was intelligence that the Serasquier advanc'd apace intending to surprise the Besiegers in their Camp and that he was within six Miles of them Count Coningsmark was again detach'd with seven thousand Foot five hundred Horse and the Dragoons of the Marquis de Courbon and Count Bernabo Visconti He march'd in good order in the beginning of the Night and the next day found the Infidels to the number of eight thousand Foot and two thousand Horse intrench'd in a Valley where it was impossible to come at them but by a very narrow passage The Dragoons commanded by the Marquis de Courbon and those of Count Bernabo Visconti who immediately advanc'd having posted themselves in an advantageous place to bear the first Onset of the Enemies gave time to the Forces that follow'd them to pass the narrow way The Turks who might have taken advantage of this motion made no Attack and Count Coningsmark set his Forces in order of Battel and plac'd two small pieces of Artillery on an eminence of ground from whence they fir'd continually on the Turks who seeing the Dragoons march proudly towards them thought to hem them in with a Detachment of several Squadrons But the Dragoons not only bore the Onset with great courage but alighting from their Horses made the Infidels give way and pursued them so successfully that they dispers'd them after which they bore so hard upon the Infantry that they put them into disorder which was encreas'd by the Forces that march'd after the Dragoons The Fight lasted two hours and ended with the flight of the Turks who lost above five hundred men in this action and had many wounded There had been several that had rallied upon the occasion of two or three thousand Turks that were got together from several parts of the Morea to reinforce the Serasquier's Army and were come near the field of Battel but it was in vain they renew'd the Charge they were again put to flight and forc'd to leave their Baggage and Tents There were but very few Souldiers either kill'd or wounded on the Christian side Prince Maximilian of Brunswick encouraged his Forces by his Example and shew'd at the head of them all the Courage a man could be capable of Many other Voluntiers of great quality signaliz'd themselves in the like manner on this occasion This Defeat of which the besieged could not doubt when they saw the Heads of the Turks kill'd in the Battel and the Colours the Venetians brought away made so general a Consternation in the City that they lost all hope of being reliev'd and after some Contests came to a Capitulation It was permitted them to march out of Navarin with Arms and Baggage to be transported to Alexandria Count Coningsmark regulated the Articles of Capitulation in the Name of the Generalissimo While they were regulating that Article that concern'd the embarking the Garrison there happen'd a disaster that was like to have caus'd great Confusion A Magazine of Powder took fire and was blown up in a moment an hundred and fifty Turks were either burnt or buried in the ruines together with six Christians the Governour was of the number fifteen more were blown up and thrown from the place It was presently said the Turks had prepared this Oven on purpose to destroy all the Christians they could draw that way This was enough to make them put all to the Sword had not the Generalissimo appeas'd the Souldiers He receiv'd the excuses of the principal men of the place who when they brought him the Keys of the Town and their Standards ask'd permission to justifie themselves upon this Accident It was found in effect that the Fire which was set to several Houses by the Bombs being kept alive under the Ruines had made its way to this Magazine only by the negligence of the Officers whom the unhappy state of their Affairs had hindred to provide against such Accidents The Garrison consisted of a thousand Souldiers who embark'd with two thousand other Turks to pass for Alexandria On the 18th of June Signior Morosini entred the Town with Count Coningsmark and the chief Officers of the Army and the principal Mosque was made choice of to give God thanks in for this Conquest In the mean time the Christian Privateers met with the Turkish Caravan coming from Alexandria to Constantinople The number of the Enemies Ships did not dismay them they charg'd very vigorously and after they had either taken or disabled the Men of War which were their Convoy they took the Caravan The Ship called Alexander the Great surpris'd also a Turkish Vessel of Eighty pieces of Cannon for having discover'd it afar off they hung out Turkish Colours and made up close to her with a design to board her and quickly made themselves Masters of her before the Infidels could come to themselves or prepare for Fight Two Turkish Galleots had the same chance meeting the famous Corsair Manetta The Morlaques made many Incursions into the Enemies Territories and amongst others those of Sebenico and Traci being sent for that purpose to the number of twelve hundred foraging in the open Country surpriz'd a Town called Dapana and return'd with store of Slaves and Cattel having