was certified of the malignant intent of Aliculi and of the designementes which many of the Sultans had lately contriued together to betray the Prince aliue into the handes of the Turkish Captaine Of which suspition Amze being greatlie affraide hee durst not onely not trust himselfe to perfourme those battelles that hee had detremined to perfourme but quite abandoning all this noble and honourable enterprise hee wholly employed all his care and studie for the safe custodie of his owne person and so left the triumph of the matter in the power of the Turks And thus those great hopes and expectations which the Persians had conceaued of compassing verie famous exploytes against their enemies did not onely prooue vaine and come to no good issue but contrariwise by this discouerie they were conuerted into moste daungerous disturbances and all Persia thereby endured sundrie alterations and reuolutions of most important consequences For both Aliculi-Chan and his Complices were pursued by the Prince as Rebelles and Traytors and also Abas Merize of Heri was manifestlie discouered for a wicked and treacherous contriuer of his brothers death Whereupon the common mischiefes were encreased more then euer they were before and the publike calamities yeelded greater hopes to the Turkes then they had euer conceaued and fostered in all this warre Besides these designementes there were others also that contrarie to all expectation came to the like infortunate issue laide and plotted by Simon in Georgia who by the direction of the Persian Prince had vnited together his Neighbours the Georgians for the accomplishing of most noble and honourable enterprises And the designements of Simon were these That at such time as he thought most conuenient for sending fresh succours vnto Teflis in Georgia he meant himselfe in person with the companie of seuen or eight thousand Georgians and with a number of horse-loades of money if not true loades indeed yet seeming in apparance so to bee to present himselfe vnder the Fort of Teflis and to the Turkish Bassa Gouernour of that Castle to deliuer a counterfeit commaundement wherein it should appeare that King Amurath did giue the Bassa to vnderstand that by Simon being now conuerted to the Turkish Religion hee had sent fiftie thousande Chechini and other muntion for the Souldiers and that he had also giuen vnto Simon full commission and authoritie at his pleasure to manage and dispose of that Fort and therefore that hee should entertaine Simon and giue him credence therein This his defignement Simon put in execution hoping thereby without force of Armes and without any other inconuenience to make himselfe Lord and Maister of that Castle But the Turkish Bassa although both the forme and the tenour and the Seale of the commaundement were verie like to the ordinarie maner of the Court wherein Simon had vsed greate care and diligence and although he thought it also verie likelie to bee true because he was reuolted to the Turkish religion as hee had fayned in the counterfect commandement and that for all these causes he ought to receaue and entertaine Simon into the Fort Yet Simon wanting one speciall thing which in such like cases is a matter of greatest importance he was deceaued in his expectation and with great shame and derision forced to retire and so to auovde the Artillery that by the direction of the Bassa rayned like a Tempest vppon his Souldiers Nowe the thing which Simon wanted was a certaine token deliuered to the Turkish Bassa when hee was first appointed Gouernour of that Castle For to euerie one that is left as Lieutenant in such Fortes ordinarilie in this warre with all secrecie and straitest conditions of allegiance and fidelitie there is deliuered a Counterfect of the Marke which shall be vsed by him that the next yeare following shall be receiued with succours into the Fort. Which beeing required of Simon by the Turkish Bassa Simon knewe not what answere to make and because he could not so doe he was disconered to be a treacherous deceauer and for such a one was he presentlie pursued in such and so eager maner as people included within a castle wall could in so sudden an occasion vse against him And in this sort did all the designementes and hopes of the Persians vanish to nothing and the reporte published in Italie and particularlie in Rome of the taking of this Fotte was quite dashed and found to be false for that the fortunate Turkes remained in quiet possession of the Countreyes which they had conquered WheÌ„ the Turkish General had placed his succors in the Castle of Tauris leauing for the custody thereof Giafter the Bassa with his former companies hee returned towardes Erzirum hauing first caused a Fort to be erected at Chucchiue Tauris a place neere vnto Tauris another at Coy and a thirde at Cum which sometimes belonged to Ebrain-Chan now prisoner at Erzirum as we tolde you before And in euerie one of the saide Fortes he left a necessarie number of Souldiers with sufficient munition and maintenance for them Hee sent also afterwardes to Teflis in Georgia the succours which they there had long expected and desired and without any hinderance or difficultie verie willinglie receiued because the counterfeyt of the Marke was well knowne vnto them which before to Simon was both vtterlie vnknowne and also greatly hurtfull But the Persian Prince hauing hunted Alyouli-Chan out of the quarters of Tauris thought himselfe wholly deliuered from the greate feare of treason and rebellion wherein he liued and therefore in as great haste as hee could he put himselfe on his iourney towardes Genge In which place hauing gathered together a good number of Souldiers hee determined to remooue thence and to stop the succours for Teflis and so to procure the vtter ouerthrowe of the conductors thereof Hee had alwayes found Emanguli-Chan to be both faithfull and wise and in him he reposed an assured confidence for perfourming of any enterprise that he had in his hand and communicated with him euery deuise that he had conceaued in these warres And therefore hee made heade and ioyned with him and lodging most familiarlie within his Citty hee stayed there for the setting in order and disposing of his foresaide designment being verie desirous not to suffer this season to slip without signification to the world of some notable noueltie which might be correspondent to the fame that of matters passed and perfourmed the yeare before was now spread and published abroad ouer all the world But when he was euen at the verie fayrest to put this his desire in execution and when least of all hee feared any treacherie or treason vppon a sudden in the night time he was miserablie stricken through the bodie by an Eunuch of his that guarded him and so the most reâ—plendent and bright shining lampe that euer was in Persia was vtterly extinguished What was the occasion therof and who procured his death diuers sundry are the opinions of men
will bee encouraged to take vp armes against the Barbarians vnder whose gouernement so many famous and potent nations are already reduced A losse to say the trueth very great and not to be thought-of without shedding of teares that whereas a people so renowmed for their Nobilitie glorious in all ages for wisedome and science did in times past gouerne so many nations as though they were Lordes of the whole world Now being either driuen from their proper Colonies from their owne houses from their domesticall confines they goe wandring vp and downe poore needy of other mens helpe Orels being brought into a most vile kind of seruitude some serue as sclaues some yeeld obedience to the enimies of Christ in such sorte that euen in Greece it selfe the very name of Greece is quite extinguished and al because it was departed from the bosome of the Catholike Church But let not this my history take his beginning at these quarrels and complaintes which peraduenture to some mens humors would seeme the more vnpleasant in that they would proue more necessary to be set downe in this respect And therefore my conceit is rather that in mentioning such thinges as are neerer to our remembrance I should beginne at the death of olde Tamas the most famous king of Persia and withall discourse vpon the state and condition of that kingdome whilest it remained in the successors of the said Tamas videlicet Ismahel and Mahamet his sonnes for that by this very briefe narration euery man shall manifestly see the true occasions of this warre and so we shall auoide the inserting of any superfluous replication in the contexture of this our history I say then that Tamas after the warres which he valorously waged with Soliman the first of that name and the eleuenth Emperour of the Turkes at such time as the said Tamas did driue Soliman out of Tauris being of old called Ecbathana the very same wherein Herodotus writeth that the kings richesses treasures were then kept not Terua as P. Giouius would haue it a Citty which the same Turkish Emperour had sacked and hauing concluded a peace wherein it was agreed that the Castell Cheiseri by the Turkes called Chars by Ptolomee as a man may resonably coniecture Corso being in this great change reduced by Soliman into a fort should be razed he withdrew himselfe to the gouernment of his own kingdome Vnder whome the Persian Empire flourished in sacred redoubted lawes the people demeaned themselues after the best manner they could abundance of collections came plentifully in the Rentes of his chambers increased wonderfully Armes Artes Sciences did happely prosper and were highly esteemed neither was there any more feare that Soliman would renew the warres as one that had altogether bent his thoughtes another way When as after a few yeares wherein both Soliman and his sonne Selim which after him had enioyed that damned foelicity of his Empire departed out of this lyfe Tamas also himself died in the yeare 1576 the xj day of May hauing left behind him eleuen children one called Mahamet the eldest who passed his life a while in Heri in times past called Aria and afterwardes in Siras of old called Persepolis by the appointment of his father being nowe waxen proud for his issue of many sonnes Another named Ismahel his second sonne who for the fiercenesse of his courage was banished into a Castell called by the Persians Cahaca situate betweene Casbin otherwise called Arsacia Tauris The third who had to name Aidere was kept in the custody of Zalchan Piry Mahamet Acta Hussain and other of his kinsfolkes by occasion of the mother of the said Aidere all being cheefe Capitaines in the coast of Istigelù Other eight children there were partly by the same mother partly by other women whose names were Mamut Solimano Mustaffa Emanguli Alichan Amet Abrahin Ismahel the yonger This Tamas before he dyed did solemnely appoynt by his will that his sonne Ismahel the elder should bee set in the kingdome who although because he was yonger then Mahamet could not bee his lawfull successor yet did he yeeld great hope of his most excellent wit and singular vertues insomuch that he seemed to promise euery man an happy gouernment sufficient habilitie to defend himselfe against his enemies were they neuer so fierce and warlike Ismahel after that he was confined by his father Tamas into the eastel of Cahaca had euer sought to shew himselfe superior to his brother in the Arte milirarie and although he gaue himselfe by secret industrie to learne the preceptes of the Turkish law a thing which if it had beene publikely knowen would alone haue beene enough to haue barred him from succession of the kingdome yet had he alwayes endeuored himselfe to be an open enemy to the Turkes and thereupon with his often inuasions which was the cause of his imprisonment whiles the peace held betweene Tamas and Soliman he was so bould as now then contrary to his fathers commandement to assault the Territorie of Erzirum and beyond all honestie to spoile the townes castelles of that region withhis sodaine incursions By meanes whereof he made shew of his great valour to all people but principally to his father Tamas who although in outward shew he seemed greatly to mislike those his youthful heates yet was he dayly confirmed in the opinion that he carried of him to name him his successor thinking verily that of soe great a dignity he would proue himselfe either altogether or at lest more worthy then his brother Mahamet Which Mahamet to speake the truth aswel for the disease of his eyes whereby for his surname he was called Codabanda as also for the manner of his life altogether giuen to that ease which is proper to such as are studious and quietly mynded neuer shewed himselfe sufficient to sway the burden of the Empire and to brydle the fiercenesse of his enemies yea and he protested himselfe that hee did vtterly abhorre so great a weight and those so many cares as are wont to follow so ample and soe many-partied a kingdome And yet for all that did not Mahamet remaine altogether depryued of all the whole fauour of his father forsomuch as Abas Mirize the middlemost of his sonnes was confirmed in the Citty of Heri where he was before borne and honored with the tytle of the Visier of that remote and abundant Cuntry yea and Tamas himselfe had established Emir Hamze the eldest of Mahamets sonnes in some great dignitie if death though some what tardee yet not altogether vnlooked for had not by preuenting him bereaued him of his lyfe and taken from them all hope of greater matters King Tamas then being thus dead the said Ismahel was called by the Sultans for the execution of his fathers will to Casbin that he might as he ought be saluted proclaymed king But while the Postes whome the Turkes call
conceaued of the person of Ismahel that there was not a man to be found which changed not his former hopes into new fears bitterly sorrowing for the calling of such a Lord to rule ouer them did not hate this new fiercenes of his mind bewayle so vntymely miserable a massacre But much greater and farre more lamentable did these miseries growe assoone as certayne speeches were published and spred of the king That hee would change the religion if we may so call it assoone as he commanded openly that whosoeuer desyred to liue vnder his standard loued to obey his lawes should detest the superstitious worships of Aly the foolish and false prophet of the Persians according to the impious custome of the Ottomans obserue and mayntaine the impure and wicked rytes of Abubac Osman and others that were reuerenced honoured by the Turkes with a profane worship So that by this great nouelty quite contrary to the late publike and famous actes of Ismahel and altogether repugnant to their hope whereby they expected glorious matters from him to the generall benefite of Persia the myndes of all men were so afflicted that the country neuer felt greater trouble nor euer indured a more dangerous vncouth a change by meanes whereof by force of this publike Edict of the new king whether he did it because he was in loue with this wicked worship and had learned this abomination rather then any other as we sayd before or whether he did it to reuoke his neighboures the Mesopotamians the Babilonians and Assyrians vnder his banners many of his prophane priestes many of the Gouernors of his frendly and subiect Citties being too much inflamed with the former superstition were dryuen into exile many put in prison some had their eyes pluckt out among whome was the Califfe of Casbin and not a few others in sondry sortes depriued of their liues yea many Ladyes ioyned in bloud with Ismahel himselfe dyuers others of his kinsfolkes to whom neither sex nor age nor innocency could be a sufficient defence did endure sondry tormentes and strange calamities In this so great an innouation and among these tumultes there went abrode with all an vniuersall rumor not onely among the Citties of Persia but in the regions of the Turkes also Fame the publisher of euill rather then of good newer arriuing euen to the Citty of Constantinople that with all these disorders Ismahel sought to put in order a great number of such soldiers as fauoured this new proclaimed vanity passing with them to the citty of Babylon now called Bagdat there to the imitation of Soliman would receaue the Crowne of the Empire at the hand of him that who soeuer he was he should find to be the successor of their great Califfe and in the cheefest place among theyr vncleane priestes In this dyuers variety of matters and in so great nouelty of euentes beyond all common expectatiō whiles there encreased rather feares of newe motions then ensued hopes of auncient quyetnesse by the helpe of the aforenamed Lady Periaconcona who as the kinges greatest fauorite suruiued all the rest he was sodainely bereaued of his lyfe whether it were that this his death happened by occasion of certaine amorous practises of Ismahel himselfe or whether his sister had cuningly conueighed poyson into some electuary prepared for him or as some more probably do affirme that his sayd sister hauing priuately conspyred with Calil-chan Emir-chan Piry Mahamet Curchi Bassi being al at that time captaines of great accompt as it were Presidentes of the kingdome had brought them in apparelled in womens weedes gowns that they strangled him at such time as Ismahel had priuately withdrawen himselfe among his paramoures Howsoeuer it was sufficient it is that by the helpe of the saide Periaconcona the 24. day of Nouember being S. Katherins euen in the yeare of our saluation 1577. this king being generally tearmed by his people a seditious man a contemner of the lawe was suddenly taken out of this world to the exceeding ioy of all those Nations that by his death thought they should remaine freede from great and manifold troubles Ismahel being thus dead the Lady began presently to parlee with al those Sultans that were the ministers of this fraudulent death told them that as they had giuen aduise for the greater benefit of all Persia that Ismahel should be depryued both of his kingdome lyfe and that as yet it was not knowen who should worthely succeed in that Crowne which now remayned in their handes forasmuch as the king that dead is hath left no issue behind him so it touched them verye neere to take vpon them the protection thereof and preseruing the maiestie of the Scepter the liberties of the people and the peace of the subiect Citties strongly to defend and deepely to settle the safety of that nation which onely possesseth the true orders of the elect disciples of crafty and wicked Mahamet There were at that tyme many gouernours and Capitaines assembled in Casbin and euery one of them had withdrawen himselfe thether for the accomplishment of his owne priuate designementes these gaping after the mutations of the world Emir-Chan he burned in ambitious desires and hoped by the meanes of a match to be concluded with a sister of Periaconcona who was already greatly inclyning to him that he should be exalted to the soueraigne degree of all Persia. Mirize Salinas cheefe among the Sultans of that court he hoped on the other syde to aduance into the estate eyther Mahamet brother to the dead king or els Hamze the eldest son of the sayde Mahamet Codabanda and by bestowing vpon him his daughter to be his wyfe as afterwarde hee did so to encrease the glory of his house Others there were that hoped they should be able to draw Abas out of Heri and to create him king of the Empyre There was also one of the Tutors of the infant Tamas who waited likewise for some oportunity to settle Tamas in the kingdom and so by meanes of his greatnes to exalt himselfe to the soueraigne Tytle of cheefe captaine among his fellowes Neither did there want a nomber of others that secretly watched to vsurpe any occasion that might be presented vnto them How be it in this so great variety of thoughts the Sultans aunswered the Lady with one consent and promised her in most liberall termes all the protection that their forces could afforde or their wepons procure and yet did euery one of them both in action and worde clerkly dissemble their seuerall imaginations where unto they myrid was as proue and deady as their harte was cunning to conceale them closely And in this sort were ended those great noueltyes which arose I know not vppon what occasion were brought in by this ambitious king In the meane space which was one yeare seuen monthes and six dayes of king Ismahels raigne Amurat
