the hazard of a Battle to revenge the indignity of whose approach Osman who then lay sick in his Pavilion haveing notice Command Sinan Bassa and Mahumet Bassa should with all the Greek Soldiers and others to the number of 74000 should go out and meet the Enemy who by the craft of the forerunners of his Army drawing the Turks within his strengths had with them there a mortal Battle wherein 10000 of their Souldiers were slain and the two Bassa's in great confusion obliged to fly to the Camp leaving most of their Insigns and all their baggage as a prey to the Persians who hightned with this success advanced within sight of the Turks Camp sending a Herauld to the sick General to demand of him Battle of which accepting though not able to be there present when as Battle being joyned after a long and doubtful fight victory inclined to the Persians who in the end slew 20000 of the Turks and amongst the rest the Bassa's of Caramite and Trepezâ—nd and Sanzack of Brusia with five other Sanzacks and among the Prisoners were taken Amurath Bassa of Caramania and divers other of note Upon news of this bad success the Genral fearing to have his Army wasted to nothing by continual skirmishes in a strange Countrey having Fortified Tauris and made Giaffer Bassa of Tripolis Governour he was about to decamp when on a suddain the neighing of Horses the noise of Drums and Trumpets were heard which putting the Army into a great consternation and soon caused them in great confusion to run all to that side where they supposed the noise was when in the mean while Emir the Persian Prince on the other side without any sound of Trumpet or beat of Drum with 28000 Souldiers entered their Camp took 18000 Camels laden whom he sent away by 6000 of his Souldiers and then charging furiously upon such as he found insomuch that after a hard Battle fought 20000 Turks lay scattered on the Plain many of which were slain by their own Artillery which by Osmans Command being furiously discharged at the Armies the murthering shot made lanes before them without discerning between Friend and Foe but night coming on and the Persians weary with slaughter retired and were for a while faintly pursued by the Turks Osman lying all this while sick in his Pavilion sore afflicted with the Bloody Flux and hearing what havock the Persians had made died the grief of so great a loss hastening his end Yet was his death for a long space kept secret least thereby the Army should be discouraged which now was returning under the leading of Sinan or Cicala as some called him Bassa Osman in his Will having delivered to him the charge of the whole Army Yet the Persian Prince with 14000 Horse and Foot followed them at the heels still cutting of the straglers and had utterly destroyed them had not his design been discovered which obliged him to retreat with the loss of 3000 of his Men so that by long and tedious marches the Turks wasted Army arriving the Van after the publication of the Generals death were discharged all but a certain number retained who under the leading of Dâ—ut Chan a Renegado Persian were sent to the relief of Teflis which without any loss they performed Now the Castle built in Tauris much grieved the Persians to take which they used their utmost endeavour but it being strong of it self and defended by a strong Garrison their attempts proved unsuccessful When at the same time great mischief arose in the Kingdom of Persia for 10000 Turcomans a people bordering upon the Georgians and resolving to revenge themselves for the death of Emir Chan offered their service to the Persian Sophy under the leading of their two Captains Mahomet Chan and Calife Chan to whom the Sophy as a pledge of his love and their safety delivered Tamas his young Son whom they had no sooner got into their power but they proclaimed him King of Persia and in all hast marched towards Casbiu the Regal City in hopes to surprize it and seat young Tamas on his Fathers Throne of which the Sophy and his eldest Son having notice pursued hard after them when overtaking them at a place called Calisteza a dayes journey on this side Casbiu the Prince gave them Battle and after a dangerous and doubtful conflict put them to flight In which they being swiftly pursued the two rebellious Captains were taken and by the Kings Command had their heads stricken off young Tamas being likewise taken was sent Prisoner to the Castle of Cabaca those that escaped the Battle fled to Solyman Bassa of Babylon which put an end to the Rebellion Giaffer Bassa Governour of Tauris after the departure of the Turkish Army understanding that the Persian Prince was Levying a great Army to Besiege the City sent an Express to Sinon or Siculi Bassa to send him Aid for the defence of the City and Castle the which by reason of the flight of some and death of othersome of his men must otherwise fall into the hands of the Enemy now notwithstanding great preparation for that purpose were made they could not be put into the City by reason of the near approach of the Persian Army without manifest hazard of exposing them to the mercy of their Enemies Yet it so fell out that the Governour without any recruits maintained the City and Castle the Persians not being so urgent for the recovery of the same as was expected Upon notice of Osmans death Amurath chose Ferat Bassa once more his General who departing from Constantinople in the month of April 1586 and passed over into Asia where having compleated his Army at Sinas upon notice that Tauris was in danger he marched thitherward though with great caution the enemy should charge him at unawares and by reason of the dissensions arisen amongst the Persian Captains sent to oppose him and the Treason of Aliculican now alienated from his Prince and holding secret correspondence with the Turkish General he without any loss relieved Tauris and having caused a strong Fort to be built at Churchine near unto the said City and two others at Câ—y and Carn and left therein sufficient Garrisons and store of provision he sent succours to Teflis in Georgia and so with little or no loss returned to Erzirum By this time the Persian Prince who and Mahomet his father now grown old ruled the Kingdom had notice of the Treason of Aliculi Chau and Emanguli Chan whom he had drawn into his confederacy he prepared his Forces to march against them whereupon the latter submitted and was received into favour but howsoever it happened whether with his knowledge or not the Prince the chief glory of Persia sleeping in his Pavilion was by an Eunuch run through the body supposed to be done at the instance of Abas Miriza his younger brother to advance whom to the Persian Diadem Aliculi Chan had revolted from the obedience of the Sophy and plotted with the
laid open to the Christians who just as they were about to enter had notice that the Bassa of Buda whom Mahomet had threatned with the loss of his head if he suffered that City which he esteemed worth a whole Kingdom to be lost was coming to relieve it with twenty thousand Turks resolving to fight his way into it whereupon divers parties were sent out to skirmish and by retiring to draw the enemy into the danger of the Christian Army which project was not unsuccesseful for the resolute Bassa coming on between the hills of St. George and St. Thomas near to the Suburbs called the Ruscian City put his Army in order of Battle as did the Christians when in the mean while the Lord Paifi with his Hungarian horsemen fetching a compass about the hill on the one side and the Lord Swartzenburg with such horse as he had under his command on the other side so inclosed the Turks rear that they could not without great danger retire when as both Armies were orderly ranged the signal of battle was given the Turks without any great harm to the Christians discharged seventeen Pieces of Artillery after which with showers of Arrows and the smoak of the Harquibuses the Sky was darkned and in a trice not without great slaughter the battle was brought to the sword at what time Victory declared for the Christians the Turks being every where most miserably beaten down crying out for mercy and flying as they found opportunity and in the end the Bassa himself from his stand perceiving his Army in the rout and that the day was irrecoverably lost fled for his life and about midnight recovered Buda with not above twenty of his followers filling that City with the laments of such as had in the battle lost their friend The slain and those taken prisoners were fourteen thousand and the spoil of the Camp consisting of rich Pavilions Money Plate Ammunition fair horses provision Camels and the like was valued at 300000 Ducates part of which was sent to the Emperour part to the Arch Duke and part distributed amongst the Souldiers to every one according to their deserts The Turkish Army thus overthrown the Christians returned again to the siege when as the Count sent to Summon Alis Beg the Governour to surrender the City and that in consideration thereof he and all that were with him should be suffered to depart but the messengers finding the froward old man obstinate notwithstanding the great dearth that was then in the City he returned without effecting any thing upon which a terrible battery being placed against the lower City it thundred against the walls and Bullwarks so long that laying open a fair breach the Souldiers entred with such fury that bearing down all before them they upon the coming of the Marquess of Burgave with fresh Troops they possessed themselves of it driving the Turks into the Castle and upper City with great slaughter sparing in their rage none that came in their way yet the malitious Turks e'r their departure to deprive the Christians of the benefit they might reap by the spoil had by Trains laid for that purpose fired the building in several places so that inraged by the wind the flame could be hardly extinguished till it had laid most of the goodly building waste yet was this great Victory accompanied with sorrow for the death of the Count Mansfelt who by drinking cold Liquors after his great pains taken in the late battle fell into a feaver which turning to the bloody Flix deprived him of his life to the great grief of the Christian Princes who on his Courage and Conduct had reposed next to God the success of their Arms yet the Christians continued the siege nor was it long e'r the besieged lost Alis Beg their Governour who walking upon the wall to give directions in places of most danger had his arm struck off with a great shot of which he dyed when in his stead the Janizaries in Garrison chose the Bassa of Natolia who upon the overthrow of the Bassa of Buda had escaped into the City with a hundred horsemen when upon notice of the death of Count Mansfelt the Arch Duke came to the Camp who when he had well viewed the Army and the manner of the siege he assembled his chief Commanders to consult what was best to be done who after some debate resolved to give a generall assault which was maintained with great resolution but the besieged as obstinately defending their walls the Duke caused the Retreat to be sounded and then by his Espials understanding that the Turks near Buda were gathering together to relieve the besieged he commanded 8000 chosen horse speedily to march thither who a little before sunset setting upon them expecting nothing less made of them a great slaughter and taking a number of prisoners and amongst the rest the Sanzack of Copan returned again to the siege when as the besieged finding there was no hope of relief and that the famine was greivous amongst them the Governour overcome with such like difficulties and the continual cries of the Citizens and Souldiers at length consented to parly upon reasonable conditions so that in fine it was agreed that the Garrison and all the Citizens Turks should be sent with bag and baggage to Buda and in consideration whereof Strigonium the Metropolis of Hungaria which for the space of 52 years had groaned under the oppression of the Turkish Tyrants was delivered into the hands of the Arch Duke and the conditions with the Turks accordingly performed twenty Ships being for that purpose imployed by the space of two dayes after which the Duke sent 18 thousand to besiege Vicegrade otherwise called Plindenburg a strong Castle of the Turks scituate upon Danubius between Strigonium and Buda which they took and in their march brought such a fear upon Buda that had not the Bassa shut fast the Gates most of the Inhabitants had fled over the Danudius During this good success of the Imperialists the Prince of Transylvania was not idle but with an Army of his best Souldiers setting upon thirty thousand Turks who as unbidden Guests were coming to his wedding which he was then solemnizing with Maria Christina daughter to Charles the late Arch Duke of Austria he gave such a welcome that few of them returned to tell the news after which prosecuting his victory he took Lippa a strong Town with divers other Towns and Castles of the Turks out of which they had for a long time annoyed the Countries round about them about the same time the Lords Herbenstien Lucowitz and Eckenburg incountered with the Bassa of Bosna as he was returning with ten thousand Turks and Tartars from the taking of Babotzka whom after a hard fight they overthrew putting most of them to the sword the Bassa himself upon a swift horse hardly escaping These successefull proceedings of the Christians so inraged the Turk that imputing several of the disgraces that had happened to
dye and lose his Empire the empty name only of Emperor accompanying him to his grave And thus much for Osman Tenth Emperor of the Turks CHAP. XXI Mustapha Reinthronized with an Account of his proceedings till his second Deposing MVstapha having as has been related caused his nephew young Osman to be strangled in prison he made several new Bassas displacing such as had been made by his Predecessor least getting power they should revenge the death of Osman nor were there some wanting that both desired and attempted it especially Mechmet Bassa Governour of Erzirum in â—â—sia During the consternation of the Asian Turks at the death of their Emperor putting them in fear the Empire would be dissolved the Persian King was not idle but with a powerful Army recovered most places taken from him by the Turkish Sultans and the like might have been effected by the Christians had they not been at discord amongst themselves so that that much dreaded Empire would have been reduced into a small circumference which many afterwards though too late repented The new Sultan altogether governed by his Imperious Officer not yet supposing himself fast in the Throne consented to the making away the brethren of Osman and children to Achmat the late Emperor in order to Execute which bloody purpose the Capi-Aga or Major Domo of the Seraglio went to their Lodgings with a purpose to strangle them but the children crying out several of the Pages run to their rescue and falling upon the messengers of death slew the Capi-Aga and evilly intreated the others that attended him and thereupon sent word to the Janizaries and Spahis who approved of their proceedings commanding the body of the Aga to be hanged up in the Hippodrome as a terrour to those that should attempt the like for the future and in a rage went to the Pallace demanding Justice on them that had Councilled so wicked a purpose but the new Emperor who differed not much from an ideot solemnly protested he was altogether ignorant of the matter and if such command were procured it was gotten by sabreption which Protestation was easily believed yet Darut Bassa and the Emperors mother were vehemenly suspected when to appease the angry souldiers the Bassa was displaced from the Viziership Hazein Bassa placed in his stead and the Emperors mother hid in the Pallace till the Tempest was over which could be no otherwise allayed then by a showr of Gold Chequins After which the new Vizier protesting either to reform the affairs of the Empire or fall a Sacrifice did a little restore the face of Justice by making examples of some and terrifying others with threats insomuch that he was looked upon as a man fit for those boisterous times nor was that his only aim but he resolved when once settled in his place to remove Mustapha and place Morat brother to Osman in the Imperial seat not thinking himself safe under a man that was altogether governed by an imperious woman desirous of Rule and was no further capable of the passions of love and hate then they were infused into him During these troubles of the Ottoman Empire the Duke Sbaraskie lay upon the Frontiers and would not advance to ratifie the peace between the King his master and the new Sultan till such time as Sir Thomas Rowe his Majesty of Great Brittains Ambassador then resident at the Port had given him his faith for his security which done the Duke advanced and upon his arrival at the Port was magnificently entertained by the new Vizier yet e'r any thing was absolutely concluded a matter happened which had like to have turned all into nothing for on the 17 of June 1622 Prince Coreskie who had been taken in the late war between Osman and Sigismund King of Poland was strangled in prison at Constantinople which put all into murmur and deep consideration to what intent it was done when so great a ransom might have been had for his release but most believed it was done out of a Politick end for that the Prince being a mortal enemy to the Turks if he should have been set at liberty his restless nature would not have suffered the peace to have continued long inviolable yet the urgent affairs of Poland so requiring the Peace was concluded in nineteen Articles much to the advantage of the Polonian King the Turks greatly fearing at that juncture the Christians uniting against them might dismember their Empire The new Vizier by this time having won the affections of the Souldiers resolved upon his former purpose of Deposing Mustapba and setting up Morat Brother to Osman then a child and the better to forward his purpose he caused the Aga of the Janizaries and several Officers of the Court to be seized as contrivers of the death of Coreskie whom himself had commanded to be strangled which raised another Tumult for the Janizaries running furiously to the Court demanded their Captain whom the Bassa had ordered to be put to death and had done great mischief had he not been delivered nor were they so contented but peremptorily demanded the head of the Visier solemnly protesting to facrifice him for the affront done to their order upon which escaping through the Emperors Garden he took boat and passed over into Asia whereupon they sacked his house and found therein great store of Treasure they likewise demanded the heads of several others but in the end all was hushed yet they proceeded to the Election of a new Visier making choice of one Mustapha a man of a soft nature and easily ruled who scarcely durst do Justice for fear of offending any man which proceeding of the insolent Janizaries nevertheless caused the wiser sort of men to retire from office and imployment and to the insufficient daily change and ruine for the Emperor durst not move but by the directions of the Souldiers whose creature he was so many insolencies were frequently committed and all Asia greatly endangered to be lost for at Bagdat antiently Babylon the Captain of the Janizaries killed the Bassa burnt the Mufti and gave his daughter in Marriage to one Assan Beg pretender to an Antient Inheritance of a bordering Province to cantonize that part nor Asia only stood in suspence what to do but the Dominions of the Turkish Sultan in Africk greatly wavered as doubting whom to obey On the 22 of August an Extraordinary Ambassador from Bethlehem Gabor Prince of Transylvania arrived at the Port who amongst other instructions had order to excuse his master and to declare the reasons why he had made peace with the Emperor without the knowledge of the Sultan which were that the war had continued three years in the Kingdom of Hungary and had so wasted the Country that it was impossible for him to stay longer in the field unless he would have exposed his Army to those wants that would have reduced him to have accepted of an inglorious peace or to have suffered a great part of his Souldiers to perish for want and
ILLUSTR PRINCEPS SULTAN MAHOMET HAN MAG TURCARUM IMPERATOR C. Sultan Mahomet Han the present Emperour of the Turks Aged 34 years c THE HISTORY Of the TURKS DESCRIBING The Rise and Ruin of their first Empire in Persia the Original of their Second CONTAINING The Lives and Reigns of their several Kings and Emperors from Ottoman its first Founder to this present Year 1683. BEING A Succinct Series of History of all their Wars Forreign and Domestick Policies Customs Religion and Manners with what else is worthy of Note in that great Empire LONDON Printed by Ralph Holt for Toomas Passenger upon London-Bridge William Thackery in Dack-Lane and Toomas Sawbridge in Little-Brittain 1683. TO THE READER SInce the late Alarms the Port has given to Christendom I have thought it both Profitable and Convenient to describe the Original of that Great Empire which now spreads over near half the World and to demonstrate by what means it aspired to its Immensity and by what Policies maintained as in the Series of this History it is fully and at large discoursed not so only but the Turks various Successes in their Wars at Land and Sea Including their Religious Customs Manners and extent of that Empire as it remains at this day being deduced from the Original of the first and second Empire for the space of six hundred years attended with Circumstances too tedious here to be recited So that all may plainly comprehend how easily those Infidels might at first have been hindred from Incroaching and how often had not the Divisions of the Christians upon which they founded their Empire they might have been brought low but as God in whose Eternal Wisdom all Affairs are centered has not of late permited and should they extend their Arms as at this time they threaten yet a hearty Unanimity in the Empire and the Kings and Princes of Christendom may through God's blessing impede the growing Greatness of this great Monarch and hinder the Effusion of Christian Blood Here you have an impartial Account of their Rise and Ruin in the first Empire and the Continuation of the second to this present time Faithfully Collected which I hope will prove to the Satisfaction of the Ingenious Reader which is all desired by Your Friend I. S. The Heads of each Chapter or Division contained in the History directing to the Revolutions of the Turkish Empire and Reigns of their several Kings and Emperors CHAP. I. THE Original of the Turks according to the opinion of Sundry Learned Authors with the means by which they acquired their first Monarchy in Persia together with the Reign and Death of Tangrolipix their First King Page 1. Part 1. CHAP. II. The Reign and memorable Atchievements of Axan the Second Turkish King or Sultan of Persia The Division of the Turkish Monarchy and the Expedition of the Christians to the Holy Land in order to regain it from the Turks page 8. part 1. CHAP. III. The Reign of Solyman Son to Cutlu-Muses his Wars with the Christians Their taking Jerusalem from the Infidels their various success in the Holy Land against the Turks Sarazens c. p. 11. part 1. CHAP. IV. The second Expedition of the Western Princes for the recovery of the Holy Land p. 28. part 1. CHAP. V. The ruine of the Turks first Kingdom in Asia by the Tartars p. 33. part 1. CHAP. VI. The rise of the powerful Empire of the Turks under Othoman it's first Founder with his Life and Actions p. 57. part 1. CHAP. VII The Life and Actions of Orchanes otherwise Urchan Second King of the Turks in Asia p. 68. part 1. CHAP. VIII The Life and Actions of Amurath the First of that Name and Third King of the Turks p. 74. part 1. CHAP. IX The Life of Bajazet the First of that Name and Fourth King of the Turks his Wars and Captivity p. 80. part 1. CHAP. X. The Life of Mahomet the First of that Name Fifth King of the Turks and the Restorer of their Kingdom ruined by the Tartars p. 87. part 1. CHAP. XI The Life of Amurath the Second of that Name and Sixth King of the Turks his Wars Victories and Defeats p. 93. part 1. CHAP. XII The Life of Mahomet the Second of that Name Seventh Monarch and the First that took upon him the stile of Emperor of the Turks who for his many Victories was Surnamed Great p. 108. part 1. CHAP. XIII The Life of Bajazet the Second of that Name and Second Emper or of the Turks his memorable Exploits Victories and Death p. 132. part 1. CHAP. XIV The Life of Selymus the First of that Name Third Emperor of the Turks his bloody Reign and woful Death p. 153. part 1. CHAP. XV. The Life of Solyman the First of that Name and Fourth Emperour of the Turks who for his many great Exploits or rather lofty Carriage was Sirnamed the Magnificent p. 181. part 1. CHAP. XVI Selymus the Second of that Name and Fifth Emperor of the Turks his Life and Actions p. 45. part 2. CHAP. XVII The Life Reign and Memorable Transactions of Amurath the Third of that Name and Sixth Emperor of the Turks p. 73. part 2. CHAP. XVIII The Life of Mahomet the Third of that Name Seventh Emperor of the Turks p. 123. part 2. CHAP. XIX The Life of Achmat the Eighth Emperor of the Turks and first of that Name p. 162. part 2. CHAP. XX. Mustapha the First of that Name Ninth Emperor of the Turks his Life and Actions p. 196. part 2. CHAP. XXI The Life and Actions of Osman the First of that Name Tenth Emperor of the Turks p. 198. part 2. CHAP. XXII Mustapha reinthronized with an Account of his proceedings till his second deposing p. 214. part 2. CHAP. XXIII The Life and Reign of Morat or Amurath the Fourth of that Name and Eleventh Emperor of the Turks p. 222. part 2. CHAP. XXIV The Life of Sultan Ibrahim the Twelfth Emperor of the Turks p. 256. part 2. CHAP. XXV The Reign of Mehomet or Mahomet the Fourth of that Name and Thirteenth Emperor of the Turks who now Reigneth p. 272. part 2. CHAP. XXVI A Description of the Power Policies Forces Revenues Religion and Greatness of the Ottoman Empire and by what means it subsists and maintains its Grandeur c. p. 378. part 2. FINIS THE HISTORY OF THE TURKS DESCRIBING The Rise and Ruin of their first Empire in Persia the Original of their Second CONTAINING The Lives and Reigns of their several Kings and Emperours from Ottoman its first Founder to this present Year 1683. BEING A Succinct Series of History of all their Wars Forreign and Domestick Policies Customs Religion and Manners with what else is worthy of Note in that Great Empire WITH A Continuation of the History to this present time Containing the Remarkable Siege of Vienna for Sixty dayes the raising of it by the Imperial Forces and the King of Poland The Ruine of their Army before it and a Second Fight
a second Expedition having recruited his huge Army for that purpose But what Man willeth God disposeth whilst he was intent upon the matter falling sick of a Feaver or Ague after three sits he dyed Death Conquering him who in a short space Conquered fifty intire Kingdoms This mighty Tartar being Dead his great Kingdom divided amongst his Sons by their jarring and discontent of the Nobility was soon after rent into pieces most of it falling into the hands of the Turks who at this day possess it And now Mahomet winning all the Dominions his Father held in the greater Asia from the Tartars resolved to recover the rest which his three Brothers Isa Solyman and Mnsa had seized on in Europe and the lesser Asia whereupon assembling all his Forces he marched to Lâ—pacllum near to which Isa being incamped he sent to offer him Caramania and several other Kingdoms in the lesser Asia though indeed they were not his to give being possessed by their rightful Princes whom Tamerlain had re-possessed them off which offer refused from a younger Brother whereupon a bloody Battle insued in which Isa was overthrown and for the preservation of his Life forced to fly to Emanuel the Greek Emperor In this Battle were blain the two famous Basas Eine and Tenurtases of which overthrow Mahomet sent to certifie his Brother Solâ—â—â—â—n then in Constantinople after which he marched with his Army to Prrsa and received under his Protection all the Countries adjoyning and now growing strong he â—eselved to brook no Rival in his Fathers Kingdoms when on the other hand Solyman his Elder Brother hearing what he had done and knowing him to be of an aspiring Temper thought it not Convenient to suffer him longer so Triumphantly to proceed whereupon by the advice of his Grave Counsellors he sent for his Brother Isa then at Constantinople and making him general of his Army gave him Orders to pass over into Asia and curb the Pride of his aspiring Brother Isa glad of this opportunity to revenge his own Injuries sustained in loosing his Dominions obeying his Brother Solyman's Commands entered Mahomet's Dominions and there with Fire and Sword began his Progress which Mahomet understanding came against him and having overthrown his Forces put him to a second flight into Carramania where in obscurity of the Wounds he received in Battle and grief for his foul defeat he dyed Solyman hearing of the defeat prepared a great Army to invade Asia which made Mahomet retire into the Country of Amasa as doubting the affections of his People by reason the Kingdoms of Bajazet of Right appertained to Solyman as Flder This retireing gave Solyman opportunity to advance to the Walls of Prusâ—s which City he besieged and had it presently yielded except the Castle which upon the Interceptions of Mahomet's Letters was likewise surrendered but upon the approach of Mahomet with a great Power doubtful to keep what he had got he with all his People retired to the Straights of Neapolis where he defended himself right valiantly against the assaults of his Brother who by reason of the Intemperance of the Weather and a Letter framed by Alis-Bassa that there was a Conspiracy amongst his Captains to deliver him up to Solyman he retired Whilst these things were acting Musa being set at Liberty by the Tartars came to Mahomet's Camp was of him joyfully received when after some Discourse it was greed that Musa with an Army should pass over the Euxin Sea into Europe and whilst Solyman was busie in Asia seize upon his Country which Expedition he undertaking and making Isfender Prince of Castomonia his Friend and afterward the Prince of Valachia by marrying his Daughter he soon prevailed with the Governours of the chief Cities to Revolt from Solyman when entering Hadrianople he caused himself to be invested with Royal Robes and as King of the Country sent forth his Decrees which Solyman hearing of as he lay at Ancira in Asia passed the Straights of Bosphorus with all the Forces he could raise upon whose Departure Mahomet recovered what ever he had won in Asia Solyman being come into Europe Musa prepared to oppose him and both Armies coming in sight of each other Musa so dealt with Solyman's Captains that they revolted which he perceiving fled accompanied only with Caratze-Beg Cara Muchil and one Country Turk whom they took with them as their Guide whose persidiousness brought them to Destruction for pretending to lead them through the by-ways all Night he misnaming places brought them in the Morning near to Musa's Camp when giving Notice to the Rusticks they set upon them and having killed the two Captains took Solyman and delivered him to Musa who immediately caused him to be strangled whose Body by his Command was carried to Prusa and there buryed by his Ancestors Solyman being Dead Musa took upon him the Goernment of the Turkish Kingdom in Europe as had been agreed between him and his Brother Mahomet but e'r he was settled he began to Tyrannize beyond measure over his Subjects which caused many of his great Captains to leave him and amongst the rest Eurenosie feigning himself Blind found means to depart to Constantinople from whence he wrote to Mahomet then in Asia giving him an Account of his Brothers proceedings and soliciting him to pass over with his Army whose Council Mahomet taking making first a League with Emanuel the Greek Emperor he entered Europe with his Army But by the over eager pursuit of his Army after the Vaunt Couriers of Musa's Army his Orders being broken he was put to flight and forced to repass the Seas into Asia leaving behind him a great part of his Army who were spoiled by the Enemy Mahomet thus foiled and desirous of Revenge resolved once more to try his Fortune and thereupon drawing to his Assistance Dulgader Ogly who sent his Son with great Forces to serve him in his War he repassed the Euxin and by the Council of Eurenosis having procured the revolt of Jegides-Bassa Barack-Beg and Sinon-Beg 3 of Musa's great Captains who came over to him with 3000 valiant Turks he resolved to give his Brother battle the which being joyned Musa by the revolt of other Commanders during the heat of fight was overthrown taken and by the Command of Mahomet strangled receiving therein the same measure he had dealt to his Brother Solyman After this overthrow of Musa Mahomet proceeded to take possession of his Kingdom the which whilst he was doing news came that the Carramanian King spoiled his Countries in Asia and had burnt his great City of prusa which being a frontier City was still exposed to the miseries of War whereupon Mahomet setling his Affairs in Europe as necessity would permit passed into Asia and falling like a tempest upon the Country of Carramama took Aspropolis Despoâ—opolis and Hierapolis laying hard Siege to Iconium which caused the Carramanian to send his Embâ—â—â—dors to treat a Peace the which by reason of the great â—oods of Rain that