ransack'd and after set fire to the Houses In the mean time the Turks attempted no great matters in Dalmatia their greatest Efforts being limited to the pillaging and burning some Villages between Clissa and Spalatro for which purpose they had detach'd four thousand Horse But an accident hapned which frustrated their hopes of enjoying the Prey for as they return'd with a great Booty they fell into an Ambuscade which four hundred Morlaques had laid for them in a narrow way which terminates at a steep unpassable Mountain from whence sixty Peasants who had quitted their Houses at the approach of the Turks rowl'd down Stones of a prodigious bigness upon them who were streightned in their passage Thus the Morlaques having robb'd the Enemy of his Booty and delivered the Slaves return'd victorious with about two hundred Prisoners Let us now turn our Discourse to the Venetian Camp in the Morea The Conquest of the two Navarins was follow'd by the taking of Modon a Town situate in the Province of Belveder at one end of the Morea it was formerly call'd Methona The Venetians having assisted at the taking of Constantinaple in the year 1204. Baldwin the Earl of Flanders afterwards chosen Emperor of the East gave them as a Recompence for the share they had in the dangers of the Siege the Isle of Candia the Cities of Modon and Coron in the Morea and that of Durazzo in Albania with the Isle of Corfu this Isle was then in the Possession of the Genouese who had for their Captain the famous Corsair Veterano The Venetians set sail the year following toward Corfu with thirty Galleys and having met Veterano coming out of the Gulf they attack'd him so successfully that having taken seven of his Galleys they gave an entire Defeat to
of eight thousand men and laid siege to the Fortress of Duare The Courage and Resolution of the besieged gave opportunity to General Valier and Sieur Michiel General of the Cavalry of this Province to come to their relief These two Generals made it their endeavour each on their side to break through the lines of the Besiegers and took their measures so exactly for drawing together the Venetian Forces under their Command that marching with great expedition towards the Infidels they attack'd them in three several places and soon put them into disorder In less than an hour's time the Turks found themselves oblig'd to raise the Siege with the loss of two hundred and fifty men that were cut in pieces and seventy made Prisoners of which number were forty Officers and one Lieutenant General Aga. The Booty that day was very considerable they took one great piece of Cannon and two small ones three Mortar-pieces one Petard fourteen Colours and a Convoy of Provision newly brought to their Camp together with the greatest part of their Baggage In this action there were but six Christian Souldiers kill'd and thirty wounded The Enemy in his flight was pursued by the Morlaques and notwithstanding the Basha of Bossina who was but four Leagues distant had upon the first noise of the Fight march'd to their relief with four thousand Horse they were defeated before he could come up and the Venetians encourag'd with success charg'd him so vigorously that they forc'd him to fly as the others had done The Booty and Prisoners were given to the Souldiers for a reward of their Service Nine hundred persons towards Lica to free themselves from their Subjection under Mahmut Aga Haradanovich submitted themselves to the Republick and General Michiel assign'd them Quarters for their safe retreat Yet the Basha of Bossina would have made an attempt to repair his misfortune had he not been inform'd that Chevalier Janco cover'd the Fortress before mention'd with four thousand Morlaques He also soon after advanc'd into the Country of the Turks with three thousand and five hundred Morlaques and meeting five hundred Infidels put them to flight having kill'd one hundred and fifty besides those that were drown'd in the River Narenta thinking to save themselves at Gabella In this action he made an hundred Prisoners took a great Booty and sent some Colours to Venice as a Mark of his Victory The Naval Army under the Conduct of Generalissimo Morosini came near the Coast of the Morea where they began the Campaigne with the Siege of Coron the particulars of which are to be seen in the following Relation which as it is very exact so is it full of Actions and Circumstances not generally known tho' for the rarity of them nothing can better deserve to be committed to Posterity than these gallant Performances of the Knights of Malta who so bravely signaliz'd themselves and shed their Blood in defence of the Christian Faith against the greatest Enemies of it This Relation was given from Malta therefore when you meet with such words as Ours our Lines or the like remember it is a Maltese that speaks The Squadron of Malta consisting of eight Galleys and commanded by Signior Brancaccio joyn'd it self in the beginning of June with the Pope's Squadron of five Galleys which bearing no Flag put it self under the command of the General of Malta About the middle of June they