the new successor also of his father Selim who was now wakened at the death of old renowmed Tamas and at the rumor spred abroade of the desyre which Ismahel had to passe to Babilon at the fresh report of this new published superstition had throughly learned of all sides what harme this late inconstant variable king had wrought in Persia what dissentions he had raysed how hardly all the Prouinces of the Persian Empire had endured those strange calamities so hoped in himselfe either in Ismahels lyfe tyme or after his death to succeed him for that heareby occasiō might be ministred vnto him to take vp armes against Persia matter suggested to put in execution his vnmeasurable desires of some new conquestes which desires had alwaies made both him and other his predecessors not onely suspected but also terrible fearefull aswell to his frendes as to his enemies for asmuch as there is an auncient custom which is growen as it were to be a law among the Ottoman kings that those Emperours cannot challenge their due honours in their life tyme nor their proud monuments after their death which are so durable as at this day they remayne equall with Aeternitie vnlesse they attempt some great and ambitious actions enterpryses and vnlesse they performe some exployte that may be conformable to theyr maiesty Amurat therefore bending all his cogitations to these great stirres would not direct his mind any other way or moue warre agaynst any other nation vntill he might first see what issue these maruellous innouations would bringe foorth which in the succession that followed namely in the person of Mahamet now king simed to be more pregnant and perseuerant then euer they were before and ministred to Amurat new occasions of victorious and strange hopes for that assoone as Ismahel departed out of this lyfe by the aforenamed Mirize Salmas being in dignitie the cheefe man among the Sultans though in bloud and nobilitie inferior to them all after many letters dispatched too and fro Mahamet Codabanda was at last assured how with all quietnes of mind and security of person he might come and take possession of the kingdome He was also certyfied by the same Salmas of the whole conspiracy plotted agaynst his Brother to put him to death and likewise made acquainted how the fraudulent lady with the Sultans had capitally consulted against him how she fauouring Emir-chan Abas Mirize of Hert her nephew and his son more then became her did little regard the due and rightfull succession of him being her brother And for these causes did Mahamet greatly beare himselfe bold of the faith and diligence of Mirize Salmas and had withall no small desyre to see his eldest son Hamze Mirize aduanced to some such soueraigne dignity as he saw was due to the liuely hope that euery man perceaued to bein him in regarde of his vertue prudence for managing the common wealth and dispatch of matters of warre wherein also he shewed himselfe to his father very iealous and suspicious least some other man should vsurpe vpon him that honour and authority which so properly appertayned vnto him And thereupon did Mahamet in the end resolue with himselfe not to leaue the kingdome in the handes of priuate persons not in the lightnes of an inconstat woman who by the occurrents sent him from his counsellor was detected to be an vnshamefaced queane and are bellious conspirator against her owne bloud where with she had now twise defiled her selfe without any pitty or remorse of conscience And therefore he wrote back againe that he was mynded to take the rightfull succession vpon him that God so fauouring ayding and assisting him hee would enforce himselfe to profit Persia to proue a more thankfull and commodious a member to the common wealth then his dead brother that for the same purpose he was putting himselfe on his iourney with straite charge notwithstanding that Mirize Salmas to make his cunning seeme the more acceptable should before his entrance within the gates of Casbin present him with the mischeeuous head of Periaconcona a woman in respect of the scorne exercysed agaynst yong Aidere and of the treacherous death practised and executed vpon his brother and of the perucise imaginations which she conceaued to cause the succession to fall into other mennes handes and of the prodigall familiarity which she had with some of the Sultans well worthy of a thousande deathes Secreatly did Mirize Salmas put in execution whatsoeuer Mahamet had priuately enioyned him so that by his meanes he was presently solemnely proclaimed king of Persia. And afterwardes hauing gathered togeather many squadrons of men wholly deuoted to the bloud and name of Mahamet the same Mirize Salmas put himselfe on his way to meete him carying the head of that audacious manlike virago vpon the top of a lence with her hayre dispersed and some other vncouth behauiours that moued terror to the beholders From which nouelties one mischeife as it were huding vpō the neck of another there sprongvp dyuers inward hatreds sundry tumultuous seditions and many ciuill warres insomuch that the king for his parte being continually solicited by Mirize Salmas the cheefest and deerest fauorite he had sought by all meanes to take reuenge of those treacherous companions and complices of his brothers death who on the other syde did euen burne in immoderate desyres to aduance their owne priuate estates and withall their might opposed themselues against his power and authority whereby the state of Persia began to fall into greater inconueniences and of these nouelties to reape new losses Sahamal the Georgian he that by the appointment of his neece Periaconcona and of the conspiring Sultans was the minister of Aidere his death assoone as he heard of the misfortune of his neece fled to his places of rest in his mountaine of Bruz fearing greatly the wrath of this new Lord. Leuentogli likewise one of the Lordes of Georgia who by reason of these accidentes which happened to his brother at his owne perill did reposesmall confidence in the Persian protection vnderstanding the flight of Sahamal being very neere vnto him both in countrey and bloud estranged himselfe so farre from his old loue and auncient deuotion that he seemed to desire some new innouation The Nations also that were neighbours to the Turkes and the people of Media Atropatia where Seruan is at this day remayned malcontent at the same of this new king in the end it appeared that Persia vnder this fresh successour through many murations was fallen into a most notable misery the state thereof more weakened then euer it was wont to be Of all these late successes aswell as of the former intelligences was Amurat aduertysed from dyuers partes but specially and particularly Vstref the Bassa of the Citty of Van a citty according to Strabo situate in Armenia the greater vpon the Lake Actamar
strong places fortifyed with munition and instrumentes of death And if there were any difficultie at all therein there were but two onely that seemed to be of any weight one was the great distance and rough passage of those places through which they were to leade their horses their Cammells their artillery and their men euery man knowing that the Country of Georgia is compassed rounde about with verie roughe mountaines and thick woods where the enemy vseth all good oportunity to lay ambushes and to worke treason against such as passe that way another difficulty was money Sinan Bassa among the rest offering to their considerations that if a man would conquere a new countrey it was necessary for the mayntenaunce of the conquest to erect Castelles and Fortresses which being leaft to the defence of valiant souldiers would require large stipends without which euery souldyer willingly forsaketh his charge Sauing these two difficulties which notwithstanding were not greatly debated but in answere thereof as much spoken by the king himselfe as was thought sufficient euery man thought the conquest of the kingdome of the Cheselbas to bee the playnest easyest promised to themselues vndoubted victory of it But aboue all other Mustaffa Bassa he that reduced the Ile of Cyprus vnder the Ottoman power infamous for the cruell barbarous vniust death of Marcantonio Bragadino the stoute and valorous Captayne of Famagosta whose name shall neuer dye in the tongues and myndes of all ages hee I say with exceeding audacitie set out great hopes of glorious conquestes not concealing the vertues of the Latines the perilles passed in the wars of the said Islande and particularly in the expugnation of the Citty preferring the armes forces and valour of the Latines before the valour forces and armes of the Georgiani and the Persians and in breefe assuring more certayne hope of this warre in Asia then of any other that could possibly be raised in Europe And in this sort were the first discourses and originalles of these motions in the East begun and practised whereby all men may see that neither zeale of religion nor any iniury receaued from the Persian Kinges but onely the ambitious desyre of Amurat to subdue a kingdome both in his owne conceyte and also by other mens relation ill gouerned by an effeminate and sottish king and through ciuill dissention brought into great danger was the first prouocation of making this warre and thereby may all Catholikes learne that there is nothing more pernitions to the Christian Common wealth then ciuill discord When they had thus concluded vpon this resolution to make warre in Persia there arose new consultations touching the manner thereof and vpon what coast they should begin their iourney that so they might expect the more honorable successe which poynt Amurat did greatly vrge protesting before al his Visiers that he would not enter into a warre vnlesse he were in great hope to beare away the promised victory Many were the propositions and opinions of the Visiers and many questions did the king propound whereunto hee himselfe did readily answere On the one side some thought that it wold be very conuenient to send the Army to Babilon and from thence to Syras in old tyme called Persepolis famous for the praye that Alexander tooke there as Q. Curtius wryteth and by that way to attempt the conquest of all Persia. Others were of a contrary mind did giue aduice that the Army should bee sent by direct course to Tauris there to erect strong fortresses and to take possession of all the country subiect round about It is reported also that some there were that thought it better to send two seuerall Armyes from both the places aboue mentioned that so bringing the enemy into a straite they might inforce him to retire and to yeeld vnto them whatsoeuer they should demand But Amurat durst not repose such confidence in his owne forces as to thinke that with his battells deuided so weakened he should be able to ouercome that enemy who had alwaies fought most valiantly agaynst the monstrous and couragious Armyes of his forefathers not without some feare also of the auncyent vertue of the Persian people whereof Fame hath euer resounded an immortall and glorious report Neyther did he make slender accompt of the Georgiani the most antique tributaries and confederates of the Persians by whose onely assaultes his Army could not but suffer many inconueniences and sundry trauelles forsomuch as if they should assaile his battels behind or on both sides the Persians should set vpon his forefront though they were many in number and fenced with artillery yet being ill planted and in such difficulty as they could not vse their Artillery it would be a very easy matter to defeate them And therefore he did firmely resolue with himselfe to send one onely Army and with vnited forces to seeke the ouerthrow of his enemy And thus preferring his strong hope to conquere the countrey of Siruan in Georgia and the chiefe Citties of Media the Great before the difficultie of making warre vpon the coast of Siras reposing great confidence in the notable helpe that was promised him by the Cumani in Tartaria called Precopenfes he confirmed his counsellors the Bassaes in the same opinion and withall discouered a matter which to all of them but especially to Sinan seemed most strange namely that he was determined not to go in person with his Army about this enterpryse but was minded to send one of his worthiest Captaines in his steed The respectes that held Amurat from going himselfe with the Armye were many but principally the Falling sicknesse wherewith hee was troubled the zeale hee did beare to the kingdome fearing greatly and that not without good cause least his sonne being in fauour with the people might peraduenture vntimely be aduaunced before him and the danger that he suspected at the handes of the Christian Potentates While they were thus in parlee about this expedition and Sinan Mustaffa and some other Visiers made meanes to bee sent as Vicegerentes and soueraigne ministers of their Lordes designement he dispatched away sondry postes and light-horsemen with order to the Bassaes Gouernours of Van of Babilan of Erzirum in the borders of Cappadocia Armenia the greatter that they should by often inroades spoyle the townes and castelles of the Cheselbas and euery way doo them what harme they could Which was presently put in execution by them all and specially by the aboue named Vstref Bassa of Van who besydes the burning of dyuerse townes brought many a soule into slauery and in the countryes aswell Tributary as subiecte to the Persians made many incursions and wrought much annoyance Through these and other lyke iniuries theyr myndes were greatly incensed with anger and theyr wrathfull hartes filled with a most ardent desyre of reuenge and whiles with shame enough they romed vp and downe dayly sharpening their
the false Prophet deceased openly made challenge thereunto At whose first demaund it seemed that Abubacher was some what willing to haue yeelded making a shew that he would do it to gratify such persons as sued for Aly being a man more worthy for his neerenesse in bloud for his agility in body for his valour in Armes rather then for that hee was resolued to surrender to another the honor that Mahamet had graunted to him But afterwardes hauing secretely vnderstood the mindes of some that were more mighty then his aduersaries who counsailed him in any case not to spoyle himselfe of the honor which he had obtayned he began openly to resist Aly and to vse not onely reasons but force also against him so that he established himself in the said Succession Which Aly for that he would not disturbe the new-deuised sect did brooke better then it was thought hee could although at last in recompence of this his tolleration being forsaken of all his freendes and fautors hee and hys wife Fattime were also spoyled of all the substaunce that was left vnto them by his Vncle Abubacher vouching for a reason of this his cruelty That the enheritance of riches belongeth vnto him to whome the Charge of the Law and of Wisedome belongeth and That he being adiudged lawfull heire of the Wisedome ought also to inherite the riches Leauing it as it were for an Ordinaunce to the people That a Prophet cannot separate his substance from his dignities and knowledge but whosoeuer is left heire of a mans wisedome is also to be taken for the heire of a mans wealth Wherevpon diuers wise men of that age tooke occasion to write bookes and therein disputed whether a Prophet might haue authority to make one and the selfe same person the heire of his learning and of hys riches Howbeit this Aly liued so long that he saw the death of his predecessors Abubacher Omar and Ottoman and after their decease he himselfe also succeeded in the Dignity which till then they had vsurped vpon him For conseruation whereof he was compelled to make battell with Maui Lord of Damafco ouer whome with great glory he gayned the victory and so euer after to his immortall praise and commendation hee exercised that Office At the last he died also leauing behind him the report of a magnanimous variant and iust Prince and was buried with two of his Sonnes Hassan and Ossain in Cafe a place with in two dayes iourney neere vnto Babylon among whose Successors was allwayes thoroughly obserued whatsoeuer Mahamet had commaunded to be obserued for a Law And although the East was diuided into diuers and sondry States and Gouernementes of many persons yet notwithstanding the superstition of Mahamet was with all conformity mainetained by them all neither was there heard either of any schisme or insurrection or waighty dissention among that people but for all the inequalitie of those countries and dominions this opinion continued equall and vniforme At what time euen on a sudden beyond all expectation there arose a superstition in the mindes of certaine Mahometanes which in few yeares being sowen and scattred ouer all Asia did breed a great contention and warre among those nations that beeing before vnited together by Mahometes deuise seemed to be more then frendes and in league one with an other Of this nouelty one Sexchiuni or more distinctly to expresse his name one Siec Giunet was the author who vnder the name of Sofi and of Siec that is to say of a wiseman an author of Religion or rather vnder the pretence of holynesse began to persuade the people being by nature inconstant superstitious That those three first Successors of Mahamet were vniust and vnlawfull vsurpers of the dignitie That modest iust Ali onely ought to be named the lawfull Successor That he alone ought to be called-vpon in their prayers for helpe and that by all possible meanes all honors should be yeelded and rendred to him and taken from those three first as from persons that were vndoubtedly damned and altogether reprobate With many argumentes did Giunet approoue his Inuention at last persuaded many therevnto that beganne very readily to follow him as the head and founder of so new a verity Whereupon by the appointment of this new master they did all with one conformitie vse this forme of Prayer Cursed be Abubacher Omar and Ottoman and God be fauourable to Aly and well pleased with him From the time of this inuention forwardes the Sepulcher of Aly and hys sonnes in Cafe grew in great credite and the followers of this new superstition began euery yeare to visite it in all respectes euen after the same sort that the Turkes do visite the Sepulchre of the three first Successors Yea the very kinges of Persia themselues vsed to be crowned and girte with their sword in Cafe neere vnto Babylon as it is sayde before where euer after their great Calife was woont to keepe his residence as being the mā that represented Aly and occupied the chiefe roome of their filthy and damnable Priesthood Vppon this occasion it is not amisse to aduertise the Reader how false that rumor hath bene and is whereby it is noysed abroad that the kinges of Persia perfourmed these ceremonies in Babylon The cause of which falshood was for that Case lying neere vnto Babilon and being a very little place as resembling rather a village then a towne or a Citty the people reported that all these thinges were doone in Babilon that famous Citty no otherwise then as Strabo writeth to haue happened about the ouerthrow that Darius had when he lost the Empyre Which ouerthrow although it was at a little village called Gaugamela that is to say the Cammelles house yet the wryters and people do say that it was at Arbella a notable Citty neere to the said place called Gaugamela Whereupon it is not much from the purpose to note also how greatly they are deceaued that thinke Arbella to be that which is now called Tauris whereas Strabo doth playnely say that Arbella lyeth in the Countrey of Babilon which is Assyria and it is very manifest that Tauris is in the Countrey of Media By this briefe narration it appeereth that Paulus Giouius hath erred where he writeth that the superstition of the Persians did begin in Persia at the very same tyme that the heresy of Luther was sowen in Germany and where he maketh one Arduelle who was also called Aidere to be the author of the Persian Faction whereas he is notably deceaued both in respect of the tyme and also of the person of the tyme for that it sprang vp before the publication of Luthers religion and of the person lykewise for that Arduelle was not the first inuentor thereof as hee saith but Giunet Siec called also the Sofi as shalbe declared a little after The Turkes in the meane tyme by reason of this new deuysed nouelty