at the self same time satisfie the Expectation of his Valour and of his Treason but Sybeius the Governour of Damasco dealt otherwise for entering over-thwart the Ranks in the right Wing of the Turks Army he with his Mamalukes Charged with such fury that having made great slaughter of the Asian Horsemen they broak in amongst them like a devouring Tempest bearing down all before them till they came to the Insigns in the midst of the Wing Neither could Mustapha the Beglerbeg nor Imbrahor Bassa with all their Forces withstand him or restrain the Flight of their Soldiers so that cutting in pieces the right Wing he resolutely thrust in between the Battle of the Janizaries and the Pentioners and there made such lamentable Slaughter that the whole Army was in great fear for Selymus by the breaking in of Sybeius was divided from his Footmen in whom he reposed his greatest trust and now the Janizaries hardly charged by Gazellesâ— who following the Fortune of Sybeius had set upon the Front of the Enemies Battle the Asian Horsemen also put to the worst found no means how again to restore the disordered Battle In this Confusion Sinan Bassa came in with the Squadron of Horse under his Command who had been but lightly Skirmished with by Cayerbeius he stayed the Fury of the Mamalukes whereby the Turks taking fresh Courage soon after wrung the Victory out of their Hands for the great Artillery being by the Commandment of Selymus discharged amongst them by the terrible Thundering thereof their Horses were so troubled that they could not well guide them neither could their Riders themselves though they were men of undaunted Courage prevaile being on every side oppressed with the multitude of their Enemies yet in that disaster nothing dismayed setting themselves close together they brake through the midst of their Enemies with great slaughter of the European Horsemen and Pentioners and so with speed fled towards the Camp and City of Aleppo after whom followed Sinan Bassa with the swiftest Horse so that the News of the overthrow being known to Compson the Sultan he indeavoured what he could to stay the flight of his Men but the press being great and the Turks pursuing hard after them making great slaughter every one shifting for himself in that general Calamity without Respect to the Sultan he was overborn in the Press and there by reason of the weight of his Armour and great Age not able to relieve himself was troden to Death who after wards being found amongst the slain was laid to the view of all People that they might not flatter themselves with his being alive and so on his behalf fight more obstinately for the future This great Battle cost Selymus 30000 men and the Egyptians few less amongst which there fell 1000 Mamalukes and was fought on the seventeenth of August Anno 1516. After which Selymus received the City of Aleppo into his obedience the Mamalukes being departed thence to Damasco after whom he likewise sent Jonuses Bassa and followed himself with all the Army but before his Arrival they were departed to Cair and in a full Assembly chose Tomombeius a Circassian born Sultan in the stead of Campson Gaurus who took speedy Care for providing all things necessary to defend his Countries from the Power of the Turks mustering great Companies of such of his Slaves as he thought fit for the War as likewise several Moors and Arabians His Neighbours hiering certian Persons for great Rewards to Travel through the Arrabian Deserts into Mesopotamia and so to Hysmale the Persian King with the Letters earnestly requesting him to invade the Turks Dominions in Asia the less or with all speed to break into Comagena and so to inclose Selymus with both Armies as he lay in the Borders of Judea and by that means greatly destress him by reason he had no Fleet at Sea to relieve him with Provision and by that means might revenge himself and prevent his Territories from Invasion for the future Whilst these things was doing Sinan Bassa with considerable Forces passing through part of Arabia seized upon the City of Gaza of which Gazelles having notice posted thither with 6000 Mamalukes and a considerable number of Arabian Adventurers thinking to surprize the Bassa but he having notice of his approach went to meet him with all his Forces So that both Armies incountering the Egyptians after a Bloody fight being over-powred by numbers and sore Gauled with Harqucbuss Shot left the fight and fled towards Cair but whilst the Turks were departed on this Expedition the Citizens of Gaza had plundered their Camp supposing them to be retired for Fear and discomfited 2000 Turkish Horses sent by Selymus to the Aid of Sinan Bassa who retreating were almost slain by the wild Arabs and had certainly all perished had they not fortunately met with Juleb Governour of Achaia sent with another Power yet the Arabians flocking about them greatly annoyed them with their Shot from the Hills not giving them any time to rest and such through weakness or for to seek Provision stragled from the Army and were cut off so that had not Imbrahor Bassa met them out of Syria they had never passed alive through those Desarts for the Arabians as men living upon spoil still pursued them and in a dispersed manner were continually hovering over their Army yet long they had not marched e'r they met with Selymus who with the remainder of his Army was marching towards Gaza when having notice from those that had been put to flight by the Citizens thereof what had befell them he verily believed that Sinan Bassa and all his men were either slain or taken Prisoners till such time as he was by the Syrian Scouts informed to the contrary at which he not a little rejoyced yet the Arabians daily molested his Army Insomuch that he was inforced to place his Harquebusiers and most of his Artillery in the Rear with order to Charge them as they saw occasion and so in that Order he marched till he came to Jerusalem which was then altogether ruinated and defaced from whence after having viewed the holy Sepulcher kept by a Company of poor yet devout Christians who payed Tribute for that priviledge to the Sultan of Egypt and having made his offering and some miles distant met with Sinan Bassa who having put to Death the Authors of the revolt of that City and Exacted a great sum of Money of the rest came forth to meet him whom he bountifully rewarded giving to the Captains Garments of Silk and to the rest rewards according to their Demerits After he had refreshed his Army at Gaza for the space of four days he leaving a Garrison therein passed over the Dangerous Desolate and unpeopled Sands which at many times moved by the Wind worked like a rough Sea and rising in the Air hindred the sight of the weary Passingers but such was the good fortune of Selymus that a little before he entered them such store of Rain
Sclavonian Tongues this following Epitaph Hâ—â— Mâ—ximus adsum Selymus qui orbem Domâ—i non Bellâ— retinquo c. In English thus Lo here I lye great Selymus who held the world in fear The World I leave yet not the Wars which I seek tho not here Not Fortunes chance nor Victors Hand could take from me the Spoils And tho my Bones lye Buryed here my Ghost seeks Bloody Broils CHAP. XV. The Life of Solyman the first of that Name and fourth Emperor of the Turks who for his many great exploits or rather Lofty Carriage was Sirnamed the Magnificent SElymus being dead his Death was Concealed by Ferhaâ—es the only Bassa present at his Departure till such time as Solyman came from Magnesia lest the Souldier but especially the Janizaries should have Spoil'd and Plundered the Merchants-Strangers residing in the great City of Constantinople as is usual with them in Interregnums as they call them which are accounted from the Death of the proceeding Emperor to the time the Succeeding Emperor is presented to be proclaimed by the men of War but such was the Incredulity of Solyman that knowing his Fathers cruel Nature Jealous apprehension of his intent to Aspire to Empire for which he had often been in danger of his Life could not believe what he most desired till he had it certified from all Hands upon which with more then ordinary speed he hasted to Constantinople and there being met by the Great Bassas and the Aga of the Janizaries he was lead into the mid'st of the men of War drawn up for that purpose when as the Aga or chief Captain with a loud Voice said Behold your emperor upon which immediately followed an Universal Shout succeeded with the Joyful Acclamation of Longlive the great Emperor Solyman which consent of the men of War is to the Turkish Emperors the greatest Assurance of their safe Establishment in their Empire and so in great Triumph they brought him into the Royal Pallace and placed him in his Fathers Seat Anno 1520 at what time Charles the fifth was chosen Emperor of Germany The Janizaries by this means disappointed of the Spoil of the Goods belonging to the Jewish and Christian Merchants in Lieu thereof received of the new Emperor great Sums of money and had during his Reign their wage Augmented upon the Death of Selymus Gazeles whom he had made Governour of Syria revolted from Solyman and drew after him the remaining power of the Mamalukes seizing upon several Cities but being Fought with by Ferates Bassa sent against him with a great power he after a long and Bloody Fight was Slain and his forces put to Flight upon which all the Cities of Syria were again reduced to the Turkish obedience And now Solyman desirous to get himself a Name by the Counsel of Pyrrhus-Bassa his Tutor resolved to bend his forces against the Christians who by Reason of the Dissensions amongst themselves lay open to his Invasion a fatal over-sight which ever gave the Ottoman Emperors the opportunity to inlarge their Dominions on the Borders of Christendom whereupon raising a great power and enteriung Hungaria he took Belgrade almost without resistance against which in vain Mahomet the Great Amurath and Bajazet had lost 500000 Men Belgrade strongly Garrisoned he dispersed part of his Army and returned to Constantinople making great preparations for Sea against the Spring as having an Eye upon the famous Island of Rhodes of which the Rhodians not being Ignorant chose for their great Master Philippus Villerius a man of great Wisdom and Courage then following the French Court but upon notice thereof took Shipping at Marcelles and arrived safe in the Port of the City Rhodes tho Solyman had sent out Cortug Ogly a famous Pirate of the Turks with several Gallies to intercept them whereupon at his arrival he was installed by the Knights of the Order and Citizens with great Triumph and more then ordinary expressions of Joy Solyman not aâ—â—ering his Determination yet desirous to know how the Rhodians stood affected and to learn all that was possible of their number and the Strength of the City sent divers insinuating Letters with Superscriptions of his Thundering Titles to the great Master of which this is one viz. Solyman by the Grace of God King of Kings Lord of Lords greatest Emperor of Constaminople and Trepezond most Mighty King of Persia Arabia Syria Egypt Lord of Asia and Europe Prince of Mecha and Aleppo Ruler of Jerusalem and Master of the Universal Sea to Philippus Villerus Lilladamus great Master of Rhodes c. But neither these thumping Titles nor his Threats and Promises could move the great Master to hearken to his Request which was that he would become his Tributary and to deliver into his possession the City and Island so that finding his Expectations Frustrated and that his Name was not so terrible as he supposed after many Letters had passed and repassed he caused a Fleet of 200 Gallies to be furnished with all things necessary for the siege of that strong city of which the great Master being Advertised was not wanting on his part to put all things in order for making a most resolute defence causing Watch and Ward to be kept in every Street and the great Artillary to be planted upon the Walls and Bulwarks opening all the Armories of the City and furnishing every man with Weapons appointing to each his Station there to be ready when occasion required his Service and then taking a General Master of such as were fit for Service he found about 5000 resolute men amongst whom were six hundred Knights of the order each of them capable of Commanding a vast Army as likewise 500 Souldiers of Crâ—â—â— there were come thither for fear of the Turks a number of Villagers who served to Sink Sounds to Countermine the Enemy and to cast up Rampires c. Things thus ordered the great Master calling together his Commanders and Soldiers incouraged them in a most Christian-like manner to fight boldly against the Enemies of Christ and rather to dye in the defence of their Religion then to submit themselves to the Tyraâ—my of the Barbarous Infidels putting them in 〈◊〉 of the Valour of their Ancestors and of the aid they were to expect from the Christian Princes c. Which Sâ—eeâ—h so Animated the Commanders and Souldiers that they desired nothing more then to shew their prowess to the World By this time the Turks Gallies were put to Sea and about twenty being the forerunners of the Fleet for many Days braved the Rhodians before their own Port whereupon the Great Master called a Council to know whether they should be Fought with or not to procure which the Chancellor a man of Admirable Courage earnestly Laboured but the deâ—andents being but few and therefore the smallest loss at Sea tho they should gain the Victory might be a means to Weaken the City yet at length it was resolved upon that they should be permitted to Land in any
to invade several Towns in Hungary who upon his Arrival took Temeswar and Zolnock which Queen Isabel perceiving and that the Turk contrary to his Faith plighted daily incroach upon her Territories whose power she was not in a capacity to repel by force she agreed with King Ferdinand to resign her and her Sons Title to the Kingdom of Hungary in consideration of Cassovia and a yearly pension of 100000 Ducats After which the King recovered most part of the Kingdom from the Turks and for the better keeping thereof as some say caused George Bishop of Veradium a great favorite of Solymans though by Birth a Hungarian to be murthered in his own House Upon which the Bassa of Buda drawing together what Forces be could Besieged Agria but after the loss of many of his best Souldiers he gave over the siege Henry succeeding his Brother Francis in the Kingdom of France and desirous to molest the Emperor sent the Lord Avomont to incite Solyman to wast the Coast of Italy whereupon he sending a great Fleet in the Tyrrenan and Tuscan Seas wasted the Coast of Calabria Sâ—cilia Majorca Sardinia Elba Corsica and Cerbe the Frontiers of the Emperours Dominions and the same year viz. anno 1554. Solyman incited thereto by Roxolana once his Slave and Concubine but now his imperious Wife and by the Treacherous insinuation of Rustan Bassa who had Married Chameria her Daughter by Solyman caused his Son Mustapha the chief hope of the Othâ—man Family begot on a Sâ—yrcassian Woman to be strangled in his Pavilion without suffering him to clear himself of what had been falsly laid to his charge during his absence the which barbarous cruelty when Tzihunger Roxolana's Son by Solyman whom she purposed to raise to the Empire after his decease and for that purpose had procured the death of Mustapha came to know he had detested his Fathers cruelty with his Dagger killed himself and fell down dead upon his Brothers dead body nor was Solyman in safety when the matter came to be once known for the inraged Souldiers with their drawn Swords after they had killed a great number of those that came thither to fetch the Riches in Mustaphaes Tent came to his Pavilion Threatning him with present Death and after many reproaches were hardly appeased swearing at their departure if the Accusers of Mustapha were not brought to light they would nevertheless kill him when to satisfie them in their demands he deprived Rustan Bassa of all his Honours taking from him the seal whereof he had the keeping and delivered it to Achomates Bassa and Rustan commanded to leave the Camp upon pain of Death but not long after by the means of his Mother-in-Law who had by the means of a Jew bewitched Solyman with her charms he was again restored and to make way for him Achomates who had stept up into his places of Honour by Solyman's command in the Divano causelesly was strangled Whilest these things were doing Haly Bassa having for a long time besieged Zigeth defended by Marcus Horworth a valiant Captain was beaten off by Polviller and Serineus two of King Ferdinandoes Captains with the loss of half of his Army Nor fared the Turks better at Sea for Guise Lord Prior of the Knights of St. John in France took six Ships and Gallies richly laden and now God intending to punish the Tyrant for so many Murthers suffered his Son Bajazet gotten upon Roxolana to rise up against him Arms under pretence of supplanting his Brother Selymus all the remainder of the aforesaid wicked stock who by setting up a counterfeit Mustapha and pretending he that was killed was no other but one much resembling the true Mustapha sent for great rewards to try his Fathers fury drew after him a World of people being secretly encouraged thereto by his mother who preferred him before his Elder Brother whom Solyman would have his Successor and such was her power with Solyman that after the Plot was discovered the counterfeit taken and executed she made Bajazets peace and restored to favour as much as ever yet such was the fiery nature of the head strong youth that knowing his Life was dated with his Fathers if his Brother succeeded him he again took up Arms being generally favoured of the Soldiers against whom Selymus was sent with a great Army between whom was fought a dreadful Battle in which 300 Turks were slain and Bajazet put to the worst who after much adverse fortune flying to the Persian King was by the procurement of Solyman contrary to Faith given by the Persian he together with his four Sons was murâ—â—â—â—ed Anno 1558 Charles the Fifth and warlike Emperour of Germany stricken in years and worn out with the toils of tedious War resigned the Empire to his Brother Ferdinand having before put his son Philip in possession of all Hereditary Kingdoms and then retiring lead a private Life and shortly after changed it for Life Eternal after he had with great reverence and integrity Reigned 39 years after whose death at the earnest request of the Knights of Malta the Christian Princes set out a Fleet for the recovery of Tripolis in Barbary when coming to the Island of Zerbi belonging to the Turks they spoiled it and after a small battery to the Castle in which the Islanders put their cheif hope but this Expedition proved unfortunate to the Christians for Pial Bassa Solymans Admiral coming upon them with a great Fleet suddainly surprized many of the Ships and Gallies out of order and unable to make resistance took them and put most of those he found therein to the Sword and such as could stand off to Sea fled leaving Don Alvarus De Sandee a valiant Gentleman of great Spirit and long Experience General of the Christian Forces on shoar who together with such as were sied from the Fleet entered the Castle which was most resolutely defended till such time as hunger and thirst compell him to surrender not less then 18000 Christians by one means or other being lost from the setting out of the Fleet to the time the Castle was delivered to the Turks the which by the Bassa being strongly Garrisoned he with the Christian Captives there taken returned in Triumph to Constantinople and long was ere the Spanish and Italian Nobility there taken could be ransomed and to make up this unluckly year viz. 1560. on the 25th day of November Auria the great Sea Captain died being 94 years old to the great Rejoycing of the Turkish Pirates whose terror he had been for more then Thirty years nor was the following year fortunate for King Philip of Spain sending out his Fleet under Mendoza his Admiral Five and Twenty Ships and Gallies by stress of Weather were broken on the Coast of Sicily on one of which the Admiral perished little or nothing being saved in that dismal and unexpected Calamity Anno 1562. The Emperour Ferdinand so laboured with the Electoral Princes that he procured his son Maximillian then King of Bchemia a
words The hard fortune of this sinful Kingdom hath together with our own overtaken us but let us noble Hearts indure with Patience whatsoever is by God to us assigned you know what we have before promised which hitherto God be thanked we have accordingly performed and now let us with like resolutions perform this last the place you see is not longer to be kept the devouring fire grows fast upon us and we in number are but few wherefore let us as becometh valiant men break out into the utter Castle and there dye fighting in the midst of our Enemies to live afterwards with God for ever I will be the first that will go out follow me like men Thus having said the Heroick Count worthy of Eternal fame or a name greater then ever Roman yet could boast with his Sword in his hand charged the thickest of his foes laying them round him on heaps even till the Rampart of the dead hemmed him in nor durst the Turks with their multitude incounter him long at close fight but cowardly at a distance shot him through the head upon which he fell dead amongst the heaps of his Enemies in token of whose matchless prowess the Turks buryed his body and sent his head as a token of his being slain to Count Salma his kinsman in the Emperours camp with this following Letter Muhamet Bassa to Eccius Salma greeâ—ing In token of my Love behold here I 〈◊〉 thee the head of a most resolute and valiant Captain thy Friend the remainder of his body I have honestly buryed as became such a man c. That which lightened the Christians sadness for the loss of so brave a Captain and the taking of Sigeth was the Death of Solyman who far spent with years and distempers died at Quinque Ecclesiae of the Bloody Flux on the 4th of September anno 1566. when he had lived 76 years and reigned 46 not living to see the end of the siege his death was by the Bassa kept secret to prevent disorder in the Army who according to their wonted policy satisfied the inquisitive Janizaries by shewing them his dead body sitting in his Horse-litter giving it out that he was extream ill when after Sigeth having by Treason taken Gyula for which the Traytor was afterward deservedly put to death by Selymus Solymans successor the Bassa's with the Army returned to Constantinople where they published the death of Solyman and proclaimed Selymus his now onely remaining Son Emperour in his stead CHAP. XVI Selymus the second of that name and fifth Emperor of the Turks His Life and Actions SOlyman being dead upon the return of the Army out of Hungaria towards Constantinople Mabumet Bassa by letters advertised Selymus thereof then residing at Cutai a City of Galatia who glad of the news hasted to take possession of the so long expected Empire when being conducted over the straights of Bosphorus he was by Bostanges Bassas and Scander Bassa conveighed into the Imperial Pallace on the 23 of September Anno 1566 from whence he departed to meet his fathers Corps not yet arrived at Constantinople upon the meeting of which he caused the Insignes to be let fall in token of the Emperors death which had been till that time kept secret from the Soldiers to prevent disorders and so with it Marching in the head of the Army returned to Constantinople being first by the men of War saluted Emperor who upon his Arrival to quiet the unruly Soldiers distributed a large sum of mony amongst them with a Promise to augment their wages as is usual at the installment of the Ottoman Emperors or else by reason of the insolency of the Janizaries and other Soldiers of the Court of their Pallace would prove too hot to hold them Selimus thus setled in his Empire with Royal solemnity buried his father in a Chappel which he afterward built together with a Colledge and Hospital erecting over him a stately Tomb near unto which is at this day to be seen the Magnificent Tomb of his beloved wife Roxolana mother to Selimus and of certain of his Murthered children By him hangs his Scimiter in token that he dyed in war an honour not otherwise granted to the Mahometan Princes The Revenues arising of the Countrey about Sigeth won from the Christians a little before his death were given to maintain the houses by him built for devotion which for Magnificence exceed all others Erected by the Mahometan Kings and Emperors except those of Mahomet the Great and Bajazet the Second It was by many thought that Soliman was in good time taken out of the way for that he resolving to winter in Hungary the next Spring purposed with himself to have over-run Austria and a great part of Germany Anno 1567 Solyman being dead great trouble arose notwithstanding in Hungary occasioned by John the Vayvod of Transilvania who used his utmost endeavour to dispossess Maximilian the Emperor of those Cities and Fortresses he held in that Kingdom but they were soon after appeased by a peace concluded between the two Emperors Maximilian and Selimus The principal points on which the peace depended being these That the German Emperor should yearly pay 30000 Ducates to Selimus as a Tribute for Hungary the Tribute to begin upon the conclusion of the Articles of Peace That the Subjects of the Turks should pay nothing to the Subjects of the Emperor nor on the other side the subjects of the Emperor pay nothing to the Subjects of the Turks but to remain both of them exempted from payment of Tax Duty or Contribution and that either Prince should inviolably hold what he was in possession of at the conclusion of the Treaty which peace was confirmed for the space of 8 years in which was included the Vayvod of Transilvania as the Turks Tributary This peace was concluded Anno 1568 as was likwise the year following a peace concluded between Selymus and Tamas the Persian Kings after which the Turk desirous to undertake some 〈◊〉 exploit that might get him a name and out of the Revenues of which he might build him a Temple exceeding any of his Predecessors which those superstitious people hold to be for the good of their souls be plotted in his mind many things but at length being by his mischievous Counsellors of whom he wanted not he was â—â—ged to the conquest of the rich Island of Cyprus lying in the Cicilian Sea and hath on the West Pamphilia on the East Siria on the South Egypt and on the North Cilicia now called Caramania This Island at such time as Selymus was intent on the conquest thereof was in the possession of the Venetians with whom he had contracted a League since the death of Solyman but in vain are Leagues with Infidels any longer then they serve their own turns yet Muhamates the Great Bassa laboured all he could to disswade him therefrom and Marcus Antonius Barbarus the Venetian Ambassador then residing at Constantinople so wrought that he procured the
of Syria for the present I shall return into the lesser Asia where I find Mesoot and Rei-Cubades the two Tributary Turkish Princes dead without doing a any thing worthy of note of which the latter left a Son named Aladan who likewise paying Tribute held joyntly the Kingdom that were before possessed by his Father and Uncle This Aladine the last of the Selzuccian Family dying without issue one Sahib his chief Councellour and then a man of great Authority aspired unto the Kingdom but being risen from a mean estate he was highly envyed by the Nobility they casting off all respect from him by force divided the Kingdom amongst themselves every one seizing the Province he could best light on so that Sahib who was first in possession lost all no part remaining as his Lot so that they turned it into a perfect Anarchy of which the greatest share fell to Caraman Alusirus who strongest took Iconium with part of Cilicia Lycaonia Pamphilia Caria and Phrygia and of him descended the Caramanian Kings who in the rise of the Othoman Empire put the Turks so often to the Foil The next to him was Saruchan who possessed himself of the greatest part of Lydia and some other Countries adjoyning Troas Phrygia and part of Mysia fell to Calumus and his Son Carasius the remaining part of Mysia and part of Lydia was seized by Aidin part of Pontus the Cities of Heraclea Pontica Castomonia Synope and others near to the Euxine Sea and Country of Paphlagonia fell into the hands of the Sons of Omer or as the Greeks call them Amar of whom the Country took not their names as did the former of these that possessed them but is commonly called Bolli so named of the Metropolis as also was Mendesia or as some will have it Mentetia a Country in the Lesser Asia These and divers others were the divisions of the Turkish Empire in Persia and the Lesser Asia which Anarchy caused their Subjection and utter subversion as in the Succeeding part of this History will at large appear During this confusion amongst the rest of the great Captains there happened one Othoman of the Oguzian Family who had been raised from a low estate by Sultan Aladine yet by reason he was not of the Selzuccian Family they made little account of him not permiting him to share with them in their division though by what justice is uncertain all of them feared his rising fortune and strove what in them lay to hinder but in vain for the Destinies so ordering it he in a short time became the Founder of the Othoman Empire as in the Perusal of his Life and Actions will appear CHAP. VI. The Rise of the Powerfull Empire of the Turks under Othoman its first Founder with his Life and Actions THat Empires and Kingdoms have their Limitation from the Soveraign Creator and Disposer of all things it is undeniably evident by the Sundry Mutations that have been in all Ages of the World for nothing can be assured of long continuance though never so great and powerful How are the great Monarchies of the Persians Medians Babylonians Chaldeans Romans and the like dwindled away into nothing no more then a bare Relation of their Names and Greatness remaining to testifie the mighty actions they performed when at their becks were half three parts of Mankind And indeed no less famous was the Turkish Empire in Persia and the Lesser Asia till broken and dismembred by the violent intrusion of the Tartars a Savage People bursting from the Frozen-North to the Terror and Subversion of the greatest part of Asia and Africa but now under the Turkish Scepter as shall by the subsequent Discourse appear During the time that the Tartars overwhelmed the Turkish Dominions in Asia Solyman of the Oguzian Family Reigning in the lesser Asia and seeing his Country-man the Sultan of Persia driven from all his Possessions thought it not safe for him of far Inferior force to abide the Sorm but flying with such People as would follow him after long wandring the Tempest being near over and he desiring to return home as he was about to pass the Danube was carried away by the Stream and drowned leaving behind him four Sons viz. Sencur Teken Jundogdis and Ertogrul of some called Orthobules who was the Father of Othoman This Ertogrul after the Death of his Father having notice that Aladine the Sultan had again settled himself in the lesser Asia Sent Messengers to him to desire him that he and the rest of his poor followers who were Herdsmen driving Flocks still before them as they travelled might inhabit in some Corner of his Country The Sultan not unmindful of the state of poor Exiles it having so lately been his own Case appointed them a Village called Suguta lying between the Castle Belezuga and Mount Tmolus in the greater Phrygia during whose residence there with his small Train the Sultan had many Conflicts with the Tartars whose Power by this time was in its Wain and being hard put to it in one Battle near the said Village Ertogrul with four hundred of his Herdsmen unexpectedly came to his Assistance and behaved himself so valiantly that the Tartars were put to flight for which the Sultan honoured him with a rich Cloak and began highly to prize his Valour insomuch that he inlarged his Territories making him a petty Lord which Lordship with great Repute he held during the Reign of the Sultan doing many notable Services as taking the Castle of Cara-Chisar from the Christians who by their many Injuries had exasperated the Sultan but after the Sultans Death those that succeeded being Tributaries to the Tartars till such time as the Kingdom was Anachised he lived quietly at home during which time many conceived great hopes of his younger Son Othoman called by some Osman Gazi or Osman the Warlike by reason of the great delight he had in Arms when he was a Child and when grown up to discourse and Argue with the Commanders and Governours of whom he had the general Esteem of an active Youth designed for great Atchievements as it afterward fell out One day Othoman going to visit the Governour of Eski-Chisar lately taken from the Christians by his Father He fell in Love by the way with a beautiful Damosel named Malhatun and sent to request her in Marriage but she seeming something averse excusing her self that she was of too mean a Parentage and not a fitting Match for him that was so nobly descended he as she conceived designing rather to Debauch her then make her his Wife but this modest repulse making him more and more desire her he in other Discourses declared his Affections to the aforesaid Governour who seeming little to take notice thereof begun to be inflamed with the Love of the Damosel unseen by the lively Description Othoman had given of her rare Perfection which Othoman well perceiving and fearful that he should inforce her to his Lust having great Power in that Country he
sent her Parents notice thereof who tender of their Daughters Honour sent her away secretly the which upon Knowledge it was done by Othomans means so inraged the Governour that he vowed Revenge and sent after him a strong Party to seize him at the Castle of In-Vngi whither he knew he was gone where being demanded of the Captain of that Castle after some Debate those that kept it resolved to defend him but he not greatly trusting them as knowing the Governours Power in those parts with several of his trusty Friends he broke through the Leagures killing some and dispersing the rest yet other Forces coming to their Assistance they followed him into his Fathers Territories where his Danger was no sooner known but all the Youths Armed and setting upon the Governours Soldiers they slew many took some Prisoners and put the rest to flight So that Othoman began to be feared of such as hated him Ertogrul being spent with Age and Infirmity created by lying in the Field and watching in Camps dyed in the ninety third year of his Age Anno 1289. Having since the Death of Solyman his Father governed the Ogâ—zian Family fifty two years who now being dead the Heads of the Family assembled to chuse another Lord and thereupon they pitched upon Dunder Entogrul's Brother but he by reason of his great Age refusing the Honour they with one Consent elected Othoman saluting him by the Name of Beg or Lord he being by this means become Lord of the same Family The Herdsmen that sed their Flocks upon the Mountains complained to him of outrages done them in passing and repassing by the Garrison or Soldiers of the Castle of Einegiol they being thereto incited by their Captain with which he being not a little grieved sent to the Captain of Bilâ—zuga his Friend another Castle not far distant from the former to permit his People to shelter and refresh themselves therein during their passing and repassing to the Mountains to which in Relation to the Turkish Women he Consented but not to permit the Men for Fear of a surprize So that they went another way avoiding the former Castle but Othoman still studying Revenge for the Injuries done to his People whereupon gathering what Force he could he passed to the Mountains in hopes to surprize it but the Captain having notice thereof came out to meet him laying an Ambush in hopes to intrap him of which he being aware came not into it but gave the Captain battle upon plain Ground and after some slaughter on both side put him to slight and passing on took the Castle of Chalce not far from Einegiol by surprize putting all he found therein to the Sword of which outrage great Complaint was made to the Governour of Cara-Chisar and great Forces raised to apprehend him and destroy the Oguzian Family who as they said coming not long before poor Herdsmen and sheltered out of Pity began to Usurp over the rightful Inhabitants Against these Preparations Othoman provided the best he could and near to Mount Tmolus gave Battle to Calanus Brother to the Governour of Cara-Chisar who overthrown in the Battle lost his Brother Saragatine and many other Friends when shortly after Sultan Aladine the last Sultan of Iconium understanding what had happened and that Othoman might stand him in stead against the Christians gave him the City of Paleopolis with all the Territories thereunto belonging So by this means he became of a poor Herdsman a formidable Governour when not unmindful upon what Account such a Favour was bestowed upon him he entred into Consultation with his Brother Jundus how he might best get away but he finding himself too weak and by that means Considering he should lay himself open to the Fury of the Tartar he resolved to make Peace with such as would accord thereto and wait his better Fortune for there wanted not some of the Selzuccian Family that greatly envied his Aspiring yet incouraged by the Sultan he took the strong Castle of Cara-Chisar the residence of his Enemy and so settled his Affairs winning upon his People with kind Speeches and bounty that great numbers of the Turks daily resorted to him Now during the prosperous Proceedings of Othoman there happened a Quarrel between the two Christian Captains of Belezuga and Cupri-Chisar upon which the former doubting his strength and yet desirous of Revenge solicited Othoman for aid who in lieu of some kindnesses received came to his Assistance with 100 Turks by whose Valour he overthrew his Adversary took his Castle and put him to the Sword which so swelled the Captain with Pride that he gave Othoman many rich Gifts as likewise to his Soldiers but what vexed them more then the Gifts pleased them he gave them his Hand to kiss and above all Othoman who adviced with his Cozen Dunder his Uncles Son what Revenge was best to be taken to humble the Captains insolence but seeming to disswade him from any such Attempt and to be the Captains Friend lest he should relate his Intentions and that redound to his prejudice resolving to make all he at an advantage shot his Cozen through with an Arrow and hid him in the Sand. Long it was not after this Transaction e'r he was invited by one Michael Cossi Captain of Hirmen Caia to the Marriage of his Daughter where according to the Custom of the Country making large Presents the rest of Captains began to mistrust his greatness so that the Captain of Belezuga resolved to prevent it with his Death and therefore the better to have him within his Power he invited him to his Wedding at a certain day making Cossi privy to his Design And a little before the appointed time sent Cossi to fetch him who was as ready to accompany him which Cossi perceiving to prevent his Ruin discovered the Conspiracy against his Life Whereupon he Contracted a strict Amity with him obliging him to secrecy and then began to cast about how he might be revenged of the said Captain and so ordered it that sending about forty men in a Carriage instead of packs of Presents they whilst the Captain and all his People unless a few left to secure the Castle by the help of some Soldiers who in the habit of Turkish Women were sent thither by the Captains order as Othomans Friends surprized it putting the Warders to the Sword Now Othoman came according the Captains wish and stayed drinking with him in his pleasant Bowers till he supposed his men had effected his Commands and together with Cossi and some other of his Companions retired which the Captain perceiving and loath to let him escape his Hands as supposing he had him sure he and all his Soldiers followed him but being over-charged with Wine they were by him and his Company lightly slain Things thus prospering he followed his Advantage and the next Morning surprized the Castle of Jarchisar took the Captain Prisoner as likewise Lubufer the fair Damosel with all her Attendants that should
