the youngest Son of John Huniades their great Captain deceased who not much inferiour to his Father in valour and success in Arms gave the Infidels many a fatal overthrow with the Loss of many of their Armies and gave great hopes to the Christians that he would as indeed he did prove a Bulwark to Christendom Whilst things thus passed Mahomet desirous to revenge himself of Scanderbeg fent Ballabanus with a great Army to invaide his Territories whom Scanderbeg charging furiously overthrew him but Moses and others of his Captains contrary to the command of their General in the heat of fight following their Enemies into the straights of the Mountains where fallen into an Ambush for that purpose layed they were taken Prisoners and carryed to Constantinople by those they had before Vanquished wherewith Sanderbeg sent to desire that he might Ransom them but the crafty Tyrant knowing how much he was weakned by such a loss caused them Cruelly to be flain alive and soon after sent Jacup Bassa with a great Army with whom the renowned Prince ingaging slew him hand to hand and put to the Sword a great part of his Army upon news of which Mahomet mad with Anger raised an Army of 200000 men thinking to overrun the Country but in vain for having a long time layn Siege to Croia and there by the furious Sallies of the Garrison and onsets of Scanderbeg lost near half his men together with Ballabanus his General he with great shame and confusion returned to Constantinople But as all things must yield to Fate so our invincible Champion whom no mortal hand could subdue wearyed with the Toils of a tedious War coming to Lyssa a City of the Venetians fell Sick and calling the Venetian Embassador to him he discovered to him what a troublesome Life he had lived and by what means the War was to be maintained recommending to him the care of his Wife and Children appointing the Venetians the Guardians of his Son till such time he came of Age and in the mean while to secure for him the Kingdom of Epirus admonishing him to be faithful and as much as in him lay to maintain peace and unity Then calling his Wife and Son told them that he must leave the World and exchange this Life for one more durable and willed her that after his death she should pass over into Apulia and there to live upon the inheritance given him by King Ferdinand and then after some devout Prayers gave up the Ghost Anno. 1466. in the 63 year of his Age and 24 of his Reign to the great grief of the Christian Princes and joy of the Turks whose Armys his very name had frequently put to flight After his death he was with great Solemnity buryed in the Cathedral Church at Lyssa where he rested till about 9 years after at what time the Turks taking the City dug up his Bones and happy was he that could get the smallest piece which they wore about them ever after as inestimable Jewels superstitiously imagining that whilst they had them about u'm Scanderbeg's fortune would attend u'm and that they should be invincible Not long after the Death of this renowned Soldier the Hungarians under the leading of their young King seized upon the Kingdom of Bosna and soon rent it from the Turkish Empire demolishing the Castles and driving away the Garrisons placed there by Mahomet at what time the Venetians being abroad with a great fleet of Gallies took divers Cities from the Turks burnt many Villages and carryed away 2000 Captives into the Country of Euboea now called Nigroponte which so inraged Mahomet that he prepared a great Army to invade that Country and recover the spoil in order to effect which he sent Mahomet Bassa with a fleet of 300 Gallies whilst himself with a great Army Marched overland with which the Venetian Admiral not daring to ingage it arrived safe where the Turks landing took Stora Basasilicon and Marching to Chalcis joyned with the Emperors Army who with small Vessels and other Materials made a Bridge over the straight or narrow Sea which divides Euboea from Achaia straightly besieging it both by Sea and Land and with his Cannon for 4 days battered the City incessantly being given to understand by the chief Cannoneer of the 〈◊〉 whom he had bribed which was the weakest part insomuch that in the end several large 〈…〉 made yet was the City so manfully 〈…〉 the Turks could not enter and every day 〈…〉 Turks forced to make a new Battery for such part of the Wall as was in the Day time beaten down which the Citizens in the Night repaired and at length coming to understand the Tretchery of their Gunner hanged him up as a reward of his Tretchery Mahomet perceiving the valor of the defendants resolved after his having rent the Wall with his Cannon in divers places and thirty Days besieged the City to give a general assault with all his power at what time the Venetian Admiral came in sight of the City with his Fleet but would not tho his Captains urged either Fight with Turkish Gallies or endeavour to break the Bridge the which had he done he had shut up Mahomet and all his forces in the Island where through Famine and other necessities he might have greatly distressed him This Cowardice of the Admiral for which he and all his Family was afterwards Banished by the Signory of Venice being perceived by the Turks they gave a furious assault on all parts and were so stoutly repulsed that they with their dead filled up the Trenches and Breaches but their number still increasing and continuing the assault a whole day and a night without intermission the Citizens at last being 3 parts of them Slain and wounded the remaining part retired to the Market and there upon the Turks entering Fought it out to the last man selling their Lives at a dear rate amongst whom many Women disguised in men's apparel Fighting couragiously were Slain The City being thus gained at the price of 40000 Turks Lives the Barbarous Tyrant commanded all that were found therein to be put to the Sword which Paulus Ericus the Governour understanding with his Wise Daughter and trusty Friends betook himself to the Castle who capitulated that upon the surrender of the Castle himself and his Friends should have their Lives and Liberties Granted them which the Tyrant solemnly Swore to but having gotten them in his power made at the great loss he had sustained in winning the City he caused the Governour and all but his Daughter to be presently Slain reserving the young Lady as the only Mirror of Beauty to satiate his lust but she disdaining the Tyrants promises and reviling him for his wicked purposes rather desiring Death then to lose her Chastity by becoming his prostitute he caused her even in his presence to be cruelly put to Death and then proceeded to subdue the other Cities of the Island who terrified with the fate of Chalcis surrendered
that the Venetian Territories should be certainly known and seperated from the Turks by certain Bounds or Limits These conditions were Solemnly concluded on and confirmed both by Bajazet and the Senate of Venice and so affirmed Peace concluded in Anno 1503 after the Wars had continued between them for the space of 5 years Peace concluded with the Venetians Bajazet raised a great Army intending to invade Hungary but having been often foiled by that warlike Nation he changed his mind and Marched to suppress the insurrection in Albania a part of his Territory which done as he was returning a Derviller which is a Phantastical kind of a beggarly Turkish Monk using no other apparel but two Sheep Skins the one hanging before and the other behind who coming up to him as if he would have asked an Almes with a short Cimiter strock at him and beat him from his Horse and being about to redouble his blow had certainly dispatched him had not Ishender Bassa come in and with his Horsemans Mace struck the Varlet dead who afterwards by the Soldiers was hewn in pieces this treacherous and desperate act so moved Bajazet that he proscribed all them of that Superstitious order and banished them out of his Empire Bajazet after the incessant toiles of War resolving to repose himself committed the Management of his great Affairs to his 3 Bassa's viz. Alis Achmetes Kinsman to him that was slain and Jachia who having got the Reins of Empire in their hands for the space of 5 years suffered things to run into such disorder by regarding their private profit more then the publick good that a great part of the Lesser Asia was in an uproar by the means of Chasan Chelife and Schach Culi or Techellis two Persian Imposters who set the Multitude a madding by spreading a new fangled Doctrine more wicked then that of Mahomet their pretended Prophet To quench this Flame that began dreadfully to blaze into a Rebellion Bajazet was forced to rouse from his Lair yet the Doctrine could not nor is it to this day extirprated for being persecuted by Bajazet they fled into Persia and there pretending themselves to be the true Successor of Mahomet the Imposter and that none but they knew his Will and that those that believed not in their Doctrine should never Injoy any happiness after this Life with a deal of such ridiculous Cant they so besotted Asymbeiuâ—Vsun Cassanes the Persian King that he had to the first Author of this Doctrine viz. one Haider who was Master of these Disciples given his Daughter Martha in Marriage but he dying and his Son Jacup succeeding him in the Kingdom began to have his Brother-in-Law in suspition by reason of the multitude that followed him upon the account of his pretended Sanctity Insomuch that he caused him secretly to be murthered and raised a great Persecution against those that imbraced his Doctrine yet this Haider left a Son which he had by Martha his Wife named Hysmael who afterward became a Sophy of Persia as will appear in his Wars with Selymus Bajazet's Son and Successor but upon the Persecution raised by Jacup Son to Vsun Cassanes the two aforesaid Disciples of Haider fled to Armenia and there dwelling in Rocks began to tell Fortunes and other strange things which made the Rusticks suppose them men more then ordinarily inspired Insomuch that they gathered about them in great numbers insomuch that they came out of their Iurking Holes into walled Towns and taught boldly During the spreading of this Doctrine Hysmael the Son of Haider being grown to mans Estate and his Uncle Jacup dead he by the Aid of such as favoured his Fathers Doctrine won the Kingdom of Armenia and after that overthrowing Eluan the Persian King Son to his Uncle Jacup in a pitched Battle wherein the said King was slain he took Possession of all his Grand-fathers Dominions and from that time was called the great Sophy of Persia being afterward exceedingly beloved of his Subjects This Hysmale was no sooner Established in his Kingdom but he Established to his Power his Fathers Doctrine which Chusan Chelife and Techellis perceiving and understanding the unlooked for success of their Masters Son they resolved not to be Idle but to try their Fortune likewise Whereupon gathering a great number of their Proselytes in Arms they wasted again the Countries in the lesser Asia and being incouraged thereto by Hysmale with Promise of great Succours they set down before the City of Iconium sending out their Proclamations strictly to injoyn all the People thereabout to imbrace their Doctrine threatning them otherwise with Death and Confiscation of Goods which wrought such Terror in the Peasants that they had many of them joyned with them so that within a while their number was increased from 10 to 50000. Whereupon Orchanes and Mahomites two of Bajazets Nephews gathering what Forces they could Sallyed out of the City against them but were put to flight with the loss of most of their Men Corcutus also one of Bajazets Sons and then Governour of Thyatria Sypilus Magnesia and Phocia having leavyed a great Army durst not nevertheless to give them Battle but waited the coming of Caragoses Bassa who was raising great Forces in Cappadocia and Pontus having sent his Command to Achmetes one of Bajazets Sons to do the like but e'r he had gathered a sufficient Power the pretended Prophets came upon him put such Forces as he had to the Rout and forced Caragoses then Vice-Roy of Asia for his safety to fly into the City of Cutaie near unto the Mountain Horminius situate in the middle of the lesser Asia which City they besieged took by force and in it the Vice-Roy his Wife and Children putting most of the Citizens to the Sword and from thence marched to besiege the great City of Prusa but in their way hearing that Alis Bassa was come out of Europe with great Power and followed hard upon them they retreated and passed another way to avoid joyning with the Turks in the plain Ground of which the Bassa having Notice and dispairing to overtake them with his Footmen chose out 8000 of his swiftest Horse leaving Achmetes with the rest of the Army after a tedious March he fell in with their Rear Whereupon Techellis who was chosen General of the Rebels put his men in Battle Array when taking the most advantagious Ground he stayed the coming of the Turkish Horse who charged him in the Front with great Fury but wanting Foot to second them in so Hilly a Country were driven back which the Bassa perceiving drew forth 1000 Harquebusiers who served as Foot to oppose the Front whilst the Horse Charged on the right and left Wings of the Enemies Army which was performed with such Bravery that Techellis's Men gave Ground and in the Rear broke and disordered their own Ranks when Chelife one of the Impostors fighting desperately was slain But Techellis coming with fresh supplies restored the Battle to break which Alis
