thus prouided for the necessarie sustenance of their bodies it made them to take a good heart againe and to reuiue both in strength and courage All this while did they trauell without ceasing in vndermining of the wall howbeit the excessiue labor of the work did swallow vp many of them within the earth notwithstanding the pioners had their seuerall times and houres particularly proportioned vnto ech of them and the like order was also obserued throughout all the squadrons and amongst the souldiers of euerie tent within the campe The continuall labour and the obstinate resolution of the men did easily surmount all difficultie and daylie did they continue their skirmishes and loose fightes before the walles of purpose to abuse the Citizens And albeit there was no daie passed without the death and slaughter of some of them yet did not they account that for any losse amongest so many thousands of fighting men The Infidels did in some sort spend all that time ioyfully and to their contentment by reason that ouer and aboue their store and abundance of victualles lately arriued from Macedony there was also a great number of marchauntes of the next townes vnder the obeisance of the Venetians who serued them with plentie of corne wine oyle and all sortes of victualles day by day into their campe neither was there any want of Mercerie wares which diuerse brought thither of purpose to traffique with them who as the prouerbe is like flies drawing after honny did repaire and flocke thither from all quarters when they once knew of their estate and that their campe was in great penurie of all prouisions excepting money onely All this did Scanderbeg see verie well yet because he would not offend the subiectes of his friendes and confederates nor hinder their prinate gaine in particular he tooke all with great patience willing his people also to dissemble it as well as himselfe without giuing any offence to any person either in word or in deede For howsoeuer it were he was not ignorant that though he had hindered this traffique betweene them yet the enemie for all that should not haue wanted it from other places by reason of the nearenesse of Macedonie Thrace and Seruia And therfore he busied his braines with greater matters and with other affaires of more importance how he might by force of armes and dint of sword and not by famine and want of sustenance expell this outragious enemie out of Epyre. This made him to haue an especiall care and regard of a matter which was deeply to be considered on and that was to encrease and augment his forces for of the eight thousand men which he had leauied at the beginning of this warre there was litle lesse then a thousand of them diminished and decreased all which were either consumed in the seuerall seruices against the enemie or by diuerse other accidents and discommodities besides a good number who were licensed to departe and were sent a waye to refreshe themselues in their dwellinges such as he thought had endured sufficient hardnesse and done their good deuoire in the forepassed dangers The charge and commission for this matter was committed to Tanusee and to Moses who trauersing and compassing all the prouince did scarce leauie two thousand souldiers whereof fiue hundreth were horsemen and the residue footemen It was no easie matter at that time to find any one man in all Epire fit and able to beare armes but he was alreadie emploied in some place either of charge or else appointed to some particular seruices so well and so carefully had Scanderbeg strengthened and assured all things with wonderfull counsell and aduise because he would not willingly leaue any angle or corner of his realme exposed to the iniurie and violence of his aduersaries During the same time that this leauie was made by Scanderbeg the Croians being importuned by the daily alarmes of the Infidels could not any longer containe themselues within their walles but often times sallying out of the towne they did with great good happe and successe encounter with them One day aboue the rest their seruice was most notable at which time there issued forth about 500 of the garrison and hauing well beaten the enemie of whom many were cut in peeces and the residue put to flight they were so earnest and forwarde in the chase that they pursued them euen within their trenches which made the Mahometistes when they sawe the Christians to be so hardie and couragious and that their temeritie did drawe them on vppon this their good fortune not to grieue verie much at their companions which lay slaine because they were in hope soone to be reuenged But this their hope was made vaine by meanes of Vranocontes who though he sawe his souldiers to returne with little or no dammage yet neuerthelesse wisely weighing the danger and hazard of that dayes seruice with the politique and subtill disposition of the enemie he would not from thence foorth any more permit them to set their foote without their portes But greater was the griefe and more notable was the slaughter that Scanderbeg brought vpon Amurath and his forces for his new bandes being vnited and incorporated to the bodie of his whole armie and the same being deuided into three parts one to Moses an other to Tanusee and the third reserued to himselfe about the shutting of the euening he caused his Ensignes to march verie secretly directly towards the campe of the enemie But before he was gotten as farre as Monticlea which was distant about two miles from their trenches he was discouered by the Turkish Sentinels Great and suddaine was the tumult when they vnderstoode of his comming but most of all where the tents lay neerest to the daunger Wherefore nothing was omitted by the Barbarians neither did they leaue anie remedie vnattempted which the vncertainety and darkenesse of the night could aduise them vnto either for repelling him backe or for debarring him from entring vppon them There were gathered together in great haste and tumult about some eight thousand men which opposed themselues against him which made him to pause a little and with a softer pace and more leasure to march forwarde against them The Mahometans aduaunced them selues to encounter him and with a huge crie on all handes were the first that beganne the fight but the Christians refusing to ioyne with them in fight by litle and litle recuiled backwardes to the intent that drawing them farther off from their trenches their fury might be the more abated and diminished Hereupon Moses and Tanuse hauing sodainly entred their rampiers and barriers on that part which was appointed them had filled al the campe with exceeding feare and confusion and being entred within certaine tents and the watches slaine they destroied all with the fury of fire where force of armes could not any way endammage them Greater was the losse and dishonor without comparison receiued by them then by Scanderbeg for
Turkes One thing notwithstanding did much abate the courage and fiercenesse of our forces and that was because for default of bread the souldiers hauing no other but boyled wheate to liue vppon they died for the most part sodainely through a certaine violent flixe of the body caused by this kinde of victuall The Bassa therefore hastening with his troupes did incampe him selfe neare to the riuer of Morauia Huniades not able to endure this brauado first of all he sent certaine espialles to get notice and to bring him tidings of the approach of Amurath and as soone as he could make any true coniecture of his forces and of his determination with tenne thousand men the best appointed of all his hoast leauing the King behind in his campe he passed ouer the Moraâ—e and with notable violence went to charge the Barbarian who at the first approach being somewhat astonished did a little recule and giue backeward but all sodainely perceiuing and contemning their small numbers he attended the comming of Huniades and receiued him to the fight Castriot who now spied the time and opportunity â—it to accomplish his desire and determination which he had before conceiued in his minde and did seeke with all his power the ruine of the Turkes euen in the beginning of the battell did put him selfe with his owne bandes by litle and litle to the retrait and afterwards by plaine â—â—â—ght did turne his backe before the enemy striking into the others by his example a feare and terror and withall a certaine perswasion to do the like And indeed the Bassa was much terrified by this accident either because he saw so braue a man and one so resolute in the warres now contrary to his wonted manner prepare him selfe rather to flie then to fight or because he was in doubt that he was deceiued and betraied in regard whereof he charged the enemy more faintly and with lesse stomack This was the occasion that the Hungarians being encouraged as it appeared by the feare of the other without any great force or effusion of bloud brake and scattered the battell of their enemies who abandoning their armes and baggage their Captaines and Ensigns without any care of their companions and hauing no other recourse but to their heeles endeuoured to saue them selues by running Huniades pursuing the aduantage of his victory neuer left killing so long as there rested any for execution Euery place was full of mountaines as it were of dead bodies heaped together all was filled with feare and tumult especially at the sacking of the pillage and the ransacking of their campe Of prisoners there were about a foure thousand amongest others there was one taken aliue who was in chiefe accompt authority of the great Turk The Bassa with a very small company had much adoe to escape Then Scanderbeg as one carefull and diligent in his enterprise hauing first communicated and imparted it vnto his frends amongst whom was Amese his nephew a yong man of singular hope and appearance of vertue the sonne of Reposius afterwardes by the Turks named Carragusa by a wife which he had maried before he was empoisoned by Ottoman and now seeing the fortune of the Turke to decline towards a change and their army defeated he laid hands vpon the Secretary which was nearest vnto the Bassa vppon whom of purpose he had borne good espiall and hauing stayed him with a good corage he caused him to be fettered compelling him speedily after some refusall yet through feare of his life to endite for him counterfeit letters to the Gouernor of Croy by the which it was enioined him in Amurath his name to consigne the place into the hands of Scanderbeg as newly appointed and deputed to haue the entire charge gard thereof making him also to set downe in writing many reasons seruing to that intent and purpose for the better confirmation of the matter with some appearance of truth and probability to draw the Gouernour and his people the sooner to credite it The letters being written both the Secretary and all the rest which were taken together with him were presently put to death to the intent that the matter might the longer remaine concealed from the great Seigniour and not they onely but as many as fell into the hands of Castriot had no better fortune So that this army of the Turkes was almost all brought to nothing for that those also which escaped the fury of the souldiers comming by meanes of their dispersed and scattering flight into the handes of the Paisants by one and the same death made an end of their daies A great number of the souldiers Albanois who were present at this encounter after they had intelligence of the act of Scanderbeg as they went here and there wandering and dispersed aswell to auoide the hand of the Conqueror but principally pricked with the desire of their natiue countrey did gather them selues neare vnto him and in an instant they were found to be a troupe of three hundred good and able men Haniades and his people charged with inestimable spoile and booty did retire themselues to their companions I may not here let passe in silence that which some haue seemed to affirme That Scanderbeg had before hand had some intelligence with the Hungarians and by secret messengers had acquainted and instructed Huniades of all matters in particular that he was the cause that made him hasten with his forces Howsoeuer it was as I dare not auerre it so I doe not greatly stand vpon it But this I beleeue well that all things were guided and directed with singular prudence and good aduise and the euent and issue of the matter which many times is a true Iudge of our actions doth authorise and confirme this opinion But leauing Hungary for a season let vs draw backe into Epire whilest in the meane time the renow me of this great losse and the newes of this notable discomfiture is posting towards Amurath The victorious Castriot hauing fully satisfied his wrath and accomplished his vowes and desire vpon his enemies and hauing likewise rather adorned then charged his souldiers with honourable spoiles dislodging from thence with very long iournyes he arriued with his troupe into the vpper Dibria the seauenth day after This towne is seated in the confines of the Tribullians seauenty miles from Croie and is very famous amongst the Epirots for that it bringeth forth men very actiue and valiant and it was singularly esteemed and fauoured of Scanderbeg by reason of their fidelity and many commendable seruices which they had done for the defence and protection of the state vnder Iohn his father at such time as he was molested by Ottoman Other towne or fortresse there is not in those Marches towardes Macedony but onely Sfetigrade but the people of the countrey dispersed throughout mountaines and vallies without any enclosures of walles doe preserue them selues by the onely naturall fortification of the places against
eyes the signes markes of other mens fortunes durst not beginne to declare and open his aduise nor yet to make answer to the enemie mistrusting the inconstancie of the common multitude and the mutable mindes of the popular sort being for the most part nothing resolute Wherefore hauing honorably receiued and feasted the Herauld he addressed himselfe to his souldiers with great modestie and beganne thus to speake vnto them How thinke you valiant men faithful souldiers or what shall we say to this ambassade of our enemy Then one of the standers by wel perceiuing the intent and meaning of the Gouernor by his speeches with his sword drawen and shaking it aloft as he held it in his hande Captaine quoth he seeing thou doest terme vs valiant and faithfull and doest repute Scanderbeg for our enemie this my sword shall make answere for vs all What reason hath any man to alleadge here vnto vs so precisely expresly that which hath passed at Croy and at Stellusa do they thinke thereby to feare and terrifie the courage of men free and resolute As great diuersitie as there is in the countenances of men and as different as are their visages so great varietie is there in the habilitie and dexteritie of their spirites Ech man is wise to himselfe or ech man is foolish in his owne actions Neither the Petrellians nor the Stellusians receiued any lawes of vs nor were they commaunded by vs no more shall they commaund or prescribe lawes vnto vs. Let vs take heed that the examples of these slaues so base infamous do not any way enter into our harts so valiant and generous Couragious mindes do highly disdaine not onely in cases that are shamefull and reproachfull but euen in honest actions to imitate the deedes of other persons but ech man liueth after his owne guise and disposition Let it be that the Gouernor of Stellusa should be sacrificed before our eyes and that his companions should be likewise massacred what do you thinke that we also shall die in their bodies or that our spirits shall be extinguished in theirs or is it likely that our blood can be spilt in thē O most happy rather are those bodies most venerable are their soules who of an excellent desire and affection to keepe their faith and their libertie haue equally contemned both gold siluer the sword and all things else which the wretched nature and condition of mankind doth either affect or is affraid of Returne therfore messenger backe againe to our enemie and carrie this message to thy Generall from a priuate souldier tell him That if this be his intention to impose vpon vs any termes of commaund let him shew vs the strength of his arme which as yet by men of courage is nothing feared nor redoubted it may be that if god be not for vs he may by force bring vs in subiection but by perswasions of good words to draw vs thereunto I am sure he shal neuer do it Moreouer it seemeth in this case that your Scanderbeg is not the man he is reported to be namely of a spirit gentle and courteous readie to pardon and no lesse iust to his enemies then to his owne For wherfore then is the gouernor of Stellusa detained prisoner who for his king for his faith for his libertie freelie valiantly iustly and as became an honest man hath deliuered his mind and opinion wherfore is hereserued to be butchered by the hands of the executioner he hath not deserued to be put to the sword nor to suffer death who so honorably hath neglected his owne safetie and sought the hazard of death for the preseruation of his libertie The souldier was heard with great admiration of all of them without the interruption of any person till he had ended his speech of his owne accord and disposition Incontinently there beganne a great tumult of infinite people assembled round about him clattering their swordes and bucklers together with great noise and after this signe and token followed a mightie clamor of such as did alow and approue his discourse The Turks Gouernor being the better assured and encouraged to see his souldiers so well resolued licenced the Christian Ambassador to depart and at the same instant bending all his care and studie to prouide for the sure and safe keeping of the towne he commanded his souldiers to withdraw themselues euerie one to his place and where his deuoyre did call him And although order had bene taken before in manie pointes for the defence of the wall he altered notwithstanding the whole order and course thereof and disposed otherwise of it either augmenting or changing things as neede required Besides in the middest of his preparations he would euer and among vse exhortations and good encouragements telling them That they now gaue manifest proofe and shew of that wherof himself had euer conceiued a certaine hope and assurance that the examples of other places which had so faintly so cowardly yeelded their necks to the yoke of the enemie ought so much the more to increase their constancy and perseuerance that they should thinke vpon the great rewards and recompence prepared for them by Amurath if that they alone in all Epire and in the middest of the disloialtie and tretcherie of all others did manfully stand to the defence of the name the libertie and the empire of the Ottomans On the other side if want of courage or cowardise should carrie them from regard of their dutie they should haue iust occasion to expect from him farre more rigorous and hard intreatie then those of Petrella or Stellusa for that the infidelitie of the others was in apparance more excusable because they seeing thēselues besieged on all parts hard beset by the enemie and in the very hart of the enemies countrie seemed to be euen forced to render themselues whereas they being but vpon the limits and frontiers of the enemies dominions being couered protected with a place of greater strēgth and inpregnable could not alleage those vaine excuses and faint pretences especially for that euen in an instant they might haue succours from their Prince wherwith to make their enemies forsake raise their siege A further cōfort he gaue thē in this also that the winter an vnfit season to beleager any place would make their trauels but short of small continuance for that he firmly beleeued whē the enemies shold haue notice of their last resolution they would not in hast make any attempt against them nor be so foolish hardy as to thinke to force their walles but would retire themselues incontinently To these perswasions he added a deed of no lesse prudence and policie and that was for feare of some treacherous mutinie and conspiracie to put out of the towne all the Christians and ancient Citizens of whom diuerse had bene suffred to remaine both there and in other townes by the Sultan who had appointed the suburbes for them to