day the ruines of a great Citty and of many churches whereof some being repayred and restored by godly men are still maintained and kept by catholike priestes according to the holy customes of Rome The reliques of those happy and religious forces that with so great and faithfull zeale passed the seas and mountaines and with the Sacred signe of the triumphant crosse being displaied in the winds vpon their victorious Ensignes perced through these barbarous nations euen to the borders of the Leuant Blessed happy soules that prepared for your selues so fruytefull deathes and with so great glory purchased at one tyme both kingdomes vpon earth and the kingdom of heauen Very well worthie are you that as in the heauens you are entertained and praised by those soules that are Cittizens thereof so here vpon earth you should bee commended and celebrated by the hautie verses of so graue worthie a wryter Reioice and liue in Gods name eternally and pray vnto that soueraigne bounty that into the hartes of his mighty champions he would inspire that enterprise that is so greatly desyred of all men the longer it is delayed and slowed the more difficult and perrillous it will proue The next day the Turkes ascended the high and craggy mountaine that standeth vpon Teflis from the toppe whereof descending the day following the seised vpon a Castel of the Georgiani called by the Turks Giurgi-Chala by vs the Georgian Castell departing from thence making their next abode in certaine plaines the day following they came in good time nere to the riuer that runneth by Teflis But in this iourny frō the place where the surueigh of the Campe was made euen to this Riuer there happened diuers and sundry slaughters of certaine souldiers that separating themselues from the army being dryuen thereuntoo by hunger went to get some victualls for themselues and their beastes for that dyuers Captaines of Georgia as Giusuf Daut and as some saye Alessandro the eldest sonne of the widdow hauing gathered together a nomber of their owne countrey souldiers had secretly followed the Turkish army and as men that wer acquainted with al the waies of that regiō they stood watching in such places as the victuallers should passe-through and suddenly setting vpon them spoyled them at once both of their goodes and lyfe And this happened as often as there were either footemen or horsemen without any notice giuen thereof to their generall who had graunted them certain sure souldiers to guide them that being perswaded thereuntoo by hunger diuyded them selues from the custody and safe keeping of the rest of the hoast Mustaffa found the rocke or castell of Teflis empty without any inhabitant at all for that Daut of whome euen now we made mention running away assone as he heard of the comming of the Turkes and betaking himselfe to the fields sought means to prouide better for himselfe that way then he could haue doone if he had stayed still in the Forte so should haue beene constrayned of necessitye to haue remayned prisoner Whereupon Mustaffa rather then he would vtrerly raze it resolued to restore the old and weake walles thereof and to make them stronger that they might endure the sounde shaking of the Artillary wherewithall hee ment to strengthen it which resolution he put in execution and placed so pleased him was ready to doo him reuerence and by worde of mouth to promisse him that deuotion which he had alwaies borne in his mind to the Ottoman kinges With merry countenaunce did Mustaffa behould these Embassadors and most cheerfully heard their offred obedience and thereupon presently sent them backe willed thē to cause Leuentogli to come for that his frendship should be deere and acceptable to him The Christian embassadours went to fetch their Lord for whose welcome the Turkish Generall tooke order with all the Captaines of his army that they should shew the greatest signes of ioy that might be which was with all solemnity accordingly performed his coming celebrated with all tokens of fauour and kindnes And after he had presented those precious rare guifts that he brought with him he offred his obedience to Capitaine Mustaffa with the most earnest and liuely speeches that he could possibly deuise calling Amurat his Lorde and shewing that hee tooke it in ill parte that Mustaffa passed not through his territory where he might haue enioied all maner of commodities abundance of corne and other helps necessary for his army yet for his better satisfaction hee would looke for him at his returne from Siruan being in the meane tyme most ready to bestow all that he had for the seruice of the Ottomans telling him moreouer that forsomuch as in many iust and lawfull respectes he could not possibly wait on him into Siruan yet hee would accompany him alwaies in mind would pray to the creator of all things for his prosperity and all happy successe And so eftsoons praying him to returne by his Citties he tooke his leaue Mustaffa receaued his presents curteously in exchange thereof bestowed vpon him a Battell-Axe a Targat and some apparell of cloth of gold and gaue him his answeare in very magnificall and graue termes and in the end promised the Christian Duke that in his returne hee would passe through his countrey and so dismissed him with speciall commaundement that his departure should bee honoured in the same sorte as hee was entertained at his comming The Turkish Armie followed-on their begonne iourney towardes Siruan and in the space of twelue dayes after their departure from Teflis traueiling allwayes thorough low and moorish wayes that were intricate by reason of reedes and myre they arriued in the confines of the Medians otherwise called the Siruanians neere to the riuer of Canac where of in the desoription of Georgia Armenia and Atropatia we made but a short yet a plaine manifest mention Somewhat on this side of the same riuer the Turkes ascended a little higher being very weary with the long iourney that they had made and rested themselues one whole day in which time the Subiectes of the Cittie of Sechi bordering vppon the Siruanians and the Georgiani foure dayes iourney distant from Sumachia came to offer themselues to Mustaffa as vassalles and subiectes to the Turke All which were gladly entertayned and some of the chiefe of them apparelled in silkes and gold and honoured with great magnificence and in the end had all protection promised vnto them The Turkish Armie as I haue told yee was all foreweatied with the continuall iourney of twelue dayes together but yet farre more afflicted with hunger hauing not found in those parts so much as one wild beast wherby they might quench their desire of meate so that there was not a man among them but sought meanes to get some store of victuaile especially when they vnderstood that Mustaffa was resolued to passe ouer Canac and enter
into a new countrey vnknowne to them all and where they knew not what hope to conceaue of finding any substance fitte for them And whiles they were enquiring among themselues who was able to conduct them into any place where they might finde reliefe behold there were certaine Persians taken whether they were there by chaunce or brought thither for some Stratageme I know not who beeing demaunded where they might haue corne and meate to slake the hunger of the Armie after much resistaunce and at the last told them that not farre from the Campe after they had passed certaine marishes where Canac dischargeth it selfe and runneth into Araxis they should finde many fieldes full of ryse and corne in the blade and a little farther certaine fat heardes of cattell feeding that would bee sufficient to satisfie the appetites of all their people Of this newes was Mustaffa certified and although hee greatly doubted the treacheries of his enimies and the subtleties of the Persians yet to gratifie his souldiers and to make them the more willing to follow him in his passage to Siruan hee licensed euery man that had any desire thereunto to goe and prouide them selues of victuails so suffered all that would to goe freely When the Captaine had graunted them this licence many Spahini many Zaini and some Sangiacchi also sent diuers mē to fetch this prouision of corne and cattell And there went for that purpose about tenne thousand seruile persons with many Camels horses and mules to carry the pray But the successe fel out quite contrary to their designementes for Tocomac Alyculi-Chan Emanguli-Chan Serap-Chan and all the rest of the Souldiers that escaped out of the ouerthrow giuen them by Mustaffa in the plaines of Chielder after they had with all diligence made report to their king at Casbin of the issue of this battel in those champaines hauing gathered together so many of their people as were left them able to endure the difficulties of warfare hauing recouered such places as they thought safe and frendly for them did alwayes lie in awaite to know the marching and passing of the Turkish Armie And at last beeing certainely infourmed by the inhabitantes of Reiuan and Georgia what way they kept and that of necessitie they must needes arriue at the bankes of Canac they beganne to deuise some notable Stratageme whereby they might reuenge the great boldnesse of their enimies and make this their entrie into Siruan very daungerous and dammageable to them And yet hauing neyther courage nor force sufficient to assault the whole Armie they resolued with themselues as men that had stomacke inough to attempt great matters to stay in priuie ambush at some fit place till some bande of the Turkish Armie should arriue where the pray of corne and cattell might allure some of them to descend into those fieldes to relieue their common necessities and so they sent out diuers men who fayning that they went about their owne businesses made shew as though they had suddeinly and at vnwares lighted vpon the Turkish Campe and reuealed vnto them as a great secrete what a good pray was hard-by them And so withdrawing themselues out of the way they stayed priuily to watch when the Turks would send their victuailers to fetch away the corne cattell when as within the space of three onely dayes it so fell out that the foresaide ten thousand seruile persons arriued at the place where they had no sooner begun to charge themselues with their pray but they were surprized by the Persians and sauing a very few that were nimble at flight they were all slaine and left both their pray and their liues behind them The noise of their crie and the thunder of their Gunnes was heard in the Turkish hoast which made Mustaffa to imagine that the matter was fallen out euen as in deede it was therefore presently mounting on horsebacke and raysing his whole Armie euery man desirous of reuenge ranne with bridle on the horse-necke to succour the poore people that were already slaine And although the Turkes came not in so good time as to yeeld them any aide yet came they very fitly to surprise the Persians who beyond all honesty and duetie were ouer-busie in loading themselues and carrying away the pray that they had recouered The place where the corne was gathered was as it were almost an Islande watered with two riuers Araxis and Canac which with a little compasse fetched-about dischargeth it selfe with a very deepe channell into Araxis On the side of Araxis which was the left side of the Turkish hoast Dreuis Bassa kept one wing on the side of Canac being the right side did Beyran Bassa holde another wing and Mustaffa himselfe led the middle of the battell which if the Persians would not haue encountred then should they haue beene constrayned to haue runne and drowned themselues either in Canac or in Araxis Assone then as the Persian Captaines had descried Mustaffa with all his forces making hast towardes them and saw such a multitude of souldiers of ensignes of speares and of fyreworkes and with all remembred the late ouerthrow in the Champaines of Chielder then beganne they to beethinke themselues how much better it had beene for them to haue vsed more speede in departing out of that Demy-Island and so with suddaine dispatch avoiding their enimies forces to haue contented themselues with the late slaughter of those sclauish and seruile people and not to haue stayed for so vnequall and importunate assault And being excited therevnto by a certaine intrinsicall and natiue vertue they discoursed among themselues whether it were better for them to flie or with so great disaduauntage to ioyne battell with them and rather to die with an honorable death then to liue with reproache of a shamefull flight At the last whiles euery man was thus tossed with the tempestes of thoughtes they resolued vtterly to preserue themselues for the state of Persia and to continue their liues for the great and waighty affaires of that kingdome deeming it rather to be a point of high wisedome then of shame not to lay open their security and the honour of their publike and priuate causes to most certaine and vndoubted losses and miserable issues But in taking their prepensed flight they discouered new difficulties for that they were in such sort straightened within the saide Demy-Island as they had none other ground left but onely that which beyond their expectations the Turkes had already possessed and so being greatly perplexed with these troubles euery man began to betake themselues to their owne priuate conceites Tocomac and Emir-Chan with other Capitanes of the army were the first that tourned their backes and some by wading and some by swimming passed ouer Canac beinge greatly holpen by the valour and agilitie of their aduenturous and gallant horses The example of these Capitaines moued many other to doo the lyke though
with a contrary fortune for that their horses being out of breath and windlesse there remained a great nomber of them drowned in the waters At which fearefull spectacle others being amased euen as it were in a headlong rage fury perceiuing that if they should fly vnavoydeable death was present before their eies setled all their trust in resisting and reposing all their hope euen in despaire they shewed vnspeakeable actes of valor in fighting But what can one doo against a hundred For they also without any great adoo were all destroyed though with lucke and fame farre vnlike their fellowes But what helpeth Fame in such a medley where the names of those are not knowne that either fight manfully or flie effeminately Others at last resolued to yeeld thēselues without drawing sword or bending bowe imagining that by so doing they might recouer themselues together with such spoiles and riches as they had whatsoeuer they were But what benefite can gold and precious stones be to a few in the tumult and confusion of many conquerours who being geuen rather to vniust rauening then to vpright piety doo but hardly make accompt of their promises much lesse to be liberall of that which they haue not promised In this sort did the Persian armie rest discomfited and destroied so this Demy-Island being first stayned with the bloud of the enemy afterward with the slaughter of the neighbour and proper inhabitant was the perpetuall sepulcher of a couragious and warlike people The Persian Capitaines fled away in great sorrow and affliction for their vnexpected ouerthrowe and knowing now assuredly whether the designementes of the Turkes tended who were already turned towardes Siruan they resolued in as ill plight as they were to retourne home to their places of aboad which they had forsaken and to certify the king in Casbin therof with all speed to the end that if he could he should send such prouision as might bee sufficient to annoy the enemies army whereof as Emir Sultan a Marchant of Azemia of great traffike of a very sincere mynd and affection and a man of free speech being my very familiar frend hath often tymes confessed vnto me in Aleppo Tocomac fayled not to write vnto his king that there was slaine of the Turkes a great nomber and so meaning to excuse his late ouerthrow to make his losse to seme more tollerable he made shew of a great slaughter of the Turks in this second battell also although in very deed with the miserable and totall destruction of his owne slender Armye the losse of the Turkes in this fight did not exceede the nomber of three thousande besides the slaughter of ten thousand victuailers And when this certificat was made to the King euery one of the saide Persian Capitaines with the lycence of Tocomac departed to their seuerall gouernementes as Emanguli-Chan to Genge Serap-Chan to Nassiuan Tocomac himselfe to Reiuan all the rest to other Citties to the gouernement whereof by the commandement of the king they were before appointed so remayned in expectation of new warrantes from Casbin In the meane while the Turkes had retired themselues againe to their Tentes from whence by occasion of this vnexpected battell they were sodenly raised now was Mustaffa with all his troupe arriued at the bankes of the riuer Canac on the same syde where he must beginne to passe ouer as before is mentioned For being mynded to go vp to the Cittie of Eres which first of all offreth it selfe to your sight when ye trauell on that syde to Sumachia there was no remedy but he must needes passe ouer the foresayde water of Canac a thing very displeasant to the whole Army and yet could not bee auoyded if hee would execute the commandementes of his king And therefore fall out whatsoeuer could fall making strayte proclamation ouer all the hoast that euery man should bee ready the next day to wade ouer the riuer he prepared himselfe for that passage At this proclamation sodenly all his people arose in a tumult with great pride ranne beefore the Generall with iniurious termes reprooued his folly and inhumanity protested vtter daunger to himselfe and vniuersall confusion to the whole army to be briefe praied him that he would surcease from proceeding any furder vnlesse he would replenish the whole campe with carcasses spoiles But neither could their threatnings nor yet their entreaties any thing moue the resolute mynde of the Generall who gaue them none other answere but this That so had Amurat appointed that if all the rest should shew themselues vnwilling to obey their soueraigne he would not and in duty thought hee could not doo the lyke but in truth would be the first man to attempt and performe that which all they so abhorred and reproued That not in Idlenes ease but in great paine and difficult enterprises true souldiers are discouered who ought neuer to be afrayde of chaunging brittle lyfe with euerlasting honour nor to auoide death if it should happen for the seruice of their King And for his owne part he did most earnestly pray them that after he had attempted the passage of the water if any thing hapned to him otherwise thē well and to be alyue then he might bee carried dead to the other syde of the riuer to the end that if hee could not execute the commandement of his King whiles he was alyue yet he might performe the same at least when he was but a speechlesse and a lyfelesse carcasse and for making too great an accompt of his owne lyfe the desyre of his King might not in any sorte be defrauded Diuers and sundry murmurs and whisperings followed vpon this speech of the Generall who notwithstanding the next morning imitating therein the example of Alexander in making his army to passe ouer Tigris if wee may beleeue Quintus Curtius did first of all wade ouer the deep and swift riuer himselfe and presently after him waded ouer all the Bassaes of the Campe and with them all their slaues by whose example the rest also at the last were induced to doo the lyke and so continued till by the darkenesse of the night their passage was interrupted which was the occasion why more then halfe the army could not get ouer besydes that their publike treasure artillary were yet also on this side of the water But this passage being attempted with very great tumult and disorder no regard had to the places that were wadeable it came to passe that about eight thousand persons being carried away by the violēce of the riuer were miserably drowned with the great outcry of all the hoast The lyke happened also to many mules cammelles Sumpter-horses vpon whose backs diuers persons being mounted because they were desyrous to passe dry ouer the water were likewyse headlong ouerwhelmed therein With great complaintes and blasphemous cursinges was the whole night spent on this syde
