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
manner of Caps the Ianizaries use at this day The Turks also in Orchanes Reign and long time after used not to cut or shave their Beards but did wear them long so that if the King would disgrace any man he would in his displeasure command his Beard to be cut or shaven The manner of cutting and shaving their Beards which they now use they learned of the Italians of whom they have also borrowed many other fashions not only differing but quite contrary to their ancient Manners and Customs Orchanes about this time removed his Court to Nice where he lay a long time after There he built a sumptuous Church appointing a Preacher to preach to the People every Friday he erected in Nice also two fair Abbies in the one of which he with his own hands served the Strangers and Poor the first dinner He was the first that builded Abbies or Monasteries among the Turks whose example most of his Successors have imitated and is amongst them used unto this day The Government of Nicomedia Orchanes committed to his eldest Son Solyman as is before said a Prince of great towardliness giving him in great charge to have a vigilant Eye to the Towns of Taraxa Govinuca and Mudurne which were nigh unto Nicomedia yet in possession of the Christians all which Towns with the Countries adjoyning Solyman in short time got without force by composition This Solyman was of a Princely Disposition so tempering Justice with Clemency in his Government that many Christians allured with his Vertues became of his Religion and gladly put themselves under his Subjection the politick Laws of the Country he neither abrogated nor changed but maintained as they had been of ancient time accustomed whereby he greatly won the Hearts of the People Amurath his younger Son Orchanes made Lord and Governor of Prusa after he had removed his Court to Nice And the Castle of Chara-chisar with the Seigniory thereto belonging he gave to his Cousin Artemure the Son of his Uncle Iundus There was at this time in Orchanes Court a Noble young Gentleman called Turson-Beg the Son of Dharasis King of Charasia by whose perswasion Orchanes in Person himself with a strong Army made an Expedition into that Country for that his Fathers Subjects after the death of the King his Father denied their Obedience to his elder Brother wishing rather to have Turson for their Soveraign In whose behalf Orchanes taking that journy surprised by the way many Castles and Towns to his own use Orchanes was no sooner entred the Country of Charasia but Tursons elder Brother fled to Pergamum whither the Turks shortly pursued him where Turson desirous to speak with his Brother unwarily approaching the City was wounded with an Arrow shot from the Walls and there slain With whose death Orchanes was so greatly offended that he threatned to destroy the whole Country with Fire and Sword if they did not by a day prefixed generally submit themselves to his mercy The People terrified with this proclamation of so great a Prince already in Arms yielded themselves unto his Subjection The Kings Son also that was fled into Pergamum upon reasonable conditions yielded himself unto Orchanes who sent him to Prusa where after he had there lived two years he died of the Plague after whose death Orchanes made his Son Solyman Prince of Carasina Neither is this taking in of the Country of Carasina to be accounted a small Conquest one of the greatest Houses of the Turks the Successors of the Iconian Sultan Aladin now thereby taking end and their Dominions which were not small as containing almost Lydia with some good parts of Misia Troas and the lesser Phrygia now united unto the Othoman Kingdom Orchanes upon his return for the good success of this journy built a Church and Monastery at Prusa placing therein religious men with all diligence sought for out of all his Kingdom of which Religious the Turks write many Fables better worth the smiling at than the serious reporting Hitherto the Kingdom of Othoman and Orchanes his Son was contained within the bounds of the lesser Asia which the Turks call Anatolia Now it resteth to be shewed upon what occasion Orchanes or rather his Son Solyman Bassa as it were fatally with a small power first passed over Hellespontus into Europe where they and their Successors have by little and little so enlarged their Dominions that they have now long ago quite overthrown the Grecian Empire with many other great Kingdoms and are at this present a terror to all Christian Princes bordering upon them to the perpetual Infamy of the Greeks who for want of courage and busied with civil discord never sought in time to impeach their greatness Orchanes having now so augmented his Kingdom that he might from many parts thereof out of Asia take view of the pleasant borders of Europe from whence he was excluded only by the narrow Sea of Hellespontus and continually incited with the insatiable and restless desire of Soveraignty began to devise how he might possibly pass that strait Sea and set foot in Europe another part of the World. Which his conceit one day he imparted to his Son Solyman who presently answered his Father That if it would please him to give him leave he would not doubt to pass the Strait of Hellespontus and in time to plant the Mahometan Religion in those Countries of Europe possessed by the Christians Which answer of Solyman much pleased his Father who gave him leave to depart into his Country and in that matter to proceed further as he thought best and as occasion should best serve Solyman taking leave of his Father took his journey into Carasina where riding up and down the Country as it had been for his pleasure only he made his way to the place where it is thought the famous City of Troy sometime stood where yet as the Turks and some others say are to be seen the wonderful ruins of that unfortunate City by the Sea side In this place Solyman stood still a great while as it were in a study forecasting as it seemed some great matter without speaking one word to any of his Followers When one of his Chieftains called Ezes-Beg to put him out of his deep thoughts boldly said unto him My Lord and great Soveraign what strange thing is this that you are so deeply drowned in these your melancholy thoughts undoubtedly it is some great matter that you are studying upon Truth it is said Solyman for I was thinking how it were possible to pass over this Sea of Hellespontus into the borders of Europe and to take view of that Country and so to return undiscovered If this be the matter said Ezes-Beg joyning unto him one Fazil-Beg a man of no less valour than himself we two will by the power of God perform unto you this Enterprise Then was Solyman desirous to know of them about what place they would pass over which they well knowing the Sea coast shewed
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
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
Prusa besieged by Othoman Michael Cossi turneth Turk Alteration of Religion in the Greek Church Persecution in the Greek Church for matters of Religion Andronicus spariâg to maintain his Navy weakneth his Empire Immoderate bounty in great men dangerous Alexius Philanthropenus aspireth Libadarius opposeth himself against the proceedings of Philanthropenus Andronicus the Greek Emperor reposing more trust in foreign aid than in his own Subjects greatly hurteth his State. Ronzerius what he was Ronzerâus for want of pay spoileth the Emperors Subjects Ronzerius slain The Turks first called into Europe by the Catalonians The Turcopuli The unfortunate battel of Michael the Emperor against the Catalonians and Turks Cassandria The Catalonians shut out of Macedonia A notable stratagem of the Catalonians The Turks divided into two Factions The unfortunate battel of the Emperor Michael Paleologus with the Turks in Chersoneâus Thracia spoiled by the Turks Philes Paleologus requesteth of the Emperor that he might go against the Turks The Battel betwixt Philes and the Turks The Turks overthrown The causâs of the decay of the Greek Empire Syrgiannes his craâty Seditious Speech unto young Andronicus Young Andronicus cometh secretly armed to his Grandfather Thracia revolteth unto Andronicus Articles of agreement betwixt the old Emperor and his Nephew The Greek Empire in Europe divided whilst the Grecians are at discord amongst themselves Othoman layeth the foundation of the Turks Empire and the other other Turks incroach upon them also The Island of the Rhodes was by the Knights Hospitalers recovered from the Turks in the year 1308. Andronicus the old Emperor seeketh for Counsel of the Psalter as of an heavenly Oracle and so seeketh to make peace with his Nephew Psal. 68. vers 14. A treacherous meeting The young Emperor sendeth Embassadors unto his Grandfather The Speech of the young Emperor to his Grandfathers Embassadors The Speech of the old Emperor unto the Patriarch and the rest of the Bishops and Nobility concerning the young Emperor his Nephew The Patriarch with divers of the Bishops conspire against the Emperor Thessalonica yielded unto the young Emperor Constantinople bâârâyed unto the young Emperor The pitiful Supplication of the old Emperor to his Nephew Niphon incenseth the young Emperor against his Grandfather The old Emperor becometh blind Andronicus the old Emperor against his will made a Monk and called Anthony The notable answer of the old Emperor to the catching question of the proud Patriarch The death of the old Emperor The Turks Kingdom founded by Othoman in Asia at such time as the Greek Emperors were at variance betwixt themselves in Europe Prusa yielded unto the Turks The death of Othoman Othoman buâied at Prâsa The wealth that Oâhoman leât unto his two Sons Orchanes and Aladin when that barbarous manner of murthering their Brethren first began among the Turkish Sultans The City of Nice with divers other Castlâs recovered from the Turks after the death of Othoman The Emperor wounded The City of Nice surprised by the Turks Abydus besieged by the Turks Nicomedia yielded unto Orchanes Orchanes remoueth his Court to Nice Orchanes invadeth the Country of Carasina The Country of Carasina yielded unto Orchanes The Castle of Maditus tââen by the Târks The death of Solyman Bassa Orchanes his eldest Son. The death of Orchanes Amurath succeedeth his Father Orchanes in the Turkish Kingdom Didymotichum yielded unto the Turks Hadrianople yielded unto the Turks Rhodestum surprised by the Turks Hadrianople thâ Royal Seat of the Târkish Kings in Europe Boga taken by Amurath and recovered again and rased by the Christians Boga new built by the Turks Amurath invadeth Servia Nissa taken by the Turks Appolonia won ãâã the Turks Amurath and Aladiâ prepare themselves for War. The death of Chairadin Bassa The great battel in the plains of Caramania betwixt Amurath and Aladin Aladin flieth to Iconium Iconium besieged by Amurath Lazarus the Despot by his Embassador craveth aid of the King of Bosna Amurath marrieth the Emperor of Constantinoples daughter The Castle of Sarkive with the City jâyning unto it taken by thâ Christians and rased Lazarus slain Amurath slain Amurath buried at Prusa Bajazet invadeth Servia Servia the second time invaded by Bajazet Thessalia invaded by Bajazet Constantinople eight years besieged by Bajazet Constantinople the second time besieged by Bajazet Bajazet marrieth Despina the fair Daughter of Lazarus the Despot Temurtases Bâjazet his great Lieutenanâ in Asia taken Prisoner by Aladin the younâ King of Caramania Amasia yielded unto Bajazet Sebastia delivered to Bajazet Bajazet invadeth Isfendiar Prince of Castamona The Mahometan Princes of Asia oppressed by Bajazet disguised flie unto Tamerlane for aid Tamerlâne his opinion concerning the diversity of Religions The base opinion some have concerning the Birth and Rising of Tamerlane Tamerlane honourably descended The cause why some have reported him to have been a Shepherd or Herdsman Tamerlane marrieth the Daughter and Heir of the great Cham of Tartary Prince Axalla in great credit with Tamerlane The number of Tamerlanes great Army Sebastia besieged by Tamerlane Sebastia yielded to Tamerlane A Shepherd more happy than Bajazet The Prince of Ciarcan dealeth politickly with the Forerunners of the Turks Army The great and mortal Battle betwixt Bajazet and Tamerlane The Prince of Ciarcaâ slain The Turks overthrown Bajazet and his Son Musa taken Prisoners Bajazet ãâã bâsâe Tamerlane with his Pride Bajazet like a Beast shut up in an Iron Caâe Solyman set up in his Fathers steaâ Prusa taken by âââlle Tamerlane goeth to Constantinople Tamerlane much delighted with the pleasures of Constantinople A great Battel fought betwixt the Sultan of Egypt and Tamerlane Damasco won by Tamerlane Tamerlane cometh to Jerusalem Damiata taken by Axalla Tamerlane marcheth towards Caâer Caier besieged by Tamerlane Caier assaulted by Tamerlane The Sultan flieth from Alexandria Tamerlane desirous to return into his Country The miserable death of Bajazet A comparison betwixt Bajazet and Tamerlane Bajazet in his Posterity more fortunate than Tammerlane Divers opinions concerning the Successors of Bajazet The true Posterity of Bajazet Mahomet Gâvernor of Amasia Mahomet âândââh Spies into Tamerlane his Camp. Cara Dulet slain Mahomet his ãâã to Inaâl Ogli the Tartar Prince Inall Ogli his answer to Mahomet Inall Ogli overthrown by Mahomet Mahomet his Speech to Tamerlanes Embassador The great power Tamerlane continâally kâpt The death of Tamerlane The description of Tamerlane Mahomet goeth against his Brother The answer of Isa to Mahomet his Offers The body of Bajazet honourably buried at Prusa Good counsel Isa with a great army sent by his Brother Solyman into Asia against Mahomet Prusa burnt by Isa. Isa flieth into Caramanâa and there dieth in obscurity The Castle of Prusa besieged by Solyman Musa marrieth the Prince of Valachia his daughter Musa in the absence of Solyman received at Hadrianople as King. Musa goeth against Solyman Solyman flieth Solyman strangled by his Brother Musa This Solyman is that same whom some call Celebinus and other some Calepinus and reckon
the Christian Reader what I was glad to seek for out of the confused Labours of many A Work so Long and Labourious as might well have deterred a Right Resolute and Constant Mind from the undertaking thereof being as yet to my Knowledge not undergone or performed by any Wherein among such Variety or more truly to say contrariety of Writers I did content my self as a blind man led by his Guide happily of no better sight than himself to tread the steps of this or that one man going for a while before me and by and by leaving me again stumbling in the Dark But out of the Learned and Faithful Works of many according to my simple Iudgment to make Choice of that was most probable still supplying with the perfections of the better what I found wanting or defective in the Weaker propounding unto my self no other Mark to aim at than the very Truth of the History as that which is it self of Power to give Life unto the Dead Letter and to cover the Faults escaped in the homely Penning or compiling thereof Which the better to perform I Collected so much of the History as possibly I could out of the Writings of such as were themselves present and as it were Eye-witnesses of the greatest part of that they Writ and so as of all others best able most like also to have left unto us the very Truth Such is the greatest part of so much of the History of the Greek Empire as I have for the better Vnderstanding of the rising of the Turks in this History set down gathered out of the Doings of Nicetas Choniates Nicephorus Gregoras and Laonicus Chalcocondiles all Writing such Things as they themselves saw or were for most part in their time and near unto them done Such are the Wonderful and almost Incredible Wars betwixt old Amurath the Second and his Foster-Child the Fortunate Prince of Epirus of the Turks commonly called Scanderbeg and by that wayward Tyrant at his Death together with his Kingdom delivered as it were by Inheritance unto his Son the Great and Cruel Sultan Mahomet all Written by Marinus Barletius himself an Epirot and in all those troublesom Times then living in Scodra a City of the Venetians joying upon Epirus Such is the Woful Captivity of the Imperial City of Constantinople with the miserable Death of the Greek Emperor Constantinus Palaeologus and the Fatal Ruine of the Greek Empire Written by Leonardus Chiensis Archbishop of Mytilene being himself then present and there taken Prisoner Such is the Lamentable History of the Rhodes taken for most out of Ja. Fontanus his Three Books de bello Rhodio a Learned Man then present and in great Credit with Villerius the great Master at such time as that famous Island after it had by him and the other Worthy Knights of the Order been most wonderfully of long Defended was to the great ruth of Christendom taken by the Great Sultan Solyman Such is the most Tragical History of Bajazet Solymans youngest Son Collected out of the notable Epistles of Augerius Busbequius Legationis Turcicae he himself then lying Ambassadâr for the Empiror Ferdinand at Constantinople and present in Solymans Camp at such time as he himself in Person went over with his Army into Asia to Countenance his eldest Son Selymus who Succeeded him in the Empire against his Valiant yonger Brother Bajazet and beside well acquainted with the Great Bassaes Achmet Rustan Haly and others oftentimes mentioned in the History following Such is also the History of the taking of the antient City of Tripolis in Barbary from the Knights of Malta by Sinan the proud Bassa Written by Nicholas Nicholy Lord of Arâeuile present at the same time with the Lord of Aramont then Ambassador for the French King unto Solyman So might I say also of the miserable spoil of the Fruitful and Pleasant Islands of the Mediterranean made by Lutzis Bassa Solyman his Brother in Law and Great Admiral with the submitting of the Island of Naxos to the Turks Obeisence Written by John Crispe at that time Duke of the same Island And so likewise of diverse other parts of the History too long to rehearse But forasmuch as every Great and Famous Action had not the Fortune to have in it a Caesar such as both could and would commend unto Posterity by Writing that whereof they might truly say They were themselves a great part many Right Excellent Generals contenting themselves with the Honor of the Field and their Glory there Won leaving the Honorable Fame thereof to be by others reported for lack of such most certain Authors or rather as I before said Eye-witnesses I gathered so much as I could of what remained out of the Works of such as being themselves Men of Great Place and well acquainted with the Great and Worthy Personages of their Time might from their Mouths as from certain Oracles Report the undoubted Truth of many most Famous Exploits done both by themselves and others As might Pau. Jovius from the mouth of Muleasses King of Tunes from Vastius the Great General from Auria the Prince of Melphis Charles the Emperor his Admiral and such others Or else out of the Writings of such as were themselves great Travellers into the Turks Dominions and withal diligent observers of their Affairs and State as were the Physitians Pantaleon Minadoie and Leunclavius of all others a most curious Searcher of their Antiquities and Histories unto which great Clerks and some others of that Learned Profession we may Worthily attribute the greatest Light and Certainty of that is Reported of a great part of the Turkish Affairs But these in the Course of so long a History failing also as by conferring that which is hereafter Written together with their Histories is easily to be perceived to perfect that I had taken in Hand I took my refuge unto the Writings of such other Learned and Credible Authors as of whose Integrity and Faithfulness the World hath not to my Knowledge at any time yet doubted Yea for these few late Years I was glad out of the German and Italian Writers in their own Language in part to borrow the Knowledge of these late Affairs As also from the credible and certain Report of some such Hânorable minded Gentlemen of our own Country as have either for their Honors sake served in these late Wars in Hungary or upon some other Occasions spent some good times in Travelling into the Turks Dominions but especially unto the Imperial City of Constantinople the chief Seat of the Turkish Empire and Place of the Great Turks abode Amongst whom I cannot but deservedly remember my kind Friend and Cousin M. Rog. Howe unto whose discreet and curious Observations during the time of his late abode at Constantinople I justly account my self for many things beholden In which Course of my Proceeding if the Reader find not himself so fully satisfied as he could desire I would be glad by him my self to be better informed
the Relief thereof he raised his Siege and retired as he did also next year after having in vain attempted the strong Castle of Mont-Royal on the further side of Iordan In like manner also the third year he came again into the Holy Land and spoiled the Country beyond Iordan but hearing of the Kings coming against him he forthwith returned again into Egypt All these light Expeditions this politique Prince made not so much for hope of Victory or to prove his Enemies strength as to train his Souldiers especially the effeminate Egyptians and to make them fitter to serve him in his greater designs year 1173. Shortly after died Noradin Sultan of Damasco and in his time a most notable Champion of the Turks after he had reigned nine and twenty years Upon whose death Almericus forthwith besieged the City of Paneale in hope to have again recovered the same but he was by the Widow of the late dead Sultan for a great sum of money and the delivery of certain noble Prisoners intreated to raise his Siege and depart So having sent away his Army and traveling with his ordinary Retinue to Tyberias where he had the Summer before been sick of the Flux feeling himself not well he returned on Horse-back by Nazareth and Neapolis to Ierusalem where his old Disease increasing upon him he was also taken with a Fever wherewith after he had been some few days grievously tormented he requested his Physitians with some gentle potion to loose his Belly which was now somewhat stayed which they refusing to do he commanded the potion to be given him upon his own peril hap thereon what hap should which being given him and his Belly again loosed he seemed therewith to have been at the first well eased but his wonted Fever with great vehemency returning before his weak and spent Body could be with convenient meats refreshed he suddenly died the tenth of Iuly in the year 1173. when he had reigned about ten years His dead Body was with the great lamentation of all his Subjects solemnly buried by his Brothers He was a most wise Prince and withall right valiant amongst many most fit for the Government and Defence of that troublesome Kingdom so hardly beset with the Infidels if it had pleased God to have given him longer life Four days after the death of Almericus was Baldwin his Son then a Youth about thirteen years old by the general consent of the Nobility chosen King and by Almericus the Patriarch in the Temple with great Solemnity Crowned in the year 1173. unto whom as not yet by reason of his tender age fit himself to manage the weighty Affairs of the Kingdom Raymond Count of Tripolis was by the whole consent of the Nobility appointed Tutor to supply what was wanting in the young King. Noradin Sultan of Damasco dead as is aforesaid left behind him Melechsala his Son yet but a Youth to succeed him in his Kingdom Whose Government the Nobility disdaining sent secretly for Saladin Sultan of Egypt unto whom at his coming they betrayed the City of Damasco the Regal Seat of the Turks in Syria Whereof Saladin possessed and entring into Coelosiria without Resistance took Heliopolis Emissa with the great City of Caesarea and in fine all the whole Kingdom of Damasco the City of Arethusa only excepted But thus to suffer Melechsala the young Prince to be wronged and the Kingdom of Damasco to be joyned to the Kingdom of Egypt was of the wiser sort thought not to stand with the safety of the Kingdom of Ierusalem lying in the middle betwixt them both Wherefore the Count of Tripolis Governor of that Kingdom made out certain Forces to have hindred his proceedings At which time also Cotobed Prince of Parthia and Melechsala Uncle sent certain Troops of Parthian Horse-men to have aided his distressed Nephew who were by Saladin overthrown and almost all slain near unto Aleppo where Melechsala lay As for the Count of Tripolis and the other Christian Princes with whom Saladin in the newness of his Kingdom had no desire to fall out he appeased them with fair Intreaty and Rewards unto the Count he sent freely the Hostages which yet lay for his Ransome at Emissa unto the other Princes he sent rich Presents and therewith so contented them all that they returned without any thing doing against him After which time three or four years passed in great quietness to the great strengthening of him in those new gotten Kingdoms At length upon the coming over of Philip Earl of Flanders the Christian Princes of Syria encouraged consulted of an Expedition to be made into Egypt whereof Saladin having Intelligence drew down into that Country the greatest part of his strength But Philip disliking of that Expedition and the rather for that he saw no great chearfulness in the Count of Tripolis and the rest thereunto they with one consent changed their Purpose for Egypt and turning their Forces a quite contrary way miserably and without resistance wasted the Country about Emissa and Caesarea Whilst the Christians wâre thus busied in Coelosiria Saladin on the other side took occasion out of Egypt to invade the Kingdom of Ierusalem of whose coming King Baldwin having intelligence with such small Forces as he had left hastned himself to Ascalon In the mean time Saladin with a great Army was entred into the Holy Land where burning the Country before him and raging in the blood of the poor Christians he came and encamped not far from Ascalon and struck such a fear upon the whole Country that they which dwelt in Ierusalem were about to have forsaken the City as for the King himself he lay close within the City of Ascalon not daring to adventure upon so strong an Enemy Wherewith Saladin encouraged and out of fear of his Enemies dispersed his Army some one way some another to forrage the Country Which the King perceiving secretly with all his Power issued out of the City if happily so he might overtake the Sultan unawares neither was he deceived in his expectation for coming suddenly upon him and secretly charging him he had with him for a good space an hard and doubtful battel until that the Victory by the Power of God at length inclining to the Christians Saladin with his Turks fled overthrown with a great slaughter most part of his great Army being either there slain or lost afterward with hunger and cold This Victory fell unto the Christians the 25 th day of November in the year 1177. not without the Almighty Hand of God year 1177. the Turk having in his Army above six and twenty thousand Horse-men and the King not past four hundred Horse with some few Foot-men After which Victory Baldwin in great Triumph returned to Ierusalem and there shortly after with great care and diligence repaired the decayed Walls of the City Saladin in revenge of this Overthrow made divers Incursions into the Frontiers of the Christians and did great harm specially in
Tribe and Kindred in whose line this glorious Empire hath ever since to the astonishment of the World wonderfully flourished But forasmuch as both his greatness and the greatness of the rest of the Othoman Kings and Emperors his Progenitors took their beginning from this worthy and warlike Othoman with whose Life and Doings we purpose to begin this part of our History it shall not be amiss both for the continuation of that we have in hand with that we have already written and for the more manifesting of that which hereafter followeth a little farther to fetch his Race and Descent also not meaning with a long and feigned Pedegree to fet him out of Noah his Ark which continual Succession of Princes no Nation of the World be it never so ancient the Jews only excepted and they also by Writings and Histories as much as was possible eternized could truly and justly challenge but only so far as it shall be pertinent unto our purpose and by the authority of good Histories to be averred At such time as the Turks Kingdom founded by Tangrolipix in Persia flourished in the Selzuccian Princes his Successors there was also another Kingdom of theirs at the City of Machan as is before declared but nothing comparable to the other either in Glory or Power In this City and over this small Kingdom reigned one Solyman by his Subjects honoured also with the name of a Sultan or King at the same time that the Tartars under the leading of old Zingis their great Captain leaving their own Country and bearing down the World before them having conquered the farthest parts of the East and there seated their Kingdom turned their Forces into Persia and there overthrew the Turks Kingdom at Balch in Corasan and drave the Turks with Cursumes their last King out of the Country after that they had there from the time of Tangrolipix reigned about an hundred and seventy two years This Solyman of whom we speak then reigning at Machan was not of the Selzuccian Family as were all the other Turks Sultans the Successors of Tangrolipix but of the Oguzian Tribe a Family famous also amongst the Turks who seeing the Selzuccian Sultan Cursumes or as some call him Cussumes his Countryman beaten out of his Kingdom by the Tartar and his Country over-run and the great Caliph of Babylon also overthrown thought it not good longer to stay in that Country which he could not hold but by speedy flight betimes to provide for the safety of himself and of such his Subjects as would follow him and hearing that Aladin the Son Kei-Husreu or as the Greeks call him Cai-Cosroe a great man of the Selzuccian Family and neer of kin unto the late Sultan Cursumes who for fear of the Tartars but lately come into Romania-Asiatica had there by force of Arms most honourably seated himself and the Turks his followers amongst the Christians in hope of like good fortune and for the zeal towards his Superstition accounting all well gotten that was gained from the Christians took his way after him with such of his Kinsmen and Subjects as would accompany him in his new adventures And coming to Arteâzerum a City in the borders of Armenia and Cappadocia thereabout in the Country according to the season of the year seated himself with his followers being in number many who with their Wives and Children after the manner of the Tartar Nomades their Ancestors in poor Tents and Carts covered with a course kind of Cloth had followed him being indeed nothing else but a very rude and rough kind of sturdy Herdsmen not wedded to any place but still removing with their Tents and Carts up and down as best served for their purpose and the feeding of their Cattle as do the Turcomon Nation the true descent of the Turks in many places of Asia at this day and were thereof not only called Nomades that is to say Herdsmen by which name the proud Ianizaries will oftentimes in contempt call even the greatest of the natural Turks but Hamaxophoreti and Hamaxobij that is to say people carried or living in Carts Solyman having staid a while about Erzerum removing thence came to Amasia and there spoyling the Country then inhabited by the Christians did them much harm oftentimes encountring them in the plain field and sometimes seising upon their Towns and Cities until he had subdued unto himself a right large Territory yea at length having in so many Battles by him fought and Cities by him besieged lost a great number of his People and so wearied the rest as that they were not willing farther to follow him and fearing also with such small power as he had left to be able to defend and keep the Country by him already gotten in the midst of so many Enemies thought it best to depart thence and to seek his better fortune elsewhere At the same time it was risely reported that the affairs of Persia after so long trouble for all this was not a while in doing began to grow again to some good quiet the fury of the Tartars being now well abated and that storm over-blown wherefore Solyman resolved now to return home again and to visit his Native Country of him and his people above all others desired So passing thorow Syria for that was now his way near Aleppo he seised upon a Castle called Ziaber-Cala and there staid a space for the refreshing of his People Afterward setting forward again he came at length to the great and famous River Euphrates over which he must needs pass but finding there neither Bridge nor Foord or other means to get over he stood still as a man dismaid not knowing what to do Stay there he would not and go further he could not his desire bid him go but the great River said not so In this perplexity Solyman himself with his Horse oftentimes taking the River in hope to have found some passage but finding none adventuring too far was with the force of the stream carried away and so together with his Horse drowned His body after long seeking being at length found was with the great lamentation of his People buried near unto the Castle Ziaber not long before by him taken whereof they say the place is now in their Tongue called Mesaâi-Zuruc viz. the Turks Grave Some of these Oguzian Turks after the death of their Sultan weary of their long travel seated themselves in the Country thereabouts unto whom the Turks that now do hold that Castle do refer their beginning The rest of that great Tribe and Family diversly divided went unto divers places as their fortunes led them some of them into the wast ground and desarts of Arabia and Syria and are at this day called the Damascene Turcomans other some returned back again into Romania the same way that they came of whom are descended the Turcomans of Iconium and Anatolia who yet with their Wives and Children as Herdsmen in great companies wander up and down
over-ran them with his Horsemen excepting some few which were reserved for Prisoners As also that Bajazet there lost his eldest Son Erthogrul of some called Orthobules whose death with the loss of the City so much grieved him as it is reported that marching with his great Army against Tamerlane and by the way hearing a Country Shepherd merrily reposing himself with his homely Pipe as he sate upon the side of a Mountain feeding his poor Flock standing still a great while listening unto him to the great admiration of many at last fetching a deep sigh brake forth into these words O happy Shepherd which haddest neither Orthobules nor Sebastia to lose bewraying therein his own discontentment and yet withal shewing That worldly Bliss consisteth not so much in possessing of much subject unto danger as joyning in a little contentment devoid of fear Howbeit the Turks themselves reporting the taking of Sebastia speak not of Orthobules at all but give him lost six years before in the Wars against Casi Burchaniden and lieth buried by his Father at Prusa In this City of Sebastia was lost twelve thousand Turks Men Women and Children as their Histories report The rest of the Cities all the way as Tamerlane marched warned by the destruction of Sebastia yielded themselves for fear of like danger the Citizens whereof he courteously used especially the Christians whom he set at liberty in respect of Emanuel the Greek Emperor whom he seemed wholly therein to gratifie But he had not gon far into the Turks Dominion but that he was certainly advertised how that Bajazet with a great Army was coming against him and now within thirty Leagues of him which caused him after that time to march with his Army more closely Axalla leading the Vantguard sent forth Chianson Prince of Ciarcan with four thousand Parthian Horsemen to get knowledge of the Turks Army and where Bajazet lay as also what Country that was beyond Sennas and if he could learn any thing thereof to make relation of it unto him This Prince of Ciarcan was Tamerlanes near Kinsman a man of great reputation and next unto Axalla in whose absence he had the commanding of the Avantguard his charge who also sent before him another Parthian Captain with five hundred Horsemen So he had not ridden âen Leagues but that he heard news of Bajazets coming and having surprised Sennas understood there the certain estate of the Turks Army which was then at Tataia and so marching forward Whereof Tamerlane certified commanded him not to retire from that place until he did see the arrival of the Enemy and thereof to give him advertisement every hour being himself resolved to pass on no further as come to a fair large Plain and a Country of advantage for the order of his Battel for he knew that his Army was far greater than Bajazets and therefore he made choice of those great Plains Yet for that his Army consisted of divers Nations and withal considering that he was not to fight against the Chinois a soft effeminate People as of late but against the Turks a most warlike Nation and well acquainted with all manner of Fights and Martial Stratagems he thought it good to be well advised how he proceeded against them Wherefore he presently sent for Axalla with him to view the said place and to have his opinion Whether it would be for his advantage or not there to stay who not misliking of the choice of the place yet advised him also to keep Sennas so long as he possibly could and so sent word unto them that were therein upon the approach of the Enemy to set fire upon the same and so to withdraw themselves from thence to the end that the Enemy should not have any desire to incamp there but come still forward near to those Plains where Tamerlane desired to fight especially for that he was stronger in Horse than Bajazet Thus the Turks still marching on thought to have surprised some of their Enemies in Sennas who as soon as they drew near retired all excepting some hundred left of purpose to fire the Town who having performed the same retired of purpose in great disorder Now the Prince of Ciarcan had divided his Forces into two parts and given commandment to the first that as soon as they perceived the Enemies to pursue the hundred Horse that so disorderly of purpose fled they should receive them and so retire all together He in the mean time with the rest of his Power stood close in a Valley near to a Wood side unseen at all Where having suffered two thousand of the Enemies Horse the Vantcurriers of the Turks Army to pass by him he following them in the tail charged them home the other which before retired now turning upon them also so that the Turks seeing themselves thus beset and hardly laid unto both before and behind as men discouraged fled in which Flight most of them were slain and the rest taken Prisoners This was the first incounter betwixt the Turks and the Parthians all the Prisoners there taken were by the Prince as a Present sent to Tamerlane and among the rest the Bassa of Natolia who led these Troops of whom Tamerlane earnestly demanded what caused Bajazet so little to esteem of him as to shew so great contempt of his Army which he should find strong enough to abate his Pride Whereunto the Bassa answered That his Lord was the Sun upon Earth which could not endure any equal and that he rather was astonished to see how he from so far had enterprised so dangerous a journy to hinder the fortune of his Lord in whose favour the Heavens as he said did bend themselves to further his greatness and unto whom all the world subjected it self and that he committed great folly in going about to resist the same Unto which so proud a Speech Tamerlane replied That he was sent from Heaven to punish his rashness and to teach him That the Proud are hated of God whose promise is to pluck down the mighty and raise up the lowly As for thy self said he thou hast already felt although I pity thy mishap what the Valor of my Parthian Horse is against thy Turkish and thy Master I have already caused to raise his Siege of Constantinople and to look to his own things here in Asia Furthermore Tamerlane changing his Speech demanded If his Master did come resolved to bid him Battel Assure your self said he there is nothing he more desireth and would to God I might acknowledge your greatness in giving me leave to assist my Lord at that Battel Good leave have thou said Tamerlane go thy ways and tell thy Lord that thou hast seen me and that he shall in the Battel find me on horseback where he shall see a green Ensign displayed The Bassa thanking him swore that next unto his Lord he vowed unto him his Service And so returning declared unto Bajazet how that he had seen Tamerlane and truly reported