of them slain and the rest taken Prisoners Things being at this pass and by this means peace Recovered to the Empire intestine broyles began anew to be fomented by the factious Greeks for the young Emperor being dead they stirred up young Adronicus his Son to depose his Grand-father the old Emperor which after several Stratagems and devices he effected taking the City of Constantinople by treason and casting him in Prison where of grief he soon after died These Civil dissensions of the Greeks amongst themselves gave Othoman the opportunity to sound his Empire in Phrygia and Bythima where being successful in all his Attempts he mightily increased his Dominions having by this time subdued 20 Cities with all their Territories and amongst the rest Prusia which after along Siege worn out with Famine Anno 1327 yielded upon several Articles few of which were afterward observed by the Turk which being the greatest City in those parts of Asia became for many years after the seat of the Turkish Kings But as all men must yield to death so in the 28 year of his Reign and the 69 year of his Age Othoman the Founder of the Turkish Empire still called from him the Othoman Empire died and was buried in Prusia where to this day his Tomb is to be seen and in his new acquired Kingdom Orchanes his Second Son succeeded him his eldest dying during his Regency CHAP. VII The Life and Actions of Orchanes otherwise Urchan Second King of the Turks in Asia THE Funeral rights of this great Conqueror being performed by his Sons viz. Orchanes alias Vrchan his Second Son and Aladin his third and youngest Son and he having left great store of wealth Orchanes his Successor took upon him the rule of the Kingdom allotting to his Brother Aladin at his request the Lordship of Fodore in the Teckences Country where he lived a private Life without doing any thing worthy of memory but Orchanes now settled in his Kingdom following his fathers footsteps whose Armies of late he had altogether commanded as his General he forgat not to proceed where he had left off and therefore prepare to War upon the Christians but at first with no great Success for the Christians upon the death of Othoman drawing their forces together out of all parts recovered the City of Nice with divers Castles and Towns and amongst the rest the Castle Tzuprichiser which greatly hindered the Turks excursions who dwelt in Bithynia whereupon Orchanes upon notice that it was slenderly Guarded went with several of his followers in the attire of Merchants and by that means deceiving the warders got admittance but were no sooner entered e're they proved fatal ones for drawing their Swords they put all such as they found therein to death and seized the Castle and having Garrisoned it passed on to the City of Nice to which they lay'd siege when to rescue it the young Emperor Andronicus came with such power as he could raise but being for the most part unexperienced Soldiers the Turks from the Mountains as they were passing through the hot Country setting upon them a cruel battel begun but night coming on they parted by consent yet in this fight the Emperor lost near half his People and was himself wounded with an Arrow so that despairing of effecting what he came for leaving his Tents and great store of Furniture therein every man shifted for himself in the dead of Night so that next Morning what they left became a prey to the Infidels who hightened by this Success took in several Sea Towns and within a while recovered the City of Nice by Stratagem As thus the Emperor in his flight thither from his Camp had promised to send them 1000 Horse-men of which Orchanes having notice disguised 800 of his men in Grecian habit and sent them with full instructions who being come within sight of the City he sent out 300 other in Turkish habit as foragers whom the other espying as if they had been ignorant of the Matter turned upon them and after a feigned skirmish put them to flight then taking their way to the City the Citizens who from their walls had beheld what had passed joyfully opened their Gates supposing them to be the Emperors promised Aid but they no sooner entered but the other 300 Horse and several Companies of Foot who lay in Ambush were at their Heels by which means that great City was a second time taken by the Turks whose Riches became a prey to the Soldiers and whose Inhabitants became of free Persons miserable Captives The Fate of this great City followed many others in the same Tract the Turks wasting all before them as they went miserably burning up what they could not carry away so that the Countries before them were dispeopled all the Inhabitants flying from them as a ten-fold Contagion So that no considerable Forces being sent from the Emperor the Cities fell into his Hands in great abundance and above all being desirous to possess the two fair Castles of Abydos and Sestus he sent Accecozza one of his great Captains to win them if possible who by the way having Intelligence that the Captains Son of the Castle of Seamandra being dead his Funeral was such a day to be Solemnized without the Walls whereupon laying an Ambushment they upon the Mourners approach suddenly issued from their Coverts and slew several of them taking the remainder Prisoners and amongst them the Captain whom they carried to the Castle telling those that kept the Walls that if they did not deliver it he should be put to a Cruel Death before their Eyes at which nothing dismayed they returned Answer that they might Kill him Boyl him and Eat him if they pleased but as for the Castle they would not deliver it whereupon he finding it a work of great Difficulty to take by force departed to Sestus which he with little Difficulty took and had his Prisoners Ransomed for a great Mass of Mony and amongst the rest the Captain of Scamandra and now Abydos standing in Europe on the other side the Hellâ—â—â—â— was the only place Aimed at when as Fate would have the Night before the Turks came before it the Captain of the Castles Daughter dreamt that she falling 〈◊〉 miry made her Clean the which as soon as 〈◊〉 the viewed Abdurachman one of the Turkish Captains the fancied him to be the same Person she had 〈…〉 Vision and so strongly her fancy wrong 〈…〉 he lead up his Forces against the Wall 〈…〉 Power from whence she beheld what was 〈…〉 a Letter tyed to a stone at his Feeâ—◠〈…〉 presed her Passion Protesting that 〈…〉 of her Love she would on such a 〈…〉 Castle into his Hands This Letter 〈…〉 Acâ—ecozza he much doubted the 〈…〉 searing it was a design to draw them 〈…〉 upon Abdurachman's Request that he might 〈…〉 the Enterprize he Consented it being agreed that to give the besieged the less Suspicion the Army should give a general assault and then draw
would have Petitioned for his Life when on the contrary without a Word speaking Cobelits drawing forth a Dagger stabbed him into the Belly for which he was presently hewn in pieces nor did Amurath long survive him but within three days after dyed of his Wound and was buryed in Prusia Anno 1390. of his Age 68 years and of his Reign 31 years To whom succeeded Bajazet his eldest Son who was no sooner Crowned but he caused his Brother Jacup to be strangled in his Presence with a Bow-string which wicked Precedent has ever since been put in Practice by the Othoman Kings and Emperors CHAP. X. The Life of Bajazet the first of that Name and Fourth King of the Turks his Wars and Captivity BAjazet a man of a Proud and haughty temper having taken upon him the Regency of his Father's Kingdoms fell heavily upon Servia not so much as vouchsafing to hear the Embassadors sent on their behalf which made the Princes of the West begin to consider their own estate and especially Vincelaus the German Emperor and Sigismond King of Hungary and not contented with the spiols of Servia he made several inroads into Bosan spoiling the Country and carrying away great booties when in the mean while the King of Caramania hearing of his Fathers death began anew to waste his Countries in Asia which caused Bajazet to send a great power who overthrew him and recovered all that was lost taking from him likewise his own Country which obliged him in humble wise to beg their restauration which Bajazet upon condition that he should from that time forward become his vassal restored About this time Philadelphia the only City the Christians had in Asia was besieged by Bajazets Power and after a straight Siege and no hopes of any succours delivered by the Citizens as a ransom for their Lives and Persons Having subdued Servia and the greatest part of Bosan he invaded Thessalia wasting it as he passed with fire and Sword even to the Walls of Thessalonica taking Neopolis in Greece and Joannia in Aetolia and afterward returning into Asia he there spent the Winter but Spring being come with all his Power he repassed the Hellespont and lay'd close Siege to Constantinople the seat of the Greek Emperor Emanuel Paleologus then Reigning who after he had been brought to great extremity went to the German Emperors Court to crave aid who together with many other Christian Princes sent an Army of 250000 under the leading of young Sigismond King of Hungary to oppose whom Bajazet raised his Siege and found them besieging Neocopolis from whence they drew into the great Plain and joyned Battle but by reason of the confusion that was in the Christian Army their Van being overcharged the Rear fled without striking a stroak so that the Turks getting the Victory with a far less number pursued so hard upon the Christians that the greater part of the Army was slain taken prisoners and drowned in passing the River Danubius After this great and unexpected Victory over the Christians occasioned by the emulation that arose amongst their great Commanders Bajazet returned to the Siege of Constantinople now out of all hope to be relieved where whilst he lay casting his eyes upon Despina the slain Despot of Servia's fair Daughter offered by her Mother his former Wife being dead he Married her and for her sake restored to her Brother Stephen all his fathers Principalities Aladin the Carramanian King being dead and his Son of the same name Reigning in his stead desirous to revenge the wrong Bajazet had done his Fathers Subjects coming to Aucyra surprised Temurtasses Bajazet's great Lievtenant but upon the approach of Bajazet with his Army he richly arraying begged his pardon and set him at liberty sending Embassadors to excuse them but Bajazet would not suffer them to come into his sight whereupon the young King gathering all the Power of his Country fought with him a great Battle but being far too weak for such an Enemy was overthrown he taken Prisoner by the Command of Bajazet delivered to Temurtases his Capital Enemy who for the disgrace he had put upon him caused him to be strangled which rash deed much grieved Bajazet the young Prince being his Sisters Son yet he seized upon the greatest part of his Kingdom though he had several Sons living and so inraged was he that he expulsed all the Mahometan Princes in Lesser Asia and seized upon their Territories whereupon they fled to Tamerlane the Great who having Married the daughter of the Cham or Emperor of Tartary and now returned from the Conquest of China he took them into his protection and being at the same time Solicited for aid by Emanuel the Greek Emperor he sent to Bajazet his Embassadors with many rich presents requesting him to cease from molesting his Allies but he in a proud manner not only rejected his presents but with many opprobrious words cast foul reproaches on him telling his Embassadors that he desired nothing more then to meet him in the field and with many taunting expressions dismissed them The report of which so throughly netled the Tartar that he resolved with a puissant Army to go against him being hightened thereto by Axalla his great favourite a Genoway by birth and friend to the Greek Emperor whose cause he daily solicited And Tamerlane who was a well-wisher to the Christians in his opinion differing little from them so well approved of all he said and having taken his leave of his Father-in-Law and his Wife with a powerful Army he passed the Mountains Marching through many Countries none daring oppose his passage till at length coming to Bachichich he mustered his Army and found it to consist of 800000 Horse and Foot of divers Nations to whom he gave general pay not having suffered the least wrong to be done in any Country through which he had passed Bajazet lying at the Siege of Constantinople and hearing the Tartar approached with a Power that covered the Countries as he passed he raised his Siege and contrary to Tamerlains Expectation but even as he wished came over with such forces as he could raise into Asia where he joyned with his Livetenant whilst the Tartars still came on having by this time passed Euphrates and taken all the Cities in their way that appertained to Bajazet and amongst the rest the great City of Sabastia once the chief Seat of the Turkish Sultan utterly rasing it putting all the Citizens to the Sword or as some Buryed them alive in deep Pits he caused to be digged for that purpose unless the Governour whom he set at Liberty to carry the News to Bajazet who was advancing 500000 Strong who upon the Governours coming into his presence demanded which was the greater Army he having seen both to which after having craved pardon he replyed that the Tartars Army must needs be the greatest by Reason he was Lord of far greater Countries whereupon Bajazet Laughing said out of doubt the sight of the
fell and the Sickness in the Army occasioned by the intemperance of the Weather was by Mahomet accorded but it continued not long e're the Carramanian King in the absence of Mahomet a second time invaded his Countries with whom Mahomet fighting routed his Army taking him and his Son Prisoners for whose Ransoms he had delivered into his possession the principal Cities of Carramania and then returning into Europe seized upon Valachia obliging the Prince thereof to become his Vassal About this time two Persons viz. Buriluzes and Bedredin pretending themselves to be great Prophets drew great multitudes after them who spoiled the Country upon notice of which Mahomet sent forces to apprehend them who dispersing their followers hewed the former in pieces and hanged the latter upon a Sign-post and now Mahomet falling sick without any hopes of recovery assembled all his great Captains and charged them to obey his eldest son Amurath whom after his decease he appointed to succeed him in his Kingdom and lest in his absence he being then at his Government of Amass any disturbance should happen that they that were about him if he should chance to die should conceal his Death All which he at that time dying being accordingly observed for when the Janiziries and Pensioners mistrusting him to be dead and demanded to see him the Bassas attiring him in his Royal Robes like as when he was alive brought him forth into a large Gallery placing a Boy under his Gown who as he was Commanded lifted the Kings Arm and moved his head with which those that were below were well contented and by this Stratagem kept his Death Secret 41 days even till Amurath came and took the Scepter the which had they not done the 〈◊〉 and Pensioners would have spoiled the rich Citie wherein they were quartered as ever since has been observed during an Interregnum CHAP. XI The Life of Amurath the Second of that name and Sixth King of the Turks his Wars Victories and Defeats A Murath had no sooner taken possession of his Kingdom and the Death of Mahomet published but divers Princes revolted from him and invaded his Territories as the Prince of Smyrna Mentesia and others and amongst the rest an obscure fellow of Thessalonica feigning himself to be Mustapha the Eldest Son of Bajazet who was slain in the battle against Tamerlane all the Turkish Cities in Europe fell to him whereupon Amurath sent Bajazet Bassa against him with a great Army which was no sooner landed but it revolted to Mustapha leaving the Bassa alone to shift for himself whereupon the Bassa together with his Brother Hamze submitted themselves to this counterfeit Son of Bajazet but being envyed by the rest of the Captains they raised such Jealousies of his being treacherous in Mustapha that he soon after put him to death and afterward prepared for the Invasion of Amurath's Territories in Asia of which he having notice gathered all his forces to oppose him and after asking Council of a Mahometan Priest who assured him he had after two repulses at the hands of the Great Prophet obtained the favor of making him prosperous in his Wars and so coming to the North-side of the River Vlibad he found the Bridge broken down and Mustapha's great Army incamped on the other side where he so dealt with the great Captains of Mustapha's Army that many of them revolted and at length Mustapha being frighted by forged Letters importing that his Army intended to deliver him up fled by night after which his men submitted to Amurath and he in his flight being taken in Europe was hanged The Rebellion being pacified and Amurath informed that all this had happened by the contrivance of the Greek Emperor besieged Constantinople which in vain he often attempted to take by storm but whilst he lay at this siege news was brought that the King of Caramania had set up another Mustapha viz. his younger Brother Son to Mahomet to whom many Countries in the lesser Asia revolted which made Amurath raise his Siege and with all hast March to oppose him and with large gifts to have the sooner done he so corrupted Ilias Beg the young Princes Tutor that he delivered him up together with the City of Nice where he was by Amurath's command Strangled Amurath having appeased these Rebellious Tumults Lessened his Council from 5 to 2 Bassas viz. Ibrahim and Eivazes the latter of which being much envyed by those that were outed they supposing it was done by his perswasion possessed Amurath that he had a design upon his Life and after that to seize his Kingdom and for that purpose went privately armed to prove the truth of which Amurath one day clasping him in his Arms as in token of Friendship found it so indeed and therefore growing more suspitious notwithstanding his many excuses for his so doing caused his Eyes to be put out and soon after had news of the death of the King of Carramania his Mortal Enemy who having lay'd Siege to the City of Attalia in Pamphilia as he was viewing it to see where he might most conveniently make an Assault was shot into the Brest with an Arrow from a Lope-hole at which Amurath greatly rejoyced but his joy was soon allayed by other news of a fierce Invasion of his Territories made by Tzunites Prince of Smyrna but it soon blew over for the Prince being Vanquished by the Vice-Roy of Anatolia was together with his Son taken Prisoner and contrary to Faith plighted Slain after this Amurath Marryed the Daughter of Prince Isflendiar and then on a suddain in revenge of the pretended wrongs done him by the Greeks besieged and took Thessalonica and dispoiled it of all its Riches leading away the Inhabitants into miserable Captivity At this time amongst other distressed Princes John Castriot Prince of Epirus perceiving the Turks ready to invade him and being no ways Capable to withstand so powerful an Army resolved to avoid the Miseries of War by a timely accord with the Turkish Tyrant promising to become his Tributary and for confirmation thereof as Hostages delivered his 4 Sons viz. George Stanisius Reposuis and Constantine Amurath promising well and honourably to intreat them but as soon as they were within his power he caused them to be Circumcised and brought up in the Superstition of the Mahumetan Religion and after the Death of their Father seized upon his Kingdom and Poysoned all but George whom he Named Scanderbeg who afterwards became the Mawl and terror of the Turks as will in the Sequel appear Amurath being busie in Europe the Carramanian King and the other Mahumetan Princes invaded his Dominions in Asia which caused him to pass over to repress that dangerous Enemy which done he returned into Europe and with Fire and Sword fell upon Hungary and turning thence upon the Prince of Servia's refusing to come to his Court seized Servia tho he had Sworn to the contrary The Hungarians being at Variance amongst themselves and likewise at Wars with the
Amurath through Grief and despair Dyed in his Tent Anno 1450 in the 85 Year of his Age and of his Reign the 28 or as some say the thirtieth leaving Mahomet his Son to succeed him in his troublesome Kingdom charging him to revenge his Death upon Scanderbeg and so having his Corps conveyed to Prusa he was there interred by his Ancestors CHAP. XII The Life of Mahomet the second of that Name seventh King and the first that took upon him the Style of Emperor of the Turks who for his many Victories was surnamed Great A Murath being dead Mahomet the second began his Reign over the Turkish Kingdom Anno 1450. Being of a firey Cruel Nature given to many Debauches not acknowledging any Deity but ascribing all things to Fortune and Chance who e'r he was well settled caused his two Brethren the one an Infant and the other not above twelve years of Age to be put to Death after which he fell to altering the Constitution of the Government by abrogating the Old Laws and Establishing new ones more suitable to his Humour So that he began to be exceedingly hated by his Subjects when to prevent any disorder that might happen by the Soldiers lying Idle he hearing that Ibrahim King of Carramania was entered his Territories in the lesser Asia passed thither upon whose Arrival the King unable to oppose him fled into the Mountains and from thence sent his Ambassadors to treat with him who offered such Submission in the behalf of their Masters as Mahomet was well Content to accept and so returned to his City of Prusa sending Isaac Bassa against Elias Prince of Mentesia or Caria who altogether deprived the said Prince of his Country annexing it to the Turkish Empire for so henceforth I must call it Mahomet being proud of his Petty Conquests without any Colour or Reason only being driven Headlong by Ambition he resolved to make War upon the Greek Emperor and to have the sooner done marched to the Walls of Constantinople with a great Power laying Siege to that Imperial City which had once been Mistress of the World which he reduced to such Extremity that the Citizens for meer Hunger left no filthy thing uneaten and at last Eat one another and perceiving none intended to relieve them they inforced by invincible necessity yielded the fairest City of the World to the Will of the Tyrant having made all the defence that from true Valour could be expected The proud Conqueror entering the City amidst his Cups caused all the Grecian Nobility the chief Citizens and Nobles of other Nations to be slain in his Presence Constantinus Paleologus the Emperor being before slain and Trampled underfoot in the Press as he was indeavouring to escape the Imperial City this taken after a years Siege Pera a City of the Greeks opposite to it surrendred yet were the Citizens used with all manner of Despite And now removing the Imperial Seat from Hadrianople to Constantinople where it has ever since remain'd he repaired the Walls and such Buildings as had been demolished by the Fury of the Cannon Amongst the Captives taken in the City one of his Commanders presented unto him one of the most beautiful Ladies that Nature ever formed named Irene being nobly descended and for Education not to be paralell'd upon this incomparable Beauty Mahomet so doted that he spent whole Days and Nights with her never thinking his time well spent but in her Company So that his warlike Affairs were altogether neglected which caused his Captains to murmur against him though they durst not freely speak their Minds which Mustapha Bassa one that had been bred up with him observing presuming upon the Interest he had in him took upon him boldly to declare his Mind laying before him the glorious Atchievments of his Ancestors and the disgrace and obloquie he incurred by devoting himself to amorous Delights whilst the Affairs of his Empire were neglected At this free Speech of the Bassas Mahomet was wonderfully offended telling him he was worthy of Death for his unseasonable Presumption but notwithstanding he would pardon him for the good Opinion he had of his Fidelity Commanding him the next Morning to assemble all his Captains and chief Councellors the next Morning to attend his Pleasure in his Pallace which being accordingly done he came out of his Chamber leading the fair Greek in most splendid Attire which adding Luster to her rare Perfections made her appear more like an Angel then a Mortal and sternly demanding of them Whether if any of them had such an inestimable Treasure they would not be thrice advised e'r they parted with it To which they all answered that he had with greater reason passed his time with her then any man had to find sault therewith To which the barbarous Tyrant replyed well but now I Will make you to understand how far you have been deceived in me and that there is no earthly thing that can so much blind my Senses or bereave me of my Reason as not to see or understand what beseemeth my high Calling yea I would you should all know that the Honour and Conquest of the Othoman Kings my noble Progenitors is so fixed in my breast with such a Desire in my self to exceed the same as nothing but Death is able to put out of my Remembrance and having so said he presently with one of his Hands catching the fair Greek by the Hair and with the other drawing his Scimiter smote off her Head she vainly Crying out for Mercy and then taking the bloody Head in his Hand turning to his Captains said now by this Judge ye whether your Emperor is able to Bridle his Affections or not and immediately to put this cruel Act out of his Mind gave order for his Army to march to the Invasion of Peloponnesus which he soon brought into Subjection taking most of the principal Cities and putting the Inhabitants to the Sword but upon the Submission of Demetrius the Prince thereof he restored him upon Condition of his becoming Tributary to the Turkish Empire and afterwards being inamoured of his fair Daughter took her to Wife and soon after hearing of the Death of George Despot of Servia he seized upon his Country and so passing on with his Army besieged Belgrade both by Land and Water as having a great Fleet upon the River Danubius on whose Bank that City is seated which Fleet being incountered by several Ships of War sent by Humaides for that purpose were soon destroyed which so inraged the Turk that immediately giving order for the assaulting the City his men were beaten off with the loss of 4000 men and amongst the rest Curaizis Bassa his Lieutenant in Europe who making his approach was slain with a great Shot and so well did the Valiant Humiades defend that City that after many unsuccessful assaults Mahomet was forced to raise his Siege and departed with 40000 less then he brought The great Humiades having thus long stood a Bulwark to
Christendom now worn out with the toyls of War fell sick and although his Disease was grievous yet desirous to receive the blessed Sacrament he would be carried to the Church saying it was not fit that the Lord should come to the House of his Servant But that rather the Servant should go to the House of his Lord and after his being brought home his Sickness Increasing he gave up the Ghost to the Grief of all the Christian Princes and was buried in the Church of St. Stephen in Alba Julia. Mahomet hearing of the Death of this great Captain who opposed the Torrent of his Victories greatly rejoyced and now resolving to extend his Dominions as well by Sea as Land Equipped a great many in the Port of Constantinople with which he invaded the Islands in the Egean Sea reducing several of them to his obedience and Landing his Army straightly besieged the famous City of Rhodes but Calixtus the third then Bishop of Rome being greatly displeased for the loss of Pera a City belonging to his See aided by the Genoways sent out a great Fleet under the Conduct of Lodonicius Patriarch of Aquilla fought with the Turks Gally sunk and burnt most of them And by that means recovered the Islands they had taken which so inraged Mahomet that he prepared an other Fleet against the Spring the which whilst he was doing Ambassadors came from Vsun Cassanus King of Persia with many rich Presents desiring that he would enter into League with the mighty Prince his Master and remit the Tribute payed him by the King of Trepezond that Kingdom as he said after the Death of the then Reigning King revolving to his Master in right of his Wife Daughter to the said King which Peremptory demand so inraged Mahomet that he not only refused his Presents but dismissed his Ambassador with this Answer That he would himself e'r long be in Asia to teach Vsun Cassanes what to request of one greater then himself and thereupon Commanded the Fleet he had prepared for the Invasion of the Isles in the Egeum incontinently to sail to Sinope the chief City of Paphlagonia and to expect his coming thither with his Army by Land which City and Country being under the Persian King he resolved to besiege it on no other Account then to raise a ground of Quarrel which City being but slenderly fortified and not able to indure the Force of the Ordnance it was delivered by Ismaele the Prince of Paphlagonia into his Hands who putting a Garrison therein proceeded to the Siege of Trepezond which he had in like manner yielded to him who sent the Emperor together with his Empress Sons and Daughters Prisoners to Constantinople dispeopling the City and thrusting thereinto a Garrison of his Janizaries by that means bringing the whole Country into Subjection and for ever ruining that Christian Empire And now hearing that Waldus Dracula Prince of Valachia his Tributary went about to joyn with the Hungarians his mortal Enemies he sought by all means to get him into his Power to effect which he sent Chamuzes Bassa and his Secretary accompanied with several others to invite him to Court but the Prince understanding the Design upon his Life hanged the Bassa and Secretary and impailed the rest alive and then invaded his Country with Fire and Sword which so inraged Mahomet that he in Person with a great Army invaded Valachia ruining all with Fire and Sword till at length driving the Prince out of his Country he gave it to his younger Brother who in lieu thereof became his Tributary and upon his return invaded the Islands in the Egeum as he had before purposed and Landing on the Isle of Mittylene took the strong City from whence the Island take its name after twenty seven years Battery with the great Ordnance and then for non-payment of Tribute invaded the Kingdom of Bassan which subdued he by that means incompassed Epirus he having all this while according to his Directions of the Father by one or other of his Bassas maintained War against Scanderbeg but with such bad success that he thought more then Convenient to make Peace with him but such were his Proposals that Scanderbeg with scorn rejected 'um whereupon Mahomet sent Amasa Bassa with 12000 Horsemen to wast Epirus but Scanderbeg incountering with 6000 put his Army to flight and took him Prisoner and worse faired Debreus Bassa who soon after was sent with 14000 Horsemen for ingageing with Scanderbeg's Forces his Army was overthrown and himself slain Mahomet grieved his Affairs prospered no better and finding that by force he could not prevail against Scanderbeg he dealt underhand by giving great Rewards to his Captains thinking if he could cause them to revolt Scanderbeg would easily be subdued and so effectually he wroght with Moses his chief Captain and a great Soldier that in hopes of the Kingdom of Epirus promised by Mahomet when Scanderbeg should be subdued and a great mass of Money he found means to escape to Constantinople and after him Amasa another of Scanderbeg's Captains who were sent by Mahomet with great Power to invade Epirus but being overthrown by the invinsible Prince they received such cold Comfort at their return that fearing their Lives which indeed the Turk had a design to bereive them off Moses fled and humbling himself at the Feet of his Compassionate Prince he notwithstanding his Treachery received him again into his Service who afterward served him faithfully in his Wars but Amaze being overthrown in his expedition with Isaac Bassa with the loss of 20000 Turks upon his return was by the Command of Mahomet as most Conjectured poisoned after which Scanderbeg concluded a Peace with the Turks for a year and was afterwad continued for a longer time during which great War happened between the Turks about the seizing the Islands in the Egeum and thereby hindering the Traffick in the Mediteranian to the great impoverishing their Signiory Wherefore entering into a Confideracy with the Princes they Arme both by Sea and Land into which League they with many perswasions drew Scanderbeg notwithstanding his League made with Mahomet was not expired The Princes thus Confedrated raising great Forces when in the mean time Mahomet sent Scremet Bassa against Scanderbeg to keep him from joyning with the Venetians whose Duke Christopher Maurus was coming to him with ten Gallies appointed with which Bassa Scanderbeg fought and put him to flight with the loss of ten Thousand of his Men taking the Treasurer of the Army and six others of Account Prisoners who were speedily Ransomed at 40000 Duccats and greater things had been done had not the Duke of Venice dyed of a Fever upon whose Death his Army returned home Victor Capella the next year with the Venetian Fleet seized Athens Aulis Chalchis Larsum and the Isle of Himber But attempting to recover Patras was overthrown Hungary being destitute of such a King as might defend them against the Power of the Turks elected Matthias Corroinus
