perswade the courages of his men at armes whose eares were deafe and would not hearken vnto them for but a verie fewe of them were reserued aliue and such as of whom they hoped to haue great ransomes Scanderbeg did neither openly approue nor in his heart did he condemne this seueritie yet it was that which he most desired doing alwayes the like to the intent he might altogether abolish the name of Turkes out of the prouice For the residue of his affaires because he could not be present in all places and for that the present occasions did require expedition and extreme celeritie he made a diuision of his troupes Some of the chiefest young men he sent into diuerse parts of the countrey here and there to dispatch that which remained as to stirre vp their confederates and to preuent their enemies Amese with about two hundred men was appointed to enter within Croie for he was certified that there were not sufficient forces to gard the place and yet was that to be regarded as their principall garrison Him selfe riding and posting into all quarters sometimes on one side sometimes on another and hauing a verie carefull eye to all occasions he employed and spent certaine dayes for the recouerie of some other places and to gayne by his presence the amitie and good affection of all parties There remained one onely point but of greater labour and difficultie then all the rest and that was the subduing of the other townes in the reducing of the which to his obeisance consisted no small importance of the recouerie of his estate Bâ—â— for that they were all defended by good and strong garrisons of the Sultan it was aduised that the fort ought to be enterprised with more puissant and brauer forces and with mature and readie deliberation For this cause it was concluded that all those whom he had departed and deuided into sundrie quarters and vpon diuerse charges should reenforce and with as much speede as might be augment their bandes with fresh supplies and this done they should repaire incontinently to Croy Scanderbeg himselfe tooke his way thither forthwith and there continued attending their comming Litle distance of time was there betweene his arriuall and theirs and the report hereof did drawe manie others also into the action For manie noble and excellent Captaines especially of his allyes came to seeke him speedily and well accompanied amongest whom were Musache de Angeline so called by the common sort being his Nephewe by his sister Angelina and the two Streeses Goique and George brethren his Nephewes also by his sister Iella and Gyne Musache the husband of Vlaica for Iohn his father before his decease had married all his daughters to diuerse Princes and great Lordes of the countrie excepting Mamisa who was giuen by Scanderbeg to Musache de Thopie after the recouerie of his Realme and the pacification of his estate Also from Steuen Cernouiche who had espoused Mara and had by her many goodly children he wanted not ambassages to visite him and to congratulate his good fortune and prosperitie besides great succours that he sent him both of men and money More then these there did gather assemble together from houre to houre such a concourse of people comming resorting vnto him that they came at length to exceede the number of 12000. men on his parte Castriot being notably encouraged by this fauour and good affection of his friends and subiects and seeing them fully prest and readie to march he would not set forward vntill he had in full counsell deliberated vppon his affaires and that he had vsed some exhortation vnto his armie Thus therefore or the like in effect he spake vnto them I see not here braue Captaines and valiant souldiers any new vnexpected matter nor more then I haue heretofore in my minde coniectured or that my hopes did make promise of vnto me as often as I called to mind the auncient worthinesse of this Nation and your singular deuoire towardes my deceased father For be it spoken without presumption of my selfe I neuer doubted but that I should alwayes retayne the same minde and the selfe same loue and affection to my countrie and that I should be alwaies of like courage for the recouerie of our publique libertie In like manner your desires your vowes and your wishes were in effect together with mine ioyntly but as one and the same thing For manie times whereof willingly and freely I doe delight to make often rehearsall you did by all manners and meanes of affection and dutie conuite me vnto this charge whilest I was yet abiding about Amurath Peraduenture in your opinion I might seeme to haue beene forgetfull of my countrie to haue forgotten mine owne honour and it might be you thought me carelesse of our deliuerance and freedome at such time as I sent you home to your houses charged with sorrow without any certaine hope without anie apparance or likelihoode of anie generous or honourable thought seene or discerned in me Certainely my good citizens by that dissembled remissnesse and default of mine I prouided both for your suretie and mine owne securitie the estate of our affayres being then of that qualitie and disposition as they required rather to be put in execution then to be consulted on besides that I haue in you a greater necessitie rather of a bridle to restraine you then of spurres to pricke you on to the recouerie of your libertie True it is that I concealed from you my deliberations but the cause why I so long forbare to make knowen vnto you my readie will and affection was not for that I either suspected your loyaltie or that I had not sufficient knowledge of your good hearts for your selues were the first that entred into this dangerous course and made me acquainted with the secrets of your thoughts but that which turned and withdrew me from it was the frailtie of mortall men and the inconstancie of mens mindes the which as in all other actions it is brittle variable and inconsiderate so must it be drawen with force and violence and not guided by any gentle entreatie and vsage to seeke and purchase libertie For it is in nothing stable and constant neither doth it obserue any good order or direction and if there fall out any the least occasion or opportunitie which may giue any hope or plausibilitie for the purchasing thereof or for the attempting of it onely not a thousande swordes not a million of perils not manifest death and apparant hazard to loose both life and goods might haue diuerted and turned vs from our purpose But after that the matter once in vaine attempted had made knowen your endeuors either must you haue endured a most cruell punishment or a bondage farre more hard and intollerable all hope had beene quite taken from you in time to come and the oportunitie once let slippe had beene lost for euer after so that this fact must haue bene enterprised once
helping hand or that did conspire against the Barbarians with so great ardour and vehemencie as he did for the common libertie Neither did he want anie meanes to worke the contentment of this his desire and to satisfie his minde in that behalfe And it seemed in effect that his forces linckt and conioyned with the others had bene all sufficient to restore and to reuiue the good fortune of Epire them selues alone hauing once bene of abilitie in a full and entire warre to make head and to resist against the Sultan True it is that his puissance power and seigniorie did reach from the farther side of the riuer of Aoe or AEas howbeit that the people of the countrey do giue it another name calling it Vauissa vnto the gulfe of Ambrasia being in a manner all alongest the sea coastes of Epire. This is that Ariamnites which hath bene knowen by the surname of Great amongst the Macedonians and Albanians For he did manie notable and memorable actes for the Gospell and faith of Iesus Christ against the Turkes giuing them diuerse and most shamefull ouerthrowes and discomfitures and as long as he liued he did not cease to persecute them He encountred Mahomet their soueraigne Prince and Emperour in the inuasion which he made vpon Albanie and ouerthrew him and plagued him most shamefully For assayling him within his campe he gayned and wonne his ensignes which he had within his owne tent and pauillion forcing him to flie away and to forsake that Prouince with notable dammage and ignominie Next to him came Andrevv Thopie a man famous for his race and valour and of no lesse reuerence for his age hauing there with him his two sonnes Comyne and Musach and Tanuse his nephewe whose auncestours as we haue before written were the first founders of Croy and Petrella Their forces in like case were braue and goodly and their Dominion was of as faire a circuite in Epire betweene Tire the lesser and Epidamne which is Duras And besides these places and demaines which hauing lost their ancient and first names are by the inhabitants called Scuria Musachiene Cherabie and Farca They were acknowledged also for Soueraigne Lordes of the Cymerians and Vlixians This countrey is mountainous and right against Corfou It is inhabited with a people fierce and vnconquerable if not warlike and martiall we call them commonly the Cymerots These haue not commonly the assurance and defence of anie other succours by anie matter meanes or arte but onely the naturall strength and fortification of the places themselues This people hath euer and with good successe contemned the insolencie of the Turkes and after the death of Scanderbeg when Albanie was subiected and subdued with a singular libertie and freedome of nature they liued long time without the knowledge of anie forraine yoke and at this time as I vnderstand hauing voluntarily called vnto them and made choyse of certaine garrisons and companies of Spaniards out of Apulia they haue betaken them selues to the obedience of one chiefe Lord and they doe liue in a most excellent forme of pollicie George the nephewe of Streese and the sonne of Balsee was there in companie also Iohn and Boye his brethren being left at home because their young yeares did make them vnable for the warres and vnfit to be called to counsell Betweene Croie and Lissa laye the territorie that these did enioye in a soyle both large and rich and no lesse pleasaunt and delightfull From the Musachees for so is the familie surnamed there came verie manie all which as they were of one and the same disposition and of a like conformitie of minde with Scanderbeg so did not they hold their estate and signiorie anie way separated or deuided but ioyntly and together with him Ouer and besides these there presented them selues the two magnanimous and valiant Princes Nicholas and Paule Ducagin each of them in armes and well appointed but Paule was knowen aboue the rest by a certaine singular obseruance of religion They were Lordes of a countrey which the Epirotes call the vpper Zadrime on the other side of the riuer of Dryne euen to the higher Misia a region verie spacious and fertile watered with fountaines and most wholesome brookes and inhabited with a people most fierce and warlike In this place are to be seene manie tokens and shewes of antiquitie townes buildings and famous temples manie of which are now defaced and throwen downe euen with the ground and ruinated from the toppe to the verie bottome And more then that within the heart of this region doe remaine and appeare certaine monuments of marble vpon which might be read the names of manie Emperours both Romanes and others and amongst them there were some markes also or testimonies that S. Paule the Apostle had there preached the lawe of the Sonne of God vnto that people Thither also came in like manner Luke Zacharie who afterward followed the part of Scanderbeg with the like course of felicitie and good fortune and with a singular good will and affection did perseuer therein euen to the ende This man being worthie of a greater heritage was possessed of a reasonable large portion of ground within the vpper Zadrime together with the towne of Daina founded by his auncesters and descended vnto him by right of succession This is a pretie litle towne planted vpon an high mountaine as are almost all the townes of Epire yet is the territorie of it fat and rich of an excellent good aire and healthfull full of venison and fowle and well replenished with all kinde of trees and fruites The pleasant riuer of Dryne maketh his course on that part which lyeth towards the West The which prerogatiues and excellencies of that place haue bene celebrated by the auncient writers with a kinde of contention and with so great diligence and perfection that there is not almost left for them which come after anie matter worthie the speaking of Neuerthelesse although many things at this day as it falleth out haue disguised and blemished the former grace and beautie of it yet peraduenture it shall not be amisse if I also for my part doe at this time in a word or two intreate of it The floud of Dryne as some say doth deuide Epire from Dalmatia and Sclauonie or Illiria and is no whit inferiour in greatnesse to the famous riuer of Po in Italie It hath his source or head amongst the peoples of Macedonie towardes the North and with a swift course doth water the walles of Lissa and then within a while entermingling her streames with the waues of the sea it doth discharge it selfe into the Adriatique sea or gulfe of Rizique or Catarrea ioyning neare to Acrolissa where also it embraceth an Island being some seauen miles in circuite which at this present retayneth the name of Lissa by reason that the towne of Lissa which in auncient time was seated on the other side or bancke of the riuer
