more but to have his Life spared fearfully promising a large ransom for himself and those few which were yet alive with him Howbeit the Vayvod mindful of the manifold Injuries by them done unto him and his Subjects and nothing mitigated or moved with the rich Spoils thrust upon him or the large Promises the Turks had made him commanded all those his Enemies now in Power to be slain every Mothers Son of whom his Souldiers had a wonderful rich spoil although much more was lost in the fire and so giving thanks unto God for the Victory rested with his People a while at quiet Yet within less than a Month after he sent Albertus Kiral his Lieutenant with an Army to Phloch a great open unwalled Town on the farther side of Danubius equally distant from Vrosczok and Nicopolis from whence the Turks oftentimes passing over that frozen River into Valachia had there done great harm which Town not inferiour unto a good City he suddenly surprized and sacked it and put to the Sword all the Inhabitants thereof except such as were before his coming fled And shortly after the more to annoy the Turks marching again over the frozen River to have surprized Hersowa a walled City but one days Journey from Brailoua he was by the way encountred upon the Ice by the Turks whom he there in a great conflict overthrew and having slain many of them and put the rest to flight holding on his intended Journey took that rich City which he rifled and burnt down to the Ground all except the Castle which was yet by the Turks valiantly defended and so with the spoil of the City returned again over the River there to refresh his Souldiers wearied with Labour and the Extremity of the Winter weather And yet not so contented within six days after passing again over the River and having upon the side thereof in a great Battel overthrown the Turks Garrisons took Silistra a great City of Macedonia built by Constantine the Great being the Seat of one of the Turks Sanzacks and well inhabited with rich Merchants which fair City he ransacked and having slain most part of the Inhabitants burnt it down to the Ground as he had the other no less Terror than Grief unto the Turks But whilst the aforesaid Confederation betwixt the Emperour and the Transilvanian Prince was yet in hand and the Troubles in Valachia thus arising Amurath the great Sultan grievously troubled with the Stone and attainted with the falling Sickness his wonted Disease and inwardly also tormented with the late Insolency of the Janizaries and Revolt of the Countries of Transilvania Valachia and Moldavia no small hinderance to the proceeding of his Wars in Hungary as a man both in Soul and Body tormented with great Impatiency and Agony of Mind departed this Life the eighteenth day of Ianuary in the year of our Lord 1595 when he had lived one and fifty or as some say two and fifty years and thereof reigned nineteen At the time of his Death arose such a sudden and terrible Tempest at Constantinople that many thought the World should even presently have been dissolved His dead Body was not long after with great Pomp and Solemnity buried by Mahomet his eldest Son in a Moschy which he himself had before built at Constantinople Christian Princes of the same time with Amurath the Third Emperours of Germany Maximilian the Second 1565. 12. Rodolph the Second 1577. Kings Of England Queen Elizabeth 1558. 45. Of France Charles the Ninth 1560. 14. Henry the Third 1574. 14. Henry the Fourth 1589. Of Scotland James the Sixth 1565. Bishops of Rome Gregory the XIII 1572. 12. Pius the V. 1585. 5. Urban the VII 1590. 12 days Gregory the XIV 1590. 10 months 10 days Innocent the IX 1591. 2 months one day Clement the VIII 1592. ãâ¦ã le virtus non ingens copia rerum ãâã saâiunt magnum non ãâã dextra potens Maximuâât Superunt ãâã qui terriâat Orbem ãâ¦ã âibi gloria tota manat ãâ¦ã alia Sceptra paravit ãâ¦ã maxima quaeque dedit ãâ¦ã multumâe beatus ãâ¦ã terror et ira Dei. ãâ¦ã superbis inani ãâ¦ã miseris numinis ira premat ãâ¦ã magniâni vis SuccuÌbere magnus ãâ¦ã ponderâ pressa ruunt ãâ¦ã âempâra longa 'T is not thy vertue nor thy dread command That makes thee great nor thy victorious hand Ther 's an almighty God who makes thee so From him these glories Achâet on thee flow He in thy infant hands the Scepter plac'd And he thy vigorous youth with honours grac'd Not for thy merittâ he exalted thee But that his Scourge of Vengeance thou shouldst be Boast thou not then of what is not thine owne For he that sett thee up may pull thee downe Be humble in thy most triumphant State For great things sink deprest by their owne weight Nor feed thy self with hopes of endless daies For at Fates Summons thou must goe ãâã waies THE TURKISH HISTORY The Second Uolume Beginning from MAHOMET III. And Continued to this Present Year 1687. THE SIXTH EDITION LONDON Printed for Tho. Basset at the George near St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet MDCLXXXVII Si quid in humanis magnum te reddere possit Quid prohibet magnis nomen inesse âuum Qui subjecta vides tot dissona regna tot urbes Et nulli cedens sceptra superba geris Cum tamen ignores quid sit Sapientia Christi Omnia quae jactas sunt Mahomete nihil If any thing on earth can make man great Great as the greatest art thou Mahomet Who overlookst the World from thy bright Throne And seest the largest part of it thine owne But since the Christian Law thou dost disdeigne Thy labours to be truely Great are all but vaine THE LIFE OF MAHOMET The Third of that Name Seventh Emperour of the Turks year 1595 THE Death of the late great Sultan Amurath was not forthwith made known in the Court but with wonderful secresie concealed not onely for fear of the Ianizaries who in the time of the vacancy of the Empire always do whatsoever pleases themselves but also for that the People having in distrust the fierce Nature of Mahomet Amurath's eldest Son were generally better affected to Amurath the younger Brother a Prince of a more mild spirit and courteous disposition unto whom they in heart wished those stately honours which could by no means without the great wrong and prejudice of his elder Brother and danger of the whole State be given unto him Ten days after came Mahomet in post from Amasia to Constantinople and was there by the great Bassa's and other his mighty Favorites saluted Emperour which done he presently after caused all his Brethren to be invited to a solemn Feast in the Court whereunto they yet ignorant of the death of their Father came cheerfully as men fearing no harm but being come were there all by his commandment most miserably strangled and at once to rid himself of the
together most miserably slain The rest of the Citizens whose hard fortune it was to escape the Sword as people reserved to more misery were afterward shipt over into Grecia and there sold for Slaves The landing of the Turks in Apulia with the taking of Otranto brought a general fear upon all Italy insomuch that Sixtus Quartus then the great Bishop of Rome forgetting all things save himself was about to have forsaken the City for fear Now after the Turks had at their pleasure ransackt Otranto Achmetes caused the same to be strongly fortified as the sure footing of the Turks in Italy and victualled for eighteen months and there leaving eight thousand of his best Souldiers in Garrison returned himself with the rest to Vallona and so by Land to Constantinople to know his great Masters further pleasure but purposing with himself with the first of the next Spring to have returned with greater forces again to Italy for the prosecuting of his former Victory Which if he had done it was grealty to have been feared that all that goodly Country sometime Mistris of the World but then and yet also rent in sunder by the discord and ambition of the Christian Princes had in short time become a prey unto the barbarous Turk for ever But whilst the great Tyrant in his life time the great scourge of Christendom thus proudly plotteth the ruin and destruction of fair Italy God in whose hands the hearts of Kings are ãâã an hook in the great Tyrants Nose and led him quite another way For at the same time the Caramanian King aided by the Persian and the Sultan of Egypt had in a great Battel overthrown Bajazet Mahomets eldest Son then living and slain most part of his Army in revenge whereof Mahomet with great expedition raised a great and puissant Army and taking Achmetes with him as his chief man of War rejecting the Wars of Italy unto a more convenient time passed over into Asia where upon the way about a days journey short of Nicomedia a City of Bithynia at a place called Geivisin he fell sick and there for the space of three days grievously tormented with an extream pain in his Belly which some supposed to be the Colick died but being indeed as most men thought poysoned when he had lived about 52 years and thereof reigned 31 in the year of our Lord 1481. year 1481. His Body was afterwards magnificently buried in a Chappel near unto the great Mahometan Temple which he himself first built at Constantinople The death of this mighty man who living troubled a great part of the World was not much more lamented by those that were nearest unto him who ever living in fear of his Cruelty hated him deadly than of his Enemies who ever in doubt of his greatness were glad to hear of his end He was of stature but low and nothing answerable to the height of his mind square set and strong limmed not inferior in strength when he was young unto any in his Fathers Court but to Scanderbeg only his complexion was Tartarlike sallow and melancholy as were most of his Ancestors the Othoman Kings his look and countenance stern with his Eyes piercing hollow and a little sunk as it were into his Head and his Nose so high and crooked that it almost touched his upper Lip. To be brief his countenance was altogether such as if Nature had with most cunning hand therein depainted and most curiously set forth to view the inward disposition and qualities of his mind which were on both parts notable He was of a very sharp and apprehensive Wit learned as amongst that Nation especially in Astronomy and could speak the Greek Latine Arabick Chaldee and Persian Tongues He delighted much in regarding of Histories and the Lives of worthy Men especially the Lives of Alexander the Great and of Iulius Caesar whom he proposed to himself as examples to follow He was of an exceeding Courage and thereto very fortunate a severe punisher of injustice in them especially to whom he had committed the administration of Justice Men that excelled in any quality he greatly favoured and honourably entertained as he did Gentil Bellin a Painter of Venice whom he purposely caused to come from thence to Constantinople to draw the lively counterfeit of himself for which he most honourably rewarded him He so severely punished theft as that in his time all the ways were safe and a Theef scarcely to be heard of But these good parts were in him obscured with most horrible and notorious Vices for why he was altogether irreligious and of all others most perfideous ambitious above measure and in nothing more delighted than in blood insomuch that it is probably gathered that he was in his time the death of eight hundred thousand men Craft Covetousness and Dissimulation were in him accounted for tollerable Faults in comparison of his greater Vices In his love was no assurance and his least displeasure was death so that he lived feared of all men and died lamented of none He had issue three Sons Mustapha dead before him as is before declared Bajazet and Gemes or rather Zemes of some called Zizimus Competitor of the Empire with his eldest Brother whom he exceedingly troubled in the beginning of his Reign so that he could not well attend any other thing but him which opportunity by God himself no doubt offered for the safeguard of Italy Alphoâsus Duke of Calabria King Ferdinand his eldest Son taking hold upon with all the power he could make in Italy besieged the Turks in Otranto with whom he had many sharp skirmishes wherein he lost divers of his great Captains and Commanders as the Count Iulio de Aquaiva Loys de Capua and the Count Iulio de Pisa with others and was still by the strong Garrison of the Turks put to the worse until such time as being strengthned with Aid out of Spain and Portugal but especially with certain Companies of most valiant Souldiers sent from Matthias Corvinus out of Hungary whose Forces the Turks most feared he began to cut them short and straitly besieged the City both by Sea and Land until at length the besieged Turks hearing of the death of their great Emperor and now hardly pressed with the dangers of a strait Siege no longer expecting the return of Achmetes their General then ready to have come to their rescue with five and twenty thousand Souldiers yielded up the City unto the Duke upon composition before made That they might with bag and baggage in safety depart thence which they did after they had to the great terror of all Italy holden that strong City by the space of a year And so was that rich Country rather by the mercy of God in taking away the great Tyrant preserved than by the strength or policy of the Inhabitants which was then in great danger to have for ever given place unto the power of the great Tyrant had he longer lived yea and
declining of his Fortune let us behold him in his beginning and first rising He was the Son of a Greek Priest born in a little Village near unto Solonica and having been taken by the Tribute which the Turks exact from Christians upon their miserable Children taking one of three he was carried very young to Constantinople and there sold for three Chequines or Sultanins every one of which is not above eight Shillings sterling to an Eunuch of the Sultans who nourished and bred him up till he came to the age of twenty years and afterwards sold him to a Steward of the Sultanaes House to serve him in his charge who finding this Slave to have a Spirit capable of greater Affairs than the Household employed him in the oversight of the building of a rich and stately Mosque which the Sultana caused to be erected at her charge In this place he gave such proof of his Wit and Judgment to the Sultanaes content that soon after she gave him the Government of her Houshold The Sultan had a will to employ him in his Service and retired him from the Sultanaes House into his Seraglio where he was honoured with the charge of the Capigi Bassa or Captain of the Porters or Ushers of the Seraglio from thence he was advanced to the Dignity of the Bassa of Aleppo and soon after he was made Governour General of Mesopotamia The Commodity of his Government frontiring upon Persia stirred up his ambitious Thoughts and his disordinate desire to become Sovereign of that Country and made him to entertain many Practices with the King of Persia an antient Enemy to his Master The report of his Practices came to Constantinople the Sultan is advertised he knows the ambitious and stirring Spirit of this Nassuf and finds that he is very profitable for his Service if he can by any mild course withdraw him from his Disloyalties and Intelligences with the Persian wherefore he dissembled the Knowledge of his treacherous Designs and to gain him the more powerfully he gorged his ambitious Appetite with the greatest Dignity of his Empire After the Death of Murath Bassa he honoured him with the Place of Grand Visier and gave him all his Goods and in his Place made him General of the Army against the Persian with promise to give him his Daughter in Marriage Thus was Nassuf advanced by his Dexterity Wit Diligence and Treachery to the greatest Charges of the greatest Empire of the World. He entered into Persia as Lieutenant General of his Masters Army with the which he made so great a spoil as he forced Ka Abbas King of Persia then reigning to demand a Peace and after that he had granted him a surcease of Arms he brought his Ambassador to Constantinople to conclude this Peace to his Masters benefit as we have formerly observed He enters in Pomp presents a Million of Gold unto his Emperour is well received at the Seraglio much made of by the Bassaes but more by the Sultan who caused him to marry his Daughter Fortune having thus advanced him to the height of Greatness not being possible to climb higher she overthrows him and doth precipitate him to the lowest degrees of Misery The Sultan fears his Spirit too head-strong by reason of his Ambition he grows jealous of his Actions and about the end of the year concludes his Ruine and Death The commandment is given to Bostangi Bassa that is to say the Sultans chief Gardiner and overseer of his Seraglio and all his Houses one of the goodliest Dignities of the Court. Nassuf was at that time sick in his House Bostangi goes thither to visit him and to cause him to be strangled being accompanied only with seven or eight Men for that he would not give any suspition of the commandment he had received from his Master Being come unto his Lodging he demanded to speak with him and Nassuf excused himself by his Servants by reason of the discommodity of his Health but the Bostangi who would needs execute his Commission replied that he could not return to the Sultan who had sent him to have certain News of his Health before he had seen him to be the better assured At this reply Nassuf grew distrustful and would without all doubt have been far from thence in some place of Mesopotamia but believing whatsoever happened to him was inevitable he commanded them to suffer the Bostangi to enter who at his first approach entertained him with many Complements of Courtesie and having demanded some questions of him touching his Health he drew out of his Pocket a commandment from the Sultan to Nassuf to deliver unto him the Seals of the Empire the which being presently done he drew out another commandment unto him by the which he was enjoyned to send him his Head then Nassuf cryed out aloud and desired to speak with the Sultan but the Bostangi answered that he had no Commission to conduct him to the Seraglio but to cause his Life to be taken away presently upon this refusal he intreats him to give him leave to wash himself in the next Chamber to the end that his Soul said he should not depart this World in the Estate of Pollution according to the Turks belief who hold the washing of the Body for a true Purification This Favour was also denied him he saw there was no Remedy in his Misery not any hope of Grace Bostangi Bassa's Followers which were seven or eight Capigies being come to take away his Life and environing his Bed which was an undoubted summons that he must die in the end he resolves and turning himself unto these Executioners he willed them to do their Duties whereupon they fell to work and casting themselves upon him they put a Cord about his Neck and sought to strangle him but seeing that the fatness of his repleat Body would not suffer them to take away his Life presently they cut his Throat with a Knife His Death could not be displeasing to the Christians seeing that all his Designs tended to their Ruine he had perswaded his Master to break the Peace with the Emperour the French King and the Venetians promising him to make him Sovereign Monarch of the whole World to the end he might keep his Spirit in Action and make himself necessary to his Master and live more safely in Combustions than in a Calm whereas the Envy and Malice of his Enemies gave him a thousand furious Assaults Thus Nassuf Bassa ended his Days and Fortune before Governour of Mesopotamia General of an Imperial Army and Grand Visier of the Turkish Empire advanced to these supream Dignities by the great Actions of his Mind but overthrown shamefully to his Ruine by his boundless Ambition Doubtless it is a difficult thing for a Favorite that is insolently audacious to continue long in Grace with his Prince especially when his unrestrained Ambition hath once broken the Bounds which Reason prescribeth to those that Fortune advanceth by
Friends of Mortaza who wanted not in the Court to represent them with some Compassion arguing that his flight was not of Contumacy or Contempt to his Masters Protection but an effect of natural Preservation which worked so far on the Grand Signior that he immediately sent for the Vizier to enquire of him the State and Condition of Mortaza The Vizier to defend himself and make good what before he had counselled his Master aggravated his Adversary's Crimes and his Disobedience and Flight to an inconsiderable King with which and some other light Excuses and Perswasions that the removal of such a Person was agreeable to the present State of Affairs and conducing to his own Security easily pacified the Mind and Affections of the Grand Signior but no sooner was he returned to his House but advice was given him that the Emaum of Mortaza or his Priest or Chaplain was then at Constantinople whom the Vizier immediatly sent for and without any Plea or Indictment struck off his Head and threw his Body into the Sea on pretence that he was sent thither as a Spy for hisMaster and to give Intelligence anda beginning to Rebellion year 1662. These were his colours and allegations for his deserved Death for Governours though never so wicked and so absolute and that have no need to render any other cause to the World of their actions than their own will yet esteem it necessary to act under the specious guise of justice and in the good opinion of the multitude The Aga of Babylon encountred the same Fortune for Mârtaza giving place he thought it fit for himself to do the like resolving for Constantinople but being intercepted in his Journey by the new Pasha his Head was struck off and his Journey shortned But that which again renewed the trouble and fears of the Vizier was a report that the late Kahya-begh degraded at Adrianople was secretly returned to the City and lived concealed giving such Orders to the Janizaries as tended to Mutiny and Insurrection and that the pretences and reports of his being gone to Damascus and thence in his holy Pilgrimage to Mecha were but all false stories to conceal his Residence at Constantinople This set the Vizier all on fire and made him tremble with the thoughts of it wherefore search was made for him day and night but not found for in reality he was gone on his designed Journey only it was the misfortune of his Kahya or Steward as before it was of Mortaza's Emaum to fall into the Viziers hands who being beaten to confess where his Master was died afterwards of the blows But notwithstanding that Mortaza was fled yet the Vizier laid not aside his fears and thoughts concerning him not knowing how soon he might be recalled home and seated in his place ofwhich various Examples are extant in Turkish History and therefore he sent orders to Mahomet Pasha his late Kahya now Pasha of Daâbiquier as General with the knowledge and consent of the Grand Signior and to the Pashaws of Aleppo Erzirum and others near adjacent to prepare and assemble what Force was necessary to constrain the King of the Curdi to surrender Mortaza into their hands But whilst these matters were in agitation some unexpected troubles in Georgia diverted their Arms and held them for some time in suspense not knowing what the issue might be The Original and Ground thereofwas this After Sultan Solymân had taken Eâzirum it was agreed in the Capitulations between the Turks and Persians that of the seven Provinces of Georgia anciently called Iberia but now as sâpposed to have received the Denomination from St. George the Cappadocian Martyr there had in great esteem and reverence three should be tributaries to the Turk and three to the Persian all govern'd by Achic-bash as head and supream Prince to whom the Seventh should also be subjected without acknowledgment to either in payment of which Tribute they continued most willingly lest for default thereof the importation of Salt of which their Provinces afford none should I be hindred either from the Turkish or Persian Dominion And now it happened that Achic-bash dying his Wife married again who to gratifie her new Lover was contented to have the eyes of her Son put out who was the lawful Heir to the Government This Fact was so hainously received by the Princes of the three Provinces under the Persian that with common consent they elected one to succeed Achic-bash and extorted the power out of the hands of the Amârous Traitor The Princes of the three Provinces under the Turk alarm'd hereat made insurrection resolving rather than any Foreigner to set up one of the Kindred of Achic-bash which the Persian Provinces better understanding approved likewise and for confirmation and maintenance of their choice assembled an Army of Threescore thousand men The Pashaws tending towards Curdi were surprized in their March with the news of these disturbances in Georgia and not rightly apprehending the causes of these sudden commotions gave an arrest to the progress of their Arms inclining towards the parts of Georgia to be in a readiness to suppress all designs against the Ottoman Dominions so that the thoughts of War against the Curdi was for some time laid aside The news of these troubles did also alarm the Port with which also came a report That six hundred Tents of the Kuzilbashees which are the best sort of Persian Horsemen were pitched nigh the Confines of the Grand Signiors Territories so that Orders were dispatched to the aforesaid Pashâws to watch the motion and issue of those Affairs but those storms blowing over by the establishment of Achic-bash the Turkish Forces proceeded on their first design against Mortaza marching to the pass of the Country of the Curdi which is very steep asperous and rough The whole Kingdom being as it were one Mountain of dangerous and difficult access hath hitherto preserved the Inhabitants from the Ottomon Subjection The entrance thereunto being strong by Nature is also fortified with several Castles the chief of which possessed by Mortaza is called Zizri and the People there abouts Zezidi The Turkish Army being arrived at this pass Mahomet the Pasha of Darbiquier appointed General as we have said before ordered five hundred of his select men to enter within the pass which the Curdi perceiving with little opposition put to flight being so commanded by the General the unadvised Curdi eagerly pursuing the enemy left the pass naked and undefended supposing their whole victory and success to consist in the Rout of those few Whereupon the Turkish Army wisely possessed the pass and got between the Curdi and their place of Retreat and laying the Siege to the Castle required them either to surrender themselves or else Mârtaza and his Complices into their hands The Curdi perceiving themselves thus hardly beset and in a manner defrauded their Garison which possessed the pass without the Confines the Enemy gotten possession of the Gate which opened to
for them to dwell in with the Temple of the Sepulchre of our Saviour and Mount Sion not for any devotion either unto them or those places but for that it yielded them a great profit by the recourse of devout Christians travelling thither reserving in the mean time unto themselves the other two parts of the City with the Temple of Solomon before re-edified by the Christians Now whilst the Sarasins thus triumph it in the East and not in the East only but over a great part of the West also contenting themselves with such Tributes as they had imposed upon the subdued Nations and Countries up start the Turks a vagrant fierce and cruel people who first breaking into Asia as is before declared and by rare fortune aspiring unto the Kingdom of Persia subdued the Countries of Mesopotamia Syria with the greatest part of the lesser Asia and Iudaea together with the Holy City who both there and in all other places held the poor oppressed Christians in such Subjection and Thraldom as that the former government of the Sarasins seemed in comparison of this to have been but light and easie Neither was there any end or release of these so great miseries to have been expected had not God in mercy by the weak means of a poor Hermit stirred up these most worthy Princes of the West to take up Arms in their defence who having with their victorious Armies recovered the lesser Asia with a great part of Syria were now come unto this Holy City The Governour of Ierusalem understanding by his Espials of the proceedings of the Christians had before their approach got into the City a great garrison of right valiant Souldiers with good store of all things necessary for the holding out of a long Siege The Chrstians with their Army approaching the City encamped before it on the North for that toward the East and the South it was not well to be besieged by reason of the broken Rocks and Mountains Next unto the City lay Godfrey the Duke with the Germans and Lorains near unto him lay the Earl of Flanders and Robert the Norman before the West gate lay Tancred and the Earl of Tholouse Bohemund and Baldwin were both absent the one at Antioch the other at Edissâ The Christians thus strongly encamped the fifth day after gave unto the City a fierce assâult with such chearfulness as that it was verily supposed it might have been even then woon had they been sufficiently furnished with scaling ladders for want whereof they were glad to give over the assault and retire But within a few days after having supplied that defect and provided all things necessary they came on again afresh and with all their power gave unto the City a most terrible assault wherein was on both sides seen great valour policy and cunning with much slaughter until that at length the Christians weary of the long Fight and in that hot Country and most fervent time of the year fainting for lack of Water were glad again to forsake the assault and to retire into their Trenches only the Well of Siloe yielded them water and that not sufficient for the whole Camp the rest of the Wells which were but few being before by the Enemy either filled up or else poysoned Whilst the Christians thus lay at the Siege of Ierusalem a Fleet oâ the Genowaies arrived at Ioppa at which time also a great Fleet of the Aegyptian Sultans lay at Ascalon to have brought relief to the besieged Turks in Ierusalem whereof the Genowaies understanding and knowing themselves too weak to encounter them at Sea took all such things out of their Ships as they thought good and so sinking them marched by Land unto the Camp. There was amongst these Genowaies divers Engineers men after the manner of that time cunning in making of all manner of Engines fit for the besieging of Cities by whose device a great moving Tower was framed of timber and thick planks covered over with raw Hides to save the same from fire out of which the Christians might in safety greatly annoy the Defendants This Tower being by night brought close to the Wall served the Christians instead of a most sure fortress in the assault the next day where whilst they strive with warlike Valour and doubtful Victory on both sides from morning until midday by chance the wind favouring the Christians carried the flame of the fire into the face of the Turks wherewith they had thought to have burnt the Tower with such violence that the Christians taking the benefit thereof and holpen by the Tower gained the top of the Wall which was first footed by the Duke Godfrey and his Brother Eustace wââh their followers and the Ensigns of the Duke there first set up to the great encouraging of the Christians who now pressing in on every side like a violent River that had broken over the Banks bare down all before them All were slain that came to hand Men Women and Children without respect of Age Sex or Condition the Slaughter was great and the sight lamentable all the Streets were filled with blood and the bodies of the dead Death triumphing in every place Yet in this confusion a wonderful number of the better sort of the Turks retiring to Solomons Temple there to do their last Devoir made there a great and terrible Fight armed with dispair to endure any thing and the victorious Christians no less disdaining after the winning of the City to find there so great resistance In this disperate conflict fought with wonderful obstinacy of mind many fell on both sides but the Christians âame on so fiercely with desire of blood that breaking into the Temple the foremost of them were by the press of them that followed after violently thrust upon the weapons of their Enemies and so miserably slain Neither did the Turks thus oppressed give it over but as men resolved to dy desperately fought it out with invincible courage not at the gates of the Temple only but even in the midst thereof also where was to be seen great heaps both of the Victors and the vanquished slain indifferently together All the Pavement of the Temple swam with blood in such sort that a man could not set his foot but either upon some dead man or over the shooes in blood Yet for all that the obstinate Enemy still held the Vaults and top of the Temple when as the darkness of the night came so fast on that the Christians were glad to make an end of the Slaughter and to sound a Retreat The next day for Proclamation was made for mercy to be shewed unto all such as should lay down their weapons the Turks that yet held the upper part of the Temple came down and yielded themselves Thus was the famous City of Ierusalem with great bloodshed but far greater honour recovered by these worthy Christians year 1099. in the year 1099 after it had been in the hands of the Infidels above
he came at length into Syria and laid siege unto Damasco the Royal Seat of Noradin the Turkish King which he so notably impugned that the Defendants were almost out of hope to be able for any long time to hold out Neither had it otherwise happened had not Envy the inseparable Attendant of all honourable Actions frustrated so great an hope for the besieged Turks being brought to great extremity and now even at the point to have yielded the City certain of the Christian Princes of that Country understanding that the King had promised the Government of that so famous a City unto Philip Earl of Flanders if it should be won and secretly grudging to have a stranger preferred before themselves corrupted also as some say with the Turks gold fraudulently perswaded the King to remove from that part of the City where he lay and might in fine have taken the same unto another far stronger where after he had lien a great while striving with no small extremities he was enforced for want of Victuals to raise his siege and to depart And so without any thing done worth the Remembrance returned again into France detesting the very name of Emanuel the Greek Emperor by whose sinister dealing so notable an Expedition was brought to be of none effect to the great discouraging of all other Christian Princes for taking the like again in hand year 1147. Now had the state of the Christians in Syria for certain years after the aforesaid Expeditions rested in good peace when Noradin the Turk moved with some injuries done by the Christians unto the Turks and Arabians who by the leave of King Baldwin dwelt in the Forest of Lybanus came and straitly besieged Paneada a City of the Christians there by upon whom the Christians in the City now brought unto great extremity made a most desperate Sally and had with the Turks a sharp and cruel fight but oppressed with the multitude and inforced to retire they were so hardly pursued that the Turks together with them entred the City and put to Sword all that came in their way Nevertheless the greater part of the Citizens by good fortune had in good time before retired themselves into the Castle which was of great strength and there stood upon their guard Of whose distress with the taking of the City Baldwin hearing raised a great Army and so set forward to relieve them But Noradin hearing of his coming and doubtful of his own strength after he had taken the spoil of what he could set fire on the City and so departed The Citizens thus delivered repaired again the Walls of the City the Kings Power still defending them Noradin with his Power all the while lying close in the Woods not far off still awating the offer of some good opportunity to take the Christians at advantage which shortly after fell out according to his own desire for the King doubting no such matter but supposing him to have been quite gone having at his return sent away all his Footmen followed after himself accompanied only with his Horsemen and they also not very strong but as he was passing the River Iordan he was suddenly set upon by Noradin and the Turks and after a sharp Conflict overthrown the King himself with some few hardly escaped to Saphet a Town there by most part of his Nobility being there either slain or taken Prisoners amongst the rest Bertrund of Blanquefort Master of the Templars with divers others of great Name fell at that time into the Enemies hands and so were carried away Prisoners After this Victory Noradin strengthened with new Supplies from Daâasco came again and besieged Paneade in good hope that the Citizens discouraged with so great an Overthrow of the King and out of hope to be by them relieved would now either yield the City or else not be able long to hold it out But the King contrary to his expectation had in shorter time than was thought possible raised a great Power and aided by the Prince of Antioch and the Count of Tripolis was marching to the relief of his City of which approach Noradin understanding although he had made divers breaches in the Walls and brought the Citizens almost unto utter despair rose with his Army and departed And so Baldwin having now twice relieved the besieged City returned also to Ierusalem Many an hard Conflict with the Turks had this young King afterwards during the fortunate time of his Reign wherein that troublesome Kingdom happily flourished amidst the Miscreants all which to recount were long and tedious Yet among other things it is worth the remembrance how that Noradin the Turks then King of Damasco besieging Sueta a Castle belonging to the Kingdom of Ierusalem was in a set battel by Baldwin overthrown and put to flight with the loss of the greatest part of his Army King Baldwin had before married Emanuel the Greek Emperors Neece and now the same Emperor by Guido Stephanus and Trisillus his Embassadors requested to have given him again in marriage one of the Kings nigh Kinswomen Unto whom the King after mature deliberation had concerning the matter offered him Matilde an honourable Lady the Sister of the Count of Tripolis whom the Emperor refused and afterward by the consent of the King made choice of Mary the Daughter of Raimund Prince of Antioch lately dead Which the Count of Tripolis taking in evil part in revenge thereof by certain Men of War whom he put to Sea grievously infested the Frontiers of the Emperors Dominions Now during the time that the Marriage was solemnizing the King made his abode at Antioch at which time he fortified the Castle of Pontisfer upon the River Orantes against the Incursions of the Enemies But lying there he according to his wonted manner to prevent sickness upon the approach of Winter took Physick of Barac a Jew the Count of Tripolis his Physitian After the taking whereof he fell presently into the Bloody-Flux and afterward into a Consumption whereby it was verily supposed that he was poysoned by the Jew and the rather for that some little part of the same Medicine that was left being given to a Dog he thereof in short time died The King thus languishing in pain to change the Air removed first to Tripolis and afterward to Berytus where he departed this troublesome life to live with his Saviour Christ in bliss for ever His dead Body was afterward with general Mourning of his Subjects conveyed to Ierusalem and there solemnly enterred by the body of his Father He departed the 13 th of February in the year of Grace 1163. when he had reigned 21 years He was a man so gracious that not only his Friends but even the Infidels themselves as it is reported lamented his death Insomuch that Noradin King of Damasco year 1163. his antient Enemy being invited by some of his Captains to invade his Kingdom at such time as his Funerals were in solemnizing refused so to
removed to Bethlem a Town about the mid way betwixt Ioppa and Ierusalem But winter now coming fast on and want of Victuals like enough to increase the King changing his mind for the Siege returned with the greatest part of the Army to Ascalon which he that Winter new fortified the Walls thereof being before by Saladin in his dispair demolished the Duke of Burgundy with his Frenchmen all that while quietly wintring at Tyre In the mean time the power of the Christians was thus greatly diminished some one way departing from the Camp and some another The Italians for the most part with them of Pisa who in these three years Wars had striven with the Venetians for the Honour of their Service were now returned home as were the Venetians themselves also Nevertheless Winter now past and the Spring time come King Richard took the Field again and came to Bethlem where by the way he met with an exceeding great number of Camels charged with great store of Victuals and Munition sent by Saladin out of Egypt to Ierusalem all which he took but purposing to have gone on to the Siege of Ierusalem he was by the backwardness of the French glad to change his purpose and to return to Ptolemais for the Frenchmen perswaded by the Duke their General who well knew the French Kings mind that if any thing worth remembrance were done it was to be done by them and that the glory thereof should wholly redound unto the King of England as there in person present and to his Englishmen shewed themselves so unwilling to the Siege as that therein was nothing done to the great grief of that worthy Prince At which time also news was brought unto King Richard how that Philip the French King forgetful of his solemn promise made before his departure out of Syria had now invaded the Country of Normandy and excited Earl Iohn the Kings Brother a man of an haughty and aspiring nature to take upon him the Kingdom of England in his absence as had before in like case William the younger Brother served Duke Robert his eldest Brother then absent at his Father the Conquerors death in the first sacred expedition under Godfrey of Bulloin Wherefore King Richard beside the present difficulties fearing lest while he was so far off in Wars for defence of the Christian Common-weal he might lose his Kingdom at home thought it best to grow to some good end with Saladin and so to make his return but the politick and wary Sultan not ignorant of the discord of the Christians and that their Forces daily decayed in Syria either of the troubled Estate of the Kings affairs at home in his Kingdom or of his desire to return would not hearken to any other conditions of Peace but such as might both for the present weaken the Forces of the Christians in Syria and discourage others that had a mind to come thither afterward when they should see that for nought they should travel to conquer that which they must of necessity restore again The conditions he offered were That the Christians should forthwith restore whatsoever they had won in those three years Wars Ptolemais only excepted and from thenceforth for the space of five years the Turks should not in any thing molest the Christians but to suffer them in peace to live by them which hard conditions for that no better could be had the King was glad to accept and so concluded a Peace Whereby the labour and travel of the two great Kings and so many Nations with them were all become frustrate and vain having now to no purpose lost their Men their Mony their Time their Hope their Blood their long Travel to gain that they must now in one hour forego nothing more left unto the poor Christians in Syria than the Cities of Antioch Tyre and Ptolemais This done King Richard leaving the affairs of Asia unto the charge of Henry Count of Champagne his Nephew shipping the greatest part of his People with his Wife Berengaria first for Cicilia and from thence for England where they in safety at length arrived followed shortly after with some few himself where by the way by extremity of Weather he was in the Adriatique driven to land upon the Coast of Histria where travelling with a small retinue homewards in the Habit of a Templar he was discovered and taken Prisoner by Leopold Duke of Austria whom he had before disgraced at the winning of Ptolemais as is before declared who now glad to have him in his power made prise of him and sold him to Henry the Emperor for forty thousand pounds by whom he was kept Prisoner by the space of a year and three months and then ransomed for the Sum of an hundred and fifty thousand pounds About this time died the great Sultan Saladin the greatest terror of the Christians who mindfull of mans fragility and the vanity of worldly honours commanded at the time of his death no Solemnity to be used at his burial but only his Shirt in manner of an Ensign made fast unto the point of a Lance to be carried before his dead body as an Ensign a plain Priest going before and crying aloud to the People in this sort Saladin Conqueror of the East of all the greatness and riches he had in his life carrieth not with him after his death any thing more than his shirt A sight worthy so great a King which wanted nothing to his eternal commendation more than the true knowledge of his Salvation in Christ Jesus He reigned about sixteen years with great honour and dying left nine Sons which were all murthered by Sephradin their Uncle excepting one called also Sephradin Sultan of Alâppo who by the Favour and Support of his Fathers good Friends saved himself from the treacherous practises of his Uncle Of this Sephradin the Uncle descended Meludin Sultan of Egypt and Coradin Sultan of Damasco and Ierusalem Saladin his great Kingdom being by them now again rent in pieces The death of Saladin in short time bruited abroad with the discord among the Turks and Sarafins about his Dominions put Celestinus then Pope in good hope that the City of Ierusalem might in that change and hurly be easily again recovered and that Kingdom established But when he had in vain dealt to that purpose with the Kings of France and England then altogether busied in their Wars the one against the other he perswaded Henry the Sixth then Emperor to take the matter in hand who for that he well could not or else would not himself in person undertake that long expedition sent Henry Duke of Saxony his Lieutenant with a great Army into Asia unto whom were joyned two Legats Conradus Archbishop of Mogunsia another of the Electors and Conradus the Bishop of Herbipolis At which time also may other great Princes took upon them that holy War namely Herman Lantgrave of Thurin Henry Palatine of Rhine Henry Duke of Brabant Conrade
Graecian name were utterly extinguished by the Latines This his Speech fitted of purpose unto the humour of the Seditious was received with the great outcry and applause of the windy headed People Some cryed out that he and none but he was to be made chief of the Common-weal that was by them to be established othersome cried as loud to have him made General of the Armies and Forces of the State but the greatest cry was to have him chosen and created Emperor whereunto the rest giving place he was by the general consent of the tumultuous People without longer stay chosen and proclaimed Emperor Alexius the Traitor by no lawful Election or rightful Succession but only by the fury of the tumultuous People thus created Emperor was of nothing more careful than how to break the Forces of the Latines of whom only he now stood in dread And therefore to begin withal he first attempted by certain Gallies filled with Pitch Flax Brimstone and such like matter apt to take fire to have burnt the Venetian Fleet which Gallies so set on fire and carried with a fare gale of Wind among the Fleet had been like enough to have done great harm had it not by the wariness of the Venetians been prevented who being good Sea men and not unacquainted with such devises easily and without danger avoided the same by keeping themselves aloof one from another in the Sea. This fineness sorting to no purpose he to colour the matter sent certain Messengers to the General and other Commanders of the Army to give them to understand that that which was done for the firing of the Fleet had been done without his privity by the malice of the tumultuous People and that for his part he would be glad of their Favour and Friendship assuring them likewise of his and promising them to aid them both with men and mony and whatsoever else they should have need of in their Wars against the Infidels Whereunto an answer was given by Dandulus the Venetian General that he would believe it when Alexis the Son of the Emperor Isaac whom the Latines had placed in the Empire should assure them thereof and intreat for the People upon whom the fault of that outrage was laid which answer the more moved the traiterous Tyrant to rid himself clean of the fear of the young Prince by taking him out of the way to the intent to hinder the People of the hope and great desire they had to grow to some peace with the Latines by taking him out of Prison and receiving him again for their Emperor For the People by nature mutable and not desirous of the good of themselves but according to the occurrents present without any great regard of that they had already done or ought to have done begun now to repent themselves of that they had done against the young Emperor Alexis in Favour of the Tyrant and commonly said That they must find some means whatsoever it were to remedy their fault together with their troubles Wherefore Murzufle fearing the sudden mutation of the People with his own Hands most villanously strangled the young Prince Alexis in Prison having as yet not raigned much above six months and immediately after caused it to be bruited abroad That the said young Prince despairing or his Estate had as a man desperate hanged himself The Tyrant in vain having thus attempted the burning of the Fleet and still fearing the revenging Sword of the Latines resolved now by plain force to meet them in the field and there to dare them to battel So having made ready and armed the whole Strength of the Imperial City he with chearful speech encouraged his Souldiers requesting them valiantly to maintain and defend their Country of Greece the Monuments of their Fathers the Glory of their Ancestors their present Honour and the future Hope of their Posterity that having before their Eyes the Walls of their City within which they were born nourished and brought up in hope of great matters they would have pity and compassion of their Temples their Wives their Children and in no case to suffer them to fall again into so miserable and wretched a Servitude but rather to die a thousand deaths And the more to grace this his enterprise taken in hand for the defence of his Country as he would have the world to believe it with the colour of a superstitious Devotion also he caused the Priests in their Ecclesiastical Attire and Ornaments to march forth in the Army with an Ensign having in it displayed the Picture of the Virgin Mary So couragiously marching forward he first charged that quarter of the Camp where Baldwin the Count of Flanders lay where at the first was fought a right fierce and doubtful Battel But afterward the Alarm running throughout all the Camp of the Latines and new supplies coming in on every side the Greeks were put to the worse and inforced again to retire into the City having lost a great number of men together with their superstitious Ensign It was a wonderful thing to see with what rare agreement the Latines being of divers Nations continued this expedition undertaken against the Greeks Seventy two days was this City of Constantinople straightly besieged by the Latines both by Sea and Land without giving any time of rest or repose day or night to the besieged fresh men coming still on to the Assault as the other fell off and in such sort troubled the Greeks in the City that they knew not well what to do or which way to turn themselves The Venetians unto whom was committed the charge to assault that side of the City which was toward the Haven upon two great Gallies made fast together built a strong Tower of Wood higher than the Walls and Rampiers of the Town out of which they both with Shot and Fire-works much troubled the Defendants wherewith they in the time of the assault approaching the Wall by their sine devices fired that side of the City by the rage whereof a great number of Houses were burnt with many other stately Buildings and ancient Monuments of that famous City and had at that present gained a great Tower near unto the Port destitute of defenders had not the Tyrant himself in good time come with new Supplies to the rescue thereof In like manner the French with the rest assayled the other side of the City by Land where they were to fight not against the Defendants only but against deep Ditches high and strong Walls and Bulwarks also nevertheless such was the Valour and Fury of the Latines with the desire of Victory as that they were not with any difficulties to be dismayed but pressing still on by a thousand dangers at length after a most sharp Assault they gained one of the greatest Bastilions on that side of the City called the Angels Tower and so by plain force opened a way both for themselves and the rest into the City Whereof Alexius