Canac and euery man being euen desperate knew not what to doo to auoid that dangerous passage whose feare and griefe the example of their vnfortunate fellowes that were drowned did greatly increase And no doubt some pestilent sedition had ensued thereupon that would haue bredde much harme to the Turkish affayres if by the death and ouerthrow of those that were drowned there had not beene discouered a shallow Forde that assured safe passage to those that were left wherin they were much more happy then their former fellowes in that their delay had wrought them great ease For in the passage which the people made that followed Mustaffa the grauel of the bottome of the riuer being raised and remoued by the heauy hooues of the cattell was driuen downe along the saide water to a place where by great good hap there was also a Foorde and there gathering it selfe together in a heape had in such sort raised the depth of the channell that it made as it were a shelfe for their commodious passage so that the remnant of the people carriages and artillary passing ouer the same there was not so much as one man that perished And in this manner did the Turkish people passe ouer Canac and vpon the bankes thereof did they rest themselues that day and the next and there made stay till the whole army was mustred and set in order From thence remouing themselues all together not hauing any meanes at all to fynde victuailes eyther for themselues or for their beastes they encamped the day following in certaine barren champaines where there was neyther corne nor cattell neyther could they learne that in those quarters there were any villages at all By meanes whereof the hunger of their beasts encreasing greatly a thing affirmed by dyuers faithfull credible souldiers that were present in those calamities they were constrained to geue to their horses and mules the leaues and stalkes of verie drie and withered reedes such other like thinges of no sustenaunce at all And the men themselues were faine to satisfy their hunger with those vttermost reliques that they went vp and downe piking gathering out of those poore victuailles which now by corruption were abhominable to mans nature There was not a man in the whole army but perceaued that it was high tyme to rid himselfe of these inconueniences howbeit to returne backward was odious to them all in respect of the present famine and to go on forward was more terrible vnto them in respect of the great feare that they had to continue some longer tyme in these commenced miseries Notwithstanding needes must they follow the fortune of their captaines among whom Mustaffa the next morning before all the rest set himselfe forward on his determined iourney Hee had not long marched onward but there was discouered good store of sundry plantes neere vnto them a very large plaine all greene and flourishing garnished with many trees by the onely sight whereof euery man was refreshed for the hope of good harbour and hastened their paces somwhat more then ordinary vntill they were entred into those champaines being abundantly fertile in all kind of corne and fruites that could be desyred of hungry man and horse In this place did euery man satisfy his appetite with meat and his body with rest and forgat in parte the calamities and damages that were ouerpassed and the next morning with willing mindes they were all ready to follow Mustaffa who remouing his campe and leading it still through the fruitfull and pleasant fieldes abounding in all thinges necessary for mans sustentation arriued at the citty of Eres beeing as we haue before declared the chiefe cittie in that coast of Siruan as you trauaile from Georgia This cittie of Eres was forsaken by a great number of her inhabitantes as soone as it was noysed that the Turkes were come to Canac and they all followed the Standards of Samir Ghan Gouernour of the said cittie beeing allured there vnto by the example of Ares-Chan whome also a good while before the Persian king had trusted with the gouernement of the cittie of Sumachia and assoone as he likewise heard that Mustaffa was come to Canac hee abandoned his owne cittie and withdrew himselfe into the mountaine as a sure and safe place There did Samir Chan remaine with him and other the Gouernours of Sechi and other places of the said Prouince all of them ioyntly together attending the end of these great nouelties So that the entrie of the Turkes into Eres was not by the enimies sword in any sort disturbed nor yet with any spoyles that were found therein any thing enriched for that the people had carried away with them all the best thinges they had and euery man endeuored in the common losse of his countrey to keepe and preserue his priuate goods at the least and his owne proper life Two twenty dayes did Mustaffa remayne vnder Eres in all which time although somewhat long there was not one man that felt any inconuenience in any matter of sort but during those dayes employed himselfe to the erecting of a Fortresse within the said citty vpon whose walles were placed two hundred peeces of shot and for the custodie thereof was appointed Caitas Bassa one of the voluntary Captaines with fiue thousand souldiers In this meane time for that the cittie of Sumachia now called Sumachi stood not farre distant from thence it being the Metropoliticall cittie of that Prouince and of great accompt because it standeth vpon the way that leadeth to the cittie of Derbent now called Demircapi but in tymes past Alexandria Mustaffa commanded Osman Bassa one also of the voluntarie Captaines as before we haue noted to possesse that cittie with ten thousand men vnder the tytle of Visier Gouernour Generall of Siruan Giuing him further in charge that in any case hee should cleere the passage to Derbent abouesaid and so giue present aduertisement to the Tarrarians of his arriuall who without all doubt hauing passed through Colchis could not choose but by this time be arriued in those quarters at the least for so had they promised to Amurath with al faith and fidelitie Osmen departed to Sumachia accordingly and had frendly entertainement of those that remayned there and were determined to commit their liues to the fury of the conquerers so that he did presently surprise the cittie entreating all the inhabitantes in frendly maner without doing or suffring any outrage to be done vpon them Which vsage being vnderstood by the Alessandrians a people that by naturall in clination in ceremonies in worship and in obseruation of that their religion liued not as Persians in deede but subiect to the Persians principally to Mustaffa Sultan the gouernor of that cittie yet for all that being of the Turkish beliefe they sent presently to offer themselues to Osman beseeching him to receiue them into his protection and in all
not meaning to commit himselfe to the faith of his enemy though hee was vtterly resolued to withdraw himselfe into some stronger place yet was he very curious to find meanes to escape into those safer refuges and not to come within the fingers of the prince And therefore somwhat before the assigned terme of the three daies appointed seeing that the Tartarians whom he looked for did not appeare he resolued to saue himselfe by secreat flight because he was sure that if hee should remaine in Sumachia hee had good reason to feare the inhabitantes themselues would betray him and that if he should yeeld himselfe to the Prince he might be by him also easily deceaued And thereupon determined with himselfe by the help of the darke night and a difficult way though very couert by reason of the high cragges and bushie places of the mountains neere to Sumachia to take his flight and withdraw himselfe to Demircapi as hee had already promised to the Alessandrians And so he iourneyed ouer the said mountaines with great secrecie and silence leading away with him whatsoeuer either in the tyme of peace or of war he hadlaid vp in store and without any daunger or threate of the enemy he escaped safely to the said Citty of Derbent On the morning the inhabitants of Sumachia without any stay opened the gates of the citty to the Persian Duke who seeing their infidelity that they were not onely ready to giue entertainement to Osman but also to help him to escape without giuing to the prince any inckling of his departure did put in execution the effectes of his wrath and indignation which euen in Casbin he had conceaued in his minde against them and with great cruelty did punish the miserable and infortunate Commons of the Citty making their houses euen with the ground destroying both the old and new walls therof and bringing the whole lande to nought that sometime was so desired a receit of the Turkes But when he should depart from thence he was in a great deliberation with himselfe whether he should passe on to Derbent or returne into Persia. The citty well fenced the cold time of winter and the long voiage that hee should haue had homeward persuaded the Prince to lay aside the enterprise of Demircapi and so he made choise to returne to Casbin But first for all that he determined to make his retyre by the people of Eres and of Sechi and vpon them as vpon rebelles to inflict deserued punnishment For the effecting of which his purpose he made his present repaire thither and spared neither sexe norage nor any condition but though the persons were vnequall yet was the punishment equall to all And after the execution of this his reuenge and indignation he with his foresaide mother Begum and with his armie though somewhat diminished and endamaged yet victorious and triumphant turned home to Casbin Young Abdilcherai the Tartarian was kept within the kinges Serraglio in good safe lodgings neither did he in this his captiuitie find want of any thing but agreeably to his calling he was appointed a very tolerable and easie imprisonment which day by day was in such sort enlarged that he seemed to liue not as a prisoner or captiue but rather as a companion of those of the court and as it were in apparant liberty by which occasion hauing insinuated himselfe into the loue of Begum the kings wife he spent his time in courting of her and she again in courting of him in all secreat and couert manner These mutuall affections proceeded in such sorte and these interchaungeable fauours discouered themselues so openly that in the Serraglio and ouer all the Citty there was a rife report how shameles Begum had participated her bed herselie with the Tartarian prisoner Howbeit neither the king nor the prince knew any thing of it but the king perceauing that the yong gentleman was generally commended to be valiant and curteous began to thinke of a matter which might easily fall out to bee a very great commodity and help to himselfe For the king fauouring these good qualities being conioined with proportion of body and nobility of birth because he noysed himselfe to be the brother of Tatar-Chan persuaded himselfe verily that it could not but proue a meruellous benefite to him if in steed of a captiue he should make him his kinsman and giue him his daughter to wife Whereby hee was in good hope there might grow such an amity and vnion between the Tartarian Precopenses himselfe as they would not onely refuse from thenceforth to fauour Amurath in these warres but also that they would bee enemyes vnto him and in the fauour of Persia turne their armes affections against him Very considerate assuredly was this cogitation of the king but yet did it greatly displease the Sultans of Casbin who either because some of them was a suiter to the said daughter or because they did naturally hate the Tartarian Nation or els because they had a mischeeuous conceit of the loues of Begum did all their endeauours to turne the king from so strange a purpose and vsed all the arte that possible they could deuise to cancell out of his mind that detestable opinion as they thought Howbeit they could nothing preuaile either with their eloquence or other their cunning deuises but the king was now vpon the point to make a conclusion of the marriage when as the Sultans entring into the Serraglio with a company of their people and finding there the vnfortunate Tartarian ran him through the body cutting of first his priuie members and flapping them vpon his mouth after a most barbarous and filthy maner It is reported that Queene Begum likewise was then also murdered by them but how soeuer it came to passe it is a cleere case that the death of the Tartarian Duke was procured in the maner aboue mentioned and that the poore lady neuer after that day saw the light of the sonne Which whether it was put in execution by the appointment of her husband who had beene aduertised of all thinges that had happened or that the Sultanes wrought it for the publike interest they know best that haue had the meanes to insinuate themselues into the innermost places of the Realme For vnto our knowledge neuer came there any other report touching the particulars thereof Vpon the death of this Tartarian there sprung-vp many ciuill dissentions in Persia and so therevpon followed also the banishment of some the flight of others and sondry miseries that lighted vppon many And the great hopes whereby the king was mooued to desire the marriage were chaunged into most turbulent and troublesome passions and daungerous calamities that threatned the vtter confusion of the Persian affaires to the singular benefit commodity of Amurath And yet for all these strange accidents the king ceassed not to prepare new forces for the next yeare and as much as
that he had long expected For hee deemed it a verie likelie and reasonable matter for the King to desire and wish with all his heart that hee carrying the name of a famous Captaine throughly acquainted with al the aduantages that might be taken in Georgia to the great losse and anoyance of the Turks would offer himself to go into that prouince and there gathering his souldiers together with a soueraigne authoritie ouer all that people to defend those cities that were yet vntouched far better than his brother Dant could doe and in another maner a sort than he also could to trouble and offend the Turks which must needes come that way to succour Teflis Neither did hee protract the time long after he was entred into this cogitation but with conuenient speed dispatched his supplication to the King wherin he declared his request reproouing his brother for his cowardise flight promised to perfourme greate matters himselfe This Simon in the time that he remained prisoner at Cahaca entred strait familiarity with Ismahel late son to King Tamas deceased who as we told you before was sent thither by his father to be safelie kept in this mutual familiarity there passed such enterchangeble offices of loue betweene them that as Ismahel shewed himselfe louing and affectionate to the conditions of Simon so much did Simon for his part shew himself dutiful deuoted to the vertues magnanimity of Ismahel wherby there arose an extraordinary loue of the one towards the other which coÌ„tinued in such sort that Simon I know not by what sophistry deluded or by what flattery enticed was perswaded by the Persian prince to forsake his religion and to follow that barbarous superstition What might be the reasons that were able to change the mind of Simon being before so constant and so wel instructed in the Greek-Christian faith for the maintaining wherof he had chosen to liue depriued of his libertie and estate it can not bee so precisely declared but it seemeth there were three principall and powerfull respectes that wrought this vnexpected noueltie in him Namely the perpetuall imprisonment which he knew hee could not auoyd as long as he continued of that mind the friendship of Ismahel friendship I say that oftentimes changeth mens natures much more their opinions and thirdly the great honours that Prince Ismahel did dayly promise him whensoeuer it should happen that hee were named King While they were thus mutually affected one towards another it happened that King Tamas died and Ismahel being accompanied from Cahaca to Casbin was with meruellous pompe saluted King of all his father dominions Among all the rest whome the King full dearely beloued hee could not forget but preserue in memorie the vertue and fame of Simon who was already according to the Kings pleasure circumcised and made a Mahometan yea and in such sort did he remember him that hee was most desirous to bestowe greater honours and rewardes vpon him than he himselfe could request But sudden and vnexpected death lighting vpon before he was aware of it was the occasion why Simon remained without any aduancement and yet so greatlie contented as his recouered libertie could breed contentment in him Notwithstanding among the many varieties of his thoughts did Simon long time wander being after the death of Ismahel shreudlie destracted in his mind coursing and discoursing with himself whether it were better for him either to remaine still in Casbin and to stay the comming of the new King or els to resolue vpon departure and so to returne to his forsaken faith and wasted Citties But in the end after many consultations hee concluded that it should bee more safe and commendable considering the state of his affaires to stay for the new King and vnder his protection and fauour to find some means that he might berestored to the dignity and rule that was vsurped vpon him rather than to flie away alone and hauing no stay to leane vppon to seeke for quarrels and contentions with his brother yea and peraduenture to purchase himselfe a bitter death And therefore he did willingly maintaine himselfe in Casbin looking and hoping that the chaunge of his schisme for so it is rather to be accounted than a religion his imprisonment endured his libertie recouered his fame of great valour his present necessitie his deuotion and obedience to the king manifestlie declared should deserue at the new kings hands some honour and reward or at least if it would please him to commit any charge of the warre in Georgia to his care a constant and assured protection of him And therefore when Mahamet was now established in his kingdome and was certified of the losse of Teflis Simon besought him of lawfull leaue to returne vnder his protection into his own ill-defended countrey offering himselfe withall to venture vpon any perill or trauell whatsoeuer and promising that he would neuer either feare any great enterprise or auoyd any base exployt so that he might know he might do good seruice to Mahamet With great satisfaction did the King consent to the requests of Simon and named him the Chan of all that kingdome which hee possessed before by the name of a Christian and with all diligence was he sent with Aliculâ—-Chan into Georgia for the endammaging of the Turkish Armie and defence of his neighbour Citties And to them both were deliuered certaine peeces of Artillerie that were taken at the rocke or Castle of Eres when Caitas Bassa was slaine as in the booke next going before we haue told you and besides the Artillerie there were assigned vnto them fiue thousande Horsmen that were leauied out of the Citties bordering vpon the one and the other Media Simon afterwardes comming to Georgia where hee was greatlie welcommed and honoured pressed about three thousande Souldiers out of all those countries both of his owne and of his neighbours signifying vnto them all though with a false and impious excuse that he was now become a Persian not because he preferred the faith and lawe of Mahamet before Christian Religion but onely because he might bee deliuered of his imprisonment and imploy his forces in the seruice of our Sauiour and onely Prophete Christ Iesus and so by that meanes also maintaine his owne estate And in this order were the affayres of Georgia assured and strengthened after the best maner that might be But now was the new season of the spring in beginning and euery man prepared himselfe to the discontinued trauels of the warres begun And nowe were there met together in Erzirum out of all the woonted prouinces all the souldiers withal were gathered together all the Engines all the Moneys al the prouision of corne Barley and Rise and all other things necessarie for the sustenaunce of Cattel Souldiers Aegypt also had sent thither her squadronst whereof notwithstanding little more than the one halfe arriued at Erzirum partlie by reason of
euer after wardes there was nourished between them a thousand dissentions so that the one of them did alwayes shewe himselfe aemulous and aduersarie to the other both in act and speach as occasions fell out At the last happens this opportunitie for Sinan to declare vnto the King how the matters of Mustaffa were but slenderlie grounded and taking occasion of the complaint of so many against him he caused a great number of the to frame their supplication to the king which he for his part did in most mâ—lignant maner inforce and exaggerate against Mustaffa accusing him that this second yeare he had manifestlie shewed himselfe to haue gone into the warre not as a worthy Captaine and one that was desirous of noble and honourable enterprises but as a man greedy to make merchandise of bloud and of his souldiers payeÌ„s employing the most liberal prouision of corne and money not as rewards for wel-deseruing men nor to the foundation of such fabrikes as were needful and might haue bene builded therewithall but only to his owne proper gaine and to enrich himselfe with his peoples losses to the great shame of the king and endommagement of the publike treasurie adding hereunto that if those things which haue bene executed by the said Mustaffa were rightly serched it would be found that he had pretermitted manie good opportunities that he had attempted many things in vaine and generally that he had not done anie good either to the king or to his souldiers but onely to himself Whom rather than they would follow againe as their Captaine all his people being in an vprore shewed themselues readie and willing to aduenture themselues in any other far greater labour that by their Lord and king shuld be commanded them These and other such like complaints which the king heard of Mustaffa of whoÌ„ as we told you before he had already conceaued a hard opinion because hee perceiued that the affaires of Georgia were not in any great security were the occasion why Amurath was resolued to put him from his place Wherunto he did the more easily condiscend because he did alwaies think it very dangerous to suffer one and the self same General to be any long time the minister of so great an enterprise and Captaine of so many Squadrons and besides that he alwayes deemed it to be a small honor to him if he should stil imploy but only one man and that it would be greater honour to him to shew that he had variety of subiectes that were worthy of so great a charge And therfore being desirous to find out the truth of that which was reported vnto him touching Mustaffa he sent for him to the Court causing also two of his Deftardari or Treasurers to be brought with him that they migh shew the accounts of such moneys as he had receiued laid out and to be short giue vp an account of whole office Mustaffa came to Constantinople accordinglie where the two Deftardari were committed to safe custody and he in the mean while vsing the mighty and potent mediation of diuers Ladies laboured by al possible means that Amurath might be perswaded to admit him to his presence and to receiue his honourable and rich presents wherwithall the wrath and indignation of all angry harts is woont to he appeased and extinguished especially among the Barbarians in whom Couetousnes subdueth humaine reason and iustice and doth in such impious