands also of their own men which there lay dead upon the ground Most part of the best Commanders both of the Templars and Hospitalers were there slain such as escaped fled to Tyre year 1234. The Sultan incouraged with so great a Victory marched forthwith to Ierusalem which he took without resistance and there put to Sword all that he found therein Men Women and Children without respect of Sex or Age and afterwards having rifled the same rased it down to the ground burning the Buildings and overthrowing the Walls not long before repaired by the Emperor Frederick and much beautified by his Lieutenant Raynold And carried with an infernal fury defaced and most shamefully polluted the Sepulchre of our blessed Saviour never before then violated or defiled but of all Nations untouched and reverenced which for all that may seem to have been done not so much for the hatred unto the Christian Religion as for that it was the place of all others most desired of the Christians and for the gaining whereof they had undertaken so many hard Adventures and so much troubled the Sarasins and Turks Thus by the unfaithful breaking of the League the most ancient and famous City of Ierusalem sometime the terrestrial Seat of the most High and glory of the World fell again into the Power of the Turks and Infidels in the year 1234. in whose hands it hath ever since remained even until this day now a poor ruinous City governed by one of the Turks Sanzacks and for nothing now more famous than for the Sepulchre of our blessed Saviour again repaired and much visited by the devout Christians and not unreverenced by the Turks themselves The loss of this so famous a City together with the dangerous State of the Christians in Syria much grieved the other Christian Princes of the West especially Frederick the Emperor by whom it had been but a few years before gained Howbeit he could not now remedy the matter according to his desire being himself grievously entangled with the endless Troubles which Pope Gregory had as it were by tradition left unto the other Popes his Successors for the troubling of his State until at length they had deprived him of his Empire and not long after of his life also Among other the great Princes careful for the poor Christians in Syria was Lewis the Ninth the French King a Prince of great Power but of all others of that time most famous for his Zeal unto the Christian Religion and for his devout manner of life who abounding in wealth and all things else of a great Prince to be desired and withall oftentimes considering the notable Expeditions many Christian Princes had to their Immortal Glory made some into Syria some into Egypt against the Enemies of Christ and for the Relief of the oppressed Christians was many times about to have taken upon himself the like But in these his devout motions before he could resolve upon so great an Enterprise he fell dangerously sick insomuch that for certain days he lay speechless devoid of sense and motion without any sign of life but that he did a little faintly breath when coming a little unto himself whither moved by devotion or troubled with his former
Black Sea lying from it Northward and two hundred miles from the Strait of Hellespontus or Calipolis from thence South Which noble City of all others most fitly seated for the Empire of the World and with great Majesty overlooking both Europe and Asia is by the Cosmographers accounted to stand in the height of 43 Degrees upon seven little Hills of no great but easie ascent and was there first built by Pausanias the Lacedemonian King and called Bizantium and so many years flourished as a populous and rich City until the civil Wars betwixt Severus the Emperor and Niger what time it indured the Siege of the Romans under Severus three years with such obstinacy that it yielded not until it was brought to such extremity that the Citizens did eat one another and then yielding had the Walls overthrown by Severus and the City it self destroyed and brought to the low estate of a poor Country Village and so by him given to the Perinthians In which base estate it continued until the time of Constantine the Great the Son of Helena whom some will needs have to have been an English Woman by whom it was new built and beautified with Buildings so stately and sumptuous that unto the strange beholders it seemed a dwelling place for Heavenly Wights rather than for Earthly Men. And to grace it the more translated his Imperial Seat thither and called it Nova Roma or New Rome and all that pleasant part of Thracia alongst the Sea Coast of Hellespontus Propontis and Basphorâ—s by the name of Romania of the fair Roman Colonies there by him planted which name it at this day retaineth and is of the Turks called Rumilia and Rum-Ili that is to say the Roman Country But as for the City it self the glorious name of the Founder so prevailed that the City was and yet is of him called Constantinople or Constantine his City and now of the barbarous Turks commonly but corruptly Stamboli It is as we said built in the form of a Triangle whereof the longest side which runneth from North-East to South-West is on the South-side washed with the Propontis and towards the ending of the point which is about the seven Towers is somewhat indented being commonly reputed to be eight miles long The other side lieth East and West five miles in length being washed with the Havon which is somewhat more than eight miles long before it meet with the fresh water and about a quarter of a mile broad on the suther side whereof standeth the City of Pera commonly called Galata sometime a Colony of the Genowaies This Haven is very deep and by that reason as commodious as deep bearing Ships full fraught close to the Shoar so that they may discharge their Burthens with the least trouble that may be and is of Strabo called Cornu Bizantij or the Horn of Bizantium The third side of this City towards the Continent lieth almost North and South five miles also in length those two sides that lie upon the Sea and the Haven are environed and girt with a single Wall built after the antique manner with many high Towers which strongly defend and flank the same Without which Walls especially towards the Haven there lieth a Street between them and the Shoar But the other side which is the third and regardeth the main Land beside the Ditch which is also fenced is defended with three Walls the first Wall standing upon the Ditch being but low and the second not far distant from the first raised somewhat higher but the third overlooketh and commandeth both the other from whence as from an high sortress both the other Walls and all the Ditch without may easily be defended But the two utter Walls with the whole space betwixt them are now by the Turks but slenderly maintained lying full of Earth and other Rubbish even as they were in the time of the Grecians some cause why they with less heart and courage defended the same against the barbarous Enemies In the East part of the City on that point which in the Reign of the Grecians was called the Cape of S. Demetria distant from Asia not much more than half a mile stands the Seraglio or Palace of the great Turk containing in it self a great part of an Hill enclosed round with a Wall as if it were it self a City in circuit more than two miles wherein amongst other stately Buildings near unto the Sea standeth a very fair and sumptuous Gallery built for pleasure with a private Gate well fortified and planted with great Ordnance and other Munition whereby the great Turk at certain times passeth when he is disposed in his Gally to take his pleasure upon the Sea or to pass over the Strait unto his Houses or Gardens of Delight on the other side in Asia In this great City 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 Greek Emperors amongst all which the Temple of S. Sâ—pâ—ia standing on the East side of the City nor far from the Scraglio now reduced unto the form of a Mahometan Moschie and whither the great Turk goeth oftentimes to hear Service being indeed but the Sanctuary or Chancel only of the great stately and wonderful Church built by Iustinian the Emperor is most beautiful and admirable That which standeth of it now is both round and very high built after the fashion of the Pantheon in Rome but much greater fairer and not open in the top as is that the Walls thereof being of the finest Marble and the Floor all paved with fair Marble also In the midst there is a very great and large Circle compassed in with high and huge Pillars of most excellent Marble of divers sorts and these support a mighty Vault that beareth up as many more Pillars above standing after the very same order and in a down right line almost of the like greatness and goodness of the Marble with the other below upon which above the second Vault in manner of a Loovar resteth the great round Roof which coverth all that space of the Church which is compassed with the aforesaid Pillars being all enameled and fillited with the Pictures of Saints after the antient manner of some great Churches in Christendom but that the Turks who like not to have any Pictures in their Churches have put out their Eyes only as loath to spoil such a rare peece of work and utterly to deface it In like manner the Walls of the upper Vault are wrought painted or portraied after the same order though in some part decaied by reason of their long continuance and standing About this Church are eighteen or twenty Doors of Brass right fair and costly well declaring the magnifence and greatness thereof in more antient times when as it had as is reported more than two hundred Doors of like making and greatness and besides the hugeness of the Frame
from him by the Polonian Cossacks and certain of his Retinue slain was there taken for a Spy and so sent to Vienna where at his first Arrival he was well used in a common Inn but the night following being taken in his Chamber by the Martial was so clap'd fast in Prison with as many Irons upon him as he could bear and all his Followers with Gyves upon their Legs compelled as Slaves daily to work in the Town-ditch About this time also Sigismund the Transilvanian Prince whom hitherto all men admired as a man even sent from Heaven for the benefit of his Country and of the Christian Commonweal by a wonderful change gave a most manifest token of a divers and unconstant Nature to the great wonder of the World for having broken the Agreement made with the Emperour the last Year and being secretly in Post returned out of Silesia into Transilvania and again taken upon him the Government as is before declared and having withal requested himself and the Transilvanians his Country-men to be discharged of the Oath of Obedience and Loyalty by them before given unto the Emperour and the City of Veradinum with the Country thereabout to be again restored unto him and the Emperour pausing thereupon did now doubting of his own Ability for the keeping of that Country in the beginning of this year 1599 by his Ambassadors the Bishop of Alba-Iulia and Stephen Paschai his Chancellor sent of purpose unto the Emperour request him to have the first Agreements again renewed and the Principality of Trebnits in Moravia to be added unto the two Dukedoms of Oppel and Ratibor in Silesia with fifty thousand Duckats to be yearly paid unto him out of the Chamber of the Empire and a general Pardon to be given unto all the Transilvanians that following him had of late revolted from the Emperour and their antient Liberties to be again unto every one of them confirmed With all which Conditions obtained at the Emperour's hands as of him that saw how needful it was for him by any means to keep that strong Country in his power the same Ambassadors with their dispatch returned from Prague the nineteenth of April But Sigismund in the mean time at home was entred into new Conceits with certain of the Polonian Nobility far differing from the former agreement with the Emperour and having sent for one of the Turks Chiaus from Constantinople and for his Cousin Andrew Bathor the proud Cardinal out of Borusia and so meeting with them in an obscure Village in the Confines of Transilvania towards Polonia accompanied with certain of the chiefest of the States of his Country there in the Presence of the Polonians and of the Turkish Ambassador resigned all the Right and Title he had in the Country of Transilvania unto the Cardinal his Cousin commanding all the States there present to swear unto him their Obedience and Fidelity who shortly after together with the Polonian Ambassador sent one of his especial Favourites to Constantinople to desire safe conduct for his Ambassadours to be sent thither to conclude of all matters with the Turk Which Messengers so sent together with the Polonian Ambassador were both courteously received in the Turks Court and as with an especial favour rewarded with right sumptuous Garments and charge given them That the Cardinal within three Months next should send thither a solemn Ambassador with the old accustomed Tribute by the Turk demanded Thus through the Inconstancy of the Prince the Ambition of the proud Cardinal and the foul Collusion of the Polonian the Country of Transilvania one of the strongest Fortresses of that side of Christendom falling from the Obedience of the Emperour and so in sort bereft from the Christian Common-weal became again tributary unto the Turk most good men detesting the Lightness of the one the Ambition of the other and the Sliness of the third Now the Turks of Buda not able longer to endure the great Famine therein had most earnestly requested relief from the other Turks their Friends in Hungary who on all hands ran to have relieved them but coming near thereunto could not put therein such Provision as they had brought for the relief of the same being letted so to do by the Imperials who about a League off diligently attended every motion of the Enemy from whence the Lord Swartzenburg in the night secretly approaching one of the Gates with his Followers thought with a Petard to have broken it open and so to have entered Which his Device taking not effect as did that at Rab the Gate being within strongly fortified by the Enemy he was inforced to depart being also discovered by the Turks from the Wall. Now shortly after the Bassa of Buda with six hundred Horse issuing out of the City to have met with Victuals that were coming thither fell into an Ambush of the Haiduckes who after their manner fiercely encountered him and putting him to flight took him Prisoner his Horse in his Chase falling under him whom his Souldiers seeking to rescue there began a new Skirmish encreasing their former Overthrow with the loss of the greatest part of them that were left amongst whom the Bassa's Son with the Aga of the Janizaries there lost their Lives also Which Conflict thus ended the Bassa was with safe Conduct brought to the Camp and there with great Threats inforced to reveal the state of his City with other the secret designs of the Turks Whereupon the Haiducks returned again towards Buda seeking by all means to stop the coming of Victuals thither so in hope at length to have gained the distressed City But whilst they thus lay upon the Passages behold News was brought unto them how that the Bassa of Bosna with the Sanzacks of Sigeth Quinque Ecclesiae and Coppan with 10000 Turks were coming to oppress them and to open the Passages by them holden But they knowing their own Strength and nothing-fearing so small a Force staid not for their coming but went to meet them and in a place of good advantage waiting for them upon their first appearance with great Assurance and Courage charged them brake their Array and slew the greatest part of them together with the Bassa himself yet with so much ado as that had not the Lord Palfi in good time sent unto their Aid certain Companies of fresh men it was not-without cause doubted but that the Haiducks had been put to the worse about three hundred of them having there already lost their Lives The Tartars yet nevertheless in good number held on their way towards Buda with purpose to have over-run the Country and so have withdrawn the Imperials from the City but forasmuch as that base Nation was known to be good for nothing but to rob and spoil the Lord Swartzenburg's Regiment only going against them and encountering them overthrew them in such sort that part of them being there slain in fight and part for fear driven into Danuby the greater number
famous Persian Kings and now of late in our time Amurath the Third by his Lieutenants hath taken from the Persians all Media with the greater Armenia both sometimes famous Kingdoms together with the Regal City of Tauris That the Turk so prevaileth is by reason of his Foot-men which the Persian wanteth and of his great Ordnance whereof the Persian hath neither store nor use and although the Persians by Valour of their Horsemen have sometime in open Field foiled the Turk yet have they still lost some part of their Country Solyman taking from them Mesopotamia and Amurath Media and Armenia Neither did the Persians alone feel that harm and lose their own but undid their Confederates also Selymus the First spoiling the Mamalukes of Egypt and Syria and utterly rooting them from off the face of the Earth and Amurath by his Lieutenants having brought to a low ebb the Warlike Georgians both of them the Persian Kings Friends and Confederates Now is not the Turk so much too strong at Land for the Persian but that he is as much too weak at Sea for the Portugals in those Seas I mean where their Forces have more than once to the Turks cost met together in the East-Indies the Portugals having in those rich but remote Countries many sure Harbours and Ports yea fair Countries and Territories abounding with Victuals and all Provision necessary for Shipping with some also of those great Eastern Princes their Allies and Confederates whereas the Turk on the other side hath nothing in the Persian Gulf strong beside Balsara the Sea Coast of Arabia which might stand him in best stead having no more but four Towns and those but weak and of small worth So that there as also in the Red Sea it is a matter of exceeding charge and difficulty for him to set out any great Fleet into those Seas for that those Countries are utterly destitute of Wood fit to make Ships For which cause those few times that he prepared his Fleets into the Red Sea to have cut off the Portugals trade into the East-Indies being not able to perform the same in the Persian Gulf he was inforced to bring the Timber for the building of his Gallies out of the Ports of Bithinia and Cilicia out of another World as it were up the Nile into Caire and from thence upon Camels by Land to Sues where he hath his Arsenal a thing almost incredible And yet having done what he could as oft as he hath made Expedition against them he never gained any thing but loss and Dishonour as in the year 1538 at the City of Dium and in the year 1552 at the Island of Armuz and after that at Mombaza where four of the Turks Gallies with one Galliot which by the favour of the King of Mombaza had thought to have staid in those Seas were by the Portugals taken who still have a special regard and care that the Turks settle not themselves in those Seas but as soon as they perceive them to prepare any Fleet they forthwith set upon them and to that end oftentimes without resistance enter into the Red-Seas Prester Iohn of whom although men speak much yet is he nothing in strength to be compared unto the Turk but far inferiour unto him both for Commanders and Souldiers as also for Weapons and Munition for that great Prince hath a great Kingdom without Fortification and a multitude of Souldiers without Arms as appeared by the overthrow of Barnagasso his Lieutenant towards the Red-Sea who having lost all that Sea coast unto the Turks was brought to that extremity that to have Peace with them he yieldeth to pay unto them a yearly Tribute of a thousand ounces of Gold. In Affâ—ick the Turk hath more Territories than hath the King of Morocco otherwise called the Xerife for he possesseth all that there lyeth betwixt the Red-Sea and the Kingdom of Fez but the Xerife hath the better part the richer stronger and more united yet dare neither of them well make War upon the other for the nearness of the King of Spain Enemy unto them both Now then there remaineth the rest of the Christian Princes bordering upon the Turk and first the King of Polonia What these two Princes can do the one against the other hath been seen in some former Expeditions wherein the Polonian had still the worse yet it should seem that of later time the Turk hath not been greatly desirous to move the Polonian too far for that being provoked by divers occasions namely in the Reign of Henry the Third in the Wars that Iohn the Vayvod of Valachia had with the Turks many Polonian Horse-men served the said Vayvod though not indeed sent from the King and in the time of Sigismund the Polonian Cossacks have with divers Incursions not a little troubled them beside the late motions of Iohn Somoschie the great Chancellor and General of the Polonian Forces for the staying of the Tartars by the Turks sent for he hath been content to comport the same and not with his wonted pride sought to be revenged thereof as he hath for far less upon some other Princes And on the other side the Polonians since the unfortunate Expedition of King Ladislaus never took upon them any Wars against the Turks neither gave such Aid as they should unto the Valachians their Confederates but suffered to be taken from themselves whatsoever they had toward the Euxine or Black-Sea a thing imputed rather unto the want of Courage in their Kings than in the Nobility of that Kingdom Sigismund the First being by Pope Leo the Tenth invited to the Wars against the Turks answered them in these few words Set you the Christian Princes at unity amongst themselves and I for my part will not be wanting Sigismund the Second so abhorred the Wars that he not onely declined the Turks but provoked by the Muscovites never sought to revenge the same King Stephen by the commendation of Amurath chosen King of Polonia an indifferent esteemer both of his Enemies Forces and his own thought it a most dangerous thing to joyn Battel with the Turk and yet in private talk with his Friend would oftentimes say That with thirty thousand Foot joyned unto his Polonian Horse-men he durst well to undertake an Expedition against the Turk which he was supposed oftentimes to have thought upon The Emperour with the rest of the Princes of the House of Austria are by a longer tract of ground joyned unto this great Empire of the Turks than any one other Prince of the World and bestow in Fortifications and the maintenance of their Garrisons wherein they have continually above twenty thousand Horse and Foot the greatest part of their Revenues even in the time of Peace much more in these their long Wars and with the German Forces joyned unto their own are more careful how to defend that they have yet left than how to recover that they have already lost or to inlarge their
would in lieu of Belgrade which upon the Peace must be surrendered that the Save might be made the Confines of both Empires yield up to the Emperor some other Fortresses as an Equivalent for that important City These preliminary Suggestions were generally turned into Ridiculous Interpretations and Commentaries thereupon so that in Answer thereunto these following Reflections were drawn up which evidenced the Scorn and Disdain the Imperialists at that time conceived of the Turkish Power Answers to the Considerations Offered TO the First it was reply'd That the Ottoman Power consisted more in Numbers than in Force an Evidence whereof appears to the World in that the Turks who for the space of 300 Years had waged a War in Hungary do now scarce possess a Foot or Palm of that Kingdom unless in some few Cities which are yet so streightned by Blockades that they are ready to perish with Famine and offer themselves up to the Mercy of the Emperor Witness also the Success before Vienna when Besieged by 300000 Turks were not yet able to render themselves Masters of the same but were forced to fly and ignominiously to turn their Backs to a quarter part of their Number and forced to return without other Glory than that only of burning some Villages which might have been done by a Rabble of People or 100 Incendiaries To the Second it was said That with the Divine Assistance the Christian Troops tho' much inferiour in Number to those of the Turks had won divers Battles during this War and made themselves Masters of many Towns and Castles and particularly of Buda and Belgrade the Capital Cities of great Provinces which were not subdued by long Sieges but by Storms and dint of Sword. To the Third it was said That the Troubles in Asia still continued and their Civil and Domestick Seditions not as yet appeased and were yet likely to increase higher by reason of their Tyrannical Government which the oppressed People would not longer endure To the Fourth it was said That the Discharge of the Women and Officers to the Number of 4000 out of the Seraglio was an evident Token of their want of Money to sustain the War. To the Fifth it was said That the heavy Burden of Taxes from five to a 100 was the ready means to move the People to a Rebellion of which there are frequent Examples in all Histories To the Sixth that howsoever the Turks might flatter themselves with the pacification of God's Anger against them they would yet find the contrary and prove the just Revenge of the Just God whom they had provoked by the Breach of their Faith and Oppressions of those People whom they had subdued To the Seventh That there was great difference between Soldiers and Incendiaries in the latter of which the Turks ought rather to be reckoned than amongst the former To the Eighth which concerns the Surrender of Belgrade it was replyed That the Emperor would sooner surrender Newstadt in Austria or the Gardens about Vienna than that City with which this Conference was concluded Amongst all the foregoing Particulars we find nothing solid or material or under any Dispute unless that point of exchanging Belgrade for some other place or places not as yet Conquered in Hungary that so the River Save might be the limit and confine between the two Empires Nor was it probable that the Turks would have broken off the Treaty on this Point only had they not hearkened to the Promises of the French who now being sensible how useful and necessary the Alliance of the Turks would be to them were resolved not to lose the Benefit of so helpful an Associate and therefore used all their perswasive Arguments to continue the War which were inculcated with mighty Presents to the principal Officers of State and Assurances that with the next Spring they would not only enter the Empire with such vast Armies as should oblige the Emperor to withdraw his Forces out of Hungary but also assist them both with Money and with able Engineers and Officers to carry forward the War. And indeed tho' in the following Year of 1690 we shall not find any great matter warmly acted by the French on Germany pursuant to the Promises they had made unto the Turk yet we shall find them in a Year or two afterwards entering Germany with Fire and Sword and in the Year 1693 besides the Conquests gained in Brabant and Flanders we shall hear of the burning of Heidelberg and all the Upper Germany in danger of an entire Desolation All which might easily have been prevented had the Emperor hearkened at this time to the Offers of the Turks who came prepared to accept of any Conditions that in reason could have been imposed upon them But this Opportunity being let slip Fortune changed its Course and the Exploits of War were acted with various Successes and tho' afterwards the Emperor sought for Peace by Interposition of Mediators the Turks were so far engaged with the French and so encouraged by their Successes that they would now hearken to nothing under the Surrender of Buda and all the Conquests in Hungary The Loss of this Opportunity for gaining a Peace may be attributed to the Infatuation of the Minds of the Germans blinded for punishment of the Sins of Christendom No doubt but the French Faction in the Imperial Court availed much in the defeat of this Design as did also the power of the Papal Court in which at that time Alexander VIII reigned who hearing of the Overtures of Peace treating at Ausburg and Vienna dispatched away from Rome Cardinal Colonitz with Instructions about the Affairs of Hungary who after having assisted in divers Consultations and Conferences thereupon the whole Treaty broke off and the Ambassadors dismissed from all farther Negotiations of which we shall very speedily bewail the fatal Effects THE Venetian Successes In Their WAR against the TURKS In the Year 1689. IN the preceeding Year we made a Relation of the Venetian War against the Turks maintained in the Island of Negropont and against the chief City thereof known by that Name The Enterprize was of great Importance and the Preparations for the same agreeable to so mighty a Design which had it succeeded would not only have settled and established the Venetians in their Conquests of the Morea but rendered them Masters of all the Coast of Romania but the Vetians instead thereof being compelled by Sickness and unfortunate Attacks upon the place in which they lost many of their brave Officers to quit the Island with some Confusion and as it were stealing off in the Night for fear the Enemy should fall on their Rear Cannon and Baggage but the Turks being deâ—irous to be rid of such Guests were willing to have made a Bridge for them rather than to have administred the least Retardment or Hindrance to their Departure All the Auxiliary Gallies as those of the Pope Malta and Florence being retired as we have said to
that he had got the victory yet by the way as he went he burnt up the Country Villages and destroyed or carried away whatsoever else he thought might stand the Christians in any stead if they should further follow after him leaving nothing for them but the bare ground After this victory Bohemund and the Christian Princes without resistance marching through the hot and dry Countries of the lesser Asia came to Antiochia a City of Pisidia which they took with small labour and so marching unto Iconium the principal City of Cilicia neer unto the Mountain Taurus were there also of the Citzens courteously received where they stayed certain days for the refreshing of the Army From thence they set forward toward Heraclea where a great power of the Turks were reported to be assembled But they together with the garrison Souldiers upon the approach of the victorious Army of the Christians forsook the City and fled the Citizens being Christians as they were yet generally in all the Provinces of the lesser Asia but in great subjection to the Turks and now rid of their cruel masters the Turkish garrisons came forth and meeting the Princes gladly yeilded themselves with their City unto them as unto their deliverers Here the Christian Princes fully instructed of the great fear and desperation of the Turks who now in no place durst abide their coming for the more speedy taking in of those Countries but lately oppressed by the Turks divided their Army into two parts leaving the one part thereof with Baldwin and Tancred in Cilicia for the full subduing thereof who in short time took the Cities of Tarsus Edessa and Manussa with all the rest of the Country the Turks not daring any where to abide their coming the other part of the Army in the mean time entring into the lesser Armenia took the same from the Turks which the Princes gave to one Palmurus an Armenian who had in that expedition done them great service From thence they took their way into Capadocia which they also subdued driving out the Turks in every place and took the Cities of Caesarea and Socor where they staied a few days for the refreshing of the Army with like success they passed through the rest of the Provinces of the lesser Asia of late possessed by the Turks still chasing them out before them and setting at liberty the poor oppressed Christians of those Countries Whereof Solyman craving aid of Axan the Persian Sultan his cousin grievously complained by his Letters to him directed in this sort The famous City of Nice with the Country of Romania which we by your aid and power have gotten from the kingdom of the Greeks and of your bounty possessed the Christians of the kingdom of France have again taken from us Thus was the late erected Kingdom of the Turks in the lesser Asia by these valiant Christian Champions again brought low and they glad to retire themselves further off into the Mountains and more Eastern Countries until this heat was overpast and that they taking the benefit of the troubled state of the Greek Empire afterwards rent in sunder by ambition and civil discord the ruine of the greatest Monarchies recovered not only their former state but became also dreadful unto the Greek Emperors themselves upon whom they daily gained in one corner or other still maintaining the honour of their estate until the rising of the Othoman Family as in the process of this History shall God willing be declared These victorious Princes then and to the worlds end famous not contented to their immortal praise to have thus driven the Turks out of the lesser Asia and recovered so many Countries bound themselves as well the Princes as the common Souldiers by solemn oath never to return again into their Countries until they had accomplished that sacred War with the conquest of the Holy City So mounting together the high mountain Taurus and descending thence as into another world they came to the City Maresia which they took without resistance the Turks there in garrison being by night before for fear fled where the Christians for the refreshing of themselves certain days staid In the mean time Robert Earl of Flanders with a thousand men at arms was sent out to give summons unto a City called Artasia about fifteen miles distant from Antioch when as the Citizens beholding the Ensigns of â—he Christians suddenly took up Arms against the Turks there in Garrison which had of long holden them in Subjection and prevailing upon them slew them every Mothers Son whose heads they presented unto the Earl and received him into their City The Turks to revenge the death of their Friends and to recover again the City before the coming of the rest of the Army sent out about 10000 men out of Antioch for thither was assembled a great Power of them to have hindred the further proceedings of the Christians and being come near to Artasia they sent before certain stragling Companies of purpose to draw the new come Christians out of the City lying in the mean time in ambush with the rest of purpose to intrap them With these stragling Companies the Flemings sallying out lustily encountred and easily put them to flight the Turks indeed flying of purpose to bring them within the danger of the other lying in ambush After whom the Flemings eagerly following were before they were aware enclosed round with their Enemies and there had undoubtedly perished had not the Citizens being Christians presently sallied out and right worthily relieved them Shortly after the Christian Princes marching forward with their Army were incountred by the Turk at the River Orontes who had there thought to have staid their further passage with whom Robert Duke of Normandy who had the Leading of the Vantguard had a hard conflict until that the Turks discouraged with the sight of the Army still coming on forsook the bridge and betook themselves to flight So the Christians passing the River came and incamped with their Army before the famous City of Antioch the one and twentieth day of October in the year 1097. the Governor whereof under the Persian Sultan was one Cassianus of some also honoured with the name of a King who at the coming of the Christians had with him in the City seven thousand Horsemen and twenty thousand Foot of the Turks with great store of Victuals and all manner of other Provisions necessary for the defence thereof This City called in ancient time Epidaphane or Epiphane and of the Hebrews Râ—blatha sometime the Seat of the Syrian Kings and afterwards the Metropolitical City of Syria having under it an hundred and fifty Bishops famous for many things and amongst others for that it was the Seat of the blessed Apostle St. Peter and first place wherein the Professors of the Christian Religion took the name of Christians is situate upon the River Orontes about twelve miles from the Sea and was then strongly fortified both