the Castle of In-Ungi requiring to have Othoman fortwith delivered unto him Where among the Souldiers there in Garrison with the Captain began to arise divers opinions some wishing for the averting of the present danger for which they were now unprovided to have him delivered and other some abhorring so treacherous a fact willing rather to endure all extremities In the end after much consultation honesty prevailed and it was generally resolved that he should be defended who could not without their great infamy be delivered But Othoman terrified with that diversity of opinions which had even at first shewed it self and thinking it not for his safety to commit himself unto the trust of such wavering men entred into a deep conceit of a matter of great adventure which was by a sudden sally to make himself way through the midst of his Enemies Wherewith having made his Brother Iundus and those few his followers there present acquainted and thereupon resolved he fiercely sallied out and by plain force brake through the midst of them and so took his way towards Suguta still notably repulsing them that were sent to pursue him But being come into the Frontiers of his Fathers Territory and the report of his dangers known and that being but weakly accompanied he was by a great number of his Enemies pursued presently all the lusty youths and such as loved him well took horse to come to his rescue who meeting with the Governours Souldiers that had Othoman in chace in a sharp conflict slew divers of them and put the rest to flight Of whom some were also taken Prisoners and amongst the rest one Michael Cosse a Christian Captain of a little Castle in that Country called Hirmen-Caia or the Rock of Ormeni Of whom Othoman taking compassion freely pardoned him that offence With which unexpected curtesie he was so moved that ever after he took part with him and did him great service in his Wars whose Posterity hath ever since even until this our age continued next unto the Othoman Family most honourable and famous amongst the Turks by the name of Michael Oglies that is to say the Sons or Posterity of Michael Ertogrul now spent with age shortly after died in the year of our Lord 1289. having lived 93 years and thereof governed the Oguzian Family after the death of his Father Solyman 52. His death was of all his Tribe and Kindred generally lamented and his body after the Turkish manner honourably buried at Suguta where he had of long time lived After whose death these plain Oguzian Turks in a general Assembly consulting whom they might chuse for their Lord and Governour in stead of old Ertogrul casting their eyes especially upon two stood in doubt of which of them to make choice For although most men were of opinion that Othoman for the rare gifts and vertues as well of body as of mind was to be preferred before the rest of his Brethren the Sons of Ertogrul yet were there some and they also men of great gravity and experience who had in suspect the young mans age as of it self slippery and for the most part prone to vice especially in the liberty of great power and therefore thought it better to make choice of Dunder Ertogruls Brother and Othomans Uncle a man of far greater gravity judgment and experience But Dunder himself being indeed a wise man and far from all ambition perswaded them in that choice not to have any regard at all unto his honour or preferment but to consider what were best for their State and Welfare in general For he providently foresaw in what danger the Oguzian State stood exposed on the one side to the mortal hatred and treacheries of the Greeks grieved to see themselves spoyled by the Turks and naturally hating them for the Mahometan Religion and on the other side not surely backt by the Sultans of Iconium brought in thraldom to the Tartars and dayly grown weaker and weaker Unto which inconveniences and dangers he said an old weak and overgrown body as his was could give no help or remedy at all but required the help of a wise politick vigilant stirring and valiant man such as they all well knew was Othoman his Brothers Son. Thus before he came unto the election he in privat declared his mind unto the chief of the Oguzian Family and afterward at their request coming to the general Assembly all mens minds and eyes now fixed upon Othoman he first of all by his example to encourage the rest for the good of the Oguzian Tribe his ancient House and Family saluted him their great Lord and Governor promising unto him all Loyalty with the utmost of his service whereunto by and by ensued the great applause of the rest of the People as unto a Governour sent unto them by God unto whom they joyfully wished all happy success with long life and a prosperous Government Thus with all mens good liking was Othoman made the great Governor of the Oguzian Turks and so become among them a great Commander and honoured with the Title of O Esman-Beg or the Lord Osman Yet was this his honour included in a small circuit plain and homely without any great Pomp or Shew as commanding amongst rough and rude Heardsmen and Shepheards not acquainted with the curtesie of other more civil Nations for as yet they were the same homely Scythian Nomades that they were before and could not as yet be perswaded to forsake their wonted rude and uncivil manners by long tradition received from their Ancestors and so best agreeing with their Nature and Calling Amongst which rude Heardsmen this new Governor himself not too far exceeding the rest in civility commanded much like unto another Romulus of whom also the Turks report many such things as do the Romans of their Founder which for brevity I thought good to pass over Now it fortuned that Othoman even in the beginning of his Government fell first at odds with one Hagionicholaus or S. Nicholas Captain of Einegiol a Castle there by for that he had oftentimes of purpose troubled and molested these Oguzian Heardsmen in passing to and fro with their Cattel by his Castle For which cause Othoman was inforced to request the Captain of Bilezuga another Castle there by also his Neighbour and Friend that his people in passing that way to the Mountains might with their Goods and Cattle as occasion should require take the refuge of his Castle which the courteous Captain well acquainted with old Ertogrul Othomans Father easily granted yet with this proviso that none should with such Goods or Cattle have access into his Castle but the Turks Women only which his courtesie Othoman refused not So was the Castle of Bilezuga from that time forward a refuge unto the Turks Women who passing that way and there shrouded with their Goods and Cattle usually presented the Captain with some one homely Country Present or other which afterwards was the loss of the Castle Yet was
and was afterward by Othomans commandment most cruelly cut in pieces within the view of his chief Castle which Othoman afterwards subdued with all the Country thereabouts The other Christian Princes and Captains saved themselves by flying into strong Holds farther off The Prince of Bithynia the chief Author of this War fled into the strong City of Prusa which the Turks now call Burusa whither Othoman not long after led his Army in hope to have won the same but finding it not possible to be taken by force began presently at one time to build two great and strong Castles upon the chief passages leading to the City which Castles he with great industry finished in one year and in the one placed as Captain Actemeur his Nephew in the other one Balabanzuck both men of great courage and skilful in feats of War and in this sort having blocked up the City of Prusa so that little or nothing could without great danger be brought into it he subdued the most part of Bithynia and so returned home leaving the two Castles well manned with strong Garrisons under the charge of the Captains before named Othoman returning home to Neapolis honourably rewarded his Souldiers according to their deserts establishing such a quiet and pleasing Government in his Kingdom that People in great number resorted from far into his Dominions there to seat themselves whereby his Kingdom became in few years exceeding populous and he for his politick Government most famous And so living in great quietness certain years being now become aged and much troubled with the Gout his old Souldiers accustomed to live by the Wars abhorring Peace came to him requesting him as it were with one voice to take some honourable War in hand for the inlargement of his Kingdom with great chearfulness offering to spend their lives in his service rather than to grow old in idleness which forwardness of his men of War greatly pleased him and so giving them thanks for that time dismist them promising that he would not be long unmindful of their request But yet thinking it good to make all things safe at home before he took any great Wars in hand abroad thought it expedient to call unto him Michael Cossi the only Christian Captain whom for his great deserts he had at all times suffered to live in quiet with his Possessions as it were in the heart of his Kingdom and by fair means if it might be to perswade him to forsake the Christian Religion and become a follower of Mahomet and so to take away all occasion of mistrust which if he should refuse to do then forgetting all former Friendship to make War upon him as his utter Enemy Whereupon Cossi was sent for being perswaded by the Messenger that Othoman had sent for him because he had occasion to use his wonted faithful Counsel and Service in a great exploit which he had intended as he had oftentimes before Cossi thinking of nothing less than of that which ensued came accompanied with such Souldiers as he thought to use in that service But coming unto Othoman and understanding the very cause why he was sent for and seeing danger eminent on every side kissing Othomans Hand after the manner of the Turks requested him in courteous manner to enter him in the Principles of the Mahometan Religion which he promised ever after to embrace And so saying certain words after Othoman he turned Turk to the great displeasure of God and the contentment of Othoman and his Nobility For which his revolting Othoman presently gave him an Ensign and a rich Robe tokens whereby the Mahometan Sultans assure their Vassals of their Favour and the undoubted possession of such Land and Living as they then hold Oftentimes after this Othoman for the contenting of his Souldiers invaded the Countries bordering upon him took many strong Castles and Forts subdued the most part of Phrygia Misia and Bithynia and other great Regions unto the Euxine Sea and being now very aged and diseased as is aforesaid with the Gout and thereby unable to go into the field in person himself oftentimes sent his Son Orchanes against his Enemies who to the imitation of his Father atchieved many great enterprises Othoman his Father yet living Now happily might the considerate Reader and not without just cause marvel what dead sleep had overwhelmed the Greek Emperors of those times first Michael Paleologus and afterwards his Son Andronicus both men of great Valour and still resiant at Constantinople thus to suffer the Turks not Othoman for he as yet bare no sway but others the sharers of Sultan Aladins Kingdom to take their Cities spoil their Countries kill their Subjects and dayly to incroach upon them in the lesser Asia and especially in Bithynia so near unto them and as it were even under their Noses But let him with me here as in a most convenient place but breath a little and consider the troubled State of that declining Empire now hasting to an end and he shall plainly see the causes of the decay thereof and how like an old diseased body quite overthrown and sick to death it became at length a Prey unto the aspiring Turks Michael Paleologus having by great treachery obtained the Greek Empire and by rare fortune recovered also the City of Constantinople from Baldwin the Emperor as is in the former part of this History declared fearing the power of the Princes of the West but especially of Charles King of Sicilia then a Prince of great Fame and Power whom he knew Baldwin the late Emperor ceased not to solicite for the restitution of him again into his Empire and to have also joyned with him a near bond of Affinity by marrying his Daughter unto Charles his Son to avert this danger and to intangle Charles with troubles near home by his Embassadors offred unto Gregory the Tenth then Bishop of Rome to unite and conform the Greek Church unto the Latine and to acknowledg the Bishops Supremacy in such sort as that it should be lawful for any man to appeal unto the Court of Rome as unto the higher and most excellent Court of which his offer the Pope gladly accepted promising to perform what he had before requested for the keeping of Charles otherwise busied But when it came to the point that this reformation and alteration of Religion in the Greek Church should be made Ioseph the Patriarch to begin withall gave up his place and shortly after forsaking the City retired himself into a Monastery near unto the Straight of Bosphorus where he at quiet devoutly spent the rest of his life The rest of the Clergy also discontented with this innovation in their Sermons openly inveighed against it perswading the People not to receive it crying out That now was come the time of their trial the time of their Martyrdom and the time wherein they were to receive the glorious Crown of their painful sufferings insomuch that great tumults were thereupon raised and
bare an especial grudge against the old Emperor First for that at such time as he was right worthily for his shameful covetousness and extortion by the rest of the Bishops and Clergy thrust out of the Patriarchship he was not by him as he looked for defended and secondly for that dreaming again after the Patriarchal Dignity he thought it one good step thereunto to have him as his greatest Enemy taken out of the way Wherefore he said now unto the young Emperor If thou desire to Reign without fear give not thine Honour unto another but taking all the Ornaments of the Empire from the old man cast Hair-cloath upon him and so clap him fast in prisân or thrust him out into exile This mischievous counsel this wicked man gave against the poor old distressed Emperor not remembring how unworthily he had by him been before preferred unto the highest degrees both of Honour and Wealth if hâ could there have kept himself unto which ungracious counsel divers others of the Nobility also consenting so wrought the matter amongst them that although they could not quite draw the young Emperors mind from his Grandfather yet they much changed the same so that he could no longer indure to take him for his Companion in the Empire Whereupon after many Meetings and Consultations had it was decreed That the old man should still retain the Name and Ornaments of an Emperor as before but not to meddle in any matters nor to come abroad but to sit still quietly in his Chamber with the yearly maintenance of 10000 Ducats for the maintenance of himself and such as tended upon him to be raised of the fishing before the City of Constantinople a poor Pension for the maintenance of so great an Emperor Of which so shameful a Decree Esaeius the Patriarch was also a furtherer who seeing an Emperor that had raigned so long cast down and shut up as it were in prison was so far from grieving thereat that foolishly rejoycing he in token thereof absurdly wrested this Text of Scripture saying in his merriment Laetabitur justus cum viderit ultionem The Just shall rejoyce when he seeth the Revenge calling himself Just and the Emperor Revenge But the old Emperor thus shut up in his Chamber differing in nothing but in Name from a Prison not long after the state of his body overthrown with grief and corrupt humors distilling out of his head first lost one of his Eyes and shortly after the other also and so oppressed with eternal darkness mingled as saith the Scripture his drink with tears and aâe the bread of sorrow being oftentimes to his great grief most bitterly mocked and derided not of them only which were by his Enemies set to guard him but of his own Servants also Not long after the young Emperor falling sick in such sort as that it was thought he would not recover Catacuzenus and the rest of his greatest Favorites and Followers careful of their own estate and yet doubtful of the old blind Emperor devised many things against him but all tending to one purpose for the shortning of his days But in the end all other devices set apart they put him to his choice either to put on the habit of a Religious and so for ever to bid the World Farewel or else to take what should otherwise ensue the best whereof was either Death Exile or perpetual Imprisonment in the loathsome Castle of Forgetfulness For the putting whereof in execution Synadenus of all others to him most hateful was appointed At which hard choice the old Emperor as with a world of woes suddenly oppressed lay a great while upon his bed as a man speechless for what could he do else except he had an heart of Steel or Adamant being then compassed about with many barbarous and merciless Souldiers and his domestical Servants kept from him and no man left that would vouchsafe to direct him being blind whither to go or where to stand But to make the matter short would he would he not they made choice for him themselves polling and shaving him and casting a Monks habit upon him changed his name after the name of the religious and called him by the name of Anthony the Monk. Glad was Esaeius the false Patriach of this the hard estate of the old Emperor for that now that he was professed a Religious there was left no hope for him to recover again the Empire either cause for himself to fear Yet he thought it good to be advised in what sort remembrance should be made of him in the Church-prayers if any were at all from thenceforth to be made Whereof to be by the old Emperor himself resolved he seeming to be very sorry for that which was done but purposing indeed therein to deride him sent unto him two Bishops to know what his pleasure was to have done therein Unto which their demand he oppressed with heaviness and fetching a deep sigh even from the bottom of his heart answered As in poor Lazarus appeared a double miracle that being dead he rose and being bound walked even so was it to be done in me though in quite contrary manner for lâe being alive I am dead as overwhelmed with the Waves of Calamity and Woe and being loose I am bound not my Hands and Feet only but my Tongue also wherewith unable to do any thing else I might yet at least bewail my Woes and Wrongs unto the Air and such as by chance should hear me and unto this most woful darkness wherein I must for ever sit But shame hath closed my mouth my Brethren abhor me and my Mothers Sons account me for a stranger unto them and the very light of mine Eyes is not with him my Friends and Neighbors stood up against me and all that saw me laughed me to scorn my Feet had almost slipped and my Footsteps were almost overthrown for I fretted against the wicked when I saw the peace of the Ungodly The Emperors long ago gave great Priviledges unto the Church even those which it at this day injoyeth and the Church gave to them again Power to choose whom they would to be Patriarchs Now concerning him that sent you I not only nominated him unto the Patriarchship but I my self made choice of him and preferred him before many other right worthy and most famous men being himself a man grown old in a more private life never before preferred or for any other thing famous I will not say how often I have holpen him and done him good But now when he should again have relieved me in my Calamity he joyneth hands with mine Enemies against me more cruel upon me than any other bloody-handed Executioner not ashamed to ask me how I would be remembred in the Church feigning himself to be ignorant and sorry for mine estate much like unto the Egyptian Crocodile of Nile which having killed some living Beast lieth upon the dead body and washeth the head thereof with
not for any fear but to save the effusion of innocent blood which consideration set apart he should find him not inferior to himself either in number of most expert Souldiers or other War-like Provision and that therefore if he rejected this Offer of Peace he needed not to doubt but to meet with men of courage which would bear themselves so valiantly in the field against his Turks as that he should have no great cause to rejoyce of his coming thither Which words of the Embassador so netled Amurath that in great rage he commanded him to depart and to will his Master if he were a man of such courage and valour as he said to shew himself in the field with all his Forces there to make an end of all quarrels where he doubted not but in short time to chastise him according to his due deserts So after the Embassador was departed marching forward three days Alis Beg came unto him of whose coming he not a little rejoyced for why he loved him dearly and although he was yet of years but young relied much upon his Council The Embassador returning recounted unto Aladin all that Amurath had said not omitting his hard Speeches and proud Threats and how that he hoped shortly to take from him Iconium and Larenda the principal Cities of Caramania with many things more leaving nothing untold Which Aladin hearing said unto the Confederate Princes that were with him Verily Amurath threatneth to take from us the Cities of Iconium and Larenda but let him take heed that we take not from him his fair City of Prusa Then demanding of the Embassador of what strength Amurath might be it was answered by him that he deemed him to be about seventy thousand strong Whereat Aladin not a little rejoycing said Assuredly when he shall see our Army he will not dare to give us battel or if he do he shall fight upon great disadvantage his men being both fewer in number than we and sore wearied with long and painful travel In the mean time Amurath held on his way towards Caramania daily encouraging his Souldiers with Perswasions and Gifts bountifully bestowed upon them filling their heads with promises of greater the War once happily ended At length he came to the great Plains in Caramania called the French Plains because in former time the Christians whom the Turks for most part call Franks in those places incamped their great Armies as they went to the winning of Ierusalem as in the former part of this History is declared Into these Plains also came Aladin with his Army and was now incamped within one days march of Amurath and so rested that night The next morning Amurath put his Army in order of battel appointing the leading of the right Wing to his youngest Son Iacup with whom he joyned Cuâluzes Beg Ein Beg Subbassa Egridum Suâbassa Seraze and Custendil two Christian Princes all Captains of great experience The left Wing was led by Bajazet his eldest Son with Ferize and Hozze both valiant Captains in which Wings were also placed the Christian Souldiers sent by Lazarus out of Servia according to the late convention of peace in the main battel he stood himself the Vauntguard was conducted by Temurtases and the rereward by the Subbassa of Oxyllithus called also Temurtases and Achmetes Aladin on the other side with no less care and diligence set his men likewise in order of battel placing himself in the main battel as did Amurath and the Princes his Allies with his other expert Captains some in the right Wing and some in the left as he thought most convenient in such sort as that in all mens judgment he was in Force nothing inferior to his Father in Law. These great Enemies thus ranged with Ensigns displaid came on couragiously one directly upon the other where approaching together the confused noise of Trumpets Drums Fifes with other Instruments of War the neighing of Horses and clattering of Armor was so great that whilst Warlike minds thereat rejoyced Cowards thought Heaven fell But the sign of battel on both sides given Samagazes one of the Confederate Princes with exceeding courage first charged Temurtases in the Vantguard and broke his Ranks at which time Teberruses a Tartar Prince and Varsacides another of the Confederates delivered their Arrows also upon the Vantguard as if it had been a shower of Hail Which Bajazet seeing and how hardly Temurtases was charged having before obtained leave of his Father brake in upon the Enemy with such violence as if it had been the lightning whereof he was ever after sirnamed Gilderuâ which is to say The lightning Ferizes and Hozze with the other valiant Captains in that Wing following Bajazet with invincible courage entred the battel where for a great space was made a most dreadful and doubtful fight A man would have thought two rough Seas had met together swaying one against the other doubtful which way the current would at length fall In this conflict many thousands were on both sides slain so that the field lay covered with the dead bodies of worthy Men and valiant Souldiers yet at length these Confederate Princes finding themselves overmatched by Bajazet and his Souldiers reserving themselves to their better Fortunes turned their backs and fled when Aladin seeing a great part of his Army thus overthrown and himself now ready to be charged with Amurath his whole Power despairing of Victory sped himself in all hast to Iconium his strong City The spoil which Amurath got in this battel was great most part whereof he gave in reward to Temurtases and his Souldiers which had indured the greatest fury of the battel Amurath after this Victory with all speed marched to Iconium and there besieged Aladin the Caramanian King in his strongest City giving out Proclamation in the mean time That none of his Souldiers upon pain of death should use any violence to any of the Country-people or take any thing from them to the intent it might appear unto the World that he made that War against that Mahometan King rather to propulse Injury and Wrong than for desire of Soveraignty or Spoil Which his so strait a Proclamation the Christians sent by Lazarus amongst others transgressed and therefore by his commandment suffered many of them exemplary punishment which was the cause of the Servian War which not long after ensued fatal both unto Amurath and Lazarus the Despot as hereafter shall appear Aladin now on every side besieged in Iconium and without all hope of escape sent to the Queen his Wife Amuraths Daughter bewailing unto her his desperate estate and requesting her by all the love that so honourable a minded Lady might bear unto her miserable Husband to adventure her self to go to her angry Father and to crave pardon for his great Trespass and Offence The Queen forthwith attiring her self as was fittest for her Husbands present estate came to her Father where falling down at his Feet upon her knees with words
great Preparation made by Amurath had drawn into the society of this War the King of Bosna as is aforesaid with Vulcus Prince of Macedonia his Son in law who both brought unto him great Aid he had also by his Embassadors procured great Supplies from other Christian Kings and Princes out of Valachia Hungaria Croatia Sâlavonia Albania Bulgaria and Italy besides great numbers of other voluntary devout Christians which all assembled and met together did in number far exceed the great Army of the Turks With this Army Lazarus the Despot encamped upon the side of the River Morova the greater not far from whence stood the strong Castle of Sarkive which Alis Bassa had of late taken from Sasmenos the Bulgarian Prince standing as it were betwixt Bulgaria and Servia this Castle being now possessed of the Turks was thought by Lazarus dangerous to his Country who therefore sent one Demetrius a right valiant Captain with certain Companies of select Men to take in the same The name of this Captain Demetrius was a general terror unto the Turks for the harm he had done them so that they in the Castle hearing that he was come without further resistance yielded the same unto him Whereof Amurath understanding sent Eine and Sarutze Bassa to recover the same but Lazarus doubting that the Castle would hardly be kept in that dangerous War sent Vulcus his Son in law with twenty thousand Men to bring away all that was therein and in the City near unto it lest it should become a prey unto the greedy Turks which he accordingly did and at the same time rased both the Castle and the City before the coming of Iaxis Beg sent from Amurath to have done the same exploit which he coming thither found already done to his hand by Vulcus As Amurath was marching towards Servia Seratze and Custendil two Christian Princes his Tributaries met him with their Forces whom he caused to march before him as his Guids and passing through Custendil his Country was there refreshed with plenty of all things necessary until at length passing the River of Morova the less he drew so near to the Plains of Cossova where the Christian Army lay that he with his Son Bajazet from a little Hill took full view of the Christian Camp which was so great that it covered all those large Plains from side to side and so daunted Amurath as that returning to his Army he presently entred into a great consultation with his greatest Captains and Commanders what course to take against such a puissant Enemy These great Armies being now come so nigh together as that they might the one well descry the other Amurath had purposed the same day to have given the Christians battel but being disswaded by Eurenoses both for that it was extream hot and his Souldiers wearied with travel he rested that night The next morning as soon as it was day he put his Army in order of battel placing his Son Bajazet with Eurenoses and Eine Beg Subbassa in the right Wing his youngest Son Iacup with Sarutzâ Bassa in the left Wing the main battel he led himself Lazarus in the mean time had also set his Army in good order giving the charge of the right Wing to Vulcus his Son in law the left Wing was led by the King of Bosna and his Sons in the main battel stood Lazarus himself the Italians Valachians Hungarians Bohemians and Bulgarians he placed in both Wings It is thought greater Armies than those two had seldem before met in Europe Lazarus as the Turkish Histories report but how truly I know not having in his Army five hundred thousand men and Amurath scarce half so many To begin the battel Amurath had drawn a thousand of his best Archers under the leading of Malcozzeus out of the right Wing of his Army and the like number of Archers out of the left under the conduct of one Mustapha which so placed on both sides of the Army as he thought best Eurenoses a man of great experience told Amurath That the Christians were for the most part well and strongly armed and shouldring close together in their charge would be like a Rock of Iron unable to be pierced but if in joyning the battel he would a little retire the Christians following upon good hope would so loose their close standing the chief part of their strength and leave an entrance for his Men. Upon which resolution Amurath commanded the Archers to give the first charge which they couragiously performed At which time the Turks Army gave ground a little which the Christians perceiving with great force assailed the left Wing of their Army and after a hard and cruel fight put the same to flight which Bajazet seeing with such fury renewed the battel that the Turks which before as men discouraged fled in the left Wing began now to turn again upon their Enemies and the Christians having as they thought already got the Victory were to begin a great battel In which bloody fight many thousands fell on both sides the brightness of the Armor and Weapons was as it had been the Lightning the multitude of Launces and other Horsemens Staves shadowed the light of the Sun Arrows and Darts fell so fast that a man would have thought they had poured down from Heaven the noise of the Instruments of War with the neighing of Horses and out-cries of Men was so terrible and great that the wild Beasts of the Mountains stood astonied therewith and the Turkish Histories to express the terror of the day vainly say that the Angels in Heaven amazed with that hideous noise for that time forgot the heavenly Hymns wherewith they always glorifie God. About noon time of the day the fortune of the Turks prevailing the Christians began to give ground and at length betook themselves to plain flight whom the Turks with all their force pursued and slew them down right without number or mercy In which battel Lazarus the Despot himself was also slain Howbeit some Histories report otherwise as that he with his Son were taken Prisoners and by and by afterwards in revenge of Amurath his death cruelly slain othersome also reporting that he died in Prison Amurath after this great Victory with some few of his chief Captains taking view of the dead bodies which without number lay on heaps in the field like Mountains a Christian Souldier sore wounded and all bloody seeing him in staggering manner arose as if it had been from death out of a heap of slain men and making towards him for want of strength fell down divers times by the way as he came as if he had been a drunken man at length drawing nigh unto him when they which guarded the Kings Person would have stayed him he was by Amurath himself commanded to come nearer supposing that he would have craved his life of him Thus the half dead Christian pressing near unto him as if he would for honour sake have kissed his
Feet suddenly stabbed him in the bottom of his belly with a short Dagger which he had under his Souldiers Coat of which Wound that great King and Conqueror presently died The name of this man for his courage worthy of eternal memory was Miles Cobelitz who before sore wounded was shortly after in the presence of Bajazet cut into small pieces The Turks in their Annals somewhat otherwise report of the death of Amurath as that this Cobelitz one of the Despot his Servants in time of the Battel coming to Amurath as a Fugitive offering him his Service and admitted to his presence in humbling himself to have kissed his Feet as the barbarous manner of the Turks is stabbed him into the belly and so slew him being himself therefore shortly after as is aforesaid in the presence of Bajazet most cruelly hewen into small pieces Whereupon ever since that time the manner of the Turks hath been and yet is that when any Embassador or Stranger is come to kiss the Sultan his hand or otherwise to approach his Person he is as it were for honours sake led by the Arms unto his presence betwixt two of the great Courtiers but indeed by so intangling him to be sure that he shall not offer him the like violence that did this Cobelitz unto Amurath The dead body of Amurath was presently with all secrecy conveyed into his Tent by the Bassaes and Captains present at his death whether Bajazet was also brought with an Ensign before him as the Successor in his Fathers Kingdom His younger Brother Iacup sirnamed Zelebi or the Noble yet ignorant of that had hapned was by the great Bassaes sent for as from his Father who casting no peril but coming into his Fathers Tent was there presently by them strangled by the commandment of Bajazet as most Histories report howbeit the Turks Annals charge him not therewith This was the beginning of the most unnatural and inhumane custom ever since holden for a most wholsome and good policy among the Turkish Kings and Emperors in the beginning of their Reign most cruelly to Massacre their Brethren and nearest Kinsmen so at once to rid themselves of all fear of their Compââitors This Amurath was in his Superstition more zealous than any other of the Turkish Kings a man of great courage and in all his Attempts fortunate he made greater slaughter of his Enemies than both his Father and Grandfather his Kingdom in Asia he greatly inlarged by the Sword Marriage and Purchase and using the Discord and Cowardise of the Grecian Princes to his profit subdued a great part of Thracia called Romania with the Territories thereto adjoyning leaving unto the Emperor of Constantinople little or nothing more in Thracia than the Imperial City it self with the bare name of an Emperor almost without an Empire he won a great part of Bulgaria and entred into Servia Bosna and Macedonia he was liberal and withall severe of his Subjects both beloved and feared a man of very few words and one that could dissemble deeply He was slain when he was threescore and eight years old and had thereof reigned thirty one in the year of our Lord 1390. His dead body was by Bajazet conveyed into Asia and there Royally buried at Prusa in a fair Chappel at the West end of the City near unto the Baths there where upon his Tomb lieth his Souldiers Cloke with a little Turkish Tulipant much differing from those great Turbants which the Turks now wear Near unto the same Tomb are placed three Launces with three Horse-tails fastned at the upper end of them which he used as Guidons in his Wars a thing in ancient time not strange There standeth a Castle with a Tomb made in remembrance of him in the Plains of Cossova where he was slain and his Entrails buried which giveth occasion for some to report that he was there also himself enterred FINIS Christian Princes of the same time with Amurath the First Emperors Of the East John Paleologus 1354. 30. Andronicus Paleologus 1384. 3. Emanuel Paleologus 1387. 30. Of the West Charles the Fourth 1346. 32. Wenceslaus Son to Charles King of Bohemia 1378. 22. Kings Of England Edward the Third 1327. 50. Richard the Second 1377. 23. Of France John Valois 1350. 14. Charles the Fifth 1364. 16. Charles the Sixth sirnamed The welbeloved 1381. 42. Of Scotland David Bruce 1341. 29. Robert Stewart 1370. Bishops of Rome Innocent the VI. 1354. 10. Urban the V. 1364. 8. Gregory the II. 1372. 7. Urban the VI. 1378. 11. The LIFE of BAJAZET The First of that NAME The FOURTH and most UNFORTUNATE King of the Turks BAjazet or as the Turks call him Baiasit of his violent and fierce Nature sirnamed Gilderun or Lightning succeeded his Father Amurath in the Turkish Kingdom his younger Brother Iacup being strangled immediatly after his Fathers death as is before declared He in the first year of his Reign invaded Servia and there besieged Cratova a City of the Despots whereunto the Silver Mines of Servia not the least cause of that War belonged Which City was yielded unto him upon condition That the Christian Inhabitants might with Life and Liberty depart Who were no sooner gon out of the City but that by his commandment they were all most cruelly slain by his men of War for that purpose sent out after them At this time he also won Uscupia with divers other Castles in the Country near unto Cratova Sigismund at the same time King of Hungary a young Prince of great hope and Brother to Wenceslaus then Emperor of the West advertised from the Servians his Allies and Confederates of these proud proceedings of Bajazet by his Embassadors sent of purpose requested him That as he was a just Prince and wished to live in quiet with his own to desist from doing of such open wrong and from invading of such Countries of his Friends and Confederates as he had no right in Which Embassadors so sent Bajazet detained without answer until such time as he had overrun a great part of the Despot his Country and therein done what he thought good Then calling the said Embassadors unto him into one of the strong Towns which he had in every corner filled with his own Souldiers told them that they might there see that his Right both unto that Town and the rest by him taken was good enough for as much as the very Walls acknowledged the same And so giving them leave to depart willed them so to tell their Master Which his proud answer by the same Embassadors reported unto the young King no less troubled him than if open War had by them been denounced unto him seeing the Tyrant as it should seem pretended Right unto whatsoever he could by force get nevertheless being himself not yet well setled in his Kingdom and in doubt of the contrary Faction that altogether liked not of his Election into Hungary for their King he was glad at that time to put it
threaten all at one instant Tamerlane had patience all this while to see the event of this so mortal a Fight but perceiving his men at length to give ground he sent ten thousand of his Horse to join again with the ten thousand appointed for the Rereward and commanded them to assist him at such time as he should have need of them and at the very same time charged himself and made them to give him room causing the Footmen to charge also over whom the Prince of Thanais commanded who gave a furious onset upon the Battalion of the Ianizaries wherein was yet the Person of Bajazet who had sustained a great burden Now Bajazet had in his Army a great number of Mercenary Tartars called Destenses with many thousands of other Souldiers taken up in the Countries of the poor exiled Mahometan Princes in whose just quarrel and the Greek Emperors Tamerlane had chiefly undertaken that War these Tartarians and other Souldiers seeing some their Friends and othersome their natural and loving Princes in the Army of Tamerlane stricken with the terror of Disloialty and abhorring the Cruelty of the proud Tyrant in the heat of the Battel revolted from Bajazet to their own Princes which their revolt much weakned Bajazets Forces Who nevertheless with his own men of War especially the Ianizaries and the help of the Christian Souldiers brought to his aid from Servia and other places of Europe with great Courage maintained the Fight but the Multitude and not true Valour prevailed for as much as might be done by valiant and couragious men was by the Ianizaries and the rest performed both for the preservation of the Person of their Prince and the gaining of the Victory But in the end the Horsemen with whom Tamerlane himself was giving a fresh Charge and his Avantgard wholly knit again unto him reinforcing the Charge he with much ado obtained the Victory Bajazet himself wounded and now mounted on Horseback thinking to have escaped by Flight fell into the hands of ãâã unto whom he yielded himself thinking it had been Tamerlane who for a space knew him not but took him for some other great Commander of the Turks Musa sirnamed Zelebi or the Noble one of Bajazet his Sons with divers others of Bajazet his great Captains were there taken also and amongst the rest George the Despot of Servia who notwithstanding this misfortune had that day gained unto himself the reputation of a great and worthy Captain insomuch that Tamerlane even in the very heat of the Battel marvelling to see him and the Servians with the other Christians which he had brought to the aid of Bajazet so valiantly to âight said unto some of the Captains that were near unto him See how couragiously yonder Religious sight supposing them by their strange Attire to have been some of the Turks superstitious Votaries But being now taken and afterwards brought to Tamerlane he was by him courteously welcomed but yet withal reproved for that he had fought for Bajazet against him who was come in favour of the Christian Emperor and the other poor oppressed Princes such as the Despot himself was Who thereunto boldly answered That indeed it was not according to his duty but according to the prosperity of Bajazet unto whom it seemed that all the World did bend and that his own safety had caused him though against his Will to take part with him Whereupon Tamerlane held him excused and so without more ado gave him leave at his own pleasure to depart Bajazet also himself being afterwards brought unto Tamerlane as a Prisoner and by him courteously entertained never shewed any token of Submission at all but according to his proud Nature without respect of his present state presumptuously answered him unto whatsoever he demanded Wherewith Tamerlane moved told him That it was now in his power to make him to lose his life Whereunto he answered no more but Do it for that that loss should be his greatest happiness Tamerlane afterwards demanding of him What made him so proud as to enterprise to bring into his Subjection so Noble a Prince as was the Greek Emperor he answered Even the same thing that hath moved thee to invade me namely the desire of Glory and Soveraignty But wherefore then said Tamerlane dost thou use so great cruelty towards them thou hast overcome without respect of Age or Sex That did I said he to give the greater terror unto my Enemies And what wouldst thou have done with me said Tamerlane had it been my fortune to have fallen into thy Hands as thou art now in mâne I would said Bajazet have inclosed thee in a Cage of Iron and so in triumph have caâââed thee up and down my Kingdom Even so said Tamerlane shalt thou be served And so causing him to be taken out of his presence turning unto his Followers said Behold a proud and cruel Man he deserveth to be chastised accordingly and to be made an Example unto all the proud and cruel of the World of the just Wrath of God against them I acknowledge that God hath this day delivered into my Hands a great Enemy to whom we must therefore give thanks Which he performed the same day for the Battel was won at four of the Clock and there was yet five hours of day-light The next day Tamerlane commanded the dead to be buried where among the rest they found the body of the Prince of Ciarcan dead in the midst of the Ianizaries where he lay inclosed with their dead bodies in token he died not unrevenged whose untimely death Tamerlane for all that greatly lamented for he was his Kinsman and like enough one day to have done great service Whose dead Body Tamerlane caused to be embalmed and with two thousand Horse and divers of the Turks Prisoners chained and tied together to be conveyed to Samârcand until his coming thither All the other dead Bodies were with all honour that might be buried at Sennas This great and bloody Battel fought in the year of our Lord 1397. not far from the Mount Stella where sometime the great King Mithrydates was by Pompy the Great in a great Battel overthrown was fought from seven a Clock in the Morning until four in the Afternoon Victory all that while as it were with doubtful Wings hovering over both Armies as uncertain where to light until at length the fortune of Tamerlane prevailed Whose Wisedom next unto God gave that days Victory unto his Souldiers for that the politick tyring of the strong Forces of Bajazet was the safeguard of his own whereas if he had gone unto the Battel in one Front assuredly the multitude finding such strong resistance had put it self into confusion whereas this successive manner of aiding of his men made them all unto him profitable The number of them that were in this Battel slain is of divers diversly reported the Turks themselves reporting That Bajazet there lost the Noble Mustapha his Son with two hundred
