to send him about midnight certaine companies of souldiers into the citie assuring him to receiue them in by a gate neere vnto the pallace which should be opened vnto them by certaine of his trustie seruants there left for that purpose Of this plot Alexius Ducas of his bittle browes surnamed Murzufle whom of a base fellow the emperour Isaack had promoted vnto the greatest honours of the court was not ignorant who being a man of an aspiring mind and in these troublesome times hauing long thirsted after the empire tooke now this occasion to worke vpon The night following he by his agents men instructed for the purpose raised a tumult in the citie not inferiour vnto that which had happened the day before and at the same instant as if he had had nothing to do in the matter came suddenly vnto the yoong emperour in the dead time of the night which he might at all times do by reason of the great confidence the emperour had in him and with a sad countenance told him That the people were vp againe in an vprore and especially they of his guard and that they were comming towards him to do him some violence for the loue he bare vnto the Latines With which vnexpected newes the yoong emperour terrified demaunded of him as of his most faithfull counsellor what were best in that case for him to doe Who presently embracing him in his night gowne lead him out by a secret dore into a tent hee had of his owne in the court as if hee would there haue kept him safe but far was that from his traiterous thoughts who departing from him as if he had gone to appease the tumult had before taken order That he should presently after his departure be cast in bonds and so be clapt vp into a close stinking prison Which done the false traitor openly shewing himselfe made an oration vnto the people wherein he shewed himselfe to haue great compassion of the Greeke empire of the Greeks his countrymen themselues especially in that they were gouerned by a youth vnfit for the gouernment who suffered himselfe to be misse-led according to the pleasure of the Latines And that it was high time for the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE the seat of the Greeke empire to looke about it and to haue an eie vnto it selfe sith it was betraied sold by them which ought to preserue and keepe the same that they had now need of a man that loued his countrey and countreymen before that which yet remained of the Graecian name were vtterly extinguished by the Latines This his speech fitted of purpose vnto the humour of the seditious was receiued with the great outcrie and applause of the windie headed people Some cried out that hee and none but he was to be made chiefe of the common weale that was by them to be established othersome cried as loud to haue him made generall of the armies and forces of the state but the greatest crie was to haue him chosen and created emperour whereunto the rest giuing place hee was by the generall consent of the tumultuous people without longer stay chosen and proclaimed emperour Alexius the traitour by no lawfull election or rightfull succession but onely by the furie of the tumultuous people thus created emperour was of nothing more carefull than how to breake the forces of the Latines of whom onely he now stood in dread And therefore to begin withall he first attempted by certaine gallies filled with pitch flax brimstone and such like matter apt to take fire to haue burnt the Venetian fleet which gallies so set on fire carried with a faire gale of wind amongst the fleet had beene like enough to haue done great harme had it not by the warinesse of the Venetians bene preuented who being good sea men not vnacquainted with such deuises easily and without danger auoided the same by keeping themselues aloofe one from another in the sea This finenesse sorting to no purpose he to colour the matter sent certaine messengers to the generall and other commaunders of the armie to giue them to vnderstand that that which was done for the firing of the fleet had beene done without his priuitie by the malice of the tumultuous people and that for his part he would be glad of their fauour and friendship assuring them likewise of his and promising them to aid them both with men and money and whatsoeuer else they should haue need of in their wars against the infidels Whereunto an answer was giuen by Dandulus the Venetian generall That he would beleeue it when Alexis the sonne of the emperour Isaack whom the Latines had placed in the empire should assure them thereof and intreat for the people vpon whom the fault of that outrage was laid which answere the more mooued the traiterous tyrant to rid himselfe cleane of the feare of the yoong prince by taking him out of the way to the intent to hinder the people of the hope and great desire they had to grow to some peace with the Latines by taking him out of prison and receiuing him againe for their emperour For the people by nature mutable and not desirous of the good of themselues but according to the occurrents present without any great regard of that they haue alreadie done or ought to haue done began now to repent themselues of that they had done against the yoong emperor Alexis in the fauour of the tyrant and commonly said That they must find some meanes whatsoeuer it were to remedie their fault together with their troubles Wherfore Murzufle fearing this sudden mutation of the people with his owne hands most villanously strangled the yoong prince Alexis in prison hauing as yet not raigned much aboue six months and immediately after caused it to be bruited abroad That the said yoong prince dispairing of his estate had as a man desperat hanged himselfe The tyrant in vaine hauing thus attempted the burning of the fleet and still fearing the reuenging sword of the Latines resolued now by plaine force to meet them in the field and there to dare them battell So hauing made readie and armed the whole strength of the imperiall citie he with cheerfull speech encouraged his souldiers requesting them valiantly to maintaine and defend their countrey of Greece the monuments of their fathers the glorie of their ancestors their honour present and the future hope of their posteritie that hauing before their eies the wals of their citie within which they were borne nourished and brought vp in hope of great matters they would haue pitie and compassion of their temples their wiues their children and in no case to suffer them to fall againe into so miserable and wretched a seruitude but rather to die a thousand deaths And the more to grace this his enterprise taken in hand for the defence of his countrey as he would haue the world to beleeue it with the colour of a superstitious deâ—otion also hee caused the
his whole strength and might seeme by that meanes to haue especially preuailed for that he was at first vnfortunatly ouerthrowne Neither were these things without reason foreseene for it is almost incredible what admiration and loue this battell although vnfortunat did get to Baiazet men wondred that he durst with so small a power and as it were but a handfull of men encounter with his brother farre better appointed and also supported by his fathers strength not fearing either the disaduantage of the place or the furie of the great artillerie and to haue behaued himselfe in the battell not like a young souldior but like an old and expert commaunder Selymus might at his pleasure boast of himselfe as they said to his father for the victorie but Baiazet was the man that deserued to haue ouercome and that Selymus might to any thing ascribe the victorie rather than to his owne valour These and such like speeches as they made Baiazet gratious amongst the people generally so doubled they his fathers cares and encreased his hatred to wish him the rather dead For why he was resolutly set downe not to leaue any other heire of his empire than Selymus his eldest son alwaies loyall and obedient vnto him whereas the other he abhorred as stubborne and rebellious gaping after the empire whilest he yet liued of whom he was therfore so much the more to stand in dread by how much he was reputed to be of more valour and for the aid he had now so openly giuen to Selymus For these causes he passed ouer the strait into ASIA with purpose not to go far from the sea coast but as it were a far off with his fauourable aspect to countenance Selymus his proceedings doubting by comming too neere with his armie to endanger himselfe by the sudden reuolt of the Ianizaries which he aboue all things feared I my selfe saith the author of this historie saw him departing out of CONSTANTINOPLE the first of Iune in the yeare 1559 when as within a few dayes after I my selfe was also sent for thither for the Bassaes thought it not amisse to haue me in the campe and to vse me courteously as their friend for which cause I was assigned to lodge in an Inne in a village neere vnto the campe where I lay very well The Turkes lay in the fields round about but lying there three moneths I had good leisure and opportunitie to see the manner of their campe and in part to know the order of their martiall discipline So I attiring my selfe in such apparrell as the Christians commonly vse in those places went vp and downe with one or two companions at my pleasure vnknowne First I saw the soldiors of all sorts most orderly placed and that which he would scarce beleeue that knoweth the manner of our warres there was in euery place great silence and as a man may say dumbe quietnesse no brawling no insolencie no not so much as a word or laughter passing in sport or drunkennesse Besides that wonderfull cleanelinesse no dunghils no excrements that might offend either the eyes or nose for all such things the Turkes doe either burie or carrie them farre out of sight They themselues so often as they are enforced to discharge the buâ—then of nature dig an hole with a spade and burie it so is all their campe without filth There was not to be seene any drinking or feasting no dicing the great shame of our wars the losse of money or time at cards or dice the Turks know not I met onely with a rough Hungarian and his companions a souldior who heauie himselfe to the Lute rather houled than sung a dolefull dittie containing the last words of a fellow of his dying of his wounds vpon the greene banke of Danubius wherein he requesteth the riuer because it ran to the place where hee was borne to carrie newes to his friends and countrymen that he died an honourable death and not vnreuenged for the encrease of his religion and honour of his countrey whereunto his fellows sighing bare a foot O happie and thrice happie wight would fortune with thee change wee might For the Turks are of opinion That no mens soules goe more speedily to heauen than of such valiant men as die in battell for whose welfare their maidens dayly make prayers and vowes I would also needs goe through their butcherie where their beasts were killed to see what flesh was to be sold where I saw but foure or at most fiue weathers hanging readie dressed and that was the butcherie for the Ianizaries which I deemed to be in that campe not fewer than foure thousand I maruelled that so little flesh should suffice so many men but I was answered That few of them did eat flesh for that most part of them had their victuals transported from CONSTANTINOPLE Then I demaunding what it was they shewed me a Ianizarie sitting by who in an earthen dish had killed a turnep an onion a head of garlike a parsenep and a coucumber all sauced with salt and vineger or more truly to say with hunger whereon he fed as sauorly as if they had beene feisants or partridges his drinke was the common drinke of all liuing creatures euen â—aire water By which frugall kind of diet they prouide both for the health of their bodies and the sparing of their purse and that I maruelled the more at it was the time that their great fast or to speake after our fashion their Lent was at hand at which time with vs Christians euen in well ordered cities much more in campes all rings with playing dauncing singing crying quaffing carousing and in breefe with madding and phrensie So that it is not vainely reported That a Turke sent about that time embassadour into GERMANIE comming home reported That the Christians on certaine dayes did riot and became mad vntill they besprinckled with a certaine kind of ashes in the church came to themselues againe and so recouered and that it was a wonderfull thing to see how much they were changed by the efficacie of that remedie that they seemed not to be the same men meaning indeed the disordered manners of the Christians at Shrouetide and the ceremonies vsed on Ashwednesday which thing they to whom it was told so much the more maruelled at for that the Turkes haue many medicines which cause madnesse but few or none which presently easeth the same And they vpon those dayes that goe before their great fasts change nothing of their wonted manner of life to the worse but rather contrariwise prepare themselues to abstinence by taking somewhat from their vsuall fare the better to endure the sudden change of their fast which they so precisely obserue that vpon their fasting dayes they will not so much as tast a cup of water or wash their mouthes with water all the day long before the starres appeare in the skie which maketh their fasts especially in Summer when the dayes be long and
should haue paid them with verie foule and contumelious words as that there was not money enough to pay the Christian soldiers of the Latines and the Greeks much lesse those vile dogs whom they so called for that they had but a little before receiued the damnable doctrine of the false prophet Mahomet the great seducer of the world who euen in that time flourished Vpon which discontentment they at their returne reuolted from the empire and joyned themselues vnto their great prophet and so afterwards vnto the Caliphs his successors extending his doctrine together with his soueraigntie to the vttermost of their power and that with so good successe that in short time they had ouerrun all AEGYPT SIRIA the land of promise and taken the Holy citie With these the disciples of Mahomet and his successors the Sarasins for so now they would be called the Greeke emperors ensuing had for certaine yeeres diuers conflicts with diuers fortune for the possession of SIRIA But at length wearied out by them ouercom they left the aforesaid countries wholy vnto their deuotion Hereby it came to passe that the Sarasins for the space of 370 yeeres following held those countries with many others in great subjection oppressing still the poore Christians in IERVSALEM with most grieuous tributes and exactions vnto whom they yet left a third part of the citie for them to dwell in with the temple of the Sepulcher of our Sauiour and mount SION not for any deuotion either vnto them or those places but for that it yeelded them a great profit by the recourse of deuout Christians trauelling thither reseruing in the meane time vnto themselues the other two parts of the citie with the temple of Salomon before reedified by the Christians Now whilst the Sarasins thus triumph it in the East and not in the East onely but ouer a great part of the West also contenting themselues with such tributs as they had imposed vpon the subdued nations and countries vp start the Turks a vagrant fierce and cruell people who first breaking into ASIA as is before declared and by rare fortune aspiring vnto the kingdome of PERSIA subdued the countries of MESOPOTAMIA SIRIA with the greatest part of the lesser ASIA and IVDEA together with the Holy citie who both there and in all other places held the poore oppressed Christians in such subjection and thraldom as that the former gouernment of the Sarasins seemed in comparison of this to haue beene but light and easie Neither was there any end or release of these so great miseries to haue beene expected had not God in mercie by the weake meanes of a poore heremit stirred vp these most woorthie princes of the West to take vp armes in their defence who hauing with their victorious armies recouered the lesser ASIA with a great part of SIRIA were now come vnto this