Potions and Receits after their wonted manner as if they had had the King still in Cure and Letters were sent in post to Elvan Beg for speedy dispatch of the business for which he was sent into Asia Yet for all this cunning dissimulation the Pentioners and other Souldiers of the Court wont to be near unto the Kings Person and some of them always of the Privy-Chamber began to suspect the matter and coming to the Bassaes said they marvelled that the King in so long time did never shew himself as he had always before done Whereunto the Bassaes answered That he had been dangerously sick and was as yet but a little recovered and that therefore the Physitians would not suffer him to look abroad or take the Air for fear of casting him down again Then will we our selves said the Pentioners go and see his Majesty and with that were ready to force in upon the Bassaes. Eivases seeing their importunity desired them to hold themselves contented and not as then to trouble the King for that he had that day as he said taken Physick but to morrow said he we will request his Majesty if he so please to shew himself that you may see him wherewith they for that time held themselves content Now among the Kings Physitians there was one Geordiron a Persian a man of a quick spirit and subtile device which found means to deceive the Pentioners he devised that the dead body of the King being apparelled in Royal large Robes should be brought betwixt two as if he had been led into an high open Gallery and being there set to have a Boy so neatly placed behind him under his large Robes as that he unperceived might move the Kings hand up to his head as if he should stroke his Face or Beard as his manner was The next day the dead King being accordingly brought forth by the Bassaes in his rich Robes and wrapped with Clothes about his Head as if it had been for fear of the Air or of taking cold and so placed in an high open Gallery as was before devised suddenly the Physitian came running in fuming and raging as if he had been half mad ready to tear his Clothes for anger and in great choler casting his Cap against the ground asked the Bassaes if they meant to kill the King by bringing him into the open Air We said he have with great pains in long time a little recovered him and will you thus foolishly cast him down again Pardon us good Doctor said Eivases for these Gentlemen pointing to the Pentioners were so importunate to see his Majesty that to satisfie their desires he was content to be led forth of his Chamber whereof we hope shall ensue no harm The Pentioners seeing the King many times moving his hand to his face and as it were stroking his Beard held themselves well contented supposing him to have been alive although but weak and therefore not willing to speak unto them The Physitians taking him up amongst them carried him into his Lodging again which was but fast by making as if they had carried an extream sick man. Thus was his death cunningly concealed one and forty days until the coming of Amurath his Son. This Mahomet was both wise and valiant and withall exceeding bountiful but Ambitious above measure and may of right be accounted the Restorer of the Turks Kingdom for he recovered again all those Countries in Asia which Tamerlane had taken away and given unto other Mahometan Princes after the Overthrow of Bajazet And when as the Kingdom of the Turks was rent in pieces and almost brought to nought by Civil Wars and the Ambition of himself and his Brethren he at length got possession of the whole and so left it to his Son Amurath an entire Kingdom in the former greatness although not so much by him augmented His body lieth buried in a fair Tomb made of artificial stone very beautiful to behold in a Chappel at the East side of Prusa where we leave him at his rest Christian Princes of the same time with Mahomet the First Emperors Of the East Emanuel Paleologus 1387. 30 Of the West Rupertus Duke of Bavaria 1400. 10. Sigismund King of Hungary 1411. 28. Kings Of England Henry the Fourth 1399. 13 Henry the Fifth 1413. 9. Of France Charles the Sixth sirnamed The welbeloved 1381. 42. Of Scotland John Stuart otherwise called Robert. 1390. 16. James the First 1424. 13 Bishops of Rome Boniface the IX 1391. 14. Innocent the VIII 1405. 2. Gregory the XII 1407. 2. Alexander the V. 1410. 1. John the XXIII 1411. 5. Martin the V. 1417. 13. Europam lucâu et funesâis cladibus implens Soevus Amurathes totus in arma ruit Major at Huniades virtute et fortibus ausis Cogit eum trepida vertere terga fuga Consilia Eugenij bellum âurialia suadent Sacrorum antistes Martia ad arma ruit Arma viri tractent curet sua templa Sacerdos Europoe exitium res tulit ista grave Fierce Amurath vers't in warr do's next arise And fills poore Europe with laments and cries Till by the brave Huniades outdone The dastard Sultan was compell'd to run The Priest Eugenius dismall Warrs perswades The privilege of Buff the Gowne invades Had the Priest prayd and let alone the Drum Europe had not to such confusion come The LIFE of AMURATH The Second of that NAME Sixth King of the Turks And the great ESTABLISHER of their Kingdom AFter that the death of Mahomet had been politickly concealed one and forty days by the three great Bassaes Bajazet Eivases and Ibrahim Amurath or Murat as the Turks call him his eldest Son at that time coming to Prusa was by them placed in his Fathers Seat and the death of Mahomet at the same time published whereupon great Troubles began on every side to arise The Princes of Smyrna and Mentesia rose up in Arms and at Thessalonica an obscure Fellow crept as it were out of a Chimney-corner took upon him the Name and Person of Mustapha the Son of Bajazet which was slain many years before in the great battel against Tamerlane at Mount Stella as is before declared in the life of the unfortunate Sultan Bajazet This counterfeit Mustapha animated by the Grecian Princes and going from Thessalonica to Vardarium set so good a Countenance upon the matter with such a Grace and Majesty that not only the Country people apt to believe any thing but men of greater Place and Calling also as Tzunites Beg the Prince of Smyrna his Son with the Sons of old Eurenoses Bassa perswaded that he was the very Son of the great Bajazet repaired unto him as unto their natural Prince ad Soveraign From Vardarium he went to Serrae and from thence to Hadrianopole Amurath being as then at Prusa where he was received as if it had been that noble Prince Mustapha whom he feigned himself to be so that in short time he was honoured as a King in all
all hope have with a notable Slaughter overthrown them vanquished them and put them to Flight Neither is there any men in the World whom they more fear and stand in dread of than you whom though in number but few they have by their dayly Slaughter and Losses learned no less to fear than if you were many And noâ to trie the uttermost of their power they are come with their innumerable Legions but are not for that of you any thing the more to be feared than before seeing that we all bear Arms under the conduct of the most mighty God and are by dayly Victory long Expeâience and approved Valour taught what we are to dare besides that the greatest part of their Army is of common Souldiers Slaves or rude Country Pesants or men by force by them compelled more than the Janizaries are no good Souldiers among them the rest as men enforced serve them for fear and against their Wills and they by their Cowardise brought into that Bondage and Slavery What Greeks Macedonians or Sclavonians soever are sent to their Aid for asmuch as they are not yet revolted from the Christian Faith deem them not to stand for them but for us they long for us the Revengers of their Wrongs and for you as victorious Conquerors in this War they have given unto the Turks their Names but unto us their Hearts and Power and pray heartily for our Victory wherefore you ought so much the more valiantly and couragiously to fight by how much greater you see the Victory the Honour the Prey before your Eyes We are not to fight for other Mens Houses and Altars but for our own so our present necessiây requireth in such sort that if we our selves deliver not our selves and bear our selves upon our wonted hope and valour we shall this day be enforced to endure the greatest misery that men may possibly First the loss of our Goods and Substance the Captivity of âur Children the deflowring of our Daughters the ravishing of our Wives the slaughter of our Parents the burning of our Houses and Churches and that which worse is than all this the scorn of our Saviour Christ Iesus and his Saints whose images you shall see in despight broken or dragged in the dirt or moulten and converted into other prophane uses all Religion trodden down and God himself if it were possible with violence and despair driven out of our Hearts if we stand not manfully unto it as becometh worthy Champions God is able with his little Finger if he so will forthwith to destroy all the Turks in the World but seeing he hath committed unto our right Hands the defence of his name he first maketh proof of our Courage and Valour that finding the same faithful and ready he may strengthen and defend it with his own right Hand He never yet forsook any faithful or devout man neither will our Saviour Christ be wanting unto you if you be not wanting to your selves in the power of his Name which is above all Names he shall âread down his rebellious Enemies and exalt the Righteous that put their trust in him Moreover the causes that they and we combat for are divers and our hopes much stronger They fight for their Prophet a most prophane man Author of all Impiety for Spoil and Prey for the destruction of Nations and Countries for other Mens Kingdoms for the inlarging of their Dominions and Territories for worldly Praise and Glory But we contrariwise bear Arms for the Saviour of the World for our Faith and Religion for the Christian Common-Wealth for our Native Country for our Wives and Children for our Fortune and State than which nothing can be more excellent more commendable or honourable What reward is laid up for them in Heaven which have worthily protected or delivered their Country or laid down their Lives in defence of their Faith and Religion Neither having often proved are we ignorant that God will never forsake them that honour fear and serve him Whereby fâllow Souldiers you may plainly perceive how far your hopes are beyond theirs Believe our Saviour promising unto you an eternal reward and shew your Fidelity and Valour unto God and your Country together Wherefore seeing without the power of God we can do nothing before the signal of Battel be given I beseech you Collonels Captains and Lieutenants by your effectual and Christian Exhortations in your Regiments and Companies to encourage your Souldiers valiantly to fight the Lords Battel and for the present every man by taking a little Earth in his Mouth to prepare himself according to the necessity of the time as it were to the receiving of the Lords Supper so having cleansed your Souls embrace you one another plight your mutual Faith with your right Hand and a Kiss and make a perpetual Covenant among your selves none of you to forsake one another in this holy Battel but for your Religion and Country valiantly to fight it out even to the last man. And a little refreshing your selves with a short repast as you stand upon the signal given thrice calling aloud upon the mighty name of Christ Iesus fight with the like Valour and Courage so near as you can that he in the Agonie of Death fought for your Redemption and Liberty which that you will willingly do I request and charge you this for our Saviours sake for the Love of our Country and for the Faith you owe both to God and Man. I also pray and beseech you so to fight as men resolved either to gain a most glorious Victory whereof I doubt not or else if it should otherwise chance this day to purchase unto your selves a blessed life in the Kingdom of Heaven not to sup in Hell with the Turks but with the blessed Wights in Heaven for Christ Iesus our Saviour will be alwaies present with us who believe me and so hope will this day not only deliver us out of the Hands of the Turks but to our immortal Glory lode us with the rich Spoils of our Enemies and so in safety bring all home again with much Ioy and Triumph The Bassa on the other side likewise encouraged his Souldiers putting them in remembrance of their former Victories exhorting them not to degenerate from their worthy Ancestors and themselves by whose great Valor the Glory and Empire of the Turks had been so mightily increased and unto whom their great Prophet Mahomet the Interpreter of the gods had foretold the Empire of the whole World to be by all the gods allotted and had by divine inspiration prophecied that antient and stately Nation in time to become the terror of the World the scourge of the Wicked and Commander of all Nations He farther declared unto them what an increase of Kingdoms they had got in that short time since which they first passed over into Europe and filled them with the hope of a great Spoil promising unto them that should in the Battel valiantly behave themselves not only the
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
his Face shamefully upbraiding him for his inhuman cruelty When Mahomet to appease her Fury requested her to be content for that it stood with the Policy of his State and willed her for her better contentment to ask whatsoever she pleased and she should forthwith have it But she desiring nothing more than in some sort to be revenged desired to have Moses the Executioner of her Son delivered unto her bound which when she had obtained she presently struck him into the Breast with a knife crying in vain upon his unthankful Master for help and proceeding in her cruel Execution cut an hole in his right side and by peecemeal cut out his Liver and cast it to the Dogs to eat At the same time also he caused another of his Brethren committed by his Father to the keeping of Caly Bassa and now by him betraied into his hands to be likewise murthered Thus beginning his tyrannous Reign with the bloody execution of them that were in Blood nearest unto him and whom of all others he ought to have defended he presently after began to frame a new form of a Common-Weal by abrogating and altering the old Laws and Customs and publishing of new better fitting his own humor and more commodious for himself imposing also new Taxes and Subsidies upon his Subjects never before heard of thereby to increase his Treasures and satisfie his avaritious desire which amongst many other his Vices so much reigned in him as that he was thought over-sparing unto himself as well in his Apparrel as in his Diet. And proceeding further he called unto strait account all the great Officers of his Kingdom of whom some he put to death and confiscated their Goods others he put to great Fines or quite removed them from their Oââices In like manner he dealt also with his great Bassaes admitting many false and surmised accusations against them whereby to bring them within his danger where little mercy was to be looked for By which means he became no less terrible unto his Subjects than he was afterwards to his Enemies and so was of them exceedingly feared but more hated Among other things he much misliked in his Court the excessive number of Faulconers and Huntsmen which was grown so great by the immoderate delight which his Predecessors took in the pleasures of the Field that there were continually maintained of the Kings Charge seven thousand Faulconers and not many fewer Huntsmen saying That he would not be so much a Fool as to maintain such a multitude of men to attend upon so meer a vanity And therefore took order that from thenceforth there should be allowance made for five hundred Falconers and one hundred Huntsmen the rest he appointed to serve as Souldiers in his Wars At the same time also he entred into League with Constantinus Palaeologus the Emperor of Constantinople and the other Princes of Grecia as also with the Despot of Servia his Grandfather by the Mothers side as some will have it howbeit some others write that the Despot his Daughter Amurath his Wife was but his Mother-in-Law whom he under the colour of Friendship sent back again unto her Father after the death of Amurath still allowing her a Princely Dowry But if she were not his Mother as like enough it is that she was not much more happy was she that she never groaned for so graceless a Son. Whilst Mahomet was thus occupied about his civil Affairs year 1451. Ibrahim King of Caramania who long before had married Amuraths Sister and yet for all that had as his Ancestors had before him alwaies envied the prosperous success of the Othoman Kings took occasion in the first year of Mahomet his Reign with Fire and Sword to invade his Dominions in Asia Which thing when Mahomet understood he displaced Isa his Lieutenant in Asia as a man not sufficient to mannage so great Wars and appointed Isaac Bassa in his room a most valiant man of War upon whom not long before he had upon special favour bestowed in marriage the fair Daughter of Sponderbeius one of his Fathers Wives of whom we have spoken before This great Bassa passing over into Asia raised a great Army After whom followed Mahomet in person himself with a greater out of Europe and having all his Forces together entred with great Hostility into Caramania But the Caramanian King perceiving himself unable to withstand so puissant an Enemy fled into the strength of the great Mountains and by his Embassadors offered unto Mahomet such reasonable Conditions of Peace as that he was content to accept thereof Which after they had by solemn Oath on both parts conâiâmed Mahomet returned with his Army to Prusa but when he was come thither the Ianizaries presuming that they might be bold with the young King putting themselves in order of Battel came and with great insolency demanded of him a donative or larges as a reward of their good service done With which so great presumptioâ Mahomet was inwardly chafed but for so much as they were his best Souldiers and already in Arms he wisely dissembled his anger for the present having a little before had warning thereof by Abedin Bassa and Teurechan Beg two of his great Captains who had got some suspition of the matter wherefore to âontent them he caused ten great Bags of Aspers to be scattered among them and so pacified the matter But within fews days after he caused Doganes the Aga or chief Captain of the Ianizaries to be brought before him and to be shamefully whipt and so presently discharging him of his office placed one Mustapha in the same The like severity he used against the rest of the under-Captains causing them to be cruelly scourged and beaten like Slaves which in that tyrannical Government is an usual punishment upon the least displeasure of the King to be inflicted upon any man without respect of degree or calling if he be not a Natural Turk born Presently after he sent Isaac his Lieutenant against Elias Prince of Mentesia or Garia by whom the poor Prince was driven out of his Country ever since which time it hath remained in subjection to the Turkish Kings as part of their Kingdom and Empire When Mahomet had thus ended the Caramanian War year 1452. and was determined with his Army to return to Hadrianople he was advertised That the Straits of Hellespontus were so strongly possessed by the Christian Fleet that he could not there possibly pass over but with most manifest danger wherefore he took his way through that part of Bithynia which lieth above Constantinople and came to the Castle which the Turks call Acce-Chisar and the Grecians ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or White Castle standing upon the narrow Strait of Bosphorus on Asia side and there passed over into Europe at the same place where his Father Amurath had not many years before in like manner found passage Where when he was safely got over with his Army he by the
Lives more than their own Valour the Emperor caused all the Gates of the inner Wall to be fast shut up and in this sort they lay all the night expecting continually when the Assault should be given all which time they might hear great hurly burly and noise in the Turks Camp as they were putting things in readiness for the Assault A little before day the Turks approached the Walls and begun the Assault where Shot and Stones were delivered upon them from the Walls as thick as Hail whereof little fell in vain by reason of the multitude of the Turks who pressing fast unto the Walls could not see in the dark how to defend themselves but were without number wounded or slain but these were of the common and worst Souldiers of whom the Turkish King made no more reckoning than to abate the first force of the Defendants Upon the first appearance of the day Mahomet gave the sign appointed for the general Assault whereupon the City was in a moment and at one instant on every side most furiously assaulted by the Turks for Mahomet the more to distress the Defendants and the better to see the forwardness of the Souldiers had before appointed which part of the City every Colonel with his Regiment should assail Which they valiantly performed delivering their Arrows and Shot upon the Defendants so thick that the light of the day was therewith darkned other in the mean time couragiously mounting the Scaling-Ladders and coming even to handy-strokes with the Defendants upon the Wall where the formost were for most part violently born forward by them which followed after On the other side the Christians with no less courage withstood the Turkish fury beating them down again with great Stones and weighty pieces of Timber and so overwhelmed them with Shot Darts and Arrows and other hurtful devices from above that the Turks dismayed with the terrour thereof were ready to retire Mahomet seeing the great slaughter and diâcomfiture of his Men sent in fresh Supplies of his Janizaries and best Men of War whom he had for that purpose reserved as his last Hope and Refuge by whose coming on his fainting Souldiers were again encouraged and the terrible Assault begun afresh At which time the barbarous King ceased not to use all possible means to maintain the Assault by Name calling upon this and that Captain promising unto some whom he saw forward golden Mountains and unto others in whom he saw any sign of Cowardise threatning most terrible death by which means the Assault became most dreadful death there raging in the midst of many thousands And albeit that the Turks lay dead by heaps upon the ground yet other fresh men pressed on still in their places over their dead bodies and with divers event either slew or were slain by their Enemies In this so terrible a Conflict it chanced Iustinianus the General to be wounded in the Arm who losing much blood cowardly withdrew himself from the place of his Charge not leaving any to supply his room and so got into the City by the Gate called Romana which he had caused to be opened in the inner Wall pretending the cause of his departure to be for the binding up of his Wound but being indeed a man now altogether discouraged The Souldiers there present dismayed with the departure of their General and sore charged by the Janizaries forsook their stations and in hast fled to the same Gate whereby Iustinianus was entred with the sight whereof the other Souldiers dismayed ran thither by heaps also But whilst they violently strive all together to get in at once they so wedged one another in the entrance of the Gate that few of so great a multitude got in in which so great a press and confusion of minds 800 persons were there by them that followed trodden under foot or thrust to death The Emperor himself for sefeguard of his life flying âith the rest in that press as a man not regarded miserably ended his days together with the Greek Empire His dead body was shortly after found by the Turks among the slain and known by his rich Apparel whose Head being cut off was forthwith presented to the Turkish Tyrant by whose Commandment it was afterward thrust upon the point of a Launce and in great derision carried about as a Trophy of his Victory first in the Camp and afterwards up and down the City The Turks encouraged with the flight of the Christians presently advanced their Ensigns upon the top of the uttermost Wall crying Victory and by the Breach entred as if it had been a gâeat Flood which having once found a Breach in the Bank overfloweth and beareth down all befoâe it so the Turks when they had won the utter Wall entred the City by the same Gate that was opened for Iustinianus and by a Breach which they had before made with their great Artillery and without mercy cutting in pieces all that came in their way without further resistance became Lords of that most famous and Imperial City Some few there were of the Christians who preferring death before the Turkish slavery with their Swords in their hands sold their lives dear unto their Enemies amongst whom the two Brethren Paulus and Troilus Bochiardi Italians with Theophilus Palaeologus a Greek and Ioannes Stiavus a Dalmatian for their great valour and courage deserve to be had in eternal Remembrance who after they had like Lions made slaughter of their Enemies died in the midst of them embrued with their blood rather oppressed by multitude than by true valour overcome In this fury of the Barbarians perished many thousands of Men Women and Children without respect of Age Sex or Condition Many for safeguard of ther lives fled into the Temple of Sophia where they were all without pity slain except some few reserved by the barbarous Victors to purposes more grievous than death it self The rich and beautiful Ornaments and Jewels of that most sumptuous and magnificent Church the stately Building of Iustinianus the Emperor were in the turning of a hand pluckt down and carried away by the Turks and the Church it self built for God to be honoured in for the present converted into a Stable for their Horses or a place for the execution of their abominable and unspeakable filthiness the Image of the Crucifix was also by them taken down and a Turks Cap put upon the head thereof and so set up and shot at with their Arrows and afterwards in great derision carried about in their Camp as it had been in Procession with Drums playing before it railing and spitting at it and calling it the God of the Christians Which I note not so much done in contempt of the Image as in the despight of Christ and the Christian Religion But whilst some were thus spoiling of the Churches others were as busie in ransacking of private houses where the miserable Christians were enforced to endure in their persons whatsoever pleased the
had before worn and for the further gracing of her to be deckt with many most precious Jewels of inestimable value Whereunto the poor Soul gladly obeyed little thinking that it was her Funeral Apparel Now in the mean while Mustapha altogether ignorant of the Sultans mind had as he was commanded caused all the Nobility and Commanders of the Men of War to be assembled into the great Hall every man much marvelling what should be the Emperors meaning therein who had not of long so publickly shewed himself But being thus together assembled and every man according as their minds gave them talking diversly of the matter behold the Sultan entred into the Palace leading the fair Greek by the hand who beside her incomparable Beauty and other the greatest graces of Nature adorned also with all that curiosity could devise seemed not now to the beholders a mortal Wight but some of the stately Goddesses whom Poets in their Extasies describe Thus coming together into the midst of the Hall and due Reverence to them done by all them there present he stood still with the fair Lady in his left hand and so furiously looking round about him said unto them I understand of your great discontentment and that you all murmur and grudge for that I overcome with mine affection toward this so fair a Paragon cannot withdraw my self from her presence but I would fain know which of you is so temperate that if he had in his possession a thing so rare and precious so lovely and so fair would not be thrice advised before be would forego the same Say what you think in the word of a Prince I give you free liberty so to do But they all rapt with an incredible admiration to see so fair a thing the like whereof they had never before beheld said all with one consent That he had with greater reason so passed the time with her than any man had to find fault therewith whereunto the barbarous Prince answered Well but now I will make you to understand how far you have been deceived in me and that there is no earthly thing that can so much blind my senses or bereave me of reason as not to see and understand what beseemeth my high Place and Calling yea I would you should all know that the Honour and Conquests of the Othoman Kings my noble Progenitors is so fixed in my Breast with such a desire in my self to exceed the same as that nothing but death is able to put it out of my remembrance And having so said presently with one of his hands catching the fair Greek by the hair of her head and drawing his Falchion with the other at one blow struck off her head to the great terrour of them all and having so done said unto them Now by this judge whether your Emperor is able to bridle his affections or not And within a while after meaning to discharge the rest of his choler caused great preparation to be made for the Conquest of Peloponnesus and the besieging of Belgrade At the same time that the barbarous Turks took the Imperial City of Constantinople Thomas and Demetrius Palaeologi Brethren to the late unfortunate Emperor Constantinus governed a great part of Peloponnesus one of the most famous Provinces of Grecia which in form of a leafe of a Plane-Tree is almost in manner of an Island environed with the Seas Ionium and Aegeum which running far into the Land on either side thereof separateth the same from the rest of Grecia by two great Bays leaving but a strait neck of Land called of the Greeks Istmos in breadth about five miles which was sometimes by the Grecians and afterward by the Venetians fortified by a strong Wall and five great Castles near unto which place stood the great and famous City of Corinth This Province is in length 175 miles and almost as much in breadth wherein are contained the Countries of Achaia Messenia Lacedemonia Argolica and Archadia with many famous Cities and goodly Havens wherein it far exceedeth all the other Provinces of Grecia These two Princes Thomas and Demetrius dismayed with their Brothers disaster Fortune began now so far to despair of their own Estate that upon the first bruit thereof they were about presently to have fled by Sea into Italy And as it commonly falleth out That one evil happeneth not alone so at the same time it fortuned that the Albanians rise in Arms against the said two Princes their Soveraigns and under the leading of their Rebellious Captain Emanuel Catecuzenus grievously troubled both the poor Princes These Albanians were a rough and hardy kind of people which living after the manner of the rude Scithian Herdsmen by feeding of Cattel had of long time planted themselves in Peloponnesus differing from the natural Greeks both in their manner of living and Language which diversity was no small cause that they oftentimes spurned as now against the Government of the Grecian Princes In this extremity the two distressed Princes not well knowing which way to turn themselves sought for Peace at Mahomets hands year 1454. offering to become his Tributaries Of which their Offer he willingly accepted as an induction to the full Conquest of that Country and sent Turachan Governor of Thessalia one of his greatest Men of War with an Army into Peloponnâsus to Aid those Princes against the Albanians by whose help the masterful Rebels were in short time discomfited and the Country of Peloponnesus quieted yet so that it was now become Tributary to the Turkish King. These two Princes Demetrius and Thomas the last of all the Christian Princes that reigned in Peleponnesus having thus lost their Liberty lived for a few years as the Turks Vassals paying such yearly Tribute as they had before promised During which time many Displeasures arose betwixt the two Brothers being both jealous of their Estate and desirous by all plausible means to win the hearts of their Subjects one from another whereby it came so to pass that whiles they both desired to become popular they weakned their own Credit and had not their Subjects at such command as best stood with the safety of their Estate Nevertheless as soon as they understood that the Christian Princes of the West were making great preparation against the Turk and that Calixtus the Third of that Name then the Bishop of Rome had already put a Fleet of Gallies to Sea which did great spoil upon the Borders of the Turks Dominions they vainly perswading themselves that the Turks would in short time be again driven out of Grecia refused to pay any more Tribute to the Turkish King or to keep League any longer with him Upon which occasion Mahomet with a puissant Army came down and first besieged Corinth and afterwards entring into Peloponnesus took divers strong Towns and destroyed the Country before him and forced the two Princes for safeguard of their lives to fly the one to Mantinia and the other into the strong
City of Epidaurus now called Ragusium The poor Princes destitute of such Aid as they expected and altogether unable to withstand the Power of the mighty Tyrant began again to sue for Peace which he having now spoiled their Country granted upon condition That all such places as he had already taken should be still his own and also that the City of Patras with the Country adjoyning should be delivered unto him and that for the rest the said Princes should pay unto him a yearly Tribute which hard conditions the poor Princes now in danger to lose all were glad to accept of whereupon a Peace was for that time again concluded In his return he took the City of Athens in his way which he not long before had taken from Francus Acciavol by Composition by means of Omares the Son of Turachaâ one of his great Captains promising to give him the Country of Boetia with the City of Thebes in lieu thereof This Francus was Nephew to Nerius sometime Prince of Athens and had of long time been brought up in the Turks Court as one of Mahomet his Minions and was of him as was supposed entirely beloved But when he had received the Dukedom of Thebes in exchange for his Princely State of Athens he was shortly after as if it had been in great Friendship sent by Mahomet to Zoganus his Lieutenant in Pâloponnâsus by whom he was at first courteously entertained but afterward being about to depart he was according as Mahomet had before commanded suddenly stayed and when he least feared cruelly murdered About three years after the Peace before concluded betwixt Mahomet and the two Brethren Mahomet understanding that the Christian Kings and Princes had combined themselves against him with a purpose to drive him again out of Grecia thought it now high time and much for the assurance of his Estate to root out the small Reliques of the Grecian Empire which yet remained in Peloponnesus in the two Princes of the Imperial Blood Thomas and Demetrius whereunto he saw a fair occasion presented Forasmuch as those two Brethren were at that time at great Variance betwixt themselves neither payed him such Tribute as they had before promised hereupon he with a strong Army came to Corinth where Arsanes a Nobleman of great Authority and Power in that Country whose Sister Demetrius had married came to him from the Prince his Brother in law attended upon with many gallant Gentlemen his Followers of purpose to Aid him against the other Prince Thomas nothing fearing any harm to have been by the Turk intended against himself or his Brother in law Demetrius whom they both reckoned of as of a Friend But when Mahomet was entred into Peloponnesus and come to Tegea he caused the same Arsanes with all his chief Followers to be laid hold upon and cast into bonds knowing as it should seem no man for Friend which might any way hinder his ambitious Designs Demetrius hearing what was hapned unto Arsanes fled to Sparta now called Mizithra whither Mahomet in few days after came and laid Siege to the City But the poor Prince considering that he must needs at length fall into his hands went out of the City and humbly submitted himself with all that he had into his Power Which so well pleased the Turkish Tyrant that he courteously received him comforted him and promised him in stead of Sparta to give him other Lands and Possessions of like value elsewhere nevertheless he committed him to safâ custody and carried him about with him as his Prisoner until he had finished those Wars After he had taken Sparta he besieged Castria where he lost divers of his Janizaries for which cause when he had taken the City he put all the Souldiers therein to the Sword and cut the Capâainâ overthwart in two pieces From thence he marched to Leontarium called in ancient time Megalopolis which he took with another City called Cardicea whither they of Leontarium had before conveyed their Wives and Children as to a place of more safety There he cruelly put to death all the Inhabitants of those Cities Mân Women and Children in number about six thousand of whom he left not one alive and yet not so satisfied commanded the very Beasts and Cattel of those places to be killed Many Cities of Peloponnesus terrified with the dreadful Example of their Neighbours forthwith yielded themselves and amongst others Saluarium a great and strong City of Arcadia where he caused all the Inhabitants Men Women and Children to the number of ten thousand to be cast into bonds looking for nothing but present death all which afterwards he commanded to be sent Captives to Constantinople and with them peopled the Suburbs of that City After that he by the counsel of Demetrius sent one of his Captains called Iosua with certain Companies of Greek Souldiers unto the strong City of Epidaurus to command them in the Name of the Prince to deliver unto him the City with the Prince his Wife and Daughter which lay there But the Governor trusting unto the strength of the City refused to deliver the same yet suffered the Princess with her Daughter to depart out of the City being willing to go to her Husband whom the Captain having received returned and presented them to Mahomet By whose Commandment they were presently sent into Beotia there to attend his return to Constantinople and an Eunuch appointed to take charge of the young Lady who had so warmed Mahomets affection that he took her afterwards to his Wife At the same time he also subdued the most part of Achaia and Elis by Zoganus Bassa his Lieutenant whither he came not long after himself and laid Siege to the City of Salmenica which for lack of Water was at length yielded unto him but the Castle was by the space of a whole year after valiantly defended against the Turks left to besiege it by Thomas the Prince of whom Mahomet afterwards gave this commendation That in the Country of Peloponnesus he had found many Slaves but never a Man but him This valiant Prince seeing the miserable ruine of his Country and the State thereof utterly forlorn after he had most notably endured a years Siege in the Castle of Salmenica got to Sea and so arrived in Italy where traveling to Rome he was honourably received by Pius Secundus then Bishop there who during his life allowed him a large Pension for the maintenance of his State. Thus Mahomet having thrust both the Grecian Princes out of their Dominions and subdued all Peloponnesus excepting such strong Towns and Castles as bordering upon the Sea coast were yet holden by the Venetians left Zoganus Bassa his Lieutenant to Govern that new conquered Province and with great Triumph returned himself towards Constantinople carrying away with him Demetrius the Prince with his Wife and Daughter and many other Noble Prisoners But after he was come to Hadrianople and placed in his Royal Seat he removed the Eunuch
even to the spending of his life in that service But the crafty Tyrant thinking it not good to trust him too far before he had further trial of him delaied him off to the next Spring pretending that the year was too far spent to begin Wars In the mean time he caused all Moses Talk his Behaviour and Actions to be diligently observed and noted and oftentimes himself discoursed with him concerning the managing of that War all which he did especially to sound the depth of Moses his Thoughts And finding nothing in him but the most assured and undoubted signs of a mind devoted to his service and altogether stranged from Scanderbeg in the beginning of the Spring he committed to his charge the leading of fifteen thousand Horsemen for the invading of Epirus such men as Moses himself should make choice of for a greater number he required not for the vanquishing of Scanderbeg These Souldiers although they detested so few in number to enter that fatal Country of Epirus as men fair warned by other mens harms yet heartned on by the opinion they had conceived of their new General and the hope they had by his means to find Friends in that Country to join with them were the willinger to go So Moses furnished with a notable Army and all warlike provision he could desire for the destruction of his Country and blinded with the imagination of a Kingdom set forward and marching through Thracia and Macedonia forgetting the Loyalty due unto his Soveraign and the love he ought to have born unto his native Country came and entred into Dibra Scanderbeg by his espials understanding of the coming of Moses as also what strength he was of stood not now upon any policy against him who had of long been privy to all his Stratagems but was ready even at his first entrance with true Valour to encounter him As both the Armies stood ranged in order of Battel a Messenger came from the Turks Camp to know of Scanderbeg if any one of his Army durst to prove his Fortune hand to hand against one of the Turks before the beginning of the general Battel By which Messenger answer was returned That the Challenge should be accepted The name of the Turk which made this brave Challenge was Ahemaze a man for his Valour and Courage of great name amongst the Turks Upon this proud Challenge Zacharias Groppa a Gentleman of no less reputation among the Christians hastily stept forth before Scanderbeg as if he had been afraid to have been prevented by some other and requested that he might be the man to abate the Turks Pride Scanderbeg embracing him commended his noble mind and wishing him good Fortune gave him leave to carry with him into the Field the first honour of the Christian Army As he was arming himself his Companions and Fellows in Arms standing about him wished unto him not more Courage or Strength than he had but only the Fortune of Manessi Upon his Armor he put on many rich Jewels and Ornaments the Allurements or rather the Rewards of the Enemy if he could vanquish him The Turkish Champion was no sooner come into the Plain betwixt both Armies and made shew of himself in great bravery as if his match had yet been scarcely found but he saw Zacharias come forth bravely mounted and ready to charge him to whom Ahemaze calling aloud said there would be time enough for him to hasten to his death and therefore requested to talk with him before So when he had learned of him both his name and place he propounded such like Conditions of the Combat as had been long before derided by Manessi whereof Zacharias in no better sort accepted In few words it was agreed upon betwixt them That each of them should abide his own Fortune without any help or aid of others and that the Victor should have full power over the Body and Spoil of the vanquished Thus agreed they withdrew themselves one a good distance from another and with their Launces charged ran together with such force that with the violence of the encounter they brake their Launces one upon the other and were both Horse and Man overthrown But unhorsed they nimbly recovered themselves and with their Scimitars fiercely assailed the one the other on foot Fortune it should seem had determined to beautifie that Combat with variety standing a great while indifferent to both After many sturdy stroaks given without any hurt done by reason they were so strongly armed it fortuned that both their Swords were beaten out of their Hands then grapling together with their bare Hands as if they had been two unarmed Wrestlers after long strugling till they were both almost out of breath Zacharias overthrew the Turk and lying upon him with his dagger above the Gorget thrust him into the Throat and slew him and so rising up with the Sword that first came to his Hands cut off the Turks Head at the sight whereof the Christian Army gave a great shout for joy to the great discomfiture of the Turks To be short Zacharias despoiling the Turk of his Armor and what else he thought good returned loaded with the Spoil of his Enemy and presented unto Scanderbeg the proud Turks Head for which he was of him afterwards most honorably rewarded Into this place yet reeking with the Blood of the late slain Turk came Moses and with a loud voice challenged Scanderbeg hand to hand thinking indeed that he would not have adventured his Person but when he saw him ready to come forth he shamefully forsook the place and returned with shame enough into his Army Presently after both Armies upon signal given set forward and so began to joyn Battel where at the first onset Scandârbeg so valiantly charged the Vauward of the Turks Army that they were glad to give ground which Moses perceiving relieved them with new supplies and riding now here now there with his Presence and Courage restored the Battel in many places almost lost Howbeit the Epirots encouraged with the beginning of their good Fortune still prevailed upon their Enemies and after great slaughter made came to the Strength of their Battel where Moses had placed most of his best Souldiers as his most assured and last refuge in this place the Turks fought with exceeding Courage and Moses warily observing in what part of the Battel Scanderbeg himself was directed his most Forces against him on purpose if possibly he might to have slain him whereof he missed but a little for a couragious Souldier of the Turks by chance encountring with Scanderbeg with his Horsemans Staff bare him quite backward upon his Horse in such forcible manner that the Turks for joy gave a great shout thinking verily he had been slain but Scanderbeg recovering himself again and chafed with such an unwonted disgrace furiously assailed the same Turk with his Sword and after a great Fight slew him A great part of the Turks Army being already overthrown by