maner ouer-rule the Mahometical Empires principally the empire of the Turks that there remaineth not so much as the shadow of such a vertue but it is altogether gouerned onlie by meere Tyranny Further than this was there no proceeding against Mustaffa but yet he was neuer admitted to those honours which in recompence of such actions as he had perfourmed both in peace and in warre for the seruice of the Ottomans he perswaded himself were due vnto him In the time that Mustaffa remayned General at Erzirum there departed out of this life Mahamet the principall Visier who by a fraudulent treacherous mad foole while he sate to giue audience in an open place within his owne house was suddainly and to the common astonishment of all the companie stroke through the bodie with a sharp Gangiara or as we call it a dagger And after him dyed likewise of an infirmity Agmat Bassa who succeeded in the place of Mahamet that was slaine so that the said soueraigne dignity by rightfull succession was due to MuÌ„staffa But yet he was not thought woorthy of it by him that might and ought to haue gratified him therewithall as wee shall declare vnto you a little hereafter because I take it to be verie conuenient in this place to insert the death of the said Mahamet the Visier as a matter verie notable and famous in those daies for an example of such as administer iustice in such great offices worthy to be registred not in one onely but in a thousand and a thousand histories This foresaid Mahamet in his greatest managing of the vniuersall gouernment of that empire for certaine causes and respects that seemed to him reasonable whether they were so or no the curious searchers of al particulars can tel had depriued a certaine souldier of Constantinople of his yearly stipend which with many labours and dangers hee had gotten to maintain himselfe withall which stipend he had bestowed vpon another whoÌ„ the said Mahamet either for friendship or for bribe or for desert had made capable of it and so that other poore soul remained in miserie and in deed altogether depriued of all meanes to sustain his life To which miserable estate seeing himself now brought not guilty to himself of any fault that hee had committed worthy of so great punishmeÌ„t he determined with himselfe to reuenge the iniury with the bloud of Mahamet the Bassa to bereaue him of his life that had bereued him of his ho non liuing And because he could not haue any fit means to put this his designment in execution vnles hee might compasse some familiarity with Mahamet by haunting his house and conuersing domestically with him for otherwise he could not be permitted to come neere him that inioyeth that barbarous estate by reason of the guarde of slaues that keep the person of the Visier he resolued to apparell himself like an Eremit which the Turks cal Dreuis and to present himself euery morning before Mahamet to aske him his almes And so he did counterfeiting withal a certaine kinde of folly and lightnes of minde to the end he might make the people beleeue that the same had hapned vnto him through the grief which he had conceaued for his money and his honour taken from him by the Visier For in deed principallie and aboue al other things those that take vpoÌ„ them the life of a Dreuis do count erfet a certain kind of worldly foolishnes and a contempt of all earthly things whereby the variable and ignorant
the king to send a new garrison of souldiers to Van to the end that no Persians shoulde passe on this side Van to endamage those countries and next that vnder the conduct of some fit Captaine he would send some succours to Teflis Vpon which point the king asked Sinan his opinion willed him to be thinke himselfe of one to whom this expedition might bee committed Sinan propounded diuers and sundrie persons vnto him but none of them pleased Amurath who was minded to bestowe this charge vppon Mahamet the Bassa Nephew to Mustaffa Bassa and in that respect â—â—uied and hated by Sinan whom albeit hee told the king that he was not a fitte man for suche a seruice yet woulde hee need â—â— emploie him in this supplie as it were in despite and deâ—ision of the aduice which Sinan gaue him And therefore hee sente this Mahamet to Erzirum with the title of the Bassa of that Prouince displacing from thence Kesuan Bassa the Gouernor of that Region and withal added thereunto the honor dignitie of the Captaineship ouer the army for Teflis Presently vpon this resolution commaundement was giuen to the Bassa of Caraemit called Hassa the Eunuke to Mustaffa sometime called by the name of Manucchiar the Georgian who as wee tolde you before exchanged his Natiue religion with the Turkish superstition to all the Sangiacchi the Curdi al the souldiers of Erzirum that reducing themselues vnder the Standerd of Mahamet Bassa they shoulde followe him to Teflis and obey him in all thinges that hee should command them Whereupon there assembled together out of all the saide places about fiue and twentie thousand persons and treasure sufficient was appointed for the reliefe of the Souldiers in the besieged fort together with Corne and all other necessarie prouisions for them so that euery thing was put in readines for this enterprize in such large and liberall manner that it might abundantly haue sufficed Commandement likewise was giuen to the Bassa of Alâ—ppo to the Bassa of Maras that with al their souldiers which they had in pay they should repaire to Van and there abide till winter These two Bassaes performed the Kings commandement and were not disturbed nor molested in any sort by the enemy Mahamet the Bassa also performed it likewise together with all his Souldiers aboue named but yet with a farre different and contrarie fortune for that there happened vnto him diuers grieuous pernicious accidents which made this enterprize vnfortunate and miserable whereof it is now fit time to discourse in prosecuting the due course of our historie In the end of August Mahamet the Bassa departed from Erzirum with the Bassa of Caraemit all the Sangiacchi the Curdi all the souldiers subiect to his gouernement carrying also with him money corne all other necessarye munition At the end of eight daies he arriued at Chars from thence passed to Archelech being in the meane time neither assailed nor disturbed by any enemie At Archelech he found Mustaffa Bassa the Widowes Sonne and al his souldiers belonging vnto him who excusing himselfe with liuely reasons for that he came not to meete with him at Erzirum according to his duty was most ioyfully entertained honored by Mahamet with Cloath of Golde and Sworde and Target all guilte and withall admonished to continue obedient and subiect to Amurath not failing to conduct him with his garrison appointed for Teflis and to choose that way which he thought to be the shortest the safest and the most commodious for them for that some were of opinion that it would be lesse danger to trauel by the way of Tomanis some other by the way of his country Wherein after many discourses Mustaffa did readily resolue him that the easiest and shortest way lay through his owne countrey as being also the safest in his opinion The counsell of Mustaffa pleased Mahamet greatly who made choice of him to be the guide of his army reposing himselfe wholly vpon his good aduise and so they departed together from thence towards Teflis passing through Altunchala Carachala both belonging now to the said Georgian but in times past to the Widow his mother abounding with all thinges necessary for the sustenance of man neither were they euer disturbed by the enemies forces From these quarters they went forward to a Castell called Gori sometimes appertaining to the Georgiani gouerned by a brother of that Giusuf who had yeelded himselfe to the Turkes but now by reason of that brothers death it is fallen into the hands of the Turks from which place they discouered in certaine fieldes a great army of Georgians mingled with Persians but yet apparrelled after the manner of Georgia These were those Captains of Persia with Simon-Chan so often mentioned heertofore who were sent from the PersiaÌ„ king as in diuerse yeers before they also were to succor aid the Georgian forces For the king thought that they were sufficient enough to performe that busines vnderstanding that the Turkes had sent no greater armie thither and so by their good helpe there might peraduenture ensue a quiet end and pacification of al these troubles And therfore staying himselfe in Tauris hee had sent the aforenamed Captains into Georgia who keeping on the way of Genge and of Grin had secretly conioyned themselues with Simon and dissembled counterfeited their apparrel only because the meanes of peace should not bee disturbed and their king accompted a falsifier of his faith who vnder the vaile of a treaty vpon truce amity whiles Amurath attended nothing else but to succour and defend his conquered Countries without any annoyance or disturbaÌ„ce to any other places went about to procure the slaughter and ouerthrow of the Turks These then assoon as they saw the Turkish army perceiued that they theÌ„selues wer also descried by them sent swift haraulds vnto theÌ„ to bid them battel with haughtie and iniurious words to defie them to fight Mahamet Bassa who had no other desire but onely to bring his succors safe to Teflis receiued this defiance with great griefe of minde and hauing dismissed the hearaulds hee went about in the best manner he could to delay the execution of this their prouocatioÌ„ to battel That euening hee was fauored in his purpose by very great continuall raine which couertly excused his delay feare euery man thinking that it proceeded rather vpon some reasonable iust impediment then vpon his cowardise But the next morning when the sun shined bright vpon the face of the earth without any cloud at all the Georgians the Persians hauing vnited themselues waxen more resolute then euer they were drew neer to the Turkish armie followed it while it marched And so both the armies kept in sight one of another without any act at al or motion of war vntil about fowre howrs a halfe before night at what time the Turks ariued neer to a riuer
great stirs that were raised in the years 1580. 1581. and a good parte of 1582. wherein also followed the election of a newe generall who notwithstanding went not forward in his troublesome busines vntil the beginning of the yeare 1583. as in the next booke we wil declare vnto you The ende of the fift Booke The Sixt Booke The Argument The Persian King resolueth to ride to Heri against his sonne Abas Emir-Chan promiseth the King to defend his Territories from the Turks The Gouernour of Sasuar beheaded The King attempteth to get his Sonne Abas into his handes Abas writeth to his Father and the Tenor of his Letters The two Persian Princes reconcile themselues one to the other Salmas accused and beheaded The Persian King and the Prince his Sonne returne to Casbin Ferat chosen Generall of the Turkish Armie Ferat repaireth Aggia Chalasi and Reiuan Tocomac seeketh meanes to bee reuenged of the iniuries of the Turkes Ferat returneth to Chars and causeth a Sangiacco of the Curdi to be beheaded Manucchiar the Georgian beheadeth the Messengers and Gentlemen-vshers of Amurath and deuideth the Treasure betweene himselfe and his cosin Simon Hassan goeth to succour Teflis Ferat is at Erzirum and dismisseth his Armie The Persian King is affraide of newe stirres and commeth to Tauris with a great Armie Generall Ferat gathereth a newe Armie at Chars he goeth to Lory he passeth to the streites of Tomanis and cutâ—eth down the woods Daut Chan yeeldeth himselfe to the Turkes Simon goeth to assault Resuan the Bassa he hath his horse slaine vnder him and is strangelie deliuered from extreame daunger Tomanis deâ—ended by Hassan A great dearth in the army of Ferat Ferat is threatened by his Souldiers Ferat goeth to Clisca and meaneth to fortifie it Resuan is hardly entreated by the Souldiers who also threaten their General againe The Generalls life is saued by Amurath the Bassa of Caramania A most confused tumult in the Armie and Ferat the Generall is enforced shamefully to yeeld to his Souldiers and returneth to Erzirum The Originall occasion and manner of the escape of Alyculi-Chan The Persian king dismisseth all his Souldiers that he had gathered together Emir-Chan is imprisoned and hauing his eies put out by the kings appoinment he dieth miserablie in prison New displeasures arise among the Turcomannes for the death of Emir-Chan Amurath conceiueth great hope of the valour of Osman the Bassa Sciaus writeth to the Tartarian of the comming of Osman to Constantinople Osman with foure thousand souldiers putteth himselfe in the way to Constantinople Osman is assaulted by the Tartarians but Osman ouer commeth them Osman putteth the Tartarian king to death and appointeth his brother to be his successor Osman departeth from Caffa by Gallies and arriueth at Constantinople Osman is chosen chiefe Visier in the rowme of Sciaus and Generall in the rowme of Ferat Osman departeth from Constantinople and goeth to Erzirum Osman gathereth a greater armie then all those that haue beene hitherto gathered in these warres besides the Souldiers of Egypt and Damasco who did not goe with Osman The sixt Booke AFter that these victorious Warriers loaden with spoiles and diuerse of their Enemies ensignes were with great ioy receiued at home in Persia at the last to the greater comfort of the Persians the discord also that fell out between Mahamet Bassa Mustaffa the Georgian was declared vnto theÌ„ whereat they did no lesse reioyce then they did before fortheir obtayned victories And euerie man thought with himselfe that this newes might greatly further the matter of peace or at least if that came not to the wished ende yet it might hinder the Turkes from passing to anie place that was neere vnto them might also keepe them occupied is Teflis had hitherto done in such places as are farre distant from their Royall Cities Which coniecture of theirs might verie well be grounded vpon a reasonable foundation aswell because the iniurie was verie great that Mustaffa had done to Mahamet the Generall of the Turkish Campe as also for that the Territories of the saide Mustaffa were no lesse replenished with places most fit for treacheries and ambushes then the Territories of Sinion In these and such like good hopes remayned the Persians when by the way of Georgia there came tydinges to them that Sinan was displaced from his Office of Generalshippe and therefore the Turkes must of necessitie send foorth some newe Captaine if they were minded still to continue this warre With great griefe of minde did the Persians receiue this aduertisement knowingful well howe much Sinan was inclined to peace how deadly he hated the continuance of these long and troublesome contentions But much more greiuous was it vnto them when they vnderstoode withall how their treaties of peace were all in vayne and howe besides those indignities that so dishonestlie were offered to the Persian Nation at Constantinople their Embassador was also at the last sent prisoner to Erzirum And yet notwithstanding all these sorie newes the Persians chaunged not their former hopes but verilie perswaded themselues that these discords the outrages committed vpon the Turkes by Manucchiar might happelie hinder their enterprise which this yeare they minded to attempt to the great preiudise of Nassiuan and Tauris For they imagined that seeing their newe Generall must needes be sent as farre as from Constantinople the new yere could not serue their turne to any other purpoce but onely to succour Teflis and to reuenge the shame receyued by the outragious furie of Manucchiar In which poynt they discoursed also with themselues that euen in that respect Manucchiar and Simon would make a league together aswell because they were neighbors in Territorie and were likely both of them to run one and the selfe same course of fortune as also yea so much the rather because Manucchiar hauing taken to wife a sister of Simons they could dono lesse in these innouations but ioyne themselues together one of them be a protector and defender of the other and so vniting their forces together they shuld be able to annoy al such as should be sent to conueigh new succors to Teflis Vpon these occasions the Persian King perceyuing that he could not haue a fitter oportunitie to employe himselfe against Abas Mirize his some determined with himselfe to leaue the matters of this side of his kingdome in their present state and to march towards Heri whereunto hee was earnestly solicited by his elder son Emirhamze Mirize but principally by Mirize Salmas his Visier whom his said son in lawe did likewise dayly animate to this resolution and could not well brooke that anie other thing shoulde bee in speech but onely this And therefore seeing there was no other remedie but that the king must needs satisfie the request of these mightte entercessers and also establish all thinges in as good securitie as possibly hee might besides the great confidence and trust which
vnhappye fortune beeing more and more sollicited by the Visier hee attempted to vnderstande if hee coulde the minde of his Sonne and if it might bee possible to gette him into his handes But the Citie of Heri was well fenced as we haue said and therefore it must needes require the spending of many daies before it could be obtained which Abas-Mirize knowing full well thought it good in the meane time to write diuers letters to his Father and his Brother wherein hee besought them that they would make knowen vnto him the occasions of this their stirre For if desire of rule had mooued them to desire the depriuation of him beeing their Sonne and Brother from the honour which hee lawfully possessed and which his Father himselfe had procured for him they ought to abandon that imagination and not to seeke the disturbance of their peace for that hee was alwaies to spende his wealth and his bloude together with his estate in their seruice and acknowledged his Father to bee his good Father and King who rather then hee shoulde pursue this resolution shoulde bee encouraged to encrease his Dominion ouer his neighbours the Indians and Bactriaus which woulde bee more honourable and profitable for that Empire and much more commodious for all Persia And if they were not induced heereunto for this cause but by a desire to reuenge some trespasse that hee had committed in preiudice either of the Crowne of Persia or his Fathers honour hee was most readie to submit himselfe to any amendes and with all reason to yelde vnto them the kingdome yea the worlde and euen his owne life also the rather to satisfie their mindes with a more full contentation With twise and thrise reading ouer were these affectionate and reuerent letters considered and digested and at last both the Brother and the father perceyuing in theÌ„ such liberalitie of wordes and beeing ouer come with pittie or if not with pittie yet with great admiration and contentment they determined to put the matter in practise and moderating their wicked desires of bloud ruine and death to attempt the reducing of the young mans minde to some good passe Wherevpon they wrote backe vnto him That no greedie desire to vsurpe his gouernement An affection that was onely raysed in the gâ—uttâ—noâ—â— minde of prophane Salmas had induced them to make so great a voyage to trouble so much the people and to shed such aboundaunce of bloud For rather then they would depriue him of that gouernement they would bee readie to bestowe vpon him newe benefites and honours of greater esteeme But onely his disobedience and impudenciâ— in that hee caused himselfe to bee called the King of all Persia and woulde not sende somuch as one Captayne to ayde them against the Turkes these were the causes why they proceeded to these great inconueniences because they thought it their duetie to roote vp such wicked and obstinate desires out of their kingdome and in Persia to preserue an vniuersall obedience and common tranquiliâ—ie among their subiectes The youngman when hee vnderstood the accusations that were laied against him was greatly comforted hoped to make it manifest before al men how the king his brother were misinformed in these particularities therfore incontinently did write back againe vnto them That if they would inuiolably promise not to put to death nor doe any outrage to any his embassadors he would sendvn to theÌ„ such euident matter so cleere informatioÌ„ touching those his accusations as they should not onely plainly perceiue there was neuer any such kind of thought in him but also that he had alwaies desired laboured the coÌ„trarie peraduenture he should open vnto theÌ„ such a matter as in respect of other men and not of himselfe would cause their comming to proue profitable and commodious to all the kingdome of Persia. Whereupon they both promised all good entertainment and were now become very desirous to vnderstand what those straunge nouelties should be and so when they had yeelded their consent and with solemne oath had offered to receiue the said embassadours with all friendly curtesie and regarde Abas sent vnto them two of his chiefe counsellours men of good accompt and reuerence both for their yeares and wisedome with commaundement That they should declare how all these stirres did arise from none other man but onelie from the Visier Mirize-Salmas who as he had alreadie laboured this daungerous plot against Abas-Mirize the kings own son so if this his designment should bee brought to passe he would not sticke to doe the like against the King himselfe to satisfie the greedy and ambitious desire which hee had to place his Sonne in lawe Emir-hamze in the soueraigne seate and himselfe to bee the man that as Lieutenant to the King shoulde commaunde the whole Empire Which notwithstanding they were to reueale without any blame or accusation of Emir-Hamze and to make it knowen to his old father that neuer any such conceits or affections were kindled in the Prince but that he was also vnwares induced thereunto by the crafte and suttlety of malignant Salmas The two Embassadours came accordingly and after many speeches in the ende swearing according to their custome by the Creator that spread out the Aire that founded the earth vppon the deepes that adorned the heauen with starres that powred abroade the water that made the fire and briefely of nothing brought foorth all thinges swearing by the heade of their vaine Master Aly and by the false religion of their impious Prophet Mahamet swearing by their children by their wiues by their own souls That such peruers thoughts neuer entred into the head of Abas-Mirize They alledged many testimonies and euident proofes that most loyally and faithfully in all due time aswell when hee was aduanced to the soueraigne degree of a king as also in his battels against the Turkes his Sonne had alwaies caused deuout prayers and supplications to bee made to God for his prosperitye neither euer desired to heare any other but happie and fortunate successe of him They brought with them a thousande and a thousand Precepts and Royall Letters which the younge man had caused to be written as occasions required to the Gouernours that were his Subiectes for the gouernement of the state wherein hee neuer named himselfe the King of Persia but onelye your King and Gouernour of Heri They prayed the King also that hee woulde cause a diligent processe which the Turkes call a Teftis to be framed against his Sonne and if there shoulde bee founde in him any signe or shadowe of so wicked a suspicion that then hee woulde take from him his estate and libertie For they woulde remaine as hostages for him But when all this shoulde be done and Abas-Mirize shoulde bee founde altogether free from these vniust and impious calumniations then falling euen to the earth and kissing it they besought him and coniured him that hee woulde not leaue