the youngest Son of John Huniades their great Captain deceased who not much inferiour to his Father in valour and success in Arms gave the Infidels many a fatal overthrow with the Loss of many of their Armies and gave great hopes to the Christians that he would as indeed he did prove a Bulwark to Christendom Whilst things thus passed Mahomet desirous to revenge himself of Scanderbeg fent Ballabanus with a great Army to invaide his Territories whom Scanderbeg charging furiously overthrew him but Moses and others of his Captains contrary to the command of their General in the heat of fight following their Enemies into the straights of the Mountains where fallen into an Ambush for that purpose layed they were taken Prisoners and carryed to Constantinople by those they had before Vanquished wherewith Sanderbeg sent to desire that he might Ransom them but the crafty Tyrant knowing how much he was weakned by such a loss caused them Cruelly to be flain alive and soon after sent Jacup Bassa with a great Army with whom the renowned Prince ingaging slew him hand to hand and put to the Sword a great part of his Army upon news of which Mahomet mad with Anger raised an Army of 200000 men thinking to overrun the Country but in vain for having a long time layn Siege to Croia and there by the furious Sallies of the Garrison and onsets of Scanderbeg lost near half his men together with Ballabanus his General he with great shame and confusion returned to Constantinople But as all things must yield to Fate so our invincible Champion whom no mortal hand could subdue wearyed with the Toils of a tedious War coming to Lyssa a City of the Venetians fell Sick and calling the Venetian Embassador to him he discovered to him what a troublesome Life he had lived and by what means the War was to be maintained recommending to him the care of his Wife and Children appointing the Venetians the Guardians of his Son till such time he came of Age and in the mean while to secure for him the Kingdom of Epirus admonishing him to be faithful and as much as in him lay to maintain peace and unity Then calling his Wife and Son told them that he must leave the World and exchange this Life for one more durable and willed her that after his death she should pass over into Apulia and there to live upon the inheritance given him by King Ferdinand and then after some devout Prayers gave up the Ghost Anno. 1466. in the 63 year of his Age and 24 of his Reign to the great grief of the Christian Princes and joy of the Turks whose Armys his very name had frequently put to flight After his death he was with great Solemnity buryed in the Cathedral Church at Lyssa where he rested till about 9 years after at what time the Turks taking the City dug up his Bones and happy was he that could get the smallest piece which they wore about them ever after as inestimable Jewels superstitiously imagining that whilst they had them about u'm Scanderbeg's fortune would attend u'm and that they should be invincible Not long after the Death of this renowned Soldier the Hungarians under the leading of their young King seized upon the Kingdom of Bosna and soon rent it from the Turkish Empire demolishing the Castles and driving away the Garrisons placed there by Mahomet at what time the Venetians being abroad with a great fleet of Gallies took divers Cities from the Turks burnt many Villages and carryed away 2000 Captives into the Country of Euboea now called Nigroponte which so inraged Mahomet that he prepared a great Army to invade that Country and recover the spoil in order to effect which he sent Mahomet Bassa with a fleet of 300 Gallies whilst himself with a great Army Marched overland with which the Venetian Admiral not daring to ingage it arrived safe where the Turks landing took Stora Basasilicon and Marching to Chalcis joyned with the Emperors Army who with small Vessels and other Materials made a Bridge over the straight or narrow Sea which divides Euboea from Achaia straightly besieging it both by Sea and Land and with his Cannon for 4 days battered the City incessantly being given to understand by the chief Cannoneer of the 〈◊〉 whom he had bribed which was the weakest part insomuch that in the end several large 〈…〉 made yet was the City so manfully 〈…〉 the Turks could not enter and every day 〈…〉 Turks forced to make a new Battery for such part of the Wall as was in the Day time beaten down which the Citizens in the Night repaired and at length coming to understand the Tretchery of their Gunner hanged him up as a reward of his Tretchery Mahomet perceiving the valor of the defendants resolved after his having rent the Wall with his Cannon in divers places and thirty Days besieged the City to give a general assault with all his power at what time the Venetian Admiral came in sight of the City with his Fleet but would not tho his Captains urged either Fight with Turkish Gallies or endeavour to break the Bridge the which had he done he had shut up Mahomet and all his forces in the Island where through Famine and other necessities he might have greatly distressed him This Cowardice of the Admiral for which he and all his Family was afterwards Banished by the Signory of Venice being perceived by the Turks they gave a furious assault on all parts and were so stoutly repulsed that they with their dead filled up the Trenches and Breaches but their number still increasing and continuing the assault a whole day and a night without intermission the Citizens at last being 3 parts of them Slain and wounded the remaining part retired to the Market and there upon the Turks entering Fought it out to the last man selling their Lives at a dear rate amongst whom many Women disguised in men's apparel Fighting couragiously were Slain The City being thus gained at the price of 40000 Turks Lives the Barbarous Tyrant commanded all that were found therein to be put to the Sword which Paulus Ericus the Governour understanding with his Wise Daughter and trusty Friends betook himself to the Castle who capitulated that upon the surrender of the Castle himself and his Friends should have their Lives and Liberties Granted them which the Tyrant solemnly Swore to but having gotten them in his power made at the great loss he had sustained in winning the City he caused the Governour and all but his Daughter to be presently Slain reserving the young Lady as the only Mirror of Beauty to satiate his lust but she disdaining the Tyrants promises and reviling him for his wicked purposes rather desiring Death then to lose her Chastity by becoming his prostitute he caused her even in his presence to be cruelly put to Death and then proceeded to subdue the other Cities of the Island who terrified with the fate of Chalcis surrendered
after three Months siege having lost 9000 of his Men and 15000 dangerously sick of their Wounds and mortal Distempers he with great shame raised his Siege and after having destroyed all the Trees in that part of the Island imbarked his Men for Constantinople where at his return he received but a Cold Welcom from his imperious Master Whilst Mesites besieged Rhodes Achmetes Bassa passed over into Italy and besieged Otranto a Famous City in Puglia the which after the loss of many of his Turks took it spoiling all the Country round about it which brought such a Fear upon Italy that Sextus Quartus Bishop of Rome being only dreadful to the Christian Princes was about to fly and leave this once Mistress of the World as a prey to the Infidels and doubtless at that time the greatest part of Italy had been subdued had not the Ottoman Forces been Converted another way for the Carramanian King aided by the Persians and Sultan of Egypt having entered the Turkish Dominions on that side had in a mortal Battle overthrown Bajazet Mahomet's eldest Son then Living with the Slaughter of well nigh all his Army to revenge which Mahomet called home his great Bassa Achmetes with all the European Soldiers and in Person passed over into Asia but upon the way within two days journey from Nicomeda a City of Bythinia he fell sick and there for the space of three days grievously Tormented with a pain in his Belly which some supposed to be the Collick though others to proceed from the effects of Poison he Dyed Anno 1481. of his Age 52 years and his Reign 31 years His Body being afterwards Magnificently buried in a Chappel near unto the great Mahometan Temple which himself had built at Constantinople Leaving his Empire to Bajazet against whom Bandied till such time he was Poisoned by the Bishop of Rome who at the Commandment of Bajazet durst do no other Zemes or Zizimus his younger Brother as in the Life of Bajazet will appear CHAP. XIII The Life of Bajazet the second of that Name and second Emperor of the Turks his memorial Exploits Victories and Death MAhomet being dead and Bajazet and Zemes his two Sons absent for the Turkish Tyrants will not permit their Sons to remain at Court when they are Men grown lest they should aspire to Empire before their time the great Bassas and Aga of the Janizaries Conspired together e'r either of them could arrive to make Corcutus younger Son to Bajazet Emperor which accordingly they did of which Bajazet upon his approaching the City of Constantinople hearing horribly Exclaimed against the perfidious dealings of the Bassas and so laboured that at the Instance of Cherseogles Vice-Roy of Greece and the Aga or Captain of the Janizaries the young Emperor being of a mild and Courteous Nature overcome by their Intreaty and the Reverence of his Father resigned unto him his Imperial Government which he took upon him with the general liking of the men of War the finest token of any Turkish Emperors Establishment for if they oppose it 't is in vain for them to hope for Empire and in lieu of this Resignation Bajazet made him Governour of Lycia Caria Ionia and all the pleasant Countries adjoyning where being altogether given to study he Lived quietly all the Reign of Bajazet but after his Death was strangled by the Command of Selymas his Brothers Son as will in his Reign more at large appear During these Troubles Ferdinand King of Naples sent his eldest Son Alphonsus Duke of Calabria with a great Power to besiege Otranto which after several sharp Conflicts he had delivered up to him with all the Country lying about it which had been by Achmetes Bassa taken from the Christians during the Reign of Mahomet to recover which an Army was a second time prepared under the leading of the same Bassa but e'r he arrived in Italy he was Countermanded upon notice that Zemes was coming out of Amasia with an powerful Army to Wrestle with Bajazet for the Empire In which Expedition Achmetes was made General who meeting Zemes by plain Force drove him out of the Field with great slaughter of his Army insomuch that not thinking himself safe in his Brothers Dominions he fled into Syria and from thence into Egypt to Caytbeius Sultan of Egypt and Syria who received him with many great Expressions of joy and at his Request sent an Ambassador to Bajazet to intreat in his behalf that some part of that so great an Empire might be allotted him but the Proud Turk having gotten Possession would not yeild to have so dangerous a Partner Whereupon the Ambassador effecting nothing he joyned with the Caramanian King who by such a Conjunction hoped to recover his Territory taken from him by Mahomet Prince Zemes Father against whose joynt Forces but few in number Bajazet advanced with 200000 Horse and Foot of which the Princes having notice and finding themselves too weak by far to oppose so great a Power not finding as they had been put in hopes any to revolt from Bajazet to them they thought it good to retire before the ways were beset through the Straights of the Mountain Amanus which done they dispersed their little Army and soon after Zemes went to Rhodes where of the great Master he was kindly received with Promise of Protection from the Fury of his Brother hoping by this means if Bajazet should die a natural Death or otherwise misearry this Prince might be set up Emperor and by means ever remain a firm Friend to the Christians During these Transactions there wanted not some in the Court of Bajazet who Envying the Prosperity Achmetes Counselled the Emperor to put him to Death falsly insinuating that he held private Correspondence with Zemes Whereupon at his return from the Wars Bajazet as in kindness to his Bassas made a Royal Supper where after they had Drunk plentifully of Wine which by their Laws is forbid yet frequently amongst the Great ones used at their Feasts he in token of Honouring them caused a Rich Garment to be cast over each of them but when they came to Achmetes they cast over him a black Velvet Garment by the Turks called the Mantle of Death for whosoever that Garment is cast upon none of the Bassas dare be so hardy as to intreat for his Life which the other Bassas perceiving most of them being before privy to the Matter by leave of the Emperor after having kissed the Ground whereon he stood departed amongst whom Achmetes would likewise have gone out but was Commanded to stay for the Emperor and no sooner were the Bassas gone out but the Ministers of Death which are certain strong Men bereaved of Speech whom the Turkish Tyrants keep as Instruments of their Cruelty Entered and were about to strangle the Bassa when one of the Eunuches in great Favour with the great Emperor stood up and advised 〈◊〉 not to be too hasty in Executing so great a Man so beloved by his Soldiers
Bassa Charging furiously with fresh Troops of Horse entering too far amongst the Squadrons of his Enemies was slain which so discouraged his men then at the point to have prevailed that they first fainted and afterwards betook themselves to plain flight so that in passing the Mountains many of them were slain and more taken Prisoners Bajazet hearing of the Success of the Rebels sent Jonuses Bassa against them with 40000 Horse and Foot upon whose approach they retired into the Mountains but being driven thence they fled into Armenia Whereupon the Bassa fretting that he had not beset the ways caused all that he found to imbrace the new Religion or to have born Arms against Bajazet on the behalf of Techellis either to be put to Death Burnt in the Forehead with a hot Iron or Transported into Europe to prevent any future Insurrection and upon his return to Constantinople had Notice that Techellis and his scattered Forces in their flight lighting upon a Caravan of Silks and other Rich Merchandize took the spoil thereof for which outrage coming to Tauris the Captains were all by the Command of Hysmael hanged upon Gibbits and Techellis for a Terror to others burnt alive The Astan Rebellion suppressed by the means aforesaid the year following viz. Anno 1509. a dreadful Earthquake happened in Constantinople and the Countries adjacent which lasted with very little Intermission for the space of eighteen days or as the Turks affirm a Month in which time â—â— tâ—ew to the ground many stately Buildings in Constantinople Hadrianople and other Cities of Greece and in their Ruins overwhelmed 13000 People after which a great Mortality happened which dispeopled many Cities in the Turks Dominions but both being past Bajazet set 80000 to repair the mischief Constantinople had sustained by the Earthquake which they performed in four Months Beautifying the City more then ever Bajazet had by his many Wives eight Sons and six Daughters who lived to be Men and Women grown and the Sons all Governours in divers Provinces of his large Empire whom the Turkish History after this manner reckons up viz. Abdullah Zelebi Alem Scach Tzihan Scach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Mahomet yet as Antonius Vtrius Genois who long time lived in Bajazet's Court accounts they were only six whose Names he recites thus Scieniscia Alemscia Achometes Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus and that the two former dyed long before their Father and were by him greatly lamented now as for Tizhan and Abdula Zelebi the Turks report they were put to Death by their Fathers Command upon Suspition that they aspired too high in Conceit of Empire Of all these Sons Mahometes was of greatest hope who was by his Father made Governour of Magnesia but being by reason of his Youth somewhat Frolicksome he often went disguised to take a view of his Brothers Courts how therein they behaved themselves c. And at last came with two others in the habit oâ— Sea-faring men to the Court of Bajazet where not at first finding Admittance to the Emperors Presence they went and bought a fair Christian Captive and then pretending they had a Present to deliver were by the Warders permitted to enter and having delivered the Present found means to depart being first rewarded with three rich Garments but e'r they were gotten on Ship-board they were met by a Courtier that knew Mahometes who allighting would have done him Reverence but he forbad it as not being willing to be discovered yet it was not kept so close but it came to Bajazet's Ear who jealous as always Tyrants are that under such like Intreagues might be hid some secret Conspiracy against his Life or Empire he wrote to one Asmehemides a Courtier highly in Favour with Mahometes to poison him sending withal a poisonous Powder to effect it which this perfidious Courtier in hopes to succeed him in his Government performed but long it was not e'r the Tyrant repenting him of his inhumane and unnatural Command cast the said Courtier in Prison where he miserably perished Bajazet having caused Mahometes to be poisoned whom he need not to have feared Selymus the Governour of Trepezond one whom he intirely Loved immediately Conspired against him and having Corrupted most of the great Bassas of the Court the better to strengthen himself married the Daughter of Mahometes the Tartarian King who Aiding him with 15000 Tartarian Horse he left his Government and passed over the Euxine into Europe under pretence of invading Hungary where haivng notice that his Father intended to declare Achometes his Successor leaving the Coast of Hungary he marched directly towards Hadrianople where Bajazet lay with his Army and incamping within sight of the City sent a feigned Message to excuse his coming in a Hostile manner the which was as he said only that he might gain Access to his Presence to shew him such Reasons as he doubted not but he would approve of why Achometes should not succeed him but Bajazet not trusting to his fawning sent him word that if he did not immediately return to his Government in Asia and disband his Army he would not fail to chastise him with the Scourge of War But this Speech did not at all dismay the Head-strong Youth nor could all the Presents and fair Words Bajazet could devise avert him but raising his Camp marched directly towards Constantinople which Bajazet perceiving drew his Army out of Hadrianople and marched to prevent his surprizing the Imperial City at whose Departure out of Hadrianople Selymus entered it and having there refreshed his Army followed hard upon his Father cutting off the straglers of his Army and part of his Rear which caused the Old man to Face about and bid him Battle though all the Bassas except Cherseogles disswaded him from it as secretly favouring Selymus which Selymus as willing to accept after both Armies were put into Order and Bajazet with a moving Oration had incouraged his Men a cruel Fight began which continued from Noon till the setting of the Sun at what time the Tartarian Horse sore Gauled with the shot of the Harquebusses and terrified with the Thundering noise disranked and fled in spite of their Rider after which the Foot being Charged by the Janizaries were most of them slain Selymus himself upon a swift Horse hardly scaping In this Battle fought Anno 1511. near Chiurlus 30000 of Selymus his Men were slain and taken Prisoners with the loss only of 7000 of Bajazet's Soldiers after which Bajazet kept on his way to Constantinople where he no sooner arrived but he bountifully rewarded his Men Achometes Bajazet's eldest Son being at Amasia and hearing what had passed raised an Army of 20000 Horse and Foot and by speedy marches came to Scutari Antiently called Christophorus situate upon the Straights of Bosphorus over against Constantinople where incamping he sent Messengers to his Father requesting him as he had frequently determined to declare him his Successor as by Seniority he ought and to resign him the Empire
all which Bajazet intended to do and proposed such his Intentions to his Captains but they bribed by Selymus opposed him therein saying they would acknowledge no other Emperor but himself and as the Captains said so said the Soldiers Whereupon he sent to Achometes to inform him of the Obstinacy of the Soldiers and desired him to return to his Government of Amasa till he could mold them into a better Temper by his Bounty but he impatient of delay not only abused the Messenger but greatly reproached his Father rose with his Army and marching through the Country spoiled Bythinia and growing daily more and more inflamed from being barred of his Expectation purposed to have seized upon Asia the less upon which calling to him his two Sons Amurath and Aladine young Princes of great hope he admonished them to take up Arms against their Grand-father who prone enough thereto of themselves and now incited by their Father in a short time raised a great Army and joyning with the standing Forces Achometes had before in pay over-run a great part of Asia Achometes causing himself every where to be proclaimed King These proceedings greatly troubled Bajazet insomuch that to prevent Blood-shed he sent to him his Ambassadors to reprove him for his Disloyalty and to command him forthwith to set at Liberty his Nephews Mahometes and his Brother whom he had taken Prisoners for refusing to aid him against their Grand-Father Bajazet but instead of performing what his Father Commanded he caused the chief Ambassador to be Slain in his presence and strictly enjoyned the other on Pain of their Lives to depart his Camp ' ere Sun set of which strange and Heinous Fact when Bajazet had knowledge he was greatly inraged and caused him to be proclaimed a Traytor against his Person and Empire commanding that the European Horse-men should immediately march against him But the Bassas that favoured Selymus thinking it now a fit time to procure his being called home and entring again into Favour insinuated into the old Emperor that if he designed to destroy both his Rebellious Sons he could do it by no better means then by calling home Selymus and making him General of the Army designed to march against Achometes and that by such means one of them was sure to Perish and then getting the other into his power he might destroy him at his pleasure to this motion of the Bassas Bajazet hearkened adn commanded that Selymus should be fetched to Court whither now Corcutus was come to claim his Fathers promise as having heard that contrary thereto he meant to give the Empire from him to whom Bajazet again made many promises only willing him to be content whilst this new Rebellion was suppressed when in the mean while Selymus arrived and prostrating himself at his Fathers Feet was received into favour and preferred to the leading of the Army who no sooner he dâ—d it but as it was before contrived by the Bassas he by the General Voice was saluted Emperor and Mustapha Bassa sent to Bajazet peremptorily to demand him to surrender the Empire to his Son Selymus whom as he said the Soldiers had saluted Emperor and that if he refused so to do they were resolved to spoil the Pallace if not commit an out-rage upon his Person upon which Bajazet finding himself betrayed by those he most relyed on after having expressed Indignation and Grief finding that would or would he not all was one with many curses and Execrations upon his unnatural Son and the rest of the Traytors he delivered the Insigns of Majesty of which unexpected news Corcutus having notice fled for his Life to Magnesia Selymus having by the means aforesaid Grasped the Empire could not suppose himself safe whilst his Father lived and therefore with great rewards tempted Hamon a Jew and Bajazet's chief Physitian to make him away by Poyson who in order to his Hellish purpose went to Hadrianople whither Bajazet was retired and there through Melancholy and infirmities incident to Age he found him indisposed he offered him Physick the which the old man not doubting to be of fatal Consequence when delivered by the Hand of his old approved Physitian at the time appointed took which he had not long done ' ere he felt a grievous pain in his Stomack and plain Symptoms of his being Poysoned appeared so that amidst Groans and Torturing Pangs within 24 Hours he gave up the Ghost Anno 1512 and his Reign the thirtieth Bajazet thus Poysoned the Jew hasted to Constantinople to receive his reward which he had accordingly for not long after his Arrival his Head was stricken off by the Commandment of Selymus who afterward Buryed his Father in a most stately Tomb near to the Great Mahometan Temple that himself had built and by Reason two of his Pages mourned for him he caused them to be put to Death but Heavens Vengeance was not long delayed as will appear in the next Chapter in his woful and unusual Death CHAP. XIV The Life of Selymus the first of that Name the third Emperor of the Turks his Bloody Reign and woful Death SElymus Aspiring to the Empire by Blood and Treason could not think himself safe whilst any of the Othoman Royal Blood remained in the Veins of his Relations therefore gathering all his forces he marched into Asia to oppress Achometes but missing of him at that time he thirsty of Blood caused 5 of his Nephews all Princes of great hope to be straugled in his presence causing their dead Bodies to be Buryed in Prusa and afterward sought to surprise Amurath and Aladin Mahometes 2 Sons but they having notice of his wicked intent one of them fled into Persia and the other into Egypt and Vsegi Bassa who was sent to apprehend them at Amasa upon notice beforehand sent by Mustapha Bassa who now was alienated from Selymus was intrapped by an Ambush lay'd by Mahometes himself taken Prisoner and most of his men Slain but it coming to Selymus his Ear that Mustapha held Correspondence with Achometes notwithstanding he had helped him to the Empire he caused him to be Slain so little Assurance has any man in the favour of a Tyrant who has the power of Life and Death in his Hand in revenge of which Achometes put Vsegi Bassa whom he held Prisoner to Death Selymus still thirsty of Blood with all speed marched to Magnesia in hopes to have surprized his Brother Corcutus in his Castle but he having timely notice was fled before his coming yet he took the Spoil of all his Treasure and so leaving a Captain with a 1000 Horse to secure the City and commanding Bostanges his Son In-Law with a Fleet to watch the Sea-Coast that he should not escape he went to Prusia supposing to have found him there but on the contary he poor Prince was fain to hide himself in a Cave by the Sea-side and there for many Days feeding upon Crabs in hopes the Ships would have departed that he might have wafted
Hysmael fought by the violence of which such a slaughter was made as well of his own men as of the Enemies mingled together that what for the dust smoak and thundering of the Artillery having on both sides lost their sight and hearing the Persian horse were so terrified that they were not to be ruled wherefore the battle soon became broken and disordered so that both Armies retired upon the Approach of night leaving the Victory doubtful The Turks to express the terror of this day number it amongst their dismal ones calling it the only day of Doom Hysmael in this furious battle having received a wound under the left Shoulder with a small shot by the perswasion of his friends withdrew himself to have his wound search'd which past doubt was the safeguard of Selymus and his Army for the Persians following their King left the Victory almost gotten but the Persian finding his wound not mortal was about to return but hearing of the Death of Vsta Ogli his General a man of Great experience and that by reason of the Thundering of the great Ordnance his Horsemen could not rule their Horses he caused the retreat to be sounded and so retired in good order the Turks so much dispairing of Victory that they durst not follow him and so he passing by the City of Tauris admonished the Inhabitants to open their gates to Selymus thereby to avoid being sacked and so Marched into the Confines of Media The Persians out of sight the Turks then and not till then durst seize upon their Camp where they found divers rich Pavilions wrought with Needle-Work and Gold as also many beauteous Ladies who had accompanied their Husbands to the Wars all which he presently caused to be set at liberty unless one of Hismaels Wives whom he gave in Marriage to one of his Bassas In this Battle fought in the Galderan Fields near the City of Coy Anno 1514. Selymus lost 30000 of his men and amongst them many Bassas and great Commanders even all the flower of his Army which consisted of 300000 Horse and Foot of the Persians there fell not above 8000 Hysmaels Army not consisting of above 30000 so that the Turks were 8 to 1 And amongst the slain were found the Bodies of several Persian Women who Armed had accompanied their Husbands to participate of their good or evil fortune at which Selymus admiring caused them to be Honourably interred and then received the Embassadors of the several adjacent Cities who upon condition their Goods Lives and Liberties might be preserved delivered up the Keys of their respective Cities so that having taken possession thereof he called a Council of his Bassas and great Captains to consult what was best to be done himself being desirous to Winter in Tauris for opposing which Mustapha his chief Bassa was by him disgraced and thrust from all his honours of which the Janizaries having notice began to Mutiny telling him to his face they would not stay in that desolate Country where they had suffered such hardship daily to be exposed to the fury of the Enemy who was raising great forces to come down against them and that if he would not in time depart they were resolved to forsake him whereupon he as needs must changed his former determination resolving to return into Cappadocia whereupon contrary to his Promise exacting a great Mass of Money from them of Taurus and carrying with him 3000 families the best Artificers in that City especially those that were Skilfull in making Armour he raised his Camp and Marched towards Euphrates a longer way then that by which he came fearing to return again by the head of Araxis and the Mountains of Periardes lest he should meet the Iberian and Albanian Horsemen who as he was informed were following hard after him who indeed came within sight of him as he was passing the Euphrates which raised such consternation in his Camp that in hastily passing the River 2000 Turks were drowned and a great many of his Ordnance together with much Baggage left as a Prey to the Persians nor had he better Success in passing the Huge Mountain Anti-Taurus for the Mountain Kings despising him by reason of his bad proceedings with their savage People lay'd all the ways and by frequently falling upon the Rear of his Army killed many of his People and took great spoil though the Kings upon his sending to complain thereof excused the matter promising to punish the offenders so soon as they should be known At length passing the many dangers he came to Amasa where he wintered with his broken and crazed Army resolving to return the next spring with a far greater Power the cause why Hismael being Lord of such great Countries came with so small a Power was for that he to win the Hearts of his People the better to be established in his new acquired Kingdom had remitted most of the Taxes and Customs formerly pay'd to his Prodecessors all his forces consisting in the Souldiers of the Court those that were by right bound to serve him and such as were sent to him by the petty Princes his Neighbours when as on the other side Selymus had always by him an Inestimable Mass of Money kept in seven Towers in Constantinople his yearly tributes and revenues exceeding his expences by a fourth part Selymus not thinking himself sufficiently revenged of the Persians having reised his Camp at Amasa Early in the Spring passing the Euphrates with his whole Army consisting of 300000 Horse and Foot came before Clamassum a City of the Persians situate on the further Banks which he so suddenly invested and so furiously assaulted that the Gates being broken up and the Walls in many places won the defendants retired into the Market-place and there fought against the whole Power of Selymus to the last man after the taking of this City he took two Castles not far distant from it and being pricked forward with the desire of Glory purposed to have subdued the Kingdom of Persia which he might the easier have done by reason Hysmael was Waring against the Bactrians and Hyrcanians a savage People dwelling near the Caspian Sea who had Rebelled against him but considering what damage he had received from Aladeules the Mountain King and others inhabiting the Desolate Countries at the entrance into Armenia he purposed e're he further proceeded to subdue him wherefore he Marched thitherward with all his People of which the poor Prince having notice gathered all his strength and drawing his Horsemen who were but 15000 into a pleasant Valley commanded his Footmen to keep the Mountains and from thence with shot of Arrows annoy the Turks in passing the straights upon which Selymus considering the disadvantage of the place commanded Sinan Bassa General of the European Horsemen to charge him with a square Battle afront whilst himself with the Janizaries and Asian Horsemen followed him in the Rear the Ground by reason of its Scantiness not admitting the use of Wings upon
fell that it not only allayed the Sand but furnished his Army with Water during his passage which took up eight days yet was he frequently assaulted by the Arabians The Deserts passed as aforesaid the Turkish Army drew near unto Cair to receive or rather intrap which Tomombeius the new Sultan near to a Village called Rhodania had intrenched his Camp with deep Ditches filled with Water over which he had laid rotten Hurdles and upon them Earth and lined all the Banks with Artillery not doubting but Selymus would march that way but this their Device which would certainly have gained them a Victory had it took was upon the approach of the Turkish Army discovered to Selymus by four Epirot Mamalukes who secretly Envying the sudden Advancement of Tomombeius had in the Night time withdrawn themselves from his Camp Upon which Selymus altered his determined Courses and marching by by-ways suddenly appeared with his Army drawn up in Battalia in the Rear of the Egyptian Camp which put them into a great Consternation but seeing no Remedy but presently to ingage the Sultan put his Army in readiness and after the Charge sounded furiously with his great Ordnance spoke his indignation and was answered in the same Language from Selymus his Camp but after the second discharge of each particular tire the Armies joyned Charging each other with such Force that all the Ground lay covered with the slain the Mamalukes inraged with mortal Hatred bearing down all before them when in the mean time the Arrabians incompassed the Turks Battle putting the Thracian Macedonian and Epirot Horsemen to the flight the which Sinan Bassa perceiving came in with his Squadron of Horse to stay the wavering Battle but being overcharged by Gazelles and Bidon he was slain and his men disordered So that had not Selymus himself advanced with his surest strength of the Janizary the Victory had fallen to the Sultan but with them restoring the Battle and the Mamalukes being tired with continual Fighting at the approach of Night Tomombeius finding his men to be worsted caused the retreat to be sounded and retired towards Cair leaving his Camp to the Turks In this Battle fought on the 24. of January 1517. Were slain many Thousands on both sides and the Turks had certainly been worsted had it not been for the invincible Courage of the Janizaries The Turks in pursuit having taken the Diadare a man of great Command amongst the Egyptians and Bidon the valiant Captain whom Selymus unworthily caused to be slain in revenge of the Sinan Bassa Tomombeius a man of a warlike Spirit nothing discouraged at what had happened but rather more resolute to revenge his disgrace gathered his Power from all parts and incamped Commodiously between the City of Cair and the River Nilus and there consulted how he might by stratagem most conveniently set upon the Turks Camp e'r they understood what Power he had not thinking it safe so suddenly to try another Field But whilst he was thus plotting all his devices were discovered to Selymus as they had been before by several Mamalukes who now beginning to have his fortune in Contempt revolted from him Insomuch that to prevent the firing of his Camp as was intended Selymus caused strict Watches to be kept and great Fires to be made that so he might discover the Enemies approaches by night which the Sultan perceiving by the advice of his great Commanders retired into the City of Caire there to expect the approach of the Conqueror furnishing it with all manner of Warlike provision and inciteing the Egyptians who stood all this while Newters to take up Arms in the defence of their Country which the more wealthy whillingly did but the poorer sort who in all Nations ever gape after change of Government thinking to advantage themselves thereby yet such were the perswasions of the Mamalukes that in the end most of the Citizens resolved upon the defence of that great City towards which Selymus was advancing a pace wherefore Tomombeius caused Trenches to be drawn Cross the Streets at the bottom of which were fixed sharp Stakes and before them Tin being overlaid with rotten Hurdles so to intrap the too eager Turks for why the City had no Walls but situate upon the River Nilus was adorned with many stately Towers Piramides Pallaces Temples and Monuments of the Egyptian Kings served rather for Pleasure then strength He likewise caused the Houses to be furnished with Harquebusiers and his Pieces of Culvering and other small Pieces to be every where planted Advantagiously for the annoying the Enemy and in the great Street drew up his greatest strength consisting of Mamalukes yet Selymus being now come before it after his having incouraged his Soldiers to undertake the subduing of that great City as the last Refuge of the Sultan he furiously entered the Gate called Basuela and at one instant thrust in his Horsemen at divers Caves but kept his Janizaries in the high Street where the greatest Power of the Mamalukes were Whereupon a dreadful Fight was begun on all parts insomuch that the Channels run Blood like so many Torrents the Artillery and small Shot still thundering from either side made all seem Fire and covered the tops of the Houses with Clouds of smoke when from their Windows and Roof of their Houses the Egyptians cast down Stones Tiles scalding Water Sulphur Pitch Tar and the like to the great annoyance of the Turks who still pressing forward many of them fell into the Covert Trenches and were there impailed on the Stakes and such was the Clamour and Outcries of the enemy where together with the Clashing of Weapons and dreadful Fires that it seemed as if the desolation of all things was come and in this dismal manner continued the Fight for the space of two Days and two Nights without intermission Insomuch that Selymus finding what obstinate Enemies he had to deal with began to despair of winning the City and therefore was about to sound the Retreat as his fainting Soldiers most earnestly desired at what time he had News that Mustapha Bassa had by the Conduct of some Fugitive Mamalukes entered the City on the other side and had taken the Mamalukes Horses which they had left there ready Sadled thereon to make their escapes if matters came to the Extremity which not only Animated the Turks but dismayed the Mamalukes who expected no such Matter So that the Fight were renewed on the third day continuing Bloody and doubtful till the Evening at what time most of the Egyptians were very desirous to be rid of their insolent Lords the Mamalukes revolted to the Turks which the Mamalukes perceiving and that by Reason of the great number of Turks that were sent to stop the Gaps that Death had made they were no longer able to resist their Fury they betook themselves to flight most part of them hasting to the River Nilus with Tomombeius who in that Battle had all in vain proved the utmost of his Prowess and
