w t al kinde of monitiō sufficiently for y e space of xviii monethes then passed on w t his armata to Valona frō thence he passed by lande to Constantinople to y ◠courte whē he had thorowlye discoursed w t his lord Mahometh determined to goe in persō into Natolia to ayde his sōne Batazith against Caromano who had alredi giuē Baiazith a great ouerthrowe destroed the greatest part of his armie his pleasure was that Acomathe shoulde goe w t him y ◠iorney entendinge to make quicke Dispatche of y e same thē to retorne into Gretia to haue good time to goe into Italie against the kinge Ferrante whē Mahometh had passed his armie īto Asia was come nere to Scutaio he fel sike of a feruent feuer w tin fewdais died it was suspected y ◠he was poisōed The thirde boke of Andre CAMBINE FLORENTINE OF THE ORIGInall of the Turckes and Empire of the house of Ottomanno MAHOMETHE DIED THE LVI YERE of his age in the xxvii yere of his raigne he lefte behinde him two sonnes the one named Gemma y e other Baiazithe The Turckishe nation beinge deuided after y e death of Mahomethe the one parte especially the nobilitie fauoring Sultan Gemma and y e Gianizaries the partie of Baiazithe and therfore immediatly vpon the death of Mahomethe the Gianizzaries marched wyth all spede to Constantinople and for somuch as Baiazithe was at that tyme in Natolia they toke a yonge sonne of his named Corcuthe when they had saluted him Emperour they bare him aboute thorowe all the citie to shewe him to the people and caused them with loude voice to crie the name of Baiazithe who aboute the middest of Maye when he was retorned to Constantinople caused him selfe to be saluted and confirmed Emperour beinge assured throughe his maniefolde rewardes and liberalitie of the fauour and ayde of y e Bascias and Gianizzaries and being in doubte of his brother Sultan Gemma He began to se his souldiours verie wel furnished and to prouide for his owne securitie Gemma departinge from the confynes of Soria where he was lefte by his father to make warres vpon the Soldane broughte his armie into the lesser Asia when he vnderstode howe y e affaires had passed in Constantinople beinge oute of hope to enioye anye parte of gretia he chaūged his purpose determined to occupie y ◠Empire of the lesse Asia whervpon he conueyd hys armie into Bithinia to the Citie Bursia which when he had fortyfied he determyned to call togyther all the rulers of the people of Asia and when he had consulted w t them to send for y e reste of his bandes that were in Asia and to vnite them with his armie Baiazithe gathered togyther all y e olde bandes of Gretia and assembled hys armie and passed them into Asia and sought his brother Gemma and mette him vpon the plaine not farre from Bursia the armies beinge renged the battaile was presented they ioyned y e fighte contynued for a longe time and after great slaughter on bothe sydes Baiazithe became master of the feelde Gemma beinge broken and abandoned of his people fled with certaine of his trustie fryndes with him to Rhodes and the great maister of y e religion fearing leste by holding of him he mought purchase the innimitie of Baiazith and so prouoke him to warres sent him wel garded with certaine shippes into Fraunce from whence afterward by commaundement of Innocentio the viii Byshoppe of Rome he was sent to Rome and beinge receauid by the Byshoppe had his lodginges appointed in the heighte of the Palace and was there for a longe tyme garded with great diligence the pope agreed with Baiazithe for a yerely pension of thirtie thousand ducates so to kepe hym garded duringe the lyfe naturall of Gemma In this meane tyme the king Ferrante being in Italie receauid Aduertysement of the death of Mahomethe and caused it to be declared to those of Ottranto offeryd them that yf they wolde delyuer into his handes the Citie he wolde sett them al safely into Gretia with all such goodes and treasure as they had there The infideles wolde in no wyse agree to this demaunde forsomuche as they knewe not whether theyr lorde was deade or noe or els for that they staied to se which of the two bretheren sholde be their lord and whether he wolde send them succours or no beinge assured that yf Acomathe were lyuing he wolde not abandone them nor breake promes with them The Duke of Calabria seinge their perseuerance in the promes to Acomathe dyd with his campe approche y e towne more neare then in the tyme of Mahomethe he durste doe he began to entrenche toward the towne and so from trenche to trenche conueyed his people to y e very bancke of the towne dyke and then planted his batteries and batterid it for certaine dayes they determyned to giue an assaulte whervpon he sawe his people furnished w t all kinde of necessaries and then deuided them into battaylones and gaue order for the beginninge and contynance of the assaulte and then commaunded the trompettes drommes and cornetts to sounde to the assaulte and thervpon began to assayle the breaches with great furie and in shorte space became lorde of them and whē they entred the towne they founde in it suche newe fortifycation as they were oute of all hope of wynning of it whervpon they retyred from the assaulte with the losse of manye of their moste valyante men after thys they attempted newe practizes and agreed with them of the towne that they shoulde safely send their messagers into Gretia to vnderstand whether Mahomethe were lyuing or no and howe the affares passed there vpon this there was a trewes taken for a certaine tyme the Captaines of Ottranto dispatched their messangers into Gretia when they came there they vnderstode y e Acomathe was in Asia and had taken parte with Gēma and Baiazithe made redie with greate celeritie to goe against thē in person where vpō they retorned to Ottranto and declared what they vnderstode of the affares of Gretia whervpon the generall with the Captaines consulted and forasmuche as they sawe the state of Turchie so deuided leadinge and mayntaining Ciuile warres among them selues and that Acomathe in whom was al their truste had declared him selfe enemie to Baiazithe and was in Asia and they being oute of hope of al succour entred againe into talke of appointement with y ◠Duke of Calabria and messagers both went and came on both sydes and at the laste with much a doe they agreed that the towne shoulde be delyueryd into the Dukes hands vpon condytion that the kyng shoulde safely set them in Gretia with al the substance and artillerie that they presently possessyd there and in this sorte the peace was made and the performances of the promes confyrmed by othe and when the kinge