Holy citie The gouernour of IERVSALEM vnderstanding by his espials of the proceedings of the Christians had before their approch got into the citie a verie strong garrison of right valiant souldiers with good store of all things necessarie for the holding out of a long siege The Christians with their armie approching the citie encamped before it on the North for that towards the East and the South it was not well to be besieged by reason of the broken rocks and mountaines Next vnto the citie lay Godfrey the duke with the Germans and Loranois neere vnto him lay the earle of FLANDERS and Robert the Norman before the West gate lay Tancred and the earle of THOLOVS Bohemund and Baldwin were both absent the one at ANTIOCH the other at EDESSA The Christians thus strongly encamped the fift day after gaue vnto the citie a fierce assault with such cheerfulnesse as that it was verily supposed it might haue beene euen then woon had they beene sufficiently furnished with scaling ladders for want whereof they were glad to giue ouer the assault and retire But within a few daies after hauing supplied that defect and prouided all things necessarie they came on againe afresh and with all their power gaue vnto the citie a most terrible assault wherein was on both sides seene great valour policie cunning with much slaughter vntill that at length the Christians wearie of the long fight and in that hot countrey and most feruent time of the yeere fainting for lacke of water were glad againe to forsake the assault and to retire into their trenches onely the well of Siloe yeelded them water and that not sufficient for the whole campe the rest of the wels which were but few being before by the enemie either filled vp or else poysoned Whilst the Christians thus lay at the siege of IERVSALEM a fleet of the Genowaies arriued at IOPPA at which time also a great fleet of the Egyptian Sultans lay at ASCALON to haue brought reliefe to the besieged Turks in IERVSALEM whereof the Genowaies vnderstanding and knowing themselues too weake to encounter them at sea tooke all such things out of their ships as they thought good and so sinking them marched by land vnto the campe There was amongst these Genowaies diuers enginers men after the manner of that time cunning in making of all manner of engines fit for the besieging of cities by whose deuice a great moouing tower was framed of timber and thick plancks couered ouer with raw hides to saue the same from fire out of which the Christians might in safetie greatly annoy the defendants This tower being by night brought close vnto the wall serued the Christians in steed of a most sure fortresse in the assault the next day where whilst they striue with like valour and doubtfull victorie on both sides from morning vntill midday by chance the wind fauouring the Christians carried the flame of the fire into the face of the Turks wherewith they had thought to haue burnt the tower with such violence that the Christians taking the benefit thereof and holpen by the tower gained the top of the wall which was first footed by the duke Godfrey and his brother Eustace with their followers and the ensigns of the duke there first set vp to the great encouraging of the Christians who now pressing in on euerie side like a violent riuer that had broken ouer the banks bare downe all before them All were slaine that came to hand men women and children without respect of age sex or condition the slaughter was great and the sight lamentable all the streets were filled with blood and the bodies of the dead death triumphing in euerie place Yet in this confusion a woonderfull number of the better sort of the Turks retiring vnto Salomons temple there to do their last deuoire made there a great and terrible fight armed with dispaire to endure any thing and the victorious Christians no lesse disdaining after the winning of the citie to find there so great resistance In this desperat conflict fought with woonderfull obstinacie of mind many fell on both sides
liues For if Christ died for vs how much more right is it that we for him should die also vnto this so honourable an expedition let vs also giue an honourable end let vs fight in Christs name with a most assured hope of an easie victorie For none of them I trust shall be able to abide our force but shall all giue way euen to our first charge But if we shall die which God forbid there shall be an honourable place of our buriall wheresoeuer we shall for Christ fall Let the Persian archer for Christ his sake strike me I will die in an assured hope and with that arrow as with a chariot I will come vnto that rest which shall be to me deerer than if I should with a base ordinarie kind of death in my sinnes end my daies in my bed Now at length let vs take reuenge of them with whose impure feet our kinsmen and Christian brethren troden downe are gone into that common sanctuarie in which Christ our Sauiour equall and associat to his father is become a companion of the dead We are those mightie men we all haue drawne our swords which stand about the liuely and diuine sepulchre as about Solomons bed Wherefore we that be free borne let vs take out of the way these Agarens the children of the bondwoman and let vs remooue them as stones of offence out of the way of Christ whom I know not why the Grecians feed vp as greedie wolues to their owne destruction and with shame fat them with their blood when as with couragious minds and thoughts beseeming wise men they ought so to haue beene driuen from their prouinces and cities as rauening wild beasts from their flocks Now for as much as this riuer as it seemeth is not but by some aduenture to be passed ouer I my selfe will shew you the way and be the first that shall take it Let vs serred together forcibly breake into the riuer and we shall well enough ride through it I know that the water beaten backe by our force will be at a stand and breake the course returning as it were backward By not vnlike meanes the Israelits in antient time on foot passed ouer IORDAN the course of the riuer being staid This attempt shall be spoken of in all posteritie it shall by no tract of time be worne out or forgotten but still remaine in fresh remembrance to the great dishonour of the Turks whose dead bodies ouerthrown at this riuer shall lie like a mountaine and be seene as a Trophey of our victorie vnto the worlds end and our immortall praise and glorie Hauing thus said and the signall of battell giuen euerie man hauing before by deuout praier commended himselfe vnto almightie God he was the first that put spurs to his horse and tooke the riuer after whom followed the rest so close and so forcibly with such a terrible outcrie that the course of the water being by the force of their horses staid and as it were beaten backe towards the fountaine the whole armie passed ouer with lesse trouble than was feared And then charging the Turks alreadie discouraged to haue seene them so desperatly and contrarie to their expectation to haue passed the riuer after some small resistance put them to flight wherein such infinit numbers of them fell the Christians like fierce lyons pursuing the chace that all the vallies ran with blood and the fields were couered with the bodies of the dead Many of the Italians were wounded with the Turks arrowes and but few or none slaine But what a multitude of the enemies there fell the sundrie and hugie heapes of bones to be compared vnto great hils did long time after well declare whereat euerie man that trauelled that way did woorthily woonder as did I my selfe saith Nicetas Choniates in reporting this historie Not much vnlike that is reported of the Cimbers slaine by Marius in such number that of their bones the countrey people about MARCELLIS where the field was fought long time after made wals for the defence of their vineyards After this so great a victorie the Christians without resistance came to ICONIVM the chiefe seat of the Turkish kings in the lesser ASIA which they hardly besieged Neuerthelesse such was the strength of the citie being strongly fortified both by nature and art together with the valour of the defendants that lying there long they little preuailed pressed in the meane time with greater extremities and wants in the campe than were the besieged in the citie whereupon ensued such a mortalitie people dayly without number dying in the armie that the emperour was glad to raise his siege and to returne into his countrey The chiefe cause as well of this so great a mortalitie as of the ouerthrow of so notable an action most men ascribe vnto the malice of the Greeks who not without the priuitie of their emperour as it was commonly bruited mingled lime with the meale which they brought to sell into the armie whereof the hungrie souldiers desirously feeding were therewith poysoned and so miserably died Of the certaine time of this journey of the emperours into ASIA authors agree not howbeâ—t most refer it vnto the yeere 1146. This expedition though not so fortunat as was at the first well hoped of yet profited the Christian common weale in this That the Turks therewith throughly busied and doubtfull of the euent thereof Baldwin in the meane time fortified GAZA sometimes a famous citie of the Philistines but as then ruinous which serued as a most sure bulwarke for the defence of that part of his kingdome toward AEGYPT and also for the distressing of ASCALON the onely refuge of the Aegyptians then left in that country which strong citie standing vpon the sea side he with all the power of his kingdome afterward besieged both by sea and land vnto the reliefe whereof the Caliph of AEGYPT after it had beene fiue moneths by the Christians besieged sent a strong fleet of threescore and ten gallies At which time also on the other side Noradin the Turke who had now got into his hand all the kingdome of DAMASCO to withdraw the Christians from the siege of ASCALON besieged PANEADA from whence he was by the valour of the citizens repulsed as was also the Caliphs fleet at sea and the siege at ASCALON continued Where at length the Christians after long batterie had made a breach in the wall but giuing thereunto an assault they were with great losse of their men repulsed and the breach againe by the enemie repaired who to the greater despite of the Christians hanged ouer the walles in roaps the dead bodies of their slaine with which spectacle the chiefe commanders of the armie were so mooued that they with all their power returned againe to the assault with a full resolution to gage thereon their whole forces which they so couragiously performed that the besieged discouraged with the great slaughter of their men and now with
into the rest that for safegard of their liues they betook themselues to flight some one way some another neuer thinking themselues in safetie so long as they were within the greedie tyrants reach wherof shortly after ensued no small troubles to the shaking of the state of the whole empire Isaack Comnenus the emperour Emanuels nigh kinsman tooke his refuge into CIPRVS kept that island to himselfe Alexius Comnenus Emanuels brothers son fled into SCICILIA there stirred vp William king of that island against Andronicus who with a great army landing at DYRRACHIVM tooke the city so from thēce without resistance passing through the heart of MACEDONIA spoyling the countrey before him as he went met his fleet at THESALONICA which famous city he also tooke by force most miserably spoiled it with all the countrey therabout in such sort as that he brought a great feare euen vpon the imperiall citie it selfe vnto which so great euils Andronicus entangled with domesticall troubles not knowing whom to trust was not able to giue remedie although for shew he had to no purpose sent out certaine of his most trusty ministers with such forces as he could spare For the majestie of his authoritie growing still lesse lesse the number of his enemies both at home and abroad daily encreasing the fauor of the vnconstant people who now began to speake hardly of him declining he vncertain which way to turne himselfe rested wholy vpon tyrannie proscribing in his feare not only the friends of such as were fled whom he distrusted but somtimes whole families together yea that for light occsions somtime those who were the best of his fauourits whose seruice he had many times vsed in the execution of his crueltie So that now no day passed wherin he did not put to death imprison or torture one great man or other Wherby it came to passe that the imperiall citie was filled with sorrow heauinesse euery man hanging the head and with silence couering his inward griefe not without danger to haue been then vttered Amongst many others appointed to this slaughter was one Isaack Angelus a man of great nobilitie whom Hagiochristophorites the chiefe minister of Andronicus his tyrannie and for the same by him highly promoted suspecting as one that bare no good will to the emperour cause enough of death came to his house to apprehend him finding him at home after some few hot words commanded him to follow him Whereat the noble man making some stay and abhorring the verie sight of the wretch as vnto him ominous and fatall Hagiochristophorites himselfe began to lay hands on him reuiling his followers that they had not foorthwith drawn him out of his house by the haire of his head vnto the prison by him appointed For they touched with the honour of the man and mooued with compassion forced him not but stood still as beholders Isaack seeing himselfe thus beset and no way now left for him to escape resoluing rather there presently to die than shortly after to be murdred in prison drew his sword as the rest were about to haue laid hands vpon him and at the first blow cleft the wicked head of Hagiochristophorites downe to his shoulders and so leauing him wallowing in his owne blood and like a desperat man laying about him amongst the rest made himselfe way through the middest of them And so embrued with blood with his bloodie sword yet in his hand running through the middest of the citie told the people what he had done and crying vnto them for helpe in defence of his innocencie fled into the great temple there to take the refuge of the sanctuarie where he had not long sit in the place where the guiltie flying thither for refuge vsed to sit confessing their offence craue pardon of such as go in and out but that the temple was filled with the multitude of people flocking thither out of all parts of the citie some to see the nobleman some to behold what should become of him for all men thought that he would before the going downe of the sunne notwithstanding the reuerence of the place be drawne thence by Andronicus put to some shamefull death Thither came also Iohn Ducas Isaacks vncle and his sonne Isaack to increase the tumult not for that they were any thing guiltie of the death of Hagiochristophorites but for that they had before become sureties vnto the suspitious tyrant for their kinsman Isaack he likewise for them by whose trespas they well knew themselues now brought into no lesse danger than if they had been abettors therunto And beside them also many other there were which standing in doubt of their owne estate fearing the like might happen to themselues prickt forward with hard speeches the common people flocking thither instantly requesting them to stay there and to stand by them now at their need being so injuriously wronged whose pitifull complaints moued right many to take part with them At which time also no man yet comming from the emperor being as then out of the citie to represse the sedition nor any of the nobilitie opposing themselues no friend of Andronicus appearing none of his bloodie ministers or officers shewing themselues nor any that did so much as speake a good word in his behalfe or in dislike of the tumult the boldnesse of the seditious people increased euerie man in so great libertie saying what he list and after their rude manner one encouraging another So spent Isaack that long night not thinking God wot of an empire but still expecting the deadly stroake of Andronicus Yet had he with great entreating so preuailed that diuers of the assembly shutting the church dores and bringing lights into the church staied there with him all night and by their example caused some others to stay also The next morning by the breake of the day were all the citizens flockt againe vnto the temple cursing the tyrant to the deuill as the common enemie of mankind wishing vnto him a shamefull death and the honour of the empire vnto Isaack At that time by fortune or rather God so appointing it Andronicus was out of the citie at his pallace of MELVDINVM on the East side of PROPONTIS where he was by nine a clocke at night certified of the death of Hagiochristophorites and of the tumult of the people yet that night stirred he not either did any thing more but by short letters aduised the people to pacifie themselues and not by foolish rebellion to cast themselues into farther danger In the morning Andronicus his fauourits began to shew themselues and to do what they might to haue appeased the tumultuous multitude yea and presently after came Andronicus himselfe and landed with his imperiall gally at the great pallace in the citie But with the inraged people naught preuailed either the persuasions of the one or report of the presence of the other for they all as