and sensualitie and he remaineth still notwithstanding all his paines and trauelles inferior to the brute beastes who on the contrarie euen by the instinct of nature do giue themselues to follow that which appertaineth to their function and which is proper and peculiar vnto them This conceipt of the comparison of the impuissance and infirmitie of mankind putteth me in minde of an olde Italian prouerbe which is That it had bene expedient and needfull for men either to be borne sage and wise or to be borne twice For if we were borne wise we should eschew and auoide the inconueniences of this life against the which by ignorance we do daily and howerly stumble or at leastwise in the course of our second life we should put that in practise which we had learned in our first life and we should not walke blindfolded in the darknes of error as we now do comming into this world depriued and destitute of the light of wisedome which Solomon demaunded of God before all earthly things whatsoeuer Notwithstanding on the contrarie if we do marke and consider the excellencie of man we shall see that in stead of these goodly corporall faculties wherein other creatures are his superiours God hath gratiously endowed him with a singular preheminence of that part of his nature which is intellectuall and capable of doctrine and that is our spirit which of it selfe is diuine and celestiall and whereas by meanes of her prison and earthly tabernacle it is made rude sauage and out of taste yet being tempered reformed and fashioned by the fauour and ciuilitie of good artes and sciences it estrangeth vs as farre from the nature of creatures vnreasonable as it maketh vs to approach and draw nigh to the resemblance of the diuine Image Seing therefore all men are by nature both capable of knowledge and haue a necessitie imposed vpon them to seeke after learning the gentle man of all others hath most reason to apply his mind thereunto for that he exceeding all other persons in dignitie of bloud and in the gifts graces and qualities of nature and being in regard thereof the sooner called to degrees of honour and to the managing of great matters he ought also to beautifie and enoble his minde and vnderstanding and to make it more more glorious by the knowledge of good letters especially of good and worthy histories for in truth there is nothing so louely beautiful or amiable but the study of histories wil plentifully supply any man with the knowledge therof that shal delite to be conuersant and to exercise himself in them This bringeth her followers to be priuie counsellers to kings and princes this preferreth them to the administration of kingdomes and common weales to the most honorable estates offices of the warres and to the gouernments of prouinces this teacheth vs to be wise at the cost of others To be briefe as Cicero well calleth them Histories are the testimony of times the light of truth the life of memorie the Ladie and mistreste of life and the messenger of antiquitie of the which who so is ignorant may iustly be accompted as a stranger in his owne countrey But I will not proceed any farther in her praises only I will encourage you to be familiar with her for I see God be thanked for it that she hath good entertainment generally and is well receiued cherished amongst you that you are content to bestow a good part of your honest leisure in her companie Yet thus much let me tell you by the way vpon occasion of this discourse that forasmuch as the principall and most ordinary profession of Frenchmen is to followe armes and yet they take litle or no care or pains at all to study know the lawes and rights depending vpon the profession of armes I desire therefore that the studie and reading of histories which representeth vnto vs manifold exāples of so many mightie armies well gouerned and of so many Captaines and souldiers which haue bene most curious and precise obseruers of the statutes and ordinances of the Art militarie may prouoke and allure you also to follow more religiously carefully this ancient discipline and that you would conforme your selues to the practise thereof whereby those famous and worthy personages haue purchased to themselues endles eternall honor to their Chieftaines and leaders innumerable triumphs and victories and to their countrey mighty Empires and Monarchies of infinite greatnesse What was it that reserued and freed the name and memory of the Assyrians of the Greekes of the Romanes from the vngratefull silence and the iniurious obliuion of deuouring time What hath made their glorie and renowme to be so famous euen till this day What was it that spread abroad the glorious and immortall name of the Gaules euen to the vtmost bounds and limits of this earthly frame What made them so fearfull and terrible euen to the proud and inuincible Romanes that vpon euery rumor made to the Senate that the Gaules were on foote they speedily had recourse to the Dictatorship as vnto a sacred anker in the most tempestuous stormes and perils of their estate Assuredly it was not the supernatural force of their bodies it was not the infinit number of their squadrons but the onely exact strict and rigorous obseruation of the lawes and discipline of warre Thus did that famous Conqueror Godfrey Duke of Bouillon thus did our generous and Christian Argonauts and infinit others in times past make themselues way vnto the heauens purchased immortal fame vpon the earth What hath made the Saracins the Turks to grow to that reputation and honor by armes What hath made them inheritors almost of all the Empire of the Greeks Romanes but this only that they did first imitate and succeed them in their good orders and discipline whereof they only of all others at this day are the sole obseruers and they alone may iustly vaūt that they haue the true discipline in price regard they I say only may arroga◠this vnto themselues for I know not any one nation besides them who make anie account of the same There is no care had now a dayes amongst souldiers and men at armes of any rules precepts or pollicie of warres we loue rather to learne the duties of the field by experience and by the euent hazard of our owne proper perill then by reason and discipline and therein do we fulfill the old prouerbe In losse is learning But in my opiniō this is but a bad maxime for the course of our life is briefe short and vse and experience without reading requireth too long a time to furnish vs with all those things which are necessary for the perfection of our experience But study reading of histories being ioyned to experience is sufficient in a smal time to aduance to quickē to refine to perfect our iudgement For as Philip of Comines hath said very wisely A man may know
sawe any hope were it neuer so small to effect it Castroit tooke pleasure to hearken vnto them and hee condescended to their request For what reason had he to doubt either of men that were Christians or of those who hadde bene the auncient subiects of his auncestors For this cause commaunding his ensignes to march he turned his fury and rigour to other places There was in this prouince a goodly open and large country and circuit of ground maruellously pleasant and wonderfully well peopled with many townes and boroughes also very plentifully inhabited Those of the countrey doe call it Moerea and it lieth towardes the Tribullians Thitherwardes Scanderbeg leading his army did adde the same to his dominion passing beyond the boundes whereof Iohn his father was possessed There was not any where an enemy to be found in all the countrey for the Turkes before that time either had bene expelled or had willingly auoyded and forsaken those partes The inhabitaunts and the residue of the nation Albanois hauing quickely lost the memory and remembraunce of Amurath had enrolled them selues without being sought vnto vnder Scanderbeg and they marched vnder his ensignes and vnder the Eagles in times past well knowen vnto them For in his standards which were Guelles he bore an Eagle with two heades sable These being the auncient armes of his family From Mocrea passing on from place to place sometime shewing him selfe gracious and full of courtesie and sometimes fierce and terrible he enlarged his conquestes from day to day and made them farre more rich and ample and giuing order and directions continually for some one thing or other he would appoint guardes vpon the passages and make prouisions for the garrisons Oftentimes comming and going to Croy he would visite all other places of importance and be euer riding and coursing here and there in and out continually seldome or neuer was he idle but he would be present euery where and there was no place or corner but he tooke diligent and speciall notice of mountains hils forrestes thickets caues dennes and secrete lurking holes All his thoughtes and deuise was vppon the warres to see before hand how he might one day with litle losse of his men make head against an enemy so puissant and mighty That litle leasure that was left him was wholly spent in dayly roades and inuasions to spoile and wast the territory of the Pagans He hated nothing so much as that his souldiers should corrupt them selues with idlenesse hauing this sentence of Fabius Maximus daily in his mouth that it was not good for an Army to continue long in one place but that the often chaunge and shifting of their place and campe was much more laudable and would enable and make them farre better disposed to all the actions and seruices Military These things could not be so handled but that Amurath must needs haue knowledge of them for by this time there came vnto him many messengers from Pharsalia and other parts of Macedonie so as all partes of his pallace were filled vp with outcries and clamours many reports being brought and importing that all was lost and vtterly desolate that Scanderbeg hauing obtained the possession of infinite places did dayly pursue his conquests with his accustomed fiercenesse and crueltie That long since both the one and the other Dibria had willingly rendred them selues to his deuotion killing with their proper hands the Turkish garrisons or deliuering them bound and fettered to their new Lord and maister These marches both of the neather and vpper