arriv'd together at Port Dragomet where the Venetian Fleet was to which some days before were joyn'd four of the Great Duke's Galleys and after they had so regulated matters that according to custome the Captain General of Malta was plac'd on the right hand of the Reale of Venice and the first Post agreed in the Councils of War to General Brancaccio On the 20th the whole Army set sail to the number of seventeen Ships five Galeâ—â—â—â— two and twenty Venetian Galleys five of the Pope's eight of Malta and four of the Great Duke's fifteen Galeots and fifteen or twenty Barques or Brigantines The intelligence which Captain General Morosini had held for some Months with the Mainotts to encourage them to shake off the Turkish Yoke made him believe that he might by their means make good Progress in the Morea but having heard as he came near their Coasts that they had met with ill success in the Attempt they had made to procure their liberty and that they had been forc'd to give Hostages to the Turks for assurance of their Fidelity he found himself oblig'd to take other measures before he could attempt any considerable Enterprise His first design was to attack Modon the capital City of the Morea but having viewed the situation the 23d of June there appeared so many difficulties as to the landing his men and Cannon as made him alter his design and resolve on the Siege of Coron This place call'd by the Ancients Corona is by Land about twelve Miles distant from Modon and situate beyond the Cape Gallo towards the Country of the Mainotts It is a Town of good Trade by reason of its situation it has a Haven fit to receive a considerable number of Vessels it has the Sea on one side and on the side towards the Land it has a Wall fortify'd wth six Towers of an Antick Fashion The Greeks and Jews inhabit the lower Town and the Turks dwell in the Castle which makes the upper Town The Venetians were Masters of it in the fifteenth Age Bajazet the Turkish Emperor took it from them as also the Town of Modon in 1499. Prince Doria of Genoa who commanded the Spanish Fleet retook it from the Turks in 1533 and lest in it as Governour Mendozâ— with some Spaniards who quitted it to the Turks some few years after they knowing the importance of the place seiz'd themselves of it and it has ever since been in their hands The 25th in the Morning the Forces were landed almost within Cannon-shot of the City without any opposition from the Turks they consisted of three thousand Venetians a thousand Sclavonians two thousand and four hundred of those that were sent by the Prince of Brunswick Duke of Hanover with the young Prince his Son according to the Agreement made with the Republique the Battalion of Malta consisting of eight or nine hundred Souldiers and twenty six Knights one Battalion of the Pope's of four hundred men and another of the Great Duke's of three hundred which made up in all about eight thousand Foot without the Cavalry This Army was commanded by the Count St. Paul a General of great ability and experience who had long time serv'd the King of Denmark and Duke of Neubourg The first Post in order of Battel was taken by the Battalion of Malta the Commander of which Monsieur de la Tour Maubourg had the general Command with as universal an Approbation as he had on the like occasion at the Siege of Candia He had also under his Command the Batalion of the Pope's Galleys All this
Cannon which kill'd several of ours This was enough to make us resume our Arms. The Christians having cry'd out Treason so briskly forc'd that little of a Retrenchment the Enemies had on the Breach that nothing could hinder them from rushing into the City where all were put to the Sword except some few happy Men and many Women and Children Chevalier de la Barre having had much difficulty to secure from the rage of the Souldiers those four Turks which came to parly with him The Mine had buried under its Ruins the Governour of the place a man of undaunted Resolution which happen'd well for the Christians who otherwise would not so easily have made themselves Masters of it Thus ended the Siege of Coron seven and forty days after the Trenches were open'd during which time the Christian Army had two powerful Enemies to encounter over whom they gain'd a double Victory with all the Glory imaginable The Venetians with Count St. Paul got much Honour The young Count of Brunswick with his Forces signaliz'd himself in a particular manner Those of Florence gave good Proofs of their Valour to the time of their reimbarking which was some days before the end of the Siege It is easie to judge how great a share of Honour is due to the Battalion of Malta and the Pope's Forces who were always joyn'd with them Chevalier de la Barre by many brave Actions maintain'd the honour Sieur de la Tour had got All the Knights generously sacrific'd themselves to the support of the Faith having undergon incredible Fatigues and many of them shed their Blood as may be seen in the List at the end of the Book in which I have set down their respective Nations Let us now pass to Dalmatia where though