towne Townes they said consisted of the number of men and not men of the enclosures of wals and ditches They that were of this opinion for the deliuering vp of the towne seeing the other obstinatly set downe to the contrarie withdrawing themselues from the counsell presently tooke vp armes and by force entred the houses of them that were of contrarie opinion and tooke from them their weapons by that means and perforce to constrain them to yeeld to their desire As soone as they that lay before CAIRE almost drowned in the waters vnderstood of this dissention at DAMIATA about the deliuerie of the towne they sent them word That if they would not yeeld the towne vnto the Sultan they would foorthwith send to PTOLEMAIS which would not faile to do what should be commanded to haue it in steed of DAMIATA surrendred vnto the Aegyptians So was DAMIATA againe yeeded vnto the infidels and so great labours of the Christians taken at the siege and winning thereof all lost That which made the indignitie thereof more tollerable was that Meledin the Sultan hauing without bloodshed gained so great a victorie did neither by word or deed any thing in despite or reproch of the Christians but vsed theÌ„ with all courtesie relieuing them also with victuals such other things as they wanted by faithfull guides conducting them in safetie out of the country In like manner also Corradin his brother Sultan of DAMASCO made truce with the Latins for eight yeares Whereupon the king of HIERUSALEM went ouer into ITALIE and there by the persuasion of Honorius the Pope his wife being now dead gaue his daughter Yoland now crowned queene of HIERUSALEM in the right of her mother in marriage to Fredericke king of SICILIA and emperour of the Latines the rather thereby to stirre him vp for the taking in hand of the sacred warre Euer since which time hee and the kings of SICILIA his successours haue beene called kings of HIERUSALEM albeit that they haue euill prosecuted that their pretended right and title as still busied in more prophane wars against other Christian princes King Iohn afterwards departing from ROME for FRANCE was by the way honourably entertained at PISA but arriuing at the French court he found Philip the French king desperatly sicke who by his last will and testament gaue vnto the knights Hospitalers and Templars sixtie thousand crownes for the maintenance of their warres against the infidels which money was to their vse afterward paied vnto king Iohn Who shortly after to discharge himselfe of a vow he had made to visit the pilgrimage at COMPOSTELLA going into SPAINE by the way married Berengaria the king of CASTILE his daughter and there staying a great while returned againe into FRANCE where he lay long expecting the setting forward of the emperour Frederick his sonne in law for the recouerie of his wiues right vnto the kingdome of HIERUSALEM which although he solemnely vowed at such time as he with all princely magnificence married the said ladie at ROME yet otherwise letted with troubles neerer home performed not the same vntill almost seuen yeares after all which time the Christians in SYRIA enjoying the fruit of the late concluded peace for eight yeeres liued in great rest and quietnesse where so leauing them vntill the arising of new troubles let vs in the meane time againe returne vnto the troubled affaires of the Turkes Greekes and Latines at CONSTANTINOPLE and in the lesser ASIA Henry the second emperour of the Latins at CONSTANTINOPLE after he had as is aforesaid with much adoe repressed the furie of the Bulgarians and Scythes his barbarous enemies and so giuen peace vnto the miserable countrey of THRACIA died hauing raigned a most troublesome raigne about the space of eleuen yeares After whom succeeded Peter countie of AUSSERRE his sonne in law third emperour of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE who in the beginning of his empire willing to gratifie the Venetians and to reuenge himselfe of Theodorus Angelus a great prince of EPIRUS competitor of his empire besieged him in DIRRACHIVM which strong citie the said Theodorus had but a little before surprised belonging to the Venetian seignorie At which siege Peter the emperour lying was so cunningly by the wilie Greeke vsed that a peace was vpon most honourable conditions betwixt them concluded and a familiar kind of friendship joyned Insomuch that the emperour at his request not well aduised came vnto him as his guest who now of his enemie become his hoste entertained him with all the formalities that faigned friendship could deuise But hauing him now in his power and fearing no harme regarding neither the lawes of fidelitie or hospitalitie he most traiterously slew him as he was yet in the middest of his banquet Of whose end some others yet otherwise report as that he should by the same Theodorus haue been intercepted about the pleasant woods of TEMPE in THESSALIA as he was trauelling from ROME to CONSTANTINOPLE and so afterwards to haue been by him cruelly put to death Of whose misfortune Tepulus gouernour of CONSTANTINOPLE vnderstanding for the more safetie of the state in that vacancie of the Greeke empire made peace with Theodorus for fiue yeares and the Turks for two Shortly after came Robert the sonne of the aforesaid vnfortunate emperour Peter with his mother to CONSTANTINOPLE and there in his fathers stead was solemnely saluted emperour but not with much better lucke than was his father before him for shortly after his comming he tooke to wife a faire young ladie the daughter of a great rich and noble matrone of the citie but before beâ—rothed vnto a gallant gentleman a Burgundion borne with whom the old ladie broke her promise and more carefull of her daughters preferment than fidelitie gaue her in marriage vnto the new emperour The joy of which so great an honour was in short time conuerted not into a deadly heauinesse but euen into death it selfe For the young Burgundion more enraged with the wrong done him than discouraged with the greatnesse and power of the emperour consorted himselfe with a companie of lustie tall souldiors acquainted with his purpose and awaiting his time when the emperour was absent by night entred the court with his desperat followers and first meeting with the beautifull young empresse cut off her nose and her eares and afterward threw her old mother into the sea and so fled out of the citie into the woods and mountaines with those desperat cut-throates the ministers of his barbarous crueltie The emperour pierced to the heart with this so great a disgrace shortly after went to ROME to what purpose was not certainely knowne but in returning backe againe through ACHAIA he there died leauing behind him his yoong sonne Baldwin yet but a child begotten by his first wife to succeed him in the empire who by the name of Baldwin the second was crowned the fift and last emperour of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE And for
as being before vnder the Constantinopolitane empire had vpon the losse of the citie put themselues vnder the protection of the Venetians but especially the isle of MITYLENE called in auntient time LESâ—OS pretending that Nicholaus Catelusius prince therof did harbour the pyrats of ITALY and other places and also bought of them such prisoners and other bootie as they continually tooke from the Turkes at sea or alongst the sea coast out of many places of his dominions pretending also the chastising of the said prince for that he had by treacherie slaine his eldest brother and so vnjustly taken vpon him the gouernment His fleet thus set forward he himselfe with a small army passed ouer into ASIA and came by land to POSSIDIVM a citie of IONIA ouer against MITYLENE From whence he embarked himselfe ouer the narrow straite into the island where after he had once landed his army he in short time ouerran the whole island and miserably spoiled the same leading away all the inhabitants thereof into captiuitie who shortly after were sold at CONSTANTINOPLE like flocks of sheepe and from thence dispersed into all parâ—s of his dominions After he had thus harried the countrey and left nothing therein vnspoiled he besieged the Prince in the citie of MITYLENE whereof the island now taketh name and with his great ordinance continually battered the same by the space of 27 daies In which time many sharpe assaults were also giuen by the Turkes whereby the defendants were greatly diminished and wasted The prince perceiuing himselfe not able long to hold out offered to yeeld vp the citie with all the strong holds in the isle vpon condition that Mahomet should therefore giue vnto him some other prouince of like valew to the island which his offer Mahomet accepted and by solemne oath bound himselfe for performance of that he had promised Whereupon the prince came out of the citie and humbled himselfe before him excusing himselfe for the receiuing of the men of warre wherewith he was charged as done for no other purpose but that they should forbeare to spoile his owne countrey much subject to their furie vtterly denying that he had at any time bought or shared any part of such prizes as had by those pirats by sea or land been taken from the Turkes With which his excuse Mahomet seemed to be reasonably well contented and with good words cheered him vp neuerthelesse as soone as the citie with all the other strong holds in the isle were by the princes meanes deliuered into his hands hee no longer made reckoning of his Turkish faith but cruelly caused many of the chiefe citizens of MITYLENE to be put to death and three hundreth pirats whom he found in the citie to be cut in two peeces in the middle so to die with more paine And when he had placed conuenient garrisons in euerie strong hold in the isle he returned to CONSTANTINOPLE carrying away with him the prince and all the better sort of the inhabitants of MITYLENE that were left aliue togither with all the wealth of that most rich and pleasant island leauing it almost desolat none remaining therein more than his owne garrisons with a few of the poorest and basest people Mahomet after he was arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE cast the prince Nicholaus with Lucius his cosin whose helpe he had before vsed in killing of his elder brother into close prison where they seeing themselues euerie houre in danger of their liues to winne fauour in the tyrants sight wickedly offered to renounce the Christian religion and to turne Turke Which Mahomet vnderstanding caused them both to be richly apparelled and with great triumph to be circumcised and presently set at libertie yet still bearing in minde his olde grudge he shortly after when they least feared any such matter clapt them both fast againe in prison and there caused them to be most cruelly put to death A just reward for the bloodie murtherers and apostacie who to gaine a little longer life were content to forsake God Shortly after it fortuned that Stephen king of BOSNA in antient time called MaeSIA SVPERIOR who supported by the Turkish emperour had wrongfully obtained that kingdom against his owne brethren refused now to pay such yearely tribute as hee had before promised for which cause Mahomet with a strong armie entered into BOSNA and laied siege vnto the cittie of DOROBIZA which when he had with much adoe taken he deuided the people therof into three parts one part whereof he gaue as slaues vnto his men of warre another part he sent vnto CONSTANTINOPLE and the third he left to inhabit the citie From DOROBIZA he marched to IAZIGA now called IAICA the cheefe citie of that kingdome which after four months siege was deliuered vnto him by composition In this citie hee tooke the kings brother and sister prisoners with most of the nobilitie of that kingdome whom he sent as it were in triumph vnto CONSTANTINOPLE The other lesser cities of BOSNA following the example of the greater yeelded themselues also But Mahomet vnderstanding that the king of BOSNA had retired himselfe into the farthest part of his kingdome sent Mahometes his cheefe Bassa with his Europeian souldiors to pursue him wherein the Bassa vsed such diligence that he had on euery side so inclosed him before he was aware that hee could by no meanes escape which was before thought a thing impossible So the king for safegard of his life was faine to take the citie of CLYSSA for his refuge where he was so hardly laied to by the Bassa that seeing no other remedie hee offered to yeeld himselfe vpon the Bassaes faithfull promise by oath confirmed that he should be honourably vsed and not to receiue in his person any harme from the Turkish emperour Wherupon the Bassaes oath to the same purpose was with great solemnitie taken and for the more assurance conceiued in writing firmed by the Bassa and so deliuered to the king which done the king came out of the citie and yeelded himselfe The Bassa hauing thus taken the king prisoner carried him about with him from place to place and from citie to citie vntill he had taken possession of all the kingdome of BOSNA and so returning vnto his master presented vnto him the captiue king who was not a little offended with him for that hee had vnto him so farre engaged his Turkish faith But when the poore king thought to haue departed not greatly fearing further harme he was suddenly sent for by Mahomet at which time he doubting the worst caried with him in his hand the writing wherein the Bassaes oath for his safetie was comprised neuerthelesse the faithlesse tyrant without any regard thereof or of his faith therein giuen caused him presently to be most cruelly put to death or as some write to be flaine quicke Thus was the Christian kingdome of BOSNA subuerted by Mahomet in the yeare 1464 who after he had at his pleasure disposed thereof and reduced it