Hysmael fought by the violence of which such a slaughter was made as well of his own men as of the Enemies mingled together that what for the dust smoak and thundering of the Artillery having on both sides lost their sight and hearing the Persian horse were so terrified that they were not to be ruled wherefore the battle soon became broken and disordered so that both Armies retired upon the Approach of night leaving the Victory doubtful The Turks to express the terror of this day number it amongst their dismal ones calling it the only day of Doom Hysmael in this furious battle having received a wound under the left Shoulder with a small shot by the perswasion of his friends withdrew himself to have his wound search'd which past doubt was the safeguard of Selymus and his Army for the Persians following their King left the Victory almost gotten but the Persian finding his wound not mortal was about to return but hearing of the Death of Vsta Ogli his General a man of Great experience and that by reason of the Thundering of the great Ordnance his Horsemen could not rule their Horses he caused the retreat to be sounded and so retired in good order the Turks so much dispairing of Victory that they durst not follow him and so he passing by the City of Tauris admonished the Inhabitants to open their gates to Selymus thereby to avoid being sacked and so Marched into the Confines of Media The Persians out of sight the Turks then and not till then durst seize upon their Camp where they found divers rich Pavilions wrought with Needle-Work and Gold as also many beauteous Ladies who had accompanied their Husbands to the Wars all which he presently caused to be set at liberty unless one of Hismaels Wives whom he gave in Marriage to one of his Bassas In this Battle fought in the Galderan Fields near the City of Coy Anno 1514. Selymus lost 30000 of his men and amongst them many Bassas and great Commanders even all the flower of his Army which consisted of 300000 Horse and Foot of the Persians there fell not above 8000 Hysmaels Army not consisting of above 30000 so that the Turks were 8 to 1 And amongst the slain were found the Bodies of several Persian Women who Armed had accompanied their Husbands to participate of their good or evil fortune at which Selymus admiring caused them to be Honourably interred and then received the Embassadors of the several adjacent Cities who upon condition their Goods Lives and Liberties might be preserved delivered up the Keys of their respective Cities so that having taken possession thereof he called a Council of his Bassas and great Captains to consult what was best to be done himself being desirous to Winter in Tauris for opposing which Mustapha his chief Bassa was by him disgraced and thrust from all his honours of which the Janizaries having notice began to Mutiny telling him to his face they would not stay in that desolate Country where they had suffered such hardship daily to be exposed to the fury of the Enemy who was raising great forces to come down against them and that if he would not in time depart they were resolved to forsake him whereupon he as needs must changed his former determination resolving to return into Cappadocia whereupon contrary to his Promise exacting a great Mass of Money from them of Taurus and carrying with him 3000 families the best Artificers in that City especially those that were Skilfull in making Armour he raised his Camp and Marched towards Euphrates a longer way then that by which he came fearing to return again by the head of Araxis and the Mountains of Periardes lest he should meet the Iberian and Albanian Horsemen who as he was informed were following hard after him who indeed came within sight of him as he was passing the Euphrates which raised such consternation in his Camp that in hastily passing the River 2000 Turks were drowned and a great many of his Ordnance together with much Baggage left as a Prey to the Persians nor had he better Success in passing the Huge Mountain Anti-Taurus for the Mountain Kings despising him by reason of his bad proceedings with their savage People lay'd all the ways and by frequently falling upon the Rear of his Army killed many of his People and took great spoil though the Kings upon his sending to complain thereof excused the matter promising to punish the offenders so soon as they should be known At length passing the many dangers he came to Amasa where he wintered with his broken and crazed Army resolving to return the next spring with a far greater Power the cause why Hismael being Lord of such great Countries came with so small a Power was for that he to win the Hearts of his People the better to be established in his new acquired Kingdom had remitted most of the Taxes and Customs formerly pay'd to his Prodecessors all his forces consisting in the Souldiers of the Court those that were by right bound to serve him and such as were sent to him by the petty Princes his Neighbours when as on the other side Selymus had always by him an Inestimable Mass of Money kept in seven Towers in Constantinople his yearly tributes and revenues exceeding his expences by a fourth part Selymus not thinking himself sufficiently revenged of the Persians having reised his Camp at Amasa Early in the Spring passing the Euphrates with his whole Army consisting of 300000 Horse and Foot came before Clamassum a City of the Persians situate on the further Banks which he so suddenly invested and so furiously assaulted that the Gates being broken up and the Walls in many places won the defendants retired into the Market-place and there fought against the whole Power of Selymus to the last man after the taking of this City he took two Castles not far distant from it and being pricked forward with the desire of Glory purposed to have subdued the Kingdom of Persia which he might the easier have done by reason Hysmael was Waring against the Bactrians and Hyrcanians a savage People dwelling near the Caspian Sea who had Rebelled against him but considering what damage he had received from Aladeules the Mountain King and others inhabiting the Desolate Countries at the entrance into Armenia he purposed e're he further proceeded to subdue him wherefore he Marched thitherward with all his People of which the poor Prince having notice gathered all his strength and drawing his Horsemen who were but 15000 into a pleasant Valley commanded his Footmen to keep the Mountains and from thence with shot of Arrows annoy the Turks in passing the straights upon which Selymus considering the disadvantage of the place commanded Sinan Bassa General of the European Horsemen to charge him with a square Battle afront whilst himself with the Janizaries and Asian Horsemen followed him in the Rear the Ground by reason of its Scantiness not admitting the use of Wings upon
daring to pursue the retiring Georgians for fear of being drawn into an Ambush they easily found means to escape and the Bassa the like to relieve Teflis and with the same facility to return to the Camp which by this time began to be sorely oppressed with Famine insomuch that a bushel of Wheat was sold for 100 Ducates which caused the Camp to rise and march towards the Countrey of Mustaffa formerly called Manucchiar the Georgian Prince who now revolting from the Turks took part with the other Georgian Princes but the many difficulties being apparent to the Soldiers by reason of the advancement of the Season they flatly denyed to obey his command threatning him with great mischief if he did not speedily return to Erzirum nor did they forbear to assault him in his Tent threatning him with present death if he continued to expose them to the miseries of Hunger and Cold which so that finding no means to restrain their insolency or to quiet their continual clamours but a speedy return to Erzirum he was forced to yield to their requests where arriving after a tedious march wherein he lost many of his best Souldiers he broke up the Army The Persian King hovering about Tauris and having notice of all that had passed sent away a great part of his Army an forasmuch as Emir Cham Governour of that City had neglected to oppose the Turks during their building several strong Fortresses to keep the passages of the straits nor assisted him as he ought he caused his Eyes to be put out and himself to be cast into prison where shortly after he died of grief and made Aliculi Cham who a little before had escaped from the Turks Camp Governour in his stead About this time the League between Amurath and Râ—dolphus the German Emperour by reason of some Hostilities committed between their Subjects had like to have ended but upon more mature consideration of what had passed and reparation on the part of the Aggressors for dammages sustained it was again renewed for the space of 8 years after which Ferat Bassa upon the complaint of the great Captains falling into disgrace with Amurath he was deposed from his trust of General and Osman Bassa Governour of Sirvan who for his many victories over the Tartars was become famous appointed General in his stead and made chief Vizar The greatest honour that can be conferred on any person by the Ottoman Emperors And now Amurath casting in his mind the subduing of Tauris caused a great Army to be raised and the better to make the Persian neglect the Fortifying of that City caused it to be bruted that he intended to invade Nassivan but whilst these preparations were intended against the Persians the Villany of a Venetian Captain had gone near to turn them upon the Christian the manner thus The Widow of Ramadan Bassa late Governour of Tripolis in Barbary with her Children and Servant being imbarqued in three Gallies in order to their being transported to Constantinople sailing by the mouth of the Adriatick were by contrary Winds driven into the Gulf where Petrus Emunius a Venetian Captain of the order of the Senators lying with certain Gallies set upon those before mentioned and boarded them where he exercised most barbarous cruelty as well upon the Women as the Men. For having slain the Mariners in number 250 and the Son of Ramadan a Child in his Mothers lap he caused the Women first to be Ravished and then having their Breasts cut off to be cast into the Sea nor did he exercise this cruelty upon the Turks onely but upon such Christians likewise as he found on board using such barbarity