Policy being Transported over it in Boats fled to Segesta others of them fled into the Houses of the Egyptians and into Caves and Vaults in the City to hide themselves A thousand five hundred of the better sort betook them to the Temple of their pretended Prophet where after an obstinate and tedious defence being disabled by Weariness Thirst and loss of Blood they surrendered themselves upon Diseretion part of whom the furious Soldiers slew in the Porch of the said Temple and the rest within a few days after being sent down the River to Alexendria were there contrary to the Promise of Selymus put to Death This great City subdued after the manner aforesaid Selymus Commanded a part of his Army to extinguish the Fire which raged vehemently in many places which done he exhibited a Proclamation that all the Mamalukes who within twelve hours would furrender themselves should have pardon of Life upon which many came forth of their secret places and that whosoever of the Egyptians should conceal any one of them longer then the time specified he threatned to impail them alive on Stakes and having sold their Wives and Children to burn their Houses which dreadful menace on the one side and hopes of Reward which was also Promised on the other caused many of the Egyptians contrary to their Promises to their old Lords the Mamalukes to deliver some of them up to the Tyrany of Selymus who caused them to be put to Death but some of the Egyptians impeached by their malicious Neighbours chose rather to suffer Death then to prove perfidious in breaking the solemn Protestations they had made to their Lords Nor did the Victorious Turks spare though contrary to Selymus his Promise to rifle the Houses of the Egyptians Murther many of them and defloure their Daughters and ravish their Wives even in their Presence and to use all other Cruelties incident to so great and populous a City upon the entry of an Hunger-starved Army greedy of prey At the taking of Cair Gazales the great and Valiant Captain of the Mamalukes was not present but sent by Tomombeius to raise an Army in Arabia who upon his return finding all lost and that the Sultan was fled he knew not where not thinking it Convenient to hazard a Battle against him whom Fortune so highly favoured he came to Selymus upon his Faith before given for the safety of himself and his Followers which were three Arrabian Captains and a number of good Horsemen and being admitted to his Presence boldly declared that since Fortune had made him her Darling and that he by her aid rather Conquered the Mamalukes then by any Force and that since Tomombeins was fled whose part as long as his Kingly Authority and Majesty remained he had faithfully served he and the rest were at his Devotion if he so pleased to serve him with their Lifes and Fortunes of which offer Selymus joyfully accepted highly Commending Gazeles both for his Virtue and Valour which for the most part gains Credit amongst the roughest Enemies and not long after sending him to suppress the Moors and Arabs that made Incursions into the Country about Cair he suddenly overthrew them and e'r he was expected returned with Victory Tomombeius being in the Country of Segesta whilst Selymus was setling his matters at Cair raised a considerable Army and the rather for that he had frequent advice from the Carians that if he would come suddenly upon the Turks they would raise such a Tumult that he should not only recover the City but destroy the Army who were but few in number and most of those weak through their Wounds and Sickness but e'r he could put this Design in Practice one Albuchomar a man of great Wealth and Authority in the Country of Segesta discovered the design to Selymus who caused all such Citizens as he suspected to be shut up in the Castle and continually guarded the Streets placing along the River Boats and Men and Artillery to keep the Enemy from repassing it and not well assured to hold what he had got from such desperate and resolute Enemies as were the Mamalukes of whom a great Power were again resorted to Tomombeius he resolved to send Ambassadors to him to advise him to submit and in yielding to his Clemency he would provide for him in some other part of his Dominions but e'r the Ambassadors came to his Camp they were way-laid by certain Mamalukes who had vowed no Peace with the Turks and without respect to their Character shamefully murthered them upon notice of which Selymus who was of a hot fiery Nature was so inraged that he could scarcely contain himself And thereupon Commanded a strong Bridge made of Boats and Planks to be laid over Nilus resolving to revenge the affront done to his Majesty the which once finished he drew the greatest part of his Army out of Cair leaving only so many as might keep the City from revolting with an intent to pass into the Country of Segasta to wast it with Fire and Sword of which Tomombeius having knowledge by speedy marches came to the Bridge at what time the Asian Horsemen were passed over and setting furiously upon them e'r they had well put themselves in Order making great slaughter of such as resisted Insomuch that many to avoid the Swords of their Enemies by leaping into the River were there drowned others in passing the Bridge were thrust beside and miserably perished in the Water Nor could Mustapha Bassa with all his Courage resist the Fury of the Mamalukes all the Turks being filled with Fear and Consternation as well on the hither as the further Bank the Artillery was for a while rendered useless by reason that if it had been discharged it must have been against the Turks onely who in fearful Troops covered the further Bank calling for Help to those on the other side Selymus seeing in what state Assairs stood caused all his Boats to be brought and filling them with Janizaries passed them over who Ranging in good order stayed the Fury of the Mamalukes when as Carrgolis Son to the Tartar King and Brother-in-Law to Selymus with his Horsemen took the Water and Swom over with little loss So that now the Battle went hard on all sides and strongly did the Mamalukes press on to gain the Head of the Bridg the which they had done by Cutting the Cables that fastened it they had set it afloat down the River and destroyed that part of the Army with whom they were ingaged e'r they could have been relieved by their Fellows which Mustapha perceiving had drawn to that place both his Insigns and his most experienced Soldiers so that the Fight was for a long time maintianed Bloody and doubtful but the Turks still coming over in great abundance true Valour was obliged to give place to Multitudes for the Mamalukes who had done all that men could do betook themselves to Flight after whom the Tartarian Horsemen followed with great Slaughter as
the way himself had like to have been slain in his Tent by a Mountainier which had been effected had he not been discovered by the cracking of a bough to revenge which he sent his Janizaries and other his approved Soldiers who hunting the people inhabiting the high and rough Mountains of Chimera like wild Beasts killed many of them and returned with such spoil as they found after which he with a great Fleet landed on the Isle of Corcyra now called Corfu for fear of whom the Venetian Admiral â—â—thdrew with his Galleys into the Adriatick Gulf 〈◊〉 to expect the other part of his Fleet yet 〈…〉 long while battered the chief City in vain 〈…〉 himself with the spoil of the Villages 〈…〉 Thousand Christian Prisoners departed 〈…〉 return landing on the Isle of Naxos 〈…〉 the City which not being furnished to 〈…〉 so powerful an Army consented to pay the Tâ—â—ant Five thousand Duckates a year Tribute and to hold the Seigniorie of him whereupon without doing further harm he departed to Constantinople at whose return Lutzis Bassa was accused by his Wife Solymans Sister of Sodomy and for that she having in private reproved him thereof he had struck her a box on the Ear and confined her as a Prisoner to her Chamber which complaint so incensed Solyman who for his Sisters sake had raised him from a low Degree to the highest Honour next himself that he banished him into Macedonia where he spent the remainder of his dayes in a poor and private life Though Solyman was returned to Constantinople yet his Wars with the Venetians ended not for he sent strict command to his Governours and Lieutenants bordering upon their frontiers to vex them them with all manner Hostilities who were not wanting to satisfie him therein nor the Venetians on their part to revenge the injuries but the fierceness of the Turks were somewhat restrained by a War undertaken by King Ferdinand against them to revenge former injuries who raising a great power of gallant Soldiers of divers Nations sent them under the leading of Cazzianer by whose Cowardize in leading them through Woods and by-wayes many of them perished for hunger others to avoid that calamity deserted him and in fine the General forsaking his Army for which he was afterward executed It was overthrown near Exek and all the Soldiers either slain or taken Prisoners The news of this great overthrow much troubled the Christian Princes to repair which disgrace the Emperor the Venetians and the Pope set out a great Fleet of Galleys which meeting at Corcyra the Admirals consulted what was best to be done when upon notice that Barbarussa lay with the Turkish Galleys in the Bay of Ambracia they resolved to sail thither where having a while braved him the bold Turk incited thereto by one of Solymans Eunâ—chs came forth to give them battle which Auria perceiving contrary to the minds of the Captains stood away to Corcyra in the rear of whom the Turks fall took several of the stragling Galleys This retreat or rather flight much eclipsed the fame of Auria who before was accounted a second Neptune but being still followed by Barbarussa he returned into Italy to the great dislike of the Venetians without effecting any thing worthy of memory which gave the proud Turk opportunity to make great spoil on the Sea Coast and on the Islands of the Sea yet held by the Venetians and to recover Castronovum a little before taken by the Christians though not without infinite slaughter on either side it being for a long time manfully defended by Sarmentus a Valiant Spanish Captain who amongst heaps of slain expired in the bed of Honour Things being at this pass the Emperor made a peace with the French King both which Potentates solicited the Venetians by their Embassadors to continue the War against Solyman but they weary thereof as lying most obnoxious to his fury could not be perswaded thereto but laboured to procure a peace which with much difficulty they obtained In consideration whereof they yield unto him Nauplium and Epidaurus two Cities of Peloponesus together with Nadium and Labrania two Castles of Dalmatia which happened by reason the secrets of their Embassey was beforehand discovered to Solyman by several treacherous Venetians bribed by him for that purpose some of which being afterward taken were worthily executed at the same time a secret consideration between John King of Hungary and Ferdinand King of Bohemia including that upon the decease of the former the latter should enjoy his Kingdom was discovered to Solyman which grievously incensed him against the Hungarian King whom by his Armes he had restored to his Kingdom to appease which he was content to marry Isabella Daughter to Sigismund King of Polonia by whom he had Issue a Son who after his Fathers Death was crowned King of Hungary and taken into Solymans protection by that means bereaving King Ferdinand of his hope of a peaceable possession whereupon after having requested it by his Embassadors of Solyman and despairing that way to obtain it he with a great Army entered the Kingdom and seized upon Vicegrade Pesth Vacia and Alba Regalis To oppose which sudden Tempest e're it had swept away all her Cities the Queen sent her Embassadors to Solyman to crave Aid against King Ferdinand whereupon he not only sent the young King her Son several Rich Presents but his Letters Mandatory to his Lieutenants on the Frontiers with all their Forces to assist her threatning that if by their neglect she received any dammage their heads should make satisfaction and withal caused Lascus King Ferdinands Embassador at that time residing at Constantinople to be imprisoned This news was joyful to the Queen whereupon she drawing together all her Forces joyned them with those Mahometes and Vstref two of Solymans Bassas had brought into the field and immediately layed siege to Vacia which they took and to prevent its again falling into the hands of the Bohemians set it on fire Vacia thus layed waste they removed to Pesth to which they layed straight siege but after many unsuccessful attempts to carry it by storm raised their Camp and returned over Danubius upon which King Ferdinand sent a great Army under the Leading of the Lord William Regendorff who entring the Kingdom layed siege to Buda and sent Messengers to summon the Queen to surrender the City to his Master and that in lieu thereof and of the other Cities she should have bestowed on her freely the Seignory of Sepusia to which George Bishop of Veradium who altogether governed the Queen answered that she should accept no such proffer and with many opprobrious words dismissed the Messengers whereupon Regendorff having mounted his Canon furiously battered the City making several wide breaches but they were so notably defended that the Germans nor Spaniards could not enter which they perceiving so dealt with one Bornemissa a great man in the City that he promised to deliver them a Gate in the night to enter by
into the ruins of an old Town which a little before he had razed and therein strongly Fortified himself round about which next day the Turks incamped but perceiving that it was not onely difficult but dangerous to assault him in his strength they sent Messengers to him to perswade him to yield to Mercy and not expose his own Life and the lives of so many of his Subjects to the fury of the inraged Souldiers or miseries they would be shortly reduced to by Famine offering the Oaths of all the chief Commanders for his own security and the security of his people to which proposals he being perswaded to hearken he in consideration that the Cossacks might be permitted to return with their Horses and Armes into their own Countrey that himself might be alive conveyed into the presence of Selymus there to make his defence and that his Subjects might return to their respective homes or take service with the Turks agreed to come out of his strength and submit himself to which his demands Capucius Bassa General of the Turks Army consented and himself with the rest of the great Commanders swore seven times a usual custom amongst the Turks for the solemnly obliging themsleves to fulfil his request Whereupon he came forth onely accompanied with Osmolius a Polonian Captive but after four hours continuance in the Turks Camp the perfidious Bassa sending for him unexpectedly with his Scimiter struck him cross the face and afterwards wounded him in the Belly upon which signal the Janizaries present took him and cut off his head which they fixing upon the point of a Lance carrying it in derision through the Camp nor satisfied with barbarous and base indignities they at the commandment of the Bassa tore his body in pieces with Camels and soon after put all the Christians whom they had allured out of their strength to the Sword who yet fell not unrevenged for the Cossacks perceiving the hard plight they were in sered together and with their weapons in their hands made a great slaughter of the Enemy but being few in number except their Captain and some other men of note they were all slain After this shameful Murther the Turks over run all Moldavia and Valachia recovering in a short time the strong places that were possessed by the Vayoods Garrisons after which Selymus intent for the recovery of the Kingdom of Tunis in possession of the Spaniards sent 300 sail of Gallies under the command of Sinan Pial and Vluzales his chief Bassa's to reduce it to his obedience who after the loss of 30000 Turks with great difficulty took the strong Castle of Guletta and the new Castle built at the Commandment of Don John in his late expedition against the Moorish Rebels which strong hold lost Tunes surrendered without making any considerable resistance and in it was taken Mahomet the late invested King whom the Turks sent Prisoner to Constantinople But Selymus long survived not this victory over the Spaniards but being spent with Wine and Women to whom he had given his greatest strength he died on the 9th of December anno 1574. having lived 51 years and thereof Reigned eight he lies buryed at Hadrinople leaving his Empire to Amurath his Eldest Son who succeeded him by the name of Amurath the Third as will appear in the series of his Life and Reign CHAP. XVI The Life Reign and Memorable Transactions of Amurath the Third of that Name and sixth Emperor of the Turks SElymus dead and his Death kept secret from the Janizaries for the space of twelve dayes at the end of which Amurath arriving at Constantinople was received into the Seraglio and took possession of the Empire when having pacified the unruly Souldiers with great liberality he caused according to the Turkish policy Mustapha Solyman Abdula Osman and Tzihanger his five brethren to be strangled with how strings even in his sight the reason of which strangling is because they would not spill any of the Othoman sacred blood as they term it on the ground upon the death of whom the Mother of Solyman overcome with grief and dispair stabbed her self to the Heart with a Dagger at which Tragical sight it is reported that Amurath wept as not delighted with such unnatural crâ—elty but that the manner and nature of his Government so required for that by reason of the largeness of the Ottoman Empire if many of the Princes of the blood lived at one and the same time they would probably with civil dissensions rend it in pieces Anno 1575 Amurath established many wholsom Laws altered the Coin and bountifully relieved the poor and albeit he was of a mild and peaceable nature yet that he might seem like to his Predecessors he prosecuted his Fathers Wars and aided by the Tartars entered into Ruscia part of the Territories of the King of Polonia where he burnt and destroyed 200 Castles besides a great number of Towns and Villages putting multitudes of the poor people to the Sword and carrying as many into miserable Captivity but the Tartar had little joy of their success for whilst they were busie in Ruscia the Cossack brake into their Kingdom and destroyed all before them for the space of 100 miles That which gave the Turks encouragement to enter the Territories of Polonia was the division amongst the nobility for Henry D' Valoys their King upon notice that his brother Charles the Ninth French King was dead secretly departed to take upon him the Kingdom of France to which he was rightful Heire whereupon one party was for Electing Maximilian the German Emperour and the other strongly opposing them would have introduced the great Duke of Muscovy Of which Amurath having notice and supposing that to which soever of them it fell he would prove a troublesome Neighbour he sent a Letter to disswade the Nobility and Counselors of the Kingdom to chuse neither but to Elect a King amongst themselves or else Stephen Buttor Prince of Transylvania and in so doing they should find him their constant Friend or in refusing to comply with his desire to expect all the calamities that attend on War In this Letter the proud Turk stiled himself God of the Earth Governour of the whole World the Messenger of God and faithful servant of the great Prophet Yet so it effectually wrought with the Polonian Nobility that notwithstanding Maximilian the Emperour was by the Arch Bishop of Gnesna and some others Elected King yet was that their Election by the great part of the Electors disannulled as also the great Duke of Moscovy rejected and the Noble Princess Anne of the most Honourable Jagelionian house chosen Queen of Polonia upon condition that she should Marry Stephen Prince of Transylvania which she afterward performed as in the series of this History will appear Amurath upon the afore-mentioned conditions having drawn his Army out of Ruscia and taking advantage of the discord arising in the Kingdom of Persia upon the death of Tamas resolved to bend his
further then a circle made for that purpose which they perceiving thought it no time to put their design in practice but rather to intreat him by fair means to come to Court which he refusing they presented him one of the Emperors Letters in which he commanded him that if he would not come in person yet to send his Chancellor and Treasurer to give up their accounts and to answer to the accusation against him and them to which he consented upon promise that they should not be prejudiced thereby yet upon their arrival they were sent prisoners to the Tower called Jadicula but by the Mediation of certain Great Ladies of the Court bribed with Jewels of Extraordinary price the Bassas peace being made and he coming into the Emperors presence all was blown over and his two Ministers set at liberty without any further examination During these passages the Great Vizar Bassa Muhamet was stabb'd in the Divano by a private Souldier whom he had bereaved of his Pension got at the price of his long service in the wars for which the said souldier was put to death with most exquisite Torments in whose place Mustapha Bassa laboured to be chosen as his right by course but Amurath inwardly displeased with his proceedings rejected his sute and sent the seal to Sivan Bassa whom he also made General for the Persian war who preparing a great Army marched to the Frontiers and there expected the success of Maxut Chau the Persian Ambassador then arrived at Constantinople to sue for peace but not obtaining his desire on such Articles as he insisted on both Potentates prepared for a resolute and vigorous war the one to offend and the other to defend during which time Mustapha Bassa dyed at Constantinople supposed either to have been poysoned by the command of Amurath or else that to prevent the fate of strangling he had poisoned himself The Persian Ambassador being returned to his Master and giving him to understand that there was no peace to be had with the Turk unless he would peaceably deliver into his possession the Country of Sirâ—an and that himself being taken for a Spye in the Turkish Court was glad to give Amurath great hopes of obtaining his desire to prevent death or imprisonment yet that it remained at the pleasure of the King whether he would stand to any thing that had been by him proposed for which good service of Mexut Chau the Sophy made him Great Treasurer of Tauris which at that time was Governed by Emir Chau his mortal enemy who sought by all the means he could to destroy him wherefore declining to go thither in person he officiated his Office by his Deputy of which Emir taking hold of as a fit opportunity to work his destruction secretly induced the Sophy to believe that he held secret correspondence with the Turks and for that reason lay hovering on the Frontiers placing a base fellow as his Deputy to officiate so great a Trust which was not a little dishonour to the Majesty of the Persian King whereupon the Sophy gave him power to seize Mexut Chau and most of his principal servants and by Torture to wring out of them the truth of the matter Glad was Emir to have so fair an opportunity to destroy Mexut and thereupon without further delay sent fifteen stout fellows to Caffangich Mexuts place of abode to fetch him and his servants by force who arriving there and having admittance to his presence he promised to go with them and gave to each of them a present ordering his Steward to make them merry whilst he prepared himself to accompany them to their Lord Emir but with secret command to make them drunk which his Steward so suddenly effected that within an hours space they fell fast asleep which Maxut perceiving fast bound them with ropes and throwing them into a deep well with all his family fled to the Turkish Bassa then with his Army on the Frontiers who upon notice of what had happened kindly received him Sivan Bassa having stayed at Chars with the Turkish Army eight dayes he by easie marches came to Teflis having by the way lost many of his Forragers cut off by the Georgian Horsemen but arriving at the place aforesaid he was recruited out of Syria and Judea and having distributed part of his Treasure amongst the Souldiers and set all things in order he with his Army departed thence when passing the Strait of Tomanis he had notice from Mustassad afterwards Governor of Aleppo that not far distant on the right hand were several fields of standing Corn and Herds of Cattle grazing slenderly guarded which the Bassa induced to believe sent the said Mustafsad with a strong power to seize upon that booty of which his Army stood so much in need but they were no sooner within danger but the Persians and Georgians burst out upon them in great numbers putting them on every side to flight whom they pursued so fiercely that seven thousand of them were slain many taken Prisoners and all their Cammels and other beasts of burthen taken of which Sivan having notice in a great rage dispatched the Bassa of Caramania with twenty thousand horse and foot to pursue the Persians after whom himself followed with the whole Army but too late for that perceiving from a high mountain what was intended had withdrawn themselves yet some straglers fell into the Turks hands part of whom they slew and part they saved alive yet the Turks holding on their way came to Triala where they understood that the Persian King being departed from Tauris was coming against them with a great Army resolving to give them battle upon which Sivan gave strict command throughout his Army that every man on pain of death should be in a readiness to March he resolving to meet the King on his way after which he descended into the large Plains of Chielder where a former battle had been fought between the Turks and the Persians where not hearing of the Kings approach after having mustered his Army he resolved to March to Tauris to inrich himself with the spoiles of that City but by the way under pretence of trying his men he caused a counterfeit battle tobe fought amongst his own Souldiers as in case of a General muster which ever after rendred him a by-word to his Souldiers and loytering in the aforesaid plains for the space of eight dayes in the mean space Aider the Aga as an Ambassador from the Persian King came to his Camp offering in the name of his Master such proposals as Maxut had before done at Constantinople which were that Chars and Teflis should be quietly possessed of the Turks that so a good correspondence might be continued between the Subjects of both Potentates for accomplishing of this desired peace Sinan promised to deal with Amurath provided the Persian would send an Ambassador to Constantinople which being resolved on the proud Bassa returned to Chars and from thence departed to Erizirum where he
Turkish General to betray Emir Hamzes the Prince into his hands whose death so unfortunately happening caused great miseries to befall the Persian State Christendom having thus long been Exempted from the fury of the Turks who had their hands full of the Persian war now as it were destiny so ordering they having time to breath by reason of the divisions in Persia turned their restless Arms upon Hungaria which storm the Christians perceiving to hang black over their heads resolved to provide against it and therefore to show the Tyrant that they dreaded not his utmost indignation seized on the Castle of Coppan in Hungary not far from the Lake of Ballaton over which being hard frozen they passed undiscovered to requite which the Turks drawing five thousand horse out of several Garrisons entered the Christian Territories and destroying seventeen Villages returned laden with great spoils and many miserable Captives whereof George Count Serine Son to the renowned Count of that name slain at Ziget having knowledge raised such Forces as the time would give leave which exceeded not two thousand and laying the wayes by which the Turks must pass encountred them ere they could recover any strong hold and put most of them to the sword recovering all the booty and Captives amongst those that were made prisoners the Sanzack of Quinque Ecclesiae son to Haly Bass slain in the Battle of Lepanto the Bassa of Ziget Sanzack of Koppan and divers others Sinan Beg Sanzack of Mohaz endeavouring to escape and his horse sticking fast was shot through the head of the Turks horses were taken fifteen hundred and of the Turks five hundred besides three thousand slain This bad beginning so discouraged Amurath that in a rage he caused the Bassa of Buda to be strangled for that he had began the hostilities in Hungary and by that means violated the League between him and the Emperor at what time a great fire happened at Constantinople which consumed seven Temples twenty five great Inns and fifteen thousand houses with their warehouses and shops kindled as was supposed by the Janizaries a little before in a tumult for want of their pay due since their last Persian Expedition which was the rather believed for that it being their duty to endeavour the extinguishing any fire that should happen in the Imperial City They not only refused to put their hands thereto themselves but hindred such as attempted it These things hapning in Anno 1587 and 1588 the year following to prevent tumults which are usual where the souldiers are unimployed in the wars the new Bassa of Buda with Amuraths good liking having drawn to him a strong power invaded the upper Hungary but being encountered by Claudius Russel General of the Christians in those parts he received a great overthrow three thousand of his Turks being slain and drowned in the River Seago upon which the General pursuing his good fortune broke into the Turks Territories and took from them the Castles of Blavestine Gestes and several Forts in the upper Hungary upon which Sinan Bassa of Buda was called home and Ferat the late General against the Persians appointed Bassa in his stead Amurath having not a little been terrified with the great preparations of King Phillip of Spain in 1588 wherewith he invaded England and now understanding that he had received a fearfull overthrow with the loss of thirteen thousand of his Marriners and Souldiers and most of his ships and Gallies he sent a Letter to Queen Elizabeth to congratulate her happy victory and to intreat her not upon any terms to make peace with the Spaniard in which Letter he stiles her the most honourable Matron of the Christian Religion Mirror of Chastity adorned with the brightness of Soveraingty and power amongst the most chief women of the people which serve Jesus Mistris of great Kingdoms reputed of Greatest Majesty and Praise amongst the Nazarites Elizabeth Queen of England Anno 1590 the Tartars having broken into the confines of Polonia and taken a rich booty were driven out by the Cossacks who making of them great slaughter recovered all which Amurath taking in evil part as done to his confederates but indeed seeking occasion to war upon the Christians that had not the Queen of Englands mediation prevented it he had turned his Arms upon Polonia yet impatient of Peace he called his Bassas to consult what war was most expedient to be taken in hand amongst whom there were eight sundry opinions whereof the first was that the wars against the Persians should be renewed the second for the Invasion of the Kingdoms of Fess and Morocco the third was for a war to be taken in hand against the King of Spain The fourth for the besieging of Malta The fifth to war upon the Venetians The sixth to invade Italy the seventh to war upon Sigismund King of Poland The eighth and last to invade the Territories of Rodolphus the Emperor all which being patiently heard by Amurath with the sundry reasons of the Bassas at length the eighth opinion was confirmed and the Tyrant resolved once more to turn his Forces towards the West Whereupon he caused great preparations to be made resolving if possible to annex the remaining part of Hungary and Austria to his other Territories having by this time and for this purpose concluded a war with the Persian King wherefore he commanded his Garrisons on the Frontiers as they saw occasion to molest the Christian Frontiers with fire and sword which they letted not to do prone enough of themselves to act any great wickedness nor was it long e'r they surprized Willitz the Metropolis of Croatia and committed therein many outrages and their Army still increasing they upon an unexpected advantage inclosed 6000 Foot and 500 Horse of the Christians who had taken the Mountaines Woods and Straight passages and so hardly beset them that few of them escaped those that were slain the Turks cut off their heads and therewith loaded six Waggons Upon this Alarum the Christians drew forth their Armies and to put a stop to the Infidels who by reason of the unexpected breach of the League had seized upon many Castles and Strong holds in that security unprovided of such necessaries as would have rendered them impregnable and least Aâ—â—rath should alledge that those Hostilities were committed without his knowledge the Emperour sent to him by his Ambassadors to understand the reasons that induced him to break the League but being able to get no satisfactory answer he thought it high time to stand upon his guard and caused all his power joyned with Forces of the German Princes to march directly into Hungary under the Command of Rupertus Eggenber his General who approaching the Enemy consulted with his chief Commanders what was best to be done who were all of opinion that to give speedy Battle was most convenient thereby to prevent the Enemies for joyning the other Forces coming to their Aid so that upon a sign given the whole Army in number