of Artillery and Engines of War impugned assaulted and on every side assailed the Walls thereof utterly subverted and the Bulwarks laid flat with the ground and as you see as good as rased besides that so oft as we have set fire upon their fortresses so often we have provoked them of Scodra to fight and have also much vexed them with assaults Last of all as you know we have left nothing unproved nothing unattempted which could be devised the easilier to overcome them being wearied worn out and their strength spent Wherefore in mine opinion the matter is not longer to be put off or delayed but even to morrow before the Enemy can recover his strength to repair his Breaches let us enclose the City round and give them a general and terrible Assault and therefore every one of you make your selves ready and exhort your Souldiers in the Camp that they every one of them to morrow with the dawning of the day come forth armed and well appointed for the winning of the City Now will I prove and know them that are worthy of my Pay. Thou the Bassa of Constantinople with thy Squadrons and certain Companies of the Janizaries our faithful Guard give charge unto the breach In the mean time let the Bassa of Asia with his power assault the other parts of the City let every Man make ready and bring with him what is needful for this general Assault my mind giveth me that to morrow before this time we shall win the City for who is there can resist us The Town as you see is bared both of wall and of all other defence the Bulwarks and Ditches are laied even and an easie way for us to come unto it the Citizens themselves weary with so many fights and assaults faint and want Strentgh whereas we are still fresh and lusty they in number few we almost innumerable besides that we far pass them in the force of our Artillery wherewith many of them shall perish in the defending of the Breaches Who then can gainsay but that they of Scodra are already our Prisoners Where upon such as remain alive I will at my pleasure use the Law of Arms and Captivity On therefore couragious hearts without further delay Is not the very name of Scodra hateful unto us For which of you doth not with great disdain call to remembrance the death of your Parents or Bretheren or Friends or Companions cruelly slain under these Walls Can you disgest your hatred against them of Scodra And so many slaughters of your Friends by them made But to forget elder times and the harms received from them long since let us but look upon our late slaughters and wounds as it were yet bleeding it is not yet full four years since that we made War with these men of Scodra wherein so many thousands of our People fâll that their slaughter is yet almost objects to our Eyes and their blood craving revenge This very Hill whereon we stand and the Stones yet seem besprinkled and polluted with their blood Wherefore hast you as men of Courage Take up Arms valiantly mount the Hill assault the Town and revenge your old injuries Glut your selves to the full in the effusion of the Christian blood whereunto our Laws do so much exhort us and do what you may with force and sword that not one of them of Scodra may be lest alive which you may easily bring to pass having all things thereunto needful for there is nothing to withstand you nothing wanting for the gaining of the Victory All things are prepared all things are ready an easie matter it is for a strong man to overcome the weak and feeble that wanteth strength as do they This Speech of the barbarous Tyrant was received with great applause and good liking of the hearers and now was Scodra to be with all might and main assaulted and not a man there left alive Hereupon Proclamation was made throughout the Camp That every man upon pain of death should be ready against the appointed time and the great Captains and Commanders of the Army departing from Mahomet went up to the top of the Hill whereon the Bassa lay and from thence taking view of the City and laying their heads together consulted how they might best give the Assault The Defendants on the other side always expecting their Enemies hovering over their heads left nothing undone that they could possibly devise for the defence of themselves and the City Now upon the top of the Bassaes Mount was a royal Pavillion erected richly covered with Purple from whence the proud Tyrant might plainly behold all the Assault who with the dawning of the day being the 22 of Iuly entring the same the Turks who in the covert of the night had conveighed themselves as near unto the Walls as they could upon the signal of Battel given by a tire of Ordnance discharged from the Bassaes Mount suddainly ran to the Breaches as thick as Bees in hope by their suddain approach to have taken the Christians at some advantage wherein they were much deceived For they always doubting such a matter and carefully observing the least motion of the Enemy were always in readiness to meet with their attempts so that the Turks desperately striving to gain the Breaches and the Christians valiantly defending the same there was in divers places begun a most cruel and mortal Fight but especially near unto the great Gate where the fury of the Cannon had made the Walls most assaultable There the Enemy was come to fight hand to hand and prevailing upon the Defendants had set up one of the Turks Ensigns upon the top of the Rampiers which Mahomet beholding rejoyced exceedingly thinking the City now as good as taken But the Christians seeing the danger speedily repaired thither with new supplies and by plain force drave the Enemy out again and beat him from the Rampiers Upon them also that were coming up they cast down pieces of Timber great Stones Wild-Fire pots of Lime and such other things as might most anoy them as for Shot none fell in vain by reason of the wonderful multitude of the Turks who stood so thick that a man could hardly have cast down a grain of Mustard Seed from the Wall but it must needs have light upon some of them by which means the Turks were notably repulsed their Ensign pluckt down and they enforced to retire from the Walls Which suddain alteration Mahomet perceiving fell into a great rage and forthwith commanded his great Ordnance with greater fury than ever to be discharged into the Breach and with great words commanded the two chief Bassaes which stood by him upon the Mount to go presently down and enforce the Souldiers which were already retired to return again unto the Assault These great Commanders seeing the Tyrant in such a fret forthwith descended from the Hill and where perswasion would not serve with their drawn Swords enforced the Souldiers to return back again to the
whom forsomuch as he had always heard much honour he was in good hope to find succour and relief in that his distressed estate protesting unto God and the World that if ever it should be his good Fortune by their means and help to obtain the Empire he would never be unmindful of so great a benefit but to make with them a perpetual and inviolable Peace and so to rest their fast Friend for ever The Great Master on the other side comforting him with chearful Speeches promised to keep him in safety from the fury of his Brother and farther to commend his Cause to the other great Kings and Princes of Christendom This exiled Prince Zemes was about the age of eight and twenty years when he came to the Rhodes of stature tall somewhat corpulent and well limb'd grey-eyed but looking something asquint hook-nosed and in the middle rising in such manner as the Persians commend in their Kings of colour brown spare of speech and by nature cholerick a great feeder so that he seemed rather to devour his meat than to eat it much delighted in swimming and to lie abroad in the night pensive and melancholy which men imputed to his great cares never merry but in the company of the grand Master a religious observer of the superstition from which he could never be drawn during the long time he lived in exile learned as among the Turks so that he wrote the History of his Fathers life But leaving him in safe keeping with the grand Master of the Rhodes let us again return to the course of our History Bajazet having now the second time chased away his Brother after he had well quieted that part of his troubled Kingdom in Asia returned again to Constantinople carefully attending when some new motion should be made by his Brother to his farther disquiet But after he understood that he was with the Great Master of the Rhodes he sent certain of his Bassaes amongst whom Achmetes the great Souldier is reported to have been one unto the Great Master requesting him to deliver up Zemes offering for him a wonderful sum of money Which dishonourable request when it could by no means be obtained the same Embassadors in the name of their Master concluded a Peace very commodious for the Rhodians wherein among other things it was agreed That the Great Master should keep Zemes in safe custody so that he should no more trouble the Turkish Empire in consideration whereof and for his honourable usage Bajazet should yearly pay unto the Great Master thirty thousand Ducats the first of August which was afterward accordingly payed year 1484. It fortuned that whilst Achmetes the great Bassa employed in matters abroad was absent from the Court Bajazet discoursing with the other Bassaes his grave Counsellors upon his late Expedition into Asia against his Brother seemed to be highly offended with the untrustiness and doubtful faith of some of his greatest Captains and Souldiers yet upon whom he might justly lay the blame he well knew not although it seemed by his talk he should somewhat distrust the great Captain Achmetes Hereupon Isaac the most ancient Bassa of the Court and of greatest authority next unto Bajazet himself whose Daughter a Lady of exceeding beauty Achmetes had long before married but doubting that she had yielded her Honour to the wanton lust of Mustapha the eldest Son of Mahomet the late Emperor had put her from him and would by no means be reconciled for which cause there was a secret hatred ever after betwixt those two great Bassaes perceiving the Emperors discontented and suspitious humour and desiring nothing more than the destruction of Achmetes took hold upon this opportunity and by all means he could devise encreased the suspition of the Treason which had already too much possessed the jealous Emperor sometimes craftily imagining Intelligence to have passed betwixt Zemes and Achmetes and forthwith amplifying his Power and Authority which as he said was so great with the Janizaries and Souldiers of the Court that they by reason of his often imployments were wholly at his devotion so that he might at his pleasure do more in Zemes his quarrel than should stand with the safety of Bajazet a matter well to be considered of and also carefully prevented For remedy of which dangers it was thought necessary that Achmetes at his return to Court should be taken away and slain Achmetes fearing nothing less than that which was contrived against him came after his wonted manner to the Court and was with the other great Bassaes invited to a solemn Supper which Bajazet had commanded to be prepared to solace himself after his travels as it was given out with his chief Bassaes. To this Royal Supper came Achmetes with the rest of the bidden Guests mistrusting nothing and was there sumptuously feasted by Bajazet who to make his Guests the merrier drank Wine plentifully himself causing them also to drink in like manner so that they were full of Wine a thing utterly forbidden by their Law yet daily more and more used especially by their great Men in their Feasts Supper now ended and the night far spent Bajazet in token that they were welcome and stood in his good Grace caused certain rich Robes of pleasing colours to be brought forth and to be cast upon every of his Guests one giving beside unto every one of them a fair giât Bowl full of Gold. But upon Achmetes was cast a Gown of black Velvet which among the Turks may well be called the Mantle of death being so sure a Token of the Emperors heavy Indignation as that it is death for any man once to open his mouth or to intreat for him upon whom it is by the Emperors commandment so cast Achmetes seeing himself now under the shadow of death and knowing it but vain to intreat for mercy as he was a man of great spirit brake forth and said Oh cachpogly which is as much as to say Thou Son of a Whore sith thou entendedst so much cruelty against me why didst thou not put it in execution before thou hadst inforced me to drink this impure and forbidden Wine and so casting his Eyes upon the ground sate still The other Bassaes having leave to depart giving thanks to the Emperor and craving pardon for their excess kissed the ground at his Feet and so departed with whom Achmetes offered to have gone out also but was forthwith commanded to sit still for that the Emperor had to talk with him in secret The Bassaes were no sooner departed but the terrible Executioners of Bajazet his wrath stept in and laid hands upon Achmetes to have slain him when one of the Eunuchs in greatest favour with the Tyrant standing by advised him not to be too hasty in executing of so great Man so entirely beloved of his best Souldiers and Men of War but rather to stay his Execution for a while to see how the matter would be disgested and in the mean time
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
Wings on each side the great squadron of the Janizaries in the midst whereof was old Bajazet himself Other forty thousand Horsemen Servants to the great men of the Court were left in the Rearward and to guard the Baggage These Slaves for so indeed they are for their Apparel and Furniture yea and Valor also are little inferior to their Masters by whom they are so sumptuously maintained both for strength and ostentation The Battel thus ordered Bajazet commanded the Trumpets to sound and a red Ensign in token of battel to be displaied On the other side Selymus placing his Tartarian Horsemen in both Wings and his Turks in the midst in manner of a half Moon for that he in number of Horsemen far exceeded his Father did almost on every side inclose him and so charge him The Tartars when they were come within an hundred paces of their Enemies casting themselves after the manner of their fight into great Rings empty within in manner of a Crown and so running round that they might both backward and forward deliver their Arrows cast upon their Enemies whole showers of Shot as if it had been Hail to the great annoyance of the Turks when as in the mean time the other Tartarian Archers further off shooting their Arrows not right forth but more upright towards Heaven which falling directly down sore gauled the Turks Horses also But the old Souldiers taught by the example of their Captains âerred close together and casting their Targets over their Heads as if it had been one whole Roof or Penthouse received their Arrows with less harm and hasted with as much speed as they could to come to handy blows The Pensioners also at the same instant bravely charged the middle of Selymus his Battel where his Turkish Horsemen stood and Ajax Captain of the Janizaries drawing out seven hundred ready Harquebusiers out of the Squadron of the Janizaries with them assailed the hindmost of one of the Wings of the Tartars and the four thousand Servants left in the Rearward as desirous as the rest to shew their forwardness with great Slaughter repulsed the other Wing of the Tartars which came to have spoiled the Turks Carriages This fierce battel betwixt the Father and the Son with doubtful event endured from Noon until the going down of the Sun Selymus in many places still restoring his declining Battel and fighting himself as for an Empire But after that the Tartars hardly charged by the Harquebusiers were not able to abide the Shot especially their Horses being with the unwonted noise thereof wonderfully terrified and so carrying back their Riders whether they would or no began to fly the rest of the Horsemen could neither by commandment threatning or wounds be inforced to stay but turned their Backs and fled The Footmen also whom Selymus had attired and armed after the manner of the Janizaries being forsaken of their own Horsemen were now by Bajazet his Horsemen compassed about and almost all slain Selymus his Army thus overthrown and himself hardly beset was by certain Troops of his Turkish Horsemen which yet staied with him delivered from the present danger and being wounded was mounted upon a fresh Horse and so with all the speed he could fled after the Tartars But doubting to be pursued and overtaken by his Fathers speedy Horsemen he changed his Horse and took another of a wonderful swiftness and so reserving himself to his future fortune with a few of his Followers fled to Varna and from thence by Sea to Capha The Horse whereon Selymus fled was all cold black called Carabulo that is to say a black Clâud whom Selymus as a good Servitor ever after exempted from all service and had him in such estimation that covered with Cloth of Gold he was as a spare Horse without a Rider led after him in all his great Expeditions first into Persia and afterwards into Egypt where he died at Caire and there to the imitation of Bucephalus Great Alexanders Horse had a Monument erected for him wherein Selymus shewed himself more kind than to his own Brethren whom he cruelly Murthered and hardly afforded to some of them so honourable a Sepulture In this Battel of forty thousand which Selymus brought into the Field escaped not above eight thousand but they were either slain or taken prisoners Of Bajazet his Army were lost about seven hundred and three thousand hurt with Tartarian Arrows which loss he presently revenged with extream cruelty causing all such as were taken Prisoners to be without mercy put to the Sword in his sight whose heads were laid together by heaps and their dead bodies as if they had been Towers Of this notable Battel betwixt the Father and the Son in the year 1511 Chiurlus called in ancient time Tzurulum before an obscure old ruinous City or as Iovius calleth it a Village became famous but much more afterwards by the fatal destiny of Selymus who not many years after strucken with a most loathsome and incurable disease ended his days in the same place with an untimely and tormenting death God as it is to be thought with revenging hand in the same place taking just punishment for his former disloyalty towards his Father as shall hereafter in due time and place be declared Three days Bajazet lay still in the same place where he had obtained the Victory till such time as all his Souldiers were again returned from the chase of the Enemy after that he held on his way to Constantinople and there bountifully rewarded his Souldiers In the mean time Achomates hearing of all the trouble which had happened betwixt his Father and his Brother Selymus with the event thereof came with an Army of twenty thousand from Amasia through the Countries of Galatia and Bithynia unto the City of Scutari called in ancient time Chrisopolis though some suppose it to have been the famous City of Chalcedon which City is situated upon the Strait of Bosphorus directly against the City of Constantinople In this place Achomates encamped his Army near unto the Sea side expecting what course his Father would take after so great a Victory For beside the Prerogative of his Age and the especial love of his Father towards him the general affection of the Vulgar People with the good opinion he had of himself had already filled his mind with the hope of the Empire Wherefore he ceased not night and day to send Messengers over that narrow Strait to Constantinople and most earnestly to solicite Bajazet his Father in so fit an occasion to make hast to dispatch what he had so long before determined concerning the resignation of the Empire He also importuned his Friends and Familiars in best manner he could to commend him to his Father and in most ample sort to extol his grave purpose for translation of the Empire and to do the uttermost of their devoir that seeing God and good Fortune had justly overthrown the rash attempt and force of his Brother
return again into her own Country Which her purpose she discovered unto one of her Eunuchs to whom she had also delivered certain Letters to be by him conveied unto such of her Friends as whose help she was to use in her intended flight which Letters the false Eunuch opened and for the more manifesting of the matter delivered them unto the Bassa his Master Who therewith inraged and calling her unto him forthwith in his fury with a Dagger stab'd her to the Heart and slew her so together with the death of his Love having cured his tormenting jealousie But leaving this great Bassa with fair Manto unto their rest his course thus run to return again unto Selymus who now come into Syria was by Letters from the Himbracor-Bassa or Master of his Horse whom he had left upon the Frontiers of his Kingdom to attend the motions of the Persians advertised That the Persian preparations which had raised such a hot rumor of Wars in the beginning of Winter was grown cold in the heat of Summer and that he had seen in all the time of his abode in those quarters none but certain stragling Companies making shew as if some greater power had been coming which had many times made suddain roads into the Country with whom he had sundry times prosperously encountred and it was generally reported by such Prisoners as he had taken and by his own Espials also that Hysmael troubled with the Hyrcanians and Tartars had converted the greatest part of his Forces against those Nations so the Winter now drawing fast on and deep Snows already fallen upon the Mountain Taurus he could not though he would that year look after Asia the less or Syria There were that reported that the Tartars which dwell between the two Rivers Tanais and Volga were by Selymus his procurement and money set at work to keep Hysmael busied by invading the Iberians and Albanians which were under his protection which thing he wrought by the means of Mahomet his Father in Law the Bosphoran King who being of the same Language and Nation by rewards easily induced the needy Captains of the Tartars his Friends and Confederates to take up Arms against their Neighbours Many men marvelled that Hysmael the Persian King neglected so fair an opportunity whereby he might as most men thought have thrust Selymus quite out of Asia and Syria whilst he was thus busied in Egypt yea and easily have destroyed him shut up with all his power especially at such time as the Egyptian Sultans Campson and Tomombeius made so great resistance But they which could better judge of the matter saw that Hysmael was not of so great Power and Strength abroad as at home for his Army for most part consisted of Gentlemen or such as were by custom bound to serve him in his defensive Wars voluntary men and such as served without Pay. These as they were the most valiant Horsemen of the East so did they with singular Valour worthily defend the Kingdom of Persia and also as occasion required make War with their near Neighbours but if any longer expedition were to be taken in hand that they could by no means away withal accounting it a grievous thing to depart from their Wives unto whom they are so addicted that oftentimes they carry them with them into the Wars and being a wanton and fine kind of People are not able without Wages to draw after them according to their accustomed manner so many Carriages and Horses as might serve both for their necessary and wanton uses With which difficulty the great King Usun-Cassanes Hysmael his Grandfather by the Mothers side was much troubled in his Wars against Mahomet the Great but was now much harder for Hysmael to do for that he having obtained his Grandfathers Kingdom by the meer good Will of the People easing them forthwith of their heavy impositions always thought the love of his Subjects which is easily gotten with Bounty and Justice the surest riches of his Kingdom and that to command only over the Bodies and Goods of his People theiâ Hearts altogether alienated and lost by most heavy and grievous exactions seemed not the part of a gracious and natural Prince but of an outragious and momentary Tyrant Whereas Selymus on the contrary part who had by force mischief and most detestable practices stept up into his Fathers seat had after the manner of the Othoman Kings reposed his greatest and most assured strength in a servile and mercenary kind of men whom he might for pay as his own Creatures at his pleasure draw far from home and as he best liked lead them from place to place and Country to Country for the enlarging of his Empire and eternizing of his Name and therefore according to the quality of his People deemed true and ready power to consist only in mony and the severity of his own command whereby he had learned with most happy success in short time to obscure all the Victories of the former Othoman Kings with the greatness of his own All the Winter following Selymus staied with his Army in Syria spending the time in visiting the Ports and Cities of that Province year 1518. and setting of things in order for the better assurance thereof But upon the approach of the Spring when he certainly understood that by the procurement of Leo the Tenth then Bishop of Rome the Christian Princes were entred into consultation to make War upon him and that supplications with great solemnity were made for that purpose and honourable Embassadors sent into all Provinces to stir up the greatest Kings of Christendom against him he leaving Gazelles his Lieutenant in Syria by great journies returned to Constantinople from thence as at hand to behold the devices and motions of Christian Princes his Enemies In the mean time fearing no alteration of arise in the Provinces of Syria and Egypt forasmuch as he well saw that Cayerbeius and Gazelles his Lieutenants being at deadly hatred betwixt themselves as well for old grudges as for the late Treason of Cayerbeius the great cause of the ruin of the Mamalukes Kingdom would never agree in one against him but rather with a certain emulation strive betwixt themselves with diligence faithfulness and moderation who should deserve best in well governing the Provinces by him committed to their charge as indeed they did during the short time of his Reign Selymus being arrived at Constantinople and purposing from thenceforth to turn all his Forces upon the Christians year 1519. caused wonderful preparation to be made for his Wars but especially at Sea whereby it was thought that he would have either attempted the strong Island of the Rhodes a great moat in his Eye or else some part of Italy But as he was hatching this mischief or some other of no less importance and in the mean time delighted himself with visiting the Cities of Grecia and Thrace and solaced himself in the pleasant Country about Hadrianople he was suddainly
part Mariners able Bodies who in the time of the Siege did great service encouraged by their Sea Captains the Island People which repaired into the City served to little other purpose but to dig and carry Earth unto the Rampiers and the Citizens except it were some few of the better sort were for the most part weak and of small Courage not able to indure any labour or pains and yet hardly to be kept in order and governed great speakers but small doers greater in shew than in deed The Great Master having carefully provided and ordered all things needful for the defence of the City and fearing nothing more than the faint Hearts of the Citizens caused them all to be called together for incouragement of whom he spake unto them as followeth Valiant Gentlemen and worthy Citizens we hear that the Turk our mortal Enemy is coming against us with a huge Army raised of divers Nations from whose natural cruelty and wonted perjury except we defend our selves by force one and the self same danger is like to befal me my Knights and you all For we have with common consent and hand grievously spoiled him both by Sea and Land and you are by booties taken by strong hand out of his Dominions inriched and at this day we keep his People in grievous servitude and he ours but he injuriously and we most justly For his Ancestors weary of the dark Dens and Caves of the Mountain Caucasus their natural Dwelling without Right Title or Cause incited only with Covetousness Ambition and the hatred of our most sacred Religion have driven the Christians out of Syria and afterwards oppressed the Grecians in Grecia where not contânted to have destroyed the People with one simple kind of death as Barbarism is ever cruel and merciless they have with most exquisite and horrible Torments butchered many thousands of that Nation All whom this wicked proud youth whose mischief exceedeth his years an evil Neighbour to all men not contented with the Dominions of Arabia Syria Egypt the greatest part of Asia and of many other places more seeketh in Tyranny Murther Spoil Perjury and Hatred against Christ and Christians far to excel and forceth himself to the uttermost of his power to take from us our Islands and to subdue the Christian Countries that so at length being Lord of all and Commander of the World he may at his pleasure overthrow the Christian Cities kill the Christians and utterly root out the Christian name which he so much hateth For the repulsing of which intollerable injury we have especially chosen this Island of the Rhodes for our dwelling place because the same seemed more commodious than any other for the annoying of this barbarous Nation We have done what in us lay holpen by you we know by proof your great Valour and Fidelity which we now have not in any distrust Wherefore I will not use many words to perswade you to continue in your Fidelity and Loyalty neither long circumstances to encourage you to play the men sithence worthy minds are not with words either encouraged or dismayed But concerning my self and my Knights of the Order I will speak a few words I with them with whom as I hope the Christian Princes and other my Knights of the West will in good time joyn their Forces are most ready and prest to defend your selves your Children your Wives your Goods the Monuments of your Ancestors and sacred Temples dedicated to the service of our God. Which opinion that it may remain firm and fixt in your minds if nothing else my Faithfulness in your Wars my Body not yet altogether spent but able enough to endure pains and travel the Nobility of these worthy Knights of the Order their Love towards you and their Hatred towards your Enemies were sufficient to confirm but beside this the strength of this City which this noble Order hath with infinite charges so notably fortified with Ditches Walls Towers and Bulwarks against all the force and fury of Artillery is such as that no City may worthily be compared much less preferred before the same It is wonderfully stored with all kind of Weapons and Warlike Provision we have laid up plenty of Wine Flesh and Corn in vaults so that neither wet Weather nor Worms can attaint the same of Wood and wholesome Water not to be taken from us things necessary for men besieged we have plenty and able men enough for the defence of the City All which things promise unto us assured Victory and such end of the War as we wish for Besides this Necessity which giveth Courage even unto Cowards will enforce us to fight Yet standeth on our side true Religion Faith Conscience Devotion Constancy the Love of our Country the Love of our Liberty the Love of our Parents Wives Children and whatsoever else we hold dear Whereas they bring with them the proud command of their Captains Infidelity Impiety Unconstancy a wicked desire of your Bondage of your Blood and the Blood of your Parents Wives and Children Out of doubt beloved Citizens our good God will not suffer so many good vertues to be overcome by their foul vices Wherefore be you in mind quiet and secure and trouble not your selves with forboding fear of your Enemies only continue in the Fidelity and Loyalty which you have always kept inviolate and unspotted toward this sacred and honourable Fellowship in most dangerous Wars and hardest chances of Fortune and if need shall so require with couragious band shew your Valour against your Enemies and make it known unto the Spaniards French Italians Hungarians and English That the Rhodians are of power to daunt the Turkish Pride and to avert their Fleets and Armies from Italy which they have so many years threatned with Fire and Sword and will no doubt thither with all speed hasten and come if that which my mind abhorreth to speak they should here prevail Neither will his ambitious youth in Courage Falshood and cruelty exceeding Hannibal imitate him in that that having overthrown the Romans in the great Battel at Cannas knew not to use his Victory but he will presently with more than Caesars celerity bring forth the Treasures his Father got in Egypt and with great Fleets and huge Armies invade Apulia Calabria and Scicilia from whence he will forthwith break into France and afterwards into Spain and other Christian Countries raging through them with all kind of cruelty But I am carried away further than I purposed and than need is For your Fidelity and Valour most worthy Citizens to endure the Siege and repulse the Enemy is such as needeth not my perswasion and of greater resolution than that it can be shaken with the dangers incident to men besieged yet the greatest and most forcible miseries of all which is Hunger and Thirst I assure you you shall never feel which pinching calamities for all that some People in Faithfulness Courage and Valor nothing comparable to you have nevertheless most
and thirty Paces hindred by the Blocks we have laid in his way and will not cease continually to lay if we be wise Men and mindful of our former Valour Destroy me you heavenly Powers before I see with these Eies these sacred Knights to yield up this famous City of the Rhodes the ancient Bulwark of Christian Religion unto our merciless Enemies polluted with the infamous Superstition of Mahomet who besides the insatiable thirst they have of our Blood how faithless and mischievous they are by Nature if we know not we need not make example of our selves but we may take example by the calamity of Constantinople the late misery of Euboea and that which later was of Methone as also by the Mamalukes at Caire miserably slain contrary to the League contrary to the Faith and Promise by the Turkish Emperor himself before given What do you âot remember how the Death of the most noble Captains at Belgrade was of late procured by the falshood craft and deceit of the same faithless Miscreants Let us then being Men of Wit and Understanding trust these mad Beasts let us give our selves into their power which hâve no regard of right or reason of Religion or any thing else whose Covetousness and Cruelty it is hard to say which it greater which for these many years have plotted and laboured nothing more than how by policy or force they may utterly root out the Name of the Rhodians which they so deadly hate They keep us shut up and besieged now the sixth Month feeling together with us extream dangers and endless labour slain by heaps before our Walls and Fortresses and cannot be removed hence with Thunder Lightning Storms Tempâsts and all the Calamities of Winter a time which giveth intermission to all War both by Sea and Land so desirous they are of Revenge and greedy of our Blood and that not altogether without cause for we have also shed theirs and gladly would still so do if it lay in our power But seeing it seemeth good unto God otherwise and that we are surprized with inevitable necâssity yet let us whilst we are at liberty and have power our selves by honourable death amongst the Christian Ensigns eschew the Torments and Reproaches which our cruel Enemies hope to inflict upon us so shall we enjoy eternal Fame and Glory prepared both in Heaven and Earth for such as honourably die in defence of their Prince and Country which Honour it becometh not them to envy unto thy most noble Name and Vertue worthy Grand Master which having for many years enjoyed the commodity and profit of Peace and greatly enriched by Bounty of this sacred Military Order refuse now to bear this last burden of War. At these words an ancient Greek for his Wisdom and Discretion of great Reputation both with the Greeks and Latins perceiving his Countrymen wrongfully touched and the desperate holding out of the City vainly perswaded took hold and interrupting this young Gallant in answer of that he had said spake as followeth That grief of mind and desperation can make Men rather Eloquent than Wise as you have many times heard before this so you might this day perceive also most valiant Gentlemen for advised modesty never falleth into obloquy neither confoundeth falshood with truth it desireth not the slaughter of the Citizens it perswadeth not fury nor exhorteth Men to madness but it is by nature so engraffed in many that when they cannot by their own Wisdom and Policy deliver themselves from their troubles they yet seek to draw others into the fellowship of the same danger so greedy have malice and misery always been of company But if you worthy Commander will give me also leave to speak a Man amongst his Countrymen not of meanest Place and Authority which thing both the present Calamity and urgent Necessity might of you easily obtain I would alledge such reasons and lay down such matter as should not only refel the copious and glorious words of this sharp witted Orator scrap'd together of purpose to flourish out the matter but also such as might stir your mind to that which is honest profitable and necessary expulsing hatred fear trouble or despair This Gentleman whom we all know not only to be a vehement Orator but somtime a Man most terrible whereas for all his great words he is by nature mild and so mild that he never had the heart to kill nay not so much as lightly to wound any one of them whom he calleth barbarous mad cruel whose perfidious dealing he detesteth whose cruelty he accurseth whose manner of living he exclaimeth against as altogether without Law without Reason without Order without Regard and now in time of Truce and whilst the Showers of Arrows Iron Bullets Fire and Stones doth cease creeping out of his Cave maketh much ado and keepeth a great stir and not knowing in what danger he is doth now with glorious words call upon death whereof he hath hitherto shewed himself too much afraid and all forsooth as he said lest he should be enforced to endure the mocking and scorning of the Enemy But this is meer Pride not Christian Fortitude or Humility But our Enemy neither threatneth nor purposeth any such matter nothing so perfidious or cruel as he would make him rubbing up the slaughter at Caire Euboea Methone and Constantinople Cities taken either by Force or warlike Policy and not yielded by composition upon faith given betwixt the besieger and the besieged who because he would spare us will not suffer us to do that whereby we should undoubtedly perish But whereof proceedeth this new found Clemency This unwonted favour toward the People of the Rhodes I am not of the Tyrants Privy-Counsel neither ever curiously sought after the reason of another Mans Bounty but am glad to receive it when I need it Yet for all that I will not dissemble w hat I think in a matter so doubtful he is willing as I suppose in this Siege and Conquest of the Rhodes to shew unto other Nations whom he purposed to invade both his Power and his Patience lest always satisfying his cruel Nature he should make desolation in places he would Reign over and so for ever alienating the Minds of Men he inforced to fight with all Men with Fire and Sword by which Rigour he hath not so much hurt his Enemy as himself For this cause as I suppose he leaveth unto us life and goods lâst whilst he in going about to take them from us by force and we seeking to keep them by desperatness we should both fall into great destruction no less lamentable unto the Conqueror than to the vanquished Besides that if he should kill all here truly he might then enter the Breaches of the City on the Bodies of the dead no Men now left alive to resist him But Lerus is shut up Arangia is strongly Fortified Lyndus is by Situation impregnable here he knoweth are Weapons Armor and Men here he must begin