the greatest which beginning near unto the Archipelago and ending upon the Oriental Ocean and running through many great and famous Kingdoms divideth Asia into two parts over which great Mountain one of the most assured bounders of nature that had so many Worlds of years shut up this rough and savage people they now passing without number and coming down as it were into another World full of Natures pleasant delights such as never were to them before seen bare down all before them as they went nothing being now able to stand in their way Old Zingis their fortunate Leader dead in this so great an Expedition Hoccata his Son eldest of his twelve Brethren a man of great Wisdom and Courage took upon him his Fathers place who sending part of his great Army for the subduing of the Countries Westward turned himself with a world of people towards the East where having subdued the Bactrians and Sogdians with divers others he entred into India and subduing that rich Country on both sides the River Indus even to the East Ocean there in the Country of Cathai built the famous City of Cambalu in circuit eight and twenty miles about for pleasure and plenty of all things necessary for the life of man of all the Cities of Asia the chief where the great Cham of Tartary still Resiant as in his Imperial City commandeth over one of the greatest and strongest Empires of the World. In whose Kingdom also in the Province Mangy more towards the East he hath another most famous City called Quinsay of all the Cities in the World the greatest in circuit an hundred miles about as M. Paulus Venetus writeth who himself dwelt therein about the year 1260. It is situate in a Lake of fresh-water and hath in it twelve thousand Bridges of which some are of such an height that tall Ships with their Sails up may easily pass under them In this populous City the great Cham hath for the keeping thereof always thirty thousand men in Garrison The Tartar Kingdom thus planted in Cambalu Hoccata contenting himself with the rich pleasures of India afterward managed his Wars by his Lieutenants being for the most part his Brethren or other his nigh Kinsmen of whom he sent out with his Armies some Northward some Westward and some toward the South by whom he subdued the Arachosians Margians and divers other great Nations and entring into Persia subdued the Country with all Parthia Assyria Mesopotamia and Media At this time in the City Balch or Belch in the Country of Chorasan in the farthest part of Persia reigned over the Turks one Cursumes of the Greeks called Corsantes who finding himself far too weak to stand before the Tartarians fled with all his people leaving unto them both the City and the Country which he and the Turks his Predecessors had ever since the time of Tangrolipix possessed which City the Tartars rased and took the Country unto themselves In this general flight of the Turks when as every man was glad to make what shift he might for himself Cursumes their Sultan died the last of the Kings of the Selzuccian Family that reigned over the Turks in Persia whose Son Ugnan-Chan taking upon him the leading of such multitudes of Turks as followed his Father seised upon the great City of Babylon now called Bagadat near unto the ruines of the old Babylon where having put to the Sword all the Inhabitants thereof he there and in the Country thereabout seated himself with the Turks his Followers but long he had not there rested but that the Tartars hearing thereof pursued him took him Prisoner and expulsed thence all his people There was at the same time also another Kingdom of the Turks at Nachan a City in Persia giving name unto the Country wherein it stood not far from Chorasan wherein then reigned one Solyman of the Oguzian Family as had divers other of his Progenitors before him who terrified with this dreadful Storm so suddenly risen out of the North and warned by the sudden fall of the Selzuccian Sultan and his Kingdom of far greater Fame and Power than himself or his fled also with such his Subjects as would follow him into the lesser Asia But of him and his proceedings more shall be said hereafter in the rising of the Victorious Othoman Family as descended from him After this the Tartars together with their good fortune still extending the bounds of their Empire conquered Armenia the greater with the Countries of Colchis and Iberia so that now their Empire was become of all others the greatest and most flourishing This great Conqueror the Tartar had in his proud conceit purposed to have subdued all Asia and to have made the Sea the only bounder of his Empire but overcome with the delicacies of India having divided amongst his people those great Provinces and fruitful Countries with the rich Cities and pleasant Fields he so rested embracing the Manners and Superstition of the people he had overcome Long it were and far from our purpose to recount all the famous Victories and Conquests of this bare Northern people sufficeth it to the History we have in hand that the Turks were by them then driven out of Persia with the Countries thereabout and their Togran Kingdom as they call it first founded by Tangrolipix there extinguished about the year of our Lord year 1202. 1202. The Turks thus driven out of Persia and their Kingdom overthrown retired themselves into the lesser Asia possessed by the Turks their Country-men long before brought thither by Cutlu-Muses and his Sons as is before declared and by them ever since in some part though with divers Fortune holden Where these Turks now arrived out of Persia under the leading of Aladin the Son of Kei Husrâ—n descended also of the Selzuccian Family in Persia and taking the opportunity offered them by the mortal discord of the Latines with the Greeks and the Greeks among themselves seised upon Cilicia with the Countries thereabouts and there first at Sebastia and afterward at Iconium erected their new Kingdom which of this Aladin is by the Turks called the Kingdom of the Aladin Kings although their names were not all so Now about this time and within the course of some few years after such great and strange mutations happened in the Constantinopolitan Empire as had not therein at any time before been seen whereby the whole Estate of that great Empire which sometime commanded over a great part of the World was almost utterly subverted and a fit opportunity given unto the Turks and Infidels for the sure setling of themselves and establishing of their Kingdoms both in Syria and the lesser Asia which briefly to run through shall not be from our purpose their Affairs prospering by these Troubles and their proud and stately Empire that now braveth all the rest of the World being raised out of the ruines of that Christian Empire and at this present triumphing even in some Imperial City wherein
understanding and struck with present despair both of his State and Life the night now coming on fled with Euphrosina the Emperor Alexius his Wife and Eudocia her Daughter whom he had married when he had reigned about a month and sixteen days The Tyrant Author of all this mischief and of the calamities ensuing thus fled and the Latines furiously entring the Priests and Religious Men in their Surplices and other Ecclesiastick Ornaments with their Crosses and Banners as in solemn procession met the Latines and falling down at the Souldiers Feet with Floods of tears abundantly running down their heavy countenances besought them but especially the Captains and Commanders to remember the condition of wordly things and contenting themselves with the Victory the Glory the Honour the Empire the Immortality of their Name to abstain from Slaughter from burning from spoâ—ling and ransaking of so beautiful a City and that seeing they were themselves men they would also have pity of men and being themselves Captains and Souldiers they should also have compassion upon Captains and Souldiers who although they were not so valiant and fortunate as they were yet nevertheless were both Captains and Souldiers and that they would keep and preserve their City whereof if they ruinated it not they might have much more pleasure and commodity than if they should destroy the same which as it had been the principal seat of the Greek Empire so might it now be of the Latines That seeing they had thereof a careful regard as then belonging to another man they ought now upon better reason to have more care thereof being their own That the Authors of all these troubles and mischiefs Alexius the Elder and Murzufle had already received a reward answerable to their follies in that they were driven into Exile That they would have pity and compassion of an innocent and unfortunate Multitude of poor People oppressed and grievously tormented with the often tyrannies of their murderous Lords and Governours That in so doing God the Lord of Hosts the giver and guider of Battels the God of mercy would therefore reward them To conclude they humbly besought them to pardon their Citizens to put on the hearts of gracious and merciful Lords and Fathers not of Enemies and rough Masters of Forgivers not of Revengers and to understand by their Tears their miserable Estate and Woes passed With this so humble a Submission and Complaint of the Religious some of the better sort were happily moved but with the common Souldiers breathing nothing but Victory with their Weapons in their Hands and the Spoil of an Empire in their Power what availed Prayers or Tears Every man fell to the Spoil and in so great choice and liberty of all things â—itted his own disordred appetite without respect of the wrong or injury done to others only from the effusion of innocent blood they abstained they whose lives they sought after being already fled together with the Tyrant Other injuries and outrages so great as that greater none could be were in every place so riâ—e that every Street every Lane every Corner of the City was filled with Mourning and Heaviness There might a man have seen Noble Men earst of great Honour and reverend for their hoary Hairs with other Citizens of great Wealth thrust out of all they had walking up and down the City weeping and wringing their hands as men forlorn knowing not where to shroud their Heads Neither stayed the greedy rage of the insolent Souldiers within the Walls of mens private Houses but brake out into the â—tately Palaces Temples and Churches of the Greeks also where all was good prize and nothing dedicated to the Service of God left unpolluted and defaced no place unsought nor corner unrifled right lamentable and almost incredible it were to report all the miseries of that time Some of the Greek Historiographers men of great mark and place and themselves Eye-witnesses and Partakers of those evils have by their Writings complained to all Posterity of the insolency of the Latines at the winning of the City to their eternal dishonour but that disordered Souldiers in all Ages in the liberty of their insolent Victory have done such outrages as honest minds abhor to think upon Thus Constantinople the most famous City of the East the seat and glory of the Greek Empire by the miserable ambition and dissention of the Greeks for Sovereignty fell into the Hands of the Latines the twelfth of April in the year 1204 year 1204. or after the account of others 1200. Constantinople thus taken and the Tyrants put to flight the Princes and great Commanders of the Army held a Council to consider what were best to be done concerning the City and the new gained Empire for after so great a Victory they thought it not good to raâ—e so antient and important a City seated as it were a Watch-Tower upon the Theatre of the World overlooking both Asia and Europe from the one to the other as an eye of the Universal and so commodiously planted as was no other City of the World for the keeping under of the Enemies of the Christian Religion but that it were much better to place there a Latine Governour to establish there the Latine Laws and Customs and to unite the Greek Church as a Member unto the Church of Rome In which consultation some were of opinion not to have any more Emperors in Christendom but one and therefore to make choice of Philip the German Emperor Author of this War whose Wife Irene was the only Daughter and Heir of the late Emperor Isaac Angelus unto whom by all right the Inheritance of her Fathers Empire belonged But the greater part considering that the troubled affairs of Greece in so great a change and newness of the Empire had need of the personal presence of a Prince thought it better to make choice of one among themselves who there still resiant in that place might at all times give aid unto the Latines in their sacred Wars taken in hand against the Infidels which opinion as the better was approved of them all The chief men in this Election of the new Emperor were Baldwin Count of Flanders and Hainault Henry his Brother Lewis Count of Bloys Simon de Montfort Iohn de Dammartin Gualter de Brienne Hugh Count of St. Paul Iohn Count of Brenne Boniface Marquess of Mont-Ferrat Stephen Count of Perch and five Gentlemen of Venice unto whom also were joyned two Bishops of Syria the one of Bethlem the other of Ptolemais who had oftentimes come to the Camp of the Latines to stir them up for the taking in hand the sacred War in Syria with two Bishops of France also namely of Soisson and Troy in Champagne and the Abbot of Lemely These great Lords and Prelates assembled into the Church of the holy Apostles after they had there with great devotion craved of God to inspire them with his Spirit for the choice of a good and just Prince fit for
thousand of his men and Tamerlane not many fewer and some other speaking of a far less number as that there should be slain of the Turks about threescore thousand and of Tamerlane his Army not past twenty thousand But leaving the certainty of the number unto the credit of the Reporters like enough it is that the Slaughter was exceeding great in so long a Fight betwixt two such Armies as never before as I suppose met in Field together By this one days event is plainly to be seen the uncertainty of worldly things and what small assurance even the greatest have in them Behold Bajazet the terror of the World and as he thought superior to Fortune in an instant with his state in one Battel overthrown into the bottom of misery and despair and that at such time as he thought least even in the midst of his greatest Strength It was three days as they report before he could be pacified but as a desperate man still seeking after death and calling for it neither did Tamerlane after he had once spoken with him at all afterwards courteously use him but as of a proud man caused small account to be made of him And to manifest that he knew how to punish the haughty made him to be shackled in Fetters and Chains of Gold and so to be shut up in an Iron Cage made like a Grate in such sort as that he might on every side be seen and so carried him up and down as he passed through Asia to be of his own People scorned and derided And to his further disgrace upon Festival days used him for a Footstool to tread upon when he mounted to Horse and at other times scornfully fed him like a Dog with crums fallen from his Table A rare Example of the uncertainty of worldly Honour that he unto whose ambitious mind Asia and Europe two great parts of the World were too little should be now carried up and down cooped up in a little Iron Cage like some perilous wild Beast All which Tamerlane did not so much for hatred to the man as to manifest the just judgment of God against the arrogant Folly of the Proud. It is reported That Tamerlane being requested by one of his Noblemen that might be bold to speak unto him to remit some part of his Severity against the person of so great a Prince answered That he did not use that Rigor against him as a King but rather did punish him as a proud ambitious Tyrant polluted with the blood of his own Brother Now this so great an overthrow brought such a fear upon all the Countries possessed by Bajazet in Asia that Axalâ—a sent before by Tamerlane with forty thousand Horse and an hundred thousand Foot without Carriages to prosecute the Victory came without resistance to Prusa whither all the remainder of Bajazet his Army retired with the Bassa Mustapha the Country as he went still yielding unto him Yea the great Bassa with the rest hearing of his coming and thinking themselves not now in any safety in Asia fled over the Strait of Hellespontâ—s to Callipoliâ— and so to Hadrianople carrying with them out of the Battel Solyman Bajazet his eldest Son whom they set up in his Fathers place Mahomet his younger Brother presently upon the overthrow being fled to Amasia of whom and the rest of Bajazet his Children more shall be said hereafter Axalla coming to Prâ—sa had the City without resistance yielded unto him which he rifled and there with other of Bajazet his Wiâ—es and Concubines took Prisoner the fair Despina Bajazet his best beloved Wife to the doubling of his grief Emaâ—â—â—l the Greek Emperor now hearing of Tamerlane his coming to Prusa sent his Embassadors the most honorable of his Court thither before â—o Axalla by whom they woâ—e there steid until the coming of Tamerlane who received them with all the Honour that might be shewing unto them all his magnificence and the order of his Camp to their great admiration For it resembled a most populous and well governed City for the order that was therein which brought unto it plenty of all kind of Victuals and other Merchandise as well for pleasure as for use By these Embassadors the Greek Emperor submitted all his Empire together with his Person unto Tamerlane the great Conqueror as his most faithful Subject and Vassal which he was bound as he said to do for that he was by him delivered from the most cruel Tyrant of the World as also for that the long journy he had passed and the discommodities he had indured with the loss of his People and the danger of his Person could not be recompenced but by the offer of his own Life and his Subjects which he did for ever dedicate unto his Service with all the Fidelity and Loyalty that so great a benefit might deserves besides that his so many Vertues and rare Accomplishments which made him famous through the World did bind him so to do And that therefore he would attend him in his chief City to deliver it into his Hands as his own with all the Empire of Greece Now the Greek Embassadors looked for no less than to fall into bondage to Tamerlane thinking that which they offered to be so great and delicate a Morsel as that it would not be refused especially of such a conquering Prince as was Tamerlane and that the acceptance thereof in kindness and friendship was the best bargain they could make therein But they received answer from this worthy Prince far beyond their expectation for he with a mild countenance beholding them answered them That he was not come from so far a Country or undertaken so much pains for the inlargement of his Dominions already large enough too base a thing for him to put himself into so great danger and travel for but rather to win Honour and thereby to make his name famous unto all Posterity for ever And that therefore it should well appear unto the World that he was come to aid him being requested as his Friend and Allie and that his upright meaning therein was the greatest cause that God from above had beheld his power and thereby bruised the Head of the greatest and fiercest Enemy of mankind that was under Heaven and now to get him an immortal name would make free so great and flourishing a City as was Constantinople governed by so noble and ancient an House as the Emperors That unto his Courage he had always Faith joyned such as should never 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 invade the Dominions of his Allies That he desired no more but that the service he had done for the Greek Emperor might for ever be ingraven in the Memory of his Posterity to the end they might for ever wish well unto him and his Successors by remembring the good he had done them That
to make the same to him appear Whereupon the Sultan seeing all things desperate determined for a time to retire in hope that time would bring some change as also that Tamerlane his populous Army would not long remain there And so departing out of Alexandria with tears standing in his Eyes oftentimes said That God was angry with him and his People and that he must of necessity suffer the fatal overthow of his Estate himself having done as much as in him lay according to his Charge and the Expectation the World had of him and yet that he hoped at length to return again and deliver his People from the Bondage whereunto they must now needs submit themselves Tamerlane coming to Alexandria before yielded to Axalla there staid a great while sending Axalla to pursue the Sultan exceedingly grieved that he could not get him into his Hands and therefore still fearing some innovation to be by him raised which caused him to deal the more hardly with them whom he suspected to favour him Now the bruit of these Victories having with Axalla passed beyond Alexandria into Lybia had brought such a fear not only upon the People adjoyning unto these Conquests but also upon all Africa they supposing that Tamerlane did follow that two and twenty of the Moor Kings sent their Embassadors unto him to offer unto him their Obedience the Sultan as a man forsaken of Fortune still flying before him Of the nearest of which Kings Tamerlane took Hostages as for the other farther off he contented himself with their Faith given and with the other outward signs of their good Wills. Now after this long travel and pains taken was Tamerlane more desirous than he had before used to see the pleasures of his own Native Country the rather thereunto moved by the request of his Wife then longing for his return and the News he heard of the Sickness of the old Tartarian Emperor his Father-in-Law besides that Age it self began to bring unto him a desire of rest with whom also the desires of his Souldiers well agreed as men now weary to have run so many and divers Fortunes The only stay was that he expected the coming of Calibes an old and faithful Servant of his whom he for his good desert had of his own accord appointed Governor of all his new Conquests in Egypt and Syria a great Honour no doubt but not too great for him that had so well deserved So mindful was he of the good deserts of his faithful Servants as that he needed not by others to be of them put in remembrance were they never so far off as was now Calibes who at this time was with the third part of his Army making way for him along the great River Euphrates for the Conquest of Mesopotamia and Persia whose coming was now with great devotion looked for of the whole Army desirous to return Which their expectation he long delaied not but being sent for came to Alexandria whither the whole Army was now by the commandment of Tamerlane again assembled Upon whose coming Tamerlane departed from Alexandria having there left the Prince Zamalzan a man of great reputation with six thousand Horsemen and ten thousand Foot as Governor of that place and Lieutenant General under Calibes whom Tamerlane as I have said had now appointed to command over all Egypt and Syria together with the Countries newly conquered in Lybia and Barbary and now conducting him unto the great City of Caire and there taking the best order he could for the preservation of his new Conquest left him with forty thousand Horse and fifty thousand Foot. And so having sufficiently instructed him how he would have those Kingdoms governed dismissed him not like a Master but as a Companion seeming very sorry to leave him destitute of his presence So setting forward with his Army conducted by the Prince of Thanais Tamerlane himself with a few to guard him by the way turned aside unto Ierusalem Where he remained eleven days dayly visiting the Sepulchre of Christ Jesus whom he called the God of the Christians and the ruins of Solomon his Temple much wondering thereat and at Ierusalem the Seat of Davids Kingdom and of that great Solomon but grieved that he could not see them fully in their former Beauty He only despised the Jews which had committed so cruel a Murder against him that came to save them And to shew his devotion towards the Holy City commanded it to be free from all Subsidies and Garrisons of men of War and gave great Gifts unto the Monasteries and honoured them so long as he remained there Departing from Ierusalem he came to Damasco which great City as well for that it was infected with the opinion of Iezides accounted an arch Heretick among the Mahometans as also evil affected to his proceedings he caused to be rased and the Bones of Iezides the false Prophet to be digged up and burnt and his Grave before much honoured in despight to be filled with Dung. So marching on and blasting the World before him as he went for long it were and from our purpose to recount all his Victories he passed over the River Euphrates and having conquered Mesopotamia with the great City of Babylon and all the Kingdom of Persia laded with the Spoil of the World and eternized for ever he returned at length to Samarcand the famous place of his Birth and glorious Seat of his Empire Now had Bajazet but a little before one of the greatest Princes on Earth and now the scorn of Fortune and a By-word to the World with great impatience lain two years in most miserable Thraldom for most part shut up in an Iron Cage as some dangerous Wild Beast and having no better means to end his loathed Life did violently beat out his Brains against the Bars of the Iron Grate wherein he was inclosed and so died about the year of our Lord 1399. Yet of â—is Death are divers other Reports some saying that he died of an Ague proceeding of Sorrow and Grief others that he poisoned himself and the Turks affirming that he was set at Liberty by Tamerlane being by him before-hand poisoned whereof he dyed three days after he was inlarged a Report not like to be true but howsoever it was his end appeareth to have been right miserable His dead Body at the request of his Son Mahomet was by Tamerlane sent to Asprapolis from whence it was afterwards conveighed to Prusa and there lieth buried in a Chappel near unto the great Mahometan Temple without the City Eastward wherâ— also lieth his beloved Wife Despina with his eldest Son Erthrogul And fast by in a little Chappel lieth buried his Brother Iacup whom he in the beginning of his Reign murthered These two great and mighty Princes Tamerlane and Bajazet both of them whilst they lived a burthen to the World as they took their beginning from the Scythes or Tartars so were they of like honourable Progenitors descended
insolent Victors unto whom all things were now lawful that stood with their lust every common Souldier having power of Life and Death at his pleasure to spare or spill At which time Riches were no better than Poverty and Beauty worse than Deformity What Tongue were able to express the misery of that time or the proud Insolency of those barbarous Conquerors where of so many thousands every man with greediness fitted his own unreasonable desire all which the poor Christians were inforced to indure But to speak of the hidden Treasure Money Plate Jewels and other Riches there found passeth credit the Turks themselves wondred thereat and were therewith enriched that it is a Proverb amongst them at this day if any of them grow suddenly rich to say He hath been at the sacking of Constantinople whereof if some reasonable part had in time been bestowed upon the defence of the City the Turkish King had not so easily taken both it and the City But every man was careful how to encrease his own private Wealth few or none regarding the Publick State until in fine every man with his private abundance was wrapped up together with his needy Neighbour in the self-same common misery Yea the security of the Constantinopolitans was such that being always environed with their mortal Enemies yet had they no care of fortifying of so much as the inner Wall of the City which for beauty and strength was comparable with the Walls of any City in the World if it had been kept well repaired but suffered the Officers which had the charge to see to the fortifying of the City to convert the greatest part of the money into their own Purses as appeared by Manuel Giagerus a little before a very poor man and likewise by Neophitus who then having that Office to see unto the Fortification of the City had in short time gathered together seventy thousand Florens which became all a worthy Prey unto the greedy Turks After that the barbarous common Souldier had thus by the space of three days without controulment taken his pleasure in the City as Mahomet had before promised and throughly ransackt every corner thereof they then returned into the Camp with their rich spoils driving the poor Christian Captives before them as if they had been droves of Cattel or flocks of Sheep a Spectacle no less lamentable than was the sacking of the City It would have grieved any stony heart to have seen the noble Gentlewomen and great Ladies with their beautiful Children and many other fair Personages who lately flowed in all wordly Wealth and Pleasure to be now become the poor and miserable Bondslaves of most base and contemptible Rascals who were so far from shewing them any pity as that they delighted in nothing more than to heap more and more misery upon them making no more reckoning of them than of Dogs There might the Parents see the woful misery of their beloved Children and the Children of the Parents the Husband might see the shameful abuse of his Wife and the Wife of her Husband and generally one Friend of another and yet not able to mourn together the least part of heavy comfort being in the Thraldom of divers cruel Masters by whom they were kept asunder like in few days to be dispersed into divers far Countries without hope that they should ever find Release or one see another again The Souldiers being all retired into the Camp Mahomet as a proud Conqueror with great Triumph entred into the City of Constantinople then desolate and void of all Christian Inhabitants and there after the manner of the Turkish Kings made a sumptuous and Royal Feast unto his Bassaes and other great Captains where after he had surcharged himself with excess of Meat and Drink he caused divers of the chief Christian Captives both Men and Women of whom many were of the late Emperors Line and Race to be in his presence put to death as he with his Turks sate Banquetting deeming his Feast much more stately by such effusion of Christian blood Which manner of exceeding cruelty he daily used until such time as he had destroyed all the Grecian Nobility that was in his Power with the chief of the late Constantinopolitan Citizens At which time also divers of the Venetian Senators with Bajulus their Governor and many rich Merchants of Genoa and other places of Italy were in like manner murthered so that of seven and forty Senators of Venice which were there taken whereof most part came thither by chance bound for other places but there unluckily shut up some few found the favour with exceeding great Ransoms to redeem themselves Amongst these Noblemen thus lamentably executed was one Lucas Leontares or Notaras commonly called Kyr-Lucas or Lord Lucas but of late great Chancellor of Constantinople a man of greatest account next unto the Emperor himself whom the Turkish Tyrant seemed greatly to blame that he being a man in so great credit with the late Emperor perswaded him not in time to have sought for Peace upon any condition or else to have yielded up the City rather than to have run that extream course of wilful misery He to excuse the matter said That the late Emperor his Master was encouraged to hold out the Seige by the Venetians and Citizens of Pera from whom he received Aid as also by some of the greatest Men about his own Person for proof whereof he drew out of his bosom the Letters which Caly-Bassa had to that purpose written unto the Emperor and delivered them to Mahomet hoping thereby to have found some favour But when he had said what he could the eldest of his Sons then living for he had lost two elder in the time of the Siege was cruelly executed before his face and the youngest reserved for the Tyrants lust and after all this misery had his own head struck off with the rest appointed for that days Sacrifice Out of this general Calamity escaped Io. Iustinianus the General who with all speed fled at first to Pera and from thence to Chios where in few days after he died of grief of mind as was thought rather than of his Wound being happy if he had honourably before ended his days upon the Walls of Câ—nstantinople Isidorus also the Cardinal and Legate from the Pope disguised in simple Apparel and being of the Turks unknown redeemed himself for a small Ransom as if he had been a man of none account and so escaped whom if Mahomet had known he had undoubtedly been made shorter by the head The glory of this famous City of Constantinople continued many hundred years commanding a great part of the World until that by civil discord and private gain it was by little and little so weakned that the Emperors of later times for the maintenance of their Estate were glad to rely sometime upon one and sometime upon another yet still holding the Title and State of an Empire by the space of 1121 years when
the Othoman Kings passed over into Europe placed his Imperial Seat at Hadrianople conquered Thracia Bulgaria and Rascia Yea Bajazet your great Grandfather is in his misfortune to be more than you commended as vanquished in field by the mighty Tamerlane with four hundred thousand Horsemen and six hundred thousand Foot and not by a silly Woman comforting his mishap with the Honour and Greatness of him by whom he was so overcome Neither may I with silence pass over your worthy Grandfather the Noble Mahomet who not contented to have restored the shaking Empire conquered also a great part of Macedonia even to the Iconian Sea and carrying the terrour of his Arms over into Asia did great matters against the Caramanians and others At for your Father Amurath of worthy Memory I cannot but to my great grief and sorrow speak of him who by the space of thirty years made both the Sea and Earth to quake under his Feet and with strong hand more than once vanquished the Hungarians and brought under his subjectiâ—n the Countries of Phocis Beotia Aetolia with a great part of Morea and to speak of him truly brake even the very heart and strength of the Grecians and other his fierce Enemies Let all these famous Conquests of your noble Progenitors whose worthy Praises as eternal Trophies of their Honour are dispersed into every corner of the World awake you out of this heavy Lethargy wherein you have too long slept yea let the remembrance of the Conquest of this Imperial City by you to your Immortal Glory woâ— stir you up to greater things and let it never be said of you That you were able with your Sword to overcome your greatest Enemies and not with reasâ—n to subdue your inordinate affections Think that your greatest Conquest and suffer not your self so great a Conqueror to be led in Triumph by your Slave What availeth it you to have won Constantinople and to have lost your Self Shake off these golden Fetters wherein the wily Greek hath so fast bound you which at the first though it seem unto you hard and painful yet shall time disgest it and make you to think it both good and necessary for your State. Wean your self from your desires and give rest unto your troubled thoughts which if you cannot do at once strive by little and little to do it pleasure groweth greater by the seldom use thereof and satiety bringeth loathsomness Moderate your self therefore and again take up Arms. Your Souldiers if they be not employed abroad will to your farther trouble set themselves to work at home Idleness maketh them Insolent and want of Martial Discipline corrupteth their Manners Hereof proceedeth their intemperate and disloyal Speeches That if you will not lead them forth for the Honour and Inlargement of the Othoman Empire as did all your most noble Progenitors they will set up another that shall even one of your own Children And what the common Souldiers foolishly say their great Commanders maliciously purpose which what a confusion it would bring unto the whole State of your Empire together with the danger of your Royal Person I abhor to think Wherefore it is time it is now high time for you to shew your self and with the Majesty of your Presence to repress their tumultuous Insolency before it break farther out Rebellions are by far more easily prevented than in their heat appeased The discontented multitude is a wild Beast with many heads which once enraged is not a little to be feared or without danger to be tamed yet do you but shew your self Master of your own Affections and you shall easily Master them also But what is fit for you to do beseemeth me not for to say yea pardon me I beseech you that I have thus much contrary perhaps to your good liking already said provoked by what divine Inspiration I know not even half against my will to discover unto you the secret of my heart and to lay open unto you those things which others knowing as well as I do yet for fear keep the same from you And if I have gone too far or in any thing that I have said forgot my self impute the same my dread Soveraign unto the zeal of my Love and Loyalty towards you or unto my fidelity so often by you tried or to our ancient Education the ground of your affection towards me or to what else shall please you rather than to my presumption from which how far I have always been I appeal even to your Majesties own knowledge Having thus said he fell down at his Feet as there to receive his heavy doom of his so free Speech if it should be otherwise than well taken of the angry Sultan who all this while with great attention and many a stern look had hearkned unto all that the Bassa had said for well he knew it to be all true and that in so saying he had but discharged the part of a trusty and faithful Servant careful of his Masters Honour But yet the beauty of the Greek was still so fixed in his heart and the pleasure he took in her so great as that to think of the leaving of her bred him many a troubled thought He was at war with himself as in his often changed countenance well appeared Reason calling unto him for his Honour and his amarous affections still suggesting unto him new delights Thus â—ossed to and fro as a Ship with contrary winds and withall considering the danger threatned to his Estate if he should longer follow those his pleasures so much displeasing to his Men of War he resolved upon a strange point whereby at once to cut off all those his troubled passions and withall to strike a terror even into the stoutest of them that had before condemned him as unable to govern his own so passionate affections Whereupon with countenance well declaring his inward discontentment he said unto the Bassa yet prostrate at his Feet Although thou hast unreverently spoken as a Slave presuming to enter into the greatest Secrets of thy Soveraign not without offence to be of thee once thought upon and therefore deservest well to die yet for that thou wast a Child brought up together with me and hast ever been unto me faithful I for this time pardon thee and before to morrow the Sun go down will make it known both to thee and others of the same opinion with thee whether I be able to bridle mine affections or not Take order in the mean time that all the Bassaes and the chief Commanders of my Men of War be assembled together to morrow there to know my farther pleasure whereof fail you not So the Bassa being departed he after his wonted manner went in unto the Greek and solacing himself all that day and the night following with her made more of her than ever before and the more to please her dined with her commanding that after dinner she should be attired with more sumptuous Apparel than ever she