40000 forthwith removed and with great speed hasted toward the Turks of which they having notice by their Espials put themselves in Battle Array and after their vain glorious manner dreamt of nothing but the spoil of the Christians whom they already concluded overthrown by reason of the disproportion of number they being indeed much inferiour in that nature to the Infidels Yet had the Emperours General so ordered his Battles that placing the Crotians and Hussars in the Vauntguard those of Carolstat and the Harquibusires of Keriva in the Left wing In the Right the Borderers of Carania all Horsemen in the main Battle the rest of the Souldiers with the Horsemen of Silesia under the conduct of Sigismund Paradise the Rereward was incompassed with three Companies of the Emperours Souldiers nor were the Turk idle but Marshalled their Battle in the best wise when as the Charge being sounded the Crotians and Hussars in the Vaunt-gard gave the first onset with such fury that being seconded by the Lord Anersburgh they after a cruel Fight obliged the Turks to give ground and with Hassan Bassa their General retire towards the River Odder after whom the Christians following furiously many endeavouring to save themselves by passing over were drowned and those that stayed in a fearful manner on the Banks overwhelmed by the continual Tempest of shot from the Flankers so that within three hours space all the Army was in a confusion every man seeking for his own safety insomuch that 18000 Turks perished either by the Sword or in the Rivers Odder and Kulp and amongst the rest Hassan Bassa Mahomet Beg Achmet Beg Saffer Beg Meni Beg Framatan Beg Curti Beg Operd Beg and Goschus the Bassa's chief Counselor together with Sinan Beg Amuraths Nephew the onely Son of his Sister after which signal victory obtained the Christian Army falling on their knees gave Thanks to God to whom alone they ascribed their miraculous preservation The news of which overthrow coming to the knowledge of Amurath he like a frantick man blasphemed the God of Heaven and perswaded thereto by the tears and intreaties of his Sister to revenge the death of her Son sent a proud and blasphemous denunciation of War to the Emperour Rodolphus wherein he stiled himself The onely Monarch of the World a great and mighty God on Earth an invincible Caesar King of all Kings from the East unto the West c. and proceeded to threaten the said Emperour and his People with all the miseries that attend on War impiously declaring that the Crucified God of the Christians long since dead and buried had not been able to deliver his own Countrey out of his hands much less the German Empire which in despite of him he was resolved to take knowing himself a subverter and sworn Enemy of the Christians and of all that called upon the name of Christ And thereupon the more to terrifie the Christians he sent a great Army under the Command of Sinan Bassa their implacable Enemy who upon his Arrival layed siege to Ciseg which he took putting all he found therein to the Sword and after that took several other places of lesser note yet not without considerable loss and breach of Faith to the besieged who finding themselves oft too weak to defend places of little strength against so powerful an Enemy would surrender them upon promise of Life and Liberty but falling into the hands of the barbarous Infidels seldom obtained either These proceedings of the Turks did not a little alarum the Christian Princes who having mustered 18000 Men under the Command of Count Hardeck Governour of Rab he with marching from Comara came before Alba-Regalis which by force of his Artillery he in a short time made saultable to the relief of which the Bassa of Buda sent Sinan Bassa with 20000 Horse and Foot but he being encountered by the Christians was put to flight with the loss of most of his men whereupon as victors the Christians returned to the siege but finding the season far advanced and a great number of Turks that escaped in the overthrow to be got into the City the Count raised his Camp and returned again to Rab but early in the Spring assisted by fresh supplies the Emperours Captains dividing the Army took the strong Castle of Sabatzka the City of Fileck the Towns of Seeteschiu Blanestine and Salleck the three latter being through fear abandoned by the Turks having first set them for the most part on Fire At the same time the Lord Palfie with a strong party marching to Dregel and Palanka found them likeâ—ise abandoned by the Turks the which having furnished with strong Garrisons of his own he took by force Ainacke Sellecke Westkee and divers other places so that the Turks were in a manner driven out of the Lower Hungary and new Buda and Alba-Regalis the onely Strong holds possessed by the Turks in those parts began to doubt their security for whilst a party out of the latter coming forth to bury the dead that lay scattered round the Walls and by their contagion infected the City they were so suddainly incountered by a Captain of the Hussars Commanding a Troop of Light Horsemen that near 200 of them were slain and 50 taken Prisoners These proceedings coming to the Ears of Amurath and he from all hands certified that the strength of the Christians daily increased he began to doubt his Empire in Europe and therefore to defend the same raised a puissant Army anno 1594. at the head of which he resolved to march in person a thing he had not done since his taking upon him the Government but on the 11th of January as the Army was upon its march not far from Constantinople such a terrible Tempest of Hail Rain Snow Wind Thunder and Lightning arose that by its impetuosity it overturned the Tents Chariots Waggons Horse and Men few being able to stand upright before it The which the Tyrant taking as ominous to his proceedings in great perplexity returned with his formidable Army to Constantinople where casting himself upon his bed after much tumbling and tossing falling asleep he dreamed that he beheld a man of exceeding Stature standing with one his feet upon the Tower of Constantinople and the other over the straight fixed on the Asian shoar who stretching out his Arms held the Sun in one hand and the Moon in the other at whom whilst he was wondering the Monster with his foot struck the Tower which forthwith fell down and in its fall overthrew the great Temple with the Imperial Palace whose Thundering awaking the Turk he much troubled with the strangeness of the dream imediatly sent for his Necromancers and Wizards to Interpret it who to curry favour with their Prince hypocritically answered That for as much as he had not with all his Forces as with a Tempest impugned the Christians their great Prophet Mahomet threatned by that dream to overturn the Tower Temple and Imperial Palace which by a symbolical meaning denoted
the neglect of Ferat Bassa he by the advice of Sinan Bassa sent for him who trusting to his innocency boldly came to answer to what should be objected against him though warned to the contrary but he was scarce arrived e'r by the command of Mahomet he was strangled and his goods to the value of five hundred thousand Ducats confiscated After the death of Ferat who was somewhat a favourer of the Christians Sinan the proud Bassa son to a Fisherman and their mortal enemy was sent with a great Army into Valachia to reduce that and the other revolted Countries to the Turkish obedience but being encountred by the Transilvanian Forces his Army was overthrown with great slaughter and himself in his flight falling into a Lime-pit hardly escaped with life after which he fled to Canstantinople to plead his own cause having promised upon his undertaking that Expedition at the price of his head to reduce Valachia Moldavia and Transylvania to their former obedience Not long after the overthrow of Sinan the Lords Eckenberg and Leucowitz overthrew twenty thousand who under the leading of the Bassa of Bosna invaded the country of Crotia and following their Victory entred the Turkish Dominions and burnt 15 Villages carrying away a great booty and soon after took Petrina which after a close siege and some furious assaults was abandoned by the Turks In the mean while Sigismund the Transylvanian Prince raised a greater power than before upon notice that Sinan Bassa was again upon his march to invade his Countries at what time the Ziculi or Sciculy a people bordering on the North of Transilvania sent to him to offer him their service as weary of the Turkish thraldom who according to agreement besides many rich presents and store of provision sent him forty thousand men well appointed which no sooner joyned him he had notice that Sinan had passed Danubius by a bridg of Boats whereupon he marched with all dilligence to meet him and in another set battle gave him a fatal overthrow in which there were thirty thousand slain and taken prisoners besides a rich booty nor did the River Danubius upon their hasty repassing the bridge which was near two miles over devour a less number insomuch that Sinan swore in a great rage that the young Prince had in a short time Eclipsed all the renown he in the course of his whole life had got After this overthrow of the Turks which they number amongst their great mischances the Castle and Island in the River with little loss were recovered and then in great Triumph laden with the Turks spoils the Prince returned to Alba Julia at what time by his Captains he took the strong Castle of Jenna and intercepted about 70 waggons richly laden which they of Temeswar fearing to be besieged were sending together with their wives and children to places of greater strength These things perplexing the proud Turk he sent his special Messengers to stir up the Crimesian Tartars a people living for the most part on spoil to invade Moldavia Transylvania and Valachia who were likewise incouraged thereto by the Chancellor of Polonia he so far insinuating with the King that Moldavia was taken from the Transylvanian Prince and a new Vayvod placed therein who opened contrary to his faith given three wayes for the Turks and Tartars to invade Transylvania of which perfidious dealing Pope Clement the Eighth by his Letters to the King of Polonia grievously complained and likewise against Cardinal Zamoskie the Chancelor and first mover of this mischief whom he cited to appear before him at Rome there to answer to what should by the Ambassadours of the Christian Princes be objected against him charging them both with breach of faith and disloyalty to the King of Heaven by betraying the Christians into the hand of the sworn enemies of the Christian Religion yet both the King and Chancelor used such endeavours that they satisfied the Pope in the necessity of their writing better to him to that purpose when at the same time Cham Kazikieri the Tartarian King wrote to Sigismund King of Polonia to put him in mind of his promise to give his Army free passage as likewise to destroy the Cossacks who as he said by daily incursions wasted his Frontier and to make a perpetual League with him yet onely the former request was observed The Christians not pleased with the proceedings of the Polonian to shew how little they esteemed his Friendship inraged as it were with his revolt burnt and destroyed all the Turkish Garrisons uppon his Frontiers whom he durst not protect for fear of having his own Dominions wasted in the like manner but what happened this year 1596 advantagious to the Christians was the death of Sinan Bassa their sworn Enemy who having by his Friends and many rich presents escaped the fury of the angry Sultan Mahomet who had vowed his death soon after through grief and shame of his late overthrow died after he had for Fifty years wasted the Earth with Fire and Sword Yet the following Spring Mahomet with a great power purposed in person to pass into Hungary but by reason of the Plague and Famine that raged throughout his Empire he could not accomplish his design but was more and more perplexed by the revolt of the Georgians and the great Army the new King of Persia was raising for the recovery of Tauris notwithstanding to prevent the worst the Transilvanian Prince in person went to the Courts of the Emperour and Pope to crave Aid where he was with great kindness received and promised such supplies of Men and Mony as his occasion should require but during his stay there the Sciculi rose up in arms against him yet the Rebellion was blown over by the execution of the chief Promoters of the Tumult and Ten Thousand Rascians in a fit time proffered him their service for the Tartars were by this time on their way whereupon having received several rich Presents he returned home being every where joyfully received of his People All this time the Lord Palfi with the Garrison Souldiers of Strigonium was not idle but used his utmost dilligence to surprize the Turks Convoys and Garrisons nor was his expectation frustrated for overrunning the Country as far as the Walls of Temeswar he got many rich booties and removed such Christians as were in danger of the Turks Garrison nearer his own missing but narrowly of the Bassa of Temeswar with all his Treasure as he was going to Belgrade to give place to a new Bassa but however he fell into the hands of the Hungarian Heidons who overthrew his Convoy slew him and took all his riches laden in Seventy Five Waggons to the value of Two Hundred Thousand Hungarian Ducats which so inraged the Turks that gathering Forty Thousand strong they besieged Lippa but after the loss of six Thousand of their number in many furious assaults they left their Trenches and in great confusion retired which flight was occasioned by the
Governour of Lugaz his surprising the Suburbs of Temeswar and setting them on fire which being seen in the Turks Camp caused amongst them that great consternation as thinking the Prince of Transilvania with his whole Army was coming on and even at their backs After whose flight the Hungarian Heidons passing the Danubius took Plenia in revenge of which the Turks took Clissa out of which they had not long before been driven not long after the Lord Palfi took the strong Castle Sombock which the Turks in a rage upon the enterance of the Christians set on fire but thereby so exasperated the Souldiers that they spared none they found therein but put them all to the Sword without respect either to Age or Sex These continual currants of Victory carryed the Transilvanian Prince to the Siege of Tameswar which he for many dayes furiously battered but upon notice that the Bassa of Natolia the forerunner of Mahomets Army was come to Belgrade with Fourteen thousand Turks and Mahomet with an Army of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand was coming after him to the Relief of the City and he not having yet received the supplies promised by the Christian Princes his Confederates thought good to raise his siege and depart for Lippa where having left a strong Garrison he kept on his way to Alba-Julia and assembled there the States of his Principality to consider the most expedient means for raising more Forces to repress so potent an Adversary Mahomet approaching with his Forces which daily increased sent to Michale the Vayvod of Valachia to promise him great rewards if he would become his Tributary and revolt from the Transilvanian Prince but finding nothing would prevail with the Vayvod to break his Faith he came with his whole Army now increased to the number of Two Hundred Thousand to Buda yet ere he could attempt any thing Maximilian the Emperours General made so in the stead of Matthias the Arch-Duke who upon the Death of Ferdinand the Emperors Uncle had the rich County of Tirol bestowed upon him whither he was retired had taken Vacia Hatvan and several other places but long rested not Mahomet before he with his huge Army besieged Agria which after the loss of Twenty Thousand of his Men not by force but by surrender for the Soldiers perceiving the new Castle the place in which they only put their trust undermined and about to be blown up and that all hopes of being relieved were vain they layed hands upon Paulus Niari and Terskie the Captain of the Garrison Souldiers and Governour of the City and casting them in Prison capitulated with the Turks to deliver the City and Castle in consideration that they might depart with bag and baggage but the faithless Infidels ere they had passed through the Camp contrary to their faith given cut them in pieces after which the Bassa of Bosua with a strong power layed siege to Petrina but upon notice that the Lords Herbenstein and Bencowitz were coming to relieve it and in their way had overthrown Six Thousand Turks he raised his siege in great hast leaving behind him part of his Carriages But now the two puissant Armies of the Christians and Turks coming in view of each other and nothing but a small River parting them drew frequently up in Battalia and had several skirmishes at a distance but the vain glorious Turks not thinking it sufficient to discharge their great Artillery and skirmish in small parties at the Command of Mahomet Ten Thousand of them and Six Thousand Tartars passed the River but were so hotly welcomed that few returned which advantage the Christians following pursued the flyers and set upon the gross of the Turks Army putting all into confusion and consternation so that Mahomet fearing a total overthrow retreated to his Camp whither the Christians as eagerly pursued but whilst they disordered themselves to take the spoil although the General had caused Proclamation to be made that none on pain of death should attempt it till the victory was obtained They being afresh charged and many of them cut off by the Turks great Artilery betook themselves to plain flight not to be stayed by the threats nor intreaties of their Commanders so that the German Horse disordering their own Foot put all into confusion which the Turks contrary to their expectation perceiving followed hard after them making great slaughter yet so conscious were they of their weakness that fearing the return of the Christians that in the night they secretly raised their Camp and returned to Agria leaving their Cannon and Baggage in the Trenches for the space of three dayes so slenderly guarded that Five Thousand men might have taken the spoil Mahomet himself confessing that he feared to have been taken Prisoner and would not for the future venture his person in places of such imminent danger In this Battle or rather running fight called from the place where it happened the Battle of Karesta Forty Thousand Turks and Fifteen Thousand Christians were slain most of the latter in the rash and unadvised flight the which had it not contrary to all reason happened never had a more glorious victory been obtained over the Infidels Yet Mahomet after he had furnished Agria with a Garrison of Ten Thousand choice Souldiers returned to Belgrade and having divided his Army in two parts the one he left in the Countrey to secure it against the Christians and with the other departed to Constantinople but by the way being set upon by Barbelius Jancaechie the Transilvanian Princes Lieutenant and the Vayvod of Valachia who with a strong power for that purpose had passed the Danubius they cut off seven Thousand of his men Early in the spring as ashamed of their disgrace the Christian Princes recruited their scattered Forces which meeting together near to Passonium and Altenburg marched to Papa which they besieged and after eight dayes battery took it and so again returning to Altenburg the Army mustered from whence they marched to Rab and besieged it but upon the approach of the Turks Army under the Command of Mahomet Bassa raised the siege as finding it both difficult and dangerous and so marched over into the Island of Schut when in their sight they permitted the Turks to take Dolis Michael the Vayvod of Valachia having his Countrey almost destroyed by the Turks and they promising him great favours and bounties more then ever if he would again return to his obedience he to save his Countrey from utter destruction complied with the Tyrants desire in part viz. to own him for his Soveraign and to pay him half the wonted Tribute but denied upon any terms to aid him against the Christians which the Turk for a while dissembled and seemed well contented with his submission but afterward contrary to his Oath oppressing him with great Taxes both he and the Prince of Transilvania recommended the protection of their Countries to Rodolphus the Emperour who thereupon called a Diet to consult about raising contributions
the Turkish obedience The news of which greatly troubled Sigismund the late Prince who resided in Polonia but more Mahomet the Turkish Emperor imbroiled in new troubles by the revolt of Chusahin or Cassan the great Bassa of Carraâ—â—â—â— who had caused most of the Countries in the letter Asia to cast off the Turkish yoke but Mahomet sending great Forces against him under Mahomet Bassa who after several conflicts spoiling the possessions of the Rebells in Arms he so dealt with the chief of them that by bribes and large promises he prevailed with them to leave their ringleader he was taken and brought in chains to Constantinople where with most exquisite torments he was put to death The end of which dangerous Rebellion gave the Ottoman Emperor more leasure to prosecute his wars in Hungary to oppose whose Forces the Christians were not wanting for in an other Diet assembled new supplies were granted by the Electoral Princes for the carrying on the war toward which the Bishop of Rome contributed very largely so that Anno 1600 the Christian Army early in the Spring took the field though to breed delay therein the Turkish Bassa in the name of his master had made many offers tending to peace but e'r any notable action was performed the renowned Lord Palfie the greatest Commander of that Age dyed at his Castle of Bibersperg whereupon the Lord Swartzenburg was by the Emperor appointed Governor of Strigonium in his stead who to the great grief of the Army soon after slain with a shot as he was reducing Papa to its obedience it having a little before at the instigation of De la Mot a seditious French Commander there in Garrison revolted from the Emperor and yet stood neuter not permitting the Turks to enter yet was it again reduced notwithstanding the death of the Lord Swartzenburg and most of the Rebels Executed after the severest manner that could be invented These things passing the troubles in Hungary daily increasing and the Turks were every where put to the worst and amongst the rest the Bassa of Sigeth with five thousand of his Turks and his head sent to the Emperor Jula was likewise surprized and the Bassa thereof with two Sanzacks and Five Hundred common Souldiers slain and now the Government of Transilvania being vacant by the death of Cardinal Battor and the absence of the Prince the Emperor confirmed it to the Vayvod of Valachia who raising a great power went against the Prince who aided by the Turks Tartars and Polonians was coming to try a field Battle for the recovery of his Inheritance and in a set battle overthrew him with great slaughter of his men himself hardly escaping after which he seized upon the Countrey of Moldavia causing all the inhabitants to swear Allegiance to him when the better to incourage him to invade the Turks Dominions the Emperour not only confirmed him in that Principality also but sent him six Thousand Men under the leading of D. Petzen with a mass of mony to pay his Souldiers appointing him one of his Council and cheif Intendant for those Countries but he behaving himself roughly towards the Transilvanian Nobility they sent Ambassadors to Basta the Emperors Lieutenant General praying him to take then into the protection of the Emperor onely and that they might obey no other Soveraign Prince whereupon Basta after mature deliberation resolved to grant their desires and to protect them from the fury of the Vayvod whom he yet not able to appease by fair means he resolved to compel by force of Armes to acquiesce with what he determined and therefore gathering such forces as he could with Eighteen Thousand well appointed Souldiers he awaited on the Frontiers of Transilvania his coming and near to a Village called Mivislo adventured to give him Battle though under his standard he had double the number and after six hours desperate fighting put him to flight with the loss of Ten Thousand of his men taking likewise several Prisoners and a great spoil yet nevertheless the Vayvod bating of his proud temper by the mediation of Friends they were afterwards reconciled Yet the Vayvod jealous of the Imperialist as being also without cause perswaded thereto by the Polonians to prevent as was suggested to him his being taken Prisoner with a few of his followers fled into the fastness of the Mountains whereupon one Simon was placed in his stead by the haughty Chancelor of Poland which choice Basta altogether disliking resolved to displace the upstart Vayvod but the Transilvanians desirous of freedom and in order to recover it raising many rumours portending the mischief intended against the Imperialists at that time hindered his violent proceedings so that for the future the whole matter was referred to the Emperour The Transilvanians likewise casting themselves upon him and when they perceived no remedy desired that Maximilian the Arch-Duke might take upon him the Government of that Province but whilst these affairs were in controversie the Turks with a huge Army besieged Canisia a strong City of Stira to the relief of which came the Imperial Army consisting of Forty Thousand Horse and Foot composed of divers Nations under the leading of Duke Mercury General of the Emperours Forces in Hungary to oppose which Ibrahim Bassa drew out of his Trenches thinking by their multitude to oppress the Christians but was therein deceived for after a bloody and doubtful fight for the space of eight hours victory declared her self against him yet not so apparently but that the next day by reason of the discord amongst the Christian Captains who at the Command of their General refused to charge the Turks in their strengths the scale was turned and their Convoy of Provision upon its way to the Camp being taken by the Tartars they were so straightned that after having layn still for the space of three dayes they rose in the night but not so secretly but that the Turks following hard after them cut off Three Thousand of the rearmost took several pieces of Cannon and a great part of their Baggage and afterwards had the City of Canisae yeilded to them upon condition that the Garrison should be safely convoyed over the River Mur with Bag and Baggage and hightened with this success they afterwards forraged the Countrey of Stira for fear of whom the Inhabitants with such of their substance as they conveniently carry with them fled to the Mountains whereupon the Bassa sent forth a Proclamation commanding them to return and that such as would willingly submit themselves to the Turkish obedience should be taken into safe protection upon which Proclamation many of the half starved people returned and submitted themselves but the ever renowned mirrour of Vertue and Valour the Heroick Count Serenus being the man that the Bassa aimed at as well knowing whilst he went free his new Conquests were slightly cemented to the rest he the better to decoy the Noble Youth into his power wrote to him as followeth We Ibraim Bassa Chief
overpowred were two hundred of them slain yet this loss was shortly revenged by the Garrison Souldiers who surprizing several of the Turkish Nobility sporting with their wives in the hot Baths not far from Buda put all the men to the sword and suffered the women to escape naked into the City to whose flight fear added wings and so with the spoil of their rich garments returned in Triumph but want of Victuals increasing they were obliged to feed upon all manner of unclean things when at the same time their neighbours of Buda having received a great Convoy of Victuals derided them and sent three or four thundering Peals of Cannon over the river against the Town but their mirth was soon spoiled for by the carelessness of the Engenier several barrels of Povvder taking fire not only killed a great number of them but likevvise overthrevv four yards of their Wall and thus the Winter passed over vvith many skirmishes and the taking of several places in Hungary on either side When early in the Spring the nevv Vayvod of Valachia over run the rich Countrey of Silistria reducing the greatest part of it to his obedience and soon after Colloninitz gave the Turks another great overthrow and took a great booty on its way to Canisia and afterwards laid siege to Baboz but finding it strongly Garrisoned and furnished for a long siege he withdrew from before it yet he surprized many of the Turks and intercepted several Waggons laden with provision about which time news came that the Janizaries were up in Arms at Constantinople as likewise Sphai and that they committed several outrages on the Bassas and spared not to abuse their master telling him they would seeing he neglected to reform his Government svvearing that unless he vvould deliver into their povver the Capi Aga and such others as they should require they would turn all into confusion which threats so scared the Pusillanimous Tyrant that he was contented to yield to their demands who having got those Favorites they most inveighed against they with all despight put them to death whereupon the Tyrant not to be outdone in cruelty caused several of the Bassa's and chief men of his Court whom he knew the Souldiers affected to be slain which caused such a hatred against him that many of his great Bassa's conspired to depose him and set up his son Mahomet in his stead which they were the more animated to put in practice for that he had at the same time made a dishonourable peace with the Asian Rebels giving most of their ring-leaders great Commands whilst those that had faithfully served him were rejected of which intent of his men of war the Tyrant having notice caused his son and so many as he could understand were any wayes concerned therein to be put to death These things happening in the foregoing year the year following the Tartars in great numbers intending to invade Hungary were denyed passage by the Polonians whereupon they resolved to make their way through Valachia with whom the Vayvod had many hard conflicts killing at one time three thousand of them but their number being great he was forced at length to let them pass who upon their arrival in Hungary and Stira made great spoil e'r Collonitz could take the field who at length joyning with Count Serinus gave them a fatal overthrow and recovered about five thousand Christian Captives yet those that escaped from the battle roving about did great harm till such time as they were met with by the Lord Nadasti and his Hassars who with a furious charge overset their battle and brought them to final destruction when soon after Collonitz returning fell upon Two Thousand Turks all or most of which he slew and then passing on besieged the Castle of Loqua which in a short time he took but by neglect of the Soldiers injoyed not long for the Palizadoes being fired set fire to the Castle and laid it wast After which he marched towards the Castle of Boulouvenar upon whose approach the Garrison fled but in their flight being met were overthrown with great slaughter and such as were taken Prisoners together with all their substance brought back to the Castle into which the Collonel having put Four Hundred Haducks and Two Hundred Hussars returned to Comara where with a great Booty he arrived in safety Turning a little from the troubles of Hungary a Countrey subject to the continual Inroads of the Turks I shall return to Transilvania which by this time was for the most part reduced to the Emperours obedience For Moyses the Rebel after his being overthrown by Basta doubting his safety in the Castle of Solemose delivered it to the Turks and fled to Temeswar a City in their possession of which Basta the Emperours Leiutenant having notice resolved to recover the Castle which the Turks supposed impregnable by reason of its scituation as being founded upon a steep and hard Rock but the Germans having by strength of Arms drawn their Cannon to the top of a little Hill not far distant from it after a terrible battery made had it delivered to them the Turks well perceiving they were no longer able to keep it This strong place thus gained many of less account that held out against Basta surrendered whereupon assembling the principal men of Transilvania he in a short Oration admonished them to be stedfast to the interest of the Emperour and not to have any regard to the faithless and wavering Turks c. To which they replyed That they were willing to obey the Emperour in all things but that their people in continual Wars being wasted they desired him to consider how little able they were to keep an Army in the Field without which the Countrey could not be defended but if the Emperour would protect them and secure them with a standing Army they would yearly pay towards the defraying of the charges Fifteen Thousand Hungarian Ducats and furnish them with all things necessary It being a thing more Honourable and Profitable for a Prince moderately to use his Subjects then for covetousness to devour them in one day and in their loss to lose himself for ever This their offer was by Basta accepted and the minds of the people by many perswasive arguments kept in their dutiful Allegiance to the Emperour But whilst peace was expected on all sides Moyses the Rebel with a great power of Turks and Tartars entered Transilvania at such time as Basta was absent dreaming of no such matter and seizing upon Wisceborongh some other places of small importance his name began to spread wide Insomuch that Mahomet the Sultan understanding what he had done promised to send him more Aid and to make him his Leiutenant if he prospered in his Wars which puffed up the Rebel to that height that hearing of Basta being with small Forces in the Town of Somosinar he resolved to march thither and besiege him but that experienced Captain knowing how much it impaired the credit of a