Bajazet being the fourth in descent from the Warlike Othoman the raiser of his Family and Tamerlane in like degree from the great Zingis the first and most fortunate Leader of the Tartars his Countrymen unto the pleasures of the East both Princes of great Power and like Spirit wise hardy painful resolute and most skilful in Martial Affairs but ambitious above measure the ground of all the former troubles by them raised to the astonishment of the World. Howbeit the great Vertues and other the honourable qualities of Bajazet were in him by his cholerick and waiward Nature much obscured which made him to exceed both in Cruelty and Pride being also much more hand-fast than were his honourable Predecessors For which causes he was much feared and less beloved of his Souldiers and Men of War in general and of them at his most need forsaken He used commonly to say That his Treasures were his Childrens Meat and not his Souldiers Pay which by way of reproach was by a Common Souldier cast in his Teeth when he raged to see himself by them forsaken in the great Battel against Tamerlane telling him as he fled that he ran not away but went to seek his Pay wherewith to provide his Children Bread. Whereas all the aforesaid Vertues in Tamerlane were graced with divers other of like Nature no man being to his Friends more courteous or kind either unto his Enemies more dreadful or terrible The good service of his Servants he never forgot either left the same long unrewarded being thereof so mindful as that he needed not by them or others in their behalf to be put in remembrance thereof having always by him a Catalogue both of their Names and good Deserts which he daily perused Oftentimes saying that day to be lost wherein he had not given them something and yet never bestowing his Preferments on such as ambitiously sought the same as deeming them in so doing unworthy thereof but upon such as whose Modesty or Desert he thought worthy those his great Favours so tempering the Severity of his Commands with the Greatness of his Bounty as that it is hard to say whither he was of his Nobility and Men of War for the one more feared or for the other beloved both the great Staies of Princes States Fear keeping the Obstinate in Obedience and Love the Dutiful in Devotion But with Bajazet it was not so who deeming all done for him but Duty and by Nature cholerick and proud after the manner of Tyrants desired above all to be of his Subjects feared not much regarding how little he was of them beloved not the least cause of his great fall and misery and that therein he was of his own so smally regarded wherein for all that he is to be accounted more fortunate than the other great Conqueror his Enemy having ever since in the lineal descent of himself had one of the greatest Monarchs of the World to succeed still in his Kingdom and Empire as he hath even at this day Whereas the glory of Tamerlane his Empire even in his own time grown to the height thereof and labouring with the greatness of it self and by him divided amongst his Sons shortly after his death decaied rent in sunder by Ambition and Civil Discord and not long after together with his Posterity rooted out by Usun-Cassanes the Persian King to the Worlds wonder took end nothing of the huge greatness thereof now or since then remaining more than the fame thereof as doth also the misery of the other so brought low But leaving this mirror of mishap Bajazet unto his rest and Tamerlane for a while to triumph in Samarcand let us now proceed in the course of our History yet not forgetting by the way to remember such Christian Princes as then lived together with these two great Monarchs Christian Princes of the same time with Bajazet the First Emperors Of the East Emanuel Paleologus 1387. 30. Of the West Wenceslaus Son to Charles King of Bohemia 1378. 22. Rupertus Duke of Bavaria 1400. 10. Kings Of England Richard the Second 1377. 23. Henry the Fourth 1399. 12. Of France Charles the Sixth sirnamed The welbeloved 1381. 42. Of Scotland John Stuart otherwise called Robert the Third 1390. 16. Bishops of Rome Urban the VI. 1380. 11. Boniface the IX 1390. 14. â MAHOMETHES PRIMVS QVINTVS TVRCARVM REX 1405. Vindicibus Mahomet patrium sibi vindicat armis Imperium etsractas fervidus auget opes Quod patri abstulerat violentia Tamberlani Imperio reddit Marte favente suo Ille sagittiferosque Dacas validosque Triballos Contudit et populos Ister amoene tuos Turcica sic rursus sublata potentia stragem Attulit imperio Romule magne tuo His Fathers Throne by chance of Warr impair'd Bold Mahomet with gallantry repair'd What from the Father Tamberlane had wonne Was wrested from him by the valiant Sonne The Dacians and the Servians strength he broke And thou fair Ister feltst the dreadfull Stroke Prosperity to the Turkish State is come And now great Romulus attend thy doome The LIFE of MAHOMET The First of that NAME Fifth King of the Turks And RESTORER of their sore shaken Kingdom HOw wonderfully the Turkish Kingdom was by the Violence of Tamerlane shaken and the Majesty thereof defaced it well appeareth in that the Histories of that time as well those of the Greeks as of the Turks in nothing more differ than in the Successors of Bajazet their late unfortunate King. Some writing that he had two Sons Orchanes otherwise called Calepinus and Mahomet and that Calepinus in the second year of his Reign was slain and his Kingdom possessed by Mahomet his Brother Others reporting that Bajazet had two Sons namely Calepinus and Mustapha and that Calepinus succeeding his Father in the Turkish Kingdom when he had reigned six years died leaving behind him two Sons Orchanes and Mahomet and that Orchanes being young was slain by his Uncle whom Mahomet in revenge of his Brothers death afterwards slew and possessed the Kingdom himself Others reckon up seven Sons of Bajazet Iosua Musulmanes Moses Calepinus Iosua the younger Mustapha and Halis with an uncertain Succession amongst them also This diversity of Opinions full of no less uncertainty as I mean not to follow in report of this History so will I not spend any time in refuting the same although much might be said in the matter but leave these Reports together with the History following to such credit as they shall hap to find with the considerate Readers The Greek Historiographers best like to know the Turkish Succession as well by reason of their nearness as in that they were by them as their bad Neighbours so much troubled make no mention at all either of Calepinus or of Orchanes In like manner Historiae Musulmanae Turcorum diligently gathered out of the Turks own Histories by Io. Leunclavius a learned Physitian and himself a great Traveller amongst them and therefore deserving the more credit
Presents Tamerlane sent Hozza Mahomet one of his secret Counsellors Embassador to Mahomet of whom he was right honourably received and likewise entertained But having read the aforesaid Letters and thereby understood the cause of his coming he entred into Council with the great Bassaes about him whether he were best to go to Tamerlane or not Where his Counsellors were all clear of one Opinion that it was not good for him to adventure his Person to the danger of such a Journey or the mercy of so mighty an Enemy of whose Faith he had no assurance And if so be said they he therewith offended will by force seek to have you we at his coming will take the refuge of the Woods and Mountains and there shroud our selves until he be departed again for that he with his huge Army cannot here long stay in this bare Country for want of Necessaries Nevertheless Mahomet hoping that his Journey might be both for the good of his Father and his own Advancement contrary to the mind of all his Counsellors resolved to go and so having prepared all things needfull for the honour and safety of his Journey set forward But as he was upon the way in the Marches of Pontus Cara Iahia whom he had before overthrown understanding of his coming that way thinking now to be revenged and having got unto some of the Prince Isfendiars Forces set upon him by the way but with as evil Success as before most of his Men being there by Mahomet slain and himself glad shamefully to fly So travelling on further he understood that Alis Beg a great Lord in those Countries went about to intercept him also which caused him in such hast to go on that he was upon Alis before he was aware of his coming or well provided for him so that for fear he was glad to betake himself to flight Mahomet considering the danger he had escaped in that Journey and that the nearer he came to Tamerlane the more like he was to fall into greater although happily without Tamerlane his knowledge by the advice of his grave and faithful Counsellors resolved to go no further Wherefore calling unto him Tamerlanes Embassador he thus spake unto him You see the Dangers and Injuries I indure in this my Iourney and my mind forbodeth greater to ensue for which causes I may not go any further but here return Commend me therefore I pray you unto the most mighty Tamerlane with my Father and tell them what dangers have happened unto me upon the way which considered I hope they will have me excused For which purpose I will also send in your company an Embassador of mine own Mahomet at that time had with him a grave wise and learned Man called Sophis Bajazet sometime his School-Master whom he sent Embassador to Tamerlane and his Father to have him unto them both excused and so departed he homewards leaving the way he came for fear of further danger and they towards Tamerlane who honourably received Mahomets Embassador and Letters But taking pleasure in the man sent unto him gave him honourable Entertainment but would never after suffer him to return again unto his Master It was not long after but that old Bajazet died of impatiency as is aforesaid whose dead body Tamerlane left at Apropolis with the Prince Germean to be delivered unto his Son Mahomet with Musa his elder Brother who all this while had been kept Prisoner with Tamerlane if Mahomet should require them And so the mighty Prince Tamerlane after he had long time wasted Phrygia Caria Lydia with the most part of the lesser Asia and conquered all Syria Iudea Egypt and Persia with many other great Countries and Provinces returned at last into his own Kingdom unto the great City of Samercand which he wonderfully inlarged and beautified with the Spoils of a great part of the World before by him wasted where he afterwards in great Peace and Glory reigned no less honoured than feared of all the Princes of the East To the terror of whom and for the assuring of his Estate he kept always a standing Army of forty thousand Horse and threescore thousand Foot ready at all assays beside other his great Garrisons which he kept in Syria Egypt China and Cambalu as also against the Muscovite and Turks being commonly in every place threescore thousand strong though not still in field but as occasion required Until that at length hearing of the rising again of the Turkish Kingdom under the Othoman Princes the Sons of Bajazet with whom the oppressed Mamelukes of Egypt and the Greek Emperor as doubtful of his estate had now also for fear of him combined themselves he by the perswasion of Axalla then General of his Imperial Army made great preparation for a second Expedition to be made for the utter rooting out of the Othoman Family and the Conquest of the Greek Empire But having now all things in readiness and also given a good beginning unto these his intended Conquests one of the great Turks Bassaes being by Axalla his Lieutenant in a great battel overthrown and thirty thousand of the Turks slain he in the midst of these his great hopes as also of his greatest Power died of an Ague the 27 th day of Ianuary in the year of our Lord 1402. A little before whose death appeared a great and terrible Blazing-Star portending as it were to the World the death of so great a Prince He was a man of a middle stature somewhat narrow in the shoulders otherwise well limmed and of a great strength In his eyes sate such a rare Majesty as a man could hardly indure to behold them without closing of his own and many in talking with him and often beholding of him became dumb which caused him oftentimes with a comely modesty to abstain from looking too earnestly upon such as spake unto him or discoursed with him All the rest of his Visage was amiable and well proportioned he had but little hair on his Chin and ware the hair of his Head long and curled contrary to the manner of the Tartars who shave their Heads having the same always covered whereas he contrariwise was for the most part bare headed commanding his Son also to be so by his Tutors brought up his hair was of a dark colour somewhat drawing toward a Violet right beautiful to behold which his Mother coming of the Race of Sampson as he gave it out willed him to nourish in token of his descent the cause that made him to be the more respected of his Men of War most part of them believing that in those hairs was some rare vertue or rather some fatal destiny an old practise of many great Commanders of former Ages to fill the heads of their Souldiers with some strange Opinion conceived of them to be the more of them honoured as if in them had been some one thing or other more than in other men His great Empire by himself
divided betwixt his Sons was by their discord and the ambition of some of their disloyal Subjects in short time after brought to great confusion and his Posterity utterly rooted out by Usun-Câssanes the Armenian Prince as in the process of this History may appear But to return again to our purpose Mahomet delivered of his greatest fear by the departure of Tamerlane out of those Countries determined to go to Prusa in Bithynia where his Brother Isa as then reigned but understanding that Isa had before taken the Straits whereby he should pass the Mount Horminius he took another way about and came to Palaeo-Castron where the valiant Captain Eine-beg Sub-bassa then remained who with all honour and gladness received him and there for certain days refreshed both him and his Army Afterwards greater Forces still repairing unto him he marched thence to Ulabad called in ancient time Lopadium Of whose coming Isa before understanding and having assembled his Army marched thither also and encamped on the other side of the Town towards Prusa ready to give him battel But Mahomet seeing his Brother so forward consulted with his Captains what were best to be done where Eine Sub-bassa a man of great experience and of late one of Bajazet his great Counsellors and Captains told him That it was not for their Honours being Brethren to pollute their hands one in the others blood but to assay if the quarrel might by some other good means be composed and they made Friends For which purpose Mahomet presently sent Letters unto his Brother Isa concerning the partition of their Fathers Kingdom in Asia betwixt them offering unto him the Provinces of Aidinia Saruchania Germeania Charasia Charamania with other Countries to them belonging so that he might have Prusa with all other Provinces about the same Which Letters when Isa had read and saw that Mahomet offered him but Titles for Kingdoms and such Countries as were rather sometimes Tributaries unto their Father Bajazet than any part of his Kingdom and now of late by Tamerlane again restored unto their ancient Liberty and Governors sharing out the best and strongest part thereof unto himself he brake forth into choler and said What doth not my Fathers Kingdom of right belong unto me being the elder Brother Mahomet is yet but a Youth and scarce crept out of the shell by what right then can he claim my Fathers Kingdom as his Inheritance If he can by the Sword win it let him take it and so hold it Mahomet having received his Answer prepared himself to the field where his Brother as ready as himself stood expecting his coming and having set Army in order of battel gave the first Charge which was the beginning of a most cruel and bloody fight wherein as it commonly falleth out in doubtful Battels many were on both sides slain At last the fortune of Mahomet prevailing Isa his Army began to retire which he seeing left nothing undone for the encouraging of his fainting Souldiers which belonged to a politick General or valiant Souldier to do but pressing into the thickest of his Enemies there with his own hand slew the ancient and valiant Captain Eine Sub-bassa who had many times been General of the Footmen in old Bajazet his Wars But what prevaileth courage against evil fortune Isa must âither fly or die And therefore having done what he could in so desperate a case being himself on every side forsaken in the end was glad himself to fly to the Sea-side where finding a Ship ready bound for Constantinople he passed over thither in safety and there yielded himself unto the Protection of the Greek Emperor Emanuel In this chase Mahomet his Souldiers took the valiant Captain Temurtases Prisoner another of Bajazet his great Commanders and brought him to Mahomet who in revenge of the death of Eine commanded his Head presently to be smitten off and his Body to be hanged upon a Tree by the High-way side Of this Victory Mahomet certified his Brother Solyman at Hadrianople and in token thereof sent him Temurtases his Head. This battel was much spoken of both for that it was fought betwixt two Brethren and also for the death of the two famous and old Captains Eine and Temurtases who both together as loving Friends had fortunately fought many great battels under Bajazet his Ensigns and now as it were by destiny and against their wills without any private grudge were both drawn into contrary Factions and slain both whilst they lived wishing a good Peace betwixt the ambitious Brethren But as the Turks use to say What is by God written in a mans forehead before his Birth cannot in his life be avoided After this Victory Mahomet thinking himself now in sure possession of all his Fathers Dominions in Asia led his Army to Prusa where he was of the Citizens joyfully received as their Sultan and for his great bounty of all men highly commended and honoured From thence he went to Nice and so to Neapolis and there in both places was likewise received Thither resorted unto him all the Garrisons of Carasina Sâruchania and Aidinia with other the Inhabitants of those Countries with all Loyalty submitting themselves unto him with such Honour and Reverence as belonged to their King. All things thus sorting according to his desire in Asia he sent to the Prince Germean for the Body of his Father Bajazet and for his Brother Musa which were there left by Tamerlane as is before declared This Body was by the same Prince at the request of Mahomet with great Solemnity sent to Prusa and there sumptuously buried with all the Turkiâh Obsequies and Ceremonies the Turkish Alcoran or Book of their Law being read seven days upon his Tomb. All which time great chear was kept for all Commers and much given to the Poor upon the Turkish devotion for Bajazet his Soul but above all others exceeding bounty was extended to the Posterity of their Prophet Mahomet which are known from others amongst the Mahometans by the colour of their Apparel which is all green and not lawful to be worn of any but of them so that they were by the bounty of Mahomet at that time greatly enriched He also endowed the Abbey which his Father had there lately built with great Lands and Possessions for the maintenance thereof All which things done and the Solemnity past he went in Progress to all parts of his Kingdom and was in every place joyfully received and so afterward returned to Amasia and there in great pleasure spent that Summer Where we will for a while leave him to see what Solyman his eldest Brother in the mean time doth at Hadrianople Solyman the eldest Son of Bajazet who kept his Court at Hadrianople there peaceably Reigning all this while over the Countries which his Father Bajazet sometime possessed in Europe hearing what his Brother Mahomet had done and how violently against all Right he had driven Isa out of Prusa and made him glad to fly to
like case caused him presently to be strangled with a Bow-string His dead body was by and by after presented to his Brother Mahomet who seeing it shed a few Crocodils tears over it He reigned three years end seven months and was afterwards conveyed to Prusa and there lieth buried by the body of his Brother Solyman in the same Chappel with his Grandfather Amurath Mahomet after the death of Musa now free from all Competitors took upon him the sole Government of the Turkish Kingdom as well in Europe as in Asia And here the Turkish Histories begin the Reign of this Mahomet fifth King of the Turks accounting the troublesome time from the Captivity of Bajazet unto the death of Musa as a time of vacancy or Anarchy wherein the Turkish Kingdom was not at any time wholly possessed by any one of Bajazet his Sons Isa possessing one part whereof he was by Mahomet dispossessed who afterwards usurped all that part of the Turkish Kingdom in Asia being the right of his elder Brother Solyman who at that time reigning in Eurâpe was deposed and strangled by his Brother Musa who was in like manner served by his youngest Brother Mahomet the only Son of Bajazât then left as is before declared Which divers Mutations and interrupted Successions was the cause that the Historiographers do so greatly dissent upon the Successor of Bajazât some reckoning one some another and some more some fewer and some such as never were But forasmuch as Mahomet held all or most part of the Turkish Kingdom in Asia during his troublesome time and in the end possessed the other part thereof in Europe also I reckon him for the fifth King of the Turks and Successor to his Father Bajazet including also in this History of his life all that Intestine and Serpentine-like Tragedy wherein he himself was the principal Actor Whilst Mahomet was as is aforesaid thus busied in his Wars in Europe against his Brother Musa year 1415. the King of Caramania taking the advantage of his Troubles there with a great Army invaded his Kingdom joyning upon him in Asia burning and spoling all before him as he went Eivases Bassa Mahomet his Lieutenant then lying at Prusa not able to withstand him and fearing his coming thither because it was the Seat of the Othoman Kings in Asia caused the Citizens to bring the greatest part of their Wealth into the Castle whereinto he also received so many of the Citizens as he conveniently could willing the rest to shift for themselves as they might in such case of extremity Shortly after the King of Caramania according to his expectation came to Prusa and without resistance took the City not as yet fully fortified which he without delay caused the second time to be burnt down to the ground and afterwards laid siege to the Castle giving many great Assaults thereto by the space of thirty days but was always valiantly repulsed by Eivases the Bassa who ceased not continually to encourage his Souldiers still putting them in comfort that Mahomet having now overcome his Enemies in Europe would in few days undoubtedly come to their Relief It chanced at the same time that the dead body of Musa sent to Prusa to be buried was honourably conveyed upon the way with much people following it The Caramanian King hearing of the coming of such a multitude and fearing it to have been Mahomet with his Power raised his Siege and with speed departed whereat the Turks long time after jested saying If the Caramanian King run away for fear of the dead body of the Othoman King what would he do if he had come against him alive But the truth was he feared Mahomet and his Power Orchanes the Son of Solyman yet a Boy having lived at Constantinople ever since the death of his Father about this time departed thence because of the League lately made between the Emperor and his Uncle Mahomet purposing to have gone into Valachia but by the way as he was travelling the Turkish voluntary Souldiers understanding that he was the Son of their late King Solyman resorted unto him in great numbers offering in his Quarrel to spend their lives Of which Insurrection Mahomet hearing marched thither in all hast with a great Power to suppress the same of whose coming the Souldiers with Orchanes understanding dispersed themselves and fled As for Orchanes himself he was by his unlawful Tutor Zaganos betrayed unto his Uncle Mahomet who presently caused his Eyes to be put out and so sent him to Prusa allowing him great Revenues to live upon and ever after used him with great Honour The Sister of this Orchanes he gave in marriage to one of his Noblemen with a great Dowry This is that Orchanes whom some Historiographers reckon up among the Turkish Kings as one of the Successors of Bajazet and that he was betrayed to his Uncle Moses erring as I suppose both in Succession and the Name mistaking Moses for Mahomet year 1416. Now Mahomet calling to remembrance the Injury which the Caramanian King had done to him in his absence returning to Prusa assembled a great Army to revenge himself of that wrong At which time he sent to the Prince Isfendiar for Aid who sent him his Son Cassumes He commanded also the Prince Germean Ogli to make provision for the Victualling of his Camp as he should pass by his Country which was accordingly done And so provided of all things necessary he with his Army entred into the Caramanian Country where he took the Cities Aspropolis Despotopolis Hierapolis and besieged Iconium but by reason of the immoderate rain which at that time fell he was glad to make Peace with the Caramanian King called also Mahomet And so raising his Siege departed towards Pontus where he had not long stayed but that News was brought unto him That the Caramanian King renouncing his League was again up in Arms. Wherefore returning into Caramania and so to Iconium he there overthrew the King in battel and took both him and his Son Mustapha Prisoners who redeemed themselves by delivering many of their strong Cities and Castles into his hands and afterward concluded a Peace they receiving from him an Ensign as the Turkish manner is in token they were now become his Vassals year 1417. The Caramanian War thus happily ended he went over into Europe and passing over Danubius foraged the Country of Valachia Transalpina making there great spoil for redress whereof the Valachian Prince by his Embassadors sent him such Tribute as he demanded and his Son also to serve him in his Court. About which time hapned a great Earthquake in Prusa and other places of Asia whereby many Houses and Towns were overthrown after which ensued great troubles in most parts of Asia howbeit Mahomet going thither by his presence kept all his Dominions in peace and quietness Isfendiar Prince of Castamona and part of Pontus reserving unto himself Castamona with a little part more of his Dominion gave the rest
unto Mahâmât upon condition that he should restore no part thereof again unto his Son Cassumes who having long time served in Mahomet his Court and Wars could not be perswaded to return again unto his Father and therefore was by him thus disinherited Which great Gift Mahomet thankâully accepted and in lieu thereof assigned unto Cassimes other great and large Possessions within his own Kingdom Mahomet after the death of his Brother Musa had sent Scheiches Bedredin his Brothers Cadelescher to Nice in Asia as unto a place of exile allowing him nevertheless a great Pension whereon to live This Bedredin had in his house one Burgluzes Mustapha his Steward these two consulted together how to raise some Tumult or Rebellion to trouble the peaceable Government of Mahomet For which purpose Burgluzes according to the Plot by them laid took this way into Aidinia sometime called Caria and there pretending great Zeal of Reformed Religion with a wonderful Gravity began to broach divers new and strange Opinions far differing from the Turkish ancient Superstition yet very plausible and well fitting the humour of the vulgar people By which means he was in short time reputed for a famous learned devout Man and had many Followers drawing after him much people fit to begin some great Innovation Bedredin glad of his mans success fled from Nice into the Prince Isfendiar his Country from whence he took shipping over the Euxine into Valachia and there withdrawing himself into a great Forest as if he had been some devout and religious Man allured unto him a great number of Outlaws and Theeves which there lived Whom when he had sufficiently instructed and framed to his purpose he sent them in the habit of Religious Men into the Country of Zagora and other places in the Frontiers of Mahomet his Dominions near unto him as his Disciples who with great boldness and confidence published Bedredin his Doctrine and Authority and how that he was by God appointed to be the King of Justice and Commander of all the World whose Doctrine and manner of Government was as they said already received as they gave it out in Asia being set forth but by one of his Scholars Burgluzes whose Fame was now dispersed throughout all the Turks Dominion and that therefore if any were desirous of Preferment they should repair to Bedredin who would in short time shew himself to the World and promote his Followers according to their Deserts Many of the Country people deluded with this phantasie and practise of these seditious Seed-Men resorted to Bedredin in hope of Preferment and with them some of good Calling also At last out of the Forest cometh this great Prophet with Banner displayed attended upon with a great multitude of the seditious vulgar people which daily resorted unto him more and more Mahomet for the repressing of these dangerous Tumults sent his Son Amurath and Bajazet the great Bassa with two thousand Men to apprehend Burgluzes in Aidinia but when they came thither they found him guarded with three thousand Men well appointed ready to adventure their Lives in defence of their foolish Prophet Nevertheless Amurath and Bajazet not dismayed with the multitude of those uplandish people set upon them where was fought a right bloody Battel for the number and many slain on both sides yet at last the Rebels fled in which flight Burgluses himself was slain and hewen all to pieces After which Victory Bajazet from thence hasted to Magnesia and there executed Torlac Kemal another seditious Turkish Monk which with two thousand by him seduced did much harm in the Country thereabout At the same time also Mahomet sent another Power against Bedredin but most of his Followers seeing in him no such matter as was by his Disciples and himself promised and as they hoped for were already fallen from him so that of that great multitude which before followed him few or none were left with him whereby he was easily apprehended by them that Mahomet had sent against him and so being brought to Mahomet to Serras was there in the Market-place before a Tavern-door fairly hanged without any further harm Mahomet in the short time of his Reign finished the great Mahometan Temple at Hadrianople before begun by his Brethren Solyman and Musa Where he also built a Princely Palace the Seat of the Turkish Kings in Europe until the taking of Constantinople He also built another Temple with a most sumptuous Abbey and a publick School thereto adjoyning endowing the same with great Revenews such as had by him and those his Brethren of late been taken from the Christians He gave also great Sums of Money yearly to be paid at Medina and Mecha for the relief of poor Pilgrims travelling from far to the Sepulchre of their great Prophet Mahomet at Medina or his Temple at Mecha Shortly after Mahomet fell sick at Hadrianople and perceiving himself in danger of death by his last Will appointed his eldest Son Amurath to Succeed him in his Kingdom and sent Elvan-Beg a man in great Favour with him in post to Amasia to will him with all speed to repair to the Court at Hadrianople But feeling death to approach and that he could not possibly live until the coming of his Son he straightly charged his Bassaes with all secrecy to conceal his death until his coming for fear lest any Trouble should rise upon the bruit thereof before his coming thither and so having set all things in Oder he departed out of this World unto his Prophet Mahomet about the year of our Saviour Christ 1422. when he had reigned Seventeen years accounting in his Reign that troublesome ten years next after the Captivity of Bajazet in which time the Turks Kingdom was by his ambitious Sons rent in sunder as is aforesaid until it was at length again by this Mahomet restored to the former Integrity about seven years before his death which the Turks account for the whole time of his Reign and the other troublesome ten years as a vacancy or Anarchy of their Kingdom as is aforesaid Mahomet being dead the three great Bassaes Eivases Bajazet and Ibrahim to rid themselves of the fear they had of the Janizaries and other Souldiers of the Court called a Divano or Council for the Wars as if the King had been alive wherein it was pretended That Mahomet had determined to make War upon the Prince of Smyrna and that for that Service it was his pleasure That the Janizaries should forthwith pass over into Asia to the Castle of Baga Whereupon Press-money was presently given them and they sent over with Letters directed to the Vice-Roy of Anatolia for the assembling of an Army for Baga In the mean time the great Bassaes of the Court sate daily in Council placing and displacing promoting and disgracing whom they thought good as if the King had so commanded the Kings Physitians also to countenance the matter were commanded continually to go to and fro with their
distant from Petrella three miles strongly situate upon the top of a Mountain near unto the River Aemathus Scanderbeg had scarcely well encamped himself before this City but that the Governor thereof terrified with the fortune of Croia and Petrella offered to deliver up the City on the same Conditions that were granted at Petrella which being agreed upon the City was forthwith delivered and the Conditions by Scanderbeg faithfully performed Petra-Alba being thus taken and all things set in order Scanderbeg carried with the course of his Victory without delay came to Stellusa which is also a strong City of Aemathia fifty miles distant from Croia pleasantly as it were of purpose built upon the top of an high Hill standing in the midst of a pleasant and fruitful Valley with great Plains round about it There Scanderbeg encamped a little before the going down of the Sun and rested that night In the morning he sent a Messenger to the City with like conditions as were accepted at Petrella and Petra-Alba which most part of the Garrison-Souldiers of the Turks would gladly have accepted but that Desdrot the Governor of the City with some few others earnestly withstood the rest whereupon a great Contention arose amongst the Garrison Souldiers But the greater part desirous to yield up the City when they could by no means perswade the Governor and those few which took his part to yield to their desires they violently set upon him and delivered him with the rest to Scanderbeg fast bound and so yielded up the City For which Fact fearing to return to Amurath some of them remained with Scanderbeg and afterwards became Christians the rest were either honestly provided for or else well rewarded and suffered to depart whether they would All the other weaker places of Epirus wherein any of the Turkish Garrisons lay hearing that the strongest Cities were already delivered unto Scanderbeg in short time yielded themselves upon like conditions only Sfetigrade otherwise called the holy City remained in the possession of the Turks which City is placed in the upper Country of Dibra in the Frontiers of Epirus upon the top of an high and steep Hill as if it were an Eagles nest Unto this City came Scanderbeg with all his Army and having placed his Tents he began first to assay if he could gain it by Composition as he had done the rest and the rather to move them by the examples of others he caused his Embassadors to declare unto them all that had happened at Croia Petrella Petra-Alba and Stellusa specially how he had used the Garrison of Stellusa which yielded unto him with all bounty and courtesie and how that on the contrary part he had the Governor in bands with all his wilful Partakers whom they should presently see executed before their faces if they forthwith delivered not the City This Message troubled the minds of all the Garrison but especially of the Governor seeing before his eyes in the woful example of another man what might by and by happen unto himself Wherefore fearing to deliver his own opinion and to give answer unto the Embassador for offending the inconstant multitude and unknown minds of the people he first entertained the Embassadors honourably and afterwards turning himself unto the Citizens and Souldiers said unto them Worthy men and most faithful Souldiers what is your pleasure or what shall we answer to these our Enemies demands Then one of the Souldiers that stood by a rough bold spirited Fellow unwilling for his own part to give up the City and deeming the Governor to be of the same mind in that he had termed them worthy and faithful and Scanderbeg by the name of the Enemy drawing out his Sword and with his right hand shaking it on high answered Most valiant Governor this same and the like shall make answer for us Nothing was to less purpose than with premeditated words to seek to terrifie valiant minds first with the divers Fortune of Croia and then of Stellusa for as the faces and countenances of men are divers so also are their minds and dispositions Every man wisely directeth his own actions according to his own proper humor and by the same plays the Fool or Bedlam We prescribe no Laws to them of Petrella nor to them of Stellusa neither let them prescribe any unto us Let never so base examples of cowardly Slaves ever enter into the thoughts of couragious men brave minds disdain to imitate other men in their honest Actions much less in their Cowardise And why for every man liveth after his own fashion Wherefore let Scanderbeg proceed let him kill the Governor of Stellusa before our faces let him sacrifice our fellow Souldiers do you therefore think that we shall die in their Bodies shall our living spirits be there extinguished shall our blood there be spilt But O happy Bodies O ghosts of men ever to be revenced which in worthy defence of your Liberty and Faith have indifferently contemned Gold Silver Death and Torture and whatsoever else miserable Worldlings hold dear or dismal Wherefore carry thou back again unto thy Master this Answer from a Common Souldier If he seek to impose these conditions upon us let him once more bare that arm of his which men of courage fear not so much as he thinketh He may peradventure inforce us to these conditions of his if God forsake us but assuredly perswade us unto them shall he never And yet for all that your Master Scanderbeg is not the man we have long since heard him reported to be of an honourable mind easie to forgive and such a one as will indifferently judge betwixt the Enemy and himself for why then doth he hold in bonds the Governor of Stellusa for that he freely justly and honourably stood in defence of his King his Faith and Liberty Why doth he threaten him with death whereas he hath not deserved the same although he hath resolutely offered himself thereunto for defence of his liberty All they which were present listned with great attention to the Souldiers Speech neither was he interrupted by any until he had said what he would Then the Souldiers thronging about him and beating their Swords and Targets together withall gave a great shout in token that they all approved his Speech for answer So the Governor encouraged with the chearfulness of his Souldiers returned the Embassador without other Answer than that of the Common Souldiers and presently appointed every man to his Charge and with great carefulness ordered all things for the better defence of the City But when Scanderbeg had heard the Answer that was sent him from the City delivered by the mouth of a Common Souldier he smiled thereat and said He is undoubtedly a valiant Souldier if his Deeds be answerable to his Speeches but if my force fail me not I will make him happy amongst the happy ghosts of them of Stellusa and by and by commanded the Governor of Stellusa with the
Wherefore for God his Cause I request you above all things to continue the Christian League and with your happy and victorious Forces to march forward into Macedonia and Thracia as is before by you with the other Christian Princes your Confederates agreed In conclusion having much spoken of the Authority and Power of the great Bishop he in his Name disannulled the League whatsoever by the King made with the Turk and absolved him with the rest whom it might concern from the Oath they had given and the Promise they had made Which so well contented both the King and the rest that there was now no more question of the Oath or of the lawfulness of the War but a Decree made for the continuation of the League with the other Christian Princes their Confederates and for the prosecution of the Wars against the Turks as was with them before agreed whom they could now say they were not to forsake and to leave them as a Prey unto the Turk their greedy Enemy now for nothing more in danger than for that at their request they had taken up Arms in their quarrel Unto which unfortunate Decree both the Despot and Huniades the chief Authors of the late Peace betwixt the King and Amurath easily consented the Despot induced with the great hope he had conceived of the good success of the War and Huniades with the desire of the Kingdom of Bulgaria promised unto him by Uladislaus and by fair Charter also as some said assured unto him Of this the Kings Resolution for the breach of the Peace with the Turks notice was with all speed given unto the Constantinopolitan Emperor and Francis the Florentine Cardinal then lying with a Fleet of seventy Gallies at the Straits of Hellespontus for fear lest they hearing of the former concluded Peace should alter also or else quite desist from their former purposes In the mean time whilst these things were yet in plotting the Turk ignorant hereof according to his promise had withdrawn all his Garrisons out of Servia and other places before agreed upon in the late concluded Peace restoring the same unto the Despot and others the lawful Owners although it was not done at the very prefixed day at which it should have been done In which time also he set at liberty great numbers of Captives and amongst the rest the two blind Sons of the Prince of Servia faithfully performing whatsoever he had before upon his Religion promised in the League with the Christians before concluded so desirous he was of Peace with the Hungarians Howbeit Uladislaus by the Counsel of Huniades detained to his own use certain of the strong Holds in Servia for which cause George the Despot ever afterwards bore a secret grudge against Huniades Now as King Uladislaus having by the perswasion of Iulian the Cardinal renounced the League betwixt him and Amurath was preparing his Forces the fame of the Epirot Prince Scanderbeg was also by the recovery of his Fathers Kingdom of Epirus out of the Turks hands and by the late Overthrow of Alis Bassa grown great every one speaking of him honour and praise Wherewith Uladislaus moved and reasonably perswaded what a furtherance it would be unto his haughty designs aiming at no less than the utter overthrow of the Turks Kingdom in Europe if he might unto his own great preparations joyn also the strength of that so fortunate a Prince by the consent of his Nobility with all speed dispatched away his Embassadors with Letters unto him certifying him of his honourable purpose for the rooting out of âhe Turks and in that common cause praying his Aid against such a dangerous and dreadful enemy The purport whereof here followeth Vladislaus King of Hungary and Polonia unto the noble Scanderbeg Prince of Epirus greeting IT may be that some good hap hath deferred this our late Congratulation until this present to the intent we might at this time together with you rejoyce in the double success of your Prosperity first for the happy recovery of your Estate and then for that the same hath by your wisdom and valour of late been so notably defended Wherefore in this we rejoyce not only in your behalf but in the behalf of all good Christians that it hath pleased God of his goodness by your valour to have given so great an increase and comfort unto the Christian Commonwealth for as much as amongst others our great Evils the loss of the Albanian people hath not been to be accounted the least at such time as John Castriot a worthy Prince your Father oppressed by Amurath and by the ungrateful Destinies taken out of this world had neither the means to leave unto you his Kingdom and Scepter as unto his Son then living in his Enemies Power either was able yet otherwise to provide for his Affairs And would to God this your Father most happy in such a Son might have till now lived whose felicity had in that surmounted all others if he might have seen you before his death For as you seem unto me above all other Princes in the World without offence be it said most accomplished with all the good Graces and Perfections both of body and mind so are you indowed also with a certain divine and wonderful Fortune under the good Conduct whereof not only the whole Kingdom of Epirus may think it self in security but all the rest of the other Nations also lately by the detestable fraud and violence of the Othoman Kings dismembred from the Realm of Macedon may also recover the former beaâty of their ancient Laws and Liberties For to say nothing of those things which even from your Childhood having continually made you envied have herâtofore purchased unto you an immortal Fame and Glory even amongst the Barbarians themselves what can be more glorious than this Victory which as we have heard and believe you to your singular admiration have obtained by the overthrow and uâter discomfiture of Alis Bassa with his so great and mighty a Power But now O Scanderbeg God so appointing it who in his deep and secret Wisdom hath reserved you unto these so dangerous times for the Publique Good and Comfort of the Christian Commonweal there offers it self unto you an object of far greater Glory with a fair and fit occasion for you to revenge your self of all the Wrângs and Injuries both new and old by Amurath the Turkish Sultan done not in private to the person of your self only but unto the whole State and Kingdom of Epirus also and not the domestical and civil Miseries of your own Country only but the Publique Calamities also and those approbrious Disgraces done against the Christian Faith and Religion in general now oppressed I will not say extinguished and that is if you with your victorious Forces will succâur us in this extremity of our Affairs not yet altogether desperate Hereunto do all the Princes of Hungary and Polonia and all other men of courage invite you
found the Cardinal Iulian with Frank one of his chief Captains and others overcharged with the Turks which had again made head against that part of the Christian Army and there yet fought couragiously by reason of their multitude being also backt by the Ianizaries which all this while had stood fast with their old King as his last and most assured refuge but were now come in There began a most cruel and fierce Fight in the success whereof the Turks well saw the whole state of their Kingdom in Europe to consist many were there slain on both sides the Turks feeling their loss less than indeed it was by reason of their Multitude and the Christians by reason of their Courage A great while the Victory stood doubtful insomuch that at length the Turks began to shrink back in that part of the Battel where the King and Huniades fought But in the left side they prevailed so upon the Christians that they were even ready to have fled Which when Huniades having a vigilant Eye unto every part of the Army perceived he with speed made thither and there again with his presence restored the Battel almost before lost Which done he returned again towards the King who in the mean time had most valiantly repulsed a great number of the Turks and now was come unto the Ianizaries Amurath his last hope There was to be seen a thousand manners of death whilst both the Armies fought more like wild Beasts in their rage and fury than wary and politick Souldiers In this confused medly the young King Uladislaus with greater Courage than Care of himself brake into the Battel of the Ianizaries at which time Amurath himself was by a valiant Frenchman a Knight of the Rhodes first wounded with a Pike and after assailed with his Sword and had there ended his days but that he was speedily rescued by his Guaâd by whom this worthy Knight after great proof of his Valour was there slain in the midst of his Enemies Uladislaus being got also in among them valiantly performed all the parts of a worthy Souldier till such time as his Horse being slain under him he was forthwith oppressed by the multitude of his Enemies and slain his Head being struck off by Ferizes one of the old Ianizaries was by him presented unto Amurath who commanded it presently to be put upon the point of a Launce and Proclamation to be made that it was the Head of the Christian King which was afterwards so carried through the principal Cities âf Macedonia and Grecia as a Trophy of the Turks Victory Huniades after he had in vain given divers brave attempts to have rescued the Kings Body retired with a few Valachian Horsemen and seeing no hope of better hap for all the Christians being discouraged with the death of the King had now taken themselves to flight gave place to necessity and reserving himself to his future Fortune fled over the Mountains into the thick Woods from whence with much difficulty he got over Danubius into Valachia and was there as some write by Dracula Prince of that Country taken Prisoner In revenge whereof after he was inlarged by the Hungarians he so aided Danus against Dracula that in fine Dracula and his Son were both slain and Danus placed in his room Iulian the Cardinal flying out of the Battel was found by that worthy man Gregory Sanose lying in the desart Forrest by the way side mortally wounded and half stripped by whom he was in few words sharply reproved as the wicked Author of that perfidious War and there left giving up the Ghost Many of the Christians which fled out of that Battel fell into the Enemies hands and so were slain but greater was the number of them which were drowned in the Fens or that by Hunger and Cold perished in the Woods or else after long and miserable travel finding no passage over Danubius fell at length into the Turkish Slavery This great and mortal Battel as it was with diverse fortune fought so was also the present report thereof most uncertain for the Turks that were at the first put to flight reported in the Towns there by as they fled that the Battel was lost and they which had all the day endured the Fight not altogether assured of the Victory and not knowing whether the Hungarians had retired themselves whilst they suspected some deceit in the Kings Camp by reason of the great silence therein staid two days before they durst adventure to take the Spoil thereof The number of them that were slain in this Battel as well on the one side as th' other was great as the Mounts and little Hills raised of the Bones and Bodies of those that were there buried do yet at this day declare Howbeit the certain number was not known some reporting more some fewer Yet in this most agree that of the Christian Army being not great scarce the third part escaped and that the Turks bought this Victory with a far greater loss although it was of them less felt by reason of their multitude made less by that slaughter as they that report least thereof affirm by thirty thousand Which may well seem rather to be so for that Amurath after this Victory neither farther prosecuted the same nor shewed any tokens of Joy at all but became very melancholy and sad and being of them about him demanded Why after so great a Victory he was no merrier answered That he wished not at so great price to gain many such Victories Yet in memorial thereof he erected a great Pillar in the same place where the King was slain with an inscription of all that was then done which as they say is yet there to be seen at this day This bloody Battel was fought near unto Varna in antient time called Dionisiopolis a place fatal unto many great Warriors and therefore of them even yet abhorred the tenth day of November in the year of our Lord Christ 1444. Some maliciously impute the loss of the Battel of Varna and the death of the King to Huniades who as they said fled out of this Battel with ten thousand Horsemen but this report agreeth not with the noble disposition of that couragious and valiant Captain but seemeth rather to have been devised to excuse the foul dealing of the Clergy who as most Histories bear witness were the chief Authors both of the War and of the lamentable calamity ensuing thereof From the Battel of Varna Amurath returned to Hadrianople having lost the greatest part of his best Souldiers and there with great Solemnity buried the body of Carazia Vice-Roy of Europe slain in that Battel and then calling together all his Nobility again resigned up his Kingdom unto his Son Mahomet retiring himself unto Magnesia where he lived a solitary and private life having before vowed so to do in the great fear he was in in the Battel against Uladislaus but after he had a short time performed these his Vows