of that citie Whilest he lay in EVBoeA he was persuaded that the citie of PATRAS in PELOPONESVS would be deliuered vnto him by the Christians that dwelt therein if hee did but shew himselfe before it Whereupon he departed from EVBoeA and comming into the gulfe of PATRAS landed 4000 footmen vnder the leading of Barbaricus and 200 horsemen of whom one Nicholaus Ragius was captaine Barbaricus marching toward PATRAS was come within a mile of the cittie when manie of the horsemen and of the vnruly mariners disorderly scattering abroad neglected the intended seruice and sought after pillage all about the countrey The Turkes garrisons taking this opportunitie set vpon them with their horsemen and so easily ouerthrew them being scattered and out of order At the first encounter Barbaricus himselfe was slaine Ragius captaine of the horsemen was taken aliue empailed vpon a sharpe stake Of all them that were landed scarce a thousand were left who saued their liues by flying vnto the gallies With this ouerthrow Victor the Venetian Admirall was greatly discomfited yet hauing conceiued some hope of better successe in few daies after attempted againe to haue taken PATRAS but with like hap as before For hauing lost a thousand of his men about the citie and the rest glad to take their refuge to the fleet he was constrained with great dishonour to depart thence And so full of sorrow and heauinesse returning into EVBoeA oppressed with melancholy there suddenly died The Venetians deceiued of the great hope they had conceiued of the generall preparation made against the Turkes and much troubled with the hard proceeding of their warres against so mightie an enemie by their embassadours solicited Mathias not long before chosen king of HVNGARIE to joyne in league with them and to take vp armes against the common enemie offering presently to furnish him with a great summe of money beside a large yearely pention for the maintenance of those warres for which he should to his power by land defend all their territorie betwixt the Rhetian Alpes and the Adriatique against the inuasion of the Turke This Mathias surnamed Coruinus was the yonger sonne of the most famous captaine Io. Haniades whose elder brother Vladislaus a gentleman of such courage as might well shâ—w whosâ— sonne he was being not able to disgest the injuries and disgraces done vnto him and his brother by Vlricus countie of CILIA and vnckle vnto Ladislaus the yong king of BOHEMIA and HVNGARIE for the despite he alwaies bare vnto their father Huniades slew the same Vlricus at ALBA REGALIS euen in the kings court Which outrage the yong king was glad for the present to winke at and also to grant him pardon as hauing taken away the man whose immoderat power well stood not with the kings safetie but in deed fearing the citizens of ALBA the men of war who exceedingly fauoured the sonnes of Huniades for their fathers sake For all that Ladislaus returning into BOHEMA caused both the sons of Huniades vpon the sudden to be apprehended and most cruelly executed Vladislaus being then about six and twentie yeares old Mathias the yonger brother was kept in prison expecting nothing else but to be partaker of his brothers hard fortune as vndoubtedly he had had not Ladislaus the yong king vpon the sudden as hee was vpon the top of his marriage with Magdalaine the French kings daughter by vntimely death beene taken away After whose death the Hungarians for the loue they bare vnto the remembrance of Huniades by a militarie election chose this Mathias his youngest sonne theâ— in prison at PRAGE to be their king Wherof Pogebrache who after the death of Ladislaus of an old gouernour had made himselfe the young king of BOHEMIA hauing speedie intelligence as he was sitting at supper sent for Mathias his prisoner and when he was come commaunded him to sit downe at the vpper end of the table whereat the young gentleman being then but about eighteene yeares of age and sore abashed began to craue pardon But when the king would needs haue it so and that he was set the king to quiet his troubled thoughts willed him to be of good cheere for that he had good newes to tell him Good newes said he if it would please your majestie to grant me libertie Yea that said the king and more to and then saluting him by the name of the king of HVNGARIE brake vnto him the whole matter how that he was by the generall consent of the Hungarians chosen their king And so in few daies after married vnto him his daughter which done he furnished him with all things fit for his estate and royally accompanied him into HVNGARIE where he was with great joy and triumph receiued of the Hungarians ouer whom he afterwards gloriously raigned for the space of eight and thirtie yeares In which time he notably enlarged the kingdome of HVNGARIE and became a farre greater terrour vnto the Turkes than euer was his father Huniades And therewithall which is not to be accounted in the least part of his praises was alwaies a great fauourer and furtherer of good letters and ingenious deuises But to returne againe to our purpose Mathias hauing well considered of that the Venetians had requested answered them that they had many times before in like case refused to giue aid vnto the Hungarian kings his predecessours yea and that more was thought it a thing not reasonable that anie such thing should be requested at their hands forasmuch as they then receiued no harme from the Turke but were in league and amitie with him so that the Hungarian kings wanting their helpe had manie times receiued greater losse from the Turke than otherwise they should haue done if they had beene by them aided Yet for all that he was content to forget all such vnkindnesse and to grant them what they had requested promising the next Spring to inuade the Turkes dominion and according to their request to take into his protection all their territorie betwixt the Rhetian Alpes and the Adriatique which thing hee most honourably performed For with the first of the Spring he passed ouer Danubius at BELGRADE with a puissant armie and rased the forts which the Turkes had built thereabouts and so entring into SERVIA laid all the countrey waste before him and afterwards laden with spoile returned home carrying away with him twentie thousand captiues Neither so rested but with great good fortune maintained great warres against Mahomet during all the time of his raigne and afterwards against Baiazet his sonne also wherein he most commonly returned with victorie so that it is of him as truely as briefly written That no Christian king or chieftaine did more often or with greater fortune fight against the Turkish nation or had of them greater victories Mahomet deliuered of the great feare he had before conceiued of the generall preparation of the Christian princes against him determined now to worke his will vpon such as were neerest vnto
to carrie newes home Calibeius and Cherseogles the Bassaes were in that flight both taken prisoners and afterwards presented to Caitbeius the Sultan at CAIRE with eighteene ensignes of the Turkes Sanzackes which are great men amongst them hauing euerie one of them the regiment and commaund of some one prouince or other and are in degree next vnto the Bassaes. Neither was the fortune of Baiazet his nauie at sea better than that of his armie at land for as it lay at rode vpon the coast of SYRIA at the mouth of the riuer Orontes which runneth by the famous citie of ANTIOCHIA his gallies were by tempest and rage of the sea put from their anchors and in the sight of their enemies swallowed vp of the sea or else driuen vpon the main and there with the surges of the sea beaten in peeces Baiazet not a little troubled with these losses both by sea and land at length with much adoe by his embassadours concluded a peace with the Sultan vnto whom he restored all such places as he had before taken from him for which the â—ultan deliuered vnto him Calibeius Cherseogles Achmetes and Ishender with all the rest of the â—urkes prisoners which he had in great number in his keeping â—hortly after this peace was concluded betwixt these two great and mightie princes Caitbeiâ—â— the Sultan died who of a Circassian slaue by manie degrees of honour and by the fauour of the Mamalukes his fellowes obtained the rich kingdome of Aegypt which he right worthely gouerned to his immortall praise by the space of two and twentie yeares commaunding at one time the great and rich countrey of AEGYPT with all AFFRIKE as farre as CIRENE Westward and IVDEA with a great part of ARABIA and all SYRIA vnto the great and famous riuer Euphrates Eastward In the latter end of his raigne he ouercome with the importunitie of his wife Dultibe an Arabian borne a woman of an hautie spirit joyned his sonne Mahomethes a young man of about foure and twentie yeares old with him in the fellowship of his kingdome that so possessed of it his father yet liuing hee might the better enjoy it after his death Contrarie to the custome of the Mamalukes who of long time had not vsed to haue their king by succession but by their free election Who grudging to be thus defrauded of their wonted choise immediatly after the death of Caitbeius slew Mahomethes his sonne and in a few moneths after foure mo who one after another without their good liking had aspired vnto the kingdome neither could they be contented vntill such time as that they had according to their wonted custome set vp a Sultan of their owne choise About the same time that the aforesaid peace was concluded betwixt the two great Mahometane princes Baiazet and Caitbeius Charles the French king was making great preparation against Alphonsus king of NAPLES giuing it out That after he had recouered that kingdome he would forthwith from thence inuade the Turkes dominions in GRaeCIA Which great attempt the haughtie king was induced to take in hand by the persuasion of diuers of his nobilitie but especially by the solicitation of Lodouicus Sfortia duke of MILLAN whereby the whole state of ITALIE was in short time after sore shaken and Sfortia himselfe author of those troubles at last carried away by the French miserably ended his dayes as a prisoner in FRAVNCE Alphonsus the Neapolitane king doubting the greatnesse of the French king his enemie entered into a confederation with certaine of the states of ITALIE against the French but especially with Alexander the sixt then Bishop of ROME for the beter assurance whereof he gaue his base daughter in marriage to Godfrey Borgia the Bishops sonne and made him prince of CARINVLA his other sonne Francis he entertained also in great pay to serue him in his wars And by his embassadour Pandonius Camillus lately returned out of FRANCE gaue Baiazet to vnderstand what the French king had purposed against them both requesting him to aid him with six thousand horsemen and as many foot against their common enemie promising to giue them honourable entertainement during those warres And to further the matter Alexander the great Bishop sent George Bucciarde a Ligurian skilfull in the Turkish language embassadour to Baiazet to declare vnto him with what great preparation both by sea and land the young French king desirous of honour and the enlargement of his kingdome was about to inuade NAPLES and then with what great power after he had dispatched his warres in ITALIE he purposed to passe ouer into GRaeCIA and that hee had to that end earnestly trauelled with him to haue Zemes his brother deliuered into his hands whom he desired to vse as a most fit instrument for the troubling of his state and empire by reason of his many friends yet that his Holinesse hauing the French in distrust as a proud and ambitious people as also carefull for the danger of the citie of ROME and of the state of ITALIE in generall had entered into a confederation with Alphonsus king of NAPLES with their vnited forces to withstand that proud nation both by sea and land wanting nothing more for the accomplishment thereof than mony by which onely meanes Baiazet might as hee said prouide for the safetie of his kingdome in GRECIA if he would put to his helping hand to furnish them with mony for the entertainment of souldiors for as much as the citie of ROME and the kingdome of NAPLES were the surest wals of that side of the Othoman empire if hee not altogether refusing the charge would not spare for a little cost to maintaine the warre rather in that forraine countrey than to receiue it brought home to his owne dore concluding That it were much more commodious and easie with his treasures to represse his enemie in a strange countrey a farre off than by dint of sword and plaine battell in his owne A thing by experience well knowne that they which haue neglected and set at nought remote dangers for sparing of charge haue afterwards been enforced with greater danger to receiue the same into their owne bosomes when as they were become desperat and past remedie Baiazet who both by his espials and often letters and embassadours from Alphonsus knew all this to be true gaue great thankes to the bishop by his embassador for that he sitting in so high place did so friendly and in so good time admonish him both a stranger and of a contrarie religion of things of so great consequence yet for answere hee willed him to returne againe to his master with one Dautius his embassadour who should carrie with him both money and his other secret resolutions concerning those matters Amongst other things giuen him in charge was an Epistle written in Greeke wherein the barbarous king with great cunning persuaded the bishop to poyson Zemes his brother as a man of a religion altogether contrarie to his for indeed of
peeces and plentie of victuals which he brought with him for feare of want in that bare countrey Techellis terrified with his comming hauing of late receiued no aid from Hysmaell the Persian king and wanting also great artillerie and besides that seeing his souldiors greatly both deminished and discouraged with the late battaile at OLYGA determined not vpon so great disaduantage to meet his enemie in the plaine field but to keepe the rough mountaine and thicke woods hoping that if he could be able any time to keepe those strong places hee should either receiue some aid from Hysmaell or by the heat of the Turkes leaders take them at some notable aduantage In the meane time many notable skirmishes passed betwixt the souldiors on both sides for the Turkes fetching a compasse oftentimes about the mountaines and seeking for the best passages by the easie rising of the hils came to skirmish with their enemies and Techellis his souldiors on the other side sallying many times out of the woods and abrupt places of the mountaines valiantly assailed the Turkes After they had a long time in this sort as if it had beene in disport rather proued their forces one vpon another than done any great matter the Turkes prying into euery corner at length perceiued two wayes whereby their whole armie with ensignes displayed might without any great difficultie bee brought vnto the top of the mountaine and so into their enemies strength The Bassa hauing well viewed and considered the places caused the Ianizaries at one instant to march vp to the mountaine by one of the aforesaid wayes and the rest of his armie by the other who with soft pace climing vp the steepe mountaines with their targuets defended themselues as well as they could against their enemies darts and shot For Techellis his souldiours hauing before taken the high mountaines and places of aduauntage cast downe vpon the Turkes great stones and shot without number as if it had beene out of some strong forts But the Turkes bending certaine small field peeces against the places which most annoied them easily draue them from their standings the harquebusiers still following their ensignes shrouded close vnder the targuetiers and deliuering their deadly shot as showers of raine vpon their enemies Whose desperat approch Techellis perceiuing caused a retreat to be sounded and with all his armie retired farther off into the higher mountaines and rougher woods The night following perceiuing that by the euill successe of the former skirmish he had lost a great part of his credit and strength he with great silence forsooke the woods and passing quite ouer the mountaines fled into ARMENIA then part of the Persian kingdome Neither did the Turkes perceiue their departure vntill it was light day and that their scouts entring the thicke woods and finding the enemies baggage with some wounded souldiors not able to flie brought newes vnto the Bassa of the enemies departure and of his speedie flight into ARMENIA Which thing when hee by them which were taken vnderstood to be certainely true fretting and chafing like a mad man that hee had not presently vpon the enemies retreat beset the wood round he sent his horsemen forthwith to pursue them but all in vaine for Techellis was by direct and knowne wayes gone into ARMENIA Some few straglers not able to make so much hast as the rest were ouertaken by the Turkes horsemen and brought backe to the Bassa Techellis thus put to flight Ionuses caused strait inquisition to be made through all the cities of the lesser ASIA for all such as had professed the Persian religion and them whom he found to haue borne armes in the late rebellion hee caused to be put to