rest of the squadrons Sometimes the presence of Paul Manessey did greatly vrge them for that by the glorious and honorable opinion which they had in their champion lately slaine their fearefull thoughts and cogitations did measure all things in their enemie to be greater then they made shew of sometimes againe their hearts were incensed and inflamed with wrath according as either the deformed image of their slaine champion or the shadowe of his dead bodie vnreuenged did seeme to appeare before their eyes and to present it selfe to their remembrance Moreouer the great rewardes and recompences which was the greatest and chiefest inuitement to pricke them forwarde proposed and promised by Mustapha to him that could kill this enemie whom they hated grieuouslie did encourage his people to be the more desirous and forwarde to endaunger themselues by meanes whereof manie being reallied and assembled in troupes about Paul alone they pressed vpon him to the vttermost of their powers and as men that cared not for anie of the rest him onelie did they ayme and shoote at There was not anie one of them but did striue euen with the hazard of his owne life and with deadly wounds to purchase the pretious reward of that head which was so highly prized But the obstinate prowesse of this Cauilier caused the fonde and foolish desire of the Turkes to turne to their owne pernitious and extreame dammage For being well garded with a troupe of such as were most hardie and valiant he was able enough to sustaine their furie and violence and to contemne their vaine presumptions At length perceiuing a farre off that one of the Barbarians had disbanded himselfe from the rest of his troupes and was verie hotte and importunate vppon those of his companie he turned himselfe towardes him without anie word speaking and hauing gotten neere vnto him he discharged so full a blow with all his strength ouerthwart his head and redoubled one or two strokes vppon him that he ouerthrew him headlong off his horse making him to take the measure of his tombe vpon the hard earth When his champions sawe him lie dead vpon the ground they beganne presently to turne the bridle neither caring to reuenge his death nor to warrant his body froÌ„ the outrage of the enemy This made the Epirots when they saw them to stande as it were in a studie and certaine of them flying to presse vpon them the more fiercely and to charge them with the greater fury giuing them no time to breath but handled them rudely till hauing them in full chase they left all the aduantage honor to the conquerors Paul pursuing them still as they fled did gleane and take vp some of them that made least speed and with bitter and biting termes he thus tauntingly exclaimed vpon them Whether flie you saied he you base companions are you so forgetfull of all good fellowship hath not Caragusa here neither brother cosin nor so much as a friende amongest so many of you who in honour of his corps that lieth here dead and disfigured will vouchsafe to reuenge him which is the last good you can do him being past all your aide and helping Behold me see me I saie who doe here now call vppon you and giue you the defie whom of late your selues did first of all prouoke in hope of a wrong conceited glory Abide staie a while take with you the bloudie spoiles of your companion which so voluntarily I doe proffer vnto you But the Turkes more mute and dombe then fishes had minde of nothing but of speedie fight and running away and with an infamous kinde of silence did neither approue nor reproue the tauntes and reprochfull speeches of the enemie And thus within a while hauing by litle and litle gotten the aduantage and libertie of the open field they did quickely vanish out of sight so as hardly could they heare the sound or noyse of those that chased them onely the archers did trouble them with great obstinacie as for the rest of the troupes they abstained from pursuing them because wearinesse and extremitie of trauell had dulled both the force and the spirits of the Christians Notwithstanding hauing gathered vp the ensignes half moones which lay euery where dispersed ouer the field for the Turks in their standards ensignes doe beare this for their deuise the souldiees with wonderfull great ioyes making the aire to resound with their pleasant clamors and rude riming songs did euen striue and contend who should carie them to the tents of Scanderbeg For all had gone well on that side a good while before and the Turkes being either slaine did lie dispersed ouer the fielde in great heapes or being reserued according to the right of armes with their hands fast pinioned behinde their backes did giue euident and open testimonie of their owne bad deuoire and the clemencie of their enemies Mustapha himself with twelue others likewise of the most principall and chiefest persons were brought prisoners vpon an Hungarian horse in great pompe and triumph to the intent he might be seene of all men making the sight to be so much the more worthy and notable and mitigating as it were the misfortune of the other prisoners For the pernitious humor of ambition and a pestilent desire to purchase vnto himselfe the greater glorie by the proofe and triall of his resolution had caried him furiously into the squadron of Scanderbeg where being enclosed and destitute of all aide defence of his souldiers and of all the meanes either to escape away free or die honourablie the vnfortunate Chieftaine made choise to coÌ„pound with the losse of al other things yea and of his libertie also for the sauegard and preseruation of his life onely I can not say certainly whether in all the time of the warre held with Amurath there were any exploit atchieued more notable or more fauored by the diuine power then this So worthily did this iorney make shew of euery man his good courage and desert neuer was there any leader nor any souldier nor any other person of what degree soeuer that did euer returne more honorably charged with reputation and glorie either in publique or in priuate The report is that there were slaine of the enemie 10000. And that there were taken onely 82. prisoners and 15. standardes This happie and fortunate ouerthrow cost not the Albanois much bloudshed for he lost as they say scarce 300. men The campe of the enemy did greatly enrich the Christian souldiers for that the Turkes who had soiourned certaine monthes vppon the marches borders of the prouince had gotten together purchased good store of prâ—ie booty there were also found very goodly spoiles vpon theÌ„ which were slain and a notable number of good horses but albeit the souldiers helde themselues reasonablie well satisfied with pillage yet for all that was not the wrathfull and fierie courage of Scanderbeg sufficiently appeased but that immediately and
to resigne and giue ouer the command of your glorious and good fortune We our selues if I may speake it doe inuite the enemy we offer them our neckes wee abrogate our owne liberty and because wee will not defile our scrupulous mouthes with a superstitious kinde of drinke we will not sticke to pollute all lawes and all rights both diuine and humaine Haue you not heard how Darius that proud and delicate king of the Persians did not refuse to take a draught of muddy water at the handes of a slaue which had taken it vp as they fledde in the high way amongst the dead carkasses and vnder the horses feete at such time as being ouercome by our countey man the great Alexander he fled before him shamefully after that memorable discomfiture As braue and proude a Prince as he was he did not disdaine it but after he had taken and tasted it he sware that he neuer drunke more sauourly and that before that time he neuer knew what it was to be thirsty Thus did a draught of filthy water both keepe him from being made captiue to his enemy prolonged his fortune and preserued the life of a great and mighty King What will you say to Caius Marius that famous Generall of the Romaines how hath the antiquity recorded his sufferaunce of hunger and thirst at all times amiddest the extreame heate of fight and amiddest his greatest laboures and trauelles in any seruice at the siege of townes or otherwise And to let passe the constancy of the Saguntines what thinke you of the city of Petilia amongst the Brutians in the time of Hanniball did it not by an example of singular regard and almost incredible leaue a rare testimony of their constancy and fidelity vnto all posterity And to the intent they might obserue their faith inuiolably which they had giuen to the Romaines and for the defence of their bare and sore battered walles they made no difficulty to liue vpon the flesh not only of dogges which you abhorre so greatly but of all kindes of foure footed creatures and with the skinnes of swine with rootes and with barkes of trees The most noble and renowmed Athenian Themistocles to the intent his vngratefull countrey might not sustaine the blame of his death dranke as it is reported a cup of deadly poison But perhaps you will say that the Sfetigradians are straungers to you and that their city is none of your countrey it was deliuered to you to be defended and therefore it is yours ô you Dibrians Scanderbeg made choise of your faith and honesty before all others to see to the safety of this place The towne which your Prince hath committed to your charge it behoueth you to see it safe redeliuered into his hands Moderate therefore I beseech you and lay aside these your desperate opinions and doe not you attribute that to force and necessity which is indeede nothing else but a damnable and peruerse counsell and resolution For tell me true I pray you what will you doe in case the Ottoman will not accept of the composition to graunt you your liues would you then refuse this drinke that you imagine to be so deadly I am perswaded that all of you would drink it ere you would do your selues anie outrage But now because you are assured of your own safety you are not in danger to lose any thing but your faith you are all of you touched infected with one malady and your thoughts doe runne a madding as men franticke and out of your wits So little reckonning doe you make of your faith of all other crimes you hold it the least to be touched with the crime of periury and disloialty I cannot ô you Dibrians commaund nor moderate my affections I cannot abstain from tears when I cal to memory our good prince Scanderbeg Me thinkes I see how graciously he spake vnto you with what praiers intreaties he recommended this towne vnto you at his departure how euen in this place he implored with too much credulity your deuoire and loialty I do remember those clamors and loud cries which all of you made with brauadoes and magnificall promises both openly and priuatly Where are those your clamors now ô you Dibrians where is that fiercenesse of your courages where are those hearts which you then vowed for your country where is that audacity carelesse contempt of life and death I see here still the same men and the same armes but the habit and disposition of their mindes is cleane altered And this towne being brought to a desperat point I see all things in a miserable estate and condition Imagine that your Prince standeth here before you in great anguish and griefe for this your notable treason what thoughtes think you will he all others entertaine what astonishment will there be throughout all the prouince what will be the estate condition of all Epire seeing that from you doth proceed the root of all their misfortunes and calamities ô that you would present before your eies whilest you are yet able the indignity of this fact that you would preserue your selues for your selues Cease not to keep your allies and confederats in the possession of their countrey do not leaue to defend their liberty to maintaine your own honor and reputation which without any great paine or trouble you may yet easily preserue Regard the piteous grieuous lamentations of these citizens regard me euen my selfe who if you can abide to see it do lie prostrat at your feete Behold how all of them doe offer their throates vnto you and I mine first of all Behold here my naked breast ô you Dibrians runne it through pierce it with your swordes take away my life it shall not grieue me let my bloud serue for drinke vnto you if such drink doe please you and if so be you cannot by any other meanes neither maintaine your faith nor defend this city With many such reasons and perswasions did Perlat vrge them recommending vnto them the life and liberty if not of others yet of themselues and that they should regard their proper safety and still he was in hope to haue remoued them from their strange and pernitious purpose And in the end because he would know whether his speeches had any efficacy or working in their scrupulous thoughts assoone as he had finished his Oration he went presently towards the Well hauing almost al the communalty at his heeles and in the presence of them all he dranke a good draught of that water the like also did the most part of the inhabitants Whereupon it was presented likewise to certen of the captains chiefest persons of the garrisons but neither good words nor good deeds could preuaile with those superstitious and curious stomacks Scarcely can I without blushing either beleeue it my selfe or deliuer it to others for a matter of truth that so light and ridiculous a cause should preuaile with thē in a
comfort should keepe and holde out so long in this place euen vnder their noses and should in a manner triumph at their pusillanimitie and want of courage That they should hardly do any exployt of worth in a strange countrie and a farre off in forraigne regions if they had not the power to dislodge and driue away these robbers who were gotten as it were within their doores and did dwell euen within their very bowels With these and such like discourses and examinations hauing set a newe edge on the courage of the Albanians and made them more eger against the Infidels he deuided his companies and hauing left about 600. for the guard custody of the campe with the rest he pressed the towne on all sides where it was approchable At the first they began the fight with their shot only both on the one side and the other ech man doing his best to draw bloud from his enemie After they had sufficiently skirmished together in that manner and that they beganne now to growe in choller the most hardie and such as were well chafed betooke themselues to their ladders being minded to talke with the enemy somewhat neerer Once or twice were they couragiously repulsed by the defendants and they gaue them not so much leasure as to raise their ladders to the walles but at the last the Barbarians being surmounted by the hardinesse and obstinacie of the Christians who no otherwise then as Lions almost famished doe rush vpon the flocke without any remembrance either of snares or other trappes that men doe vse to lay for them so they furiously persisting in the assault without all feare of death or daunger by little and little did yeelde and giue place to so extreame furie and wanting both strength and weapons to keepe off the enemie they retyred themselues behinde the rampiers in such sort that they gaue the Christians good meanes and opportunitie to haue made themselues masters of the place But see what feare of Ambushments may doe our men who till then were so fierce and couragious and who in a cruell and bloudie assault shewed themselues so prodigall of their liues and so carelesse of death it selfe which they had continually euen before their eyes assoone as they perceiued the enemie to waxe faint and that one after another did abandon the wall they beganne presently to mistrust some policie and hauing a conceipt and imagination that some great troups of the enemie did lye close behind the rampiers in some ambuscado and did attend there to bid them to some ill banquet they grew more cold and negligent in their actions and casting their eyes about them on ech side and carefully regarding all places neare them they did expect nothing else but euen in a moment to be all of them destroied such was their vaine and foolish opinion Herewithall had the Barbarians good leisure to bethinke themselues and to prouide for that which should be needfull and necessary and their companions flocking thither from diuerse quarters vpon the rumour of that fraie and bringing with them great store and quantitie of weapons did reuiue both their courage and their good fortune In this concourse many a man lost his life both on the one side and the other but many more on the part of the assailants then of the defendants and more had bene slaine if the readinesse and good deuoire of Zachary had not hindred them for he at another part of the wall hauing raised vp many ladders did interrupt this their victorie diuerting the enemie by a new onset so that they were constrained to separate themselues and to sunder their forces All this while you might haue seene Castriot with his squadrons sometimes approching neare the wall to terrifie them within and sometimes doing the dutie of a simple souldier leading them the way against their enemies one while by prayers another while by reproches he would solicite and animate them on The archers and other shotte being placed round about the walles did keepe their stand where they were first appointed and still as the furie of the fight encreased and continued they did neuer cease to play vpon the Infidels as they marched vp and downe vpon the curtins When the defendants did perceiue that their numbers did decrease and that the Christians did encrease in courage and obstinacie farre beyond humaine reason they doubted what would become of it and they feared the issue of that daies iorney wherefore to stop the course of their furie and to gaine time to themselues they deuised this policie They snatched vp the Turkish ensignes from the rampiers and calling to the Christians with a loud voice they desired a truce and suspension of armes for a litle space and that they might haue libertie to parley with Scanderbeg This was granted vnto them by the Albanians with the consent of their Generall and both parts being commanded to surcease from hostilitie the Infidels were permitted to speake their minds Thereupon one of them an auncient and graue olde man after he had first yeelded thanks to the Generall and his companies for so courteous and liberall a graunt made to their enemie he told them that his desire was by the consent of this companie that they might haue truce granted them for that day onely to the intent during this small time of delay they might consult amongst themselues vpon the forme of their capitulation whereunto their whole companie was inclined with one mind and general consent and that the next day they would send certen deputies vnto him with conditions whereunto they would submit and yeeld themselues which if they were agreeable to him and to his liking they should take it as a singular and high fauour whereof notwithstanding considering his clemencie they neuer made any doubt nor distrust that if he did mislike of their offers and would not allow of them that they would wholly referre themselues to his owne discretion and ordinance and that they would not in any sort refuse nor depart from his arbiterment and iudgment and they were in good hope to conclude all things with him to the good and profit of both parties At the first Scanderbeg shewed himselfe highly discontented and nothing tractable to those demaunds of the Mahomatistes iudging verie wisely that they sought for nothing else but fraudulently by these shifts to deferre the assault for that day and either to depriue him of that aduantage whereat he had them or else in hope of succours from their soueraigne as the experience did afterwards make it manifest And therefore he enioyned them to declare presently what their intent and meaning was otherwise they should looke for the vttermost extreamitie of a fresh assault liuely renued and recontinued that all time of delay was impertinent considering that the estate of their affaires was brought to such necessitie and to an extreame exigent Neuerthelesse at the length being vanquished with their importunate flatteries and the