length two miles set full of Gallows Gibbets Wheels Stakes and other Instruments of Terror Death and Torture all hanging full of the dead Carkases of Men Women and Children thereupon executed in number as was deemed about twenty thousand There was to be seen the Father with his Wife Children and whole Family hanging together upon one Gallows and the Bodies of sucking Babes sticking upon sharp Stakes others withall their Limbs broken upon Wheels with many other strange and horrible kinds of death so that a man would have thought that all the Torments the Poets feign to be in Hell had been there put in execution All these were such as the notable but cruel Prince jealous of his Estate had either for just desert or some probable suspition put to death and with their Goods rewarded his Souldiers whose cruel manner was together with the Offender to execute the whole Family yea sometimes the whole Kindred Mahomet although he was by Nature of a fierce and cruel Disposition wondred to see so strange a Spectacle of extream cruelty yet said no more but that Wladus knew how to have his Subjects at Command After that Mahomet sent Iosephus one of his great Captains to skirmish with the Valachies who was by them put to the worse but by the coming in of Omares the Son of Turachan they were again in a great Skirmish overthrown and two thousand of their heads brought by the Turks upon their Launces into the Kings Camp for which good Service Omares was by the King preferred to be Governor of Thessalia When Mahomet had thus traced Valachia and having done what harm he could saw it to be to no purpose with such a multitude of men to hunt after his flying Enemy which still kept the thick Woods or rough Mountains he returned again to Constantinople leaving behind him Haly-beg with part of his Army to prosecute that War and with him Dracula the younger Brother of Wladus who was also called Wladus as a Stale to draw the Valachies into Rebellion against the Prince This Dracula the younger was of a little Youth brought up in Mahomets Court and for his comely Feature of him most passionately affected which inordinate perturbation so prevailed in the intemperate Nature of the lascivious Prince that he sought first by fair words and great Gifts to corrupt the Youth and not so prevailing attempted at last to have forced him wherewith the Noble Youth being enraged drew his Rapier and striking at him to have slain him grievously wounded him in the Thigh and thereupon fled Nevertheless being drawn back again to the Court and pardoned he was afterwards reconciled to the King and so became his Ganimede and was of him long time wonderfully both beloved and honoured and now set up for a Stale as is before said for the Valachies his Country-men to gaze upon It fortuned that after the departure of the King divers Valachies came to Haly-beg the Turkish General to Ransome such Friends of theirs as had been taken Prisoners in those Wars and were yet by him detained to whom the younger Dracula by way of discourse declaring the great Power of the Turkish Emperor and as it were lamenting the manifold and endless Miseries of his Native Country cunningly imputed the same unto the disordered Government of his cruel Brother as the ground of all their Woes assuring them of most happy and speedy Redress if the Valachies forsaking his fierce Brother would cleave unto him as their Soveraign in special Favour with the great Emperor Which Speech he delivered unto them with such lively Reasons and in such effectual Terms that they there present perswaded by him and others by them in short time all as if it had been by a secret consent forsook Wladus the elder Brother and chose Dracula the younger Brother to be their Prince and Soveraign Who joyning unto him the Turks Forces by the consent of Mahomet took upon him the Government of that War-like Country and People yet holding the same as the Turkish Tyrants Vassal the readiest way to Infidelity Wladus seeing himself thus forsaken of all his Subjects and his younger Brother possessed of his Dominion fled into Transylvania where he was by the appointment of the Hungarian King apprehended and laid fast in strait prison at Belgrade for that he had without just cause as it was laid to his charge most cruelly executed divers Hungarians in Valachia yet such was his fortune after ten years hard imprisonment to be again enlarged and honourably to die in battel against his ancient Enemies the Turks Mahomet returning out of Valachia to Constantinople sent the same Fleet which he had used in his late Wars into the Aegeum to take in such Islands as being before under the Constantinopolitan Empire had upon the loss of the City put themselves under the Protection of the Venetians but especially the Isle of Mitylene called in ancient time Lesbos pretending that Nicholaus Catelusius Prince thereof did harbour the Pirats of Italy and other places and also bought of them such Prisoners and other Booty as they continually took from the Turks at Sea or alongst the Sea coast out of many places of his Dominions pretending also the chastising of the said Prince for that he had by treachery slain his eldest Brother and so unjustly taken upon him the Government His Fleet thus set forward he himself with a small Army passed over into Asia and came by land to Possidium a City of Ionia over against Mitylene From whence he embarked himself over the narrow Strait into the Island where after he had once landed his Army he in short time overran the whole Island and miserably spoiled the same leading away all the Inhabitants thereof into Captivity who shortly after were sold at Constantinople like Flocks of Sheep and from thence dispersed into all parts of his Dominions After he had thus harried the Country and left nothing therein unspoiled he besieged the Prince in the City of Mitylene whereof the Island now taketh Name and with his great Ordnance continually battered the same by the space of 27 days in which time many sharp Assaults were also given by the Turks whereby the Defendants were greatly diminished and wasted The Prince perceiving himself not able long to hold out offered to yield up the City with all the strong Holds in the Isle upon condition that Mahomet should therefore give unto him some other Province or like value to the Island which his Offer Mahomet accepted and by solemn Oath bound himself for performance of that he had promised Whereupon the Prince came out of the City and humbled himself before him excusing himself for the receiving of the Men of War wherewith he was charged as done for no other purpose but that they should forbear to spoil his own Country much subject to their fury utterly denying that he had at any time bought or shared any part of such Prizes as had by those Pirats by Sea
power of the Turk without the help of such base minded Cowards In the mean time he commanded them to surcease from their mutinous talk threatning otherwise to make them examples to others what it is so much to forget themselves But these Spaniards shortly after better considering of the matter and what a dishonour it would be both to themselves and their Nation if they should so dishonourably be sent away repenting themselves of that they had done came and craved pardon of the Great Master and to redeem their former fault in all sallies and services during that Siege shewed themselves most valiant and forward men for all that the Great Master would never afterwards trust them in any service alone The Bassa attempting much and prevailing little thought it would much further his designs if he could by any means take the Great Master out of the way by whose careful policy he saw all his devices still countermanded wherefore to bring this his purpose to pass he practised by the means of one Ianus a Dalmatian to poyson him This Ianus having conceived this Treason from the Bassa was received into the City of the Rhodes as a Christian Fugitive fled from the Turks where he acquainted himself with one Pythius an Epirot of great familiarity with Marius Philelphus of late Secretary unto Damboyse but as then out of favour and in disgrace for that he was partaker with the Spaniards in the late mutiny Ianus by the means of Pythius whom he had now throughly corrupted sought after Philelphus who then as he right well knew lived discontented as a fit instrument whereby to work this Treason for that he was a man well acquainted with the Cooks and Butlers and other Servitors in the Great Masters House and himself yet there very conversant also Pythius presuming of his old acquaintance and familiarity with Philelphus and waiting upon his melancholy humor began to perswade him to revenge the disgrace he lived in and withal to shew him the means how to do it by poysoning the Great Master which might as he said fall out to his greater good than he was yet aware of Philelphus making semblance as if he had not disliked of the motion was desirous to know of him what farther benefit might thereby arise to him more than revenge To whom Pythius forthwith shewed the Bassaes Letters to Ianus whereby he assured him that whatsoever he should promise unto any man for the furtherance of the practice he would to the full perform the same Philelphus having got full understanding of the Treason presently discovered the same to Damboyse By whose commandment Ianus and Pythius were straitwaies apprehended and being examined confessed the Treason for which Ianus lost his Head and Pythius as he had well deserved was shamefully hanged Philelphus for his Fidelity was pardoned his former error and again received into the Great Masters favour The Bassa understanding that the Treason was discovered and the Traitors executed was much grieved therewith Nevertheless he ceased not with continual battery to shake the City but especially the Tower of S. Nicholas for the assailing whereof he made wonderful preparation Amongst other things he had framed a great Bridge staied with strong Ropes and Cables over a short fret of the Sea betwixt the place of his Battery and the same Tower whereon six men might march abreast in which device he reposed great hope But as the Turks were making fast this Bridge and had as they thought brought the work to a good perfection Gervaise Rogers an Englishman of great courage and very skilful in Sea matters found means by night to cut and break in sunder all the Ropes and Cables wherewith the Bridge was staid which now looâe was by the violence of the Sea quickly carried away and the Turks disappointed of their purpose For which good service he was by the Great Master honourably rewarded and of him in publick audience highly commended Yet was the furious Battery by the Bassa still maintained and a new Bridge framed upon small Boats and Lighters fast moored with Cables and Anchors and divers Pieces of great Ordnance placed in Fusts and Gallies So that the Tower was at one time battered both by Sea and Land the Defendants assailed with small Shot and Arrows innumerable and the Tower at the same instant desperately scaled But Damboyse had so placed his great Ordnance that with the force thereof the Bridge was broken in sunder four of their great Fusts sunk with great store both of Men and Ordnance the Defendants also in the Tower with Shot Timber Stones and other such like things provided for that purpose grievously overwhelmed the Turks that were scaling the Walls and beat them down with great slaughter This hot Assault was desperately maintained by the Turks from three a clock in the morning untill ten when the Bassa seeing no hope to prevail gave over the Assault having therein lost above two thousand five hundred men whose dead bodies shortly after driven on shore were spoiled by the Christians The same night two Mercenary Souldiers of Crete going about to have fled unto the Enemy were apprehended and put to death And George Frapaine who in the beginning of the Siege fled from the Turks now again vehemently suspected of Treason was executed also Thus neither Force nor Treason prevailing the Bassa because he would leave nothing unproved that might better his cause sent certain Messengers unto the Great Master offering to him in the name of the Turkish Emperor great Rewards with many honourable Preferments if he would yield up the City which he could not as they would have perswaded him long hold against so mighty an Enemy wishing him now in his declining estate not to refuse such honourable and princely Offers for fear he were afterwards constrained to accept of far worse or else through his desperate wilfulness plunge himself and his People into such extreme peril as should be impossible for him or them to find any way out of Whereunto the Great Master in brief answered That he would not willingly in his sure estate use the counsel of his Enemy neither in his greatest distress refuse chearfully to yield his Life unto Almighty God to whom he did ow it and that with far better Will than to yield up the City upon any conditions bear they never so fair a shew of honour or profit The Messengers perceiving his constant resolution rather to die than to yield his City began according to instructions before given them by the Bassa to temper with him another way and to perswade him to yield unto the mighty Emperor some small yearly Tribute or other Homage as an acknowledgment of his greatness and so to live as his Friend in Peace But the Great Master knowing by the woful example of others that in that small request lay included the beginning of the Turkish Thraldom and Slavery utterly refused to pay him the least Tribute or to do him the
in himself at all the performance of any of those things which for fear he had with great solemnity promised as the sequel of the matter afterwards declared Amongst other things he was inforced to give unto the King his graceless Son Caesar Borgia Valentinus then one of the Cardinals in hostage for the performance of the other of his promises Which disgrace the crafty old Bishop sought to cover by gracing his Son with the title of his Legate and with him he was also enforced to deliver Zemes the Turk Bajazets Brother his honourable Prisoner who to the great profit of the Bishop and his Predecessor had remained in safe custody at Rome about the space of seven years But Zemes within three days after he was delivered to the French died at Cajeta being before his deliverance poisoned as it was thought with a powder of wonderful whiteness and pleasant taste whose power was not presently to kill but by little and little dispersing the force thereof did in short time bring most assured death which pleasant poyson Alexander the Bishop skilful in that practice corrupted by Bajazets Gold and envying so great a good unto the French had caused to be cunningly mingled with the Sugar wherewith Zemes used to temper the Water which he commonly drank His dead Body was not long after sent to Bajazet by Mustapha his Embassador who to the great contentment of his Master had thus contrived his death with the Bishop Not long after this dead Body so far brought was by the appointment of Bajazet honourably interred among his Ancestors at Prusa Caesar Borgia also the Bishops Son a little before given in hostage unto the French King deceiving his Keepers at Velitras returned again to Rome before the French King was come to Naples This wicked Imp come of an evil strain not worth the remembrance but by way of detestation the very monster of Nature if a man should well consider the course of his whole life shortly after his escape envying at the honour of Candianus his Brother who then was General over the Bishop his Fathers Forces which were at that time great when he had one time merrily supped with his said Brother with their Mother Vannotia traiterously caused him to be unawars murdred in the Streets as he was going home and his dead Body to be cast into the River of Tiber. Then casting off his Priestly Habit with his Cardinals Robes he took upon him the leading of his Fathers Army in his Brothers stead and gave himself wholly to Martial Affairs a vocation best fitting his fierce and bloody disposition and with exceeding Prodigality wherewith he exhausted his Fathers Coffers and the Treasures of the Church bound fast unto him desperate Ruffians and Souldiers especially Spaniards his Fathers Country men such as he knew fittest to serve for the execution of his most horrible devices Which manner of his proceedings although they were such as all good men detested yet the old Hypocrite his Father winked thereat fearing as it was thought to be murdred of the Viper himself when it should serve for his purpose Now when he had thus strengthned himself and that he was become a terror to all the Nobility of Rome and the Seigniories thereabout he by the advice and help of his Father who desired nothing more than to make him great first drave the most honourable Family of the Columnij out of the City and afterwards out of Latium and by most execrable Treachery poisoned or killed the honourable Personages of the great Houses of the Ursini and Caâtani taking to himself their Lands and Possessions With like cruelty he strangled at one time four Noblemen of the Camertes and drave Guido Feltrius out of Urbin He took the City of Pisarum from Io. Sfortia who with much difficulty escaped his bloody hands and drave the Malatestaes out of Ariminum The great Lady Katharine Sfortia he thrust out of Forum Livij and Forum Cornelij and shamefully led her in triumph through Rome And never satisfied with blood which he without measure shed he took the City of Faventia from Astor Manfredus a young Gentleman of rare perfection whom after the beastly Tyrant had most horribly abused against Nature he caused to be cruelly strangled and his dead body to be cast into Tiber. Having thus filled the measure of his iniquity and as a fretting Canker having either devoured or driven into exile most part of the Roman Nobility and purposing by the supportation of his Father to make himself Lord and Sovereign both of the City and of all Latium in the pride of his thoughts he was by the hand of the most High attached and cast down and that by such means as he least feared for being with his Father at a solemn Supper in the Vatican of purpose prepared for the destruction of certain rich Cardinals and some other honourable Citizens they were both poysoned by the fatal error of one of the Waiters who mistaking of a Flaggon gave the poisoned Wine to the accursed Bishop and his Son which was prepared for the Guests whereof the old Bishop in few days after died But his Son who had drunk the same with Water although he died not of long time after yet presently fell into such an extream sickness that he was not able to help himself or to command his desperate Followers whereof he had great store but lying sick in short time saw himself of them forsaken and two of his Enemies Pius the Third and Iulius the Second one after another sitting in his Fathers place Of which two Pius enjoyed that Pontifical Dignity but sixteen days and Iulius succeeding him caused this Caesar Borgia who of right had deserved a thousand deaths to be shut up in the Castle called Moles Adriani from whence he set him at liberty upon the delivery of certain strong Holds which were yet holden by his Garrisons After he had thus rid himself out of Iulius the Bishops hands he fled to Ostia and so by Sea to Naples where he was by the commandment of Ferdinand King of Spain apprehended by Gonsalvus the Great and transported into Spain for fear lest he being of a most troublesome Nature and much resorted unto by his old Favourites should raise some new stirs in Italy He was no sooner arrived in Spain but he was cast into Prison in the Castle of Medina where after he had lien three years he deceived his Keepers and with a Rope which he had gotten let himself down from an high Tower of the Castle and so escaping fled to the King of Navar whom he afterwards served in his Wars and was in an hot skirmish against the Kings Enemies wherein he had obtained the Victory slain with a small Shot Unworthy after so many horrible Villanies to have ended his days so honourably His dead Body was found stript and so brought unto the King upon a bad Beast as if it had been a dead Calf all naked which was by his
commandment honourably buried at Pamphilona But to return again from whence we have something too long with this troublesome Body gone astray The French King having thus lost both his great Hostages Zemes the Turk by death and the Cardinal Borgia by escape held on his journey towards Naples and with wonderful success prevailed as he went all places yielding unto him without any great resistance Alphonsus seeing himself destitute of such aid as he had in vain requested both of the Turkish Emperor and of the Venetians and now almost beset with his mighty Enemy to whom so many strong places had in shorter time been delivered than any man had before imagined and withal considering with himself how that he had lost the hearts of his Subjects the strongest defence of Princes for that most of the Nobility and especially the Neapolitans hated him for his too much severity in punishing the Offenders in the late Rebellion wherein the Princes of Sarne and Salerne were chief and the common People were no less offended with the grievous and heavy exactions required of them for the maintenance of these Wars insomuch that their murmuring Speeches came oftentimes to his own hearing as oftentimes it falleth out That the hatred of the Subjects against their Princes which hath for fear of long time been dissembled during their prosperity more frankly and fiercely breaketh out in their declining estate for these causes Alphonsus fearing to be forsaken of his People as a man in despair with abundance of tears openly in the sight of all the Neapolitans resigned his Kingdom of Naples to his son Ferdinand when as he had as yet scarcely reigned one whole year after the death of Ferdinand his Father and with four Gallies passed over to Mazerea a City of Cicilia His Son Ferdinand a Prince of rare perfection and singularly graced with all the vertues of true Nobility and thereto dearly beloved of all the People was to the wonderful contentment of the Neapolitans with great joy and acclamations saluted King and so having performed all the Ceremonies belonging to his Coronation returned presently to his Army By this time the French King with all his Forces was entred far into the Kingdom of Naples and having taken by Assault certain Cities which trusted too much to their own strength struck such a general terror into the minds of the Neapolitans that they thought no place now strong enough to abide his batteries or power sufficient to abide his Forces Ferdinand the young King with his Army had taken the Straits of the Forrest of S. Germane thereby to impeach the further passage of the French King. But whilst he was there busied he was suddainly advertised that Fabritius Columna with a great power of Frenchmen had by the Appenines broken into Campania and so was marching towards him wherefore doubting to be shut up betwixt two strong Armies of the Enemies he retired speedily to Capua a strong City situate upon the River Vulturnus purposing there by means of that deep River to stay the French from passing farther But whilst he lay there news was brought unto him That all the City of Naples was in an uprore and that the Citizens were all up in Arms as men in doubt which way to turn themselves Ferdinand not a little troubled with these bad news commended the charge of his Army and the defence of the City of Capua to his chief Captains and rid himself in post back again to Naples It is a strange thing to tell what a suddain alteration ensued upon his arrival there for suddainly all the tumult was appeased every man laid down his Arms and welcomed him with a general gratulation for he was a man of a great and invincible Courage and of so comely a Personage as might easily with the hearts of his Subjects insomuch that when he earnestly requested them that they would not traiterously betray him to his barbarous and cruel Enemies being their natural King or rather their Brother born and brought up amongst them they all with one consent answered That they would spend their Lives and Goods in his quarrel so long as he should keep his Army whole and defend the City of Capua but if it should so chance that the Aragonians should be overthrown or else for fear abandon that City and the French King as Victor to approach the City of Naples he should do both against reason and equity if by exacting Fidelity and Allegiance of his Subjects apprehended with so just a fear he should so expose that noble City with the fruitful Country thereabout to be spoiled and destroyed by a merciless and cruel Enemy Whilst Ferdinand was thus busied in appeasing and confirming his wavering Subjects at Naples the French King had taken divers Cities and was come before Capua The Citizens of Capua although they were alwaies well affected to the Aragonian Kings yet seeing the French King as a most violent Tempest to bear down all before him began now to consult amongst themselves of yielding up the City whereunto they were the more prickt forward by the suddain revolt of the great Captain Trivultius with his Followers as also by the departure of Verginius and Petilianus two great and famous Commanders who seeing themselves forsaken of Trivultius fled with their Companies unto the City of Nola. In this discomfiture of King Ferdinands Army the Frenchmen had entred into the Suburbs of the City which thing Gothfredus and Gaspar two valiant German Captains beholding sallied with their Companies out of the City of purpose to abate the pride of the French and to confirm the doubtful Citizens These worthy Captains when they had with exceeding Valour repulsed the French and thought to have again returned into the City could not be suffered to enter but were by the Citizens shut out of the Gate in danger to have had their Throats cut by the Eenmy In which perplexity they were glad upon their knees to intreat the cowardly Citizens standing upon the Walls not in such traiterous manner to betray their Friends ready in their defence to bestow their lives and with much intreating at length obtained of those heartless men that they they might by ten and ten in a Company be received in at one Gate of the City and so put out at another farthest from the danger of the Enemy in which sort when they had passed through the City they took the way towards Naples and upon the way met with the King at Aversa unto whom they declared all that had hapned in his absence at Capua who although he saw his Army dispersed and all things now desperate yet went he on forward and came to the very Gates of Capua and there called upon divers of the chief men of the City requiring to be let in But when he saw there was none to give him answer and an Ensign of the French King displaied upon the Wall in token that the City was become French he returned to
up his things of greatest price and with his Wives and Children fled into Arabia This Moratchamus is he whom some Historiographers called Mara-Beg and is in the Turks Histories called Imirsa Beg who as they report afterwards marrying the Daughter of Bajazet and recovering part of the Persian Kingdom was suddainly murthred by some of his Nobility whom he purposed secretly to have put to death if they had not prevented the same by murthring of him first Hysmael having victoriously subdued a great part of the Persian Kingdom and filled all the East part of the World with the glory of his name returned out of Assyria into Media and took in such Cities and strong Holds as were yet holden by the Garrisons of the late Persian King. And afterwards retuâning into Armenia made Wars upon the Albanians Iberians and Scythians which dwell upon the Borders of the Caspian for that those Nations in ancient times tributaries unto the Persian ãâ¦ã gs taking the benefit of the long Civil Wars wherewith the Kingdom of Persia and all the East Countries with the ruin of the Kings House had been of late turmoiled had neither paid any Tribute by the space of four years nor sent any honourable Embassage as they were wont and as was expected especially in so great a Victory and alteration of the State. Hysmael having thus obtained the Persian Kingdom in short time became famous through the World and was justly accounted amongst the greatest Monarchs of that Age. But nothing made him more to be spoken of than the innovation he had made in the Mahometan Superstition for by his device and commandment a new form of Prayer was brought into their Mahometan Temples far differing from that which had been of long time before used By reason whereof Ebubekir Homer and Osman the successors of their great Prophet Mahomet before had in great regard and reverence began now to be contemned and their writings nothing regarded and the honour of Hali exalted as the true and only Successor of their great Prophet And because he would have his Subjects and the Followers of his Doctrine known from the Turks and other Mahometans he commanded that they should all wear some red Hatband Lace or Ribband upon their Heads which they Religiously observe in Persia until this day whereof they are of the Turks called Cuselba's or Red-heads And in short time he had so used the matter that he was wonderfully both beloved and reverenced of his Subjects insomuch that his sayings were accounted for divine Oracles and his commandments for Laws so that when they would confirm any thing by solemn Oath they would swear by the Head of Hysmael the King and when they wished well to any Man they usually said Hysmael grant thee thy desire Upon his Coyn which he made both of Silver and Gold on the one side was written these words La illahe illalahu Muhame dum resul allahe which is to say There is no Gods but one and Mahomet is his Messenger And on the other side Ismaill halife lullahe which is to say Hysmael the Vicar of God. Whilst Hysmael was thus wrestling for the Persian Kingdom year 1508. Chasan Chelife and Techellis whom we have a little before declared to have bin brought out of the Mountains and Desarts into the Country-Villages and afterwards into the Cities and to have filled the Countries of Armenia and a great part of the lesser Asia with the novelty of their new Doctrine and Opinions first phantasied by one Giunet Siech and afterward revived by Haider Erdebil Hysmael his Father having gathered a great Army of such as had received their Doctrine invaded the Turks Dominion For after that Techellis this cold Prophet had with wonderful felicity in the presence of many prognosticated of things to come and Hysmael the Sophi of late a poor exiled and banished man was thought to have grown unto the highest type of Worldly Honours not by mans help but by uprightness of life and the fortunate passage of an undoubted Religion such a desire of receiving that new Superstition possessed the minds of the People in general that the Cities and Towns thereabouts were now full of them which in token of their new profession had taken upon them the wearing of the Red Hat the known Cognisance of the Cuselba's First they met together at the City of Tascia at the Foot of the Mountain Antitaurus or as the Turkish History reports at the City of Attalia to the number of ten thousand upon a great Fair-day where they laid hands upon the chief Magistrate of the City and executed him setting his quarters upon four of the highest Towers of the City and further perswaded by these new Masters of this new Superstition to take up Arms in defence of themselves and of their sincere Religion as they termed it in case that any violence should be offered them by the irreligious Turks they all swore never to forsake their Captains for any distress or yet refuse any labour or adventure for the honour of their most holy Religion as they would have it in defence whereof they had already vowed their Souls and Bodies These Ringleaders of Rebellion seeing the minds of their frantick Followers so well prepared for their purpose and reposing a great confidence in their valor and resolution and withal considering that the mony which was bountifully brought in unto them by the Country People partly for Devotion partly for Fear was not sufficient to maintain so great a multitude gave leave by publique Proclamation to their unruly Followers to forrage the Country round about them and to live upon the Spoil of them which would not receive their new found Doctrine Whereupon they dividing themselves into divers Companies and ranging up and down the Country brought into the Camp abundance of Cattel and other such things as the Country yielded and forthwith their multitude still increasing they entred into Lycaonia a populous and fruitful Country where they refreshed themselves many days roaming up and down to the great grievance and terror of the People and brought such a fear upon the whole Country that they which dwelt in open Durps and Villages were glad to flie with their Wives Children and Goods into the strong City of Iconium for Proclamations were in many places set up in the names of Chasan Chelife and Techellis wherein many both Spiritual and Temporal Blessings were in most ample manner proposed to all such as should forthwith take part with them and follow that their new Doctrine already established in Persia but unto such as should obstinately persevere in their old Superstition after they had once drawn their Sword was threatned utter destruction without without hope of pardon of Life So that all the Inhabitants thereabouts terrified with the terror of this Proclamation some for fear of Death some upon Inconstancy some for safeguard of their Goods and Possessions dearer unto them than any Religion some other indebted infamous in danger
humor Yet might Bajazet seem to do him wrong if he should not according to his promise again restore him unto the possession of the Empire which he had almost thirty years before received at his hands as is before in the beginning of his life declared But Selymus being of a more haughty disposition than to brook the life of a Subject under the command of either of his Brethren and altogether given to martial Affairs sought by infinite Bounty feigned Courtesie subtil Policy and by all other means good and bad to aspire unto the Empire Him therefore the Janizaries with all the great Souldiers of the Court yea and some of the chief Bassaes also corrupted with Gifts wished above the rest for their Lord and Sovereign desiring rather to live under him which was like to set all the World on a hurly burly whereby they might increase their Honour and Wealth the certain rewards of their Adventures than to lead an idle and unprofitable Life as they termed it under a quiet and peaceable Prince Whilst men stood thus diversly affected towards these Princes of so great hope Bajazet now far worn with years and so grievously tormented with the Gout that he was not able to help himself for the quietness of his Subjects and preventing of such troubles as might arise by the aspiring of his Children after his death determined whilst he yet lived for the avoiding of these and other such like mischiefs to establish the succession in some one of his Sons who wholly possessed of the Kingdom might easily repress the pride of the other And although he had set down with himself that Achomates should be the man as well in respect of his Birth-right as of the especial affection he bare unto him yet to discover the disposition of his Subjects and how they stood affected it was given out in general terms That he meant before his death to make it known to the World who should succeed in the Empire without naming any one of his Sons leaving that for every man to divine of according as they were affected which was not the least cause that every one of his Sons with like ambition began now to make small account of their former Preferments as thinking only upon the Empire it self First of all Selymus year 1511. whom Bajazet had made Governor of the Kingdom of Trapezond rigging up all the Ships he could in Pontus sailed from Trapezond over the Euxine now called the Black Sea to the City of Capha called in ancient time Theodosia and from thence by Land came to Mahometes King of the Tartars called Praecopenses a mighty Prince whose Daughter he had without the good liking of his Father before married and discovering unto him his intended purpose besought him by the sacred Bonds of the Affinity betwixt them not to shrink from him his loving Son-in-law in so fit an opportunity for his advancement And withal shewed unto him what great hope of obtaining the Empire was proposed unto him by his most faithful Friends and the Souldiers of the Court if we would but come nearer unto his Father then about to transfer the Empire to some one of his Sons and either by fair means to procure his favour or by entring with his Army into Thracia to terrifie him from appointing either of his other Brethren for the Successor The Tartar King commending his high device as a kind Father-in-law with wonderful celerity caused great store of shipping to be made ready in the Pontick Sea and Moeotis but especially at the Ports of Copa and Tana upon the great River of Tanais which boundeth Europe from Asia and arming fifteen thousand Tartarian Horsemen delivered them all to Selymus promising forthwith to send him greater Aid if he should have occasion to use the same These things being quickly dispatched Selymus passing over the River Borrysthenes and so through Valachia came at length to Danubius and with his Horsemen passed that famous River at the City of Chelia his Fleet he commanded to meet him at the Port of the City of Varna called in ancient time Dionysiopolis in the Confines of Bulgaria and Thracia he himself still levying more men by the way as he went pretending in shew quite another thing than he had indeed intended which the better to cover he gave it out as if he had purposed to have invaded Hungary But Bajazet a good while before advertised that Selymus was departed from Trapezond and come over into Europe marvelling that he had left his charge in Asia the Rebellion of Techellis and the Persian War yet scarce quieted and that upon his own head he had entertained forreign Aid to make War against the most warlike Nation of the Hungarians and farther that with his Army by Land he had seised upon the places nearest unto Thracia and with a strong Navy kept the Euxine Sea he began to suspect as the truth was That all this preparation was made and intended against himself for the crafty old Sire had good proof of the unquiet and troublesome nature of his Son especially in that without his knowledge he durst presume to take a Wife from amongst the Tartars and afterwards with no less presumption of himself raise an Army both by Sea and Land whereby he easily perceived that he would never hold himself contented with a small Kingdom so long as he was in hope by a desperat adventure to gain a greater Yet thinking it better with like dissimulation to appease his violent and fierce Nature than by sharp reproof to move him to farther Choler he sent unto him Embassadors to declare to him with what danger the Turkish Kings had in former times taken upon them those Hungarian Wars for example whereof he needed not to go no further than to his Grandfather Mahomet the Great who many times to his exceeding loss had made proof of the Hungarian Forces wherefore he should do well to expect some fit opportunity when as he might with better advice greater power and more sure hope of Victory take those Wars in hand Whereunto Selymus answered That he had left Asia inforced thereunto by the injuries of his Brother Achomates and was therefore come over into Europe by dint of Sword and the help of his Friends to win from the Enemies of the Mahometan Religion a larger and better Province for that little barren and peaceable one which his Father had given him bordering upon Hiberia and Cholchos bare and needy People living as Connies amongst the Rocks and Mountains As for the Hungarians whom they thought to be a People invincible and therefore not to be dealt withal he was not of that base mind to be daunted with any danger were it never so great and yet that in his opinion the War was neither so difficult or dangerous as was by them prentended forasmuch as the ancient prowess of that warlike Nation was now much changed together with the change of their Kings and their Discipline of
of the slain Footmen came in in good time for Selymus and with certain fresh Troops which had escaped the fury of Vasta Ogli restored the Battel before almost lost but especially by the invincible courage of Alis Beg and Mahomet his Brother descended of the honourable Family of the Malcozzij which for Nobility amongst the Turks is accounted next unto the Othomans both of them for courage resembling their Warlike Father Malcozzius famous for that woful expedition he made into Friuli against the Venetians in the Reign of Bajazet Selymus also not yet discouraged but still in hope commanded all the great Ordnance wherewith he was environed which he had reserved as his last refuge to be discharged by the violence whereof such slaughter was made as well of his own Men as of his Enemies mingled together that what for dust what for smoak and thundring of the Artillery having on both sides almost lost the use of sight and hearing and their Horses being so terrified with the thundring report of the great Ordnance that they were not now to be ruled the Battel was broken off the Victory yet doubtful The Turkish Histories to express the terror of this day number it amongst their dismal days terming it The only day of Doom Hysmael in this furious Battel having received a Wound under his left Shoulder with a small shot by perswasion of his friends withdrew himself to have his Wound searched which thing undoubtedly was the safegard both of Selymus and his Army for the Persians by and by following their King left the Victory now in all Mens opinion almost gotten But after that Hysmael perceived the Wound was not deep for that the strength of his Armor had so broken the force of the shot that it pierced not far into his Body he was about to have charged the Turks afresh but understanding of the death of Vasta Ogli in whom for his singular experience in martial Affairs he had reposed his greatest confidence and his Captains also perswading him not to make so light reckoning of his Wound the grief whereof he yet felt not being warm but to have regard to his own Health He in seemly order softly marched away in such sort that his departure had no resemblance of flight And passing by the City of Tauris willed the chief of the Citizens to open the Gates of the City to Selymus if he should come thither and to receive his Garrisons rather than by vain constancy to fall into utter destruction and so marched himfelf into the Confines of Media But the Turks intangled with many difficulties having no hearts for fear nor strength for weariness to pursue their Enemies yet coming to the Persian Tents took them without resistance where beside the rich Pavillions wrought with Needle-work of Silk and Gold and much other precious Furniture many noble Ladies and Gentlewomen were found which after the manner of the Persians had followed their Husbands in those Wars whom Selymus caused to be all freely set at liberty untouched excepting one of the Wives of Hysmael whom he detained and gave her in Marriage to one of his Bassaes. Some which were present at this Battel reported that amongst the heaps of them that were slain were found the dead bodies of divers Persian Women which being Armed and following their Husbands died with them in the Battel whom Selymus caused to be honestly buried Thus was that notable Battel fought in the Galderan Fields near unto the City of Coy betwixt these two great Princes the seventh day of August in the year of our Lord 1514. In which Battel Selymus lost above thirty thousand Men amongst whom was Chasan Bassa his great Lieutenant in Europe seven Sanzaks in which were the two Malcozzian Brethren who labouring the one to rescue the other were both together slain Bside his common Footmen of whom he made least reckoning he lost most part of his Illyrian Macedonian Servian Epirot Thessalian and Thracian Horsemen the undoubted flower and strength of his Army which were in that mortal Battel almost all slain or grievously wounded Selymus for all this great loss by the confession of his Enemies having gotten the Victory and receiving Embassadors from Coy and the Cities thereabouts and the great City of Tauris promising to relieve him with whatsoever he needed and to do what else he should command marched directly to Tauris desiring both to see and possess himself of that City as one of the chief Palaces of the Persian Kings This City is two days journey distant from Coy where the Battel was fought and is verily thought to be the famous City called in ancient time Ecbathana about an hundred and fifty Miles distant from the Caspian Sea. The Citizens were ready at the coming of the Turks and brought them great store of Victuals out of the Gates of the City where Selymus had lodged his Army in the Suburbs thinking it no safety to lodge within that great and populous City contenting himself to have the Gates thereof delivered unto him which he kept with strong Guard. Some report that Selymus durst not trust the Persians and therefore never went into the City but disguised in the Habit of a common Souldier Yet some others say that he did with great magnificence Banquet in the stately Palace of the Persian King and there had great discourse with them of Taurus concerning his late Victory But whilst he thus staied at Tauris and with himself purposed to spend that Winter in Armenia he called together his great Captains and Commanders of his Army to know how they liked thereof who fearing his displeasure wholly referred themselves to his own resolution Only Mustapha his chief Bassa chanced to say That it were good that the minds of the Janizaries and the other Souldiers of the Court should therein be known Which his Speech Selymus took in such evil part that he presently commanded him out of his sight and deprived him of his greatest Honour and the more to disgrace him sent one of his Jesters after him who in great scorn and derision coming behind him cut off part of his Tulipant that hung down as the Fashion was But the Janizaries understanding the matter and much offended with the indignity offered unto the great Bassa whom they dearly loved rose up all together in Arms and told Selymus flatly That they would not in any case Winter so far from home in the Enemies Country and therefore that it were best for him betime to consider of the matter for that they were resolutely set down to forsake him if he would needs stay and not with speed return Selymus much troubled with this insolency of the Janizaries and hearing daily that Hysmael with new supplies out of Iberia Albania and Parthia was coming upon him with greater power than before and considering withal with what difficulty and danger he had escaped in the late Battel preserved rather by his good fortune and force of his great Artillery
work of whom Solyman in this Siege of the Rhodes and other his Expeditions made not much more account but as of Pioniers to work in Mines and to cast up Trenches and oftentimes with their Bodies to fill Town-Ditches to make a way for the Janizaries to pass over upon they by the constraint of Achimetes undermined the Wall and as they wrought shoared up the same again with Timber whereunto they afterwards set Fire hoping by that means to overthrow the Wall which falling not out according to their expectation for that they had not far enough undermined it they assailed with great Hooks and strong Ropes to have pulled it down But the Rhodians with their great Ordnance from the Avergne Bulwark quickly put them from that mad work with great slaughter and frustrated all their long labour Achimetes thus disappointed of his purpose stood in great doubt whether he should give over the enterprise for that he saw he laboured in vain or else in that dangerous place to expect some better hap the only mean to save him from the Tyrants heavy displeasure who as he knew measured all things by the event Solyman understanding by Achimetes that the Wall although it was not overthrown as was expected was yet sore shaken and weakned with undermining caused his Battery to be planted against that part of the Wall so undermined which so many ways weakned and now sore battered fell down daily more and more For remedy whereof the Rhodians laboured night and day to raise a new Wall in stead of that which was beaten down At the same time Solyman perswaded by the general opinion of all his great Captains that the City was that day or never to be taken determining to give another general Assault caused Proclamation to be made through his Camp wherein he gave the spoil of the City unto his Souldiers and the more to encourage them spake unto them in few words as followeth Fortune at length valiant Souldiers having notably proved your Courage and Patience now offereth unto you the worthy Rewards of your Labour and Pains The Victory and Wealth of your Enemies which you have so much desired is now in your Hands Now is the time to make an end of this mungrel People of whom more are slain than left alive and they not Men but the Shadows and Ghosts of Men feeble and spent with Hunger Wounds Wants and Labour who will I know resist you not because they so dare but because of necessity they so must enforced thereunto with all extremities Wherefore now revenge your selves of the Falshood Cruelty and Villanies of these Christians and make them a woful example to all posterity that never Man hereafter presume to offer injury to a Turk in whatsoever State he be The way is already open into the City there is a fair Breach made whereby thirty Horsemen may at once enter nothing wanteth but Courage in you to assail the same The Souldiers encouraged with this Speech of their Emperor made great shew of cheerfulness and promised to do their uttermost devoir threatning unto the Christians most horrible Death and miserable Captivity In the mean time the great Shot flying continually through the Breach did beat down many Houses in the City but the Countermure new built against the Breach standing upon a lower ground it seldom toucht to the great good of the Rhodians The ratling of the falling Houses the horrible noise of the Enemy with the thundering of the great Artillery wonderfully terrified the miserable Citizens in every place was heard the Lamentation of Women and Children every thing shewed the heaviness of the time and seemed as altogether lost and forlorn The day thus troublesomely spent the night followed much more troublesome and after the night the day of Assault of all other most dreadful for with the dawning thereof the glistering Ensigns of the Enemy were seen flying in the Wind and the Turks cheerful with the hope of Spoil and Victory hasted towards the Breach with great Outcries and Songs after their Country manner and there before one of the Gates of the City called St. Ambrose Gate set down a great number of their Ensigns deckt with Garlands in token of Victory The Turks great Fleet also at the same time sailing too and fro before the Haven made shew as if it would have assailed the City on that side who had seen the City so beset would have said that it would at one instant have been besieged both by Sea and Land and to most Mens judgments it seemed that the Rhodian State should that day have taken end and been destroyed Yet for all these extremities the Rhodians were nothing discouraged but looking upon their Weapons as the only remainders of their hopes not regarding any danger upon the Alarm given came running out of their Houses by heaps unto the Walls like desperate Men opposing their Bodies in stead of their battered Walls against their Enemies in defence of their Country There needed neither Exhortation nor command of Captain every Man was unto himself a perswader to fight valiantly in defence of the City and one of them propounded unto another the cruel death the miserable servitude the mocks and taunts they should indure if they should chance to come into the proud Enemies hand all which was to be avoided either by honourable Victory or Death The Turks conducted by Achimetes fiercely assailed the Breach which was by the Rhodians standing upon the ruins of their Walls valiantly defended In the mean time the dismaied Matrons and Maidens some in their Houses with heavy Hearts expected the woful Destruction of the City and themselves othersome in the Churches with Floods of Tears and lamentable Cries poured forth their Prayers to the Almighty craving his help in that their hard distress and to protect them against their barbarous Enemies The deadly Fight at the Breach was on both sides with great courage and force maintained The Turks were in good hope forthwith to win the City if they did but a little more strain themselves and therefore to terrifie the Rhodians the more oftentimes in their fighting gave out most terrible outcries and the Rhodians accounted the Turks as good as vanquished for they being so many in number and in a place of such indifferency had not yet prevailed beside that they were greatly incouraged with the greatness of the common danger and the sight one of anothers Valour so that by their invincible Courage the Turks were inforced shamefully to retire The Rhodians seeing their Enemies turn their Backs gave a great shout in derision of them the Turks disdaining that they in number many and now Victors if they should with a little resolution maintain the Assault they had begun should be so derided of a handful of Men as good as already vanquished with great indignation returned again to the Breach and more furiously assailed the Rhodians than at the first At which time the City had undoubtedly been