death with most exquisit torments the rest to be burnt in their foreheads with an hot yron thereby for euer to be knowne whom together with the kinsfolkes and friends of them that were executed or fled with Techellis he caused to be transported into EVROPE and to be dispersed through MACEDONIA EPIRVS and PELOPONESVS for feare least if Techellis now fled into the Persian kingdome should from thence returne with new forces they should also againe repaire vnto him and raise a new rebellion This was the beginning course and ending of one of the most dangerous rebellions that euer troubled the Turkish empire wherein all or at leastwise the greatest part of their dominions in ASIA might haue been easily surprised by the Persian king if he would thoroughly haue prosecuted the occasion and opportunitie then offered The remainder of Techellis his followers flying into PERSIA by the way lighting vpon a Carauan of merchants laden with silkes and other rich merchandise tooke the spoile thereof for which outrage comming to TAVRIS the captaines were all by the commandement of Hysmaell executed and Techellis himselfe to the terrour of others burnt aliue The next yeare which was the yeare 1509 the fourteenth day of September chanced a great and terrible earthquake in the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE and the countries thereabouts by the violence whereof a great part of the wals of that imperiall citie with manie stately buildings both publike and priuat were quite ouerthrowne and thirteene thousand people ouerwhelmed and slaine The terrour whereof was so great that the people generally forsooke their houses and lay abroad in the fields yea Baiazet himselfe then verie aged and sore troubled with the gout for feare thereof remoued from CONSTANTINOPLE to HADRIANOPLE but finding himselfe in no more safetie than before he left the citie and lay abroad in the fields in his tent This earthquake endured by the space of eighteene daies or as the Turkes histories report of a moneth with verie little intermission which was then accounted ominous as portending the miserable calamities which shortly after happened in the Othoman family After this earthquake ensued a great plague wherewith the citie was grieuously visited and for the most part vnpeopled But after that the earthquake was ceased and the mortalitie assuaged Baiazet caused the imperiall citie to be with all speed repaired and to that purpose gaue out commissions into all parts of his dominion for the taking vp of workmen so that there were at once in worke eightie thousand workmen who in most beautifull manner in the space of foure moneths againe repaired the ruines of that great citie Baiazet had by his manie wiues eight sonnes and six daughters which liued to be men and women growne and the sonnes all gouernours in diuers prouinces of his large empire whom the Turkish histories reckon vp in this order Abdullah Zelebi Alem Schach Tzihan Schach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Muhamet Yet Antonius Vtrius a Genoway who long time liued in Baiazet his court and as he of himselfe writeth waited in his chamber at the time of his death reckoning vp the sons of Baiazet maketh mention but of these six Sciemscia Alemscia Achomates Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus naming the forenamed by names something differing from the
vnwilling to be knowne When he had thus seene his father the court and the imperiall citie he went againe aboord and so with speed returned to MAGNESIA The report of this his doing had in short time filled both the citie and the court and was at last brought to Baiazet his eares which raised in his suspitious head manie a troublesome thought greatly fearing that in these slie practises lay hidden some secret and desperat conspiracie dangerous to himselfe and his other children Wherefore after long discourse had with the three great Bassaes then of his secret counsell concerning the matter to rid himselfe of all feare he resolued in anie case to take him away And therefore caused them in his name to write vnto Asmehemadi a gallant courtier and alwaies neere vnto Mahometes to poison him with a secret poison for that purpose inclosed in those letters sent vnto him with promise of great rewards and preferments for that his seruice to be afterwards receiued from the emperour Charging him withall that if he could not effect the matter he should so conceale it as that Mahometes should haue no distrust thereof the least suspition whereof would tend to his vtter destruction This Asmehemedi for some vnkindnesse bare a secret grudge against Mahometes which Baiazet knowing of made choise of him the rather And he on the other side partly to performe the old tyrants commaund and partly to reuenge his owne priuat vigilantly awaited all opportunities to bring to effect that he had in charge At length it fortuned that Mahometes hauing disported himselfe in his gardens of pleasure and being thirstie after his exercise called for drinke Asmehemedi alwaies at hand in a gilt boule fetcht him such drinke as he desired wherinto he had secretly conuaied the deadly poison sent from Baiazet Mahometes hauing drunke thereof in short time began to feele himselfe euill at ease and presently sent for his phisitions who thinking that he had but something distempered himselfe with drinking too much cold drinke in his heat perceiued not that hee was poisoned vntill that within six daies after he died Of whose death Baiazet aduertised could not abstaine from mourning although he himselfe had beene the onely author thereof and the more to manifest his heauinesse commaunded all the court to mourne with him and prayers to be made in their temples after their superstitious manner and almes to be giuen to the poore for the health of his soule His dead bodie was afterwards carried to PRVSA and there honourably buried with his auncestors Asmehemedi the traitour in reward of his vnfaithfulnesse towards his master was by the commaundement of Baiâ—zet cast into prison and neuer afterwards seene being there as it was thought secretly made away Now had Baiazet but three sonnes left Achomates Selymus and Corcutus Achomates gouernour of AMASIA was a man both politike and valiant but much giuen to pleasure and delight him Baiazet and most part of the great men of the court fauoured aboue the rest of his brethren except such as were before corrupted by Selymus Corcutus for his mild and quiet nature was of most men beloued but not thought so fit for the gouernment of so great an empire especially by the Ianizaries and souldiours of the court for that he was as they thought altogither drowned in the studie of philosophie a thing nothing agreeing with their humour Yet might Baiazet seeme to doe him wrong if he should not according to his promise againe restore him vnto the possession of the empire which he had almost thirtie yeares before receiued at his hands as is before in the beginning of his life declared But Selymus being of a more hautie disposition than to brooke the life of a subject vnder the commaund of either of his brethren and altogither giuen to martiall affaires sought by infinit bountie faigned courtesie subtile pollicie and by all other meanes good and bad to aspire vnto the empire Him therefore the Ianizaries with all the great souldiours of the court yea and some of the chiefe Bassaes also corrupted with gifts wished aboue the rest for their lord and soueraigne desiring rather to liue vnder him which was like to set all the world on a hurlie burlie whereby they might increase their honour and wealth the certaine rewards of their aduentures than to lead an idle and vnprofitable life as they tearmed it vnder a quiet and peaceable prince Whilest men stood thus diuersly affected towards these princes of so great hope Baiazet now farre worne with yeares and so grieuously tormented with the gout that hee was not able to helpe himselfe for the quietnesse of his subjects and preuenting of such troubles as might arise by the aspiring of his children after his death determined whilest he yet liued for the auoiding of these and other such like mischeefes to establish the succession in some one of his sonnes who wholly possessed of the kingdome might easily represse the pride of the other And although he had set downe with himselfe that Achomates should be the man as well in respect of his birthright as of the especiall affection he bare vnto him yet to discouer the disposition of his subjects and how they stood affected it was giuen out in generall tearmes That hee meant before his death to make it knowne to the world who should succeed him in the empire without naming any one of his sonnes leauing that for euery man to deuine of according as they were affected which was not the least cause that euery one of his sonnes with like ambition began now to make small account of their former preferments as thinking onely vpon the empire it selfe First of all Selymus whom Baiazet had made gouernor of the kingdome of TRAPEZOND rigging vp all the ships he could in PONTVS sayled from TRAPEZOND ouer the Euxine now called the Blacke sea to the citie of CAPHA called in auntient time THEODOSIA and from thence by land came to Mahometes king of the Tartars called Praecopenses a mightie prince whose daughter he had without the good liking of his father before married and discouering vnto him his entended purpose besought him by the sacred bonds of the affinitie betwixt them not to shrinke from him his louing sonne in law in so fit an oportunitie for his aduancement and withall shewed vnto him what great hope of obtaining the empire was proposed vnto him by his most faithfull friends and the souldiors of the court if hee would but come neerer vnto his father then about to transferre the empire to some one of his sonnes and either by faire meanes to procure his fauour or by entering with his armie into THRACIA to terrifie him from appointing either of his other brethren for his successour The Tartar king commending his high deuise as a kind father in law with wonderfull celeritie caused great store of shipping to bee made readie in the Ponticke sea and MoeOTIS but especially at the ports of COPA and TANA
that he well perceiued he could not long endure Wherefore feeling his end to draw fast on he made his will appointing his young sonne to be his heire whom he committed to the tuition of George bishop of VERADIVM and Peter Vicche a noble gentleman and his neere kinsman vntill he came to age requesting the rest of the noble men to preferre his sonne in the succession of the kingdome before a stranger telling them That Solyman would vndoubtedly take vpon him the protection both of the kingdome and of his sonne if they would in time send embassadours vnto him with presents and promise for his sonne that he should raigne as his tributarie as he had done before and so presently after died This king was of a courteous and gentle nature bountifull and in all his doings just of no fierce and rough disposition as the Hungarians commonly are but of a most ciuile behauiour garnished with good letters and thorowly schooled in the diuers chances of both fortunes not measuring his actions by the strength of his power but by the exact rule of discretion for in time of businesse no man was more circumspect or vigilant than he nor in time of recreation any man more courteous or pleasant He vsed oftentimes to say That the fauour and loue of valiant men gotten by bountie and courtesie was the best treasures of a prince for that courteous and thankfull men did oftentimes in some one worthie piece of seruice plentifully repay whatsoeuer had been bestowed vpon them as for such as were vnthankfull they did to their shame beare the testimonie of another mans vertue The kings death was kept secret vntill such time as the noble men had agreed with Maylat that he should take an oath of his faithfull alleagance to the king and his sonne his lawfull heire and so still to enjoy his former place and gouernment which offer Maylat gladly accepted Then calling togither the counsell it was decreed to send the same embassage to Solyman which was appointed the old king yet liuing So were presently dispatched away two most honourable embassadours Ioannes Exechius bishop of QVINQVE ECLESIE and Stephanus Verbetius the Chancelor a man of great yeares carrying with them ten boles of pure gold curiously wrought six hundred of siluer gilt and engrauen fortie pieces of purple silke and cloth of gold for Turkes gownes and fiftie pound of coined gold to be paid in the name of two yeares tribute Which embassadours passing directly from SIBYNIVM ouer Danubius into SERVIA and so trauelling thorow THRACIA came to CONSTANTINOPLE In the meane time the dead body of the king was with much heauinesse carried from SIBYNIVM to ALBA REGALIS most part of the armie following it and there with great solemnitie buried After this the young child was christened and called Stephen and there presently crowned with the antient crowne of king Stephen who first erected that kingdome without which the Hungarians neuer accounted their kings lawfully crowned Yet the royall dignitie was by the common consent of the nobilitie giuen vnto the queene with condition that in all publike writings the names of the sonne and of the mother should be joyned and the kings money coined with the same inscription but the chiefest authoritie rested in George the bishop for he was treasurer and had at his commaund the castles and strong holds yet were the souldiors with their ensignes and furniture at the deuotion of Valentinus Thuracus In the middle between these two was placed Peter Vicche the kings kinsman and by the old king appointed for one of the tutors to his young sonne suspected of neither part honoured with the name of high Constable But because the name of this George the bishop was most famous in this wofull warre which we are about to write I thought it worth the labour to speake something of his nature and disposition that it may be knowne to all posteritie by what pollicie this war was managed and how this flourishing kingdome by the madnesse of the Hungarians came into the hands of the Turkes This George was borne in CROATIA and brought vp from his youth in the house of king Iohn where vertue and industrie neuer wanted reliefe when as he vnaduisedly before had entred into the orders of a monasticall life and wearie too late of the straightnesse thereof had forsaken his profession Wherefore being of a wonderfull pleasing nature and still following king Iohn driuen out of his kingdome and long liuing in exile he woon such credit and commendation for his fidelitie integritie and readie counsell in the kings most doubtfull and dangerous affaires that after Sibacchus that worthie bishop was by the treacherie of Aloysius Grittus slaine at BAXOVIA he obtained the great bishopricke of VERADIVM After that when he had strengthened his credit with great wealth he alwaies as a faithfull counsellor swaied and happily ruled both the court and kingdome to the profit of the king But he was of such a diuers and pliant nature that performing in all actions all the parts of a most readie and excellent man he seemed to be made of contrarie qualities and borne to doe any thing For in saying of his princely seruice and performing the other ceremonies of the Christian religion he shewed or at leastwise counterfeited such a contrition in his deuout countenance and speech that a man would not haue thought it could possibly be the same man who in the most waightie affaires both of warre and peace did most stoutly shew the wonderfull force of a most pregnant and couragious wit For he vsed to keepe whole companies of most excellent and ready horsemen and would oftentimes come forth into the battell armed he would with often banquets and rewards win the hearts of the souldiors and after the manner of great chieftaines maintaine the honour and credit of his name both with punishment and reward as occasion required Besides that no man looked into the wealth of the kingdome more diligently than he no man did to more profit let to farme the customes gold mines feedings and saltpits no man could deuise finer meanes to raise money of all others the readiest way to credit insomuch that king Iohn would confesse himselfe to raign by the especially industrie of that man and king Ferdinand would many times say That he enuied at K. Iohn for nothing he had but for one hooded fellow which was better for the defence of a kingdome than 10000 with helmets on their heads Wherfore this bishop hauing taken vpon him the tuition of the young king was still busied in all the waightie causes of the kingdome both ciuile martiall he laboured with great care that the Hungarians should agree togither in loue and vnitie and did what he might prouidently to foresee that no tumult or rebellion should any where arise wherby the beginning of the kingdome yet but weake might any way be troubled But king Ferdinand hearing of the death of