if it had been but to look to his charge when he was come as near as he could to Alis without mistrust thought good to assay if he could by policy bring that to pass which he was otherwise with great danger to attempt by force Wherefore feigning himself to be extream sick he sent Embassadors to Alis requesting him as a friend to vouchsafe to come unto him being at the point of death unto whom he had many things of importance from the great Emperor to impart and would if he should die leave with him all his charge until Solyman should otherwise dispose thereof Alis who from his youth had always honoured the Turkish Emperors and faithfully served them mistrusting no harm came to the Bassa accompanied with his four Sons whom the faithless Bassa without regard of infamy caused presently to be put to death with their Father and so reducing all that Country into the manner of a Province under Solymans obeisance came to him with twenty thousand Men about the time that the City of the Rhodes was yielded up This is the faithless dealing of the Turks not with the Christians only but with them of their own superstition also using it as no small policy utterly to extinguish the Nobility of all Countries subject to their servile Tyranny Solyman after he had thus subdued the Rhodes and disposed of the Island as he liked best returning to Constantinople brake up his Army and for the space of three years after followed his pleasure not doing any thing worthy of remembrance During which time and many years after the rich and flourishing Country of Italy sometime Mistress of the World was miserably afflicted and rent in pieces by Charles the Fifth then Emperor and Francis the French King the one envying unto the other the glory of the Empire and he not content therewith seeking with immoderate ambition to make himself Lord of all Italy most of the other Christian Princes and States being at the same time either by the one or by the other drawn into the fellowship of that War to the great trouble and sore weakning of the Christian Common-weal Whereupon Solyman waiting all occasions that might serve for the enlarging of his Empire and annoying of the Christians thought it not a fit time for him to set his foot into Hungary whereunto he had already laied open a way by the taking of Belgrade He knew right well that Lewis then King of Hungary was but young altogether unacquainted with the Wars commanding over his headstrong Subjects especially his rich Prelates and Nobility no otherwise than pleased themselves being himself rather by them altogether overruled besides that he was in good hope that the other Christian Princes near unto him either carried away with regard of their own Estate would not or else before unto himself by League fast bound could not afford unto him any great aid or succour the Germans he knew would make small hast unto such Wars as should yield them much danger and but small pay As for the Princes of the House of Austria Charles the Emperor and Ferdinand his Brother although they were joyned unto the young King with the nearest bonds of Alliance Lewis having Married Mary their youngest Sister and Ferdinand Ann King Lewis his Sister yet was there as he thought small help to be expected from them Charles having his hands full in Italy and Ferdinand altogether careful of himself and that Sigismund King of Polonia would for the young Kings sake break the ancient League he had with the Turkish Emperors he could hardly be perswaded As for other Christian Princes farther off he stood not in any great doubt year 1526. Thus having with himself singled out this young Prince the Hungarian King whom he had in his greedy mind already devoured he set forward from Constantinople and was come on his way as far as Sophiâ in Servia with a mighty Army of two hundred thousand men before that the Hungarians had any knowledge of his coming so blind and senseless was that State which now sleeping in security had long before lost those Eies which ever watcht and never spared cost or pains to keep the same in safety in stead of whom were others come in place sharp of sight and too too provident for that concerned their own advancement but blind as Beetles in foreseeing this great and common danger wherewith they were shortly after all quite overwhelmed until it was now brought home unto their own Doors The young King of himself but weak by reason of his youthful years and nothing strengthned by them for whom he had most done and should have been his greatest stay was wonderfully dismaied with the fame of the approach of so mighty an Enemy yet the better to withstand him he sent Embassadors with all speed unto the Christian Princes his Neighbours requesting their Aid against the common Enemy but all in vain In the mean time after the ancient manner of his Country he gave out general Summons for the Assembly of his Counsel for the Wars whether his great stipendary Prelates of duty bound to appear came with their Troops of evil appointed Horsemen and not half full who also delivered in less sums of Mony by far than of right they should have done towards the maintenance of the charge of that common War. And the temporal Nobility forgetting the warlike Discipline of their famous Ancestors as fresh-water Souldiers which had seen the Turkish Emperor in his strength and but little acquainted with some light skirmishes or small invasions in their vain bravery made light account of the Turks proudly vaunting That although they were in number but few yet they would easily overthrow the great numbers of them if ever they came to handy strokes But above all the rest one Paulus Tomoreus Archbishop of Colossa sometimes a Minorite who had before been in divers light skirmishes against the Turks with great insolency did so confidently brag and boast of the Victory he vainly dreamed of that in his Sermons unto the Souldiers and in open talk with the Nobility if he could have done so much as he vaunted of it should seem that he himself had been enough to have overthrown the Turks whole Army But when all the Kings Army was assembled and a general muster taken there was hardly found five and twenty thousand men in all horse and foot So that the foolish hardiness of Tomoreus and others so forwards to give the Turks battel was of most wise men disliked The old Souldiers and men of great experience said plainly That it was meer folly and madness with such a handful of men to give battel unto the Enemy who would bring eight times so many more into the Field as they were Wherefore some wished that the young King should be withdrawn from the eminent danger among whom Stephanus Verbetius a noble Captain of all the rest best acquainted with the Turkish Wars gave Counsel
of Narbona rifled certain Towns in Spain standing upon the Sea-Coast and about the Promontory of Venus called of the Mariners Creum took great prize and in the Haven of Palamos took one Merchant Ship and a Gally with which Prey they passed over to Algiers as they were commanded there to winter and with the first of the Spring to return again to Barbarussa in Brovence That Winter Barbarussa repairing his Fleet was furnished with many necessaries by the Genowayes and especially by Auria himself who under the colour of redeeming of Prisoners willingly furnished the Turk with such things as he wanted for although he professed himself one of the Emperors Captains yet would he not shew an Enemies mind by the unseasonable denial of a little Sea Furniture lest in so doing he should have hurt his Native Country of Genoa which he saw then subject to the injury of so great a Fleet so nigh at Hand But leave we now Barbarussa to winter in Provenoâ and with the course of time turn a little out of the way to see in Muleasses King of Tunes the small assurance the greatest have in highest place of worldly honour This Mahometan King once before thrust out of his Kingdom by Barbarussa and restored again by Charles the Emperor as is before declared hearing of his coming with this great Fleet and imagining nothing less than that he should come to the aid of the most Christian King doubted not without cause lest it was prepared against himself Besides that divers great Cities of his Kingdom namely Constantina Mahemedia and Mahometa called in ancient time Cyrtha Leptis and Adrumentum were then holden by the Turks Barbarussas Favorites Wherefore fearing the worst about the same time that Barbarussa was sailing alongst the Coast of Italy he passed over into Sicily to have met the Emperor at Genoa and to have obtained of him greater Aid against the Turks At his departure out of Africk he committed the tuition of his Kingdom to such valiant men as he supposed would have been unto him most faithful First he appointed Mahometes then Maniphet to govern the City and Corsus otherwise called Fares his old Servant to keep the Castle leaving Mahometes his Brother and Fares his Son with Touarres a Spaniard Captain of the Castle of Guletta as Pledges the one of his Brothers the other of his Fathers Faith but unto Amida his Son he committed the leading of his men of War for the defence of his Kingdom against the Turks and Numidians As he was passing out of Sicilia to have met the Emperor at Genoa he was by contrary Winds driven first to Cajeta and afterward to Naples where he was by the Viceroy honourably entertained and a House appointed for him richly furnished the Neopolitans wondring at the strange Attire of the People with the manner of their feeding and curious plenty of all manner of sweet Perfumes for into every Dish they put in Odors of exceeding price so that it was well known that a Peacock and two Pheasants dressed after the manner of the Kings Kitchen cost above an hundred Ducats so that not only the Dining Chamber when they were carved up but all the House was so filled with the strange and fragrant smell that all they that dwelt near thereabouts were partakers of that unusual and delicate Perfume From Naples he was about to have travelled by Land unto the Emperor being then in conference with the Pope at Buzetum fearing to adventure the Sea possessed by the Enemies Fleet had not the Emperor by his Letters willed him to stay still where he was But whilst he made his aboad at Naples and carefully attended what Course Barbarussa would take who furnished with so great a Fleet was departed from Nice disappointed of his purpose he was by certain Messengers advertised out of Africa That Amida his Son was risen up against him and possessing himself of the Kingdom had slain his Captains polluted his Wives and taken the Castle of Tunes With which news he being exceedingly troubled determined without delay to pass over into Africk and though late yet as he might to remedy his domestical troubles in hope to oppress that Rebellion in the beginning and his Son also before he could gather any strength to rest upon Wherefore he with all the haste he could opened his Coffers and entertained Souldiers the Viceroy giving leave to all such banished Men as would to come and give their names to pass over as Souldiers into Africk upon report whereof such a number of Malefactors and condeâned persons came flocking to Naples that it was thought a sufficient Army might have been made of such kind of men every one of them chusing rather to enter into Pay and blot out the infamy of banishment and prove the fortune of Wars than to live wandring up and down the Woods and in danger every hour to be hanged Of these infamous Men one Ioannes Baptista Lofredius a Man well born but of a fierce and covetous disposition undertook the leading he covenanting with Muleasses to have three months Pay before hand levied a thousand and eight hundred Men which he presently shipped and keeping the greatest part of their Pay to himself passed over with the King into Africk and landed at Guletta But how Amida rose up against his Father and what was the end of that bloody Rebellion shall not be amiss briefly to rehearse There were certain Noblemen of great Authority about Amida when Muleasses departed which at their pleasure ruled the young Prince who easily hearkned unto their Counsel and followed the same the chief of these was one Mahometes Son of Bohamer who in the Reign of Mahometes Muleasses his Father was Maniphet whom Muleasses possessed of the Kingdom put shamefully to death by cutting off his Privities because he had by hasty Marriage deceived him of Rhahamana a Maiden of incomparable Beauty the Daughter of Abderomen Captain of the Castle whom he most passionately loved for which cruel fact Mahometes his Son had long time conceived a deadly hatred against Muleasses which he had many years dissembled that he might as occasion served be the more cruelly revenged Next unto him was another Mahometes sirnamed Adulzes whom Muleasses was wont commonly to call his worst Servant These two with a few others conspiring together gave it out that Muleasses was dead at Naples and before his death had most irreligeously as they accounted it revolted to the Christian Religion With which report they perceiving Amida moved came unto him and perswaded him quickly to enter into his Fathers Seat lest Mahometes his younger Brother then lying in hostage with the Christians at Guletta should by the favour and help of Touarres whose Garrison was ever ready be preferred before him For Mahometes was eighteen years old resembling his Grandfather in Name Favour and Disposition and therefore of the Citizens of Tunes best beloved Wherefore Amida came in post haste out of the Camp to Tunes
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
Diseases without help consumed in so great a distress Don Alvarus the Governour considering the great extremity they were now brought unto attempted with Don Sanchius de Leyva Admiral of the Neapolitan Gallies Belingerius de Requesenes Admiral of the Sicilian Gallies and some others by night to have escaped away into a Gally which lay under the Castle but in doing thereof were perceived by the Turks and so all taken Whereupon such Souldiers as sickness and the Enemies Sword had yet left alive pinched with extream necessity forsaken of their best Captains and out of all hope of relief also covenanting for their lives only with the Enemy yielded themselves into most miserable Captivity In this unfortunate expedition perished about eighteen thousand Christians some with sickness some drowned but most slain beside the loss of a great part of the Fleet also Of this Victory Pial sent news by one of his Gallies to Constantinople which for the more manifesting thereof dragged at the Poop thereof a great Ensign of the Christians with the Picture of Christ Crucified therein Which was no sooner come into the Haven but that the rumor of the overthrow of the Christians was forthwith blown through the whole City the Turks exceedingly rejoycing one with another for the news of so great a Victory yea many of them not so contented came by heaps to the Gate of the House where the Emperor Ferdinands Embassador lay and there meeting with his Servants by way of derision asked them if they had any Brethren Kinsmen or Friends in the Spanish Fleet at Zerbi for if you have said they you shall shortly see them here Besides that they with many words most insolently bragged of their own Valour and scorned the Cowardise of the Christians asking who were able to withstand them now that the Spaniard was also overcome All which with much more the Embassadors Men with great grief were enforced to hear but there was no remedy seeing God had so appointed it Shortly after in September the victorious Fleet returned to Constantinople dragging with it the Prisoners Spoils and Gallies of the Christians a sight no less pleasant unto the Turks than heavy unto the Christians and that night it lay at Anchor near unto the Rocks in the face of the City with the greater Pomp and Glory to come the next day into the Haven At which time Solyman himself was come down into a Gallery near unto the Havens Mouth adjoyning unto his Garden the better to see the coming in of the Fleet and the Christian Captains set there to shew upon the Poop of the Admiral Galley namely Don Alvarus de Sandes Don Sanchius de Leyva Don Billingerus de Requesenes all of late great Commanders as for the Christian Gallies all disarmed and unrigged so to seem the more contemptible in comparison of the Turks they were towed at the Tail of the Turks Gallies They which then saw Solymans countenance perceived not in him any sign at all of any insolent joy I my self saith Busbequius then the Emperor Ferdinands Embassador there saw him two days after going to the Church with the same countenance he had always with the same severity and gravity as if this Victory had nothing concerned him nor any thing chanced strange or unexpected so capable was the great Heart of that old Sire of any Fortune were it never so great and his mind so setled as to receive so great applause and rejoycing without moving Within a few days after the Christian Captives before almost starved with Hunger were brought to the Court many of whom could scarce stand upon their Legs some others for weakness fell down and fainted and othersome died outright they were all scornfully led in Triumph with their Arms disordered and scornfully put upon them the Turks in the mean time insulting round about them promising unto themselves the Empire of the whole World and vainly asking What Enemy they were to fear now that the Spaniard was overcome Alvarus Sandes as chief of all the Prisoners being brought into the Divano before the Visier Bassaes and demanded by Rustan Bassa What his Master meant being not able to defend his own to invade other Mens answered That it beseemed not him to judge thereon and himself to have done but his Duty with such faithfulness as was meet to put in execution what he was commanded by his Lord although he had no good Fortune therein After that he besought the Bassaes upon his Knee to speak for him unto Solyman for that he had at home a poor Wife with certain small Children for whom he requested him to spare him Whereunto Rustan Bassa contrary to his manner courteously answered his Sovereign to be of a mild and gentle Nature and that he was in good hope his Pardon might be of him obtained so was he commanded away unto Caradines his Castle towards the Black Sea. But he was not gone far but that he was called back again for that the great Chamberlain a Man in great credit with Solyman had not as yet seen him for which cause he was sent for back again wherewith he was not a little troubled fearing lest the Bassaes having changed their minds would have put him to death The rest of the Captives of the better sort were committed to the Castle of Pera and amongst them Don Sanchius de Leyva with his two base Sons and also Don Billingerus Requesenes which two great Men with Don Alvarus de Sandes were nevertheless afterwards with much ado and almost beyond all hope at the request of the Emperor and by the dexterity of his Embassador by Solyman set at liberty although he had before denied them unto Salviat the French Kings Embassador who had been an earnest intercessor for them Yet before they were delivered out of Prison the Mufti or Turks great Priest was asked his opinion Whether it were lawful for a greater number of Turks to exchange a few Christian Captives for the Embassador beside the Rewards he had promised unto the Bassaes to further the matter had also undertaken that forty common Prisoners of the Turks should be set at liberty for them whereunto the Mufti answered That the Doctors of their Law were of divers opinions concerning that question some saying that it was lawful and some not howbeit as then it was by him resolved upon unto the more favourable part and the exchange allowed There were amongst the Prisoners taken at Zerbi besides these Noblemen of whom we have before spoken two other noble Gentlemen right honourably Born Don Iohn of Cardona Don Billinger his Son in Law and Don Gasto the Duke of Medina his Son to whom yet but a Youth his Father nevertheless had given an honourable place in the Army Of these two Don Iohn had wisely taken order for a great sum of Mony to be left in the Island of Chio by the way as the Turks Fleet went to Constantinople from whence he afterwards in safety
Majesty of a Kingdom as then when Richard the First King of England passing that way with his Fleet for the relief of the Christians then distressed in the Holy Land about the year 1191 was prohibited there to land and certain of his People by force of Tempest there cast on Shore were by the Cypriots either cruelly slain or taken Prisoners which barbarous violence King Richard took in so evil part that he there by force landed his Army and rested not until he had taken Isaac the King Prisoner and subdued the Island The King he sent in Chains of Silver to Tripolis there to be kept in close Prison the Kingdom he kept a while in his own hand which not long after he gave or as some say exchanged with Guido the titular King of Ierusalem for which cause the Kings of England for a certain time afterwards were honoured with the Title of the Kings of Ierusalem This Kingdom by many descents came at length to Ianus Son of King Peter who in the year 1423 was by Melechel a Sultan of Egypt taken Prisoner but afterwards for the ransom of an hundred and fifteen thousand Sultanins was set at liberty and restored to his Kingdom paying unto the Sultan and his Successors a yearly Tribute of forty thousand Crowns This Ianus left a Son called Iohn who after the death of his Father married the Daughter of the Marquis of Mont-Ferrat after whose death he married one Helena of the most noble House of the Paleologi in Grecia by whom he had one only Daughter called Carlotte but by another Woman a base Son called Iames. This King Iohn was a Man of no Courage altogether given to pleasure and according to the manner of his effeminate education shewed himself in all things more like a Woman than a Man which Helena his Wife a Woman of a great Spirit quickly perceiving took upon her the Soveraignty and whole Government of the Realm gracing and disgracing whom she pleased and promoting to the Ecclesiastical Dignities such as she best liked abolishing the Latin Ceremonies and bringing in them of the Greeks and took such further order as pleased her self in matters of State concerning both Peace and War her Husband in the mean time regarding nothing but his vain pleasure whereby it came to pass that all was brought into the power of the Greeks the Queens Friends Now the Queen her self was much ruled by the Counsel of her Nurse and the Nurse by her Daughter so that the People would commonly say The Daughter ruled the Nurse the Nurse the Queen and the Queen the King. The Nobility ashamed and weary of this manner of Government by general consent of the People sent for Iohn the King of Portugals Cousin-German whom some call the King of Portugal to whom they gave Carlotte the Kings Daughter in marriage with full power to supply that want of Government which was in King Iohn his Father in Law. He taking the Authority into his Hands quickly reformed the disordered Kingdom as well in matters concerning Religion as civil Policy The Latin Ceremonies were again restored and the Government of the Daughter the Nurse and the Queen brought to an end But the mischievous Daughter doubting the Countenance of the young King perswaded her Mother as she âendred her own Life to poison the King. Which thing the wretched Woman by the consent of the Queen Mother as was reported in short time performed and so brought that noble Prince well worthy longer life unto his untimely end whereby the Government was again restored unto the Greek Queen who in the name of her weak Husband commanded again at her pleasure But above all the Nurse and her Daughter insulted upon the young Queen Carlotte which she not well brooking grievously complained thereof to Iames her baâe Brother requiring his help for redress thereof who not long after slew the Nurses Daughter not so much in revenge of the wrong by her done unto his Sister as to prepare a way for himself for the obtaining of the Kingdom grieving inwardly that she or her Husband should be preferred before himself Which thing Helena the Queen quickly perceiving perswaded the King her Husband to cause his base Son to enter into the orders of Priesthood and so to become a Churchman thereby to cut off all his hope of aspiring unto the Kingdom which the King at her instance did and made him Archbishop of Nicosia In the mean time Carlotte by the perswasion of her Mother and the Nobility of the Country married Lewis Son to the Duke of Savoy who being for that purpose sent for came with all speed to Cyprus After that the Queen-Mother and the old Nurse desiring nothing more than to revenge the death of the Nurses Daughter upon Iames now Archbishop devised first how to thrust him out of all his âpiritual Promotions which were great and afterward quite banish him the Kingdom Hereupon the Queen wrote Letters against him to the Pope to have him disgraded for that he being a Man base born with his hands imbrued with innocent Blood was unworthy of holy Orders Which Letters by chance came to Iames his hands who inraged therewith accompanied with a number of his Friends and Favorites suddenly entred the Court slew such of his Enemies as he found there divided their Goods amongst his Followers and as King possessed himself of the Regal City In this Broil the Greek Queen Helena died and shortly after her Husband also All things being thus in an hurly and out of order certain of the Nobility for redress thereof sent for Lewis the Husband of Carlotte as for him to whom that Kingdom in the right of his Wife most justly belonged who upon his arrival was of all sorts of Men joyfully received and welcomed as their King. Iames the Usurper understanding before of the coming of Lewis and perceiving the inclination of the People towards him fled with divers of his Friends to Alexandria to crave aid of the Egyptian Sultan in whose Court he found such Favour as that he was by the Sultans commandment Royally apparelled and honoured with the Title of the King of Cyprus which he promised for ever to hold of the Sultans of Egypt as their Vassal and Tributary At which time the Sultan also by his Embassadors commanded Lewis to depart the Isle who by all means sought to have pacified the Sultan declaring unto him his rightful Title yet offering to pay unto him the wonted Tribute and to allow unto Iames a yearly Pension of ten thousand Ducats during his life But all in vain for Iames still present in the Sultans Court and wisely following his own suit at last concluded with the great Sultan who thought it more honour to make a King than to confirm a King and receiving of him a great Army returned into Cyprus where in short time he so distressed Lewis that he was glad to forsake the Island with his Wife and to return into his Country
Army All those Captains were resolute men and led with them ten thousand Souldiers which being joyned with them of Georgia amounted to the number of thirteen thousand who arriving at Genge gave knowledge to Simon of their coming and that in his behalf they were ready to do great Matters Now was the Persian Ambassador with all due honour received at Constantinople where he was honourably entertained by the great Bassaes of the Court but especially by Mustapha who within two days after suddenly died of a surfeit taken of eating too much of Musk-melons and immoderate drinking of Zerbet a kind of pleasant drink which the Turks use made of Water and Sugar but most men thought him to have poisoned himself as fearing the former indignation of Amurath to be again inflamed by the new complains of the Persian Ambassador against him for that he in the time of his Generalship had dishonourably suppressed certain Ambassages sent from the Persian King which he now fearing to be called in question for the former storms as yet scarce well appeased made himself now away After his death it was commonly reported that if he had longer lived he should have been undoubtedly strangled which to prevent he became the worthy Executioner of himself that had most unjustly caused others to be most shamefully murdered Which was the more like to be true and the rather believed for that the infinite Wealth he had of long time scraped together was immediately after his Death taken into the Kings Treasuries some small portion thereof being left unto his Nephews a most certain token of Amuraths Indignation against him The Persian Ambassador having audience the seventh of August with many lively Reasons and much Eloquence perswaded the Turkish Emperour to desist from the War begun as contrary to the Will and Pleasure of their common Prophet Mahomet as also to the Peace which was so royally and with so many Capitulations not long before concluded between Tamas and Solyman his Grandfather and was not to have been broken and Wars raised but upon some great Quarrel or Injury done which the Persians had not at any time offered but had always wished unto him all Happiness as they had manifestly declared by sending unto him an Embassage to that purpose by Sultan Tocamac whereby he might plainly perceive the good mind and zeal the Persian King had for the maintenance of the Peace And although in the short reign of Ismahel there was some Rumor raised that he meant to go unto Babylonia and some such like News yet that was but a youthful part and an effect of that heat which is commonly proper to such as being kept long in strait Prison cannot use their Liberty with Moderation and had therefore received due Punishment for it by sudden and unexpected death But as for the King that now is he did above all others imbrace amity with his Majesty and therefore did most earnestly desire that it would please him to temper his Anger conceived which had incensed him to take up Arms against a King so much his Friend being of the same Religion and better affected towards him than all the rest of the Nations in the World. This Ambassador the Turkish Emperour dismissed without any Resolution at all but onely gave order that whatsoever he had to say touching this Peace he should communicate it with his Visier Many were the Discourses which hapned for that the Turk required all those Cities and Countries which till that time he had conquered with the Sword or as their proud manner of Phrase is whereon his Generals Horse had trod to be yielded again unto him and the Ambassador on the other side had no warrant from his King to yield any more than that part of Georgia which is on this side the River of Araxis Whereupon the said Ambassador began to fear lest he should be suspected for a Spy and so be evil intreated wherewithall he did find himself too manifestly charged by the hard speech that the Visier used towards him Being thus doubtful whereupon to resolve perceiving himself strained to the grant of these demands and receiving also some threatnings withall he determined with himself to inlarge his Speeches with the Visier in divers and sundry particularities and to give him good hope that he should be able to perswade with his King the yielding up of so much as Amurath had and did demand Hereupon was Maxut Chan the Ambassador in friendly manner and without any outrage sent from Constantinople to Chars and Commission given to Sinan then at Chars that without delay and with all fidelity he should cause the Ambassador to be conducted to Van and from thence into Persia wheresoever he did desire all which was faithfully performed But to return again to Sinan the General who from Sivas had sent the said Ambassadour to Constantinople as is before declared and being departed thence arrived at Erzirum where he took a Survey of his Army and other Provision necessary for this Expedition and so from thence was now come to Chars from whence he dispatched the Persian Ambassadour much discontented that no other Conclusion for Peace could be wrought Maxut Chan at last arriving at the Persian Court reported unto the King all that had happened in this his Ambassage the sum whereof was That Amurath would not condescend to any condition of Peace unless the whole Country of Siruan might be yielded unto him for that he had once as he said conquered the same Neither did the same Ambassador forbear to tell the King the Suspition Amurath had conceived of him to have been a Spie rather than an Ambassador and of the large Promises he was fain to make to the Turk to avoid the manifest danger of Imprisonment or Death all which for all that now lay in his Majesties Power to perform or not The King for the present remained well satisfied with that Maxut had done and in reward of his great travel and expences gave him the charge of the Chamber at Tauris naming him the Chamberlain of that rich and great City Of which new Office though very honourable and of great importance he took small Pleasure for that one Emir Chan his ancient Enemy was chief Governour of that City from whom he feared some dangerous treachery wherefore he appointed his Deputy for the Execution of the Office and withdrew himself from Tauris to Cassangich a place of his own there to pass away the time untill it should please the King otherwise to dispose of him But Emir Chan who still nourished in his mind the ancient hatred he had conceived against him took this as a most fit occasion to bring him into disgrace with the King certifying him That Maxut not contented with the great preferment it had pleased him to bestow upon him had in contempt of his rewards abandoned Tauris and substituted in his place a most base Person to represent the King's Majesty and to manage his Treasure and that
most forward men dead in the Trenches unto which Siege the Bassa of Agria came also afterward with three thousand Horse-men and a Number of Janizaries so that the besieged partly with Mines partly with Shot and often Assaults distressed were so wasted and wounded that there were scarcely two hundred whole and sound men left in the whole Garrison beside that both Victuals and Powder begun now to grow scarce also so that they were brought unto such extremity as that well they could not be in a worse case and yet armed with a constant Resolution they seemed not to be any thing therewith daunted or discouraged but still valiantly held it out The Hungarians dwelling in the Isle of Shut in the River of Danubius having before submitted themselves unto the Rebels did with their help much trouble the Passages unto the Towns of Rab and Comara and the City of Strigonium unto whom certain Messengers were sent on the Emperour's behalf to perswade them to forsake the Rebels and to return again unto their ancient Obedience Who so well used the matter with them that taking a Truce for eight days they in the mean time sent five of the chief men amongst them by Ship to Presburg offering unto the Governour there That if they might be secured of their Goods and Safety and that the Haiducks that were with them might be entertained in Pay they would be ready again to take the Oath of Allegiance and faithfully to serve him as became his loyal Subjects and valiant Souldiers and for the assurance thereof to leave their Wives and Children as Pledges at Presburg Which their Offer was unto the Governour very acceptable and welcome who yielding unto their Request in friendly sort dismissed them But they being returned home and having declared to the rest of their Fellows what they had done it was by general consent agreed That four thousand of them should joyn themselves unto the Emperours Power under the Regiment of Collonitz who to be known from others wore in their Crests certain special Feathers their Wives and Children being carried to Presburg as Pledges of their Faith but this Agreement by them made with the Governour of Presburg being once known the rest of the Rebels in the Country thereabout together assembled with the Turks invaded the Isle in hope upon the sudden to have surprised them but deceived of their Expectation were by the Inhabitants of the Isle and by the help of certain German Troops overthrown and put to flight and three thousand of them there slain About the beginning of Iuly certain Commissioners were sent on the Emperour's behalf to Cassovia to intreat with Botscay concerning a Pacification to be made who being by him there honourably entertained and having with him stayed almost a whole Month were at length the nine and twentieth of the same month again dismissed Now the Articles which Botscay propounded unto these Commissioners to be considered of for the making of a Peace and which for the most part were agreed upon in the Peace afterward concluded betwixt the great Sultan and the Emperour were these First that it should be lawful for all such as would to have the free exercise of the reformed Religion For although as he said he was not ignorant that there was an ancient Decree amongst the Hungarians whereby all that professed not the Catholick Religion or that revolted from the same were to be burnt and that he desired not to have that Article repealed yet that his Request was That the Emperour having regard unto the Troubles of the present time would promise and assure That from thenceforth no man should be troubled for his Religion or called in question for his Conscience and Belief Besides that he requested to have the Principality of Transilvania during his Life yet with this Condition That after his death it should again return unto the Emperour so that the Emperour in his Absence should appoint a natural Hungarian to govern the same as also to have the chief Government in Hungary That there should no more Bishops sit in Council but one and that he if it should be so thought meet should bear the Office of the Chancellor That the Liberties and Priviledges of that Kingdom should be kept whole and inviolate That it should be lawful for him only to make choice of the chief Palatine of the Kingdom That Goods confiscated for any offence committed should not be dispersed or sold but given to men of desert That all Offenders against the State from thenceforth should be judged by the Council of Hungary That none should be preferred to Bishopricks in Hungary but such as were of the noble Hungarian Blood. That all Injuries heretofore done should be absolutely pardoned forgiven and forgotten All which things if they might be granted he promised to labour to the uttermost of his power upon the best Conditions he might to procure a Peace betwixt the Great Sultan and the Emperour Last of all he requested That the Charters of Peace containing these Articles thus agreed upon might be subscribed and confirmed by the Bishop of Rome the Emperour the King of Polonia and all the Imperial Kingdoms and Provinces The Turkish Sultan understanding of this Treaty of Peace betwixt the Emperour and Botscay by a Messenger sent in haste to Botscay sought by great Offers and Promises to hinder the same putting him withall in remembrance That a little before this Treaty made he had not only by Words but by Letters also subscribed with his own hand promised unto Botscay's Ambassadors sent to Constantinople That he would bring to pass that Botscay rewarded with such Priviledges as King Iohn in former time enjoyed should in short time be proclaimed and crowned King of Hungary and that to that purpose he was even now ready to send a Scepter and a Crown the Ornaments of a King to Alba Regalis But for the present he by these Messengers sent unto Botscay two goodly Horses with Furniture of Gold glistering with precious Stones He sent him also a rich Scimitar a pair of golden Spurs and a long Horsemans Coat garnished with Gold and precious Stones of great price persuading him valiantly to persist in his former course and purpose Which he failed not to do for immediately after he with a gallant Train went from Cassovia into Transilvania there to take of the Nobility of that Province the Oath of their Fidelity unto him accounting no pains or labour great which he took to turn the People from their Obedience unto the Emperour and to strengthen himself At which time he also sent Redeius his Chancellor with some others into Polonia to renew the Confederation which was sometime betwixt the Polonians and the Hungarians who being admitted unto the King's Presence and Audience given him first declared the Causes of the Discord and Civil War that then was in Hungary which he imputed chiefly unto the Oppression of Religion the free exercise thereof
loves to slide not stand And leaves fortunes ice vertues firm land Honour had rather be with danger driven Than stay with vertue on the hand of Heaven THE REIGN OF MUSTAPHA The First of that Name Ninth Emperour of the Turks year 1617 OSMAN the eldest Son of Achmat being not above twelve years old Mustapha Brother to Achmat being five and twenty was drawn out of a Cell where he lived as it were religiously and in Contemplation and proclaimed Sultan Mustapha Chan. They write of him that he grew cruel causing young Osman to be kept under sure Guards putting to death his Brethren He also did many indignities unto the Christian Ambassadours and to confirm him in his Throne he gave great Sums of Money to the Janizaries and Spahies and sent a Messenger to Vienna to the Emperour to assure him that he would maintain inviolably whatsoever had been concluded betwixt him and his deceased Brother Achmat. But growing odious by reason of his Tyranny the Grand Visier came out of Persia with an Army and deposed him forcing him to return to his Cell setting Prince Osman at liberty and seating him in the Imperial Throne But for that it may seem strange that Mustapha should be preserved alive during the Reign of his Brother Achmat contrary to the custom of the Othoman Emperours who do usually kill all their Brethren at their first coming to the Crown thinking thereby the better to assure their Estates it shall be fit to make mention thereof Mahomet the third of that name dying in the year 1602 and leaving Achmat and Mustapha his Sons by the Sultana Flatra a Lady of Cyprus some say of Bosna Achmat the eldest was sent for speedily out of Magnesia by the Bassaes to take possession of his Father's Crown being the first Emperour of that Name And for that the custom of the Turkish Emperours was as we have said to have neither Brother nor Nephew alive unless they could save themselves by flight yet the Visier Bassaes and other Officers of the Court concluded in Council that it was not fit that Mustapha Brother to Achmat should dye grounding their opinion upon a good reason of State for that their Emperour being but fifteen years old they feared that dying in his Nonage without children able to govern the Empire might fall into Combustion and ruine it self by reason of Civil Wars Whereupon they decreed that Mustapha's Life should be preserved but with that caution and restriction that he should remain still a Prisoner in some Chambers of the Emperour's Seraglio at Constantinople During Achmat's minority and before he had Children there was no cruel Decree made against Mustapha but he only continued in his Contemplation without any liberty But when as the Emperour saw himself fortified with Issue and remembring the cruel Custom of his Predecessors year 1617 he many times propounded the putting of his Brother to death to his Council the which may seem very strange it took not effect having been often concluded Among others it is written that his Death was concluded one Evening and that it should have been put in Execution the next day But Achmat was so frighted in the Night with Apparitions and fearful Dreams as day being come he said Seeing that the only Resolution to put his Brother to death had so terrified him he did believe that his Torments would much increase if he should put it in Execution and therefore he commanded his Brother should live more in regard of the Terror of his Mind than for any brotherly Affection Another time Sultan Achmat being in one of the Windows of his Seraglio he beheld his Brother Mustapha who by his permission was walking in the Gardens with his Guard Some one of his Bassaes or other Officer that was near unto him and willing to flatter his Humor told him that it was a matter of dangerous Consequence to suffer him to have so great Liberty Achmat move with jealousie and distrust grew into rage at his Words whereupon he suddenly took his Bow and Arrow being a very expert Archer as all the Turkish Nation generally are and aimed at his Brother to kill him but at that very instant he felt so great a pain in his Arm and Shoulder as not able to let loose his Arrow nor to perform what he had intended he said with a loud Voice That Mahomet would not have Mustapha to dye This Prince had three Chambers in the Seraglio where he ramained a Prisoner fifteen years and spent his time in a Contemplative kind of Life after the manner of the Musulmans his whole delight was to read the Arabian Books of their Doctors in divers Sciences The Grand Seignior gave him leave sometimes to take the Air of his Gardens with his Guard and called him to consult with him of Affairs of Estate taking his Advice many times knowing him to be of a sound Judgment After a long imprisonment and a daily apprehension of death the Emperour Achmat falling grievously sick in November as you have heard his Bassaes and other Counsellors about him seeing the danger he was in perswaded him to take some good course for the succession of his Empire He had Children by the Sultana but they so young as they were not capable to govern the Empire Moreover this Sultana was dead and the Children left Friendless and none to speak for them But on the other side the Sultana Flatra Mother to the Emperour Mustapha was yet living who thought that if the Bassaes should undertake to govern the State during the minority of the Emperour's Children her Honour would be much eclipsed wherefore she favoured Mustapha and persuaded the dying Emperour to make him his Successor On the fifteenth of November Achmat seeing his End grow near he called for his Brother and told him That seeing Death approached he desired to provide for the Preservation of the Empire and therefore had made choice of him to succeed him intreating him to take the Government upon him presently after his death Mustapha was much amazed at his Speech and answered him with Words full of Fear and Humility That he might not accept of the Honour which he did him seeing that the Empire did rightly belong unto his eldest Son. Achmat disabled his Son for so great a Government both for his Age and Capacity being necessary for the maintenance of so great a Monarchy that he who was of ripe years and deep judgment should take upon him the managing thereof recommending the Children he had by the Sultana unto him intreating him to use them in the same manner that he had used him leaving the other Children which he had by Concubines being his Slaves to his Discretion Soon after these Words Achmat dyed and Mustapha was generally acknowledged for Successor to the Turkish Empire who at the first was so amazed as he thought he had been in a Dream to see himself advanced to so great a Power and Sovereignty from a straight Prison and