would well permit and conueniently suffer Young Mahomet likewise being very prompt and forward both in action and in speech did not long keepe silence but the oration of his father being scant ended as one furious and full of venemous rage he arose from his seate and did so bitterly inueigh against the Christians in generall besides the extremitie of his priuate hatred which he bare to the Epirots in particular that he there bewrayed him self as an other Hāniball against the Romans to be their mortall and sworne enemy and after him all the other Chiestaines and leaders did encourage each man his own souldiours By that time that all things were ready and in good order that the Turke had dined at his ease it was neare noone at which time the squadrons being drawn forth of the trenches did display thēselues vpō the plaine It might be iudged an vnfit season to begin such an assault considering the extreme heat of the summer neuerthelesse the Ottoman thought it to be the best time because he mistrusted that if he should haue drawen them out of the campe either in the night or late towardes the euening perhaps it would haue giuen Scanderbeg the more oportunity to rush vpon them and to inuade and molest his trenches and yet did not this his suspition gaine him any thing neither was it altogether in vaine The allarme being giuen and the troupes as we haue sayd being issued forth and marching on with a wonderfull noise and sound of trumpets drummes and clamours of the souldiers they were now come to the wals and the foremost of them had scant or but newly begun the fight when the Turkish campe was sodainely in an vproare and was filled with a great tumult and horrible feare sprong vp amongest them The cause thereof was Scanderbeg who hauing of a long time watched and layd espiall to see what the Sultan would determine to doe now with a strong troupe of horsemen the most able and best mounted of all his army was come to the tents of the enemy rushed in vpon them where they lay next and nighest vnto him The Turks which were placed there in that quarter did receiue him at the first onset very resolutely but perceiuing by the losse slaughter of many of their fellowes that they could not hold out nor stand against him they being scattered dispersed here there in that feare had soone forsaken both their court of garde and all things else whatsoeuer if the others who were next them had not made hast and running thither from all partes at the noyse of the allarme making head against the enemy had not stayed them from flying farther The Albanians keeping their ranckes close and taking the aduantage of this good fortune did charge those that came last to encounter them more liuely then they had done the former and hauing layd more then 600 Turkes dead at their feete and made the Barbarians on that side to betake them selues to flight they sacked two of their tents carrying away diuerse ensignes and whatsoeuer else was found within the same This rumour being brought from hand to hand as the maner is to the eares of Amurath who was then busied in ordering his forces to the assault although the old man had made prouision before of many things did greatly affie himselfe in the sufficiency of those whom he had left within the campe neuerthelesse dreaming and forethinking himself of the worst that might happen for he was wont euer to say that nothing was sufficient to make resistance against the fiercenesse and fury of this beast he sent Seremet one of his captaines with 4000. horse for the repulse of the Christiās Mahomet who did alwayes burne in extreame hatred against this Prince though his father would haue diswaded him from it went thither also being accompanied with the ordinary garde of his person but before that these forces were ready on foot Scanderbeg perceiuing that he should not be able to make his partie good against so many as were comming vppon him had turned bridle and prouided for the suretie of him selfe and his people yet not without the extreame daunger of his life For as the report goeth the heat of fight had made him so farre to forget him selfe that he brake in amongest his enemies where they were thickest and he engaged him selfe so farre that he was almost oppressed by them and he was not able but with extreame payne to make him selfe way through the multitude that pressed vppon him and sought to stoppe his passage for both his owne strength and the forces of his horse began to fayle in somuch that very hardly and difficultlie did he escape and free him selfe from amongest them And after he was with much a do gotten from them yet did they not cease on all parts to pursue him as long as they had any hope to ouertake him or to staye him In this manner did the Christian troupes on the one side and the Generall on the other side by a happie retrait shift them selues out of the fight of the Mahometistes This tumult being pacified and appeased the Turkes returned vnto their camp and the Sultan his son repaired to his father extreamly grieuing that after such a brauado the slaughter of so many of their people his enemy should be escaped from him And he there tooke a solemne oth before them all that he would neuer leaue watching whole moneths daies and nights if need were but at one time or other by his ambushments and traines he would get this sauage and wilde beast to fal into his snares which he meant to lay for him that he wanted neither a good mind nor good meanes to effect it and he did so far assure himselfe of a good successe that if the other did hold on stil and continue in this brauery temerity thus to assaile them and to approach to their trenches he did not doubt but to make him to repent it The Prince of Epire hauing freed him selfe from the pursuite of his enemies tooke an other way and went after his owne company who being in a maruellous care and perplexity for the absence of their master went here and there wandring vp down and sending forth souldiours in quest on all parts to search if they could discouer him or could heare any newes of him in any place Many of them also could not forbeare teares lamenting and deploring the estate of Albany which should remaine as a tender orphan and the common weale of Epire which should continue desolate as it were in widowhood by the death of so diuine a personage so barbarously murthered by the Circumcized miscreāts But his safe returne whereof they despaired did reuiue their harts made them ioyfull both in priuate and publike in so much that besides diuers songs vttered by the common sort in token of their gladnesse many of them with great deuotion performed their
of people daily resorted to Croie and many being allured thither onely vpon the report of these newes of the death of the Turkish Monarch came thither as it were triumphing for some strange victorie and to see some sight and spectacle not vsuall nor accustomed The tidings hereof did soone spread itselfe in a manner ouer the whole world and there could nothing haue happened more wished and desired nor more wellcome to all the estates of Christendome Hungarie began to take breath Greece came againe to take heart and courage to it selfe and she seemed to be deliuered as it were out of bondage and her bonds to be broken and rent assunder All men had their mindes and spirites lightned and erected with hope vpon the report of this good accident and they did attend such a chaunge and alteration of the fortune of most kings and Princes that they did expect the renuing and repairing of their former estate and condition But out alas how fallacious and deceitfull are the thoughts and cogitations of mortall wightes yea more miserable are the hopes and refuges of miserable vnhappie men It pleased God to take away Amurath out of this life but did he want for all that an Heire to succeed him of lesse crueltie True it is that the bounty and diuine clemencie after long and innumerable mischieues did harken vnto the complaintes and lamentations of the Christians and granted them to see the death and end of this tirant But what did the comming of Mahomet his sonne vnto the crowne any thing shorten or diminish the thraldome bondage or seruitude of the Christians or were the miseries of the Orientall nations any thing lessened by that accident Oh no behold that great and imperiall city so famous by the name and seate of the great Constantine for I will not speake of the bounds of the Ottoman Empire dilated enlarged euen to the farthermost parts of Asia and Africke see the noble ile of Rhodes which was of late the nest and harbour of those worthy Knights of the crosse and the ancient bulwarke of the Christians behold how * Nigropont * Mitelene Cipres all the Greeke sea with Hungarie Croatia Transiluania Seruia and Bulgaria and to be breife in a manner the moytie and halfe of all Europe is become Turkish by the victorious armes and conquestes of this Mahomet or his successours and posteritie all which to the great reproach of Christian Kings and Princes doe testifie that the fortune of so fearefull and terrible an enemie is not mortall not permutable with the head and life of one fraile and mortall man so mightily haâ—h he incroched and intruded vpon our libertie by our owne faintnesse sloth and cowardice which hath enabled them against vs whilest that we sit still with our handes as it were folded vp in our bosomes and as the beholders and lookers on of their tragicall sports which are presented vnto our eyes vpon this Theater of worldly miseries and whilest our ambition our hatreds our partialities doe set vs together by the eares amongst our selues how do they giue occasion and opportunity to the Infidels to aduance the greatnesse the prerogatiue and the maiesty of that Empire and to increase it dayly more and more Assuredly if our sinnes do holde on and continue as they haue begun I am greatly in doubt that they will swallow vp all of vs one by one and so it may be we shall make an end of our plaints and bitter griefes when those small reliques and remainders yet left vnto the Christians shall haue an end likewise and be brought to their finall and last confusion But we will leaue for this time our complaints and exclamations and will beare a part with others in this short ioy which God hath giuen them for now as it were by emulation there came thicke and three folde gratulations from all partes vnto Scanderbeg euen from nations and kingdomes farre remoued and the renow me of this Prince was then growen famous aboue all others in the mouthes of all men The city of Croy was more notorious by the death of Amurath then once was Argos through the death of Pirrhus To these mutuall reioycings the Princes of Christendome did adde many marks and tokens of their gratitude and liberalitie for Nicholas then Bishop of Rome Ladislaus King of Hungarie and Philip Duke of Burgundie ech seeming as it were ielous and commendably contending who should exceed other in bountie did send their Ambassadours into Epyre with timely and necessarie succours of great summes of money knowing well that he was exhausted and drawen drie of such like meanes and supplies by reason of the long expences and discommodities of the warres Alphonsus king of Arragon was not behind any of them in contributing towards his wants but as one that exceeded all others in loue and good will towards Scanderbeg being not satisfied to shew his largesse and bountie by the testimonie of those ample treasures which he sent him he succoured him also with 300000. measures of wheate and 100000. measures of barley after he was enformed of the necessitie of the countrey both by reason of the tillage hindered by the Turkes and how that litle store of corne which had bene sowed was wasted and spoiled by the infidels He aided him also with great store of workemen whom he paied out of his owne coffers for the repairing of the walles of Croy which he knew had bene battered and beaten downe by the enemie â— Scanderbeg hauing proclaimed a solemne triumph of Tilt Turney and other martiall sports of all sortes by the beauty of that spectacle he did greatly grace his victory obtained against the Infidels The number and the goodly shew of so great an assembly not onely of them which came to see the triumphs but of the braue and gallant youthes that came thither vpon a desire and hope to gaine the prize propounded did make a shew and resemblance of another faire and goodly armie vnder the walles of Croy. And it seemed no great maruell that Amurath had bene vanquished and discomfited by the Albanois to them who sawe so many warlike youthes and the strength of those forces that were then with Scanderbeg Then did it appeare that the ancient noblenesse and valour of that nation was returned into Macedonie and those olde times long since past and gone of Alexander and Pyrrhus did seeme to be renued and restored againe TO THE READER I See now that this volume hath exceeded his iust proportion and in continuing of it longer it might be as tedious vnto you as it hath bene wearisome vnto mee VVe will heere therefore sound a retrait in the middest of our cariere that breathing our selues a litle we may be the better disposed to proceede with the other following The end of the sixth booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE FAMOVS ACTES OF GEORGE CASTRIOT SVRNAMED SCANDERBEG THE ARGVMENT MAhomet is crowned Emperour of the Turkes His gouernment manners and
person are described Scanderbeg at the entreatie of his subiectes is maried He fortifieth his dominions and prepareth for the warres Mahomet entangled with the warres of Persia seeketh to haue peace with Scanderbeg but is reiected Scanderbeg inuadeth the Turkish territories Amese one of Mahomet his Chieftaines is sent with an armie against Scanderbeg by whome being suddenly surprized in the battell of Modrissa his armie is discomfited and the Turkish Generall himselfe is taken prisoner Mahomet sendeth another armie into Epire vnder the conduct of Debreas one of his Saniackes who in the battell of Pologue is slaine by Scanderbeg and his armie likewise defeated Mahomet practiseth secretly and by rewards to corrupt Moses Scanderbeg purposing an expedition against the Turkes requireth and obtaineth succours of Alphonsus king of Naples Belgrade in Macedonie is besieged by the Albanois The Belgradians desire truce of Scanderbeg which is accorded them vpon certaine conditions IN the former sixe bookes we haue represented vnto you as vpon a Theater those two excellent and incomparable warriours Amurath and Scanderbeg by the successe of whose armes being so variable and diuerse you may easily contemplate how the course of fortune hath a kind of declining and decaying age which in processe of time maketh her as it were to waxe colde and to discontinue the largesse and bountie of her wonted fauours And how soeuer she doth frankely and voluntarily accompanie great minds and high aspiring natures whilest the heate of youth doth stirre vp their bloud and enflame their haughtie courages yet when gray haires doe by little and little approach and bring on colde and vnweldie old age then doth fortune also seeme to grow olde and waxe faint and heauy by meanes whereof that goodly lustre and bright beautie of their former glorie doth seeme to be eclipsed and to vanish quite away Examples thereof are the ruines of those famous Monarchies of Ninus Cyrus Alexander and that great Romaine Emperour Augustus besides many other excellent Princes and Captaines which euen in this our owne age haue beene made liuely markes of fortunes inconstancie who in their young yeares hauing had the sunne beames of prosperitie gloriously shining vpon them and fortune hauing alwaies followed them in their warres that they seemed to haue her at commaund yet in their elder yeares they haue bene forced to proue the inconstancie of her frownes and dissauorable aspect And truly my opinion is that God euen of his diuine prouidence doth vse enure men to these casualties and accidents because he would haue the great men of this world to know and acknowledge that it is he onely and no other that dispenseth and disposeth of prosperitie and aduersitie to the intent also that humaine and earthly things should not seeme vnto foolish mortall men to haue any durable continuance or eternitie considering that there is nothing solide stable or permanent here below nor any thing vnder the sunne wherein may be found perfect happines And if any one thing haue any shew and appearance of felicitie it is so brittle fraile and vnconstant that euen then when men thinke to haue most ioy of it and to enioy the pleasures and profits of the same suddenly and immediately they see it gone and decaied suddenly and immediately they perceiue it wasted and consumed Such was the ende and death of Amurath which being heard and beleeued at Andrinople did stirre vp diuerse motions both in the affaires and mindes of men The great men and Nobles of the citie as those which had neuer misliked neither of the felicity nor gouernment of this Prince were very sorrowfull and did for a long time bewaile and lament the olde man partly for the common losse for the report is that of all the Ottoman race there was neuer any one of them better beloued of his people nor more iust vpright to his enemies partly also for that they were not ignorant that the chaunge of the crowne and dignitie roiall could not happen without infinite dammages and the ruine of many in particular But the stirring heades and such as were desirous of a chaunge and new alterations did litle grieue at this chance but rather on the contrarie were the more in heart and did conceiue great hopes in their imaginations because they had of a long time wished that Mahomet whom they knew to be a young Prince fierce and ambitious might come to the crowne and get the possession of the imperiall scepter The popular and common sort who of themselues are naturally desirous of nouelties and alterations did entertaine these tidings with great ioy and contentment But aboue all the Ianissaries which are called the Prince his Enfants reioyced exceedingly and running vp and downe the streetes armed did fall to sacking and spoiling freely and without controlment of the goods and houses of many persons especially the Christians and the Iewes who are naturally abhorred and hated of the Turkes For such is the license and libertie or rather the damnable custome of that people that at the decease death of their soueraigne this is vsually and ordinarily permitted and granted vnto them It was a wonderfull thing to see the concourse and great resort of people of all sorts and degrees that flocked daily to the imperiall citie of Andrinople to see the new king and the triumphes of his coronation which was the cause that an incredible multitude went to meete Mahomet as he returned with his armie The Ianissaries were the first that went to salute him who hauing no sooner demaunded then obtained pardon for the rapine and spoile committed within the citie did receiue and conuey him to the pallace roiall with infinite ioy and gladnesse and with the publike applause of all the communaltie who with a generall voice and common consent hauing declared and proclaimed him Emperour he was afterwardes crowned with great solemnitie and being furnished with the diademe scepter and other habits and imperiall ornaments he was placed in his fathers throne with many prayers and solemne vowes of euerie man And at the same time were the publique treasures deliuered vnto him and the Bassaes and other officers of the crowne did sweare vnto him fealtie and obedience These things thus accomplished the people had a great largesse both of golde and siluer in all the streetes of the citie besides the liberall rewardes giuen to the souldiers Thus was the auncient fashion and ceremonie of this Nation in the creating of their kings partly obserued and partly not in this comming of Mahomet to the crowne For the first thing that the Turkish kings do vse and accustom is to absent their children and to keepe them out of Europe in those Prouinces of Asia which are most remote and farthest off euen assoone as they are gotten out of their infancie And the cause thereof as I take it is this for that they shall not practise and conspire against their fathers through a cursed humour of ambition and desire of