Inhabitants of the Island as they were flying into the Mountains and in revenge of the hatred he had conceived against Vastius at the Siege of Nice he burnt Forino Pansa and Varranium three chief Towns of that Island but Pithacusa the dwelling place of Vastius standing upon a broken Rock somewhat distant from the Sea he durst not adventure upon Then scraping along the Island Prochita with less hurt because most part of the Inhabitants were before fled to Pithacusa he put into the Bay of Puteoli and sent Salec the Pyrat with part of his Fleet to make proof if the City of Puteoli might from Sea be battered Salec drawing near the City shot into it with his great Ordnance and by chance slew one Saiavedra a valiant Spaniard upon the Walls and put the Citizens in a great fear lest the whole Fleet should have landed they themselves as then unprovided but the Viceroy came presently with a power both of Horse and Foot from Naples which Barbarussa discovering from Sea as they came down the Mountains called back Salec and leaving the Island of Capri and passing by the Promontory Atheneum was about to have seised upon Salernum when a Tempest suddainly arising dispersed his Fleet and drave him beyond the Promontory Palinurus upon the Coast of Calabria where he did exceeding much harm especially at Carreato From thence he departed to the Island of Lipari betwixt Italy and Sicily which Island he miserably spoiled and with forty great Pieces so battered the City that the Citizens were constrained for fear to yield whom he carried away all Prisoners about the number of seven thousand of one sort of People and other and burnt the City So loaded with the rich Spoil of Italy and the Islands upon the Coast he returned towards Constantinople with such a multitude of poor Christian Captives shut up so close under Hatches amongst the excrements of Nature that all the way as he went almost every hour some of them were cast dead over-board every man detesting the endless hatred betwixt the Emperor and the French King the very ground of all this and many thousand other most woful and underserved calamities of the poor Subjects With this rich Prey and an infinite number of Captives Barbarussa arrived at Constantinople in the beginning of Autumn in the year 1544 where he was honourably received of Solyman and highly commended for his good service both by Sea and Land. Solyman triumphing at Constantinople of the good success he had in Hungary in the midst of all his glory was advertised of the death of Mahomet his eldest Son whom of all his Children he held dearest whose dead Body was shortly after brought from Magnesia and with wonderful solemnity and no less mourning buried at Constantinople How entirely Solyman loved this his Son well appeared by the great sorrow he conceived of his death and not contented to have built him a stately Tomb erected also in memorial of him a Mahometan Church called the Church of Mahomet the Lesser for the difference of Mahomet the Great who won Constantinople Whereunto he also annexed a Monastery and a Colledg with many things more after the gross manner of their Superstition for the health of his Soul as he vainly supposed After that Solyman according to his wonted manner which was but every second or third year to take in hand some notable expedition ceased from Wars by the space of two years in which time many of the great Princes and worthy Men of that Age died amongst whom was Francis the French King. Hariadenus Barbarussa that famous Turk of whom we have so often spoken who being of great years and no less fame left this life in the year 1547. and was buried at a House of his own called Besictas near unto Bosphorus Thracius on Europe side not far from the Mouth of Euxinum about four miles from Pera where he had but few years before at one time sold about sixteen thousand Christian Captives taken out of Corcyra and to make famous that place appointed for his Burial he of his own cost built there a Mahometan Temple there yet with his Sepulcher to be seen That place was in ancient time called Iasonium About which time also died of conceit that famous Captain Alphonsus Davalus Vastius taken away by untimely death when he had lived but forty five years At which time Charles the Emperor by his Embassador Gerardus Veltunich concluded a Peace with Solyman for five years wherein King Ferdinand was also included which Peace was afterwards before the expiration thereof by Solyman at the request of Henry the French King broken year 1548. Solyman had now almost three years taken his rest year 1549. when it fortuned that Ercases Imirza King of Sirvan moved with the often injuries of Tamas his Brother the great Persian King fled to Solyman at Constantinople to crave aid of him against his Brother Solyman glad of such an occasion to work upon entertained him with all courtesie and promised to take upon him his quarrel and to protect him against his unnatural Brother And when he had made all things ready for so great an expedition passed over into Asia and after long and painful travel entred at last with a puissant Army into Armenia and there in the Borders of the Persian Kingdom first besieged the City of Van which after ten days siege was yielded unto him upon condition that the Persian Souldiers there in Garrison might with life and liberty depart with their Arms as Souldiers which was at the first by Solyman granted and so the City surrendred From thence Solyman sent his chief Commanders with a great part of his Army to burn and spoil the Enemies Country which they for a time chearfully performed and running far into the Country strive as it were amongst themselves who should do most harm where Imirza amongst the rest for whose sake Solyman had undertaken this War was as forward as the best to wast and spoil his Brothers Kingdom sparing nothing that came to hand the best and richest things he got he presented to Solyman to draw him on still in that War. But that served not his turn to recover again his Kingdom of Sirvan for Tamas without shewing any power to withstand the Turks had after his wonted manner caused his people to withdraw themselves far into the Mountain Country leaving nothing behind them in that wast Country to relieve them but the bare Ground so that the farther the Turks went the more they wanted without hope of better success than such as they had before to their loss made proof of in their former expeditions into that great Kingdom The conceit whereof so much pierced not the common Souldiers only but even the Captains themselves that to make an end of that long and unprofitable War taken in hand for another Mans good they consulted amongst themselves either to kill Imirza or else to disgrace him with Solyman Which they so
their minds altogether estranged from that War easily staied the raging Turk they detested that War and forsook their Ensigns a great number of whom especially Horsemen without leave of their Captains returned to Constantinople and being commanded again to the Camp went indeed but with such countenance and chear as well declared how they were affected and what they would do if occasion served for them to revolt For which cause after that Solyman perceived that Bajazet could not alive be got from the Persian excusing himself by fear of revenge by him whom he had so grievously offended if he should by any means escape he thought it best to follow that which was next and to have him there slain which he was in good hope to compass and the rather for that the Persian had but lately written unto him That he could not but much marvel to see him deal so slenderly in a matter of so great importance That he on his part had sent him divers Embassadors and that he on the other side had sent him nothing but common Messengers with Papers which caused him to think that he made no great account of the matter wherefore he should do well to send unto him Men of account and place with whom he might confer and conclude also according to the weightiness and exigence of the cause besides that he was as he said not a little in his debt for that Bajazet and his Followers had been unto him no small charge before he could get him into his power all which it were good reason he should have consideration of Whereby Solyman perceived that Mony was the thing the Persian King sought after and therefore rather than he would in an unfit time of his life intangle himself in a dangerous and unnecessary War he determined by the counsel of his Bassaes rather with Mony than with the Sword to fight with the Persian King. Hereupon was Hassan Aga one of the chief Gentlemen of his Chamber appointed Embassador into Persia with whom was joyned the Bassa of Maras a Man both for his age and place reverend who departing with a large Commission almost in the depth of Winter with great speed and wonderful toil by those long and difficult ways arrived at last at Casbin the Seat of the Persian King having by the way lost divers of their Servants and Followers Being come to the Court the first thing they desired was to see Bajazet whom they found shut up in a close Prison pale and wan as a Man forlorn with his Hair and Beard so long and overgrown as that he was not to be known before he was new Trimmed which done then appeared the lively resemblance of his wonted countenance and favour so that Hassan verily knew him to be him for he had been brought up with him of a Child in the Court and for this cause especially had Solyman sent him thither to be assured that it was he At length after long discourse and conference between the King and the Embassadors it was agreed upon that the King should receive from Solyman full recompence of all the charges he had been at and of the harms by him sustained since the coming of Bajazet into Persia with such further reward as so great a good turn deserved which things performed that then it should be in Solymans power to have Bajazât made away With this news Hassan posteth to his Master at Constantinople who forthwith caused the promised Reward together with such charges as the Persian King demanded to be made ready and with a safe convoy to be sent unto the Borders of Persia where they were of the Persians received Presently after returneth Hassan the appointed Executioner of the unfortunate Bajazet for so Solyman had straitly charged him to strangle him with his own hands Which thing this new made Hangman accordingly performed and with a Bow-string strangled the unfortunate Prince who is reported to have requested of the Executioner that he might but see his Children before he died and take of them his last farewel which poor request could not be granted but he forthwith commanded to die This was the woful end of the unlucky attempt of Bajazet a Prince of far more worth than was Selymus his Brother who in seeking to shun the death he feared hasted the same before his time Such as was the Fathers end was also the end of his four Sons Omer Amurat Selym and Muhamet of whom the three eldest were strangled at Casbin with their Father whose dead Bodies together with his were solemnly brought to Sebastia and there buried The youngest but new born left at Amasia and sent by his Grandfather to Prusa as is before said to be there nursed was now upon the death of his Father commanded by his said Grandfather to be strangled also The Eunuch sent by Solyman to have done the deed and loth to do it himself took with him one of the Porters of the Court a desperate and otherwise a hard hearted Ruffian a Man thought fit to have performed any villany he coming into the Chamber where the Child lay and fitting the Bow-string to the Childs Neck to have strangled him the innocent Babe smiling upon him and lifting it self up as well as it could with open Arms offered to have embraced the Villain about the Neck and kissed him Which guiltless simplicity so wounded the stony hearted Man that he was not able to perform the intended butchery of the poor simple Child but fell down in a swoun and there lay for dead The Eunuch standing without the Door marvelling at his long stay goes in and finding the Ruffian lying along upon the ground with cruel hand performed that the other could not find in his heart to do and so strangled the guiltless Child as had been given him in charge Whereby it evidently appeared that it was not the mercy or compassion of Solyman that so long caused the guiltless Infant to be spared but rather the opinion generally received amongst the Turks who measuring all things by the good or bad success refer all things that fall out well unto God as the Author thereof be they never so ungraciously begun and therefore so long as it was yet uncertain what success the attempts of Bajazet would have Solyman spared the Infant lest upon his Fathers good hap he might seem to have striven against the will of God. But now that his Father was dead and his quarrel by the evil success thereof condemned as it were by the sentence of the Almighty he thought it not good longer to suffer him to live lest of an evil Bird might come an evil Chick I had sometime saith the Reporter of this History great reasoning with my Chiaus about this matter for falling into talk with him of Bajazet he began bitterly to inveigh against him for taking up Arms against his Brother Whereunto saith this Author I replied That in mine opinion he was worthy both to be
issued out at the Castle Gate with the rest following him where valiantly fighting with the Janizaries upon the Bridge and having slain some of them he was first wounded in two places of his Body with small Shot and at last struck in the Head with an unlucky shot fell down dead the Turk for joy crying out their wonted word Alla. The rest of the Souldiers in flying back again into the Castle were all slain by the Turks except some few whom some of the Janizaries in regard of their Valour by putting their Caps upon their Heads saved from the fury of the reââ In this Siege the Turks as they themselves reported lost seven thousand Janizaries and twenty eight thousand other Souldiers beside many voluntary Men not enrolled in their Muster-Books and three of their great Bassaes. Serinus his Head was presently cut off and the next day with the Heads of the other slain Christians set upon a Pole for all the Army to gaze upon After that it was taken down and by Muhamet the great Bassa sent to Mustapha the Bassa of Buda his Kinsman who by two Country Men sent it wrapped in a red Scarf covered with a fair linnen Cloth to Count Salma in the Emperors Camp at Rab with this taunting Letter thus directed Muhamet Bassa to Eccius Salma Greeting IN token of my love behold here I send thee the Head of a most resolute and valiant Captain thy Friend the remainder of his Body I have honestly buried as became such a Man. Sigeth biddeth thee farwell for ever The death of this noble and valiant Captain was much lamented of all the Christian Army and his Head with many tears by his Son Balthasar honourably buried amongst his Ancestors in Tschacatârna his own Castle Solyman at his coming with this mighty Army into Hungary had purposed before his return if he had not been by death prevented to have conquered both the remainder of the Kingdom of Hungary and to have again attempted the winning of Vienna For the accomplishing of which his Designs he at his first coming sent Parthaus Bassa with forty thousand Turks to help the Bassa of Temesware and the Tartars in the behalf of the Vayvod to besiege the strong Town of Guyla situate upon the Lake Zarkad in the Confines of Transylvania not far from whence Suendi had but in August before overthrown the Tartars called in by Solyman for the aid of the Vayvod and slain of them ten thousand And at the same time he sent Mustapha Bassa of Bosna and Caraâbeiâs with a great Power to Alba Râgalis who joyning with the Bassa of Buda should keep the Emperor Maximilian busie whilst he in the mean time besiegeth Sigeth as is before declared Parthaus Bassa coming to Gyula and laying hard Siege to the Town was still notably repulsed by Nicholaus Keretschen Governor of the Town insomuch that in a sally he had certain Pieces of his great Ordnance taken from him by the Defendants and the rest cloied But this brave Captain not to have been constrained by all that the Bassa could do was at last perswaded by his Kinsman George Bebicus from whom Suendi had a little before taken certain Castles for revolting from the Emperor to the Vayvod for a great sum of Mony to deliver up the Town to the Bassa which he did covenanting beside his Reward That the Souldiers should with Bag and Baggage in safety depart all which was frankly granted who were not gon past a mile out of the Town but they were set upon by the Turks and all slain except some few which crept into the Reeds growing in the Marish fast by and so escaped The Traitor himself expecting his Reward was carried in Bonds to Constantinople where afterward upon complaint made how hardly he had used certain Turks whom he had sometime taken Prisoners he was by the commandment of Selymus who succeeded Solyman thrust into an Hogshead struck full of Nails with the Points inward with this inscription upon it Here receive the Reward of thy Avarice and Treason Gyula thoââoldst for Gold if thou be not faithful to Maximilian thy Lord neither wilt thou be to me and so the Hogshead closed fast up he was therein rolled up and down until he therein miserably died The Emperors Camp then lying at Rab and the Bassa of Buda and Bosna with thirty thousand Turks not far off at Alba Regalis and many hot skirmishes passing between them it fortuned that the fifth of September the Turks in hope to have done some great piece of service upon the Christians came forth of the Camp in great number and by chance light upon a few Forragers of the Army of whom they slew some the rest flying raised an Alarm in the Camp whereupon the Hungarians and Burgundians with some others issuing out pursuing the Turks slew divers of them in which pursuit George Thuriger descrying the Governor of Alba Regalis a Man in great account and very inward with Solyman whilst he lived fiercely pursued him in the midst of the flying Enemies and never left him until he had taken him Prisoner and at his return presenting him to the Emperor was for that good service Knighted and rewarded with a Chain of Gold. There was by chance then present a Spaniard who had heard him say openly at Constantinople That he alone with his own power was able to vanquish the German King by which name the Turks commonly term the Emperor With which words when that the Spaniard hardly charged him in the presence of the Emperor still urging him as it were to say something for himself the Turk answered him in these few words following Such is the chance of War thou seest me now a Prisoner and able to do nothing All these troubles with many more like in short time to have ensued were by the death of Solyman within a while after well appeased Muhamet Bassa after he had repaired the Breaches and placed a Turk Governor of Sigeth with a strong Garrison for the defence of the place and commanding of the Country called back the dispersed Forces and rising with the Army retired toward Belgrade carrying Solymans dead Body all the way sitting upright in his Horse-litter carried by Mules giving it out that he was sick of the Gout which thing the Janizaries easily believed knowing that he had been many years so carried yet still wishing his presence as always unto them fortunate although that he were able for to do nothing Christian Princes of the same time with Solyman Emperors of Germany Charles the Fifth 1519. 39. Ferdinand 1558. 7. Maximilian the Second 1565. 12. Kings Of England Henry the Eighth 1509. 38. Edward the Sixth 1546. 6. Queen Mary 1553. 6. Queen Elizabeth 1558. 45. Of France Francis the First 1514. 32. Henry the Second 1547. 12. Francis the Second 1559. 1. Charles the Ninth 1560. 14. Of Scotland James the Fifth 1514. 29. Queen Mary 1543. Bishops of Rome
Leo the X. 1513. 8. Hadrian the VI. 1522. 1. Clement the VII 1523. 10. Paulus the III. 1534. 15. Julius the III. 1550. 5. Marcellus the II. 1555. 22 days Paulus the IV. 1555. 4. Pius the IV. 1560. 5. Pius the V. 1566. 6. Dissimilis patri Selymus regalia Sceptra Corripit et dira concutit arma manu Faedus cum Venetis frangit quid faedera prosunt Armataque manu Cypria regna rapit Instravit tumidum numerosis classibus Aequor Ut Naupactiacas nobilitaret aquas Unlike his Father Selymus fills the Throne Breathing where e're he march't Destruction His sacred League with Venice basely brakes And arm'd with power the Syrian kingdomes takes With a stupendious Fleet covers the Sea To be a Witness to his Infamy Muldavum faeda mulctavit morte Dynasten Et magni fines prorogat imperij Obruit Hispanos multa vi Punica regna Destruit et regnis adijcit illa suis. Sed nimis in venerem pronus vinoque sepultus Extremum properat praecipitare diem And to his Throne to add Moldavia Their noble Vayvod butcherly do's slay And when the Spanish powrs were overthrown They and the Tunis Scepters were his owne But spent with wine with women and with play Th' effeminate Prince Spur'd on his fatall day The LIFE of SELYMUS The Second of that NAME Fifth Emperor of the Turks SElymus the only Son of Solyman then left alive by Letters from Muhamet Bassa understanding of the death of his Father hasted from Cutai a City of Galatia not far from Ancyra towards Constantinople and coming to Scutary was from thence by Bostanges Bassa of the Court conducted over the Strait to Constantinople where by him and Scander Bassa Selymus his Son in law and then Solymans Vicegerent he was conveyed into the Imperial Palace the three and twentieth of September in the year 1566. and there possessed of his Fathers Seat was by the Janizaries there present saluted Emperor He was about the age of forty two years when he began to Reign a man of an unconstant and hasty disposition wholly given to wantonness and excess so that he never went to Wars himself but performed them altogether by his Lieutenants contrary to the charge of Selymus his Grandfather given by him to his Father Solyman whereof he was never unmindful The next day he came abroad and shewed himself in his Majesty and in the Temple of Sophia after the manner of the Turkish Superstition caused solemn Prayers and Sacrifices to be made for his Father which done he gave unto the Janizaries a Larges of 100000 Sultanines with promise to augment their Wages And all things being now in readiness for his intended Journey he with a goodly Retinue set forward from Constantinople the seven and twentieth of September and the twentieth of October a little from Belgrade met the Army coming from Sigeth gallantly marching under their Ensigns with the dead Body of Solyman whom the Souldiers generally supposed to have been yet living but troubled with the Gout to have kept his Horse-litter as his manner was to travel Selymus alighting came in his Mourning Attire to the Horse-litter looked upon the dead Body of his Father kissed it and wept over it as did all the other great Bassaes also And that the death of Solyman might then be made known to all men the Ensigns were presently let fall and trailed upon the ground a dead March sounded and heavy silence commanded to be kept through all the Camp. Shortly after Selymus was with the great applause of the whole Army proclaimed Emperor his Ensigns advanced and every one of the great Commanders of the Army in their degree admitted to kiss his hand So marching forward he returned again to Constantinople the two and twentieth of November but thinking to have entred his Palace which they commonly call The Seraglio he was by the discontented Janizaries but now come from the Wars prohibited so to do they with great Insolency demanding of him a greater Donative together with the confirmation both of their ancient and new Priviledges before they would suffer him to enter Against which their great presumption the Visier Bassaes together with the Aga opposing themselves and seeking by all means to appease them were by them fouly entreated and well rapped about the Pates with the stocks of their Callivars but especially the two great Bassaes Muhamet and Partau as the chief Authors that their Lord had dealt no more liberally with them With which so sudden and unexpected a Mutiny of his best Souldiers Selymus not a little troubled and calling unto him the Aga or Captain of the Janizaries demanded of him the cause thereof who with tears trickling down his cheeks for grief told him That it was for mony Which by Selymus noâ promised unto them together with the confirmation of their Liberties and the Aga with fair words and heavy countenance most earnestly intreating them not to blemish the ancient Reputation of their wonted Loyalty with so foul a disorder nor to oppose the life of him their loving Captain unto the heavy displeasure of their angry Sultan and farther assuring theâ that he would not fail them in the least of his promises but content them to the full of their desires the Mutiny was at length appeased the insolent Janizaries again quieted and Selymus into the Seraglio received Howbeit Muhamet chief of the Visier Bassaes for certain days after went not out of his Palace neither came as he was wont into the Divano but kept himself close for fear of some greater mischief from them This Tumult thus overpassed and all again well quieted Selymus with all Royal Solemnity buried his Father in a Chappel which he after the manner of the Mahometan Kings had in his life time most stately built with a Colledge and an Hospital Where fast by his side is to be seen the Tomb of Roxolana his best beloved Wife and of certain others his murthered Children and by him hangeth his Scimiter in token thaâ he died in Wars an Honour not otherwise âranted to the Mahometan Princes The Reveââes arising of the Country about Sigeth of late âon ââom the Christians at the time of his deââh were given to the Maintenance of his Hâââes by him built of devotion which for ãâã Magnificence thereof exceed all the rest âefore bâilt by the Mahometan Kings and ââperors except those which were the Buildiââs of Mahomet the Great and Bâjazet the Sâcond It was by many thought that Solymââ was in good time by death cut off as purposing that year to have wintred in Hungary and the year following to have done great matters against the Christians both by Sea and Land. year 1567. The great Army of the Turks thus drawn out of Hungary by the death of Solyman in some part asswaged but altogether appeased not the endless Troubles of that unfortunate Kingdom Maximilian the Emperor on the one side and Iohn the Vayvod of Transââvania with the Turks Captains on the
now answerable to his desires he after the manner of the Turkish Policy most unnaturally caused the Heads of his eight younger Brethren to be stricken off and withall used such farther diligence that not only all those which were near unto them in Blood or Affinity were bereaved of their Lives but also all the Favourites of his late slain Brother Aidere were destroyed in that publick slaughter so that all the Streets of Casbin were defiled with blood and all the City resounded with mourning and complaints Which unexpected Cruelty altogether unworthy so worthy a thought King so altered the minds of his Subjects in general that all their former hopes were now converted into new fears and their joy into mourning But much greater and far more lamentable did the miseries grow as soon as it was given out That he would change the Religion of the Persians who with great devotion honour their foolish Prophet Aly into the Superstition of the Turks who with no less impiety observe and maintain the wicked Rites of Ebubekir Hanmer Osman and others by them supposed to be the most true Successors of their great Prophet Mahomet For by means of this uncouth novelty and unexpected change and by force of an Edict concerning that matter published by this new King many of his prophane Priests many of the Governours of his friendly and subject Cities too much devoted to their former Superstition were driven some into exile some clapt into prison some had their Eyes pluck'd out among whom was the Caliph of Casbin and not a few others in sundry sorts depriv'd of their Lives Yea many Ladies joyned in blood with Ismahel himself and divers others of his Kinsfolks to whom neither Sex nor Age nor Innocency could be a sufficient defence endured sundry torments and strange calamities so that in Persia was never felt greater troubles or a more dangerous change In this so great an Innovation and among these Tumults there went abroad withall a general rumour not in the Cities of Persia only but in the Regions of the Turks also even as far as Constantinople That Ismahel with a puissant Army of such as favoured this new proclaimed vanity was determined in person himself to go to Babylon now called Bagdat there to receive the Crown of the Empire at the hands of him that he should find to be the Successor of their great Calyph and in the chief place among their unclean Priests as had sometime Solyman the great Emperour of the Turks and the Persian Kings of ancient times In this world of troubles when as the fear of farther miseries increased rather than any hope of ancient quietness he was when he least feated by the help of the afore-named Lady Periaconcona suddenly bereft of his Life but whether overtaken in some of his own amorous practises or poisoned by his said Sister or that she as some probably affirm having secretly conspired with Calil Chan Emir Chan Pyry Mahamet Curchi Bassi being all at that time men of great account and as it were Presidents of the Kingdom who disguised in Womens apparel and brought in by her strangled him at such time as he had privately withdrawn himself amongst his Paramours is uncertain Howsoever it was sufficeth it that he by the help of the said Lady Periaconcona was by unnatural Death taken out of this World the four and twentiâth day of November in the year of Grace 1577 year 1577 to the exceeding joy of all those Nations who by his death thought themselves now freed of many great and dangerous troubles when he had reigned one year seven months and six days Ismahel thus taken out of the way the Lady began forthwith to persuade with the great Sultans the Ministers of Ismahels death that as they had for the general good of Persia contrived the death of the late King so now that they would take upon them the Protection of that great Kingdom with the preservation of the Majesty and Liberty thereof untill such time as it were known who should worthily succeed in that Crown which now remained in their Hands There was at that time many of the greatest Princes and Governours of that Kingdom assembled at Casbin there gaping after such Mutations of those troublesome times as might best serve their private designs Emir Chan burning in ambitious Desires was in hope by means of a match to be made with a Sister of Periaconcona who was already greatly inclining unto him to be exalted to the sovereignty of all Persia Mirizi Salmas the chief Sultan hoped on the other side to advance into the Estate either Mahamet Codabanda the eldest Brother of the dead King or else Hamze the eldest Son of the said Mahamet and by bestowing upon him his Daughter in Marriage as afterwards he did so to increase the glory of his House Others there were that thought they should be able to draw Abas Mirize the middlemost Son of Mahamet out of Heri and to make him King. Neither wanted the Infant Tamas his aspiring Friends whose Tutor waited likewise for some Opportunity to settle him in the Kingdom and so by means of his Greatness to make himself greatest amongst his Fellows A number of others there were that secretly waited upon every Occasion that time should present for their Preferment Howbeit in this so great variety of Thoughts the Sultans answered the Lady with one consent and promised her in most liberal Terms all the Protection that their Forces could afford or their Weapons procure and yet did every one of them both in Action and Word Clerk-like dissemble their several Imaginations whereunto their Minds were as prone and ready as their Hearts were cunning closely to conceal them Amurath the Turkish Emperour now wakened first at the Death of the old renowned Tamas and then at the Rumour of the desire Ismahel had to pass with an Army to Babylon as also at the fresh Report of the Turkish Superstition newly published in Persia and withall throughly instructed what harm this late King had done in Persia what Dissentions he had raised and how hardly the Provinces of that Empire had endured those Calamities began forthwith to think hereby a fair Occasion to be ministred unto him to take up Arms against the Persians and Matter sufficient suggested for him to put in Execution the great desire he had of some new Conquest For it is an ancient Custom which is grown to be as it were a Law among the Othoman Kings That they may not challenge their due Honours in their Life-time nor their proud Monuments after their Death unless they attempt some great and ambitious Actions and Enterprises and perform some Exploit conformable to their Majesty Amurath therefore bent upon these great stirs in Persia would not direct his Mind any other way or take any other War in hand untill he might first see what issue these marvellous Innovations in Persia would bring forth which in the Person of Mahamet the succeeding King
prosecuting of any further War which at that time was most necessary for the Turks to be avoided as well for want of Money in the common Treasury as for the exceeding scarcity of Victuals Now the Persian Prince having made an end of the Outroads and Spoils before-mentioned retired himself to Tauris and so towards his Fathers Camp where the rest of his Army was now arrived to the number of about forty thousand of whom the Prince dispatched away the Souldiers of Heri to the number of eight thousand under the conduct of the traiterous Aliculi Chan their General and part also of the Turcomans under the leading of Emanguli Chan with special charge That they should by the way in places of most advantage meet and receive the Enemies Army and in those narrow and troublesome Passages to do them what mischief they possible could Which the Prince thus appointed thinking by this means to weaken the Enemies Forces and so at their arrival at Tauris to come upon them with all his Power and so utterly to destroy them Both these Captains departed accordingly making shew that they would with all Affection accomplish the Commandment of their Prince yet never was there heard any service of moment put in Execution by them for Aliculi full of Treason after their departure began to alledge many forced Reasons and Excuses Why they should surcease from meeting with the Turks and Emanguli as yet utterly ignorant of the wicked Purposes and mischievous Treachery of Aliculi suffered himself to be misled by him also By the Delays and Negligence of these two Persian Captains the Turkish General took leisure without any loss or hinderance at all to arrive at Tauris and to put the desired Succours into the Fort at what time the Persian Prince by good hap had got Knowledge of the Treachery of Aliculi and of the Designments which many of the Sultans had lately contrived for the betraying of him alive into the hands of the Turkish General Of which Suspition he being greatly afraid durst not only not trust himself to perform those Battels that he had before determined to have performed but quite abandoning this noble and honourable enterprise wholly employed all his Care and Study for the safety of his own Person and so left the Triumph of the Matter in the Power of the Turks And thus those great Hopes and Expectations which the Persians had conceived of great Exploits to have been done against the Enemy did not only prove vain and come to no good issue but contrariwise by this discovery were converted into most strange Disturbances and all Persia thereby endured sundry Alterations and Revolutions of most important Consequences For both Aliculi Chan and his Complices were pursued by the Prince as Rebels and Traitors and also Abas Mirize of Heri was manifestly discovered for a wicked and treacherous contriver of his Brothers Death whereby the common Mischiefs were encreased more than ever they were before and the publick Calamities yielded greater hopes unto the Turks than they had ever before conceived in all the course of these Wars When Ferat had thus relieved them in the Castle of Tauris leaving for the Custody thereof Giaffer the Bassa with his former Companies he returned towards Erzirum having first caused a Fort to be erected at Curchive Tauris a Place near unto Tauris another at Coy and the third at Cum in every one of which Forts he left a convenient number of Souldiers with all things necessary and sufficient for their maintenance and defence of the Places they were to keep He sent also Succours to the Fort at Teflis in Georgia which they had long expected and now most joyfully received But the Persian Prince having hunted Aliculi Chan out of the quarters of Tauris thought himself now wholly delivered from the great fear of Treason and Rebellion wherein he of late lived and therefore in as great hast as he could put himself on his Journey towards Genge in which place having gathered together a good number of Souldiers he determined to remove thence to intercept the Succours that were by the Turks to be brought to Teflis Now he had always found Emanguli Chan to be both faithful and wise and in him he reposed an assured Confidence for performing any enterprise that he had in hand and communicated with him every Device that he had conceived in these Wars And therefore he made head and joyned with him and lodging most familiarly in his City he stayed there for the setting in order and disposing of his aforesaid Designment being very desirous not to let such an Opportunity to overslip without Signification unto the World of some notable Novelty which might be correspondent to the Fame that of matters passed and performed the year before was now spread and published abroad over all the World. But when he was even at the very fairest to have put this his desire in Execution and least of all feared any Treachery or Treason upon a sudden in the Night-time as he slept upon a Pallat he was miserably strucken through the Body by an Eunuch of his that attended upon him and so the most resplendent and bright lustre that ever shined in Persia was utterly extinguished What was the occasion thereof and who procured his Death divers and sundry are the Opinions of Men. Some think that his Brother Abas Mirize of Heri who had before conspired to have had him betrayed into the hands of the Turkish General had now by force of Money and Gifts induced the wicked Eunuch thereunto Others deemed it not to have been done without the privity of his Father as more desirous to prefer Abas Mirize his other Son unto the Kingdom Divers others do diversly reason of the matter so that to affirm of a certainty that thus or thus the Death of so worthy a Prince was procured were great rashness and therefore we leave it with the further process of the Persian State unto the further discovery of Time the antient Mother of Truth Notwithstanding the League betwixt the Christian Emperour Rodolph the second and Amurath the great Turk many sharp Skirmishes oftentimes fell out betwixt the Christians and the Turks upon the Frontiers of their Territories and Dominions especially in Hungary Croatia and Stiria as now in the latter end of this year 1586. in the Month of December the Turks after their insolent manner making an inrode into the Borders of Croatia received a notable overthrow by the Christians being in number much fewer where amongst others the Bassa of Bosna with his Brother was slain whose Head with certain Prisoners was sent to Vienna to Ernestus Arch-duke of Austria the Emperours Brother This Bassa of Bosna and his Brother slain in this Conflict as we have said are reported to have been the Sons of Muhamet the late great Visier by one of the Daughters of Selymus the second Amurath's Sister For divers years following Amurath did no great matter worth the Remembrance
Military Insolency as the Turks term it now and then at their pleasures make incursions for booty both by Sea and Land which answered with the like from their Neighbours so molested there never wanted new Grievances and just causes of Complaint to the stirring up of greater troubles even amongst the greatest Princes The Venetians thus wronged at Sea year 1591 and their Merchants robbed by their Ambassadors complained at Constantinople of the Injuries done them by the Turks Pirats requiring to have them called home and Justice done upon them In like manner the Emperour also seeing many things both this year and the next attempted by Hassan Bassa in Croatia and the other Turks in Hungary contrary to the League to the great disturbance of his Subjects in both those Countries by his Ambassador then lying at Constantinople complained of these Outrages desiring to know whether they were done by the consent and knowledge of Amurath or not and if not then to require that order might be taken for the restraining thereof which was accordingly done and those Incursions for a while stayed and the former Peace continued Amurath still making shew as if he were willing that the League agreed upon for eight years should not be in any wise on his part infringed At which time the Persian King's Son the League not long before concluded died in the Turks Court where he lay in Hostage whose dead body Amurath caused to be honourably sent home to his Father into Persia with an Apology in defence of himself against the suspicion conceived by some That he should have been the cause of the untimely death of that young Prince still urging withal the confirmation of the League which by the death of the Prince was like enough to have been broken Whereof Amurath was the more desirous for that perswaded by his Bassa's as is aforesaid to make Wars with the Emperour although he notably dissembled the same he was in hope thereby to add unto his Empire the reliques of Hungary with some good part of the Territory of the House of Austria also and so to open himself a way into the heart of Germany For which purposes he now caused very great preparation to be made and a strong Army to be raised and at the same time put a great Fleet of Gallies into the Archipelago for the safety of his Islands in that Sea. According to these Designments year 1592 the Bassa of Bosna by the Commandment of Amurath with an Army of fifty thousand entred into Croatia and without resistance burnt and destroyed the Country before him sparing nothing that came in his way And not so contented laid siege to the City of Wihitz being the metropolitical City of that Country strongly scituate as it were in an Island compassed about with the River Vna Which City after he had sore battered and twice assaulted was by the distressed Defendants now despairing of relief and unable longer to hold it out yielded unto the Bassa upon Composition That the German Souldiers there in Garrison might in safety with bag and baggage depart and that such of the Christian Citizens as would might there still remain without hurt from the Turks either in Body or Goods Which Conditions the Bassa faithfully performed to the Garrison Souldiers whom in number but four hundred he sent with safe convoy into their own Territory but afterwards contrary to his faith and promise exercised all manner of Turkish Tyranny upon the poor Citizens The Emperour troubled with this unexpected Invasion of the Turks sent the Lord Petzen whom he had many times imployed in Embassages to the Turk to pray Aid of the German Princes against the common Enemy Who according to the greatness of the danger in large terms promised their help The first that made head was Ernestus Arch-duke of Austria the Emperour's Brother who with five thousand Souldiers came from Vienna to Savaria commonly called Greis the Metropolis of Stiria to whom repaired daily more strength out of Carinthia In the mean time the Turks Army daily increasing in Croatia inclosed six thousand Foot-men any five hundred Horse-men of the Christians who had taken the Mountains Woods and streight Passages and so hardly beset them that of all that number few escaped with life amongst whom many valiant Souldiers and expert Captains were slain namely Iames Prants George Plesbach and Iohn Welverdurff The Bassa after the barbarous manner of the Turks to make his Victory seem more famous laded six Waggons with the Heads of the slain Christians The Turks thus raging in Croatia brought a general fear upon all Hungary Bavaria Bohemia Stiria Carinthia Silesia and the rest of the Provinces thereabouts Whereupon the Emperour calling together the States of Silesia and Moldavia declared unto them the imminent danger perswading them to ioyn their Forces with the rest for the repulsing of so dangerous an Enemy and so imminent a Danger After long delay Ernestus the Arch-duke the tenth of August came to the Emperour his Brother with the Ambassadors of Hungary and the seventh day after were called together the Embassadors of the Kingdoms and Provinces of the Empire where it was throughly debated how the Turks were to be resisted and their attempts infringed as also from whence Forces Money and other Warlike provision was to be raised For now it was manifestly seen that longer to delay the matter was dangerous and the rather for that the Beglerbeg or great Commander of Grecia with threescore thousand select Souldiers both Horse and Foot of long time exercised in the Persian War was e're long expected who joyning with the rest of the Turks Army might do great matters both in Hungary and the Places adjoyning For preventing of which so great and manifest dangers they sate daily in Counsel in Prague yea oftentimes even from morning untill night for the Hungarians and especially the Lord Nadasti a most noble and valiant Gentleman amongst them instantly urged to have Succours sent into Hungary forasmuch as the Turkish Emperour if he should get into his hands the rest of the Towns and Castles yet holden by the Christians in Hungary it was to be feared lest he should in short time after endanger the whole state of Germany the strength whereof the Turk feared not so much as he did those poor reliques of Hungary Others were no less careful of the dangers of Croatia and Stiria as more proper to themselves the Enemy now there raging In these so great dangers the Hungarians with the rest of the distressed cried upon the Emperour for help and he likewise called upon the Princes of the Empire Divers Assemblies were made in Bohemia Hungary Moravia Silesia and the other Provinces of the Emperours and Embassadors sent from almost all the German Princes to the Emperour all was full of Consultation but as for help that came in very slowly yet such as was to be had was forthwith sent into Croatia to defend the Fortresses there against the