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
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
Proposals of executing Justice on the Offenders for the Spahees seconded by the Janisaries who were glad of any cause to make a Commotion assembled in the Hippodromo from whence they sent an Arz to the Sultan requiring the Heads of the Great Vizer and of divers others as well within as without the Seraglio The Grand Signior denying positively to assent hereunto the Souldiery as plainly threatned to depose him and place his Brother in the Throne at which barbarous Resolution the Grand Signior being affrighted his youthful constancy was so shaken that he wrote to his Mother to desire her excuse in case he assented to the death of her Son-in-law the Great Vizier for that the Storm of the Military Fury was so great that he could not endeavour to protect him without the loss of his Life and Crown wherefore the Vizier being turned out of the Gates of the Seraglio he was immediately butchered in the presence of the Sultan Nor did the impetuous Rage of the Souldiery end here but they proceeded farther to demand the Head of the Janisar-Aga or General of the Janisaries who was reputed the chief Instrument of the Death of Casref because he was a principal Favourite to the Grand Signior but he wisely taking divers off with Mony and Presents sowed division between the Janisaries and Spahees so that some Difficulty arising hereupon the determination of his Death was deferred for a while howsoever they proceeded to demand that the Mufti should be discharged of his Office and that the Tefterdar or Treasurer should be delivered into their hands To the first the Grand Signior assented but being willing to save the other he pretended that he was escaped and fled but when he was found he should run the same Fate with the Vizier But the military Sedition not being appeased with this Answer they roved through the whole City and Galata and other parts of the Suburbs the Spahees persisting to require the Head of the Janisar-Aga and not finding him in his House they plundered it and departed and meeting with a Youth a Favourite of the Grand Signior's they killed him and so returning with the like Fury to the Seraglio they required admission to the New Vizier and Mufti Regep Pasha another of the Brothers-in-law was then made Vizier who with the new Mufti trembling at these Tumults were careful to treat the Souldiery with all lenity and condescension imaginable desiring them to declare their Grievances and whatsoever might give them Satisfaction should be granted The seditious Souldiers replied That they were resolved to see the Grand Signior's Brother for that when the present Sultan did not govern well they might know from whence to produce another of better Abilities and more agreeable to the Designs of the Empire That necessity which caused the late easiness of condescension to former demands made way also for compliance with this so that the young Prince being brought forth they obliged the Sultan not to attempt any thing against his Life and caused the Vizier and Mufti to become Caution and Security for it Nor did these Concessions contribute towards a Pacification but rather their Insolence increased thereby renewing their Exclamations at the Gates of the Seraglio for the Heads of the Janisar-Aga and the Tefterdar not would they be satisfied with answer that these Men were not found in the Seraglio but still persisted in their rude Out-cryes and Menaces losing all respect and reverence to the Sultan and the Superiors so that the Grand Signior resolved once to sally out upon them with his own Guard but trying their Temper and Resolution he discovered most of them to be poisoned with the like Spirit of Sedition and combining with the others as Associates in the Treason The Viziers and other principal Officers perceiving the Mutiny to increase daily and not knowing to what degree it might arise made it their business to search out for those proscribed by the Souldiery at length the Aga was happily discovered by a certain Person to whom a Reward was given of a thousand Zechins with the Office of Zorbasi or Captain and the Aga confessing that he had counselled the Death of Casref he was immediately strangled and his Body hanged upon a Tree to publick view The like Fate befel the Teftardar who being also taken was killed and hanged up together with the Body of the Aga. All which Persons thus inhumanely murdered by the Souldiery were the Enemies of the present Great Vizier Regep for which cause the Grand Signior suspecting that he secretly contrived and nourished these Rebellions never after looked on him with a gracious eye Of which the Vizier being sensible combined with the Souldiery and judging it almost impossible to set himself right in the Affection of his Master he courted the Favour of the Militia as the only means to protect his Life and maintain his Power But as the revenge of Princes is not like a Thunder-bolt which wounds on a sudden but rather like a Mine which requires time to form and is then sprang when it may do the best execution so in the same manner the Grand Signior dissembled his hate towards the Vizier until one Night being present with him in the Seraglio to see certain Fire-works he called him aside and whispered to him that he should go into his private Lodgings where being entred the Door was shut upon him and he strangled by certain Eunuchs who were appointed to attend him for that purpose But little benefit or riches did the Grand Signior reap by his death for the Vizier having for some time expected this Blow had concealed his Treasure and conveyed it away for the use of his Posterity The like hatred did the Sultan conceive against the Souldiery resolving in his mind to execute his Revenge especially on the Janisaries as the most turbulent Fomenters of Rebellion and Treason and to vent his Anger either by the Cord or Sword or some other more expedite way as opportunity presented and to prevent or oppose the like Seditions for the future he fortified the Seraglio and brought Arms in thither by night chusing into his Guard select Men of Courage and Faithfulness and being sensible that the being of his Brother attempered his Soveraignty and drew away the Hearts and Eyes of his Souldiers and People from fixing entirely on his own Person he therefore intended to cut him off but the Caution and Security given by himself and chief Ministers to preserve his Life diverted him from this Resolution In place of the deceased Vizier Mehmet late Pasha of Cairo was constituted and the Seal consigned to him with whom the Grand Signior consulting of the present Emergency of Affairs often uttered his displeasure against the late Seditions and signified his Intention to redress them for the future in order unto which he caused the Heads of the most mutinous Spahees to be cut off and on various Pretences separated the Souldiery each from other into divers Parts some numbers of
reason of the Riches of the People and the Fertility of the Soil to which pretences could never be wanting on the score of those Differences which always arise amongst the People of the Frontiers During these Debates and Counsels Preparations were made for War both by Sea and Land as yet uncertain where they should be imployed To command them the Great Vizier was ordered to hasten his Journey from Persia whose Arrival was celebrated at Constantinople with a solemn Entry and for a particular and distinguishing Honour the Grand Signior sent him a Vest from his own Back to wear on the day of his Triumph This Vizier was a Person very austere in his Behaviour bold and valiant as he evidenced by his Actions in taking Bagdat zealous for his Master's Interest and what is rare in a Turk not much addicted to his own He had acquired a great share in the Esteem of his Master and his Authority increased as the daily Decay of the Grand Signior's Health rendred him less able for Government For now the strong Complexion of Morat began to grow feeble by excesses of frequent Debauchery his Stomach was become cold and weak not able to digest the lightest Meats his hand shook and a paralytical Distemper seized him in every part so that his Mother and the Physicians perswaded him to forsake the use of Wine as Poyson and Destruction to his Health and he whilst he was sensible of his languishing Condition like a true Penitent made many Protestations and Vows against it forbidding the accursed Poyson to be received within the Walls of the Seraglio Howsoever his kind Heart could not possibly withstand the Temptation of a Banquet to which his Pot-companions did sometimes invite him amongst which the Great Vizier would not be wanting also to please and cajole the Humour of his Master with the Liquor that he loved But his chief and constant Camerades in drinking were his Persian Favourite and Mustapha Pasha of Bosna one educated in the Seraglio promoted to the place of Selictar Aga to whom he gave the stately Palace of Ibrahim Pasha on the Hippodrome together with his eldest Daughter in Marriage These two stout Sons of Bacchus perswaded the Grand Signior to appoint one solemn Drinking-day in time of the Biram which is the great Festival of the Year and introduced by their Prophet in imitation of our Easter Morat being at this time possessed with the Spirit of Debauchery accepted the Motion and invited the two Drunkards to dinner with him The Persian provoked his Pleasure of drinking by salt Meats and by peppered and spiced Dishes the sort of Wine they most used was a sweet Malvoisia sometimes twisted and encouraged with the strong Waters called Rosa Solis of which they sucked so long and with such Excess that falling under the force of it they were insensibly carried away to their several Beds This dissolute Repast became fatal to the Grand Signior for a Fire being kindled in his Veins and Bowels he fell into a violent and continued Feaver The Physicians being called were fearful to administer Remedies lest proving unsuccessful their Lives should pay for the ineffectual Operation At length they agreed to let him blood but this hastened his Death For he died the fourth Day of his Feaver being the 8 th of February in the seventeenth Year of his Reign and the one and thirtieth of his Age having ruled in the height of all Disorders and irregular Excesses which his youthful Years enabled him to support With his Death all his thoughts and Designs of making a War against Christendom perished having sworn after his Return from Persia to reduce all his neighbouring Countries to the Mahometan Law. He was of a most cruel and implacable Disposition having amongst his other Acts of Tyranny imbrued his Hands in the Blood of his two Brothers Orchan and Bajazet as also strangled his Uncle Mustapha whose innocent Weakness had been sufficient to secure his Life against any but the most horrid Monster of human Tyranny He left no Son for though he had divers they died in their Infancy notwithstanding which his Kindred were so detested by him that he envied the Descendence of Monarchy on his Brother Ibrahim who was preserved by a strange Providence from his Fury often saying that he wished that he might be the last of the Ottoman Line that the Empire of that Family might end with him and devolve unto the Tartar. He was certainly the most absolute Prince that ever swayed the Ottoman Empire but of no Religion seldom fasting in the Month of Ramasan contemning and laughing at the Santones and others of their Religious Orders He was very inquisitive into all Actions of the City for which he maintained his Spies and oftentimes took his Rules and Measures from Discourses of People concerning his Government He was a great Dissembler ready active and revengeful covetous to Extremity having left fifteen Millions of Gold iâ his Treasury which was empty when he entred upon the Soveraignty In short he was so bad that he had scarce any Allay of Vertue being so great a Tyrant that at length he became his own Assassinate and fell unlamented by all but the two Companions of his beâtial Excess The End of Sultan Morat's Life I that of Ott'man blood remain alone Call'd from a Prison to ascend a Throne My easy mind I bend to soft Delights Hateing th'unpleasent thoughts ofNavalFights Till mad with manton Loves I fall at first Slave to my orone then to my peoples lust THE REIGN OF Sultan IBRAHIM TWELFTH EMPEROR OF THE TURKS SVltan Amurath or Morat after a Fever of eight Days continuance caused by an excess of Debauchery in Wine having on the eighth of February 1640 according to the New-Stile expired his last Breath His Mother called Kiosem comforted her self with the thoughts that her Son Sultan Ibrahim still lived and was the sole Surviver and undoubted Heir of the Ottoman Family To whose Succession that she might make the more facile and undisturbed Entrance she consulted with all the Viziers requesting their Consent and Assistance in the lawful promotion of her remaining Son to the Throne of his Ancestors For she had understood that Morat who always abhorred the ill-shap'd Body and weaker Mind of his Brother envied him the Dignity of the Ottoman Scepter and therefore had bequeathed the Succession to the Tartar having in the Heat of a Debauch and Fumes of Wine compelled his Pasha's to swear to the performance of his Testament Wherefore the Queen assembling them together with gentle Words desired them to remember That Ibrahim was the Lawful Heir and their true Emperor that the Tartar Han was a Stranger odious to the Souldiery and not beloved by the People that an Alteration of this Nature could never be contrived and executed without danger to the Actors and that they to whom she assured the continuance of the same Honours and Offices in Reward of their constant
in the Garden according to his usual Custom throwing them one on the other into the Water the Queen grew so furious that she could not contain longer from venting her Anger in unhansome Terms and jealously against the Nurse and her Son. At which the Sultan being much displeased and being ill-natured if we may speak boldly of an Emperor took her Son which is now Sultan Mahomet out of her Arms and with some few Curses swung him into a Cistern where he had been certainly drowned had not every one in that instance applied themselves to save him at which time he received the Mark or Scar he wears at this day in his Forehead All thâse Matters served for farther Fuel to nourish the implacable Spirit of the Queen which the Kuzlir Aga well observing judged it prudence to give way to her Fury and so begged his Dismission from the Court together with his Slave and Son and that having visited Mecha according to his Law he might enjoy a Râtirement in Egypt which is the Portion of banished Eunuchs The Queen easily consented hereunto nor was it difficult to procure the Licence of the Sultan who was as easily perswaded to any by those who were about him wherefore the Eunuch having provided to be gone shipped himself with his great Treasure on the Fleet which was now designed and ready to depart for Alexandria which consisted of three Ships one a great Gallion and two others of lesser Burthen and seven Saiks these having at the beginning of their Voyage found contrary Winds put into Rhodes from whence loosing with more favourable Weather they unfortunately met with six Malta Gallies exâellently well manned and provided The Admiral Gally immediately Boarded one of the Saiks and took her manned only by Greeks by whom they were informed of the Condition Quality and Cargo of the greater Ship which gave Heat and Resolution to the Souldiery In like manner with little Opposition the Gallies called the St. Iohn and Ioseph possessed themselves of one of the lesser Ships which being laden only with Timber brought from the Black Sea to build Ships at Alexandria was of little value having forty Turks aboard eight Women and a Child which sucked at the Mother's Breast In the mean time the three other Gallies called the St. Mary St. Lorenzo and Victory attacked the great Gallion and having cast their Iron Graples into the Ship with the Motion of the Ship the Irons gave way and broke only that of the St. Lorenzo held fast so that the whole force of the Ship both of small and great Shot was poured in upon the Gally to their damage and loss of Men. In the mean time the Admiral Gally came in to their Assistance and Assaulting the Ship on the other Quarter made a Diversion of their Men and having thrown in their Graples they scaled the sides of the Gallion as if it had been a Fortress where being entred they remained for some time at handy-blows with the Turks but at length all the Gallies coming to their help having made an end of subduing the other Ships the Turks were forced to retire under Covert of their Decks which they defended still with singular Valour wounding the Christians with their half Pikes through the Gratings But in fine the Captains of the Gallies perceiving that this was not the way to compel them to a speedy Surrender ordered several Musquetiers out of every Gally to fire in at the Windows and loop-holes of the Ship by which having killed their Commander in Chief their Valour and Constancy began to fail and desirous to save their lives with loss of Liberty and Estates they cast down their Arms and begged Mercy In this Engagement were killed the Captain of the St. Mary and seven Cavaliers of which sive were French one Italian and one German the Admiral himself and the Captain of his Gally were both wounded seventy nine Souldiers and Mariners killed and an hundred thirty two wounded Of the Turks it is not certain how many fell in regard as they were killed according to Custom they cast them over-board the Eunuch himself though always educated in the softness of the Seraglio and in the Conversation of the Female Court yet in the end concluded his days like one of the Masculine Sex fighting valiantly with his Sword until overwhelmed by his Enemies by which it is observable that those Persons lose not their Courage with their virile Parts for it hath been known in former days how that Eunuchs have been Generals in the Turkish and other Armies and conducted their Affairs with admirable Courage and Success The Prize which the Christians had gained in this manner was very considerable for besides the Gold Silver and Jewels which were the Treasure this Eunuch had amassed in the Reign of three several Sultans they gained three hundred and fifty Slaves besides thirty Women some of which were young and Virgins so that there was not a Souldier or Seaman who had not a considerable share of benefit proportioned unto him With this Fortune towing their Prizes they in a short time came to an Anchor in the Port of Calismene in the Island of Candia called anciently Phenice on the South-side of the Iâland remote from all Venetian Garisons and where as it is reported they were supplied with no Provisions excepting a small quantity of Bisket which was furnished by a Country Fellow who for that very Cause was shot to Death From hence the Gallies departing arrived in Malta with their Prizes where they were received in great Triumph The young Son of the Eunuch for so we call him was reported to be a Son of the Grand Signior sent into Egypt to be Educated and was accordingly saluted treated and reverenced by the Grand Master the same Opinion was dispersed and confirmed in all parts of Europe and the Errour for many Years maintained at the Expence of the Religion until the Boy growing up to a good Age and not judged worthy of a Ransom or enquiry after by the Turks it was thought convenient for him to put off his State and Greatness and become a Fryer and I think a Dominican and this is he who now goes under the name of the Padre Ottomano The News hereof arriving at the Ottoman Court Sultan Ibrahim was transported with Anger threatning Destruction and Ruin unto Malta besides he shewed a most inveterate Passion against the Venetians for not guarding the Seas from his Enemies and for relieving them in their Ports In which Rage and Fury he put his own Captain Pasha to death and Summoned the Christian Ambassadors braving them all for the little respect was shown to his proper Shiping and in short was angry with all but reserved the Effect of his Wrath to be poured on the Venetians to which this Accident administred the first Original and will afford us ample matter of Discourse in this ensuing History For the Grand Signior first made his Complaints against Venice to their
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
the others with Quarrels and Contests advanced a Fellow of no Understanding or Reputation to the eminent degree of Great Vizier in which condition he remained not long For the Fire of the multitude being with time quenched and the popular Heat abated this new Vizier was displaced all things returning to their usual Channel and Authority to its Fountain And that Matters might more easily be restored to their ancient order the Grand Signior called for the Pasha of Damascus to receive the Dignity of Great Vizier for he being a Person of eighty Years of Age and of long Experience in Affairs having managed the most weighty Charges of the Empire was looked on by all as the most proper Person to compose and heal these great Distempers in the State and this was that famous Kuperlee who was Father to him who succeeded him in this Office. The Pasha of Silistria was also constituted Captain Pasha and Chusaein was confirmed in his Government of Candia And now the bright Beams of Justice and Government having dissipated the Storms and Fury of popular Sollevations the Grand Signior in Person mounting his Horse accompanied with his principal Ministers of State visited all the Parts of Constantinople where making Inquisition for the principal Leaders and Fomenters of this Rebellion he seized on some and without further process boldly executed them in the Face of the People But before things were reduced to this condition four Months were spent in this horrid Confusion and what is most strange this Great Empire for so long time remained without a Pilot tossed on the Waves of popular Commotions all which served to give ease and respite to the Venetians in their War but not to operate towards a Peace so resolute were the Turks in their Design of making an entire Conquest of Candia For having again Equipped a most formidableFleet consisting of sixty light Gallies twenty eight Ships and nine Galleasses they attempted to make their way for Candia and therewith to fight the Venetians in case they should oppose them in their Voyage to which they were the more encouraged upon sight of the Venetians who appeared at the Streights of the Dardanelli with no more than twenty nine Gallies and some Boats or Brigantines howsoever the Turks were not so confident in their numbers but that they judged it requisite to fortify themselves with two Batteries one on the Coast of Anatolia and the other on the European shore whereby they imagined that they might cause the Venetians to give way and open a Passage to their Fleet. But notwithstanding the continual shot which the Turks made upon them they still kept their Station from the 23 d to the 26 th of Iune when the Wind coming about to the North which was favourable for the Turks to Sail out and to bring them nearer to their Enemies they began gently to approach and the like the Christians endeavoured being desirous to join Battel at which firmness of Resolution the Turks being a little startled became willing to avoid the Fight and to creep under the shelter of the point of Babiers which locks in one of the Bayes between the Castles and the Mouth of the Dardanelli But the Wind on a sudden turning favourable for the Venetians the Prior of Rochelle with his Squadron and Mocenigo with three Ships under his Command made up towards the Castles with design to cut the Turks off from their Retreat the others valiantly assailed the Turks who defending themselves like those whose chief security consists in their Arms there ensued a most miserable slaughter on one side and the other at length the Success of Victory happened to the Venetians who were animated by the couragious Example of their General Marcello though he having Boarded and become Master of a great Ship called a Soltana with the Gally which attended her was shot in the thigh with a Cannon Bullet and thereby gained the glory to die Conquering and Triumphant After whose Death the Proveditor taking upon him the Command of the Fleet prosecuted the Victory so close that excepting fourteen Gallies which escaped with the Captain-Pasha and four Gallies of the Bey's all the whole Fleet was either taken sunk or burnt The Venetians not being able to man all the Vessels that they had taken set many of them on fire in the Night excepting only twelve Gallies four Ships and two Galleasses which they reserved for a Demonstration or Evidence of their Victory With this glorious success five thousand poor Christians obtained their Freedom and had their Chains and Shackles knocked off What number the Turks might have lost is uncertain but as to the Venetians it is reported that besides their General there were not above three hundred Men in all killed and wounded The Venetians being encouraged by this Success attacked the Island of Tenedos and in the space of four days became Masters of it as also in a short time afterwards of Stalimene antiently called Lemnos the which shameful Losses and Overthrow so irritated the Mind of the Grand Signior that he gave Orders to carry the War into Dalmatia intending the next Summer to go thither in Person and in the mean time Commanded by the Pasha of Bosna that the City of Ragusa should be put into a readiness to receive his Troops being judged a convenient Place for the Seat and Magazine of Arms for those Countries But the poor Republick greatly apprehending this Misfortune than which there could be no greater Mischief nor Ruin to their Country dispatched certain Deputies with their yearly Tribute to the Port with Instructions that in the way thither they should supplicate the Pasha to intercede with the Grand Signior in their behalf representing to his Majesty that they paying their annual Tribute for Protection ought not in justice to be exposed to the licentiousness of an Army which their little Territories were not capable to receive nor provide with convenient Quarters at which Message the Pasha being highly incensed answered rudely and imprisoned them threatning to strangle them in case their Government did not obey the Commands of the Sultan ANNO 1657. BUT the chief Ministers at the Port taking into their consideration the present State of Affairs that the City of Constantinople was full of Discontents the Persian on one side and the Moscovite on the other ready to invade divers parts of the Empire that there were Designs to depose the Grand Signior and set one of his Brothers on the Throne besides a multitude of other Dangers the resolution of the Court's removal and of the Grand Signior's March into Dalmatia was suspended his Presence and Authority being esteemed most requisite in such a conjuncture of Troubles at the Heart and Center of his Empire After which the appearance of the Grand Signior in Publick was less frequent for that he might hasten the departure of the Spahees and Janisaries for Candia he deferred his Journey to Adrianople for some time but they being averse to
Oâout Pasha with which name before the People were well acquainted and that it was accustomed to their mouths two poor silly Country-men mistaking and calling it simply by the former name were apprehended by some of the Bostangees and brought before the Grand Signior as contemners of the Imperial Command and by his immediate Sentence were put to death About the end of May the Grand Signior had a Son born to him of one of his Women for joy of which seven days of Dunalma or rejoycing were appointed through all the Ottoman Dominions but especially at Adrianople the Solemnity was greatest all sorts of Artisans endeavouring to outvy each other in their Shows and Pastimes to entertain the City At the Gate of the Seraglio was erected a magnificent Pavilion for the Grand Signior before whom were shown rare artificial Fire-works invented by the most ingenious Masters thereof amongst the Iews one of which firing a Rocket which not ascending with usual strength unhappily fell on the Vest of the Grand Signiors Favourite standing at the door of the Tent at which the young Man being surprized sent to find out him who fired it which happening to be a poor Iew was condemned immediately by the Grand Signiors Sentence to receive eighty Blows on the Soals of his Feet but as report went this young Favorite not appeased with this slender Punishment obtain'd the Sultans command to put him to Death But to return to the Turkish Camp. The Vizier was astonished to understand that Kanisia was besieged and wondred much at the rashnesâ of Serini in attempting a Work so difficult without probability of success howsoever being advised that the Garison was ill provided of Victuals and Ammunition he gave order for its supply In order to which eighty Carts laden with Provisions convoyed by a considerable number of Turks were conducted by way of Sigeth but being interrupted in their passage by Serini's Soldiers were routed put to flight and their Provisions taken In the mean time the Besieged made many vigorous Sallies and some not without losâ to the Christians and to defend themselves the better uncovered the tops of their Houses and made their Lodgings under ground secure from Granadoes or shot of the Enemies Batteries On the other side the Ammunition and Artillery from the Emperour came not so timely as was expected nor were the Bomboes and Granadoes so artificially made but that many of them spent themselves in vain the Succours likewise of men fell very short of the numbers promised and Souldiery being drawn from their Winteâ Quarters before the colds were past or the pasture grown began to murmur but nothing discontented them so much as want of Pay the just complaint of Souldiers which discouraged them more than the difficulty of their advenâââe against all which Serini provided as much as he was able out of his own Purse continuing the Siege more out of reputation than probable hopes of success for his Army was at least diminished two thousand in its number of which four hundred Hungars and two hundred Germans were ãâã the first Assaults made upon the Suburbs and the rest perished by sickness and the vigorous and frequent ââllies of the Enemy Howsoever Serini seemed not to doubt of the success if he could but be for some time secured from the advance of the Vizier who now began to draw his gross and numerous Army out of their Winter Quarters into the open field and therefore with the other Officers before Kanisia signified their advice to the Empârour and General Council of War That it was necessary that the Imperial Army should be as early in the Field as the Ottoman and for the mâre methodical government of Affairs that the Army should be divided into three Bodies one to recâuit the Forces before the Town a second to march to Osâk and hinder the Enemies passage over the Dravus and a third to take the Field and apply assistance where it was judged most useful This counsel bâing weâââccepted by the Emperour Orders were immediaâeây issued forth to General Montecuculi to begin his March with design to obstruct the Turks passage over the Dravus for that the success against Kanisia was of that high importance as might justly require the imployment of all the Christian Forces in its concernment Wherefore one Poââ was dispatched after the other to Montecuculi to solâicite his speedy March and to give a stop to the Viziers Progress But he answered That âe attended General Sporch whom he every day expected to joyn with him but this Answer proving by the effect to be nothing more than a present excuse gave occasion of suspicion and produced that discontent in the minds of the most zealous as spread a rumour through all Germany much to the disreputation of Montecuculi Time thus being protracted and no Forces appearing to recruit the Leagure at length advice came to the Generals when they were just going to dinner that the Vizier with a most numerous Army was within three Leagues of the Town For the Bridge of Osek was against the common opinion again rebuilt planked and compleated with new Timbers in the space of forty days many hands making light work which when first founded was the work of six years which Expedition was the more remarkable in regard that this Bridge was not formed out of the Ruines of the old nor founded on the same ground but new framed out of the Woods with as much comliness and order as befits a Bridge of that nature and length passing over a wild Marsh or Fen. The news of the Viziers so near approach was strange to Serini who by the calculation made of his March did not yet expect him for several days but the Vizier apprehending the straitness in which Kanisia might be leaving the gross of his Army made more expidite Journeys with a Body of twenty thousand Horse which not being unknown to Serini his daring spirit was once resolved to give him Battel in which opinion was also Count Strozzi but Olach dissenting and refusing to ingage his Forces the Siege was raised and all the Forces with good order retreated to Serinswar where they arrived the day following leaving to the Enemy a great quantity of Powder Match Shovels 20 Carts of Meal and Two Iron Guns broken No Pilgrim ever followed his way with more devotion to the sacred Shrine than the Vizier was willingly led in pursuit of his Enemy to the Walls of Serinswar being the place to which his intentions inclined as the beginning and consummation of the War. Over against this envied Fort there is a little Hill strong by Nature incompassed with a narrow Ditch yet not so narrow as that a Horse can leap over it nor yet so shallow as to be forded This Hill Serini proposed to the rest of his Collegues or Coadjutors viz. Olach and Spaar as a place commodious to incamp their Army because lying open to the River could easily be relieved
Marquess Villa presented him with a Bason of Gold valued at six thousand Ducats together with a Patent recounting at large the many famous Exploits which he had performed in their Service which they expressed with a stile so generous and obliging as may serve for a Record to transmit the Fame of his Merits to all Posterity Marquess Villa being departed from Candia the Captain-General recalled all his Forces from divers parts of the Archipelago which he had sent thither with the Soldiers wounded in the last Battle and being returned they brought with them great numbers of Pioniers and Workmen to labour in the Fortifications and Mines at the same time also the Captain-Pasha arrived at Canea bringing two thousand Janisaries withhim The Marquess St. Andrea Montbrun a Gentleman of the French Nation was transported to Candia by the General Proveditor Cornaro where being entred into the Charge and Office of Marquess Villa wanted nothing of the vigilance and circumspection of his Predecessour And therefore in the first place having visited all the Forts Out-works and Retrenchments of the Town ordered what was necessary for repair of the breaches and amended what was deficient in the most distressed Fortifications And though the Turks fired a Mine the 22 th of August at the point of the Fort St. Andrea which made a most dangerous breach yet it was so valiantly defended and so speedily repaired that the Enemy gained little or no advantage and all by the extraordinary diligence of this Marquess St. Andrea who passed whole months without uncloathing himself and as his nights were without sleep so his days consumed without repose applying himself personally to all places where was most of danger especially at the Fort of St. Andrea where he took up his constant Quarters The Turks now daily pressing the Town more nearly than before Skirmishes and Sallies were more frequent and more bloody so that about this time the Proveditor General Bernardo Nani applying himself with all earnestness in the performance of his Charge was slain by a Musket-shot in his head his death was much lamented by all being a Gentleman who was born as may be said in the Fleet having had his Education there and passed his youth in Wars and dangers for the safety and honour of his Country Girolamo Bataglia was elected by the Republick to succeed him in the Office whose death was also seconded by that of Francesco Bataglia Brother of the Duke of Candia being shot in the breast with a Musket-bullet and though he was sent thither to administer Justice to the People yet his zeal and courage carrying him to Martial Acts beyond his duty made a grave for him amongst the other Heroes and Worthies of that place The Turk approaching daily nearer with their Works infested very much the passage of Vessels to the Town and shot so directly into the Port that no Ship Galley or Bark could remain in any security from their Cannon to remedy which a small Redoubt was raised at Tramata which being well and strongly fortified served for a small Port under the shelter of which the lesser Vessels found some protection and was of great relief to the distressed City About this time the Popes Gallies with those of Malta arrived commanded by Fra. Vincenzo Rospigliosi the Popes Nephew who having not brought a greater number of people than what served to man their Gallies they were not able to spare many for defence of the Town The long continuance of this Siege and the same thereof noised through the whole World moved the heroick and gallant Spirits of our Age to descend into this Campus Martius this Field of War and give proofs of their Prowess and Valour in defence of the Christan Cause some being moved by a principle of vain-glory proceeding from the briskness of a youthful and aery Spirit and others from the sense of Devotion and fervour towards Religion amongst which none were more forward than some Gentleman of the French Nation as namely Monsieur La Fueillade alias Duke of Roanez with the Count St. Paul a young Cavalier to forward which design taking first the Licence and Benediction of their King they appointed their Rendezvous at Tolon where they listed two hundred Gentleman Cadets or younger Brothers who went in quest of Honour and not of Pay with four hundred ordinary Souldiers who expected their maintenance from the bounty of their Leaders The chief of whom was Monsieur La Fueillade and his Lieutenant the Chevalier De Tresmes Their whole Body was divided into four Bridgades The first commanded by Count St. Paul. The second by the Duke Dâ Cardââousse The third by the Count De Villa Maur. And the fourth by the Duke De Cheateau Tiery When these Persons of Honour and Courage arrived at Candia they found the City hardly beset and reduced to a strait and difficult condition for the Turks were advanced so near to the Fort of St. Andrea that the Souldiers within and without could cross their Muskets and reach Tobaco one to the other howsoever this breach was so well repaired with a good Palissado fortified with several Bonnets and a double Retrenchment on the Bastion it self and a third Retrenchment of squared stone withal that the courage of the Besieged being nothing abated by the many and furious assaults of the Enemy the Town still remained in a defensible posture and still capable with good Succours and Supplies to yield matter of imployment for several years to the Ottoman Forces These worthy Champions as I said being arrived moved with the sense of Religion and desire of glory to themselves challenged the priviledge of mounting the Guard of St. Andrea but that being already prepossessed by the Knights of Malta and other Officers of the place was refused to them Howsoever the Captain-General Morosini was pleased to gratifie them with the Guard of a small Chapel over that Bastion on the right hand of the breach a place of no less danger and therefore of no less honour than the other with which the Cavaliers being satisfied Monsieur St. Paul mounted the Guard one day at six a clock in the morning and continued there ââtil the same hour of the day following during which time he lost his Major Dupre and Monâieur De Marenval the latter of which had his brains knocked out with so violent a blow of a great shot that some pieces of his skull dangerously wounded the Sieurs De Chamilly and De Lare who were near to him and more maliciously did the Turks ply the stations of these new-come Guests than any others throwing Bomboes Granadoes Stink-pots and other sorts of artificial Fire without cessation into their Quarters notwithstandiug which this young Prince and Monsieur La Fueillade exposed themselves like common Souldiers animating their men more with their example than their words And now by this time by so many Works and removals of Earth by so many Traverses and Mines under ground and throwing up the