raigne and Empyre from the which there is scarce any age or person exempted but hath some instinct and naturall motion thereunto Afterwards when it happeneth that the Emperour is deceased or that it is thought that his death is not farre off the Bassaes and others who are of greatest power and authoritie both with the people and in the gouernment of the estate doe send away speedie poastes and letters to the one and other of the sonnes of the Prince last deceased according as eche man is particularlie affected and they doe from point to point aduertise him of all things willing him to hasten his comming that he may get the possession of the crowne and seate himselfe in the succession of the Empyre then readie to fall voide and emptie It is a sport to see with what contention these great men doe studie to surprize the packettes and curriers of each other whilest that euerie one of them laboureth to get the scepter to that partie to whom he is most affected and euerie one doth his best and worst to beguile his companion Nowe when these young Princes are thus sollicited with what vehemencie with what fancies and affection they do come poasting from all partes to beare away the prize thus in question I leaue it to your imagination Certaine it is that he amongst them all that can first get to the streights of Gallipolie or Hellespont he commonly is the man that obtaineth the soueraignitie of the Empire for that the Ianissaries comming to meete and to salute him doe afterwardes all at leasure easily and quietly put him in possession of the kingdome The other brethren are forthwith eyther banished or exiled out of all the territories and limits of their dominions or else are cruelly and vnnaturally slaine and murthered for feare least there should remaine so me cause of ciuill tumults and sedition Hence is deriued that prouerbe vsed by the auncients That more fortunately are children borne to priuate persons then to Princes But now of all this nothing could happen in this manner vnto Mahomet for neither had he any brethren of sufficient age eyther fit to gouerne the Realme or able to attempt or to obtaine the kingdome neither did he returne as a priuate person out of Asia but with a most strong and mightie armie which he brought backe out of the enemies countrie where he had bene before saluted and proclaymed King and Emperor by the vniuersall consent of all the souldiers in generall For this cause he came peaceably and quietly to the Empire without any commotion without any danger or difficultie and with the exceeding ioy and incomparable gladnesse of the whole Communaltie Now had they forgotten the losse of their late deceased Prince and all griefe and sorrowe for his death was vanished together with his memorie The calamities and slaughters lately receiued in Epyre and the obsequies and funeralles of their companions were nowe cleane worne out of minde and there was scarce any one by reason of this newe pompe and tryumphe which did apperceiue or obserue the poore reliques of their miserable defourmed armie or that did remember by reason they were so drowned in ioy what goodly forces and what strong squadrons they had sent into Epyre in respect of those which were thence returned and were brought home againe The new Monarke whose delight was in bloudshed and cruelty as much as any that euer raigned thought it good to looke to his affaires and to prouide for the security of his estate and he had an intention to settle some of them in good assurance and of others to make a change and innouation The first deede that he did was to make diligent inquisition if he could finde any other aliue besides himselfe that was descended from the loines of Amurath vpon whom after the maner of his predecessors he might poure out the venome of his hatefull ambition There were found two infants the one called Tursines of the age of eighteene moneths the other was called Calepin The former was cast into the water and drowned by the expresse commaundement of Mahomet who gaue it in charge to Moses one of his Bassaes to see it executed and he without any difficulty or relenting did easily yeeld to assist so execrable a spectacle The mother of the infant detesting the deede and exclaiming vppon the brutishnes of the fact with howlings and horrible cries intermingled with continuall tears and lamentations did poure out a thousand curses against the author of the murther being there in presence The tyrant to appease his mother in law did deliuer into her hands in expiation of his Parricide him that was the executioner and shee full of rage and extreame fury with a knife stabbed him to the heart euen in the presence of Mahomet and then ripping vp his body shee diued searched into his bowels for his heart which hauing found shee pulled it forth cast it the dogs A most worthy and notable lesson for men of a corrupt mind who can be content to staine their consciences and to prostitute them selues and their affections to serue the furious passions of great men and princes As concerning the other child named Calepin the common report is that Caly Bassa to get the good wil of Mahomet such is the inconstancy of mortall men who do gladly follow the fortune of the most puissant did present the infant vnto him being then but of the age of six moneths and the only ioy and delight of his mother the widow of Amurath who in his second mariage with this woman the daughter of one Sponderbeg the noble Prince of Penderacia had begottē this yong infant had committed him to the custody of this Bassa and recōmended him to his especial care at such time as he drew neare his end Mahomet being enformed by womē of good knowledge that he was of the linage of his father caused him speedily to be strangled and then with great magnificence celebrated his obsequies at Bursa by this means consecrating the first fruits and beginnings of his cruel Empire with the bloud of his owne brethren How beit others write that Caly Bassa did prefer another childe in stead of Calepin who was still nourished and brought vp in Constantinople amongst the Greekes and that afterwards in the shipwracke and ruines of that noble city he with some others being left aliue was conueied thence and that in the end during the Papacy of Calixtus the third he was entertained at Rome in the Vatican where being instructed in the true religiō regenerat in holy baptisme he wēt after that to the court of the Emperour Fredericke in Almaine of whom being receiued according to the honor due vnto so great a Prince he spent the rest of his daies in Austriche You see what diuersity there is between writers in this behalfe notwithstanding in my iudgement it hath no great likelihood or probability that Amurath should be able to
should not be vnpleasing to the posterity so doe I suppose also that the readers of the same at this present will not be wearied by seeing as it were in a table the outward and inward habite of so accomplished and perfect a warriour who though he were an enemy yet was a most puissaunt a most fortunate and a most renowmed Prince Besides also that a good part of the praise and commendation of our Epirot doth consist in the comparing and resembling of these two together For by how much more we doe sometimes iustly condemne and sometimes iustly extoll the former by so much doth the valour and felicity of the other shine forth and appeare more glorious Whilest the spirites of the Turkes were attentiuely contemplating vpon their new Monarch and that hee was busily occupied in the care of his priuate and domesticall affaires the King of Epire the meane while did employ both his time and diligence in repairing the ruines of Croy. He did altogether renue the old fortifications which were partly ruinous with antiquity and length of time and partly razed and beaten downe by force of the Cannon and he added others vnto them of a better forme and proportion and of more surety and security then those which were vsed by the ancient simplicity when this thundering of Ordinaunce was not in vse and this diuelishe inuention of the Cannon did not yet amaze and terrifie strong and defenced townes but that all exploites and deedes of armes did onely and ordinarily consist in the stout stomackes and strength of hardy souldiours and in the armes valour and prowesse of valiaunt men O that it had pleased God that the inuentor and first author of this Art so famous and notorious had neuer beene knowen and that our age had neuer brought forth such an inuention It may be we should haue seene many more Hectors more Epaminondaes more Scipioes more Rolandes The yeelding of townes and holdes would not haue bene so ready and the courages of people would not so soone haue bene forced or withdrawen from fidelity and loyalty to the breach of their faith and to periury If the auncient ages and forepassed times had beene acquainted with such artificiall sleightes and inuentions we should not at this day haue had the name nor memoriall continued either of their Captaines so highly renowmed or of their souldiers so greatly commended Achilles had not borne away the honour of the death of Hector nor AEneas of Turnus nor Cossus of Volumnius but some base Groome and some abiect and vile companion The tenne yeares siege of Troy would neither haue drawen against that city the armes and the eies of the whole world neither would it haue ministred fit and worthy matter for so many excellent wits from age to age to historize vpon the actes accidents of that war We should not haue admired that lōg obstinacy of the Tarentines We shold haue madelesse reckoning of the constancy both of the Saguntines the Numantines Antiquity would not haue talked of Petilia in Calabria and the obscure towne of Cassilin would not so often haue scorned and contemned the fury of Hanniball that braue Chiefetaine of the Carthaginians Wherefore as the noble wittes and quicke conceipted spirites of our time haue on the one side giuen vs good matter to write of by reason of this and such like rare and ingenious inuentions so on the other side by meanes of this inuention much more beyond all comparison haue they depriued the Historiographer of all good occasion to employ his penne any more in writing For now from henceforth will not true valour be able to shew it selfe to no purpose is it for souldiours to vse the Art of fighting and to practise the skill of weapons and in vaine is it to learne to handle the sword the buckler and such like or to practise any other kind of fight hand to hand And what then forsooth they vse now to fight aloofe and to make warres a farre off and field seruices consist most in loose and light skirmishes But returne we from whence we haue digressed Amongest other fortifications newly made in the towne of Croy at the gate of the towne Scanderbeg caused a great and strong towre to be builded the walles whereof from the bottome vpward went not straight and euen vpright but were raised a slope and bending in manner of a counterscarfe to the intent the Cannon should be the lesse able to play vppon it The other partes and quarters also of the towne both within and without were repaired and fortified without any intermission by the aduisement and directions of good and skillfull Enginers In the meane time whilest these were in doing the Princes and nobles his nearest kinsmen did importune Scanderbeg without ceasing and did shew the vehement desire which each man had to see him maried and to haue children descended of him Especially now at this time when all things as they sayed were exempted from feare and mistrust and now that all daungers were ouer gone and past and that the enemies were withdrawen from all care of Armes both by reason of their late misfortune and by the motions and tumults which doe vsually accompany the change of a new King at his first comming to the Crowne that he ought not to frustrate the hearty wishes and desires of so many people 's his subiects and confederates of this ioy and comfort especially in such a season for it was in the moneth of May when all things did seeme to reioyce and flourish and which did inuite him thereunto with promise of nothing but ioy mirth and gladnesse That therefore he should suffer him selfe once to be entreated and perswaded by his people who would take more pleasure and contentment in this onely then in all his victories obtayned against Amurath Albeit the Prince of Albany were vnwilling to enter into this band yet weighing all matters and circumstances with iudgement and sound aduise it seemed vnto him more expedient and for his honour to consent thereunto then to hold off and to vary from his former promise which he had made vnto them the yeare last past at the instant and earnest request of all his subiectes For this cause he condescended vnto their desire and committed the care of the whole matter to the iudgement and wisedome of Musache Thopie his sisters sonne and some two or three others to whom he imparted his minde in that behalfe At that time Ariamnites Comminat of whom hath beene before spoken did excell all the Princes and Lords of Epire both in puissaunce and largenesse of dominions as also in noblesse and antiquity of bloud he had one daughter named Doniqua worthy no doubt of such afather and the true Idea and Image of all perfection of beauty which is one not of the least excellencesse and a thing not meanely respected in women Wherefore Scanderbeg tooke no care for any other match nor Ariamnit for any other
into the city the residue of the army being willed to encamp without the walles The Ambassadours hauing deliuered the effect of their charge did consigne the money which they had brought into his hands together with the kings letters which being openly read in the publique assembly gaue occasion of laughter vnto all the audience Castriot with a long Oration magnified the liberality of the King of Naples and his singular amity and friendshippe towardes the people of Albanie and afterwardes gaue order that the straunge companies should be entertained each according to the estate of his degree and calling and that they should be welcommed and feasted with publique banquets and triumphs whilest that the commanders and chiefe officers of the army did take order for the mounting of the artillery and for the prouiding of cariages and other necessary instruments All things being in a readinesse Scanderbeg issued forth into the fielde the whole multitude conueying him to his Campe where first of all hauing taken a generall view and muster of his army and publique prayers and processions being solemnly perfourmed before their departure for a prosperous and happy returne and for the victory so as the souldiers being now ready to march onely attending the stroake of the drumme and the sound of the trumpet Scanderbeg spake vnto them in this manner This is now the eleuenth yeare of our continuall trauelles my good souldiours which we haue sustayned for the recouery and possession of our countrey of Epire and for the feare and dwellings of our auncesters which were lost vnto the Barbarians rather by a certaine kinde of fatall necessity then by any default or want of courage either in them or vs. The time is now come that we must employ our whole power and endeuours to diâ—nest these Infidels and to expell them wholly out of our countrey and with no lesse glory to impose the yoke vpon the necks of our enemies then we haue already by the diuine clemency and your vnspeakable prowesse shaken it off from our owne shoulders If the life and the death of Amurath haue heretofore giuen you a large and ample subiect of glory you haue now a fitter occasion a more noble matter to purchase honour And it may be that his sonne is reserued for your greater glory You haue had euen of late some pledge experience of your good fortune and the tyrant gaue you some proofe and triall thereof whilest that with the one hand as it were holding the funerals of his father with the other he demanded peace of you yet vnder a certaine colour and honest shew of tribute The which we hauing denied him he would with a strong hand haue enforced and exacted of vs sending hither certaine of his captaines and souldiers as Collectors of that his tribute throughout all this Prouince But the vallies of Mocrea and the fields of Pologue can testifie that they had but ill paiment and that they made but a bad audit The consideration hereof ought to spur vs on to follow and pursue that which remaineth yet vndone Amongst the rest the town of Belgrade doth seeme to promise vs no lesse good successe in the siege whereof we will continue as long as your selues shall thinke conuenient in such sort that if either the fortune of the warre or the obstinacy of the defendants doe protract draw it out at length we are not determined to continue there longer then till the end of Autumne Howbeit I am in good hope that we shall not be enforced to stay there to the end of that season considering both your accustomed valour the flower of so many goodly troupes such great store of engines and peeces for battery wherewith the King of Sicily hath most