Dibria did of old appertaine to Iohn Castriot but he as hath bene sayd being oppressed by Amurath and by meanes of the peace which he demanded had giuen him his owne children in hostage and had resigned vnto him both those prouinces which he quitted vnto him vpon some other conditions Now these curriers comming as is said to the court of Amurath declared that by meanes of the reuolt of the Dibrians the Christians would soone and easily come to be masters of Sfetigrade the which being seated in the vpper Dibria where all was at their deuotion did not now know from thence forward where to find or haue any thing more or lesse for the maintenance of the warre or for the nouriture of his campe That Moâ—rea and many other places had made themselues a partie with them which although it had neuer vntil that day acknowledged the house of Castriot for their gouernour yet either through the rebellion of the inhabitants or for feare or by constraint of mischiefes endured was now become subiect vnto Scanderbeg These aduertisements did stirre vp and incite the tyrant to take armes more of necessitie then of choler Vpon this occasion hauing with great diligence assembled his Counsell the matter fully concluded on he commanded a puissant armie to be leuied by the which without the aduenture or losse of any thing he thought vtterly to abolish and extinguish the name of Scanderbeg and to take vengeance of the reuolt of the Albanois and of so many iniuries which he had offred him Castriot in like maner being certified of Amurath his resolution not onely by persons vnknowne and strangers vnto him as in such changes there do neuer want men of that sort but by some also who were his friends of whom he had as yet good store about Amurath made and procured long before and whom the change of fortune had no whit altered or changed He I say as he had shewed himselfe of an incomparable audacitie and confidence in exposing himselfe to all perils so did he euen in the middest of them vse singular prudence sage aduise and counsell For considering the greatnesse and importance of his conceipts and the weightie burthen which he had taken vpon his shoulders and hauing some doubt and mistrust in him selfe that he should not be of sufficient abilitie to sustaine and beare it out for so long a time nor yet be able to renew his forces so often as the greatnesse of those warres would re-require which he foresaw as a true Prophet euen within the entrailes of Epire and whereof he did but attend the comming euerie houre he determined therefore to seeke out some strange and forreine succours by meanes wherof he might more surely order his owne affaires and by the ayde of many might be the better able to repell and keepe off the force and violence of the tempest that did so threaten him First of all therefore he resolued to enter into confederacie and into some strict and perpetuall kind of alliance with the Princes and great Lords his neighbours both Albanois and * Illyrians A thing indeed verie difficult to be effected for that commonly men are naturally more prone and apt to dissention and discord then to amity and concord Yet did this fall out vnto him very facile and easie as both the issue and the discourse of the matter will make it manifest But for that this treaty
himselfe in those quarters Him he commaunded to make a supply and to fill vp the companies of Ferisey and to encrease their numbers with a new strength of 6000. horse he enioyned him moreouer and expresly charged him in any case not to enter neither more nor lesse into the streightes and passages of Epire where the enemy held him selfe in ambushment and where the perill was most to be redoubted and that vppon no occasion nor for the hope of any good successe whatsoeuer he should not hazard himself to the fight or force of the enemy but that without any more adoe he should onely wast and spoile their borders and to hold him selfe contented with this glorie that the trees and the fieldes of the Albanois had in some sort felt the force and violence of his victorious and conquering sword and that their countrey was burnt wasted and consumed by the fire These and such like goodlie admonitions did the Sultan giue to Mustapha as though a man could prescribe vnto the hearers what they hadde to doe when their armors are once put vpon their backes Notwithstanding when the time came that this should be put in execution the carefull diligence of the Captaine did not let passe or neglect any one point of this charge which had bene giuen him but as occasion serued hee added to the same many good respectes after hee came to consider the nature of the countrey and to haue a view of the situation of the place For scarcely had he displaied his ensignes within the confines of the christians but for bearing to march on with his Campe at large through the open field he first of all sent forth three hundred horse to beat ouer the plaine champion and to discouer farre and neare all the passages and to sound the couerts and secret places which might serue for ambushment enioyning them that if they saw any likelyhood of daunger from the enemy they should speedily retire themselues to the body of their forces or else drawing them on by litle and litle they should suffer them to presse and follow hard vppon them till they were trained neare to the place appointed for their retraite In so doing they should be sure to deale safely and they might happe to entrappe the wily foxe being entised so smoothly to the snare both for that his forces being the weaker they should haue no cause to feare and redoubt them and because they had litle reason to thinke that albeit his numbers were at the greatest yet in so sodaine an occasion hee should be able to stirre abroade with any great store of forces Now when these skoutes had well and diligently surueyed all quarters and hadde vppon their returne made report that all was safe and sure the Captaine Turke retayning with himselfe foure thousand horse enskonsed and fortified the place where he meant to abide in forme of a Campe both with large rampiers and trenches and with men of an hardy and good courage partly thereby to assure the pillage and partly to preuent and withstand all the hazards and chaunces of variable and vnconstant Fortune A certaine small height or mount of ground rising and mounting it selfe in manner of a little hill did make their fort somewhat the more defencible and lesse accessible for the enemy Hauing taken this order for his campe he placed some for secrete sentinelles and watches vppon the tops of certaine high mountaines with certaine tokens signals to giue notice of the comming of the enemy This done the rest of his horsmen he licensed to the spoile abandoning the countrey to their greedy auarice cruelty which by their continuall bloudy roades and inuasions brought all things to incredible ruine and destruction But he had first giuen them in charge that whosoeuer did not at the first sound of the trumpet and when the retrait should be sounded presently retire himselfe within the campe he should be reputed as an enemy Now was that goodly and pleasant country harried spoiled and layd wast now were the trees and plants rooted vp and destroied by the rage and sword of the Barbarians the medows pastures did seem as it were to bewail and lament the flames of the towns and villages which were openly seene fired and burning euery where on all sides did seeme to cry and call for some to work their reuenge Al the seed corne in the ground being beaten downe and troden vnder foote with the trampling of their horses for it was in Autumne the innocent and harmles earth did now make shew that it should defraud the poore and vnfortunate labourer of his pains and trauell Nothing was left free or vntouched which the sword or fire could consume or destroy of moueables cattels of small value and litle reckonning which belonged to the poore people there was good store and plenty to be found but of men and inhabitants very few or none by reason that the enemies were their next neighbours small was the number of them that remained in the countrey villages and the most part of theÌ„ with their wiues children all their families and with the chiefe choisest of their substance were shifted and fled away into the next walled townes and strong fenced holdes In the middest of these exploits whilest the fierce Barbarians iniurious odious euen to God himself licenciously and without any great profit doth follow and pursue this maner and kind of conquest and whilest he spendeth and consumeth his time labor in coursing vp downe here and there for the desire couetise of gaine and commodity Castriot in the meane time howbeit he was somwhat with the latest enformed of this inuasion with 4000. horse 1000. foot was now arriued to the valley of Mocrea and his souldiers with great ioy and gladnes were entred within these valleys so well knowne vnto them and which were as yet wet moisty with the bloud of the Turkes There whilest euerie one of them is going vp and downe secretly viewing his old and wonted lodging and whilest the watchfull and carefull mind of their Generall resting in suspence and as it were in vncertaintie is deuising with him selfe what may betide in those places so solitarie and full of silence behold euen in that instant a certaine Epirote a man of great courage and worthie of better fortune being then newly escaped from the enemie and marked with many great wounds with the bloud yet running downe warme in great abundance euery man being abashed at the sight came and suddenly cast him selfe at the feete of Scanderbeg imploring his ayde and helpe and with a braue and chearefull countenance he encouraged the standers by and thus incensed them saying That the fieldes were desolate all things being turned topsey turâ—ey by the Turkes who being scattered and dispersed in all partes here and there about purchase and pillage did dreame of nothing but their prey and bootie and that without anie great paine or
friendship to his friends and companions because he would not haue it thought that he was come thither to that onely intent and so should returne mocked and scorned by the enemie he sought out some fit matter whereupon to display his rage and choler and to leaue them some subiect and occasion likewise of griefe and lamentation For this cause he sent abrode his soldiers ouer all the fields lying within view and sight of Belgrade who made notable hauocke of all things with sword and fire not sparing either trees vines or any thing else and giuing the citizens a most lamentable spectacle through the spoile and desolation of all the countrey round about them And not content therewithall he proceeded yet further for passing on euen close to the wals which he might well do without any great danger he omitted not to do them any dammage mischiefe and displeasure which his wrath and furie could inflict vpon them Some haue affirmed and many do confirme no lesse that the garrison issued out made a braue sally forth vpon them and partly with their ordinance and partly with the aduenture of their persons did seeke to beate them from the walles hauing first set fire on their suburbs and that after a long sharpe and bloudie skirmish wherein the Christians had the better they were beaten backe within their gates Whereupon because Tanusee stood in doubt lest the next garrisons of the Turkish frontiers might come vpon him and suddenly oppresse him he would not giue anie further attempt against them but with a million of curses and execrations he left and abandoned those vnfortunat places which were so infamous by the ruine and slaughter of the Christians Scanderbeg at his being in Dibria held many counsels great assemblies wherein he consulted with the most graue and auncient persons of that countrey endeuoring aboue all things to sift and search out if there were any other conspirators or