Gradium still expecting the coming of the County Serinus who otherwise busied could not come The next day after a Souldier sent out from the besieged came into the Camp who gave the Captains to understand that except they made haste that day to relieve the distressed Monastery it would undoubtedly be lost for that the Enemy had made it assaultable and would that night give the assault and the defendants doubting how they should be able to maintain the Place began before his departure thence to think of composition with the Enemy Upon which news the Captains forthwith began to consult among themselves what course to take in so doubtful and dangerous a case where Aversberg was of opinion that it were best to march on and to give the Enemy Battel with whom also agreed the Lord Rederen the rest of the Captains being of a contrary mind for that the strength of the Christians compared to the Turks was too weak and therefore they thought it better in time to retire whilst they yet might than to hazard unto most manifest peril the lives of so many valiant men at so great odds At which counsel Aversberg was at the first much moved but afterwards as he was a man of great eloquence plainly set before them the necessity of the Cause and with lively Reasons cheared up the fearful Croatians notably perswading them all in general to but their whole trust and confidence in God to whom it was as easie to give Victory by few as by many and to fight like valiant men for their Religion their Countrey their Lives their Wives their Children and Friends and whatsoever else they held dear against that cowardly Enemy whose valour never brought him into the Field but only the vain trust he had in his multitude and would therefore no doubt easily be put to flight if he should contrary to his expectation find himself but a little hardly laid unto With these and other like Reasons he prevailed so much that they all yielded to his opinion and with one consent resolved to go against the Enemy and to do what they might to relieve their besieged Friends So upon a sign given the whole Army in number not above 4000 forthwith removed and with great speed hasted towards the Enemy and being come within a mile of the Camp put themselves in order of Battel The Turks by their Espials understanding of the approach of the Christians brought all their Horsemen over the River of Kulp by a Bridge which they had made and having put themselves in order came on to joyn Battel with the Christians who had in their Vauntgard placed the Croatians and Hussars in the left wing them of Carolstat and the Hasquebusiers of Karnia in the right wing the borderers of Carainia all Horsemen in the main Battel the rest of the Souldiers with the Horsemen of Silesia under the conduct of Sigismund Paradise the Rereward was inclosed with three Companies of the Emperors Souldiers The Croatians and Hussars in the Vantgard gave the first charge upon the Enemy but having for a good space made a great Fight they were about to have retired and discouraged with the multitude of the Enemies were even upon the point to have fled when Aversberg General of the Christian Army came on with his Squadron and not only restored the Battel but so resolutely charged the main Battel of the Turks that the Bassa was constrained at the first to retire and afterwards to fly after whom all the rest of the Army followed The Christians still keeping their array pursued them with great speed and coming to the new made Bridge before them took from them that passage to the great discomfiture of the Turks who seeing the miserable slaughter of themselves and no way to escape ran headlong some into the River Odera some into Kulp and were there for the most part drowned the rest were all slain by the Christians before determined not to take any Prisoners In the mean time the Turks that remained at the Siege understanding of the overthrow of their fellows set fire on their Powder and other Provision and so in great fear betook themselves to flight Whose Tents the Christians immediately after took and in them nine great pieces of Artillery and good store of great Shot of 44 and 45 pound weight apiece with the sumptuous Pavilion of the Bassa and much other rich Spoil which was all carried into the Monastery of Siseg The number of the Turks slain in this Battel and drowned in the Rivers is of divers diversly reported but most agree upon 18000. And amongst them was Hassan Bassa himself found in the River near unto the Bridge known by his most rich and sumptuous Apparel and near unto him Mahomet-Beg and Achmet-Beg In other places were also found the dead Bodies of Saffer-Beg the Bassaes Brother of Menibeg Haramatan-Beg Curti Beg O perd Beg and Goschus the Bassaes chief Counsellor and Master of his Houshold But of all others the untimely death of Sinan-Beg Amurath's Nephew his Sisters only Son sent thither to have learned the Feats of Arms under Hassan the great Bassa was of the Turks most lamented Of 20000 Turks that came over the River Kulp scarcely 2000 escaped This so great a Victory obtained all the Army of the Christians went thrice about the Monastery and every time falling all down upon their knees gave unto God most hearty thanks for the same as by him miraculously given and not by themselves won and afterwards made all the shew of joy and gladness they could possibly devise Siseg thus delivered and the Turks Army overthrown the Christians with all speed laid siege to Petrinia the strong new Fort of the Turks which they for the space of five days most furiously battered but hearing that the great Governour of Graecia whom the Turks call the Beglerbeg of Romania was with a great power coming to the relief of the Fort they raised their Siege brake up their Army and returned every man to his wonted charge Whilst these things were in doing at Petrinia a Post came from Constantinople to Buda who brought thither the first news of the overthrow of Siseg for the report thereof was not as yet come to Buda wherefore the Bassa called unto him the Messenger Authour of so bad News and diligently examined him of the truth thereof who told him That at his departure from Constantinople nothing was there known of that loss but that upon the way as he came he met with divers Horsemen but lately escaped from the slaughter who told him of a certainty that the Bassa was slain and his Army destroyed Whereunto the Bassa of Buda replyed That he was happy in his Death for that if he had by chance escaped he should for his Indiscretion undoubtedly have suffered some other more shameful Death at the Court. When News of the aforesaid Victory was brought to the Emperour at Prague he commanded publick Prayers with
thanksgiving to Almighty God to be made in all Churches and sent a Messenger with Letters to Amurath to know of him how he understood these insolent Proceedings of his Souldiers and especially this late Expedition of the Bassa of Bosna and his Complices contrary to the League yet in force betwixt them After which Messenger he sent also the Lord Popelius with the yearly Present or rather Tribute he used to send unto the Turkish Emperour at Constantinople yet with this charge that when he was come as far as Comara in the Borders of Hungary he should there stay until the return of the aforesaid Messenger who if he brought Tidings of Peace from Amurath then to proceed on his Journey to the Turks Court otherwise to return again with his Present as he afterwards did For Amurath enraged with the notable loss received at Siseg and prick'd forward with the Tears and Prayers of his Sister desirous of nothing more than to be revenged for the death of her Son the seventh of August caused open War to be proclaimed against the Christian Emperour both at Constantinople and Buda The managing whereof he committed to Sinan Bassa the old Enemy of the Christians his Lieutenant-General and perswader of this War who departing from Constantinople with an Army of forty thousand wherein were 5600 Ianizaries was by Amurath himself and the great Men of the Court brought a mile on his way having in charge from the great Sultan by the assistance of the Beglerbeg of Graece the Bassaes of Buda and Temesware and other his Sanzacks and Commanders in that part of his Empire to revenge the Death of his Nephew and the Dishonour received at Siseg This War Amurath with great Pride denounced unto the Christian Emperour and the rest of the Princes his Confederates in this sort Amurath the Third by the Grace of the great God in Heaven the only Monarch of the World a great and mighty God on Earth an invincible Caesar King of all Kings from the East unto the West Sultan of Babylon Sovereign of the most noble Families of Persia and Armenia triumphant Victor of Hierusalem Lord possessor of the Sepulchre of the crucified God Subverter and sworn Enemy of the Christians and of all them that call upon the Name of Christ. WE denounce unto thee Rodolph the Emperour and to all the German Nation taking part with thee unto the great Bishop also all the Cardinals and Bishops to all your Sons and Subjects we earnestlâ I say by our Crown and Empire denounce unto you open War. And give you to understand that our purpose is with the Power of thirteen Kingdoms and certain hundred thousands of men Horse and Foot with our Turks and Turkish Armes yea with all our Strength and Power such as neither thou nor any of thine hath ever yet seen or heard of much less had any proof of to besiege you in your chief and Metropolitical Cities and with Fire and Sword to persecute you and all yours and whosoever shall give you help to burn destroy and kill and with the most exquisite Torments we can devise to torture unto Death and slay such Christian Captives as shall fall into our hands or else to keep them as Dogs Captives in perpetual Misery to empale upon Stakes your fairest Sons and Daughters and to the further shame and reproach of you and yours to kill like Dogs your Women great with Child and the Children in their Bellies for now we are fully resolved to bring into our Subjection you which rule but in a small Country and by strong hand and force of Arms to keep from you your Kingdom as also to oppress root up and destroy the Keys and See of Rome together with the golden Scepter thereof and we will prove whether your crucified Iesus will help you and do for you as yours perswade you Believe him still and trust in him and see how he hath holpen his Messengers which have put their Confidence in him for we neither believe neither can we endure to hear such incomprehensible things that he can help which is dead so many Worlds of years ago which could not help himself nor deliver his own Country and Inheritance from our Power over which we have so long time reigned These things O ye poor and miserable of the World we thought good to signifie unto you that you with your Princes and Confederates may know what you have to do and to look for Given in our most Mighty and Imperial City of Constantinople which our Ancestors by force of Arms took from yours and having slain or taken Prisoners all their Citizens reserved such of their Wives and Children as they pleased unto their Lust to your perpetual Infamy and Shame Sinan with his Army thus setting forward kept still on his way towards Buda but the Beglerbeg of Graecia with a far greater Power marched towards Croatia as well to relieve the Forts distressed by the Christians as again to besiege the strong Castle or Monastery of Siseg which he with his huge Army at his first arrival compassed about without resistance and with continual Battery overthrew the Walls thereof giving no time of rest unto the Defendants Which breaches they for all that valiantly defended and with restless Labour notably repaired the very fearful Women bringing Tables Stools and whatsoever else came to hand that might any wise help to keep the Enemy out of whom a great number was in the breaches slain but what was that handful against such a Multitude At length the third day of September the Turks by main force entred the Monastery and put to the Sword all the Souldiers therein among whom were 200 Germans of whom the Turks cut some in pieces and the rest they threw into the River Kulp One religious man there found among the rest they did flea quick in Detestation of his Profession and afterward cutting him in small pieces burnt them to Ashes So taking the spoil of all that was there to be had and leaving a strong Garrison for the keeping of the Place they passed over Sauus burning the Country before them and carrying away with them about a thousand poor Christians into perpetual Captivity These Invasions of the Turks caused the Emperour to crave Aid both of the States of the Empire and other foreign Princes farther off which was by some easily granted but not so speedily performed About this time Peter sirnamed le Hussar for that he commanded over those Horsemen whom the Hungarians call Hussars Captain of Pappa by the appointment of Ferdinand County Hardeck Governour of Rab lay in wait for the Turks Treasurer in Hungary who had the command of 5000 Turks him this Hungarian took at Advantage as he was mustering and paying certain Companies of his Souldiers mistrusting no such danger and desperately charging him âlew him with divers of his men and put the rest to flight and so with the spoil and some few Prisoners he returned again to his
Departure sent for the Arch-duke to come into the Camp and for Blankemier into Bavaria to supply his own room But his Disease still increasing became at last desperate so that the Physicians themselves now despaired of his Health Yet lying thus drawing towards his end he almost every hour enquired how the Army did and whether the City were yet taken or what hope there was of the taking thereof But when it was told him a little before his Death that the lower Town was won he thereat greatly rejoyced and the next day being the Fourteenth of August towards night quietly departed this World to the great loss of the Christian Commonweal and the exceeding grief of the whole Army A Man even from his Child-hood brought up in Arms of Stature great but of Courage greater and painful above measure not the least cause of his untimely Death All the time of this Siege he took little Rest either by day or night scarce so much as to lie down upon his Bed in two or three nights together The little Meat he did eat he most part eat it standing or walking yea and sometimes on Horse-back He was a most severe Observer of Martial Discipline which caused him to be of his Souldiers both beloved and feared His Bowels were with due Solemnity buried at Komara where he died but his Body was brought back again to Luxenburg there to be honourably interred with his Ancestors About which time Theodore the great Duke of Muscovia heaâing of the Wars betwixt the Emperour and the Turk sent two Ambassadours with Letters and Presents to the Emperour which Ambassadors coming to Prague the sixteenth of August accompanied with two hundred and fifty Horse were by the Emperours appointment honourably received and entertained And afterward having Audience first delivered the Letters of Credence from the great Duke reported to have been of this purport YOur Majesty hath sent unto us your Ambassador Nicholas Warkotsie requesting our brotherly Aid against the hereditary Enemy of all Christianity the Turkish Sultan Wherefore we also desiring to live with you our dear and well beloved Brother in all perpetual Amity and Friendship send unto you by our faithful Counsellor and Servant Michael Iwanowitze and John Sohnie Aid out of our Treasury against the said Enemy unto whom we have also given other things in charge to be propounded to your Majesty requesting you to give unto them full credit in all things Given in the great Court of our Power at Musco in the year of the World 7103 and from the Nativity of Christ 1595 in the Month of April What things in particular these Ambassadors were sent for was not commonly known but among others it is said That the Muscovite requested the Emperour to send an Ambassador unto the Persian King to draw him also into the League with them against the Turk which Ambassadour should first come into Muscovia and that way to pass into Persia. The Presents which the great Duke sent unto the Emperour were an hundred and fifty thousand Florens of Gold great store of most rich Furs and precious Perfumes deemed to be of exceeding value two white Faulcons and three Leopards alive And Iwanowitze the Ambassador himself presented unto the Emperour of himself certain rich Turky Persian and Babylonian Hangings and Carpets certain Timbers of Sables with other rich Furs no less precious than Sables so many as eight Porters could hardly carry These Ambassadors tarried at Prague until the seven and twentieth day of December and then taking their leave returned with the Emperours answer to the Duke But to return again unto Strigonium The Christians now possessed of the lower Town bent their whole battery upon the higher Town where it fortuned the fourteenth of August that the old Governour Alis-Beg whilst he was carefully walking from Place to Place to see where most danger was had his Arm struck off with a great shot of which huâ he presently died He was as man of great Gravity about the Age of fourscore years and had of long time notably both governed and defended that famous City the loss whereof was like enough to have been unto him greater Grief than was the loss of his Life there Much about the same time also died the Aga of the Ianizaries being before mortally wounded Both the chief Commanders thus slain the Ianizaries with the other Souldiers and Citizens made choice of the Bassa of Natolia who as is aforesaid escaped out of the late Battel into the City for their Governour who with heavy chear took upon him that forlorn charge The Christians not ignorant of the death of these two worthy Men in whose great and approved Valour they supposed the chief Defence of the City to have rested were in good hope that now the rest would the more readily hearken to some good Composition and therefore sent a Messenger to demand if they would yet whilst there were some Mercy left yield the City Who though they had lost their chief Commanders with the greatest part of the Garrison and were in great wants both of Victuals and all Things else necessary for their Defence yet their Answer was in few Words That they would hold it out even to the last man. The greatest cause of which their obstinate Resolution was the strait charge the Bassa of Buda had given them for the defence thereof besides that they accounted their City holy as won by their magnificent Emperour Solyman whom the Turks generally yet have in a devout remembrance and therefore thought it a great Impiety to deliver it up unto the Christians The next day after came Matthias the Arch-duke into the Camp who after he had well viewed the whole Army and the manner of the siege he called together into his Tent the chief Commanders namely the Marquess of Burgaw his Cousin Iohn de Medices the Florentine and the Lord Palâi the Hungarian to consult with them what was further to be done for the winning of the City Shortly after he commanded the City to be assaulted in two Places at once which was by the Walloons and Germans couragiously performed but such was the Valour of the Defendants that when the Christians had done what they could they were glad at last to give over the assault and with loss to retire About this time came the Duke of Mantua with the three Counties his Brethren to the siege and now the Turks began again to draw together near unto Buda there to make head for the relief of Strigonium and to be revenged of the loss they had there before received Whereof the Arch-duke having Intelligence sent out against them eight thousand chosen Souldiers out of the Camp who suddenly setting upon the Turks in their Camp before the rising of the Sun made a great slaughter amongst them and took certain Prisoners of whom the Sanzack of Copan was one and so with Victory returned to the siege The besieged Turks in Strigonium understanding of this overthrow
the Bassa was to have enlarged the Passage of the River and so to have made way for the whole Army to have afterwards passed to the other side as most commodious for many purposes especially for Water whereof they so might themselves have had plenty and yet kept the Christians from it But of this his purpose by the coming of the Christians he was quite disappointed for the next day being the 23 th of October they skirmâshed with him in divers places especially at the Passage of the River where at the first Encounter he lost 300 of his men and in the end seeing himself too weak to withstand the whole power coming on fled to the Sultan having lost two of his Ensigns and 20 field-pieces but of his men not many both for that he fled betime and the approach of the night hindered the pursuit of the Christians who were now become Masters both of the passage of the River and of the place where the Bassa lay which they finding not so commodious for them as they had at the first supposed especially for lack of Wood the Weather being then extream cold as also hearing of the approach of the Sultan with his whole Army they forthwith forsook the same and retired again over the River to the place where they lay before inclosing themselves with their Waggons as if it had been a City strongly inclosed with wooden Walls The next day which was the 24 th of October towards night Mahomet with all his Army shewed himself unto the view of the Christians and sent 3000 Tartars to pass the River of whom the Christians slew a great number with their great shot and put the rest to flight Both the Armies were populous and strong and covered a great deal of ground a most goodly sight to behold both drunk of the same River as well the Men as their Horses and therefore kept continual watch all that night on both sides of the River especially at the Passage In the morning betwixt six and seven a clock Mahomet with his Army ranged in order of Battel came within sight of the Christians his Squadrons as it were covering all the Country on that side of the River as far as the Christians could well see and now again sent part of his Army over the River with whom the Christians skirmished from morning till night both the Armies parted but by the River all this while standing fast and as it were facing the one the other But being at length on both sides well wearied and many slain the Turks retired again over the River to the Camp in the mean time as if it had been by consent they resolved on both sides the next day to try the fortune of a Battel and so Commandment was given through both the Armies for every man against a certain appointed time to make himself ready So the next day being the 26 th of October Mahomet brought forth his Army again out of his Camp which was not far from the Christians and began now to draw down towards the River Near unto this place were the ruines of an old Church where Mahomet placed certain Companies of Janizaries and 24 field-pieces and commanded 10000 of his select Souldiers to pass the River which they readily did The Christians also ready for Battel and now thinking it time upon the coming over of the Enemy to begin with part of their Army thereunto appointed so fiercely charged the Turks that were already come over that they quickly overthrew them and not them only but certain Companies of Tartars also that were in another place come over the River and not so contented but following them they had in chase put to flight them also that stood on the farther side of the River of whom they slew a great number and by the coming on of the rest of the Army took from them an 190 great pieces of Artillery whereoâ so great a fear rise in the Enemies Camp that Mahomet with Ibrahim the great Bassa seeing the discomfiture of the Army fled in all haste towards Agria shedding some tears by the way as he went and wiping his eyes with a piece of Mahomet's Garment which he for reverence carried about him as a Relique It drew now towards night and the Arch-duke was about to have caused a Retreat to be sounded and that day to have done no more But the Transilvanian Prince the Lord Palfi and the rest persuaded him in that so great fear of the Enemy to prosecute the Victory and the rather for that the Turks began again to make head and to repair their disordered Battels Wherefore the Christians still keeping their Array charged afresh the Front of their Enemies restored Battel consisting of 40000 men and that with such violence as that they in short time had slain the most part of them and put the rest to flight and with the like good fortune charging the body of the main Battel forced the discouraged Turks with great slaughter into their own Camp. Now Commandment was before given throughout the Christian Army that no man upon pain of Death should in seeking after spoil break his Array or forsake his Place before the Victory were assuredly gotten But they in this hot pursuit breaking together with the Turks into their Tents and there killing a great number of them and seeing in every place great store of rich spoil contrary to the aforesaid Commandment left the pursuit of the Enemy and disorderly fell to the spoil of the Tents until they came to the very Tent of the great Sultan But here began all the mischief with a most sudden change of Fortune For here these greedy disordered men not now worthy the name of Souldiers light upon a strong Squadron of resolute men with good store of great Ordnance ready charged which they discharged amongst the thickest of their Enemies and rent in sunder a number of them and after that came on resolutely themselves when in the mean time Cicala Bassa with his Horse-men yet untouched brake in upon them also and with the terror of his coming brought such a fear upon them that they began amain to fly especially the Hungarians and Germans most busied in the Spoil Neither could they in that fear by any threats or intreaty of their Commanders be persuaded to make a stand or so much as once to look back or to shew any token of true Valour which their hasty flight was the overthrow not of themselves only but of others also that would have fought for whilst they fled head-long upon the Spur and could not be staid they over-ran their own Foot-men and so furthered the Enemies Victory Thus for want of good order thro the greedy covetousness of a sort of disordered men the most notable Victory that ever the Christians were like to have had over the Turks was let slip out of their hands Many noble Gentlemen and Commanders in seeking to stay the flight of their own
be persuaded even for the present to hold their hands But afterwards having brought them to Rab and leave given them to do with them their Pleasure they as far exceeded in the cruel manner of their Execution as had they before in their outragious Dealings especially the Hungarians and Wallons notwithstanding most of them were of the Wallon Countries Some of them they impailed some they brake upon the Wheel some of their Skins they cut off their Bodies as it were into Thongs and so poured into the Wounds Vinegar Salt and Pepper from some others they cut off their Privities some they rosted and some they put into the Tenalia upon some they dropped molten Pitch and then casting Gun-powder upon them so burnt them to death othersome they hanged upon iron Hooks and some they put in the ground up to the Chin and for their disport with iron Bullets bowled at their Heads in all which Torments no sign of Compassion was to be seen the Tormentors to make their Pain the greater doing nothing but deride them the miserable Wretches in the mean time confessing the heinousness of their Offence and craving for Death as a Favour A most horrible thing it was to see how whilst some were thus tortured others were brought to see the same misery they themselves were by and by to endure Amongst the rest of these exquisite Torments one Peter Orly caused one of the Mutineers to be sewed up in the Belly of a Mare with his Head hanging out and so to be rosted in which miserable Torment he lived three hours and then died after which he caused the loathsome Body so rosted to be given to them that lay starving upon the Wheel to eat Thus was the dangerous Mutiny at Pappa with much ado ended and that strong Town like to have been lost preserved the Rebels themselves being become a dreadful example to all Posterity for all them to look upon that shall attempt the like Villany Now at this same time also though neither the Christians nor the Turks had as then any great Army in the Field yet many an hot and bloody Skirmish passed daily betwixt them in one place or other of Hungary all which to recount as it would be much tedious so in silence to pass them all over were greatly to wrong those worthy Personages by whom they were not without their great Adventure done Amongst the rest one Nicholas Horbath County Serinus's Lieutenant with 150 Souldiers and Andrew Thussi another great Commander going forth to seek for Booty Thussi hearing that the Turks were abroad for the surprising of certain Haiducks then gone out staid fast in a secret place until he might hear farther News Horbath another way still going on Now it happened that the Bassa of Sigeth having been abroad in returning home by chance met with Horbath and encountering with him overthrew him and slew most of his men Horbath himself by flight hardly escaping But Thussi hearing this Skirmish as lying close not far off and now hasting thither to have been Partaker thereof found the Bassa yet in the Field on foot viewing the Bodies of the slain upon whom he came so suddenly and with such Force as that the Bassa with his disordered men had much ado to take Horse and so without any great resistance to betake himself to flight after whom the Hungarians fiercely following slew many of the Turks and amongst the rest the Bassa himself whose Head presently cut off Horbath sent to the County Serinus who shortly after by Thussi himself sent it to Matthias the Arch-duke This Bassa was a man of great Strength and Courage a most expert and adventurous Captain about thirty six years old and for his Valour of a common Souldier created a Bassa by the Great Sultan His Head being brought to Vienna and there shewed to the Bassa of Buda then their Prisoner and he demanded whether he knew it or not sighing answered that he knew it well and that it was the Head of the Bassa of Sigeth a braver man than whom the Sultan had none in all his Empire earnestly withal desiring to know how he was slain And not long after the Adventurers out of Komara Strigonium and other places thereabout having made a great Party and taken a great Booty from the Turks at a Fair at Gombar and by Tra and Esseg thinking to have passed Danubius in hope of a greater Booty seven hundred of them being passed the River were by the new Bassa of Sigeth and others with five thousand Turks in an hot Skirmish overthrown yet not without their great loss also the Bassa himself with two other Sanzacks and five hundred Turks being there slain and but fifty of the Christian Adventurers left dead in the place the rest disorderedly retiring to their Boats being for most part drowned in the Danuby The free Haiducks also surprised Iula and set it on fire in which Confusion the Turks flying into the Castle for haste thrust one another from the Bridge into the Castle ditch wherein so many of them were drowned that a man might have gone dry foot over upon the bodies of the dead They took there also six hundred Prisoners with much other Booty and delivered two hundred Christians which were there Captives And albeit that these Haiducks after this Exploit done were hardly pursued by the Turks from other places yet they in safety retired with such booty as they had already gotten But now to leave these the Troubles of Hungary for a while as the fore-runners of greater ' ere long to ensue let us again look back into Transilvania and Valachia to see how Michael the Vayvod now in the mean time behaved himself there The Cardinal Bathor overthrown and slain and the Country of Transilvania again brought under the Emperour's Obedience the Vayvod by his Ambassadors gave him forthwith to understand of all his Proceedings with the whole Success thereof as also of a purpose he had to invade Moldavia for that it was commonly reported and also believed That Sigismund the late Prince not a little moved with the death of the Cardinal his Cousin and the Revolt of his Country aided by the Turks the Tartars the Polonians and Moldavians would now attempt some great matter for the recovery of Transilvania all which was shortly after the rather thought to be true for that divers of his Spies being taken some at Clausenburg some at Nessen beside the Letters that were found about them from him unto the Nobility and States of Transilvania persuading them to revolt from the Vayvod unto him and that his meaning was shortly to come with a great Army out of Polonia for the repulsing of him they also of themselves confessed How that Sigismund in disguised Apparel had himself been in Transilvania to conferr with divers his secret Friends concerning that matter Which his Ambassadours the Emperour honourably entertained and by them confirmed unto the Vayvod the Government of Transilvania sending also
great Spirit and yet exceeding proud which was the cause that he was both the less beloved and feared of his Subjects in general but especially of the Janizaries and other his Souldiers and men of War who scorning his loose Government and griev'd to see even the greatest Affairs of his State not only imparted to Women but by them managed and over-ruled also as by his Mother the Sultaness his Wife and others not only rebelled against him but were oftentimes in their Rages about to have deposed him He was altogether given to sensuality and voluptuous pleasure the marks whereof he still carried about with him a foul swoln unwealdy and overgrown Body unfit for any Princely Office or Function and a Mind thereto answerable wholly given over unto Idleness Pleasure and Excess no small means for the shortning of his days which he ended with Obloquy unregarded of his Subjects and but of few or none of them lamented He had Issue four Sons and three Daughters married unto three of the great Bassaes. His first and eldest Son was called Mahomet after his own Name whom he caused to be strangled in his own sight upon suspicion of aspiring to the Empire and conspiring with the Rebels in Asia but afterward finding him guiltless caused his Body to be buried in his own Sepulchre and hanged the Bassa that had misinformed him His second Son died a natural Death being yet very young His third Son was Sultan Achmat who succeeded his Father and came to the Empire by the untimely Death of Mahomet his eldest Brother His fourth Son being then a Youth of about sixteen Years old was carefully kept within the Seraglio with such a strait Guard set over him as that his Name was not to be learned even by a good understanding Friend of mine of late lying above three Months together at Constantinople who most curiously enquired after the same having very good means to have learned it He was reported to have been long since murthered howbeit that he of late lived but looking every day to be by his Brothers cruel Commandment strangled which is accounted but a matter of course and a Death hereditary to all the younger male Children of the Othoman Emperours the Policy for the maintenance of their great Empire entire and whole so requiring His dead Body lieth buried at Constantinople in a fair Chappel of white Marble near unto the most famous and beautiful Church of S. Sophia for that only purpose by himself most sumptuously built about fifty foot square with four high small round Towers about the which are certain small round Galleries of Stone from which the Turkish Priests and Church-men at certain hours use to call the People every day to Church for they use no Bells themselves neither will they suffer the Christians to use any But the top of this Chappel is built round like unto the ancient Temples of the Heathen Gods in Rome In the midst of this Chappel being indeed nothing else but this great Sultan's Sepulchre standeth his Tomb which is nothing else but a great Urn or Coffin of fair white Marble wherein lieth his Body covered with a great covering of the same Stone over it made rising in the midst and stooping on each sidâ not much unlike to the Coffins of the ancient Tombs of the Saxon Kings which are to be seen on the North side of the Quire of S. Paul's Church and in other Places of this Land but that this Coffin of the Great Sultan is much greater and more stately than are those of the Saxon Kings it being above five foot high at the end thereof and by little and little falling toward the feet covered with a rich Hearse of Cloth of Gold down to the ground his Turbant standing at his Head and two exceeding great Candles of white Wax about three or four Yards long standing in great brass or silver Candlesticks gilded the one at his Head the other at his Feet which never burn but there stand for shew only all the Floor of the Chappel being covered with Mats and fair Turky Carpets upon them And round about this his Tomb even in the same Chappel are the like Tombs for his Wives and Children but nothing so great and fair Into this Chappel or any other the Turks Churches or Chappels it is not lawful for either Turk or Christian to enter but first he must put off his Shoes leaving them at the Church or Chappel Gate or carrying them in his hand Near unto this Chappel and the great Temple of Sophia are divers other Chappels of the other great Turks as of Sultan Selim this Man 's Grand father with his seven and thirty Children about him of Sultan Amurath this Man's Father with his five and forty Children entombed about him Anâ in other places not far from them are the Chappels and Sepulchres of the rest of the Great Sultans as of Sultan Mahomet the Great of Sultan Bajazet Sultan Selim the first Sultan Solyman all by these great Mahometan Emperours built whose Names they bear And being all of almost one form and fashion have every one of them a fair Hospital adjoyning unto them wherein a great multitude of poor People are daily still relieved Some others of the great Bassaes have their Chappels and Sepulchres with their great and stately Alms-houses also not much inferiour unto those of the great Sultans as namely Ibrahim Bassa of all the Bassaes that ever were amongst the Turks the most magnificent hath his stately Chappel Sepulchre and Alms-Houses near both in Place and Beauty unto that of Solyman's The Turks bury not at all within their Churches neither are any at all buried within the Walls of the City but the great Turkish Emperours themselves with their Wives and Children about them and some few other of their great Bassaes and those only in Chappels by themselves built for that purpose All the rest of the Turks are buried in the Fields some of the better sort in Tombs of Marble but the rest with Tomb-stones laid upon them or with two great Stones the one set up at the head and the other at the feet of every Grave the greatest part of them being of white Marble brought from the Isle of Marmora They will not bury any man where another hath been buried accounting it Impiety to dig up another man's Bones by reason whereof they cover all the best Ground about the City with such great white Stones which for the infinite number of them are thought sufficient to make another Wall about the City But not to stand longer upon the manner of the Turks Burials leaving this great Sultan to rest with his Ancestors let us now prosecute the course of our History Christian Princes of the same time with Mahomet the Third Emperours of Germany Rodolph the Second 1577. Kings Of England Queen Elizabeth 1558. 47. Of France Henry the Fourth 1589. Of Scotland James the Sixth 1567. Bishops of Rome Clement the
the Favour of her blasts and that he follows obstinately that pernicious Curiosity to know by Experience how high Fortune can advance him for then the desire to enjoy that which is above his Condition blinding the Eyes of Reason he doth precipitate himself by his rash and insolent Actions to the lowest step of shameful ruine The Riches of Nassuf were so great and proportionable to his Fortune as after his Death they found about two Bushels of Diamonds and Pearls Doubtless this rich and stately spoil deserved to be enjoyed by some great Prince So the Emperour Achmat seised thereon and applyed it to his Chasna or Treasury This Death of Nassuf is related after another manner by one who was then present in Constantinople the which I have thought good to set down as I have received it from him The Grand Seignior being much discontented with his Visier whether incensed with such as were near about him who both hated and feared Nassuf or doubting his great Power he dissembled his spleen until he might find some Opportunity for Revenge yet it was not so secretly carried but Nassuf had discovered the Sultans Discontent and laboured by great Gifts both to the Sultana and others to pacifie him providing notwithstanding in the mean time for his own safety sending Horsemen daily over into Asia meaning to pass himself when he had gathered together a sufficient strength But it fell out on the seventh day of October it being the Turks Sabboth that the Moon about eight a Clock at Night was much eclipsed which made the Turks expect some great accident The Grand Seignior having formerly caused it to be bruted That he would about that time pass to visit a new Mosque which was then in building whereupon all the Streets were hanged with Cloth and Arras and as the Custom was a cry went before that The King cometh at the noise whereof Nassuf being then in his House could not but descend to salute the Sultan as he passed by But it was not the Grand Seignior himself but his Bostangi Bassa whom he had caused to be attired like himself who being come before Nassufs Door and finding him standing there he suddenly leapt unto him and told him that the Sultans Pleasure was he should deliver up his Seal whereat Nassuf being amazed demanded what the Sultan meant to do to whom the Bostangi Bassa replied That he knew not what the Princes Pleasure was but if he would not deliver it he would return with that Message unto him Whereupon Nassuf drew the Seal out of his Bosom and delivered it Then the Bostangi Bassa shewed him a Warrant for his Head whereunto he presently submitted himself and then two Jamoglans strangled him his Head was presently cut off and carried to the Grand Seignior and his Body thrown into the Street to be trampled on It was thought his Death was procured by the Wife of Cicala Bassa of Babylon who had been manzoled or deposed from his Government there by Nassuf and was a little before returned to Constantinople but could not be allowed by Nassuf to have any access unto the Grand Seigniors Presence whereupon he wrote a Letter unto the Sultan wherein he accused Nassuf to have conspired with the Persian to kill him charging him with many things that were Capital This Letter he sent by his Wife who was Sister to the Grand Seignior who coming to his speech although she were watchfully observed by Nassuf who was then present left the Letter in his Chamber and so departed The Grand Seignior finding this Letter and reading it was much incensed against Nassuf and never quiet in Mind until he had his Head. He writes that there were found in Nassufs House eighty Bags of Gold each Bag containing ten thousand Chequinos After Nassufs Death Mechmet Bassa Admiral at Sea who had married Sultan Achmats eldest Daughter was made chief Visier he was born in Constantinople and the first natural Turk that was ever Visier since Constantinople was won You have heard in the last years Relation of some Combustions which were growing in Transilvania and how the Sultan had written his Letters of an imperious stile unto the Nobility and States of the Country which Letters were fixed up in form of a mandate throughout all Transilvania and in Places that were nearest unto those Noblemen which held the Emperours party against Bethlem At the same time Bethlem defeated certain Troops of the Garrisons at Lippa and Genoa which over-ran and spoiled the Country so as the Governours of those Places were forced to send to Vienna to demand Succours of Men and Money A Chiaus arrived at that time at Lintz bringing Letters unto the Emperour from the Grand Seignior the first point contained in them was That his Imperial Majesty should have a care that the Peace made betwixt them for twenty years should not be violated and that for his part he desired to observe it faithfully Secondly That in the name of his Imperial Majesty they had seised upon certain Places in Transilvania a Province which had been always under his Protection which received her Princes from his Hand and the which he was bound to defend against all her Enemies Thirdly That the Tyranny of Prince Battori had constrained him to give Forces to Bethlem Gabor to dispossess him of the Principality of Transilvania That after the death of the said Battori he had invested Bethlem to govern it in Peace Fourthly That since he had been advertised how that some Troops of Souldiers in the Name of his Imperial Majesty contrary to the Articles of Peace had by force seised upon the Forts of Hust and Vivar and the Towns of Nagipan and Tonase Fifthly That he had given express charge to Bethlem not to suffer any Enterprise no not upon the least Village of his Principality to the end that nothing might be separated but that he should repell the Injury of the Aggressor by force Sixthly That he exhorted his Imperial Majesty if he desired the continuance of the Peace to command his People to make Restitution of the places usurped or to signifie his Intention by the same Chiaus which he had sent to the end he might be fully assured for the mischief increasing daily the affection which he bare to the good of Peace might grow cold The Emperour received the Chiaus at Lintz very honourably and gave him an answer to his Letter wrapt in a piece of Cloth of Gold the sence whereof was That this business being of great importance his Imperial Majesty desired to confer with the Princes Electors and States of the Empire to hear their Advice after which he would acquaint him with his last Resolution and finally that he should rest assured that for his part he would not attempt any thing contrary to the Peace In the mean time there was a petty War in Hungary the Incursions and Spoils betwixt the Christians and the Turks beginning again The Turks of the Garrison of
little behind the Foot in the Camp where they had lodged the night before The Tyrant Stephano having disposed his Army into divers Squadrons began about Nine of the Clock in the Morning to play with his Cannon upon Alexander's Army who found that the General of the Artillery had kept his Promise for most of the Bullets flew over his men and hurt them not upon which Confidence he commanded the Cossacks to charge the Tartarians which were advanced whom they soon defeated At the same Instant two thousand light Horse gave charge to the Hungarian Foot-men which guarded Stephano's Cannon and in an instant cut most of them in pieces and the rest yielded themselves so as Alexander became Master of his Cannon The Tyrant seeing his Infantery in danger to be defeated and his Cannon lost caused a Battalion of three thousand Valachian and Moldavian Horse-men to advance who without doubt had recovered the Cannon but the generous Prince Coresky with his Polonian Launciers charged them so furiously in the Flank as that they slew almost the one half of them upon the place and put the rest that remained to rout Presently after this followed another Squadron the which Coresky perceiving he wisely retired towards his Camp seeing his men wearied and tired with the slaughter of their Enemies and not able to maintain the Fight without some rest Then came Prince Alexander and Visnouisky who was his faithful Guide with the rest of his Horse-men to encounter this last Battalion of the Enemy whereunto they went with greater Courage for that they were assured the Vayvod Stephano was there present which Charge continued for the space of a quarter of an hour during which time Prince Coresky had leisure to take breath and to gather together what possibly he could of those of his Party to succour them that were then in fight who were almost tired and Prince Alexander far engaged But seeing these unexpected Succours he and his Men recovered their Forces and their Enemies were so much amased at it as that all them that remained alive were put to rour and fled But Stephano being naturally a Coward apprehending blows had retired himself to the rest of his Foot-men who had not yet come to fight making a shew that he would rather dye with them than fly away but seeing the Event of this last Charge and his Horsemen all in rout he soon resolved to save himself by flight having never given one stroke in this Battel The Foot-men which remained being about four thousand men seeing the success of the Battel yielded to the mercy of the Victors and cryed out God save Alexander Vayvod of Moldavia The day of the Victory Prince Alexander made his Entry into the City of Yas having the Princes Coresky and Visnouisky on either side after whom followed his whole Army Entering into the Castle he was there proclaimed Prince and Vayvod of Moldavia by all the Nobles and Boyers of the Country the which he would never accept untill that time The next day Prince Alexander understanding that a great number of the chiefest of the Inhabitants of Yas were fled into the Mountains and Forrests to attend the Events of these Troubles he sent certain Boyers to invite them to return back again with all assurance to their Houses causing part of his Army to dislodge and to be quartered in the Country thereabouts and there were one thousand and five hundred Foot and five hundred Horse under the leading of Prince Coresky sent to the City of Vasselloy for that Stephano had fled that way and might return back again into Moldavia As for the Artillery some were sent into Polonia and some were put into the Fort of Cochina the which is as it were the Arsenal of Moldavia At the same time Prince Alexander knowing that it was no less Glory to preserve than to get he called the chief Noblemen of his Court to Counsel to resolve what was fit to do to maintain him in his Estate which he had newly gotten by the Sword where it was concluded among other things that he should speedily send an Ambassador to the Grand Seignior to let him understand that he had never any intent to take Arms against his Majesty nor to withdraw Moldavia from his Obedience but that he had been sought unto being in Polonia and invited by the Boyers of Moldavia for the unspeakable Cruelties of the Vayvod Stephano who had resolved to root out the Nobility of the said Country having put many of the. chief to death without any occasion They had also charge to give the Sultan to understand That when his Majesty advanced Stephano to be Vayvod of Moldavia he had falsely suggested that he was Son to a Prince of Moldavia that he was not truly advertised by his Bassaes and Counsellors that his Predecessor had promised to the deceased Father of Prince Alexander and to Prince Simeon his Uncle that after his Decease his Sons should succeed him in the said Estate if they shewed not themselves unworthy and did pay the yearly Tribute of forty thousand Chequines which Tribute since the Death of Ieremy had been offered by Prince Constantine his eldest Son to Houssine Aga when as he was sent to seâtle the said Stephano as also that Prince Alexander promised to pay it hereafter and if need should be he would give Prince Bougdan his Brother as a sure and certain pledge for the performance of his Promises during the first year The Ambassadors having received these Instructions they took their Journey speedily to Constantinople but instead of passing through Thrace which was their directest course they were forced to go by Transilvania fearing to be hindered by the men of War which then troubled all Thrace Coming to Buda they went to salute the Bassa which commanded there who being a special Friend to Stephano put them in Prison violating the Law of Nations observed by the most barbarous and afterwards he sent them to Braille whither the Tyrant Stephano had fled They say he gave fifteen thousand Chequino's in recompence to the Bassa and to revenge himself in some sort of Prince Alexander in the Persons of his Ambassadors he caused their Heads to be cut off one night after Supper and their Bodies to be cast into the Danowe The Deaths of these Ambassadors were very prejudicial to Prince Alexander by means whereof the Grand Seignior was not truly advertised of what had past in Moldavia nor received the Complements Offers and Submission of Prince Alexander so as he was wonderfully incensed against him and sware his Ruine as you shall hear hereafter Stephano having received four thousand men from Michna Prince of Valachia and gathered together the Relicks of his scattered Army he marched toward Valachia whereof Prince Alexander being advertised he sent Prince Coresky with six thousand Horse Polonians and Cossacks to Ticouch a strong Frontier Town to guard that Passage And Prince Alexander and Visnouisky
