Vladislaus seâ—keth in value to open the passage of the mountainâ— Hemus The Hungarians much troubled in passiâ—g a thicke â—ood Vladislaus honorably receiued at Buda Scanderbeg wisely dissembleth his desire for the deliuerse of himselfe and his countrey Scanderbeg commeth with his armâ—â— to Petrelâ—a Petrella yeelded vnto Scanderbeg Petra-Alba yeelded Stellusa yeelded by the garrison A notable speech of a common soldior to the rest of his fâ—llowes for the holding out of the citie against Scanderbeg Scanderbeg his short answere to the souldiors speech Desdrot gouernour of Stellusa executed Macedonia spotâ—ed by Scanderbeg Alis Bassa with an armie of forty thousand sent against Scanderbeg The battell betwixt Alis Bassa and Scanderbeg A great slaughter of the Turks Amurath in dispâ—â—e Amurath by thâ— persuasion of Cali Bassa seeketh for peace of king Vladislaus The capitulatâ—ons of the ten yeares peace concluded betwixt Vladislaus and Amurath Amurath inuâ—deth Caramania The â—unning speech wherwith Iulian the Cardinal perâ—â—adeth 〈◊〉 Vladislaus to breake the leaguâ—â—e had before made with Amurath Iulian the Cardinall absolueth king Vladislaus and the â—ect from their oath before giuen to Amurath The letters of king Vladislaus to Scanderbeg Scanderbeg his answere by letters vnto king Vladislaus King Vladislaus setteth forward against the Turks Dracula aâ—â—eth Vâ—adâ—slaus with his sonne and 4000 horse His last farewell vnto the king The great battell of Varna fought betweene king Vladislaus and Amurath Amurath prayeth vnto Christ. A cruell fight Amurath in danger King Vladislaus slaine Huniades flyeth Amurath to perform his vow resigneth his kingdome to his sonne Mahomet which he in short time after taketh again vpon him The comparison betwixt Huniades and Scanderbeg The sullen and craftie letters of Amurath to Scanderbeg The resolute answere of Scanderbeg to Amurath his letters Amurath 〈…〉 Sâ—anderbeg Scanderbeg his valiant resolution for the assaulting of Mustapha in his camp Peloponnesus made tributarie vnto the Turke 1446 Baiazet borne Huniades in the minoritie of the king chosen Gouernor of all the kingdome of Hungarie 1448 Huniades goeth against the Turks The false Despot giueth Amurath knowledge both of Huniades his comming and of his strength The omynous speech of an old woman The notable speech of Huniadâ—s to 〈…〉 against the Tuâ—ks The great baâ—â—aile of Cossoâ—â— fought betwixt Amurath and Huniades three daies together The battaile begun againe the second day Huniades encourageth his souldiors The battaile againe begâ—n the third day Huniades flieth The number of the Turks and Christians slain in the battaile of Cossoua Huniades taken prisâ—ner noâ— by the Dâ—spot 1449 The Despot inuaded by Amurath craueth aid of Huniades Amurath his graue letters of aduertisement to Mustapha concerning his going againe into Epirus The sâ—eech of Caragusa the Tuâ—ke to Manessi Manessi his stout answere to Caragusa The battaile betwixt Scanderbeg and Mustapha Mustapha ranâ—somed Thâ— lamentable 〈◊〉 of the â—â—â—ke ciâ—izenâ— out of Croia Scanderbeg commeth to Sfetigrade The effectuall speech of Scanderbeg vnto the souldiors and citizens of Sfetigrade to encourage theÌ„ against the comming of Amurath A notable â—tratageme of Scanderbeg for the intrapping of his enemies 1449 Amurath commeth to Sfetigrade with his armie The resolute answere of Perlat the Gouernor vnto the Bassa Sfetigrade assaulted The Turkes 〈…〉 The Ianizaries desperatly attempt to surprise the citie The Ianizaries repulsed Scanderbeg commeth to trouble the assault and 〈◊〉 met with by Feri-Bassa Amurath by greâ—â— pâ—â—miseâ— seeketh to corrupt the garrison of Sfetigrade A traitor â—orrupted with Amurath his Lâ—â—ge pâ—omises conspireth to betray the citie The carkas of a dead dog cast by the traitor into the common 〈◊〉 that serued the citie The Gouernor in vaine seeketh to peâ—suaâ—e the garrison sâ—uldiors to drinâ—e of the water of the well A traitoâ—â—orthâ—ly rewarded according to his treason 1450 Amurath assembleth againe his army at Hadrianople Croia baâ—â—red The cheerefull speech of Vranacontes the Gouernour to encourage his soldiours Croia assaulted Scanderbeg in danger Mahomet thinking to deceiue Scanderbeg is himselfe by him deceiued The Turkes retire Amurath seeketh to vndermine Croia The craftie speech of the Bassa sent from Amurath to corrupt the Gouernour and to persuade the â—â—â—hers to yeeld vp the cittie Vranacontes reiecteth Amurath his presents and threatenâ—th the Bassa Croia againe in vaine assaulteâ—â— The last speech and admonition of Amurath vnto his sonne Mahomet vpon his death bed Amurath his death Amurath an example of the vaâ—itie of worldly honour Amurath buried at Prusa A great poliâ—â—â— Amurath his disposition The sonnes of Amuraâ—h Paulus Iouius Illust virorum Elog. lib. 3. 