as was thought to prevent the discovery of the great Riches he found in those Gallies Yet was it afterwards made manifest by one of the Turks who during the slaughter had hid himself in the hold and was afterwards saved by a Cretian who had in like manner been formerly preserved by the said Turk who coming to Constantinople declared what had happened which so enraged Amurath that he sent to the Venetians speedily to make reparation or to expect their Frontiers to be invaded To which the Senators answered they were altogether Ignorant of what had happened but if so as the Messengers related upon enquiry reparation should be made which being found according to the relation of the Turks they caused Emus to be beheaded the Gally to be restored and to supply the loss of the slaves delivered them a like number of Turks and Moors which for that time appeased the indignation of Amurath Amurath anno 1585. having constituted Hassan Bassa the Queens Eunuch Governour of Caire afterwards casting his Eyes upon Ebraim Bassa a Sclavonian about 23 years of Age resolved to make him his Son-in-law and to raise him to a condition worthy so great an honour as to marry the Daughter of an Emperour he made him soveraign Judge of Egypt of which Hassan having notice and by reason of the suddain advancement of Ebraim doubting his safety fled to Constantinople and fell at the Emperours feet desiring to know what crime he had committed to have a Master so suddainly set over him but had no other answer then that he must to Prison where after he had continued a long time still expecting the fatal hour he was at the earnest intercession of the Empress and the great Ladies of the Court set at Liberty but all his riches seized and converted to the Emperours use Ebraim being settled in his Government of Egypt by extorting great summs of money from the Egyptians and other people subject to his rule in a short time heaped up great Riches when at the end of three years Amurath sent for him to Constantinople to Celebrate the intended Marriage charging him withal to pass through the Countrey of the Drusians a people inhabiting a large Countrey invironed with Joppa Caesaria Palestina and within the Rivers Orantes and Jordan stretching it self even to the Plains of Damasco near to the Hills that compass it about upon the Coast of Mount Libanus and are said to be the race of those Christians that seated themselves there in the time that the Princes of the West sent their Armies to subdue the Holy Land but have since bin perverted to the Mahometan Superstition and at the coming of Ebraim into those parts with his Army they were divided under many Princes of which these were the chief viz. Ebne Man of the Turks called man Ogli Serafadin Mahamet Ebne-Mansur Eben Frec and Ali Ebne-Carfus by the Turks called Ali Carfus-Ogli under whom were divers Lieutenants called their Macademi or Agents all of which except Eben Man Ogli upon the arrival of the Bassa sent him rich Presents whereupon he entering the Countrey of the said Ogli wasted it with Fire and Sword which made the rest of the Princes exceeding angry and underhand to send aid to their Compere with which incamping himself advantagiously he fell upon Veis Bassa who lead a
execution over the large Plains of Dobruc so that dispairing to appear any more formidable in the Field he fled to Constantinople where the Grand Signeour contrary to his Faith given to curry favour with Tartar Han caused him to be strangled together with his Son when not long after a Nephew of this Cautimeri killed Tartar Han as he was Hunting and by a misguiding path separated from his followers for which Treachery he was applauded at Constantinople as a man of admirable courage and upon news of Hans death caused Becher Gherey his brother to be Proclaimed King of Tartary Notwithstanding the fair Promises of Morat the Persian Ambassador was dismissed without any agreement of Articles in relation to a Peace and order given to prosecute that War with all imaginable rigor intending to go himself in person and knock at the Gates of Babylon whereupon he hung out the Horse taile a certain sign of his or the Grand Visiers taking the Field and increased the number of his Janizaries revoking a Decree he had made to the contrary commanding his Bassas upon the Christian Frontiers to give no occasion of complaint in his absence that might oblige him to retire ere he had accomplished his purpose and so with an Army of five hundred thousand Horse and Foot whereof three hundred thousand were fighting men he entered Persia about the end of May 1638. having joyned the Grand Visier with such forces as he had at Iconium and in his way overthrew a Shegh who had drawn a great number of people into Rebellion under pretence of Religion out of the Mountains of Anatolia but the Impostor escaping Morat to prevent his further attempts caused to be proclaimed that if he was not put into his hands he would destroy all the Countrey with Fire and Sword for fear of which he was discovered by those that he trusted with the knowledge of his aboad and by the Grand Signeours command flead alive and with his skin off carryed to the wheel and there broken without expressing the least sence of pain This let removed Morat passed on to oppose whose passage the Persian King took the Field with one hundred twenty thousand Horse and put 30 thousand men into Babylon with what was necessary for their subsistence but at the same time his Countrey on the other side being invaded by the great Mogul oâ— India who in favour of Morat had raised a powerful Army he did not think it convenient to give the Turks Battle but permitted them to pass the Euphrates over a Brige though not without grâ—â—t loss for the Bridge giving way under so great a weight many Men Horses and Camels perished in the Water but it being repaired the remainder of the Army attained the further Bank and in a short time came to Mosul antiently called Ninive where all the petty Princes whose Countries were near came to the Camp and tendered their Homage to the Grand Signeour bringing many rich presents and promising to become his Tributaries The Army rising from before Mosul Morat marched directly to Babylon otherwise Bagdat accounted the ancientest City in the World reported to be built by Nimrod on the Bank of the River Euphrates which he straitly besieged ordering his Batteries in three places to be raised and each Battalion to be appointed his quarter himself being attired like a private Souldier to be the less exposed to danger protesting he would never change his Cloathes unless he might do it within the Walls of Babylon and with words and gifts so incouraged the Officers and Souldiers that within three dayes the Trenches were opened himself giving Fire to the first Cannon and after that with fifty great pieces he thundered against the Walls incessantly being answered in the same Language by the Defendants who were eighty thousand fighting men four or 5 thousand of which frequently sallyed as they saw advantage making great slaughter of the Turks for the Persian had put into this important place his Souldiers of greatest courage thinking by that means to prevent its falling into the Grand Signeors hands either by their valour or protracting the time till he could be better at leasure to relieve it but notwithstanding the continual skirmishes the Turks numerous Army advanced the Trenches to the brink of the Ditches railing several redoubts to secure themselves and hinder the besieged from sallying and so effectually they wrought hat within one months space they filled up the first and second Ditches with Woolsacks Fagots and the like and then in great numbers assaulted the breaches the Cannon had made but were strenuously repulsed by the Persians who showred on them all manner of warlike instruments of death The great Visier signalizing himself above all by his undaunted courage commanding with his hand and voice was slain by a Musquet shot This fight within the breach continued for the space of five days where both parties fighting like men in despair the dead bodies lay in heaps and blood flowed like a Torrent But at length the number of Turks prevailing they under the leading of Mustapha Bassa on the 22th of December Anno Dom. 1638. entered the City and set up the Royal standard against whom notwithstanding four and twenty thousand Persians made head but quarter being offered them they readily accepted it throwing down their Armes and submitting upon the publick Faith of the Grand Signeour for their safety who contrary to his promise caused them when disarmed most barbarously to be Massacred not sparing either Man Woman or Child The taking of Babylon caused great rejoycing at Constantinople a twenty dayes Feast being thereupon proclaimed and many Ceremonies used according to the Turkish manner and the Grand Signeour having left a Garrison of thirty thousand Men in his new conquered City returned to the Port having in this Expedition lost by the Sword Famine and Pestilence one hundred thousand of his best men and himself very much afflicted with sickness Soon after his return and triumphant enterance an Ambassador arrived from Persia with proposals of Peace who being admitted to Audience and the matter afterwards referred to the Chimacam a Peace was concluded the chief Article being that Reven should remain to the Sophy and Babylon to the Grand Signeour During the Persian War the Venetians having sustained great dammage by the Pyrates of Algier and Tunis set forth a Fleet of Gallies and destroyed many of those Rovers and amongst the rest seven in the Grand Signeours Port of Valona which he highly resented but in the end was by several rich Presents pacified and the Peace renewed and soon after an Envoy extraordinary from the Emperor of Germany arrived at the Port to congratulate the Grand Signeours success in his late Persian War but not bringing such Presents as were expected he was not received with the honour due to his Character and there happening a dispute between the English Ambassador and this Envoy about precedency the Turks granted it the former being made to understand the
There is but One God and Mahomet is his Prophet one God and equal Prophets The Circumcision ended they feast three Days As for the Female Children they at eight Years old speak the same words but are not capable of Circumcision If any Christian turn Apostate and deny his Redeemer which to the loss of their Souls too many do only to avoid Taxations and Tribute they are led through the Town or City where they dwell in great Triumph many People presenting them with Gifts as they pass to encourage them to persevere in what they have undertaken And for the Men at what Age soever they are they must be Circumcised The Law of Mahomet is contained in his Alchoran wherein he confesseth One God and honoureth Jesus Christ as a great Prophet But impiously denies him to be the Son of God The Turks by their Law are forbid to worship Images or to have any placed in their Mosques The whole Series of the Alcoran being full of Fables and Fictions much like to those the Poets feigned of the Elizium-Shades indulging Men in all Sensuality during this Life and promising them a Paradise where they shall enjoy the like more perfectly after Death Their Sabbath is kept on our Fryday They keep Lent thirty Days during which space they eat nothing in the day-time but take their Repast after Sun-set abstaining from Wine and Women This Lent is called by them Ramaden They likewise observe an Easter called Bayran which continues for the space of the three Days though not always prefixed by reason they begin it in the New of the Moon They have no Bells in their Mosques neither do they suffer the Christians to have any that live amongst them When they enter the said Mosques they leave their Shooes at the Door and take them again when they return Where soever they sit or stand in their Religious Houses they have Tapestry or