think their interest In those their blessings held but by the grace Of Gratitude and Goodnesse and no place Is held without them long they soone would trie That Truth prevailes past all their Policie THE REIGN OF OSMAN The First of that Name Tenth Emperour of the Turks year 1618 PRince Osman being set at Liberty by the Grand Visier he caused him to he proclaimed Sultan and seated in the Imperial Throne of the Othomans with the general Applause of all the Bassaes and Army The French Ambassador being by the same means freed from his Guard advertised the King his Master how barbarously he had been entreated by Mustapha entreating his Majesty to revoke him from that charge Whereupon the King sent two Gentlemen to Constantinople to the new Emperour Osman to demand reparation of the Indignity done unto his Ambassadors and Secretary and to let him understand that he could not send any other Ambassador to his Court to condole the Death of Sultan Achmat his Father nor congratulate his coming to the East until that he had received satisfaction from him befitting his Dignity and the wrongs he had received in his Ambassador The Grand Visier and the Muphty hearing this Embassy and considering of the Actions which had passed advised the Emperour Osman to send an Ambassador to the most Christian King to confirm their League and to testifie both by Word and Letters how much he was displeased for his Discontent The Grand Seignior by the Advice of his Visier and others sent Vri Chiaus into France to confirm the Articles of Peace betwixt the French and the Turks At his first Audience he presented a Letter unto his Majesty with this Superscription To the most glorious and puissant Prince of the belief of Jesus Arbitrator of all the Differences which happen among the Christian Nations and of all the most noble and the most antient the Emperour of France to whom we wish the end of his Days to be happy and his Desires accomplished KNow that I send unto you the Capitulations and Treaties of Peace which are betwixt our Majesties giving you to understand that there is not any thing firm or stable in this World neither King nor Beggar although they live long that which pleaseth God cannot fail If all Mens desires should succeed without doubt all men would go to Heaven Man whatsoever he doth or in what Dignity soever he be shall not remain in this frail Life wise men know it and it is apparent to the learned By that which we have said we desire to let you know that he who was in Health hath encountred Death and is gone to a goodlier Place to Paradise my Father Sultan Achmat Chan the God which hath no resemblance have mercy on him No man shall remain in this lying World And in Paradise are the Approaches to the Almighty God year 1618 where there is no Death Finally he is gone Since the beginning of the Othomans until this present the Empire of my Fathers and their Countries from Father and Son from Hand to Hand and from Father to Son the Inheritance coming so unto us Our Vncle Sultan Mustapha Chan for that he was elder than our self was preferred before us to the Throne of the Othomans and was some days in peaceable possession of the Empire yielding Iustice equally to all men both great and small But as he was shut up many years in secret Places praying unto God continually so of himself he hath relinquished the Dignity of the Emperour and contemned it The Empire then belonging to those of our high Lineage and for that by right it should come unto me the Almighty God by his infinite Bounty and Mercy hath restored it into my Hands my Visiers Bassaes Lieutenants the Mufti and other great Personages and they that are in any respect with me and finally all my Subjects and Vassals by a general consent have acknowledged me for Emperour in the happy year 1027 about the first day of the Moon of January in a good hour Wherefore I am seated in the great Throne of the Othomans like unto that of Solomon a powerful and able Emperour and in all our Countries and Cities All the Musulmans being assembled together in their Churches to preach the greatness of my Name hath been proclaimed and through all the Mints of mine Empire they have graven it in their Stamps to coin pieces of Gold and Silver Finally wheresoever there are any Musulmans and in what Places there are Men my Name shines like Gold. Hereafter Injustice nor Impiety shall have no Place but Iustice shall be done equally Now we are in Ioy and for that our natural Disposition is good and the ancient Friendship betwixt us is perfect I therefore thought good to advertise you of all that hath passed here and to send you our Letters of Imperial Alliance by Ureiu Chiaus who is my antient Servant having had the managing of my Treasure whereof he hath given me good account being arrived at your Court carrying my said Letter he deserves to be received with Honour swearing and protesting again unto you to observe in all points the full Capitulation made betwixt my Predecessors and your Great Grandfathers and for Our part you may be assured that the Faith promised shall be maintained as it hath been heretofore by our Predecessors And from the day I entered into my Throne I have made by will known to all my Viceroys and other Officers which do my Iustice and generally to all those of my Obedience intreating you to give the like Commandment to your Governours of Provinces and other Officers of Iustice as in like manner to all your Subjects And as your Grandfathers have taken the Faith of our High Family so it may please you to continue with me and we desire that on both sides it may be good and firm Know then that for my part it shall be observed so as of your side there be nothing done contrary to the promised Faith. And if before we came unto the Imperial Throne your Ambassador which did your Affairs hath received received any distaste and hath not received the Honour and Friendship accustomed in my time he shall be the more honoured and respected as the chiefest Ambassadors have been I have commanded that he shall be greatly favoured and our Respect shall be unto him as Quineâ that is to say Gold and doubt nothing of it for I do ceâtifie you The French King having received by this Action a full satisfaction for the Indignity done unto his Ambassador soon after he called the Baron of Mole or Sancy home into France sending the Earl of Sezi to succeed him as Ambassador at Constantinople The War continuing still betwixt the Turks and the Persians the Grand Visier was sent to invade Persia with a great Army where after many Exploits of War News came to Constantinople That the Visier had gotten a great advantage upon the Sophy of Persia in a Battel
which had been fought wherein there had been an hundred thousand men slain And although the Turks lost the greatest number yet they remained Masters of the Field and spoiled the Perâians Camp who was retired or fled for that the manner of the Sophy is to fight with the Turks in retiring or giving way a little and with this manner of fighting they have always made Head against the Turks After this Overthrow the Visier advanced with his Army and entred far into Persia which made many doubt that his Return would prove difficult yet soon after there came Letters to Constantinople importing That the Turks being in Persia in great distress for Victuals the Sophy had sent an Ambassador to the Visier to demand Peace promising hereafter to satisfie the Tributes of Silk which he ought yearly unto the Turk and that the Visier in regard of the necessity of his Army had accepted his Offer and granted him Peace the which Sultan Osman did afterwards ratifie After the conclusion whereof the Sophy sent many Camels loaden with Victuals unto the Turks Army which was in great distress and want During the Turks War in Persia upon the Anniversary day of Sultan Achmat there appeared in the Night a Comet over the City of Constantinople in form like unto a crooked Sword or Turks Scimiter and it was so great as it extended from the Meridian near unto our Zenith unto the Horizon the point began to shew it self an hour after midnight and then it appeared little and somewhat whitish and gave but a glimpse after an hour it was more apparent and of a deeper colour and the more it did rise the redder it was and like unto blood but at the break of day it vanished by little and little in the light and it was so big when the point approached near unto the Zenith as the Hilt was hidden under the Horizon The Mathematicians did observe that it followed the motions of the Heavens it did always rise in one place and the bending of the said Sword was toward Crates more Southerly than it It did appear directly in the East a quarter toward the South the point coming directly towards Constantinople and the Blade extending it self to the said East a quarter to the South which is justly the part where Persia is situated The Edge looked directly towards Constantinople the which made men discourse diversly and many were amazed fearing that it did signifie the loss and defeat of their Army in Persia whose Return they feared much Vri and Husseine Chiaus having finished his Embassy in France came into England with the like Charge and had Audience from his Majesty at White-hall Sir Thomas Glover being Interpreter from whom I received a true discourse of his whole Speech as followeth The Turkish Ambassador's Speech to his Majesty HAc subhanehu ve Allahuteale Saadetlu ve izzetlu Padishah hazeretlerinung vmriny ve deuletiny ziyad ve berziyad eileie Amen yah Rabil alemin Ziyade cudretlu ve saadetlu Sultan Ali Osman Chan Padishah Hazeretleri saadetlu Padishah Hazeretlerine juzbin selamler ve doaler idub bu namei humaiun saadet maakrunile Sultanum Hazeretlerine irsal idub vmidleri oldurchi maabenilerinde munakid olan sulhu selah bu anedeghin ne veczuzre chywz olundise halia dachi ol vslub vzre her daim giunden ginne artirub mucarer olmasina murad humaiunleridur Ali Osman Padishahung dachi Lala ve Bash vezirazam Bassa hazeretleri saadetlu Sultanum hazeretlerine juz bin selamber idub bu mektub sherifleri dachi haki pay sheriflerine irsal idub doaler ider Assitanei saudette dachi mutemekin olan elczighiz nam Paulo Pinder Cullighiz haki pay sheriflerine juz kylyndikdensongra mubarek aiaghyn pusse idub bu mektub Sultanum hazeretlerine irsal eiledy ler. The Interpretation hereof is thus THat most true incomprehensible and most high God increase and multiply your Majesties Years in all Happiness and Felicity Amen oh thou Lord of the World. The most invincible most mighty and most happy Sultan Osman Chan of the Othoman Empire Monarch sendeth unto your excellent Majesty a hundred thousand Salutations and Greetings evermore praying the most high God for your Majesties Happiness sendeth unto your Highness with all possible Honour and Renown this his Imperial and most noble Letter and withal hopeth that the sacred bond of Peace which hath been hitherto inviolably on your Majesties parts kept and observed your Majesty will be well pleased still on your part with daily increase more and more of Friendship earnestly to continue therein And his Imperial Majesty on his behalf is also resolved in like manner evermore punctually to keep and observe the same Also the most mighty Emperour's Tutor and his chief Visier Bassa hath addressed to the dust of your noble Feet this his most honourable Letter with a thousand Commendations praying everlastingly that mighty God for your Majesties long Life and Happiness Also your Majesties Ambassador at Constantinople your Slave Paul Pinder bowing his Forehead to the dust of your Majesties Feet and most humbly kissing your Highness blessed Feet hath directed unto your Majesty this his submissive Letter This that now followeth is the said Ambassador's Speech to his Majesty at the taking of his Leave at White-hall SAadetlu Padishahum Nitekim bu kullighiz haki pay sheriflerine effendimuz olan Cudretlu ve adaletlu Ali Osman Padishah Hazeretlerinung name humaiunlerin destimuzile teslin eileduk Regia ve temenamuz budurki Sultanum hazaretcleri dachi angha giore effendimuze name sheriflerile giouab idub bu killighize teslim èi lemek erzany buriurila ve herdaim saadette ve deulette peydar ola The Interpretation verbatim is thus MOST happy Emperour As I have with mine own Hands bowing my self to the dust of your Princely Feet appresented unto your excellent Majesty the most mighty and high Sultan Osman my Lord and Master his Imperial Letter so likewise I most humbly beseech your Majesty that you will be pleased in conformity thereof to vouchsafe your princely Answer by your noble Letter and to deliver the same into the hands of me your Slave and be ever Partaker of all Blessedness and Happiness A Copy of the Letter of Sultan Osman the Othoman Emperour written to the King's Majesty and presented by Hussein Chiaus ALthough in this transitory World if the King or the Beggar should enjoy the longest term of Life that might be and obtain all that his heart could wish yet it is most certain that in the end he must depart and be transported to the World Eternal and it is well known unto the wise that it is impossible for man to abide for ever in this World. The occasion of this Prologue is that the immortal omnipotent and only God hath by his divine Will and Pleasure called unto himself our Father of blessed Memory Sultan Achmat Chan who in life was happy and in death laudable and departing out of this momentary World to be nearer the merciful Creator being changed into perfect Glory and eternal Bliss hath his habitation on high
concluded betwixt them and afterwards concluded at Prague where among other Articles it was concluded that forasmuch as Necessity did chiefly require that a Peace should be concluded and inviolably kept with the Turk therefore a new Ambassie should be sent to the Grand Seignior from all the confederate Kingdoms and Provinces and that Bethlem Gabor should take upon him the chief care of that business but yet in such sort as the Bohemians and incorporated Provinces should send their Ambassadors with the Hungarians and bear their shares of all that should be disbursed as well for the Presents as for the Ambassadors Charges In Iune following Bethlem Gabor went to an Assembly of the Estates of Hungary at Neuhusal where he propounded divers heads unto the States That he desired nothing more than to restore the Kingdom of Hungary so miserably afflicted to Liberty and that they might enjoy their Religion and Priviledges That he had spared no cost for the lawful defence of the Country and for a Testimony that he desired Peace he had refused the Crown which the Estates offered him at Presburg That the ground of Peace was to maintain the League which they had begun with the Bohemians That he had always desired Peace with the help of other Princes so as it were sincere and without Fraud or Deceit for the obtaining whereof he had assisted his Confederates miserably afflicted That he knew for certain the Emperour desired not Peace but War having suffered the Cossacks to enter into Hungary and to spoil many Places with Fire and Sword and denied passage for the Ambassadors of Bohemia and Austria for this cause they were not now to treat of Peace but of War and to consult how it might be begun and maintained for the levying of Money which is the sinews of War for the furnishing of their Forts upon the Frontiers and for the speedy sending of Ambassadors to the Turkish Emperour lest being engaged in an intestine War there might be some attempts made upon those bordering Forts Having delivered his Mind unto the Estates there came divers Ambassadors thither from Bohemia Austria Silesia and Lusatia Venice Poland and Turky The Venetian Ambassador was content their Common-wealth should enter into the League and the Turk made offer to conclude a perpetual League with them On the five and twentieth day of August Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania was proclaimed King of Hungary by the Palatine at the instance of the Turkish Ambassador and with the consent and applause of most part of the Estates of the Country After which he levied a great Army of thirty some say fifty thousand Horse and Foot and made many Ensigns with divers Emblems and Devices which being known the Protestants of Vienna with the Consent of the Emperour wrote unto him humbly entreating him to spare the City and Country for their innocent Wives and Childrens sakes but in the mean time all the Citizens were commanded to make Provision of Victuals for six Months There came News to Constantinople of a strange Apparition or Vision which was seen at Medina Talnabi in Arabia whereas Mahomet their great Prophet was buried to visit whose Tomb the Turks use to go in Pilgrimage but they must first go to Mecha which is some few days Journey off and there they take a Ticket from the Grand Seigniors Beglerbeg else they are not allowed to go to Medina This Vision continued three Weeks together which terrified the whole Country for that no Man could discover the truth thereof About the twentieth of September there fell so great a Tempest and so fearful a Thunder about Midnight as the Heavens were darkned and those that were awake almost distracted but the Vapours being dispersed and the Element clear the People might read in Arabian Characters these words in the Firmament O why will you believe in Lies Between two and three in the Morning there was seen a Woman in white compassed about with the Sun having a cheerful Countenance and holding in her Hand a Book coming from the North-west opposite against her were Armies of Turks Persians Arabians and other Mahometans ranged in order of Battel and ready to charge her but she kept her standing and only opened the Book at the sight whereof these Armies fled and presently all the Lamps about Mahomets Tomb went out for as soon as ever the Vision vanished which was commonly an hour before Sun rising a murmuring Wind was heard whereunto they imputed the extinguishing of the Lamps The antient Pilgrims of Mahomets Race who after they have visited this Place never use to cut their Hair were much amazed for that they could not conceive the meaning of this Vision only one of the Deruices which is a strict religious order amongst the Turks like unto the Capuchins among the Papists and live in contemplation stepped up very boldly and made a Speech unto the Company which incensed them much against him so as this poor Priest for his plain dealing lost his Life as you shall hear The sum of his Speech was this That the World had never but three true Religions every one of which had a Prophet first God chose the Jews and did Wonders for them in Aegypt and brought them forth by their Prophet Moses who prescribed them a Law wherein he would have maintained them if they had not been obstinate and rebellious and fallen to Idolatry whereupon he gave them over and scattered them upon the face of the Earth Then presently after he raised a new Prophet who taught the Christian Religion This good man the Jews condemned and crucified for a seducer of the People not moved with the Piety of his Life his great Miracles not his Doctrine Yet after his Death the preaching of a few Fishermen did so move the Hearts of Men as the greatest Monarchs of the World bowed to his very Title and yielded to the command of his Ministers But it seems they grew as corrupt as the Iews their Church being dismembred with the distinction of the East and West committing Idolatry again by setting up of Images with many other idle Ceremonies beside the corruption of their Lives so as God was weary of them too and not only sent divisions among them but forsook them dispossessing them of their chiefest Cities Hierusalem and Constantinople yet God is still the Governour of the World and provides himself of another Prophet and People raising our great Mahomet and giving way to our Nation so as no doubt we shall be happy for ever if we can serve this God aright and take Example by the fall of others But alas I tremble to speak it we have erred in every point and wilfully broken our first Institutions so as God hath manifested his Wrath by many evident signs and tokens keeping our Prophet from us who prefixed a time to return with all happiness to his People so as there are now forty years past by our account Wherefore this strange and fearful Vision
foes I do designe To turn my armes dye with excesse of wine year 1623. THE REIGN OF Sultan MORAT OR AMURAT IV. The Eleventh EMPEROR AND Twenty first MONARCH OF THE TURKS THE weak Understanding of Sultan Mustapha and his inability for Rule caused the Affairs of State both at Home and Abroad to move disorderly and irregular Where Violence and Injustice prevail there is so little distance between the most eminent Height of Grandure and the lowest Abyss of Misery that a Price may in a moment step from one unto the other The Janisaries and Military Officers commanded more now than the Civil all things being guided by the Air and Fancy of the Souldiery who placed and displaced with that wind of Favour and Displeasure which is agreeable to the Humour of a Multitude and the Licentiousness of Arms. For at the same time there were three Emperors seven Great Viziers two Captain-Pasha's five Aga's of the Janisaries three Treasurers six Pasha's of Cairo and in proportion the Changes and Alterations were as many in all the Provinces of the Empire All this Confusion evidently proceeding from the weak and almost sensless Understanding of Mustapha the Ministers and People concurred as it were in an universal Consent to dethrone him a second time and exalt into his Place Sultan Morat Brother to Osman who was murdered the Year before The Principal Actors in this Contrivance were Kiosem the Mother of Morat and the Mufti But in the execution hereof three Difficulties occurred The first was Chusaâin Pasha the Great Vizier who by reason of the Inabilities of Mustapha being become absolute Lord and Soveraign of all would be unwilling to assent unto that Proposition which might degrade him of his Dignity and divest him of his Power A second Obstastacle was the Fancy and Humour of the Souldiery who having with much Zeal and Passion exalted Mustapha to the Throne it might be doubted that in maintenance of the same Humour they would with equal obstinacy persevere in their Election A third was the Poverty or low Ebb of the Exchequer which at that time was in no capacity to supply that Donative to the Souldiery which was usual and customary at the Inauguration of every Sultan To forward and hasten this Change and ripen this Plot the News of the Rebellion of Abassa did much contribute who with a Body of fifteen thousand Horse roved over all the Plains of Kara-hisar calling himself Avenger of Sultan Osman's Murder and Enemy of the Janisaries by whose Mutiny and Conspiracy he was put to Death in satisfaction for which he not only killed all Janisaries which fell into his hands but their Wives Children and those allied to them he destroyed with implacable Malice and bloody Rage Upon this Advice the Janisaries at Constantinople being moved with equal Fury and desire of Revenge applied themselves to their Aga proposing a speedy Union with the Spahees for suppressing this Rebellion before Time gave it greater growth and made the Humour more stubborn and difficult to be purged At the same time also came Letters from Cicala Pasha who was dispatched into Asia with a strong Party to give a stop to the farther Progress and Advance of Abassa advising that upon his near approach to the Enemy so general a Fear possessed his Souldiery that most of them disbanded and forsook their Colours and that at present he had no more than five hundred Janisaries and two hundred Spahees undâr his Command which he found to be an unequal Match to contend âith tâe increasââg Pâwer of Abassa This Inteâligââce served happâââ the occasion of the Mufâi Vizâer and ââga ãâã give a turn to the desired Change and sâppliââ them with an Answer to the Janisaries that they were ready to yield compliance unto their Address but that the Incapacity of their Soveraign obstructed their Proceedings and that the Defect in the priââipal Wheeâ disordereââll the Mââtions of gâod Goverâment At whâch Reââly the Jaâisarâes becomiâg more unquâet assembâed themselves in a tumultuous manner at the Mosch of Sultan Solyman where making an Ayack Divan so called because they sit not down but stand on their Legs to denote the present haste and urgency of their Affair it was enacted by an unanâmoââ cânsent oâ the Civil aâd Military Power Thââ yââng Morat or Amââaâ should be proâoted to âhe Thronâ and âhat Mustapha should be deposed And because the Exchequer was at its lowest Ebb and wholly exhausted by misâarrâage of the Officers âhe Souldiers were contented to dispense with their Donative which they relinquished in consideration of the Publick Good reserving still their Title and Claim thereunto at times of a more happy Inauguration With this News the Vizier immediately mounted on Hoâse-back to signify this Universal Decree to Mustapha but he found him so stupid as if he had been insensible of the Message and his Mother wanting Power to resist this strong Convulsion gave way to Necessity and seemed to embrace what she could not oppose Thus Mustapha falling from the Heaven of his Throne to the Abyss of his Prison seemed to return unto his Centre for being only by the Wild-fire of Fortune carried as far aloft as the force of popular Powder could reach he afterwards by the meer weight of his earthly Temper returned with the like quickness of Motion to the place from whence he ascended Hereupon Sultan Amurat a Youth of about fourteen years of Age was brought forth to the People and placed in the Throne with all the Acclamations and Rejoycings of the People And being taught by his Mother in a feigned manner to refuse acceptance of the Empire he pretended that the Exchequer was exhausted and that therefore he was not able to demonstrate the Affection and Esteem he had for them and that since they had killed their former Sultans he was fearful lest the tenderness of his Age should betray him to the like Violence but the Souldiery having not the patience to hearken to his Excuses immediately carried him to the Divan where having cloathed him in White they seated him on a Saâraw erected with four Pillars studded with precious Stones the Covering of which was of Crimson-Velvet richly embroidered with Gold and Oriental-Pearl And being so seated the Mufti with all reverence approached and kissed his Hand and then turning to the People he demanded of them If they were contented with that Prince whom they now beheld in the Seat of the Ottoman Kings To which they having given assent by their loud Acclamations Morat with a becoming gravity encharged the Mufti to take care that Justice and the Law be executed and so retired to his Lodgings with general satisfaction The next morning he was carried by Water to the Mosch of Iub in the Suburbs of Constantinople where according to the Solemnity of the Ottoman Empire having performed his Corbaâ or Sacrifice and having his Cemiter girt to his Side by the Emirsheriff he mounted on âorse-bacâ and with a magnificent
would beg her Intercession with her Son in his behalf and being admitted to discourse with her he thereby plainly discovered her most inveterate hatred and displeasure against her Son not only for this but for many other Actions of like nature This discovery which the Queen had made gave him the boldness to propose the confinement again of Ibrahim to his old Prison not that he should be absolutely laid aside and deposed but only corrected awhile and being put in remembrance of his past Condition might be taught Wisdom and instructed for the future what moderation and justice Sultans are obliged to exercise in the Administration of Government and so subtilly did he insinuate his Discourse that the Queen-Mother assented to the Proposal and that the Seal should be conferred on Mahomet Pasha for she had conceived an irreconcileable hatred against Achmet the Grand Vizier by whose Counsel she was sent to the old Seraglio and was united in Confederacy with the detested Shechir Para. The Mufti greatly satisfied to have gained so considerable a Conspirator to the Party communicated the whole Business with the Progress of it to the two Kadileschers year 1648. or Lord Chief Justices of Romelia and Anatolia who approving thereof and promising their utmost assistance the 7 th of August was the Day appointed for the Insurrection of the Janizaries who being all in a readiness on that day went in a tumultuary way to call the Mufti the Kadileschers and other Officers and Ministers of the Law whom they seemingly forced to accompany them to the presence of the Grand Signior of whom they demanded that the present Vizier Achmet should be deprived of his Office and that Mahomet Pasha should be constituted in his place The Grand Signior at first refused their Demand but being perswaded by his Mother that it was necessary to content the Militia in that tumult he consented thereunto and having called Achment he took from him the Seal and conferred it on Mahomet Pasha and therewith the Office of Grand Vizier Achmet trembling at the consequences hereof resolved to commit himself to the Mercy of the Mufti and therefore hastned to his House to attend his return hoping to find him his Protector under whose Shadow and Roof he fled for Sanctuary The Souldiery having thus obtained the first-fruits of their Insurrection accompanied the Mufti unto his Home where finding the deposed Vizier Achmet the Janisar-Aga immediately Commanded him out of Doors from whence he had no sooner drawn his Foot than that he was seized upon and strangled and his Body thrown before the Gate of the new Mosch The next day being the 8 th of August 1648 the Janizaries again arising in the like Tumult as before came to demand of the Mufti Whether that according to their Law Sultan Ibrahim as a Fool and a Tyrant and unfit for Government ought not to be deposed To which the Mufti giving Answer in the Affirmative sent to cite Sultan Ibrahim the day following to appear in the Divan to administer Justice to his Souldiers and Subjects who expected it from him But Ibrahim supposing that he had sufficiently satisfied the Souldiery by putting the Vizier out of Office laughed at the Summons which the Mufti made him which being seconded by a Fetfa which is a point of Law resolved by the Mufti who is the Mouth or Oracle thereof viz. That the Grand Signior being called to account is obliged to appear before the Justice the Sultan in high disdain tore the Paper threatning the Head of the Mufti but it was now too late he having already sufficiently fortified himself with the Power and Strength of his Rebellious Companions This Fetfa was immediately seconded by another of a higher nature which declared That whosoever obeyed not the Law of God was not a true Mussulman or Believer and though that Person were the Emperor himself yet being become by his filthy Actions a Kafir or Infidel was ipso facto fallen from his Throne and no farther capable of Authority and Government This Fetfa being seen by Ibrahim he tore it in pieces commanding the Grand Vizier instantly to put the Mufti to Death as guilty of Treason against his Prince but having now lost his Authority his Commands were not longer regarded nor any reverence had of his person For the Janizaries being again assembled about five a Clock in the Afternoon came with their usual tumult to the Gates of the Seraglio And now Sultan Ibrahim losing all Courage at this third attempt fled into the Arms of his Mother begging her Assistance and Protection She being a bold and subtle Woman employed all her Rhetorick and Eloquence to perswade the Souldiery not to offer Violence to the Person of their Lord and Master promising that he should relinquish the Government and retire himself with a Guard into his old Lodgings Ibrahim comforted a little that he should save his Life shrunk himself willingly into his old Shell wherein he had so long conserved his Life In the mean time the Conspirators taking forth his eldest Son Sultan Mahomet set him on the Throne of his Father and planting the Sargouch or Imperial Feathers on his Head saluted him for Emperor with loud Acclamations Ibrahim continued his Imprisonment for some days with great patience but at length growing desperate and furious often beat his Head against the Wall until at length he was on the 17 th strangled by four Mutes In this manner Sultan Ibrahim ended his Days which puts me in mind of the saying of a wiser and a better King than he That there is little distance between the Prisons and the Graves of Princes And this Example made a great Officer understand how King Charles the Glorious Martyr was put to Death For he I think it was the Great Vizier falling into Discourse with the Chief English Interpreter at Constantinople not then calling to mind the Fate of Sultan Ibrahim demanded How and when King Charles was put to Death Sure said he Your King must have no Power or your People must be more Rebellious and Mutinous than other Nations of the World who durst commit an Act so horrid and vile as this See said he How our Emperor is revered and observed and how submissive and obedient half the World is to the Noâ of our Great Monarch To which the Interpreter replyed that to recount unto him the History and Occasion of this prodigious Fact would be too long and tedious for him to hear but that the time it happened was some Months after the Death or Murder of Sultan Ibrahim which was an Item sufficient to give him a perfect understanding of what he required Sultan Ibrahim having in this manner ended his Days the Government was committed into the hands of the Grand Vizier and the old Queen-Mother which is she whom we call Kiosem in the Ottoman State and of twelve Pashaws who were to manage all Affairs with supream Power during the Minority of Sultan Mahomet who now Reigns Ibrahim was the
presence of the Bailo was immediately by two Officers strangled and his Body thrown out at the Window of the Castle the which act though it may seem unjust and barbarous to us hath yet been frequently practised amongst the Turks being to this day their common use to threaten the Druggermen or Interpreters which is the cause that they often mince or wholly alter the sense or meaning of their Masters on those Occasions when words are spoken by them ungrateful to the Turks The Turks bearing this Disdain to the Venetians laboured to re-enforce their Armies in Candiâ and supply them with Ammunition and Provisions and though the Venetians lay before the Mouth of the Dardanelles to intercept all Succours which might be carried thither yet the Turks notwithstanding their Divisions having recruited their Fleet with forty Gallies and ten Great Ships broke through the Venetians and in despight of them convoyed five Gallies laden with Souldiers and Ammunition and landed them safe at Canea and about the same time six Gallies and ten Ships of Barbary entered into the Port of Suda The General which commanded in Chief was named Chusaein Pasha a Person of great Courage and Experience he had for some time besiâged the City of Candia but for want of Men and Ammunition was forced to rise from that Place and retire to Canea and Retimo whilst in the mean time the Candiots received recruits of Men and supply of Provisions improving their leisure-time to fortifie their Town with such Works as rendred it almost impregnable and made it become the Wonder and Discourse of the World after some Years succeeding Nor was the War only carried on in Candia but also in Dalmatia Morea Bosna and Albania For Foscolo the General of Venice designing to force some Corn from the Parts of Castel-nuovo he landed some Men there but was so ill received by the Turks that he was forced to retreat unto his Vessels with great disorder and no less dishonour But he had better fortune in the Parts of Bosna where he repulsed the Enemy to the very Gates of Sarsay the Capital City of that Province and took upon composition the Fortress of Risano which is scituate between Cataro and Castel-nuovo but at length the Turks receiving an additional Aid of fifteen or sixteen thousand Men the Venetians were forced to quit their new Conquests and retire into their own Country During the time that these Affairs were in agitation the young Emperor was proclaimed and his Inauguration celebrated with the usual Ceremonies but with Rejoicings and hopes extraordinary who being yet scarcely arrived to eight years of Age many Mutiniâs and Troubles arose in divers Parts of the Empire as in Damascus Syria Anatolia and other Countries where the Pashaws refused to pay in the customary Taxes and Tribute declaring That they would keep the Mony in their Hands during the Minority of the Grand Signior and that when he came to Age of Government they would be accoântable to him both for the Principal and for the Improvement The Turks in Hungary making incursions into the Territories of the Emperor were overthrown by the Count Forgatz near Buda where the Pasha was taken Prisoner and his Son slain Nor better fortune had they in the Assault they made on the Fortress of Clissa where having lost five thousand Men they were forced to retire with great dishonour The Cossacks also in this Conjuncture grew more bold so that they covered the Black Sea with their Boats doing great damage to the Saicks and other Vessels which traded in that Sea and at length came up the Bosphorus above Therapea giving a great Alarm with much Fear and Confusion to all Constantinople Amidst these Misfortunes and intestine Troubles new Disorders arose in the Ottoman-Empire For as commonly all the blame of miscarriages and ill successes in Turkie are cast upon the Head of the Commander in chief so the Enemies of the Great Vizier took the advantage in this conjuncture to reproach his ill Government and carried the accusation so far as to depose him from his Charge and Office in whose place the Aga or General of the Janisaries succeeded The Spahees in Asia being displeased with this Election assembled in a Body of seven or eight thousand and marched towards Constantinople pretending to revenge the Death of Sultan Ibrahim their Numbers daily encreasing the Divan very much feared lest the Party which favoured the Spahees in Constantinople should join themselves to the Asian Mutineers to prevent which it was judged good Reason and Policy to anticipate the Justice they demanded by taking away the Life of the deposed Vizier which being easily assented unto and without much hesitation performed gave some little stop to the Fury and Heats of the Spahees Notwithstanding all which as the Divisions which the Turks entertain amongst themselves were never so great as to afford the Christians any Advantage thereby so the Venetians did not reap any Benefit from these Quarrels but on the contrary the Turks studiously attended to their Affairs in Candia passing thither with sixty Gallies thirty great Ships and twenty five other smaller Vessels laden with Men and all sorts of Provisions and Ammunition for War so that in this Year 1649 the Affairs of the Turks remained in that Island in this happy and hopeful posture Amongst these Ships were thirteen English which the Turks took up at Smyrna and forced into their Sevice For though the Ambassador Sir Thomas Bendysh then Resident at Constantinople opposed the Engagement of these Ships what was possible and also the Commanders and Seamen were very unwilling and dissatisfied to undertake the Design yet the Turks with Menaces and Promises of Reward forced them to carry Men and Ammunition to Candia so that making a Virtue of Necessity they complied with that which they could not resist ANNO 1650. CHusaein Pasha Governour of the Island of Candia having received these Succours and Recruits resolved to besiege the Chief City of Candia to which intent drawing out from the Ships and Garisons of Retimo and Canea what Men he was able he formed an Army of thirty thousand Men with which he marched and pitched before the Town He was provided also with twelve Pieces of Cannon four thousand Sacks of Wooll three thousand Ladders and with a good quantity of Granadoes with this Force he attaqued the City in two places viz. on the Forts of Martinengo and Mocânigo and pressed so hard on the latter that notwithstanding the generous resistance of the Defendants he won the Fort and there planted the Ottoman Colours fortifying it with more Cannon and a good number of Men. Count Coloredo Governour of that Place was then sick the Garison very weak and things reduced to the last terms of extremity when General Balbiani Admiral of Malta arrived with six Gallies and there landed six hundred Men and sixty Kinghts which with great Courage mounted the Guard of the Fort Martinengo which was the place of most Danger
that the Factories should be transferred again over to Tripoli in Soria a place formerly ârequented by our Merchants but by reason of the danger and inconvenience of that Port the Trade was transported to the Scale of Scanderoân This alteration the Tefterdar pretended to have been granted to the Merchants at their earnest Petition and promise to the Grand Signior of payment of 13000 Dollars Yearly for discharge and maintenance of those Guards which were requisite in that place for safety of the Coast and defence of the Caravans which pass with Merchants goods to Aleppo but time and corruption of the Ministers had deprived the Grand Signior of the benefit of that duty And this he urged with the greater instance and eagerness knowing that the Scale of Scanderoon being prohibited the Hattesheriff whereon consisted the priviledg of the Merchants and their sole security must consequently fall and they forced to a new agreement On this occasion our Lord Ambassador had Audience with the Vizier and insisted on that point of our Capitulations which gives us liberty to Trade in any part of the Grand Signiors Dominions and therefore to consent to be restrained or confined to any particular place was to assent to a breach of the Capitulations which was out of his power and only to be dispensed with by his Master the King of England and the Grand Signior by whom they were established and to connive or assent to the breach of one particular clause was to hazard the loss and breach of the whole year 1666. for that our Capitulations to use the Turks saying are like a string of Beads of which when one link is broken the others drop off To which the Vizier replied that the Scale of Scanderoon was open and clear as before for the English Trade but because the Tefterdar and Customer pretended that the Grand Signior was put to great expences for maintenance of a Watch and Guard at that Port which was only in respect to the security of the Merchants Goods Orders shâuld be given for taking away those Officers as unnecessary and insignificant to the publick Service no Guards having ever been in that place the Embassador judged his business to be granted and so thanked the Vizier and departed But not many days after the Tefterdar procured a Command for shutting the Scale of Scandeâoân and transporting the Factory to Tripâli which Command was rather intended to affright our Nation into some composition than really to be put in execution as appeared by the sequel for the Tefterdar better considered than to bring so great an Odium upon himself from the whole Country and City of Aleppo and to enforce the Embassador to have recourse to the Grand Signiors own person for redress of an abuse of so high a nature in derogation of his Imperial Capitulations Howsoever it is observabâe in the transaction of all this business that it is dâfficult to bring a corrupt Turkish Minister to Juâââce or punishment meerly for breach of our Capâtulations or in respect to any difference or abuse offered to Christians unless the complaint be âccompanied with Presents or Money which are most prevalent Arguments in the Turkish Court and in this case I really believe that had three or four thousand Dollars been offered as a reward for bringing the Customer to capital punishment the complaint had found acceptance and honourable success for default of which the Cause was starved and naked and carried no fire or heat in those aggravations with which it was represented It is lâkewise observable that business in the Turkish Court doth not always find that dââpatch or expedition as is generally believed in âhâistendom unless it come accompanied with the interest of the Ministers themselves and then it is transacted in a moment which otherwise languishes with delays and will never want excuses to defer it Anno 1666. Hegeira 1077. WE shall begin this Year with the strange rumour and disturbance of the Iews concerning Sabatai Sevi their pretended Messiah which for being most principally acted in Turkey may properly belong to the History of this time and place which therefore for delight of the Readers I shall here insert for though it may have been elsewheâe published yet being an issue of my Pen I may lawfully now own it and annex it to this Hiâtory in respect of that near coâerence it may have therewith and that many other particulars have been added thereunto which succeeded until the Death of this Sabatai According to the Predictions of several Christian Writers especially âf such who comment upon the Apâcalypse or Revelations this year of 1666. was to prove a year of Wonders of strange Revolâtions in the World and particularly of blessing to the Iews either in respect of their Conversion to the Christian Faith or of their Restoration to their Temporal Kingdom This opinion was so dilated and fixt in the Countries of the Reformed Religion and in the heads of Fanatical Enthusiasts who dreamed of Fifth Monarchies the down-fall of the Pope and Antichrist and the greatness of the Iews insomuch that this subtil people judged this Year the time to stir and to fit their Motion according to the season of the Modern Prophecies Whereupon strange reports flew from place to place of the March of multitudes of People from unknown parts into the remote deserts of Arabia supposed to be the Ten Tribes and a half lost for so many Ages That a Ship was arrived in the Northern parts of Scotland with her Sails and Cordage of Silk navigated by Marriners who spoke nothing but Hebrew and with this Motto on their Sails The Twelve Tribes of Israel These reports agreeing thus near to former Predictions put the wild sort of the World into an expectation of strange accidents this Year should produce in reference to the Iewish Monarchy In this manner Millions of people were possessed when Sabatai Sevi first appeared at Smyrna and published himself to the Iews for their Messiah relating the greatness of their approaching Kingdom the strong hand whereby God was about to deliver them from Bondage and gather them from all the parts of the World. It was strange to see how this fancy took and how fast the report of Sabatai and his Doctrine flew through all parts where Iews inhabited and so deeply possessed them with a belief of their new Kingdom and Riches and many of them with promotion to Offices of Government renown and greatness that in all places from Constantinople to Buda which it was my fortune that Year to travel I perceived a strange transport in the Iews none of them attending to any business unless to wind up former Negotiations and to prepare themselves and Families for a Journey to Ierusalem all their Discourses their Dreams and disposal of their affairs tended to no other design but a re-establishment in the Land of Promise to Greatness and Glory Wisdom and Doctrine of the Messiah whose Original Birth and Education is first to be recounted