Gardens and pleasaunt Greenes but in the way many craggie mountaynes to bee clymed and sundrie harde passages either for Armie or Traueller It hath vppon the coast towardes the North Teflis vppon the South the playnes of Caldaran and a little higher towardes the Tropike of Capricorne Van and the Marciana Marish Heere then did Ferat Bassa encampe himselfe with all his Armie and taking the aduise of his chiefe Captaynes where hee shoulde builde the Forte they all with one consent aduised him to seaze vppon the houses and Gardens of Tâ—comao and to enuiron them with Ditches with Walles and with Ordinaunce for defense and in the middest as it were in a Center within the Walles to erecte a highe Castle which on euerie side rounde about might discouer both the hilles and the playnes and beeing well fensed with store of good Ordenance might threaten destruction and ruine to all those that durst attempt to endammage them And so they enclosed the gardens with walles accordingly and hauing digged ditches rounde about them they conueyed water into them from a certayne riuer that came downe from the hilles and ranne into Araxis and in this manner within the space of fifteene dayes they finished the Fort. It was a great affliction to Tocomac thus to loose his own Countrie yea and so much the more greeuous it was vnto him because it happened so sodenly and as it were vnlooked for he himselfe presently assoone as he vnderstood that the Turkish Armie was comming towardes that coast hauing withdrawne himselfe and his men of war out of the Citie and leauing the impotent to the mercie of the Conquerors seeking by all meanes to bee reuenged if not altogether yet at the least in some part of this great iniurie And therefore hee wrote to the King in Corazan he wrote to Emir-Chan in Tauris hee wrote to Simon in Georgia hee gathered souldiers out of the villages and vsed all his possible indeuour to make himselfe meete and able to annoy the enemies Armie But neither from Georgia coulde hee receaue anie helpe because they were too-much troubled with hindering any succours to bee brought for the reliefe of the beseeged in Teflis as in due place it shall be declared Neither from Tauris was hee releeued with so much as one Souldier either because Emir-Chan woulde not or coulde not stirre or else because hee had some secrete intelligence with Generall Ferat not to disturbe him in this his Fabrike And so Tocomac could not haue the lucke to be fauoured with any poore ayde that might at the least haue mittigated the bitternesse of his griefe And therefore being not able to doe anie thing but onely with those few Souldiers which he had to lay some priuie ambushes for the Turkes hee neuer ceased to sley sometimes a hundred of them sometimes a hundreth and fiftie and sometimes moe and in that manner to coole the heat of his heart which swelled with the burning desires of reuenge And the better to ease his stomacke which was infected with the poyson of hatred against Emir-Chan who sitting still as it were to beholde his miseries woulde not so much as shake a sworde to annoye these spoyling Turkes and thereby performe his promise made to the Kinge hee spared not to dispatch certayne horse men to the saide King in Corazan and by â—loquent letters to amplifie the vilenesse and cowardize of Emir-Chan discouâ—ring vnto him some shadowe of suspicion and intermingling with all some causes of iealousie to be conceiued in his minde that Emir-Chan had some secrete intelligence with the Turkish Generall And to be short he omitted no occasion whereby hee might anie way qualifie the griefe that he had taken for the losse of his Citie The Turkish Captaine at last departed from his newe Forte and returned to Chars and for the custodie of the said Fortresse he appointed there as Captaine Sinan Bassa sonne to that Cicala who by misfortune was lately taken prisoner whiles with great fame hee scowred and wasted the Tyrrhene Sea And therefore this his Sonne who was afterwarde cured and healed by mee of a certaine disease that hee had at Aleppo partly for the goodlinesse of his person and partly for the hope that hee raysed of his valour was so greatly fauoured by Selim the late Tyraunt of Constantinople and the arrant Enemie of the Italian name that hauing scarce passed the flowre of his youth in which age he was deerely beloued of him hee was created the Aga or Captayne of the Giamizaries and after this his first degree of honour sent to bee gouernour of certayne Cities and in the ende hauing beene imployed in diuers tumults and perible of warress hee was nowe appointed Captaine and Keeper of this Forte together with Ossan Bey Sonne to the late famous Eliambuâ—at afore mentioned With these two Captaines but yet vnder the sole gouernement of Bassa Elicabi onely and with the companye of eight thousand Souldiers partlye 〈◊〉 and partlye Naturall Subjects and with the Munition aboue reheâ—rsed this Forte was stir engthened and this Garrison of Souldiers without expecting any yeerely succours to bee brought them by and Armye to euen of themselues in seuerall troupes of three hundred together in a companie were alwaies 〈…〉 appointed times to go fetch their pay at the Citie of Enzrâ—â—â— and afterwardes at Aloppo and other Cities of Sâ—ria A which they also continue to doe euen to this daye And so with these saide Souldiers and with good store of Artâ—haries artificially distributed vpon the new wall Foraâ— left the Forte hand â—as 〈◊〉 haue â—ased withdrewe himselfe to Chars passing by the waye of Aggia-Ghalasi and performing his iourney 〈◊〉 daies space Where when he was arriued there arose very great and straunge newes For there was fodainely brought before the said Generall â— Sangiaedo Cutdo with his hands bounde behinde him all pale and astonished with foare whose beade without any more a doo hee caused to bee cutte from him carâ—ase publishing to the rest that hee was a â—ole and a rebell Which whether it were so or no â—â—â— whether this sodaine and ynexpected death lighted vpon him in respecte of some other displeasure they knowe best if it bee lawfull at the least to know it that are the curious searchers of such particularities At the execution wherof there was a rumour raised of a far greater importance For by many reporters there was brought to the eares of the General a great faine of a wonderfull noueltie namely that Mustaffa the Georgian to whom 〈◊〉 had sent thirty thousand Duckates from Constantinople by two of his Capigi and two Châ—aus or Nâ—nâ—ioâ—s to the end that with a Tâ—ioâ—spe of his Subiectes he shoulde carrie them to Teflis for the reliefe of those in the Porue was â—â—â—dde and beeing nowe become a rebell to the Turkish King had lefte the Fortresse in manifeste 〈◊〉 to yeelde if by some other meanes it were
silk and some few pence Causing him withall to protest vnto him that he would neuer suffer himselfe to be perswaded to come again vnto him for if he did he should be enforced to depriue him of his life happen afterward what might happen of it With extreame ioy and triumph did Ebrain the Visier see all this present and thinking now with himself that he had gotten a sufficient bootie of him he determined to raise his Armie to sack all the rest of the Countrey that was subiect to Manogli not leauing any part of it sound of vntouched And therefore sending certain fore-runners before him to discouer the Countrey to prouide some commodious place to pytch his Tentes the Captain of whom was the Emir-Ebnefrec otherwise called Acra the Scuruie he raysed his Campe and marched on the other side of the Mountain and passing by Andera which was the place of residence where Manogli remained he commaunded that it should be sacked and burnt which was put in execution accordingly with vnspeakable effects of cruelty committing all things to fier sword After this the Turkes ouerran all the Countrey and in two dayes space burnt destroyed nineteen Townes besides carying away with them whatsoeuer they could find worthie of spoyle After all this sacking and rasing the Visier with all his Armie mounted vp to the large top of a Mountain which was also neere to Andara and from thence sent a thousand messeÌ„gers to Ebne-Man to trie whether he would yet be perswaded to come vnto him But neither all these siers nor all their entreaties nor their terrifying nor their myldnesse could euer moue Manogli to commit himself into his hands but still more stoutely and constantly resolued to auoyde most certain death And therefore the Visier not contented to haue burned and destroied the Countrey to haue drawen so much treasure from the Drusian and to haue plotted so many treacheries against him bethought himselfe in the end to satisfie his inward affection to crueltie and reuenge with the slaughter of his miserable people And hauing vnderstood by a Spie that the Captain of Andara being one of the Factors of Manogli with three hundred and fiftie persons was ascended vp to a certain hill into a safe and secure place he sent Ebnefrec to entice him to tell him that seeing his Emir Manogli would not come and yeeld himselfe he should come vnto him and assuredly if he did so in despite of Manogli he would make him a Sangiacco of some of those places which hee most desired The ambitious and vnheedy Macademo suffered himselfe to bee easely perswaded with this most malicious lie and being accompanied with his three hundred and fiftie followers went with the said Ebnefrec towardes the Visier And beecause the voice was giuen out that there were no moe Arcubuses in all the Countrey of Manogli the Macademo commaunded all his men that laying aside their Arcubuses they should arme themselues onely with their swordes and their bowes And so going before them walking still on the right side of the Emir Aora thereby to giue him his due honor For it is the custome of the Mahometanes and of all the East and peraduenture it was so also among the Auncients that the more honorable place is on the leaft side as that which is as it were vpon the sword of his fellow whom he walketh withall and the lesse honorable is the right side as being subiect to the blow of the weapon readie to be stroken At the last he arriued at the Pauilion of Ebrain hauing first caused his foresaid men to stay behind in a certain valley two or three miles distant from the Tentes Ebrain would not so much as see the Macademo although both in respect of the nimhlenes of his person and also the fiercenesse of his lookes he was worthy to be seen but commaunded that he should be safely kept in a seuerall place from Serafadin and in the mean time hauing called to counsell the Emirs and Aly the Bassa of Aleppo to deuise some wyle whereby they might put to death those three hundred and fiftie wyth as little losse of their owne souldiers as possibly might be it was concluded that the foresaid Ebnefrec should leade them into a certain Vineyard and afterwards at vnwares set vpon them and hauing so brought them to a straite hew them in peeces and cut them off for hauing no Arcubuses they could work but small hurt to his souldiers Acra went like a common butcher and conducted the poore wretches into the appointed vineyard and while they waited for their Captaine and expected some great reward because they had so confidently beleeued their promises they were sodeinly enuironed with the Armie of Ebrain the Sangiacchi making a wing on the one side and the Iannizzaries on the other who beeing become greedie of the blood of those miserable soules hauing brought them into a narrow compasse fell vpon them with their Arcubuses and their speares and suffering not one of them to escape most cruelly slew them all The vnhappie wretches defended themselues the best they could with their arrowes with their swordes with their hands and with their bodies but all to no purpose for they were all destroied in this common and miserable slaughter Of the Turkes there were none staine but only three Iannizzaries one of their Vlu Bassi and some of the subiects of the two Emirs Ebnefrec and Ebnecarfus who were mistaken and thought to be their enemies for that wearing the same kind of apparell which the other souldiers of the Macademo did wear they could not be distinguished in the medley the one from the other Through which incircumspection no doubt there had been slaine a great number moe but that they were aduised euery man to put a vyne leafe in his Turbant that so being disâ—â—â—â—ed from their enemies they might be preserued and as the slaughter light vpon the rest As soone as this massacre was finished Ebrain would haue the death of the Macademo to follow and causing him to bee brought before him he commaunded that without any delay he should be stripped flayed quick The Macademo stoutely vpbraided Ebrain with his promise and his oath and among diuers speeches that someâ—â—lies smiling and somtimes threatning he vttered whiles they stripped him Cut me off quoth he my members and first 〈◊〉 them into the 〈◊〉 of that infamous Ebrains wife put them afterwards into the mouth of himselfe For so I trow he will be contented and satisfied with my flesh And pursuing his threates he spake thus to those that were to be the executioners of his dolorous death It is your great good fortune in deed quoth he that with such violence and so needlesse deformitie yee are now resolued to drink vp my blood and to take my life from me For I do not think that any of you all either had bin hable or durst man to man to draw one drop of
expectation they were suddenly assaulted and very shrewdly handled by the Persians This was Emir Hamze the eldest sonne of king Mahamet who being accompanied with ten thousand souldiers had craftely hidden himselfe watching till some of the ennemies bands should come downe to those resting places that he might set vppon them For hee was thus come forth against the Turkes whiles his blinde father was encāped about twelue miles beyond the citty of Tauris with a fifty thousand persons or thereaboutes In Tauris was Alyculi-Chan the Gouernour of it and with him foure thousand souldiers A greater Army then this the Persian king could not possibly leauie and the principall occasion thereof was the death of Emir-Chan for which all the nation of the Turcomannes being waxen rebellious and disobedient would not by any meanes bee brought to defend that Citty which was now committed to the gouernement of Alyculi-Chan their capitall enemy From Gheilan and from Hery there came not somuch as one souldier to relieue the necessities of Persia. So that the King could scarsely gather together these threescore and foure thousand men who by reason of the vncertainety of the Turkes rumour for Nassiuan and for Tauris were plonged into a thousand disquiets and scant had leasure enough to be ready all at Tauris at the arriuall of their enemies With these forces the Persian had no stomack so suddenly to go and set vpon the Turkish Army in open battell and to aduenture themselues vpon their Artillary but sought in deed by all the meanes he could first to annoy him with as little losse to himselfe as possibly hee might and so by attempting his forces to make triall of euery way how he might in dyuerse and sundry sortes weaken and endamage him And yet afterward hee wished that he had beene assaulted when being certified of the infirmitie of Generall Osman and aduertised of the sundry losses that hee had receaued at his arriuall to Tauris and in other conflictes which shalbe told you hereafter he thought he might haue recouered the spoiles that had beene taken in the sacked and desolate Citty But the Bersian Prince thus at vnawares set vpon the Vauwarde of the Turkes who being greedy of their victuailes and desirous to discouer their enemies countrey had turned themselues vpon the gardens of Soffian This assault the discomfiture of the said Vauward was done at once for such was the speed so haughty was the courage of the Prince and so great the astonishment and strangenes of the case that as it had beene a lightning and as a man might well say without any resistanee he ouerran all the said band of the Turkes and dispersed them putting to the sworde about seuen thousande persons of all sortes Which being done he withdrew himselfe back towards his fathers Tentes leading away with him horses slaues and much apparrell besides sundry standerdes Turkish drommes that were brought after him Osman had intelligence of this discomfiture fourth-with caused his Armie to be raised and dispatched Sinan Bassa sonne to the late Cicala and Mahamet the Bassa of Caraemet with diuers other Aduenturers in all to the nomber of fourteene thousande to the end they should follow the prince abouementioned These then ranne amaine to pursue the kings sonne who had already sent newes to his father of this his first action by certaine swift horsemen and so quick they were in their marching that they ouertooke the yongman who like a ioyfull victor was iournying towardes his fathers Campe. Assoone as the Prince saw the Turkes so neere him and knew that without a daungerous and shamfull flight hee could not auoid the battell couragiously hee tourned his face vpon them and ioyned a most bloody conflict with them It was as yet two houres before night when these sharp and cruell skirmishes began from which they ceased not vntill night with her darknes did bereaue them of the vse of their swordes and enforce both the one side and the other to retire which was doon with the notable losse of the Turkes who being farre fewer in nomber then they were and also shrewdly beaten and discomfited returned to their pauilions from whence they came The like did the Persians also who were stayned and imbrued much more with the bloud of their enemies then with the spilling of their owne It is a common speech that in this second battell which notwithstanding together with the first exploitis reckoned but for one onely there wanted six thousand Turkes and that there would haue followed a generall slaughter of them all if night had not interrupted so vncouth an action well worthie in truth of a thousand day-lightes So that hitherto the Turkes haue sustained the losse of more then ten thousand souldiers yet scarce haue discouered or seene the Citty which so greedely they longed for The next morning the Turkish Campe remoued and approched within two miles of Tauris where they encamped But whiles they were about the setting vp of their pauilions Aliculy-Chan issuing out of the Citty with all his guard aboue mentioned and with all the inhabitantes that were able to fight and manage weapons he set vpon the face of the Vauward being now renued and with cunning tourninges and windinges so charged and seised vpon them that with great shedding of bloud hee made them to retire euen to the Visiers warde from whence when he espied the artillarie he withdrew himselfe againe to the Citty before he was annoyed or offended by any of them The nomber of the slaine and the confusion of the Turkes was notable For in a very small space of time the Vauward was put in a disaray almost three thousand slaine But Alyculi being not contented with this assoone as the darkenes of the night was come issued out the second tyme closely and couertly swiftly ran along all the side of the enemies Army that lay towards Tauris and besides the death of the Bassa of Maras put all that band to great damage and destruction And when he had so doone without any stay hee fled to the Kinges Campe and forsooke the defence of the sorrowfull Citty In this sort was the Turkish Captaine welcomed by the Taurisians who gathering themselues to the gates as many of them as remayned within the Citty well armed consederate together were now prepared to make it a bloody entrance for the Turks whensoeuer they came All the whole night was spent in watching both on the one side and on the other neither could the flattering entisement of sleeep procure any quiet or rest to the poore soules either of the Cittizens or of the enemies and yet there was no motion of war on either side But vpon the breake of day a great bande of the seruile sort of Turkes and of the rascall common rout without any leaue asked of the Captain armed with corslets with speares and with swordes went to the towne