pray aid of them in these Wars against the Turks According to this Decree the Venetians for defence of their Territory sent one Bertholdus Este a valiant Captain with an Army into Peloponnesus where at his first coming he in short time recovered the City of Argos before lost And departing thence marched through the Country with his Army of fifteen thousand men unto the Strait of Corinth called Isthmus At which place Alovisus Lauretanus Admâ—â—al for the Venetians by appointment before made met him and there joyning their Forces together with great labour in the space of fifteen days fortified all that Strait from the Ionian to the Sea Aegeum with a continual Rampier and double ditch in length about five miles In which work they used the help of thirty thousand men and in doing thereof were much furthered by the ruines of the old Wall before destroyed by Amurath The Venetian Commanders having fortified this Strait incamped before Corinth and laid strait Siege unto it where at the second assault Bartholdus the General desirous by his own forwardness to encourage his Souldiers was in that assault grievously wounded with a Stone cast down upon him from the Wall of which hurt he shortly after died Nevertheless the Siege was still continued by Betinus Calcinatius who succeeded in Bartholdus his place But whilst the Venetians lay thus at the Siege of Corinth suddainly news was brought unto the Camp That Mahomet was coming with a great Army himself in Person to raise the Siege and to destroy the new fortifications at Isthmus Whereupon the Venetians left the Siege with purpose to have defended the late fortified Strait but after that it was certainly known that Mahomet was even now at hand with an Army of fourscore thousand Turks Betinus distrusting with his small number to be able to defend the Strait against so puissant an Army left the place so lately before fortified and with all his Army retired to Neapolis to keep the Sea coast Shortly after Mahomet without any resistance at all entred with a world of men by the Strait into Peloponnesus and when he had with the great slaughter of the Country People roamed up and down about Argos he came to Neapolis and in most terrible manner assaulted the City twice both which times he was notably repulsed by the Venetians and many of his men slain Departing thence he destroyed and wasted the Country about Methone now Modon and Corone and assaulted the City of Iuncum but with no better success than he had before Neapolis Wherefore Winter now drawing on he returned with his Army to Constantinople After his departure the Venetians spoyled all that part of Arcadia which was subject to the Turks requiting him with like injuries as he had done them before Not long after Lauretanus the Venetian Admiral had the Island of Lemnos delivered unto him by one Cominius a famous Pyrat who had surprised the same and taken it from the Turks but distrusting how he should be able to keep the same delivered it over unto the Venetians Shortly after Ursatus Iustinianus a great Magnifico amongst the Venetians was sent to succeed Lauretanus their Admiral but whilst he was scouring the Aegeum with a Fleet of two and thirty great Gallies Andreas Dandalus General of their Forces at Land inconsiderately encountring with the Turks Horsemen between Mantynia and Pytheme was by them overthrown and slain and with him divers other Gentlemen of great account in which skirmish fifteen hundred of the Venetians were slain also with their General And as Fortune is never more constant than in mischief so at the same time Ursatus General at Sea landing his men in the Island of Lesbos besieged the City of Mitylene and gave thereunto two great assaults wherein he lost five thousand men and understanding that the Turks Fleet was coming to relieve the City raised the Siege and sailed into Euboea and from thence passed over into Peloponnesus where he shortly after died for sorrow and grief of mind In whose place the Venetians sent another famous Captain called Iacobus Lauretanus The Venetians well considering the great power of the Turkish Emperor laboured by their Embassadors to draw aâ— many of the Christian Princes as they could into the Fellowship of this War but especially the great Bishop by whose means they were in good hope to be greatly strengthned Pius the second of that name was then the great Bishop who at first answered the Venetian Embassadors That he must take away the little Turk before he had any thing to do with the great meaning thereby Sigismundus Maletasta Prince of Ariminum whom he deadly hated for that he took part with the French against the Aragonians Howbeit the Wars in Italy being well appeased Pius still solicited by the Venetians made great preparation against the Turks giving it out That he would in Person himself go unto those Wars and by his Authority then much regarded procured great aid out of Germany France Spain and other Countries also further off At which time also voluntary men in great number resorted out of all parts of Christendom into Italy ready to adventure their lives in those religious Wars At the same time also the Venetians had with much ado by the working of Paulus Angelus Archbishop of Dirrachium perswaded Scanderbeg to renounce the League which he had before made with the Turk and to enter into Arms again which he presently did and spoyled the Borders of the Turks Dominions next unto him Wherewith Mahomet was no less troubled than with all the rest of the great preparation of the Christians against him fearing that as it was then reported he should be made General of the Christian Army which Mahomet feared might tend to the utter ruin of his Kingdom so dreadful was the name of Scanderbeg amongst the Turks Wherefore thinking it most convenient for his Affairs to reconcile him if it were possible by his Embassador sent for that purpose wrote unto him as followeth Sultan Mahomet Emperor of the East and of the West unto Scanderbeg Prince of the Albanenses and of the Epirots greeting I Have always had thy fidelity and upright dealing in great admiration most noble Prince Scanderbeg for which cause I thought it a thing incredible that thou being a Prince of such an heroical and Princely perfection shouldst so inconsiderately and without any occasion break the Faith and League which thou not long since solemnly contractedst with me For as I am advertised thou hast entred into the Confines of our Dominion with a great Army and with Fire and Sword destroying all that thou couldst hast carried away with thee a great Booty Of which thing I know right well that the Venetians are the only cause by whose Counsel and Perswasion thou hast been set on to do this deed and seduced by their allurements and subtil perswasions hast made War upon me and art become the faithless breaker of thine own League and of the sacred Law
up his things of greatest price and with his Wives and Children fled into Arabia This Moratchamus is he whom some Historiographers called Mara-Beg and is in the Turks Histories called Imirsa Beg who as they report afterwards marrying the Daughter of Bajazet and recovering part of the Persian Kingdom was suddainly murthred by some of his Nobility whom he purposed secretly to have put to death if they had not prevented the same by murthring of him first Hysmael having victoriously subdued a great part of the Persian Kingdom and filled all the East part of the World with the glory of his name returned out of Assyria into Media and took in such Cities and strong Holds as were yet holden by the Garrisons of the late Persian King. And afterwards retuâ—ning into Armenia made Wars upon the Albanians Iberians and Scythians which dwell upon the Borders of the Caspian for that those Nations in ancient times tributaries unto the Persian 〈…〉 gs taking the benefit of the long Civil Wars wherewith the Kingdom of Persia and all the East Countries with the ruin of the Kings House had been of late turmoiled had neither paid any Tribute by the space of four years nor sent any honourable Embassage as they were wont and as was expected especially in so great a Victory and alteration of the State. Hysmael having thus obtained the Persian Kingdom 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 innovation he had made in the Mahometan Superstition for by his device and commandment a new form of Prayer was brought into their Mahometan Temples far differing from that which had been of long time before used By reason whereof Ebubekir Homer and Osman the successors of their great Prophet Mahomet before had in great regard and reverence began now to be contemned and their writings nothing regarded and the honour of Hali exalted as the true and only Successor of their great Prophet And because he would have his Subjects and the Followers of his Doctrine known from the Turks and other Mahometans he commanded that they should all wear some red Hatband Lace or Ribband upon their Heads which they Religiously observe in Persia until this day whereof they are of the Turks called Cuselba's or Red-heads And in short time he had so used the matter that he was wonderfully both beloved and reverenced of his Subjects insomuch that his sayings were accounted for divine Oracles and his commandments for Laws so that when they would confirm any thing by solemn Oath they would swear by the Head of Hysmael the King and when they wished well to any Man they usually said Hysmael grant thee thy desire Upon his Coyn which he made both of Silver and Gold on the one side was written these words La illahe illalahu Muhame dum resul allahe which is to say There is no Gods but one and Mahomet is his Messenger And on the other side Ismaill halife lullahe which is to say Hysmael the Vicar of God. Whilst Hysmael was thus wrestling for the Persian Kingdom year 1508. Chasan Chelife and Techellis whom we have a little before declared to have bin brought out of the Mountains and Desarts into the Country-Villages and afterwards into the Cities and to have filled the Countries of Armenia and a great part of the lesser Asia with the novelty of their new Doctrine and Opinions first phantasied by one Giunet Siech and afterward revived by Haider Erdebil Hysmael his Father having gathered a great Army of such as had received their Doctrine invaded the Turks Dominion For after that Techellis this cold Prophet had with wonderful felicity in the presence of many prognosticated of things to come and Hysmael the Sophi of late a poor exiled and banished man was thought to have grown unto the highest type of Worldly Honours not by mans help but by uprightness of life and the fortunate passage of an undoubted Religion such a desire of receiving that new Superstition possessed the minds of the People in general that the Cities and Towns thereabouts were now full of them which in token of their new profession had taken upon them the wearing of the Red Hat the known Cognisance of the Cuselba's First they met together at the City of Tascia at the Foot of the Mountain Antitaurus or as the Turkish History reports at the City of Attalia to the number of ten thousand upon a great Fair-day where they laid hands upon the chief Magistrate of the City and executed him setting his quarters upon four of the highest Towers of the City and further perswaded by these new Masters of this new Superstition to take up Arms in defence of themselves and of their sincere Religion as they termed it in case that any violence should be offered them by the irreligious Turks they all swore never to forsake their Captains for any distress or yet refuse any labour or adventure for the honour of their most holy Religion as they would have it in defence whereof they had already vowed their Souls and Bodies These Ringleaders of Rebellion seeing the minds of their frantick Followers so well prepared for their purpose and reposing a great confidence in their valor and resolution and withal considering that the mony which was bountifully brought in unto them by the Country People partly for Devotion partly for Fear was not sufficient to maintain so great a multitude gave leave by publique Proclamation to their unruly Followers to forrage the Country round about them and to live upon the Spoil of them which would not receive their new found Doctrine Whereupon they dividing themselves into divers Companies and ranging up and down the Country brought into the Camp abundance of Cattel and other such things as the Country yielded and forthwith their multitude still increasing they entred into Lycaonia a populous and fruitful Country where they refreshed themselves many days roaming up and down to the great grievance and terror of the People and brought such a fear upon the whole Country that they which dwelt in open Durps and Villages were glad to flie with their Wives Children and Goods into the strong City of Iconium for Proclamations were in many places set up in the names of Chasan Chelife and Techellis wherein many both Spiritual and Temporal Blessings were in most ample manner proposed to all such as should forthwith take part with them and follow that their new Doctrine already established in Persia but unto such as should obstinately persevere in their old Superstition after they had once drawn their Sword was threatned utter destruction without without hope of pardon of Life So that all the Inhabitants thereabouts terrified with the terror of this Proclamation some for fear of Death some upon Inconstancy some for safeguard of their Goods and Possessions dearer unto them than any Religion some other indebted infamous in danger
any corner of the Empire were it never so little But Corcutus and his Friends who had reposed all their hope and all their devices in the departure of Selymus with the Souldiers of the Court as if they had with great modesty contended on both sides again perswaded him yea and instantly requested him not to refuse that honour by general consent without any disgrace to his Brother given to him as to a worthy Chieftain of great experience in Martial Affairs So Selymus with wonderful cunning deluding Corcutus and his Favourites whilst he seemeth craftily to refuse the thing he most desireth is by the general consent of all parts chosen General of the Army to go against his Brother Achâ—mates which was no sooner made known unto the Souldiers especially the Janizaries and other Souldiers of the Court but they before instructed with loud Acclamations saluted him not for their General only but for their Sovereign Lord and Emperor also and so without further delay put themselves in Arms to defend and make good that they had done if any better disposed should seem to withstand them or dissent from them Selymus by the Souldiers thus saluted Emperor at first made shew as if he had been half unwilling to take upon him the Empire and so began faintly to refuse it as moved so to do by the due reverence and regard of his Father yet living But after a while he suffered himself to be intreated and then commending himself and his cause wholly to the Men of War to bind them unto him the father promised beside the particular favours he ought them to bestow a right great and general Largess amongst them which he afterward accordingly performed After that he requested the chief Bassaes and Commanders of the Army there present to go forthwith unto his Father and to take such order seeing it was the mind of the whole Army it should be so that the Empire might by his good Will without further trouble or tumult be forthwith transferred unto him Mustapha the great Bassa in whose wily head all this matter was to his own worthy destruction first hammered whether it were upon a new fineness of his own or that Selymus as it was given out had threatned to kill him except he would go and shew all the whole process of the matter to his Father coming as a man dismaied to Bajazet who awaked with clamour and tumult of the Souldiers was come out of his Chamber into the open rooms of his Palace in few words delivered unto him this most unwelcome Message as followeth Emperor said he the Men of War have in their Counsel saluted Selymus both their General and Emperor which their choice they râ—quire thee to ratifie being ready presently to break into the Court to kill us both if thou shalt refuse forthwith to resign the Empire They all with one consent request that of thee which they have already put into the hand of another Wherefore it is a thing of far more danger to seek to recover that thou hast already lost than willingly to yield that which is already taken from thee seeing it is not by any force or policy to be regained They in Arms in fury and now entred into Rebellion think upon some greater mischief Bajazet troubled with fear and choler and then too late perceiving the treachery of the Bassaes and how he had been by them betrayed pausing a while at the strangeness of the matter afterwards in fury brake out into these Words False and Forsworn do you thus betray me and with such monstrous villany requite mine infinite Bounty Why do you not also as Murderers take away my life which could not endure for a while to expect the dissolution of this my weak and aged body but deposing your just and lawful Sovereign must needs in post hast set up a most wicked and graceless man to reign over you But much good do it you with your desired Emperor the Contemner of God and Murtherer of his Father to whom ere it be long you shall full dearly pay the price of this your perfideous dealing and treachery against me And he himself beginning his Empire by most unnatural treason murder and bloodshed shall not I hope escape the heavy hand of God the undoubted and severe Revenger of so great Impiety and Treason Mustapha with Bostanges and Ajax as false as himself returning back again to the Souldiers speaking not a word of the sorrow and indignation of Bajazet told them how that he was well content to resign the Empire and so had appointed Selymus to whom both God and the general consent of the Men of War had already delivered the Empire to succeed him in the Empire When this their Speech was generally reported they whom Selymus had before corrupted began now to hold up their heads and look big on the matter and others who before stood doubtful what to do seeing now no other remedy in hast joyned themselves unto the same Faction Whilst all things were thus disorderly carried by the unruly Souldiers Selymus was by them mounted upon a couragious Horse and so with all Pomp conducted up and down most of the fair Streets of the imperial City and with the general voice and clamor of the People howsoever their minds were for most part otherwise affected saluted Emperor And the same day both the great Bassaes and the Souldiers in general were all solemnly sworn unto Selymus as their only Lord and Emperor Corcutus whether it were for grief of his hope now lost or fear of his life although Selymus had promised to give him the City of Mytilene with the Island of Lesbos secretly embarked himself and so returned to Magnesia Bajazet of late one of the greatest Monarchs of the World but now thus thrust out of his Empire by his Son detesting both him and the treachery of his Subjects and overcome with sorrow and Melancholy determined of himself before he were thereto enforced by Selymus to forsake Constantinople and to retire himself to Dymotica a small City wholesomely situated in Thracia not far from Hadrianople where in former time he had for his pleasure bestowed great cost and now as he thought best fitted his present estate Wherefore causing great store of Treasure Plate Jewels and rich Furniture to be trussed up he with five hundred of his Houshold Servants full of Heaviness and Sorrow with Tears trickling down his aged cheeks departed out of the Imperial City towards Hadrianople with purpose from thence to have gone to Dymotica Selymus brought him about two miles upon his way and so returning again to Constantinople took possession of the Palace Bajazet being then about seventy six years old or as some report full fourscore and beside his old disease of the Gout sore weakned with heaviness and grief of mind was not able to travel above five or six miles a day but was constrained by the extremity of his pain and weakness to stay sometimes
Thou peevish Dame more suddain than The thunder Clap from high Rejects the suits of greedy Wights Which to thee call and cry And lavishly consumes thy self And whatso else thou hast On such as crave nothing of thee Nor wisht not to be grac't As Campson Gaurus seeking nought Ne craving ought of thee Against his Will by Souldiers rage Was rais'd from base degree And soaring up above the Clouds Made King of Egypts Land Receiv'd amongst the highest Stars Did there in glory stand But forthwith falling thence opprest With Rebels War and Age Became the scorn of thine ore'thwart Most fierce and fickle rage And so with life together lost A World of Wealth also Which with his stately Kingdom great He greatest did forgo Selymus having received the City of Aleppo into his Obeisance sent Ionuses Bassa before him with a great part of his light Horsemen to pursue his flying Enemies to Damasco whither he himself in few days after came also with the rest of his Army when he understood that his Enemies were departed thence and fled to Caire They of Damasco thinking it not to stand with their good to stay the course of his Victory and with their lives to hazard the great Wealth of that rich City without delay presently opened unto him the Gates at his coming By whose example other Cities alongst the Sea-Coast moved especially Tripolis Berytus Sydon and Ptolemais sending their Embassadors and receiving in the Turks Garrisons yielded themselves in like manner Not long after Selymus held a great Counsel in his Camp which then lay under the Walls of Damasco for he would not bring his Souldiers into the City for troubling the quiet and populous state thereof together with the great Trade of Merchandise which at that time was with wonderful security kept there by Merchants of divers Countries coming from far even from the remotest parts of the World. And in the Camp such was the military discipline of that most severe Commander that the Souldiers knowing the Victory to give them no whit the more liberty suffered the fruitful Orchards and Gardens of the Citizens in the most plentiful time of Autumn to rest in safety untouched without any keeper By which severe and strait government he so politiquely provided against all wants that his Camp was in all parts furnished with plenty of all things necessary and that at prices reasonable There taking unto him men skilful in the Laws and Customs of the Country and calling before him the Embassadors of all the Cities of the Country he heard and decided the greatest controversies of the Syrians appointed Governors over the Provinces and Cities took view of the Tributes and Customs and abrogated many Customs and Tributes due unto the old Sultans which seemed either unreasonable or grievous to the People thereby to gain the fame of a just and bountiful Conqueror When he had thus set all things in order in Syria and sufficiently rested and refreshed his Army and especially his Horses which with long and continual travel were grown maigre and lean he of nothing more desirous than of the Conquest of Egypt and the utter subversion of the Sultans State and Mamalukes Government sent before Sinan Bassa into Iudea with fifteen thousand Horsemen and a strong Regiment of Harquebusiers selected out of the Janizaries and other Souldiers to try the passage of that Country and to open the way for him to Gaza which was thought would be unto him very troublesome by reason of the wild Arabians roaming upon and down that Country The City of Gaza standeth near the Sea towards Egypt not far from the sandy Desarts whereby men with much difficulty and dangerous travel pass out of Syria and so to Caire In the mean time the Mamalukes who under the conduct of Gazelles were come to Caire with all the rest of their order which were thither assembled from all parts of the Kingdom entring into Counsel together as it often falls out in time of danger and distress without all contention of envy chose Tomombeius of the Turks called Tuman-bai a Circassian born to be their King. He was then the great Diadare and by his Office next in honour and power unto the Sultan whose Prowess and Policy was such that he only in the opinion of all the Mamalukes was thought able and sufficient to stay and uphold the afflicted and declining State of their Kingdom He by their general consent and good liking promoted to the State of the great Sultan thinking as truth was his own Majesty and the remainder of the Mamalukes hopes to be wholly reposed in Arms and the fortune of Battel began with great carefulness and singular industry to provide Armor Weapons and Horses from all places he also caused great store of Ordnance to be cast and mustered great Companies of such of his Slaves as seemed meet for the Wars beside that he entertained for Pay many of the Moors and Arabians his Neighbours He also for great reward hired men skilful of the Countries to go through the Desarts of the Palmyrens into Mesopotamia and so to Hysmael the Persian King with Letters earnestly requesting him to invade the Turks Dominions in Asia the less or with all speed to break into Comagena being by the departure of the Enemy left bare and destitute of sufficient Garrisons and farther to advertise him That Selymus who then lay in the borders of Iudea might easily be inclosed with their two Armies and so be vanquished or for want to Victuals distressed and the rather for that there was no Fleet of the Turks upon that coast able from Sea to relieve their Army by Land or yet to transport them thence in case they should by chance of War be distressed and so think to return In which doing he should both relieve the Egyptian Sultan his Friend and Confederate for his sake brought into so great danger and also without any great trouble or peril notably revenge himself of so many shameful injuries as he had before received from that his most capital Enemy Whilst Tomombeius doth these things Sinan Bassa the forerunner of Selymus having easily repulsed divers companies of the wild Arabians who in manner of Theeves and Robbers lay upon the passages had now opened the way and was come to Gaza where the Citizens although they were in heart faithful unto the Mamalukes yet for that to shut their Gates against the Bassa and to stand upon their guard without a sufficient Garrison seemed a matter both perilous and unreasonable forthwith yielded their City upon reasonable composition and with the plenty thereof relieved the Turks Bassa giving him great but dissembled thanks that by his means and the good fortune of Selymus they were delivered from the cruel bondage of the Mamalukes promising for the remembrance of so great a benefit for ever to remain his faithful Servants Sinan commending their ready good will required of them all such things as he wanted or had occasion
worthily punished for their oppression and hard dealing and that which gladded them the more was That the revenge should be taken by the hazard of other Mens lives 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 City appointed unto every Street a particular Captain in every publick place encouraged the People omitting nothing that could possibly be done or devised and that which in so great a calamity and danger was of all other things the hardest with cheerful countenance and undaunted courage made shew of greatest hope The Mamalukes also beside the necessity which in cases of extremity is of power to encourage and make desperate the faint hearted Coward provoked with emulation strove amongst themselves who should best perform all the duties of worthy Captains and Souldiers for every one of them according to his conceit and device caused great Ditches or great Timber-logs to be cast overthwart the Streets some in covert Trenches set up sharp Stakes whereupon the Enemy falling unawares might be gaged othersome according to their store furnished the windows and fronts of their Houses in the greatest and most open Streets with Harquebusiers all which things with many more were done with such celerity that none of the best and most honourable of the Mamalukes refused to handle a Spade or Mattock or to put his hand to any other base labour so that nothing could be sooner devised but it was forthwith performed This great and ancient City of Caire was not compassed with any Walls yet were there divers Gates and Entrances which led unto it whereof one broad strait Street came directly from the East Gate unto the Castle and middle of the City the rest were so narrow and crooked that by them no great Artillery could possibly be brought or Souldiers enter without great danger Into this place especially had Tomombeius conveied his chiefest strength for that he knew his Enemies must of necessity come in that way for the largness of the Streets the other parts of the City he kept with less Garrisons But the innermost part where the Castle stood was kept with a very great and strong Garrison of most valiant Souldiers that whithersoever the clamor of the Enemy or danger of the Battel should call they might speedily from thence come with relief For why that City of all others the greatest could not with so small power as Tomombeius then had be in every place and entrance sufficiently defended for within the circuit of Memphis now called Caire are contained three great Cities which joyned one to another with stragling Bridges make one City whereof the greatest and most populous is at this day called New Caire It lieth in length six miles alongst the River Nilus from which it is equally distant a mile the breadth thereof exceedeth not a mile and a quarter In the midst thereof is a Castle standing upon a little rising ground somewhat higher than the rest of the City more notable for the beauty and greatness thereof than for the manner of the fortification for in it were many princely Gardens a fair Street with many large Galleries divers fair Tilt-yards and Courts with stately Chambers opening every way the utter part thereof was garnished round about with Towers Fortresses and beautiful Battelments from whence all parts of the City the River Nilus running by and the high Pyramids were most pleasantly to be seen Not far from this princely Palace is a Lake made by the hand of man the Water wherein derived from the River Nilus is on every side inclosed with most stately Buildings and is a place of wonderful pleasure when as a man standing at a Window may take both Fish and Foul whereof there is in the Lake great store Another Lake there is far greater and fairer than this in form of a Triangle in the uttermost part of this new City of Caire toward Bulach it is filled at the rising of Nilus by a great Sluce made of Stone with Iron Floodgates and being joyned to the great River by a broad Channel is able to bear small Boats and Barges wherein Gentlemen for their disport used to solace themselves 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 Galeries and paved with smooth Marble even to the brim of the Lake there the Citizens in their more prosperous times used to row up and down in Boats and with pleasant Musick to delight the listning Ears of the hearers On the East side of this Lake stood a most sumptuous and stately Pallace the late work of Queen Dultibe Wife of the great Sultan Cayerbeius for manner of the Building and inward beauty far exceeding the other proud Buildings of this pleasant place for the Walls glistered with red Marble and pargeting of divers colors yea all the House was paved with checker and tesseled work the Windows and Gates were made of Alablaster white Marble and much other spotted Marble the Posts and Wickets of massy Ivory checkered with glistering black Ebony so curiously wrought in winding knots as might easilier stay than satisfie the Eyes of the wondering Beholder neither was the Furniture in it inferior to the magnificence of the Building but such as might fitly answer both a Princes state and a Womans quaint desire All which things shortly after Selymus having obtained the Victory carried to Constantinople not sparing the very Walls but plucking them down so to take out the curious Stones whole Beside the goodly Buildings about that Lake in every place of New Caire was to be seen the fair Houses of the chief Mamalukes more commended for their commodiousness than for the manner of their Building The rest of the Buildings of the City was but low replenished with the common sort of base People There are yet extant in divers places of the City three Churches of the Christians whereof one is holden in greater reverence than the rest for the fame of a low Vault in the ground where it is reported the Virgin Mary flying the fury of Herod to have reposed her self with her Child Christ Iesus the Saviour of the World another dedicated to the Virgin Barbara and the third to St George which amongst those Nations are of great fame Unto the City of New Caire the City of Bulacha is joyned almost with continual Buildings It is of an high and stately Building lying close unto the River Nilus and was in Summer time frequented by the Mamalukes and other Noblemen that they might at their pleasure from their high places behold the inundation of that famous River There land all the Ships which come up the River yet the great meeting of the Merchants is at New Caire On the other side of the River over against Bulach are many Cottages made of Hurdles and Leaves of Date Trees the
part Mariners able Bodies who in the time of the Siege did great service encouraged by their Sea Captains the Island People which repaired into the City served to little other purpose but to dig and carry Earth unto the Rampiers and the Citizens except it were some few of the better sort were for the most part weak and of small Courage not able to indure any labour or pains and yet hardly to be kept in order and governed great speakers but small doers greater in shew than in deed The Great Master having carefully provided and ordered all things needful for the defence of the City and fearing nothing more than the faint Hearts of the Citizens caused them all to be called together for incouragement of whom he spake unto them as followeth Valiant Gentlemen and worthy Citizens we hear that the Turk our mortal Enemy is coming against us with a huge Army raised of divers Nations from whose natural cruelty and wonted perjury except we defend our selves by force one and the self same danger is like to befal me my Knights and you all For we have with common consent and hand grievously spoiled him both by Sea and Land and you are by booties taken by strong hand out of his Dominions inriched and at this day we keep his People in grievous servitude and he ours but he injuriously and we most justly For his Ancestors weary of the dark Dens and Caves of the Mountain Caucasus their natural Dwelling without Right Title or Cause incited only with Covetousness Ambition and the hatred of our most sacred Religion have driven the Christians out of Syria and afterwards oppressed the Grecians in Grecia where not contâ—nted to have destroyed the People with one simple kind of death as Barbarism is ever cruel and merciless they have with most exquisite and horrible Torments butchered many thousands of that Nation All whom this wicked proud youth whose mischief exceedeth his years an evil Neighbour to all men not contented with the Dominions of Arabia Syria Egypt the greatest part of Asia and of many other places more seeketh in Tyranny Murther Spoil Perjury and Hatred against Christ and Christians far to excel and forceth himself to the uttermost of his power to take from us our Islands and to subdue the Christian Countries that so at length being Lord of all and Commander of the World he may at his pleasure overthrow the Christian Cities kill the Christians and utterly root out the Christian name which he so much hateth For the repulsing of which intollerable injury we have especially chosen this Island of the Rhodes for our dwelling place because the same seemed more commodious than any other for the annoying of this barbarous Nation We have done what in us lay holpen by you we know by proof your great Valour and Fidelity which we now have not in any distrust Wherefore I will not use many words to perswade you to continue in your Fidelity and Loyalty neither long circumstances to encourage you to play the men sithence worthy minds are not with words either encouraged or dismayed But concerning my self and my Knights of the Order I will speak a few words I with them with whom as I hope the Christian Princes and other my Knights of the West will in good time joyn their Forces are most ready and prest to defend your selves your Children your Wives your Goods the Monuments of your Ancestors and sacred Temples dedicated to the service of our God. Which opinion that it may remain firm and fixt in your minds if nothing else my Faithfulness in your Wars my Body not yet altogether spent but able enough to endure pains and travel the Nobility of these worthy Knights of the Order their Love towards you and their Hatred towards your Enemies were sufficient to confirm but beside this the strength of this City which this noble Order hath with infinite charges so notably fortified with Ditches Walls Towers and Bulwarks against all the force and fury of Artillery is such as that no City may worthily be compared much less preferred before the same It is wonderfully stored with all kind of Weapons and Warlike Provision we have laid up plenty of Wine Flesh and Corn in vaults so that neither wet Weather nor Worms can attaint the same of Wood and wholesome Water not to be taken from us things necessary for men besieged we have plenty and able men enough for the defence of the City All which things promise unto us assured Victory and such end of the War as we wish for Besides this Necessity which giveth Courage even unto Cowards will enforce us to fight Yet standeth on our side true Religion Faith Conscience Devotion Constancy the Love of our Country the Love of our Liberty the Love of our Parents Wives Children and whatsoever else we hold dear Whereas they bring with them the proud command of their Captains Infidelity Impiety Unconstancy a wicked desire of your Bondage of your Blood and the Blood of your Parents Wives and Children Out of doubt beloved Citizens our good God will not suffer so many good vertues to be overcome by their foul vices Wherefore be you in mind quiet and secure and trouble not your selves with forboding fear of your Enemies only continue in the Fidelity and Loyalty which you have always kept inviolate and unspotted toward this sacred and honourable Fellowship in most dangerous Wars and hardest chances of Fortune and if need shall so require with couragious band shew your Valour against your Enemies and make it known unto the Spaniards French Italians Hungarians and English That the Rhodians are of power to daunt the Turkish Pride and to avert their Fleets and Armies from Italy which they have so many years threatned with Fire and Sword and will no doubt thither with all speed hasten and come if that which my mind abhorreth to speak they should here prevail Neither will his ambitious youth in Courage Falshood and cruelty exceeding Hannibal imitate him in that that having overthrown the Romans in the great Battel at Cannas knew not to use his Victory but he will presently with more than Caesars celerity bring forth the Treasures his Father got in Egypt and with great Fleets and huge Armies invade Apulia Calabria and Scicilia from whence he will forthwith break into France and afterwards into Spain and other Christian Countries raging through them with all kind of cruelty But I am carried away further than I purposed and than need is For your Fidelity and Valour most worthy Citizens to endure the Siege and repulse the Enemy is such as needeth not my perswasion and of greater resolution than that it can be shaken with the dangers incident to men besieged yet the greatest and most forcible miseries of all which is Hunger and Thirst I assure you you shall never feel which pinching calamities for all that some People in Faithfulness Courage and Valor nothing comparable to you have nevertheless most