bountifully furnished vs. Besides you know that Belgrade is a towne of Christians peopled with our owne kinsmen and friends and that Amurath after the death of Theodore Corona the last Lord of that city did traiterously seize and possesse him selfe of the same This place is yet full of her ancient citizens who do onely attend to be freed and deliuered out of the seruitude of those Infidels I am much deceiued if they do not greatly further and fauor our atteÌ„pts whereby the enemy shall be assailed both within without Go to therfore my good friends and companions in armes march on a Gods name resolutely and couragiously succour them that attend in expectation of your vertue at leastwise spare not to enforce both them and the residue if you find them peruerse and obstinate With the end of this Oration there began a great cry and clamor of all the army with exceeding ioy and gladnesse then began the companies to set forward but Scanderbeg commanded them to stand and that euery man should keepe him selfe still in his quarter for neither had he as yet sent forth any vauntcurrours as he was accustomed to discouer the countrey nor the Marshalles were not yet departed to choose a place for their campe to lodge in Tanusee had commission to this effect who being accompanied with three thousand good horse departed immediatly without any further delay endeuoring by his diligence to preuent the enemy Then Scanderbeg sending his baggage and cariages before did follow after with his maine army The fame and report of this enterprise was already gotten to Belgrade and the citizens were throughly enformed of euery thing in particular which was the cause that the Christians were depriued of all meanes to do them any dammage either by secret ambushmeÌ„ts or by open force violence for the peisants were retired into the strong holds with the chiefest of their corne and other prouisions and hauing left nothing in the fields for it was in the hart of sommer they had layd vp all in garners within the wals insomuch that the souldiers naturally addicted to couetousnes desire of pillage and not finding any matter fit to prey vpon or to make boot of would not haue abstained from ouerrunning all the country and from destroying burning al with sword and fire if Tanusee had not hindered and withheld them telling them that he had no such charge nor commission giuen him by the general Wherfore keeping good watch ward on all sides he lodged his troupes quietly and without any disturbance vnder the wals without doing any outrage or iniury to the inhabitants either in word or deed Neither did they in like manner in any sort hinder or contradict their approach but held themselues still and quiet within the towne without any stur or motion made against them yet did they in the meane time carefully prouide for all things within the city disposing their courts of gard and sentinels and appointing ech man to his place The garrison of Turkes within Belgrade was very strong consisting of a thousand men at the least the common people being Christians were more in number by a third part yet altogether vnfit and vnapt to beare
turne and to wheele about and went speedily and roundly to encounter him not without some losse both giuen and taken on both parties After a while he withdrewe himselfe aside causing his armie to retire and to recuile a litle till he had renued the ranckes of his battell and that he had gathered together his souldiours that were dispersed and disordered In like manner Scanderbeg was not verie importunate vpon him whilest he thus temporized and delayed the fight but he emploied his thoughts likewise in the reallying of his forces and reuniting them together in one But the Barbarian could not long endure to suffer him for though his owne battallions were sore trauelled and wearied and were not as yet fully reordered and redressed yet did he beginne to presse vpon him and he gaue a freshe charge and onset vppon our men and as it were in disdaine and mockerie he threatned and vpbraided them telling them that now was the ende come of the insolencie and pride of the Albanian and that he should now receiue the condigne punishment of his rebellion and he often repeated these and the like speches saying that he would vtterly confound and destroy this handfull of Christians both men and horses And in verie deede their numbers was much decreased for besides those which were slaine vnder the conduct of Tanusee and in the chase as they fled before the enemie there were more then three thousand slaine with Musache of which two thousand were footmen and the rest horsemen Neuerthelesse Scanderbeg not vnlike a good and hardie pylot who hauing gathered together the remnants of his shipwarcke and hauing scarcely repaired the bottome of his vessell doth yet cheerefully prepare himselfe with more courage then hope to abide the extremitie of a new tempest doth animate and encourage his souldiers to trie the fortune of a fresh combat calling and crying vnto them with a furious terrible voice Follow me my friends follow me your companion in armes not to the conflict but to the slaughter of these cursed dogges and miscreants and then sharply blaming and reprouing them he called ech of them after other by their names saying what cowardize is this that possesseth you what strange feare hath seized vpon you shall we leaue the noble bodies of so many of our brethren friends and kinsemen here lying without reuenge will all of you yeelde vp your ghoasts vnreuenged you haue not here any other then your wonted and old enemie euen that enemie I say whom you were wont to make the ordinarie subiect of your honour and reputation In the middest of these and the like speeches pressed forward with constraint and necessitie which did inuite him to leaue and commit all to the pleasure of fortune he cast himselfe as a man forlorne and desperate into the middest and thickest of the enemies squadrons confirming by an assured proofe beyond all humaine reason that saying of Homer That amongst all other vertues magnanimitie of courage is often accompanied with a kinde of furie and supernaturall violence Thus did Scanderbeg fill all places wheresoeuer he came with bloud and terror sometimes beating downe those that fled from him and sometimes those which did withstande him as a warriour that was inuincible and most fortunate But if euer his valure did shew it selfe it was at this time when he farre passed and excelled all his former deedes and haughtie exploits The rest of his troupes likewise taking example by his valure and being transported with rage and dispaire did breake in vpon the enemie and rushed vppon their weapons as men blinded and hardened against all perils and followed their Generall through all hazards and daungers But the sudden accident and mishappe of George Thopie brother to Tanusee did put the residue in a great feare and astonishment for he being throwen to the ground and almost ouerwhelmed with the shot of the enemie our men had much a doe to free him out of their handes and to set him on horse backe The infanterie of the Albanois could better saue themselues from the violence of their enemies then from their horses for in many places they made way ouer their bellies as they lay ouerthrowen vpon the ground and so did put them to great scath and mischiefe By meanes wherof as there is nothing that doth more awaken the spirites of a man or that doth make him more apt to deuise and subtillize a thousand fine inuentions then doth necessitie they did aduise themselues of this policie to seize vpon all the horses of those which were slaine and which they coulde possiblie come by both of their fellowes and of the Paynims and speedily they mounted vpon them with singular agilitie This was the cause that very many of them were preserued and it did greatly strengthen the rest of the armie for that their forces were by this meanes in a manner redoubled By this time had Scanderbeg broken and disordered a strong troupe of the enemies horse and had pressed in euen to the standard corps du gard of the Turkish General endeuoring according to his wonted custome in most battels to haue made the beginning of his victorie by their Chieftains death so to haue enforced them to yeeld him the honor of that iourney But euen then at that instant those two souldiers who as we haue saied had sworne his death to the Sultan did aduance themselues in that front of the fight and with their swords readie drawen did receiue him to the combat At that verie time and in the same place Musache de Angeline desiring to succour and aide his Vncle receiued a sore wound vpon his right shoulder and the rest of the Epirots likewise being but fewe against many were so plyed and kept doing on all handes both in front and in flancke and at their backes and that so fiercely and so roundly that they had no leisure to looke after their chiefe commaunder who by meanes thereof being now left alone against two as it were by a fatall kind of chance and destinie did cause eche man to turne and bend their eyes to himwardes For the two Mahometans both with their hands and with their voice putting backe and making their companions to retire would needes by themselues alone carrie away the honour of the death of the Prince of Albanie and they thought to reserue to themselues onely the prize propounded and promised them by the Ottoman But it is a common saying That the foole is greatly deceiued of that he thinketh These two Infidels did continue a while coasting and coursing vp and downe round about him now here now there on euerie side to take him at some aduantage In the end eche of them setting spurres to their horses and with a carelesse contempt of their owne death and daunger they came vpon him brauely and with a full cariere charged this fierce enemie whom they hated most deadly and odiously The notorious
within his saddle and hauing recouered his stirrups and the conceipt of this vnwonted disgrace making the bloud to arise in his face he would not suffer that any other but himselfe should take the reuenge thereof And therefore enraged with anger he made towards his enemie assailed him most furiously and folowed him so hard that hauing giuen him many cruell and mortall wounds him self not hurt at all in the end the Infidell fell downe dead at his feete The Turke being thus ouerthrowen and slaine Scanderbeg passed on and with an high voice calling for Moses he addressed and bent all his furie against him who I doubt not would haue abidden and stood to him if not for any hope of the victorie yet at leastwise for his honour and reputation if both the daylight and his companie had not quite forsaken him whilest himselfe was earnestly busied in fighting But his people flying he was enforced to doe the like and the soldiers which had followed him into Epire as their Generall did now accompanie him in his flight also The Epirots especially such as were young and lustie left not to follow the chase and to make after him for the space of a mile and more in hope to haue taken him either aliue or dead whereof they knew Scanderbeg was very desirous Many of the enemies which were found hindmost were put to the sword but as for Moses he escaped safe and sound and being verie skifull in the waies and passages yet tired and ouerwearied with extreame trauell and hunger he got to a place of suertie together with the infamous reliques of his armie which exceeded not aboue foure thousand men at the most There resting and refreshing himselfe he attended the day-light Of the Epirots there were not wanting fully one hundreth and about a foure score hurt who notwithstanding their wounds and the darknesse of the night did fall to sacking of the Turkish tents and to gather the spoiles of them which were slaine Amongst all the prisoners there was but one onely of any speciall marke and reckoning and he being grieuously wounded had yeelded himselfe to Zacharie Groppe onely this Turke was saued from the sword and was afterwards ransommed at a deare rate As for the others were it either without the knowledge or with the command of Scanderbeg they were all of them ordained to diuerse torments being made the subiect of reuenge so to satisfie the fury of the souldiers who were not yet appeased for the crueltie shewed by the Turkes at Belgrade so that this execution of these Infidels did in some sort pay the interest of their former losses and iniuries The victorie thus obtained and the baggage both their owne and that of the enemies being gathered together and trussed vp the armie retyred to their first lodgings where the ordinarie garrison was established there did not they make any long stay but Scanderbeg in great triumphe the fourth of Aprill tooke his iourney towards Croy. Now beganne the olde dolour and griefe to be quite forgotten and extinguished by this new ioy and gladnesse the time it selfe which is the best medicine for such maladies hauing by little and litle mitigated the violence and extremitie of that passion Now were the spirits and mindes of all men refreshed and recomforted by reason of this happie and gladsome victorie the celebration whereof was solemnized among the Dibrians with longer feastings and with more vniuersall sports games then had bene vsed at any time for the triumph of any good successe obtained against their enemies for they did esteeme the ignominie to be now purged and taken away which the fault and offence of another might seeme to haue drawn vpon their whole countrie and that they had now giuen certaine and euident gages and tokens of their faith and fidelitie which was in some sort suspected to their Prince In like manner there was sent a solemne Ambassade vnto Naples with many notable and worthie presents which were as signes and markes of their new prosperitie and might testifie to the contentment and ioy of his friend the king Alphonsus that the dishonor of Belgrade and the domesticall treason of Moses was now reuenged and recompenced This Ambassade was honourably entertained and within a while after returned home againe from the King of Naples loaden with most rich and honourable presents notwithstanding that by meanes of the late warre with the Florentines and by the siege of Plombyn which had bene in vaine attempted Alphonsus himselfe was in a manner drawen drie both of men and money In this meane season Moses and his companions hauing wandred somefew daies vp and downe vpon the marches of Albanie knew not what way to take nor what course to resolue vppon For the shame of his discomfiture did put him in feare to approach or to repayre to Constantinople or to present him selfe vnto the Sultan besides to attempt or enterprise any thing further against the King of Epyre either for the abolishing or for the excusing the blemish and disgrace of his misfortune the small numbers of his men their abated courages would not permit him Notwithstanding as his own mind was haughty and couragious so did he hope to gaine them also to condescend agree to his deuise and his conclusion was that he wold proue all meanes to draw them to his mind and to perswade them to that course The argument which he tooke to induce them vnto it was vpon this That oftentimes things which are most desperate being hazarded with a setled resolution do come in the end to be more fortunate then those that are done with best aduise consideration that vnto men vanquished there remaineth no other hope of safetie then by victorie and that it is the dutie of martiall men either by a triumphant and glorious life or by a memorable death to seeke the abolishing of so great ignominie and dishonour And to this purpose did he vse many speeches to the like effect promising them moreouer that by reason of his great practise and skill in the waies places and passages of the countrie he would conduct and leade them without any danger both by day and by night which themselues should thinke best euen to the campe of their enemies and the rather for that as he gaue them to vnderstand the armie of the Epirots was retired backe to Croy and that the garrison left vppon the frontiers was not comparable vnto them neither in number nor yet in valure But how is it possible to perswade them who are in a maze and terror By the cries which they made and the clashing of armes and weapons they shewed how they did mislike the counsell of Moses and immediatly they began to take their way towards Greece Needfull it was for the Dibrian to hold his peace and to be silent and to frame himselfe to the will and pleasure of them all the conceipt whereof made him so sad and
parties that doe them He determined therefore to returne againe to his natiue countrie to yeeld himselfe into the hands of his Prince and to submit himselfe to the mercie of Scanderbeg whom he had so highly offended hoping that by this his repentance he should abolish if not the note yet at least the paine and punishment which he had most worthily deserued and in so doing he should auenge himselfe also of the vngratefull Ottoman and a speciall reason that induced him therunto was that he was assured that the clemencie and courtesie of his Prince did farre exceed the badnesse of his merits and misdeedes By this conclusion hauing quieted and setled his mind he did daily deuise with himselfe how he might escape and get away The night as it fell out was the fittest time for his purpose and therefore dislodging in the edge of an euening so as the watch could not perceiue his departure he made one whole and continuall iourney both of that night and the next day following not resting in any place nor suffering his horses to breath themselues till such time as being entred into that part of the countrie of Thrace which confineth vpon Macedonie he passed on the rest of his way with more pleasure ease both for his bodie and for his mind Thus within few dayes being entred into Epyre he tooke the next and shortest way possible to the garrison where he was wont to commaund purposing to goe from thence and to prostrate himselfe at the feete of Scanderbeg Assoone as the Dibrians perceiued him to be come their harts seemed to relent euen at the verie sight of him in such sort that immediately there began to be reuiued in them the desire of their former conuersation with their auncient and wonted Captaine They grew into vtter forgetfulnes and obliuion how he had peruerted all rightes both diuine and humaine in being disloiall to his countrie to his citizens and to his proper bloud and kindred They could not welcome him without abundance of teares and so with infinite salutations embracements they consumed and spent the greatest part of that day and then being giuen to vnderstand by them that the King was not farre from thence he chaunged his determination of going to Croy and went presently to seeke out his Soueraigne A great number of the garrison did accompanie him to the intent he might be the better graced in presenting himselfe before his presence and might the more easily obtaine his pardon The euening was now neere at hand when as he according to the vsage and fashion of that Nation putting his girdle about his necke did holde on his way till that he came where as Scanderbeg then was whom he found walking before his tents Presently vpon the sight of the King in extreame griefe and sorrowe he fell vpon his knees and prostrated himselfe at the feete of his Prince the teares trickling downe his cheekes and in most humble manner he besought his Maiestie to forgiue him his offence and to graunt him pardon not for the