Mats under them as not thinking their Feet holy enough to stand in that Place during the Reading their Law and if they look back or scratch their Head till the Orizon is ended they think they have lost the Benefit they were at that time to receive by their coming thither They are not much addicted to Learning yet of late they have brought up their Children to use the Arabick Tongue in which their Law is written By this Law they have leave to marry as many Wives as they can maintain and when once any of them proves with Child her Husband may not carnally know her till she is delivered They have certain Marriages contracted during Pleasure which they call Kebin mostly practised by Strangers who may for a certain Sum of Money have the Use of a Woman during his Pleasure Yet when he turns her off if she have any Children he is bound to keep them A Turk having had to do with a Christian Woman both of them upon Conviction are to suffer Death unless she add sin to sin by renouncing her Faith The like is to be observed between a Christian and a Turkish VVoman though either Offence by bribing the Caddi's or Judges may be omitted They allow of Divorce in case of Barrenness or Incontinency The chief Interpreter of these Laws is the Muphti or Arch-Priest who is chosen by the Grand Seignior and is greatly reverenced amongst the Turks being Head of their Church and Decider of all Controversies arising in matter of their Superstitious Religion His Eminency is such that all the Bassa's are subject to his Direction He abaseth himself not so much as to sit in the Divano only passing through it when he is sent for by the Grand Seignior who at his approach riseth from his Seat an Honour not allowed to any other and then they sit together and familiarly discourse of their Affairs The next to him are the Cadilesquires or Talismen Two Doctors of the Law whose place it is to Examine the Caddi's or Judges who are dispersed throughout the Provinces of the Empire and are always attendant upon the Grand Seignior The one of them having Jurisdiction over all the European Caddi's and the other on those residing in Asia there being few Cities or great Towns in which one of the Caddi's have not their Residence there to hear and determine Matters of Controversie arising between Man and Man The Cadilesquires are likewise Soveraign Judges within their own Jurisdiction in all Causes belonging to their Religion as it were Patriarks They are of great Authority and have places in the Divano and in Council with the Bassa's consult the weighty Affairs of the Empire There is a third Degree of Church-Men not belonging to their Law called Mulli which they account their Bishops and are directed in their Affairs by the Muphti Their Office is to place and displace Church-Men as they see it convenient Another sort there are called the Nuderisi who act in the nature of Suffragans and have under them several young Doctors of the Law who are their Disciples called Naipi who are in the Absence of the Caddi's constituted to hear and redress Grievances After these are the Hagi who are employed to write their Books they in no wise allowing them to be Printed and inferior unto these are the Cassi who read unto them what they write c. These are their several Degrees of Lawyers and Church-Men for the Turks are governed by a kind of Ecclesiastical Law according to their Alchoran Many Colledges they have which they call Medressae's situate not only in Constantinople but in divers other Cities And thus Reader have I related the Suceinct Series of This History as near as can be gathered from Authors of undoubted Credit and my own Knowledge And now nothing more remains but to make known the Vastness of the Ottoman Empire which is for the most part the Subject of This History Know then that since the Reign of Ottoman first Founder of the Turkish Empire it has proudly built it self upon the Four Monarchies of the VVorld viz. the Assyrian Grecian Persian and Roman Empires for they enjoy Babylon and all Chaldea with the Kingdom of Media a great part of Persia all Greece with the Kingdom of Egypt and the greatest Part of Arabia the Islands of Cyprus Rhodes Mitylene Negropont Châ—o or Scio Candia and many others The Empire of Trepezond the Kingdoms of Colchis now called Mingrelia Tunis and Argeirs Dalmatia Illyria and Triballenia the Countries of Transylvania Wallachia Moldavia and Bulgaria A great part of Hungary and many other Countries which hold of the Empire and pay Tribute to the Grand Seignior who in Europe hath all the Sea-Coast from the Confines of Epidaurus the utmost Boundard of his Empire in Europe Westward unto the Mouth of the River Tanais now called Don with all that lieth between the City of Buda and Constantinople and Southward all the Sea-Coast from Velex or Belis the Boundard of the Kingdom of Fez unto the Arabian Gulph or Red-Sea and so proportionably every way The Greatness
between the horse and foot and so render them unserviceable to each other The Duke sent away the Baggage under a convoy of six hundred horse towards Altemberg to seize upon which the Turks advanced with a party of three thousand horse so that a sharp dispute happened till the Turks by the courage of the Imperialists were obliged to a disorderly retreat but being reinforced by eight hundred fresh horse they rallyed whereupon the Duke of Lorrain and divers great Commanders with all convenient speed advanced and the Forces on either side encreasing the fight grew hot the Imperialists behaving themselves very resolutely but especially the Duke of Lorraine who with his Regiment of Guards charged through the thickest of the enemies squadron but the Turks power still increasing and the Imperialists not being so suddenly able to pass the River as the Action required after two hours resolute fighting those that convoyed the Baggage were most of them cut in pieces and to the value of forty thousand Guilders fell to the enemy and in the whole action twelve hundred Imperialists and seventeen hundred Turks were slain amongst the former the Prince of Savoy General Rabatta the Count d'Lamberg and Prince of Aremberg after which the Imperial horse having made good their retreat passed the River and joyned their foot who could not though they were speculators of the Action come up which gave the Turks this considerable advantage and so exalted their spirits that upon receiving a new supply of eight thousand foot they besieged Raab but received such welcome from the mouthes of the murthering Cannon that they were glad to draw off when having burnt some few Villages with what plunder they had got they marched to the Grand Visiers Camp upon which reinforcement he trussed up his Tents and marched directly towards Vienna the Imperial chief City scituate in Austria on the banks of the River Danubius burning and ruining all his way insomuch that the Imperial Army being found too weak to encounter him the Duke retired with it under the walls of that City to expect the Forces of the Confederate Princes whilst Count Staremberg Governour thereof who had been abroad with a party to observe the motion of the enemy was obliged to fight his way through the Vaunt-Corriers of the Turks Army to get into the City through which likewise the Duke of Lorraine passed when he had given such necessary orders as were convenient for maintaining a strenuous siege leaving therein eighteen or twenty thousand souldiers under the command of the aforesaid Count who sallying out fired the Suburbs dislodging and killing a great number of Turks that he found there plundering the houses and upon his return calling together the Chief Citizens he admonished them to behave themselves like men against the enemies or their Countrey and Religion from whom notwithstanding the specious pretences they might make they should receive little mercy at the hands of the Infidels if they became victors he likewise with speech and large promises of reward animated his Captains and souldiers whom he found resolved to live and dye with him in the defence of that City which is the glory of the Empire protesting rather to suffer the worst extremity then hearken to any surrender The Duke of Lorraine having passed through the City with his Army incamped himself strongly near Kremps resolving there to expect the King of Poland and the Troops of the Confederate Princess which were on their march and as opportunity offered both to encourage and succour the besieged whom by this time the Visier had with his Army consisting of one hundred thousand men blocked up being the flower of the Ottoman Empire running his Trenches with great celerity though to hinder it the Cannons from the walls incessantly played and the besieged frequently sallyed killing and repulsing the Infidels following the execution even to their Camp yet the number of their Pioniers increasing they under the shelter of the night and favour of their Cannon in two dayes lodged themselves running their works to a great depth leaving the earth arch-wise thinking so to reach the walls and blow them up by springing their Mines but such diligence was used by the German Enginiers that a great number of the Infidels were buryed in their works several poysoned by the stench of dead bodied they met with in their Subterranean Progress which had been buryed in the last plague which the 〈◊〉 perceiving commanded eight thousand 〈◊〉 to lodge themselves in the ruines and 〈◊〉 from six batteries containing thirty which Cannon he caused the City to be battered 〈…〉 without intermission and having thereâ—◠〈…〉 breach near the Carinthian Gate comâ—◠〈◊〉 his men to enter who in a desperate manner came on but were so warmly received by the besieged that after three thousand were slain upon the place they were obliged to retire which so enraged the Visier that he commanded them to make a second Attack which was done but with altogether as bad success as the former The City of Vienna thus straitned the Bishop of Aichstadt the Imperial Minister represented the danger it was in to the Diet for that purpose assembled at Ratisbone recommending it especially to the care of the Electoral Princes requiring them in the name of the Emperor to find out such effectual and speedy ways to raise men and money for its relief that it might not fall into the hands of the Infidels and thereby open a way for them to conquer all the Cities of Austria This matter being debated it was resolved that a fund of money should be speedily raised and all other necessaries provided for the subsistence and relief of the besieged and to stay the further progress of the Turkish Arms. Upon notice of which the Elector of Bavaria drew his forces into the field and ordered them to the number of ten or eleven thousand immediately to march and joyn the Duke of of Loraine whom they found encamped near Kreâ—ps Whilst these things were doing the Rebels under the command of Count Teckely made great spoil upon the borders of Croatia and Silefia besâ—eâ—ing and taking Budekim by storm ravaging and destroying all the pleasant places about it which put the adjacent Garisons into such consternation that several whether through fear or treachery iâ— uncertain put themselves under his protection whereby he was pussed up to that extravagance that he sent Summons to divers of the Nobility to attend him in Arms as their Prince under the Penalties of Confiscation Imprisonment and death which so afrighted divers that they came in but many there were whose Loyalty could not be shaken which so enraged the Rebel that he destroyed their Country dwellings and seized on whatsoever of theirs he could find By this time the Turks had far advanced their Trenches and began to throw their Bombs into the City whereupon the Citizens covered many of their houses near the wall with earth and with the shot of the Cannons from the