consorts of Moses yet remaining in the prouince or any secret sparks or tract of his treason left behind him And besides all priuie and secret meanes vsed to enquire of it there was publike proclamation made with sound of trumpet promising a great summe of money to those that could and should detect any such conspirators But there was not found so much as any shew of suspition of any such matter And therfore the Dibrians were highly commended for their loyaltie and the assured constancie of their faith Besides that he bestowed great bountiful rewards amongst them to continue them in their good deuoire and dutie Moses his goods and such pensions offices wherewith Scanderbeg had before honored and aduanced him were confiscated and seized to the kings coffers and resumed into his hands many of which he bestowed vpon particular persons The Gouernorship of the countrey and garrison of Dibria was retained still in the kings hands and bestowed vpon no man but was kept voyd for a season by the good liking and consent of all men especially of the souldiers The affaires of the Dibrians being thus ordered and put in good assurance with a good and strong garrison he returned thence to Croy where Tanusee was also then ariued with his armie the which he hauing resigned into the hands of the Prince he retired himselfe in extreme griefe and sorow to his owne house where at his returne the lamentations sighes and sorowes began afresh to berenewed amongst the friends and kinsmen of Musache euery body grieuing and mourning for his mischance And Mamisa the widow of the deceased hauing called together according to the custome of that natiō many Ladies Gentle womē graue matrons did celebrate the obsequies of her husband longtime mourning bewailing his death neuer ceasing day nor night with abūdance of tears to lamēt the losse of him which she held most deare vnto her Scanderbeg hauing dismissed his owne army did determine also to send away those Neapolitans which were left aliue after the battel of Belgrade and together with them an Ambassade to the king Alphonsus to certifie him of the truth of his misfortune and to excuse himselfe Accordingly assoone as they were in case to trauell he courteously thanked them of their paines and companie and so embarked them for Italie which done he tooke his iourney into the countrey appertaining to Musache towards his sister both to mitigate their publicke and priuate sorrowe and in this time of affliction and discouragement to aduise vpon the affaires of his estate Tanusee was appointed to be Tutour and Gardian of the person and goods of his nephewes who did continually carrie him selfe with such loue sinceritie care and diligence that greater could not haue bene found in a kind and naturall father The honour title and dignitie with the Signiorie of the countrey did remaine in the mother who mannaged that Estate and gouerned the people with such moderation and dexteritie of spirite that there was neuer seene greater concord and vnitie among the inhabitants of the Prouince then was during the time of her gouernement which is a thing seldome seene by reason that the common sort ordinarily being mutinous and disobedient are hardly restrained within the limits of their duety and allegeance But herein especially was the soueraigne prudence and singular iudgement of this Lady to be admired that as it is generally confessed Scanderbeg did oftentimes vse her as a most faithfull consort and associat in the manadging of the affaires of the estate and was much and vsually aduised and counselled by her Shee would neuer yeeld to any second mariage but euen to the last gaspe of her life shee honoured the memory of her beloued spouse not without a singular commendation of her continency and chastity wherein shee continued and perseuered most deuoutly induced thereunto it may be not onely in regard of her owne naturall grauity and modesty but because shee being a woman of an excellent and noble minde did esteeme the losse of her husband to be irreparable For not to speake any thing of his other vertues which are most ordinary and proper to men and whereof he gaue sufficient testimony by his glorious end he was euen by nature so louely and amiable of so fine and pleasing a behauiour and of so sweete a conuersation that no creature liuing knew better no◠with greater facility then he how to insinuat himselfe into the affections of men and to purchase their good loue and liking Besides the beauty and comelinesse of his person wherewith he was notably graced and which is the proper obiect that women doe affect and the elegancy of his goodly and tall stature did fit singularly well to the perfections of his minde But whilest we haue our eyes thus fastened and our minds too too carefully busied in contemplation of our Christians and doe tediously pursue the plaintes and griefes of them in particular we doe not listen to the sound of Sebalias his trumpets which
dangers or hazards whatsoeuer for his safety and for the maintenance of his crowne and dignity It was a strange matter to Scanderbeg to see the newes of his discomfiture so published and spred abroad and then did he begin to haue a more cleare and perfect knowledge of his disgrace and the blemish of his reputation then he had before whilest the wounds of his souldiours and the losse of his men were yet greene and fresh in remembrance Wherefore with an vndanted corage he did openly make knowen vnto them that they should not thinke the estate of Epire to be such as they imagined or that they wanted sufficient forces to recouer their good fortune but rather that they were able to surmount their former exploites and to purchase themselues now greater honour vpon the enemy then euer and with this answer they departed highly contented and well satisfied The winter following he spent partly at Groy and partly in Dibria and other places of the prouince the garrison of Dibria he diminished reduced to the ancient nuÌ„bers of 2000. horse and 1000 foot setting good and strong watches and ordaining many spies purposely dispersed abroad to discouer the attempts of the Infidels who al this dead time of the yeare were not any way molested with the roades or inuasions of the Christians For all the countrey for a good way round about had bene harried and wasted so that to giue in any further vppon the enemies countrey neither the quality of the time and dicommodity of the cold weather would permit nor was Scanderbeg willing to suffer them for his mind deuised vpon greater matters and of more importance and he reserued the mortall hatred of his minde to some more notable kinde of vengeaunce by meanes whereof the coldnesse of that season did passe away in great tranquillity and quietnesse Now was the newe Spring come on and both the earth began to be embellished and beautified with the greene grasse and all things growing fresh and gay and the sweetnesse of the aire made euery thing pleasant and delightfull Then Moses as a continuall spurre in the eyes and eares of the Turkish Emperour did importune and egge him on without ceasing and was instant and vrgent vpon him to begin the warre and to bend his forces against his owne nation Mahomet who had his chiefe hope and expectation vpon him and the time also seruing him very well did not in any thing gainsay his desire for his mind did long before tend to the same end And you must imagine that all thâ—â— dead line of the winter season which was about sixe moneths whilest Moses remained with him in Court he did most carefully sound and examine euery particular of his actions and behauiour in such sort that he had noted in him great signes and euident demonstrations of constancie and fidelitie and of a minde wholly alienated from Scanderbeg Besides the better to put himself in the good grace and liking of the Sultan he had by many euident testimonies and tokens giuen him proofe of his sufficiencie and vertue as much as was possible in that time of peace and intermission of armes and he made great shew of his strength valour and resolution inso much as it is reported and as afterwards Moses affirmed it openly that Mahomet demanded of him whether Scanderbeg had many such men about him as himself and he answered most modestly that he had infinite such And thereupon the Sultan highly commended the modestie of his speech Then Moses as it is commonly seene that when shame keepeth vs from praising our selues openly we do secretly and indirectly as it were by circumstance attribute to our selues that which we detract from the reputation and honor of another descending by litle and litle by degrees from talking of others to Scanderbeg did seeke to diminishe his reputation and to lessen the opinion of his deserts and after a long discourse he made a promise vnto Mahomet that if it pleased him to repose that trust in him onely he would proue him selfe in that warre bodie to bodie against Scanderbeg and would aduenture the hazard of a particular combat and that he would not desire any greater numbers to worke his ouerthrow and confusion then an armie of fifteene thousand horsemen onely so that himselfe might haue the chusing the ordering and disposing of them The Ottoman as he was soone and easily intreated to graunt him the charge and commaund of this armie so did he referre the whole care thereof to his iudgement and discretion and gaue him the reines to do as he thought best The souldiers which were prest to go in that voyage for Albanie did infinitely misdoubt the weakenesse and feeble strength of so small a companie neuerthelesse the wonderfull confidence and braue resolution of their new Generall did enforce them to hope well and to conceiue some good opinion touching the happie successe of that iourney Besides the great credit and authoritie of Moses with his owne nation and his strong alliance within the countrey was a matter worthie to be thought vpon and did greatly encorage all of them and did put them in hope that they should find great ayde by them of the countrey which the Dibrian also had assured to the Sultan And it may be that he himselfe was perswaded no lesse for he gaue out that he had had conference with some of the most auncient and principall persons of the prouince and that many of his confederates and intelligencers did keepe themselues close and in secret and did rest at his deuotion and that suddenly assoone as they should see his troupes within the countrey they would be readie to come and ioyne with him and bringing a good number of lustie and able youths they would take armes and bend their force against Scanderbeg Thus all things being throughly prepared and he in a readinesse to take his iourney about the three and twentieth of Februarie in the yeare 1453. he departed from Andrinople displaying his vnhappie ensignes in the sight and within the proper bowels of his owne natiue countrey We will leaue the ingrate and vnkind Moses bending his traiterous armes against Epire and in the meane time altering our discourse to yeeld you the more contentment by this history let me intreate you to giue me leaue to dwell a while with that fierce and haughty minded Prince young Mahomet who calleth vpon me to accompanie him in his iourney to Constantinople which he hauing for a long time delayed and deferred yet meant not to breake off nor to giue ouer for altogether You haue read if you remember it in the beginning of this booke with what egernesse and vehemencie his aspyring and his ambitious heart did affect to see the Imperiall Diademe of Greece set vpon his owne head neuerthelesse the iealousie which he had to defende and rescue one litle place in Epyre had made a stay of his goodly progresse and glorious