respect of any his forepassed merits but onely in regarde of his meere bountie and royall clemencie protesting and vowing that if it would please him to remit his fault and to graunt him his life he would most willingly consecrate and expose the same from henceforth for the encrease and honour of his Realme and for the libertie of his countrie They which accompanied him did not faile to entreat for him Scanderbeg tooke him verie gratiously by the hand and caused him to arise and without any difficulty or delay did freely pardon him and receiued him to his grace and mercie and after many embracements and friendly salutations he fell into speech with him deuising and conferring most friendly of certaine particularities and enterprises of the Turke testifying sufficiently by the manner of his behauiour that his heart was throughly reconciled vnto him and was free from all passion of rancour malice and mistrust I doe not thinke it any strange matter in Scanderbeg that he receiued Moses to his mercie but that he should so readily and with such facilitie be drawen to pardon him who had shewed such notable hatred had vomited foorth so many iniuries and had attempted so notorious a mischiefe against his Prince that he should no sooner haue a sight of him or heare him speake but he should so bountifully and with such assured commiseration and clemencie rather diuine then humaine receiue him into his good liking and former amitie and euen then also when the griefe conceiued for the death of those who were lately slaine was yet scarcely forgotten nor the woundes of the hurt yet throughly cured this is a matter so rare and strange that it cannot be thought nor imagined without great wonder and admiration And besides all this euen at that verie time and within fewe dayes vpon his returne he tooke speciall care and gaue order that his goods which had bene confiscated and deuided amongest particular persons should be restored vnto him together with all his lands and offices whereat the people tooke great pleasure and contentment Thus by this milde and moderate demeanour this courteous Prince did purchase both vnto himselfe eternall praise and commendation and to the other a generall abolishment of his reproach and infamie and all remembraunce of offence was quite and cleane extinguished out of the heartes of the people of Albanie For the Prouince imitating the modestie of their King did seeme as willing to burie all their griefes in obliuion and they made shew thereof by bonfires and such like tokens of triumphe which they publiquely demeaned for the restitution of their Moses Whereunto the King also added a perpetuall edict and decree enioyning and commaunding all his subiectes that from thenceforwardes no man liuing should make any speeches or mention of that offence Wherein he verified that saying of the Poet. It is often seene that facile clemencie of such as mildly vse their victorie Hath caused manie to finde commoditie by being vanquisht by their enemie Nowe if Epyre and the Albanois on the one side did triumphe for ioy of the reconciliation of their Moses Mahomet on the other side had lost all patience when he vnderstood that he was returned into his country With notable inuectiues he accused him not so much for the mishappe of his ouerthrowe as of pure and manifest treason imagining as a consequence of this accident that his flight and rebellion which he had so simply beleeued was euen from the beginning one of the stratagemes and policies of Scanderbeg He tooke counsell therefore concerning his proceedings in the warre of Epyre and how he might be reuenged But amongst manie opinions there debated that onely preuayled by which he was aduised to abstaine altogether from armes for that yeare supposing it necessarie to attende some fit occasion and opportunitie or to employ all the forces and power of the Ottoman Empire for the reducing
the midst of our common rancor and hostility there shall be no default nor good-will wanting so farre forth as thy deserts shall require it As touching the surceasing from armes and giuing ouer the ordinary rodes and excursions of our souldiers I can promise thee nothing neither will I tye my self to any thing for I cannot be drawne to like of any appointment but seeing that I my selfe haue bene so disdained as greatly do I disdaine to grant it And albeit our vehement and ardent desire of reuenge in regard of thy owne honest and good cariage may be somewhat abated and mitigated yet assure thy selfe that our publike hatred and enmitie shal be in no part diminished And if peradueÌ„ture either the varietie of times or of fortune do make vs that we shew not our selues so fauorable in this case yet it may be that this our priuat friendship shall not be altogether vnprofitable but that it may fall both to thy benefit honor Hamur after he had kissed the hand of him that was both his friend and his enemy retired himself to his company being neither altogether contented nor yet discontented with this answer Siâ—â—m in like maner within a while after presented himself with the like flatteries before ScaÌ„derbeg at such time as he vnderstood of his being in those quarters and he found him not more obstinate then did his companion for both the common people and the most part of the Albanian souldiers enclining to the peace which had bene so long demanded did shew that they wold not make it very strange nor difficult to accord and agree vnto it Wherfore their minds growing by degrees to like of ease and quietnesse the garrisons were in some sort lessened and diminished in such sort that that Sommer was spent and passed ouer without any troubles or tumults or rather in great slouth and idlenesse About this time happened the sorowfull and vnhappy death of Alphonsus king of Naples the report whereof being brought to Scanderbeg who was then busily employed in ciuill matters concerning his estate and in other affaires of the prouinceâ— it did so sequester and withdrawe him from all occasions both publique and priuate and it did so wound his heart with such extreme sorowe and deepe griefe that hauing lost all remembrance of his late victorie and letting passe all care and regard of his enemies for many dayes together in great discomfort he mourned for the losse of his dearest and best friend And to speake the truth this king was not vnworthie to be lamented with the long and continuall plaints and teares of the Epirots and other his confederates but euen the whole world might well deplore his death And how beit the cleare testimonie of his heroycall vertues hath bene published and highly aduaunced by so many worthy and excellent personages yet might it be imputed vnto me for a great fault ouersight if I should not by the way as it were in a word or two touch it It may well be sayd that when this Prince died there departed the onely and best Mecaenas that then liued For all degrees and qualities of persons both learned and martiall as wel scholers as souldiers were left desolate destitute of their best patron and had iust cause to be sad and sorowfull for his losse With him was extinguished the iust and true reward both of letters and of armes and the true ornament of all commendable exercises There was not his like seene for many ages before nor be it spokeÌ„ without the displeasure of the posterity was there euer any one since him that was so vpright an estimator of the vertues and merits of other men And it is no small matter to be wondred at that being a Prince of so rare incomparable curtesie affabilitie clemencie and liberalitie yet no one Prince of his time did leaue so great riches and treasures behind him Good cause therfore had Scanderbeg to bewaile and lament the losse of so trustie and puissant a friend from whom if we respect either his abilitie or his willingnesse he might at all times and vpon all occasions haue drawne any thing both for his honor and for his profit as out of a plentifull treasurie store-house prepared for his owne priuate and particular vse One thing onely there was which did in some sort comfort him asswaged the bitternesse of his grief that was that he saw himself depriued ofso good a frend by the extremity course of his aged years and not by any rigorous or iniurious right of nature or by other casualty That pietie and dutie which rested on his part to be performed in this behalf he dispatched it presently with all prudence and celeritie sending away with all speed his Ambassadours vnto Ferdinand his sonne both to deplore the accident of the king his father as also to congratulate him as the maner is of his new crowne and dignitie and by the remembrance of his fathers benefits of the friendship and amitie which he bare to the estate of Albanie to renew and increase this alliance and confederacy between them This ambassade was also accompanied furnished with most sumptuous presents as he had alwayes vsed and accustomed and they had expresse charge and order to bring backe Amese with them who had neuer ceased to practise and make meanes by the authoritie and fauour of his friends and the commiseration of his owne misfortune that he might be reconciled and restored to the fauour and good grace of his vncle He was as yet prisoner vnder sure and safe custodie and albeit in this chaunge of the affaires of Naples in this new greatnesse of Ferdinand there were many and great alterations and that in this new and publike time of ioye the prisons were set open most of the prisoners set at libertie yet to the intent that Scanderbeg might not haue cause to find himselfe aggrieued if he should haue bene freed there was especiall care and order taken to keepe him still in ward as a certaine sure pledge of his vncles iust anger This Ambassade was receiued and entertained with great honor good cheare such as the tumult and stirres of that new kingdome would permit for so it was in very truth that all things were then in trouble disorder and the peace of all Italie was broken and disturbed by the decease of the late king Alphonsus Amese being brought backe into Epire was againe committed to prison and carefully kept in sure and safe custody by the order of his vncle though not so straightly as before and that seueritie and rancour which yet remained began by litle and litle to be asswaged by the daily lamentations teares and petitions of his nephew in such sort that within a while after of a fatherly loue and tender affection he gaue him both his life liberty and restored him to his former estate dignities Then Amese bethinking himself of the gages
Lewes his wife the Lady Mary daughter of Stephen king of Hungary had 9. male children borne in wedlocke betwene them Of those 9. we find that foure had issue of them we are now to entreat The first was Charles surnamed Martell the other three Robert Lewes and Philip Martell the eldest sonne succeeded by the right of his mother to the kingdome of Hungary but he died before his father leauing Carolobert or as the Italians in one word corruptly doe call him Caronumbert his sonne successor in Hungary Charles the 2. being departed this life in the yere 1309. Carolobert pretending a claime to the crown of Naples as descended vnto him by the right of his father did stand in cōtention for the same with his Vncle Robert who alledged on the other side that because Martell the father of Carolobert his elder brother was neuer seized of that kingdome therfore the same was to descend vnto him immediatly by the death of his father This great famous question being debated and vehemently argued amongst the Lawiers of that age to know which of them ought to succeede in the realmes dominions simply descending either the Vncle or the sonne of the elder brother who neuer was king it was in the end decided by Pope Clement the 6 who gaue sentence for Robert and adiudged that he should succeed into the kingdome crowne of Naples And Baldus of Perusa a famous Lawier in that age saith that the reason which moued the Pope to giue that iudgement was inregard of the publique common commoditie and in respect of the great good merits and admirable wisedome of the said Robert and he ordered the kingdome of Hungary to the Nephew Carolobert then king of Hungarie had two sons Lewes king of Hungary Andrew or Andreas and Robert who was crowned king of Naples Sicily and Ierusalem begot Charles surnamed without land who likewise dying before his father left 3. daughters Ione Mary Margaret Now Lewes the third sonne of Charles the 2. was Duke of Duras had issue Charles of Duras hereafter mentioned The fourth sonne of the said Charles was Philip Prince of Tarentum in Italy and he had issue a sonne named Lewes who succeded his father in that principality Now Robert king of Naples approching neere his end in the yeare 1342. did ordain by testament that Ione the eldest daughter of his sonne Charles should inherit his crowne and kingdom of Naples on condition she did espouse her selfe to Andrew his Cosin the sonne of Carolobert This yong Princesse being thus made Queene vpon the condition afore mentioned did marry with the said Andrew with whom being vpon a time at Auersa she sent vnto him in the night time praying him to come vnto her pretending that she had matters of importance to impart vnto him who comming to her in great haste was there taken and hanged vp at an yron grate with a lace or girdle of silke and golde wrought by the hands of the Queene herselfe The occasion of this murther as many pretend was for that this young Prince albeit he were of a youthfull and lusty constitution yet could not satisfie the insatiable lust appetite of his wife besides that she was incensed therunto by reason of the conspiracies of those of her bloud and kinred who did aspire to the soueraignty crowne of Naples But whatsoeuer was the cause therof she tooke immediatly to her husband or as some say for her paramour Lewes Prince of Tarent aboue mentioned her cosin german This crime and horrible fact of Queene Ione did seeme vnto al men so odious execrable that she made the good renowm memorie of Robert her grandfather to be now very ill reputed and badly thought of and the report of her detestable behauiour was speedily published and spread abroade in all places The Pope himself began to take the matter in hand perswaded with Lewes king of Hungary to vndertake the reuenge of his brothers death and so drew him into the Realme of Naples with a most puissant and mightie armie in the yeare 1348. notwithstanding the often letters of Queene Ione wherein she excused and purged her selfe of this misdeede and the murther of his brother At the comming and arriuall of the Hungarian king into Italy the sudden taking of Sulmo did so terrifie the rest that they presently submitted themselues to his deuotion insomuch that the Queene hauing her Tarentine in her company fled into Proence leauing in her place Charles of Duras to haue the commaund and gouernement of her kingdome who being also vanquished and taken in battell was by the sentence of the king of Hungarie beheaded as being priuie and partie to the death of Andrew Of this Charles there was a sonne left likewise named Charles of Duras The Hungarian by this meanes in lesse then three monethes had gotten the possession of the Realme of Naples and hauing left a strong garrison of Hungarians within the countrie he retyred himselfe into his owne kingdome carying away with him that young Prince of Duras Hereupon the Pope being vrged and pressed with the daily and continuall pursuit and entreatie of the Queene tooke the care of her affaires into his owne handes sending into Italy Guy of Limoges Cardinall of Port being his Nephew who knew so well how to handle conuey his matters that he brought both parties to an accord vpon these conditions that Ione should be restored to her realme and title of Queene of Naples and as for the Tarentine that he should only enioy the name of Prince of Tarentum moreouer that after her decease all her right interest in her kingdome should remain to the king of Hungary his successours Thus Ione being reestablished within a while after she knewe so well how to handle her matters so to practise with Pope Clement that in the yeare 1352. he crowned Lewes the Tarentine Prince King of Naples and yet so that he procured also the King of Hungarie to confirme the peace with both of them which had beene formerly concluded betwene them In recompence whereof the Queene graunted vnto the Pope by way of contract and sale the citie of Auignyon which was part of her patrimonie and inheritance but so as all that money which was due vnto the Church for the yearely fee and seruice of the kingdome of Naples from the time that she came to the crowne was allowed and deducted in the bargaine betweene them About a three yeares after the Tarentine dyed being wasted and consumed away by the excessiue vse and ouermuch companying with the Queene But she stayed not long without a companion for she coupled her selfe in mariage with Iames of Arragon the infant of Maiorque who was reputed the most gentle and courteous Prince liuing in that age Him did she retaine with her not in the title of King but onely as Duke of