nothing happen'd of such importance as in the Morea yet it will be necessary to inform the Reader of what pass'd worthy of remark in the Rencounters the Venetian Forces had with the Turks in that Country and elsewhere It was resolv'd to besiege the Fortress of Sing and in prosecution of this design the Generals march'd at the head of their Forces and immediately invested it The Trenches were open'd a Battery rais'd and some Cannon mounted in spight of the Infidels who continually fired upon them They summon'd the besieged who being well stored with Men and Provisions scorn'd the Conditions of Surrender which were offer'd and by their vigorous resistance oblig'd us to quit the Attempt some days after the opening our Trenches On the other side the Hayducs of Caâ—aro advanc'd towards Goza where they â—ade great Havock wasting all that Country with Fire and Chevalier Janco march'd as far as Bilai four days Journey beyond Sebenico and burnt to Ashes Eighteen Villages and two Castles that were Garrisons and return'd at last to Zara laden with Honour and a rich Booty as well of Cattle as other things and attended by five hundred men well arm'd who had forsaken the Turks to joyn with the Venetians A considerable number of the Infidels having come out of Castel-Novo to prepare an Ambuscade for the Christians thâ— Morlaques who were always ready to disappoint the Turks Designs follow'd theâ— so close at the Heels that they madâ— them retreat to the Town in great disorder after having kill'd and woundeâ— several of them and taken away a considerable Booty with many Prisoners The Vayvode Janco took the Field again to joyn the Croats that were subjeâ—â— to the Emperor and go with them tâ— destroy the Turks Iron Mines Captain General Morosini who was yet at Coroâ— caus'd the repairs of those Fortificatioâ— to be dispatch'd with great diligence and having put it in a posture of defenâ—â— set sail toward the Coast of Zarnata attended by the Forces of Saxony his Design being to seize that Town and two neighbouring Towers by the means of which the Turks still kept the Mainotts in awe Zarnata is a Fortress almost round and situate on a high place he sent a Detachment to summon the Garrison to which the Aga who commanded the place submitted the 11th of September though the Army was five Miles distant and had not yet set foot on land The Garrison which was numerous consisting of six hundred men was embark'd and guarded by a Convoy within a small distance from Calamata But the Aga fearing the Punishment which the Grand Signior inflicts on the unfortunate remain'd among the Venetians The Captain General gave him a Pension of thirty Royals a Month after he had receiv'd Baptism with twenty other Turks There were found in this place fifty one pieces of Cannon two hundred Quintals of Powder great store of Bullet with other Ammunition and Provision Signior Morosini having thus gain'd the Town put in a Garrison of two hundred and fifty Foot Souldiers under the command of the noble Venetians Bartholomeo Contareni and Angelo Emo and upon the advice he had that the Captain Basha was advanc'd with ten thousand men to lie before Calamata he order'd the Saxons to be set on shoar to joyn the Army which having advanc'd on the 12th of September in Battel-array to certain places where the Enemies were advantageously posted to dispute the Passage there happen'd some light Skirmishes betwixt the Advance-guards But whilst all things were preparing over-night to come to a set-Battel the next day the Infidels decamp'd before day to retire under the Cannon of Calamata which is situate upon the declining of a Hill on the side of the River Spinazza in the Province of Belvedere and has no other defence but a Castle built after the modern way that can secure it from the Assaults of an Enemy The Venetians surpriz'd this Fortress in the Year 1659. and quitted it after they had carried away the Provision which they found there in abundance The Turks not thinking themselves secure under the Walls of this place continu'd their retreat having first set fire to the Magazine Thus the Christian Army entred Calamata without the least opposition on the Feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and immediately seven thousand Mainotts repair'd to the Venetian Camp a Party of which presently went in pursuit of the Infidels There were found in the Castle nine Cannons nail'd and but little Ammunition The Fortress was dismantel'd Signior Morosini judging it unfit for a Garrison The Squadron of Signior Molino Captain extraordinary during the whole Summer gave chase to the Naval Army of the Captain Basha who whenever he had sight of the Venetian Vessels made away and his Cowardice was such that meeting with Signior Molino's Fleet under Capo-Crio consisting of seventeen Sail he fled into the Port of Rhodes with six and twenty Men of War and six and forty Galleys The fear of a Sea-fight made him also lock up the Port with a great Chain and he himself durst not come out though the Venetians came often to dare him at the very mouth of the Haven and coasted thereabout fifteen days to entice him out Chevalier
Janco who was in the Field having notice that the Turks had a design of marching to the number of three thousand men to fire the Suburbs of Sebenico left there some men and with another Reinforcement of twelve hundred Morlaques advanc'd within four Miles of the place where having laid an Ambush for them in an advantageous Post the Enemies were surpriz'd when they least thought of it and being put into Disorder at the first charge betook themselves to flight with great loss of their men After the taking of Calamata the Forces of the Republique seiz'd Porto Vitulo where were found fifty piece of Cannon and ten of smaller Artillery with store of Ammunition Signior Lorenzo was there made Proveditor extraordinary General Morosini after that appear'd before Chielifa the Garrison not believing it self in condition to resist accepted the Articles of surrender which were offer'd them and the Standard of St. Mark was there planted they reconsecrated the Church of St. Spindion for divine Worship and Signior Lorenzo Venier was made Governour of the place This Fortress is situate on the top of a sharp Rock about a Mile and a half from the Sea it is a Mile in compass of a square form and is flank'd with five Towers for its defence The taking of Chielifa was followed by that of Passana where the Standard of the Republique was planted the 24th of September and the Sieur Angelo Lazari with the superintendent Georgio Foscarini were chosen Proveditors extraordinary This place is situate on a Hill in the Province of Maina in the neighbourhood of the Gulf of Colochina upon the Cape of Matapan opposite to Chielifa The Campaign ended with several Rencounters which the Morlaques and the Mainotts had with the Infidels in Dalmatia and in the Morea The Turks also receiv'd some Losses at Sea four of their Galleys being separated by a violent Storm that which belonged to the Basha of Negropont was met by the famous Corsair Manetta and taken by two of his Galeots with two hundred Turks that were on board and eighty Christian Slaves who were all set at liberty Signior Morosini having set sail for Corfâ— to take his Winter-quarters there pass'd by Preveza within view of Santa Maura and sailed on to Trapano to view the Works they were making at that place with four Galleys of the Isles From thence he went to the Gulf of Larta upon advice that the Governour of that Town call'd Javanos was on his march with fifteen hundred men to oblige the Villages of Xeromero to the contribution of Carazzo which they had refus'd to pay The Turks seeing the Fleet betook themselves to flight with their Governour which gave occasion to the General to pass to Gomenizze and endeavour to draw them on thither in his passage he was saluted by the Infidels who were there in Garrison with a single Volley of their Cannon and having given a signal to the Galley Garzoni to answer them she did it so dexterously that the Bullet carried off the Head of one of the Barbarians which struck such a terrour into the rest that they resolv'd upon the spot to leave the place and save their lives by flying to a neighbouring Mountain which they did This advantage oblig'd the Venetians to go on shore and seize the Fortress which Signior Morosini caus'd to be demolish'd having first order'd a Mass of Thanksgiving to be celebrated in the place The Ammunition and Provision that were found there he caus'd to be carried on board his Vessels with six piece of double Brass Cannon ninety six pound of Bullet and four quarter Culverins with two other small Field-pieces to convey to Corfu which was but four and twenty Miles distant THE HISTORY OF THE Venetian Conquests c. The Third Book THIS Year the Venetians continu'd with great Success the Conquests they had begun the year before in the Morea which is a Peninsula call'd by the Ancients Peloponnesus the number of its Commonwealths famous in History rendred it very considerable amongst the Grecians It was formerly divided into Achaia properly so call'd Arcadia the Country of Argos Corinth Elis Sicionia Laconia and Messenia It is at present call'd Morea because in sigure it resembles a Mulberry-leaf it is divided into the Dukedom of Clarence which comprehends Achaia Sicionia and Corinth Belveder formerly Elis and Messenia Saccania anciently the Country of Argos and Tzaconia where was Laconia and Arcadia It is joyn'd to the Continent Northward by a neck of Land called the Isthmus of Corinth on the West and South it has the Adriatick Sea and on the East the Sea of Candia its length from Corinth to Modon is a hundred and seventy Italian Miles the breadth is almost of the same extent and it is six hundred Miles in compass The City of Sparta or Lacedemon which amongst the ancient was the most celebrated of all Peloponnesus falling under the Turkish Dominion has lost much of its ancient Splendour they call Lacedemon Misitra and Corinth Coranto At present the most known are Coron Modon Clarence Argos Navarin Patras Napoli di Romania and Maina that which is now call'd Braccio di Maina is the Country of the Mainotts they