Justice the people being discontented hastened the removal of the Chimacam and now another entring on the Office the Kahya remained exposed to the malice and complaints of all his Enemies amongst which none was of greater force than an accusation laid against him for having granted leave to the Armenian Christians at Constantinople for a Sum of Money to erect a Church for which though a Command was granted by the Great Vizier obtained at a good price to build one there of Timber but of a low and mean Fabrick yet the Kahya for a greater Sum of twenty Purses of Money or ten thousand Dollars improved this Command and changed their Materials from Timber to Stone and Mortar the which Building beginning to rise with some magnificence offended the neighbouring Turks which so much scandal that great numbers of them carried the Complaints thereof to the Grand Signior who calling the Vizier and examining the Case the Vizier would own no other Command than for repairing of an old Church but not building one new Whereupon Sentence of Death being passed on the Kahya an Officer was sent to execute it And in his way to Constantinople at a place called Selebrea meeting with the Offender he caused him to return again with him to Constantinople where having strangled him his Body was thrown into the Sea. We have thus far discoursed of the Affairs at home which consisted for the most part in jollities and divertisements let us now look on the enterprizes and attempts abroad and we shall find no great matter of action this year performed against Poland more than some incursions made into Vkrania by the Turks and Tartars under the Conduct of Ibrahim Pasha in which we have no Battels nor great Skirmishes to recount only a seizure or surprize of those Cosacks which were not under the jurisdiction of Dorosensko who like sheep were driven from their pastures and Men Women and Children carried away into Captivity and transplanted into Countries where they might better serve the purposes and designs of the Turkish Empire to which ends also vast numbers of Tartars with their Families were called to inhabit the circumjacent parts of Kemenitz for better security of that Conquest to which the Tartars most willingly concurred esteeming it a happy Bargain to exchange the Soil of Tartary for the fruitful Plains and more gentle Air of Poland And thus we may consider what the intestine Discord of the Poles hath brought upon themselves that they who in former days maintained their honour and reputation with the Turks beyond any of the bordering Nations not having ever suffered them to continue in their Country much less to sojourn or possess one palm of Ground therein can now more easily see them before the Walls of Leopolis or Cracovia and planted in the very Bowels of their Countrey rather than a King of their own Countrey set over them not agreeable to their own humour and fancy or perhaps rather than behold the envied exaltation of some persons to dignity or some little disorders in their Government of which the Turk knows well to make use it being no new Lesson for him to profit himself of the Discord and Animosities of the Christians In like manner the Marine Affairs of the Turks this year afforded little worthy of observation unless it were That the Captain Pasha was employed with about thirty Sail of Gallies into the Black Sea for transporting of Ammunition and Provisions to those Forces in Vkrania but he returned not with an equal number of Gallies with which he departed having lost have of them by storm and then arrived at Constantinople on the 26 th of October called by the Greeks the Feast of St. Demetrius and by the Turks Cassin-gheun a day which is commonly remarkable for Storms at Sea of which the Turks and Greeks are so aprehensive or superstitious that on that day or near that time either before or after until the storm hath vented its fury and taken its course they will not adventure themselves unto the Sea upon the most pressing occasion or hopeful inducement whatsover And here I judge it requisite to conclude this Year with two matters very observable relating unto Trade The first is with reference unto the Genoueses who in the Year 1666. first sent their Ambassador Signior Durazzo with many Presents and great Magnificence to conclude a Peace with the Ottoman Empire with the sole design and intention of Trade which having been established on no other foundation at the beginning than that of their Temins and the Fabrick of their own Cloth when the first failed as it did in two years after and that their Cloth turned not to account but was out-sold by the English and Dutch then their Trade began to decay or rather never came to perfection like the fruit of a young tree which buds fairly and produces fruit but hath not strength to digest or bring it to maturity Even so it was with the Genoueses who having been at the charge of an Ambassadour Extraordinary and setled a Resident at Constantinople and a Consul at Smyrna and all the other Formalities of Trade wanted that nourishment thereof from their own soil which produces the true and natural fruit of Commerce which is gain and profit and being out-done by other Nations in shipping there could little or no benefit be expected from their own Navigation in the Levant For these reasons their Trade failing the Duties of Consulage on Goods appointed to maintain the Officers and defray the publick Expences were consequently wanting so that the Count Fieschi Resident for that Republick at Constantinople finding himself in great distresses and necessities and unable to maintain himself and his Attendants agreeable to his Character and Quality often advised his Prince and the Senate of the unhappy state of their Affairs desiring from them either to provide a Supply agreeable to the occasions or to recal him from that Office where he could no longer live in that Honour required This importunity produced the exchange of Officers and the Mission of Signior Giustiniano to reside at Constantinople and Signior Gentile at Smyrna the first of which some few days after his arrival being unfortunately killed with a Carabine in his Chamber at Constantinople as before related the Office of Resident came to be still continued in the person of Fieschi who remaining without provisions necessary to maintain his degree and the annual Presents expected by the Turks which they esteem as due as their Income and as part of their Revenues was forced to take up money on Pawns and his own Credit at the Interest of 20 25 or 30 per cent according as hâs necessities increased and the apprehensions men conceived of an insufficiency and hazard in their security was the cause that the debt which in the beginning was inconsiderable increasing with Interest upon Interest came at length to the Sum of sixty or seventy thousand Dollars which the Republick of Genoua attributing in a
his Chamber before he had taken his last resolution He endeavoured to hide the disorders of his Soul and after he had returned them their civilities he asked the cause of their coming The Aga taking the word told him that his Highness had sent for the Seal of the Empire which he had entrusted him with and shewed him the order in Writing At the same time the Visier opening his bosom drew it out which he presented to him with respect asking whether they had any thing else to require from him he was obliged to render the Standard which he did in the same fashion and having yet again demanded whether they would have any thing else the three Officers answered him only with tears letting him at the same time see in writing the Buyurds or Command whereby the Grand Seignior would have his Head. Kara Mustapha was not affrighted being already prepared for it He only asked if he might not be permitted to say his Prayers The Officers answered him that they had no orders to refuse him that consolation He ordered his People to retire that he might pray with less distraction and when he had finished they re-entered again He then drew a Paper out of his bosom which he gave to the Aga to render it to his Highness It is believed that it was a Billet by which the Sultan promised him never to put him to death which he would make no use of judging it useless being he was too far from the Grand Seignior to understand his intensions He then sat upon the brink of the Sofa whereof he lift up the Carpet to the end to be only upon the Plank demanding he might be strangled by his own Executioner which was granted After a few Moments to dispose of himself he called the Executioner and told him he should be quick and not let him languish he said also that the Grand Seignior would think on him after his Death The Executioner having put the string about his Neck he himself disentangled it saying it was not necessary they should hold his hands As soon as he was dead the Executioner cut off his Head and flead it filling the Skin with hacked Straw which was put into a Box and carried to Adrianople and given to the Sultan who received it without any great Emotion as he was coming from hunting The Visiers Corps was carried out of his Chamber and exposed under a Pavilion to be seen of all Men. At the same time they seised on his principal Officers who were brought to Adrianople Of these the Reiz Effendi was hang'd Mauro Cordato his Interpreter put in the Castle of the seven Towers at Constantinople having first been spoiled of his Money and Jewels There were found in the Treasury of this Minister ten or twelve Milions in Money Moveables and Jewels which is very considerable if the prodigious Expences of Presents be considered these Spoils and those of some of the Visiers Officers and of the Testerder who was likewise strangled amounted to fourteen Millions which came all into the Grand Seigniors Purse He refused to consent that this Moneys should be employed to pay the Troops and re-establish the Affairs of Hungary although all the Divan was of that Opinion The Sultan would neither suffer them to open his Treasury which is the great resource of the Ottoman Emperours and replyed to them that represented to him the necessity of doing it that they must make use of the accustomed Revenues and if that did not suffice it was for his Council to search out other ways to supply it And yet he was pleased to give all the Visiers immoveables to his Children This Humour of his Highness and the Difficulties which were foreseen to settle the Affairs of the Empire diminished the heat of such who might pretend to the Employment of Grand Visier The Kisler Agasi who was always in great Credit and who fancied though without any ground that the Grand Seignior had thoughts of placing him in this Post declared before hand that he would not accept of this Office knowing that he had not Capacity enough to bear the weight of it Solyman Aga Selietar who was his Highnesses true Favorite and who judg'd he should be always powerful enough whilst he had his Masters Favour signified to the Sultan who offered to make him Grand Visier that all his Ambition was to please him and that he esteemed more the waiting upon his Person than to divide his Cares betwixt his Prince and the State as he should be obliged to do if he accepted the charge wherewith he would honour him So obliging a denyal augmenting the esteem and affection which the Grand Seignior had for him disposed him to name Ibrahim Aga who was Kaymacan and formerly called Kara Kiaia for this high Employment The Christians continuing their Progress in Hungary obliged this new Grand Visier to assemble the Divan very often to find a way to re-establish their Affairs He proposed the making of a Peace with the Emperour and to continue the Trevis which Kara Mustapha had violated without any lawful pretence and to carry the War into Poland to revenge themselves on King Iohn for the ill success of the Siege of Vienna But the Sultan who had promised Count Tekely that he would not abandon him was of a contrary sentiment Kara Kiaia urging his Opinion with too much heat the Sultan grew so angry with him that he was judged lost which gave room to that false report that ran of him that he was strangled and that Kara Houglou Camaikan of Constantinople was put in his place Most of the Officers of the Garrisons being changed the new Visier employed all his diligence to raise such Forces against Spring as might salve the disgraces of the last Campaign which yet they could not compass the People being dejected even to Consternation at so many losses On the other side the Christians having happily finished their Campaign and taken their Quarters in Hungary used great diligence to procure Moneys to separate the Hungarians from the Port and to make new Alliances There was but the Pope that could travel effectually in the first of these things seeing the other Princes of the Empire had enough to do for themselves as long as the differences with France were not accommodated besides the Protestants could obtain no advantage for their Religion To effect the second point a general Act of Oblivion was published by the Emperours command with pardon to all that would return to their Obedience and Commissioners being sent to Presburg to receive their Submissions very many of the Nobility Counties and Towns were restored to their Duty as at the beginning though Tekely would not and the chief Towns in upper Hungary for fear of him did not as yet dare to declare themselves But the third design had better Success for however the Czars of Muscovia would not give ear to the Emperours Invitation and Propositions of Alliance made him by his Ambassador Blomberg yet
single Page came to a Town where wanting Bread and forced for the Paiment of it to exchange Gold fell into a suspicion of being one of those Rebels lately escaped from Constantinople which news being brought to a Captain of Horse that Commanded the place he came immediately with some Men to take him but Kulkahya resolving not to fall into their hands alive resisted them until he was killed by a Musket-shot and so his Head being severed from his Body was sent to the Grand Signior Kara Chiaus in this interim being with two hundred Men retired into his Garden was assaulted by an Aga of the Spahees called Parmaksis with 500 Men but that this Enterprise might be acquired with a little Blood a Person was sent secretly to advise that Party that if they opposed the Royal Command they should every one be put to death at which the People fled and dispersed themselves At that instant came in this Aga and took him and yet comforted him with the Clemency and Mercy of the Grand Signior promising also himself to intercede for him And so bringing him to the Seraglio by the Garden Gate his Majesty had notice of it and looking out of the Window and seeing him upon his Knees begging pardon the Grand Signior gave a Sign to the Executioner to strangle him which was accordingly performed The new Ianisar Aga who knew all the Officers formerly affected to the rebellious Party for several Nights caused some or other of them to be strangled to the number of thirty eight Persons which struck such a terrour into the Janisaries that for a long time after they kept themselves within the bounds of Humility and Obedience And thus concluded this Tragedy remarkable as well for the Dispatch as for the Action it self being but the work of fourteen Hours And in this manner it is apparent how the lessons of Obedience which are so carefully taught and instilled into the Minds of those who serve and depend upon the Grand Signior are corrupted and by the Pride Discord and Faction of the Governours seduced from their natural Principles By the Premisses we may consider more generally that it hath always been the misfortune of unlimited Powers to be subject to Dangers and Violence arising from the Discontents and Unconstancy of the Souldiery for they coming to be sensible of their own Strength and knowing that the Power of the Emperor is but fortified with their Hands and Heart like unruly Beasts throw their Riders and shew that the Principles of Obedience taught them are easily corrupted and defaced by evil Perswasions or Sedition in a Commander or common Souldier Thus we see in the time of the latter Roman Emperors who usurped Power unknown in the days of the pure and happy Constitution of that Common-Wealth and governed all by the Sword and their own Lusts few of them ended their days fortunately or died in their Beds in Peace without becoming a Sacrifice to the same Power that first proclaimed them Emperors And though the Mutinies and Rebellions in the Turkish Militia can hardly operate any durable alteration in the State as we shall more at large hereafter discourse yet doubtless the Tyranny in the Ottoman Emperors had provoked the People long since to have proved the benefit of another Race but that there is a strange kind of Devotion and Religion in their Minds as to the Ottoman Blood which having been the Original of their Empire and Greatness will ever be maintained in high Reverence and Honour Nor is it likely that the fair Speeches and Allurements of a rebellious Slave will ever prevail to perswade this People from their Religion to this Prince or that their Arms can ever be prosperous under the Ensign and Conduct of an Usurper And may all Christians learn this Lesson from the Turks and add this Principle to the Fundamentals of their Religion as well as to their Laws None can more experimentally preach this Doctrine to the World than England who no sooner threw off her Obedience and Religion to her Prince but as if that Vertue had been the only bar to all other Enormities and Sins she was deprived of all other Ecclesiastical and Civil Rights and in all her Capacities and Relations deflowred and prophaned by impious and unhallowed Hands And thus having given a Relation of the Turks Religion and first Principles in order to their Obedience to their Prince let us proceed a little into the penetralia of the Seraglio and there see what farther care is taken of the Youth in all Points of their Education to fit and prepare them for the management and performance of the highest and weightiest Offices of State which I judg to be one of the chiefest of the Turkish Polities and is certainly an extraordinary Support and Security of the Empire CHAP. V. The Education of young Men in the Seraglio out of which those who are to discharge the great Offices of the Empire are elected It being a Maxim of the Turkish Polity to have the Prince served by such whom he can raise without Envy and destroy without Danger IT is a special point of Wisdom in Princes to provide and prefer Men of deserving Parts and Abilities to the discharge of the great and important Offices of State not such whom Chance and Fortune casually throws on them because they will not take the pains of a narrow and severe Scrutiny to seek Men able and fit for Trust nor such whom Flattery Riches Gifts or Nobility promote but those whom the Prince by his own experience of their Wisdom Vertues and Diligence or the Testimony of his Councellors and other Confidents judges capable to improve their Advancement to the Honour of the King and the Blessing of their Country and not like vast Mountains which hide their Heads in the Clouds and yet remain without Fruit or Herbage whose barrenness makes their height accursed Some wise Princes and great Ministers of our Modern Times have kept Rolls and Registers of the most eminent Men famed for their Vertue and Knowledg in any parts with an account of their Family Lineage and Condition out of which if in their own jurisdiction they culled and elected such proper for their Occasions and vacant Offices The Turk is no less careful in the choice of his Officers and loves to be served by his own such as to whom he hath given Breeding and Education and are obliged to employ those Parts in his Service which he hath bestowed whose Minds he hath cultivated with Wisdom and Vertue as well as nourished their Bodies with Food until they arrive to a mature Age that renders the profit of his Care and Expence such as these he is served by whom he can raise without Envy and destroy without Danger The Youths then that are designed for the great Offices of the Empire called by the Turks Ichoglans must be such as are of Christian Parents taken in War or presented from remote parts as I have observed that
with that necessary formality required in their devotion the Mufti resolved this doubt almost like the former prescribing a kind of circular motion in prayers by which means they cannot miss of having at some time their faces towards the holy City which in a case of so much difficulty is a sufficient compliance with the duty Many cases of this nature are proposed to the Mufti and many particular rules of Conscience required one of which is remarkable that Busbequius relates that occurred in his time during the Wars between the Emperour of Germany and Sultan Solyman Whether a few Christians taken Captives by the Grand Signior might be exchanged with many Turks in the hand of the Emperour It seems the Mufti was greatly perplexed and puzzled in the resolution for sometimes it seemed a disesteem to the value of a Turk to be rated under the price of a Christian on the other side It appeared want of charity and care of the interest of the Mosselmans to neglect real terms of advantage on such airy and subtile points of formality In fine he consulted his Books and declared that he found two different Authours of great Authority of contradictory opinions in this controversie and therefore his Judgment was to incline to that which had most of favour and mercy in it The Mufti whilst qualified with that title is rarely put to death but first degraded and then becomes liable to the stroke of the Executioner but in cases of notorious crimes or conviction of Treason he is put in a Mortar for that intent remaining in the Prison called the Seven Towers at Constantinople and therein beaten to death and brayed to the contusion of all his bones and flesh The next Office to the Mufti is Kadeleschere or Judge of the Miliâia otherwise Judge Advocate who hath yet power of determination in any other Law Suits whatsoever for this privilege the Souldiery of this Country enjoys to have power extensive over all other conditions of people but to be onely subject themselves to the Government of their Officers this Office of Mufti must necessarily pass through and discharge with approbation before he ascends the top and height of his Preferment The next inferiour degree is a Mollah and there are of two sorts one of Three hundred Aspers and the other of Five hundred Aspers so called for distinction sake the first sort are principal Judges in petty Provinces containing under them the command of Kadees of poor and inconsiderable places the others have their jurisdiction over the whole dominion of a Beglerbeg and have the Kadees of several rich and renowned places under their Government these rise often to the Mufti 's Office but proceed by several degrees and steps and must first gradually command where the Imperial Seats have been as first to be Mollah in Prusa then in Adrianople and lastly in Constantinople at which time he is next to the Office of Kadeleschere and thence to that of the Mufti The Sultan when he writes to any of his Mollahs or Kadees of the first degree he uses this following style To the most perfect judge of the Faithfull the best President of Believers in God the Mine of Vertue and True Knowledge the Distributer of all just Sentence to all Humane Creatures Heirs of the Prophetick and Apostolick Doctrines elected by the singular Grace of God for our Governour and Iudge of whose Vertues may they ever flourish These and Kadees which are the lower and ordinary sort of Judges are as much to be reckoned in the number of religious men as the Mufti himself for as I have said before the Civil Law of the Turks is conceived by them to be derived from their Prophet and the other Expositours of their Law with as much engagement and obligation as these which immediately concern the Divine Worship and therefore are to be treated and handled together The Emaums or Parochial Priests must be able to read in the Alchoran and be counted men of good fame and moral lives amongst their Neighbours before they can be promoted to this Function and must be one of those who have learned at the appointed times of prayer to call the people together on the top of the Steeple by repeating these words Allah ekber Allah ekber Esehedu enla Ilahe ilallah we esehedu enne Mahammed evvesul tuah Fleie ala Selab heie ala Felah Allah ekber allah ekber la Ilahe ilallab that is God is great God is great I profess that there is no Deity but God and confess that Mahomet is the Prophet of God in this manner the people of a Parish recommending any to the Prime Visier declaring that the former Emaum is dead and the Office vacant and that this person is qualified in all points to the Function or better and more knowing than the present Incumbent he receives immediate induction and establishment in the place but for better proof or tryal of the truth of the testimony that accompanies him he is enjoyned to read in presence of the Visier some part of the Alchoran which being done he is dismissed and approved and takes the Visier's Teschere or Mandamus for the place This is all the Ceremony required in making an Emaum for there is no new Character or state of Priesthood as they hold conferred upon them nor are they a different sort distinguished from the people by holy Orders or Rites but meerly by the present office they manage when being displaced they are again numbred with the Laity their Habit is nothing different from others but onely that they wear a large Turbant like the Lawyers with some little variety in folding it up and put on a grave and serious Countenance Their Office is to call the People to Prayers and at due hours to be their Leader in the Mosque and to read and repeat upon Fridays certain Sentences or Verses out of the Alchoran few of them adventure to Preach unless he be well conceited or râally well gifted but leave âhat office to the Soigh or him that makes Preaching his Profession who is one commoâly that pâsses his time in the Convents that we shall hereafter treat of The Mufti hath no Jurisdiction over the Emaums as to the good order or government of the Parishâs nor is there any Superiority or Hierarchy as to rule amongst them every one being Independent and without controll in his own Parish excepting his Subjection in Civil and Criminal Causes to the chief Magistrates and considering the manner of their Designation to the Religious Office the little difference between the Clergy and the Laity and the manner of their single Government in Parochial Congregations may not unhappily seem to square with the Independency in England from which Original pattern and example our Sectaries and Phanatick Reformers appear to have drawn their Copy The Church-men and Lawyers are greatly in esteem amongst them as is apparent by the Title they use towards them in their Writings and Commands directed to them in this
manner You that are the glory of the Iudges and Sagemen the profound Mines of Eloquence and Excellence may your Wisedom and Ability be augmented CHAP. V. Of the Mufti 's Revenue and from whence it doth arise AFter the Mufâi is elected there is no Ceremony us'd in his Investure than this he presents himself before the Grand Signior who Cloaths him with a Vest of rich Sables of One thousand Dollars price and one thousand more he presents him with in Gold made up in a Handkerchief which he delivers with his own Hand putting it in the fold of his under Garment doubled over his breast and bestows on him a Salary of Two thousand Aspers a day which is about Five pound Sterling money besides which he hath no certain Revenue unless it be the power of Preferment to some Prebendaries or Benefices of certain Royal Mosques which he sells and disposes of as is best to his advantage without the scruple of corruption or Simony By the sentences he gives which they call Fetfas he receives not one Asper benefit though every Fetfa costs eight Aspers yet the Fee thereof goes to his Officers that âs to his Musewedegi or he who states the question is paid five Aspers to his Mumeiz or he who Copies or Transcribes the question fair two Aspers to him that keeps the Seal one Asper Other benefits the Mufti hath little excepting onely that at his first entrance to his office he is saluted by all Ambassadours and Residents for foreign Princes as also the Agents of several Pashaws residing at the Port none of which come empty-handed but offer their accustomed Presents by which he collects at least Fifty thousand Dollars When any Mufti is deprived of his Office without any other motive than the pleasure of the Grand Signior he is gratified with an Arpalick which is the disposal of some judicial Preferment in certain Provinces and the superintendency of them from which he gathers a competent Revenue for his maintenance And because he is a person whose advice and counsel is of great Authority with the Grand Signior and Visier and that his word and candid report of matters is considerable and his favour in sentences very estimable he is therefore courted by all the Grandees of the Empire who know no other way of reconciling and purchasing the affections of a Turk than by force of Presents which have more of power in them than all other obligations or merits in the World. CHAP. VI. Of the Emirs WE may here bring in the Emirs otherwise called Eulad Resul into the number of the Religious men because they are of the Race of Mahomet who for distinction sake wear about their heads Turbants of a deep Sea-green which is the colours of their Prophet out of reverence to his esteemed holy Bloud many privileges are indulged by the secular Authority that they cannot be vilified affronted or struck by a Turk upon forfeiture of his right Hand but lest they should be licentious by his impunity they have a châef Head or Superiour amongst them called Nakib Esehref who hath his Serjeants or Officers under him and is endued with so absolute a power over them that as he pleases it extends both to Life and Death but he never will give the scandal to this holy Seed to execute or punish them publickly And though few of them can derive his Genealogy clearly from Mahomet yet those who can but onely pretend to it are often helped out in their Pedegree as often as the Nakib desires to favour any Person or can have any colour to acquire a new Subject and then to clear all scruple from the World he gives him a Tree of his Lineage and Descent The Turks being well acquainted with this abuse carry the less respect to the whole Generation so that as often as they find any of them drunk or disordered they make no scruple to take off their Green Turbants first Kissing them and laying them aside with all reverence and afterwards beat them without respect or mercy Their second Officer is called Alemdar who carries the Green Flag of Mahomet when the Grand Signior appears with any Solemnity in publick they are capable of any Offices few of them exercise any Trade unless that which is Esirgi or one who deals in Slaves to which sort of Traffick this Sainted Off spring is greatly addicted as being a holy Profession to captivate and enslave Christians These aâe the mosâ abominable Sodomites and abusers of Masculine youth in the World in which sin against nature they exceed the foulness and detestable Lust of a Tartar. CHAP. VII Of the Endowments of Royal Mosches and in what manner Tithes are given for Maintenance of their Priests and Religion THE Turks are very magnificent in their Mosches and Edifices erected to the honour and service of God and not onely in the Buildings but in the Endowments of them with a Revenue which Records the Memory of the Donor to all Posterity and relieves many poor who daily repeat Prayers for the Souls of such who died with a persuasion that they have need of them after their decease for those I say who dye of that belief for the condition of the âoul untill the day of Judgment is controverted amongst the Turks and the question not decided as a matter of Faith or as revealed or determined by the Alchoran For so large benevolence is given to places destined to God's service that as some compute one third of the Lands of the whole Empire are allotted and set out to a holy use much to the shame of those who pretend to the name of Christians and yet judge the smallest proportion to be too large a competence for those who serve at the Altar The principal Mosches and those of richest endowment as in all reason ought are those of Royal Foundation called in Turkish Selatin Giameleri over which the Prime Superintendent is the Kuzlir Aga or the chief Black Eunuch of the Sultan's Women and in his power it is to distribute all considerable offices of Ecclesiastical Preferment relating to the Royal Mosches which office makes a considerable addition to his Power and Revenue for there are many of those Mosches in divers places of the Empire but especially where the Sultans do or have resided as Prusa Adrianople and Constantinople The Royal Mosches of Constantinople are Santa Sophia Sultan Mahomet who Conquered this City Sultan Bajazet Sultan Selim Sultan Solyman Sehezade or the Son of Sultan Solyman Sultan Ahmet and three other Mosches built by the Queen-Mothers one of which was lately erected and richly endowed by the Mother of this present Sultan I shall scarce adventure to acquaint my Reader with the particular Revenue belonging to all these Royal Edifices but certain it is they have Rents as noble and splendid as their Founders for example of which I shall instance onely in that of Santa Sophia built by Iustinian the Emperour and rebuilt by Theodosius and was the Metropolis
accompanied his Pipe with Tears and Sighs He was an excellent Musician and a deep Philosopher endued with those supernatural vertues as enabled him to work Miracles clear and notorious to all the world he was an Hermite called in Arabick Abdal went with his head bare and his body full of wounds without a Shirt or other Cloathing besides a Skin of some wild Beast thrown about his Shoulders at his Girdle he wore some fine polished Stone on his Wrists instead of Diamonds and Stones of value he wore counterfeit Jewels which carried a luster and fair appearance with them this man was called Sanâone Kalenderi who was continually singing Arabick Sonnets and according to them Musical Airs making also harmonious compositions so artificially that he seemed another David But how strict and sober this Santone was his Disciples or Proselytes are of another temper being wholly given up to jollity and delights they banish all kind of melancholy and sadness and live free of cares passions or torments of the mind and have this saying amongst them This day is ours to morrow is his who shall live to enjoy it and therefore studiously attend to lose no moment or least part of their pleasure but consume their time in eating and drinking and to maintain this gluttony they will sell the Stones of their Girdles their Earings and Bracelets When they come to the house of any rich Man or person of Quality they accommodate themselves to their humour giving all the Family pleasant words and chearfull expressions to persuade them to a liberal and free entertainment The Tavern by them is accounted holy as the Mosch and believe they serve God as much with debauchery or liberal use of his creatures as they call it as others with severity and mortification And the Turks say That in the Hegira 615 the Christians became Masters of Ierusalem by reason that the Institutour of this Order of the Kalenderi who had a chief hand in the Government of the City was found drunk when it was assaulted CHAP. XVIII Of the Edhemi THE original Founder of this Order was one Ibrahim Edhem concerning whom the Disciples themselves or Followers recount things very obscurely and tell us Stories that his Father was a Slave and Abasme by Nation and went one day under the Fort Horanan to discourse with Ibnimâlik King of Cairo that he was a man very comly facetious and sober in his carriage always desiring to please God continued in the Moschs reading the Alchoran and in prayer day and night with his face prostrate on the ground and often repeating these words O God thou hast given me so much Wisedom as that I know clearly that I am in thy direction and therefore scorning all Power and Dominion I resign my self to the speculation of Philosophy and a Holy Life His Servants seeing this his devout way of living applied themselves to the imitation of his Austerity and abandoning all greatness and vanities of the World applied themselves to solitude and mortification their superfluous Garments they bestowed upon the Poor giving to those whose necessities required them Their food is Bread made of Barley and Pray frequently with Fasting and their Priors apply themselves to a faculty of Preaching Their principal Convents are in Cities of Persia especially Chorasan Their Cloathing is of a course thick Cloth upon their heads they wear a Cap of Wooll with a Turbant round it and about their necks a white Linen Cloth striped with red In the Desarts they converse with Lions and Tigres salute them and make them tame and by the miraculous power of Divine assistence entertain discourse with Enoch in the Wilderness This and many other wild discourses they make of this Edhem but because there are but few of this Order in Constantinople being most appropriated to Persia I could not receive so particular an account of their Rule and Institutions as I have done of others CHAP. XIX The Order of Bectash THE original Founder of this Religion is of no ancient memory or standing nor had his Birth or Education amongst the Santones of Arabia from whence most of these superstitious pretenders have had their beginning but one of those that was an Army-Preacher that could fight as well as pray of whom my Learned Hogia gives me this account In the time says he that the Warlike and Victorious Sultan Amurath passed with his Army into Servia and overcame Lazarus the Despot of that Countrey and slew him in Battel Bectash was then a Preacher to Amurath who amongst other his Admonitions forewarned him of trusting the Servians but Amurath out of his couragious spirit relying on his own Wisedom and Force admitted a certain Nobleman called Vilvo upon pretence of doing him homage to approach near him and kiss his hand who having his Dagger ready and concealed stabbed Amurath to the heart and with that blow made him a Martyr Bectash knowing that this treacherous death of his Prince must needs also be the cause of his for being so near his person and prophesying of this fatal stroke sought not to prevent it but made preparations for his own death And in order thereunto provided himself with a white Robe with long Sleeves which he proffered to all those which were his Admirers and Proselytes to be kissed as a mark of their obedience to him and his Institutions from this action the custome hath been introduced of kissing the sleeve of the Grand Signior The Religious of this Order wear on their heads white Caps of several pieces with Turbants of Wooll twisted in the fashion of a Rope they observe constantly the hours of Prayer which they perform in their own Assemblies they go Cloathed in White and praise the Vnity of God crying Hu which is may he live and by these means obtain the Grace of God. This Santone hath many millions of Disciples and Followers now all the Janizaries of the Ottoman Porâ are professours of the same Religion This Bectash at his death cut off one of his sleaves and put it upon the head of one of his Religious men part of which hung down on his shoulders saying After this you shall be Janizaries which signifies a new Militia and from that time begun their original institution so this is the reason why the Janizaries wear Caps falling behind after the manner of Sleeves called Ketche This Hagi Bectash was a person exceedingly attractive in his conversation holy to admiration a Man of great Worth and Majestick in his comportment he was buried in the City Kyr where they have many Convents and Religious followers who always praise and adore God and thus far my Hogia informs me But whatsoever he says this Order is the most abhorred in the World by the Kadizadeli because that Bectash left it to the free will of his Disciples either to observe the constant hours of prayer or not by which great liberty and licentiousness is entred amongst the Ianizaries who are Souldier-like not over zealous or