two soules the one of them I haue vowed to God only the other I will giue to him that is willing to haue it and from thenceforth he perswaded with the Queene who of her selfe was sufficiently vnconstant to become the extreame enemie of Pope Vrban and Maister Nicolas was the chiefe Counseller and principall procurer of the proceeding of the election of Pope Clement Thus you may see howe great and waâ—ghtie a matter it is to outrage or iniurie any man of a haughtie spirit and of a great courage Vrban hauing made peace with the Florentines Perusians and others that had rebelled against Gregorie the eleuenth his predecessour bent and emploied all his endeuours and deuises how to reuenge himselfe vppon the Queene of Naples insomuch as by a solemne iudgement he depriued her of her realme and Kingdome in regard of manie crimes and offences and especially for that she had fauoured and maintained the Schisme and had yeelded her obedience to Pope Clement Hereuppon he inuested Charles of Duras with the Kingdome and crowne of Naples and he wrote his letters vnto the King of Hungarie with whom the sayed Charles was then abiding That he should send him vnto him and that he would crowne him and put him in possession of that Kingdome On the other part Clement the Antipope not thinking himselfe safe enough at Aniow for feare of the armie of the Romaines which had alreadie taken the field he speedily sent a message vnto the Queene willing her to send him certaine forces and a good and sufficient conuoy to conduct and bring him safe vnto Naples but the Neapolitans being aduertised of his comming betooke themselues to their armes and with great tumult they told the Queene plainely that they meant not to be troubled with two Popes at once not to enter into the warre vppon that cause and quarrell She therefore and Clement retired to the castell where hauing fortified themselues for certaine daies and in the end finding that it would not be for their benefit to soiorne or stay any longer in Naples the Queene caused three gallies to be trimmed and made readie in two of the which she imbarked Clement and his Cardinals and her selfe getting abord the third and with a prosperous gale of winde hauing put to sea in few dayes arriued safe vnto Auignion Clement being visited in great honour and reuerence by the French men and the processe of the two Popes being seene and examined by the parliament of Paris he was pronounced to be the true and lawfull Pope and Vrban was denounced to be no Pope but a Scismatique in such sort that both the kings of France and of Arragon did so take and acknowledge him and did yeelde him their obeissance and soueraigne honor In like manner the Queene Ione being roially entertained honored did receiue great and rich giftes but principally of Lewes Duke of Aniow the second sonne of Iohn king of France whereupon she seeing her selfe to be a sole woman and without any issue and more then that being truely enformed of the practises and enterprises of Charles of Duras and the Bishoppe of Rome who did daily multiply and increase in strength and puissance she did adopt the saide Prince for her sonne and ordained him to be the heire and inheritour of her kingdome giuing the same expressely vnto him after her decease and Clement by his authoritie did approue and allow the donation made by the Queene and in the yeare 1379. there were made letters Pattentes and authenticall Charters to that effect This was the first ground and foundation of the rights which the second discent of the house of Aniow did for a long time pretend vnto the realme of Naples These thinges being fully established and concluded Ione returned to Naples whilest that Vrban in the meane time persisting continually in his depriuation of the Queene and the inuestiture of Charles of Duras did earnestly and vehemently sollicite the King of Hungarie both by letters and by agents to set forwarde that enterprise and he pressed him so much the more for that Charles being then with a great and puissant armie of Hungarians vpon the confines of Treuisa against the Venetians by the direction of the Hungarian King who was confederate with the Genowaies and the Siegniour of Padua against the state of Venice he was alreadie in a manner at the end of the iourney Charles being fully enformed and verie well acquainted with the intent and pleasure of the King and verie desirous to reuenge the death of his vncle but much more greedie desirous of so rich a crowne in the yeare 1380. tooke his iourney with eight thousand Hungarians and a thousand Italians and came to Rome where Vrban receiued him with the greatest pompe and triumph that can be imagined and created him Senator which is the chiefest degree of honour amongst the Romanes Afterwardes the yeare following hauing strengthened himselfe with many other companies especially with the armie of the church he marched directly towardes Naples into the which by meanes of his practises with the Citizens he entred at one of the gates whilest that Otho being accompanied with the Queenes forces did issue out at another gate of purpose to affront and fight with him In conclusion being possessed of the towne and consequently of the whole realme and especially of the person of the Queene he caused her by the iudgement and direction of the King of Hungarie who had expresly written vnto him to that effect to be executed and put to death in the same place and with the same kind of punishment which she not long before had caused Andrew her husband most wickedly to endure and suffer Her sister the Ladie Marie was executed in like manner being at that time the widdowe of Robert late Countie of Artois to whom she had bene a most disloiall and vnchast wife and was greatly defamed for her dishonest familiaritie with Master Iohn Bocace so greatly renowmed amongest the Italians for his eloquence and great learning who in fauour and commendation of this Ladie made those two elegant bookes in the vulgar Italian entitled Flammette Philocole The affaires of Naples being setled in good order Charles returned to Rome where he was annointed and crowned King by Vrban with great solemnitie and triumph Yet for all this were not the troubles appeazed nor suppressed in those countries for the Duke of Aniow Lewes hauing bene before solicited by the Queene and being supported both by Clement and also by the French both to ayde and succour that vnfortunate Princesse as also to disposesse Vrban of the Papacie being readie to march with an armie of thirtie thousand men or as some say of fiue and fiftie thousand notwithstanding the death of Ione he entred into Italie in the pursuite of his owne right and title and comming into the kingdome of Naples he passed as farre as Apulia vpon the territorie
he came to Cossence fell sicke of a feauer and there dyed in the yeare of our Lord a thousand foure hundred thirtie fower to the great griefe and sorow of the whole kingdome for that he was a Prince of singular curtesie and benignitie and there was especiall hope of his good cariage and behauiour The Queene liued not long after but hauing raigned twentie yeares she departed this life hauing ordained by her last will and testament that Rene Duke of Barre brother of the sayd Lewes should be her heire albeit that some doubt of this her last will and say it was falsified and counterfaited after her death Thus the house and familie of Duras which had bene so notable and famous by so manie descents came nowe to haue an end as it is likewise fatall to all other humane and earthly things Duke Rene being called and sent for by the principall persons and chiefe Nobles of the realme could not go to take the inuestiture of the kingdome of Naples by reason that he was for a long time held prisoner in Burgundie where he had bene restrained of his libertie after the losse of the battell of Blainuille in the yeare a thousand foure hundred thirtie one against the Earle of Vaudemont and the Marshall of Burgundie and therefore he sent thither Isabell his wife and his children who being ayded and succoured by Pope Eugenius with a power of three thousand footemen vnder the leading and conduct of the Patriarke of Aquileia brought certaine places vnder her gouernement and obeissaunce On the other side the king Alphonsus as if Fortune had meant and striued to ballaunce both parties equally and alike vnderstanding of the death of the Queene and hauing besieged Gaietta was vanquished in a battell at sea by Philip Duke of Millan and the Genowayes and being there taken by his enemies was ledde prisoner to Millan But he found the Italian Duke more gracious and friendly vnto him then the Burgonian was to the Angeuin for besides the great respect wherewith he was vsed by the Millanois and the good entertainement which he receiued at his handes they oftentimes meeting and falling into familiar discourses and seuerall deuises the one with the other the manners the speeches the fashions and good behauiour of Alphonsus for he was a most absolute and accomplished Prince did so exceedingly please and content the humour of this Duke that in regard of the inward and rare amitie which this familiaritie and acquaintance bred betweene them it may well be sayd that his misfortune was the readie way to his good fortune and did purchase him the realme which he so earnestly affected For the Duke of Millan then growing suspicious of the power and puissance of the French for the loue of the Spaniard did renounce the friendship and alliance of Fraunce and leagued him selfe with their enemie to the recouerie and conquest of Naples in such sort that hauing suddenly graunted him his free libertie Alphonsus was the first that set foote within the kingdome of Naples by meanes whereof as the prouerbe is being first come he was first serued and his right preuailed by reason of the absence of Rene so that he insinuated him selfe verie highly into the fauour and affections both of the Princes Nobles and of the people of the countrey Neuertheles within a while after Rene being also deliuered out of Burgundy and being entred into Naples in the yeare of our Lord 1438. he regained all her castles and strong holdes one peece after another which till that time had bene in the custodie and possession of the Arragonian But Alphonsus increasing in strength from day to day came at length to besiege Naples with fifteene thousand men at land and ten gallies lying before the hauen or port of the citie and he perseuered so obstinately in his siege that there dayly passed many goodly exploites and glorious deedes of armes betweene the assaylants and the defendants notwithstanding both he and his troupes might haue dwelt long enough before the walles of Naples if they had not bene holpen by the aduertisements of a certaine Mason named Anell who being pricked on with the hope of gaine did aduenture his life to augment the glory and good fortune of Alphonsus For conueying him selfe closely and priuily foorth of the towne he shewed him an auncient cesterne or water course which couertly led vnder the ground into the towne by the which he conueyed in two hundred men hardie and resolute who issuing forth into the citie by a pit or hollow vault did seize vpon a certaine turret where maintaining the fight for a long season whilest the Catalans in the meanetime partly by escalado and partly by breaking of the port S. Genare did make them selues way and gayned the towne by this meanes he became Lord of the Citie hauing constrained Rene to retire him selfe into Castell noue Thus Alphonsus in the yeare a thousand foure hundred fortie two and the one and twentieth after his first expedition obtained the kingdome and Citie of Naples the which nine hundred fiue yeares before was recouered from the Gothes by that princely chieftaine Bellisarius by meanes of the same conduit or water course There remained yet the three Castels or fortresses namely the Capouane the mountaine or Castell of Saint Hereme and the Castell noue all which king Rene being not able to defend and succour them did followe the estate and condition of the residue of the towne and became Arragonois both them and all the realme and the Prince of Aniow forced to forgoe the doubtfull and turbulent possession of that kingdome which he had held for the space of sixe yeares or thereabouts Alphonsus after he had in great rest and securitie quietly enioyed the Royall scepter for sixteene yeares together did then depart this life leauing behind him one onely sonne illegitimate named Ferdinand or Fernand who being appointed by his father to haue the inheritance of the Crowne and kingdome of Naples yet being but meanely fauoured or beloued by the countrey did not enioy it with like quietnesse nor with the publike tranquillitie which was the occasion that hee vsed all meanes and possible diligence to secure and assure vnto him selfe a quiet and peaceable possession of the kingdome The first thing that he did was to make Pope Pius the second his friend and well-willer who being a Siennois borne was of late substituted into the place of Calixtus This did he compasse and bring to passe by the mediation and intreatie of the Duke of Millan and by the restitution of the Dutchie of Spoleta to the Church the which vpon the death of Calixtus the Count Iames Picenin had vsurped vpon Peter Lewes Borgia his nephewe The Pope being wonne vnto him by this curtesie did crowne Ferdinand king of Naples Sicilie and Ierusalem on this condition that he should restore to the obeissance of the Church of Rome
haue the commaund thereof This mountaine runneth a long by the side of the Castle of Croy where hanging ouer it with a deepe cliffe after a small descent it doth deuide it selfe into diuerse hils or litle mounts In this place had Ballaban placed his campe and hauing drawen thither the masse or maine strength of his armie he had gotten the possession of the mountaine of Cruyna the which hauing fortified and garded with a great and strong garrison he did presse the towne with a hard and grieuous siege But leauing him there encamped let vs returne to our troupes Their plot being laide as is before mentioned and their bandes being deuided Scanderbeg with his forces went first on to visite the enemie and being come to the saide mountaine he receiued aduertisement that Ionyme the brother of Ballaban was marching on towardes his brother with a good number of Turkes and the report went that he was alreadie past the mountaine of Bulgarie Immediatly vppon these newes Scanderbeg with singular promptnesse and resolution tooke with him the choise and flower of his army and hauing caused the residue to keepe themselues still and quiet he roade all that night with extreame speede and diligence to meete with Ionyme whom hauing surprised on a sudden and vnprouided he soone broke and dispersed taking him aliue with Heder his sonne likewise and the same night with no lesse speede then he went forwarde he returned to his companie with the victorie The next morning he brought foorth and presented to the sight of Ballaban his brother and his Nephew bound and tyed together And thereupon giuing a braue charge vpon the garrison of the Turkes which lay vppon the mount Cruyna he chased them from thence and being seized of the place he tooke vp his lodging vppon the toppe of the mountaine giuing present order that his confederates should haue notice thereof out of hande Nowe Ballaban who promised him selfe some intelligence within Croy was wonderfully abashed to see the Christians so suddainely to come so neere him and to be in a manner ouer his head and where they might commaunde him Wherefore hauing newly encouraged and reassured part of his people who were somewhat troubled with the alarme and letting them to vnderstande that the towne was surely their owne if they would make any haste to enter it and so prouide for their owne safetie whereas otherwise if they fayled in the enterprise it was not for them to staie there any longer before Croie knowing well that they should but loose their labour that the daungers would be very great to continue there at the siege and that it could not but cost them deare now that he saw his brother defeated and the enemie so forwarde which could not but be an occasion of great inconuenience vnto them Thus being accompanied with a good troupe he presented himselfe before the walles and went on euen almost to the port of the citie perswading and solliciting them within to render themselues vnto him and there did he continue for a while attending the issue of that which he expected The Croians being incensed with his presumption made a braue sallie out vpon him falling into skirmish with the Turkes they enforced them to the retreate and made their Chieftaine to know the vanitie of his practises Herewithall Ballaban being enraged and euen madde for anger and making head a fresh against the Croyans thought by pure force to haue driuen them into the towne But the citizens beginning to retyre in very good order without the losse of anie one of their companie it happened that one George Alexie an Epyrot borne and a good harguebussier discharging a bullet vpon Ballaban hit him quite thorough the throate giuing him a mortall and deadly wound Yet did not Ballaban fall presently but when he found himselfe shotte he kept himselfe sure within his saddle and setting spurres to his horse hâ—ranne with great speed and a swift pace euen to his tents where he was no sooner arriued but he tumbled from his horse and fell rudely to the ground embrewing his countrie soyle with his owne bloud the destruction whereof hee had so bloudilie desired The fall and death of the Generall put the whole campe of the Infidelles in extreame feare and terrour in so much that the night following the Barbarians in great silence and secrecie abandoned the siege of Croie and retyring themselues about eight long myles off they encamped and fortified them selues verie diligently at Tyranna The next morning vppon breake of day Scanderbeg comming to take a viewe of the enemies tentes found them voide and emptie of men but fully furnished with baggage and prouisions so that there was no want of any thing eyther of corne or other victuals all which he caused to be remoued and carried thence into Croie the same being in a manner sufficient to victuall it for one whole yeare After this himselfe entred with great triumph into the citie where he was receiued with great honour and ioy by the inhabitants whom he highly commended and that worthily for their fidelitie and good perseuerance adding therewithall many gifts and rewards in recompence of their deserts Whilest these offices of ciuill courtesies passed betwene Scanderbeg his citizens there came from the campe of the Barbarians lying at Tyranna two horsmen seeming to be persons of good account and reckoning who presenting themselues before Scanderbeg in the name of the Chieftains Commanders of their armie praied him to grant them that fauour which he had neuer refused to men of their qualitie namely that leauing their baggage horses and armour they might be suffered to depart with their liues onely For they were sore affraid least that the passages being forestalled and laide for them should haue beene shut vp and fortified to enclose and famish them within the countrie Hereupon the King caused his Princes Nobles and Captaines speedily to be assembled that he might deliberate and determine vppon some aunswere to be giuen to the Turkes and might heare the aduise of euerie man in particular and he tooke order in the meane while that those two horsemen should be conducted into a tent and thereto be well and gratiously entertayned Iosaphat Barbare was the first whose opinion was demaunded in this matter but he excused himselfe saying That the Seigniorie of Venice had sent him thither to be resident neere about the person of the Prince onely to doe what it should please him to commaund him and therefore for his part he referred himselfe for this matter to his owne good will and pleasure Lech Ducagin spake more liberally and as he was a man of a fierce and forwarde disposition prompt of hande and quicke of inuention so in one worde did he acquaint them with his minde saying Embetha which in the Albanian language signifieth to horsebacke for he sawe no reason why anie grace or mercie should be shewed to this people who were