of Syria for the present I shall return into the lesser Asia where I find Mesoot and Rei-Cubades the two Tributary Turkish Princes dead without doing a any thing worthy of note of which the latter left a Son named Aladan who likewise paying Tribute held joyntly the Kingdom that were before possessed by his Father and Uncle This Aladine the last of the Selzuccian Family dying without issue one Sahib his chief Councellour and then a man of great Authority aspired unto the Kingdom but being risen from a mean estate he was highly envyed by the Nobility they casting off all respect from him by force divided the Kingdom amongst themselves every one seizing the Province he could best light on so that Sahib who was first in possession lost all no part remaining as his Lot so that they turned it into a perfect Anarchy of which the greatest share fell to Caraman Alusirus who strongest took Iconium with part of Cilicia Lycaonia Pamphilia Caria and Phrygia and of him descended the Caramanian Kings who in the rise of the Othoman Empire put the Turks so often to the Foil The next to him was Saruchan who possessed himself of the greatest part of Lydia and some other Countries adjoyning Troas Phrygia and part of Mysia fell to Calumus and his Son Carasius the remaining part of Mysia and part of Lydia was seized by Aidin part of Pontus the Cities of Heraclea Pontica Castomonia Synope and others near to the Euxine Sea and Country of Paphlagonia fell into the hands of the Sons of Omer or as the Greeks call them Amar of whom the Country took not their names as did the former of these that possessed them but is commonly called Bolli so named of the Metropolis as also was Mendesia or as some will have it Mentetia a Country in the Lesser Asia These and divers others were the divisions of the Turkish Empire in Persia and the Lesser Asia which Anarchy caused their Subjection and utter subversion as in the Succeeding part of this History will at large appear During this confusion amongst the rest of the great Captains there happened one Othoman of the Oguzian Family who had been raised from a low estate by Sultan Aladine yet by reason he was not of the Selzuccian Family they made little account of him not permiting him to share with them in their division though by what justice is uncertain all of them feared his rising fortune and strove what in them lay to hinder but in vain for the Destinies so ordering it he in a short time became the Founder of the Othoman Empire as in the Perusal of his Life and Actions will appear CHAP. VI. The Rise of the Powerfull Empire of the Turks under Othoman its first Founder with his Life and Actions THat Empires and Kingdoms have their Limitation from the Soveraign Creator and Disposer of all things it is undeniably evident by the Sundry Mutations that have been in all Ages of the World for nothing can be assured of long continuance though never so great and powerful How are the great Monarchies of the Persians Medians Babylonians Chaldeans Romans and the like dwindled away into nothing no more then a bare Relation of their Names and Greatness remaining to testifie the mighty actions they performed when at their becks were half three parts of Mankind And indeed no less famous was the Turkish Empire in Persia and the Lesser Asia till broken and dismembred by the violent intrusion of the Tartars a Savage People bursting from the Frozen-North to the Terror and Subversion of the greatest part of Asia and Africa but now under the Turkish Scepter as shall by the subsequent Discourse appear During the time that the Tartars overwhelmed the Turkish Dominions in Asia Solyman of the Oguzian Family Reigning in the lesser Asia and seeing his Country-man the Sultan of Persia driven from all his Possessions thought it not safe for him of far Inferior force to abide the Sorm but flying with such People as would follow him after long wandring the Tempest being near over and he desiring to return home as he was about to pass the Danube was carried away by the Stream and drowned leaving behind him four Sons viz. Sencur Teken Jundogdis and Ertogrul of some called Orthobules who was the Father of Othoman This Ertogrul after the Death of his Father having notice that Aladine the Sultan had again settled himself in the lesser Asia Sent Messengers to him to desire him that he and the rest of his poor followers who were Herdsmen driving Flocks still before them as they travelled might inhabit in some Corner of his Country The Sultan not unmindful of the state of poor Exiles it having so lately been his own Case appointed them a Village called Suguta lying between the Castle Belezuga and Mount Tmolus in the greater Phrygia during whose residence there with his small Train the Sultan had many Conflicts with the Tartars whose Power by this time was in its Wain and being hard put to it in one Battle near the said Village Ertogrul with four hundred of his Herdsmen unexpectedly came to his Assistance and behaved himself so valiantly that the Tartars were put to flight for which the Sultan honoured him with a rich Cloak and began highly to prize his Valour insomuch that he inlarged his Territories making him a petty Lord which Lordship with great Repute he held during the Reign of the Sultan doing many notable Services as taking the Castle of Cara-Chisar from the Christians who by their many Injuries had exasperated the Sultan but after the Sultans Death those that succeeded being Tributaries to the Tartars till such time as the Kingdom was Anachised he lived quietly at home during which time many conceived great hopes of his younger Son Othoman called by some Osman Gazi or Osman the Warlike by reason of the great delight he had in Arms when he was a Child and when grown up to discourse and Argue with the Commanders and Governours of whom he had the general Esteem of an active Youth designed for great Atchievements as it afterward fell out One day Othoman going to visit the Governour of Eski-Chisar lately taken from the Christians by his Father He fell in Love by the way with a beautiful Damosel named Malhatun and sent to request her in Marriage but she seeming something averse excusing her self that she was of too mean a Parentage and not a fitting Match for him that was so nobly descended he as she conceived designing rather to Debauch her then make her his Wife but this modest repulse making him more and more desire her he in other Discourses declared his Affections to the aforesaid Governour who seeming little to take notice thereof begun to be inflamed with the Love of the Damosel unseen by the lively Description Othoman had given of her rare Perfection which Othoman well perceiving and fearful that he should inforce her to his Lust having great Power in that Country he
have the next day been Married to the Captain of Bilezuga and gave her in Marriage to his Son Orchanes who had Issue by her Amurath the third King of the Turks and Solyman Bassa and immediately thereupon besieged the Castle of Einegiol which he took and put the Garrison to the Sword and now no longer resolving to play small Games he besieged the City of Nice in Bythinia not many years before the Seat of the Greek Emperor to relieve which the Emperor sent such Forces as could upon so short a warning be drawn together which Othoman encountring with overthrew and afterward by Famine constrained the Citizens upon promise of Life to surrender the City with spoils of which he greatly inriched himself sending part thereof to the Sultan who in requital ordered prayers to be put up for his prosperous Success promising that he should succeed him in his Kingdom of which being disappointed at the death of the said Sultan by those that divided it into an Anarchy he nevertheless took upon him the Dignity of a Sultan Coining Money and Causing publick prayers to be put up in his own name and sezing upon Neapolis made it his Regal seat calling it Despotopolis or the City of the Prince and thus Anno 1300 begun the great Empire of the Turks This upstart Turk having so soon advanced his fortune setled his Government with wholesom Laws the lasting Cords of Empire and then drawing all his forces together lay'd Siege to Prusia during which the Christian Princes that bordered upon him drew all their forces together resolving to give him battle but therein his good fortune prevailing they were overthrown whereupon several Towns and Castles fell into his hands some surrendring voluntarily and others by force compelled so to do but the strong City of Prusia in which was the broken Army of the Christians stood impregnable whereupon he built two Castles to block it up and returned to Neapolis sending his Captains out daily with strong parties to fetch booties out of the Christian Territories and to take in such Castles as by surprize or otherwise might fall into their hands His Power being now greatly increased that he was able to draw into the Field 20 or 30000 Horse and Foot at what time Cossi the Christian Captain revolting turned Turk and stood Othoman in great stead during his Wars nor did the other Turks in the Lesser Asia less indammage the Christians so that the Greek Empire began to Dwindle into a small Circumference occasioned by the divisions amongst themselves about Religion for young Baldwin the Latin Emperor being expelled Constantinople as is aforesaid in flying into Germany lay daily at Charles the Emperor to restore him which Paleologus the Greek Emperor understanding offered unto Pope Gregory the tenth that if he would divert the Emperors forces by intangling him in Domestick troubles he would so order the matter that the Greek Empire in matters of Religion should acknowledge the See of Rome as Supream and from thence take all directions as to Ecclesiastical affairs which Innovation caused divers tumults and many to leave the Empire rather chosing to dwell with the Turks which troubles lasted to the Death of Paleologus nor could he fulfil his promise to the Pope After the Greek Emperors Death Andronicus succeeded in the Empire who was no less troubled with the Incursions of the Turks yet he fought with them several Battles with various with Success but then a difference arising between him and his Brother Constantine all his hopes of prevailing vanish'd though without cause as most believe suspected his Brothers aspiring to Empire who was one of the chiefest Bulwarks a-against the Turks beyond the River Meander giving to them many a fatal overthrow yet was he cast in Prison with many of his followers and one Alexus Philanthropenus made General of the Army in his stead to whom was joyned Libadarius an experienced Captain and grave Councellor the former of which after having obtained many Victories over the Turks and Tartars perswaded by the Cretensians Rebelled against the Emperor taking upon himself the title of Emperor which lasted not long for being overthrown by the latter in a mortal Battle was delivered bound by his Souldiers to the Conqueror who depriving him of his Sight sent him to the Emperor then residing at Constantinople The Rebellion created such Jealousie in the Emperor that he chose rather to trust strangers then his own Subjects so that he having notice of the Massagetes a People dwelling beyond Ister being oppressed by the Tartars he upon their Supplication appointed them part of his Dominions whereupon they came over to him with about 10000 families which caused him to fall into the displeasure of his Subjects these new-come guests being compleatly Armed he sent them with many others against the Turks under one leading of his Son and Partner in the Empire Michael Paleologus who at the first sight of the Turks without so much as striking a stroak fled which gave the Enemy the advantage of conquering the Country as â—ar as Lestos After this as if destiny had so willed it the Emperor called to his aid Ronzerius a Pirate who came with 2000 Catalonians and afterwards increaseâ— his number by sending for more who at first did considerable service but within a while fell to spoiling and plundering the Emperors Dominions in Asia worse then the Turks as likewise by setting out certain Gallies bobbed all the Merchants that passed those Seas till at last their Gallies being destroyed by a Fleet of the Genoways and their Captain slain by the command of the young Emperor they called in the Turks having first seized upon the City of Calipolis against these who with joynt forces harased the Country the young Emperor went in person but was overthrown and most of his Greeks slain upon the revolt of the Massagets and other treacherous Mercenaries who were shortly recompenced according to their deserts for being about to return home with the spoil they had gotten the Catalonians set upon them and put 'um all to the Sword taking from them a rich booty and then passing through many Countries they left the Emperor free till at last coming to the Territories of the Duke of Thebes and he refusing to give them passage they in a set battle overthrew his power and seized on his Country in which they settled themselves where their Posterity to this day remains But this freed not the Emperor of the danger for the Turks coming down in great number and having overthrown the young Emperor spoiled all Thracia to stay whose fury Philes Paleologus a devout man and Kinsman to the Emperor undertook the defence of his bleeding Country and meeting them as they were ranging to and fro burning and destroying all before 'um he in a set battle overthrew 'um and forced 'um into the City of Chersonesus where he so straightly besieged them by Sea and Land that indeavouring to break through the Leaguer they were most
King of Poland upon the breaking off of the Match between their Queen and the King of Poland Amurath resolved upon the Conquest of that Kingdom invaded Hungary laying close Siege to Belgrade often in vain assaulting it and now the Queen of Hungary being Dead leaving Ladislans a Child in the Cradle to succeed her who not able to take any Measures about opposing the Turk and the Kingdom in likely hood to be overrun the Nobility concluded to Elect Vldislaus King of Poland a man of great Fame and no less courage their King which done Ambassadors were sent to Amurath still lying at the Siege of Belgrade but they were nothing more able to prevail as to his raising the Siege nor procuring a peace till such time as in divers assaults half his Army were lost overwhelmed with Wild-Fire and strangled in the mines nor then tho he raised the Siege would his haughty mind condescend to a Peace in his return hegreatly troubled the Countries of Servia and Bosan causing the Princes in lien of saving them from the Spoil to pay a yearly tribute of 25000 Ducats Vldislaus being setled in his new Kingdom and having frequently intelligence of the incursions of the Turks into Transylvania the better to resist them on that side Created John Hunides Vayvod or his Vicegerent in that Country who putting all things in order gathered such an Army as he might and upon news that Isa the great Bassa and one of Amuraths most Renowned Captains was returned with a great power and spoiled the Country he went against him incouraging his Soldiers to Fight Couragiously for their Lives Country Wives and Children and then setting upon the proud Bassa after a hard foughten Battle put him to Flight with the loss of 20000 of his men This Victory nothing daunted Amurath but pushed him forward more eagerly to revenge the disgrace whereupon early in the Spring he sent Melites Bassa his Viceroy in Asia with a great Army who spoiling the Country took a great Booty and many Prisoners but in his return being pursued by Huniades he overthrew him Slew the Bassa his Son By that means recovering all the Prisoners and Riches together with the Turkish Camp and many Turkish Prisoners of note which caused the Hungarians and Transilvanians greatly to rejoyce part of the Spoiles with the Head of the Bassa and his Son he sent to King Vldislaus the other part he converted to religious uses and what remained freely bestowed it amongst his Soldiers not reserving any part to himself Upon Bruit of this Victory and the Fame of the Valiant Huniades Moldavia and Valachia before Tributary to the Turks revolted which so inraged Amurath that he sent yet another great Army to reduce them to their former obedience which with great pride under the leading of Schech Abedin Bassa consisting of 80000 Fighting men amongst which were a great number of Janizaries came on wasting the Country with Fire and Sword as they passed to oppose which the great Huniades marched with 15000 Hungarians and Transilvanians and finding them still Plundering near Vascape bid them Battle where after both Armies were put in order and both Generals by moving-Oration had incited their Souldiers to Fight to the utmost Extremity a dreadful Fight began where after six Hours dealing Death on every side the Turkish Army broken and disordered by the Christians were put to Flight with the loss of 30000 Horse and Foot And their rich Camp which became an acceptable Prey to the Souldiers The many Victories gained by Humiades over the Turks made Amurath more inclinable to peace then before yet in his pride he demanded in consideration thereof the delivery of Bellgrade and many other places in Servia upon which King Vldislaus called an Assembly of the Estates of his Kingdom where after many had given their opinions it was resolved that the Pious War should be carryed on with all Vigor Imgainable and that the Christians following their good Fortune should invade the Turkish Countries whereupon a great Army was raised and passing the Danubius lead by the King and Humiades they wasted all the Kingdom of Bulgaria and having intelligence that the Turks were with a great Army coming down against them Humiades drawing out 10000 of the most expert Horsemen having notice where they lay incamped in the Night Broke in amongst them and put 'um almost all the Sword returning the next Day with great Spoil where the King lay incamped where he was received with great Joy This easie Victory wherein there fell 30000 Turks and not past 300 of the Christians so lightned the Souldiers that they desired nothing more then to be lead forward but coming to the great Mountain Hemus and finding all the passages stopped and being greatly afflicted with Hungar and Cold their Courages began to abate and they to conceive a desire of returning home the which whilst they were about to do the Turks under the leading of Caramby Bassa Amuraths Brother in Law came down from the Mountains and fell furiously upon the Rear of the Army commanded by Humiades and the Despot of Servia the King with the Van being a Days march before but after a sharp Incounter were overthrown and the Great Bassaw taken by a common Souldier who being demanded of Humiades what he would have for his Prisoner he asked only 10 Ducats yet Humiades ordered him 400 and the same Night sold him again to the Despot for 40000 Ducats In this Battle but as some say in that Fought near Moravia the famous Scanderbeg found means to fly the Turkish Servitude and leading Amurath's Secretary with him commanded him in the Name of Amurath to Write to the Governour of Croia to deliver him the City that being the Metropolis of Epirus the which when he had done he slew him and as many Turks as were with him to prevent its coming to the knowledge of Amurath before he had accomplished his design And thereupon with several of his trusty Friends Posting away had the City as he wished for put into his possession whither he sent for Prince Amaza his Kinsman and many other of his acquaintance informing them what he intended viz. that he resolved to recover his Rightful inheritance and deliver his Subjects from the Tyranny of the Turks which made them not a little rejoyce and greatly incourage him to proceed in so honourable an undertaking Things being at this pass and the design known great was the resort of the Epirots to their Lawful Prince who for the delivery of his Country from Servitude had set up his Standard Such Cities as conveniently could daily revolting to him as Petrella Petra Alba and Stelusa other he reduced by force and having possession of the greatest part of Epirus he raised what forces he could and the more to provoke the Turk passed into Macedonia spoiling the Country before him and putting the Turks to the Sword Amurath hearing this unexpected news sent 40000 select Souldiers under the leading of Alis
after two months besieging the Polish Camp want growing great in the Sultans Army and by reason of the advancement of the Season such terrible Rains fell that Tents Horses Men and Carriages were frequently carryed away by the impetuosity of the Torrents thereby occasioned The Turks desirous to depart sent to the Chancelor to treat of Peace which at the earnest instance of Radulae Prince of Valachia was hearkened to and soon after accorded the principal points being these First That the Emperour should raise his Army and retire from the Confines of Poland and that the Tartars the occasion of this War should send an Emirze that is one of their Princes to reside as a pledge to secure them from insuing incursions The Chancelor in the Name of his Master promising to send another Pledge to reside in the Court of Tartary with condition to pay yearly Forty Thousand Florins as a donative from the King of Poland promising moreover for the better maintainance of the Peace to maintain a Resident in the Ottoman Court and by every such Ambassador to send a rich Present and as the Grand Signours Ambassador that was to reside in the Court of Poland should undertake to secure the incursions of the Tartars so the Polish Ambassador should undertake the same for the Cossacks and that the Merchants of Poland should have free Trade with the Subjects of the Grand Signeour making their usual Presents and this Peace not to be binding till such time as the Achiaus should arrive in the Polish Court with the overtures and in the mean time a Parliament to be assembled for the Ratification of these Articles Affairs being brought to this pass Osman raised his Camp and returned to Adrinople having lost in this Expedition eighty thousand of his men and of the Poles by reason of the unseasonableness of the weather and their often skirmishes no less then twenty thousand perished Now upon notice of the Turks approach at the request of the Polonian King the Emperor of Germany had sent to his assistance eight thousand high Dutch Souldiers upon notice of which Osman in a great rage proclaimed war against the Emperor charging him with the manifest breach of the League between them though himself had been the first aggressor by aiding the Transilvanian but the King of Poland understanding that what had happened was upon his account and that Osman kept his Army on foot about Adrinople intending to invade the Emperors Countrey early in the spring for that purpose having caused twenty thousand Tartars to stay upon the frontiers he called the Turkish Chiaus before him and declared that unless the Grand Seigneour his master changed his purpose he could not conclude with him any peace for as much as he was bound to assist the Emperor his confederate if his Countries were invaded which resolve of the Kings being made known to Osman by his Chiaus he called a Council of his Bassa's wherein it was concluded that he should leave Adrinople and instantly set forward for Constantinople which was accordingly put in execution and the Tartars on the Frontiers dismissed so that the war intended against the Emperor being laid aside news came that the Emir of Syria was risen in Rebellion and had possessed himself of the City and Castle of Tripolis whereupon 60 thousand Chequins were delivered out of the Treasury to repair the Grand Seigniors Pavillions and Carriages himself with a powerfull Army intending to make an Expedition against the Rebel though contrary to the advice of most of his Bassa's and the Mufti who alledged that it was altogether needless for his Majesty to expose himself to