inhabit part of the Country of the ancient Lacedemonians along the Sea-coast of the Gulf of Coron and they are the only Greeks that have preserv'd themselves in form of a Republick against the Ottomans The ruggedness of their Mountains and the nearness of the Sea has given them this advantage But the City of Candia being taken which happenâ—d in the Year 1669. they fear'd they should lose their liberty and that fear was the occasion that many of them sought new Habitations to live in quiet The Genoüese receiv'd five or six hundred Families of them into the Isle of Corsica and the Great Duke of Florence gave land within his Territories to a thousand more who have setled themselves there within these few years There are many considerable Mountains in the Morea viz. Pholoe Cyllene Sepia Poglizzi Cronia or Grevenos Mintia or Mente Neris Nonaene Artimisio and Taygetus now call'd Borta The Rivers are Carbon and Eurotas now call'd Vasili-Potamos Inachus Linceus and Spinarzza The extent of the Isthmus of Corinth which joyns the Morea to Greece between the Gulf of Lepant and that of Engia is six Miles Many Princes have made it their endeavour to divide all this Land from the Conâ—inent Nero the Emperor made a Voyage into Achaia expresly on that design â—e made a Speech to his men and then â—pened the Ground himself and carried a Basket of Earth on his Shoulders but could not succeed in his Design The Morea being by the Greek Emperors divided amongst the Despots or Lords whom they named became a Prey to the Turks who easily possess'd themselves of it under Mahomet II. surnamed Boiuc that is to say the Great He was the terrour of all Europe and the most fortuâ—ate Prince of all the Infidels that ever â—ate on that Throne The
sent the same day into the hands of Signior Morosini That the Turks should bring their Standards on board the Captain Galley That they should all march out within four days the Soldiers with their Arms and what Baggage each of them could carry and the Inhabitants with part of their Moveables That Vessels should be allow'd to transport them to some Port in the Coast of Barbary That they should leave behind them all the Christian Slaves and the Negro's Men and Women that should be found in Modon should become Slaves to the Republique These Articles being signed one hundred men were put into the Castle where the Standard of St. Mark was planted and two days after the Turks march'd out to the number of a thousand Men able to bear Arms and three thousand other persons There were â—n the place about an hundred piece of Cannon of which many were Brass with great store of Ammunition in the Magaâ—ines Fourteen hundred men were put â—n Garrison for the defence of the City and Signior Pavita was chosen Proveditor extraordinary Fortune declar'd her self on all sides for â—he Republique and this was not the only check the Affairs of the Ottoman Empire met with on this side General Cornaro who commanded in Dalmatia having join'd to his Forces those of the Morlaques they march'd from the Province of Zaro under the Conduct of Chevaâ—ier Janco and Sieur Smilianich with the Captains Possidona and Patolazzi they â—irected their march towards Conscho and being arriv'd on the 13th to the Banks of the River Cattina made a halt towards the Evening to refresh themselves and having laid their bridge past the River in the night and by break of day arriv'd to Climno where having understood that seven hundred Spahi's and fifteen hundred Janisaries with some other Forces were encamp'd they attack'd them with so much courage that they soon made them give way The Cavalry endeavour'd to gain the open Country and the Foot to escape to the Mountains but they were so close pursu'd that before they could compass their design above seven hundred of them werâ— kill'd and five hundred made Prisoners The Inhabitants of Climnâ— who were witnesses to this defeat retir'â— themselves into the Castle with desigâ— to defend themselves there but in vain for the confusion they were in havinâ— made them forget to shut the Gatâ— of the Town the Forces of the Repubâ—lique and the Morlaques seiz'd it immâ—diately and the Castle also by the negligence of the Inhabitants whom the approach of an Enemy should have maâ— more wary Whatever was found in the City they carried away and put to the Sword those that made any resistance they set fire to the Houses which spreading it self on all sides burnt the Town and Castle to Ashes blew up the Magazine with five hundred Turks consum'd many stately Buildings and magnificent Mosques with great store of Riches the Women and Children were carried away Prisoners It was a Town of good Trade the Basha of Bossina made choice of it for his ordinary residence by reason of its pleasant Situation good Air and fruitfulness of the adjacent Fields which in this War were wholly wasted In this Expedition one hundred and thirty Christian Slaves were set at liberty and more than sixty Families put themselves under the protection of the Republique Signior Cornaro march'd no farther on but return'd with his Force and the Morlaques laden with rich Spoils having had but nine men kill'd and three and twenty wounded in this successful Enterprise The Proveditor Extraordinary of Spinalonga in the Kingdom of Candie gave an account to the Senate that besides many Incursions that had been made by his Garrison from time to time to the very Gates of the Enemies Towns he had lately made a Detachment of part of his Forces with design to fight the Infidels that his Scouts having inform'd him where they lay encamp'd he march'd towards them and gain'd an entire Victory and that having possest himself of an advantageous Post which before had much incommoded him the confusion the Infidels were in was redoubled and most part of them kill'd on the place some were drowned and others disperst in the Mountains There was also intelligence that the Christian Privateers had taken in the Sea of Candia eight Saics laden with Corn and other Merchandise bound for Constantinople After Signior Morosini had view'd the Fortifications of Modon and given necessary orders for its defence he began to think of new Conquests and call'd a Council of War for that purpose where all the Principal Officers being present it was resolved to attack the City of Napoli di Romania so call'd by the Inhabitants of the Morea Before he put his design in execution he thought it proper to clear the Country of some Garrisons that were in the small places about Modon he possest himself of the Town call'd Achaia which tho it be not in it self very considerable yet it serves to secure the other Conquests which the Venetians have made and are still making in that Kingdom Whilst we leave the Army under sail towards Napoli di Romania let us see what passes in Dalmatia The Forces of the Republique which are in these parts have had many advantages over the common Enemy being seconded by the Morlaques Solyman Basha of Scutari and Albania who took the Field in the Month of July in order to besiege some place in the Territories of the Republique took much pains to little purpose 'T is true he advanc'd towards the City of Budoa and the Castle of St. Stephens with design to seize them and having forag'd thereabouts to lay siege to Cattaro In effect he us'd so much diligence that he quickly got within view of the place with his Army which consisted of twelve thousand men and eight piece of Cannon which gave some alarm to the Governour but General Cornaro and the Count St. Paul having been inform'd of his design had already prevented him with a number equal to his The Basha who believ'd his design would not come to light till after the execution of it and imagin'd the Christians could take no measures to traverse it encamp'd himself within four miles of the place near the Town of Briach and stay'd for the Artillery and the rest of his Forces design'd for this Enterpise In the mean time General Cornaro furnish'd the City with all things necessary for its defence in case the Enemies should be so rash as to lay siege to it and having taken a view of their Camp he set his men in Battel-array The Basha did the same and himself in person view'd the Venetian Army from a small Hill on the South side The first day past in divers light Skirmishes and frequent Alarms without coming to a just Battel But at the dawn of the next day the Turks came upon the Christians with great fury and loud cryes as is customary with them The first Squadrons of the Morlaques perceiving their design stay'd for them
and pillag'd the Town giving quarter to none but four hundred persons whom they made Slaves After Signior Morosini had sent an account of these Progresses to the Republique it was order'd by them in full Senate That the Arms of this most illustrious General should be set up in the great Council Hall and that Count Coningsmark's annual Pension should be encreas'd six thousand Ducats At the same time a Present of four thousand Ducats was assign'd to the Prince of Hanover and a Sword of two thousand to Viscount Turene the Marquis of Courbon's pay was encreas'd two thousand Ducats by giving him the place of Serjeant-General of the Battalia and proportionable acknowledgments were made to all those who had had the Honour to signalize themselves The first care the Generalissimo took after his new Conquests was not only to give solemn thanks to God but to cause all the Churches to be re-consecrated which had been us'd by the Infidels for Mosques These Churches were dedicated under the Name of several Saints and given to several religious Orders at Patras one was consecrated to the Immaculate Conception and given to the Coventual Fryers another situate in the Suburbs was dedicated to Saint Andrew who by the Report of several Authors had there suffer'd Martyrdom under the Proconsul Ægeus it was given to the discalc'd Carmelites The Mosque of Lepant was consecrated anew under the name of Saint James that City being reduc'd under the obedience of the Venetians on the Feast day of that Saint Signior Morosini after he had provided for the Government of the Church took into his consideration the Government of the Places he had taken and nam'd