especially the common sort of souldiers who being growen more fierce and audacious against the enemy beganne to make a great noise not without some tumult and vproare enclyning to a mutinie on all parts within the campe of the Christians crying out aloft with a loud voice that they ought to march on directly and presently and to go seeke out the Turkes who were alreadie vanquished and discomfited That it was not expedient in this matter to yeelde vnto the motion of Scanderbeg who shewed himselfe to be growen fearefull and faint-hearted considering that of a most fierce and furious combatant and who had neuer refused any occasion of fighting in open and plaine battell he was now become a fearefull temporizer and would seeme to disswade them from armes who were borne and bredde to followe armes and whose onely desire was to be doing with their enemies that nowe the Generall did faile and was wanting to the souldiers and not the souldiers to their Generall Thus the heate and vehemencie of the Epyrots was scarce repressed and withhâ—lde by the Captaines and masters of the campe till such time as it was generally concluded and agreed that assoone as Croy was prouided and fortified with all necessaries they should haue free libertie to pursue the Infidels and to force their campe Wherefore Scanderbeg calling vnto him the two Turkish messengers gaue them this aunswere That they should goe and tell their companions that as they came into that countrie without his commaundement so should they not for his part be commaunded to returne from thence Now in this meane time the King of Epyre had sent and dispatched away certaine forces to gaine and shut vp the passages from the Barbarians whilest that the residue of the Christian troupes by the order and direction of their Captaines did goe to the riuer of Isme where certaine vessels lay at an ancker charged and loaden with corne meale salt-meates and biscuit and did vnlade all bringing it on lande in such sort that in three dayes Croie was well and sufficiently reuictualled for sixe yeares space at the least Whilest euerie man was thus busied and intentiuely occupyed in this worke and that euerie one did set forward and hasten this prouision to the vttermost of his power beholde newes were brought vnto Scanderbeg that the verie same night about the second watch when that men are in their soundest and deepest sleepe hunger and necessitie which worketh masteries beyonde all impossibilitie had pressed the Turkes to dislodge secretly from Tyranna and with the hazard of their liues to make way for themselues by force and to open the passages which were defended against them by the Scanderbegians Howbeit they could not doe it so closely but that those souldiers which had the guarde and custodie of the passages and the inhabitants of the country ioyned together with them did maintaine a long and obstinate conflict with the Infidels who with the slaughter of a great number of their companions and the losse of the most part of their baggage did at length by their swordes make way through the middest and in despight of their enemies When Scanderbeg his armie heard thereof it cannot be expressed how extremely they were aggrieued and displeased at the matter for their murmuring and muttering against Scanderbeg did sufficiently testifie the greatnesse of their discontentment imputing the whole blame thereof to him as if this euasion and escape of the enemie had beene by his default only But he pacified and appeased them both with his bountifull gifts and with gratious speeches and more then that to content them the better he caused them immediatly to take armes and to march with Ensignes displayed into the fielde where he gaue them the spoyles of those other Turkes and Infidels which were found in garrison within Chaonia other places of Epyre not suffering any one of them to escape but that they were either slaine or taken being spoyled and stripped out of all Thus hauing purged and clensed the Prouince of this vermine and hauing settled all things in good and peaceable order euery man returned to his owne quarter loaden with the spoyles of the Barbarians and with many commendations presentes and great thankes giuen them by the King of Albanie The affaires of Epyre thus standing in sufficient good and flourishing estate we will now leaue them for a while and turne our discourse to the Turkish Monarch to shew vnto you the griefe and displeasure which he conceiued in his haughtie and great stomacke aswell for the death of Ballaban and the dishonourable and shamefull flight of his armie as also for that the siege of Croie was raised to the great glorie and aduantage of the Christians For he did so vnmeasurably afflict and passionate himselfe with the conceipt hereof that he could not take any rest nor eate nor drinke but that still day night his spirit thoughts were troubled beating his braine deuising with himselfe how he might deface and abolish the blot of this shame and ignominy and take some notable reuenge vppon Scanderbeg In the ende his deliberation was once againe to returne himselfe in proper person and with more puissant forces into Epyre that by his presence he might giue the more grace maiestie to the enterprise Hereof Scanderbeg being speedily infourmed made no delay to prepare for the receiuing of him with all the best meanes and preparations that he could possibly make he gaue the Princes Seigniors and peoples his confederates to vnderstand of the purpose and intent of the Turke willing them to be in a readinesse against such time as he should send vnto them and he made good prouision of all kinde of munition victuals and all other necessaries in all his strong holdes and fortresses in such sort that they needed not to be affraide of any thing that the Turke could attempt against them The yeare being past and spent in these preparations on both partes now beganne the spring to come on which being a time wherein all things beginne to budde and grow pleasant to the eye and most fit and conuenient for warlike voyages and expeditions Mahomet had deferred his iourney to that season and accordingly assoone as he saw the time to serue he tooke his iourney with infinite troupes engines and instruments for assault of all sortes and with an incredible number of expert workemen and artificers for this end and purpose which I will shew you Being come to a certaine large and wide plaine commonly called Saura he determined there to abide and soiourne for a while and he encampèd his armie neere to the riuer of Scombin within the signiorie or principalitie of Aryamnites Comynat father in lawe to Scanderbeg During the time of his abode in that place the Sultan did employ not onely his artificers and workemen but a great part also of his souldiers about the repayring or reedefying of the towne of Valmes which at this present the
and the Croians 210 Confederacie betweene Scanderbeg and the Princes of Epire against the Turkes 51 Confederacie and leauie of the Christians against the Turkes 63 Confederates of Ferdinand send to Scanderbeg for succours in his behalfe 406 Confederates of Scanderbeg promise him aide for the reliefe of Croy. 477 Conference betweene the Gouernour of Belgrade and the citizens vpon the suspition conceiued of their faith 283. betweene Hamur and Scanderbeg 380 Conflict betweene Amesa and the Driuastines 112. betweene the Turkes and the Epyrots 146. betweene Scanderbeg and the French in Apulia 413. betweene the forces of Carazabeg and Scanderbeg 431 Conquests gotten of late daies by the Turks vpon Christendome 248 Conquests of Mahomet during his truce vvith Scanderbeg 425 Constancie of the Dainians 127 Constantin Paleologus Emperor of Constantinople 314. he craueth aide of Christian Princes against the Turkes ibidem his ouersight 329. he is smothered troden to death by his subiects flying from the Turkes 330. he is the last Emperour of Constantinople 333 Constantine the Great the sonne of Helen first Emperour of Constantinople 332. ill aduised to translate the Empire from Rome thither 336 Constantine a name fatall to Constantinople 333 Constantinopolitans their wretched couetousnes 319. 322. 325. their miserable estate 323. their deuotion ibid. Constantinople besieged by the Turkes 323. the description of it 314. it is battered 316. 322. ill furnished with prouisions 317. the manner of the defence thereof by the Christians 318. it is assaulted 322 327. it is lost by the couetousnesse of the Greekes 225. it is taken by the Turkes 330. the sacke thereof with all horrible crueltie 331 Conspiracie by Mahomet against Scanderbeg 291. 473. Conspiracie against Scanderbeg straungely detected 474 Consultation by Amurath for the vvarre against Scanderbeg 39. 130. 138. for his proceedings against Sfetigrade 178. for his proceedings against Croy. 235 Consultations of Mahomet for his proceedings in the siege of Constantinople 225. for the warre of Epire. 375. 472 Consultation of the Gouernour of Belgrade with the citizens 286 Consultation of Isaac Bassa for his proceedings against Scanderbeg 360. 367 Consultations of Scanderbeg for aide to be giuen to Vladislaus against the Turkes 66. for his proceedings against Sfetigrade 196. for the resisting of Isaac Bassa his inuasion 355. for his proceedings against Ballaban 463. for the answering of the message and demaund of the Turkes 483 Contaren a Venetian gentleman 319. twice ransommed by the Turkes 333 Continencie of Scanderbeg 349 Contumely offered by Scanderbeg to Ballaban 453 Corfu or Corcira an Isle vpon the coast of Epire. 45. 478. Corsica an Island in the mediterrane sea assailed by Alphonsus king of Arragon 399 Courage of Scanderbeg inuincible euen at point of death 495 Courtesie and magnanimitie of Scanderbeg to the Venetian captiues 107 Councell of Mantua called by Pope Pius the second for the taking of armes against the Turkes 404 Cowardice of Antonie de Dieds 319. of Iohn Iustinian 329. of the Greekes at Constantinople 323. Couetousnesse see Auarice Craina or Cruina a mountaine ouer Croy. 243 Croy the chiefe citie of Epire resigned to Scanderbeg by the Gouernour 20. the foundation thereof 31. the strong situation thereof 136. 481. repayred and fortified 206. besieged by Amurath 208. battered 211. 222. assaulted 216. 220. 224. 234. mined by the Turkes 227. repaired and new fortified 255. it was besieged by Mahomet 475. 488. by Ballaban 474 Croians their notable courage 210. their resolution 212. their demeanor before and after the victories of Scanderbeg against Ballaban and lagup 469 Crueltie of Mahomet most extreame 253. 232. 455. 476. Crueltie of the Turkes most Barbarous vpon the dead bodies of the Christians 301 D Daina a citie in Epire. 46. besieged by Scanderbeg 95 Dainians their constancie 127 Dalmatia or Sclauony vpon the sea a countrey bordering vpon Epire vnder the Venetians 207. Damalique a Promontorie neere Constantinople 315 Daniel Iurich Vaiuoda or Gouernour of Scutarie for the Venetians and Generall of their armie against Scanderbeg 98 Darnisses a kind of Priests amongst the Turkes 5. Daughter of the Despot of Seruia maried to Amurath 71 Daughter of Sponderbeg Prince of Penderacia maried to Amurath 253 Daughter of Ariamnit maried to Scanderbeg 257 Daughter of Iohn Commenes Emperour of Trebyzond maried to Vsuncassan king of Persia 386 Dauid Emperour of Trebizond and his two sons put to death by Mahomet 426 Dauid Chauncellour of Ragusa 408 Debreas sent with an armie by Mahomet against Scanderbeg 267. his ambition ibidem he is slaine by Scanderbeg 273 his horse and armor giuen to Moses ibid. Demetrius Berissey 304 Demetrius franke treasurer to Scanderbeg 480 Deuotion without pietie or religion 401 Despina daughter of the Emperour of Trebizond and the wife of Vsuncassan king of Persia 386 Description of Scanderbeg his person 72. of Dibria 180. of the soyle and territorie about Croy. 208. of the Despot of Misia 71. of Driuasta 113. of Mahomet his person 255. of the countrie about Petralba 263. of the countrie about Pologue 269. of Constantinople 314. of the gulfe of Hellespont 315. of Amesa his person and qualities 351. of Ragusa 407. of Vrsara in Apulia 416. of Ballaban his person 452. of the citie of Duraz. 487. of Croy. 481 Despot of Misia or Seruia restored to his estate and expelled againe by Amurath 16. he is ayded by Vladislaus king of Hungarie 17. he hindereth Scanderbeg marching to the aide of Vladislaus and partaketh with the Turkes against the Christians 71. his irreligion ibid. his countrie is spoiled by Scanderbeg 76 Dibria a towne and countrie in Epire receiueth Scanderbeg and reuolteth with him 19 Dibrians their discipline and readines in vvarres 57. their notable superstition 181. they yeeld Sfetigrade to Amurath 185. they are pardoned by Scanderbeg 187 Discorde betweene the Genowaies and Venetians at the siege of Constantinople 321 Discourse of the Author vpon celestiall signes prognostications of future accidents 364 Disgrace offered to Pope Vrban to M. Nicholas of Naples 391 Discipline of the Dibrians 57. by Scanderbeg obserued in his campe 349. the originall of it 356 Dissimulation of Amurath with Scanderbeg 13. of Moses to Scanderbeg 279. of Mahomet vvith the Christians at Constantinople 322. of Picenin to deceiue Scanderbeg 413 Dominicke of Nouara 320 Don Garzia a Spaniard ambassador for Alphonsus king of Arragon to the Pope 400 Doniqua the wife of Scanderbeg 257 Drynon a riuer in Epire. 46. the source and head thereof neere Alchria 449 Driuasta a citie in Epyre. 47. the description of it 113 Duras or Durachium or Epydamnum a citie of Epire subiect to the Venetians 45. besiegned by Mahomet 487. her originall and foundation and the description of it ibid. Dyrrachians the inhabitants of Duras they aide Scanderbeg with victuals 222 Dukes of Sesse of Sora of Venuse in the kingdom of Naples rebell against Ferdinand 404. 405 Duke of Milan and the Genowaies take Alphonsus prisoner 402 Duke of Milan and the Pope aide
of the Greeke Church ibidem Truce graunted by Scanderbeg to the Turkes within Sfetigrade 202 Truce for sixteene daies graunted by Scanderbeg to the Belgradians 287 Truce betweene Scanderbeg and Mahomet 407 Triumphes and generall ioy of the Christians for the death of Amurath 247 Triumphs in Epire for the ouerthrow death of Amurath 249. for the victory against Moses 344. for his returne and reconciliation 348 Triumph of Scanderbeg for the ouerthrow of Amesa and the Turkes 373. after his victorie of Iagub and Ballaban 470 Triumph of Sebalias after his returne from relieuing Belgrade 310 Tumenist a amountaine in Epire foure miles from Croy. 208 Turkes massacred within Croy. 20. their obstinacie 22. they make head against Scanderbeg and are put to the sword 24. their deuise in their ensignes 125. within Belgrade they doubt of the faith of the citizens 283. their wonderfull care to preserue their conquests 291. they cut off the heads of the Christians slaine at Belgrade 301. Their opinion of the Epirots 310. they honour vertue and valure euen in their enemies 346 Turkes conspiring the death of Scanderbeg are executed 474 Tursines brother to Mahomet drowned 253 Tyranna the greater a towne in Epire. 28 Tyranna the lesser in Epire. 208 Tyre the lesser in Epire. 45 V Valachia the countrey of Huniades 72 Valley of Mocrea 88 Valley called the fayre Valley 167 Valley of Valcala 453 Valmes a citie in Epire. 271. reedified by Mahomet 486 Varietie of opimons touching Amuraths religious life 86 Varna or Dionisiopolis a citie neer to Romania 73 Venetians aide Scanderbeg in his wars vvith supplues of money 205. in peace and amitie vvith the Turkes ibidem their subiects relieue the Turkes before Croy vvith victuals 227 Viziers counsellers to the great Turke 330 Vlach Poastes of Turkie 292 Vladien Goleme de Ariamnite father to Goleme Ariamnite or Musache de Angeline 271 Vladislaus king of Hungary craueth aid of Scanderbeg against the Turkes 63. he marcheth against the Turkes 72. his rashnesse or ouer great hardinesse 74. he is slaine ibidem Vlaica daughter to Iohn Castriot and Voisaue sister to Scanderbeg 3 Vlixians a people of Epyre. 45 Voyage of the Christians against the Turkes broken 449 Voyage of Scanderbeg into Italie 477 Voysaue the mother of Scanderbeg dieth 12 Vranocontes 58. made gouernour of Croy. 361. his praise and commendations 209. he is by Scanderbeg made Duke of Emathia 247 Vrban the sixth created Pope 390. enmitie betwene him and master Nicholas of Naples 391 he is besieged within Nocera by Charles of Duras king of Naples 394 Vsuncassan king of Capadocia Armenia and Persia his discent 386. his acts and mariage ibidem in two battels he ouercommeth Mahomet but in the third is himselfe ouercome by Mahomet in the battell of Arsengua 387 W VVarre determined by Amurath against Scanderbeg 79 VVarre betwene the Turkes and the Hungarians 62. betwene Scanderbeg the Venetians 94. betwene Mahomet and the Persians 386 Warre renued betweene Mahomet and Scanderbeg 442 Waters of Albulae 366 Winter wars most discoÌ„modious hurtfull 262 X Xabiac a towne in Epyre vnder the dominion of Stephen Cernouitch 47 Z Zacharie Groppe 196. 197. he desireth leaue of Scanderbeg to answere the chalenge of Ahemaze 333. he is in pay vvith the French in Italie 415. he is Lieutenant to Scanderbeg at the two battels of Valcala 463 Zadrime a couÌ„trey in Epire vpon the riuer Drine belonging to the familie of the Ducagines 46 Zagan a counseller to Mahomet 326 Zemalda eldest sonne to Vsuncassan king of Persia slaine in the battell of Arsenuag 387 FINIS Saying of Philip of Comines 1397. The countrie which the Castriots commanded lying betweene the cities of Durace and Apâ—llonse the common sort termed Ariha Iohn Castriot the father of Scanderbeg * Voisaua the mother of Scanderbeg Alias * Lord of Pologne which is a part of Macedonie and Bulgarie George Castriot surnamed Scanderbeg Scanderbeg his future glorie and renowme prognosticated by diuerse prodigious signes and tokens George Castriot deliuered in hostage to the great Turke Ottoman the surname of the great Turke The Turkish ceremonie in their circumcision The diuers orders estates of Priestes in the Turkish religion Darnisses Hozes Talasmans George Castriot circumcised and surnamed Scanderbeg by the Turkes The dispositioÌ„ education and vertuous inclination of Scanderbeg amoÌ„gst the Turkes Adresse Ieuâ— depriâ—â— The first actes seruices and preferment of Scanderbeg Scanderbeg made Sanziac with a charge of 5000. horse Natolia Scanderbeg made General of an army in Asia Scanderbeg returneth home with victorie Sentence Scanderbeg sent againe into Asia and returneth with victorie The citie of Andrinople was the chiefe seate then of the Turkeâ— A challenge of combat made by a Sythian to the Turkes The combat of Scanderbeg with the Scythian The description of Scanderbeg his person The victorie of Scanderbeg The second combat of ScaÌ„derbeg against two Persians Scanderbeg his victorie of the two Persiâ—ns Iohn Castriot dieth Amurath vsurpeth the kingdome of Epyre. Voysaue dieth Scanderbeg his brethren poysoned by Amurath Amurath his notable dissimulation in vndermining the thoughts of Scanderbeg Sanderbeg his answer to Amurath Scanderbeg his wisedome and prudence Scanderbeg enuied slaundered and suspected in the Turkes Court This Seruia Bosnia and Russia is called by the Turkes Segoria Scanderbeg sent with an army against the Despot of Seruia Amurath conspireth and practiseth the destruction of Scanderbeg Scanderbeg sollicited by the Albanians to the recouery of his estate Scanderbeg his wisedome and singular discretion Despot of Misia reestablished in his estate and expulsed againe by Amurath Vladislaus king of Hungarie aideth the Despot against Amurath Scanderbeg Carambry sent by Amurath against the Hungarians Iohn Huniades In Bulgary Battell of Moraue betweene Huniades and the Turkas The reuolt of Scanderbeg Turkes ouerthrowen by Huniades Amese sonne of Reposius alias Carragusa Scanderbeg ceà zeth vppon the Bassa his Secretary and can seth him to write letters for the deliuery of Croy vnto him Scanderbeg iâ— receiued into Dibria People of Misia on the Westerne part therof after whom succeeded the Bulgarians The gouernment of Croy resigned vnto Scanderbeg by the Gouernor The Massacre and butchery of the Turkes at Croy. The obstinacy of the Turkes The countrey about Croy reuolteth from the Turkes in fauor of Scanderbeg Moses Goleme Scanderberg discomfiteth the Turks that make head against him in Epyrâ— Turks yâ—â—lding themselues prisoners to Scanderbeg are referred to the mercie of the souldiers who put them to the sword Scanderbeg coÌ„sulteth prouideth for the recouery of the strong holds fortresses of Epyre from the Turkes Musache de Angeline Goique and George Streâ—ses Gyue Musache Musache de Thopy the husband of Mamisa Sâ—euen Cernouiche the husband of Marâ— The oration of Scanderbeg to his souldiers The siege of Petrella Tyranna the greater Composition offred to the garrison of Petrella Petrella yeelded Scanderbeg most fortunate The situation of Petrella The properties of Scanderbeg Petralba and the