vnworthie or vnthankefull client and to carrie word backe againe vnto his father That he would aboue all things haue care of his commaund if he might so doe for his brother Selymus whose injuries and trecheries he had much adoe to brooke Partau the great Bassa so sent away assured Solyman what the very mind and purpose of his younger sonne was And albeit that Baiazet to make it seeme as if something had beene done by that embassage made shew as if he would haue presently gone towards AMASIA yet Solyman neuerthelesse fearing the worst made all the preparation he could against him commaunding the Beglerbeg of GREECE although then sicke of the gout to make hast and with his horsemen to passe ouer with all speed to aid Selymus and Mehemet Bassa but lately returned he sent forthwith backe againe for the same purpose to Selymus with certaine of the most trustie companies of the Ianizaries and the old man in readinesse made semblant as if he would himselfe in person haue gone ouer also But the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court came with euill will together detesting that warre betweene the brethren as altogether abhominable for against whom should they draw their swords was it not against the emperours sonne and happily the heire of the empire Wherefore this warre might as they said well ynough be let alone as altogether vnnecessarie and not they to be enforced to embrue their hands one in anothers bloud and to pollute themselues with such impietie as for that which Baiazet did was to be holden excused as proceeding from necessitie Which speeches of the Ianizaries being brought to Solymans eares he forthwith declared them to the Muphti whom in all matters of doubt they flie vnto as vnto a most sacred Oracle demaunding of him How he was to be entreated who of himselfe presumed whiles he yet liued to leuie souldiors raise an armie ransacke townes and trouble the state of the whole empire and what also he deemed of them that were his followers and tooke part with him and last of all of them also that refused to beare armes against him and said that he had in so doing nothing offended Whereunto the Muphti answered That both the man and his part-takers were all worthie of death and that such as refused to take vp arms against him were as prophane and irreligious men to be accounted intestable Which the great priests answere was published vnto the people and by the cheefe Chiaus sent to Baiazet to see if he might be therewith moued Within a few dayes after there came to CONSTANTINOPLE one of the Chiaus whom Baiazet had intercepted being sent from Solyman to Selymus by whom Baiazet gaue his father to vnderstand That he was in all dutie his and that he had not taken vp armes against him neither refused to be vnto him in all things obedient but that he had onely to doe with his brother and with him to fight for his life by whose sword he must needs die or els he by his for that a mischeefe was to be by one of them performed which quarrell he was resolued to trie whiles he yet liued and that therefore he should doe best not to meddle in their quarrell or giue aid to either But if so be he would needs as the report was passe ouer the sea to aid Selymus he should not thinke easily to get him into his hands for that he knew right well if the worst came how to escape and saue himselfe and would before he could get ouer into ASIA make such spoile with fire and sword as neuer had Tamerlane or other the cruellest enemie of the Turks that euer was Which message did not a little trouble Solyman And withall it was reported that the towne of AXVAR where one of Selymus his sonnes ruled as Sanzacke was alreadie taken by Baiazet and shamefully sacked But Selymus hearing that his brother was gone toward AMASIA and now on his way as farre as ANCYRA being out of all suspition of danger which he feared vpon the way so long as his brother was yet lingering in those quarters hasted now towards ICONIVM which was with a strong garrison kept for him for amongst other cares wherewith Solyman was vexed it was not the least That Baiazet intercepting ICONIVM should get into SIRIA and from thence into AEGIPT an open countrey and not yet throughly established vnder the Turkish gouernment neither forgetfull of the old gouernment of the Mamalukes and therefore desirous of change from whence it would haue beene an hard matter to haue driuen Baiazet especially the Arabians being alwayes readie and at hand at euery light stirre where any hope of prey was out of which prouince also in case of extremitie he might easily transport himselfe into any of the Christian kingdomes Solyman therefore tooke great care that this passage which might seeme the last refuge of Baiazet his deuices might be stopped and concerning the same had giuen commandement vnto most of his commanders in ASIA to be alwayes in readinesse to aid Selymus whensoeuer he should call With them Selymus lay encamped vnder the wals of ICONIVM attending euerie stirring of Baiazet resolued there to expect farther aid from his father and not by vntimely fight to commit his safetie to the hazard of one doubtfull battell But Baiazet on the other side not vnmindfull what a matter he had taken in hand slept not thereupon but first entertained a valiant sort of horsemen which the Turks call Chiurts and are supposed to be of that people which were sometimes called Gordij men for their knowne valour famous He yet lay in the plaine and open fields by ANCYRA of the commodities of which citie which were indeed great he made great vse In the castle thereof he bestowed his concubines and children of the rich marchants he tooke vp money to be repaid with the vse vpon the good successe of the warre and from thence he tooke whatsoeuer was needfull for the arming and furnishing of his men Besides his owne familie which was very great and those Chiurts which we spoke of many repaired vnto him which had beene in former time beholden to his mother his sister and Rustan the great Bassa many also of the reliques of the valiant Mustapha and Achomates the great Bassa valiant men and expert souldiours who desired to reuenge the vnworthie death of their lords and masters euen with their owne Neither was there wanting an exceeding rablement of such as wearie of the present state desired some new innouation and change The commiseration also of the state of the vnfortunat Baiazet easily drew many to take part with him whose whole trust was in his valour they fauoured the young prince liuely resembling his father when as in Selymus appeared no likenesse of himselfe but the expresse lineaments of his mothers face and bodie a woman whilest she liued generally hated of all the people he went heauily as ouercharged with his greasie
determined by the counsell of his Bassaes rather with money than with the sword to fight with the Persian king Hereupon was Hassan Aga one of the chiefe gentlemen of his chamber appointed embassadour into PERSIA with whom was joyned the Bassa of MARAS a man both for his age and place reuerend who departing with a large commission almost in the depth of Winter with great speed and wonderfull toile by those long and difficult waies arriued at last at CASBIN the seat of the Persian king hauing by the way lost diuers of their seruants and followers Being come to the court the first thing they desired was to see Baiazet whom they found shut vp in a close prison pale and wanâ— as a man forlorne with his haire and beard so long and ouergrowne as that he was not to be knowne before he was new trimmed which done then appeared the liuely resemblance of his wonted countenance and fauour so that Hassan verily knew it to be him for he had been brought vp with him of a child in the court and for that cause especially had Solyman sent him thither to be assured that it was he At length after long discourse and conference betweene the king and the embassadours it was agreed vpon that the king should receiue from Solyman full recompence of all the charges he had been at and of the harmes by him sustained since the comming of Baiazet into PERSIA with such farther reward as so great a good turne deserued which things performed that then it should be in Solymans power to haue Baiazet made away With this newes Hassan posteth to his master at CONSTANTINOPLE who forthwith caused the promised reward togither with such charges as the Persian king demaunded to be made readie and with a safe conuoy to be sent vnto the borders of PERSIA where they were of the Persians receiued Presently after returneth Hassan the appointed executioner of the vnfortunat Baiazet for so Solyman had straightly charged him to strangle him with his owne hands Which thing this new made hangman accordingly performed and with a bowstring strangled the vnfortunat prince who is reported to haue requested of the executioner but that he might see his children before he died take of them his last farewell which poore request could not be granted but he forthwith commanded to die This was the wofull end of the vnluckie attempts of Baiazet a prince of far more worth than was Selymus his brother who in seeking to shun the death he feared hasted the same before his time Such as was the fathers end was also the end of his foure sonnes Omer Amurat Selym and Muhamet of whom the three eldest were strangled at CASBIN with their father whose dead bodies togither with his were solemnly brought to SEBASTIA and there buried The youngest but new borne left at AMASIA and sent by his grandfather to PRVSA as is before said to be there nursed was now vpon the death of his father commaunded by his said grandfather to be strangled also The eunuch sent by Solyman to haue done the deed and loth to doe it himselfe tooke with him one of the porters of the court a desperat and otherwise a hard hearted ruffian a man thought fit to haue performed any villanie he comming into the chamber where the child lay and fitting the bowstring to the childs necke to haue strangled it the innocent babe smiled vpon him and lifting it selfe vp as well as it could with open armes offered to haue embraced the villaine about the necke and kissed him Which guiltlesse simplicitie so wounded the stonie hearted man that he was not able to performe the intended butcherie of the poore and simple child but fell downe in a swoâ—ne and there lay for dead The eunuch standing without the doore maruelling at his long stay goes in and finding the ruffian lying along vpon the ground with cruell hand performed that the other could not find in his heart to do and so strangled the guiltlesse child as had been giuen him in charge Whereby it euidently appeared that it was not the mercie or compassion of Solyman that so long caused the guiltlesse infant to be spared but rather the opinion generally receiued amongst the Turks who measuring all things by the good or bad successe referre all things that fall out well vnto God as the authour thereof be they neuer so vngratiously begun and therefore so long as it was yet vncertaine what successe the attempts of Baiazet would haue Solyman spared the infant least vpon his fathers good hap he might seeme to haue striuen against the will of God But now that his father was dead and his quarrell by the euill successe thereof condemned as it were by the sentence of the Almightie he thought it not good longer to suffer him to liue least of an euill bird might come an euill chicke I had sometime saith the reporter of this historie great reasoning with my Chiaus about this matter for falling into talke with him of Baiazet he began bitterly to inuay against him for taking vp armes against his brother Whereunto saith this authour I replied That in mine opinion he was worthie both to be pitied and pardoned forasmuch as he was of necessitie enforced either to take vp armes or else shortly after to yeeld himselfe to the slaughter But he still exclaiming against him I said vnto him You blame poore Baiazet of great wickednesse for bearing armes against his brother but Selymus Solymans father you blame not who vpon like occasion tooke vp armes both against his father and his brethren yet he therein did nothing amisse nor in your judgement blame worthie And rightly saith the Chiaus for the euent of the matter sheweth sufficiently that that which he did was done by the appointment of God and that he was from heauen predestinate thereunto whereas in Baiazet the euent sheweth the cleane contrarie So that which falleth out well be it by neuer so wicked meanes compassed or brought to passe they take it as done according to the will of God but if it fall out otherwise they judge it as a thing condemned by God himselfe depending wholy vpon the good or bad euent of things and thereby judging them to be well done or otherwise This yeare 1558 Charles the fift that noble emperour of whom we haue in the course of this historie so often spoken who wearie of the world had two yeares before deliuered all his hereditarie kingdomes and principalities to his sonne Philip did now the 24 of Februarie on which day he was borne by his embassadours solemnely sent for that purpose resigne the empire with all the honors and titles thereof vnto his brother king Ferdinand requesting the princes electors to confirme the same vnto him which they did the 13 of March next following So liuing as a priuat gentleman in that solitarie life whereunto he had to the wonder of the world certain years before retired himselfe from all