do ordinarily change and alter the humors and affections of the persons that doe there dwell and inhabite whose manners iointly with the destinies doe in the end cause the alterations which happen in them which was manifestly seene by the transportation of the Romaine Monarchy to the Greekes and Asiatickes For from thenceforth their Emperours their souldiers their legions and armed forces being chosen and furnished out of those countreis it came to passe that being deuided into factions and partiallities by the naturall ambition and inconstancy of that nation and being growen effeminate by the soft nice and tender delicacies of the Orient they were not able after a while to repulse the incursions and often inuasions of the Barbarians And Rome it selfe in the meane time and all Italie whom God had determined to punish wanting a chiefe head and supreame commander amongst them and not retaining but by litle and litle neglecting and loosing their auncient military discipline and that martiall rigour and seuerity which was necessarily to be obserued amongst souldiers men professing armes they became a prey vnto strange nations Wherefore we may well say that it is happened vnto this Empire as vnto a beautifull and goodly tree which in hir own naturall soile doth bring fourth pleasant and good fruite but being remoued and planted in a strange ground in the end by litle and litle it becommeth barren and withered I doubt not Gentlemen but both your eyes and your eares haue bene wearied and â—loyed to see and vnderstand the large discourse and recitall which I haue made of those dolourous and lamentable misfortunes befallen to your Christian brethren I will cease therefore to speake anie further of this sorrowfull subiect and will followe the tract of our Moses whom me thinkes I heare calling to me and complayning himselfe worthily for that I haue suffered him to stay so long in the heate and ardour of his rebellion which leadeth him on against his naturall Prince and natiue countrie to the intent we may see what will be the end and fortune of that his iourney The season and time of the yeare which now beganne to grow more milde and temperate the frequent and often renued aduertisements and the rumour published and spread abroad concerning the approch of Moses into Epyre did perwade the king to haue his forces in a readinesse Wherefore with a notable good courage and resolution he attended the comming of this new enemie howbeit with a more milde affection and lesse hatred then he vsed towards others that came in armes against him He could not yet let it sinke into his minde that the Dybrian did beare him any hatred or did carrie the minde of an enemie towardes him or that so slight or rather no occasion should cause so suddaine and great a chaunge of his faith and fidelitie which had bene notably tryed and approued in so manie battelles and for so manie yeares He thought rather that it might be he vsed this as a cunning stratageme and policie to leaue some testimonie to the posteritie of his great renowme and for the confusion and grieuous ruine of the Miscreants And although it were so that he marched as an open and apparant enemie against his countrie yet was he in good hope that the sight of his natiue soyle and the presence of his auncient friendes and fellow citizens would by litle and litle drawe him to a more charitable and friendly respect and so abolish all his enmitie and sinister affections earst conceiued against his Prince or countrie But howsoeuer it was he had his army in good order and in a readinesse against all hazards and euents being fully resolued either with armes in hand to vnderstand the mind and intention of his friende or with a most sharpe and setled courage and indignation to fight with him as his open enemie Neither did he greatly care to proceed against him with any policies and stratagemes to surprise him vpon the way because he knewe well that his troupes were not excessiue great nor much exceeded his owne forces but that both in number and valure they were sufficient to receiue him and to hazard the fortune of the field with him And it may be also that he held it no easie matter nor of small daunger to allure or drawe him into his snares who was an old and expert arts master in such sleights and subtilties and such an enemie as had bene familiarly acquainted with his manner of gouernement and proceedings in martiall seruices This then was the occasion that Moses entred free and without any disturbance into the lower Dybria and encamped in Epyre neere to the plaine of Oronichea which hath beene so famous for so manie great and notable victories especially through the defaite of Mustapha yet did not he attempt anie thing eyther by procuring the inhabitantes to reuolt vnto him or to spoyle and waste the countrie in anie cruell and hostile manner For he was aduertised that the King of Epyre did approach and hauing a desire and determination to beginne the warre with a priuate and single combat betweene himselfe and Scanderbeg bodie to bodie he thought it more meete and conuenient to proceede with open force in plaine and set bartell then by trifling skirmishes or by roades and inuasions to waste spoyle and sacke the Prouince Scanderbeg made no long delay but meeting with him euen in the open and plaine champion he made readie his forces to the conflict Immediatly beganne a great murmuring in the army and the souldiers in a certaine disdaine and despight to see him could hardly be restrayned vnder their ensignes but that they would forthwith haue charged vppon the enemie Euen as a kinde and naturall father when he seeth his owne sonne standing and behauing him selfe insolently before him whom a damnable desire of rule and a wilde youthfull disposition impatient of the yoake hath drawen into armes against him is then loaden and surcharged with care and griefe and euerie moment doth temporize and seeke delayes marching forwarde but slowly and seeketh first though in vaine by sweete wordes and perswasions to conuert and disswade him from his obstinate and disobedient course deferring as long as he can the punishment of him whom he loueth so dearely and is loath to triumph in the lamentable victorie of his owne bloud and bowels euen so the King of Epyre pressed on with loue and pietie did looke vppon Moses then in armes and furiously raging against him did iudge diuersely of his minde and affection Willingly he would haue demaunded a word and haue had some speech with him and he would gladly haue sounded the nature and disposition of his olde friend wherewith he had beene so familiarly acquainted or else he would haue treated with him by Ambassadours and friendly counsels But neither the Maiestie of his royall estate and dignitie nor the rigour and seueritie of armes nor the furie and insolencie of the souldiers who were now readie to
parties that doe them He determined therefore to returne againe to his natiue countrie to yeeld himselfe into the hands of his Prince and to submit himselfe to the mercie of Scanderbeg whom he had so highly offended hoping that by this his repentance he should abolish if not the note yet at least the paine and punishment which he had most worthily deserued and in so doing he should auenge himselfe also of the vngratefull Ottoman and a speciall reason that induced him therunto was that he was assured that the clemencie and courtesie of his Prince did farre exceed the badnesse of his merits and misdeedes By this conclusion hauing quieted and setled his mind he did daily deuise with himselfe how he might escape and get away The night as it fell out was the fittest time for his purpose and therefore dislodging in the edge of an euening so as the watch could not perceiue his departure he made one whole and continuall iourney both of that night and the next day following not resting in any place nor suffering his horses to breath themselues till such time as being entred into that part of the countrie of Thrace which confineth vpon Macedonie he passed on the rest of his way with more pleasure ease both for his bodie and for his mind Thus within few dayes being entred into Epyre he tooke the next and shortest way possible to the garrison where he was wont to commaund purposing to goe from thence and to prostrate himselfe at the feete of Scanderbeg Assoone as the Dibrians perceiued him to be come their harts seemed to relent euen at the verie sight of him in such sort that immediately there began to be reuiued in them the desire of their former conuersation with their auncient and wonted Captaine They grew into vtter forgetfulnes and obliuion how he had peruerted all rightes both diuine and humaine in being disloiall to his countrie to his citizens and to his proper bloud and kindred They could not welcome him without abundance of teares and so with infinite salutations embracements they consumed and spent the greatest part of that day and then being giuen to vnderstand by them that the King was not farre from thence he chaunged his determination of going to Croy and went presently to seeke out his Soueraigne A great number of the garrison did accompanie him to the intent he might be the better graced in presenting himselfe before his presence and might the more easily obtaine his pardon The euening was now neere at hand when as he according to the vsage and fashion of that Nation putting his girdle about his necke did holde on his way till that he came where as Scanderbeg then was whom he found walking before his tents Presently vpon the sight of the King in extreame griefe and sorrowe he fell vpon his knees and prostrated himselfe at the feete of his Prince the teares trickling downe his cheekes and in most humble manner he besought his Maiestie to forgiue him his offence and to graunt him pardon not for the respect of any his forepassed merits but onely in regarde of his meere bountie and royall clemencie protesting and vowing that if it would please him to remit his fault and to graunt him his life he would most willingly consecrate and expose the same from henceforth for the encrease and honour of his Realme and for the libertie of his countrie They which accompanied him did not faile to entreat for him Scanderbeg tooke him verie gratiously by the hand and caused him to arise and without any difficulty or delay did freely pardon him and receiued him to his grace and mercie and after many embracements and friendly salutations he fell into speech with him deuising and conferring most friendly of certaine particularities and enterprises of the Turke testifying sufficiently by the manner of his behauiour that his heart was throughly reconciled vnto him and was free from all passion of rancour malice and mistrust I doe not thinke it any strange matter in Scanderbeg that he receiued Moses to his mercie but that he should so readily and with such facilitie be drawen to pardon him who had shewed such notable hatred had vomited foorth so many iniuries and had attempted so notorious a mischiefe against his Prince that he should no sooner haue a sight of him or heare him speake but he should so bountifully and with such assured commiseration and clemencie rather diuine then humaine receiue him into his good liking and former amitie and euen then also when the griefe conceiued for the death of those who were lately slaine was yet scarcely forgotten nor the woundes of the hurt yet throughly cured this is a matter so rare and strange that it cannot be thought nor imagined without great wonder and admiration And besides all this euen at that verie time and within fewe dayes vpon his returne he tooke speciall care and gaue order that his goods which had bene confiscated and deuided amongest particular persons should be restored vnto him together with all his lands and offices whereat the people tooke great pleasure and contentment Thus by this milde and moderate demeanour this courteous Prince did purchase both vnto himselfe eternall praise and commendation and to the other a generall abolishment of his reproach and infamie and all remembraunce of offence was quite and cleane extinguished out of the heartes of the people of Albanie For the Prouince imitating the modestie of their King did seeme as willing to burie all their griefes in obliuion and they made shew thereof by bonfires and such like tokens of triumphe which they publiquely demeaned for the restitution of their Moses Whereunto the King also added a perpetuall edict and decree enioyning and commaunding all his subiectes that from thenceforwardes no man liuing should make any speeches or mention of that offence Wherein he verified that saying of the Poet. It is often seene that facile clemencie of such as mildly vse their victorie Hath caused manie to finde commoditie by being vanquisht by their enemie Nowe if Epyre and the Albanois on the one side did triumphe for ioy of the reconciliation of their Moses Mahomet on the other side had lost all patience when he vnderstood that he was returned into his country With notable inuectiues he accused him not so much for the mishappe of his ouerthrowe as of pure and manifest treason imagining as a consequence of this accident that his flight and rebellion which he had so simply beleeued was euen from the beginning one of the stratagemes and policies of Scanderbeg He tooke counsell therefore concerning his proceedings in the warre of Epyre and how he might be reuenged But amongst manie opinions there debated that onely preuayled by which he was aduised to abstaine altogether from armes for that yeare supposing it necessarie to attende some fit occasion and opportunitie or to employ all the forces and power of the Ottoman Empire for the reducing