Year of Peace and repose of this Empire what the Sultan contrived for security of himself by the death of his Brothers We acquainted you formerly in what manner the Sultan was disappointed in his designs against his Brothers by means of his Mother to whom the Janisaries had committed the care of their safety which she according to her promise had maintained and tendered equally with her own But now the Vizier being returned from the Wars and the most seditious amongst the Janisaries withdrawn from Constantinople it was thought fit to make a new attempt on the Princes still residing in the old Seraglio which was performed with those due preparations and secrecy that it took effect on Sultan Orchan the eldest of the two who in the Month of September 1671. dyed by a draught of poyson which was administred to him as a Present from his courteous Brother some say he was strangled and that before he submitted his neck to the Bow-string he killed one of the Executioners with his Hanjarre This Prince was reported by the people to be a comely Person of a strong and robustious body of large and black eyes like Sultan Morat his death was lamented by all and presaged as fatal to the Empire in regard that that very night that he was murthered the Moon suffered a greater Eclipse than it had done for many years before which happening out in this conjuncture was interpreted as âminous and served to increase the maledictions and evil spâeches which the Turks in all places cast out upon those who gave this counsel to the Sultan About this time the State of Genoua desirous to change their Officers in Turkie sent a new Resident to Constantinople and a Consul to Smyrna which change was principally obtained at the request of the old Ministers who weary of an employment so tedious without a benefit corresponding to their melancholy life and perceiving their Trade decline before it was arrived to any tolerable state or degree of reputation by the assistance and mediation of friends sollicited their Letters of Revocation For the Trade of Genoua being cheifly founded on hopes of those advantages which they expected from a coarse or base alloy of mony did instantly decay so soon as the Turks discovered themselves to be abused by the vast quantities of Temins imported as we have before related after which their profit âailing the Consulage consequently decayed which is the only subsistence and encouragement of such Officers as are necessary to reside for the continuance of that Peace which but a few years before they unadvisedly made with the Turk The new Resident had no sooner arrived at Constantinople and considered the poor and mean estate and ill foundation of their Trade the growing charge of the Residency and the great debts thereof that were to devolve upon him from his Predecessor but he perceived into what a Labyrinth of troubles he had ingulfed himself instead of being preferred according to his hopes into a place of Honour and happy retirement In which confusion of thoughts arising one morning before day from his bed and sitting on his Close-stool as the servants of the house report reached at a Towel which being intangled within the Lock of a Carbine that hanged always charged near his bed unfortunately drew the Trigger too hard which with that gave fire and shot the poor Gentleman into the belly with a brace of Bullets of which being mortally wounded after Confession and some Prayers in a few hours he passed to another life unhappy mischance if it may be called a chance for I have understood from a sober person of that Nation that the anguish of mind which he conceived at the evil condition of his Affairs wrought in him a deepness of melancholy and despair under which languishing some days did at last most miserably lay violent hands upon himself And now it is time to recal to mind the Conspiracy of Count Serini Marquess Frangipani and Count Nadasti Persons of Quality and of great Power in Croatia and Hungary who as we said before had sent their Messengers to the Great Vizier then remaining in the Leagure of Candia with overtures of submission to the Ottoman Power It was strange News to the World to hear that the House of Serini should abandon the Christian Party and those renowned Defenders of their Country should apostatize though not from Christianity yet from that Cause and Liberty which their Ancestors and themselves had defended with Blood Treasure Valour and Constancy But dissentions and animosities sown by Satan the Enemy of the Christian Church did strangely corrupt the minds of those famous Persons and raise in them a Spirit resolved to avenge the neglect and injuries put upon them by the Ministers of the Imperial Court though at the expence and hazard of their fortunes and lives and ruine and shiprack of their Honour and Consciences For the neglects and affronts undeservedly cast on Nicholas Serini during the late War as before related and the contempt and scorn put on the Croatian and Hungarian Nobility was supposed to have fited the hot and ambitious Spirits of these Persons who could more easily endure the slavery of the Turkish yoke than condescend to the Government and prevalency of a contrary Party Wherefore in prosecution of their design the complices of Serini being resolved to submit to the Turk dispatched two other Gentlemen to the Ottoman Court besides those which were sent the year before to Salonica who arrived at Adrianople the 11 th of February 1670 1 demanding the protection of the Sultan for which they promised a Tribute of thirty Purses or fifteen thousand Dollars every year for those Lands they held in Croatia To make Answer hereunto a Divan or Council was called in which were weighed all the Arguments and Reasons on one side and the other The Muftee opposed their receiving into protection as being against the Capitulations and Agreement so lately concluded with the Emperor wherein the receiving or abetting of Rebels is expresly forbidden and provided against by one side and the other but Vanni Efendi the Preacher who used to be always of a different opinion to the Muftee urged to have them received because that the advancement of the Mahometan Cause and enlargement of their Empire was more sacred than the conservation of their League with an Infidel Prince And that the Ottoman Court was no longer to be termed the Refuge of the World if it could not yield that protection which oppressed Kingdoms and distressed Princes petitioned to obtain In this manner the matter being controverted without Agreement it was in fine resolved to refer the matter to the determination of the Grand Vizier who was now a few months past return'd triumphant from Candia But by this time Intelligence being come by way of Bosna that the Emperor had already entered Croatia with thirty thousand men that he had taken Chiacheturno in Cotoriba and that Serini and his Associates were
the largest extent of Dominion But indeed when I have considered seriously the Contexture of the Turkish Government the absoluteness of an Emperor without Reason without Vertue whose Speeches may be Irrational and yet must be Laws whose Actions Irregular and yet Examples whose Sentence and Judgment if in Matters of the Imperial Concernment are most commonly corrupt and yet Decrees irresistible When I consider what little rewards these are for Vertue and no Punishment for profitable and thriving Vice how Men are raised at once by Adulation Chance and the sole Favour of the Prince without any Title of Noble Blood or the Motives of Previous Deserts or former Testimonies and Experience of Parts and Abilities to the weightiest the richest and most honourable Charges of the Empire when I consider how short their continuance is in them how with one Frown of their Prince they are cut off with what greediness above all people in the World they thirst and haste to be Rich and yet know their Treasure is but their Snare what they labour for is but as Slaves for their great Patron and Master and what will inevitably effect their Ruin and Destruction though they have all the Arguments of Faithfulness Vertue and moral Honesty which are rare in a Turk to be their Advocates and plead for them When I consider many other things of like Nature which may more at large hereafter be discoursed of one might admire the long continuance of this great and vast Empire and attribute the stability thereof without change within it self and the increase of Dominions and constant progress of its Arms rather to some supernatural Cause than to the ordinary Maxims of State or Wisdom of the Governors as if the Divine Will of the All-knowing Creator had chosen for the good of his Church and chastisement of the Sins and Vices of Christians to raise and support this mighty People Mihi quanto plura recentium sâu veterum revolvo tanto magis ludibria rerum mortalium cunctis in negotiis observantur But that which cements all Breaches and cures all those Wounds in this Body Politick is the quickness and severity of their Justice which not considering much the strict division and parts of distributive and commutative makes almost every Crime equal and punishes it with the last and extreamest chastisement which is Death I mean those which have relation to the Government and are of common and publick Interest Without this Remedy which I lay down as a principal Prevention of the greatest Disorders this mighty Body would burst with the Poison of its own ill Humors and soon divide it self into several Signories as the Ambition and Power of the Governors most remote from the Imperial Seat administred them hopes and security of becoming Absolute In this Government Severity Violence and Cruelty are natural to it and it were as great an Error to begin to loose the Reins and ease the People of that Oppression to which they and their Fore-fathers have since their first original been accustomed as it would be in a Nation free-born and used to live under the Protection of good Laws and the Clemency of a vertuous and Christian Prince to exercise a Tyrannical Power over their Estates and Lives and change their Liberty into Servitude and Slavery The Turks had the original of their Civil Government âoundâd in the time of the War for when they âirât came out of Scythia and took Arms in their Hands and submitted unto one General it is to be supposed that they had no Laws but what were Arbitrary and Martial and most agreeable to the enterprise and Design they had then in hand when Tangrolipix overthrew the Persian Sultan possessed himself of his Dominions and Power and called and opened the way for his Companions out of Armenia when Cutlumuses revolted from him and made a distinct Kingdom in Arabia when other Princes of the Seleuccian Family in the infancy of the Turkish Power had by Wars among themselves or by Testament made division of their Possessions when Anno 1300. Ottoman by strange Fortunes and from small beginnings swallowed up all the other Governments into the Ogusian Tribe and united them under one Head until at last it arrived to that greatness and power it now enjoys The whole condition of this People was but a continued state of War wherefore it is not strange if their Laws are severe and in most things arbitrary that the Emperor should be Absolute and above Law and that most of their Customs should run in a certain Chanel and Course most answerable to the height and unlimited Power of the Governor and consequently to the Oppression and Subjection of the People and that they should thrive most by servitude be most happy prosperous and contented under Tyranny is as natural to them as to a Body to be nourished with that Diet which it had from its Infancy or Birth been acquainted with But not only is Tyranny requisite for this People and a stiff reign to curb them lest by an unknown Liberty they grow mutinous and unruly but likewise the large Territories and remote parts of the Empire require speedy preventions without Processes of Law or formal Indictment jealousie and suspicion of Mis-government being Licence and Authority enough for the Emperor to inflict his severest Punishments all which depends upon the Absoluteness of the Prince which because it is that whereby the Turks are principally supported in their Greatness and is the prime Maxim and Foundation of their State we shall make it the Discourse and Subject of the following Chapter CHAP. II. The Absoluteness of the Emperor is a great support of the Turkish Empire THE Turks having as is before declared laid the first foundation of their Government with the Principles most agreeable to Militay Discipline their Generals or Princes whose Will and Lusts they served became absolute Masters of their Lives and Estates so that what they gained and acquired by the Sword with Labours Perils and Sufferings was appropriated to the use and benefit of their Great Master All the delightful Fields of Asia the pleasant Plains of Tempe and Thrace all the Plenty of Egypt and Fruitfulness of the Nile the Luxury of Corinth the Substance of Peloponnesus Athens Lemnos Scio and Mitylene with other Isles of the Aegean Sea the Spices of Arabia and the Riches of a great part of Persia all Armenia the Provinces of Ponius Galatia Bythinia Phrygia Lycia Pamphylia Palestine Coelosyria and Phoenicia Colchis and great part of Georgia the Tributary Principalities of Moldavia and Walachia Romania Bulgaria and Servia and the best part of Hungary concur all together to satifie the Appetite of one single Person all the extent of this vast Territory the Lands and Houses as well as the Castles and Arms are the proper Goods of the Grand Signior in his sole Disposal and Gift they remain whose Possession and Right they are only to Lands dedicated to Religious uses
corrupted âlyeth to Mahomet the Turk 255 b his first speech to Mahomet 256 a. honourably entertained ib. b. by Isaack Bassa created King of Epirus 258 b. taken prisoner by Scanderbeg 260 a. sent prisoner into Italy 260 a. enlarged returneth to Constantinople and there dyeth ib. a. b. Amurath the First succeedeth his Father Orchanes in the Turkish Kingdom 131 a. invadeth Europe ib. a. taketh Hadrianople ib. a. maketh his royal seat in Europe 132 b. beginneth the order of the Ianizaries 132 b. 133 a. returneth into Asia 133 a. marrieth his Son Bajazet unto Hatune the daughter of the Prince Gyrmean with a great dowry 134 a. purchaseth the Principality of Amisum of Chusen Beg ib. a. invadeth Servia and taketh Nissa the Metropolitan City thereof ib. a. imposeth a yearly tribute upon the Country of Servia ib. a. in a great battel overthroweth Aladin the King of Caramania's Son in Law with the other Mahometan Princes his Confederates 135 b. by his Captains winneth and spoileth a great part of Bulgaria 137 b in a great and mortal battel overthroweth Lazarus the Despot of Servia with his Confederates in the Plains of Cossova 139 a. slain ib. a. buried aâ Prusa 139 b. Amurath the Second placed in his Fathers seat 173 a. afraid to go against the Rebel Mustapha ib b. in vain besieged Constantinople 175 a. strangleth his Brother Mustapha ib. b. winneth Thessalonica 176 b. taketh unto himself the greatest part of Aetolia 176 b. enforceth the Princes of Athens Phocis and Beotia to become his Tributaries ib. b. falsifieth his faith with John Castriot Prince of Epirus and poysoneth his three eldest Sons his Hostages 177 a. oppresseth the Mahometan Princes in Asia ib. a. b. spoyleth Hungary ib. b. contrary to his faith invadeth Servia and subdueth it 178 a. putteth out the Eyes of the Despots Sons his Wives Brethren ib. a besiegeth Belgrade 179 a. dealeth subtilly with the Ambassadors of King Uladislaus 179 notably encourageth his Souldiers to the assault of Belgrade ib. b. shamefully repulsed 181 a. his sullen answer unto the Ambassadors of King Uladislaus ib. a. sendeth Meâites Bassa to invade Transilvania 182 a. grieved with the loss of Mesites and his Army sendeth Abedin Bassa to revenge his death 184 a. in despair about to have slain himself 197 a. by the mediation of the Despot of Servia obtaineth Peace of King Uladislaus for ten years ib. a. inâadeth Caramania ib. a. weary of the World committeth the Government of his Kingdom to his Son Mahomet and retireth himself unto a Monastical Life ib. b. At the report of those preparations of the Hungarians and request of his Bassaes forsaketh his solitary Life and raiseth a great Army in Asia 202 a. by the Genowayes transported with his Army into Europe ib. a. joyneth battel with King Uladislaus at Varna ib. b. about to have fled reproved of Cowardise by a common Souldier ib. b. prayeth unto Christ 203 a. in danger to have been slain ib. a. wisheth not many times so to overcome as he did at the battel of Varna ib. b. to perform his Von resigneth his Kingdom to his Son Mahomet which he shortly after resumeth again 204 a. his crafty Letters to Scanderbeg 205 b. his passionate speech in his rage against Scanderbeg 206 a. breaketh through the Hexamylum and imposeth a yearly tribute upon them of Peloponesus 507 b. after three days hard fight with great slaughter of his Men overcometh Huniades in the Plains of Cassoua 211 a. invadeth the Despot 212 a. his grave Letters of advice to Mustapha concerning his invading of Epirus 312 b. cometh with a great Army to Sfetigrade 216 a. in vain with great fury giveth many a desperate assault unto the City 218 a. in one assault loseth seven thousand of his Turks 218 b. by great promises seeketh to corrupt the Garrison of Sfetigrade 219 a. by the practice of one man hath the City of Sfetigrade yielded unto him ib. b. having lost thirty thousand of his Turks at the Siege of Sfetigrade returneth to Hadrianople 220 a. with a great Army cometh again into Epirus and besiegeth Croia 221 a. in two assaults loseth 8000 of his Souldiers 223 a. content to buy the Life of one Christian with the loss of twenty of his Turks ib. b. seeketh by great gifts to corrupt Uranacontes the Governour of Croia 224 a b. overcome with Melancholy tormenteth himself 225 b. by his Ambassadors offereth Scanderbeg Peace ib. b. his last speech unto his Son Mahomet concerning such things as at his death grieved him most 226 dieth ib. b buried at Prusa 227 a. Amurath the Son of Achomates slieth unto Hysmael the Persian King 343 a. marrieth his daughter ib. a. spoileth Capadocia and for fear of his Vncle Selymus retireth ib. b. Amurath the Third taketh upon him the Turkish Empire 651 a. pacifieth the Ianizaries and augmenteth their priviledges ib. a. strangleth his five brethren ib. a his Letters unto the Nobility of Polonia in the behalf of Stephen Bathor Vayvod of Transylvania ib. b. attentive to the stirs in Persia 654 a. informed thereof by Ustref Bassa of Van ib. b. resolved to take the Persian War in hand 655 a. by Mustapha advertised of the success of the Persian Wars 663 b. consulteth of his proceeding therein 666 a. dischargeth Mustapha of him Generalship and calleth him home to Constantinople 669 b. appointeth Sinan General for the Persian Wars 671 a. in despight of Sinan appointeth Mahamet Bassa General for those Wars in his stead 675 b. circumciseth his eldest Son Mahomet ib. a. displaceth Sinan Bassa and casteth him into exile 679 a. appointeth Ferat General for his Wars in Persia 681 a. sendeth for Osman Bassa into Siruan 686 b. maketh him chief Visier and General of his Army into Persia 688 a. in disporting with his Mutes taken with a fit of the falling sickness 689 a. causeth great triumph to be made throughout his Empire for the winning of Tauris 701 b. maketh choice again of Ferat Bassa to succeed Osman Bassa dead in the Persian Wars 703 b. concluded a Peace with the Persian King 707 b. his answer to the Letters of Sigismund the Third King of Polonia 706 a. glad himself to yield unto the insolency of the Janizaries 707 b. his Letters to Elizabeth Queen of England 708 b. perswaded by his Visier Bassa's to take some new War in hand 709 a. in doubt whom first to begin withal 710 a. b. resolveth to make War upon the Emperour with the reasons leading him thereunto 713 b. giveth leave to Hassan Bassa of Bosna as it were without his knowledge to pick quarrels with the Emperour and so to disturb the Peace 714 a. sendeth home the body of the Persian Hostage dead in his Court ib. b. proclaimeth War against the Emperour 720 a. the proud and blasphemous manner of his denuntiation of War ib. a. he dreameth 723 b. sick of the Falling sickness 736 a. dieth 740 a. Amurath Rais his Gallies fight with a
the Grand Seignior to be aiding and assisting to them in this Work that it might be performed with all the quiet peace and silence imaginable All things being disposed by the Aga accordingly both he and the two Executioners went directly to the Vizier's Apartment who so soon as he had cast his Eyes on these new-come Guests thô they were really his Friends and had been his familiar Confidents formerly yet he suspected much the Import of their Message but being nothing surprized at what he had some time expected he chearfully gave them the usual Salams or Salutations demanding of them their Business which brought them to Belgrade To which the Janifar-Aga made answer That the Sultan demanded the Seal from him To which the Vizier reply'd Most willingly and putting his Hand into his Bosom he took the Seal out and resigned it What more said he is it that you require The Standard said the Aga which was immediately produced and delivered At last they produced the Command for his Head which he having read he said Oh Deceitful World After my Death the Grand Seignior will remember me and the whole Empire too late lament my Fall. He then after their usual manner washed kneeled down and prayed and yielded his Head to the fatal Cord Being dead the Executioner cut off his Head and the Skin being flead off it was stuffed with Straw and put into a Bag and carried away in post to the Grand Seignior and laid before the Gate of the Divan on the 7 th day of Ianuary 168â 4 ANNO 1684. IT is very seldom that a Grand Vizier falls into Disgrace or is put to Death alone but all his familiar Friends Confidents and Creatures incur the same Fate and either attend him to the next World or are banished into remote Parts and sometimes the whole Set of Officers and Ministers of State are changed with him This Man had a corrupted Court and was served by Instruments of the same Humour and Temperament like himself and which were either naturally ill-inclined or made so by his Example With him died the Testerdar or Lord Treasurer and several other Engines of his Rapine and Violence The Estates of these Malefactors were seized and converted to the Grand Seignior's Coffers which were esteemed in all to amount unto 14 Millions of Dollars to which Sum and a far greater it was believed that Estate only of the Vizier would have amounted unto but it is most certain he had disbursed vast Sums of Mony in this Expedition out of his own Treasure hoping to have had a return tenfold out of the Estates and Spoils of the Christians instead whereof his own Riches became a Prey to his Enemies all the Mony which as some Report amounted to above two Millions found in his Tent were all his own and as they had been Acquisitions obtained by Force and Rapine so they became the Booty and Spoil of the King of Poland passing from the possession of one Covetous Man into the Coffers of another The sublime Office of Great Vizier being now vacant the difficulty of the present Affairs required to have it supplied with a Person of Valour Wisdom and Experience this Office for which many Candidates pretended in former times did now appear so weighty and full of Thorns that the most ambitious amongst the Turks were willing to decline it or at least not seem to seek or affect it The Selictar Aga or Sword-bearer to the Grand Seignior called Soliman Aga an accomplished Person in Mind and Body a Man of good Sense being always in the Eyes of his Master and a Favourite was pitched upon as the most fit and proper of any for this Employment But he excused himself to the Sultan with this Complement That thô nothing in this World could be more desirable to him than this Office yet since the execution thereof must necessarily carry him from the adorable Presence of his Master under the Shadow whereof he desired always to live he could not withdraw himself from thence without much Reluctancy and Discomfort and therefore desired that the Seals might be conferred on some other Person more worthy than himself The Grand Seignior judging that these Expressions proceeded from a Heart truly devoted to him accepted of the Excuse and resoved to constitute Ibrahim Pasha then Caimacam with him at Adrianople commonly known by the Name of Kara Kaia in the Vizier's Office He had formerly been Kaia or Steward to Kuprioglee and after his Death was made Embrahose or Master of the Horse He was afflicted with a Distemper called a Serpentine or Cancer which some Years since was caused by an Erysipelas some said it was a politick Disease to excuse himself from going to the War. He was a close politick Man and become very weary and cautious by the Dangers and evil Fate of his Predecessors As one means to secure his Condition he frequently called and assembled all the Officers of the Divan and with them consulted all of the Methods in what manner the declining Condition of the Empire might be recovered concerning which speaking his own Sense he often declared That the Errors of the late Vizier were to be retrieved and a quite different Course to be steered for whereas he had contrary to the publick Faith broken the Truce with the Christians without just Reasons before the time was expired for which the Mussulmen had tasted the Displeasure of the Divine Vengeance They were now to appease the Anger of God by renewing the same Truce which had been injuriously violated with the Emperor and observing it for the future with such Faith as becomes the common Honesty of Mankind But this Proposal was in no manner agreeable to the Mind of the Grand Seignior for thô he was naturally a gentle and a peaceable Prince and disliked this War at the beginning Yet like an unlucky Gamester he was unwilling to give over with an ill Hand hoping that the Wheel of Fortune might once again turn in his Favour He had also promised Tekeli considerable Aid and Assistance against the next Campaign and was unwilling to forfeit his Promise and Reputation with him The Vizier finding a Disposition in the Grand Seignior to continue the War desired to be released from his Office which the weakness of his Body rendred him uncapable to discharge to which the Sultan reply'd That he was one of those who had opened the Gate by which much Dishonour and Mischief was entred into the Empire and now would with-draw his Neck out of the Collar but if he did not shut the Gate again he would hang him in all his Divan Robes The Turks indeed were then very low and reduced to such distress for want of Soldiers that from Selibrea which is about thirty Miles from Constantinople in all the Country of Romania except the Sea-coast all that were capable of bearing Arms were sent to the War but being raw Country People proved of little Force against
for there was now no Vizier no Ianisar-Aga nor any surviving who had any Authority over them when a small Accident ruined these Men and over-turned their Anarchy which was impossible to last For after they had domineer'd for the space of five Months Pardoning or Killing Raising or Destroying whom they pleased it hapned that in some of the Shops of the City four of these Ianisaries in the Morning had taken away some Embroider'd Handkerchiefs and other small Commodities which remained there to be Sold upon which a great Cry and Clamour being raised amongst the Shop-keepers by the Encouragement of an Emir they all arose fell on them and killed two of them and then the Emir putting a Linnen-cloth on a Stick and lifting it up cried out Let all true Musselmen come to the Seraglio and pray the Grand Seignior to put out the Prophet's Standard and destroy these Rebels Upon this great numbers of the Citizens who had been highly incensed by their Robberies and Insolence got in a Body together and went to the Seraglio which so encouraged the Sultan and those within that the Standard was set forth about Noon and Proclamation made in the Streets for all People to come and Fight under it The Reverence paid to this Standard brought an incredible concourse of People of all Conditions and Ages under the Walls of the Seraglio from whence a Shegh or Preacher called to them thrice and asked them Whether they were contented with their present Emperor To which Answer was made in the Affirmative with three great Shouts but that they would have the Giurbaes or Captains or Ringleaders of the Mutinous Militia destroyed Upon which Orders were given to seize them Accordingly Thirteen of them were taken and cut to pieces the rest fled or absconded The Mufti also who had sided with the Giurbaes was deprived of his Office and Tabac Effendi put into his place who had formerly been deposed by the unruly Soldiers All that night a strong Watch was set about the Seraglio and the next day all was quieted as if none of these Disturbances had hapned Only Proclamation was made to Search for the Rebels of which as many as were found were immediately executed Upon this Revolution and Turn of Affairs all the great Officers were changed The Nisangi-Pasha who was an old Man and for many years had done nothing else but make the Grand Seignior's Firm on Commands was created Grand Vizier And a very young Man the fifth Page of the R. Chamber year 1688. whose Office it is to cover the Grand Seignior's Table was made Aga of the Ianisaries Several Armenians who dressed in the Habit of Soldiers had mixed with the Tumults and plunder'd the Houses of the late Grand Vizier and Aga of the Ianisaries were taken and hanged and several others were Imprisoned upon Suspition of confederacy with the Rebels In fine upon Proclamation made that whosoever had plunder'd any thing from any of the aforesaid Houses and should restore the same again in the space of three days should obtain his Pardon which had so good effect that several Sums of Money were either brought to the new Vizier or in the night time laid in the Streets and next morning restored And now from this day only may we begin to account the Reign of this new Sultan Who in the first place to exercise his Authority by a strict reformation of things he suppressed Taverns and prohibited the taking of Tobacco And to observe what effect his Authority had taken he walked one day Incognito in the Streets with about eight Servants at a short distance from him and finding two poor Fellows selling Tobacco he caused them immediately to be executed The suppression of this dreadful Mutiny and Rebellion produced a general Joy and Jubily over the whole City and served to bring the Soldiery again into their Wits who had for some Months like so many Wild and Ravenous Beasts getting the Bridle out of their Mouths acted without Reason or Common-Sense For one would have thought that Men so lately mortified by the Victories and Successes which their Enemies had gained over them should not thereby grow or become more insolent or that they who fled before their Enemies should blush to abandon their Frontiers and leave them naked and exposed whilst they marched Five or Six hundred Miles homewards to reak their Anger on their Commanders and exercise the little Courage which was left them against their Citizens and Country-men But many times we read that such Turbulences as these which are like Fevers in the Body Politick have served to render the whole Composition afterwards more healthful being thereby purged of many corrupt and malignant Humours And so it hapned in this case for after the Death of Sciaus Pasha and the destruction of the Giurbas it hapened fortunately for the present Vizier Ismael that there was no Pasha then in view on whom to confer this Sublime Office. After which no eminent Men appearing and of years fitter to support the weight of so great a Charge then Ismael who was almost arrived to the Age of Fourscore it was proposed that he should descend to the Trust of Chimacam But Ismael rejected that employment saying That in such turbulent Times he could not act with Vigour and Authority requisite for composing the present distractions and securing the Peace and Quiet of the Empire unless he were invested with the Supreme Power and the Seal of Vizier which in that present Exigency was granted to him But he having never made any Figure in the World before and this advancement to so high a Dignity being very accidental it was really believed that it could not be of any long continuance and that he was rather designed to supply the Vacancy than possess the Office. But in a few days Ismael discovered to the World that his intentions were not to keep the place warm for another but to settle himself and for his own greater security and quiet of the City he immediately fell to purge with great severity the dregs of those ill Humours which had disturbed the Government And so he caused all the chief Servants of the Giurbas and several of the Spahees and Ianisaries who had sided with them every Night to be cut off and thrown into the Sea to the Number of about a Thousand by which the rest being terrified the Soldiers were reduced to as exact an Obedience as formerly To proceed farther in this Work the Tefterdar or Lord-Treasurer who was first put in by the Giurbas thô afterwards they would have killed him was imprisoned in the Middle-gate of the Seraglio and all his Estate seized Then was the Kia bei or Lieutenant-General of the Ianisaries sent for and vested by the Vizier as a Pasha but so soon as he was gone out he was seized imprisoned and privately conveyed away in a Boat and banished to Mytilene The reason why the Grand Vizier made
at Adrianople the Turks knew not in what manner to be rid of him they wished for his Departure not so much to save the daily Charge which they bestowed upon him as to be quit of a Spy who looked as if he came to see the Nakedness of the Land. It was not seemly to order him to be gone but it was thought that he would not stay long after the Horse-Tail was set out which is a Sign that the Grand Vizier resolves in 40 Days to take the Field upon which it was given out That he was to be at Sophia about the 7th or 8th of May whence in a few Days he was to proceed and to expect the Forces of Asia at Belgrade In order hereunto all Preparations possible were made for the War the Grand Vizier designing to be in the Field before the Christians several Brigantines were dispatched for the Danube by way of the Black-Sea with Saicks for Asack laden with Ammunition and Provisions for the War most of which Vessels were designed up as high as Belgrade But for all this haste which the Turks made the Factions amongst themselves retarded their Expeditions and caused every thing to move slowly We have already given a Character of the Grand Vizier as a Man infirm both in Body and Mind and endued with no other Abilities to conserve himself and his Government besides a Cruelty natural to him by which he conserved himself by the destruction of others he had as we have said put many of the Chief Officers to Death and had caused the Mufti to be displaced and banished he also proceeded so far as to take the Kusliâ Aga from the daily Service of the Sultan and in despight of his great Power in the Seraglio to send him into Banishment After which there remained but one Person of whom he conceived any Fear or Jealousie and that was the Chimacam of Adrianople and until he was taken off he could conceive no Quiet within his own Breast nor could he think himself secure after his departure to the War unless he first saw his Competitor under the same Fate with his other Enemies and his Son placed in his Stead and Office With these Thoughts this wretched Vizier went boldly to the Sultan to demand license to give the Fatal Blow to the Chimacam the which recoiled upon himself for he being much in Favour and in Esteem with the Grand Seignior for his Prudence and Dexterity in Affairs and for the Truth which he had always told him The Sultan no sooner heard him speak against the Chimacam but putting himself into a Violent Passion called immediately for his Band of Black Eunuchs to remove him away out of his Presence and to strangle him as a Faithless and an Unworthy Minister But it seems the Eunuchs contrary to their Natural Temper taking Compassion of an Aged and Decrepid Person fell down at the Feet of the Sultan imploring his Mercy and Commiseration towards an old Servant whose Years might plead for his Pardon The Sultan being a Prince of an Easie Temper hearkened to their Petitions and causing him to be put into an inward Room for a while sent immediately to call for the Chimacam to come to him who all Pale and Wan fearing least his Enemy the Vizier had prevailed with the Grand Seignior against his Life came all Trembling and cast himself down at the Feet of the Sultan but he was soon put out of his Fears by the comfortable Words of the Grand Seignior declaring him Vizier and therewith a Vest of Sables was thrown over him and the Seals delivered to him But he being a Person of Prudence and Experience of the uncertainty of that Sublime Office in such a Conjuncture of Time as was at present began before the Grand Seignior much to bewail his hard Fate which hurried him into an Honour too high and weighty for him to support declaring That he only desired to live in the Degree of Chimacam that he might never depart from the side of his Lord and Master With these and such like Words as these he moved the Sultan to Compassionate his Case and to grant his Request And in his Place was named Haâil Pasha at that time Pasha of Diarbekir in Mesopotamia who had been Chief Chamberlain to Kara Mustapha when he lay in the Siege before Vienna To execute this Great Affair two Aga's were dispatched immediately away by the Post to bring this Halil Pasha to Adrianople and in the mean time all the Affairs of the War remained at a stand which was very strange at such a Season when the Armies were ready to take the Field and that all things must give way to the Consideration of a single Man who was to be fetched at the distance of above 1000 English Miles from Adrianople as if no Man could be found like him equal to that great and heavy Charge In the mean time the Deposed Vizier was Banished to the Castles of the Dardanelli the which proved not all his Punishment for his Estate according to the Custom of the Turks was Arrested 500 Purses of Money with half a Million of Dollars were seized for Service of the Sultan with about 18000 Soltanini or Gold Ducats belonging to the Vizier's Son the Kahya also was put into Prison of whom nothing more having been heard it was believed that he had been put to Death Upon the News hereof the Soldiery at Belgrade Conspired together to present before the Grand Seignior Halil Pasha their Seraskier or General at that time of their Army as the fittest Person for the Office of Grand Vizier and the most able of any to contend with those great Difficulties which oppressed the Empire But in regard that Post was already filled the Port refused to hearken thereunto and least such a Denial should cause any disturbance year 1692. Halil Pasha was sent to Negropont where he formerly had shown great Bravery and good Conduct and thus all things remained at a stand until the Arrival of the New Vizier till which time also the Persian Ambassador could not be dispatched nor did he hastily desire it being taken up with Admiration and Pleasure to see so many Tragical Changes and Confusions far different from those Days when the Ottoman Union and absolute uncontrouled Power gave a Terrour to Persia and all the Eastern World. In the mean time for want of the Grand Vizier all things were at a stand for the Tartars refused to move until they received Instructions from the New Grand Vizier and the Asiatick Troops which were upon their March at this tiâe and ready to pass into Europe retarded and slackned their Pace until they knew what new Orders this Vizier would give them Howsoever the Officers both of Horse and Foot which were already in Europe were hastned on their March with all speed that at the Arrival of the Grand Vizier the whole Army might be found in a good
they considered the straitness of the place the small number of the Defendants and multitude of the Enemy they should well perceive in what danger they were if the Turks should often with such obstinacy renew the Assault yet forasmuch as they had ever hitherto felt the help of God so present who had still mercifully defended them against the rage of the Enemy and wanted nothing needful for the defence of the place the keeping whereof they had requested of the Grand Master as an honour although they knew right well it could not without most manifest danger of their Lives be holden yet they would for all that keep it to the last Man for that perhaps the like honourable occasion for them to shew themselves in should never again be offered wherefore they had as they said resolved in that place to spend their lives for the Glory of God and the Christian Religion The Course of this Life they said was but short but that Honour and Fame was for ever and whereas death is to all Men prefixed it were to be wished that the Life which is to Nature due should rather seem to be by us frankly given to God and our Country than reserved as Natures Debt which if it should so happen they would so use the matter as that the barbarous Enemy should have neither pleasure nor joy which should not cost him much Blood even of his best Souldiers This they willed the Knights to tell the Great Master and to request him not to be too careful of them but to promise to himself those things of them which best beseemed resolute Men especially of them who had vowed themselves to that sacred War. This answer of greater resoultion than fortune received the three Knights when they had diligently viewed the Castle returned to the Grand Master who calling to Counsel his Knights and having heard the answer of the besieged would needs hear also what opinion the three Knights themselves were of concerning the keeping of the Castle of whom Castriot was of opinion That the place was still to be defended and that if he were there to command he would undertake to perform it and there rather to lose his Life than to forsake it after he had once taken upon him the charge thereof But Rocca the French Knight was far of another mind and said plainly that the place could not possibly be holden against so strong an Enemy and that if Iulius Caesar himself were alive and saw to what strait the place was brought especially all the Rampiers being either beat down or sore shaken and such a power of obstinate Enemies lying round about it he would never suffer so many valiant Souldiers to be lost but quit the place and reserve his Men to a further service for why it was the part of valiant Men to perform so much as was of Men to be performed but to strive to do more was no Manhood at all wherefore he thought it best to do that which Men use with Members mortified whose recovery is desperate in which case we doubt not to make a separation so to save the rest of the Body with Life The Spanish Knight in most part agreeing with Castriot said That he thought it not good that the place should so easily be forsaken first for that the Ditches and Bulwarks were yet defensible and then because he saw so great a consent among the Defendants and such a chearfulness to withstand the Enemy which thing as he said presaged Victory These opinions of the Knights thorowly in Counsel debated and every particular well weighed it seemed good to the greater part that they which were in the Castle should for certain days yet hold it out especially because it was not the manner of the Knights of the Order easily to abandon their strong Holds but rather to keep them to the last that even therein the barbarous Enemy might perceive with whom he had to do and so see his Pride abated For if they should have forsaken the place they might have been thought to have done it for fear whereby the Enemies insolency might have been increased and the honourable Order of those sacred Knights disgraced But the Turks intentive to that they had before determined the three and twentieth day of Iune assembling all their Forces both by Sea and Land round about the Castle in the dead time of the night on every side set up scaling Ladders made Bridges wrought Mines and with two and thirty great Pieces of Artillery battered the rest of the Walls yet standing and presently gave a most terrible Assault The Defendants on the other side beat down some repulsed other slew many ever more careful how to wound the Enemy than to save themselves and where he pressed fastest on there to shew their greatest Valour Great were the Outcries made on both sides mixt with Exhortation Mirth and Mourning the face of the whole Fight was divers uncertain cruel and dreadful and now it was the third hour of the day when still the Victory stood doubtful and had not the fury of the great Ordnance been so terrible that it now had beaten down all the Walls unto the very Rock whereon the Castle stood the Defendants might for some longer time have endured the Enemies Force But the very Rock bared both of Walls and Defendants and more than four hundred slain a Man could now scarcely shew himself but he was presently struck in Pieces Monserratus Governor of the Castle and Garas of Euboea Men of equal Valour Integrity and Honour were both slain with one shot for a short and transitory Life made Partakers of Immortality together Yet the rest which stood in defence of the Castle nothing terrified with so great a loss and slaughter of their Fellows but augmented rather as it were with new Courage from above fought with greater Force than before overthrew the Turks Ensigns now set up in the Castle slew the Ensign-bearers Captains and Colonels now respecting nothing more but honourably to lay down their Lives for their Religion and the obtaining of immortal Fame By this time the Sun was mounted to the middle of Heaven great was the Heat and Men exceeding weary the murdring shot never ceased and such was the multitude of the Enemy that he sent in fresh Men instead of them that were wearied or wounded On the other side the small number of the Christians and those weakned with Labour Watching Thirst and Wounds did what Men might yet at length were overcome by a greater Force and so the Castle by the Turks won but with such slaughter of their Men that it was a wonder that so many should be slain of so few The Defendants were all slain every Man in valiant Fight Here may I not in silence pass over the inhuman and more than barbarous Cruelty of the Turks against the dead Bodies of the slain Knights that thereby may appear that Cruelty never wanteth whereon to shew
it self merciless yea even after death The Turks after they had taken the Castle finding certain of the Knights yet breathing and but half dead first cut their Hearts out of their Breasts and then their Heads from their Bodies after that they hanged them up by the Heels in their red Clokes with white Crosses which manner of Attire they after an ancient Custom use in time of War as they do black in time of Peace in sight of the Castles Saint Angelo and Saint Michael And yet Mastapha the Turks General not so contented commanded them afterwards to be fast bound together and so cast into the Sea whose dead Bodies were in few days after by the Surge of the Sea cast up into the Haven Major and known by their Friends were by the commandment of the sorrowful Great Master honourably buried With which the Enemies most barbarous Cruelty he was so moved that he commanded that no Turk should from that time be taken prisoner but to be presently slain And thereupon all that were before taken were forthwith put to the Sword and their Heads cast over the Walls on that side towards the Enemy From the beginning of the Siege to the taking of the Castle of the Christians were slain a thousand three hundred amongst whom were an hundred and thirty of the sacred Knights of the Order all worthy to be registred in the Book of everlasting Fame The Castle of Saint Elmo thus lost Valetta although his mind as he had good cause was inwardly attainted with exceeding grief yet made semblance otherwise because he would not daunt the minds of his Souldiers telling them that nothing was hapned unprovided for or unforeseen This was as he said the Will of God and the chance of War that sometimes one sometimes another should be overcome and that cowardise not such Valour as was in them that were gon gave occasion to living Friends to lament yet that the Enemy was not for that to be feared who had also received such a loss as he might thereby rather seem conquered than a victorious Conqueror whereas the loss of his Knights was recompenced with Honour and Immortality things of themselves sufficient to inflame all noble minds to behave themselves valiantly As for himself he said that trusting not in his own strength but in the help of Almighty God he had not yet cast off the hope of Victory over the relicks of the discomfited Enemy and that he well hoped they were all of the same mind wherein he most earnestly requested them to persist unto the end When he had thus said he being a Man armed against all Fortunes withdrew himself a little aside where casting many things in his troubled mind he determined to send Letters to Petrus Mesquita Governour of the City of Melita to certifie him and the Knights of the Order that were at Messana and the Viceroy of the loss of St. Elmo the Copy whereof because that in them evidently appeareth the Christian mind of him the Great Master I have thought good here to set down as followeth Whilst these Knights are setting forward in the mean time chanced the miserable misfortune of the Castle Saint Elmo which although it brought unto us that grief you may easily imagine we for all that as if it had happened by some secret appointment of God have taken it in that part that he as a most merciful Father purposeth thereby to warn us but not utterly to destroy us Neither do I think it lawful to doubt of his mercy and power Yet for all that I may nevertheless complain that we are of them forsaken of whom it least beseemed So that in the space of seven and thirty days wherein our most valiant Souldiers endured all the force of the Enemy which truly was done rather by the power of God than of Man we were holpen of our own which owe so much unto us not so much as with the least help which they might oftentimes have sent us But I list to ascribe it whatsoever it is to God of whom alone as we have hitherto received so many good things so rest we in hope hereafter to receive also For for any thing that I can see we must not now trust to Mans help forasmuch as we could by no Letters no Diligence no Prayers no Admonitions and to be brief by no Commands move them who of all others ought most to have obeyed it The shortness of the time suffereth us not to write to the Viceory of these things it shall be your part to certifie both him and other our Friends thereof who if they had obeyed our command or aided us with never so little a supply of Souldiers happily we had not lost the Castle St. Elmo in defence whereof we have spent the best part of our Souldiers Wherefore except the Viceroy make hast to deliver us from this Siege I fear that he cannot in time come but especially if we be here besieged before the coming of those our small helps which we as in a Dream have promised unto our selves and which we now scarce hope will be in time present For all that we do not distrust of God his love and providence by whose divine inspiration the rare courage of the Viceroy being in short time stirred up will hasten hither to relieve us For all our welfare consisteth in celerity Our Enemies having drawn all their Fleet into the Haven Marza Moxet are busied in cleansing the Castle and repairing the Breaches that they may afterward the better use them against us Wherefore upon the sight of these our Letters send unto us the Captains Catherin Belcacar Belmest and Zoricius with their Companies that we may use their faithful and valiant service God of his mercy send us aid from some place and keep you Fare you well from our Castle St. Angelo the twenty fourth of June 1565. Mesquita having received these Letters commanded a Galliot forthwith to be launched and therein embarked Masius Cedonellus one of the Knights to whom he delivered both the Letters of the Grand Master to him and others of his own almost of the same purport directed to the Knights of the Order which lay at Messana requesting him with all speed possible to pass over with them into Sicilia In the mean time Mustapha the Turks General sent a Messenger to Valetta and with him an old Spanish Captive with promise of liberty if he would go with his Messenger to the Town to talk with Valetta concerning the yielding up thereof and to try if he would by any means come to agreement who coming to the Town the Turk still waiting at the Gate the Christian was let in and brought to the Great Master to whom he declared what he had in charge from the Bassa But as soon as Valetta heard of the name of composition and yielding he was so filled with indignation that had he not been a Christian he would presently have commanded him to have