making too much hast and seeming too desirous of peace much hurt the common cause of the Venetians which he most desired to haue furthered Selymus hauing found him resolued with Muhamet the great Bassa what he would haue done who at such time as the same embassador came vnto him about the matter told him That he had himselfe many times mooued yea and so farre forth as he might importuned his great lord and master for peace but could neuer find him willing to heare thereof vntill that now at length ouercome and wearied with the continuall sollicitation of such as might doe most with him he had yeelded thereunto So the thing that Selymus himselfe vndoubtedly desired that the craftie Bassa seemed him with much difficultie to graunt rather vpon the instance and contemplation of them that laboured for the same than for any desire he had thereunto of himselfe For certaine dayes at the first the French embassadour was most courteously heard and the Bassa with faire and cunning speech promised that the matter of pacification should easily and in short time be composed and so at their first conferences things passed rather in generall tearmes than that any conditions of peace were particularly agreed vpon onely this was on both parties consented vnto That the Venetians should send their embassadour of purpose for the full concluding and confirming of the desired peace Which chargâ—â—as by the Senat committed to Iacobus Superantius in whose wisdome and valour they had reposed great hope and confidence He was no sooner come to CONSTANTINOPLE and the Turks deliuered of the feare of the Christian sword by the dissolution of the confederation but that all things were changed and the Venetians glad perforce to endure the proud lookes of the Turkes their disdainefull eares their despightfull speeches their long and insolent attendance with many other shamefull indignities Yea the Bassa was so shamelesse as proudly to aske them How they durst be so bold as to impugne the great emperour Selymus his fleet at sea Whereunto the embassadour answered That the Venetians had alwayes honoured the majestie of the Turkish emperours neither had at any time taken vp armes against them but in their owne reasonable defence when force was by force to be repulsed a thing lawfull euen for the wild beasts in the wide wildernesse to doe At the first entreatie of the peace the Bassa seemed to put the Venetian embassadour in good hope that the Venetians according to his request should enjoy their territories in DALMATIA in as ample manner as in former times and bounded with the same bounds whereof they had in these warres lost some part about IADERA But when the matter should haue come to the shutting vp the Turke began to shrinke from that he had before promised refusing not onely the restitution of the territorie they had indeed by treason got but by cautelous expositions of his meaning framing the conclusion of the present peace vnto the forme of their former leagues required That as the Turks had then yeelded vnto them MALVASIA and NAVPLIVS so now they should redeliuer vnto them other two places of like worth and importance As for not restoring the territorie they had taken about IADERA to colour their deceit they pretended That they might not by their law restore vnto the Christians any towne or place wherein were any church or temple dedicated or conuerted vnto the Mahometane religion as was there and further That the same territorie was alreadie giuen by Selymus in reward to his souldiours men of desert from whom without great injurie it might not be againe taken Hereupon the French embassadour complained That promises were not performed the Venetians so fietted that they were euen about to haue returned as men shamefully deluded without concluding of any thing Yet when no better could be obtained the Turke still standing vpon so hard tearmes the embassadours by the appointment of the Senat concluded a peace with the Turke whereof these were the cheefe capitulations first That the Venetians should giue vnto Selymus three hundred thousand duckats one hundred to be presently payed and the other two hundred by equall portions in two years next following then That the marchants goods should be indifferently on both sides restored and lastly That such places of the Venetians as the Turke was alreadie possessed of should still remaine vnto the Turkes but that such townes or places as the Venetians had taken in the Turkes dominion should be againe forthwith restored For the first payment of the money the Turke was earnest thereby as by a fine for an offence committed to make this league vnto him more honourable This peace at CONSTANTINOPLE concluded the eleuenth day of Februarie in the yeare 1574 was by the decree of the Senat confirmed and afterwards the thirteenth of Aprill following solemnely proclaimed in VENICE to the great wonder of the other confederates For the better satisfying of whom the Popes Nuntio with the embassadour of SPAINE were sent for into the Senat house And although there were many things that grieued the Venetians yet did they forbeare all hard speeches and of that their moderation receiued so much the more honour as it is more difficultie for an angrie man to ouercome himselfe than others The duke with calme and temperate speech framed to the purpose declared vnto them That anger and hope two euill counsellors being set apart he had concluded a peace with the Turke not for that he was desirous of the Turkes friendship which what account it was to be made of he right well knew but for the loue he bare to the State which was not only with losse but euen with death it selfe to be maintained How he had beene spoyled of the kingdome of CYPRVS he further declared and that the Venetian state grew euery day weaker and weaker by the continuall war and that therefore before it were by losse vpon losse come to the vttermost of extremitie they not able to maintaine so heauie a warre were to take some better course for the preseruation of that which was yet alreadie left of their Seigniorie for that the safetie of the Venetian state should at all times be a sure fortresse and defence for the Christian commonweale against all the furious attempts of the enemie and vncertaine euents of time The fame of this sudden and vnexpected peace was for the just and common hatred of the Christians against the Turkes generally euill taken and the Venetians for the concluding thereof hardly spoken of as if they had betrayed the whole Christian commonweale or at leastwise their confederats For men were for the most part of opinion That the Turkes peace would be but fained and deceitfull and that hauing gained time to set things in order according to his desire he would for the naturall grudge he bare vnto the Christians come to his old course and as he had alwayes done breake the league and take vp armes Some said
which hauing long lien in hope of prey vpon the side of the great riuer Borysthenes were returning emptie home he by fit messengers sent of purpose offered them great entertainment to serue him in his warres against the Turke of which his offer they as men liuing for most part by seruice gladly accepted and so without the knowledge of the king went vnto him to the number of twelue hundred with their captaines men of great courage and valour of whom Suierceuius was chiefe who were by the Vayuod honourably entertained and did him in these wars right worthy seruice These Cossacks are light horsemen lying most commonly vpon the borders of the Polonian kingdome towards the Tartars an hardie and valiant kind of men whose best liuing is the spoile they take from the enemie and their best lands their horse and launce For albeit that the Turkes and Tartars are most commonly in league with the Polonians and seeme neuer so desirous of peace yet doe they oftentimes in great numbers vpon the sudden breake into the countries of PODOLIA and RVSSIA part of the Polonian kingdome and there doe great harme if they be not in time repressed or cut off by the aforesaid light horsemen who for that purpose lie alwaies in wait for them as doth the hawke for the prey Selymus vnderstanding the answere of Iohn the Vayuod was therewith exceedingly enraged and the more by the bitter complaint of the embassadour who angrie with the Vayuod that he was of him no better regarded nor rewarded spared not to the vttermost of his power to incense the angrie emperour against him as if his honor had been in the person of himselfe contemned and violated Wherfore without delay he sent thirtie thousand Turks and two thousand Hungarians vnto the Palatine of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA that joyning those forces to his owne he might take Iohn the Vayuod and sending him in bonds to CONSTANTINOPLE to place Peter his brother Vayuod in his place The Palatine glad of this commaund and hauing raised his owne power togither with the Turks and the Hungarians swam ouer the riuer Moldauus hauing in his armie about an hundred and two thousand fighting men a power not onely sufficient to haue driuen the Vayuod out of MOLDAVIA but also to haue shaken a right puissant king in his kingdome The Palatine in the middest of so great a strength little fearing and lesse regarding the sudden comming of the Vayuod suffered his men with their horses to lie disorderedly here and there dispersed in the large medowes and pastures all alongst the faire riuers side so the better to refresh themselues wearie of their long trauell In the meane time certaine scouts came to the Vayuod then at dinner certifying him that the enemie with an huge armie the certaine number wherof they could not well descrie was come ouer the riuer and now resting themselues had turned off their horses into the rich medowes thereabout in such disordered and carelesse manner as that they might with a small power be easily ouerthrowne The Vayuod glad of this newes forthwith sent before Suierceuius with his Cossacks and fiue thousand other light horsemen more certainly to descrie what the enemie did with the manner of his lying and he himselfe with the rest of his armie followed faire and softly after Suierceuius with great silence approaching the enemies campe suddenly light vpon the enemies scouts in number about fiue hundred who enclosed before they were aware were taken euerie man by the Cossacks and by them straightly examined of the state of their armie and campe Who for safegard of their liues now in their enemies power frankly confessed how that the Palatine lay securely there by resting his armie not so much for the refreshing thereof after his trauell as with greater strength to set vpon the Vayuod with his fresh souldiours and that in the armie were about seauentie thousand Valachians thirtie thousand Turks and three thousand Hungarians who now dispersed and sleeping in securitie might easily be ouerthrowne Of all these things Suierceuius aduertiseth the Vayuod requesting him with all possible speed to hasten his comming for the obtaining of a most notable and assured victorie he in the meane time lying close with his men not farre from the enemie The Vayuod certified of all these things came without delay and forthwith commaunded Suierceuius with his men to giue the onset vpon the enemie purposing himselfe with the rest of his armie on the other side to charge the disordered campe in three places Suierceuius according as he had in charge with a great and terrible outcrie suddenly set vpon the secure enemies who dismaied with the suddennesse of the vnexpected danger stood as men astonied not knowing which way to flie or how to make resistance But whiles Suierceuius with his light horsemen thus on the one side filleth the campe with tumult terrour slaughter and feare behold euen as a sudden tempest commeth the Vayuod bearing all the disordered campe downe before him neither had the enemies any meanes to flie hauing put their horses a great way off from them into the rich pastures but there taken vnarmed were miserably slain In all the campe was lamentation and mourning death raging in euerie place with such furie that of so great an armie as of late passed the riuer few or none escaped more than the Palatine with Peter his brother who by great chance with much adoe getting horses swam ouer the riuer and so came to the castle of BRAILOVIA in VALACHIA all the rest were slaine and left to be of the beasts of the field and birds of the aire deuoured It was a most horrible spectacle to see the ground couered with the bodies of the dead all stained with gore bloud and their weapons of all sorts lying by them In the campe were found great riches all which the Vayuod gaue vnto his souldiors and there staied foure daies to refresh his wearied men After that he with his victorious armie entred into VALACHIA the Palatines countrey where he tooke manie castles and townes and put to the sword all that came in his way men women and children without respect of age or sex and burnt all the countrey townes and villages before him as he went so that all that part of the countrey of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA was couered with smoke and fire to the terrour of the beholders The aged fathers were in euerie place drawne forth to slaughter the young babes were cut in pieces the matrons and virgins defiled and afterwards slaine and in briefe all the crueltie that could be deuised performed in the bloudie execution whereof the Vayuod commended his men persuading them in like manner still to prosecute the victorie and that the rest of their labours was all but for prey and bootie for the enriching of themselues In this hauocke of all things it was told him that the Palatine with his brother Peter the men whom he most sought after were
rather penceable behind them but let the war be vndertaken with no lesse charge and preparation than if the enemies royall seat were to be assailed which standing in an open and plaine countrey shall alwaies without much adoe be his that being strongest can take it This haue I written at large as my purpose was all which I most humbly beseech your Holinesse with your diuine wisedome to consider of and with your wonted clemencie to accept the same and so prostrate at your Holinesse feet I most humbly commend me to your clemencie From Zamoschie the tenth of Ianuarie 1596. This much the great Chancelour in defence of himselfe and of that he had done in MOLDAVTA which howsoeuer it contented the Pope well I wote it nothing pleased the Emperour and much lesse the Transyluanian prince now not a little weakened by the taking away of the countrey of MOLDAVIA from him To end this troublesome yeare withall many sharpe and bloudie skirmishes yet daily passed in diuers places of those frontier countries the Turkes almost in euery place still going to the worse In the beginning of Nouember Leucouits gouernour of CAROLSTAT the second time surprised WIHITZ in the frontiers of CROATIA where these wars first begun but being not able to take the castle contented himselfe as before with the spoile of the citie and afterward setting it on fire departed Maximilian also attempted ZOLNOCI and the Christians in garrison at STRIGONIVM and PLINDENBVRG now become neere neighbours vnto the Turkes at BVDA did with continuall â—nâ—odes not a little molest them both all the latter end of this yeare and the beginning of the next And the Turkes in BRAILA in VALACHIA vpon the side of Danubius fearing after the flight of Sinan to be besieged by the Vayuod forsooke the citie and in â—uen hast passed the riuer that in that tumultuous passage three hundred of them perished Sinan Bassa by the Transyluanian prince of late driuen out of VALACHIA was not long after sent for to CONSTANTINOPLE but the craftie old fox not ignorant of the fierce nature of the great Sultan and warned by the late miserie of Ferat found occasions to delay the time so long vntill that he was sent for againe and after that the third time also In the meane while he had so wrought by his mightie friends in Court by rich rewards mightier than they that at his comming to the Court he was there honourably receiued as the chiefest of the Bassaes and being afterwards offered to bee discharged of the warres as a man of aboue fourescore yeares old he refused so to be saying That he was borne and brought vp amongst souldiors and martiall men and so wished amongst them to die as not long after he did dying as was thought of conceit of the euill successe he had in his warres against the Transyluanian Mahomet the Turkish Emperour exceedingly grieued with the losse of so many his cities and strong places this yeare lost as namely STRIGONIVM VICEGRADE SISEG PETRINIA LIPPA IENNA TERGOVISTA BVCARESTA ZORZA and many others of lesse name and both by letters and messengers vnderstanding daily of the slaughter of his people and wasting of his frontiers commaunded great preparation to be made against the next Spring giuing it out That he would then in person himselfe come down into HVNGARIE with such a power as neuer had any his predecessours the Othoman kings and emperours and there take most sharpe reuenge of all his former wrongs Neuerthelesse these his so hastie designes were by the plague and famine which then both raged extreamely in most part of his empire and by other great occurrents of the same time so crossed that by that time the Spring came he scarcely well knew which way to turne himselfe first For beside these troubles of the West of themselues ynough to haue filled his hands the Georgians in the East a warlike people moued with the good successe of the Christians in VALACHIA and HVNGARIE had taken vp arms against him and the old Persian king but a little before dead had left that great kingdome to his sonne a man of greater spirit than was like to endure the manifold injuries before done vnto his father by the Turks to the great dishonour of that kingdome and prejudice of himselfe Of which things the Bassa of TAVRIS gaue him ample intelligence wishing him