chargeable a preparation But that which above all other things brought him into security was for that he had by secret Espials certainly learned that his Brother Roscetes was kept at Constantinople as a Prisoner at large under safe keeping which made him to think that Barbarussa's Forces were not prepared against him for he knew that he could not be impugned or his State more indangered by any other means than by producing the competitor of his Kingdom to whom his guilty Conscience doubted that both the Citizens of Tunes and the Numidians were for most part well affected This Muleasses of whom we now speak and whom hereafter we shall by occasion often remember was lineally descended of the ancient King of Tunes who without interruption of discent or mixture of forreign Blood had by the space of nine hundred fifty four years mightily ruled the great Kingdom of Tunes from Tripolis to Bugia almost eight hundred miles alongst the Mediterranean and into the Main as far as the Mount Atlas and for the long continuance of their State and largeness of their Kingdom were worthily accounted the most reverend and mighty amongst the Mahometan Kings of Africk His Father Mahometes when he had with much glory and more pleasure reigned two and thirty years perceiving the end of his life to approach had purposed to have appointed Maimo his eldest Son whom for his hasty aspiring he then held indurance to succeed him in his Kingdom but overcome with the importunity of Lentigesia his Wife a Woman of a haughty spirit who had by reward made a strong faction in the Court for her Son Muleasses he altered his former purpose and appointed him his Successor by whom as it was thought the small remainder of his own old years was shortned Maimo the right Heir of the Kingdom in Prison presently murthred seventeen of his other Brethren unmercifully executed and three other Barcha Beleth and Saeth with more than barbarous cruelty with a hot Iron of their sight deprived only Roscetes the second Brother and Abdemelech escaping the hands of their unatural Brother fled to Morhabitus a great Prince amongst the Numidians whither also their Brothers malice persecuted them seeking by many practises to have taken them away and at last for a great sum of Mony to have had them delivered into his hands Which Mony the Numidian received but suffered the distressed Princes as if they had escaped against his Will to flie further to another Numidian Prince a Friend of his called Benticses where Muleasses by like practises as before sought to have destroyed them or to have got them into his own power Thus chased by their Brothers endless malice from Prince to Prince and place to place they for their more safety fled at last to the City of Biscaris far into the main Land where Abdemelech as one weary of the World gave over all and betook himself to a solitary life and became a melancholy Mahometan Monk. But Roscetes courteously entertained by Abdollâ— Prince of that City found such favour in his sight that he gave him his Daughter in marriage and long time honourably maintained him as his Son in Law with such carefulness that for fear of Muleasses practises he was seldom permitted to eat any other Meat but such as the Prince or his Wife had before tasted of Muleasses thus reigning and raging and yet not contented with the death of so many of his Brethren proceeded further and murdred divers of their Children also He caused also the Manifet and Mesuar men of greatest Authority in all the Kingdom his Fathers grave Counsellors and his chief Friends by whose means especially he had aspired unto the Kingdom to be cruelly tortured to death fearing their Greatness or rather as some thought grieving to see them live to whom he was so much beholden and therefore rewarded them with such sharp payment And by the instigation of Lentesia his Mother caused divers of his Fathers other Wives and Concubines to be shamefully murdred enveighing oftentimes against his Father that as an effeminate Prince had for his pleasure maintained two hundred Wives and Concubines in his Houses of delight by whom he had begot so many Sons Competitors of the Kingdom that he had left him as he said a laborious and endless piece of work to destroy so great a brood Roscetes aided by his Father in Law and the other Numidian Princes to whom the name of Muleasses both for his cruelty against his own Blood and injurious dealing against his Neighbours was become odious passing over the River Bragada with a great Army near unto Tunes met with Muleasses his Army conducted by Dorax a valiant Captain Brother to Lentigesia where in a sharp conflict he overthrew his Brothers Army and enforced Dorax with them that were escaped out of the Battel for safeguard of their lives to flie into Tunes Roscetes pursuing the Victory came and presented his Army before the Gates of the City in hope that the Citizens whom he knew for the most part to hate the usurping Tyrant would upon the sight of him in right their King with so great an Army raise some tumult in the City and let him in There he lay by the space of twenty days still expecting some innovation in which time the more to alienate the minds of the People from Muleasses and to shew how unable he was to protect them he burnt and destroyed all the Olive and Fruit Trees which grew most plentifully and pleasantly all alongst the Country from the ruines of old Carthage to the Walls of Tunes which was unto the Citizens whose greatest Possessions lay there a most heavy and lamentable spectacle But Muleasses had so attempered their minds with fair speeches and large promises of recompensing every man to the full for all such harm as they should sustain for his Brothers fury in the Country and beside that had the City in such strong possession by reason of his Souldiers that the Citizens either would not or could not revolt to Roscetes The Numidian Princes weary of that long and vain expectation according to the levity of that Nation accounting it no shame after Victory once gotten to depart began one after another to shrink away to their own dwellings perswading Roscetes also to provide for himself whilst he had time and to attend his better fortune Wherefore he fearing to be betraied by the Numidians or circumvented by his cruel Brother fled to Barbarussa then reigning at Algiers in great glory where he was honourably entertained and there remained until sâ—ch time as by his perswasion he went with him as is aforeâ—aid to Constantinople to crave help of Solyman by whom â—e was derained in safe custody although it was in policy given out by Barbarussa that he was in the Fleet and that he should by Solymans power be restored to his Fathers Kingdom at 〈◊〉 This was the state of the Kingdom of Tunes at such time as Barbarussa with
got into Spain But Gasto was by Pial Bassa upon hope of a great ransom purposely hid out of the way which had like to have wrought his destruction for Solyman having got an inckling thereof by the instigation of Rustan laboured for nothing more than to have Gasto found out so to have a more just occasion for the putting of Pial to death being taken tardy in so manifest a fault But all that labour was spent in vain Gasto being by death taken away but whether by the Plague as some reported or by Pial his means as it were more like lest the truth should be found out is uncertain But certain it was that being with great care sought for by the Duke his Fathers Servants he could never be heard of more So that it was thought Pial for the safegard of his own life not to have spared Gasto his Prisoners life Who nevertherless for a long time lived in great fear and not daring to come to Constantinople took occasion with a few Gallies to wander about amongst the Islands of Aegeum as if he had there something to do but indeed so shunning the sight of his angry Lord for fear he should have been compelled in Bonds to have answered the matter Until at length he appeased at the request of Suleiman Bassa the Eunuch and Solymans great Chamberlain and of Selymus Solymans Son granted him his Pardon in these words well worth the marking out of the Mouth of an Infidel Prince Well have he from me pardon and forgiveness for so great an offence but let God the most just revenger of all villanies take of him due punishment after this life So fully he seemed to be perswaded that no evil deed ought to remain without punishment either in this life or in the life to come There was in this expedition a Colonel of the Turks well acquainted with Busbequius the Emperors Embassador then lying at Constantinople into whose hands in that discomfiture of the Christians by chance was come the Imperial Ensign of the Gallies of Naples wherein within the compass of an Eagle were contained the Arms of all the Provinces belonging to the Kingdom of Spain Which fair Ensign the Embassador understanding him to purpose to give for a Present unto Solyman thought good to prevent the matter and to get it from him which he easily obtained by sending him two Sutes of Silk such as the Turks make reckoning of for it so providing that one of the Imperial Ensigns of Charles the Fifth should not to the eternal remembrance of that overthrow remain still with the Enemies of the Christian Religion This so miserable a calamity received by the Christians at Zerby made that Island before little or nothing spoken of to be ever since famous About this time to end his unfortunate year withal the twenty fifth day of November died Andreas Auria that second Neptune being ninety four year old a Man in his time of great fame and of the greatest Princes of that age had in no small reputation but especially of Charles the Fifth in whose service he did much for the benefit of the Christian Common-weal being for most part imployed in his greatest Wars against the Turks and Moors Yet amongst all the notable things done to his immortal Glory the kindness by him shewed unto his native Country was greatest which oppressed by the French he set at liberty and when he might have taken upon him the sole Government thereof as had divers others before him moderating his desires and respecting the only good thereof appeased the great dissention that had of long reigned therein and established such a form of Government confirmed with so good and wholsome Laws and Orders no Mans liberty infringed as that it hath ever since to his eternal praise in great wealth state and liberty thereby flourished The Turks the year following with their Gallies robbed and spoiled divers places upon the Coasts of Italy Sicily and Malta year 1561. against whom Philip King of Spain sending forth his Gallies by force of Tempest lost twenty five of them the eighteenth day of September together with Mendoza Admiral of that Fleet. Ferdinand the Emperor having with long sute and much intreating obtained Peace of Solyman and being now well stricken in years and careful both of the State of the Empire and of the advancement of his posterity began to deal with the Princes Electors for a choice to be made of a King of the Romans who after his death might without the trouble of Germany succeed him in the Empire commending unto them his Son Maximilian a Prince of great hope then King of Bohemia Whereupon an assembly of the Princes Electors was appointed to be holden at Franckford year 1562. who there meeting at the appointed time with general consent the twenty fourth day of November in the year 1562 chose Maximilian the Emperors Son King of the Romans and with all the accustomed solemnities Crowned him who also the year after was at Presburg the eighth of September with much solemnity Crowned King of Hungary Unto this solemn assembly of the Empire at Franckford Solyman the Turkish Emperor sent Ibrahim Bassa otherwise called Abraham Strozza a Polonian born of whom we have before spoken his Embassador with Presents and Letters to Ferdinand the Emperor to confirm the Peace for eight years betwixt them before concluded who the seventeenth day of November in presence of the Emperor the King of ths Romans and all the Princes Electors had Audience where after much glorious Speech in setting forth his Masters greatness with his love towards the Emperor and his Son the new chosen King as wishing unto them all happiness he delivered his Letters of credence unto the Emperor the Copy whereof I have not thought amiss here to set down for that therein is notably to be seen the most insolent Pride of that barbarous Prince and miserable estate of the rent Kingdom of Hungary divided as it were at his pleasure betwixt him and the Emperor I the Lord of Lords Ruler of the East and of the West who am of power to do and not to do whatsoever pleaseth me Lord of all Grecia Persia and Arabia Commander of all things which can be subject to King and Command the great Worthy of these times and strong Champion of the most wide World Lord of all the White and Black Sea and of the holy City of Mecha shining with the brightness of God and of the City of Medina and of the holy and chast City of Jerusalem King of the most noble Kingdom of Egypt Lord of Ionia and of the City of Athens Senau of the sacred Temple of God Zebilon and Bassio Rethsan and Magodim the Seat and Throne of the great King Nashin Rattam and Lord of the Island of Algiers Prince of the Kingdoms of Tartary Mesopotamia Media of the Georgians Morea Anatolia Asia Armenia Walachia Moldavia and of all Hungary and of many
it could could it long feed them Wherefore unto this expedition we have determined with the first of the Spring to send a most strong Fleet and even now we have already commanded all our Sea Captains and Adventurers which acknowledge our command to be there present with their Ships The King of Algiers will be there the Garrisons of Alexandria are in readiness so also is Dragut with his appointed Fleet. As for our own it is by mine own appointment rigged up unto which Fleet I doubt not but that all the strength of the West will give place Which thing worthy Captains we speak trusting upon the help of Almighty God and Muhamed his great Prophet with your known and approved Valour Now remaineth only that every one of you think with us how this War may best be mannaged and so to refer your devices unto us which that you may the better do Lo I here deliver unto you the situation of the whole Island and project of all their Fortifications which we have received of most expert and skilful Men. Solymans purpose thus made known and the matter well considered after that they which best knew the strong places and manners of the Malâ—aeses had declared their opinions what they thought to be most expedient it was decreed That they should with all speed set forward wherefore Victual and other things necessary for such an expedition being with wonderful celerity prepared they expected but Wind. Of these things Iohn Valetta a Frenchman Grand Master of Malta and of the Knights of the Order being both by Letters and Messengers advertised for he had always fit Men his Intelligencers at Constantinople who warily noted the purposes and actions of Solyman was not afraid but knowing that of God depended the Victory and that Men were to watch labour and foresee he assembled a Council of his Knights and in few words spake unto them in this sort What Solyman prepareth most noble and valiant Knights and what a great War he provideth against us you with me of late right well understand wherefore it is needless for me to use any long Speech with you concerning that matter The Enemy is known his insatiable ambition is known his strength is known and his mortal hate against us and the Christian Name is sufficiently known Wherefore let us all as one first â—econcile our selves to God and then provide all things as shall be needfâ—l for the War. In brief noble Knights to reconcile our selves unto God and to appease his displeasure two things are of us to be performed whereof the one consisteth in amendment of Life with a holy Conversation the other in the religious worshipping of him with a firm and constant trust in his help with Prayer which is called Godliness By these means our Ancestors obtained many Victories against the Infidels in the East Neither is it to be doubted but if we shall in these things joyn together we shall also frustrate all the force and fury of this proud Tyrant But forasmuch as God usually helps them which labour and take pains and not the negligent and sloathful we must of necessity joyn unto them those helps which both our profession and the course of War requireth which partly consisteth in our selves and partly in the other Christian Princes For Victual Armor Mony and other such things as in Wars are requisite we will so provide that no Man shall justly complain that we spared either cost or pains I will pour out all my store neither will I for desire of life refuse any danger As for the Christian Princes I cannot perswade my self that they will lie still in so fit an opportunity and in so great a danger not of our estate only but much more of their own Verily I will not spare to exhort every one of them both by Letters and by Messengers which in part we have already done and I doubt not but we shall have aid enough from the Pope the Emperor and the King of Spain such is their Christian Zeal and they I hope shall move the rest As for you the Princes and very Light of this sacred Order and the rest of our Brethren most valiant Knights I am well assured you will so fight for the most holy Christian Religion for your Lives and Goods and for the glory of the Latine Name against a most cruel Tyrant the rooter out of all true Religion of all Civility and good Learning the Plague of the World hated of God and Man as that he shall feel the sting of the Cross which he so much contemneth even in the City of Constantinople yea in his Houses of Pleasure For we shall not have now to do with him in the Island of the Rhodes far from the help of our Friends from Asia from Europe from Egypt enclosed with our Enemies both by Sea and Land but in the Eies of Italy and Spain in places strongly fortified from whence the Enemy may easily be circumvented which that it may so fall out let us not cease to pray unto Almighty God and to crave his ready help When the Grand Master had thus said all that were present promised with one assent rather to lose their Lives than in any part to fail the Common Cause or to come into the power of Solyman After that publick Prayer and Supplication was made in every Church through the Isle and three Colonels chosen out of all the Knights one an Italian sirnamed Imperator another Borneas a Frenchman and Quatrius a Spaniard the third all advised Men and most expert Souldiers who should with all diligence provide all things necessary for the War. By whose appointment the Suburbs and Trees which might any way be hurtful to the fortified places were overthrown the Fortifications were throughly viewed the Garrisons strengthned and all manner of Provision most plentifully distributed and Letters from the Great Master sent unto the Great Bishop and other Christian Princes requesting their aid against the Common Enemy Messengers were also dismissed into divers places to certifie both the Knights of the Order and others of the Turks great preparation Solymans Fleet departing from Constantinople the two and twentieth day of March in the year 1565 kept a direct Course towards Peloponesus and so came to Methone where Mustapha Bassa one of the Turks greatest Captains a Man of seventy five years and General of the Land Forces mustred the Army wherein were numbred seven thousand Horsemen of them which are of the Turks called Saphi out of the lesser Asia conducted by the Governour of that Country and two Lieutenants of Cicilia five hundred and of the Island of Lesbos now called Metylene four hundred he had of the Janizaries four thousand five hundred led by two Colonels appointed by Solyman for that the chief Captain of the Janizaries which they call the Aga never departeth from the City but when the Sultan goeth himself Besides these was a certain kind of Men amongst
Battel it was as he said the part of wise and worthy Commanders to moderate with reason their happy fortunes for that thereunto were incident many accidents whereby their former felicity might be disgraced they had already run alongst the Enemies Coasts spoiled the Frontiers of his Countries and were with much honour and great spoil in safety returned having encreased the Turkish Empire with many strong Towns of the Enemies the Island of Cyprus was with wonderful good fortune brought under the Turks obeisance the Enemies great provision at Sea frustrated in such sort as that having lost divers of their Gallies they were never yet able to draw their Swords they had with their Fleet at their pleasure roamed up and down the Adriatick and displayed their victorious Ensigns almost unto the very City of Venice What could they then devise or wish for more honourable or glorious than with the safety of their Fleet yea without any loss at all to have performed so great matters Now the three general Commanders of the Enemies Fleet to be so at discord among themselves as that they were ready to fall in sunder of themselves who now upon the approach of Winter and for want of Victual must needs in few days return home with their Fleet never after to meet again with the like strength at Sea and therefore to what purpose were it by force of Arms and uncertain Battel with danger to seek for the sovereignty and command of the Sea which would forthwith of it self without any danger fall unto them Neither should they by the doubtful Victory so much encrease their Honour as by the uncertain event of a Battel blemish the same if any thing should fall out otherwise than well And that therefore they should do well to take heed that in seeking to augment their former Victories they hazarded not their Honour already gained but wholsomely delay the War and keep themselves in safety with their Fleet within the Gulf and not to go out at the Enemies pleasure but when they should see good themselves as such time as the Enemy was not so well provided so should they as he said without any great labour or danger attain to the full of their own desires Partau Bassa was of opinion That the Christians would not at all offer him Battel which opinion the Christians had also of him and in this question for giving or not giving of Battel seemed neither to approve nor dislike that Chiroche had so gravely spoken but as a Man indifferent and loath to encur any blame shewed himself ready either to stay or to set forward as should be thought best by the greatest part But Haly Bassa a Man of an hotter spirit and the great Champion of the Turks could not endure to hear of any delay but of present Battel The pleasure of Selymus the hope of Victory the remembrance of the displeasure Pial Bassa had the last year incurred for not giving the Christians Battel enduced him now in no case to refuse Battel but forthwith to go out of the Gulf and to accept thereof if it were offered In which his opinion he was the more confirmed by the relation of Caracoza a famous Pyrat and of great account among the Turks who in a swift Galliot taking view of the Christian Fleet had reported it to be much less than indeed it was deceived as was afterward thought by not taking full view thereof by reason of his posting haste or else blinded by the Island which lying behind the Fleet suffered him not perfectly to descry the same Upon which report there was great rejoycing amongst the Turks who now after their accustomed manner dreamed of nothing but Victory and Spoil So that Haly vainly perswaded that his Fleet was both the greater and stronger would now needs fight in hope that the Christians upon first sight of the Turks Fleet would either retire and save themselves by shameful flight or else in adventuring Battel at so great ods by their foolish hardiness receive a notable overthrow This opinion of the Bassa was also not a little confirmed by the perswasion of Cassanes Barbarussa his Son Uluzales and Chais-Beg Governour of Smyrna all Men of great mark and experience especially in matters at Sea. And although Partau the other Bassa stood wavering as a Man in doubt and Chiroche Governour of Alexandria with Carabuzes Governour of Silicia and Mechmet Governour of Euboea Men of no less worth than the other upon better consideration were of a quite contrary mind for not giving the Christians Battel yet such was the authority of Haly or rather his opportunity forced to his own Destiny that his opinion prevailed so that now out they needs must and fight Albeit the two other Espials sent out after Caracoza and having more perfectly viewed the Fleet returning with speed told the Bassaes as truth was That the Christians very strong and well appointed were coming with Ensigns displayed of purpose to fight and that their Fleet was in number much greater than was before supposed With which news so far contrary to their expectation the Bassaes were exceedingly troubled and demanding whether the formost Gallies were all Venetians or not and being answered that they were intermixt some Venetians some Spanish and of the other Western Countries they began to doubt the worst and became exceeding pensive Nevertheless knowing themselves to be of all things well furnished having now victualled in the Bay of Corinth and there also taken in twelve thousand Janizaries and Spahies drawn out of the Garrisons of Aetolia Acarnania Peloponnesus and the other Countries thereby all resolute Men and four thousand other common Souldiers and that they could not now with their honour shrink back they held it still for the best to hold on their former resolution for the giving of the Christians Battel Yet before their setting forward calling together the Captains and chief Commanders of the Fleet Partau the more to encourage them spake unto them as followeth We are to fight said he Fellows in Arms with that kind of Men whom our Ancestors have driven out of Euboea the Rhodes Mitylene Peloponnesus and Tripolis and we our selves but yesterday out of the famous Island of Cyprus whose Cities and strong Towns in number infinite our Emperor hath as the rewards of his Wars whom we have always vanquished as well by Sea as by Land and shall it then now repent you that you in this War embrued in the Christian Blood have sunk or taken many of their Ships and Gallies That you have carried away great and rich Spoils That you have taken whole Islands and Cities at the first assault That we have by proof shewed unto the World what force is in the Turk to subdue strong Cities and Towns And what little power is in the Christians to defend the same What direction brought us Victory before the same shall also at this present give us the like Not to speak of that that we far
where things are done upon choler rather than upon discretion without compassion slain in which doing the Christians thought they did rather revenge former injuries to them done than to do them any wrong with some Mercy more prevailed than Wrath who remembring the common chance of War chose rather to take the Turks Prisoners wofully craving nothing but their Lives than without mercy to kill them The number of the Turks lost in this most famous Battel could hardly be known by reason that many of them were drowned Antonius Guarnerius writing the History of this War reporteth two and thirty thousand to have perished but they which writ more sparingly thereof reported not past half so many to have been slain of whom these were of greatest name Haly Bassa the General Mahomet Bey otherwise called Chiroche or Sirochus Governour of Alexandria Cassanes the Son of Barbarussa with his Son Malamur Governour of Mitilene Gider Governour of Chios Cassambeius Governour of the Rhodes Provi Aga Captain of Naupulium Mustapha Zelibi the great Treasurer Caracoza the famous Pyrat with many others whom but to name were tedious The chief Prisoners there taken were Achmat and Mahomet the Sons of Haly Bassa both afterwards sent as Presents to the Pope of whom the eldest died by the way at Naples the younger presented unto the Pope by Columnius at Rome was there honourably kept Prisoner and Mechmet Bey Governour of Euboea and about three thousand five hundred others were in that Battel taken also The chief of them that escaped by flight were Partau Bassa who seeing all go to wrack fled in time in a long Boat to land and Uluzales who as it was afterwards certainly known but with five and twenty Gallies and ten Galliots fled to Lepanto Of the Enemies Gallies were taken an hundred threescore and one forty sunk or burnt and of Galliots and other small Vessels were taken about sixty The Admiral Gally then taken amongst the rest was so goodly and beautiful a Vessel that for beauty and richness scarce any in the whole Ocean was comparable unto her The Deck of this Gally was on both sides thrice as great as any of the others and made all of black Walnut-Tree like unto Ebony checkered and wrought marveilous fair with divers lively Colours and variety of Histories There was also in her divers lively Counterfeits engraven and wrought with Gold with so cunning hand that for the magnificence thereof it might well have been compared unto some Princes Palace The Cabbin glistered in every place with rich Hangings wrought witâ— Gold Twist and set with divers sort of preciouâ— Stones with certain small Counterfeits most cunningly wrought Besides this there was also found in her great store of the Bassaes rich Apparel wrought with the Needle so couriously and richly embossed with Silver and Gold that his great Lord and Master Selymus himself could hardly put on more royal or rich Attire His Casket there also found with six thousand Ducats in it with a yearly Pension of three hundred Ducats was given in reward to a Greek born in Macedonia which slew the Bassa and was therefore also Knighted by Dâ—n Iohn who had also given unto him the Burrel of the Turks Standard which at his return to Venice where he had of long time before dwelt and served in the Arsenal he sold unto a Goldsmith whereof the Senate having intelligence redeemed it of the Goldsmith paying for every Ounce a Ducat and layed it up amongst the Trophies of that most famous Victory It was all of massive Silver Guilt and Engraven round about with Turshik Letters On the one side was written God doth conduct and adorn the faithful in worthy enterprises God doth favour Mahomet On the other side God hath no other God and Mahomet is his Prophet This notable Victory thus happily obtained Don Iohn the General with Venerius and Columna the other two Admirals came together whom the General friendly embraced but especially Venerius calling him Father and attributing unto him the greatest part of the Victory Afterwards all together with their hands and eies cast up towards Heaven they upon their knees gave immortal thanks to Almighty God. So did also the rest of the Captains and Masters commending one anothers valour and good service but especially theirs who for their Religion and Country had there most honourably spent their lives which were in number about seven thousand five hundred sixty six Amongst whom the chief Men that were slain were Ioh. and Bernardinus of the honourable Family of Cordona in Spain Horatio Caraffa and Ferantes Bisballus Virginius and Horatius noble Romans of the honourable Family of the Ursini Of the Venetian Nobility Augustinus Barbadicus Benedictus Superantius Vincentius Quirinus Ioannes Lauretanus Marinus Contarenus Catherinus Malipetra Georgius and Andreas Barbadicâ—s Marcus Antonius Landus Franciscus Bonus Hieronimus Contarenus Antonius Paschaligus Hieronimus Venerius all of the Order of the Senators Besides divers other honourable Gentlemen who well deserved to be enrolled in the eternal Monuments of Fame Of the Knights of Malta were also many slain amongst whom of the German Nation these were chief Ioachim Spart Commander of Moguntia and Frankfort Ro. of Hambergh Commander of Hemmendorf and Fra. Drost Of them that were wounded these were of greatest name Don Iohn the General Venerius the Venetian Admiral shot through the Foot Paulus Iordanus Troilus Savel and Mar. Molinus with divers others of less fame to the number of almost seven thousand Great was the joy conceived of this Victory but to none more welcome than to the poor Christians fast chained to the Turks Gallies of whom twelve thousand were thereby delivered from most miserable Thraldom and contrary to all hope restored to their ancient Liberty Two days after this Victory Venerius sent Humfredus Iustinianus with news thereof unto the Senate at Venice who coming in at the Adriaâ—ick Port about noon the nineteenth of October by shooting off of certain great Pieces gave warning unto the City of his coming which at that time hung in a great suspence betwixt hope and fear The Citisens generally awaked with the report of the great Ordnance came flocking by heaps to the Port every Man longing to hear the first news There they might see Iustinian coming a far off with his Gally but when he was come nearer they might perceive all the Mariners attired like Turks and four of the Turks Ensigns hanging behind at the Poup of the Gally which filled their minds with the hope of good news deeming it to be as indeed it was part of the spoil of the Enemy But after that Iustinian was landed which he had much to do for the press and was gon to the Court with a world of people following after him crying out for news and had there delivered his Letters and at large discoursed of all the success of the Battel which was forthwith blown into the City and that the Mariners also after his
passed among the great Bassaes there was not any man found that made any account of that defect but all with one accord without farther respect sought to set forward the ambitious desire of their proud Lord and Master At last after long consultation and large discourses it was agreed upon by the great Bassaes Mahomet Sinan and Mustapha That it would be better and less danger to attempt War against the Persians than against the Christian Princes Mustapha amongst the rest preferring the Valour of the Latines whereof he had made good tryal especially at Famagusta before the Armies and Forces of the Georgians and Persians Whereby it is apparent to the World that neither the zeal of their Religion nor any injury receiv'd from the Persian King but only the ambitious desire of Amurath to subdue a Kingdom both in his own conceit and other mens relations evil governed by an effeminate and sottish King and through civil dissention brought into great danger was the first provocation of making this War. Upon this resolution there arose new consultations touching the manner thereof and upon what coast they should begin their journey for the more honourable success thereof Which point Amurath greatly urged protesting before his chief Counsellors that he would not enter into that War except he were in great hope to bear away the Victory Some thought it most convenient to send the Army to Babylon and from thence to Syras called in old time Persepolis the chief City of the Country of Persia others there were that gave advise that the Army should be directly sent to Tauris there to erect strong Fortresses and to take possession of all the Country round about it and there wanted not some as it is reported that thought it better to send two several Armies for both the fore-named Places and so by bringing the Enemy into a straight to enforce him to yield to whatsoever should be of him required But Amurath durst not repose such Confidence in his Forces as to think that with his Battels divided and so weakened he should be able to conquer that Enemy who had always most valiantly fought against the monstrous and puissant Armies of his Ancestors and therefore firmly resolved with himself to send one only Army and so with his united Forces to seek the overthrow of the Enemy And so preferring the strong hope he had conceived to conquer the Country of Siruan and the chief Cities of Media the great before the difficulty of making War upon the Coast of Scyras reposing also great hope in the notable help that was promised him by the Tartars called Praecopenses he confirmed the great Bassaes his Counsellors in the same Opinion and withall discovered unto them a matter which to all of them but especially to Sinan seemed most strange namely that he was determined not to go himself in Person with his Army but to send one of his worthiest Captains in his stead The Causes why he so did were many but especially for that he was troubled with the falling Sickness and feared greatly and that not without good cause lest his Son Mahomet being much favoured of the People might peradventure in his absence be untimely advanced to the Empire beside the Dangers that he suspected at the hands of the Christian Potentates and withall perswaded it to be unto himself a great Honour to perform those things by his Servants which had in those Countries been unfortunately attempted by his most noble Predecessors in their own Persons While they were thus consulting about the Expedition and the great Bassaes Sinan Mustapha and others made means to be sent as the Sovereign Ministers of their Lords Designment he dispatched away sundry Posts and light Horse-men with order to the Bassaes and Governours of Van Babylon and Erzirum in the Frontiers of his Dominions that they should by often inroads spoyl the Towns and Castles of the Persians and by all means to do them what harm they could Which they were not slack to put in Execution and especially Vstref or rather Husreve Bassa of Van who with often Incursions did much Mischief as well in the Countries Tributary as subject to the Persian King. A forcible preparative for greater Troubles to ensue Now in these great Preparations for the Persian War which for many years after notably exercised the greatest part of the Turks Forces to the great quiet of the Christian Common-wealth Stephen Bathor the late Vayvod of Transilvania but now by the Commendation of Amurath become King of Polonia in the beginning of his Reign by his Ambassadour the great Lord Iohn of Syenna entred into a strong League and Confederation with the great Turkish Sultan Amurath at Constantinople Which for that it sheweth in what Terms that famous Kingdom then and yet standeth with the Turks 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 serving to no other end but to shew the greatness of his Power plainly to set it down as it was on his part at the same time by him confirmed The League betwixt the most puissant and and mighty Princes Sultan Amurath the Turkish Emperour and Stephen King of Polonia agreed upon and concluded at Constantinople in the Year of our Saviour Christ Jesu 1577 and of the Prophet Mahomet 985. I Sultan Amurath the Son of Selym Chan the Son of Solyman Chan the Son of Selym Chan the Son of Bajazet Chan the Son of the Great Emperour Mahomet Chan c. Prince of these present times the only Monarch of this age of power able to confound the power of the whole World the shadow of Divine Clemency and Grace Great Emperour of many Kingdoms Countries Provinces Cities and Towns Lord of Mecha that is to say of the house of the glory of God of the resplendent City of Medina and of the most blessed City of Hierusalem Prince of the most fruitful Country of Aegypt Imen Zenan Aden and many other such like In most loving manner declare That the most Glorious and Renowned Stephen King of Polonia Great Duke of Lithuania Russia Prusia Masovia Samogitia Kiovia Livonia and many other Countrys moe Prince of the couragious followers of Jesus Governour of all the affairs of the people and family of the Nazarets the welcomest cloud of Rain and most sweet fountain of Glory and Vertue eternal Lord and Heir of the felicity and honour of the aforesaid noble Kingdom of Polonia unto whom all the distressed repair for refuge wishing a most happy success and blessed end to all his actions offering unto us many Religious vows and Eternal praises worthy our perpetual Love and most Holy League and with great Devotion 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 us sending the Honourable Lord John