General to be inclosed within Walls upon notice of his approach after he had put that place in a posture of defence departed thence and after having received a supply of eight Thousand men from the Vayvod of Valachia he went to oppose the Torrent but ere he could prevent it the City of Claudinople fell into the Rebels hands who used the Citizens with all manner of cruelties Yet at length meeting with them before he was aware fell into their danger not expecting them to be above half the number he found them so that he not exceeding Nine Thousand and the Rebels not less then Thirty Thousand when he had done all that became a valiant Souldier retired in good order leaving his Baggage Tents and Artilery with the dead Bodies of One Thousand of his men as prey to the Conquerours but they more greedy of the spoil then to pursue him fell to plundering the Tents with such eagerness that he thereof advertized and turning his recollected Forces suddainly upon them who dreamed of nothing less entered amongst them unarmed as they were every one with his hands full of spoiles made such a slaughter that scarcely a third part of them escaped so that by their carelessness within less then four hours the vanquishers were vanquished and amongst the slain fell Moyses himself whose head was after fixed upon a Launce and set up upon the Walls of Carolstadt This Rebellion suppressed another Rebel aided by the Turks Tartars and Cossacks to the number of Six Thousand made head about Lippa but Three Thousand Haducks being sent out against him his Forces were defeated and himself for the safety of his own Life glad to fly after which good success One Hundred of the Rebels Insignes and the Horse on which Moyses fought traped richly with Gold and Pretious Stones were as a grateful present sent to the Emperour and afterward the Army under the Command of Basta being increased to Twenty Thousand he with Five and Twenty pieces of Cannon marched to besiege Temeswar but ere he long had lain before it by his Souldiers eating of green Fruit the Bloody Flux raged so in his Camp that death triumphing every where over his men he was forced to depart Spring being come the Christian Army in Hungaria being Five and Thirty Thousand strong took the Field under the Command of the Lord Rusworm who having carefully provided for the several Garrisons incamped near to Pesth at what time an Army of One Hundred Thousand Turks shewed it self on the other side the Danubius for fear of which several of the Garrison Souldiers of Pesth fled over to Buda and there were highly entertained by the Bassa who thought to use them as decoys to train their fellows over but this project failed though at that time their wants were great though not long for in spight of the Turks endeavours to hinder them two Convoys of Provision and other necessaries the one by Water and the other by Land were brought thither at what time a Turkish Captain upon some displeasure flying from Alba Regalis to Rab informed the Governour that if he would march thither he would shew him an easie way to surprize the Suburbs if not the City it self whereupon the Christian Souldiers giving credit to the Infidel by his direction succeeded in taking the Suburb as they wished and in it a great Booty but despairing in any further advantage returned with great joy to Rab. The Rebels in Asia being again in Arms Mahomet finding himself not strong enough to suppress them by Force laboured by his Ambassadors to reconcile them offering such advantagious terms of peace as should to all men seem reasonable but they not caring to trust the Tyrant rejected his offers and would have no peace whereupon what the Infidels refused he thought fit to offer to the Christians but on this side he demands so unreasonable viz. that in consideration of his delivering up Agria and Canisia he might have Transilvania Strigonium and Pesth that the Emperour would not accord to any peace upon such terms so that the treaty broke off upon which Hostilities that for a while ceased began afresh so that Collonitz with Six Thousand Imperialists falling upon the Rear of the Turks Army cut off seven Hundred men taking a great spoil and many Prisoners amongst whom was Saxur Beg a man of great repute amongst the Turks who upon Examination confessed the design Hassan Bassa had to besiege Strigonium and Pesth and the number of Turks and Tartars that were daily expected to joyn him of which General Rusworm being informed as also of the state of the Turks Army and also that upon some discontent the Tartars were returned into their own Countrey to the great weakening of the Bassa's Forces wherefore to prevent their putting a Convoy into Buda he caused several Forts to be built and permitting the Turks to pass ever the Danubius by a Bridge trained them into an Ambush layed in the Flags and Osiers for that purpose so that with little loss on the part of the Christians 10000 Turks were slain drowned in the River and taken Prisoners so that a great booty consisting of eighteen Ensigns two Cornets four Brass peices much rich Armour and many Waggons loaden with Provision fell into the hands of the Christians whereby the Turks were so much discouraged that they for a long while attempted nothing Affairs standing thus in Hungary Asia was still in a flame especially upon the revolt of one of Mahomets great Bassa's whom he had despightfully deposed from being General of which confusion the Persian King taking the advantage layed siege to Tauris a strong City taken by Amurath from his Father as is before-mentioned the which by the Aid of several Christians after a terrible battery made against it he took so that the Turk on every side beset was greatly perplexed in mind not knowing which way to turn himself nor fared he better by Sea for the Asian Rebels under pretence of a reconciliation and transporting themselves into Europe to serve him in Hungaria seized upon many of his Gallies sent to Transport them as also the great Duke of Florence's Admiral meeting with Amurat Rais an old Pirate and Mahomets Admiral overthrew his squadron of Gallies taking some and sinking others so that few escaped and his great Army in Hungary after the loss of Thirty Thousand Men in divers conflicts with the Christian atchieving nothing worth mention except putting a Convoy of Victuals into Buda returned to Belgrade under the covert of darkness in manner of a fearful flight which was no sooner perceived by the Lord Rusworm who had often in vain urged the Bassa to fight but he sent his Light Horsemen to pursue them who cutting off the Rearmost for many Miles returned with a considerable booty after which he layed siege to Hatvan and had it after several fierce assaults delivered into his possession the Garrison and Citizens as it was agreed on marching out were conducted by certain
Troops of Hussars to Solvock when having put a strong Garrison into it and relieved such other places as he thought convenient and now the depth of Winter coming on he broke up his Army sending as a certain token of several successful exploits sixty four of the Turks Ensigns to the Arch Duke Matthias so that till the next Spring nothing of moment happened No sooner was the frozen Earth freed from the cold embraces of Winter but new stirs began in Transilvania as likewise in Moldavia where the Tartars in great number destroying the Countrey were overthrown and almost all of them slain at what time Zellali the chief of the Asian Rebels whom Mahomet by great rewards had allured to his interest entered the Kingdom of Bosna with a great power of his followers where having trained Zeffer Bassa the Governour thereof into his danger he set upon him and slew most of his men and seized upon the Kingdom upon notice of which Mahomet in a great rage sent his Letters to him commanding him forthwith to repair to Constantinople but he not thinking it convenient to trust the Tyrant with his head he returned for answer that he was already possessed of the Kingdom promised him for his service and that he as a Loyal Subject would keep it to his behoof with which answer Mahomet was forced to content himself as fearing that if he should go about to expulse him by force he would revolt to the Christian Emperour and so prove a more dangerous Enemy to him in Europe then he had done in Asia Wherefore to prevent the worst he resolved if he could obtain such conditions as might sute with his greatness to have Peace with the Emperour in order to which Commissioners met at Buda and many Presents were given and received on either side the Turks expressing great joy for the hopes they conceived that at length they should rest from the toils of War but after many proposals on either side the demands of the Turkish Sultan was so unreasonable that nothing was concluded so that after a short truce Hostilities began afresh when as the Turks seeking to wast Valachia were with great slaughter by the Vayvod overthrown at what time the Lord Nadasti the Valiant and Renowned Captain of the Christians died to the grief of all the Confederate Princes there not being a man left whose Council and Conduct in Martial affaires equalled his but this grief was somewhat alayed upon certain News that Mahomet the great Sultan was likewise departed this Life dying about the latter end of January Anno 1604. When he had lived 44 years and thereof Reigned 8 being altogether pusillanimous and given up to pleasure and lyes buried in a Chappel of white Marble at Constantinople near to the Church of St. Sophia in whose stead Achmâ—â— his Third Son was saluted by reason of the death of his two Elder Brethren one of which was strangled by the Commandment of his unnatural Father and the other very young died a natural death CHAP. XVIII The Life of Achmat the Eighth Emperour of the Turks and first of that Name UPon the death of Mahomet the Third his Son Achmat then but fifteen years of Age was by the great Bassa's and men of War saluted Emperor having purchased the good will of the latter at two Millions and a half of Aspers upon which after he was solemnly Crowned he sent Ambassadors to the King of Persia as he likewise did to the Emperor but according to the proud humour of his Predecessors his demands were so unreasonable that they would not be accorded to neither in Europe nor Asia whereupon the Turks ere the Treaty was ended with the Emperour under pretence of Friendship indeavoured to surprize Pesth but by the vigilancy of the Garrison Souldiers were put by their purpose which Treacherous dealing made manifest the Treaty was utterly broken off whereupon great preparations were made for War on either side during which time the Persian King was not idle prosecuting his Wars had recovered almost all that the Turks had taken from his Predecessors Yet the Turks lessened his victory and the more to amuse the Christians spread a false report that near unto Babylon his Army was overthrown and himself taken Prisoner not forgeting to magnifie the Forces of their Emperour who indeed for his years was very active in the affairs of Government though cruel withal towards his own Subjects and farther they gave it out that at once he intended to invade with puissant Armies both Hungary and Persia purposing to annex them to the Ottoman Empire but these great words though in truth the Christians were more negligent in their preparations then the occasion required proved but Air. But leaving the Turks awhile I shall survey the miseries of the once fertile Countrey of Transylvania which now through civil discord amongst themselves and Rebellion against the Emperour was so spoiled that Famine coming fast on them for want of the Earths due increase it by long continuance reduced them to that extremity that the Peasants and poorer sort of people having eaten up for dainties all the Dogs Cats Mice Rats and live Horses fell to eating such starved Beasts as through want they found to have perished in the Woods and Fields and at length when nothing was left they fed upon human flesh men eating men and Women their Children yea Thieves and Malefactors hauged for their Villanies were by the miserable people cut down and eaten to remedy which the Emperour caused to be assembled the States of the Province wherein it was accorded that all Hostilities set apart the Gentlemen of Transilvania having by their Rebellion forfeited their Lives and Lands should be pardoned as to Life with three fourth parts of their Lands reserved unto them and that for ready money they might of the Emperour redeem the fourth part but concerning the moveables of such as were dead in the time of trouble and already confiscated to the Emperour they should so remain and that they should pay their tenths of their Wines and Fruits to the Emperour and that no other then the Romish Religion should be exercised in that Province and that Clausenburg and Cronstad should within three weeks after pay the one Twenty Thousand Dollars and the other Eight Thousand and that the Governours of those Towns should put their Keys into the hands of the Emperours Leiutenant And lastly That the Gentlemen who would not be accounted in the number of the Rebels should for the safety of their persons take Letters of Pardon from the said Lieutenant This pacification gave somâ— little hopes to the distressed Transylvanians but I lasted not long for the Nobility weary of the German yoke soon revolted from the Emperours oâ—â—â—â—ence and again took up Arms which plunged them into their former miseries wherein for a while I must leave them and return again to the Turkish affaires The several Hostilities having banished all hopes of Peace several skirmishes passed between the
Christians and Turks in which the latter were for the most part put to the worst and had been more distressed had not the Imperial Souldiers mutined and for want of pay spoiled the Countrey of Austria even within the sight of Vienna the Suburbs of which City they had sacked had not the Governour come against them with a great power and forced them to lay down their Arms causing the Ring-leaders to be punished with death and imprisonment But whilst these things were doing Zellaly was driven out of Bosna by Zeffer Bassa sent in order thereto by the Sultan with a great power yet the better to calm his high Spirit and to make the Asian Rebels have a better opinion of the young Emperour he was made Governour of Temeswar and so became a mortal Enemy to the Christians his first undertaking being to surprize Lippa but therein found such bad success that he hardly recovered his own Garrison leaving most of his men dead behind him and soon after a terrible fire happening in Canisia layed it almost wast firing the Magazine of Powder and blowing up the Cittadel Towers Houses and Wall so that had any forces of the Christians been near in that General consternation they might easily have surprized it after which lost the Turks sustained another for Two Hundred of the Garrison of Buda going abroad to forrage were by the sallying of the Garrison of Pesth all cut off During these stirs the restless Transylvanians having called to their assistance divers Turks and Tartars had seized upon several strong places driving out the Imperial Garrisons to repress whose insolency Basta sent the Haducks under the leading of Horwal their Captain who lying in ambush for them who were but few in number and easily overthrown as being by Famine bereaved of their strength they were most of them put to the Sword after which the Haducks robbed the poor Villagers at their pleasure killing such as refused to contribute to their greedy desires So that all was again reduced to the same extremity as before and when the said Captain was by the Leiutenant Commanded to restrain his men from committing any more such outrages he answered that it was impossible to keep Souldiers in order amidst extremity of Famine for that the belly was an inexorable usurer which took pitty upon nothing but with great rigor exacted that which it thought due for the nourishment of it self The Forces of the Christians increasing in Hungary the Bassa of Buda to retard their proceeding made many fair shews of the great desires his Lord the Emperor had of peace and the better to make it be believed he wrote a dissembling letter signifying as much to the Governour of Strigonium but his fair Glozing was not of force to lull the Christians into a security which hypocrisie of the Bassa's soon after appeared by his surprising Simnin a Castle held by the Christians upon the banks of the Danubius and setting it on fire The Persian King having joyned hands with Caracas the chief Leader of the Rebels a man of great power in a set Battle overthrew Cicala Bassa with the loss of almost all his Turks taking the Bassas son prisoner by secret Messengers invited the bordering Nations to revolt from the Turkish obedience to prevent which the same Bassa was with another huge Army sent into those parts where in a short space he received two several overthrows in which besides what he lost in the first battle seventy thousand Turks perished so that now the Terror the Persian breathed even upon Constantinople it self having over-run the greatest part of the Turks Dominions in Asia at what time Achmat fell sick of the small Pox at Constantinople and hardly recovered when during the time of his sickness it was agreed amongst the Bassas that his brother Mustapha the only surviver of the Ottoman family if he had dyed should have been taken out of the Seraglio where he remained no better then a prisoner and have been proclaimed Emperor nor would the Souldiers believe but that he was dead till such time as he recovering his strength rode for their better satisfaction through most of the Principal streets of the Imperial City of Constantinople The Persian still prevailing and it being rumoured that he advanced apace at the head of one hundred thousand fighting men to whom Bagages the discontented Bassa had joyned himself Achmat sent Hassan Bassa his General to maintain the wars in Hungary and Cicala Bassa notwithstanding he had been thrice overthrown against the Persian and Asian Rebels but amidst his great preparation the Tartarian Cham sent him word that he could not come to his assistance in person but that he would send his son with a great power into Hungary now the reason that this great Monarch is so ready at all times to serve the Turk is for that they often interchange in Marriages and that if the Ottoman family fail the Empire descends to the Tartar Cham and lastly which indeed is the greatest motive by reason of the large Pension that Prince living in a needy Country receives yearly from the Turkish Emperor To oppose the Turks and Tartars Rodolphus the Emperor sent Maximilian his nephew in the quality of an Ambassador to the Pope and Princes of Italy to crave aid who upon his arrival at Rome was honourably received and after having finished his negotiation sent back with many presents and a full assurance of a speedy supply the Pope for his part having promised out of his Treasury 150000 Crowns to be paid towards the defraying the charges of the war in which he was not less then his word but by this time the Tartars being upontheir march towards Hungary where Hassan Bassa was with a great power of Turks arrived and denyed passage through Polonia brake violently into Valachia miserably spoiling and destroying the Country to abate whose fury the Valachians aided by Bastas Forces still following them in the rear cut off a great number of them yet at length they passed into Hungary and there joyned the Bassas Forces whereupon after severall skirmishes and the taking of some not important places on both sides he set down with all his power before Strigonium to prevent whose intrenching the Christians Sallyed out killing many of them and driving the rest from their works upon news of which siege Basta taking a new oath of the Transylvanians came with all his Forces to endeavour its Relief who upon his arrival confronted the enemy and raising a huge Fort of Earth not far from their Camp from thence with several Pieces of Cannon greatly annoyed them so that what with continual sallyes of the besieged and the skirmishes Bastas Souldiers had with them after a tedious siege and the loss of twenty thousand men the haughty Bassa raised his Camp and departed towards Buda Basta still following them and cutting off a great number of such as marched in the rear and took several prisoners of note yet such was the fera that
promised to made Husseruph a second time Visier and that Regeb Bassa should officiate till his arrival The storm allayed the Grand Signeour began to consider that Husseruph had raised it by the Influence he had upon the Souldiers and therefore least he should attempt any thing further secret order was given to the Bassa of Buda in whose Government he resided to send his head to Court which was done accordingly but not so privately but that the Soldiers getting notice thereof suddenly made up their many headed monster and in a great rage came to the Seraglio demanding the heads of those that had been any way councelling or consenting to the death of Husseruph otherwise they threatned all with ruin but having no answer suitable to their minds they ran to the house of Regeb demanding of him who it was that had councelled so great a wickedness Whereupon to save his Life which was then in no small danger he protested he knew not and that himself was innocent of the matter yet they forced him with them to the Palace and made him their Orator to demand what they desired upon which the Aga Mufti and Teftardar with a private Servant of the Grand Signeours fled but the latter being the next day taken and sent back he was delivered up as a sacrifice to the insolent Souldiers who after their usual manner in such like cases tore him in pieces Yet they were not so contented but upon a rumour that the Grand Signeour had put his three Brethren to death they broke into the Palace and could hardly be quieted although the young Princes were produced and that several officers swore upon the Alcoran that they see the grand Signeour lay his hand upon the book and swore they should have their demands satisfied In these Tumults the goods of Merchants strangers went to wrack and divers affronts and indignities were offered the several Ambassadors residing at the Port nor was this all for about the same time Eleas Bassa Rebelled against the Grand Signeour and siezed upon the City of Amasia about a League from Smirna infesting all the Countrey with divers outrages his Souldiers living altogether upon spoil insomuch that the Merchants and Consuls at Smirna were forced to remove with their goods to Scio but an Army being sent against him he was in a pitched Battle discomfited and had most of his followers slain himself hardly escaping and now the Grand Signeour supposing Regeb Bassa though indeed he was not the Author of the late tumults sent for him into the Seraglio and there caused him to be strangled About this time a fight for the space of four hours was maintained by two English Merchantmen against thirty of the Turks Gallies till at last the English finding themselves too weak for such odds fired their Vessels and cast themselves over board where many of them perished and those that were taken up put to the Oares in this fight a thousand Turks were slain and amongst them several Begs and men of note of this apparent injury done by the Turks His Majesty of Great Brittain by his Letter complained to the Grand Signeour requiring that those that were taken Captives might be restored to their Liberty that so a right understanding might continue but the Turks alledging that the Voyage of the two Ships were unlawful by reason they Traded in the Levant for Corn the Ambassador could little prevail and had much ado to save the lives of the Captives Yet in the end to hinder the dissolution of the Turkish Trade and to please the Grand Signeour a Decree passed in the Star Chamber prohibiting the Corn Trade in the Levant upon which several of the Captives were set at Liberty Three dayes after this action a Fire happened in Constantinople which consumed Seventy Thousand Houses The Persian War yet continuing that King with a great Army besieged Van a strong City upon the Confines of Diarbecher the news whereof arriving at the Port great preparations were made to prevent that important place from falling into the hands of the Persians it being Decreed that all the Beghs of Asia should repair thither with such forces as they could leavy and endeavour its releif and to joyn them the Grand Visier passed over with all European Souldiers but ere any thing could be done the City was taken whereupon the Visier marched towards Aleppo exacting great sums of money and the better to furnish himself sent the Cadee a slave to Cyprus and siezed upon all his Treasure Soon after the Turks under pretence of the Christians rising siezed all their Arms making it death to those in whose houses any were found after a time prefixed nor content with this they hanged a Venetian Merchant only for his Money and Imprisoned all the Christian Merchants in Constantinople setting a ransom of two thousand Dollars upon each and that if the money was not payed in four dayes they should be executed The four Ambassadors of England France Holland and Venice were likewise convented before the Bassas in the Arsenal and charged for building a House and Chappel without leave from the Grand Signeour to have done it in contempt of his Imperial Majesty and much ado they had to escape being imprisoned but in the end upon the Chappels being demolished and all the Armes they had in their Houses delivered to an officer appointed to receive them the Grand Signeour was pacified though indeed this was used only as a trick to extort mony from them This being the present state of things in the Imperial Port the English Ambassador in the behalf of his King and Nation made known the just resentments of his Master for the affront offered in the person of him his Ambassador as likewise did the rest exclaiming of injustice insomuch that the Captain Bassa told them that indeed the proceedings were too rigid and that for the future care should be taken to prevent the like as for their Armes taken away he said they had been seen by the Grand Signeour and therefore could not be restored but that they had liberty to buy more and the money exacted of the Merchants could not at that time be restored by reason of the urgent occasion of the state and therefore intreated them to be pacified but the French Ambassador was so far fallen into the Grand Signeours displeasure that his Death was determined the execution whereof was with much danger to the disswaders deferred and upon second thoughts changed into an Imprisonment the cause of which was for that he had siezed upon sixty thousand Dollars sent by the Town of Marseilles to pay his Predecessors Debts contracted in Constantinople which money he converted to his own use thereby defrauding the Creditor and obliging them to clamour for Turkish Justice which in it self is cruelty and oppression These intestine troubles gave the Persians Liberty to make themselves Masters of many strong places which greatly alarumed the Ottoman Empire insomuch that great preparations were every where
execution over the large Plains of Dobruc so that dispairing to appear any more formidable in the Field he fled to Constantinople where the Grand Signeour contrary to his Faith given to curry favour with Tartar Han caused him to be strangled together with his Son when not long after a Nephew of this Cautimeri killed Tartar Han as he was Hunting and by a misguiding path separated from his followers for which Treachery he was applauded at Constantinople as a man of admirable courage and upon news of Hans death caused Becher Gherey his brother to be Proclaimed King of Tartary Notwithstanding the fair Promises of Morat the Persian Ambassador was dismissed without any agreement of Articles in relation to a Peace and order given to prosecute that War with all imaginable rigor intending to go himself in person and knock at the Gates of Babylon whereupon he hung out the Horse taile a certain sign of his or the Grand Visiers taking the Field and increased the number of his Janizaries revoking a Decree he had made to the contrary commanding his Bassas upon the Christian Frontiers to give no occasion of complaint in his absence that might oblige him to retire ere he had accomplished his purpose and so with an Army of five hundred thousand Horse and Foot whereof three hundred thousand were fighting men he entered Persia about the end of May 1638. having joyned the Grand Visier with such forces as he had at Iconium and in his way overthrew a Shegh who had drawn a great number of people into Rebellion under pretence of Religion out of the Mountains of Anatolia but the Impostor escaping Morat to prevent his further attempts caused to be proclaimed that if he was not put into his hands he would destroy all the Countrey with Fire and Sword for fear of which he was discovered by those that he trusted with the knowledge of his aboad and by the Grand Signeours command flead alive and with his skin off carryed to the wheel and there broken without expressing the least sence of pain This let removed Morat passed on to oppose whose passage the Persian King took the Field with one hundred twenty thousand Horse and put 30 thousand men into Babylon with what was necessary for their subsistence but at the same time his Countrey on the other side being invaded by the great Mogul oâ— India who in favour of Morat had raised a powerful Army he did not think it convenient to give the Turks Battle but permitted them to pass the Euphrates over a Brige though not without grâ—â—t loss for the Bridge giving way under so great a weight many Men Horses and Camels perished in the Water but it being repaired the remainder of the Army attained the further Bank and in a short time came to Mosul antiently called Ninive where all the petty Princes whose Countries were near came to the Camp and tendered their Homage to the Grand Signeour bringing many rich presents and promising to become his Tributaries The Army rising from before Mosul Morat marched directly to Babylon otherwise Bagdat accounted the ancientest City in the World reported to be built by Nimrod on the Bank of the River Euphrates which he straitly besieged ordering his Batteries in three places to be raised and each Battalion to be appointed his quarter himself being attired like a private Souldier to be the less exposed to danger protesting he would never change his Cloathes unless he might do it within the Walls of Babylon and with words and gifts so incouraged the Officers and Souldiers that within three dayes the Trenches were opened himself giving Fire to the first Cannon and after that with fifty great pieces he thundered against the Walls incessantly being answered in the same Language by the Defendants who were eighty thousand fighting men four or 5 thousand of which frequently sallyed as they saw advantage making great slaughter of the Turks for the Persian had put into this important place his Souldiers of greatest courage thinking by that means to prevent its falling into the Grand Signeors hands either by their valour or protracting the time till he could be better at leasure to relieve it but notwithstanding the continual skirmishes the Turks numerous Army advanced the Trenches to the brink of the Ditches railing several redoubts to secure themselves and hinder the besieged from sallying and so effectually they wrought hat within one months space they filled up the first and second Ditches with Woolsacks Fagots and the like and then in great numbers assaulted the breaches the Cannon had made but were strenuously repulsed by the Persians who showred on them all manner of warlike instruments of death The great Visier signalizing himself above all by his undaunted courage commanding with his hand and voice was slain by a Musquet shot This fight within the breach continued for the space of five days where both parties fighting like men in despair the dead bodies lay in heaps and blood flowed like a Torrent But at length the number of Turks prevailing they under the leading of Mustapha Bassa on the 22th of December Anno Dom. 1638. entered the City and set up the Royal standard against whom notwithstanding four and twenty thousand Persians made head but quarter being offered them they readily accepted it throwing down their Armes and submitting upon the publick Faith of the Grand Signeour for their safety who contrary to his promise caused them when disarmed most barbarously to be Massacred not sparing either Man Woman or Child The taking of Babylon caused great rejoycing at Constantinople a twenty dayes Feast being thereupon proclaimed and many Ceremonies used according to the Turkish manner and the Grand Signeour having left a Garrison of thirty thousand Men in his new conquered City returned to the Port having in this Expedition lost by the Sword Famine and Pestilence one hundred thousand of his best men and himself very much afflicted with sickness Soon after his return and triumphant enterance an Ambassador arrived from Persia with proposals of Peace who being admitted to Audience and the matter afterwards referred to the Chimacam a Peace was concluded the chief Article being that Reven should remain to the Sophy and Babylon to the Grand Signeour During the Persian War the Venetians having sustained great dammage by the Pyrates of Algier and Tunis set forth a Fleet of Gallies and destroyed many of those Rovers and amongst the rest seven in the Grand Signeours Port of Valona which he highly resented but in the end was by several rich Presents pacified and the Peace renewed and soon after an Envoy extraordinary from the Emperor of Germany arrived at the Port to congratulate the Grand Signeours success in his late Persian War but not bringing such Presents as were expected he was not received with the honour due to his Character and there happening a dispute between the English Ambassador and this Envoy about precedency the Turks granted it the former being made to understand the
by the Senate and dismissed of his high charge Capello being appointed to succeed him who being strengthned with an additional supply of Gallies Galliasses and Ships of War he wasted the Island whilst Morosini with two and twenty Ships faced the Towers of the Dordanellis in the Hellespont and braved the Ottoman power incountering such Gallies as in a dead calm were sent out against him which after a sharp dispute he obliged to retire and then sailed to joyn his Admiral perswading him to give the Turks Battle but whilst he delayed they landed an additional strength of forty thousand men on the Island and kept their Gallies so close within the Harbour that they could not be indammaged without great disadvantage to the Christians nor did the Fire-Ships too late prepared to burn them succeed by reason they took Fire too soon yet the succeeding year Morosini having notice that the Turks were Landed at Scio and that they carelesly romed up and down came thither with divers Ships of War took several of their Gallies and in them many prisoners of note but soon afterward being serated from his Squadron in a storm he was set upon by fifteen Gallies of Rhodes and boarded where fighting valiantly he was slain by a Musquet Bullet yet his Ship upon the coming in of two Galliasses was rescued The funeral solemnity of this renowned Captain was celebrated with all Pomp at Venice Not by Sea only but at Land the Turks invaded the Venetian Territories for pouring a multitude of men into Dalmatia yet were not greatly successful for Leonardo Foscolo the Venetian General on that side overthrew their Forces in divers conflicts In one of which he took the Sanzack Licca and slew his Son recovered Saccovar Polissano Islan and Novogrode the latter of which by order of the Senate he demolished and pursuing his good success took all the Cities and Towns the Turks held on that side utterly driving them out of Dalmatia but this joy was palliated by the unwelcome news of the Fleets being wrecked in the Archipelago and a great number of Ships and Gallies broken to pieces which so raised the drooping courage of the Turks that they advanced to the Walls of Candia and straitly besieged it but were so valiantly repulsed by the Christians that had put themselves into it that after the loss of thirty thousand men they were obliged to retire as not being capable of gaining it though Foscolo about this time proved successful in taking Clissa a strong Fort scituate in the confines of Dalmatia and overthrew Feckeli Bassa killing and taking Prisoners the greatest part of his Army which caused Morlaches to revolt and several of the principal inhabitants of Scutary to treat with the Venetian General about putting that City into his hands to take possession of which seven thousand men were sent who seized some several smal places but ere they could arrive at Scutari their design was discovered and they obliged for the preservation of their lives to betake themselves to the Mountains for as many as were taken the Turks impailed them alive The Grand Visier inraged for the loss of Clissa dispatched Dervis Bassa into part of Bosna with a powerful Army to assault Spelatro against whom the Venetian General marched together with Serich Capt. of Morlaches but by reason of the Christians disorderly march in gathering the spoil of the Countrey the Turks set upon a part of the Army and put it to the rout though Serich and other Dalmatian Captains did all that men could perform In this conflict 400 Christians were slain and as many taken Prisoners amongst the latter of which was the Captain of Moriaches whom the Turks flayed alive and afterwards impailed yet though they subdued his body they could not conquer his invincible mind he bearing the same Constancy and Resolution in his torments as he had done in Battle During these transactions Ibrahim indulged himself in all manner of pleasures leaving the management of all his affairs to his Bassa himself being wholly directed by a wench who in the nature of a Baud or procurer went from bath to bath to take a view of the Ladies and those she perceived fairest she inquired out the places of their abode and recommended them to her Lord who upon hearing her praise their beauty would instantly be enamoured of them and send to fetch them either by fair means or force to his Bed This course taken for a while without coutroul she at length filled his ears with the commendation of a Sultaness Widow to his brother Morat deceased but this Woman could by no intreaty be won to his Lust nor obliged with presents to comply alledging she had vowed perpetual Widowhood and that her former Lord to was living in conceit which denyal the more inraged Ibrahim now grown impatient of delay wherefore he intended to snatch that by force that intreaty could not gain wherefore watching her one day as she came out of the Bath he siezed her in his armes which she perceiving resolved upon the defence of her Chastity and therefore drew her Dagger a weapon which the Sultaness and Chief Lady wear at their sides and offered to wound him in her own defence which observing let go his hold at what time the bustle causing a loud clamour his Mother came from her apartment who understanding what had happened began to reprove her son of his lascivious behaviour during which the Sultaness found means to escape which so incensed Ibrahim that he confined his Mother to the old Seraglio interdicting her his presence till with submission and many intreaties she had obtained pardon After the loss of this Sultaness his procurer called by him Shecher Para casting her eyes upon the Daughter of the Mufti a young Lady of excellent beauty so warmed the heart of Ibrahim with the relation of her rare perfections that he resolved to have her at any rate and therefore at first resolved to send for her by force but considering the power of the Mufti he upon second thoughts suppoled it not convenient to incense him by such a rash action but rather to send for him and to treat with him about taking his daughter to be one of his Sultana's which he did and reasoned with him about that affair but the old man who intirely loved his daughter and well considering the wandering loves of Ibrahim and that he having already sons her off spring would be either poisoned strangled or become sad recluses after his death inwardly resolved not to consent to his request yet dissembled the matter in excusing so great an honour to one that was unworthy of it but withal concluded to deal with his Daughter in the best mannen to the Sultans advantage but by their Law could oblige her therein no further then her free consent allowed Pleased with this answer Ibrahim dismissed the Mufti with several rich presents thinking his wishes should now be satisfied but the old man having hardened his Daughter not to