in the night called Tachinamasee this action they perform with very much reverence and devotion and hold that they ought to be so intent and fixed in their thoughts on this religious act towards God that no business of the World though the execution of the Sultan's Decree should in the same moment be commanded or fire should burst forth in the very Chamber where they remain or an armed Enemy within their Gates or Camp they ought not yet to be diverted or break abruptly off their Prayers to extinguish or oppose themselves against their inevitable Destruction nay if they do but Cough or Spit or Sneeze or rub any part of their Face or Hands where a a Fly bites during their Prayers they must begin them again for they are void and esteemed to be of no effect It is much in my opinion that Infidels should be possessed with that awe and sense of the Divine Majesty in the time of their Audience with him and yet that Friers and others of the Roman Church obliged to their Office as the Turk to his Namas should perform it so perfunctorily as to mix the discourse of business with the Repetition of their Breviary and joyn with their Responsals Answers and Resolutions of questions are made them and so satisfie themselves in the Opus operatum as if it were more important to comply with his command who imposed the Office than with his who primarily enjoyned the sacrifice of prayer The form of their Prayers is not extracted out of the Alchoran onely the Collections of Sentences as in the Name of God God is Great and Mercifull and the like are deduced from thence as Christians do from the fountain of the Holy Scriptures the rest is compiled by the four Doctours we have before mentioned viz. Ebbubecher Omar Ozman and Ali whose names are wrote in golden Characters on the Walls of most Moschs Herein they observe many postures and gestures of their Body as placing their hands one on the other before them bending the body kneeling touching the Ground with their forehead moving the head to each side and the like in which it is difficult to make distinction of those meerly invented and ordained by Mahomet from those which were primarily in use amongst the ancient Arabians But that the orderly Ceremonies in their Prayers may be better described it will be to our purpose to hear what Busbequius relates of the whole Turkish Army whom he had seen drawn up orderly in the Field at their Devotion I saw said he in that Plain a great multitude of Heads folded up in Turbants who with profound silence attended to the words of a Priest their Conductour all of them being drawn up in rank and file and covering with their extended Orders the whole Plain seemed to have framed a Wall or Bulwark by the regular disposition of their Bodies their Cloathings were of light colours and their Turbants comparable to the whiteness of the Snow and the variety of the different colours of their Garments fed the eyes with a strange pleasure in this manner so immovable they stood as if they had grown in the place where their feet were fixed no coughing hemming nor voice was heard nor so much as any motion was perceived of their heads every one at the name of Mahomet pronounced by the Priest bowed his head to his knees and at the name of God reverently prosterated himself and kissed the Earth and thus the Turks with devout ceremony and profound attention perform their whole Duties supposing that Prayer to become fruitless which is interrupted by scratching the Head rubbing the Hands or any other gesture not essential to their Prayers But of all Nations and Religions that I have known they are the most hypocritical they are those who love to pray in the Market-place and in the Corners of the Streets to have praise of Men for it is observable with the Turks that where they find the most Spectatours especially of Christians to chuse that place how inconvenient soever to spread first their Handkerchief and then begin their Prayers The substance of their Prayers consists for the most part in praises of the Divine Power and Attributes mixing therewith Petitions for the safety of his Prince and his Dominions and for Dissention and Wars amongst Christians which part they conceive God hath greatly gratified them in and rejoycing upon the rumours of Wars and disturbances in Christendom as an effect of the Divine facility and concession to their Prayers They know well by experience what Tacitus reports of the Roman Policy That Omne scelus externum cum laetitia habendum semina etiam odiorum incende and as the Romans destined Armenia to be a prize held up and the Stage also on which the Tragedy of the ruine of the Eastern Nations were to be acted Eandem Armeniam specie largitionis turbandis barbarorum animis praebuerint so the Turks forbore for several years the total Conquest of the Provinces of Transilvania Moldavia and Valachia reserving them for the Cadmean Fields wherein the Hungarians Germans Polonians and the People of those Countries themselves might destroy one the other and make his entrance to the possession of them the more facile and less bloudy Thirdly Of their Ramazan The third necessary point of their Religion is the observation of the Month of Ramazan or a Fast in that whole Month in which time they can neither eat drink or take any thing in their Mouths whilst the Sun is above the Horizon afterwards upon shutting in of the Evening that the Emaum lights the Lamps which in that Month are exposed round the Steeple of every Mosch they have liberty to eat most part of the night they spend in Feasting reserving commonly their greatest Delicacies and best provisions for the consolation of that Fast their business and employments they attend most to in the night passing the day as over-tedious in sleeping so that their Fast is nothing but a changing the day into night This Month they call sacred and holy and the time when the Gates of Paradise are opened and of Hell are shut and so strict is the imposition of this Fast that it is no less than Death for a Turk to be accused of the breach thereof In this Month to drink Wine is esteemed an inexpiable crime and such who give themselves that liberty at other times do yet not to give scandal abstain from it fourteen days before the beginning of this Month and Women and other of the more superstitious âort begin fifteen days their Fast before it is enjoyned by the Precept of their Prophet But such as are sick or have any infirmity or are travellers in their journey have a permission to eat but with that condition as to remain obliged at other times of their health and convenieâce to make good those days of the Ramazan of which they remain indebted to the performance of their Law. The Institutions of this Month of Ramazan
command of the Pashaws or Sangiack-beg and he under the Beglerbeg which Forces being united into one body repair to the Rendezvous appointed by the General who is either the Grand Signior in Person or the Visier Azem or some other eminent person qualified with the Title of Visier These two Orders of Souldiery are not onely appropriated to Landâservice but some also are destined to the Sea who are called Deria Keleminde and are under the command of the Captain Pashaw or Admiral but the Zaims are most commonly dispensed with as to the Sea-service in their own persons upon the payment of so much Money as they are esteemed at in the Signior's Book out of which Levends are raised and enrolled in the Registers of the Arsenal but the Timariots can never be excused from their personal duty and service with their attendance of Souldiery according to the value of their Lands Neither the one nor the other of these can be dispensed with from their service at Land no excuse in time of the Grand Signior's Wars is lawfull or pleadable if sick they are carried in Horse-Litters or Bâds if Infants in Hampers or Baskets and in the very Cradles accustomed to the hardship hazard and Discipline of War. And thus much shall sârve in brief to have spoken in explication of the Nature of the Zaims and Timaâiots which come under the general denomination of Spahees and compose the best part of the Turkish Armies we shall now proceed to declare as far as can probably be computed the number of these Horse which fill up the vast Host that hath overspread so large a proportion of the World. CHAP. III. A Computation of the numbers of the Forces arising from the Zaims and Timariots IT were a work of too great labour considering the little satisfaction and delight it would afford the Reader to proceed accurately in describing the just numbers of those which follow these Zaims and Timariots it will be sufficient to denote that the smallest number of a Zaim is four Men and is the gâeatest of a Timariot whose lowest condition is obliged to maintain a single Man and the highest of a Zaim to serve with Nineteen so that whosoever will survey this Turkish Host must make his Calculate a little more or less by conjecture and judgement And this difficulty is the more augmented when I consider the fraud is used by the Accomptants Registers and Muster-Masters of the Grand Signior's Enrollments who are as well acquainted with the arts and sweetness of making false Musters as they are in the most ingenious places of Christendom and perhaps Policy may afford a connivence to this Fraud for the sake of a superlative face of their Armies which they love to express by this usual similitude Asker reml deria misal As innumerable as the Sands of the Sea-shore but in effect the noise is greater than the reality and he that will sum up their number may find Arithmetick to make the Account which by the vast extent of Tents confusion of Baggage train of Servants and Attendants of the Camp appears infinite in the popular estimation Besides the Turkish Army admits of great increase and decrease by the many interlopers as we call them which the Zaims for their own honour introduce to fill up their numbers on a day of Muster or Appearance so that one would admire to see in so short a time so apparent a decay in the Turkish Camp which abuse the great and famous Visier Mahomet Kiupruli with cruelty and extraordinary severity endeavoured to remedy upon his expedition for recovery of Tenedos and Lemnos and conquest of Ianoua in Transilvania but it is impossible for one man to know and see and remedy all disorders and is amongst the Turks called Aain oin a secret fraud as difficult to be totally remedied as it is to be throughly discovered But that which makes the principal difference and various change herein is the death of Zaims and Timariots some of which holding an Estate onely for life and others dying without Heirs of their Bodies their Lands revert to the Crown Which Estates being improved by the Industry of the Possessours above the primary valuation in the Records and afterwards falling into the hands of the Prince are bestowed again on others according to their true estimate which is oftentimes double of the former By which means the number of the Grand Signior's Souldiery is increased and it is a point very observable that as other Princes loose by the fall and death of their Subjects the Grand Signior is the onely gainer for of the most that are slain in the day of Battel the Estates accrue to him in disposal again of which he observes this Rule to gratifie many with that which was before the proportion of a single person But to come now to the express and distiâct account of the Ziamets and Timariots in every part and Government of the Empire this Computation is extracted out of the Imperial Rolls and Registers of the Grand Signior In the Government of Anatolia are reckoned as follows in the âangiacks Ziamets Timariots  Of Kiotahia 39 948 So that computing at the lowest rate 4 Gebelues to every Zaim with them and their followers must make 1180 Of Sarhan 41 674 Of Aidin 19 572 Of Kastamoni 24 570 Of Hudawendighiar 42 1005 Of Boli 14 551 Doubling the number of Timariots at the lawest rate makes 14880 Of Mentesche 52 381 Of Angura 10 257 Of Karahisar 10 615  Of Tike ili 7 257  Of Riangri 7 381 In all 16060 Of Hamid 9 585 For maintenance of which Army the Rents in the Ottoman Statutes are Aspers 37310700 Of Sultan Vghi 7 390 Of Karesi 7 242 Of Ienige hisar 7 12 Total of Ziamets are 295 and 7440 Timariots There was farther in past times allotted to the attendance of this Army about 6900 men for mending the Ways bringing Provisions and service of the Artillery there was also an allowance for 1280 Sutlers or Victuallers of the Camp and for 128 Trumpeters and Drummers which were Gypsies but this was when Anatolia was a Frontier Countrey to the Christians and was therefore better fortified and accommodated but since it is become one of the innermost parts of the Empire that Rent is converted into the possession of Zaims and Timariots so that there is a farther addition of 330 Ziamets and 1136 Timariots In the Government of Caramania are reckoned Sangiacks 7. Ziamets Timariots  Iconium 18 512 The Gebelues of the Zaims at the lowest rate are 292 Nighde 11 355 Kaisari 12 144 Ienischeher 13 244 Of Timariots at the same accompt 4900 Akscheber 6 122 Kyrscheher 4 430  Akserai 9 358 W ch makes in all 4892 Which make 73 2165 The Rent according to the Ottoman Statute is Aspers 1050175 In the Government of Diarbekir are reckoned 12 Sangiacks besides those of Kiurdistaw and Gurdia which are computed to make 1800 Men but I find onely
the Countrey whose Office is by turns to convey yearly the Piâgrims to Mecha and the annual Tribute of 60000 Zechiâs to the Ottoman Court whether it be judged requisite to send it either by Land or Sea these are the standing Militia of the Countrey out of which unless upon the foregoing occasions they are not obliged to other service their principal duty being to prevent the invasion of the African Montaneers who often make incursion from the barren Rocks into the fat and fruitfull Soils of Egypt Besides this Militia are computed 80000 Timariots out of which they yearly transport about 2500 or 3000 men to the Wars of Candy but to more remote Countries or the late Wars of Hungary I did not hear that this Soldiery hath usually been called These twelve Begs of Egypt are noble by bloud enjoying an hereditary Estate descendinâ from Father to Son which richness joined with the command of a powerfull Army hath rendred them so formidable and insolent that oftentimes they take upon them an authority to imprison and depose the Pashaw from his Office and spoil him of all the Riches he hath collected in his three years Government by which means are alway great jealousies and enmities between the Pashaw and these Begs Dissentions and Rebellions to that high degree that many times it hath been little different from an absolute Revolt Ibrahim Pashaw was in the year 1664. imprisoned by them and obtained his liberty for 600 Purses of Money after whose departure the Brother of the said Ibrahim upon some certain pretences on the Pashaw's score falling into their hands was imprisoned also but shortly after obtained his releasment by the Grand Signior's Master of Horse who was sent expresly to compose the disorders of Egypt which were now proceeded to that degree as without some satisfactory atonement could not be ãâã otherwise than a total defection and therefore thây resigned up one called Sulficar Bei to justice who being brought to Adrianople was immediately in presence of the Grand Signior put to death But the Turk hath alway on occasion of these disturbances and insolences dissembled and connived at the disorders perceiving the distemper of that Kingdom to be such as can with much difficulty be redressed fearing that were forcible remedies applied they would cause so violent a commotion of humours as would absolutely rent it from the body of the Empire The Auxiliary Forces to the forementioned Militia of the Turks Are the Tartars Valachians Moldavians and Transilvanians under the command of their respective Princes Who are obliged to serve in person whensoever called by the Sultan's command The Tartars I mean of Crim are to furnish one hundred thousand men the Tartar han or Prince in Person to lead them when the Grand Signior himself appears in the Field but if the Army is commanded by the Visier onely then the Son of the Tartar han is to serve or having no issue the Army to the number of Forty or fifty thousand fighting men is to be conducted under the chief Minister But the Princes of Valachia Moldavia and Transilvania are never excused from personal attendance in the Camp each of which respectively are to be attended with Six or seven thousand Men apiece And though the Prince of Transilvania called Apasi was in the last War against the Emperour not called out of the Confines of his own Countrey it was with design that he should keep that station free from the irruption of the Enemy not that he was disobliged from his personal attendance on the Visiers Camp. CHAP. VI. Of the Spahees HItherto we have treated of the Turkish Horse that are maintained by Farms and Rents of Lands now It will be necessary to discourse of those that receive their constant pay from the Grand Signior's Treasury and these are called Spahees who many not improperly be termed the Gentry of the Ottoman Empire because they are commonly better educated courteous and refined than the other sort of Turks and are in number 12000. Of these there are two Orders one called Silachtari who carry yellow Colours and the other Spahanglari or the Servants of the Spahees and have their Colours red these Servants have now obtained the precedency above their Masters for though the Silachtari are very ancient and deduce their institution from Ali their first Founder who was one of the four Companions of Mahomet yet Sultan Mahomet the Third on a day of Battel in Hungary seeing the Silahteri roââed and put to flight with violent passion and earnestness endeavoured to stop their course and perceiving the Servants of these Spahees to remain still in body incited them to revenge the shamefull cowardise of their Masters who immediately encouraged with the words of the Sultan clapping up a red Flag gave so bold an onset on the Enemy and with that success as wholly recovered the glory of the day in remembrance of which service and notable exploit the Sultan as disposer of all Honours and Orders gave ever after the preheminence to these Servants before their Masters since which time this new institution of Spahaoglary hath always been continued These Light horse-men are armed with their Scimetar and Lance called by them Mizrak and some carry in their hands a Gerit which is a Weapon about two foot long headed with Iron which I conceive to be the same with the Pila amongst the Romans which by long exercise and custome they throw with a strange dexterity and violence and sometimes darting it before them in the full career of their Horse without any stop recover it again from the ground they also wear a streight Sword named Chaddare with a broad Blade fixed to the side of their Saddle which or the Scimetar they make use of when they arrive to hand-blows with the Enemy many of them are armed with Bows and Arrows and with Pistols and Carbines but esteem not much of Fire-Arms having an opinion that in the Field they make more noise than execution some of them wear Jacks of Male and Head-pieces painted with the colour of their Squadron in fight they begin their onset with Allah Allah and make three attempts to break within the Ranks of the Enemy in which if they fail they then make their retreat The Asian Spahees are better mounted than commonly those of Europe though these being Borderers on the Confines of the Christians having learned much of Discipline by constant skirmishes and combats are trained in the Art of War and become the more valiant and experienced Soldiers But the Asiatick Spahees were formerly the more rich many particular Men of them bringing into the Field thirty or forty men apiece besides their Led-Horses Tents and other accommodations proportionable to their Retinue but these Cavaliers seemed too great and proud to the Visier Kuprinli for the condition of common Troopers and infected with the Epidemical Spirit of Faction and Mutiny which raged at that time amongst all the Grandees of the Empire
Flemish Ship 825 b. Andrew King of Hungary maketh an Expedition into the Holy Land 62 a. bathing himself in the River of Jordan returneth with all his Power ib. a. Andronicus aspireth to the Empire 30 b. overthroweth Angelus sent against him with a great power by Alexius the great President 31 b. encampeth over against Constantinople 32 a. taketh upon him the Government and tyranniseth 33 b. causeth Mary the daughter of Emanuel the Emperour with her husband Caesar to be poysoned ib. b. causeth Xene the fair Empress to be unjustly condemned and strangled 34 b. by his favourites and flatterers joyned in the fellowship of the Empire with Alexius the young Emperour ib. b. depriveth Alexius of the Empire and causeth him to be strangled 35 b. destroyeth the Nobility to establish his Estate 35 b. 36 a. seeketh in vain to appease the people in a tumult risen up against him 37 a. forsaken of his flattering favourites flieth is taken and brought back in chains to Angelus ib. b. committed to the fury of the people who with extreme cruelty put him to most shameful death 38 a. Andronicus Palaeologus the younger exceedingly beloved by old Andronicus his grandfather 110 a. by the persuasion of Syrgiannes conspireth against his aged Grandfather 111 b. being sent for cometh unto him secretly armed with purpose to have slain him 112 a. secretly flieth out of Constantinople ib. b. proclaimed Traitor and proscribed ib. b. stirreth up the people of Thracia to rebellion 112 b. reconciled to his Grandfather 114 b. crowned Fellow in the Empire with his Grandfather 115 a. again conspireth against his Grandfather ib. a. his crafty speech unto his Grandfathers Ambassadours 116 b. seeketh in vain by night to have been received into Constantinople 118 a b. is received into Thessalonica 118 b. taketh in the greatest part of Macedonia and Thracia 119. a. by Treason entreth into the City of Constantinople ib. b. forbiddeth his Captains and Souldiers to violate the Majesty of the old Emperour or any about him 120 a. humbleth himself unto his Grandfather ib. b. evil persuaded committeth him to streight keeping 121 a b. wounded in the battel with Orchanes at Philocrene 126 a. by his own departure from his Camp discomfiteth his whole Army ib. a b. Andronicus Palaeologus the old Emperour in restoring again the Greek Ceremonies by his Father bofore altered falleth into great troubles 101 b. sparing to maintain his Navy weakeneth his Empire 102 a. suspicious of his brother Constantine ib. a. by taking him away leaveth the East side of his Empire to be spoiled by the Turks 102 b. reposing more trust in foreign aid than in his own Subjects greatly hurteth his State 104 a. immoderately favoureth his Nephew Andronicus 110 a. setteth Syrgiannes to observe his doings 111 a. sendeth Ambassadours unto him 112 b. in his trouble as of an heavenly Oracle asketh counsel of the Psalter and so maketh peace with his Nephew 114 b. informed of the evil meaning of his Nephew forbiddeth him to come into the City 115 b. his notable Speech unto the Patriarch and the rest of the Bishops and Nobility concerning the young Emperour his Nephew 117 b. forsaken of the Patriarch and som others of the Bishops 118 a. reposeth his whole trust in God ib. his pittiful request unto the young Emperour his Nephew 120 b. by him deprived of his Imperial Dignity 121 a. falleth blind ib. b. against his will made a Monk and called Anthony ib. b. his notable answer unto the catching question of the proud Patriarch ib. b. enforced to swear Never again to resume unto himself the Empire 122 b. dieth ib. b. his death by many Prodigies foreshown 123 a. Antioch described 13 a. by the Patriarch betrayed to Saladin 45 b. Apulia spoiled by the Turks 452 b. Ares Chan hanged 664 a. Artillery of exceeding greatness made by Mahomet at the siege of Scodra 285 a. Articles by Botscay propounded to the Emperors Commissioners 886 a. of the Emperour to be considered in thâ Dyet of Ratisbone 883 b. c. of pacification betwixt the Emperour and his brother Mathias 888 b. by the Hungarians preferred unto King Mathias at Presburg 890 b. of the Pacification in Austria 892 b. touching the differences of Peace betwixt the grand Seignior and the Emperour 939 b. c. propounded by the English Ambassadour to the Grand Seignior 966 b. c. of peace between the Grand Seignior and the King of Poland 978 a. b. c. between the English Nation and the Inhabitants of Tunes and Algier 1440 c. between the Emperour Ferdinand and Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania 7. c. betwixt the Grand Seignior and the Emperour ib. b. Asam Beg with his Army overthrown and taken Prisoner by Scanderbeg 261 b. Assan Aga derideth the Messengers sent unto him from Charles the Emperour 485 a. taketh the Spaniards to mercy 489 a. Auria with his fleet doth the Turks great harm in Peloponesus 422 a. besiegeth Corone and hath it yielded unto him 423 a. taketh and ransacketh Patras with the Castles of Rhium and Molycreum ib. a. returneth to Genoa ib. b. troubleth the Turks Fleet and taketh twelve of their Gallies full of Ianizaries and Solyman's other best Souldiers 453 a. braveth Barbarussa in the Bay of Ambracia 463 b. shamefully flyeth with his Fleet 464 b. dieth 532 b. Austria spoiled by the Turk 415 a. Altenburg taken ib. b. Austria sore wasted by Cason 418 b. Axalla a Christian in great favour with Tamerlane and his Lieutenant General in his Wars against the Turk 148 a. takes Bajazet the great Turk Prisoner 152 a. without resistance taketh Prusa 153 a. overthroweth one of the Turks Bassaes with the slaughter of thirty thousand Turks 162 a. B BAbylon taken and sacked by the Tartars 79 b. with the Countries of Mesopotamia and Assyria yielded to Solyman 438 a. Bajazet the First why sirnamed Gylderun or Lightning 135 b. succeedeth his Father Amurath in the Turkish Kingdom 140 a. invadeth Servia ib. b. by Ferises his Lieutenant spoileth Valachia ib. b. oppresseth most of the Mahometan Princes the Successors of Sultan Saladin in the lesser Asia 141 a. invadeth Valachia overthroweth the Vayvod and causeth him to become his Tributary ib. a. besiegeth Constantinople eight years ib. b. In a great Battel at Nicopolis overthroweth Sigismund King of Hungary with his Confederates 142 a. returneth again to the siege of Constantinople 142 b. marrieth Despina the fair Daughter of Lazarus the Despot 143 a. prettily reproved by his Iester ib. a. in a battel overcometh Aladin the Caramanian King and delivereth him Prisoner to Temurtases his Lieutenant 144 a. subdueth the Caramanian Kingdom ib. a. hath the great Cities of Amasia and Sebastia yielded unto him ib. a. oppresseth the Mahometan Princes of the lesser Asia ib. b. uncivily entertaineth the Ambassadors of the mighty Tamerlane sent unto him in the behalf of the poor Princes by him oppressed 145 b. accounteth a Shepherd more happy than himself 149
Venice 124 a. Cara Mustapha See Kara Mustapha Caramosauls what 22 b. Carrisia a strong Garison allarms all Croatia 277 a. Caschaw surrendred 315 a. Casimir King of Poland resigns his Crown and how Affairs then stood there 231 b. Count Cesâ French Ambassador at the Port 27 b. Cheâtan Ibrahim Seraskier condemned to lose his Head for the Defeat at Gran Newheusel c. 318 a. Chirfaleas a courageous Captain 145 b. is slain near Serinswar 152 a. Chusaein the Great Vizier advances Sultan Amurat to the Throne who soon deposes him from his Office and afterwards causes him to be strangled and why 2 3. Chusaein Pasha General of the Turks in Candia 82 a. is made Great Vizier but to reside still in Candia 84 a. is discharged from the Office of Great Vizier 86 a. is put to death by the Great Vizier Kuperlee 92 b. Chusaein Pasha of Buda besieges Leventz 154 b. is routed by Count Soise 155 b. Another Chusaein Pasha is made Governor of Caminiec 233 b. Claudiopolis besieged by the Turks but not taken 111 a. yeilds it self to Apafi Prince of Transilvania 147 b. Clissa taken by Foscolo the Venetian General 76 a. the Turks endeavour to regain it but are beaten off 82 b. it is described 172 a. Count Coligni Commander of the French Troops in Hungary joyns Montecuculi 154 b. his Valour at the great Battel with the Turks on the Raab 158 a. having received Honours of the Emperour he returns homewards with his Army 161 a. Constantinople a terrible Fire there in 1634. 25 b. a great Plague there in 1661. 111 b. an Insurrection there on the account of the Grand Signior's Brothers 211 a. another Plague there 315 a. Great Disorders there 315 a. 318 a. Corban what 2 a. the manner of it among the Turks 144 b. Andrea Cornaro General and Inquisitor in Candia 60 b. is slain in the defence of Retimo 61 b. Another Andrea Cornaro Captain-General of the Venetians 186 a. being made Proveditor General he is slain at Candia with a Granado 212 a. Coron taken by the Venetians 317 a. Cosacks their Boats described 4 a. in them entring the Bosphorus they make great spoil on the Turkish Coasts ib. a. they infest the Black Sea 11 a. again more numerously 14 b. their Country described 36 a. the ground of the War betwixt them and the Poles 36 a. b. they again infest the Black Seas 82 b. they infest the Tartars 133 a. great numbers of them carried into Captivity by the Turks 241 b. they assassinate their General 311 b. they give the Turks and Tartars a great Defeat 308 a. Cross. The Vayvod of Valachia caused a prodigious Cross to be erected before his Tent in the Camp at Vienna 298 b. Sir Sackvile Crow's difference with the Turky Company 62 c. Curdi or Cordiaei their Country described their Religion and Manners 118 a. Cyrillus the Patriarch strangled at the false and malicious suggestions of the Iesuits against him 38 b. Czecherin a great Battle there between the Turks and Moscovites where the Turks being worsted after rallied assaulted and took the Town at last are forced to retire for want of Provisions 280 a. b. D. DAlmatia one seat of the War betwixt the Turks and Venetians 75 a. after Candia was surrendred Commissioners are sent hither by the Turk and Venetian for determining the differences of the Confines 227 b. all the Particulars adjusted and the War between the Turk and the Venetian ended 228 a. Damascus revolts to the Persian 6 a. Clipt Dollars called in by the Great Vizier 130 a. his Steward's Treasurer put to death for disobeying this Command ib. a. Dorosensko General of the Cosacks revolts to the Turks 232 a. Dunelma or a Festival among the Turks how celebrated 144 b. The Dutch Resident unjustly sentenced to make satisfaction for Goods belonging to Turks on board a Dutch Vessel surprized by Venetian and Maltese Corsairs 136 a. E. EGypt the Government there at present rather Aristocratical than Monarchical 259 a. Elia Pasha rebels in Anatolia but being first beaten in the Field and then besieged in Magnesia surrenders himself upon fair promises but at his arrival at Constantinople is strangled 19 b. Elmas a Village in the Upper Hungary near which the German and Turkish Ambassadors use to be exchanged 184 b. Embrahore that Office what 263 a. The Emperour sends an Envoy to the Port who disputes with the English Ambassador for Precedence 47 a. He craves aid of several Princes against the Turks 283 b. He and the King of Poland make a League Offensive and Defensive 286 b. He comes to the head of his Army 287 a. He leaves Vienna and retires to Lintz 289 a. His Army retires to their Winter Quarters 306 b. He publishes an Act of Oblivion 308 b. His Army with the Confederates rendezvouse at Barkam 318 b. The Empress Crowned Queen of Hungary 282 a. English Trade first introduced into Turky when 96. what befel the Nation and Trade in Turky in the Year 1662 128 b. the Custom endeavoured to be raised at Aleppo and Scanderone in 1665. by the Custumer 172 b. the Scale also threatned to be removed from Scandarone to Tripoli in Soria by the Lord Treasurer but both without effect 173 b. An English Factor in Smirna designing to cheat several Principals in England of 215 fine Cloaths and a considerable Summ of Money turns Turk but without succeeding in his Knavery 239. b. Ephraim Bassa kill'd by a Cannon 309 a. Francesco Erizzo elected by the Venetians Doge General of the Sea at the beginning of the War in Candia 60 b. but hindred by Death from executing that Office ib. b. Erzirum siding with the Rebel Abassa is besieged by the Turks who are beaten off 10 b. but is surrendred voluntarily upon Abassa's Reconciliation 12. a. Esperies surrendred 115 a. Esseck Part of the Bridge burnt by Count Lesly 316 a. the City of Esseck taken ib a. F. FAcardin an Arabian Prince his History 21 b. 22 a. Festivals how celebrated among the Turks 252 a. b. Filek taken by the Turks 283 a. Sir Iohn Finch English Ambassadour at the Port 239 b. Fire hapning in Vienna at the time of the Siege much endangered the Magazine of Powder 290 b. Five-Churches taken by the Imperialists 335 b. Count Forgatz overthrows a Party of Turks making Incursions into Hungary 82 b. being Governour of Newhausel at the Turks invading Hungary in 1663. advising a Sally is with his Party routed 141 b. Leonardo Foscolo his success against the Turks in Dalmatia 75. b. his success in Bosna 82 b. he is sent into Candia with the Title of Generalissimo in the room of Mocenigo 84 a. Marquess Frangipani with others offer themselves to the Turk in 1670. 221 a. they find not the protection desired but are overtaken by the hand of Iustice 230 b. The French force the Tripolins into the Haven of Scio 283 b. French Ambassador inprisoned 20 a. his Interpreter impaled
Semlin Ugoza Bodrogh Tornaw Komarra Barzod Sachsag Novigrad Zolnock Hewecz Pesth Pelicz and Soldth united Chege Unghwar and Zatmar since the Protestants are in possession of almost all the Churches there the same Churches are left for the use of the actual Possessors of them And in the following Clause of the said Article Finally the Churches which are actually possessed by those of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg shall be still for their use as before together with the Parishes and Schools and their Revenues that they may live in peace and quiet Your most Sacred Majesty tending the peace and general quiet of the Kingdom has been Graciously pleas'd to Ordain that in the foregoing Counties all the Churches Parishes and Schools together with their Revenues should be left for the use of the Protestants Nevertheless the Churches standing in the Counties of Abavivar Saraz Semlin Tornaw and Unghwar which for the most part have been built from the foundation or repair'd from the lowest ruine by the Protestants as also the Schools and Parishes together with their Revenues left to them by the Protestants in their Wills and never before possess'd by the Roman Catholicks have been taken by force from the Protestants as well as the Churches Parishes and Schools standing in the Dominion of Rakocz in these Towns of the County of Semlin Zantho Thalia mod Kerethur Tarazal Liszka Benny Toleswa Ughelly Patak Borssy which at the time of the Articles of Sopron and after were possess'd by the Protestants and left to the same by the said Articles in several Towns of the Principality of Tokai and in Tokai it self altho' the Church of Tokai was left and expresly confirm'd by the Articles in the possession of the Protestants To this may be added That against the evident sense of the 25 th Article of Sopron the Protestant Noblemen and Gentlemen of the aforesaid Cities of the County of Semlin have been and are still forc'd to forbear exercising their Religion in private which Liberty they had enjoy'd since the seizing of their Churches and was granted to them by the first Article made before the Coronation in the year 1608. and confirm'd by the same 25 th Article of the Diet of Sopron Likewise the Ministers call'd back from their Exile through Your most Sacred Majesty's Favour by Virtue of the aforesaid 25 th Article of Sopron are forc'd to oblige themselves under pain of death and the forfeiture of all their Goods to go out of the same County or by strict Deeds of reversion to renounce for ever under the same Penalty to perform any Ecclesiastical Duty in the said County Moreover although the 25 th Article of Sopron evidently declareth that none of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg shall be compell'd to any Ceremony contrary to his Religion and the 26 th that the Catholicks shall not be oblig'd to pay any thing to the Ministers of the Protestants nor the Protestants to the Curates of the Catholicks according to the intent of the 11 th Article in the year 1647. yet they are forc'd even by Military Execution to do both and especially to pay the Catholick Curates Although by vertue of the often-mention'd 26 th Article the free use of Bells and Burials is equally left to the Catholicks and to the Protestants nevertheless the Protestants are not suffer'd to bury their Dead in the usual Burying-places which is against Christianity it self they are not permitted neither to use the Bells though made through their care nay the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the aforesaid Dominion of Rakotz are threatned to be dispossess'd and exterminated out of their Estates if they do not abjure and renounce the Protestant Religion which is a down right persecution of the Protestants In the like manner the Protestants of Abavivar are forbidden by the Purveyor of that County to exercise their Religion and the Ministers are commanded under pain of Death and the forfeiture of all their Goods to go out of it or if they be willing to continue there as Secular private persons by most strict deed of reversion to renounce for ever under the same penalty to perform any Ecclesiastical Duty consequently the Protestant Churches together with all their Appurtenances have been seiz'd upon by the said Purveyor Likewise in a Town called Sepssy of the same County of Abavivar where the Church could under no pretence be taken from the Protestants the Tythes of the Territory of the said Town which us'd to belong to the Protestant Minister are seiz'd and kept in Sequestration by the of Sepssy by vertue of an Order of the Illustrious Chamber of Scepusium In the Towns of Nogymihali Vinna and Iztara in the County of Unghwar and in the Towns of Tolzeck and Asgath in the County of Saraz the Churches Schools and Parishes left by the Articles for the use of the Protestants are by force taken and kept from them by the Catholick Lords of those Mannors Lastly In the Town call'd Somogy in the County of Torna a moiety of the Revenue belonging to the Protestant Minister by a Convention made formerly is taken from him All which having been attempted against Your Majesty's Gracious Resolution and the Articles made in the behalf of the Protestants they present the same to Your most Sacred Majesty's Consideration with strong persuasion that it will be Graciously Remedied and that not only they shall be re-setled in the possession of what is taken from 'em but also that all the introduc'd abuses shall be taken away The same Protestant Inhabitants of the aforesaid Counties of Upper Hungary and of the Towns standing in the Dominion of Rakoczia The same is done by the Counties of Salawar Vesprim Saraz Moramoruss Novigrad Zolnock Hevecz Pesth and Soldth united which are all comprehended in the Articles The Grievances of all the Protestant Noblemen of the Counties of Liepze Thurocz Arva Trenschin Zolnock and Sachsag wherein are contain'd the Injuries and Troubles they have sustain'd upon the account of Religion against the Articles of Sopron together with Humble Request for the Redressing of the same SInce the Grievances and Complaints of the Counties of Liepze Thurocz Arva Trenschin and Zolnock agree in all respects for shortness sake they are put together here the same then justly complain that they have been injur'd and disturbed in that the Protestant Ministers who perform'd the Duties of their prosession in the Noblemens places of Residence where the free Exercise of Religion was transferr'd by Virtue of the 26 th Article of Sopron since the seizing of the Protestant Churches in these Counties have all been Banish'd except two left in two places named in the Articles within a fortnight out of the County and place where they liv'd or if any desir'd to continue in it he was requir'd to oblige himself by strict deed of Reversion never to perform any Ecclesiastical Duty and forbidden to remain on any other term under pain of Imprisonment No Schools are
before made a Relation Thus was this and other famous Fortresses of Greece which had for many years remained in the Ottoman power and withstood great and considerable Forces in a few Months subjected to the Christian Arms by the Valour and Bravery of the Captain-General Morosini by the admirable Conduct of Count Chinixmarch and the courage of those noble Princes of Brunswick and Turene amongst which the German Soldiery and all others did greatly signalize themselves in all their Atchievements And thus we shall put an end to the Successes of the Year 1686 which have terminated so gloriously in honour of the Christian Arms by which the Turks were reduced to that low and miserable condition of which they were never before sensible nor never accustomed unto which made them the less able to bear the Evil nor endure the Remedy ANNO 1687. NEver had the Ottoman Empire since the time that they first passed out of Asia over into Europe been under that Eclipse and in that low of Ebb of Fortune as at present And yet this following Year was so much more unlucky and fatal to them than the former as if their Mischiefs would not have ended but with the total Ruin and Downfal of their Empire To prevent which the Grand Seignior meditated on Thoughts of Peace and sent a Chiaus a thing which the Turks never practised before to tender Articles to the Emperor which were not received nor other Answer given than that his Imperial Majesty could not so much as enter into a Treaty without the consent of Venice and Poland their Allies And thô the Turks endeavour'd to avail themselves by that Method yet they thought that the best way to facilitate that proceeding was with their Swords in their Hands and by an appearance in the Field with the most formidable Army they were able to make to which end all Otoracks who are Milites immeriti or Men excused from the War on account of past Services with a dead pay as they call it of which there may be Forty thousand in the Empire were all summoned to appear in the next Campagne and forced to the War with the greatest rigour and on pain of Death besides which new Levies were order'd to be made in all Parts of Asia and particularly at Smyrna and in the Parts adjacent Six hundred Soldiers were raised at the charge of the Citizens and Inhabitants besides which eight or nine Millions being charged to be levied in the lesser Asia The Quota taxed on Smyrna came to a Hundred thousand Dollars which Sum not being to be found amongst them and perhaps scarce the Moiety thereof the Cappugi-bashee who was sent to Collect the Money carried away most of the principal Turks in that Town to Constantinople where having represented their Poverty and inability to pay so great a Tax it was moderated and brought down to one half or to One hundred and five Purses These proceedings may evidently convince the World that the conceptions of the World generally formed of the vast Riches of the Grand Seignior's Treasury were imaginary seeing that it was so exhausted in a few Years as to force the Government to those rigorous Courses and unusual methods of Oppression which can scare be repeated without a total Desolation or extreme Misery of that Country These Taxes joyned to the Discontents of the People made all things uneasy at the Ottoman Court where it was impossible to prevent the Cabals and liberty of Speech which the Soldiers and others freely used in publick Discourse to suppress which and to restrain the Mutinies which were daily expected it was reported that the Grand Vizier designed to leave Belgrade and March back to Constantinople But the Grand Seignior consulting with his principal and wisest of his Confidents laid his Commands upon him not to remove from the Confines but rather to keep a watch on the Motions of the Enemy than to attend to domestick Seditions which the Government was at all times able to appease and to quiet the mind of the Vizier they gave him to understand that he was entirely in the favour of his Prince who was very sensible that the misfortunes of the last year were not to be attributed either to his ill Conduct or want of Courage as did appear by a Writing under the Hands of the principal Officers of the Army for his justification but rather to the divine Justice of God who was pleased for the Sins of the People to abate the Pride and Glory of the Ottoman Empire By this Letter the Grand Vizier being well satisfied of his Master 's good Inclinations towards him and strengthned in his hopes that he should yet keep his Head for some time longer or at least until the next misfortune he alter'd his intention of returning to the Port and resolved to pass his Winter at Belgrade where his Presence was chiefly necessary for keeping the Army together and more entire on the Frontiers Moreover during the rigour of this Winter season he continued to fortify Belgrade and gave Orders to erect a Fort on the Danube for better security of Peter Waradin and dispatched divers Convoys with Ammunition and Provisions for the Succour and Relief of Great Waradin Giulia Lippa Zeno and Temeswar In the mean time the Imperialists pressed Apafi Prince of Transilvania to Declare himself entirely for the Emperour and receive his Forces to Winter-quarters in his Country But that Prince who had been always very crafty and subtle in his Negotiations did so possess the Emperour's Generals with the danger which he himself should incur and the disadvantage which would accrue to the Emperor thereby whose benefit it would rather be for him to remain in a Neutrality That Count Caraffa admitted the policy of his Plea to be good and concluded a Treaty with the Deputies of Transilvania on certain Articles as namely That for subsistence of the Troops which should be put into the Frontier places of their Country Michael Apafi their Prince should furnish them every Month with Ten thousand Bushels of Wheat and Oats for which one Moiety should be paid in ready Money and that the other should be carried to and laid up in the Magazines or Store-houses at reasonable Rates which was of more advantage to the Emperor being thereby disobliged from the trouble and charge of fetching and transporting such quantities of Provisions from Countries far distant from the places where they were to be used And Secondly it was agreed to give Winter Quarters to the Imperial Troops upon which General Veterani Ordered and Assigned the several places and Count Caraffa marched from Zatmar to Kalo giving Directions to General Heusler diligently to observe the motions of the Garrison at Waradine and rigorously to exact the Contributions of that Country for maintenance of the Troops The Grand Vizier on the other side who was a person of quick vivacity and readiness of parts as we have before declared sinding that the Proposals