the ill conveniencies of such a war as by the meanest of his Bassa's might be expiated it being certain that the Emir would not stand his Forces but upon their approach fly into some part of Christendom and therefore if he set out his fleet of Gallies he would either by Sea or Land fall into his hands nor was it safe to leave Greece to the attempts of the Christians who in his absence might spoil it at their pleasure these and such like reasons caused him to decline going in person yet he sent forth his Fleet and Army after the best manner sending for Aid to Argire and Tunis to awe the Spaniards likewise who had sixty Galleys and six Gallions at Messina prepared as was then conjectured to revenge the taking of Manfredo and the spoil the Turks had made upon the Coasts of Italy the year before another Fleet of lesser consequence he ordered to keep the black sea there to hinder the Cossacks from spoiling his Sea-Towns after which contrary to the Advice of his Council he marryed the Grandchild of a Sultan a wife to Pertan Bassa only for her beauty being indeed the Paragon of her sex which wedding was performed without any solemnity and truly this marriage was greatly disliked for that his Ancestors for many years past had not marryed at all in respect of kindred nor taken any women to their Concubines of the Turkish race in respect of kindred and that which rendred this young Prince more contemptible was his walking up and down the City in disguise with a Page or two at the most and prying into Taverns and other places like a petty Officer Things being at this pass news came from the Bassa of Buda that Bethlehem Gabor had concluded a peace with the Roman Emperor which greatly displeased the Sultan and his Council especially for that the peace between himself and the Polack was not yet ratified but the Polish Ambassador daily expected in order thereto when in the midst of his perturbations Sir Thomas Row Ambassador from his Majesty of Great Brittain arrived at the Port and had his Audience delivering his Majesties Letter wherein he demanded redress of the injuries his subjects had sustained by the Pirates of Algire and Tunes then in subjection to the Sultan as likewise the delivery of several of the Polish Nobility and one Scotch Gentleman which had been taken prisoners in the late expedition into Poland and amongst them the Prince Coreskie who had formerly made his escape out of the black Tower with several other things that might create a good understanding and a continuation of the League between them some of which were granted and the other denyed as the Grand Vizier to whom the management of that affair was committed thought fit little to the satisfaction of his Majesties Ambassador but soon after the Grand Siegneor sent his Letter to his Majesty containing a satisfactory reply to all that was demanded except the release of the Polish prisoners Anno 1622 The Grand Seigneur not hearing of the Duke Sbaraskie chosen Extraordinary Ambassador for the King of Poland to consummate the Peace he gave it out that he would go to Mecha and from thence to Medina in Arabia to visit Mahomets Tomb contrary to the Council of Visiers who knew not the design and even to the hazzard of a General Revolt
so that they were dissembled and although whilst the Ships lay before the City a hundred slaves from on board the Turks Gallies and out of the City escaped by getting on board and amongst them Monsieur de Peau-jeu a Knight of Malta yet that was likewise dissembled and not thought a sufficient ground for War with a Nation whose valour the Turks by fatal experience had tryed but in the end the French became more moderate and new instructions being brought the Ambassador by a man of War he passed to Adrinople where the Grand Signeour was gone and having his second Audience granted his first being had of the Visier he desired that the League so long continued between his Master and the Ottoman Princes might continue and that the capitulation might be renewed only with the Alteration of the customs imposed upon his Masters Subjects from five to three in the hundred according to that priviledge which the English and other Christian Merchants whose league and Friendship was subsequent to theirs but after many delays the Visier would not accord but referred him to his return from the Wars of Poland on which he was intent which disappointment greatly perplexed the Ambassador The Grand Signeour having before missed his design in making away his Brethren for fear of the Janizaries now in their absence most of them being busied in the Wars renewed his resolution and under pretence of Friendship poisoned Orcham the Eldest with a bowl of Wine though some affirm he was strangled with a Bow string and that ere he fell he killed one of the Executioners but howsoever it happened he was made away whose death once known greatly incensed the people against the Grand Signior and prevented the like effects on the other Brother All other matters now layed aside about the beginning of the year 1672. preparations were made for the Polish War though with such deliberation as expressed an unwillingness thereto on the part of the Ottomans who having experienced the force of that warlike Nation moved thereto with caution Yet their motives were not inconsiderable but such as thereon a War might be grounded not only for the continual Piracy of the Cossacks on the Black Sea and their assisting the bordering Princes in their opposing the Turkish Arms and the little regard the Polish Ambassador had of the Port treating there with equal grandure and assuming a Liberty above the Ministers of other Christian Princes and now they lay more open to be assaulted by reason of the divisions amongst themselves whereby an opportunity offered to the Grand Signeour to oblige the Polonians to a complyance of his demands yet whilst preparatians were making on all hands an Ambassador was sent to the Visier he advancing with his Army towards the frontires named Wisozski a Noble man of Poland presuming upon his Power and Authority argued after such a lofty manner and in terms so contrary to the methods of an Ambassador that the Visier much incensed dispatched a Chiaus into Poland with Letters desiring that this Ambassador might be recalled as being a person unable to mannage matters of the least concernment insinuating that if they supplyed his place with another he should be received with due respect and a plain way laid opento conclude his Negotiations to the satisfaction of both parties Upon notice of which the Ambassador was so sensibly touched that he in a rage sent Letters to the assembly of the Polish Nobility to certifie them that he was not only debarred of the allowance usual to Ambassadors but also was imprisoned both of which though untrue for the former he refused as too little for one o0f his Character and the latter being onely his confinement to the City of Constantinople by reason of some outrages his servants committed at his house at Pera being believed kindled such a flame that the Poles imprisoned the Turkish Chiaus and ordered that all the Countrey should be put in Arms rendering the Visier no other answer then that when their Ambassador was set at Liberty and had License to depart the like should be done to theirs Of these proceedings the Grand Signeour having notice was highly offended immediately ordering that Wisoski should depart and at the same time commanded his whole Militia to rise and follow him to the Wars fending a Sword and Vest to the Tartar Han with orders to unite his Forces with the Cossacks that had revolted from the Poles and speedily to invade Polonia which accordingly he did and incountering near Batowa with a Body of Polish Horse under the command of Luzecki Governour of Podolia he overthrew them which was the first bad Omen of the ill success of this unhappy War The Grand Signeour having raised an Army of one hundred fifty thousand men marched towards Poland already sick and languishing with its own intestine distempers and unable to contend with a body united within it self The first enterprize he made was upon impregnable Fortress of the Caminieck which had so often baffled the Ottoman Force but now being weakly manned unprovided of all necessaries and despairing of Relief after fourteen days siege surrendered the Garrison in it submitting to the will of the Conqueror which opened a passage through all Podolia and Volhinia to the very Walls of Leopolis which they passed over rather like Travellers then Enemies not one man in armes appearing to oppose them delighting and sporting themselves in those the most fruitful and delicious Countries of Europe permitted so to do by the animosities and intestine broiles amongst the Nobility who being divided into factions reguarding more their private quarrels then the safety of their Countrey now ready to be devoured by the Infidels and indeed it has been always seen that the divisions of the Christians have layed the foundation of the Turkish greatness which they impute to the merit of their prayers Yet such was the command of the Grand Signeour that no Souldier spoiled or outraged any person which so far won upon the affections of the Polonians that they in all places where he passed submitted and put themselves under his protection which so awakened the Nobility that a Council being called it was resolved that to buy their Peace and be shut of these new come guests That the King of Poland should quit all claim to the Vkrain Pedoli and Russe land That Leopolis and the Countrey thereabouts should pay a Tribute of seventy thousand Dollars a year and all other Capitulations formerly made to stand in full force and vertue These Articles being signed the Grand Signeour committed the Government of Veravia and Podolia to Dorosensko General of the Cossacks and the defence of Cominieck and Chusaein Bassa with a Garrison of twelve thousand Janizaries and so returned to Constantinople dismissing the greatest part of his Army poor and almost naked by reason of their being restrained from plundering About this time Tripolâ—es matined against Osman Bassa their Governour for refusing to divide amongst them such booties as were