the one against the other so that in the end comming to try the matter by the sword they were ready to cut each the others throat for the deciding of their controuersie to know who should be the maister of that which was the cause of their debate Scanderbeg being aduertised hereof caused both of them to be called before him and demaunding of them if they had dined they told him yea then smiling as he was a man giuen to be mery and one that delighted in iesting Bacchus quoth he hath made you enemies and I will that Bacchus and not Mars nor any other of the Gods shall make you friends And after he had secretly reprehended rebuked them he sent them away commaunding them to goe and drinke together and hee willed Vranocontes to make an end of the contention betweene them and to see that ech had his right and share of the booty equally and alike As the Albanois were now marching towards Croy there met with them a multitude of the countrey inhabitants and others who had hidden themselues in the next forrests till the end of the fight besides the citizens of Croy also all which with a wonderfull ioy with high cries and sounds of instrumentes went with them on to Croy so as a man could hardly haue seene a more goodly triumph nor a more pompous shew so gloriously and triumphantly did they march into the towne For Scanderbeg to make the sight the more beautifull and notable caused all his army to follow after the multitude well and orderly arraunged in battell array and so to passe on euen into the suburbs There was not any one of them were he neuer so base and meane but had at the least one horse gotten from the enemy and loaden with infinite spoiles which they caused to march before theÌ„ Moreouer the prisoners being bound and tied together by two two in a long traine went before the King and did greatly augment the pompe and shew of the triumph and many of them for the better acknowledgement and confession of the victory vnto their enemies were made to cary the ensignes and standards which had bene gotten from them Likewise the pauilions tents and canapies of the Turkish Generall being of purple colour and making a goodly shew and ostentation were caried by some of the souldiours of the Albanians who bare them aloft openly displaied and spred abroad of purpose as if they had bene ready dressed and prepared for the Generall which gaue no small grace and ornament to the rest Amese had most earnestly and humbly entreated his vncle not to leade him to Croy in this infamous and miserable estate of a slaue and captiue and therefore he was suffered to goe at liberty and in another manner of order then as a prisoner marching side by side with the Saniacke that was captiue also To conclude at their entry into the city gate the companies were dismissed and licensed to depart the souldiours were sent away ioyfull and glad to their owne homes after that the prey and booty both prisoners and all the rest had bene equally deuided and parted betweene them as largely as they could expect or demand The ensignes and other things which serued for publique shew ornament and fell as due to Scanderbeg were caried with great demonstration of ioy into the city The Saniacke Amese were put vnder safe custody till such time as they should be otherwise disposed of I meane not to speake any thing of the great feastings and solemnities which were vsed by the Albanians for the celebrating of this victory and which for many daies together they neuer intermitted For it is now time that I conuert both my minde and my matter to strange and forraine nations and to consider what ioy they conceiued vppon the report of this victorie The fame and renowme thereof being dispersed into all the regions neare adioyning and euen into the heart and middest of Italie and other countries of the Christians it seemed litle inferiour vnto that which had bene formerly reported of the victory gotten against Amurath before Croy and it was held to be comparable to any other exploit were it neuer so happy and fortunate the admiration thereof did euen rauish euery man and they could not cease to wonder at the rarenesse of the matter when they heard the discourse of the singular sufficiency and of the notable dexterity of spirite of this prime and peerelesse Chiefetaine and euen to this day is the memory of this notable victory preserued in those parts for whereas the inhabitants of that Prouince haue a vse and custome according to the laudable manner and vsage of the old and auncient ages in times past to sing songs and sonnets in their solemne banquets and publique feasts containing a rehearsall of the most famous and noble deeds of their auncesters and of the worthy personages of that countrey this victory especially as one of the most notable and more excellent then all others hath bene inserted amongst the rest and it is more often and commonly vsed in their songs ballads then any other whatsoeuer Infinit were the presents that were sent vnto Scanderbeg infinite were the feasts and bankeâ—s which were euery where frequented and infinite were the congratulations which were vsed from all parts according as that nation hath euer in such cases vsed and accustomed This present victory seemed to haue annihilated and entinguished the memorie of all those losses and discomfitures which the Turks had sustained vnder Haly Bassa and Mustapba yea all the honours and commendations purchased by their old and later actes were now no more talked of in regard of this last exploit The calamity of Belgrade seemed now fully sufficiently reuenged and this reuenge had sufficiently refreshed and discharged euery man his minde from all sorrow griefe and sadnes The only pleasure and whole delight of all men both strangers others was to walke and wander vp and downe those victorious fields and often to visit suruey the grounds which did seeme yet to cary a froath with the bloud of the Mahometanes their onely solace and recreation was to enquire of euery particularity where such an ambuscado was laid in couert and on which side the enemy was surprized assailed euen Mahomet himselfe was no lesse amased maruelled at the strangenes of this victory for by a shamefull confession of his owne feare within a while after he did allow the honour of this iourney vnto his enemy for when he saw his forces so broken dispersed and had learned by the Bassa the order of the battel and the occasion of his ouerthrow although perhaps there were many points wherein both the Generall all the host did deserue worthily to be blamed yet without any maner of reproofe giuen them or in any sort inueighing against them he swallowed vp in silence contrary to his wonted maner the grief bitternes of his sorrow and
body of his army the morning following he displaied his ensignes in the field by light inuasions he wasted all the countrey on that side thinking by the indignity of that miserable sight to haue moued the enemy to make forth of his trenches but the Pagan continuing in his wonted patience disdaining the defence of a thing of so smal value which might be so perillous vnto him kept himself still within his campe notwithstanding I haue heard that immediatly after the hauocke made by the Albanians euen as they were ready to trusse vp their baggage there came an Herald from Hamur to Scanderbeg to acquaint him with the intent and meaning of the Ottoman and besides to pray and intreat him that he would not weary both him selfe and his enemies with this vnprofitable kind of reuenge by which he did destroy rather that which was his owne then what was belonging vnto others and considering that no man made any meanes nor hadde any intent to hinder him but that they did leaue all vnto him to vse it at his owne will pleasure whereupon the king of Albany is said to haue returned him this answer that well might they for a time delay and put off their misfortune but they should not be able altogether to auoyd it for that he was resolutely determined to spare for no dangers nor mishaps but he would in the end bring and enforce them to the combat In this maner did they depart a sunder for the coldnesse of the winter now beginning to approch it was thought requisite that these determinations should be deferred to another season Wherefore Moses being appointed with his ordinary bands to haue the custodie and defence of the prouince and the most part of the army being licenced to depart Scanderbeg in the meane time with a small company went to visit the lower Dibria which was then vnder the commaund of Tanusee There likewise did he not forget to put in practise the like sleights and pollicies in hope to haue entrapped Synam but all his cunning and deuises vanished away to nothing wherefore leauing there one of the Streezes with a very small company Scanderbeg him selfe tooke his iourney towards Croy. During this winter was Moses very troublesome vnto the Mahometists he continually disquieted them with his daily alarums notwithstaÌ„ding it was more in shew then in substance and therfore Scanderbeg willed both him those of the garrison of Modrissa to desist from pursuing any such further atteÌ„pts for that they lost both their time their labor Moreouer it is reported that those of Mahomet his garrison as they had before in times past so did they now againe vehemently pray the Christians that they would not with such obstinacy seeke to purchase vnto theÌ„selues an enemy who would not be drawn to haue any hostility with them insomuch that neither condescending nor according any thing to their desire nor yet much contradicting their requests matters were protracted and drawen on till the comming of the new yeare The spring being now come Scanderbeg reassembled his forces and lead them against the Barbarians hoping by his daily skirmishes to draw them forth to fight One daie amongst the rest he had a desire being entred with great brauery vpon the country of Alchria to force and giue an onset vpon the campe of the enemy but he was soone repulsed without any great labour both by the liuely resistance of the Infidels as also by the situation aduantage of the place which of it selfe was very strong and hardly to be approched The Epirot how beit for that time he was disappointed of his hope yet being no whit discoraged determined to augment his troupes that so he might be the better able to effect his desire but he made no great hast to put it in execution both because the glory and profit would be very small that would grow by that atteÌ„pt as also for that it could not be compassed without great perill and manifest danger neuerthelesse he maintained the enterprise onely to the intent that the souldier being kept still exercised in armes as it were in their particular trade and profession should not waxe â—lothfull and be spoiled with idlenesse Thus whilest that the warres went coldly on both on the one side and the other Hamur supposing that it would not only be for the great profit publike good of the prouince but that it would purchase himselfe in particular great honor reputation with the Sultan if he could by his dexteritie disswade Scanderbeg from the pursuite of armes he procured from him by meanes of one of his people licence to come and speake with him Hereupon purposely he went to Dibria carying with him very rich presents where Scanderbeg at that time did soiourne with his campe After mutuall greeting and salutations past betweene them he tooke occasion to begin his speeches vpon the great benefits and commodities which ensue of peace vpon that concerning which he had before time treated with him so by a long circuit of words he endeuored to alter his mind and to perswade him to yeeld to his request Afterwards giuing him to vnderstand the particular desire which he had to be in his good grace and fauour he came to the end and conclusion of his speech wherein he oftentimes repeated and sounded it in his eares how goodly and pleasant a thing it would be to see those two great and puissant Princes conioyned and vnited in amity and concord Scanderbeg would not with discurtesie reiect the gifts of the Barbarian but accepting them very graciously did returne him other in counter change of no lesse value And as touching that which he propounded vnto him concerning the league of peace with his Maister he made him this answer as it were in choler and discontentment So suspected quoth he is the faith so captious and deceiptfull is the demeanour of Mahomet towardes vs that we can hardly digest and endure any speeches of his friendship amitie It is not long since that we had an Ambassade froÌ„ him by which we vnderstood the summe of his demaunds and we returned him againe with such conditions as we thought meet and conuenient for the honor and profit of the estate of Albany whereupon we expected his answer for as touching other matters he was at libertie to follow his owne will and pleasure but whilest that we rested in this expectation and that the treatie remained in suspence on either partie and though we in the meane time had layed aside our armes yet did he so despise and contemne vs that he thought vs vnworthy of any answer which he ought not to haue done to his mortal enemy Wherfore touching this motion of peace which thou hast propounded we are not minded to heare any further speeches but as concerning thy selfe in particular if there be any thing wherein we make any offers of curtesie to our enemy in
mentioned He held on his course and in an instant subdued Sinope the countrey where Mithridates was both borne and buried and all the Prouince of Paphlagonia and with the like course and successe of victorie hauing planted his Campe both by sea and by land before the city of Trebisonde and hauing pressed and forced it with extreame fury in the end he obtained both the citie and all the royall treasures and riches within it taking prisoner also the Emperour of Trebizond named Dauid and his two sonnes whom most cruelly he caused to be put to death And after he had reduced these Realmes into seuerall Prouinces and added them to the rest of his conquests he bent his puissaunce against Piramet King of Caramania whom he ouercame in battell taking from him many townes and cities in Cilicia and as touching Greece before that time of these expeditions in Asia he entred with force of armes into Peloponnesa commonly called Morea and depriued the Paleologues of the principality of that Prouince by the dissention of the two bretheren Thomas and Demetrius This done he being enformed that the Venetians had restored the wall of Hexamile a worke and building of great antiquity he laied waste and desolate the countrey of Coron and Modon and by sodaine irruption ouerrunning it with foure score thousand horse after he had defeated the Venetians in a bloudy battell and thrust them out of all Morea he appropriated the same vnto him selfe and ouerthrew the wall before mentioned from the very foundation laying it euen with the earth whereas from time of antiquity it had enclosed the* Isthmus or straight of Corinth which is a narrow space of land running about fiue or sixe miles from the Mediterrane sea to the Arche Pelagus or sea of AEgeum Hereby now you may gather and coniecture that this fortunate Prince by this his vsurpation of all these countreis and estates did not a litle encrease the greatnesse of his forces and puissaunce For the countrey of Peloponnesa is the most principall and chiefest part of Greece both for the nobility and the puissaunce of those nations and peoples which did once inhabite it And if we will but behold and contemplate onlie the site and situation thereof it will soone make shew that it deserued the principality and Empire of all Greece by reason that it hath many goodly gulâ—es many points and promontories many great and proude cities and magnificall Prouinces as Achaia Messenia Laconia or Lacedemon Argolica and Arcadia which is seated as it were in the middest of the countrey This Monarch whose hopes did aime at nothing else then the dominion and Empire of the vniuersall world being now puffed vp in pride and growing insolent by the happy successe of those his conquests began to haue recourse to his wonted and former attempts which was to inuade and ouerrunne Scanderbeg thinking to haue oppressed and broken him to nothing For it grieued him exceedingly that this onely man should extend the glory of his triumphes so neare vnto him and should as it were braue him euen vnder his nose Wherefore leuying an army of 20000. men he committed the charge thereof to Sinam one of his Saniackes whom de dispatched away sodainly and speedily to the intent he should surprize and take Scanderbeg at an aduantage and vnprouided But the Prince of Albany standing alwaies vpon his gard had after his returne to Croy in very good time dispersed abroad his espials and renued his intelligencers neare about the Sultan in such sort that he was aduertised of the intent and drift of the Sultan so fitly and timely that both he had the leisure to leauy an army and was the first that tooke the field Notwithstanding he kept himselfe close and in couert attending the approach of the Saniacke whereof as soone as he had notice he marched on against him all the whole night in the darke whereof and vnknown to his aduersary with 8000 fighting men both horse and foote he seized vpon the mountaine of Mocrea and there quietly expected the comming of Synam for there lay his way and that was the place by which he was of necessity to passe There did hetake him so vnprouided and set vpon him so sodainly that he easily defeated both him and all his army and that with so notable a slaughter and butcherie that more then two third parts of them lay dead vpon the place all their ensignes and all their baggage became a prey vnto the Christians who enioyed it as the reward for their paines and trauell Their Generall had much adoe to saue himselfe from the fury and heat of the slaughter by the speedinesse of his flight those which yeelded them selues prisoners and whose liues were saued were redeemed for money the which together with the other spoile the Prince of Albany freely left vnto his souldiers About the same time had the Ottoman Emperour sent an other Turke one of his Chieftaines also named Assambeg with another armie of 30000. men against Scanderbeg who hauing gotten somewhat of this side of Ocrida was made to yeeld so good an account of his voyage that being vanquished or rather vtterly broken and wholy oppressed in one onely battell his fortune was such that he had good experience aswell of the curtesie clemencie of his enemy as of his martiall force and fury For as this Turke was furiously and valiantly fighting in that battell the gardes of his body being all slaine and his sides left all open his horse sore hurt though not deadly himself was also wounded in the right arme with an arrow In this hard plight difficultie of all things being both confounded and discouraged aswell by the remembrance of this fresh discomfiture as by the griefe of his wound and which more troubled him being ouertaken with the darknes of the night but badly accoÌ„panied for euery man as the present danger aduised him had withdrawen themselues out of the way standing more in feare of their enemies then of the discoÌ„modities of their way in the darke of the night did keepe themselues close and secret In this anguish I say griefe both of body and of minde was Assambeg retired rested himselfe vpon a little mountaine or rather in a thicke wood not farre from the borders of the Christians and about foure myles from their campe in a countrey altogether vnknowen vnto him and where he was wholy ignoraunt of all the wayes pathes and passages How be it he stayd not there long ere he was discouered by the vigilancie of the souldiours of the Albanois for that one of them who had bene sent before day to discouer to make search ouer all the coast hauing diligently surueyed all places came speedely vnto his Captaine and acquainted him with the whole matter onely in this one point was he deceaued in that by reason of the shadow of the place the thicknes of the
thou hast wrought any great dammage to our crowne and dignitie by wasting and spoyling of our fields so insolently and by the chasing and dryuing away of our beasts and cattell after the guise and manner of theeues freebooters rather then of true worthie souldiers And yet for my part I repute it no iniurie nay I can be content that thou go forward in doing the like and that thou doe continue and holde on still thy courses and inuasions if so be thou thinke it meete and conuenient For I protest vnto thee I do more prize and set by thy friendship and amitie then any thing whatsoeuer which is most deere vnto me because as thou knowest I haue alwayes loued and highly affected thee and as often as I recall to minde our tender age and the yeares of our youth wherein we were nourished and brought vp together in the court of Amurath I cannot chuse I assure thee but acknowledge my selfe to be thy debtour in all possible meanes wherein I may any way pleasure thee Wherefore my good friend Scanderbeg I doe hartely pray thee and earnestly entreat thee that we may renew our former couenants and that we may once againe reconfirme the peace with a solemne and mutuall oath betweene vs which course if we had heretofore taken or had thought vpon it in our first treatie I am sure thou wouldest neuer haue suffered thy selfe to be seduced and lead away by the Venetians This if thou wilt nowe doe at my request and wilt giue credit vnto me as I hope thou wilt I sweare and protest vnto thee that both thou and thy posteritie shalt raigne peaceably quietly and in good securitie and assurance continually otherwise beleeue me and be thou sure thou wilt repent it speedily thou knowest the greatnesse of my puissance against the which I would wish thee to be well aduised and to consider throughly whether thou be able to resist or not neither thy neighbours nor thy friendes the Venetians canne protect and defend thee from the iust violence of my anger wrath and furie Doest not thou see the Greekes how they are all destroyed and consumed away to nothing The Emperour of Trebisond whom we haue despoyled and depriued of his empire The Princes of the Rascians and Triballians