Age the Government was committed into the hands of the Grand Visier and the Queen Mother called by the Turks Riosem and of 12 Bassa's who were to manage all affaires with supream power during the Minority of Sultan Mahomet whose Reign I shall pursue in the following chapter CHAP. XXII The Reign of Mehmet or Mahomet the fourth of that Name and Thirteenth Emperor of the Turks who now Reigneth IBrahim deposed and murthered as in the foregoing Chapter is related Mehmet or rather Mahomet his Eldest Son of the Age of seven years supplyed the empty Throne during whose minority which was to continue ten years longer His Grand Mother the Grand Visier and twelve Bassa's took into their hands the Reins of Government and after many debates resolved to continue the War with the Venetians which Ibrahim designed to conclude the treaty of Peace in order thereto being far advanced and the Ambassador of that Signiory then at the Port impatiently expecting an end of his negotiation but whilst these affairs were in hand the unruly Spahi's not having received the Largess usually bestowed amongst them at the Installment of a new Emperour making it their pretence the better to colour their discontents that they were resolved to revenge the death of the murdered Emperour whose fall the Janizaries had occasioned insomuch that a great difference arose between those two orders the former being the best Horsemen and the latter the best Footmen and although many laboured to appease that Tempest which threatned the dismembering the Empire Yet many skirmishes happened between these contrary Factions in the streets of Constantinople in which some hundreds were slain but the Spahies being for the most part worsted at length abandoned the City These animosities and divisions amongst the Turkish Souldiers gave the Venetians opportunity to provide for their defence as expecting nothing less then a War for that their Ambassador had been clapped up on Prison for demanding Audience and chains put upon him but at the intreaty of the other Christian Ambassadors there residing he was set at Liberty Yet to affront him the Grand Visier caused his Dugerman or Interpreter to be executed and his body thrown out at the Castle Window which barbarous act is frequent amongst the Turks either to put a disgrace upon the Ambassador or to terrifie those Interpreters that they shall not dare to speak any thing after an Ambassador though upon his Audience that should be ungrateful to the Grand Signeour which causes them many times to mince their words and not render a true interpretation These matters widening differences between the Venetians and the Turks great preparations were made on either side the former with all diligence reinforcing Candia and the latter to hinder it so that many skirmished happened by Land and Sea till at length the Bassa Governour notwithstanding the Venetian Fleet blocked up the Dardaneles having received a recruit of 1500 men laid siege to the strong City Candia and battered it with many pieces of Ordinance till at length having taken a small Fort that flanked it he lodged his men therein just as 6 Gallies of Malta arrived with 600 Voluntiers and 60 Knights of the Order who beat out the Turks with great slaughter yet they retook it again and planted the Ottoman colours upon the highest Bullwark which so inraged the Christians that sallying with all their force they drove the Turks from the Walls with great slaughter regained the piece and caused the Bassa with shame and loss to raise the siege The Wars growing hot in Candia the discontents between the Spahi and Janizaries that was before supposed to be appeased grew hot again and much slaughter happened between those inveterate factions when to pacifie the latter the great Visier was deposed and executed Yet that little availed nor was that all for several of the Bassa's denyed to return the Tribute of their Provinces alledging they would reserve it till the Grand Signeour was of age and then be to him accountable both for principal and interest nor were the Wars in Bosna Dalmatia Foscolo and other places on the Venetian Frontires neglected but continued with doubtful success and great slaughter yet part of the Ottoman Forces on that side were diverted by the Cossacks who at the instigation of the Tartar Han covered the Black Sea with their Boats and committed many outrages insomuch that Constantinople trembled at their approach as fearing a sack by the hands of those resolute people but in the end having gotten a rich booty they returned to their station The Venetians finding the Turks resolute bent to make themselves absolute Lords of Candia in which Island they had got strong footing laboured as earnestly to expell them so that huge Fleets on either side were prepared that of the Turks consisting of 1100 Ships Gallies Galleasses Saiques Brigantines and lesser Vessels furnished with Bombes Mortar-pieces and Fireworks producing strange effects and in that order set forward from the Port of Constantinople with a strict command to give Battle of which Mocenigo the Venetian Admiral having notice with the same willingness bore up with them so that there began a bloody and for a long time doubtful Fight but the Venetians being better appointed than the Turks broke and disordered their huge Armado sinking and taking several Galleys and putting the rest to flight killing in one of them flying the Bassa of Anatolia who was sent to succede Chusadin Bassa who had been made Grand Visier in the General Ship of Candia yet the Turks having put into the Islands and conceiving it a shame for so great a Fleet to fly from one much inferiour in number resolved to hazard another Battle and therefore coming out of the several Harbours and ranging in the form of a Crescent the Captain Bassa fired two Guns a Stern in token he was ready to Ingage which Mocenigo perceiving bore up with him and began a second fight more dreadful than the former playing with his Canon so furiously that he broke off her Poop and killed 100 so her Men sinking two Galleys by her side and greatly disablihng several others nor were the Turks idle but used their utmost endeavour to blot out the disgrace they had sustained by their late flight but it availed not for by the Thundering shot and Fire-works the Venetians plyed them with they were evey where put to the worst so that flying in all parts the Venetian General following the advantage took 39 Galleys 23 Ships 3 Galliasses and 3000 Soldiers 40 Gallies Ships and other Vessels were burnt or sunk and in them and by the great and small shot 9000 Turks perished in both Ingagements the rest hardly escaping to Naxos This great loss made the Turks out of heart with marine Affairs and so far discouraged them that ever since they have layd aside building Vessels of Force as useless say that God hath given the Sea to Christians and the Land to Turks About this time came news to Constantinople that the
a Grave Turk placed in his stead who caused several of the Mutiniers to be Apprehended and publiquely Executed Notwithstanding these troubles the Turks desisted not to carry on the War against the Venetian so resolutely were they bent to have Candia In their possession therefore Equiping another Great Fleet they put to Sea in order to relieve their men in the Island but being again fought with by Moâ—errigo the Venetian Admiral all the Fleet was either taken sunk or stranded upon which the Venetians landed on the Island of Tenedos and in four dayes became Masters of it as also they did of Stalimene antiently called Lemnos which losses so incensed the Grand Seignor by this time grown to understanding that he resolved to carry the War into Dalmatia part of the Venetians Seignory but upon second thoughts resolved the recovery of the Islands and in order thereto put another Fleet to Sea who after a great dammage sustained by the Venetian shot thrust their men on shoar in great numbers and by that means the evil Fortified Islands so lately taken by the Venetians were by the Turks recovered in attempting the relief of which Mocenigo the Venetian Admiral had his Ship blown up by his powder accidentally taking fire by which Accident himself together with all that were on board perished These important places regained the treaty of peace was offered to be renewed and some overtures were made by the Venetians but now the Turks would hearken to nothing unless Candia might be intirely put into their hands with the Fortress of Clissia in Dalmatia and payment made of three Millions of Gold for the Dammages sustained by the War which unreasonable proposals so perjudicial to the honour of their Seignoury the Senators Generously rejected rather resolving to maintain the War and defend themselves more vigorously then ever which intention known the Grand Seigniour gave second orders for his Army to spoil Dalmatia but in their March the Grand Vizier who headed them having caused the Bassa of Aleppos brother who had a command in the Army to be put to death for coming later to the Randesvous than was appointed which so â—nraged the Bassa that raising 40000 men he advanced even to the Walls of Constantinople burning up the Country before him and there pitching his Tents sent to demand the head of the great Vizier in reprisal for that of his Murthered brothers but not finding his expectations answered he sent a second Messenger to demand the heads of 4 other Bassas of the Council whom he said had been consenting thereto and upon refusals threatened the destruction of the City but the Plague raging there at that time after he had burnt up all the Country about it he retired into Asia and there seting up a Youth of Twenty Years of Age whom he gave out to be the Lawful Son of Sultan Morat till that time hidden by his Mother from his Uncles fury His Army was wonderfully increased insomuch that he would hearken to no Proposals of an accommodation though the Government of divers Provinces were offered but Exhibited a Proclamation wherein he declared Mahomet the unrightful Heir to the Ottoman Empire upon which he was pronounced a Rebel and all men commanded to rise up against him and destroy him but instead thereof most of the Asian Forces revolted to him which made the Divan suppose it high time to give a check to the Progress of his Armes and thereupon shipped over the Great Vizier with a puissant Army composed of the Flower of the Ottoman Chavalarie in Europe who joyning with the Bassa was in a great and mortal battle overthrown and with his broken Forces obliged to retire which made the Grand Seigniour with such Forces as he could raise pass the Bosphorus and joyning with the Viziers rallied Souldiers Composed an Army of Thirty Thousand Horse and Seventy Thousand Foot with which he Marched against the Bassa whose heart at the approach of so great a power began to fail him and make him more plyable to hearken to Terms of Agreement which he proposing to his Council of War and they approving his Resolution a place was Assigned for Treaty and Mortaza Bassa made the Grand Seigniours Plenipotentiary the Grand Seigniour promising to stand to what ever he should Act as indeed he did for the Bassa under pretence of a Treaty being unadvised drawn from his Army was together with Seventeen of his Attendants strangled by the said Mortaza and such as he had layed in ambush for that purpose upon notice of which his Army that then consisted of Eighty Thousand Horse and Foot dispersed every Man shifting for himself For this Exploit Mortaza was greatly applauded by the Grand Seigniour and Grand Vizier and had a considerable command conferred on him in the War against Rogotski the Transilvanian Prince whose Country about this time the Tartars had entered at the instance of the Sultan with a great power yet was not the Asia Rebellion thus extinguished for a Nephew of the dead Bassas raising great Forces in the Territories of Aleppo advanced with a Resolution to revenge his Uncles death to whom joyned the two sons of Chusaein Bassa whom the Great Vizier had caused to be put to death as also the Bey of Torgne and many others which rendred this Army as formidable as the precedent gave new subject of fear at Constantinople but the great Visier so managed the matter by sowing dissension among the chiefs and bestowing large sums of Money on the Soldiers that the Army dayly diminished till at length it came to nothing leaving many of the Commanders to the mercy of the Visier who never spared any man that was guilty of a crime or suspected to be so Asia being again reduced to Obedience the Grand Seignior had leisure to think of his Wars with the Venetians and therefore gave strict command for part of his Army to march into Daimatia and the other part to be imbarqued for Candia he resolving to besiege the Meâ—ropolitan City of that Name nor were the Venetians slack for having received a reinforcement of Four Thousand French Foot and divers other Aids sent them by the Christian Princes their Confederates They took the Forts of Calamo Calegro and Epicarno hardly distressing the Bassa of Canea in the principal City of his Province insomuch that he was obliged to write to Constantinople for speedy succour leâ—t that City should be lost for the Venetians dayly battered it and pressed it hard with continual Assaults but a supply of Three Thousand fresh men being by Night thrust into it the Venetians raised the siege and marched to New Candia built near to Old Canoia in hopes to beat the Turks out of it but prevailed not according to their expectation About this time the Visier with a Great Army arrived at Belgrade but there falling sick he returned to Adrinople to recover his Health swearing that if he found Death approach he would caâ—â—e all his Physitians to be put to 〈◊〉 which
〈◊〉 servation rendred them double-diligent These were the principal revolutions in the Ottoman Empire from the time Mahomet ascended the Throne till the year 1â—60 Anno Dom. 1661. About the beginning of this year His Majesty of Great Britain sent the Earl of Winchelsea his Embassador to Constantinople who upon his arrival at the Port was received as became his Character with all the Grandeur that the Turks allow to any Embassador and after his Audience conveyed with due Ceremony to the prepared for his reception and now the Turks being at leisure invaded Transylvania in order to depose Prince Rogotski who after having deposed himself and made his submission in hopes to be restored but finding his hopes frustrated and another advanced in his stead Again he assumed his Government and raising a powerful Army made divers Inroads into the Turkish Dominions till at last joyning Battle with the Bassas of Buda and Temeswar near Julia Aâ—ba where being overthrown and wounded he fled to Varadia and there within Fifteen days dyed of the Hurts received in Battle yet was it no ways satisfactory to the proud Bassas unless they might reduce that City which as they alledged had taken part with their Masters Rebels whereupon drawing down their Army they layed close siege which so terrified the Citizens that they sent their Deputies to the Caesarean Emperor to require aid desiring him to take them into his protection but whilst the Imperialists delayed and made many scruples of breaking the League with the Turks after many furious Assaults and great Slaughter on either side the City was surrendered In consideration that the Garrison should march out with Drums beating Colour flying c. and to go whither they pleased which conditions being performed the Turks took possession of that strong Frontire City Varadin thus taken the Citizens of Vienna were not a little alarmed thereat though none used any endeavours either to relieve it when besieged or to recover it when taken nor in the least to annoy the Turks unless Count John Serini a Prince who had a fair Soveraign Inheritance in those parts was under the Emperour made Governour of Croatia who raising a power laid siege to the strong City of Canisia which at that time was almost destroyed by an accidental Fire but upon notice thereof the Emperour not only denyed to assist him in his enterprize but sent an express Command to him to raise his siege at which in a rage he cast his Scimiter on the Ground and for a while stood mute yet not thinking it convenient to disobey his Soveraigns Commands though he might easily have taken the City he raised his siege The Transylvanian blocked up as it were on every side by the Turks about this time implored a second time the Emperors Assistance resolving to shake off the Turkish yoak and in order thereunto they banished Acatius Barklay who since the Death of Ragotski had governed in chief greatly favouring the Turks and in his stead constituted one Kemenus sometimes General of Ragotski's Army which plainly manifesting their hatred to the Turks the German or Caesarean Emperor resolved to assist them they consenting to admit Garrisons of German Souldiers into divers of their Cities using them with all respect and plentifully providing them with all convenient necessaries Yet the Germans made small shew of taking the Field to assist or protect the Transylvanians but on the contrary wrote to the Bassa of Buda to certifiâ— him that the peace should be kept inviolable yeâ— the Turk not contented entered Hungary and layeâ— waste a great part of it that was subject to the Emperor whereupon Count Serini built a Fortress iâ— the Turks Dominions near Canisia e're the Turks were aware at which the Grand Visier was so inraged that he sent an express to strangle the Bassâ— of Buda for permitting it so that the League being apparently broken or infringed on either sidâ— the German Army under the Command of Counâ— Montecuculi and joyned with the Transylvanians under the Leading of Kemenius their General whicâ— Conjunction rendered them so formidable to the Ottoman Empire that Ali Bassa durst not oppose their progress till he had divided the Transylvanians amongst themselves by advancing one Apafi to thâ— principality who being well beloved caused by sundry means the Army of Kemenus for the most part tâ— revolt of which the crafty Bassa taking the advantage set upon him and in a bloody Battle over threw his people with great slaughter obliging him for his safety to fly into Hungary from whence returning after he had recruited his broken Army oncâ— more to try the fortune of a Field he was in a second Battle put to the rout and as he retired beaten from off his Horse by one of his own Souldiers where none relieving him he was trodden to Death under the Horses Feet and left the greatest part oâ— his people a sacrifice to the inraged Turks Kemenius thus dead Apafi's Party was greatly in couraged insomuch that joyning with a Body oâ— Turks they besieged Claudiopolis of which David Râ—tani a right Valiant Souldier was Governour having under his Command a Garrison of German Horse and Foot yet the Turks and Transylvanians battered 〈◊〉 for a while but upon the arrival of General Schenidan who in spight of them put a reinforcement into the Town and made great slaughter of their out-guards About this time the Plague raged in Constantinople in the Camp at such a rate that Fifty Thousand persons of all Ages and Sexes dyed which leaving the City almost desolate the Grand Signior retired to Adrinople and there made his solemn entrance which place so delighted him that he had since for the most part resided there where Rupeâ—ee the Old Visier so dealt with him that he procured a promise that his Son Ahmet whom he had made Chineacam of Constantinople should be assisting to him in his Visier-ship and after his Death succeed him in that place of trust the which though contrary to the Ottoman Custom who hold it dangerous to that any Office should go by Inheritance accordingly came to pass to the great grief of the Court Bassas who are ever emulous of that place c. For old Kuperle after he had been five years Visier and in that time had caused Thirty Thousand Persons to fall by the hands of divers Executioners being the bloodiest that ever officiated that place dying his Son Ahmet had the Grand Signiors Patent and the Seal of the Empire delivered to him taking upon him the Office of Great Visier at the Age of Thirty two years a thing not usual and not to be behind hand with his Father established himself upon the destruction of such as he suspected to envy at his advancement amongst whom the Bassa of Magnesia fell a Sacrifice he likewise procured the Banishment of Solyman Bassa of Damascus and that of the Muphti and indeed caused to be made away or displaced all that he suspected averse to his interest During
Tower overthrew the mortars sallying out at the same time and making a terrible slaughter of the enemy who were advancing to the wall with a design to enter the new breach recovering from them a Bastion of which they had possessed themselves and cutting in pieces all they found therein This bad success making it apparent that the City was not so easie to be taken as the Visier had supposed he commanded Arrows to be shot over the walls with Letters fastened to them containing his admonition to the besieged speedily to surrender and receive liberty in their persons a free exemption of their goods and such treatment as they should desire but if they refused and held out obstinately till the City should be taken by storm or reduced by famine no mischief should be left unpractised that wit or horror could invent but this device not at all prevailed but rather induced the besieged to contemn the besiegers whose weakness thereby they the better understood as observing from former acts of the like nature they never capitulate underhand till they despaire of obtaining their ends or grow weary of the siege All this while the Duke of Loraine lay close in his Camp within sight of the City the better to incourage the besieged daily increasing his number and as earnestly expecting the Polonian King who had sent the Prince Lubomirskie before him with six thousand horse and daily Curriers passed between him and the Emperor who with the Court was retired to Pashaw there to expect the great event on which the eyes of all Nations were fixed The increase of the Christian Camp did not a little trouble the Visier who well knew that if he could not make himself master of the City before the King of Poland arrived he must be obliged to give battle or raise his siege and that if he miscarried in the former it would greatly redound to his disgrace if not hazzard his life by rendring him obnoxious to the Grand Signiours displeasure whom he had assured of taking the City whereupon to hasten the enterprize he spared not his men but thrust them on even into the mouth of slaughter swearing by Mahomet that in whomsoever he found the least mark of cowardise or neglect of duty he should be put to death and thereupon he commanded the Cannon from all the Batteries to play without ceasing but such was the care and skill of the Christian Engineers that they with their great shot dismounted divers of them overthrowing their battery and burying such as were there posted in their ruins yet having made two breaches in the wall one near the red Tower and the other not far from the Imperial Pallace he commanded five thousand Janizaries and ten thousand other souldiers to enter the Breach but Count Staremberg having drawn his chief strength on that side to oppose the Torrent although as men desperate they came on yet the besieged sallying out and coming to hand strokes by plain force drove them back killing about three thousand and recovering the Raveling and Counterscarp of which they had strongly possessed themselves yet in this sally five hundred of the Imperialists fell and two hundred wounded This hot dispute over and the Turks beaten out of divers of their Trenches they lay still for two days not attempting any thing when on the third the Visier sent to the Count Staremberg for a Cessation or a five days Truce to bury the dead whose noisome smells greatly afflicted his Camp with sickness but the Count returned for an answer that he had no need of a Truce nor would he accord to any upon which under the shelter of the night the Turks in great numbers approached the walls but being discovered by lights thrown out for that purpose the shot from the Flankers and Battlements gabled them so desperately that they were obliged to return two thousand less than they came on when upon their retreat three thousand of the Imperialists sallyed and did great execution whereupon the Visier storming and finding the greatnes of the loss he had at divers 〈◊〉 sustained 〈…〉 unsuccessful attempts repaired his Batterie and planted as near as he could his Mortars to the wall with which he threw divers Granadoes and Bombies into the Town freeing some houses on fire and killing 〈…〉 the inhabitants the which he continued all the 21 and 22 of July but by the extraordinary diligence of the besieged who still countermured the breaches repaired what was shattered and earth behind to keep the Bullworks from renting and the wall from shaking by the force of the furious shot the Turks at that vast expence of powder and shot were little advantaged The Duke of Loraine having received another supply of five thousand men part of the Troops of the Circle and certain notice from the King of Poland that he was advancing with all diligence he the better to encourage the besieged sent a Fisherman to assure them of speedy succour commanding him to give him notice of his safe arrival by setting up a blew flag upon the battlements of the Tower and that the besieged if they were in danger should set up a red flag and that rather then the City should sall into the hands of the Infidels he would without the King of Poland endeavour to raise the siege though at the hazard of a Battle nor was it long e'r he safely arrived by swimming over the Danubius and gave the first signal but so far were the besieged from giving the second that they encouraged thereto by their renowned Governour the Count d' Staremberg sallyed early in the morning and finding the Turks advancing their Mines fell upon them with such fury that they overwhelmed the Miners and beat the Janizaries who were appointed to guard them insomuch that the noise arose so great that the Grand Vizier not well assured supposed the Christian Army had at that time attempted the relief of the City and for his own safety caused him to draw up his Army in Battalia Things being at this pass the Duke of Loraine in his Camp where he lay had notice that a Convoy of provision and Ammunition was on its way to the Turkish Camp and arrived within three Leagues thereof whereupon he commanded out a party to intercept it who accordingly performed his desire killing and taking prisoners and putting to flight those Turks who guarded it nor was the booty less worth then forty thousand Dollars On the 24 of July the besieged made a vigorous sally with five thousand horse and foot and charging the Turks in their Trenches with much bravery and resolution drove them thence thereby recovering though not without considerable slaughter on either part divers redoubts of which they had possessed themselves firing the bavins and planks with which they attempted to fill up the Ditch in order to a storm which the next morning was intended but seven thousand Turks being sent to reinforce those that were routed they with fresh fury returned upon
Forces to the Conquest of that great Kingdom which the dissension amongst the Sons of the deceased King about the succession made him suppose was easie to be effected whereupon raising such great Forces as held Christendom in suspence he yet declined attempting any thing till he had knowledge what effects the civil broyls had wrought which were that after a long contention and the Murther of many of the Sons and Grandchildren of the deceased King Mahomet Eldest son to Tamas who had before rejected the Diadem to prevent the ruin of his Native Country took upon him the Regency though not without the envy of many of the great Sultans whose guilt upon his being proclaimed King had caused them to fly who like thorow paced Traitors in their exile solicited Amurath by all means speedily to invade the Kingdom of Persia laying before him the facility of conquering that noble Kingdom abounding with all manner of riches and that the Georgians and Saracens evily affected towards the new King would not fail upon the approach of his Army to joyn with him These and the like perswasions fired the Turk with hopes of so glorious an atchievement that notwithstanding he was in League with the Persian yet after long debating the matter in the Divan it was resolved that the War should be undertaken and carryed on with all vigor and that the first attempt should be made upon the Countrey of Servan the better to effect which by alaruming the Enemy in divers places he sent to his Bassa's Governours of Babylon Van and other places on the Persian Frontiers to molest the Territories by frequent inroads to perform which they were no ways wanting And now Stephen the Prince of Transilvania having marryed Queen Anne and being confirmed by the free choice of the Nobility King of Poland he sent his Ambassadors to Amurath to conclude a firm and inviolable League which was granted by the Turk very advantageous to the Christians that he might not be hindered in his Persian War which in Anno 1578. he undertook sending a great Army under the leading of Mustapha Bassa who in the Reign of Selymus had Conquered Cyprus into the Countrey of Servan composed of these following Nations viz 12000 Mesopotamians 14000 Babylonians and Assyrians 2000 Syrians 10000 Natolians 1000 Jews of Palastine 4000 Cilicians after which followed the Soldiers of Grecia the Glory and Hope of the whole Camp to the number of 10000 as likewise 10000 Janizaries Harquibusires to whom 4000 of the Citizens of Er Zicshum were added besides many Voluntiers of divers Nations insomuch that the whole Army consisted of 110000 Horse and Foot besides this multitude of men Mustapha brought into Persia 500 pieces of Artillery and 50 Waggon loads of Money to leavy other Soldiers if occasion required it The Bassa with the Army aforesaid arriving at Chars after three dayes staying there during which time being marvellously troubled by reason of a suddain Tempest he raised his Camp and departed to the foot of the Mountains of Chielder otherwise Periardo where he had knowledge of the Persian Sophies Army Approach which caused him to put his Army into order of Battle dividing it amongst his great Commanders which were Deruis Bassa of Caraunt and Osman Mahomet and Musta Fada Bassas as for the Persian Army under the leading of Tocomac an experienced Captain whom for his known valour and Loyalty the Sophy had made General it consisted not of above twenty thousand all Horsemen gathered out of Georgia Media and Antropatia who misinformed by their Scouts of the Turks number boldly held on their way resolving to give them Battle who from the Hills perceiving their intent put themselves in a posture to receive them whereupon about one in the Afternoon a dreadful sight began wherein at the first charge were slain seven of the Turks Sanzacks with a Great number of Soldiers without any apparent loss to the Persians who fighting close together slew the Turks at a distance with their shot of Arrows and the continual thundering of their Harquibuzes of which Engins by this time they had learned the perfect use But Mustapha who with a great power of his choice souldiers having waited a fit opportunity peirced the Squadrons of the horse having first made a lane by the reiterated Vollies of his Artillery and charged with such fury that although the Persians incouraging each other did all than men were capable to perform yet being overpowered with number were at length broken and disordered they under the shelter of the night retired which the Turks without much difficulty permitted they not having any cause to rejoyce at the Victory so gotten their loss was so great yet keeping the field all that night the next morning in token of his good success Mustapha sent the heads of five thousand Persians and three thousand live prisoners to Amurath and for the greater terror of the enemy caused the heads of three thousand others to be stricken off and piled on heaps the Turks lost in this battle near twenty thousand many of their chief souldiers The next day after the battle Manuchlars a Prince of the Georgians sent a messenger to Mustapha to acquaint him that he was coming to confer with him which did not a little rejoyce the Turk insomuch that he caused all his Great Commanders with Trumpets Ensigns displayed Drums beating and the discarge of all the Great Ordnance to receive him and in like manner to conduct him to his Pavillion not doubting but that the revolt of this Prince would greatly further his affairs which being being done and he entering the Bassa's Tent he there was caused to sit down on his right hand when after having made him presents of such chings as for that purpose he had brought he gave the Bassa to understand That for the honour and estimation he conceived of the Turkish valour he was ever devoted to the house of the Ottomans and as he had often times desired to venture his life and fortune in their service so at this present time he moved by his former desire allured by the strange fame of his wonderful and victorious Army and stirred up by a particular Fantaâ—e to learn the Turkish Discipline in martial affairs under such a General as was the Bassa to whom he offered all his devotion and service things as he said not offered to any before and in sine besought him to accept of him in the name of Amurath whose obedient vassal he had vowed himself This Speech ended the Bassa highly commended him for his prudent choice and good will towards the Turks and the more to confirm him in the opinion he had of the Ottoman Greatness he caused him to be led throughout his Camp that so he might take a view of the Turkish Magnificence where amongst other things he with detestation beheld the Pile of Persian heads and then returning to Mustaphas Tent he was presented with Garments of cloth of Gold a Gilt Battle Ax and