Othoman Empire that it was not yet able to subdue these Moors and People of Affrick in number but few neither was it less shame or dishonour unto the Othoman Emperours to have so small a Territory in Affrica being the third part of the World which by reason of the nearness unto Italy had long time held Wars with the Romans Beside that Algiers and Tunis could never be safely kept by the Turks neither that the Subjects and Pirats which inhabited those Cities would ever be contented or at quiet untill they had again got that Kingdom into their hands The Promontory of Aguero and Port of Larace two Ports without the Streights were as they said to be taken as Places very commodious for the Turks Friends seeking in those Seas after Booty and for the securing of their Trade And although the Seriphe were himself a Mahometan and held his Kingdom as a Tributary unto the Othoman Empire yet had he secret Intelligence with the Spaniard and the Knights of Malta whereby they not long since had upon the sudden almost surprised Tripolis he in the mean time as it were winking thereat And that altho the Spaniard possessed in Affrick Maraschebir Oran Pegnon Tanger Arzilia Mazaga Ceute or Septa Places whereby he might help and assist the Moors yet might his Force and Attempts by a strong Fleet be easily hindered and Spain it self infested Beside that the Spaniards had yet in such fresh remembrance the loss of Tunis and Guletta Places by them thought inexpugnable and yet by Sinan Bassa to his immortal Praise taken as that they would not for the Moors sake easily seem to attempt any great thing against the victorious Turks The third Opinion was concerning the War to be made against them of Malta which was by a strong Fleet to be performed for that the Gallies of Malta did daily great hurt as well unto the Turks Merchants as unto such as for Devotion-sake travelled by Sea unto Mecha And that therefore the War was thither to be transferred not only for religions sake and to assecure the Passage thither from the Incursions of the Malteses but in Revenge of the old and late Injuries by them done and especially to blot out the Infamy and Disgrace which the great Sultan Solyman had incurred at such time as he had in vain besieged that Island and to requite the loss by him there sustained Beside that they also alleged the common Complaints of the Subjects for that there were many which pitiously lamented the Misery and Calamity some of their Friends some their Kinsfolk whom they knew to live in most woful Servitude with those Knights and whom they most earnestly desired to have now set at Liberty complaining his Subjects to have been so far from suffering of any such things from those Knights in the time of his Ancestors as that contrariwise they themselves were by them driven out of the Island of the Rhodes the strongest Bulwark of the Christian Common-weal toward the East Being moreover worthy also to be chastised for that they had holpen the rebellious Moors with all kind of Munition and had themselves attempted to have surprised Modon In the fourth place were they which were of Opinion that it were best for him to make War upon the King of Spain These men alleged it to be impossible for the Turkish Empire to aspire unto the Monarchy of the whole World whereunto all the Turks Actions and Devices were always as at a certain mark directed except the Spaniard's great Strength and Power were first weakned wherein he seemed to surpass all other the Christian Kings and Princes and that there was no fear lest he should besiege Algiers which he knew to be now much better fortified than it was in the time of the Emperour Charles the fifth And that although the Spaniards without ceasing besought their King for the undertaking of that Expedition by reason of the new Losses and Harms which they daily received from the Pyrats of Affrica yet would he not hearken unto their Request for fear of the Danger imminent both to himself and his Subjects from the Enemies Fleet which he should in so doing draw into the Spanish Seas neither would the Spanish Gallies easily come into the Turks Countries in the East for being too far from their own Country which for the most part stood in need of their help And that the King of Spain was with the Multitude of his Business or other his urgent Affairs still so hindred as that he could not suddenly put in Execution what his Counsel for the Wars should decree As also how much it was to be gathered by that which hapned not long since at Preveza and Navarinum That the Spaniards shunned the Othoman Forces as also how warily the King dealt in all his Affairs lest at length against his Will he should be enforced to enter into Wars with the Turk was most manifest as was to be seen when as of late about the end of the Persian War he refused to give Aid unto the Persian King whom he might have holpen and was so before wont to do And in case that he would stand upon his Guard and by force seek to repel force yet should he scarce have so much Strength as beside those Wars which he now maketh in divers Places to be able to undertake also a new War and to find so many Souldiers with so much Coin and other things necessary for so great a War. It stood him in hand as they said to defend the Low-Countries and to recover again the Provinces there lost which of themselves wonderful strong both by reason of the Sea and the Multitude of the Rivers were also with wonderful Courage and Pertinacy defended by the Inhabitants for their Liberty and Religions sake Whereunto the English at deadly hatred with the Spaniard might many ways give great help if they should invade Portugal or with their Ships lie in wait for his Indian Fleet or make Incursions into other his Kingdoms as they did not long since at the Groine and Cadez Places most fit to trouble Spain and to hinder his Traffick into the Indies or other Places Beside that he was at that time so intangled with his Wars in France as that he could scarce find how to dispatch himself thereof without the loss of his Honour and Credit And admit he should make Peace with the aforesaid Princes in such sort as that he should not from thenceforth from them receive any harm yet were other means to be sought and taken in hand for his farther disturbance as by troubling his rich Trade for Spices and other Merchandise whereof he reapeth great Profit as also if need were by driving his Ships out of the Persian Gulf by the help of those Gallies which still lie at road at Possidium which we now call Suez And that the Fortresses and strong holds he there possesseth were to be set upon and if it might be taken from him as
thanksgiving to Almighty God to be made in all Churches and sent a Messenger with Letters to Amurath to know of him how he understood these insolent Proceedings of his Souldiers and especially this late Expedition of the Bassa of Bosna and his Complices contrary to the League yet in force betwixt them After which Messenger he sent also the Lord Popelius with the yearly Present or rather Tribute he used to send unto the Turkish Emperour at Constantinople yet with this charge that when he was come as far as Comara in the Borders of Hungary he should there stay until the return of the aforesaid Messenger who if he brought Tidings of Peace from Amurath then to proceed on his Journey to the Turks Court otherwise to return again with his Present as he afterwards did For Amurath enraged with the notable loss received at Siseg and prick'd forward with the Tears and Prayers of his Sister desirous of nothing more than to be revenged for the death of her Son the seventh of August caused open War to be proclaimed against the Christian Emperour both at Constantinople and Buda The managing whereof he committed to Sinan Bassa the old Enemy of the Christians his Lieutenant-General and perswader of this War who departing from Constantinople with an Army of forty thousand wherein were 5600 Ianizaries was by Amurath himself and the great Men of the Court brought a mile on his way having in charge from the great Sultan by the assistance of the Beglerbeg of Graece the Bassaes of Buda and Temesware and other his Sanzacks and Commanders in that part of his Empire to revenge the Death of his Nephew and the Dishonour received at Siseg This War Amurath with great Pride denounced unto the Christian Emperour and the rest of the Princes his Confederates in this sort Amurath the Third by the Grace of the great God in Heaven the only Monarch of the World a great and mighty God on Earth an invincible Caesar King of all Kings from the East unto the West Sultan of Babylon Sovereign of the most noble Families of Persia and Armenia triumphant Victor of Hierusalem Lord possessor of the Sepulchre of the crucified God Subverter and sworn Enemy of the Christians and of all them that call upon the Name of Christ. WE denounce unto thee Rodolph the Emperour and to all the German Nation taking part with thee unto the great Bishop also all the Cardinals and Bishops to all your Sons and Subjects we earnestlâ— I say by our Crown and Empire denounce unto you open War. And give you to understand that our purpose is with the Power of thirteen Kingdoms and certain hundred thousands of men Horse and Foot with our Turks and Turkish Armes yea with all our Strength and Power such as neither thou nor any of thine hath ever yet seen or heard of much less had any proof of to besiege you in your chief and Metropolitical Cities and with Fire and Sword to persecute you and all yours and whosoever shall give you help to burn destroy and kill and with the most exquisite Torments we can devise to torture unto Death and slay such Christian Captives as shall fall into our hands or else to keep them as Dogs Captives in perpetual Misery to empale upon Stakes your fairest Sons and Daughters and to the further shame and reproach of you and yours to kill like Dogs your Women great with Child and the Children in their Bellies for now we are fully resolved to bring into our Subjection you which rule but in a small Country and by strong hand and force of Arms to keep from you your Kingdom as also to oppress root up and destroy the Keys and See of Rome together with the golden Scepter thereof and we will prove whether your crucified Iesus will help you and do for you as yours perswade you Believe him still and trust in him and see how he hath holpen his Messengers which have put their Confidence in him for we neither believe neither can we endure to hear such incomprehensible things that he can help which is dead so many Worlds of years ago which could not help himself nor deliver his own Country and Inheritance from our Power over which we have so long time reigned These things O ye poor and miserable of the World we thought good to signifie unto you that you with your Princes and Confederates may know what you have to do and to look for Given in our most Mighty and Imperial City of Constantinople which our Ancestors by force of Arms took from yours and having slain or taken Prisoners all their Citizens reserved such of their Wives and Children as they pleased unto their Lust to your perpetual Infamy and Shame Sinan with his Army thus setting forward kept still on his way towards Buda but the Beglerbeg of Graecia with a far greater Power marched towards Croatia as well to relieve the Forts distressed by the Christians as again to besiege the strong Castle or Monastery of Siseg which he with his huge Army at his first arrival compassed about without resistance and with continual Battery overthrew the Walls thereof giving no time of rest unto the Defendants Which breaches they for all that valiantly defended and with restless Labour notably repaired the very fearful Women bringing Tables Stools and whatsoever else came to hand that might any wise help to keep the Enemy out of whom a great number was in the breaches slain but what was that handful against such a Multitude At length the third day of September the Turks by main force entred the Monastery and put to the Sword all the Souldiers therein among whom were 200 Germans of whom the Turks cut some in pieces and the rest they threw into the River Kulp One religious man there found among the rest they did flea quick in Detestation of his Profession and afterward cutting him in small pieces burnt them to Ashes So taking the spoil of all that was there to be had and leaving a strong Garrison for the keeping of the Place they passed over Sauus burning the Country before them and carrying away with them about a thousand poor Christians into perpetual Captivity These Invasions of the Turks caused the Emperour to crave Aid both of the States of the Empire and other foreign Princes farther off which was by some easily granted but not so speedily performed About this time Peter sirnamed le Hussar for that he commanded over those Horsemen whom the Hungarians call Hussars Captain of Pappa by the appointment of Ferdinand County Hardeck Governour of Rab lay in wait for the Turks Treasurer in Hungary who had the command of 5000 Turks him this Hungarian took at Advantage as he was mustering and paying certain Companies of his Souldiers mistrusting no such danger and desperately charging him â—lew him with divers of his men and put the rest to flight and so with the spoil and some few Prisoners he returned again to his
Villanies not with Modesty to be rehearsed So that by this means he had violently taken from his Christian Subjects all hope of recovery of their antient Liberty had it not as sometime it falleth out in these worldly things both unto Men and Common-weals which brought unto the last cast and even as it were to the bottom of despair by the Goodness of God contrary to all hope find sometime such unexpected Help and Relief as that thereby they beyond their hope even to the astonishment of the World mount up again unto a greater lustre of their State than was that from which they before fell it had even so by the singular Mercy of God now hapned unto the Valachians not knowing which way to turn themselves There was at Crailowa a City in the Confines of Valachia towards the Confines of the Hungarians and Turks where the Governour of those Borders is for the defence thereof with a strong Garrison always resiant a noble Gentleman called Ion Michael Son to Peter the Palatine of that Country the aforesaid Alexander's Predecessor who as he was unto the People for the Honour of his Father the Prerogative of his Birth the Comeliness of his Person and Tallness of his Stature well known so was he for his Zeal towards the Christian Religion his Love towards his Country his Kindness towards his Equals his Courtesie towards his Inferiours his upright Dealing his Constancy and Bounty unto them no less Gracious and for other the noble Virtues of his Heroical Mind and natural Disposition for the Performance of great Matters his deep Wisdom and quick Foresight his sweet and pleasing Speech void of all Affectation unto all good men most dear whose Fame both for the Honour of his House and of his own Virtues still more and more increasing and rife in the Ears of Alexander the Vayvod was the cause that he commanded him as the ready or rather natural Competitor of his State and Honour to be secretly apprehended and so taken out of the way whereof he by good Fortune having Intelligence and careful of his own Health for safeguard of himself fled first into Hungary and there not staying long God so directing him went to Constantinople in the year 1591 to sue for the Vayvod's Place all the Nobility of his Country and the Provinces thereunto adjoyning secretly rejoycing thereat About which time the chief and most grave of the Valachian Nobility and Councellors prostrating themselves at the Feet of Amurath most grievously complained unto him of the manifold and intolerable Injuries they had already sustained and were still like to endure without hope of redress from Alexander their Vayvod and the Followers of his Court the Turks Garrisons and Merchants with plentiful Tears orderly declaring his many most foul and detestable Facts and afterward highly commending Ion Michael for his rare Virtues as the true Heir of their Province most humbly requested Amurath either to have him appointed the lawful Governour of their Country or else some other Place by him assigned for them to dwell in wishing any where to live rather than under the heavy command of so merciless a man as was Alexander For the furthering of which their Suit Michael his Uncle by the Mothers side a Greek born and a Man for his exceeding Wealth in great Favour in the Turks Court spared for no cost So Michael by the Goodness of God was by Amurath with great Solemnity created Vayvod of Valachia and the oppressed and almost forlorn State of that sometime most flourishing Country by little and little well relieved although not altogether without most sharp and violent Remedies such as Extremities oft require began now again to lift up the head and to aspire unto the ancient Liberty and Honour thereof At the beginning of whose happy Sovereignty Alexander his Predecessour in his own Conscience guilty of his evil and shameful Government of that so notable and great a Province and now in fear to be called to account secretly fled But certain years after removing to Constantinople with his Wife and there attempting divers evil means for the obtaining of the Palatinate of Moldavia and for those his unlawful Practises accused by the Palatine's Agent he was by the Commandment of Amurath taken in his own House and there in his princely Apparel most miserably strangled upon Palm Sunday in the year 1597 about six years after his departure out of Valachia Michael thus made Vayvod of Valachia long it was not but that it fortuned the Reverend Father Cornelius de Nona sent from Pope Clement the Eighth unto the great Duke of Musâ—ovie in his return conferring with Sigismund the Transilvanian Prince and Aaron the Palatine of Moldavia informed them of the great consent of divers zealous Christian Princes for the maintenance of the War against the dangerous and common Enemy with many grave and effectual Reasons perswading them but especially for that they were themselves Christians in that Christian quarrel to joyn unto them their Forces also raised in those their Countries near unto the great Rivers of Danubius and Nester but unto Michael the Vayvod of Valachia he could not for divers his other important Businesses then come whom for all that the aforesaid Transilvanian Prince Sigismund his Neighbour desirously sought to draw into the Fellowship of this War even for the same Reasons almost wherewith he had been himself moved First by divers great Reasons removing such doubts as might justly seem to hinder him from giving his consent thereunto and then by declaring the Turkish Insolency daily increasing with the infinite Grievances by them devised against the miserable Valachians when as the Incursions of the Turks or Tartars or their Passages that way no less troublesome than their Inroads was almost every Month to be feared their Armies as Friends to be in Winter and Summer received their Souldiers to their great charges relieved and their Commanders and Captains rewarded Valachia thus impoverished was not able as he said to pay the great Sums it did already owe neither was to expect any releasment of the evils it was wrapped in much less was it able to suffice unto the grievous Exactions to be thereunto by them afterwards imposed None of his Predecessors as he said and as truth was had for many years now past for any long time or with any Security held their State or Government but that either by the Calumniation of the Envious or Bribes of their ambitious Competitors brought into Suspition with the Sultan they were violently thrust out or most cruelly put to death In brief he said it was a wise mans part not without most manifest and weighty Reasons to promise unto himself better Fortune or more assurance of his State than had his unfortunate Predecessors before him but warned by their Harms betimes to provide for his own Safety By which Perswasion he so prevailed that the Vayvod whose Name whose Fame whose Wealth and Life together with his
hundred Captives and so retired again to Sea. The rest of their Fleet lay about Vellona in the Gulf which made the Spaniards jealous that the Venetian had been acquainted with this Enterprise And since there is News That the Gallions and Galliots of Algiers have taken Iuisa a small Iland of four miles compass near unto Majorca It is a Place of great Importance for that it hath a Haven able to contain much Shipping for the Guard whereof the King of Spain entertains a great Garrison and it did much annoy them of Algiers They took the Town but it is not yet certain whether they have taken the Castle This is all I could learn of the Turks Affairs since the Year one thousand six hundred and nine untill this present The Reader may observe that since the Reign of Ottoman their first Emperour this great Empire of the Turks is proudly built upon the four Monarchies of the World that is to say of the Assirian Persian Greek and Roman For they injoy Babylon and all Chaldae with the Countrey of the Medes We have seen them in Tauris the Capital City of Persia Greece is subject to the yoke of their Command Constantinople sometimes called New Rome by the transport of the Imperial Seat is now made their Throne and so many Provinces and Realms which in former times depended upon the Roman Empire do now acknowledge their power they are Masters of the Realms of Aegypt and Cyprus the Islands of Rhodes Metelene Negropont Chio and many others acknowledge them the Empire of Trebisond is theirs the Realm of Colchos now called Mingrelia pays them Tribute they of Tunis and Algier in Affrica obey them Dalmatia the Illyrians Tâ—iballians the Countries of Transilvania Valachia and Molâ—avia do them Homage and we see them Command even in the chief Towns of the Realms of Hungary But all this Power of the Ottomans had never been so great nor so fearful but by thâ— discord division and bad intelligence betwixt Christian Princes as you may read in the Course of this History as well in Greece at Constantinople as in other parts of Europe whereas these Princes contending one with another have furnished matter and means to the Turk to dispossess them of the chief pieces of their Monarchies They measure the continuance of their Empire by the discord betwixt the Princes of the Belief of the Name of Jesus and they confess truely that this Division is the onely cause of their Greatness the which hath made them believe that among Christians there was a bad Angel enemy to peace which they call the stronge or powerful Spirit which kindling the fire of Revenge and Ambition in the Hearts of great Men draws from their Affections the good of their Belief to entertain them in perpetual Discord during the which they promise unto themselves a firm and an assured Reign So the Mufti and the Talismans praying on Friday in their Mosques demand of their Prophet the Circumstance of this bad Intelligence betwixt the Christian Princes to the end they may injoy the Empire which they have unjustly usurped Yet their Prophecies do not promise them a perpetual Possession behold one in their own Tongue which hath always made them fear the union of Christians Patissae homomos ghelur caiferun menleker alur keuzul almai alur kapze iler ie di yladegh Giaur Keleci osikmasse on ikigladegh on laron Begbhgheder Enfi iapar baghi diker bathesai baglar ogli kesi olar onichi ylddensora Hristianon-keleci osechar al Turkci gheressine Tuschure That is to say Our Emperour shall come he shall possess the Realm of an Infidel Prince he shall take the Red Apple and make it subject to his Power if at the seventh Year of his Command the Christians Sword doth not advance he shall Rule unto the twelfth Year he shall build Houses plant Vines compass in Gardens with Hedges and beget Children but after the twelfth Year that he hath held the Red Apple the Christians Sword shall appear and put the Turk to flight By the Infidel Prince they understand a Christian Prince for so they call them and by the Red Apple an Imperial Town strong and important in the which and elsewhere the Turks shall build Houses that is to say convert Holy Temples to the Use of the Mahometan Impiety for by this Word to build they that have Commented upon this Prophesie understand Usurpation of the Houses of God Plant Vines by these Words they signifie the Extent of the Turkish Empire and the settling of their Colonies as we see in Hungary and Transilvania Compassing in Gardens that is to say they shall fortifie the Towns which they have taken from their Enemies Beget Children extend the Mahometan Religion far in the Christians Countries But after the twelfth Year c. within a certain time best known to God his Divine Majesty opening the Eyes of his Clemency upon the Christians will unite the Wills of their Princes kindle their affections with a holy zeal and blessing their Arms will make them victorious over the Turk whom he will banish out of the East and chase into Scythia from whence they came to be a scourge unto Christendom These are my Wishes wherein I hope all good Christians do concurr The Beginning of the Turkish EMPIRE HAving run over the Occurrents which have happened in the Turks Estate for the space of eleven years I must according to Master Knolles his Method conclude the Work with a description of the Grand Seignior's Port or Court of his Government Officers Riches Force and Religion The Turks a People of Scythia having like a violent Deluge overthrown a great part of the East and taken divers Provinces being expelled from Hierusalem by Godfrey of Bouillon and the Christians their remainder retired to Nicea where they lived without any head or sovereign Commander until that Ottoman about the Year of our Redeemer one thousand three hundred by Practice made himself sole and absolute Monarch His Son conquering divers Provinces removed his Imperial Seat to Prusia now called Bursia the chief Abode of the Kings of Bythinia Amurath the First being drawn in by the Emperour of Constantinople to succour him and allured with the Wealth of Europe turned his Arms against him taking divers Provinces and Towns from him amongst others Adrianopolis which he made the Seat and residence of the Turkish Emperours in the Year one thousand three hundred sixty three But Mahomet the Second having taken the City of Constantinople and expelled the Emperour in the Year one thousand four hundred fifty three he made it the Royal Seat of the Othomans for which he had great reason being one of the fairest and sweetest Seats of the World. Constantinople hath in circuit by the opinion of some Writers fifteen or sixteen miles and is called by the Turks themselves Stambull or Stambolda the Sea beating upon it upon the North and South sides Towards the East it is divided from Asia by
with free liberty to depart Howsoever it being represented to the Grand Signior by the Captain-Pasha who is Admiral of the Seas that one Baldasar an Armenian by Nation but Dragoman or Interpreter to the French Ambassador was a principal Instrument to move the Ambassadors to unite in this Pretence and being observed to manage the Interest of his Master with warm and earnest Sollicitations the surly Sultan grew so angry that one of his own Slaves should presume to manage a Dispute with him in Fury and Rage commanded that he should be immediately empaled and that he might be assured that his Sentence took effect he would see him with his own Eyes on the Stake before he would pass the Water to his Seraglio at Scutari The resolution was so sudden and the Execution so speedy that there was neither Ear lent to hear nor Time given to mediate in his behalf and the Act being performed complaints would not serve to redress a tyrannous Action now past Remedy and not to be recalled Wherefore as the Ambassadors were forced to acquiesce and patiently endure the Affront so if they would have resented it they could scarce have found one amongst their Interpreters of so bold a Spirit who durst have opened his Mouth after so terrifying an Example The truth is the Dragomen or Interpreters to Ambassadors at Constantinople are required to be Men of Learning Courage and Courtship their studies ought to endue them perfectly with the Turkish Greek and Arabick Languages with some knowledg also of the Persian and with good Elocution and readiness of Tongue their constancy and presence of Mind is always necessary at their appearance before those Grandees or Great Men who are ever proud haughty and arrogant in all their Expressions and ways of Treaty the which they commonly manage towards Christian Ministers with the â—ame respect which we use towards our Servants or our Slaves And therefore by reason of this and other Presidents of like nature Dragomen have been always timorous in representing the true sence of the Ambassadors and Consuls at least have so minced and tempered their words that they have lost much of that Vigour and Accent which is necessary to inculcate perfectly a Business into the Understanding of a Turk especially if you intend to incline him to Reason and Justice Wherefore it would be an excellent Qualification for an Ambassadour himself to understand and speak the Turkish Language or at least to have a young Man by his side of the English Nation educated in the Turkish Court who should be ready to explicate those Matters which are too thorny and prickly for Subjects of that Country to handle Had all the foregoing Troubles Mutinies year 1633. and Misfortunes encountred the Spirit of an easie and a gentle Sultan certainly the Fate of this Amurat had been the same with that of Osman who retiring within his Seraglio could never have appeased the Seditious Humor with all the Concessions he could give an unreasonable multitude but being a resolved and busâ—ing Prince he at first gave some few steps backwards as if he would yield somewhat to the impetuosity of that Torrent which he could not resist yet it was only like a Ram who retires that he may butt with the greater force Howsoever the Politicians and sober Men attributed the true cause of all these Commotions in the Souldiery to have no other Foundation than the ill success and miseries which attended the War in Persia for the way being long and the Countries hot barren and for the most part void of all comfort the Souldiers abhorred the Fatigues and March thither and hated to consider that they should be made a Sacrifice to the lust of voluptuous Ministers who to gain Estates and Riches out of those Monies which were designed to carry on the War did not care whilst they lived at Ease and in Delights what Labours Wants and Dangers attended the Militia These Considerations made likewise some impression in the Sultan who therefore inclined to hearken unto those Propositions of Peace which were brought him by an Ambassador from Persia and being accompanied with very great Presents the Peace was clapt up and concluded on a sudden But as Things quick in their Birth and Production are not long-liv'd nor long durable so this Peace was broken the same Year with an inconstancy equal to that inconsideration with which it was agreed and signed For no sooner was the News hereof flown into the Eastern World than the Great Mogol dispatched his Ambassador with Letters to the Grand Signior perswading him to make War again with the Persian promising to assist him therein by stopping up the Passage of Nachivan which is a City in the Lesser Armenia built upon the River Aranes and is the common Road into the Indies The which Motion as it was pleasing to Morat so being accompanied with Indian Curiosities and Presents of an inesâ—imable Value the Ambassador was graciously received and treated with such Feasts and Entertainments as are not usually known amongst the Turks and returned again with Letters giving hopes that he would speedily take an occasion to break with the Persian But those who had experienced the Difficulties of a War with Persia and observed that in the present Conjuncture of Affairs it might be moâ—e easily and with advantage waged on the side of Hungary endeavoured with many pregnant Arguments to perswade the Grand Signior thereunto giâ—ing him to understand that Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden being victorious over the Emperor in Germany had taken many Towns and Cities of great strength and having overthrown him in divers Battels had slain or taken his best Captains and most Martial Men of Valour and that other Christians who were desirous to abate the pride of the Austrian Family were ready to embrace the same Conjuncture whereby they might entirely shake off the Yoke and Servitude to the Imperial Tyranny These Advantages being well represented took place easily in the mind of Morat so that he dispatched express Orders to the Pasha of Buda to assemble his Forces and put all things in a readiness on the Frontiers in compliance with which though the Pasha set forth his Tents and made great appearance of a March yet some secret Designs caused him to move slowly and to affect a Peace rather than a War so that receiving an Ambassador from the Emperor at Pest he readily Admitted him and gave him safe Conduct and Convoy unto Constantinople at which time Advices coming that the Great Gustavus Adolphus was slain and that the Affairs of the Swedes went backwards and unsuccessfully in Germany altered all the Measures of the Ottoman Counsels and though Ragotski endeavoured all he was able to foment the Differences and encourage the Turks to a War having besides other specious Pretences an Army of thirty thousand Men in a readiness to joyn with the Turks against the Emperor howsoever the Turks looking on the Condition of the Swedes as desperate
fifteen thousand Men to enter Poland which they performed with such celerity that passing the River of Tyre above Chocin and Rinczug they in a few hours laid waste for the space of ten Leagues round Kemenitz and so retired with their Booty into Moldavia howsoever their haste was not attended with such good speed but that they were overtaken on the 4 th of Iuly by Stanislaus Konispolzki General of the Polish Army with no greater Force than two thousand five hundred Horse howsoever surprising them whilst they were feeding their Horses he put them into such Confusion and Disorder that he easily recovered all their Booty and took five of their chief Men Prisoners of which the Son-in-Law of the Cantemir was one But this was a faint Refreshment in respect to that terrible Storm of sixty thousand Men composed of Turks Tartars Moldavians and Valachians which under the Command of Abassa had already passed the Danube Konispolzki the Polish General having not sufficient Force to oppose them in open Field nor time to assemble a greater Army gathered what Supplies he could from the Cossacks and Lords of that Country and therewith encamped himself upon a Hill between the River Tyr and the Town of Chocin that he might be the better able to succour Kemenitz which the Enemy designed to assault Abassa who contemned this weak Force of the Poles resolved without farther consideration to attack them in their own Camp and force them to fight of which the Poles being well advised placed several Pieces of Artillery and lined all the Hedges and Ditches with Musquetiers where the Turks were necessarily to pass drawing out their whole Army into Batalia the Turks who hastened the nearest way to charge the Enemy fell into the Ambush where having lost about five hundred Men they began to make a stand and to consider of some more advantageous way to their Design Wherefore Abassa taking another Course which he judged to be free from all concealed Dangers ordered the Tartars to charge the Right Wing and the Moldavians and Valachians the left of the Enemy and he with his Turks would â—ight the main Body The Tartars with great Resolution performed their part and had wholly defeated that Wing had not Wisnovitzki with some Troops and a Train of small Artillery come in seasonably to their Succour The Moldavians and Valachians fought so faintly against the Enemy whom they considered to be Christians Brothers and Neighbours that they soon turned their Backs and fled but were not far pursued by the Poles Abassa receiving this Repulse sounded a Retreat and immediately repassed the River Tyr and marched with all the haste he was able stopping no where until he arrived at Rinzur about thirty English miles from the place of the Fight and arriving at length on the Banks of the Danube he gave License to his Souldiers to disperse into their Winter-Quarters in the mean time Abassa dispatched Advice to the Grand Signior of the Particulars of the Fight and of his great Victory by an entire defeat of the Polish Army The Grand Signior believed the Report which none durst to contradict and which was confirmed by the Rumour of an Ambassador coming from Poland For the Poles being at that time engaged in a War with Muscovy and apprehensive of another with Sweden judged it not seasonable to provoke the Turk but rather by way of Accommodation dispatched an Ambassador with a Train of three hundred Men to make Complaints against the late Acts of Hostility committed by Abassa as if he had moved his Arms without the Orders or Knowledg of the Sultan About that time that the Ambassador approached near to Constantinople the Grand Signior had another Son born but of a weakly and sickly Temperament howsoever great Joy was expressed and all the City was enlightned with Torches Bonefires and Fire-works and that the Grand-Signior might evidence his Greatness and Magnificence to the Ambassador he took this Occasion of the Birth of a Son to make a solemn Entrance into the City and to make the greater Show he armed all the Citizens and Inhabitans Before the Grand Signior would grant Audience to the Ambassador he ordered that Abassa should treat with him and understand his Business and Desires Abassa carried himself high in the Negotiation he pretended the Damages and Charges of the War the Demolishment of certain Palancas which were the Places of Refuge for the Cossacks and the Tribute of ten Years past with Security of paiment for the Time to come The Ambassador positively refused to hearken unto any Terms about Tribute and that for other Matters the Presents which he had brought to the Grand Signior would reasonably answer His Presents were A Coach lined with Velvet with six very fine Horses A Bason and Candlesticks of Silver richly gilt Four Clocks ten Vests of Sables six Quivers of Arrows with some Hunting-Dogs Being at length admitted to Audience and thereunto conducted by the Aga of the Spahees and the Câ—aous Bashee The Grand Signior asked the Ambassador which was not usual For what Reason he was come thither To which he answered That he was come to bring his Majesty Advice of the Coronation of his King and to establish a Peace if his Majesty should judg fit to accept thereof To which the Sultan replied That all Christian Kings ought either to receive the Ottoman Laws or pay him Tribute or try the sharpness of his Sword. And taking a Cemiter in his hand which hung by him he drew it half out and said With this I will subdue my Enemies and though my War in Persia continues I do not fear to undertake another in Poland To which the Ambassador returning a modest Answer was dismissed of the Royal Presence And now the Grand Signior to put a good face on the Business and to make the World believe that he designed what he spake he proclaimed a War with Poland and ordered his Tents to be carried abroad supposing hereby to draw the Poles to his own Terms of Agreement And in pursuance hereof he mounted on Horse-back and rode in state through the City his upper Vest was made after the Hungarian Fashion lined with Sables in his right hand he carried a Quiver of Arrows in his leâ—t two drawn Swords on his Turbant he wore a large Plume of Feathers encompassed with a Circle of Diamonds and in this manner entring his Tents he proceeded to Adrianople But before his departure the Count Puchen Ambassador from the Emperor arrived with other sumptuous Presents offering Incense and Gifts of Peace at the Throne of this Greatness But before we relate the Transactions at Adrianople and the Success of Affairs at that Place let us recount several dismal Accidents at Constantinople The Grand Signior returning by Sea from a place called Stravosta in the Bay of Ismit anciently the Bay of Nicomedia where he had for some time held his Court and great Divan he was followed by several Vessels appointed to
Cossacks was graciously received by the Grand Signior and being advertised how during his absence the French Ambassador had endeavoured to blast his Reputation by many Instances of Diminution which he often inculcated by his Druggerman took Advantage of the Grand Signior's good Humor to vent before him the resentment which he conceived thereof The Grand Signior to gratify the Pasha promised to hang the Druggerman which the Pasha acknowledged as a singular Favour and returned from the Presence of the Sultan full of Joy and Contentment But better to cover his Malice and to ensnare the poor Wretch he sent a Messenger to the Ambassador assuring him that he desired his Friendship and that there might be a right understanding between them he perswaded him to send his Druggerman to him that by his Mouth he might signify the esteem he had for the Ambassador from whose Spirits he was willing to take off all Jealousies and Umbrages of Discontent The Ambassador not suspecting the perfidiousness of the Pasha sent his Druggerman to him who being come within his Power was immediately hanged by the Grand Signior's express Command and ordered that he should remain on the Gallows with his Velvet Cap on his Head which in this Sultan's Reign all Druggermen wore to distinguish them from others The Ambassador complained greatly of this Affront and Violation of Articles to the Chimacam and other Officers but could receive no other Answer or Satisfaction than that the Grand Signior might execute Justice as he pleased on his Subjects without asking leave or conâ—erning the King of France or his Ambassador in the Matter But Marcheville not resting satisfied with this Reply still prosecuted his Pique and Animosity to such a height that the Captain-Pasha farther incensed thereat obtained Authority from the Grand Signior to dispatch him away so that sending one day for Marcheville and first reproaching his Contrivances and Designs against him told him plainly that it was the Grand Signior's Pleasure that he should depart at that instant to which he constrained the Ambassador so precipitately that he would not give him time to advertise his Servants or make up his Baggage but forced him aboard a French Ship then in Port which he immediatly compelled to sail and the Wind being contrary caused the Vessel to be toaed abroad by two Gallies into the open Sea of the Propontis After the injurious departure of this Ambassador the Count Cesi who had been detained at Constantinople for the Reasons before denoted took again upon him the Function of Ambassador To execute which in better advantage of Trade and Commerce he was advised to a compliance with the Captain-Pasha and to use such Means as might mitigate that Acrimony of Spirit which this Pasha nourished against the French Nation These Disputes between the French and the Turkish Officers revived certain Disgusts and Aversion against all the Frank Nations which favoured the Latine Rites so that in despight to them the Grand Signior restored again Cyrillus the Patriarch to the Patriarchal Jurisdiction who had long been persecuted by the Jesuits and by their Means been deposed promising that for the future he should continue undisturbed in opposition to all those of the Roman Religion The Peace as we have said being concluded with Poland the Grand Signior was more at leisure to attend the Wars in Persia with the Labours and Toils of which the Janisaries being wearied began new Troubles and Seditions in the Camp the which Disorder Morat attributing to the negligence or cowardise of the Officers as wanting Courage to suppress them summoned the Janisar-Aga to appear before him and without long Process or Excuse cut off his Head and confiscated his Estate to the Exchequer which amounted to a Million and seventy thousand Dollars another Janisary also more rich than seditious was in like manner sacrificed and an hundred and sixty thousand Dollars of his Estate added to the Treasury of the Sultan The Pasha also of Damascus with several other Officers of the Army enriched with Spoils of the People fell a Sacrifice to Morat's Avarice and Cruelty to whom Riches and Blood were so pleasing that none acquired a higher degree of Grace in his Favour than those who could give him notice of opulent Men who having found Riches he undertook to find them Guilty and to prove their Wealth so corrupted by extortion and violence that nothing could hallow or purifie it but his Coffers The next News from Persia brought advice that that King at the Head of a powerful Army was encamped in the Country about Van with which the Turks not having sufficient Force to fight the Vizier wrote to the Grand Signior that his Presence was necessary to increase the Army and encourage the Souldiery whereupon he resolved to leave Adrianople and transfer his Court to his Seraglio at Scutari that so remaining on the Banks of Asia he might be nearer to his Business both to receive Intelligence and administer Supplies and because Seditions and Discontents in the People do always obstruct the Motion of Publick Affairs he not only ruined the Taverns and Tabacco-shops but forbid Coffee-houses and other idle Places of Concourse nay to Barbers Shops no more than one was suffered to enter at a time for those being places of resort Treason was frequently vented there Men of that Profession being notorious through the World for their Talk and Intemperance of Language And farther to restrain Meetings and secret Conventions strict Orders were given that after an hour and half in the Night all Fires and Candles in the City should be extinguished which was the general Discontent of all People But what shewed much of the fierce Spirit of the Sultan was a certain Fury which he conceived on this occasion On a certain day riding on his Horse thirty Indian Pilgrims met him in the way to demand his Charity and being in a different habit to what the Turks wear and not accustomary in that Country the Grand Signior's Horse started at the sight of them and being spurred for bogling in that manner the Horse capred and reared an end so that he threw his Rider at which the Grand Signior being highly enraged drew out his Cemiter and with his own hand killed his Horse and instead of Alms prepared a place of Entertainment in the Gallies for those unhappy Indians The Grand Signior being returned to his Palace at Scutari which is seated on the Asian side opposite to Constantinople applied his whole Mind entirely to the Affairs in Persia and being resolved to march thither in Person he put abroad the Horse-tail which is a signal of departâ—re he visited the Sepulchres of his Ancestors made his Corban which is a distribution of Flesh to the Poor for a Blessing on his Enterprise The Officers of the Army contended to out-vy each the other in their Presents to the Grand Signior some furnished him with Royal Tents others with curious and light Arms and others with
and into danger of having their Trenches levelled and their Cannon spiked but the Turks valiantly fighting the Slaughter proved bloody on both sides and being guided rather by the Bravery of their Courage than by Art or Experience in in War they carried their Works forward to the very Brink of the Ditch having an Italian and a Candiot for their chief Engineers who though they were not Persons of that Ability as our modern Times have produced yet they were such as for want of better served the present occasions where Force and Numbers with small Additions of Art were the most available For in this Siege the Sword was more exercised than the Spade or Mattock and there was more need of Arms than Works for the constant Sallies kept the Turks always watchful and imployed and perpetually disturbed them until at length they were forced with great Labour to raise a high Circumvallation with a very deep Ditch defended by several Redoubts whereby the Besieged being kept in their Numbers decreased by former Sallies and their Courages abated by despair of Relief they began to grow cold in the Acts of Bravery and to reserve their Men for the ultimate and last Efforts of Defence In the mean time the Turks plied their Batteries so hotly that in a few days the Walls were laid open almost fifty paces wide In this Condition the Defendants having no other Refuge than some small Retrenchments which they had made during the Siege were exposed to the open Force of the Enemy For now the Turks having filled up the first and second Ditches with Sacks of Wool Faggots and other Rubbish crowded in vast Numbers to enter the Breach which the Persians defended as stoutly with Stones Bullets Artificial Fires and all Instruments of Death which fell like Showers of Hail on the Heads of the Enemy The Great Vizier signalizing himself above all by his undaunted Courage commanding with his Hand and Voice was unhappily shot by a Musket-bullet and fell on the heaps of the dead amongst whom there is no distinction between the common Souldier and the bravest Captain This Fight within the Breach continued for five days where both sides fighting like Men in despair the dead Bodies lay in heaps and Blood was stagnated like a Pool to wade thorough At length the Numbers of the Turks prevailing commanded now by Mustapha the Captain-Pasha entred the Town by force of Arms on the twenty second of December about the time of Sun-set when the Royal Standard of the Turks was planted in this City Howsoever twenty four thousand of the Persians remaining still alive and united in a Body capitulated for Quarter otherwise threatning not to die unrevenged Pardon and Quarter for their Lives was readily granted on Confidence of which the Persians threw down their Arms and submitted to the Publick Faith or the Sultan's Clemency But the Grand Signior afterwards considering that the granting Quarter at Revan had been the cause of the Loss of the City he repented him of his Promise and gave Order to the Janisaries most inhumanely to open a Torrent of Blood and make a barbarous Massacre of those who had newly thrown down their Arms at his Feet not sparing either Woman or Child either Sex or Age the which Slaughter like a Work of Darkness was acted in the Night by the light of Torches and Lanthorns and appeared a horrid Spectacle to all especially to the Persian Ambassadour who being conducted like a Prisoner in the camp was a sad Spectator of his Countries Destruction on the horrid Theatre of its Capital City So soon as Bagdat was taken Morat dispatched away Posts immediately with the News into all Parts and wrote a Letter with his own Hand to the Chimacam ordering a Dunalma or Feast of Thanksgiving and rejoicing for the space of twenty Days during which time no Business was to be acted the Houses were to be adorned both without and within with the best Furniture and every House was to set forth Lights Torches and Fire-works agreeable to the Condition and Ability of the Person The People exclaimed hereat as too great an Expence and the Vacation from Business seemed too long for those who lived by their daily Labour The chief Ministers and Grandees evidenced external actions of Joy but inwardly feared and trembled suspecting that the fierce and cruel Humour of their Sultan would be elated and rendred more tyrannical and untractable by Success and a favourable Fortune The Christian Princes received this Intelligence like bad News and as an Alarm to awaken them from the easiness of Peace to expectations of War For War with Persia was like an Ulcer in the Bowels of the Turkish Empire which gangreen'd and consumed the Strength and Marrow of their Power which now being cured and the Body Politick rendred healthy by such a seasonable Success would convert it self to Enterprises pernicious and dangerous to the neighbouring States After the Conquest of this City Morat gave out That he resolved to procced with his Army into Persia and to enter the Walls of Spahan but having some indispositions of Health upon him and recalled by the charming Letters of a Favourite Mistress whom he had left at Diarbechir he inclined to return again to Constantinople Wherefore mustering first his Army he found that it was abated near an hundred thousand Men two thirds whereof being killed in the War the rest perisâ—ed by the Pestilence and other Diseases and Maladies incident to Camps a great part of the Slaughter fell on the most veterane Souldiers of the Janisaries and Spahees of which many of the Chief being slain their Lands and Revenues returned to the Grand Signior and gave him both Opportunity and Ability to reward many with such Offices and Gifts as came by the Death and Fall of other Commanders Thus the Captain-Pasha whose Valour had rendred him Famous was made Great Vizier in the place of him that was slain and the Persian Favourite was constituted Captain-Pasha and though many repined at this Advancement as conferred on a Stranger and a Person without Merit yet the Grand Signior considered him as one whose Experience in that Country and the Information he had given him of the Scituation and Strength of Babylon had made abundant Compensation for the Favour and Honour he had bestowed upon him The Grand Signior having left a Garison of thirty thousand Men in Bagdat year 1639. dispatched the Great Vizier with a considerable Army to penetrate far into the Country of Persia. And having now released the Persian Ambassadour giving him liberty to return to his Master wrote by him this braving Letter I That am Lord of Lords and Conquerour in the parts of Arabia Persia and Greece King that Commands with eminent Rule in the World exalted by Divine Assistance to the Empire of the Vniverse the most Invincible Possessor of the White and Black Seas and of all the Cities and Fortresses which encompass them Lord of the Divine and Prophetick Temple that
for their Chief A Person of a most sordid and Mercenary Soul immersed in Covetousness and Gluttony guided by his Lust and Interest unless some times restrained by the Authority of the Divan and the fear of popular Insurrection This Ramadam according to his Promise before recited summon'd us the day following being the Twenty-fourth to the Divan which consists in all of Twenty-four Bulluck-bashees who are Officers of the Souldiery each commanding Twenty-four Souldiers under him Twenty-four Jiabashees and Eighteen Ancients or grave Seniors Though for that present there appeared no more than Forty-five the others being at Sea or abroad Ramadam was placed in the Chair or in a Seat at the upper end and the Aga sate by him the others stood on their feet and put themselves into Two Files or Ranks and then Ramadam began with a loud Voice to cry The English are come to treat a Peace with you and have brought Letters from their King and from their Ambassadour now aboard going for Constantinople which very words every one distinctly pronounced and repeated them carrying the Voice from the lower to the upper end I fancied that it was after the manner of our repeating Syllogisms in disputations that so no mistake might be and that the Respondent might have time to consider and weigh the argument Then Ramadam demanded whether they were pleased to enter into Treaty with the English which words being repeated as before and answered in the Affirmative the Letters were read in the Turkish Translation with the Articles of Peace proposed which were as followeth I. THat the English shall be obliged to protect all Passengers belonging to Algier aboard their Ships to the utmost of their power against any of their Enemies And in like manner all forreign Passengers Merchants and others their goods and Estates embarked and laden on English Ships shall pass free and be protected from the Ships of Algier and be suffered to pass without molestation II. No Shipwrack of English on the coast of Algier shall become prize nor their goods forfeited nor their men made Slaves but the People of Algier shall do their best endeavour to save both them and their goods III. That neither the Consul nor other Englishman shall be obliged to satisfie the Debts of another Englishman unless he hath been bound or become Security for him IV. That no Englishman in matter of difference shall be subject to any Iudgment but that of the Divan V. That the English in differences amongst themselves shall be subject to no determination but to that of the English Consul VI. That either side are to furnish men of War with all necessaries their Ports afford at the Market rates without paying custom VII If any grievance happen neither party shall break the Peace until satisfaction be denied These Articles being read were all approved except the first for they declared that they would have a Liberty to search our Ships and take out the Goods and Persons of Strangers for that otherwise we having this priviledge might carry away the Trade of the whole World in our Shipping and that French Spaniards Italians Dutch and all other Nations had no need of other protection and safeguard for their Persons and Goods than to put them under the English colours And that then their men of War might rove the Seas to no purpose their City become poor and their Souldiers starve when they returned home We on the other side being sensible how prejudicial and dishonourable such an Article as this would be and how ruinous to our Navigation and having his Majesties Command to the contrary absolutely refused to assent or agree thereunto Whilst we were thus arguing a great fat Turk appeared with two young men his Slaves one a Frenchman and the other a Dutchman requesting Ramadam to recommend him to us for passage to Smyrna and having performed his request to him by kissing his Hand Ramadam made it his request to us in behalf of that his Kinsman recommending him to our care and protection and conjuring us thereunto by that Sacred league of Peace that was between us We readily assented thereunto and at the same time took hold of the Example to represent the reasonableness of that Article on which we insisted For shall we said we protect your People and will you require and impose it upon us as a matter Just and Sacred And shall not the greatness of our King have a Liberty to dispence the like Priviledge to other Nations his Neighbours and Allies governed by Kings and Princes who are Christian and of his Kindred and near Relations But neither this nor any other argument was Reason or Sence to them nor did they care to answer it by other arguments than that of their own disadvantage thereby and that if they assented thereunto their Ships might better rot in the Mould than to venture them out at Sea with expectation of booty They told us also stories of English Ships which had delivered some Algerines to their Enemies and one particularly who had sold a Hundred Turks to the Venetians In answer hereunto we assured them that upon complaints and proofs made hereof to our King his Justice was such as that he would not suffer a piece of such Treachery to escape unpunished And as to that argument which they urg'd that in this Case none would be employed besides English ships we largely represented the necessity of employing French and Dutch and the Ships of other Nations But these People being Deaf and Blind to any Reason but that which agrees with their interest we concluded nothing for after a long and loud discourse and repetition of the same things over and over again we at length told them that it was not in our Commission to conclude on these terms but that we should inform the Lord Ambassadour of their desires and resolution and that we would return the next Day with his peremptory Answer not but we knew that the Instructions from his Majesty extended not so far but that we might have occasion to leave matters as it were in suspense and part fairly from them at the present For as to my own particular I did not like to remain with such Company not knowing how far the perfidiousness of that People might transport them to a Barbarity against the Laws of Reason and Nations The wâ—nd blew all this day so hard at West that our Shâ—p drove and a great Sea went so that there was some difficulty for me to get aboard howsoever in regard it was necessary to render his Excellency an account of the proceedings of that Day I eased the Pinnace of all Provisions and unnecessary Company and so by God's Providence got safe though wet aboard that Evening I did not faâ—l immediately to render an account most exactly how every thing passed to the Lord Ambassadour letting him know what fruit was to be expected by a farther Treaty with this People Wherefore it was thought fit rather
first Summons and Appearance Instead whereof he attempted Schinta the Magazine of the Emperors Arms and Artillery but found not the same easy entrance as he did with the Governour of Nitra but instead thereof being stoutly repulsed after several Assaults concluded the enterprize too difficult and requiring more time and blood than could be countervailed by the acquisition of that place Wherefore raising his Camp he employed a considerable Party to take Novigrade a Castle scituated on a high Rock encompassed with a Ditch of 34 Foot deep Garisoned with Six hundred Soldiers and provided sufficiently with Victuals and Ammunition howsoever by ill fortune and worse Conduct this place also was resigned into the hands of the Turks By this time the Winter approaching and the season of the Year beginning to be unfit for action the Great Vizier retreated as far as Belgrade to take up his Winter Quarters with the gross of his Army Where remaining with full satisfaction and glory contemâ—lating â—he successes of the past Year and promising â—o himself greater renown and exaltation of his mighty acts for that insuing he so contemned the Force of his Enemies that he Licensed great numbers of the Asiaâ— Spahees who came as far as from Baylâ—n and Grand Cairo to return home to their own possessions Howsoever to vex the Christians with continual Alarms the Vizier ordered a flying Body of Turks and Tartars to the number of 30000. under the Command of Chengiogli to pass into Stiria and Craotia the Country of Count Seriâ—i and there to burn lay waste and depopulate all before them Count Serini was now newly returned from Hungary and supposing the season for action finished had lodged the greatest part of his Forces within their Winter Quarters and securely laid himself to repose when an Alarm came of the approach of Thirty thousand Horse the Count rowsing his great Spirit from its ease collected as many of his People into a Body as the shortness of time would permit which were not above 480 men and with these he betook himself to the River Muer to give a stop if possible to the passage of the Enemy placing Centinels in all places where the River was fordable On the Seventeenth of November the Christians espyed the Turks Encamped on the other side and at the same time discovered Two thousand of them to have passed the River on which Serini immediately made that furious Assault assisted with the Courage of Captain Chirfaleas a Person who had oftentimes given glorious proofs of his valour against the Turks that he soon put them to open flight and they seeking to pass the River and missing the place where the River was fordable threw themselves headlong into the Water where the most part of those perished who escaped the Sword. The Turks on the other side were so amazed at this stupendious Valour of Serini that their Courages failing them they desisted from their farther attempt upon Croatia so that this poor Country seemed as it were for the present to be reprieved by Miracle from a total destruction year 1664. THE HISTORY OF Sultan Mahomet IV. THE XIII EMPEROUR OF THE TURKS The Third BOOK Anno Christi 1664. Hegeira 1075. THE Month of Ianuary was now well entred with its rigid Frosts when Apafi Prince of Transilvania beholding his Souldiers in their Winter Quarters and all things quiet and still about him judged it seasonable for his establishment to discover himself with some lustre to the World seated in the usual Throne of the Transilvanian Princes which sight appeared so universally grateful to the People that they began to be enamoured of their Prince and to applaud his Person his Prowess and Vertues and to cast an ill and envious Eye on those Cities which were Garrison'd with German Souldiers About which time the Fortress of Zechelhyd revolted from Obedience of the Emperor unto Apafi the Prince For the Souldiery of that Garrison having long Arrears of pay due to them made a Mutiny and expelled their Collonel Dempenbal from his Office and pillaged his House placing the Quarter-Master of Strâ—zzâ—'s Regiment in his stead The news of this Sedition flew quickly to Vienna from whence immediately a Messenger was dispatched with an Act of Pardon from the Emperor upon submission and proffers of full satisfaction of all Arrears but the Souldiery finding themselves only paid with words hearkened to the more effectual Propositions of Apafi who taking hold of this opportunity sent every Souldier ten Dollars with a Suit of Cloaths promising larger and more constant Pay than they received from the Emperor with which the Garrison being satisfied surrendred up their City on the 20 th of Ianuary But whilst other Armies remained in their Quarters and other Commanders gave themselves up to ease and drowned themselves in Wine and Banquets and whilst Jealousies Envies and Ceremonies disturbed and confused the resolves of Diets and private Councils the generous and vigilant Serini having received advices from Adrianople that the Turks design in the next Campagna was to convert the whole heat and fury of the War upon Croatia and through that Country to open a passage unto Friuli his active spirit conceived that heat and flame that the Winters cold could not chill his hot and eager desires from entring into the open Field and commencing some attempt and enterprize on his Enemy Wherefore on the 16 th of Ianuary he began his march from Serinswar with an Army of about 25000 men and in the first place marching along the Banks of the Dravus shewed himself before Berzenche which upon conditions of marching away with Arms Bag and Baggage was surrendered to him Bakockza was likewise yielded and a Palancha on the River quitted upon report of the Counts approach leaving behind them Eight brass Guns in the Fort. From hence he marched towards Esseck otherwise called Oseck which is the only pass from the upper to the lower Hungary having a Bridge of Wood over a Moor or Fen about six or seven miles in length which once I remember with my Horse I was an Hour and three quarters in passing as I observed by my Watch and reported to have been six years in building This Bridg Serini resolved to burn which cost the Turks 300000. Dollars and six years time to buâ—ld imagining that to rebuild it again was a Work of that time as could not be repaired in one Summer and that by this means the Turks would be disappointed of all Action the following Year and the Empire have time to breathe and assemble the utmost of their Strength and Force together wherefore taking opportunity of the hard Winter when the Marsh was frozen and a strong Wind to carry the Flame he sent before him 2000. Dragoons and 3000. Croats which encountring 6000. Turks at the foot of the Bridg set for Guard of that place were so ill treated by them that they had been wholly cut off had not a considerable Force of
inform him that they had a Letter to him from the Brotherhood of Italy and Commission to confer with him concerning the ground and foundation of his Prophecies But Nathan refused to take the Letter ordering Kaim Abolafio a Cocham of the City of Smyrna to receive it so that the Legats returned little contented but yet with hopes at Nathans arrival at Smyrna to receive better satisfaction But whilst Nathan intended to enter into Smyrna the Cochams of Constantinople being before advised of his resolution to take a Journey into their parts not knowing by which way he might come sent their Letters and orders to Smyrna Prussia and every way round to hinder his passage and interrupt his Journey fearing that things beginning now to compose the Turks appeased for the former disorders and the minds of the Iews in some manner setled might be moved and combustions burst out afresh by the appearance of this new Impostor and therefore dispatched this Letter as followeth TO you who are the Shepherds of Israel and Rulers who reside for the Great God of the whole World in the City of Smyrna which is a Mother in Israel to her Princes her Priests her Iudges and especially to the perfect wise men and of greatest experience may the Lord God cause you to live before him and delight in the multitude of Peace Amen So be the will of the Lord. These our Letters are dispatched unto you to let you understand that in the place of your Holiness we have heard that the learned man which was in Gaza called Nathan Benjamin hath published vain Doctrines and made the World tremble at his words and inventions At this time we have received advice that this man some days since departed from Gaza and took his Iourney by the way of Scanderone intending there to Embark for Smyrna and thâ—nce to go to Constantinople or Adrianople And though it seems a strange thing unto us that any man should have a desire to throw himself into a place of flames and fire and into the sparks of Hell Notwithstanding we ought to fear and suspect it for the feet of man always guide him to the worst Wherefore we underwritten do advertise you that this Man coming within the Compass of your Iurisdiction you give a stop to his Iourney and not suffer him to proceed farther but presently to return back For we would have you know That at his Coming he will begin again to move those tumults which have been caused through Dreams of a new Kingdom And thaâ— miracles are not wrought every day God forbid that by his Coming the Peâ—ple of God should be destroyed in all places where they are of which he will be the â—irst whose blood be upon his â—wn head for in this Conjuncture every little errour or fault is made Capital you may remember the danger of the first Combustion and it is very probable that he will be an occasion of greater which the Tongue is not able to express with words And therefore by virtue of ours and your own Authority you are to hinder him from proceeding farther in his journey upon pain of all those Excommunications which our Law can impose and to force him to return back again both he and his Company But if he shall in any manner oppose you and rebel against your word your Endeavours and Law are sufficient to hinder him for it will be well for him and for all Israel For the love of God let these words enter into your ears since they are not vain things for the lives of all the Jews and his also consist therein And the Lord God behold from Heaven and have pity upon his People Israel Amen So be his holy will written by those who seek your Peace Joam Tob Son of Chanania Jacar Moise Benveniste Isaac Alnacagua Joseph Kizbi Samuel Acazsina Kaleb Son of Cocham Samuel deceased Moise Barudo Elihezer Aluf. Jehousual Raphael Benveniste By these means Nathan being disappointed of his wandring progress and partly ashamed of the Events contrary to his Prophecies was resolved without entring Smyrna to depart thence howsoever he obtained leave to visit the Sepulchre of his Mother and there to receive â—ardon of his sins according to the institution of Sabatai before mentioned but first washed himself in the Sea in manner of purification and said his Tevila or Prayers at the Fountain called by us the Fountain of Santa Veneâ—anda which is near the Coemetery of the Iews and then departed for Xio with two Companions a Servant and three Turks to conduct him without admitting the Legates to audience or answering the Letter which was sent him from all the Communities of the Iews in Italy And thus the Embassie of these Legates was concluded and they returned from the place to whence they came and the Iews again to their Wits following their Trade and Profession of Brokage as formerly with more quiet and advantage than the means of regaining their possessions in the Land of Promise And thus ended this mad phrensie amongst the Iews which might have cost them dear had not Sabatai renounced his Messiahship at the Feet of Mahomet These matters were transacted in the Years 1665 and 1666 since which Sabatai hath passed his time devoutly in the Ottomon Court educated at the Feet of the learned Gamaliel of the Turkish Law viz Vanni Effendi Preacher to the Seraglio or as we may so term him Chaplain to the Sultan one so literate as to be esteemed the Grand Oracle of their Religion so precise and conceited of his own Sanctity as a Pharisee and so superstitious that nothing seemed more to unhallow his Worship than the touch or approach of a Christian. To this Master Sabatai was a most docil Scholar and profited as we may imagine beyond measure in the Turkish Doctrine so that in exchange of such impressions Vanni thought it no disparagement from so great a Rabbin as his new Disciple to learn something of the Iewish Rites and rectifie those crude Notions he had conceived of the Mâ—saical Law. In this manner Sabatai passed his days in the Turkish Court as some time Moses did in that of the Egyptians and perhaps in imitation of him cast his eyes often on the Afflictions of his Brethren of whom durinâ— his life he continued to profess himself a Deliverer but with that care and caution of giving scandal to the Turks that he declared Unless their Nation became like him that is renounce the Shadows and imperfect Elements of the Mosaical Law which will be compleated by adherence to the Mâ—hometan and such other Additions as his inspired Wisdom should suggest he should never be able to prevail with God for them or conduct them to the Holy Land of their Forefathers Hereupon many Iews flocked in some as far as from Babylon Ierusalem and other remote places and casting their Caps on the ground in presence of the Grand Signior voluntarily professed themselves Mâ—hâ—mâ—tans Sabatai himself by these Proselytes
overthrew two of their Redoubts and afforded them new work to repair them and the adjoining Traverses This was the present state of the miserable Candia when the Duke of Savoy recalled his Subject Marquess Villa from his honourable employment and a Ship called Alexander the Great by appointment of the Venetian Senate arrived at Standia to transport him and his Family to Venice so that on the 22 12 of April accompanied to Tramata by all the principal Officers of the Garrison he embarked in order to his Voyage whose place was about two Months after supplied by the Marquess St. Andrea Montbrun a Nobleman of France with whom the Venetian Ambassadour at Paris by order of that Republick had prevailed to take upon him the defence and protection of that deplorable City reduced now almost to its ultimate Crisis I cannot adventure to assign the reasons that might induce the Duke of Savoy to recal the worthy Governour from this glorious action Some say that those who were emulous of his glory procured his revocation Others that the Marquess himself desired it and that finding the Forces of the Town to decline and the Turks to encroach and penetrate daily into the innermost parts of strength he was desirous after so long a Siege to return with untainted glory or perhaps weary of a Siege so tedious and perilous he might desire to retire having performed sufficient already in his own person and enough to make all Christendom his Debtors and Admirers So that I cannot but reproach those tongues and pens which in report and writings attribute the cause of Marquess Villa's retirement to certain just occasions of discontent given him by the Captain General Francesco Morosini who envious of his Fame and actions and unwilling to have a conshater with him in his honours did usually thwart his Counsels and Proposals and more particularly contemned a Redoubt which Marquess Villa had built and of which he had a singular esteem Yet that Morosini might evidence the unsufficiency thereof 't is reported that he wrote a Letter to the Vizier to assault that Redoubt for if he did he promised to afford him opportunity to take it by withdrawing all Forces from thence which Letter it is said was betrayed to Marquess Villa and brought to his hands which he with great prudence and moderation dissembled until the hour of his departure and then produced it to the astonishment and shame of Morosini To this particular I give the less belief because I find it wrote in a Journal of this Seige by a person who was a great Favourer of the French and willing to share the intire glory to that Nation and the miscarriages to the Italian Whatsoever might be the motive to Marquess Villa to perswade his return is uncertain howsoever it is reported that being arrived at Zant in his way to Venice and there meeting a strong Convoy bound for Candia with recruits of Men and plenty of provisions he conceived new thoughts of the greatness of the Republick and beholding also with what vigour and vigilance they attended to the conservation of that place he began to testifie some remorse and dissatisfaction for having abandoned a Charge which rendred his Fame great through the World and the continuation of which labours being crowned with that success which his courage and conduct merited might have brought a Blessing to all Christendom and perpetuated his honour and glory to all posterity The Marquess being arrived at Venice was received with the usual Ceremonies and Honours from the Publick and being introduced after private Audiences into the Colledge he spake in this manner IF the thanks which I render to your Serenity and to your Excellencies could equal the greatness of those favours which I have received from you it would have been but an ordinary glory to you not to have infinitely surpassed the bounds of my acknowledgments as you have infinitely outdone the utmost of my Deserts Nor could this August Senate have been exalted to the most elevated point of Soveragin Power had I been able to render Services worthy of that generosity which composed it For as the affection of the Creatures towards God makes excuses for their wants and infirmities so having a zealous desire to contribute to the glories of this most Serene Republick not only my endeavours my labours and my bloud but also my life and my whole being I beseech you to accept thereof as an attonement for the weakness of my abilities This my Lords is that desire which I have ever demonstrated in all the wearisome performances of my Charge under the generous Conduct of the Captain General of your Armes whose Valour I have endeavoured to second and imitate This is that Desire which would have entertained me in the service of this most Serene Republick to the ultimate period of my life if the Command of my Prince concurring with the Assent of your Serenity had not enjoyned my return I confess that I should feel in my self an inward Consolation could I assist at the triumph of Candia which I hope in a short time to see victorious over all her Enemies until when my Lords the honour which you have been pleased to do me hitherto cannot but be relished by me as a Comfort of my life And what greater Glory can I imagine to my self than to have served a Republick which may be called the most perfect work of the hand of God which being founded like the Firmament upon the Waters communicates happy Tranquillity through all the World I am able now to boast That I have seen a City which of it self alone is able to resist the Puissance of all Asia and that I have proved and tryed the valorous opposition which it made against a formidable Enemy I can I say glory that I have awakened in the hearts of your Souldiery their ancient Valour and that I have sprinkled your Lawrels with my own Bloud and it is but just that I should distil it to the last drop for the service of this most Serene Republick which after so many Ages resigns it self up a Sacrifice for all Christendom It is by your Arms my Lords and by your immoveable Constancy that the City of Candia which in former Days was esteemed the weakest of all the Fortresses of Greece is become at present the most famous Theatre of War. I dare not only hope that the conclusion thereof will be happy so long as your Serenity watchfully attends to the conservation of that place but that also this August Senate will extend their Conquests into the most remote parts of all the East This would be most Serene Prince and most Excellent Lords the consummation of all my desires and also that I might finish my days in the Service of this most Serene Republick towards which I shall for ever conserve a most passionate zeal and an immortal acknowledgment The Senate that they might testifie the esteem they entertained of the person of
have been prohibited and now I know that this is the sum of the most important Affair conducing to my Kingdoms and my own Felicities and in general the principal and greatest care and the best and most necessary Canon of my Empire so that being desirous to satisfie the Creator of the World my Royal and immutable Will resolves to cleanse and purifie the Musulmin Kingdoms of this prohibited and filthy abomination wherefore when this Royal Command comes to your hands wheresoever there are Taverns of Wine let them be rased and thrown down in all Cities and Towns ennobled with Musulmin Moschs let the buying and selling thereof be prohibited with all drinking and use of Wine and likewise I command That in Constantinople Brusa and Adrianople the Imposition thereupon be wholly taken off And that in all other Cities and Towns adorned with Musulmin Moschs there be not a drop of Wine suffered or admitted in and that Musulmins neither privately nor secretly drink Wine and whosoever is or shall be Author of this sin and to alter my Command in this particualr either now or hereafter may he be punished by the Vniversal Lord of all the World. Likewise when this my Command of high Reputation appears which is a Royal Writing let it be annexed to the Decretal Rolls and be put in execution according as it is obligatory And when this Command comes to your hands you are to have all due care of this injoyned particular That it operate according to the Tenor of this Royal Injunction participating of Prosperity and Majestick Power by virtue of which you are to reprove reprehend hinder and prohibit according to the Law of God the drinking of Wine and that it may be wholly taken away let the Tax and Revenue which proceeds from thence be taken off and in all guarded and governed Cities and places of my Kingdoms let the Taverns be ruined and overthrown And therefore you are to make known and publish to all Citizens and Inhabitants the force of this my Royal Command as well in the City of Smyrna as in other Cities and Towns ennobled with Musulmin Moschs and you are to ruine the Taverns which are found there And you are to take away the Houses of Entertainment amongst the Franks which are in Smyrna that sell Wine nor shall they sell Wine in their own houses but you shall hinder and prohibit them and if those Taverns shall be the Possessions of private men you shall advise the Owners of them or if they be bequeathed by Testament to the Deputies of the Muteveli you shall admonish them with earnestness and threats That in the place of Taverns they raise other more profitable and lawful Buildings and that they re-edifie them in a different form from the first And the Taverns being ruined and demolished according to my Royal Command and the Butts and other Vtensils thereof taken away you shall make a publick Arz thereof and send it to my Royal Stirrup and you being admonished thereof by my Royal Admonition you are to have a care that neither in the City nor Suburbs thereof nor in Cities adorned with Royal Moschs any person whatsoever bring in Wine or one drop thereof or that the buying or selling thereof be admitted and that no Musulman drink Wine For if after this I come to understand That any person have brought in Wine though it be but one drop I swear by the Holy Souls of my Grandfathers and great Grandfathers that those who bring it in or sell it or drink it shall be punished with such tortures as were never inflicted on any before In short this being a business so important as to the Faith as to my Empire my strong intention and firm resolution is to cleanse and purifie in the highest degree as well the Frontiers as the Royal Seats of my Empire from so foul a sink of so much filthiness and dissention year 1671. and therefore do injoyn this Royal Writing of high felicity so far that nothing shall be able to change or alter it or rovoke this Command of Majestick Reputation And for the future let him be who he will that shall offer to oppose or alter or change this my Command declared by these Presents or have intention or design to the contrary may the curse of God be upon him In conformity hereunto know you that are Iudges that this being my Will and Pleasure and ultimate Resolution you are to register this noble Command in the Book of publick Aâ—ts and Decrees that so it may be preserved and for execution thereof you are to use all your diligence and power and therein to take due care for if after these Admonitions Confirmations Menaces and Rigors Wine be either bought or sold in the Cities or Suburbs or other places as before or that there remains any Tavern not ruined or if in any wise a drop of VVine be bought or sold you shall receive due punishment and your self suffer the same torments which are threatned against those who are publickly guilty of the transgression of this Law. Therefore know this and knowing it give credit to my noble Firme Dated in the Month Rabiul Evel Hegeira 1081. in Adrianople And now one would imagine that this Command being a Hartesheriff signed with the Grand Signior's own hand would have been of durable and perpetual Force and Authority But experience hath shewed us the contrary that in one Year after Licence being first given to Franks to make Wine in their own houses and especially to all Christian Ministers in one year more the indulgence became universal and Taverns were again admitted and still continue as common and free as in former times Anno Christi 1671. Hegeira 1082. THE Ship which carried the Presents for the Turks and designed to transport the Ambassadour being cast away new preparations were made and the Gally Brazzana commanded by Alexandra Zeno a noble Venetian was dispatched with them being ordered to transport Signior Molino the Ambassadour to the Port who was received with the usual honours due to his Quality and Character all which Ceremonies and Offices being past several matters occured which were not so well expressed in the Capitulations but that they needed an explication and new Orders and Models for redress of Affairs in Dalmatia For the Morlacchs who in the time of the War had submitted themselves to the obedience of the Venetians began now to infest the Country and to enter into those places which in the first years of the War they had destroyed and abandoned the Turks on the other side opposed them and the Country being open many skirmishes happened and as many troubles ensued as in the time of the War. For adjusting these differences Mahomet Pasha of Bosna was dispatched into those Countries with Authority and Instructions where on the other side he was met by Antonio Barbaro Proveditor General of Dalmatia and Albania appointed by the Senate to accord and settle the differences of the Confines and the place
Wealth and Power as able to encounter with the puissance of the Ottoman Empire but being soon put to the worst and forced to yield his Life was spared and the safety of his Country redeemed upon the augmentation of their Tribute so that now that which was yearly paid being 120 Purses of Mony 1. Is become to the Grand Signior 260 Purses or 130000 Dollars 2. There is paid 15000 Okes of Honey 3. Nine thousand Okes of Wax 4. To the Prime Vizier ten Purses of Mony or 5000 Dollars and a Vest of Sables 5. To the Tefterdar or Lord Treasurer one Purse of Mony or 50 Dollars and a Vest of Sables 6. To the Kuslir Aga or chief Eunuch of the Women 12000 Aspers 7. To the Vizier's Kahija or Steward 500 Dollars and a Vest of Sables The other Charges and Value set on this Province when triennially sold is no less than that of Moldavia the Method and Art used for extorting Mony from thence are the same the Oppression in every point equal unless the remembrance of the extravagant disorder of Matthew the Vayvod still kept in mind emboldens the Turk with more confident Pretences to work more Desolation and Impoverishment in this Province Now lately a Prince was setled there by Order of the Grand Signior in the Year 1664 called Stridia Bei by the Greeks which signifies a Lord that had gained some Fortune from selling Oysters and Fish this Person succeeded Gregorasco the late Prince who fearing the Anger of the Prime Vizier for returning Home with his Army without Licence defeated by General Susa near Lewa fled for safety of his Life into the Dominions of the Emperor The Turks who always avenge the Crimes of the Governours on the People or of the Subjects on the Governours raised the Price of the Principality to a higher value causing Stridia Bei as I am confidently informed who was contented to accept it at any Rate to pay for it 800 Purses of Mony or 400000 Dollars to which being added the Interest before-mentioned the Sum may easily be computed that this new Vayvod engulfed himself in and I leave the Reader to imagine with what glad Hearts and Blessings the People of that Country went forth to receive their Bankrupt Prince Nor is Transylvania wholly exempted from the Oppression of the Turk for after several Revolutions from the time of Huniades made Vayvod by Vladislaus the fourth King of Hungary Anno 1450 a great Defender of his Country against the Infidels until the time of Stephen the Seventh sirnamed Ragotzki Patronized by the Turks Anno 1450. This Principality remained sometimes at the Devotion and Disposal of the King of Hungary of Poland of the Emperor and sometimes of the Turk until by the growing greatness of the Ottomans the Turks became Masters of the best part of this Country But yet Transylvania is more tenderly and more honourably treated than the other two Provinces their Tribute being much less and their Princes chosen for the most part more regularly from the ancient Line or at least from the honourable Houses of the Boyars or Nobility who have an affinity or alliance with the true Blood of the former Vayvods Their ancient Tribute was only 6000 Zechins yearly but afterwards were added 9000 more annually for acknowledgment of certain Castles which Ragotzki had taken from Poland which the Turk demanded to have resigned into his possession were for that Sum redeemed and still detained in the Hands of the Transylvanians over and above which they only pay 300 Dollars and two Silver Bowls to the seven Viziers of the Bench And this is all the acknowledgment they make to the Turk who demonstrates more respect always to this Prince and his Messages than those of the Neighbour Provinces by reason that that Country is not totally in his Power certain strong Fortresses being in the hand of the Emperor of Germany for whose sake this People is more gently dealt with lest too much severity should occasion them to revolt and this consideration induced the Turks to treat modestly with Michael Apafi the Prince of this Country in the late Wars in Hungary by trusting much to his Conduct by using him like an honourable Confederate by permitting him freely to possess Zekelhyd after its voluntary Surrender in a Mutiny without the controllment or superintendency of a Turk as his Superiour and for his farther encouragement gave out that when the Sultan had totally subdued Hungary those parts which were not subject to Pashaws should be annexed to his Dominions and he honoured with the Title of King of Hungary These Princes of the three foregoing Provinces are farther obliged to serve the Grand Signior in his Wars whensoever summoned thereto but with what number and in what manner we reserve for its due place in the Treatise of the Turks Militia and Auxiliaries The City and small Dominion of Ragusi is also another Tributary to the Turk which is a petty Common-Wealth not vouchsafed the Title of a Republick neither by the Venetians nor the Pope and only styled la Communità di Ragusi which is a Town in Dalmatia commanding over a narrow and barren Territory of a few Villages which for the space of 150 miles extends it self along the Sea Coast and some little Islands of no great consideration It was anciently called Epidaurus of which name there were two other Cities in Peloponnesus but that being razed by the Goths the Inhabitants after their departure rebuilt again this City of Ragusi giving it a new Name as well as a new Foundation The Government of it in the nature of a Common-Wealth is more ancient than that of Venice having preserved it self more by Art and Submission to some powerful Protector than to its own Force which caused them to court the Friendship of the Turk before he was Master of any part of Europe and as their Records report it was upon the Advice of a Holy Nun esteemed a great Saint amongst them who prophesying of the future greatness of the Turkish Empire assured them That the only Means to preserve for many Ages their Common-Wealth free and happy was to submit themselves to one of the most prosperous of Princes to whose Dominion the best part of the World should be subdued Whereupon two Ambassadors were dispatched to the City of Prusa then the Regal Seat before the utter ruin of the Grecian Empire with Presents to the Sultan Orchanes desiring to become his Tributaries and in consideration thereof to strengthen their weak Common-Wealth with assistance under the shadow of his prevalent Protection There is no doubt but the Sultan then received them the more courteously and promised the maintenance of a former League by how much the distance they were at as yet gave them the less cause to fear his Arms wherefore the Tribute being agreed on of Twelve thousand and five hundred Zechins yearly they were returned Home with all demonstrations of Courtesy and assurances of Defence Orchanes entred into
Articles with them bestowed on them a Grant of all the Immunities and Priviledges they desired the which he signed with the form of his whole hand wetted in Ink and clapped on the Paper which was all the Firm and Seal in those days and is now reverenced amongst the Turks with the same esteem as the Iews do the Tables of Moses or we the most Sacred and Holy Reliques ever since that time this Tribute hath yearly continued and been brought always in the month of Iuly by two Ambassadors who reside at the Turkish Court for the space of a Year the former returning Home these are relieved at the same Season of the following Year by the accession of two others with the like Tribute which with the Presents they also bring to the Prime Vizier chief Eunuch of the Women the Queen-Mother and other Sultans with the Charges and Expences of the Embassy is computed to amount yearly to the Sum of twenty thousand Zechins They were in Times past before the War between the Republick of Venice and the Turk very Poor and put to hard Shifts and Arts to raise the Turkish Tribute but this War hath opened their Scale and made it the Port for transmitting the Manufactures of Venice and all Italy into Turkey which yields them such considerable Customs as thereby their Tribute is supplied with Advance and other Necessities provided for So that now the old Ornaments of the Ambassadors as their black Velvet Bonnets and Gowns of Crimson Satten lined heretofore with Martins Fur but now with Sables are not laid up in the common Wardrobe for the Ambassadors of the succeeding Year but a new Equipage and Accoutrements are yearly supplied at the common Charge and thus they pass honestly and in good esteem at the Ottoman Court being called the Dowbrai Vendick by the Turks or the Good Venetian This petty Republick hath always supported it self by submission and addresses for Favour and Defence to divers powerful Princes courting the Favour of every one never offering Injuries and when they receive them patiently support them which is the cause the Italians call them le sette Bandiere or the seven Bannerers signifying that for their Being and Maintenance of the name of a free Republick they are contented to become Slaves to all parts of the World. And it is observable on what a strange form of jealous Policy their Government is founded for their chief Officer who is in imitation of their Doge at Venice is changed every month others weekly and the Governour of the principal Castle of the City is but of 24 hours continuance every night one is nominated by the Senate for Governor who is without any Preparation or Ceremony taken up as he walks the Streets having a Handkerchief thrown over his Face is led away blindfold to the Castle so that none can discover who it is that commands that Night and by that means all possibility of Conspiracy or Combination of betraying the Town prevented These People in former Times were great Traders into the Western Parts of the World and it is said that those vast Caracks called Argosies which are so much famed for the vastness of their Burthen and Bulk were corruptly so denominated from Ragosies and from the Name of this City whose Port is rather forced by Art and Industry than framed by Nature Some of the Provinces also of Georgia formerly Iberia but now supposed to be called from St. George the Cappadocian Martyr and the poor Country of Mengrelia are also Tributaries to the Turk who every three Years send Messengers with their Sacrifice to the Grand Siginior of seven young Boys and as many Virgins a-piece besides other Slaves for Presents to great Men this People chuse rather this sort of Tribute than any other because Custom hath introduced a forwardness in the Parents without remorse to sell their Children and to account Slavery a Preferment and the miseries of Servitude a better Condition than Poverty with Freedom Of the whole retinue which these Beggarly Ambassadors bring with them for so the Turks called them being about seventy or eighty Persons a crue of miserable People are all set to sale to the very Secretary and Steward to defray the Charge of the Embassy and bring back some Revenue to the Publick Stock so that the Ambassadors return without their Pomp reserving only the Interpreter as a necessary Attendant to their Voyage home The Emperor of Germany may also not improperly be termed one of the Tributaries to the Ottoman Empire whom for Honour's sake we mention in the last place in so ungrateful an Office being obliged according to the Articles made with Solyman the Magnificent to pay a yearly Tribute of 3000 Hungars but it was only paid the first two Years after the conclusion of the Peace afterwards it was excused by the Germans and dissembled by the Turks until taking a resolution to make a War on Hungary made that one Ground and Occasion of the Breach for upon the Truce made for eight Years between Sultan Solyman and the Emperor Ferdinand as Augerius Busbeck reports in those Capitulations that the Tribute is made the Foundation of the Accord Cujus concordiae pacis ac confoederationis hae conditiones sunto primè ut tua dilectio quotannis ad aulam nostram pro arra induciarum 30000 Hungaricos Ducatos mittere teneatur unà cum residuo quod nobis proxime praeterlapsum biennium reservetur CHAP. XV. The Desolation and Ruin which the Turks make of their own Countries in Asia and the Parts most remote from the Imperial Seat esteemed one cause of the conservation of their Empire THIS Position will appear a Paradox at first sight to most Men who have read and consider'd the Roman Conquest whose â—urisdiction and Dominions were far larger than this present Empire and yet we do not find that they so studiously endeavoured to dispeople and lay waste the Nations they subdued but rather encouraged industry in Plantations gave Privileges to Cities meanly stored invited People to inhabit them endeavoured to improve Countries rude and uncultivated with good Husbandry and Maritime Towns with Traffick and Commerce made Citizens of their Confederates and conferred on their conquered Subjects oftentimes greater Benefits than they could expect or hope for under their true and natural Princes and certainly the Romans thrived and were richer and more powerful by their Policy and therefore why the Turk might not proceed in the same manner and yet with the same advantage is worth our consideration For the Solution of which Difficulty it will be necessary to consider that these two Empires being compared there will be found a vast difference in the Original Foundation Progress and Maximâ— each of other For the Romans built their City in Peace made Laws by which the Arbitrary Will of the Prince was corrected and afterward as their Arms succeeded and their Dominions were extended they accommodated themselves often to present Necessities and Humours and
accompanied his Pipe with Tears and Sighs He was an excellent Musician and a deep Philosopher endued with those supernatural vertues as enabled him to work Miracles clear and notorious to all the world he was an Hermite called in Arabick Abdal went with his head bare and his body full of wounds without a Shirt or other Cloathing besides a Skin of some wild Beast thrown about his Shoulders at his Girdle he wore some fine polished Stone on his Wrists instead of Diamonds and Stones of value he wore counterfeit Jewels which carried a luster and fair appearance with them this man was called Sanâ—one Kalenderi who was continually singing Arabick Sonnets and according to them Musical Airs making also harmonious compositions so artificially that he seemed another David But how strict and sober this Santone was his Disciples or Proselytes are of another temper being wholly given up to jollity and delights they banish all kind of melancholy and sadness and live free of cares passions or torments of the mind and have this saying amongst them This day is ours to morrow is his who shall live to enjoy it and therefore studiously attend to lose no moment or least part of their pleasure but consume their time in eating and drinking and to maintain this gluttony they will sell the Stones of their Girdles their Earings and Bracelets When they come to the house of any rich Man or person of Quality they accommodate themselves to their humour giving all the Family pleasant words and chearfull expressions to persuade them to a liberal and free entertainment The Tavern by them is accounted holy as the Mosch and believe they serve God as much with debauchery or liberal use of his creatures as they call it as others with severity and mortification And the Turks say That in the Hegira 615 the Christians became Masters of Ierusalem by reason that the Institutour of this Order of the Kalenderi who had a chief hand in the Government of the City was found drunk when it was assaulted CHAP. XVIII Of the Edhemi THE original Founder of this Order was one Ibrahim Edhem concerning whom the Disciples themselves or Followers recount things very obscurely and tell us Stories that his Father was a Slave and Abasme by Nation and went one day under the Fort Horanan to discourse with Ibnimâ—lik King of Cairo that he was a man very comly facetious and sober in his carriage always desiring to please God continued in the Moschs reading the Alchoran and in prayer day and night with his face prostrate on the ground and often repeating these words O God thou hast given me so much Wisedom as that I know clearly that I am in thy direction and therefore scorning all Power and Dominion I resign my self to the speculation of Philosophy and a Holy Life His Servants seeing this his devout way of living applied themselves to the imitation of his Austerity and abandoning all greatness and vanities of the World applied themselves to solitude and mortification their superfluous Garments they bestowed upon the Poor giving to those whose necessities required them Their food is Bread made of Barley and Pray frequently with Fasting and their Priors apply themselves to a faculty of Preaching Their principal Convents are in Cities of Persia especially Chorasan Their Cloathing is of a course thick Cloth upon their heads they wear a Cap of Wooll with a Turbant round it and about their necks a white Linen Cloth striped with red In the Desarts they converse with Lions and Tigres salute them and make them tame and by the miraculous power of Divine assistence entertain discourse with Enoch in the Wilderness This and many other wild discourses they make of this Edhem but because there are but few of this Order in Constantinople being most appropriated to Persia I could not receive so particular an account of their Rule and Institutions as I have done of others CHAP. XIX The Order of Bectash THE original Founder of this Religion is of no ancient memory or standing nor had his Birth or Education amongst the Santones of Arabia from whence most of these superstitious pretenders have had their beginning but one of those that was an Army-Preacher that could fight as well as pray of whom my Learned Hogia gives me this account In the time says he that the Warlike and Victorious Sultan Amurath passed with his Army into Servia and overcame Lazarus the Despot of that Countrey and slew him in Battel Bectash was then a Preacher to Amurath who amongst other his Admonitions forewarned him of trusting the Servians but Amurath out of his couragious spirit relying on his own Wisedom and Force admitted a certain Nobleman called Vilvo upon pretence of doing him homage to approach near him and kiss his hand who having his Dagger ready and concealed stabbed Amurath to the heart and with that blow made him a Martyr Bectash knowing that this treacherous death of his Prince must needs also be the cause of his for being so near his person and prophesying of this fatal stroke sought not to prevent it but made preparations for his own death And in order thereunto provided himself with a white Robe with long Sleeves which he proffered to all those which were his Admirers and Proselytes to be kissed as a mark of their obedience to him and his Institutions from this action the custome hath been introduced of kissing the sleeve of the Grand Signior The Religious of this Order wear on their heads white Caps of several pieces with Turbants of Wooll twisted in the fashion of a Rope they observe constantly the hours of Prayer which they perform in their own Assemblies they go Cloathed in White and praise the Vnity of God crying Hu which is may he live and by these means obtain the Grace of God. This Santone hath many millions of Disciples and Followers now all the Janizaries of the Ottoman Porâ— are professours of the same Religion This Bectash at his death cut off one of his sleaves and put it upon the head of one of his Religious men part of which hung down on his shoulders saying After this you shall be Janizaries which signifies a new Militia and from that time begun their original institution so this is the reason why the Janizaries wear Caps falling behind after the manner of Sleeves called Ketche This Hagi Bectash was a person exceedingly attractive in his conversation holy to admiration a Man of great Worth and Majestick in his comportment he was buried in the City Kyr where they have many Convents and Religious followers who always praise and adore God and thus far my Hogia informs me But whatsoever he says this Order is the most abhorred in the World by the Kadizadeli because that Bectash left it to the free will of his Disciples either to observe the constant hours of prayer or not by which great liberty and licentiousness is entred amongst the Ianizaries who are Souldier-like not over zealous or
proceeded from Mahomet himself in the second year of his Prophetick Office which he did not assume untill he fully had compleated forty years having before in imitation of the Jews Fast of Ashura Levit. 16. ver 29. in memory of the overthrow of Pharaoh and his Host in the Red-Sea enjoyned to the Arabians the same time of Abstinence but afterwards apprehending it dishonourable to be beholding to the Jews for the invention of a Fast instituted the Ramazan the time of which is governed by the course of the Moon and falls out commonly ten days sooner than in the preceding year so that this Fast with time comes to run through all the Months and is more easie to the Turks when it happens in the short days of the Winter rather than in the Summer when the days are long and hot which become tedious to the ordinary sort of people who for necessity are forced to labour and yet for the quenching thirst dare not refresh their mouths with a drop of water Fourthly Of their Zacat Which is another necessary point to the constitution of a Mahometan which is the bestowing Alms according to certain rules prescribed by four principal Doctours of their Law the word Zacat signifies as much as Encrease because the Alms procure the blessing of God and multiply the store of the Mercifull According to this command every man is obliged to give one in a hundred of all their Estate to the relief of the poor and though this Precept is enjoined as an ingredient to constitute a true Mahometan yet covetousness and Policy so much prevail with the Turks that the Rich are both unwilling to part with so much of their Estate and fearfull to evidence their Wealth by a true calculate according to the Zacat so that the Poor are the best observers of this injunction the Rich conceiving it superfluous and never intended by God to make the performance of Religion a snare to their Estates Fifthly Of their Pilgrimage to Mecha Which is enjoyned to every one who hath Riches and Freedom from great Offices and Charges of Government to perform it being a Type or signification of their passage out of this world into the next The number of those who yearly undertake this Pilgrimage is uncertain though most commonly are registred from divers parts where the Mahometan Religion is professed above Fifty Thousand Souls these Pilgrims depart about the latter end of May from Constantinople and meet with those from Anatolia Caramania and others of that quarter of the World at Damascus those from Persia assemble at Babylon those of the parts of Egypt at Grand Cairo and all unite upon a Mount not far distant from Mecha where they observe divers Ceremonies as making Corban or Sacrifice which they do by killing Sheep and sending part thereof as Presents to their Friends and distribution thereof amongst the Poor They also here strip themselves of their Garments and being covered onely with a Blanket go in procession through the Mountains in signification that they must now leave all their sins and affections of the World behind them Here also they leave their Christian Slaves that so they may not prophane the Holy City with the Uncircumcised The chief Commander over the Pilgrims for amongst so considerable a number of people there must be rule and Government is appointed by the Grand Signior and is called Sur-Emini by whom he sends 500 Zechins an Alchoran Embossed with Gold carried on a Camel and as much black Cloath as serves for Hangings for the Moschs at Mecha and this is yearly presented from the Sultan to that place when the new Hanging is set up that of the former year is pulled down and is by the Pilgrims torn in pieces some getting more and some less carry any rag of it home as a Relique and token of their Pilgrimage which serves them in place of the Caabe to which they turn their faces at the time of Prayers The Camel which carried the Alchoran at his return home is decked with flowers and other ornaments and having performed this holy Journey is ever after exempted from all labour and service CHAP. XXIV Of the Bairam and Ceremonies used at that time by the chief Officers to the Grand Signior THE Bairam is the Feast of the Turks of which there are two in the year one immediately following the Fast of Ramazan as our Easter doth the Lent which is called the great Bairam the other is the little Bairam which happens about seventy days after the former at which time the people for three days cease from their labour present one the other rejoice and take greater liberty than at other times which no question but was invented by Mahomet for relaxation of the bodies and minds of his Followers as well as in imitation of the Christian Feasts The Bairam is then conceived to begin at the first appearance of the new Moon after the Ramazan which is sometime deferred a days time if the weather prove cloudy that the Moon is not visible if longer the Sky be obscured according to the course of nature it is presumed that the Moon is begun and so their Feast begins also which is published at Constantinople by the discharge of the great Guns at the point of the Seraglio upon the Sea-shore at which time the Lights or Lamps on the Steeples of the Moschs are extinguished or omitted to be lighted and Drums and Trumpets are sounded in all publick places of the City and Courts of great Persons so that every one betakes himself to Mirth or Pastime as his own inclination or convenience leads him But that which will be most curious to the observation of the judicious Reader is the relation of the Ceremonies used in the Seraglio at this Feast by the several Officers of State to the Grand Signior and to one another which are so formal precise and constant to the least motion of every Member of the Body as will clear the Turks from that opinion which passes of them in the World of being rude uncivil and void of all Ceremony or Courtship in their comportment and behaviour which according to the best information I could procure is for the most part in this manner The Antiport leading to the Lodgings of the Kapa Agasi or chief Eunuch who commands the Pages being adorned with rich Carpets Cushions and other Furniture after their fashion on the Vigil or Eve before the Bairam all the Prime Officers of State belonging to the Empire then at Constantinople assemble themselves at the Grand Signiorâ—s Seraglâ—o three or four hours before day where as soon as day breaks the Grand Signior mounted on Horseback passes through the midst of them and goes to the Moschs of Santa Sophia where having said his morning Prayer he returns again to the Seraglio Being returned he enters the Hasoda or Royal Chamber and setting himself in his Seat of State having the chief Eunuch of the Pages on his left hand the Sons of
and Cellars By this unexpected Blow the City being much weakned towards the Water Giavarino Lieutenant General of the Heydukes was Order'd with a Party of his Soldiers to take the advantage of this Accident and to post himself in the best manner he could to hinder all Sallies of the Enemie by that way and to make that side more easie and fit for Storm But whilst the Duke of Loraine thought of these things and how much his Forces were diminished by Assaults by Sallies of the Enemy by Mines by Sickness and various other Accidents and how much Blood it might still cost before the Town could be forced to Surrender by dint of Sword he resolved to make use of this opportune Misfortune whilst the Turks remain'd in their Terrour and Amazement to try the Pasha with Capitulations and good Conditions in case of Surrender and to send him a Summons in Writing by the Hand of Count Coniseck who according to his Instructions represented the State and Condition of the Affair to the Pasha Governour that the Christians were very strong without and resolved to take the Town the Walls of which were almost demolish'd and their Garrison laid open and exposed and that a General Assault was determined and that since they could not reasonably expect any Relief or Succour the Pasha would do better Service to his Master the Ottoman Emperor by saving the Blood of his People than by a desperate defence to sacrifice the Lives of so many by his wilful obstinacy nor hereby could he give occasion to any to tax him either for want of Valour or Conduct since he had given such fair Evidence of both unto the World. The Pasha received the Messenger with much more Humanity than they did ever practise in the times of their Prosperity and heard him with great attention and Read the Letter sent him by the Duke of Loraine several times over But before he would make any Reply thereunto he called a Divan or Council in which the Business being debated for the space of about three hours at length this Answer was returned in Writing and put up in a Purse of White Sattin according to the Custom of the Turks which was to this effect That he did wonder much from which of his Actions during this Siege he could ground any Hope upon these Summons that he should or could be prevailed with to make a Surrender not having been guilty as he imagined of such mean and Cowardly behavior as might merit so great an Affront to his Valour as to be tempted with Conditions and Terms how Honourable soever unto a Surrender But in case He and his Soldiers had appear'd in the least manner Timorous and Base That they would amend that fault by a more vigorous Defence and by such Actions as should make it appear to the World that that City was conserved with a Bravery equal to the Importance thereof That God would punish the Pride of the Christians for daring so much as to conceive a thought of bringing low the Ottoman Emperor from whom having received the Command of that Place he was resolved to deliver it unto no other than unto him only Whilst this Treaty continued which was for the space of three Hours a Cessation of Arms was granted during which time the Soldiers on each side discoursed friendly and jested together and reached to one another their Pipes and their Tobacco from whence it may be seen how natural Love and Friendship is to Mankind and how unnatural and violent is Hatred War and Cruelty From this Haughty and Resolute Answer of the Turks many did conjecture That they had received promises of a speedy Relief which caused some Reports and Discourses in the Camp That the Vizier was marching with a very numerous and puissant Army for their Succour Of which thô the Besieged had no intelligence yet considering that the thing was not improbable the Turks conceived some hopes from thence and the Christians prepared to receive and engage them Nor was the expectation of Relief by the March of the Turks without some ground for at Hatwan in the Upper Hungary great numbers of them joyned in one Body which with much advantage might descend with the Current down the River and give trouble and disturbance at the Siege of Buda To prevent which some Bridges were sent for passing the Regiments of Horse under Caprara and the Prince Charles of Neuburg over the Rivers unto such Commodious Passes as were advantagious to restrain those Forces from farther proceedings In the mean time some comfortable News was brought to the Duke of Loraine from Count Caraffa who advised that upon intelligence of a very considerable Convoy sent from Segedin for the Relief and Reinforcement of Agria he with General Heusler resolved to make an Assault thereupon which design failing gave an occasion howsoever to give a Defeat to a great part of the Garrison of Agrâ—a in which Action Caprara posted himself in a close and deep Vally cover'd on both sides with Hills and about half a League beyond Peterhasi with some Hungarian Troops well Armed was order'd to lie in Ambush from whence he detached about Fifty Hussars to March towards the City and in their Way to take up all the Horses and Cattle they could find in the Pastures with Orders that in case the Garrison should Sally out upon them that they should feign a seeming Flight and draw them on until they came near the Camp The which being accordingly performed by the Hussars Osman Pasha of Agria pursued them close with a select number of his best Soldiers until unwarily he fell into the Ambuscade which was laid for him from whence the Hungarians Sallying forth renewed the Fight being seconded by General Heusler's Dragoons who kept the Enemy in play until the Foot were come up to their Assistance And then Osman Pasha being sensible of the Snare into which he was fallen encouraged his Men bravely to defend themselves and to make an orderly Retreat but he was then too far engaged for after a hot and desperate Conflict above Two hundred and fifty of the Garrison were killed and about One hundred Prisoners taken and amongst the rest Osman Pasha himself was slain Howsoever this Victory was not gained without some loss on the Christians side for Baron Bur a Captain of Dragoons and the Captain Lieutenant of the Regiment of Castelli with above Twenty Common Soldiers were killed besides many wounded this Engagement being towards the Evening the remainder of the Garrison by covert of the Night made their Retreat back and recover'd the City Whilst these things were acting the Siege of Buda proceeded with various Fortunes and the wise Generals were not only intent thereunto pressing forward with the greatest Bravery imaginable but also were wary and vigilant to observe the Motions of the Turkish Army designed to raise the Siege For by certain intelligence it was advised That the Seraskier was on his March but that
Four Quarters of the World as a Signal that therewith he would Fight against all the Enemies of that Kingdom and of the most August House of Austria After which the King descended followed by the Lordh High Chamberlain of the Mountain Cities and Baron Viechter of the Emperor's Privy-Council who scattered Money amongst the People and being entred within the Castle all the Canon were Fired and the King dismounting from his Horse was attended to the Emperor's Apartments with a splendid Train of the Nobility and Gentry and being thence conducted to the Imperial Hall he was entertained there with incomparable Musick both Vocal and Instrumental and with a Sumptuous and Royal Banquet where also all the Prelates Grandees and Strangers were treated at Eighty several Magnificent Tables After which the Solemnities and Triumphs of the day were ended with great Joy Honour and Satisfaction And now in this place it is worthy our Observation that whilst the Germans were employed in the Exaltation of Ioseph the Arch-Duke to the Throne of the Kingdom of Hungary the Turks were on the other side busy in pulling down and deposing Mahomet their Sultan and in his place raising and setting up his Brother Solyman to be their Lord and Emperor Whilst these things were in agitation the Blocade of Agria continued and the place greatly straitned by Marquess Doria. And the Duke of Loraine having agreed all things with the Prince and Estates of Transilvania and setled and secured his Army in their Winter-Quarters found a vacancy to absent himself from the Camp and ease his mind after the troubles of a long and hazardous Campaigne Accordingly the Duke in company with the Marquess of Baden Durlach took his Journey towards the Imperial Court and in his way visited Marquess Doria and taking a survey of the Blocade of Agria gave such Orders therein as were most convenient to force a speedy surrender of the place and thence proceeding to Possonium he was there received by his Imperial Majesty with such Honours and gracious Expressions as befitted the Worth and Merit of so brave and fortunate a General And having remained some few days at this place he took his leave of the Emperor and his Journey to Insprug being all the way honoured with the Praises Acclamations and Blessings of the People In the mean time Agria being miserably straitned for want of Victuals many died and others to avoid Famine abandoned the Town and fled privately to other places Those which remained within grew desperate of all relief For Tekely had promised them Succours and in pursuance thereof intended to pass the Tibiscus but meeting there with some Forces under Count Sarau was forced to retire leaving Agria to its own Fate Of which the People having Information they all arose and with one consent laying before the Pasha their miseries in which they must if not prevented in a short time inevitably perish they constrained him to propose a Treaty and send Two Hostages to the Imperial Camp which being accordingly done the Marquess of Doria accepted them and in exchange thereof sent Two others to the City The Articles were easily agreed but not so soon executed for the Pasha out of an unnecessary caution required that the Capitulations should be confirmed by the Hand of the Emperor in compliance with which demand Marquess Doria dispatched Count Anthony of Lamberg a Carinthian Gentleman with an Aga to make tender of the Articles to the Emperor the which having been examined were Approved Confirmed and Signed by his Imperial Majesty The Articles being returned with their Confirmation and the Writings of Treaty exchanged Count Marsigli with a Commissary of the Artillery was sent into the Town that with his usual Zeal and dexterous Management of Affairs which he had evidenced in several occasions in the Emperor's Service he might take notice of the state of the place and the Provisions belonging to it The Count being entred into the Gates was received kindly by the People and with much faithfulness was shewed all the Magazines Stores and Ammunition of the place We must not expect to receive any account of Victuals for those were long since consumed but as to Ammunition there were Twenty thousand Cannon-Bullets remaining of which Four Thousand were for Whole Cannon One Thousand hundred Weight of Powder Twenty thousand Hand-Granadoes besides great quantities of Bombs and Carcasses many thousands of Match One hundred and Ten Pieces of Cannon five Mortar Pieces and nine Mines and Countermines notwithstanding all which Famine being a stronger Enemy within than all the Troops and Forces were without on the 16 th of December the City was surrender'd year 1687. and according to the Capitulations Carts were provided and the Soldiers and Inhabitants with their Women and Children and with their Goods and Baggage were permitted to March out and then Russan the Pasha deliver'd up the Keys of the City Castle and Magazines to the Hand of General Caraffa who at the Head of the Imperial Troops ranged in good order stood ready to receive them Then the General conducted the Pasha to his Tent and there treated him with a very sumptuous Dinner after which he presented him with several fine Horses and two Carts laden with Refreshments Various discourses having passed between them at length Russan Pasha taking his leave said these words Into your Hands as Commissioner for the Emperor of the Romans I surrender this City without Blood for having endured a Famine of seven Months without Bread I could hold it out no longer but am forced to give up a place which one of my Emperors took with his own Hands wherefore do you give God thanks for this and all other Successes are from the appointment and disposition of the most High. All the Garrison with Men Women and Children which marched out were Three thousand five hundred about Six hundred remained in the place and submitted to the Imperial Sovereignty It was sad to hear the Miseries of those People recounted who had for several Months lived on nothing but boyled Herbs and if a piece of Horse-flesh could have been purchased with Gold to dress and put in the Pot with them it would have been a Feast for several Days The constancy of this People in their sufferings cannot be sufficiently expressed so that as the Blocade it self was the most famous of any in our Age so the Surrender of the place was of high importance for Thirteen Counties depended thereon and the Emperor thereby became absolute Master of all that Country which lies between the Danube and the Tibiscus and laid Mongatz open and exposed to greater danger which was already blocked up by Forces quarter'd round the place Thus having finished the relation of this year's Wars in Hungary it will be pertinent to our History to pass over into the Morea and there take a Survey of that Country and recount the Exploits and Atchievements performed there this year by the Venetian Arms. At the beginning of
gentle Terms an Answer was returned with proud expressions evidencing a resolution to defend the place to the utmost extremity Whereupon General Konismark entrenched round the Town raised a Battery of six Pieces of Cannon and four Mortar-pieces with which he began to Batter the Castle which was Situate on a high Rock that on three sides of it was inaccessible and because that part which lay open was all Rock without Earth to cover the Men it was very difficult to make nearer Approaches so that for the space of eight days all that could be done was to shoot fiery Bullets and Bombs into the place which had so good effect that one falling into their Magazine of Powder Blew up a great part of the Castle into the Air burying most of the People in the Ruins The Seraskier having gathered some of his dispersed Troops into a Body took his March towards Athens as if he had intended to relieve the place Upon advice of which General Konismark drew off a strong party both of Horse and Foot and marched away to meet the Seraskier whose Spirit being cowed by the late ill Successes in the Morea durst not stand the Shock or try his Fortune in another Battle but retreated and fled with his Forces to strong Holds in the Mountains This shameful Flight of the Seraskier gave sufficient evidence and proof to the Besieged of the weak and low Condition of the Seraskier the which being joyned to the late unhappy Accident of blowing up the Magazine of Ammunition so dispirited the Defendants that finding themselves without all probable hopes of Relief they displaied a white Flag to shew their desires to Capitulate and accordingly a Treaty was enter'd into and concluded in few Artâ—cles That the Soldiers should march forth without Arms and with no more Goods than what they could at one time carry on their Shoulders And 2 dly That in the space of Five days they should quit the place which was accordingly performed at the expiration thereof about Three thousand Souls in all going out of which not above Six hundred men were capable to bear Arms To which Licence was given to take so much Provision with them as might serve to sustain them as far as Smyrna or any other place to which they were desirous to be Transported But many of the Greeks being not willing to leave their Dwellings and their Native Soyl remained still in the City and amongst the Turks about Three hundred professing the Christian Faith were received to Baptism of which we find very few Examples amongst the Turks in other places who are as firm and constant to their Mahometan Principles as any Sect in the World are to theirs Only I observe that the Turks in Greece are more easily persuaded to embrace the Christian Faith than they are in other Countries perhaps because they are for the most part sprung from Christian Parents and are married to Christian Wives and have most of their Conversation with them so that it is no wonder if the Rites and Services of the Christian Religion which are become familiar to them should be more easily embraced by these than other Turks who are Educated with a detestation and abhorrence to Christianity In the Castle were found Eighteen Pieces of Cannon of divers sorts and metals the City it self remained entire with little damage thô ruined and grievously destroyed by other Wars It was anciently the capital City of all Attica the Walls of which are about Three miles in compass within which are the Ruins of many stately Edifices which by Time and Wars have lost their Names and Memory of what they were There is one Magnificent Palace supported by Pillars of Marble upon one of which is Engraven in Greek Characters This is Athens the Ancient Seat of Theseus There is also the Pantheon on the Walls of which are Engraven the Figures of the Grecian Champions there are also Two Horses to be seen cut in Stone which are said to be the Workmanship of Praxiteles Moreover there are many other Antiquities there to be seen which are not the Subject of this History Only it is observable That in this place is the best Air of the World which served to quicken the Wits and clear the Understandings of Young Students who were sent to that University to have their Education This City being thus fallen into the hands of the Venetians the Government thereof was committed to the charge of Daniel Delfin a Nobleman of Venice The News of the taking of Athens flying into all the Towns and Countries round about so terrified the People of Megara that not attending the Assault or Approach of the Enemy they with fearful Consternation abandoned the place and carrying with them what in such a precipitate haste was portable they left the rest to the disposal of the Venetians who considering it as a place rather troublesome than useful delivered it up to the Mercy of the Flames As the Venetian Arms were prosperous in the Morea and other parts of Greece year 1687. under the wise and happy Conduct of the Captain-General Francesco Morosini so were they not less successful in Dalmatia and Albania under the Valorous Guidance of that worthy General Gerolemo Cornaro Procurator of St. Mark. On the First of September a Squadron of the Venetian Armado distinct from that which was commanded by General Morosini consisting of some Gallies Galiot Ships and other Transport Vessels appearing before the Town of Castel Nuovo greatly alarum'd the Garrison and People therein of which they conceived the greater Dread and Apprehensions because they had observed that the Auxiliary Gallies which had long been hovering about the Coast of Dalmatia were come in and had joyned the Armado attended with great Numbers of Vessels laden with Ammunition and Provisions and re-inforced by certain Veterane Troops belonging to the G. Duke of Toscany On the Second of September Girolamo Cornaro Proveditor-General of the Venetian Forces in Dalmatia and Albania endeavoured to Land the Militia with all necessary Appurtenances of War at a place called Comburt which was a Port environed round with Hills and Rocks and had been a place very proper for Landing had not the Turks prepossessed the important Passes of it and encompassed it about with a strong Trench howsoever the Venetians resolving to make a descent at that place drove the Turks out of their Trenches and landed all their Men and Train of Artillery with their Provisions and Instruments for War. The first thing there to be done was to discover the face of the Enemy which Calbo the Proveditor Extraordinary undertook and with a Detatched Party brought News that the Garrison of Castel Nuovo had lately been reinforced by the Neighbouring places which the Turks were fortifying round about with Trenches and Redoubts In consideration of which it was resolved by common consent that another Descent should be made at a place called Zelenica and accordingly
for there was now no Vizier no Ianisar-Aga nor any surviving who had any Authority over them when a small Accident ruined these Men and over-turned their Anarchy which was impossible to last For after they had domineer'd for the space of five Months Pardoning or Killing Raising or Destroying whom they pleased it hapned that in some of the Shops of the City four of these Ianisaries in the Morning had taken away some Embroider'd Handkerchiefs and other small Commodities which remained there to be Sold upon which a great Cry and Clamour being raised amongst the Shop-keepers by the Encouragement of an Emir they all arose fell on them and killed two of them and then the Emir putting a Linnen-cloth on a Stick and lifting it up cried out Let all true Musselmen come to the Seraglio and pray the Grand Seignior to put out the Prophet's Standard and destroy these Rebels Upon this great numbers of the Citizens who had been highly incensed by their Robberies and Insolence got in a Body together and went to the Seraglio which so encouraged the Sultan and those within that the Standard was set forth about Noon and Proclamation made in the Streets for all People to come and Fight under it The Reverence paid to this Standard brought an incredible concourse of People of all Conditions and Ages under the Walls of the Seraglio from whence a Shegh or Preacher called to them thrice and asked them Whether they were contented with their present Emperor To which Answer was made in the Affirmative with three great Shouts but that they would have the Giurbaes or Captains or Ringleaders of the Mutinous Militia destroyed Upon which Orders were given to seize them Accordingly Thirteen of them were taken and cut to pieces the rest fled or absconded The Mufti also who had sided with the Giurbaes was deprived of his Office and Tabac Effendi put into his place who had formerly been deposed by the unruly Soldiers All that night a strong Watch was set about the Seraglio and the next day all was quieted as if none of these Disturbances had hapned Only Proclamation was made to Search for the Rebels of which as many as were found were immediately executed Upon this Revolution and Turn of Affairs all the great Officers were changed The Nisangi-Pasha who was an old Man and for many years had done nothing else but make the Grand Seignior's Firm on Commands was created Grand Vizier And a very young Man the fifth Page of the R. Chamber year 1688. whose Office it is to cover the Grand Seignior's Table was made Aga of the Ianisaries Several Armenians who dressed in the Habit of Soldiers had mixed with the Tumults and plunder'd the Houses of the late Grand Vizier and Aga of the Ianisaries were taken and hanged and several others were Imprisoned upon Suspition of confederacy with the Rebels In fine upon Proclamation made that whosoever had plunder'd any thing from any of the aforesaid Houses and should restore the same again in the space of three days should obtain his Pardon which had so good effect that several Sums of Money were either brought to the new Vizier or in the night time laid in the Streets and next morning restored And now from this day only may we begin to account the Reign of this new Sultan Who in the first place to exercise his Authority by a strict reformation of things he suppressed Taverns and prohibited the taking of Tobacco And to observe what effect his Authority had taken he walked one day Incognito in the Streets with about eight Servants at a short distance from him and finding two poor Fellows selling Tobacco he caused them immediately to be executed The suppression of this dreadful Mutiny and Rebellion produced a general Joy and Jubily over the whole City and served to bring the Soldiery again into their Wits who had for some Months like so many Wild and Ravenous Beasts getting the Bridle out of their Mouths acted without Reason or Common-Sense For one would have thought that Men so lately mortified by the Victories and Successes which their Enemies had gained over them should not thereby grow or become more insolent or that they who fled before their Enemies should blush to abandon their Frontiers and leave them naked and exposed whilst they marched Five or Six hundred Miles homewards to reak their Anger on their Commanders and exercise the little Courage which was left them against their Citizens and Country-men But many times we read that such Turbulences as these which are like Fevers in the Body Politick have served to render the whole Composition afterwards more healthful being thereby purged of many corrupt and malignant Humours And so it hapned in this case for after the Death of Sciaus Pasha and the destruction of the Giurbas it hapened fortunately for the present Vizier Ismael that there was no Pasha then in view on whom to confer this Sublime Office. After which no eminent Men appearing and of years fitter to support the weight of so great a Charge then Ismael who was almost arrived to the Age of Fourscore it was proposed that he should descend to the Trust of Chimacam But Ismael rejected that employment saying That in such turbulent Times he could not act with Vigour and Authority requisite for composing the present distractions and securing the Peace and Quiet of the Empire unless he were invested with the Supreme Power and the Seal of Vizier which in that present Exigency was granted to him But he having never made any Figure in the World before and this advancement to so high a Dignity being very accidental it was really believed that it could not be of any long continuance and that he was rather designed to supply the Vacancy than possess the Office. But in a few days Ismael discovered to the World that his intentions were not to keep the place warm for another but to settle himself and for his own greater security and quiet of the City he immediately fell to purge with great severity the dregs of those ill Humours which had disturbed the Government And so he caused all the chief Servants of the Giurbas and several of the Spahees and Ianisaries who had sided with them every Night to be cut off and thrown into the Sea to the Number of about a Thousand by which the rest being terrified the Soldiers were reduced to as exact an Obedience as formerly To proceed farther in this Work the Tefterdar or Lord-Treasurer who was first put in by the Giurbas thô afterwards they would have killed him was imprisoned in the Middle-gate of the Seraglio and all his Estate seized Then was the Kia bei or Lieutenant-General of the Ianisaries sent for and vested by the Vizier as a Pasha but so soon as he was gone out he was seized imprisoned and privately conveyed away in a Boat and banished to Mytilene The reason why the Grand Vizier made
open and become Navigable so soon as the Ice is Thawed and the Carts provided a fixed Day shall be set for Departure of the Turks after which they shall not stay longer than 24 Hours And in the mean time they shall lodge quietly in the Lower Town free from all Molestation Damage or Insolence of the Soldiers II. All Prisoners in the Hands of the Turks without concealing any or Perswasions Allurements or Promises to stay shall be set at liberty be they of what Age Sex or Quality soever III. That all Conveniences and Necessaries shall be allowed to the Turks for their Money as well in their Journey as in the time of their present Aboad IV. That no Violence shall be offered to any upon their Departure V. The Carts or Waggons shall be provided as well for the Old as for others to carry them to the Water-side VI. All those who became Renegadoes before this War began shall have Licence to depart in Company with the Turks but such others as have denied their Faith since the beginning of these Wars shall not be permitted to depart with the others but shall remain still in the City And whosoever shall desire to stay behind and live at their former Habitations shall be left to their own Wills and Arbitrement to do as they shall think fit VII A sufficient number of Waggons shall be provided to carry all the People to the Water-side where in like manner a sufficient number of Boats shall be furnished to Transport the People under a secure Guard to the Confines of the Ottoman Dominions All these Articles being subscribed by His Imperial Majesty a strict charge was given to all Officers and Soldiers and Subjects whatsoever to observe religiously the Contents thereof But before the same had passed the Imperial Signature the Vice-President of the Council of War summoned Hassan Bei several times to Audience and at length upon Delivery of the Capitulations into his Hands he made a most Elegant Speech exalting the generous Piety and Clemency of the Emperour who having all the Inhabitants and Soldiers of Sighet in his Hands and at his Disposal so as either to put them to Death or make them Captives was yet pleased out of a Natural Principle of Mercy to consider their Distresses to spare their Lives and give them Liberty In sense of which Hassan Bei acknowledged the truth of what had been uttered and in token of Thanks to the Vice-President in the Name of the Pasha and People of Sighet with Eyes full of Tears he received the Capitulations and kissed them with profound Reverence and Submission So soon as Hassan Bei had received these Capitulations he departed with all speed by the Post towards Sighet being fully satisfied with the obliging Entertainment he had received during his stay at Vienna where he was sumptuously lodged in the House of Marquis Ferdinando Obizzi Hassan Bei being returned with the Articles subscribed to Sighet no time was lost to put them into execution for all things being prepared and the River open about the beginning of February the Turks quitted Sighet leaving one of the chief Fortresses in the World esteemed both by Nature and Art to be impregnable in the Hands of the Emperour For Sighet hath both a Castle and a City fortified after the ancient manner with Earth lined with Brick hath four very fair Towers encompassed with a very deep Ditch full of Water and environed round with Fens and Marshy Grounds which make the Town inaccessible So that it seems no wonder that Solyman the Magnificent Emperor of the Turks should have spent three Years in taking thereof and not being able to take it in his Life time his Grand Vizier afterwards subdued it by Storm with the loss of 36000 Men. The Turks took it on the 7th of September 1566 after a most valiant Resistance made by Nicholas Esdrin Count of Serini Great Grandfather of the Famous Nicholas Serini who vanquished the Turks in many Battels and died in the Year 1664. The Town hath three Gates one called Quinque Ecclesiae another Siclos and a third Canisia because they lead to those places The Castle is fortified with three Walls and a treble Ditch and is the Capital City of that Province so named There are three Moschs all stately Buildings and covered with Lead The Country round is Pleasant and Fruitful especially one Hill about two Miles from the City which the Turks call Turbe Doggi which was rarely planted with Vines and all sorts of Fruit-Trees and is famous for Cherries of an extraordinary bigness of which there are none so good either in Hungary or in any part of the Ottoman Dominions the Ponds and Lakes are filled with Fish and the Woods yield store of Deer Hares Partridges and all sorts of Game so that no place in the World can afford greater plenty of all things to support Humane Life or to furnish the Tables of the greatest Monarchs Howsoever Canisia refused to follow the Example of Sighet being not as yet it seems reduced to such a Condition of Famine as to oblige them to a Surrender for living in hopes that the Turkish Ambassadors would be able by their Negotiations to obtain a Peace they suffered the utmost Extremities of Want with much patience that in reward thereof they might preserve their Dwellings and Lands and obtain the Honour due to the Constancy of good Soldiers and the Praise and Commendation of their Prince In the mean time the Turkish Ambassadors pressed with much Importunity to be admitted unto Audience that they might deliver their Credentials and execute the Commands of their Master But the Imperial Ministers were not it seems so much in haste intending first to deliberate in what manner they were to be received and what Answers were to be given to their submissive Requests for Peace a Matter unknown before to the Turks who since the beginning of their Empire had never before been acquainted with the manner of supplicating for Peace year 1689. But the Fortune of the World being now changed and the Game running high on the Emperor's Hand Expedients were contrived rather to return a plausible cause of denial and a justifiable ground for continuing a War than how to form and project advantageous Articles for a Peace Howsoever the Resolutions being taken what to do it was judged necessary to admit the Ambassadors to Audience for by the Law of Nations that could not be refused and so accordingly it was agreed That on the 8th of February an Audience should be given them In order unto which two Days before the Ambassadors were conducted from the Castle of Pottendorff into the Suburbs of the City and lodged in that Street called Landt Strass being attended by two Regiments of Foot The Day appointed for the Audience being come they were brought with a Party of Horse to the Gate of Carinthia about Two a Clock in the Afternoon and there consigned up to the Guard
Turk the sixth of August in the year of our Lord 1456. Shortly after this most valiant and renowned Captain Huniades worthy of Immortal Praise died of a hurt taken in these Wars or as some others write of the Plague which was then rise in Hungary who when he felt himself in danger of death desired to receive the Sacrament before his departure and would in any case sick as he was be carried to the Church to receive the same saying That it is not fit that the Lord should come to the house of his Servant but the Servant rather to go to the House of his Lord and Master He was the first Christian Captain that shewed the Turks were to be overcome and obtained more great Victories against them than any one of the Christian Princes before him He was unto that barbarous people a great terror and with the spoil of them beautified his Country and now dying was by the Hungarians honourably buried at Alba Iulia in St. Stephens Church his death being greatly lamented of all good men of that Age. Mahomet the Turkish Emperor no less desirous to extend his Empire with the glory of his Name by Sea than by Land shortly after the taking of Constantinople put a great Fleet to Sea wherein he surprised divers Islands in the Aegeum and hardly besieged the City of the Rhodes At which time Calixtus the Third then Bishop of Rome aided by the Genoways for the grudge they bare against the Turks for the taking of Pera put to Sea a Fleet of sixteen tall Ships and Gallies well appointed under the Conduct of Ludovicus Patriarch of Aquilla who with that Fleet scoured the Seas and recovered again from the Turks the Island of Lemnos with divers other small Islands thereabout and encountring with the Turks Fleet near unto the Island of the Rhodes at a place called The Burrow of St. Paul discomfited them sunk and took divers of their Gallies and forced them to forsake the Rhodes After which Victory at Sea he for the space of three years with his Gallies at his pleasure spoiled the Frontiers of the Turks Dominions all alongst the Sea coast of the lesser Asia and wonderfully terrified the effeminate people of those Countries and so at length returned home carrying away with him many Prisoners and much rich spoil After that Mahomet was thus shamefully driven from the Siege of Belgrade and his Fleet at Sea discomfited as is before declared he began with great diligence to make new preparation against the next Spring to subdue the Isles of the Aegeum specially those which lay near unto â—â—loponnesus But whilst he was busie in those Cogitations in the mean time Embassadors from Usun-Cassanes the great Persian King arrived at Constantinople with divers rich Presents sent to him from the said King. Where among other things they presented unto him a pair of Playing-Tables wherein the men and dice were of great and rich precious Stones of inestimable worth and the Workmanship nothing inferior to the matter which the Embassadors for Ostentation said That Usun-Cassanes found in the Treasures of the Persian King whom he had but a little before slain and bereft of his Kingdom and had there been left long before by the mighty Conqueror Tamerlane Together with these Presents they delivered their Embassage the effect whereof was That those two mighty Princes might joyn and live together in Amity and that whereas David the Emperor of Trapezond had promised to pay unto Mahomet a yearly Tribute enforced thereunto by George his Lieutenant in Asia he should not now look for any such thing forasmuch as that Empire after the death of the Emperor then living should of right belong unto Usun-Cassanes in right of his Wife who was the Daughter of Calo-Ioannes the elder Brother of David the Emperor then living and further required him from that time not to trouble or molest the said Emperor his Friend and near Alliance so should he find him his faithful and kind Confederate otherwise it was as they said in his choice to draw upon himself the heavy displeasure of a most mighty Enemy Mahomet before envying at the rising of the Persian King and now disdaining such peremptory Requests little differing from proud Commands in great choler dismissed the Embassadors with this short answer That he would ere long be in Asia himself in Person to teach Usun-Cassanes what to request of a greater than himself This unkindness was the beginning and ground of the mortal Wars which afterwards ensued betwixt these two then the greatest Princes of the East as shall be hereafter more at large declared The Embassadors being departed and Mahomets Fleet of an hundred and fifty Sail ready to put to Sea he altered his former determination for the Islands of the Aegeum which after the loss of Constantinople had for the most part put themselves under the Protection of the Venetians and commanded his Admiral with that Fleet to take his course through the Straits of Bosphorus into the great Euxin Sea now called the Black Sea and so sailing along the coast to come to Anchor before Sinope the chief City of Paphlagonia and there to expect his coming thither with his Army by Land. This great City of Sinope stands pleasantly on a point of the Main which runs a great way into the Euxin sometime the Metrapolitical City of that Province but as then with Castamona and all the Country thereabout was under the Government of Ismael a Mahometan Prince upon whom Mahomet had now bent his Forces for no other cause than that he was in League with Usun-Cassan the Persian King. Now with great Expedition had Mahomet levied a strong Army and passing therewith over into Asia was come before he was looked for to Sinope Ismael seeing himself so suddenly beset both by Sea and Land in his strongest City although he wanted nothing needful for his defence having in the City four hundred pieces of great Artillery and ten thousand Souldiers yet doubting to be able with that strength to indure the Siege offered to yield up the City to Mahomet with all the rest of his Dominion upon condition That he should freely give him in lieu thereof the city of Philippopolis in Thracia with the Country thereto adjoyning Of which Offer Mahomet accepted and so taking possession of Sinope with the strong City of Castamona and all the rest of the Princes Territory sent him away with all his things to Philippopolis as he had promised This Ismael was the last of the Honourable House of the Isfendiars who had long time reigned at Heraclea and Castamona in Pontus From Sinope he marched on forward with his Army to Trapezond This famous City standeth also upon the side of the Euxin or Black Sea in the Country of Pontus where the Emperors of Constantinople had always their Deputies whilst that Empire flourished and commanded the East part of the World as far as Parthia but after it began again
to decline as all worldly things have but their time one Isaac whose Father Emperor of Constantinople the Constantinopolitans had for his evil Government slain flying to Trapezond took upon him the Government of that City with the Countries of Pontus and Capadocia and many other great Provinces and was at first called the King of Trapezond but after he was well established in that Government both he and his Successors took upon them the Name and Title of Emperors which they maintained equally if not better than the late Constantinopolitan Emperors and therefore are of most accounted for Emperors He that then reigned was caâ—â—ed David Comnenus which most Honourable Family of the Comneni had long time before reigned in Constantinople and out of the same were many other great Princes descended which ruled in divers places of Macedonia Epirus and Graecia Mahomet coming to Trapezond laid hard Siege unto the same by the space of thirty days both by Sea and Land and burnt the Suburbs thereof as he had before at Sinope The fearful Emperor dismayed with the presence of so mighty an Enemy and the sight of so puissant an Army offered to yield unto him the City with his whole Empire upon condition That he should take his Daughter to Wife and deliver unto him some other Province which might yield him such yearly profit as might suffice for the honourable Maintenance of his State. Mahomet perceiving the weakness of his Enemy by his large Offers refused to accept thereof and attempted by force to have taken the City which not sorting to his desire the matter was again brought to parle where after long debating to and fro it was at last agreed upon That the Emperor upon the Faith of the Turkish King for his safe return should in Person meet him without the City if happily so some good Attonement might be made betwixt them Whereupon the Emperor following the Turks Faith before solemnly given for his safe return as was before agreed went out of the City to meet him in hope to have made some good agreement with him but as soon as he was come out Mahomet according to the damnable and Hellish Doctrine of his false Prophet That Faith is not to be kept with Christians presently caused the Emperor to be cast into bonds and so to be detained as Prisoner Which when it was bruted in the City the Citizens utterly discouraged without farther resistance yielded themselves with the City into his Power Mahomet now Lord of Trapezond entring the City took Prisoners the Emperors Daughter with all the rest of his Children and Kindred and all such of the Nobility as he found in the City whom he caused forthwith together with the Emperor to be sent by Sea as it were in Triumph to Constantinople Of the rest of the Citizens he chose out so many as he pleased for his own Service and appointed eight hundred of the Christian Children in whom appeared most towardliness to be brought up for Janizarâ—es many also of the other Citizens were sent into Captivity to Constantinople the beautiful Women and Virgins he divided amongst his Friends and Men of War certain chosen Paragons of whom he sent as Presents to his Sons After he had thus taken his pleasure in the City and left none there but the basest of the people he put a strong Garrison of his Janizaries into the Castle and a great Garrison of common Souldiers into the City appointing his Admiral to Govern the same The rest of the Emperors strong Towns discouraged with the taking of Trapezond and the miseries thereof in short time submitted themselves unto the Turkish Thraldom wherein they have ever since most miserably lived So Mahomet in the space of few months having reduced that Empire into the form of a Province returned in great Triumph to Constantinople when he had in this Expedition subdued Paphlagonia Pontus and a great part of Capadocia with some other Provinces near unto the Euxin Sea. When he was come to Constantinople he sent the Emperor with his Children Prisoners to Hadrianople But afterwards understanding that the Persian Queen the Wife of Usun-Cassan sought means to get some one of her Uncles Children whom by the Power of her Husband she might if it were possible advance unto her Fathers Empire he sent for David the woful Emperor to Constantinople and there cruelly caused him with all his Sons and Kinsmen to be put to death and to the uttermost of his Power rooted out all that most honourable Family of the Comneni excepting George the Emperors youngest Son who at his first coming to Hadrianople turned Turk whose Sister the Emperors Daughter Mahomet afterwards took to be one of his Concubins This Christian Empire was by the Turkish Tyrant Mahomet thus miserably subverted and brought to nought in the year of our Lord 1461. The year following which was the year 1462. year 1462. Mahomet having Intelligence that Wladus Dracula Prince of Valachia his Tributary was resolved to cast from him his Obedience and to joyn himself unto the Hungarians his mortal Enemies thought it best to prove if he could by policy circumvent him before he were altogether fallen from him For which purpose he sent Catabolinus his Principal Secretary unto him to bring him unto the Court promising him greater Favours and Promotions from the Emperor than he had as yet at any time injoyed And by the same trusty Messenger he commanded Chamuzes Bassa Governor of Bidina and the Country lying over against Valachia on the other side of Danubius to do their uttermost devoir for the entrapping of Wladus promising him great Rewards if he could bring the matter to effect Whereupon Chamuzes devised with the Secretary that when he had done his Message to the Prince and with all his cunning perswaded him to take that Journey upon him he should secretly before hand give notice unto him of the certain day of his return back again from the Prince at which time it was like that Wladus would in courtesie of himself bring the Secretary well on his way being a man of so great Account in the Court or at leastwise not refuse so to do being thereto requested by the Secretary at which time the Bassa secretly passing over Danubius with certain Troops of Horsemen and lying close in ambush upon the way should suddenly set upon the Prince and so either take him or else kill him The Plot thus laid and every circumstance agreed upon the Secretary held on his way and coming to the Prince forced his wit to perswade him to go to the Court sometime cunningly extolling the great opinion that Mahomet had of his Fidelity and Valour and otherwhiles feeding him with the hope of greater Honours and Princely Preferments he was to receive at the Emperors hands But when he had said what he could he obtained no more of the wary Prince but good words again and that he would in courtesie conduct him on his way to