how they are rooted out and subuerted the Illyrians broken and wasted and all the realmes of Asia with many other Princes tamed and subdued Hearken therfore to our counsell ô Scanderbeg be thou stable and constant in thy word and promise so shalt thou be sure to prosper and it shall goe well with the we haue committed the care of this busines to Mustapha to whom thou needest not doubt to giue assured faith and credit Farewell from our imperiall city the seuenth of May in the yeare of the generation of Iesus 1463. These letters being perused and read Scanderbeg returned an aunswer from his campe by other letters in the fiue and twentieth of the same moneth wherein after a summarie and briefe recollection of the principall points of the Ottoman letters in the first place was contained that the Sultan ought not to thinke it strange if the Albanois had sought a iust reuenge of their wrongs vpon his countrey and subiects seeing the lawes rights of war were equall and indifferent for both of them that there was no cause of maruell if the Albanois as well as his owne subiectes had sought by a certen military kind of licentiousnes as himselfe did before excuse them in that sort to reuenge an old inâ—â—â—y not to offer him any new wrong but as good husbands had prouided for their owne estate had recompenced one dammage for another That although his people were vehemently incensed at the iniury offred them yet he would neuertheles haue restrained them from ouerrunning inuading his borders if he for his part had shewed himselfe willing either to make full restitution recompence of that which had bene taken destroyed or else if he had chasâ—â—â—ed the licentiousnes of his souldiers as he ought to haue done And whereas in regard of the particular loue and good opinion which he had of him he did impute the whole fault of the renuing of the warre to no other then to the Venetians he did wrongfully slander them for that there was not any likelihood or probability that they should go about to seduce him and to make them enemies seeing that the Venetian common weale is of sufficient puissance by themselues alone whensoeuer they see cause not onely to compare and contend with him marmes but also to surmount and excell him And as touching the perswasions which he vsed vnto him to leaue their friendshippe he had litle reason to perswade him to that matter seeing himselfe knew very well that the amitie betwene them was verie ancient and of long continuance whereof it seemed he had small or no regard when notwithstanding the same he had not forborne to waste and destroy their country possessions in Morea but had chased them in a manner cleane out of all to the great preiudice and contempt of the accord and peace betwene them As for those vaine magnificall titles of Emperour of the Orient and Occident in which he seemed so to glorie and boast himselfe herecounted vnto him infinite Prouinces and Realmes who had scarce as yet heard of the bare name of Mahomet put the case which God defend that all were brought vnder the yoke of his subiection and that his Dominions did extend euen to the maine Ocean yet ought not he for all that to be so puffed vp in glorie and to exalt himselfe about others but he was rather to looke into the reuolution and inconstancie of worldly things and to take an example by the Assirians who were once the Monarches of the whole world and by the Medes the Persians the Greekes and last of all the Romanes yea by Tamberlain himselfe who was euen of late yeares the proud and mightie King of the Tartarians the scourge of the race of Ottoman the terror of nations all which notwithstanding were now consumed and extinguished by the extinguisher of Kingdomes Empires and Nations euen the finger of the great God That he therefore ought to acknowledge himselfe to be but an earthly mortall creature and the vassall and slaue of fortune and that he was not to put his trust confidence in his innumerable legions huge armies the which oftentimes as is to be seene by the testimony of many histories are confounded and ouerthrowen by those which are much lesser and farre inferior vnto them and that therefore neither he nor any other Chieftaine howe great and fortunate soeuer could iustly merit any true praise or commendation till such time as he should see himselfe euen entred into his triumph That in vaine he did solicit him to renue the friendship and alliance betweene them so notably was his faith suspected vnto him so odious was his acquaintance Last of
Despot to Amurath against Scanderbeg VVarre determined against Scanderbeg Letters of Amurath to Scanderbeg Airadin â— gent for Amurath with Scanderbeg Subiectes of Scanderbeg willing to haue peace with the Turkes Sentence Scanderbeg excepteth against the messenger and peace of Amurath Sentence Subiects of Scanderbeg resolued to holde warres with Amurath Letters of Scanderbeg to Amurath Sentence Sentence Amurath his scorneful and despâ—tefull speaches vpon the receipt of ScaÌ„derbeg his letters Ferisey sent against Scanderbeg by Amurath Varietie of opinions touching Amurath his profession of a religious life Haly Bassa gouernour of Mahomet the sonne of Amurath Amurath made his last end before Croy Ferisey cometh into Epire. The valley of Mocrea Battell of Mocrea against Ferisey Victory of Scanderbeg against Ferisey Sentence Sentence Old age naturally saint and timerous Mustapha sent against Scanderbeg with an Army of 15000. Turks Mustapha enskonseth his army in the borders of Macedony Scanderbeg marcheth against Mustapha with an army of 5000. men The speeches of a peasant wounded by the Turkes vnto Scanderbeg Oration of Scanderbeg to his soldiers consulting with theÌ„ vpoÌ„ the maner how to assaile Mustapha Good necessary counsell in time of seruice Sentence Scanderbeg assaileth the Turkes within their fort and trenches Couetousnes naturally in the Turkes Victorie of Scanderbeg against Mustapha Lech or Luke Zacharie Lord of the towne of Dayna vpoÌ„ the riuer of Drinon in Albanie Desire of dominioÌ„ a disease naturally growing in men Sentence Lech Zacharie murthered He meaneth the Gouernour of Scutary or Scodra The antiquitie named it Chalcedon afterwards Scodra now Scutarie Mustapha excuseth his ouerthrow vnto Amurath Sentence Aduerse fortune maketh men wearie of warres Mustapha sent with another armie against Scanderbeg for the defence of the Turkish confines Warre between Scanderbeg the Venetians The causes of the warre betweene Scanderbeg and the Venetians The siege of Daina The Venetians prouide for the reliefe of Dayna against Scanderbeg Lech Dusman Peter Span against Scanderbeg Driuasta Sentence Scanderbeg marcheth against the Venetian arâ—ie Daniell Iurich he was Voiuada or gouernor of Scutarie The oration of Iurich Generall of the Venetian armie Sentence The oration of Scanderbeg to his armie The affection of the souldiers of Scanderbeg after his oration Order of the armie of the Albanoys Order of the armie of the Venetians Colla Humoy Volcathagne The battell betweene the Venetians and Scanderbeg Encouragement of Moses to his soldiers Sentence The victory of Scanderbeg ouer the Venetians The liberall and free answer of the Danians to Scanderbeg Sentence Scanderbeg his curtesie and magnanimity to the Venetian captiues Andrew Humoi Simon Volcathagne prisoners to Scanderbeg Baleze The mount Sardonikor Marraâ—ay Surscodâ—a Baleze reedified and fortified by Scanderbeg Amese and Marin Span. Gouernours of Baleze Driuasta Amese purposeth to surprise Driuasta Marin Span his speech to Amese Sentence Answere of Amese to Marin Span. Amese marcheth to surprize Driuasta The Oraticâ— of Andrew Angell to the Driuastines Driuastines their valiant exploites against their enemies Driuastines sally forth of Driuasta against Amese Conflict between the Driuastines and Amese Amese spoileth the countrey about Driuasta The Towne of Driuasta Antibara Scituation of Driuasta Helena the wife of Negmana king of the Misians Scanderbeg reproueth Amese for his temerity Speeches of Amese vpon the reproach of his vncle The letters of Amurath to Mustapha The Scutariâ—s go against Baleze Marin Spaâ— forsaketh Baleze Baleze razed by the Scutarians The coÌ„plaint of Amese The proceedings of the warre betweene Mustapha and Scanderbeg Oronochea The number of Scanderbegs forces against Mustapha Order of Scanderbeg his armie against Mustapha The combat of Paule Manessey and Caragusa Paul Manessey encouraged by Scanderbeg to the combat Speeches of Caragusa to Paul Manessey Answere of Paul Manessey to Caragusa Paul Manessey killeth Caragusain combat He is rewarded by Scanderbeg Oration of Scanderbeg to his souldiers The battell betwene Mustapha and Scanderbeg Paul Manessey assailed by the Turkes Speeches of Paul Manessey to the Turks as they fled The dewse of the Turkes in their ensignes Mustapha Generall of the Turkes taken prisoner The victory of the Christians Scanderbeg is pensiue for the razing of Baleze Scanderbeg spoileth the territorie of the Scutarians in reuenge of the razing of Baleze Mustapha the other prisoners ransomed for 25000 Ducketes The constancie of the Daynians A treatie of peace betwene Scanderbeg the Venetians Conditions of peace offered to Scanderbeg Busegiarpeni being a part of the Demesnes of Scutarie extending from the riuer Drynon towards Scutarie and lying more conueniently for Scanderbeg then the towne of Dayna Oration of Scanderbeg vnto the Venetian ambassadors vpon the conclusion of peace betwene them Bossa Peace proclaimed betweene the Venetiant and Scanderbeg Scanderbeg leauing the siege of Daina marcheth to the spoile of the Turkish territorie The Turkish territory Scanderbegs treasurie Scanderbeg huposteritie made free of the citie of Venice and appointed gouernour and lieutenant generall of the Venetian territories in Epire. Amurath consulteth with his counsell concerning the warre against Scanderbeg Visiers the Councellours of the great Turk Orat on of Amurath to his councellours for the warre to be vndertaken against Scanderbeg Sentence Amurath resulued in person to warre vpon Sâ—an lerbâ—â— maketh preparations to that effect Secresie of the Turke in concealing his counsels The policie of the Turkes to oppresse the Christians Scanderbeg maketh prouisson of resistance against the Turkes Scanderbeg ordereth his forces against the inuasion of the Turkes Scanderbeg remoueth old persons women children out of the citie Question If better that women and children should be excluded or retayned in a towne besieged A notable description of the lamentation of the Croians vppon their departure out of the city Scanderbeg prouideth victuals armour and munition for the warâ— Vranocontes gouernour of Croy. EncoragemeÌ„t of Scanderbeg to the Croians who instructeth them how to demeane theÌ„ selues against the Turkes The strongâ— siâ—tuation of the city of Croy. Scanderbeg issued from Croy to the Campe. Moses ioyneth with Scanderbeg with his Regiment Sfetigrade fortified by Moses Peter Perlat gouâ—rnâ—ur of Sfetigrade The oration of Castriot vnto the citizens of Sfetigrade The strength of Sfetigrade Amurath leauieth a mighty army against Scanderbeg Amurath consulteth with his Bassaes for the maÌ„er of the proceedings of the wars against Scanderbeg Alcanzi aduenturers without pay Amurath sendeth part of his army before to besiege Sfetygrade The order and diuision of the Turke his armie Flambur Saniacke a Colonell of horsemen Timariot a horseman Subassides a leader of horsemen Spachi Sulastari Vlufagi Ianissari A Turkish stratagemâ— Beillerbey The number of the Turkes forces ScaÌ„derbeg visiteth and encourageth all parts within his prouince The Turkes inuade Epire. Scanderbeg with 5000. meÌ„ against the enemie Scanderbeg goeth to suruey the campe and countenance of the enemie Scanderbeg cosâ—lteth vpoÌ„ the manner of assayling the enemie A notable stratageme of Sâ—aÌ„derbeg practized against the