betimes to prouide for such stormes which joyned to the rest filled his head with many troubled thoughts wherunto we leaue him vntill the next Spring The Transyluanian prince carefull of his estate and not a little troubled with the disseuering of MOLDAVIA thought it not vnfit for his affaires now after the flight of Sinan and discomfiture of the Turkes to go in person himselfe vnto the emperour to declare vnto him the wrong done him by the Polonian and farther to conferre with him concerning the mannaging of the warres against the common enemie So hauing put all things in readinesse for his journey he set forward in Ianuarie 1596 and by the way of CASSOVIA the fourth of Februarie arriued at PRAGE in BOHEMIA where he was by the emperours appointment most honourably entertained But immediatly after his comming thither he fell sicke of an ague which grieuously vexed him for the space of three weekes In the latter end of Februarie hauing somewhat recouered his health he went to the church where after his deuotions done he was by the Deane of the Cathedrall church welcomed with a most eloquent oration setting forth his worthie praises and farther animating him vnto the like exploits against the common enemie of all Christianitie Whereunto he forthwith answered in Latin so eloquently and so readily that all men maruelled that heard him protesting in his speech That as he and his subjects had not hitherto spared their liues or goods in defence of the common cause so would they not afterwards spare the same but aduenture all for the benefit of the Christian common-weale well hoping that the emperour and the other Christian princes would not as occasion should require be wanting vnto him with their forces or the cleargie with their prayers which done he doubted not as he said by the power of God but to obtaine more notable victories than he had yet against the Turkes the enemies of God Whilest he yet thus lay at the emperours Court it fortuned that the people called Siculi offended to haue their liberties in some part infringed in the late assembly of the States holden in TRANSYLVANIA in December last rise now vp in armes in diuers places refusing to yeeld their former obedience vnto the prince A matter like enough to haue wrought him much trouble and supposed not to haue been done without the priuitie of the Cardinall his vncle but by the wisedome and courage of such as he had in his absence put in trust with the gouernment of his countrey diuers of the ringleaders of this rebellion were apprehended and in diuers
in time to haue sought for peace vpon any condition or els to haue yeelded vp the citie rather than to haue run that extreame course of wilfull miserie Hee to excuse the matter said That the late emperor his master was encouraged to hold out the siege by the Venetians and citizens of PERA from whom he receiued secret aid as also by some of the greatest men about his own person for proofe whereof hee drew out of his bosome the letters which Caly-Bassa had to that purpose written vnto the emperour and deliuered them to Mahomet hoping thereby to haue found some fauour But when he had said what he could the eldest of his sonnes then liuing for he had lost two elder in the time of the siege was cruelly executed before his face and the youngest reserued for the tyrants lust and after all this miserie had his owne head strucke off with the rest appointed for that daies sacrifice Out of this generall calamitie escaped Io. Iustinianus the Generall who with all speed fled at first to PERA and from thence to CHIOS where in few daies after he died of greefe of mind as was thought rather than of his wound being happie if he had honourably before ended his dayes vpon the wals of CONSTANTINOPLE Isodorus also the Cardinall and Legate from the Pope disguised in simple apparrell and being of the Turkes vnknowne redeemed himselfe for a small ransome as if he had been a man of no account and so escaped whom if Mahomet had knowne he had vndoubtedly beene made shorter by the head The glorie of this famous citie of CONSTANTINOPLE continued many hundred yeares commaunding a great part of the world vntill that by ciuile discord and priuat gaine it was by little and little so weakened that the emperors of later times for the maintenance of their estate were glad to relie sometime vpon one and sometime vpon another yet still holding the title and state of an empire by the space of 1121 yeares when as God his judgement set apart wonderfull and shamefull it is to consider how it was by this Turkish king Mahomet so quickely taken and the Christian empire of the East there vtterly ouerthrowne which happened in the nine and twentieth day of May in the yeare of our Lord 1453. Constantinus Palaeologus the sonne of Helena and last Christian emperor being then slaine when he had raigned about eight years Since which time it hath continued the imperiall seat of the Turkish emperours and so remaineth at this day The potestats and cittizens of PERA otherwise called GALATA a cittie standing opposit against CONSTANTINOPLE on the other side of the hauen and then vnder the gouernment of the Genowayes doubting to run the same course of miserie with their neighbors sent their Orators vnto Mahomet the same day that CONSTANTINOPLE was taken offering to him the keyes of their gates and so to become his subjects Of which their offer Mahomet accepted and sent Zoganus with his regiment to take possession of the citie Who comming thither according to Mahomet his commandement there established the Turkish gouernment confiscated the goods of all such as were fled and vsed the rest of the citizens which stayed with such insolencie and oppression as that their miserie was not much lesse than theirs of CONSTANTINOPLE And because it was doubted that the Genowayes might by sea giue aid vnto the cittizens if they should at any time seeke to reuolt he caused all the wals and fortresses of the citie which were toward the land to bee cast downe and laied euen with the ground Thus is the fatall period of the Greeke empire run and Mahomet in one day become lord of the two famous citties of CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA the one taken by force the other by composition At which time the miserie of PERA was great but that of CONSTANTINOPLE justly to bee accounted amongst the greatest calamities that euer happened to any Christian citie in the world Mahomet had of long time borne a secret grudge against Caly-Bassa sometime his tutor for that by his meanes Amurath his father in the dangerous time of the Hungarian warres had againe resumed vnto himselfe the gouernment of the Turkish kingdome which hee had before resigned vnto him then but young But for as much as hee was the cheefe Bassa and had for many yeares ruled all things at his pleasure to the generall good liking of the people during the raigne of old Amurath and was thereby growne to bee of such wealth credit and authoritie as no man had at any time obtained greater vnder any of the Othoman kings Mahomet in the beginning of his raigne before hee was well established in his kingdome durst not to take reuenge of that injurie as hee deemed it but yet still kept it in remembrance warily dissembling his deepe conceiued hatred as if he had quite forgot it Neuerthelesse sometime for all his warinesse words fell from him whereby the warie courtiers which as curiously weigh their princes words as the cunning goldsmith dooth his finest gold easily perceiued the secret grudge that stucke in his stomacke against the Bassa and thereby deuined his fall to be at hand So it happened one day that as Mahomet was walking in the court he saw a fox of the Bassaes tied in a chaine which after hee had a while earnestly looked vpon hee suddainely brake into this speech Alas poore beast hast thou no money to giue thy master to set thee at libertie out of which words curious heads gathered much matter concerning the kings disposition towards the Bassa This ominous surmising of the courtiers which oftentimes proueth too true was not vnknown vnto the Bassa himselfe but troubled him much wherefore to get himselfe out of the way for a season more than for any deuotion he tooke vpon him to goe in pilgrimage to visite the temple of the great prophet as they tearme him at MECHA which amongst the Turkes is holden for a right religious and meritorious worke hoping that the young kings displeasure might in time be mittigated and his mallice assuaged But Mahomet perceiuing the distrust of the Bassa and whereof it proceeded seemed to take knowledge thereof and with good words comforted him vp willing him to be of good cheere and not to misdoubt any thing neither to regard the vaine speech of foolish people assuring him of his vndoubted fauour and the more to put him out of all suspition continually sent him rich gifts and heaped vpon him new honors as if of all others he had esteemed him most Vntill that now at the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE it was discouered by Lucas Leontares that he had intelligence with the late emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE and his letters produced For which cause or as the common report went for the old grudge that the tyrant bare against him as also for his great wealth he was by Mahomets commandement apprehended and carried in bonds to HADRIANOPLE where after he had with exquisite torments been
enforced to confesse where all his treasures lay he was most cruelly in his extreame old age executed After whose death his friends and seruants which were many for he was a man greatly beloued in court in token of their griefe put on mourning apparell so that in the court appeared a great shew of common sorrow wherewith Mahomet being offended caused proclamation to be made That all such as did weare such mourning apparell should the next day appeare before him at which time there was not one to be seene about the court in that heauie attire for feare of the tyrants displeasure After that Mahomet was thus become lord of the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE as is aforesaid and had fully resolued there to place his imperiall seat he first repaired the wals and other buildings spoiled in the late siege and by proclamations sent forth into all parts of his dominions gaue great priuiledges and immunities to all such as should come to dwel at CONSTANTINOPLE with free libertie to exercise what religion or trade they pleased Whereby in short time that great and desolat citie was againe well peopled with such as out of diuers countries resorted thither but especially with the Iewish nation which driuen out of other places came thither in great numbers and were of the Turkes gladly receiued So when he had there established all things according to his hearts desire he tooke vpon him the name and title of an Emperour and is from that time not vnworthely reputed for the first emperour of the Turks Now amongst many fair virgins taken prisoners by the Turks at the winning of CONSTANTINOPLE was one Irene a Greek borne of such incomparable beautie and rare perfection both of body mind as if nature had in her to the admiration of the world laboured to haue showne her greatest skill so prodigally she had bestowed vpon her all the graces that might beautifie or commend that hir so curious a worke This paragon was by him that by chance had taken her presented vnto the great Sultan Mahomet himselfe as a jewell so fit for no mans wearing as his owne by the beautie and secret vertues whereof he found himselfe euen vpon the first view not a little moued Neuerthelesse hauing as then his head full of troubles and aboue all things carefull for the assuring of the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE by him but euen then woon he for the present committed her to the charge of his Eunuch and sent her away so to be in safetie kept vntill his better leisure But those his troubles ouerblowne and his new conquests well assured he then began forthwith to thinke of the faire Irene and for his pleasure sending for her tooke in her perfections such delight and contentment as that in short time he had changed state with her she being become the mistresse and commander of him so great a conqueror and he in nothing more delighted than in doing her the greatest honour and seruice he could All the day he spent with her in discourse and the night in daliance all time spent in her companie seemed vnto him short and without her nothing pleased his fierce nature was now by her well tamed and his wonted care of armes quite neglected Mars slept in Venus lap and now the soldiors might go play Yea the verie gouernment of his estate and empire seemed to be of him in comparison of her little or not at all regarded the care thereof being by him carelesly committed to others that so he might himselfe wholy attend vpon her in whom more than in himselfe the people said he delighted Such is the power of disordered affections where reason ruleth not the reine But whilest he thus forgetfull of himselfe spendeth in pleasure not some few daies or moneths but euen a whole yeare or two to the lightning of his credit and the great discontentment of his subjects in generall the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court men desirous of imploiment and grieued to see him so giuen ouer vnto his affections to make no end therof began at first in secret to murmur thereat and to speake hardly of him and at length after their insolent manner spared not openly to say That it were well done to depriue him of his gouernment and state as vnworthy thereof and to set vp one of his sonnes in his steed Which speeches were now growne so rife and the discontentment of the men of warre so great that it was not without cause by some of the great Bassaes feared whereunto this their so great insolencie would grow But who should tell the tyrant thereof whose frowne was in it selfe death or who durst take in hand to cure that his sicke mind which distraught with the sweet but poysoned potions of loue was not like to listen to any good counsell were it neuer so wisely giuen but as a man metamorphosed to turne his furie vpon him which should presume so wholesomely but contrarie to his good liking to aduise him Vnhappie man whose great estate and fierce nature was not without danger to be medled or tempered with no not by them who of all others ought in so great a perill to haue beene thereof most carefull but were now for feare all become silent and dumbe Now amongst other great men in the Court was one Mustapha Bassa a man for his good seruice for that he was of a child brought vp with him of Mahomet greatly fauoured and by him also highly promoted and he againe by him as his Soueraigne no lesse honored than feared who no lesse than the rest greeued to see so great a change in the great Sultan of whom they had conceiued no small hope of greater matters than were by him as yet performed and mooued also with the danger threatened vnto him by the discontented Ianizaries and men of warre espying him at conuenient leisure to be spoken vnto and presuming of the former credit he had with him aduentured thus to breake with him and to giue him warning thereof How dangerous a thing it is for a subiect or vassale without leaue presumptuously to enter into the secrets of his dread Lord and Soueraigne the wofull examples of others most mightie Mahomet haue so sufficiently warned me as that were it not for the dutifull loyaltie I ow vnto your greatnesse far dearer vnto me than mine owne life I would not at this time aduenture my selfe vnto the hazard of your doubtfull acceptance of my faithfull speech and meaning but with others keepe silence and in secret mourne together with my heauie thoughts which if I should in so great a danger both of your life and empire now doe without warning you thereof I were not to be accounted vnworthie onely those your great fauours and honours most bountifully on me bestowed but as a most vile traitor both vnto your state and person to be of all men detested and abhorred The life you haue of late led euer since the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE