Graecian name were utterly extinguished by the Latines This his Speech fitted of purpose unto the humour of the Seditious was received with the great outcry and applause of the windy headed People Some cryed out that he and none but he was to be made chief of the Common-weal that was by them to be established othersome cried as loud to have him made General of the Armies and Forces of the State but the greatest cry was to have him chosen and created Emperor whereunto the rest giving place he was by the general consent of the tumultuous People without longer stay chosen and proclaimed Emperor Alexius the Traitor by no lawful Election or rightful Succession but only by the fury of the tumultuous People thus created Emperor was of nothing more careful than how to break the Forces of the Latines of whom only he now stood in dread And therefore to begin withal he first attempted by certain Gallies filled with Pitch Flax Brimstone and such like matter apt to take fire to have burnt the Venetian Fleet which Gallies so set on fire and carried with a fare gale of Wind among the Fleet had been like enough to have done great harm had it not by the wariness of the Venetians been prevented who being good Sea men and not unacquainted with such devises easily and without danger avoided the same by keeping themselves aloof one from another in the Sea. This fineness sorting to no purpose he to colour the matter sent certain Messengers to the General and other Commanders of the Army to give them to understand that that which was done for the firing of the Fleet had been done without his privity by the malice of the tumultuous People and that for his part he would be glad of their Favour and Friendship assuring them likewise of his and promising them to aid them both with men and mony and whatsoever else they should have need of in their Wars against the Infidels Whereunto an answer was given by Dandulus the Venetian General that he would believe it when Alexis the Son of the Emperor Isaac whom the Latines had placed in the Empire should assure them thereof and intreat for the People upon whom the fault of that outrage was laid which answer the more moved the traiterous Tyrant to rid himself clean of the fear of the young 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 receiving him again for their Emperor For the People by nature mutable and not desirous of the good of themselves but according to the occurrents present without any great regard of that they had already done or ought to have done begun now to repent themselves of that they had done against the young Emperor Alexis in Favour of the Tyrant and commonly said That they must find some means whatsoever it were to remedy their fault together with their troubles Wherefore Murzufle fearing the sudden mutation of the People with his own Hands most villanously strangled the young Prince Alexis in Prison having as yet not raigned much above six months and immediately after caused it to be bruited abroad That the said young Prince despairing or his Estate had as a man desperate hanged himself The Tyrant in vain having thus attempted the burning of the Fleet and still fearing the revenging Sword of the Latines resolved now by plain force to meet them in the field and there to dare them to battel So having made ready and armed the whole Strength of the Imperial City he with chearful speech encouraged his Souldiers requesting them valiantly to maintain and defend their Country of Greece the Monuments of their Fathers the Glory of their Ancestors their present Honour and the future Hope of their Posterity that having before their Eyes the Walls of their City within which they were born nourished and brought up in hope of great matters they would have pity and compassion of their Temples their Wives their Children and in no case to suffer them to fall again into so miserable and wretched a Servitude but rather to die a thousand deaths And the more to grace this his enterprise taken in hand for the defence of his Country as he would have the world to believe it with the colour of a superstitious Devotion also he caused the Priests in their Ecclesiastical Attire and Ornaments to march forth in the Army with an Ensign having in it displayed the Picture of the Virgin Mary So couragiously marching forward he first charged that quarter of the Camp where Baldwin the Count of Flanders lay where at the first was fought a right fierce and doubtful Battel But afterward the Alarm running throughout all the Camp of the Latines and new supplies coming in on every side the Greeks were put to the worse and inforced again to retire into the City having lost a great number of men together with their superstitious Ensign It was a wonderful thing to see with what rare agreement the Latines being of divers Nations continued this expedition undertaken against the Greeks Seventy two days was this City of Constantinople straightly besieged by the Latines both by Sea and Land without giving any time of rest or repose day or night to the besieged fresh men coming still on to the Assault as the other fell off and in such sort troubled the Greeks in the City that they knew not well what to do or which way to turn themselves The Venetians unto whom was committed the charge to assault that side of the City which was toward the Haven upon two great Gallies made fast together built a strong Tower of Wood higher than the Walls and Rampiers of the Town out of which they both with Shot and Fire-works much troubled the Defendants wherewith they in the time of the assault approaching the Wall by their sine devices fired that side of the City by the rage whereof a great number of Houses were burnt with many other stately Buildings and ancient Monuments of that famous City and had at that present gained a great Tower near unto the Port destitute of defenders had not the Tyrant himself in good time come with new Supplies to the rescue thereof In like manner the French with the rest assayled the other side of the City by Land where they were to fight not against the Defendants only but against deep Ditches high and strong Walls and Bulwarks also nevertheless such was the Valour and Fury of the Latines with the desire of Victory as that they were not with any difficulties to be dismayed but pressing still on by a thousand dangers at length after a most sharp Assault they gained one of the greatest Bastilions on that side of the City called the Angels Tower and so by plain force opened a way both for themselves and the rest into the City Whereof Alexius
bloody and terrible and many fell on both sides But after that they with wonderful obstinacy had a great while foughâ— with doubtful Victory so that forty thousand Turks lay there dead upon the ground at length the Victory began to encline to that side whereon stood the greater Strength the juster Cause and better Counsel Many of the Enemies being slain and many of his own People also lost Bajazet was enforced to retire which he did so leisurely and without shew of any fear that it seemed to the Beholders he had well near as well gained as lost the Field neither durst Selymus pursue him but stood still fast in the same place never more glad of any thing than to see his Brothers back But Bajazet after he had in contempt of his Fathers command thus run his own Course and satisfied his own desire though disappointed of his purpose and not able to perform the journey by him intended into Syria turned now his Course and began in good earnest to go to Amasia his appointed Province Solyman speedily advertised of the event of this Battel forthwith passed over into Asia for as the great Bassaes his Counsellors thought it not convenient for him to go over the Strait before the Victory so after it was certainly known they thought it not good longer to stay lest the overthrow of Bajazet might give occasion to such as secretly favoured his quarrel to shew themselves and so to raise greater Troubles Besides that the same of his passage over would as they said much avail both to the discouragement of Bajazet and the terrifying of his Friends and therefore it was by them thought good hastily to pursue him now overthrown and not to suffer him to gather Courage by the example of his Grandfather Selymus Solymans Father who had been more terribly vanquished than when he stood in his whole strength and might seem by that means to have especially prevailed for that he was at first unfortunately overthrown Neither were these things without reason foreseen for it is almost incredible what admiration and love this battel although unfortunate did get to Bajazet men wondred that he durst with so small a power and as it were but an handful of Men encounter with his Brother far better appointed and also supported by his Fathers Strength not fearing either the disadvantage of the place or the Fury of the great Artillery and to have behaved himself in the battel not like a young Souldier but an old and expert Commander Selymus might at his pleasure boast of himself as they said to his Father for the Victory but Bajazet was the man that deserved to have overcome and that Selymus might to any thing ascribe the Victory rather than to his own Valour These and such like Speeches as they made Bajazet gracious amongst the people generally so doubled they his Fathers cares and encreased his hatred to wish him the rather dead For why he was resolutely set down not to leave any other Heir of his Empire than Selymus his eldest Son always Loyal and Obedient unto him whereas the other he abhorred as Stubborn and Rebellious gaping after the Empire whilst he yet lived of whom he was therefore 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 given to Selymus For these causes he passed over the Strait into Asia with purpose not to go far from the Sea Coast but as it were a far off with his favourable aspect to countenance Selymus his proceeding doubting by coming too near with his Army to endanger himself by the suddain revolt of the Janizaries which he above all things feared I my self saith the Author of this History saw him departing out of Constantinople the first of Iune in the year 1559 when as within a few days after I my self was also sent for thither for the Bassaes thought it not amiss to have me in the Camp and to use me courteously as their Friend for which cause I was assigned to lodge in an Inn in a Village near to the Camp where I lay very well The Turks lay in the Fields round about but lying there three months I had good leisure and opportunity to see the manner of their Camp and in part to know the order of their Martial Discipline So I attiring my self in such apparel as the Christians commonly use in those places went up and down with one or two Companions at my pleasure unknown First I saw the Souldiers of all sorts most orderly placed and that which he would scarce believe that knoweth the manner of our War there was in every place great silence and as a Man may say dumb quietness no brawling no insolency no not so much as a word or laughter passing in sport or drunkenness Besides that wonderful cleanliness no Dunghils no Excrements that might offend either the Eies or Nose for all such things the Turks do either bury or carry them far out of sight They themselves so oft as they are enforced to discharge the burthen of Nature dig an hole with a Spade and bury it so is all their Camp without filth There was not to be seen any Drinking or Feasting no Dicing the great shame of our Wars the loss of Mony or time at Cards or Dice the Turks know not I met only with a rough Hungarian and his Companions a Souldier who heavy himself to the Lute rather houled than sung a doleful Ditty containing the last words of a Fellow of his dying of his wounds upon the green Bank of Danubius wherein he requesteth the River because it ran to the place where he was born to carry news to his Friends and Countrymen that he died an honourable death and not unrevenged for the encrease of his Religion and honour of his Country wherunto his Fellows sighing bare a Foot O happy and thrice happy Wight would Fortune with thee change we might For the Turks are of opinion That no Mens Souls go more speedily to Heaven than of such valiant Men as die in Battel for whose welfare their Maidens daily make Prayers and Vows I would also needs go through their Butchery where their Beasts were killed to see what Flesh was to be sold where I saw but four or at most five Weathers hanging ready dressed and that was the Butchery for the Janizaries which I deemed to be in that Camp not fewer than four thousand I marvelled 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 demanding what it was they shewed me a Janizary sitting by who in an earthen Dish had killed a Turnep an Onion a Head of Garlick a Parsenep and a Cucumber all sauced with Salt and Vineger or more truly to say with Hunger whereon he fed as savourly as if
accept the same And so prostrate at your Holiness's Feet I most humbly commend me to your Clemency From Zamoschie the tenth of Ianuary 1596. Thus much the great Chancellor in defence of himself and of that he had done in Moldavia which howsoever it contented the Pope well I wot it nothing pleased the Emperour and much less the Transilvanian Prince now not a little weakened by the taking away of the Country of Moldavia from him To end this troublesome year withal many sharp and bloody Skirmishes daily passed in divers Places of those frontier Countries the Turks almost in every Place still going to the worse In the beginning of November Leucowitz Governour 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 himself as before with the spoil of the City and afterward setting it on fire departed Maximilian also attempted Zolnoc and the Christians in Garrison at Strigonium and Plindenburg now become near Neighbours unto the Turks at Buda did with continual Inrodes not a little molest them both all the latter end of this year and the beginning of the next And the Turks in Braila in Valachia upon the side of Danubius fearing after the flight of Sinan to be besieged by the Vayvod forsook the City and in such haste passed the River that in that tumultuous passage three hundred of them perished Sinan Bassa by the Transilvanian Prince of late driven out of Valachia was not long after sent for to Constantinople but the crafty old Fox not ignorant of the fierce Nature of the great Sultan and warned by the late misery of Ferat found occasions to delay the time so long until that he was sent for again and after that the third time also In the mean while he had so wrought by his mighty Friends in Court and by rich Rewards mightier than they that at his coming to the Court he was there honourably received as the chiefest of the Bassaes and being afterwards offered to be discharged of the Wars as men of above fourscore years old he refused so to be saying That he was born and brought up amongst Souldiers and martial men and so wished among them to dye as not long after he did dying as was thought of conceit of the evil Success he had in his Wars against the Transilvanian Mahomet the Turkish Emperour exceedingly grieved with the loss of so many his Cities and strong Places this year lost as namely Strigonium Vicegrade Siseg Petrinia Lippa Ienna Tergovista Bucharesta Zorza and many others of less Name and both by Letters and Messengers understanding daily of the slaughter of his People and wasting of his Frontiers commanded great Preparation to be made against the next Spring giving it out that he would then in Person himself come down into Hungary with such a Power as never had any his Predecessors the Othoman Kings and Emperors and there take most sharp revenge of all his former Wrongs Nevertheless these his so hasty designs were by the Plague and Famine which then both raged extreamly 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 turn himself first For beside these Troubles of the West of themselves enough to have filled his hands the Georgians in the East a warlike People moved with the good Success of the Christians in Valachia and Hungary had taken up Arms against him and the old Persian King but a little before dead had left that great Kingdom to his Son a man of greater Spirit than was like to endure the manifold Injuries before done unto his Father by the Turks to the great dishonour of that Kingdom and prejudice of himself Of which things the Bassa of Tauris gave him ample Intelligence wishing him betimes to provide for such Storms which joyned to the rest filled his Head with many troubled Thoughts whereunto we leave him until the next Spring The Transilvanian Prince careful of his Estate and not a little troubled with the dissevering of Moldavia thought it not unfit for his Affairs now after the flight of Sinan and discomfiture of the Turks to go in Person himself unto the Emperour and to declare unto him the wrong done him by the Polonian and further to confer with him concerning the managing of the Wars against the common Enemy So having put all things in readiness for his Journey he set forward in Ianuary 1596 and by the way of Cassovia year 1596 the fourth of February arrived at Prague in Bohemia where he was by the Emperours appointment most honourably entertained But immediately after his coming thither he fell sick of an Ague which grievously vexed him by the space of three Weeks In the latter end of February having somewhat recovered his Health he went to the Church where after his Devotions done he was by the Dean of the Cathedral Church welcomed with a most eloquent Oration setting forth his worthy Praises and further animating him unto the like Exploits against the common Enemy of all Christianity Whereunto he forthwith answered in Latine so eloquently and so readily that all men marvelled that heard him protesting in his speech That as he and his Subjects had not hitherto spared their Lives or Goods in defence of the common Cause so would they not afterwards spare the same but adventure all for the benefit of the Christian Common-weal well hoping that the Emperour and the other Christian Princes would not as occasion should require be wanting unto him with their Forces or the Clergy with their Prayers which done he doubted not as he said by the Power of God but to obtain more notable Victories than he had yet against the Turks the Enemies of God. Whilst he yet thus lay at the Emperours Court it fortuned that the People called Siculi offended to have their Liberties in some part infringed in the late Assembly of the States holden in Transilvania in December last rise up now in Arms in divers Places refusing to yield their former Obedience to the Prince A matter like enough to have wrought him much trouble and supposed not to have been done without the privity of the Cardinal his Uncle but by the Wisdom and Courage of such as he had in his absence put in trust with the Government of his Country divers of the Ringleaders of this Rebellion were apprehended and in divers sorts executed and three hundred of their Complices to the Terror of their Fellows had their Noses and Ears cut off By which wholesome Severity all those Troubles were appeased and the Country again quieted At the same time also the Transilvanians obtained of the Turks a notable Victory with an exceeding rich booty Mahomet the Turkish Sultan had about this time sent a new Bassa for the Government of Temeswar against whose coming the old Bassa before
for them to dwell in with the Temple of the Sepulchre of our Saviour and Mount Sion not for any devotion either unto them or those places but for that it yielded them a great profit by the recourse of devout Christians travelling thither reserving in the mean time unto themselves the other two parts of the City with the Temple of Solomon before re-edified by the Christians Now whilst the Sarasins thus triumph it in the East and not in the East only but over a great part of the West also contenting themselves with such Tributes as they had imposed upon the subdued Nations and Countries up start the Turks a vagrant fierce and cruel people who first breaking into Asia as is before declared and by rare fortune aspiring unto the Kingdom of Persia subdued the Countries of Mesopotamia Syria with the greatest part of the lesser Asia and Iudaea together with the Holy City who both there and in all other places held the poor oppressed Christians in such Subjection and Thraldom as that the former government of the Sarasins seemed in comparison of this to have been but light and easie Neither was there any end or release of these so great miseries to have been expected had not God in mercy by the weak means of a poor Hermit stirred up these most worthy Princes of the West to take up Arms in their defence who having with their victorious Armies recovered the lesser Asia with a great part of Syria were now come unto this Holy City The Governour of Ierusalem understanding by his Espials of the proceedings of the Christians had before their approach got into the City a great garrison of right valiant Souldiers with good store of all things necessary for the holding out of a long Siege The Chrstians with their Army approaching the City encamped before it on the North for that toward the East and the South it was not well to be besieged by reason of the broken Rocks and Mountains Next unto the City lay Godfrey the Duke with the Germans and Lorains near unto him lay the Earl of Flanders and Robert the Norman before the West gate lay Tancred and the Earl of Tholouse Bohemund and Baldwin were both absent the one at Antioch the other at Edissâ— The Christians thus strongly encamped the fifth day after gave unto the City a fierce assâ—ult with such chearfulness as that it was verily supposed it might have been even then woon had they been sufficiently furnished with scaling ladders for want whereof they were glad to give over the assault and retire But within a few days after having supplied that defect and provided all things necessary they came on again afresh and with all their power gave unto the City a most terrible assault wherein was on both sides seen great valour policy and cunning with much slaughter until that at length the Christians weary of the long Fight and in that hot Country and most fervent time of the year fainting for lack of Water were glad again to forsake the assault and to retire into their Trenches only the Well of Siloe yielded them water and that not sufficient for the whole Camp the rest of the Wells which were but few being before by the Enemy either filled up or else poysoned Whilst the Christians thus lay at the Siege of Ierusalem a Fleet oâ— the Genowaies arrived at Ioppa at which time also a great Fleet of the Aegyptian Sultans lay at Ascalon to have brought relief to the besieged Turks in Ierusalem whereof the Genowaies understanding and knowing themselves too weak to encounter them at Sea took all such things out of their Ships as they thought good and so sinking them marched by Land unto the Camp. There was amongst these Genowaies divers Engineers men after the manner of that time cunning in making of all manner of Engines fit for the besieging of Cities by whose device a great moving Tower was framed of timber and thick planks covered over with raw Hides to save the same from fire out of which the Christians might in safety greatly annoy the Defendants This Tower being by night brought close to the Wall served the Christians instead of a most sure fortress in the assault the next day where whilst they strive with warlike Valour and doubtful Victory on both sides from morning until midday by chance the wind favouring the Christians carried the flame of the fire into the face of the Turks wherewith they had thought to have 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 wâ—â—h their followers and the Ensigns of the Duke there first set up to the great encouraging of the Christians who now pressing in on every side like a violent River that had broken over the Banks bare down all before them All were slain 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 every place Yet in this confusion a wonderful number of the better sort of the Turks retiring to Solomons Temple there to do their last Devoir made there a great and terrible Fight armed with dispair to endure any thing and the victorious Christians no less disdaining after the winning of the City to find there so great resistance In this disperate conflict fought with wonderful obstinacy of mind many fell on both sides but the Christians â—ame on so fiercely with desire of blood that breaking into the Temple the foremost of them were by the press of them that followed after violently thrust upon the weapons of their Enemies and so miserably slain Neither did the Turks thus oppressed give it over but as men resolved to dy desperately fought it out with invincible courage not at the gates of the Temple only but even in the midst thereof also where was to be seen great heaps both of the Victors and the vanquished slain indifferently together All the Pavement of the Temple swam with blood in such sort that a man could not set his foot but either upon some dead man or over the shooes in blood Yet for all that the obstinate Enemy still held the Vaults and top of the Temple when as the darkness of the night came so fast on that the Christians were glad to make an end of the Slaughter and to sound a Retreat The next day for Proclamation was made for mercy to be shewed unto all such as should lay down their weapons the Turks that yet held the upper part of the Temple came down and yielded themselves Thus was the famous City of Ierusalem with great bloodshed but far greater honour recovered by these worthy Christians year 1099. in the year 1099 after it had been in the hands of the Infidels above
covert malice of the Greek Emperor forthwith to appear For besides that they trusting unto his promises had brought little or no Provisions over with them the Country People by his appointment brought nothing unto them to fell as before and they of the Towns and Cities shut their gates against them as they marched not affording them any thing but at an extream rate for which they would first receive their Mony by Ropes cast down from the Walls and then deliver them what they pleased therefore yea and oftentimes nought at all Among many other vile practises not beseeming Christians the mischievous Greeks to poyson the Soldiers mingled Lime with the Meal which they sold unto the Army whereof many of the hungry Souldiers greedily feeding died Whether the Greek Emperor were privy thereunto or no is not certainly known but certain it is that he caused counterfeit Mony to by coined of purpose to deceive them and in brief there was no kind of mischief to be practised against them which either he himself devised not or set not others to devise to the intent that their Posterity terrified by this so unfortunate an expedition might for ever be afraid to take the like in hand again And that nothing might be wanting that malice could devise he had secret intelligence with the Turks themselves concerning the strength of the Army plotting unto them the means how the same might best be defeated whereby it came to pass that some part thereof was by Pamplano a Captain of the Turks overthrown near Bathis and many slain But attempting to have done the like unto that part of the Army that passed through Phrygia they were themselves overtaken in their own device and overthrown with a great Slaughter After which the Turks in great number to stay the Christians further passage kept the River Maeander encamping upon the farther Bank of that winding River with a most huge Army There these worthy Christians right well declared that it was but their Patience that the Grecian Legions that had before so long followed them with their Countries and Cities they had passed by were not to them become a Prey For the Emperor coming unto the River side where was neither Bridge nor Boat to pass over and finding the great Army of the Turks on the other side ready to give him battel if he should adventure the River with their Archers standing upon the very Bank Side he retired a little out of the danger of the Shot and there encamping commanded his Souldiers to refresh themselves and their Horses that night and to be ready against the next morning to joyn battel with their Enemies they were so far come to seek for Little rest served him that night early in the morning before day he arose and arming himself put his whole Army in order of battel as did also the Enemy on the other side of the River with their Battalions orderly placed and their Archers upon the Bank side ready to give the first Charge on the Christians if they should adventure to come over Both Armies thus standing in readiness the one in sight of the other and nothing but the winding River betwixt them the Emperor before resolved to fight with cheerful Countenance and Speech encouraged his Men as followeth That this expedition was of us taken in hand for Christ his sake and for the glory of God and not of man you know right well fellow Souldiers For for this cause having contemned a pleasant life at home voluntarily separated from our nearest and dearest Friends we indure miseries in forreign Countries we are exposed unto dangers we pine with hunger we quake with cold we languish with heat we have the earth our bed the heaven our covering and although we be noble famous renowned rich ruling over Nations yet wear we always our gorgets as necessary bonds and are with them and our armour loaded as was the greatest Servant of Christ Peter surcharged with two chains and kept with four quaternions of Souldiers But these Barbarians divided from us by this River to be the Enemies of the cross of Christ whom we of long have desired to encounter withall in whose blood as David saith we have vowed to wash our selves Who is there that knoweth not except he be altogether blockish and will not with open eyes see nor open ears hear If we wish to ascend straight way into Heaven for neither is God unjust that he knoweth not the cause of this our journey or will not in recompence give unto us the immortal Fields and shady dwellings of Paradice which having forsaken our own dwellings have chose rather for his sake to die than to live if we call to remembrance what things these men of uncircumcised hearts do commit against our Friends and Countrymen if we remember what grievous tortures they inflict upon them or if we be any thing touched with the compassion of their innocent blood unworthily spilt stand now couragiously and fight valiantly and let not any fear or terror daunt us Let these Barbarians know that by how much Christ our Master and Instructer doth excel their false Prophet and Seducer author of their vain impiety so much are we superiors unto them in all things Seeing therefore we are an holy Camp and an Army gathered by the power of God let us not cowardly lose our selves or fear for Christ his sake honourably to adventure our lives For if Christ died for us how much more right is it that we for him should die also Unto this so honourable Expedition let us also give an honourable end Let us fight in Christs name with a most assured hope of an easie Victory For none of them I trust shall be able to abide our force but shall all give way even to our first Charge But if we shall die which God forbid there shall be an honourable place of our burial wheresoever we shall for Christ fall Let the Persian Archer for Christ his sake strike me I will die in assured hope and with that Arrow as with a Chariot I will come unto that rest which shall be to me dearer than if I should with a base ordinary kind of death in my sins end my days in a bed Now at length let us take revenge of them with whose impure feet our Kinsmen and Christian Brethren trodden down are gone into that common Sanctuary in which Christ our Saviour Equal and Associate to his Father is become a Companion of the Dead We are those mighty men we all have drawn our Swords which stand about the lively and divine Sepulchre as about Solomons bed Wherefore we that be free born let us take out of the way these Hagarens the Children of the Bondwoman and let us remove them as stones of offence out of the way of Christ whom I know not why the Grecians feed up as greedy Wolves to their own destruction and with shame fat them with their blood when as with couragious
Imperial City was filled with sorrow and heaviness every man hanging the head and with silence covering his inward grief not without danger to have been then uttered Among many others appointed to this slaughter was one Isaac Angelus a man of great Nobility whom Hagiochristophorites the chief Minister of Andronicus his Tyranny and for the same by him higly promoted suspecting as one that bare no good will to the Emperor cause enough of death came to his house to apprehend him and finding him at home after a few hot words commanded him to follow him whereat the Nobleman making some stay and abhorring the very sight of the Wretch as unto him ominous and fatal Hagiochristophorites himself began to lay hands on him reviling his Followers that they had not forthwith drawn him out of his house by the hair of his head unto the Prison by him appointed For they touched with the honour of the Man and moved with pity forced him not but stood still as beholders Isaac seeing himself thus beset and no way now left for him to escape resolving rather there presently to die than shortly after to be murdred in Prison drew his Sword as the rest were laying hands upon him and at the first blow cleft the wicked head of Hagiochristophorites down to his shoulders and so leaving him wallowing in his own blood and like a desperate man laying about him amongst the rest made himself way through the midst of them And so imbrued with blood with his bloody Sword yet in his hand running through the midst of the City told the people what he had done and crying unto them for help in defence of his Innocency fled into the great Temple there to take the Refuge of the Sanctuary where he had not long sat in the place where the guilty flying thither for Refuge used to sit and confessing their Offence crave 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 City some to see the Nobleman some to behold what should become of him for all men thought that he would before Sun-set notwithstanding the reverence of the place be drawn thence by Andronicus and put to some shameful death Thither came also Iohn Ducas Isaacs Uncle and his Son Isaac to increase the tumult not for that they were any thing guilty of the death of Hagiochristophorites but for that they had before become Sureties unto the suspitious Tyrant for their Kinsman Isaac and he likewise for them by whose trespass they well knew themselves now brought into no less danger than if they had been Abettors thereunto And beside them also many other there were which doubting of their own estate and fearing the like might happen to themselves pricked 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 pitiful complaints moved many to take part with them At which time also no man yet coming from the Emperor being as then out of the City to repress the Sedition nor any of the Nobility opposing themselves no Friend of Andronicus appearing none of his bloody Ministers or Officers shewing themselves nor any that did so much as speak a good word in his behalf or in dislike of the tumult the boldness of the seditious people increased every man in so great liberty saying what he list and after their rude manner one incouraging another So spent Isaac that long night not thinking God wot of an Empire but still expecting the deadly stroke of Andronicus Yet had he with great intreating so prevailed that divers of the Assembly shutting the Church doors and bringing Lights into the Church stayed there with him all night and by their example caused some others to stay also The next morning by break of day were all the Citizens flockt again unto the Temple cursing the Tyrant to the Devil as the common Enemy of mankind wishing unto him a shameful death and the honour of the Empire unto Isaac At that time by fortune or rather God so appointing it Andronicus was out of the City at his Palace of Meludinum on the East side of Propontis where he was by nine a clock at night certified of the death of Hagiochristophorites and of the tumult of the people yet that night stirred he not neither did any thing more but by short Letters advised the people to pacifie themselves and not by foolish Rebellion to cast themselves into further danger In the Morning Andronicus his Favourites began to shew themselves and to do what they might to have appeased the tumultuous Multitude yea and presently after came Andronicus himself and landed with his Imperial Gally at the great Palace in the City But with the inraged People nought prevailed either the persuasions of the one or report of the presence of the other for they all as upon a signal given and as men inspired with one spirit or stirred up with the same fury flocked together into the Temple of S. Sophia one encouraging another and scoffing at such as stood by as idle lookers on without Weapons in their hands reviling them and calling them rotten Limbs that had no feeling of the common harm After that they broke open the Prisons and set at liberty the Prisoners as fittest instruments to increase the Tumult who were not all notable Offenders of the Dregs of the People but many of them born of good Houses and for some light Fault or inconsiderate Word whereof every man was in those times bound to give an account or for some Friends Offence against Andronicus there laid fast These of all others most animated the people in such sort as they which before for fear of the danger did but softly murmure to themselves against Andronicus did now openly joyn with the rest of the base seditious Then might you have seen some with their Swords and Targets some also in their Armour but the greatest part armed but with Clubs and Staves and other such like rude Weapons Arms of Fury hastily taken up in their Shops as by chance they came first to hand running forth in every place By this Assembly of the most furious and promiscuous People was Isaac hoised up and with a general applause saluted Emperor At which time one of the Sextons of the Church with a ladder took down Constantine the Great his Crown of Gold which for a Monument hung over the holy Altar and set it on Isaacs Head which he at the first seemed unwilling to wear not for that he was not desirous enough of the Empire but for that he feared the extream danger of the matter and thought those things that were then done to be but as it were a sick mans dream like enough straightway to vanish beside that he feared in so doing the more to exasperate Andronicus Which his Uncle Iohn Ducas as
the setting forward of the Emperor Fredericks Son-in-Law for the recovery of his Wives Right to the Kingdom of Ierusalem which although he solemnly vowed at such time as he with all Princely Magnificence married the said Lady at Rome yet otherwise letted with troubles nearer home performed not the same untill almost seven years after all which time the Christians in Syria enjoying the fruit of the late concluded Peace for eight years lived in great rest and quietness where so leaving them until the arising of new troubles let us in the mean time return again unto the troubled affairs of the Turks Greeks and Latines at Constantinople and in the lesser Asia Henry the Second Emperor of the Latines at Constantinople after he had as is aforesaid with much ado repressed the Fury of the Bulgarians and Scythes his barbarous Enemies and so given peace to the miserable Country of Thracia died having reigned a most troublesome Reign about the space of eleven years Afteâ— whom succeeded Peter Count of Ausserre his Son-in-Law third Emperor of the Latines in Constantinople who in the beginning of his Empire willing to gratifie the Venetians and to revenge himself of Theodorus Angelus a great Prince of Epirus Competitor of his Empire besieged him in Dirrachium which strong City the said Theodorus had but a little before surprised belonging unto the Venetian Seigniory At which Siege Peter the Emperor lying was so cunningly by the wilie Greek used that a Peace was upon most honourable conditions betwixt them concluded and a familiar kind of Friendship joyned Insomuch that the Emperor at his request not well advised came unto him as his Guest who now of his Enemy became his Host entertaining him with all the formalities that feigned Friendship could devise But having him now in his power and fearing no harm regarding neither the Laws of Fidelity or Hospitality he most traiterously slew him as he was yet in the midst of his Banquet Of whose end some others yet otherwise report as that he should by the same Theodorus have been intercepted about the pleasant Woods of Tempe in Thessalia as he was travelling from Rome to Constantinople and so afterwards to have been by him cruelly put to death Of whose misfortune Tepulus Governour of Constantinople understanding for the more safety of the State in that vacancy of the Greek Empire made peace with Theodorus for five years and the Turks for two Shortly after came Robert the Son of the aforesaid unfortunate Emperor Peter with his Mother to Constantinople and there in his Fathers stead was solemnly saluted Emperor but not with much better luck than was his Faâ—her before him for shortly after his coming he took to Wife a fair young Lady the Daughter of a great rich and noble Matron of the City but before betrothed unto a gallant Gentleman a Burgundian born with whom the old Lady broke her promise and more careful of her Daughters preferment than fidelity gave her in marriage unto the new Emperor The joy of which so great an Honour was in short time converted not into a deadly heaviness but even into death it self for the young Burgundian more enraged with the wrong done him than discouraged with the greatness and power of the Emperor consorted himself with a company of lusty tall Souldiers acquainted with his purpose and awating his time when the Emperor was absent by night entred the Court with his desperate Followers and first meeting with the beautiful young Empress cut off her Nose and her Ears and afterward threw her old Mother into the Sea and so fled out of the City into the Woods and Mountains with those desperate cut-throats the ministers of his barbarous cruelty The Emperor pierced to the heart with this so great a disgrace shortly after went to Rome to what purpose was not certainly known but in returning back again through Achaia he there died leaving behind him his young Son 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 fifth and last Emperor of the Latines in Constantinople And for because he was as yet but young and unfit for the Government he was by the consent of the Nobility affianced and afterward married unto Martha the younger Daughter of Iohn Brenne King of Ierusalem a worthy old Captain but as then Governour of Ravenna which City he being certain years before sent for out of France for that purpose by Honorius the Pope he notably defended against the Emperor Frederick his Son-in-Law but that affinity was before broken off by the death of the said Emperors Wife who now sent for out of Italy unto Constantinople had committed to his charge and protection both the Person and Empire of the young Emperor Baldwin now his Son-in-Law Which great and heavy charge he for certain years after worthily and faithfully discharged until such time as that Baldwin was himself grown able to take upon him the government Now although the Imperial City of Constantinople with the Countries of Thracia Thessalia Macedonia Achaia Peloponesus and the rest of the Provinces of Greece were all or for the most part under the Government of Baldwin the Emperor the Venetians or other the inferior Latine Princes yet were the oppressed Greeks the natural Inhabitants thereof in heart not theirs as abhorring nothing more than that their forreign government but wholly devoted to their own natural Princes Theodorus Lascaris and Alexius Comnenus the one reigning at Nice in Bithynia the other at Trapezond in Pontus both called by the Greeks Emperors and so of them generally reputed Lascaris of the two the better beloved and by far of greatest power had during the time of his Government fought many an hard Battel as is in part before declared and strongly fortified his chief Cities against the invasion of his Enemies as well the Turks as the Latines and so having as it were erected a new Empire in Asia and there reigned eighteen years died leaving behind him one Iohn Ducas Batazes that had married the fair Lady Irene his Daughter and Heir to succed him in the Greek Empire in Asia This Iohn was a man of a great Wit and Spirit and of more gravity for his years than was Theodorus his Father-in-Law never undertaking any thing before he had thereof well considered and once resolved not omitting or neglecting any thing for the performance thereof So that it was not unfitly said of the Greeks The planting of this new Empire to have required the celerity of Lascaris but the stay thereof to have been the gravity of Ducas He in the beginning of his Reign in very short time having set all things in good order greatly augmented his Legions and shooting at a fairer mark than the Empire he held even the Imperial City it self and the recovery of all Thracia and Grecia out of the hands of the Latines which could not be done
as God his judgment set apart wonderful and shameful it is to consider how it was by this Turkish King Mahomet so quickly taken and the Christian Empire of the East there utterly overthrown which happened on the nine and twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord 1453. Constantinus Palaeologus the Son of â—elena and last Christian Emperor being then slain when he had reigned about eight years Since which time it hath continued the Imperial Seat of the Turkish Emperors and so remaineth at this day The Potestates and Citizens of Pera otherwise called Galata a City standing opposite against Constantinople on the other side of the â—aven and then under the Government of the Genoways doubting to run the same course of misery with their Neighbours sent their Orators unto Mahomet the same day that Constantinople was taken offering to him the Keys 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 City Who coming thither according to Mahomet his Commandment there established the Turkish Government confiscated the Goods of all such as were fled and used the rest of the Citizens which staid with such Insolency and Oppression as that their misery was not much less than theirs of Constantinople and because it was doubted that the Genoways might by Sea give Aid unto the Citizens if they should at any time seek to revolt he caused all the Walls and Fortresses of the City which were toward the Land to be cast down and laid even with the ground Thus is the fatal period of the Greek Empire run and Mahomet in one day become Lord of the two famous Cities of Constantinâ—ple and Pera the one taken by Force the other by Composition At which time the misery of Pera was great but that of Constantinople justly to be accounted amongst the greatest Calamities that ever happened to any Christian City in the World. Mahomet had of long time born a secret grudge against Caly-Bassa sometimes his Tutor for that by his means Amurath his Father in the dangerous time of the Hungarian Wars had again resumed unto himself the Government of the Turkish Kingdom which he had before resigned unto him then but young But forasmuch as he was the chief Bassa and had for many years ruled all things at his pleasure to the general good liking of the people during the Reign of old Amurath and was thereby grown to be of such Wealth Credit and Authority as no man had at any time obtained greater under any of the Othoman Kings Mahâ—met in the beginning of his Reign before he was established in his Kingdom durst not take Revenge of that Injury as he deemed it but yet still kept it in remembrance warily dissembling his deep conceived hatred as if he had quite forgot it Nevertheless sometime for all his wariness words fell from him whereby the wary Courtiers which as curiously weigh their Princes words as the cunning Goldsmith doth his finest Gold easily perceived the secret grudge that stuck in his stomach against the Bassa and thereby divined his fall to be at hand So it hapned one day that as Mahomet was walking in the Court he saw a Fox of the Bassaes tied in a chain which after he had a while earnestly looked upon he suddenly brake into this Speech Alas poor Beast hast thou no money to give thy Master to set thee at liberty Out of which words curious heads gathâ—red much matter concerning the Kings disposition towards the Bassa This ominous surmising of the Courtiers which oft-times proveth too true was not unknown unto the Bassa himself but troubled him much wherefore to get himself out of the way for a season more than for any devotion he took upon him to go in Pilgrimage to visit the Temple of the great Prophet as they term him at Mecha which amongst the Turks is holden for a right Religious and Meritorious Work hoping that the young Kings displeasure might in time be mittigated and his malice asswaged But Mahomet perceiving the distrust of the Bassa and whereof it proceeded seemed to take knowledge thereof and with good words comforted him up willing him to be of good chear and not to misdoubt any thing neither to regard the vain Speech of foolish people assuring him of his undoubted Favour and the more to put him out of all suspition continually sent him rich Gifts and heaped upon him new Honours as if of all others he had esteemed him most Until that now at the taking of Constantinople it was discovered by Lucas Leontares that he had Intelligence with the late Emperor 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 commandment apprehended and carried in bonds to Hadrianople where after he had with exquisite torments been enforced to confess where all his Treasures lay he was most cruelly in his extream old age executed After whose death his Friends and Servants which were many for he was a man greatly beloved in Court in token of their grief put on Mourning Apparel 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 wear such Mourning Apparel should the next day appear before him at which time there was not one to be seen about the Court in that heavy Attire for fear of the Tyrants displeasure After that Mahomet was thus become Lord of the Imperial City of Constantinople as is aforesaid and had fully resolved there to place his Imperial Seat he first repaired the Walls and other Buildings spoiled in the late Siege and by Proclamations sent forth into all parts of his Dominions gave great Priviledges and Immunities to all such as should come to dwell at Constantinople with free liberty to exercise what Religion or Trade they pleased Whereby in short time that great and desolate City was again well peopled with such as out of divers Countries resorted thither but specially with the Jewish Nation which driven out of other places came thither in great numbers and were of the Turks glady received So when he had there establisht all things according to his hearts desire he took upon him the Name and Title of an Emperor and is from that time not unworthily reputed for the first Emperor of the Turks Now among many fair Virgins taken Prisoners by the Turks at the winning of Constantinople was one Irene a Greek born of such incomparable Beauty and rare Perfection both of Body of Mind as if Nature had in her to the admiration of the World laboured to have shewn her greatest skill so prodigally she had bestowed upon her all the Graces that might beautifie or commend that her so curious a Work. This Paragon was by him that by chance had taken her
or Land been taken from the Turks With which his excuse Mahomet seemed to be reasonably well contented and with good words cheared him up nevertheless as soon as the City with all the other strong Holds in the Isle were by the Princes means delivered into his hands he no longer made reckoning of his Turkish Faith but cruelly caused many of the chief Citizens of Mitylene to be put to death and three hundred Pirats whom he found in the City to be cut in two pieces in the middle so to die with more pain And when he had placed convenient Garrisons in every 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 alive together with all the Wealth of that most rich and pleasant Island leaving it almost desolate none remaining therein more than his own Garrisons with a few of the poorest and basest people Mahomet after he was arrived at Constantinople cast the Prince Nicholaus with Lucius his Cosin whose help he had before used in killing of his elder Brother into close Prison where they seeing themselves every hour in danger of their lives to win Favour in the Tyrants sight wickedly offered to renounce the Christian Religion and to turn Turk Which Mahomet understanding caused them both to be richly apparelled and with great Triumph to be circumcised and presently set at liberty yet still bearing in mind his old grudge he shortly after when they least feared any such matter clapt them both fast again in Prison and there caused them to be most cruelly put to death A just Reward for bloody Murtherers and Apostacy who to gain a little longer life were content to forsake God. Shortly after it fortuned that Stephen King of Bosna in ancient time called Maesia Superior who supported by the Turkish Emperor year 1464. had wrongfully obtained that Kingdom against his own Brethren refused now to pay such yearly Tribute as he had before promised for which cause Mahomet with a strong Army entred into Bosna and laid Siege unto the City of Dorobiza which when he had with much ado taken he divided the pleople thereof into three parts one part whereof he gave as Slaves unto his Men of War another part he sent unto Constantinople and the third he left to inhabit the City From Dorcbiza he marched to Iaziga now called Iaica the chief City of that Kingdom which after four months Siege was delivered unto him by Composition in this City he took the Kings Brother and Sister Prisoners with most of the Nobility of that Kingdom whom he sent as it were in Triumph unto Constantinople The other lesser Cities of Bosna following the Example of the greater yielded themselves also But Mahomet understanding that the King of Bosna had retired himself into the farthest part of his Kingdom sent Mahometes his chief Bassa with his European Souldiers to pursue him wherein the Bassa used such diligence that he had on every side so inclosed him before he was aware that he could by no means escape which was before thought a thing impossible So the King for safeguard of his life was fain to take the City of Clyssa for his Refuge where he was so hardly laid to by the Bassa that seeing no other remedy he offered to yield himself upon the Bassaes faithful promise by Oath confirmed that he should be honourably used and not to receive in his Person any harm from the Turkish Emperor Whereupon the Bassaes Oath to the same purpose was with great Solemnity taken and for the more assurance conceived in writing firmed by the Bassa and so delivered to the King which done the King came out of the City and yielded himself The Bassa having thus taken the King Prisoner carried him about with him from place to place and from City to City until he had taken possession of all the Kingdom of Bosna and so returning unto his Master presented unto him the Captive King who was not a little offended with him for that he had unto him so far engaged his Turkish Faith. But when the poor King thought to have departed not greatly fearing further harm he was suddenly sent for by Mahomet at which time he doubting the worst carried with him in his hand the writing wherein the Bassaes Oath for his safety was comprised nevertheless the faithless Tyrant without any regard thereof or of his Faith therein given caused him presently to be most cruelly put to death or as some write to be â—lain quick Thus was the Christian Kingdom of Bosna subverted by Mahomet in the year 1464. who after he had at his pleasure disposed thereof and reduced it to the form of a Province to be as it is at this day governed by one of his Bassaes in great Triumph returned to Constantinople carrying away with him many a woful Christian Captive and the whole Wealth of that Kingdom Mahomet following the Example of his Father Amurath had from the beginning of his Reign by one or other of his great Bassaes or expert Captains still maintained Wars against Scanderbeg the most valiant and fortunate King of Epirus the greatest part whereof although it did in the course of time concur with the things before declared and might by piece-meal have been amongst the same in their due time and place inserted yet I have of purpose for divers reasons wholly reserved them for this place first for that I would not interrupt the course of the History before rehearsed with the particular accidents of this War And then for that the greatest heat of this Hereditary War delivered as it were from hand to hand from the Father to the Son hapned not long after this time when as Mahomet having conquered the Kingdom of Bosna had surrounded a great part of Scanderbegs Dominion wherein I had respect also unto the Readers ease who may with greater pleasure and content and less pains also view the same together than if it had been dispersedly scattered and intermedled with the other greater occurrents of the same time In which discourse I will but briefly touch many thing well worthy of a larger Treatise And if forgetting my self I shall in some places happen to stay something longer than the Readers hast would require yet I hope that the zeal and love he bears unto the worthy memory of most famous Christian Princes together with the shortness of the History in comparison of that which is thereof written in just Volumes by others shall easily excuse a lager discourse than this But again to our purpose Mahomet in the beginning of his Reign sent Embassadors to Scanderbeg offering him Peace to that he would grant to pay unto him such yearly Tribute as his Father Amurath had in his life time demanded Which embassage the crafty Tyrant sent rather to prove what confidence Scanderbeg had in himself than for any hope he had to have his demand granted This dishonourable
but indeed fearing the Citizens of Alba and the Men of War who exceedingly favoured the Sons of Huniades for their Fathers sake For all that Ladislaus returning into Bohemia caused both the Sons of Huniades upon the suddain to be apprehended and most cruelly executed Uladislaus being then about six and twenty years old Mathias the younger Brother was kept in Prison expecting nothing else but to be partaker of his Brothers hard Fortune as undoubtedly he had had not Ladislaus the young King upon the suddain as he was upon the top of his marriage with Magdalain the French Kings Daughter by untimely death been taken away After whose death the Hungarians for the love they bare unto the remembrance of Huniades by a military Election chose this Mathias his youngest Son then in prison at Prague to be their King. Whereof Pogebrach who after the death of Ladislaus of an old Governor had made himself the young King of Bohemia having speedy intelligence as he was sitting at Supper sent for Mathias his Prisoner and when he was come commanded him to sit down at the upper end of the Table whereat the young Gentleman being then but about eighteen years of age and sore abashed began to crave pardon But when the King would needs have it so and that he was set the King to quiet his troubled thoughts willed him to be of good chear for that he had good news to tell him Good news said he if it would please your Majesty to grant me liberty Yea that said the King and more too and then saluting him by the name of the King of Hungary brake unto him the whole matter how that he was by the general consent of the Hungarians chosen their King. And so in few daies after married to him his Daughter which done he furnished him with all things fit for his Estate and Royally accompanied him into Hungary where he was with great joy and triumph received of the Hungarians over whom he afterwards gloriously reigned for the space of eight and thirty years In which time he notably enlarged the Kingdom of Hungary and became a far greater terror unto the Turks than ever was his Father Huniades And therewithal which is not to be accounted in the least part of his praises was alwaies a great favourer and furtherer of good Letters and ingenious Devices But to return again unto our purpose Mathias having well considered of that the Venetians had requested answered them that they had many times before in like case refused to give aid unto the Hungarian Kings his Predecessors yea and that more was thought it a thing not reasonable that any such thing should be requested at their hands forasmuch as they then received no harm from the Turk but were in League and Amity with him so that the Hungarian Kings wanting their help had many times received greater loss from the Turks than otherwise they should have done if they had been by them aided Yet for all that he was content to forget all such unkindness and to grant them what they had requested promising the next Spring to invade the Turks Dominion and according to their request to take into his protection all their Territory betwixt the Rhetian Alpes and the Adriatique which thing he most honourably performed For with the first of the Spring he passed over Danubius at Belgrade with a puissant Army and rased the Forts which the Turks had built thereabouts and so entring into Servia laid all the Country wast before him and afterwards laden with Spoil returned home carrying away with him twenty thousand Captives Neither so rested but with great good Fortune maintained great Wars against Mahomet during all the time of his reign and afterwards against Bajazet his Son also wherein he most commonly returned with Victory so that it is of him as truly as briefly written That no Christian King or Chieftain did more often or with greater fortune fight against the Turkish Nation or had of them greater Victories Mahomet delivered of the great fear he had before conceived of the general preparation of the Christian Princes against him determined now to work his Will upon such as were nearest unto him and afterward not to forget them that were farther off The proceeding of Scanderbeg with the late overthrow of Seremet with his Army in Epirus stuck in his Stomach in revenge whereof he now sent unto Balabanus Badera a most valiant Captain with fifteen thousand Horsemen and three thousand Foot to invade Epirus This Balabanus was an Epirot born a Churles Son of that Country and being of a Boy taken Captive of the Turks as he was keeping of his Fathers Cattel and of long time brought up in servitude amongst them framing himself both to their Religion and Manners after long service got the credit of a good common Souldier But when as at the taking of Constantinople it was his fortune to be the first man of the Turks Army that gained the Top of the Walls and entred the City he was for that piece of Service ever afterwards of Mahomet greatly esteemed and beside his other great Preferment now sent General of his Army into Epirus Who as soon as he was come to Alchria a City upon the Frontiers of that Country sent many rich Presents to Scanderbeg making shew as if he had been desirous peaceably to lie upon the Borders committed to his Charge without farther purpose to trouble his Country yet indeed waiting nothing more than some notable opportunity suddainly to do him the greatest mischief he could But Scanderbeg well seeing into the malice of the man rejected his feigned Friendship and Gifts and in derision sent him a Spade a Mattock a Flail with other such Instruments belonging to Husbandry willing him to take in hand those Tools and to follow his Fathers trade of life and to leave the conducting of Armies unto men of greater skill and better place Which disgrace Balabanus took in exceeding evil part purposing in himself if ever it lay in his power to be thereof revenged Wherefore knowing that Scanderbeg with a small power lay not far off upon the frontiers of his Kingdom he determined suddainly in the night to set upon him before he were a ware of his coming and so if it were possible to overthrow him but Scanderbeg having knowledge thereof by his Scouts set forward in good order to have met him When Balabanus perceiving that he was discovered staid upon the way and encamped within two miles of Scanderbeg who had then in his Army but four thousand Horsemen and one thousand and five hundred Foot but all choice men and most expert Souldiers and then lay in a large pleasant Valley called Valchal At the farther end whereof Balabanus lay also encamped near unto a rough and woody Hill which enclosed that part of the Valley Whilst both Armies thus lay within view one of another Scanderbeg well considering the ground the Enemy had taken and that it
the loss of their provision fearing that if they should now stay longer in the Country they should forthwith be driven to great extremities for want of necessaries Wherefore when they had evilly rested that nigh t the next day early in the morning they presented themselves in order of battel before their Enemies braving them into the Field and daring them to Battel The Turks disdaining to see any prouder in field than themselves after they had in goodly order ranged their Battels set forward with Ensigns displayed against their proud Enemies There began a most terrible and bloody Battel sought with such desperate resolution as if they had solemnly vowed either to overcome or die in the place where they stood A man would have said that the former days fury had been but a play in comparison of this many valiant Souldiers covered with their dead bodies the same ground whereon they living stood when they received the first encounter of their Enemies Of both those great Armies none was seen to give ground or once look back the Turks Ianizaries and the Egyptians Mamalukes the undoubted strength of the greatest Mahometan Monarchs Souldiers for their Valour much feared and through the World renowned there buckled together and standing foot to foot spent the uttermost of their Forces one upon another as if they would in that battel have made it known unto the World which of them were to be accounted the better Souldiers Whilst Victory stood thus doubtful and the day was now far spent Usbeg the Egyptian General with fifteen thousand valiant Horsemen whom he had received for that purpose gave a fresh Assault upon the Turks Squadrons with such force that they had much ado to keep their order and began now to give ground which was by and by made good again by other fresh men speedily brought on by the Bassaes. Then became the Battel more fierce than before every man striving to the uttermost of his power to sell his life unto his Enemies as dear as he could In which manner of Fight all the rest of the day was spent until that after the going down of the Sun the darkness of the night coming fast on they were glad for lack of light to break off the Battel and to retire themselves into their Camps not knowing as yet who had got the better The Turks Bassaes taking view of the Army and finding that of an hundred thousand fighting men which they brought into the Field there was scarce a third part left and most of them also maimed or hurt and doubting to be set upon again the next morning by their resolute Enemies fled away secretly the same night leaving behind them for haste their Tents well stored with Victuals and all other things needful The Egyptians also having lost one half of their Army which was at the first seventy thousand and wanting their necessary provision were reretired also the same night into the Mountain Taurus not knowing any thing of the Flight of the Turks And some of the Souldiers passing quite over the Mountain without stay into Syria raised a report all over the Country as they went That the Sultans Army was overthrown and that the Turks had got the Victory so uncertain was the true knowledge of the event of that Battel even unto them that were present therein The Egyptian lying that night upon the side of the Mountain had speedy intelligence from Aladeules of the flight of the Turks which being also confirmed by his Espials to be true he presently came down from the Mountain and entred into the Turks Camp where he found plenty of Victuals and of all other things needful for the refreshing of his Army Aladeules the Mountain King with the People called Varsacide by whose confines the Turks must needs in their return pass robbed and slew many of them in their disordered Flight and had so stopped the passages that they were in flying overtaken by the Mamalukes and slain with so great a slaughter that of all that great Army of the Turks few remained alive to carry news home Calibeius and Cherseogles the Bassaes were in that flight both taken Prisoners and afterwards presented to Caytbeius the Sultan at Caire with eighteen Ensigns of the Turks Sanzachs which are great men amongst them having every one of them the regiment and command of some one Province or other and are in degree next unto the Bassaes. Neither was the fortune of Bajazet his Navy at Sea better than that of his Army at Land for as it lay at rode upon the Coast of Syria at the mouth of the River Orontes which runneth by the famous City of Antioch his Gallies were by tempest and rage of the Sea put from their Anchors and in the sight of their Enemies swallowed up of the Sea or else driven upon the Main and there with the Surges of the Sea beaten in pieces Bajazet not a little troubled with these losses both by Sea and Land at length with much ado year 1492. by his Embassadors concluded a Peace with the Sultan unto whom he restored all such places as he had before taken from him for which the Sultan delivered unto him Calibeius Cherseogles Achmetes and Ishender with all the rest of the Turks Prisoners which he had in great number in his keeping Shortly after this Peace was concluded betwixt these two great and mighty Princes Caytbeius the Sultan died who of a Circassian Slave by many degrees of Honour and by the favour of the Mamalukes his Fellows obtained the rich Kingdom of Egypt which he right worthily governed to his immortal praise by the space of two and twenty years commanding at one time the great and rich Country of Egypt with all Africk as far as Cyrene Westward and Iudea with a great part of Arabia and all Syria unto the great and famous River Euphrates Eastward In the later end of his Reign he overcome with the importunity of his Wife Dultibe an Arabian born a Woman of an haughty Spirit joyned his Son Mahomethes a young man of about four and twenty years old with him in the Fellowship of his Kingdom that so possessed of it his Father yet living he might the better enjoy it after his death Contrary to the custom of the Mamalukes who of long time had not used to have their King by succession but by their free election Who grudging to be thus defrauded of their wonted choise immediately after the death of Caytbeius slew Mahomethes his Son and in few months after four more who one after another without their good liking had aspired unto the Kingdom neither could they be contented until such time as that they had according to their wonted custom set up a Sultan of their own choice About the same time that the aforesaid Peace was concluded betwixt the two great Mahometan Princes Bajazet and Caytbeius Charles the French King was making great preparation against Alphonsus King of Naples giving it out That after
by the Turks Horsemen and brought back 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 have born Arms in the late Rebellion he caused to be put to death with most exquisit Torments and the rest to be burnt in their Foreheads with an hot Iron thereby for ever to be known whom together with the Kinsfolks and Friends of them that were executed or fled with Techellis he caused to be transported into Europe and to be dispersed through Macedonia Epirus and Peloponnesus for fear lest if Techellis now fled into the Persian Kingdom should from thence return with new Forces they should also again repair unto him and raise a new Rebellion This was the beginning course and ending of one of the most dangerous Rebellions that ever troubled the Turkish Empire wherein all or at leastwise the greatest part of their Dominions in Asia might have been easily surprised by the Persian King if he would throughly have prosecuted the occasion and opportunity then offered The remainder of Techellis his Followers flying into Persia by the way lightning upon a Caravan of Merchants laden with Silks and other rich Merchandize took the Spoil thereof for which outrage coming to Tauris the Captains were all by the commandment of Hysmael executed and Techellis himself to the terror of others burnt alive year 1509. The next year which was the year 1509. the fourteenth day of September chanced a great and terrible Earthquake in the City of Constantinople and the Countries thereabouts by the violence whereof a great part of the Walls of that imperial City with many stately Buildings both publick and private were quite overthrown and thirteen thousand People overwhelmed and slain The terror whereof was so great that the People generally forsook their Houses and lay abroad in the Fields yea Bajazet himself then very aged and sore troubled with the Gout for fear thereof removed from Constantinople to Hadrianople but finding himself in no more safety than before he left the City and lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. This Earthquake indured by the space of eighteen days or as the Turks Histories report a month with very little intermission which was then accounted ominous as portending the miserable calamities which shortly after hapned in the Othoman Family After this Earthquake ensued a great Plague wherewith the City was grievously visited and for the most part unpeopled But after that the Earthquake was ceased and the Mortality asswaged Bajazet caused the imperial City to be with all speed repaired and to that purpose gave out commissions into all parts of his Dominions for the taking up of Workmen so that there were at once in work eighty thousand Workmen who in most beautiful manner in the space of four months again repaired the ruins of that great City Bajazet had by his many Wives eight Sons and six Daughters which lived to be Men and Women grown and the Sons all Governors in divers Provinces of his large Empire whom the Turkish Histories reckon up in this order Abdullah Zelebi Alem Scach Tzihan Scach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Muhamet Yet Antonius Utrius a Genoway who long time lived in Bajazet his Court and as he of himself writeth waited in his Chamber at the time of his death reckoning up the Sons of Bajazet maketh mention but of these six Sciemscia Alemscia Achomates Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus naming the forenamed by names something differing from the other Sciemscia the eldest Governor of Caramania for his towardliness most dearly beloved of his Father died a natural death before him and was of him and his Subjects greatly lamented Alemscia died in like manner of whose death as soon as he was advertised by mourning Letters written in black paper with white Characters as their manner of writing is in certifying of heavy news he cast from him his Scepter with all other tokens of Honour and caused general mourning to be made for him in the Court and through all the City of Constantinople by the space of three days during which time all Shops were shut up all trading forbidden and no sign of mirth to be seen and for a certain space after the manner of their Superstition caused solemn Sacrifices to be made for the health of his Soul and seven thousand Aspers to be given weekly unto the Poor His dead body was afterward with all Princely Pomp conveyed to Prusa and there with great solemnity buried Tzihan Governor of Caria and Muhamet Governor of Capha upon their Fathers heavy displeasure were by his commandment both strangled Of his other four Sons Achmet otherwise called Achomates Machmut or Mahometes Corcut or Corcutus and Selymus the second namely Mahometes was of greatest hope and expectation not given to sensuality or voluptuous pleasure as Achomates his eldest Brother neither altogether bookish as was Corcutus nor yet of so fierce and cruel a Disposition as Selymus but of such a lively Spirit sharp Wit bountiful Disposition and Princely Carriage of himself that in the judgment of most men he seemed already worthy of a Kingdom Which immoderate favour of the People caused his elder Brother Achomates yea and Bajazet also himself to have him in no small jealousie as if he had affected the Empire and was in short time the cause of his untimely death which thing he nothing doubting hastened as fatal things are by such means as he lest feared might have procured any such mortal distrust or danger Most of Bajazet his Children were by divers Women yet Achomates and this Mahometes were by one and the same Mother for which cause Mahometes took greater pleasure in him than in any his other Brethren although it were not answered with like love again Achomates was Lord and Governor of Amasia and this Mahometes of Magnesia who desirous to see the manner of his Brothers Life and Government disguised himself with two of his familiar and faithful Friends as if they had been religious men of that Order which the Turks call Imâ—lier These men are for the most part comely Personages born of good Houses who in cleanly Attire made after an homely fashion do at their pleasure wander up and down from Town to Town and Country to Country noting the disposition and manners of the People whereof as fitteth best their purpose they make large Discourses afterwards to others they commonly carry about with them silver Cymbals whereon they play most cunningly and thereunto sing pleasant and wanton Ditties for which idle delight they receive Mony of the People as an Alms given them of Devotion These are the common corrupters of youth and defilers of other mens beds men altogether given to ease and pleasure and are of the Turks called The religious Brethren of Love but might of right better be termed Epicurus his Hogs than any
humor Yet might Bajazet seem to do him wrong if he should not according to his promise again restore him unto the possession of the Empire which he had almost thirty years before received at his hands as is before in the beginning of his life declared But Selymus being of a more haughty disposition than to brook the life of a Subject under the command of either of his Brethren and altogether given to martial Affairs sought by infinite Bounty feigned Courtesie subtil Policy and by all other means good and bad to aspire unto the Empire Him therefore the Janizaries with all the great Souldiers of the Court yea and some of the chief Bassaes also corrupted with Gifts wished above the rest for their Lord and Sovereign desiring rather to live under him which was like to set all the World on a hurly burly whereby they might increase their Honour and Wealth the certain rewards of their Adventures than to lead an idle and unprofitable Life as they termed it under a quiet and peaceable Prince Whilst men stood thus diversly affected towards these Princes of so great hope Bajazet now far worn with years and so grievously tormented with the Gout that he was not able to help himself for the quietness of his Subjects and preventing of such troubles as might arise by the aspiring of his Children after his death determined whilst he yet lived for the avoiding of these and other such like mischiefs to establish the succession in some one of his Sons who wholly possessed of the Kingdom might easily repress the pride of the other And although he had set down with himself that Achomates should be the man as well in respect of his Birth-right as of the especial affection he bare unto him yet to discover the disposition of his Subjects and how they stood affected it was given out in general terms That he meant before his death to make it known to the World who should succeed in the Empire without naming any one of his Sons leaving that for every man to divine of according as they were affected which was not the least cause that every one of his Sons with like ambition began now to make small account of their former Preferments as thinking only upon the Empire it self First of all Selymus year 1511. whom Bajazet had made Governor of the Kingdom of Trapezond rigging up all the Ships he could in Pontus sailed from Trapezond over the Euxine now called the Black Sea to the City of Capha called in ancient time Theodosia and from thence by Land came to Mahometes King of the Tartars called Praecopenses a mighty Prince whose Daughter he had without the good liking of his Father before married and discovering unto him his intended purpose besought him by the sacred Bonds of the Affinity betwixt them not to shrink from him his loving Son-in-law in so fit an opportunity for his advancement And withal shewed unto him what great hope of obtaining the Empire was proposed unto him by his most faithful Friends and the Souldiers of the Court if we would but come nearer unto his Father then about to transfer the Empire to some one of his Sons and either by fair means to procure his favour or by entring with his Army into Thracia to terrifie him from appointing either of his other Brethren for the Successor The Tartar King commending his high device as a kind Father-in-law with wonderful celerity caused great store of shipping to be made ready in the Pontick Sea and Moeotis but especially at the Ports of Copa and Tana upon the great River of Tanais which boundeth Europe from Asia and arming fifteen thousand Tartarian Horsemen delivered them all to Selymus promising forthwith to send him greater Aid if he should have occasion to use the same These things being quickly dispatched Selymus passing over the River Borrysthenes and so through Valachia came at length to Danubius and with his Horsemen passed that famous River at the City of Chelia his Fleet he commanded to meet him at the Port of the City of Varna called in ancient time Dionysiopolis in the Confines of Bulgaria and Thracia he himself still levying more men by the way as he went pretending in shew quite another thing than he had indeed intended which the better to cover he gave it out as if he had purposed to have invaded Hungary But Bajazet a good while before advertised that Selymus was departed from Trapezond and come over into Europe marvelling that he had left his charge in Asia the Rebellion of Techellis and the Persian War yet scarce quieted and that upon his own head he had entertained forreign Aid to make War against the most warlike Nation of the Hungarians and farther that with his Army by Land he had seised upon the places nearest unto Thracia and with a strong Navy kept the Euxine Sea he began to suspect as the truth was That all this preparation was made and intended against himself for the crafty old Sire had good proof of the unquiet and troublesome nature of his Son especially in that without his knowledge he durst presume to take a Wife from amongst the Tartars and afterwards with no less presumption of himself raise an Army both by Sea and Land whereby he easily perceived that he would never hold himself contented with a small Kingdom so long as he was in hope by a desperat adventure to gain a greater Yet thinking it better with like dissimulation to appease his violent and fierce Nature than by sharp reproof to move him to farther Choler he sent unto him Embassadors to declare to him with what danger the Turkish Kings had in former times taken upon them those Hungarian Wars for example whereof he needed not to go no further than to his Grandfather Mahomet the Great who many times to his exceeding loss had made proof of the Hungarian Forces wherefore he should do well to expect some fit opportunity when as he might with better advice greater power and more sure hope of Victory take those Wars in hand Whereunto Selymus answered That he had left Asia inforced thereunto by the injuries of his Brother Achomates and was therefore come over into Europe by dint of Sword and the help of his Friends to win from the Enemies of the Mahometan Religion a larger and better Province for that little barren and peaceable one which his Father had given him bordering upon Hiberia and Cholchos bare and needy People living as Connies amongst the Rocks and Mountains As for the Hungarians whom they thought to be a People invincible and therefore not to be dealt withal he was not of that base mind to be daunted with any danger were it never so great and yet that in his opinion the War was neither so difficult or dangerous as was by them prentended forasmuch as the ancient prowess of that warlike Nation was now much changed together with the change of their Kings and their Discipline of
Maylat not contented with the Name of Vayvod or Governour sought to make himself King. But Solyman detesting the impudent Arrogancy of the faithless Man and hating him for the death of Grittus and the Turks slain with him advertised King Iohn of all the matter wishing him to be more circumspect whom he trusted with the Government of so great and rich a Country So Maylat shamefully rejected of Solyman and out of hope of a Kingdom fearing also to be thrust quite out of his Government by King Iohn thought it best for his own safety to raise up all the Province into Rebellion and to take part with King Ferdinand which thing Ferdinand by his divers Agents secretly furthered to the uttermost For these two Kings although they were at Peace the one with the other and in words and shew made semblance of Friendship yet in heart they envyed and hated each other as if they should presently have waged War. At that same time King Iohn exacted of his Subjects and especially of them of Transylvania a great sum of Mony to pay the Turks his Tribute then two years behind Which thing served Maylat and his Complices as a fit occasion to raise the People into Rebellion perswading them that there was no reason to pay unto the Turk such a Tribute as would serve well to wage ten years honourable War against him so that by that and such like perswasion all the Province was in an Uproar little differing from manifest Rebellion To appease these dangerous troubles thus arising King Iohn sent certain of his chief Nobility and best Captains with a great power into Transylvania following after himself in his Chariot not yet well recovered of his late Sickness These Noblemen entring in two places into Transylvania and scouting up and down the Country had in short time so used the matter that what by force what by policy the Tumult was well pacified and divers of the chief Offenders worthily executed Maylat the ambitious Author of this sedition not able to hold the Field against the King and seeing himself beset on every side with his Enemies retired himself will all his Wealth into a Town called Fogaras a place of great strength which the Kings power shortly after hardly besieged the King himself then lying at Sibynium the chief City of Transylvania and about a mile distant from Fogaras sick of an Ague whereinto he was again fallen through too much care and pains taken in travelling in that hot time of the Year the days being then at the longest Whilst he thus lay sick at Sibynium and his Army fast by at the Siege of Fogaras News was brought unto him from the Court That the Queen his Wife was delivered of a fair young Son which was no sooner bruted abroad but the Hungarians as Men overjoyed came flocking to the Court where the King lay discharging their Pieces in triumph with all other signs of joy and mirth they could possibly devise the Noblemen came from the Camp to rejoyce with the King and all the Army was filled with gladness And for the greater solemnity of this so common a Joy a royal Feast was prepared which thâ— Noblemen would needs have the King to 〈◊〉 â—ith his presence though he were thereto 〈◊〉 â—illing being as yeâ— but a little recovered howâ—â—â—t yielding to their importunity he suffered himself to be overruled and brought to the Feast by them which was unto him the merriest and the last that ever he made for willing to shew his inward joy and to content his Nobility there present he forgot himself and eat and drank more liberally than was for the health of his weak Body whereby the Fever which had but a little before left him was again renewed in such sort as that he well perceived he could not longer endure Wherefore feeling his end to draw fast on he made his Will appointing his young Son to be his Heir whom he committed to the Tuition of George Bishop of Veradium and Peter Vicche a noble Gentleman and his near Kinsman until he came to Age requesting the rest of the Noblemen to prefer his Son in the succession of the Kingdom before a Stranger telling them That Solyman would undoubtedly take upon him the protection both of the Kingdom and of his Son if they would in time send Embassadors unto him with Presents and promise for his Son that he should raign as his Tributary as he had done before and so presently after died This King was of a courteous and gentle nature bountiful and in all his doings just of no fierce and rough disposition as the Hungarians commonly are but of a most civil behavior garnished with good letters and throughly schooled in the divers chances of both Fortunes not measuring his actions by the strength of his power but by the exact rule of descretion for in time of business no Man was more circumspect or vigilant than he nor in time of recreation any Man more courteous or pleasant He used oftentimes to say That the favour and love of valiant Men gotten by bounty and courtesie was the best Treasure of a Prince for that courteous and thankful Men did oftentimes in some one worthy piece of service plentifully repay whatsoever had been bestowed upon them as for such as were unthankful they did to their shame bear the testimony of another Mans vertue The Kings death was kept secret until such time as the Noblemen had agreed with Maylat that he should take an Oath of his faithful Allegeance to the King and his Son his lawful Heir and so still to enjoy his former place and Government which offer Maylat gladly accepted Then calling together the Council it was decreed to send the same Embassage to Solyman which was appointed the old King yet living So were presently dispatched away two most honourable Embassadors Ioannes Exechius Bishop of Quinque Ecclesiae and Stephanus Verbetius the Chancellor a Man of great years carrying with them ten Bowls of pure Gold couriously wrote six hundred of Silver gilt and engraven forty pieces of purple Silk and Cloath of Gold for Turks Gowns and 50 l. of coined Gold to be paid in the name of two years Tribute Which Embassadors passing directly from Sibinium over Danubius into Servia and so travelling through Thracia came to Constantinople In the mean time the dead Body of the King was with much heaviness carried from Sibinium to Alba Regalis most part of the Army following it and there with great solemnity Buried After this the young Child was Christened and called Stephen and there presently Crowned with the ancient Crown of King Stephen who first erected that Kingdom and without which the Hungarians never accounted their Kings lawfully Crowned Yet the Royal Dignity was by the common consent of the Nobility given unto the Queen with condition that in all publick Writings the Names of the Son and of the Mother should be joyned and the
knowledg thereof drive headlong his Son who was already running too fast of himself Besides that he was not ignorant that the Eyes of all Nations were bent upon this discord of his two Sons and therefore he desired by all means that these Grudges might be with as little stir as was possible appeased Wherefore he answered Bajazet courteously That concerning his Government of Amasia he could not alter it as resolutely set down as well for his Brother as himself and that therefore they should do well to go both to their appointed places as he had before commanded As for the rest they should be of good comfort for that he would take such order as that neither of them should have just cause to complain Partau Bassa the fourth of the great Bassa's of the Court was appointed to go with this Message to Bajazet and Mehemet third of the same great Bassa's with like charge to Selymus because the matter should seem to be done with all indifferency and both of these great Men commanded not to depart from them they were sent unto before they were both come unto the places of their Government whereunto they were assigned Which Solyman wisely did to keep them both within the compass of Duty by the presence of such two grave Counsellors Which thing Selymus took in good part but Bajazet not so who having resolved with himself to set all on a hurly burly thought nothing more unfit for his designs than to have one of his Fathers greatest Counsellors still at his Elbow as Censor of all his Speeches and Doings wherefore having courteously entertained him and rewarded him according to his Ability he dismissed him though unwilling to depart making this excuse That he would use him as his Patron and Defender with his Father forasmuch as he had no other in Court to defend his cause promising not to be unto him an unworthy or unthankful Client and to carry word back again unto his Father That he would above all things have care of his command if he might so do for his Brother Selymus whose Injuries and Treacheries he had much ado to brook Partau the great Bassa so sent away assured Solyman what the very mind and purpose of his younger Son was And albeit that Bajazet to make it seem as if something had been done by that Embassage made shew as if he would have presently gone towards Amasia yet Solyman nevertheless fearing the worst made all the preparation he could against him commanding the Begleâ—beg of Grece although then sick of the Gout to make haste and with his Horsemen to pass over with all speed to aid Selymus and Mehemet Bassa but lately returned he sent foâ—thwith back again for the same purpose to Selymus with certain of the most trusty Companies of the Janizaries and the old Man in readiness made semblance as if he would himself in person have gone over also But the Janizaries and other Souldiers of the Court came with evil Will together detesting that War between the Brethren as altogether abominable for against whom should they draw their Swords was it not against the Emperors Son and happily the Heir of the Empire Wherefore this War might as they said well enough be let alone as altogether unnecessary and not they to be inforced to imbrue their Hands one in anothers Blood and to pollute themselves with such Impiety as for that which Bajazet did was to be holden excused as proceeding from necessity Which Speeches of the Janizaries being brought to Solymans Ears he forthwith declared them to the Mufti who in all matters of doubt they flee unto as unto a most sacred Oracle demanding of him how he was to be intreated who of himself presumed whiles he yet lived to levy Souldiers raise an Army ransack Towns and trouble the State of the whole Empire and what also he deemed of them that were his Followers and took part with him and last of all of them also that refused to bear Arms against him and said that he had in so doing nothing offended Whereunto the Mufti answered That both the Man and his Partakers were all worthy of death and that such as refused to take up Arms against him were as prophane and irreligious Men to be accounted detestable Which the great Priests answer was published unto the People and by the chief Chiaus sent to Bajazet to see if he might be therewith moved Within a few days after there came to Constantinople one of the Chiaus whom Bajazet had intercepted being sent from Solyman to Selymus by whom Bajazet gave his Father to understand That he was in all Duty his and that he had not taken up Arms against him neither refused to be unto him in all things obedient but that he had only to do with his Brother and with him to fight for his life by whose Sword he must die or else he by his for that a mischief was to be by one of them performed which quarrel he was resolved to try whiles he yet lived and that therefore he should do best not to meddle in the quarrel or to give Aid to either But if so be he would needs as the report was pass over the Sea to aid Selymus he should not think easily to get him into his hands for that he knew right well if the worst came how to escape and save himself and would before he could get over into Asia make such spoil with Fire and Sword as never had Tamerlane or other the cruellest Enemy of the Turks that â—ver was Which Message did not a little trouble Solyman And withall it was reported That the Town of Axuar where one of Selymus his Sons ruled as Sanzack was already taken by Bajazet and shamefully sacked But Selymus hearing that his Brother was gone toward Amasia and now on his way as far as Ancyra being out of all suspicion of danger which he feared upon the way so long as his Brother was yet lingring in those quarters hasted now towards Iconium which was with a strong Garrison kept for him for amongst other cares wherewith Solyman was vexed it was not the least That Bajazet intercepting Iconium should get into Syria and from thence into Egypt an open Country and not yet throughly established under the Turkish Government neither forgetful of the old Government of the Mamalukes and therefor desirous of change from whence it would have been an hard matter to have driven Bajazet especially the Arabians being always ready and at hand at every light stir where any hope of Prey was out of which Province also in case of extremity he might easily transport himself into any of the Christian Kingdoms Solyman therefore took great care that this passage which might seem the last refuge of Bajazets devices might be stopped up and concerning the same had given commandment unto most of his Commanders in Asia to be always in readiness to aid Selymus whensoever he should call With them
their minds altogether estranged from that War easily staied the raging Turk they detested that War and forsook their Ensigns a great number of whom especially Horsemen without leave of their Captains returned to Constantinople and being commanded again to the Camp went indeed but with such countenance and chear as well declared how they were affected and what they would do if occasion served for them to revolt For which cause after that Solyman perceived that Bajazet could not alive be got from the Persian excusing himself by fear of revenge by him whom he had so grievously offended if he should by any means escape he thought it best to follow that which was next and to have him there slain which he was in good hope to compass and the rather for that the Persian had but lately written unto him That he could not but much marvel to see him deal so slenderly in a matter of so great importance That he on his part had sent him divers Embassadors and that he on the other side had sent him nothing but common Messengers with Papers which caused him to think that he made no great account of the matter wherefore he should do well to send unto him Men of account and place with whom he might confer and conclude also according to the weightiness and exigence of the cause besides that he was as he said not a little in his debt for that Bajazet and his Followers had been unto him no small charge before he could get him into his power all which it were good reason he should have consideration of Whereby Solyman perceived that Mony was the thing the Persian King sought after and therefore rather than he would in an unfit time of his life intangle himself in a dangerous and unnecessary War he determined by the counsel of his Bassaes rather with Mony than with the Sword to fight with the Persian King. Hereupon was Hassan Aga one of the chief Gentlemen of his Chamber appointed Embassador into Persia with whom was joyned the Bassa of Maras a Man both for his age and place reverend who departing with a large Commission almost in the depth of Winter with great speed and wonderful toil by those long and difficult ways arrived at last at Casbin the Seat of the Persian King having by the way lost divers of their Servants and Followers Being come to the Court the first thing they desired was to see Bajazet whom they found shut up in a close Prison pale and wan as a Man forlorn with his Hair and Beard so long and overgrown as that he was not to be known before he was new Trimmed which done then appeared the lively resemblance of his wonted countenance and favour so that Hassan verily knew him to be him for he had been brought up with him of a Child in the Court and for this cause especially had Solyman sent him thither to be assured that it was he At length after long discourse and conference between the King and the Embassadors it was agreed upon that the King should receive from Solyman full recompence of all the charges he had been at and of the harms by him sustained since the coming of Bajazet into Persia with such further reward as so great a good turn deserved which things performed that then it should be in Solymans power to have Bajazâ—t made away With this news Hassan posteth to his Master at Constantinople who forthwith caused the promised Reward together with such charges as the Persian King demanded to be made ready and with a safe convoy to be sent unto the Borders of Persia where they were of the Persians received Presently after returneth Hassan the appointed Executioner of the unfortunate Bajazet for so Solyman had straitly charged him to strangle him with his own hands Which thing this new made Hangman accordingly performed and with a Bow-string strangled the unfortunate Prince who is reported to have requested of the Executioner that he might but see his Children before he died and take of them his last farewel which poor request could not be granted but he forthwith commanded to die This was the woful end of the unlucky attempt of Bajazet 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 four Sons Omer Amurat Selym and Muhamet of whom the three eldest were strangled at Casbin with their Father whose dead Bodies together with his were solemnly brought to Sebastia and there buried The youngest but new born left at Amasia and sent by his Grandfather to Prusa as is before said to be there nursed was now upon the death of his Father commanded by his said Grandfather to be strangled also The Eunuch sent by Solyman to have done the deed and loth to do it himself took with him one of the Porters of the Court a desperate and otherwise a hard hearted Ruffian a Man thought fit to have performed any villany he coming into the Chamber where the Child lay and fitting the Bow-string to the Childs Neck to have strangled him the innocent Babe smiling upon him and lifting it self up as well as it could with open Arms offered to have embraced the Villain about the Neck and kissed him Which guiltless simplicity so wounded the stony hearted Man that he was not able to perform the intended butchery of the poor simple Child but fell down in a swoun and there lay for dead The Eunuch standing without the Door marvelling at his long stay goes in and finding the Ruffian lying along upon the ground with cruel hand performed that the other could not find in his heart to do and so strangled the guiltless Child as had been given him in charge Whereby it evidently appeared that it was not the mercy or compassion of Solyman that so long caused the guiltless Infant to be spared but rather the opinion generally received amongst the Turks who measuring all things by the good or bad success refer all things that fall out well unto God as the Author thereof be they never so ungraciously begun and therefore so long as it was yet uncertain what success the attempts of Bajazet would have Solyman spared the Infant lest upon his Fathers good hap he might seem to have striven against the will of God. But now that his Father was dead and his quarrel by the evil success thereof condemned as it were by the sentence of the Almighty he thought it not good longer to suffer him to live lest of an evil Bird might come an evil Chick I had sometime saith the Reporter of this History great reasoning with my Chiaus about this matter for falling into talk with him of Bajazet he began bitterly to inveigh against him for taking up Arms against his Brother Whereunto saith this Author I replied That in mine opinion he was worthy both to be
changed and the Venetians glad to endure the proud looks of the Turks their disdainful ears their despightful speeches their long and insolent attendance with many other shameful indignities Yea the Bassa was so shameless as proudly to ask them How they durst be so bold as to impugn the great Emperor Selymus his Fleet at Sea. Whereunto the Embassador answered That the Venetians had always honoured the Majesty of the Turkish Emperors neither had at any time taken up Arms against him but in their own reasonable defence when force was by force to be repulsed a thing lawful even for the wild Beast in the wild Wilderness to do At the first entreaty of the Peace the Bassa seemed to put the Venetian Embassador 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 Wars lost some part about Iadena But when the matter should have come to the shutting up the Turk began to shrink from that he had before promised refusing not only the restitution of the Territory they had indeed by Treason got but by cautelous expositions of his meaning framing the conclusion of the present Peace unto the form of their former Leagues required That as the Turks had now yielded unto them Malvasia and Nauplus so now they should redeliver unto them two other places of like worth and importance As for not restoring the Territory they had taken about Iadera to colour their deceit they pretended that they might not by their Law restore unto the Christians any Town or place wherein were any Church or Temple dedicated or converted unto the Mahometan Religion as was there and further That the same Territory was already given by Selymus in reward unto his Souldiers Men of desert from whom without great injury it might not be again taken Hereupon the French Embassador complained That promises were not performed and the Venetians so fretted that they were even about to have returned as Men shamefully deluded without concluding of any thing Yet when no better could be obtained the Turks still standing upon such hard terms the Embassadors by the appointment of the Senate concluded a Peace with the Turk whereof these were the chief Capitulations first That the Venetians should give unto Selâ—mus three hundred thousand Ducats one hundred to be presently payed and the other two hundred by equal portions in two years next following then That the Merchants Goods should be indifferently on both sides restored and lastly That such places of the Venetians as the Turk was already possessed of should still remain unto the Turks but that such Towns or places as the Venetians had taken in the Turks Dominion should be again forthwith restored For the first payment of the Mony the Turk was earnest thereby as by a fine for an offence committed to make this League unto him more honourable This Peace at Constantinople concluded the eleventh day of February in the year 1574 year 1574. was by the Decree of the Senate confirmed and afterwards the 13 of April following solemnly proclaimed in Venice to the great wonder of the other Confederates For the better satisfying of whom the Popes Nuntio with the Embassador of Spain were sent for into the Senate House And although there were many things that grieved the Venetians yet did they forbear all hard speeches and of that their moderation received so much the more honour as it is more difficult for an angry Man to overcome himself than others The Duke with calm and temperate Speech framed to the purpose declared unto them That Anger and Hope two evil Counsellors being set apart he had concluded a Peace with the Turk not for that he was desirous of the Turks friendship which what account it was to be made of he right well knew but for the love he bare to the State which was not only with loss but even with death it self to be maintained How he had been spoiled of the Kingdom of Cyprus he further declared and that the Venetian State grew every day weaker and weaker by the continual War and that therefore before it were by loss upon loss come to the uttermost of extremity they not able to maintain so heavy a War were to take some better course for the preservation of that which wasyet left of their Seigniory for that the safety of the Venetian State should at all times be a sure fortress and defence of the Christian Common-weal against all the furious attempts of the Enemy and uncertain events of time The Fame of this suddain and unexpected Peace was for the just and common hatred of the Christians against the Turks generally evil taken and the Venetians for the concluding thereof hardly spoken of as if they had betrayed the whole Christian Common-weal or at leastwise their Confederates For Men were for the most part of opinion that the Turks Peace would be but feigned and deceitful and that having gained time to set things in order according to his desire he would for the natural grudge he bare unto the Christians come to his old course and as he had always done break the League and take up Arms. Some said That the Venetians forsaken of their Friends and Confederates would in their own devices perish yet so as that their destruction would turn to the general harm of all Christendom and these Men were of opinion That in that case and against that Enemy a dangerous War was to be preferred before an uncertain and dishonourable Peace Nevertheless the Venetians besides that they for the present eased themselves of many an heavy burthen so have they thereby enjoyed the fruits of a long and happy Peace and found the same unto their State both wholsome and profitable until this day It was thought by the sequel of matters That Selymus was the more willing to have Peace with the Venetians that he might the better recover the Kingdom of Tunes and the strong Castle of Guletta from the Spaniards who with the Knights of Malta now gaped more after Tripolis and the other Port-towns holden by the Turks upon the Coast of Barbary than how to defend the Venetians their Confederates Thus with the loss of Cyprus and some part of the Venetian Territory in Dalmatia ended the mortal and bloody War betwixt Selymus and the Venetians In the Course whereof is well to be seen what great matters the united Forces of the Christian Princes were able to do against this most mighty Enemy if all discord and contention set apart they would in the quarrel of the Christian Religion joyn with heart and hand against him and fight the Battel of Christ Jesus Selymus now at Peace with them who before most troubled him to keep his Men of War busied shortly after converted his Forces against Iohn Vayvod of Valachia and so at length joyned all that Province to his Empire This
the Palatine of Valachia Transalpina that joyning those Forces to his own he might take Iohn the Vayvod and sending him in Bonds to Constantinople to place Peter his Brother Vayvod in his place The Palatine glad of this command and having raised his own power together with the Turks and the Hungarians swam over the River Moldavus having in his Army about an hundred and two thousand fighting Men a power not only sufficient to have driven the Vayvod out of Moldavia but also to have shaken a right puissant King in his Kingdom The Palatine in the midst of so great a strength little fearing and less regarding the suddain coming of the Vayvod suffered his Men with their Horses to lie disorderedly here and there dispersed in the large Meadows and Pastures all alongst the fair River side so the better to refresh themselves weary of their long travel In the mean time certain Scouts came to the Vayvod then at Dinner certifying him that the Enemy with an huge Army the certain number whereof they could not well descry was come over the River and now resting themselves had turned off their Horses into the rich Meadows thereabout in such disordered and careless manner as that they might with a small power be easily overthrown The Vayvod glad of this news forthwith sent before Sujercevius with his Cossacks and 5000 other light Horsemen more certainly to descry what the Enemy did with the manner of his lying and he himself with the rest of his Army followed fair and softly after Sujercevius with great silence approaching the Enemies Camp suddainly light upon the Enemies Scouts in number about 500 who enclosed before they were aware were taken every Man by the Cossacks and by them straightly examined of the state of their Army and Camp. Who for safegard of their Lives now in the Enemies power frankly confessed how that the Palatine lay securely there by resting his Army not so much for the refreshing thereof after his Travel as with greater strength to set upon the Vayvod with his fresh Souldiers and that in the Army were about seventy thousand Valachians thirty thousand Turks and three thousand Hungarians who now dispersed and sleeping in security might easily be overthrown Of all these things Sujercevius advertiseth the Vayvod requesting him with all possible speed to hasten his coming for the obtaining of a most notable and assured Victory he in the mean time lying close with his Men not far from the Enemy The Vayvod certified of all these things came without delay and forthwith commanded Sujercevius with his Men to give the onset upon the Enemy purposing himself with the rest of his Army on the other side to charge the disordered Camp in three places Sujercevius according as he had in charge with a great and terrible outcry suddainly set upon the secure Enemies who dismaid with the suddainness of the unexpect danger stood as Men astonished not knowing which way to flie or how to make resistance But whiles Sujercevius with his light Horsemen thus on the one side filled the Camp with tumult terror slaughter and fear behold even as a suddain Tempest cometh the Vayvod bearing all the disordered Camp down before him neither had the Enemies any means to flie having put their Horses a great way off from them into the rich Pastures but there taken unarmed were miserably slain In all the Camp was lamentation and mourning Death raging in every place with such fury that of so great an Army as of late passed the River few or non escaped more than the Palatine with Peter his Brother who by great chance with much ado getting Horses swam over the River and so came to the Castle of Brailovia in Valachia all the rest were slain and left to be of the Beasts of the Field and Birds of the Air devoured It was a most horrible spectacle to see the ground covered with the Bodies of the dead all stained with gore Blood and their Weapons of all sorts lying by them In the Camp were found great Riches all which the Vayvod gave unto his Souldiers and there staied four days to refresh his wearied Men. After that he with his victorious Army entred into Valachia the Palatines Country where he took many Castles and Towns 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 Country Towns and Villages before him as he went so that all that part of the Country of Valachia Transalpina was covered with Smoke and Fire to the terror of the Beholders The aged Fathers were in every place drawn forth to slaughter the young Babes were cut in pieces the Matrons and Virgins defiled and afterwards slain and in brief all the Cruelty that could be devised performed in the bloody execution whereof the Vayvod commended his Men perswading them in like manner still to prosecute the Victory and that the rest of their labours was all but for prey and booty for the enriching of themselves In this havock of all things it was told him That the Palatine with his Brother Peter the Men whom he most sought after were in the Castle of Brailovia not far off whereupon he forthwith marched thither with his Army The City of Brailovia standeth upon the River Danubius and had in it a Castle of some good strength defended both by the nature of the place and a strong Garrison of the Turks which Selymus had appointed for the keeping thereof as the Key of the Country not far from this City the Vayvod encamping his Army writ unto the Captain of the Castle forthwith to deliver unto him the Palatine with Peter his Brother his mortal Enemies who never wronged by him had invaded his Country and sought after his life and being overthrown in Battel were fled unto him which if he should refuse to do he threatned never to depart thence until he had to his further harm constrained him by force to yield them These Letters he sent by two Valachian Captives to be delivered unto the Captain of the Castle whereunto he returned answer by four Turks two of the City and two of his own Servants by whom he also sent ten great Shot and as many small with two Turkish Arrows and this Message For that I know thee to be the Servant of my dread Sovereign Selymus I regard thee and will not deny the same Men to be with me whom thou so much requirest But forasmuch as I understand that thou of late hast slain a great number of the Servants of the great Emperor who by his commandment were bringing Peter the Brother of the Palatine into Moldavia I therefore tell thee that except thou betime raise thy Siege I will feed thee and thy Followers with such Dishâ—s as these whereupon thou and thine Army gorged to the full shall all afterwards dangerously surfeit and cast Farewel This rough answer so much moved the Vayvod that he commanded hands
Marquess Villa presented him with a Bason of Gold valued at six thousand Ducats together with a Patent recounting at large the many famous Exploits which he had performed in their Service which they expressed with a stile so generous and obliging as may serve for a Record to transmit the Fame of his Merits to all Posterity Marquess Villa being departed from Candia the Captain-General recalled all his Forces from divers parts of the Archipelago which he had sent thither with the Soldiers wounded in the last Battle and being returned they brought with them great numbers of Pioniers and Workmen to labour in the Fortifications and Mines at the same time also the Captain-Pasha arrived at Canea bringing two thousand Janisaries withhim The Marquess St. Andrea Montbrun a Gentleman of the French Nation was transported to Candia by the General Proveditor Cornaro where being entred into the Charge and Office of Marquess Villa wanted nothing of the vigilance and circumspection of his Predecessour And therefore in the first place having visited all the Forts Out-works and Retrenchments of the Town ordered what was necessary for repair of the breaches and amended what was deficient in the most distressed Fortifications And though the Turks fired a Mine the 22 th of August at the point of the Fort St. Andrea which made a most dangerous breach yet it was so valiantly defended and so speedily repaired that the Enemy gained little or no advantage and all by the extraordinary diligence of this Marquess St. Andrea who passed whole months without uncloathing himself and as his nights were without sleep so his days consumed without repose applying himself personally to all places where was most of danger especially at the Fort of St. Andrea where he took up his constant Quarters The Turks now daily pressing the Town more nearly than before Skirmishes and Sallies were more frequent and more bloody so that about this time the Proveditor General Bernardo Nani applying himself with all earnestness in the performance of his Charge was slain by a Musket-shot in his head his death was much lamented by all being a Gentleman who was born as may be said in the Fleet having had his Education there and passed his youth in Wars and dangers for the safety and honour of his Country Girolamo Bataglia was elected by the Republick to succeed him in the Office whose death was also seconded by that of Francesco Bataglia Brother of the Duke of Candia being shot in the breast with a Musket-bullet and though he was sent thither to administer Justice to the People yet his zeal and courage carrying him to Martial Acts beyond his duty made a grave for him amongst the other Heroes and Worthies of that place The Turk approaching daily nearer with their Works infested very much the passage of Vessels to the Town and shot so directly into the Port that no Ship Galley or Bark could remain in any security from their Cannon to remedy which a small Redoubt was raised at Tramata which being well and strongly fortified served for a small Port under the shelter of which the lesser Vessels found some protection and was of great relief to the distressed City About this time the Popes Gallies with those of Malta arrived commanded by Fra. Vincenzo Rospigliosi the Popes Nephew who having not brought a greater number of people than what served to man their Gallies they were not able to spare many for defence of the Town The long continuance of this Siege and the same thereof noised through the whole World moved the heroick and gallant Spirits of our Age to descend into this Campus Martius this Field of War and give proofs of their Prowess and Valour in defence of the Christan Cause some being moved by a principle of vain-glory proceeding from the briskness of a youthful and aery Spirit and others from the sense of Devotion and fervour towards Religion amongst which none were more forward than some Gentleman of the French Nation as namely Monsieur La Fueillade alias Duke of Roanez with the Count St. Paul a young Cavalier to forward which design taking first the Licence and Benediction of their King they appointed their Rendezvous at Tolon where they listed two hundred Gentleman Cadets or younger Brothers who went in quest of Honour and not of Pay with four hundred ordinary Souldiers who expected their maintenance from the bounty of their Leaders The chief of whom was Monsieur La Fueillade and his Lieutenant the Chevalier De Tresmes Their whole Body was divided into four Bridgades The first commanded by Count St. Paul. The second by the Duke Dâ— Cardâ—â—ousse The third by the Count De Villa Maur. And the fourth by the Duke De Cheateau Tiery When these Persons of Honour and Courage arrived at Candia they found the City hardly beset and reduced to a strait and difficult condition for the Turks were advanced so near to the Fort of St. Andrea that the Souldiers within and without could cross their Muskets and reach Tobaco one to the other howsoever this breach was so well repaired with a good Palissado fortified with several Bonnets and a double Retrenchment on the Bastion it self and a third Retrenchment of squared stone withal that the courage of the Besieged being nothing abated by the many and furious assaults of the Enemy the Town still remained in a defensible posture and still capable with good Succours and Supplies to yield matter of imployment for several years to the Ottoman Forces These worthy Champions as I said being arrived moved with the sense of Religion and desire of glory to themselves challenged the priviledge of mounting the Guard of St. Andrea but that being already prepossessed by the Knights of Malta and other Officers of the place was refused to them Howsoever the Captain-General Morosini was pleased to gratifie them with the Guard of a small Chapel over that Bastion on the right hand of the breach a place of no less danger and therefore of no less honour than the other with which the Cavaliers being satisfied Monsieur St. Paul mounted the Guard one day at six a clock in the morning and continued there â—â—til the same hour of the day following during which time he lost his Major Dupre and Monâ—ieur De Marenval the latter of which had his brains knocked out with so violent a blow of a great shot that some pieces of his skull dangerously wounded the Sieurs De Chamilly and De Lare who were near to him and more maliciously did the Turks ply the stations of these new-come Guests than any others throwing Bomboes Granadoes Stink-pots and other sorts of artificial Fire without cessation into their Quarters notwithstandiug which this young Prince and Monsieur La Fueillade exposed themselves like common Souldiers animating their men more with their example than their words And now by this time by so many Works and removals of Earth by so many Traverses and Mines under ground and throwing up the
Pâ—sha of Temiswar Count Serini overthrows a Party of Turks and Tartars Zechâ—hyd revolts to Apafi Oseck The Bridge burned Quinque Ecclesiae taken by Serini Sigeth Besieged The Siege raised Claudiopolis yields it self to Apafi Count Pâ—ter Sâ—â—ini 〈◊〉 the Tuâ—ks in the Streights 〈…〉 The dâ—nger of Serini Serini maâ—eâ— known to the Eâ—peror his design against Kanisia Kanisia besieged The Dieâ— at Ratisbone The strength of the Christian Army Italy England Poland France Count Strozzi's Speech to the French King. Rebellion of the Beghs in Egypt Ibrahim Pasha sined and imprisoned A Dispute between the Mufti and a Shegh Predictions amongst the Turks The Grand Signiors aversion to Constantinople A small Seraglio by that name near Constantinople A Son born to the Grand Signior The Siege of Kanisia * Fifteen English Miles The 〈…〉 â—he 〈◊〉 Aâ—my 〈◊〉 Sâ—râ—zzi slain Serini's Reasons to fight with the Turks The German Residents Letter to Count Serini Montecuculi contrary to the opinion of Serini decâ—â—nes the Battel with the Turks Serini retireâ— from the Warâ— Serinsâ—â—ar taken Reflections on the disgrace of Serini Nitra tâ—ken by â—he Christians The Tâ—rks assault Soise Lewa taken The Pope recals hâ—s Forces from assistanâ—e of the Emperor The Pope supplies the Emperor with Money but not with men Count Soise marches to raise the Siege of Leventz The Turks before Lewa The Christian Army put themselves into Battalia Husaein Pasha routed and â—â—ed Refâ—ge deniâ—d them at Sâ—râ—gonium The Moldaâ—ians 〈◊〉 Valacâ—â—ans return home 〈…〉 Bâ—rcan Barcan burnt The Turks with part of their Army pass the Rab. The Rab swells with immoderate Rains. The Turks vain joy Signifies the Son of a Kul or Slave The defeat given the Turkish Army by the River Rab. Tac. lib. 1. The slâ—â—n on the Turks side Reasons why the Services of Montecuculi were accepted better than those of Serini Sedition in the Turkish Camp. Tac. in Vita Agricola The Grand Signiors hunting at Yamboli Vizier sends for the Princes of Moldavia and Valachia The Princeâ— of Moldavia and Valachia recalled to the Wars Fides Graeca or the honesty of a Greek The reasons which inclined both Parties to Peace The Hungarians oppose the Peace The Emperors Reasons for a Peace The French Army march homeward Serini's Death The Character of Sirini The Vizier sends for his Mother to Belgrade The Blazâ—ng Star. The â—ultâ—ns hatâ—ed to Coâ—sâ—antiâ—â—â—â—â— increases The Sultan seeks to destroy his Bâ—other The Vizier offers to depose the Tartar Chan. The Turkish Ambassadour departs Rumours of the People on occasion of stay of the German Ambassadour Mustapha Pasha's affectation and popularity * It is in the fashion of a Mace which the Turks wear at their Saddles The German Ambassadors Entrance Audiâ—nce given to the German Ambassador The Genoese make Peace with the Turk The Genoese received The Turks resolve to prosecute the War in Candia The G. â—iâ—nior paâ—sionately loves his Queen The Turks prepare for a War on Candia The G. Signior arrives at Constantinople Marquess Villa received into service of the Venetians The Speech of Marquis Villa to the Senate The Reasons why the German Ambassadour interposed not in behalf of Transylvania The German Ambassador's Audience with the Vizier An Ambassadour arrives from France Reflexions of the Turks on the â—mbassy of Monsieur De Ventâ—lay A strange â—â—â—idâ—nt befallen the French Captain of the Mâ—n of War. The French Embassadours second Audience The Grand Signiors Huntings The Nogay Tartar desires Lands of the Grand Signior Marquess Villa suâ—veys the Forts in Dalmatia Spalato 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clâ—ssa â—â—bâ—nico * Iune * Sabatai wâ—â—te a Letter to elâ—â—t one maâ—â—ut of every Tribe The Iews â—â—rupâ—e to say the head of Israel 1662 7. Arab. Prov. Arab. Prov. The course of life which Sabatai led after he turned Mahometan The manner of exchange of the Emperors and Turks Ambassadour The â—urks medâ—tate a new War. An Engagement near Canea Marquess Villa lands at the City of Câ—ndia The Venetians incamp The Turks assault them The Turks make another assault The Venetian Camp raised TheGreat Vizier arrives at Thebes Twelve Tâ—rkis◠〈◊〉 taâ—en The Vizier passes over into Candia By the number of Coftans is to be esteemed the honour the Turks bear to one Prince above the other The Polish Ambassadours Audience The Death of the Polish Ambassadour The Revolt of the Pasha of Balsora The disposition of the Turks Camp. The Batteries raised by the Turks The â—irst Mine blown up Two Sallies made by the Christians The Captain-General disarms his Gallies Five Mines the Christians sprang Attempts of the Turks on the side of Panigra Arrival of Gallies from the Pope and Malta Chevalier d'Harcourt An Agent arrives at Candia to treat with the Vizier The Turks assault Panigra The Turks fire a dreadful Mine The Turks spring another Mine Two Mines of the Christians Four Mines and a Sally of the Christians Two Mines of the Christians One Mine of the Christians * Which is their Triumph for Victory The G. Signior sends a Messenger to bring him certain information of the state of his Camp in Candia The Winter causes all Action to cease General Barbaro and Uvertmiller departed from the Army The deaths of Secretary Giavarina and Padavino Formality in making Ianiâ—aries in these days A Fight at Sea. The success of the Turks at Sea. Captain Georgio taken by tâ—e Turks The Turks resolve to make their passage by St Andrea A Sally made by the Christians Another Sally Marquess Villa returns into Italy Causes of Marquess Villa 's departure Marquâ—ss Villa's Speech Marquess St. Andrea visits the Works Some French Gentlemen Adventurers for honour arrive at Candia The Christians overthrow a battery of the Turks A Sâ—llâ— made by the French. The Dukes of Brunswick â—nd Lunenburg sent â—orces to râ—lieve Candia Count Waldeck 〈◊〉 â—f his wouâ—dâ— A Mine of an hundred and sixty Sacks of Powder fired by the Chrians The Christians sally on the side of Sabionera Katirgi-Oglé his original and life The Turks storm three Bastions at once The Female Court sent to Constantinople The Ianisaries jealous of the safety of the Sultans Brothers The Grand Signior displeased with Tobacco An Ambassador sent from Venice French 〈◊〉 â—f 〈◊〉 sail to Constantinople The Grand Signior sends a Messenger to the French King. Sir Daniel Harvey Ambassador from his Majesty A Relation of the state of Candia toward the end of this year The story of the false Reaux or Temins The Grand Signior designs to cut off his Brothers Tac. Lib. 6. The Turks storm again the Foâ—t of St. Andrea Succours sent out of Christendom The French Fleet loose from Tolon They arrive at Candia The French Forces landed A Council of War held in Candia The order of the Christian Army to make their Sally The Christians sally at the Gate St. George The Christians fall upon the Turks The Christian Army in confusion French Officers slain The French leaue the Town The Turks make an assault A Council