1450 Mahomet of no religion Mahomet murdereth his brethren A cruell reuenge of an angrie woman Mahomet reformeth the Turkish coÌ„monweale 1451 Mahomet goeth against the king of Caramania Mentesia subdued by the Turks 1452 Mahomet maketh preparation for the besieging of Constantinople Constantinus the emperor in vaine craueth aid of the Christian princes 1453 Vide â—â—onardi Châ—ensis Archiepiscopi Miâ—â—len hist. dâ— captiuitate Con lantinopolitana Mahomet encamâ—eth before Constantinople The situation of Constantinople Constantinople built by Pausanâ—as destroyed by Seuerus reedified by Constantine the Great and now taken by Mahomet the Turke The magnificent temple of S. Sophia The frugalitie of the Turkes in their pâ—iuat buildâ—â—gâ— The Turks flâ—et Constantinople vndermined by the Turks Seuentie of the Turks galliots brought eight miles ouerland by the deuice of a Christian into the hauen of Constantinople A wonderfull bridge made by the Turks ouer the hauen of Constantinople A notable fight betweene four of the Christians ships and the Turks flâ—et The citizens of Constantinople without cause murmure against the emperour A bare shift for money Constantinople assaulted by the Turks Mahomet renueth the assault The Christians forsake the 〈◊〉 Constantinople woon by the Turkes Mahomet solemniseth his feastâ— in Constantinople with the bloâ—d of the Grecian nobilitie Pera yeelded to the Turke Mahomet notably dissembleth his hatred against Caly Bassa Mahomet placeth his imperiall seat at Constantinople and is worthely accounted first Emperor of the Turks 1454 Thomas and Demetrius rebell against Mahomet and are by him spoiled of part of their dominion Mahomet commeth againe into Peâ—â—ponesus Demetrius submitteth himselfe to Mahomet Peloponesus subdued by the Turks The death of George Despot of Seruia Serâ—ia yeelded to the Turke Belgrade besieged The Turks fleet ouerthrown by the Christians Carazies Bassa slaine Belgrade assaulted by the Turks The Turks notably repulsed The death of the most famous captaine Huniades 1461 Vsun Cassan the Persian king sendeth embassadours with presents to Mahomet Mahomet inuadeth Ismael prince of Sinope Trapezond besieged by Mahomet Trapezond yeelded vnto the Turks The ruine of the empire of Trapezond 1462 Mahomet seeketh to entrap Wladus prince of Valachia Chamuzes Bassa and the Turkes secretarie haÌ„ged Mahomet himselfe in person inuadeth Valachia A most horrible spectacle Two thousand of the Valachies slaine The death of Wladus 1462 Mitylene besieged Mitylene yeelded to
Moratchamus for the kingdome and hauing vanquished him draue him out of ARMENIA and PERSIA and afterwards as it commonly falleth out in the winding vp of ciuile warres had caused diuers of the cheefe citisens of TAVRIS which had taken part with his brother against him to be seuerely executed filling the eyes of their friends with the horrible spectacle of their dismembred bodies and the hearts of most men with sorrow and heauinesse whereby he had so alienated the minds of the citisens from him that now vpon the approch of Hysmaell they were all readie to forsake him of which their disposition Hysmaell was before-hand enformed and vpon the good hope thereof had hasted his comming Eluan the Persian king thus ouertaken on the suddaine had not time to raise such forces as might suffice either to encounter his enemie or defend the citie wherefore despairing of his owne strength and justly fearing the reuolt and furie of the discontented citisens as a man dismayed suddainely fled out of the citie After whose departure the gates were presently set open vnto Hysmaell For the citisens which in those troublesome times wherein the two brethren contended for the kingdome had suffered great calamitie chose rather in that present danger to receiue a conqueror of so great fame as was then Hysmaell than to their vtter destruction to oppose themselues against him in the quarrell of their cruell king and the rather for that they saw a generall securitie and open way to preferment proposed vnto all such as should receiue the reformed religion of this new conquerour Hysmaell entering the citie slew certaine of the kings guard which were not yet departed and then vtterly rased the stately tombe wherin his vncle Iacup was after the manner of the Persian kings royally buried And to mitigate the sorrow hee had so long conceiued of his fathers death and with reuenge to appease his angrie ghost he caused the tyrants bornes to be digged vp and scattered abroad and the memoriall of his name to bee quite rased out of all places of the citie Although Hysmaell was thus possessed of the regall citie of TAVRIS and had therby made a way for the obtaining of the whole kingdome yet hee knew that so long as Eluan liued his conquest was not vnto him assured and therefore to the vttermost of his power he augmented his armie with new supplies taken vp in that populous citie whom he furnished with armour and weapons taken out of the kings armourie In the meane time newes was brought vnto him that the Persian king before fled into the farthest part of his kingdome was now comming from SCYRAS with a great armie against him and that Moratchamus his brother forgetting in this common danger all former quarrels had raised a great armie about BABILON in ASSYRIA in short time to joine with his brother Hysmaell neuerthelesse nothing terrified with the report of the great preparation of the two brethren against him to the intent hee might seeme to vndertake this warre by the appointment of God and vpon a greater assurance than vpon his owne strength resolued to go against them And so after he had mustered his armie and in best manner he could prouided all things necessarie he set forward from TAVRIS vsing no other persuasion to encourage his souldiors but that they should as became resolute men make hast and follow him whom God had giuen them for a cheefetaine and leader vnto a most assured victorie The Persian king was at the same time ten dayes journey from TAVRIS when Hysmaell with incredible celeritie preuenting the fame of his comming was come to the mountaine NIPHATES which parteth ARMENIA from ASSYRIA which mountaine Eluan purposing shortly to passe ouer with his populous armie had sent before his scouts to discouer the straight passages and a multitude of pioners to make the wayes more commodious for his great armie to passe Which thing Hysmaell vnderstanding and politickely considering that it should be much for his aduantage if hee should first himselfe passe ouer those great mountaines and so vpon the suddaine set vpon his enemies then lying in securitie and fearing nothing lesse than such a desperat attempt vpon that resolution aduanced his ensignes vp the mountaines and hauing with small resistance discomfited them which kept the passages came downe the same mountaines like a tempest and furiously assailed the king then lying in his campe on the other side at the foot of the mountaine vpon the approch of whom such a hurly burly was raised in the kings campe that what for the confused tumult of the souldiors and fearefull outcries of the multitude of base people which followed the campe the king could scarcely giue order vnto his captaines what he would haue done or yet encourage his souldiors or put them in order of battaile So that Hysmaell giuing a fierce onset with his Armenian souldiors there was suddainely begun a most terrible and bloodie battaile Neither did that day the fortune of Hysmaell faile him whose courage and prowesse neuer failed For assailing the kings battaile of footmen with three squadrons at once he had ouercome them and put them to flight before that the horsemen could arme themselues and mount their horses which were for most part vnsadled and vnbrideled at his comming The king who had nothing either feared or foreseene this so suddaine a mischeefe but had vainely persuaded himselfe That the very fame of his comming with so huge an armie would so terrifie his enemies as that hee should find none either at TAVRIS or in all ARMENIA that durst make resistance was glad now to run too and fro to encourage his souldiors to stay his discomfited battailes yea and to come to handie blowes himselfe But when neither his captaines nor souldiors could put in execution his suddaine directions which he was enforced to giue in that imminent danger being at once ouercome with shame and desperation he resolutely thrust himselfe into the head of his battaile and there valiantly fighting was slaine Whereupon the Persian horsemen the greatest strength of the kings armie hauing now no king for whom they should fight betooke themselues to flight after whom followed the archers and all the rest of the kings armie When as Hysmaell had with lesse losse than a man would haue thought so great a victorie could haue beene atchieued possessed the enemies tents hee made no great pursute after them for that he thought it more requisit to refresh his souldiors throughly wearied and almost spent with long trauell and the late fight wherefore for certaine dayes he reposed himselfe with his armie in those his enemies forsaken tents Afterwards when hee had receiued embassadours from diuers places yeelding their cities and townes and that the fauour of the people generally enclined to him together with the victorie he marched with his armie to SCYRAS where hee was of the citisens who had before heard of the victorie joyfully receiued and his armie relieued with all
thin they might at more libertie vse their swords in which manner of fight the Mamalukes farre excelled the Turks for most part slaine and the rest put to flight and that chosen companie of fiue hundred of the most valiant Ianizaries now destitute of their horsemen when they had most courageously done what was possible for men to doe being compassed round with the Mamaluke horsemen were all in a trice cut in peeces and troden vnderfoot Thus resteth this Eunuch Bassa in the bed of fame who liuing had the leading of this most warlike emperour Selymus his greatest armies in his most dangerous warres Mustapha in the other wing of the Turkes battell comming on courageously with his Asian horsemen did sore presse the left wing of the Aegyptians whereof Heylmis the Diadare and Giâ—pal two valiant captaines had the leading who but a little before had receiued great harme by the great ordinance which was discharged out of the middest of Selymus his battell ouerthwaâ—â— the field Which Mustapha perceiuing and desiring to blot out the old infamie hee had before receiued did fiercely presse vpon them so disordered and with his whole troupes ouerthrew their broken rankes and glistering in his bright armour with a loud voice encouraged his Asian souldiors exhorting them that day with valiant prowesse or honourable death to recouer their antient honour of late lost in the fields of ALEPPO At the same time also Tomombeius breaking through the middle battell of the Turkes horsemen was entred into the squadron of the footmen with his crooked scimitar giuing many a deadly wound himselfe being a valiant big made man and of great strength The Arabians had also in a ring enclosed the vttermost parts of the Turks armie and in many places enforced them to turne their battell vpon them being sore charged with a doubtfull fight both before and behind when Selymus set forward with his battell of footmen and his squadron of Ianizaries his last and most assured refuge in that his hard distresse whose inuincible force neither the courageous barbed horses nor their victorious riders were able to abide for part of them with their harquebusiers and the rest with their pikes had so strongly set the front of their battell that nothing was able to stand wheresoeuer that firme battell linked together as if it had been but one whole entire bodie swayed Yet was this cruell battell continued with diuers fortune on both sides from foure of the clocke vntill the going downe of the Sunne neither was there any part of their armies which had not with diuers successe and change of fortune endured the furie of that battell for both the victors and the vanquished being enraged with an implacable hatred one against another fought desperately as men prodigall of their liues The Mamalukes disdaining to haue the victorie wrong out of their hands by them whom they had in so many places discomfited and the Turkes taking it in no lesse scorne that they whom but of late they had ouercome and vanquished in two great battels should now the third time make so strong resistance So that on both sides their fainting hands and bodies both wearied and weakened with wounds supported only with anger and obstinacie of mind seemed yet sufficient to haue maintained that bloudie battell vntill the next day if the darkenesse of the night now comming on had not made an end of that dayes slaughter Tomombeius vndoubtedly vanquished and feating to be vtterly ouerthrowne first caused a retreat to be sounded that his Mamalukes which were indeed not able to withstand the Ianizaries might not seeme to be put to flight but rather as men commaunded to retire Which hee thought to concerne much both for the encouraging of his souldiors and for the keeping of his owne credit and estimation with his subjects For now the selfesame fortune which had deceiued his first hopes seemed vnto him as it fareth with men in distresse yet still hoping for better to promise him more prosperous successe if he were not discouraged but reseruing such remainders of his forces as were left he should againe courageously renew the warre The battell thus broken off by the approch of the night the Turkes as victors enjoying the tents and great artillerie of their enemies pursued the Mamalukes vntill midnight who held on their way to CAIRE in manner as if they had fled This great battell was fought vpon a thursday the foure and twentieth day of Ianuarie in the yeare 1517. The Diadare was taken in the flight mortally wounded and with him the valiant captaine Bidon hauing in the battell one of his legs broken in the knee with a faulshion shot wherewith his horse was also slaine vnder him Selymus commaunded them both the next day to bee slaine either for that their wounds were supposed to be incurable or els for that it was his pleasure with the death of those two honouble personages to appease the angrie ghost of Sinan Bassa whose death he wonderfully lameÌ„ted The Turkes although they still preuailed yet was their armie greatly impaired euen in their prosperous successe and fortunat battels the fourth part of their armie was consumed with sicknesse and the sword and that dayes labour had tyred a great number of their horses beside the long journey they had before endured For which causes Selymus was enforced to slacke somewhat of his accustomed hast for as yet he had no experience of the disposition of the Aegyptians which dwelt at CAIRE neither could he vnderstand by any certaine report where Tomombeius staied or vpon what resolution he rested Which things not throughly known he thought it not good to commit himselfe and his armie into that most populous and spacious citie but staying foure dayes at the village of MATHAREA and RHODANIA carefully prouided for his wounded souldiors and caused the bodies of such as were slaine to be buried but the dead carkasses of his enemies he left to the birds of the aire and beasts of the field And afterward remouing his campe thence that he might more commodiously water he came into the plaines betweene old CAIRE and BVLACH In the meane while Tomombeius nothing discouraged with so many mishaps gathering together the Mamalukes from all places encamped his armie commodiously betweene the new citie of CAIRE and the riuer Nylus hee also armed eight thousand Aethyopian slaues which kind of men he had not before vsed for the remembrance of their old rebellion beside that hee opening the old armourie put armes into the hands of Mamalukes sonnes and Moores his vassales into the hands of the Iewes and Arabians also and courageously prepared for a greater and more mortall warre than before But for as much as there were many difficulties in the managing thereof hauing almost lost all his great artillerie with many of his most valiant horsemen slaine in the former battels he in his troubled mind did so cast the doubtfull hopes of his last deuice which cruell necessitie wrung from him
thenceforth call Iohn by the name of a king whereas before he had both in his common talke and letters called him by the name of the Vayuod onely It was also expressely set downe in the same articles of peace and subscribed with the hands of diuers of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE That if king Iohn should die king Ferdinand should succeed him in the whole kingdome of HVNGARIE Which condition was suppressed and kept verie secret for feare of Solyman who accounted of that kingdome as of his owne gotten by law of armes and bestowed vpon king Iohn as vpon his vassaile neither was it to haue been thought that if he should haue knowne thereof being of a hautie mind by nature and not able to endure any injurie he would haue suffered that kingdome got and defended with so great danger and cost to be by the will of an vnthankfull man transferred vnto his enemies This matter of so great importance was as it is reported by Hieronymus Lascus embassadour for king Ferdinand to CONSTANTINOPLE reuealed vnto Solyman and the Bassaes to bring king Iohn into hatred So much did this noble gentleman for his rare vertues otherwise greatly to haue been commended yeeld vnto his griefe and desire of reuenge when after the death of Aloysius Grittus he fell from the friendship of king Iohn being as is before declared by him committed to prison and hardly afterwards enlarged at the request of king Sigismund Whereupon Solyman being exceedingly angrie with king Iohn called him vnthankfull churle and turning himselfe about to Lutzis bassa his brother in law said How vnworthely doe these two Christian kings weare their crownes vpon their faithlesse heads who as shamefull deceiuers are not afraid either for worldly shame or feare of God for their profit to falsifie their faith But king Iohn vnderstanding thereof and wonderfully fearing his owne estate did by good friends and rich presents pacifie Solyman againe laying all the blame vpon king Ferdinand as better able to beare it Not long after king Iohn hauing set his kingdome in good order and strongly fortified the citie of BVDA being now farre stricken in yeares at the earnest request of most of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE and other his best friends married Isabella the daughter of Sigismund king of POLONIA a gratious ladie and of great spirit which king Sigismund had long before married Barbara king Iohn his sister after whose death he married the ladie Bona Sfortia the daughter of Ioannes Galeacius duke of MILLAIN by whom he had this ladie Isabella whom king Iohn now married Which marriage Solyman liked well of hauing many times by way of talke before condemned the single life of the king but king Ferdinand liked thereof nothing at all plainly foreseeing that the Hungarians if the king should chance to haue a sonne would forthwith looke vpon him as their naturall king and reject himselfe as but a stranger This young queene in short time as he had feared conceiued with child and was now verie big when king Iohn was enforced to make an expedition in person himselfe against Maylat famous for the death of Aloysius Grittus and Balaâ— both Gouernours of TRANSILVANIA whereof Maylat not contented with the name of Vayuod or Gouernour sought to make himselfe king But Solyman detesting the impudent arrogancie of the faithlesse man and hating him for the death of Grittus and the Turks slaine with him aduertised king Iohn of all the matter wishing him to be more circumspect whom he trusted with the gouernment of so great and rich a countrey So Maylat shamefully rejected of Solyman and out of hope of a kingdome fearing also to be thrust quite out of his gouernment by king Iohn thought it best for his owne safetie to raise vp all the prouince into rebellion and to take part with king Ferdinand which thing Ferdinand by his diuers agents secretly furthered to the vttermost For these two kings although they were at peace the one with the other and in words and shew made semblance of friendship yet in heart they enuied and hated each other as if they should presently haue waged warre At that same time king Iohn exacted of his subjects and especially of them of TRANSILVANIA a great summe of money to pay the Turke his tribute then two yeares behind which thing serued Maylat and his complices as a fit occasion to raise the people into rebellion persuading them that there was no reason to pay vnto the Turke such a tribute as would serue well to wage ten yeares honourable warre against him so that by that and such like persuasion all the prouince was in an vprore little differing from manifest rebellion To appease these dangerous troubles thus arising king Iohn sent certaine of his chiefe nobilitie and best captaines with a great power into TRANSILVANIA following after himselfe in his chariot not yet well recouered of his late sicknesse These noble men entring in two places into TRANSILVANIA and scouring vp and downe the countrey had in short time so vsed the matter that what by force what by policie the tumult was well pacified and diuers of the chiefe offenders worthely executed Maylat the ambitious author of this sedition not able to hold the field against the king and seeing himselfe beset on euerie side with his enemies retired himselfe with all his wealth into a towne called FOGARAS a place of great strength which the kings power shortly after hardly besieged the king himselfe then lying at SIBYNIVM the chiefe citie of TRANSILVANIA about a mile distant from FOGARAS sicke of an ague whereinto he was againe fallen through too much care and paines taken in trauelling in that hoat time of the yeare the daies being then at the longest Whilest he thus lay sicke at SIBYNIVM and his armie fast by at the sige of FOGARAS newes was brought vnto him from the court That the queene his wife was deliuered of a faire young sonne which was no sooner bruted abroad but the Hungarians as men ouerjoyed came flocking to the court where the king lay discharging their pieces in triumph with all other signes of joy and mirth they could possible deuise the noble men came from the campe to rejoice with the king and all the armie was filled with gladnesse And for the greater solemnitie of this so common a joy a royall feast was prepared which the noble men would needs haue the king to honour with his presence though he were thereto vnwilling being as yet but a little recouered Howbeit yeelding to their importunitie hee suffered himselfe to be ouerruled and brought to the feast by them which was vnto him the merriest and the last that euer he made for willing to shew his inward joy and to content his nobilitie there present he forgot himselfe and eat and dranke more liberally than was for the health of his weake bodie whereby the feauer which had but a little before left him was againe renewed in such sort as
now shaken off their yrons and with merrie hearts swam out to their libertie they might be saued from the cruelly of the fierce Numidians It was a most grieuous and wofull sight for diuers hard extremities when as euerie man according to the disposition of his mind and skill in swimming standing doubtfull in most assured death which to receiue or refuse was by fatall destinie drawne to his end and either drowned in the sea or thrust thorow with the enemies launce yet most made choise to abide the danger of the sea and to expect the euent of the tempest rather than to hasten their end by the enemies mercilesse hand By that meanes it came to passe that that barbarous crueltie of the enemie as a thing most feared of the marriners and souldiors saued many gallies which by the appointment of the fearefull marriners and passengers should otherwise haue been run on ground But after that a notable gally wherein Iannettin Auria went was seene to come neere vnto the shoare and to be driuen vpon the sands by force of weather and the beating of other gallies The emperour not enduring to see so valiant a young gentleman captaine of many gallies slaine without helpe by the Moores in the sight of Auria his vncle sent by and by one of his captaines called Antonius of ARAGON with three bands of Italians to the sea side by whose comming the Moores were put to flight and he with the rest in the gally saued but so that the sauing of him was the losse of diuers other gallies For many deliuered of the feare of the Numidians and trusting to the rescue of the souldiors come downe to the sea side desiring to saue themselues from the rage of the sea ran their gallies on ground and had not some bold captaines grieued to see so great a losse run vp and downe the bankes with their drawne swords in their hands and by threatning death vnto the gally-slaues and marriners staied their rowing most part of the gallies had by the example of the other perished Auria not so angrie at himselfe as at the emperour who contrarie to the obseruation of skilfull seamen could not be dissuaded from taking in hand that great expedition in so suspitious a time of the yeare with an inuincible courage striue against the violence of the tempest and rage of the sea insomuch that being requested by some of his friends to saue himselfe whatsoeuer became of the gally he was so angrie thereat that he commaunded them to be bestowed vnder the hatches Foure gallies also of Virginius Vrsinus earle of ANGVILLARIA and as many of the Rhodians after his example rid it out the reputation of their honour exceeding the feare of death Certaine gallies also of SICILIA NAPLES and SPAIN happily endured all the rage of the tempest yet was there fifteene great gallies cast away with the losse whereof besides the losse of so many ships the tempest still enduring so great sorrow and desperation in the wofull expectation of the wracke of all possessed the whole armie that not onely the young souldiors regarding onely their owne liues but euen the most valiant captaines carefull of the common estate were vtterly discouraged for neuer was armie in any memorie ouerwhelmed with a greater concourse of calamities when as all their victuals being lost in three daies nothing was left to relieue them withall and they wanted tents wherein to shroud and rest the souldiors spent with labour hunger cold and wounds in such perpetuall raine and so dutie a countrie In which so great miseries a wonderfull care heauier than the former fear exceedingly troubled the minds of all men to thinke vpon that horrible wracke when as hauing lost so many ships they poore men landed in AFFRICK were in doubt how euer to return again into their natiue countries Yet the notable courage of the emperour still kept the distressed men in hope which neuer altogether forsaketh wretched men in the midst of their calamities for he with a courageous heart cheerfull countenance performed all the parts of a prouident courteous Generall For when he had againe made sure his campe against the assaults of the Barbarians he commanded the wearied captains especially the duke of ALBA wonderfully wearied in the late skirmish and dung wet to spare themselues and take their rest he comforted the wounded men and caused them to be carried and cherished in the tents which by chance yet stood for the tempestuous wind had almost ouerthrowne them all and so not sparing himselfe for any paines being in his armour and thorow wet woon the hearts of all his souldiors the more In this conflict he lost about three thousand men amongst whom was fiue of his forward captaines and three knights of the RHODES but many moe were hurt The greatest losse was thought to be in losse of the ships and of the marriners which was also encreased by the losse of a wonderfull deale of great ordinance reckoned so much the greater for that it would come into the hands of the Moores to the common harme of the Christians so soone as the sea would giue them leaue to diue for it Shortly after Auria as he was to foresee a tempest a wonderfull obseruer of the sea of the heauens and of the clouds mistrusting that place departed with the remainder of the fleet to the cape called METAâ—VSIVM because it was a place of safer riding for his gallies and better for the taking in of the souldiors aduising the emperour to march thither by land Which his counsell the emperour liking well of to relieue the hunger of his souldiors commanded first all the draught horses which were first vnshipped for the drawing of the great Ordinance and after them the horses for seruice to be killed and deuided for meat amongst the souldiors As for wood to make fire of they had plentie of the plankes and ribs of the broken ships fortune as it were with that one poore benefit recompensing so many calamities The next day the emperor departed from ALGIERS with his armie deuided into three battels the sicke and wounded men being receiued into the middle and when he had marched seuen miles the enemies horsemen still houering about him he came to a headie brooke which the Moores call ALCARAZ which was growne so high with the abundant raine and the checke of the wind and of the sea that being but a shallow thing before it was not now to be passed ouer by a good horseman Wherefore the emperour of necessitie there encamped in such sort that lying with his armie in forme of a triangle two sides of his armie was defended with the sea and the brooke and the other with a strong guard of armed men for he thought it not good to depart from the sea a sure defence for his armie on the left hand to seeke a fourd further of many aduenturing to swim ouer were by the violence of the streame carried
worthy and valiant souldiors in this ciuile conflict to draw those weapons against your fellowes and brethren which you haue most fortunatly vsed against the enemies of the Othoman kings except you meane thereby to make your selues a ioyfull spectacle vnto your enemies who grieuing to see themselues ouercome by your victorious weapons may yet reioice among themselues to see you turne the same one vpon another Wherefore my sonnes for your auntient honours sake be carefull that you doe not by this your insolencie lose the reputation of your wisedome loyaltie and valour for which you haue hitherto been aboue all others commended reserue these your weapons which you haue now too too much vsed amongst your fellowes against your enemies of whom you may get more praise and honour This speech of the old Bassa so mollified the stout souldiors that they freely permitted all that was in Mustaphaes tents to be carried to Solymans but as soone as the death of Mustapha was blowne into the eares of the Ianizaries and the rest of the armie in Solymans campe another tumult rise among them worse than the first They were quickly all vp in armes againe and with a great noise confused with teares and lamentation as they were in rage and furie brake violently into Solymans pauillion with their drawne swords which strucke the tyrant into such a feare that destitute of all counsell in himselfe he was about with the extreame perill of his life to haue fled but being holden of his friends and making a vertue of necessitie vpon the sudden aduentured to doe that which at better leisure he would scarcely haue thought vpon for going forth out of his tent but with a pale and wan countenance he spake vnto the enraged souldiors thus What broile is this what sturre what so great insolencie what meane your inflamed fierce and angrie lookes know you not your soueraigne and him that hath power to commaund you Haue you so resolued to sâ—aine the antient and inuincible honour of your selues and your ancestors with the bloud of your lord and emperour Whilest he was yet thus speaking the souldiors boldly answered That they denied not but that he was the man whom they many yeares before had chosen for their emperour but in that they had by their owne valour got for him a large and mightie empire and in like manner preserued it that was therefore of them done that he should for the same gouerne them vertuously and justly and not to lay his bloudie hands without discretion vpon euerie just man and most wickedly embrue himselfe with innocent bloud and that they came thither armed they did it as they said moued with just cause to reuenge the vnworthie death of guiltlesse Mustapha and that for that matter he had no just cause to be angrie with them Wherefore they required that they might publikely cleere themselues of the treason whereof they were accused by Mustaphaes enemies and that the accuser might be brought forth to justifie his accusation protesting that they would neuer lay downe their weapons vntill the accuser made his appearance in judgement and commenced his accusation judicially vpon paine to endure the like punishment if he failed in proofe Whilest these things were in doing the hainousnesse of the late committed fact caused euerie man to shed teares so that Solyman himselfe seemed to be sorie for the murther so lately by himselfe committed wherfore he promised vnto the souldiors whatsoeuer they required and did what he could to appease their angrie minds For all that they in the meane time least he should craftily slip away and deceiue them of that he had promised and of the expectation of such things as they had required witha maruellous care and diligence all kept watch and ward Solyman to appease this furie of the Ianizaries depriued Rustan Bassa of all his honours and tooke from him his seale whereof he had the keeping and deliuered it to Achomates bassa But Rustan worthely strucken with feare and horrour seeing himselfe now in no safetie in his owne tents fled secretly to Achomates asking his counsell what were best for him to doe and what course to take in so doubtfull and dangerous a case To whom the Bassa answered That it were best for him to vse the great emperours aduise and to doe what he commaunded Which answere well satisfied Rustan and so he which of late gaue other men accesse vnto the emperour at his pleasure was now glad by his old acquaintance and friends to preferre this poore sute To know his pleasure what he would haue him to doe From whom he receiued this answere That he should incontinently without farther delay get him out of his sight and out of the campe which the Bassa said he could not conueniently doe being by his displeasure and the souldiors rage disfurnished of all things necessarie for his departure Whereunto Solyman sent him answere againe That he could giue him neither longer time nor delay and that it were best for him without more adoe to be gone for feare of farther harme Whereupon Rustan guiltie in conscience of most horrible villanie treacherie accompanied but with eight of his most faithfull friends in steed of his late world of followers posted in hast to CONSTANTINOPLE and there not without danger of his head with Roxolana and other the complices and contriuers of the treason against Mustapha in great feare expected the euent of his fortune This young prince Mustapha thus shamefully murthered by his owne father was for his rare vertues generally beloued of the Turkes but of the souldiors most for his martiall disposition and readinesse for the effusion of Christian bloud The opinion they had conceiued of him was such and their loue so great that they neuer thought there was any in the Othoman family of whom they expected so much for the enlarging of their empire insomuch that euer since when in their priuat or publike actions they faile of any great hope they vse this prouerb euen at this day taken froÌ„ him Gietti Sultan Mustapha Sultan Mustapha is dead as who should say our hope is all lost Achomates bassa the great champion of the Turks a man of exceeding courage not ignorant of the small assurance of the great honors of that state at such time as he receiued the seale from Solyman boldly told him That as he did then franckly bestow it vpon him so he would at one time or other to his no lesse disgrace take it from him to whom Solyman solemnly promised with an oath not to displace him so long as he liued For all that he had not long enjoyed that honour but that Solyman falling in dislike with him and willing againe to promote Rustan bassa to that great honour greater than which there is none in the Turkes court which by reason of his oath he could not doe so long as Achomates liued To saue his oath and to preferre his sonne in law whom he