Enemy and being come as far as Valkovar the Scouts brought word that Rustan Pasha the late Governor of Agria with about One thousand Horse and Foot had conducted into Illoch a very great Convoy of about Two hundred Waggons laden with Provisions and that afterwards he himself was returned unto Belgrade Tunkel being disappointed of this Design was more successful in another Attempt which he made on a place called Ratza situate on this side of the Save defended by some Spahees and Ianisaries to which privately marching in the Night he surprized the place about Two hours after Midnight with the Death of about Three hundred Turks and Seventy Slaves and set at liberty Fifty Christians and took Sixty Horses with great Numbers of Cattle and Three Ensigns and having set Fire to the City he returned in Safety and Triumph to Oseck laden with Honour and Spoyls On the other side the Pasha of Gradisca having advice that Count Caprara was upon his march towards Oseck with a strong Party to Conduct and Convoy many Waggons laden with Ammunition and Provisions in order to some extraordinary Enterprize the Pasha apprehending that his Design might be upon Belgrade resolved to pass the Bridges which he had laid over the Save with design to surprize Possega and Zernech and thereby to divert the Attack intended upon Belgrade In pursuance of which the Pasha marched with a Body of Three thousand Five hundred men towards Zernech but not with that Privacy as Tunkel had lately done for in their way they set Fire to all the Villages round and killed the People which gave such an Alarum to that Garrison by the affrighted Peasants which had escaped that they immediately put themselves into a posture of defence And Colonel Baron Amanzaga having also News thereof hastned with a Body of Horse and some Foot and came so seasonably to the succour of the Town that they encountred the Turks in their march and charged them with so much bravery that they not only put the Cavalry to Flight but also forced them to abandon the Ianisaries and to expose them to the Sword of their Enemies The greatest part of which to the Number of about Five hundred were Slain upon the place and Two hundred made Prisoners amongst which was the Commander in Chief of the Ianisaries Four Aga's and the Son of the Pasha of Gradisca with several Colours and Drums The News of which Baron Amanzaga dispatched to General Caprara with all Expedition About the same time or the Day before another Party detached from the main Body made an Attack upon the Out-guards of Possega which being over-matched in numbers retreated under the Gates of the City The Lieutenant Governour to whom at that time with some veterane Soldiers and subaltern Officers the Command of the Town was committed took the Alarum but not being cautious enough to be informed of the Strength and Numbers of the Enemy by the Report of the Out-guards he advanced too far from the Town which when the Turks observed they made a feigned Flight with design to bring their Enemy into an Ambuscade which they had prepared for them in which they had all miscarried had not Count Truxes Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Holstein and Count Bizzaro Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Lodron who were accidentally marching to relieve the Out-guards come seasonably into their Succour and Rescue who so vigorously charged the Enemy that they put them to Flight and forced them to take Refuge in the Woods and Mountains whilst the Christians the Night approaching retired orderly into Possega There being in the mean time various Reports at the Imperial Court concerning the State and Condition of the City of Alba Regalis which holding out so long beyond all expectation it was conjectur'd that the Blocade was not strict or at least not sufficiently guarded and watchfully attended as it ought to have been which obliged the Counsel of War to dispatch Orders to Colonel Riccardi that he with his Regiment should March to Vesprimio Palotta and other Neighbouring places to make enquiry into the State and Condition of that City and Garrison Riccardi according to his Orders marched out of Giavarino or Rab and taking with him a Company of Croats and a Party from Schomberg he came to Quarter for one Night at a Village called Brin about a League distant from Alba Regalis and early in the Morning by break of day sounding to Horse in pursuance of his March he detached Ten Croats and as many Hungarians to advance before with directions to seize and surprize what Turks they should meet near the City that by them they might be informed of the State of the place But they meeting with none on the way came up to the very Gates of the Town which they found shut and unguarded But soon afterwards they were opened to give Passage to the Sally of a Party both of Horse and Foot the latter of which remained within their Palisadoes but the first Sallied out into the Field having the Renegado Wrebeck at the head of them who coming near frankly discoursed with the Christians in this manner Soldiers what is it you demand May a Man trust to your Word To which Answer was made That he might whereupon he came up boldly to them and touched the Hand of an Hungarian Ensign and a Rascian By which time Wrebeck perceiving the numbers of the Enemies to increase and to approach within Cannon-shot of the Town he Demanded what those Troops were To which Answer was made That they were the Troops of a certain Croatian Colonel who desired to have conference with the Pasha or with some other of the principal Officers Wrebeck promised to carry that Message and accordingly returned to the City where at the Gates thereof he met the Pasha of that Country with the Commander in Chief of the Ianisaries year 1688. and with two or three other of the principal Officers of that place to whom he made a Report that the Troops without were Commanded by a certain Croatian Colonel who desired to enter into a Conference with the Pasha To which the Pasha suddainly replied in these words It is well he is welcome I will go and speak with him These words being over-heard by the Chief Commander or Aga of the Ianisaries he arose up in a Fury and throwing down his Turbant with a Rage upon the Ground cried out Treachery and that the Pasha had a Design to betray them into the Hands of the Christians And Roaring out Treachery Treachery he ran to advise the Vizier thereof whom he found on one of the Bastions taking a view of the Enemie's Troops in the Field The Vizer having heard this saying Commanded that the Business should be examined and in case the Pasha should be found Guilty he should be stoned to Death and his Body thrown over the Walls The Pasha being highly incensed upon this so unjust an occasion took up his
posture on the Frontiers near Belgrade And the Preparations for the Sea in the mean time went forward with all Chearfulness it being designed that the Maritime Force should be equal to that of the last Year being reinforced with many Vessels from Tripoli Tunis and Algier in all which Expeditions the Chimacam of Adrianople was very vigilant and active At length about the beginning of May the Grand Vizier arrived at Adrianople near which Place he was met at Hafsa about three Hours distant from thence by many of the Principal Officers and at an Hours distance from the City by the Mufti and Chimacam and others who in great Pomp and State conducted him to the Presence of the Sultan by whom he was graciously received and the Seals delivered to his Hand after which being Vested with a Coftan lined with Sables he made a short Prayer and withdrew himself from the Presence of the Sultan and being come to the Vizier's Palace he bestowed Coftans on all the Pasha's and Officers of his Court confirming the Old Ones in their Places and declaring New where they were vacant Having taken some Refreshment that Night the next Day he held a Solemn Council at which it was concluded what Methods were to be taken for the future and it was agreed That on the 31st of this Month the Vizier's Tents were to be pitched at the usual Place without the City and also the Janisar-Aga's and that the Day following they were both in Person to March out into their Tents and that on the 6th of Iâne they were to begin their Journey towards Belgrade accordingly the Janisaries led the Van as was usual and proceeded a Day before the Vizier and the Spahee's but they had not marched a Day before that being united with the other Militia they began to Mutiny exclaiming for their Pay and protesting that they would not proceed until first they had received their six Months Pay in Arrear with their Vests of thick Cloth as also the Donative due to them at the Inauguration of every New Sultan To content these People the Grand Vizier issued out to them with all speed their six Months Pay and with fair Words and Promises he so pacified them that they quietly marched forward to Belgrade protesting howsoever not to pass the Save without their Cloth and Donative With this Pacification the Grand Vizier taking a little Breath began to consider of the manner how to establish himself and because an Able and Faithful Chimacam who remains near the Person of the Grand Seignior is always a great support to a Vizier he sent for the Pasha of Aleppo named Mustapha to come to him who in the Time of Solyman the Grand Vizier had been Seraskier or General against the Poles This Person being come to him he made him Chimacam and displaced the other who as we have said refused lately the Vizier's Office and sent him to remain Pasha at Erzirum which is in Armenia Major One would have imagined that this Vizier might have thought himself secure with that Chimacam who had refused as we have said the Vizier's Office so fairly and so lately offered to him by the Sultan so that a little kind Aspect and few obliging Words might have made him entirely his own but there is a Fate amongst the Turks that neither the Grand Seignior is constant to his Viziers and Chief Officers nor they to the Inferiour Ministers who act under them never believing themselves secure but with those who are their own Creatures by which continual Revolutions all things remain in distraction and a Vizier hath scarce learned or become Master of his Trade before he is disgraced and thrown down from his Sublime Office with all his Kindred and Dependances to the Abyss of Misery and Ruine of which we have discoursed at large in another Treatise Upon which Maxime this Vizier called for his own Creature to make him Chimacam and recalled the late Mufti whom the preceding Vizier had Exiled which was the more easily done the Place being vacant by the Death of the Mufti who was last made All these Embroils and Changes could not do less than hinder the Proceedings of the main Business for the Budziack Tartar refusing to follow the Command of the Tartar Han the Grand Seignior sent one Messenger after the other to hasten the March of the Tartars commanding them with 3 or 4000 Horse to carry on each a Sack of Wheat or Meal for the Relief of Great Waradin from whence frequent Letters came that they being reduced to the Extremity of Famine could not longer subsist but should be forced to deliver themselves up into the Hands of the Enemy unless speedily succoured In this manner unthought of Accidents fell out full of Disappointments by which neither the Forces at Land nor at Sea amounted to half the Power they were of the last Year Thus far in this Year of 1692 have we shown the State of Affairs in Turky whilst at Vienna things were in preparation for the following Campaign and many Counsels of War were held by the General Officers in Presence and with the Assistance of Prince Lewis of Baden We being now in the Month of May all the Endeavours were bent for taking Great Waradin before the Turkish Army should take the Field and come to relieve it of which there was now no great probability in regard that from all sides Advices came that the Town laboured under the last Extremity of Famine the which was not only confirmed by Letters from thence to Adrianople but by a Messenger dispatched with Letters to Giula and Temeswaer from the Besieged to give an account of the miserable Condition of the Place the Circumstances of which were reported to be so wretched that in all probability the Place could not hold out much longer But because many times Reports are false and that Men do often especially in War magnifie or diminish things according to their Humour or Interest it was judged fit not to expect until Famine had forced the Besieged to surrender for that might prove still the Work of some Months and in the mean time give the Enemy means to relieve the Place wherefore it was resolved to force the Surrender and the care thereof being committed to General Heusler he with all Expedition and Diligence having drawn his Troops together from their Winter-Quarters and adjacent Places posted himself near the Old Fort in which the Heydukes had kept a Garrison during the Winter Season from whence he sent a Summons to the Turks to Surrender and deliver up the City which they resolutely refusing to do he began the Day following to open the Trenches and raised two Bulwarks exactly opposite to the Bulwarks of the Enemies called Zingar and Capudon and caused a Bridge to be laid from the Palancha Oloschi reaching to the Old City To disturb these Works the Turks plyed their Great Guns continually and made a furious
hunc Principem sibi devincire enititur His nos uberrimae Sacrae Caesareae vestrae Majestatis gratiae committentes sumus conatu summo Serenissime Potentissime Invictissime Caesar Imperator semper Auguste Sacrae vestrae Caesareae Majestatis Humillimi Devotissimi Servi H. HEEMSKIRK COLYER Adrianop 31 May 1693. All thoughts of Peace and Treaties being thus laid aside the Government employed its utmost Endeavours and Counsel were taken in Matters and Contrivances tending to the War It was reported That the Grand Seignior Sultan Achmet had resolved to go as far as Sophia where he would pass the Summer being nearer to Belgrade and the Frontiers in Hungary but the Physicians perswaded the contrary as being prejudicial to the Health of the Sultan who was already affected with the Dropsie the fatal and common Disease of that Ottoman Family for Cure of which many Consultations were held by the Physicians who in regard that they found as yet a Schirrus only upon the Liver they gave great hopes of his Recovery howsover the People took occasion from hence to discourse That in case this Sultan Achmet were Dead he would be succeeded by Sultan Mustapha his Nephew and Son to the late Sultan Mahomet who had been Deposed which would be a happy Change for the whole Empire he being Young and Brave and as to all appearance of a Martial Spirit and a Lover of Justice To forward the Preparations for the War with all Expedition possible strict Orders were given to provide ãâ¦ã with Provisions ãâ¦ã âood for want of which the ãâã laboured under the greatest Extremity Letters also and Commands weâe dispatched to all Parts in Asia to hasten the March of the Janisaries and Spahees and to enroll new Janisaries a Method not used in former Times by which taking every Pitiful Fellow that offered to come in they composed such a Band of raw Soldiers not only unexperienced in War but Poor and Feeble and Old that scarce one half of them were judged able to hold out a March to Belgrade The Turks also dispatched away 2000 Janisaries to reinforce the Garrison at Negropont likewise they reinforced Canâa with Men and Provisions as they also did their Army in and about the Morea and strengthned their Castles at the Dardanelli with Soldiers Gunners and Engineers under Command of Husaein Pasha who had formerly been Chimacam with the Grand Seignior but the Troops designed for Hungary marched slowly These Preparations being much retarded by the late Change of those two great Officers namely the Grand Vizier who as we said voluntarily resigned and the Tefterdar or Lord Treasurer called Ismael Effendâ Matulled or put out Disgraced and Exiled tho' some reported That he was secretly Strangled which was a strange and an unseasonable Policy at such a time as this to put all things backward by the Death of two prime Officers of State who perhaps were Innocent and Good Ministers But under such a Government as this it is not sufficient to be Wise Honest and Industrious but you must also be Successful and free of Enemies which are things not in our power By these Changes place was made for other Officers for Osman Pasha a Cunning Knavish Candiot as most of that Nation are was made Chimacam in Adrianople Mustapha Pasha who had been Chimacam and Seraskier on the Danube was declared Grand Vizier and Cantemir the Son of Dica Bey who had for 30 Years past been Prince of Moldavia was made Successor to his Father This Grand Vizier before he could be warm in his Place or provided with things necessary for the War or acquainted with his Souldiery and the Chief Commanders which were to fight under him was commanded to be gone with all expedition to the Army which he prepared to do with what speed was possible And in regard that all intentions for Peace were laid aside the Mediators were dismissed from their further Attendance and Mr. Heemskirk was licensed to return to Vienna tho' some difficulties arose thereupon at the instance of the French who suggested that Heemskirk was an Instrument and Spye of the Emperor and a German and not sent as a Mediator from the King of England whose true Minister my Lord Paget was And this colour had like to have cost Heemskirk dear had not my Lord Paget own'd him for a Minister of the King and unridled the Secret of the two Ambassadors In like manner my Lord Paget had leave to go to his House at Pera near Constantinople which is the usual place of the English Ambassadar's residence But as to the French Ambassador he continued still at Adrianople and when the Vizier marched he sent Fontaine his Dragoman or Interpreter with him to attend all the Motions of the Vizier and his Camp. Whilst these things were in Action the news from Asia was unpleasing and administred Matter for serious Consideration at the Ottoman Court where it was reported That the Army of Bassora under their New Arabian Prince did daily increase and that the Pasha of Sivas or Sebasse on the Frontiers of Persia were in Arms and that such was the confusion in those Eastern Countries as obliged the most powerful of the Asiatick Spahees to remain at home on the guard of their own Country and Estates so that the present Ottoman Force was inferiour to that of the preceding year and by reason of the forementioned Changes to which we may farther add that of the Seimen Pasha who was Lieutenant General of the Janisaries and advanced to be Aga or General of the Janisaries in the place of Ismael Pasha Likewise divers Captains who had been Creatures and Favourites of the late General were deprived of their Commands least they should make Desturbances or raise Factions in the Army all which as it diminished and enfeebled their Force so it hindered the early appearance of the Turks in the Field But the Preparations at Sea against the Venetians proceded more briskly than they did at Land for in the Month of May 22 Sail of Gallies and 13 Great Men of War were provided and fitted out of the Arsenal at Constantinople and ordered to sail down to the Castles of the Dardanelli there to join with the Gallies of the Beyes of the Archipelago to which some Ships of the Barbarouses being added they computed that they might form a Fleet of 24 Sail of Men of War besides Gallies Things proceding thus slowly by Land for the Causes before-mention'd the Vizier did not begin his March from Adrianople towards the Christians until the 26th of Iune Old Style designing at first for Belgrade when on a sudden express Orders were given to the Army to change the course of their March and leave the Road to Belgrade and take that for Valachia and through that Country to enter into Transilvania This alteration was the more surprising to the Germans who expected not the Turks on that side because it was not known above a Week or 10 Days
was Vice-Consul for the English Nation in that Island fled with his Family and was well received at Tino Domenico Castelli Son of Vincenzo Castelli escaped also with whom I was well acquainted together with forty of the chief Families of the Latine Rite leaving their Possessions and Moveables behind them Antonio Rendi happened to be then at Smyrna but his Family deferring their Departure his House was Plundered and all his Estate ruined like that of his Neighbours for tho' they fled to Smyrna for refuge by this Revolution the Greeks gained a clear Victory and Ascendant over the Latines For whereas formerly there were great Animosities between those two Rites the Latines by reason of their Riches having the Pope on their side were always esteemed the Superiors and by the great Collections made for them and Legacies bequeathed they gained much more of the Hearts and Favour of the Turks than the Poverty of the Greeks was able to purchase but now a fair Opportunity happening of gaining and Confiscating all that appertained to the Latines they seized on all that belonged to them treating the Greeks more favourably because they believed them to be the less culpable having the less Riches and in reality the Greeks having been under the Dominion of the Turks for some Ages were become almost their Natural Lord from whom they expected better Quarter than from the Venetians or other Italians and so always wished well to the Turks Thus was Scio in a short time fallen again into the Hands of the Turks from whence they are never again likely to recover it unless the Venetians amend their Politicks and prove more Vigilant and Brave in the Wars both by Sea and Land but that is not now to be expected nor those of the Latines permitted to live in that Island unless they conform to the Rites of the Greek Church the greatest part of which were restored to the Enjoyment of their Estates with their Ancient Privileges but the Latines were deprived of both by the Instigation of their old Inveterate Enemies the Greeks tho' at first they were put in hopes of obtaining the like or equal Favours with them After the Death of Sultan Achmet and that Sultan Mustapha was exalted to the Throne in the first place Achmet Pasha Chimacam of Adrianople was Disgraced and all his Goods and Estate Confiscated to the Use of the Grand Seignior and he himself made a Prisoner in the Seraglio but pardoned at the Intercession of the Grand Vizier and sent Governour to the Island of Mytilene where I had once a Pasha for a Friend Married to a Sultana which had like to have cost me dear but God be praised I escaped him without much loss In the Place of this Chimacam the Nisangi Pasha who sets the Grand Seignior's Firme to certain Writings was put in his place and the Vizier's Kahya into the Place of the Nisangi and Geleâi Ibrahim Aga was made Kahya Upon the Arrival of the Valide Sultana at Adrianople Iastisâ Aga who had been formerly Kahya to the Hasaki Sultana or the Royal Queen was Constituted Aga or General of the Janisaries and at the same time Vizier of the Bench These were succeeded by the Spahyler Agasi who is General of the Horse and his Place supplied by a Salakiar of the Seraglio About the beginning of March Ymam-Sâde Mahomet Effendi then Kadilesker of Romelia was created Mufti by the Grand Seignior and his Predecessor was sent to Constantinople from whence the Sultan sent for Mimadi Effendi to be Kadilesker of Anatolia The Nakib who is the Chief of the Green Heads or those of the Race of Mahomet was deprived of this Office and Mahomet Effendi Kadi of Cânstantinople which was as much as Recorder of that City was put into his Place In like manner the Tefterdar-Kahyasi or the Lord Treasurer's Steward or Secretary called Galil Effendi was also changed who had been Treasurer in the Time of the foregoing Vizier Ali Pasha and thus had he formed all his Court according to his own Humour and Fancy And as to the High and Sublime Offices Abroad he began also to form and modelize them That of Egypt he Conferred upon Ishmael Pasha who had been lately Beglerbeg of Damascus and the Government of this latter he bestowed on the Kadilesker of the Deceased Sultan Achmet Hassan Pasha who was Kinsman to the Queen Regent late Governour of Scio was called back to Court from his Banishment at Hatsack and made the Deputy-Chimacam or Vikil-Chimacam to Govern at any time during the Grand Seignior's Absence A LIST of such as were put to Death for the late Conspiracy at Adrianople STRANGLED BENGLI HASSAN PASHA late Governour of Tripoli of Soria BEHEADED Hassan Turcman Agasi Bester Aga Salahor of the Grand Seignior Weli Aga of the Chimacam Hassan Effendi Kahya of the Chimacam Mutpach Emmini or Customer HANGED An Astrologer These following were Banished Fisula Effendi formerly Mufti who had been Banished to and afterwards Exiled into the Upper Egypt Iohaia Effendi late Kadilescher sent to Aleppo Mahomet Effendi Nakib Banished to Aleppo Ganziack Effendi under Kadi of Galata was sent to Lemnos As was also Nissani Ogla Hussaein Aga Favourite to the aforementioned Vizier Ali Pasha Besides these were above a Hundred more Strangled of Inferiour Quality whose Bodies were thrown into the River Meritz which runs by Adrianople The Valide Sultana being arrived at Adrianople was received with open Arms by her Son who governed himself much by the Measures had been given him by his Mother who made several Changes and Alterations every Day amongst the Officers of State only the Grand Vizier and Mufti continued in their Offices and the greatest part of the others consisted of Old Servants of the Court established in the time of his Father Sultan Mahomet IV. of which the Queen-Mother had an Opinion that they would prove the most Faithful Servants of any in the Courr To make room for these Men the Chimacam the Great Master of the Horse to the Sultan the Chehaya Bey or Lieutenant-General of the Janisaries who is always more feared and esteemed by the Soldiery than the Aga himself were all displaced with the Janisar-Aga as also the Principal Officers of the Spahees having an Opinion That the Youngest are always the more Bold and Daring their Courages being excited with Ambition and Vain-Glory Things being in this manner modellized both for Domestick and Martial Affairs the Grand Seignior again confirmed and published his Resolution to go this Year to the War and to make Provisions of Money to maintain the same with the usual Donative to the Soldiery which was always given in former times whensoever the Sultan made his first Years Campaign Those who were against the Grand Seignior's going in Person to the War pressed very hard the prevailing Argument of want of Money to raise which all means possible were contrived for the Sultan would not be put by his Resolution alledging That the Negligence of
Selymus with his Army passeth over the River Achomates strangled Amurat and Aladin the Sons of Achomates fly the one into Persia and the other to Egypt Amurat spoileâh Cappadocia Selymus râsâlveth to invade the Persian Chendemus âassa disswades Selymus from going any further against the Persians Chendemus Bassa by the commandment of Selymus slain Selymus senâeth oât his Scouâs who do râturn with bad news Selymus passeth over Araxes Hysmael sends an Herald to Selymus Selymus his answer unto Hysmael The order of Selymus his Battel Hysmael with thirty thousand Persians giveth Battel to Selymus with three hundred thousand Turks The great and mortal Battel between Hysmael and Selymus Vasta Ogli slain The terror of the Battel between Selymus and Hysmael The Persian Tents taken by the Turks The Ianizaries in mutiny against Selymus Selymus in passing the River Euphrates receiveth great loss Selymus cometh to Amasia The former History as it is reported by Jo. Ant. Mâânavinus a Genoway present at doing thereof Selymus and Hysmael compared together Hysmael majestical Selymus tyrannical Hysmael courteous Selymus churâish The Persians better Horsemen than the Turks The cause why Hysma â came with so small an Army againsâ Selyuâus The Countries ââbject to Hysmael Selymus with a new Army entreth into Armenia Aladeules his Kingdom Aladeules flies into the Mountains Aladeules taken and brought to Selymus is put to death Selymus invadeth Hungary Selymus goeâh to Iconium The causes moving Campson to fall out with Selymus The order of the Mamalukes The imperious Government of the Mamalukes in Egypt Judea and Syria The beginning of the Government of the Mamalukes in Egypt The moderate and happy Government of Campson Campson his answer to the Embassadors of Selymus Selymus converteth his Forces from the Persians against Campson Selymus encourageth his Souldiers to go against the Mamalukes The wholesome Counsel of Gazelles for protracting the War. A secret grudge between Campson and Cayerbeius Governor of Comagena The Mamalukes notable Souldiers The order of Campson his Battel The order of Selymus his Battel The death of Campson Aleppo delivered to Selymus by Cayerbeius the Traitor The dead Body of Campson laid out for all men to view Paulus Jovius Illust. virorum Elog. lib. 4. Selymus coming to Damasco Notable discipline in Selymus his Army Tomombeâus by the general consent of the Mamalukes chosen Sultan of Egypt Gaza yielded to Sinan Sinan advertised of the coming of Gazelles goeth secretly to meet him The Battel between Sinan Bassa and Gazelles Selymus doubting Sinan Bassa to have been lost becometh Melancholy News of Sinans Victory comforteth Selymus Sinan Bassa goeâh to meet Selymus as he was coming to Gaza Tomombeius ãâã to ãâã the ãâã The ãâã of Selyââs by an ãâã way makâs great confusion in Tomombeâus Camp. Christian Canoniers serve the Turks against the Egyptians The order of Selymus his Army Sinan Bassa General of the Field Sinan Bassa with most of his Followers slain by Bidon Mustapha with his Asian Souldiers overthroweth the left Wing of the Sultans Army Selymus causâth the Diadare and valiant Captain âidon to be slain Tomombeius his purpose discovered to Selymus TheEgyptians diveâsly afâected toward the Mamalakes The description of the great City of Caire The Pyramids of Egypt Selymus encourageth his Souldiers to the wining of Caire A most mortal Battel fought in Caire A long and terrible Fight Caire taken by Selymus Gazelles his speech to Selymus Albuchomar discovereth to Selymus the power of Tomombeius and the treachery of them of Caire The causes moving Selymus to send Embassadors to Tomombeius Selymus his Embassadors slain by the Mamalukes Tomombeius distresseth the Turks in passing the bridge made over Nilus The Mamalukes give a fresh charge upon the Turks The Mamalukes put to flight Tomombeius taken and brought to Selymus Tomombeius tortured The miserable and of Tomombeius last Sultan of Egypt Paulus Jovius Illust. virorum Elog. lib. 4. The Egyptians in doubt of their Estate bewail the death of Tomombeius Selymus cânningly reduceth the Arabians to his obedience Of this Cortug-Ogli see more in the life of Solyman Cayerbeius the Traitor made Governor of Caire and Egypt Jonuses envieth at the prâferment of Cayerbeius Selymus commanded the Wages of his Souldiers to be left in Garrison at Caire to be augmented Selymus calleth for Jonuses Bassa to answer the matter The answer of Jonuses Bassa The death of Jonuâes the great Bassa Jonuses Bassa jealous of his fair Wife Manâo The fair Lady Manto cruelly slain by her jeâlous Husband The cause why Hysmael invaded not Selymus wholely busied in the Egyptian Wars Selymus purposing to invade the Christians struck in the Reins of his Back with a Cancer The death of Selymus The ãâã judgment of God. Phi. Lonicerus Turcicae Historiae Tomo primo lib. primo Selymus before his death commendeth the tuiâion of his Son Solyman to Pyrrhus the Bassa The bloody and tyrannical Precepts left by Selymus to his Son Solyman which he afterward most assuredly kept as is to be seen in his life following Solyman hardly perswaded that his Father was dead Gazelles Governor of Syria rebelleth against Solyman Gazelles slain Belgrade won by Solyman Philippus Villerius chosen great Master of the Rhodes Cortug-Ogly the Pyrat perswadeth Solyman to besiege the Rhodes Solymans Letter to Villerius Great Master of the Rhodes The answer of Villerius to Solymans Letter Solymans Oration to his Men of âar declaring his purpose of bâsiâging the Rhodes Solyman maketh preparation against the Rhodes Villerius prepareth to make resistance against the Turks Solymans Letter to Villerius Pyrrhus Bassa his Letter to Villerâus The answer of Villerius to Solymans Letter Villerius his answer to Pyrrhus the Bassa his Letters Villerius advertised of the coming of the Turks Fleet. The carefulness of the Grand Master Villerius his Oration unto the Rhodians Solymans threatning Letters to the Rhodians The Rhodians for fear of the Turks destroy their Suburbs and places of pleasure without the City The fear of the Country People The Chancellor his Speech perswading the Rhodians âo fight with the Turks Gallies The worthy commendation of the Great Master The Turks Fleet descried at Sea troubleth the Rhodians The order of the Turks Fleet The Great Master by his Embassadors craveth aid of the Christian Princes The commendation of Prejanes The description of the Rhodes A Turkish Woman Slâve conspireth to fire the City The painfulness of the Turks Pioniers The Turks deceived by the Christian Mariners Solyman cometh into the Camp. Solymans cholerick Oration to his Souldiers Apella a Traitor The Turks battery The English Bulwark blown up The Turks assault the English Bulwark the second time and are again repulsed Mustapha Bassa âalleth into disgrace with Solyman The English Bulwark assaulted the third time by Mustapha The Turks Ensigns advanced to the top of the walls are again cast down Another breach made in the Walls The Great Master his oration unto his Knights The Turks assault the City in five places at once
Târkish Empire the 25 th day of December in the year 1574. The description of Amurath He pacifieth the Ianizaries and augmenteth their priviledges He strangleth five of his Brethren A desperâte woman Russia invaded by the Turks Leon. Gorecius de Bell. ãâã Amurath 's Letters unto the Nobility of Polonia Stephen Vayvod of Transilvania upon the commendation of Amurath chosen King of Polonia The eleven Sons of Tamas the Persian King. Ismahel appointed by his Father to succeed him in the Kingdom Aidere aspireth to the Kingdom of Persia. Aider slain and his Head cast amongst his Favorites Ismahel saluted King. He murdereth eight of his yonger Brethren Ismahel suddenly murthered by the device of his Sister Periaconcona Amurath intentive to the stirs in Persia. Mahamet resolveth to take upon him the Persian Kingdom Mahamet proclaimed King of Persia. The Head of Periaconcona presented to Mahamet on a Lance. No assurance in the Turks League Ambition the Cause of the Persian War. * A Consultation holden amongst the Bassaes about the manner of the Invasion of Persia Vstres Bassa beginneth the Wars in Persia. The League betwixt Amurath the Turks Sultan and Stephen King of Polonia Mustapha Bassa made General of the Turks Army Mustapha cometh to Erzirum and there mustereth his Army Mustapha at Chars Mustapha cunningly encampeth his Army at Chielder Tocomac General of the Persians Mustapha commeth with his Battel to relieve his distressed People A Bulwark made of the Heads of the slain Persians The speech of Manucchiar to Mustapha The Answer of Mustapha A terrible Rain and Tempest Mustapha surveyeth his Army at Archichelec and lacketh forty thousand of his Men. The Turks Victuallers cut off by the Georgians Alessandro the Georgian sendeth Ambassadors to Mustapha Alessandro curteously entertained by Mustapha The Turks Army afflicted with Hunger Ten thousand of the Turks Forragers slain The Persians fly and in flying are many of them drowned in Canac The Resolute Answer of Mustapha to his tumultuous Souldiers Eight thousand Turks drowned in passing the River Famine in the Turks Host. The Turks Army refreshed Mustapha returneth out of Siruan Mustapha relieveth his distressed Garrison at Teflis The Misery of the Turks Army in passing the Straights of Georgia The Georgian Widow submitteth her self with her Son Alexander to Mustapha Mustapha cometh to Erzirum and dischargeth his Army Mustapha magnifieth his own Exploits to Amurath Ares Chan hanged at Sumachia Emanguli Chan taken and Genge sacked by the Tartarians Ere 's recovered by the Persians Sumachia besieged by the Persian Prince Sumachia yieldeth unto the Prince Abdilcheraâ beloved of the Persian Queen Abdilcheraâ slain in the Court. The Persian Queen made away Sahamal slain by Osman The Consultations of Amurath Mustapha careful to put in execution Amurath's command Manucchiar turneth Turk Alexander constant in his Religion Emanguli Chan taketh upon him the defence of Siruan Simon with Aliculi Chan sent for the Defence of Georgia The meeting together of the Turks Army at Erzirum Chars fortified in twenty three days space Snows at Chars in August Hassan Bassa sent with twenty thousand to the succour of Teflis The Persians assail the Turks and make of them a great slaughter The Persians overthrown and Aliculi Chan taken The Misery of the Turks in Garrison at Teflis Simon destroyed the rereward of Hassan's Army and taketh from him his Treasure Mustapha returneth to Erzirum and there dischargeth his Army Hassan Bassa rewarded for his good Service by Amurath Mustapha discharged of his Generalship and called home to Constantinople Sinan accuseth Mustapha to Amurath Io. Leuncla in supplement Annal. Tuâcicorum pag. 79. Mustapha by the Mediation of certain great Ladies appeaseth the displeasure of Amurath The strange Death of the great Visier Bassa Muhamet Sinan Bassa chosen General for the Persian War. The Persian King sendeth Maxut Chan his Ambassador to Amurath The Admonition of Sinan to the Persian Ambassador The Preparations of the Persian King against the Turks Sinan mustereth his Army at Erzirum Maxut Chan reporteth unto the King what he hath done and is for his good service by him rewarded Maxut Chan flyeth unto the Turks Sinan cometh to Teflis Sinan departeth from Teflis Seven thousand Turks slain by the Georgians and Persians Sinan derided of his Souldiers Sinan cometh to Erzirum and there breaketh up his Army Amurath circumciseth his eldest Son Mahomet Io. Leuâc sup Annal. Turc p. 82 Mahamet Bassa refuseth Battel offered by the Georgians and Persians The Turks discomfited and the Treasure and Corn taken by the Georgians and Persians Mahamet with his discomfited Army cometh to Teflis The Oration of Mahamet Bassa in the Castle of Teflis The Turks among themselves make a Purse of 30000 Duckets for the relief of the Garrison of Teflis Mahamet deviseth how to betray Mustapha the Georgian Mustaffa notably revengeâh himself of the Treachery intended against him by Mahamet the General The proud answer of Sinan to Amurath Sciaus Bassa made Visier in Sinan's Place Mahamet the Persian King resolveth to go to Heri against his Son Abas Mirize Mahamet cometh to Heri Abas Mirize by his Ambassadours purged of Treason The Ambassadours of Abas accuse Mirize Salmas the Visier Mirize Salmas the Visier found guilty of Treason and beheaded Ferat Bassa chosen General of the Army in Sinan's Place General Ferat departeth from Constantinople He cometh to Reivan Ferat in the space of fifteen days buildeth a Fort at Reivan 750 yards about Ferat cometh to Erzirum and there breaketh up his Army The Death of Hama Chadum Amurath's Mother Ferat raiseth a new Army The Persian King with a great Army cometh to Tauris Ferat cuteth down a thick Wood at Tomanis and buildeth a Fort upon the Straight The compass of the Castle built at Tâmanis by Ferat Simon in danger to have been taken escapeth by a strange chance A wonderful dearth in the Turks Army at Triala The insolent speech of the mutinous Souldiers against Ferat their General The mutinous Souldiers again threaten their General The stout answer oâ Ferat The Souldiers overthrow the Generals Tents and threaten to kill him Ferat at Ardachan breaketh up his Army The dangerous Passage from Reivan to Teflis secured unto the Turks Emir Chan having his Eyes put out dieth miserably in Prison Amurath sendeth for Osman into Siruan The Tartar King sendeth 12000 Tartars to lie in wait for to kill Osman Osman assaulted by 12000 Tartarâ Osman overcometh the Tartars Osman strangleth Mahomet the Tartar King with his two Sons and placeth Islan his Brother in his stead Amurath demandeth Osmans Opinion concerning the Enterprise of Tauris Osman's Resolution Osman Bassa made chief Visier and General of the Army Io. Leunc sup Annal. Turcicorum pag. 91. A most barbarous outrage committed by Petrus Emus a Venetian The Villany discovered Amurath sendeth a Messenger to Venice to expostulate the Injury done unto his Subjects Petrus Emus beheaded Io. Leunc sup Annal. Turcicoruâ pag. 92. Ramadan Bassa slain by the insolent Ianizaries