would not follow the warres of Ebrain the Visier should bee the keeper and gouernour of the said Forte And the rather to encourage him that he would take the charge vppon him he gaue him freely for the space of three whole yeares not onely the office and authority but also the rentes and reuenues of the Bassa of Caraemit in the place of him whose head we told you lately the Persian Prince had cut of and withall honoured him with the title of the Bassa of the Court where hauing finished his three yeares office of Caraemit he was to go sit among the soueraigne seates in the order and ranke of the Visiers The Eunuch seeing so faire and so nigh a way for him to mount to those high honours readily obeyed his pleasure and presently dispatching his Lieutenaunt whom the Turkes call Checaia for Caraemit to the gouernement of those countries in his absence with a hundred of his owne subiectes hee setled himselfe in the said Fort and afterwardes besides his said subiectes there were deliuered vnto him twelue thousand souldiers some voluntaries and some stipendiaries furnished with all necessarie prouision and sufficient for the warre till the new spring And when the custody of this Fortresse was thus ordered and safely prouided for the Visier departed according to his promisse made to the souldiers of Grecia and Constantinople the same morning which was the fourescore and seuenth day after his departure from Erzirum hee went to a place called Sancazan seuen miles distant from Tauris with an entent in this his returne to take another course then he tooke when he came to that Citty They were now vpon the point of their encamping as the maner is in a confused disorder hurley-burley when those that were hindermost in the armie heard the neighing of horses and the noise of drommes and trumpettes which when all the whole Campe vnderstoode by the report of the first hearers vnto them that were formost they ranne all headlong and disordered as they were to the rescue on that side where the report was that the noise of horses and warlike instrumentes was heard But while the Turks were thus intentiuely busied on that side to expect the arriuall of their enemies on the other side without any signe or token of battell was the Persian Prince ready vpon them with eight twenty thousande persons in his company who hauing discouered the Camelles the horses the Mules other cariages wherevpon their booties their spoiles and their riches were loaden which they had taken in Tauris besides their corne and much of their prouision for victuaile necessarie for the sustenaunce of the armie had turned vpon them with a prouident and safe conuoy had taken for a praye eighteene thousand of the Cammelles and Mules well loaden with the said booties and other victuailes The Prince sent away presently sixe thousand of his souldiers for the safegard of the cariages that they might lead them away in safety and he himselfe with his two and twenty thousand Persians entred into the Turkishe Army who now to withstand his assault had conuerted their anger and fiercenes against him It was a gallant thing a terrible withall to see what a mortall battell and what singular prowesse was shewed presently euen in the forefront of the army For in a moment you might haue seene the Tentes and Pauillions turned vp side downe and their encamping lodgings replenished with carcases blood and victorious death ranging in euerie corner The Turkes themselues through vnwonted astonishment became more attentiue beholders of this affray then their enemies were and to this day with great meruaile doo recounte the vertue and valour of the Persians who although they were so few in nomber and intermingled among so populous an army of warlick people yet it seemed that they couched their speares brandished their swords ouer them as though it had thundred lightned vpon them and were in deed rather like fatall ministers then humaine executioners of so generall a slaughter But these mischeefes being already foreseene and too much feared by the trusty guard of the Ianizzaries all of them doubting greatly least the Persians would forcibly inuade the very lodginges of the Visier it was commanded not by himself for he was now at the last gasp but by him who at that time had authority to command in his name that without any delay the artillary should be vnbarred by that means the valorous conflict of these fierce souldiers was vnequally parted For the Artillary wrought perchance greatter harme among the Turkes themselues then it did among the Persians For the medley and mingling of the two nations which fought together being all in a confusion and a hurley-burley the artillary entring among them without any exception or distinction of persons ouerthrewe both frendes and foes At the first thondering noise whereof the Prince was most ready swift to flie all that were with him followed presently after him so that the Turks which remained behind were moreshrewdly afflicted then the Persians were who by flying away could not feele any dammage but the Turkes must first bee well payed for their labour The Graecians the Constantinopolitanes and those that were of Natolia pursued these fugitiues making a shewe as though they would gladly haue ouertaken the stollen carriages and recouered them againe but they being already arriued in safety and the night come vpon them they feared to proceede any further then they might easily returne with the safegarde of their liues And therefore the Persians though greatly wearied and weakened thus saued themselues and the Turks also retourned into their Tentes wholly dismaied and discomfited leauing too manifest a token of the sondrie calamities which hapned in these broiles and the maruellous ouerthrowe of their whole armie So that there is no man but confesseth that in the battell of Sancazan there were slaine twentie thousand of the Ottoman souldiers and that in this enterprise of Tauris there died by this time threescore thousande Turkes with that small losse of the Persian forces which we haue before described Among the rest in the same place died also the Visier Osman Generall of the late dreadfull but now desolate Armie not by wouuds as some write nor by any such like means but being vtterly consumed by the mortall vncurable disease of an Ague and a Flix as wee haue told you before and doo now againe testifie vnto you by the certain and vndoubted report of those faithull Phisitians which were about him whose death notwithstandinge was kept secreate from the whole Armie and euery man thought verily that it was but onely the continuance of his sicknes because the charriottes wherein he lay were still kept close and in his name Cicala Bassa for so he had appointed by his will gaue out aunsweres and commandementes to all the Armie But although it was thus concealed from the Turkes
yet was it disclosed to the Persians by the meanes of three youngmen who in the life of Osman had the charge of his precious stones of his iewels and of his gold and now hauing gathered together the best the cheefest and the fairest of them and also the goodliest and the fairest horses that the Visier had were fled to the King of Persia and reuealed vnto him the death of the Generall The comming of these youngmen was most acceptable both to the king also to the prince aswell for the iewels gold as also for the aduertisement of Osmans death who reasoned among themselues that it was not possible for so great cowardise and so dishonorable a kind of fighting and ordering of an Army to proceede from the vertue and valour of Osman of whome they had had too manifest a triall and experience in times past and therefore they were thereby encouraged to put in practise some new and strange kindes of exploytes and by attempting the vtter ouerthrow of the Turkish remnant to giue them an honorable Farewell And therevppon the Persian Prince hauing gotten together fourteene thousand men went to follow the Turkes who had now raised their Campe and were remoued to pitch their Tentes neere to a certain streame of salt-water not farre from Sancazan where also the said Prince caused certain fewe Tentes to be pitched about fower or fiue miles distant from the Turkish Campe the foresaid brooke running in the middest betweene the two Enemies armies Now it was the purpose of the Sofian Prince to haue assayled the Turks in the morning whiles they were loading their cariages hoping in that confusion to haue wrought them some notable mischiefe but the Turkes had caught a certain spye of his who reuealed all vnto them And therefore they did neither arise so earely in the morning ás their maner was nor load their stuffe vntill such time as they were all armed and on hors-back trusting by that means to rebate and to quaile their enemies assaults The Persians were greatly discontented when they saw this warie and vnvsuall maner of the Turkes raysing of their Tentes and perceaued that some inkling had been giuen them of the purpose which they had intended And yet considering that if they should loose this occasion they could not haue any other good oportunitie to annoy them vntill the next Spring they vtterly resolued to venture the assault and hauing obserued that the Rankes of their Artillarie were on the right side of the Armie they began to enter in the sight of euery man vpon the left hand But the Turkes made a wing presently on that side and so vncouered and vnbarred their Artillarie against the assaylants to their great losse and danger Howbeit they were so nymble and quick to shrowde themselues vnder their Enemies armie to auoid this mischieuous tempest that being now come verie neere to the Turkish Squadrons they must needes send out people to encounter them and ioyne present battel with them They were purposed before assoone as they saw the Turkes begin to stirre to haue brought them towards their side into a verie filthy and deepe Moore which being then drie yet breathed fourth a most stinking and foggie ayre neyther was it doubted of or feared by any but onely by those that were acquainted withall and borne there aboutes and so verie boldly they went towards that place entycing their enemies to follow after them But the Rebell Maxut-Chan and with him that other Traitor Daut-Chan who had knowledge of this treacherie as being well acquainted with those places perceaued the policie of the Enemie and particularlie gaue notice thereof to Cicala Bassa who presently caused a great compassing wing to be made commaunding them to set vpon the Persians and to giue them a continuall charge The commaundement of the Captaine was put in execution and so their fore-front opened it selfe wyth verie large and spacious Cornets vpon the Prince who no sooner saw this kind of order but by and by he perceaued that his intended Stratageme was discouered Whereupon without any stay he began to retyre and called all his people after him But they could not be so readie and quick to flye but that three thousand of them remayned behind all miserably styfled and ouer-trodden in the myre with verie little dammage or losse of the Turkes And this onely battell among the fiue that were fought vnder Tauris and in those quarters was it that was lesse hurtfull to the Ottomans then to the Persians The Prince returned to the pauilions of the King his father and told him the whole action how it had fallen out together wyth the departure of the Enemie And so the Turkes came to Salmas where the death of their Visier was published From Salmas they went afterwardes to Van where they took a surueigh of their Armie found wanting therin about fower score and fiue thousand persons and some say more At Van all the souldiers were dismissed into their owne countries and Cicala gaue notice to the King at Constantinople of all that had happened I my self also was in Constantinople at the same time when the postes arryued that brought word of these great aduentures First was published the death of Osman for whom there were many signes of verie great sorrow and together with his death were blazed the blouddie and mortall actions that were performed so that it seemed all the whole Citie was greatly discomforted and diuerse times in those few dayes by sundry persons in many places and particularly in the house of Mahamet Bey one of the San-Giacchi of Cairo my verie great friend I heard much rayling vpon the King many curses of this warre and infolent maledictions of these many mischiefes Then was dispersed the great fame of the new Fortresse erected in Tauris of the sacking of that Citie and of all the losse that hapned therein And lastly there was a general Edict published in the Kings name that through all the Cities of his Empire they should make solemne feastes shew other expresse tokens of mirth and reioysing which the Turkes call Zine And therupon all the Artificers in Constantinople with diuerse goodly and sumptuous shewes with musicall instruments and bountifull banketting performed the Kings royall commaundements There was also woord sent to the Embassadours of Hungarie of Fraunce of Venice and of other countries that they should doo the like But they all aunswered with one accord that it was neuer the custome of Embassadours to make anie signe of reioysing but onely when the King himself in person returned from the like victories In the mean time great consultation was at Van how they might attempt to send succours to Teflis in Georgia whereof there was a rumour spread abroad that it was yelded to the Georgians which in deed was a lye as at an other time the like report was also And while they were thus in
consideration of many matters Daut-Chan who to deserue some reward at Amurathes hand neuer ceassed to remember and vrge whatsoeuer might set forward the conceits of the Ottomans offered himself to performe this so important seruice could so well discourse vpon the maner how to bring it to passe and to make the enterprise certaine and secure that at the last Cicala Bassa deliuered vnto him thirtie thousand Cecchini to cary to the Fort at Teflis Daut-Chan went and returned and releeued those souldiers without any thing hapning vnto him in his voyage worthie the writing And yet was this seruice so well accepted by Amurath that he honoured the Rinegate with the dignitie of the Bassa of Maras a Citie seated in the confines of Cappadocia and Armenia neere to the riuer Euphrates where also the same Daut gouerneth euen at this present day although there was a speech deliuered out by the same that King Amurath had caused him to be strangled which was not true Maxut-Chan also he that was the guide of the Turkish Armie to Reiuan and to Tauris was honoured by the same King with the great rich Office of the Bassa of Aleppo Of whom as also of his children and of his vassals I haue had verie many particulars both touching this warre and matters of peace wherein this man was a dealer So that I haue not written to my knowledge any thing herein which hath not been certified vnto me from persons of credite and auctoritie euen of their owne sight for that they were present and Agents themselues in these enterprises Whereunto that such credite may be giuen as an Historie deserueth I haue thought good in this place to translate a certain Letter sent from the Sangiaccho of Aman to Aly the Bassa of Aleppa who was with Ebrain and so could not be at the actions of Tauris A Copie whereof was also sent to the Senate of Venice by Giouanni Michele at that time Consul for that most honourable Common wealth of whom we haue a little before made mention It was written in the Arabike and beeing translated into our toung it was word for word in this maner To the rich and mightie among the rich and mightie the noble Lord of Lordes among honourable and great persons the honourable and great person the Lord Aly Bassa Humble salutations and long prosperitie Your Lordship hath giuen me to vnderstand that you desire to be aduertised of all that hath hapned this yeare betweene vs and the Cheselbas and I now I haue good leasure to doo it will not fayle readily so to do So you shal vnderstand that from Erzirum we came to Tauris in forty dayes and the day before wee arriued at Tauris at the Bridge of salt-water our Vanigard was assaulted by the Sonne of the King of Persia who quite discomfited it and gaue vs a great ouerthrow with the death of almost fiue thousand of our men among whom Aly the Bey of Grecia was one And because you would know the very day that we entred into Tauris I do let you vnderstand that two dayes before our feast we entred into it in great number Two daies the Citie was kept locked because the Persians had gotten the gates and in that time there was a great fight both within and without the Citie with the slaughter of our men more then eight thousand and little losse to the Persians For Alycull-Chan the Gouernour of the Citie with the best of his people were readie to flie and abandon the defence of the Citie who as he went out met with the Bassa of Maras and flew him with many of our men But afterward being scarred with the Artillarie that was set right vpon him he fled away and all the rest of the Cheselbas-Captaines who vpon that occasion also at the last retyred with him You desire to know how those of Tauris were entreated and I tell you that three dayes after we were entred into it and Alyculi-Chan fled with those aboue named order was giuen for the buylding of a Fortresse in the middest of the Citie which was then all sacked in such sort as it was great pitie to see and yet without any direction or commaundement from the Visier although in deed they haue giuen out speeches that it was by his appointment The Iannizaries and the Spahini of the Porta tooke away all their goods and houshold stuffe and twice afterwards sacked it againe and the second time they slew many of the inhabitants of Tauris and found a great quantitie of stuffe hidden vnder the ground and sold their children for ten and twelue Ducates apeece The buylding of the Fort was finished in six and thirtie dayes and twelue dayes before this Fabrik was finished newes came to the Visier that the Persians were comming to assault him Wherevpon he sent out the sonne of Cicala and Mahamet the Bassa of Caraemit who from the topp of an hill discouered the Persians that were comming and so they descended into the plaine and ioyned battell with them Wherein it seemed at the first that the Persians would haue taken their heeles but they returned vpon our men and pursued them with slaughter to the number of fower thousand Turkes and took prisoners Sinan the Checaia or Lieutenant of Cicala Chenan the Kings Chiaus or Embassadour and the Clerk of the Spahinj of the Porta A few dayes before the Fort was finished the Visier was certified againe that the Persians were comming in a verie great number to assault him whereupon he began to set all his Armie in an order but while he was busied there abouts the Persians arriued about noone and setting vpon our men they faught such a battell from that time till two howers within night that it cannot be expressed either with toung or pen. But as farre as mens iudgments can reach it is verily thought that there may be about fortie thousand of our men slaine with great losse also of the Enemie Among our men the Bassa of Caraemit had his head stroken off Muraâ— the Bassa of Caramania was taken aliue in fight being fallen into a water whiles he was in fighting Mustaffa the Sangiaccho of Bursia and Schender the Bey of Grecia and fiue other Sangiacchâ— were hewen in peeces and the Bassa of Trebisonda also left his carcase in the field In verie trueth the battell was so great that it cannot well and sufficiently be described Afterwards the Visier being departed from Tauris and arriued at Sancazan would needes stay there and pitch But whiles they were drawing out their Tents and euery man busie to encampe the Prince of Persia was discouered with a great number of souldiers who seeing vs in this plight hastened his pace and betweene our Rereward and the Visier began battell vpon vs. It was then an hower after day-light and we had trauailed all that night From that hower euen vntill euening did this fight last with such effusion of bloud as is not credible and the common
the gathering together of their new men they discouered new difficulties For then they perceaued manifestly that to hire souldiers either from Heri or from Gheilan it was denied them by Abas and Amet-Chan and that the Turcoman nation which might haue been the readiest and neerest at such a neede for the late death of Emir-Chan and for the succession of Aliculi were growen very contumacious so that neither the King nor the Prince nor the presidents and gouernours of the kingdome could tell on which side to tourne them At the last foreseeing the safegarde of the Common wealth they determined to draw the Turcomani to a reconciliation hoping that if they should promise them any honest satisfaction for the wrong wherewith they challenged themselues greeued for the death of their captaine they would become more tractable to do them seruice in their common necessities And therefore the king sent letters to the heades captaines of those nations principally to Mahamet-Chan and to Calife the Sultan wherein declaring plainely vnto them the perill of his honour and the libertie of that whole kingdom he shewed vnto them that all his hope of ridding Persia from that yoke and setting free all those people which in all ages heretofore had beene so faithfull and frendly vnto them was reposed onely in their aide and assistance and that their onelie Armes was hable not onely to mainetaine but also to encrease the renown of valour in the Persian nation which estate as in yeares forepassed it wrought enuie and terrour euen in the farthest and most remote peoples of all Asia so at this present if it bee not succoured and releeued standeth in termes to become a most miserable spectacle to all the world And that therefore forgetting all thinges that are past as being doone not to worke any shame or scorne to their nation but onely for zeale and loue to the kingdome they wold demand such satisfaction as they would require for hee would bee ready to agree to any iust request they should make With these and perhaps with more affectionate and passionate letters were the wrothfull Turcomani inticed to the reuenge of the iniuries which they had receaued by the Ottoman forces To which Letters they were not a whit slacke in framing an aunswere but readily wrote back that they would come vnto hym and put in execution whatsoeuer for the common necessitie he should command Now they had already craftely concluded among themselues that they wold not suffer any other to sit in the ranke of their Captaines in the rowme of Emir-Chan lately deceased but onely the young Tamas the Kinges thirde sonne Which conclusion they had plotted to themselues with a resolute mind to cause him to bee accepted for King at Casbin in dispight of the king himselfe and of the Prince Hamze nothing regarding that by this action farre greater seditions would arise in Persia then euerwere yet heard of but onely being wholly bent to reuenge the sole death of one onely Emir-Chan So vile and so base an account did they make of the honour of their naturall King and of their auncient religion that before such matters of so great respect and importance very audaciously I will not say temerariously they preferred their owne priuate reuenge and chose rather to become most bloody and cruell against those to whome they were allied in religion in blood and in countrie then against their common enemies With this malitious and fraudulent reasolution to the nomber of tenne thousand vnder the conduct of two Captaines Mahamet and Calife they went to the king in all reuerence and offred all readinesse to bee employed in the enterpryse whereunto they were called The old credulous king not suspecting any mischeefe plotted by these rebelles was greatly comforted at their comming And although by some of his Sultanes that had felt some inkling of this conspiracie he was aduised to deale circumspectlie and warilie with them and especially not to trust them with any secret or to let any matter of importance to be in their defence yet did he thinke euerie hour to be a thousand till he had made them satisfaction hoping thereby that if they had conceaued any mischeefe in their mindes they wold lay it aside and being pacified by his amiable and courteous entertainement yeeld themselues in very truth faithfull and obedient vnto him And therevpon being more constant then hee was in this his imagination whiles hee bestowed good wordes and giftes among them at the last hee demanded of them what Captaine they wold nomiâ—ate in the rowme of Emir-Chan promising vnto them and peraduenture as some say with an oath that whomsoeuer they desired if possibly it might be they stould be satisfied Herevntoo the dissembling Mahamet-Chan made answeare that their desire was principally to doo him pleasure and seruice of whose bounty and good inclination they did so well hope as that he wold not appoint any person but such a one as should be valourous noble and deere and acceptable vnto them The King stayed not from giuing them presently to vnderstand that so hee had determined to doo and frankly declared vnto them that finding Tamas his thirde sonne to bee without any charge and being desirous to geeue them a Captaine that might please them to the end they might rest more assured of the good will which hee bare vnto them and haue a good ostage in pawne thereof hee had made choise of his childe Tamas to be the successour of Emir-Chan and that if it so pleased them they might accept of him and with one accord endeauour themselues to conquer those odious walles of the Forte which with so great ignominy and reproach of all the Persian Nation was there erected by the Turkes As soone as Mahamet-Chan heard the resolution of the king who beesides all expectation offered thus to gratify them and voluntarily of himselfe without any suspicion at all yeelded them the meanes whereby they might put in execution the worke which they had maliciously contriued against the peace and liberty of the kingdome hee became more ioconde then he was wont to be and outwardly shewed himselfe readie for whatsoeuer the King would commaund him and yeelded also in the names of all the rest large promises of fidelity and obedience so that the matter might be perfourmed for which he had now giuen his word The king who longed to see the houre wherein this assault should be begunne as a matter no lesse desired by euery man then necessary for all the more he was aduised and counselled by his Sultans and the Prince not to deliuer his sonne Tamas into their handes and the lesse they feared that the king would haue committed such an errour but rather beleeued verily that the king would haue made the conspiracy which they had reuealed vnto him to bee capitall and matter of treason in the Turcomanni the more resolute and vnwise hee was and therevppon very secretely and as it were by stealth aswell
in Soria wherewith they measure Corne. It is a little bigger then the bushell of Padua that is fower bushels and a halfe Venetian measure Malan B. a Citie in Parthia Mar delle Zabacche B. in old time called Palus Moeotica A. the Fennes of Moeotis Mar di Bachu B. in tymes passed Mare Caspium and Mare Hircanum A. It is also at this day called the Sea of Corazum Mar Maggiore the great Sea And Mar Nero the black Sea sometimes called Pontus Euxinus A. Mar Morto the dead Sea sometimes called the Lake Asphaltitis A. Marant B. a Citie neere to Armenia in the confines of the Medians or rather within Media Maras B. a Citie in Cilicia called by Bellonius and Ortelius Maronia A. Marmara B. a Citie vpon the Sea-coast of Thracia Masandran B. a Citie in Hircania Massiat B. a Citie in Parthia Masul T. a man cassiered or depriued of his Office in English Iack out of office Mecca B. a Citie in Arabia Foelix where some think Mahamet was borne and where he is also buried Mengrellia B. sometimes the Region of Colchos A. famous for the golden Fleece Meschita B. the place where the Barbarians do meete together to say their prophane prayers in English a Temple or a Church Miana B. a Citie situate in the borders of Media the greater of Persia and of Parthia It is peraduenture so called by the Riuer that is neer vnto it whose name is Miana Miriza and Mirize P. the title of a Prince in Persia. The Kings chiefe Lieutenant Moldauia a Region in Dacia Mordar P. a Chaunceller The Turks call him Tescheregi Mucaren the first moneth of the Turkish yeare much agreeing with our Ianuary Mufti T. the chiefe Priest Mustaed-Dini P. the same which the Turkes call Mufti The chiefe Priest N. NAplos B. in old time called Napoli A. in Samaria peraduenture it was in time past Nephthalim A. Nassiuan B. a Citie in Media the greater or els in the confines of Media and Armenia Some think it to be Nasuana and others take it to be Artaxata A. Natolia in the opinion of Bellonius comprehendeth all the Regions of Phrygia Galatia Bithynia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magnesia Cappadocia and Comagena Neneruan B. a place in Armenia bordering vpon Georgia Nisabul B. a Citie in Aria Nisaur B. a Citie in the confines of Parthia and Hircania Nosul T. a Taxe or collection of Corne. O. OLti T. a place belonging to the Turkes betwene Erzirum and Ardachan P. PAngiazar B. a Citie bordering vpon Hircania and Media the greater Passin Look Hassan-Chalasi Persiani The Persians They are also called Aggiami Cheselbas Sofiani Persiani of the Prouince of Persia Aggiami of the Region Azemia or Aggiamia Cheselbas of the Redd-marke which these people weare in their Turbantes and Soffians of the Sofi who is their chiefe Gouernour Peruana-Giol T. the lake of Sclaues It is in Armenia Phasis A. a Citie in Colchis called yet at this day Phasis and Fas. Porta a Gate but principally in this Historie it is taken for the Court of the Turkish Sultan because all his Counsailors and chiefe Gouernours of his kingdome do vse to sit in the Gate of the Emperours Court to heare and dispatch causes aswell priuate as publike Portugall in old time called Lusitania A. R. RAfadi B. a man of a false Religion of a false faith Rama a Towne in Palaestina which Castaldo calleth Lidda Peraduenture it was that Rama A. which mourned and wept for the great slaughter of the holie Innocents Math. 2. Ramadan T. one of the solemne feastes of the Turkes It is also the proper name of a man and the name of a Moone For as we haue twelue Monethes with their seuerall proper names so haue the Turkes their xij Moones with their seuerall proper names also Reiuan B. a Citie in Armenia It may be it is Terua in Ptolomie But I do not altogether agree with him in that point S. SAffetto B. a Citie in Galilie inhabited by the Iewes Saha or Shah P. the great King or Sofi of Persia. Saitan-Chalasi B. the Castell of Satan or the Deuils Castell in the confines of Armenia and Georgia Salmas B. a Citie betwixt Tauris and Van but Southward to them both Sancazan B. a place neer to Tauris famous in this Historie aswell in respect of some battells there foughten as also of the death of Generall Osman who died there Sangiacco B. a Lord or a kind of Captaine Sardar T. Captaine of the Iannizzaries Captaine of the Armie and properly the Generall Saru B. a Citie in Media the greater Sasuar B. a Citie in Parthia Sciam B. the Citie of Damasco Look Damasco Scutar and Scutari B. sometimes called Chalcedon A. a Citie in Asia right ouer against Constantinople Some do erroniously call it Chrysopolis A. Sechi B. a Citie in Atropatia bordering vpon Georgia Seida and Seit B. in old time called Sidonia A. a Citie on the Sea cost in Drusia Sembran B. a Citie in Parthia Semitarra B. a Scimitarre a long crooked Sword A Faulchon Ser B. a Riuer sometimes called Cirus A. that watreth the South part of Georgia Sessa Look Tocca and Turbante Siec B. an old wise Religious learned and prudent man A man of good and holie life Siliurea a Citie in Thracia called Sâ—lymbria Which the Persian calleth Selimbria and Nicolo Nicolio Seliurie Sinibra or Simbra In Ptolomie A. It is now called Erzirum fower daies iourney distant from Trabisonda Siras B. some call it Persepolis A. and some Ciropolis A. It is the chiefe palace of the Region of Persia. Siruan and Siruania B. sometimes called Media Atropatia The Hebrewes called it Madian A. Siuas B. in old time Sebastapolis A. a Citie in Natolia Soffi and Sofito P. an auncient word signifying a wise man learned and skilfull in Magike Naturall It is growen to be the common name of the Emperour of Persia. Soffian B. a place neer vnto Tauris It may be perhaps the auncient Soffia Soldin B. a Citie vpon the Sea-coast of Soria destroyed long ago It was called in old time Seleucia Pieria A. within fiue miles whereof the Riuer Orontes dischargeth it self into the Sea But Castaldo in his description of Asia doeth not describe it in deed as it standeth Soria B. in times past the Region of Syria A. Spahini T. a companie of Turkish Souldiers so called Spaoglani B. a companie of foote-men inferiour in degree to the Iannizzaries Stambul by the Turkes and Arabians so called in steed of Constantinople Subassi B. The Lieutenant or Captaine of a Garrison or Guard Sultania a Citie in great Media Sultano or Sultan B. a Captain A great Lord It is verie often vsed for the Emperour of Turkie as Sultan Amurath the great Turk Amurath Sumachi and Sumachia B. the chiefe Palace of Atropatia Sunni B. a man of sound faith and sincere opinion in matter of Religion Sur B. a Citie vpon the Sea-coast of Soria in old time called Tyrus A. T. TArtari
of the King and the Prince are receiued The Embassadors accusations against Mirize Salma The offers of the Embassadors accepted by the King and the Prince King Mahamet persuaded of the innocencie of his Sonne King Mahamet trieth the Princes mind All the mischiefes light vpon Salmas the Visier Mirize Salmas accused by all Mirize Salmas beheaded by the Kings order K. Mahamer with the Prince returneth to Casbin Ferat a Bassa of the Court. Ferat Bassa elected generall of the Armie in Sinans place Amurath deliberateth what should be done towards this expedition of Ferat Commandement sent out for the expedition of Generall Ferat The Prouinces sent their souldiers and prouision this yeere Ferat departeth from Constantinople and by Calcedon Ciuas coÌ„meth to Erzirum Ferat being guided by the rebell Maxut-ChaÌ„ arriueth at Chars Ferat repayreth Aggia-Chala Ferat at Reiuan and the description of the situation thereof A Consultation touching the principall place where the Fort should bee erected The forte of Reiuan 750. yardes about Within the space of 15. dayes the works at Reiuan the diches and all were finished Tocomac seeketh meanes to reuenge the losse of his owne citie by annoying of Ferat Tocomac neuerceaseth to annoy the Turkes Tocomac ha teth Emir-Chan Tocomac ac cuseth Emir-Chan to the King Ferat departeth from Reiuan Bassa Cicala lest for the custodie of Reiuan Bassa Cicala cured by the author at Aleppo Famous Giambulat 8000. Souldiers at Reiuan Fâ—rat by the way of 〈◊〉 Chalasi in ten daues returneth to Chars A Sangiacco Curdo beheaded as a Rebell by Ferat A woonderful strange noueltie brought to the eares of Ferat Mustaffa secketh meanes to be enformed cleerelie of the misfortune Simon the Georgian exhorteth his Cosin Manucchiar to returne to his former saith The Capigi and the Chiaus beheaded by Manucchiar Manuc chiar Simon deuide the treasure betweene them confederat themselues together Ferat swâ—â—reth that hee will destroy al the country of Manucchiar Hassan Bassa chosen to carry the succours to Teflis 15000. Souldiers assigned to Hassan with the reliefe In 10. daies Hassan goeth commeth with the succours The Georgians annoy the people of Hassan Bassa Resuan Bassa chosen Captaine to en domwage the country of Manucchiar The harmes done by Râ—suan Ferat at Arda-Chan Ferat by the way of Olti returneth to Erzirum and dismisseth his Armie Hassan Bassa rewarded by the king Ferat spreadeth a rumor that he would goe to Nassiuan The estate expectations of the Persians vpon occasions that fell out King Mahamet feareth some newe matter Mahamet the Persian king gathereth a great army The Persian king at Tauris The comming of the PersiaÌ„ king to Tauris breedeth great conceits Ferat writeth to Amurath Amurath writeth againe to Ferat not o goe to Nassiuan but to Lori Tomanis in Georgia A stratagenic wrought by the Turkes vpon a false rumor General Ferat at Chars where he staieth for his Armie ten daie Ferat departeth from Chars sendeth out Hassan Bassa as a forerunner before him Coâ—â—â—â— theeues slane by Hassan Generall Ferat at Lori The Situation of Lori The walles of Lori repaired 7000 souldiers in Lori Aly Bassa of Greece captaine of Lori 200. peeces of ordinance in Lori Feratgoeth to Tomanis Order to fortifie Saitan-Chalasi neer adioining The state of Tomanis Consultations about the erecting of a fort at Tomanis A Caâ—tell an morâ—g the wooâ—â— The thicke woods cut downe and made open The compasse of the walles of Tomanis Certaine vittellers sent abroad but not heard of againe Hassan Bassa goeth out to assure the way for the returne of the vittelers Reâ—uan Bassa goeth to Teflis with succours with twentie thousand persons Bagli Bassa left for gouernour at Teflis Daut-Chan yeeldeth him selfe to the Turkes Simon aduertised of the going of Râ—suan to Teflis Simon deluded by the liing spies meaneth to assaile Resuan Simon with 4000. Souldiers goeth to encounter Resuan Bassa The Bassaes of Caramania Maras diâ—patched for aide Simon repenteth that hee went to set vpon Resuan A cruel battel betweene the Turkes and the GeorgiaÌ„s Simons horse thrust though An vnexpected chaunce deliuereth Simon from present destruction Simon escapeth out of the Turkes handes Simon thanketh God for preseruation of his life Resuan at Tomanis againe Feare of winter approching Hassan leâ—t as Bassa at Tomanis with 8000. Ferat arriueth at Triala A dearth such as was neuer hearde of among the Army Bassa Veis commeth before General Ferat and speaketh to him Ferat reprooueth Veis the Bassa Ferat at Archelech The miseries of the Tuâ—kish Armiâ— The souldiers being in a tumult speake despitefully to the general Ferat promiseth the spoile of Manucchiar his countries General Ferat at Clisca The armie refreshed with plenty of vittailes The Generall commandeth that Clisca should bee fortified Resuan Bassa ill handled by the souldiers The souldiers reuile Generall Ferat The souldiers in a tumult threaten the General Amurath the Bassa of Caramania saueth the Generalls liâ—e The expresse protestations of the Souldiers against the General The answere of Generalâ— Ferat to the Souldiers A reply to the answere A most confused vprore manifest coÌ„mon feare All the cordes of the tents sodainely cut The last protestations to the Generall Generall Ferat shamefully obeieth his souldiers Ferat at Ardachan Generall Ferat his wemen stolen away from him The shame of General Ferat A muster at Ardachan Ferat at Erzirum King Amurath discontented with Ferat The Original of the escape of Alyculi-Chan late prisoner in Erzirum The manner of the escape of Alyculi-Chanthe Persian Alyculi Chan flieth againe into Persia. The Castel of Satan fâ—â—ined The waies of Reiuan Tomanis Lory and Teflis made secure King Mahamet licenseth all his souldiers of Tauris to depart home King Mahamet quarrelleth with Emir-Chan the Gouernour of Tauris Excuses alledged by EmirChan King Mahamet commandeth that EmirChan should haue his eyes put out EmirChan being blinded dieth miserably in prison The TurcomaÌ„ Nation greatly offended for the death of EmirChan their captaine Newe discontentments of of the Turcomannes The Persian forces weakened Ferat informeth the king of that which had happened this yeere Others informe the king more Particularly of the ouersightes of Ferat Osman Bassa thought by Amurath to be a worthy Captaine Amurath hath great hope of the valour of Osman Bassa Certaine messengers and gentlemen vshers dispatched to call Osman to Constantinople Sciaus endeauoreth to hinder the comming of Osman Bassa to the Court in his place Freindship betweene Sciaus the Visier the Cuman Tartarian Sciaus writeth to the Tartar of Osmans comming to the Court. The order which the Tartarian taketh to prohibite OsmaÌ„s comming to Constantinople The Tartarian Souldiers ride to the enterprise against Osman Osman departeth from Derbent and leaueth two Bassaes in it and at Sumachia Osman seâ—teth forwarde with 4000. souldiers Osman desireth to bee reuenged on the Cuman Tartarian The iourney of Osman Bassa Osman assaulted fought withall