all necessary Officers to the end that the People being furnish'd with all things might enjoy that peace and rest which had long been unknown to them Signior Girolamo Priuli was made Governour of Patras and Signior Pietro Grioni Lieutenant Signior Tadeo Gradenigo Governour of Lepant and Marquiss Messulipa Lieutenant Signior Marco Barbarigo Governour of the Castle of Morea and Signior Girolamo Tepolo Lieutenant that of Romelia had for Governour Signior Alvise Sagredo till further orders Signior Morosini sent to summon the Castle Tornese which is a Fortress near the Province of Belvedere between the Gulf of Chiarenza and that of Arcadia it is built upon an eminence about three miles distant from the Sea. The Aga who was there made no resistance but desir'd to capitulate and after the first Summons quitted the place it was the sole defence of two hundred Villages and Forts in that most fruitful part of the Morea all which submitted themselves an hundred and fifty Turks that desired it receiv'd Baptism the rest retir'd towards Achaia There were found in Castle-Tornese nine piece of Brass Cannon and twenty of Iron The Serasquier after the loss of Patras retir'd to Corinth with the remnant of his Army and Signior Morosini being desirous to compleat his Victory and at the same time let the Serasquier see he had both Courage and Strength enough to take that place whither he had retir'd with all his Forces made towards the Gulf of Corinth with his Fleet augmented now with fourteen Galeots which had been taken under the Castles of Lepant in the mean time Count Coningsmark on his part advanc'd thither by land The Serasquier having heard of this march and not finding among the four thousand men he had resolution enough to defend themselves fell into such a despair that he caus'd fire to be set to the Magazines of Powder and Victuals and to some Houses in the City and Out-town and blew up some part of the Fortifications and then took his flight towards Thebes and so quitted the Morea He sent Orders before to the Governours of some Fortresses to set fire to them and joyn him with their Garrisons and Baggage in the craggy Mountains of Thebes there to wait for relief from Constantinople He burn'd destroy'd and kill'd all the Greeks he found in his way because they seem'd not dispos'd to make such opposition to the Venetians as he expected to which he added That they were the cause of all the ill success of the War but those of that Nation being provok'd by such barbarous usage kill'd two thousand of his men and made four hundred Prisoners As they drew nearer to Corinth they perceiv'd afar off the rest of the Turkish Cavalry on their flight and the City appear'd on fire but it was quench'd before it consum'd all the Magazines and there was found great store of Victuals and Ammunition besides six and forty Brass Cannon and four of Iron The chief of the Grecians who were come out of the City to meet the Venetians fell at the feet of the Generalissimo in the name of the rest of the Inhabitants and told him there were no Turks in the place but that they believ'd some of them were at Misitra A great Detachment was plac'd in Garrison at Corinth two Companies in the Citadel from whence a like number of the Turks were fled and there the Standard of St. Mark was set up Signior Morosini view'd the place and provided all things they might stand in need of he receiv'd the submission of the Metropolitan and many other Bishops and Priests They shew'd to the Venetians the Mount Parnassus the Fountain of Helicon and that of Pirene so celebrated by Homer a Statue of Janus found in the Suburbs of Corinth the Tomb of Diogenes the Ruins of the Temple of Minerva and several other pieces of Antiquity as also the marks of the Wall built by the Venetians in the year 1463. to enclose the Isthmus of Corinth Lewis Loredan General at Sea having landed his Forces to joyn them with those of Bertold d' Este and employ them joyntly on this Work thirty thousand Workmen were set to it who in the space of fifteen days finish'd it adding to it double Ditches and an hundred thirty six Towers This Work was call'd Examilion by reason of its length which was six miles in the middle of it as soon as it was finish'd an Altar was prepar'd and the whole Army heard Mass there This Country was famous for the Isthmian Games the Temple of Neptune and the Forrest of Pines of whose Branches Crowns were made for the Champions There are few places mention'd in Antiquty that has suffer'd more remarkable changes of Fortune or been oftner ruin'd than Corinth It is near the middle of the Isthmus where the Ægean and Ionian Sea meet its situation is so commodious that it has been call'd the Eye of Greece and Bulwark of Peloponnesus It was according to Plutarch the chief City of all Greece and Cicero said it was the Beauty and Glory of it It was destroyed by the Romans under the Consul Memnius and rebuilt by Augustus it has been ruin'd by Amurath the second and by his Son Mahomet it has furnish'd the Church with a great number of Saints St. Paul remain'd there eighteen Months and we read