be but Ambition and thirst of Christian Blood that drew this Bloody Monster with his numerous Host from such remote Countries Therefore I say rather let us dye like Men fighting it out to the last Drop of Blood then yield our selves to these Barbarous Infidels who know not how to shew Mercy whose Leagues Vows and Solemn Protestations are all but Wind kept no longer then they prove Advantagious to themselves I for my part have fixed my unalterable Resolution to defend this Place to the last Gasp resolving not to survive its loss This Oration spoken with great Earnestness plainly Demonstrating the Zeal of a brave General was seconded with loud shouts every one promising to Live and Dye with him in the defence of the City Whereupon it was resolved that the next Morning a Sally should be made upon the Enemies to give them a Taste of Christian Valour and how little they valued their Lives fighting in so good a Cause whereupon every one being dismissed went to his Quarters to give necessary Orders and take a View how the Turks lay incamped whose multitude covered all the Hills and Plains before the City The Watch being set the General went round the City attended by several Officers Carefully to survey each Quarter and to see that none neglected his Duty so that all things being in good Order about Midnight six Reigments drew up with a Resolution to fall upon the Enemies Camp but whilst Orders were in giving in what manner they should make their approach a Christian Captive having made his escape from the Turks came running almost breathless and begged to be received into the City Whereupon the Soldiers drew him up with a Pike who being questioned about the state of the Turkish Camp declared that every night since they came forty thousand men were driven up in Battalia to Guard the Camp which was not as yet well intrenched upon notice of which the General changed his Resolution as to the Sally During the preparation within Solyman was not idle having sworn to carry the City by force e're he departed if he could not have it otherwise but appointed to every man his station dividing his Army under Ibrahim the Great Bassa Michael Ogli and Becrambeius so that all things being in a readiness many salleys were made by the Christians with great slaughter of the Enemies though the Asapi and Janizaries from their Trenches poured showers of Arrows into the City for as yet the Turks great Artillery were not come up the Danubius but were dayly expected of which Wolfgangus Hoder a Valiant Captain understanding by several Turkish Prisoners sailed out of the Bay of Possonium and meeting with the Turks Galleys sunk those in which the Ordinance were taking a great Booty of which Solyman having notice was greatly inraged and finding that his small pieces did little other damage than beat down the battlements and over-jets made of wood in stead of Flankers he caused the Miners to be set to the Wall but this their chief hope which with wonderful labour attempted in thirteen places at once was not so secretly done but that it was by Drums layed upon the Ground Basons filled with Water and deep sounds perceived by the defendants who with Countermines not only defeated many of them but destroyed in them by Wild-fire and other Combustible matter Eight Thousand Turks when to prevent such discovery Solyman commanded continual Alarums should be given that so the Christians being imployed in defending the Walls might not regard the Miners which succeeded so to his wish that a great part of the Wall near the Gate that leadeth towards Carinthia was thrown down by the springing of a Mine at which the Turks in great numbers indeavouring to enter were miserably cut off with the Murthering shot bent against the breach for the purpose which no sooner ceased but they were furiously charged by the Germans and in despite of all resistance beaten back with incredible slaughter Not long after the Wall being blown up in two other places they again attempted to enter but were repulsed as before leaving heaps of slain in the Breaches and Ditch nor was their third Assault any more successful so that after three hours withstanding the fury of the resolute Defendants they retired to the Camp Ten Thousand less than they came A while after the Lord Regendorfe perceiving the Turks by parties scatter from their Camp came with a Company of German Horse set upon a Party of Five Thousand Three Hundred with such slaughter that not above One Hundred and Forty of them returned to tell the News Nor did other Commanders of the besieged less indamage the Enemies by frequent Salleys which so inraged the Tyrant that he animated to a fourth Assault promising them great rewards if they prevailed which so far prevailed with them that they resolved amongst themselves either to win the City or dye in the undertaking but when they felt the shot from the besieged like a tempest fall on them they were of a different opinion so that leaving many Thousands of the slain and wounded behind them they retire to the Camp which Solyman perceiving and fretting that his Honour had so much suffered by so great a loss of his Men and so many Repulses dissembled the matter as well as he could and that the Germans should not suppose he raised his siege because he despaired of winning it he caused several Prisoners to be richly cloathed and giving them store of Money sent them into the City to inform the Commanders that he came not to take the City of Vienna but to fight King Ferdinand and restore the Kingdom of Hungaria to King John therefore since he could not draw his Enemy into the Field to give him Battle he would remove thence to seek him wherefore they should do well to yield themselves the which if they would he promised not to enter into the City but to receive both the Citizens and Souldiers into his protection reserving unto 'um their Lives and Goods with perpetual freedom which offer coming to the knowledge of the Princes and great Captains of the Christians scornfully refused whereupon the Imperious Turk perceiving his desires not answered as he expected having caused all the Prisoners to be murthered in a great heat raised his siege and departed not staying till he came to Buda where having restored the Kingdom to John in consideration of his becoming his Tributary he returned to Constantinople yet plotting in his mind to disturb the Christians and revenge the disgrace he had received before at Vienna the next year viz 1530 he leavyed an Army greater than the former purposing with himself to over-run Austria Carinthia Styria and most part of the German Empire to effect which he allowed three years but was altogether deceived in his expectation for Charles the Emperor having ended his Wars in Italy was now at leisure to attend upon the Insolent Turk who calling together his Valiant Captains sent them into Spain
Italy Flanders and other Countreys to leavy Forces which they did in such abundance to oppose the common Enemy that upon the Muster of the Army there were found Ninety Thousand old experienced Foot Souldiers and Thirty Thousand Horsemen well appointed all the flower â—â—â—ermany Italy Bohemia and Hungaria as likewise One Hundred and Forty Thousand of less experience the whole Army consisting of One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Men the approach of which so terrified Solyman that after he had in vain besieged Gonza and harazed the Countrey though with the loss of Ten Tousand of his Men he returned to Constantinople carrying with him into miserable Captivity Thirty Thousand poor Christians taken in divers Countries through which he passed and to appease his fury put no less a number to the Sword And now had the Christian Army composed of divers Nations pursued the Turk by Land and Sea as the Emperour earnestly desired they might have driven him quite out of Europe but Emulation arising amongst the Commanders and the Soldiers frequently mutining this great Army effected nothing more than to oblige Solyman to retire The Empire mindful of the damage sustained by the Turks in Austria Hungary and other Countries to revenge the same early the spring following set forth a Fleet consisting of Thirty Five great Ships and Forty Eight Galleys under the Conduct of Andreas Aurea a most expert Captain who sailing to the Bay of Ambracia thought there to have met with the Turks Admiral who had under his Command Sixty Galleys but he having notice of his coming from the Venetians who stood Newters was sailed to the strong Haven of Calcide whereupon Auria directed his course to Corone a strong City upon the Coast of Peloponesus and had it yielded unto him upon condition that the Garison might depart with bag and baggage where leaving a Garrison of Spaniards he sailed to Patras another City in the same Tract took it and ransacked it permitting the Garrison nevertheleless to march out in safety after which he took all the Castles that guarded the straight of Naupactum without any hindrance which gave Saluiatus General of the Malta Galleys opportunity to waste the Coast of Corinth and take great booties which done he returned loaden with spoils to Naples and from thence to Genoa the place of his birth and residence The Turks grieving at their great loss early in the Spring Anno 1533 lay'd siege to Corone both by Sea and Land of which Mendoza the Governour by Letters advised the Vice-Roy of Naples craving speedy aid with all assuring him he would defend the Town to the utmost extremity upon which Auria was sent with a well appointed Fleet the terror of whose coming so frighted the Turks that they left the siege having lost many Men before it and for haste left all their heavy Carriages which became a Prey to the Garrison Soldiers which exalted their courage to that degree that they requested Macicaus the Governour to lead them forth to the siege of Andrusa a Garrison of the Turks not far distant from Corone but their coming being discovered they could not surprize it as they intended yet ransacked the Suburbs and made great slaughter of the Turk Horsemen quartering therein though with the loss of Macicaus the Governour and divers others yet not long after they took the City being abandoned by the Garrison as not tenable but upon their return to Corone the Plague began to rage so fearfully that fearing if they stay they should all perish and fit opportunity offering it self by reason of the Arrival of several Galleys from Sicily with Corn all the Spaniards together with as many Greeks as would imbarqued with the Cannon and what else they thought convenient leaving the Town to be again possessed by the Turks though not without the consent of the Emperor Anno 1534 Aloysus Grittus Son to the Duke of Venice and Solymans great Favourite being by him â—ade Leiutenant of Hungary inwardly envying at Ameriâ—us Vayvod of Transylvania at the instance of one Docia caused him to be murthered in his Tent which so incensed the Transylvanians that they Arming themselves to the number of Forty Thousand under the Leading Maylat a Valiant Gentleman and Kinsman to the Vayvod pursued the Murtherer who sled to Mega which the Transylvanians besieged and not without great difficulty took and in it Aloysus and Docia the former of which they beheaded and the latter tore in pieces taking the spoil of their Goods which was very great for about Aloysus were found as many precious stones as were esteemed worth Forty Millions Solyman thirsting after Glory and resolving not to let his Soldiers lye idle resolved to invade at once both Africk and Persia the charge of the first he committed to Barbarusa who of a poor Fisher-Boy became a Pirate and afterward King of Argire and then travelling to Constantinople was upon the recommendation of Achometes the Great Bassa made one of the Bassas of Solymans Council Whereupon he cansed all his Galleys to be in a readiness appointing the aforesaid Barbarusa Admiral of all his Sea Forces who had no sooner taken upon him the Command but sailing out of Hellespontus with Eighty Galleys leaving Amurath with twelve to transport Solymans Army in to Asia he shaped his course for Italy when passing the Straights between Italy and Sicily he brought such a fear upon the Inhabitants on either shoar that they fled with all their substance further into the Countrey after which he layed siege to Saint Lucidius formerly called Tempsas which he took putting most of the Inhabitants to the Sword from whence with a rich booty and many Prisoners he marched to Citrarium which he took and burnt together with Seven Galleys that lay in the Port and so sailing by Naples he seized upon Spelunca from which he marched over Land to Fundi ten miles from Spelunca on purpose as was thought to have seized on Jula Gonzaga a Lady of incomparable Beauty whom he intended to have presented to Solyman but she though half naked getting on Horseback fled to the Mountains yet he took the City and put most of the Inhabitants to the Sword and so coasting along Italy and taking many Cities Towns and Castles he brought such a fear upon Rome once Mistress of the World that many conjectured that if he went directly thither with his Fleet the Romans would have forsaken the City but then contrary to the expectation of most he shaped his Course for Africk resolving to invade the Kingdom of Tunes over which Reigned one Muleasses having a little before stepped into the Throne by treacherously causing to be Murthered all his Brethren except Roscetes and Abdemelech the former of which having tryed his utmost fortune for the recovery of the Kingdom in right appertaining to him as Elder Brother to Mueasses he for his safety was fled to Constantinople which opportunity Solyman laying hold on to advantage his Wars in Africk kept him as a