them he determnâ—ed in any wise to haue it by force wherupon he caused forthwith neare vnto the same castel another castell to be buylded of farre greater heyght then the first from y e height wherof he did so beate his enemies day and nyght without cease that in the ende with the losse of a great number of his people he toke it of force After this hauyng intelligence that in the citie of Caphia a garison towne of the Genoueses was great store of golde and siluer in the handes of the marchantes he hauynge alreadye purpofed to take that towne by force which standeth in Cheronesso Taurico not far from the Bosphono and straite Timerico and considerynge that the treasure although he wanne the towne mought easelye be buried vnder the grounde and so saued he determined to haue both the towne treasure by this meane he called to him the skynners of his countrey such as had most riche furres as Sables Armines Genettes Martirones and suche lyke and gane them commaundement for the more spedie dispatche of y e matter that they shulde not passe for the sellyng of them at a lowe price to the ende that through the meanesse of the price the marchantes mought more gredily by them this matter beyng skilfully handlded was sone dispatched and immedialy after that he denounced warres agaynst them and forthwith presented him selfe with his armie to the towne and when he had enuironed the towne wyth his campe he planted his batteries and continued them day and nyght without ceasing in such sort that in short space he possessed the towne the marchantes the furres and the money which was an inestimable treasure It is written also that this was his ordre in beseeging of townes y e fyrst daye his owne lodgings were white and if in that day the inhabitants of the towne dyd yelde vnto him they receuid no hurte nother in body nor goodes the seconde daye his lodgings were red which signifyed to them of the towne that yf then they yelded that he wolde put to death all the masters of the families And the thyrde day was his last change which was in to blacke Pauillions and tentes and then refused he all appointments and when he had in this sorte taken any Citie or towne he put all that were in it to the sworde not sparing any of whatsoeuer age or kinde they were when he had thus done then wolde he commaunde to sack the towne and when the goodes were taken oute of it then wolde he cause fyre to be set in the towne so consume it to ashes leue it deserte And there is a bruite which coÌ„tinueth euen to this daye in those partes that on a tyme a certaine populouse citie defended them selues tyll the third day and then seing a great space of the walle laid flatte on the earth and the enemie in battaile redie to gyue y â— assaulte they were discoraged and thincking to pacifie y â— wrath of this cruel proude aud victoriouse enemie by humblyng them selues sent forth all the wemen and chyldren of the towne in white clothynge wyth oliue branches in their hands offeringe him the towne calling to him with lowde voice for mercy whom wheÌ„ Tamerlano sawe a farre of comming toward him he gaue commaundement to certaine bands of his horsemen to charge vpon them and to put them all to the sworde after this he toke the citie and sacqued it and then burned it it happened at that time by meanes of traffique of marchaundeze certaine marchante a Genouese borne to be greatly in fauor with Tamerlano and being with him at that same present discoursing of soÌ„drie matters asked him why he vsed so great crueltie towardes those people which he ouercame but he torned to him with an exceding troublouse contenance with eyes flaming like fyre and said vnto him yf thou doste thincke that I am aman thou arte much deceuid for I saye to the that I â—amthe wrath of God sent to plague and punishe the worlde and I commaunde the that yf thou woldest not receue due punnishement for thy auditiouse and folishe demaunde that thou gette the hence out of my sight that thou comme lesse in my presence the pore marchaÌ„t being much feared with the words of the Tyran departed from him was neuer sene after that by him they that haue sen Tamerlano liuing haue said that he resembled much both in face and maners Anibal of Carthage acordinge to the opinion of diurse ancient wryters and before all other offenses he shewed his seuere Iustice againste thefts in punnishing theÌ„ most sharply w tout any remission And it is thought that he dyd it to that ende that the feare of punnishement shoulde cause them to refraine to y e ende that he alone mought robbe and spoile acording to his owne desire the whole world and last of all his delighte was wholly set to gouerne in so much that he emploied him selfe continually as in an exercise most vertuouse to molest and trouble other princes with warres by the which he had subdued many kings and vtterly impouerished a greate numbre of tyranes made deserte many contreis and conuerted in to ashes an infinite numbre of cities and townes then last of al he retorned into his contrey with his army in credibly enriched with the spoyle of those natyons whoÌ„ he had subdued and also he vsed to take oute of euerye towne that yeldyed vnto him certaine of the cheife housholdes with all their substances and riches and to sende theÌ„ wholly in to Parthia When he was retorned home he builded a newe Citie very bewtifull and of a greate circuite and placed their in all those housholds afore rehersed in so much y e the newe Cytie beinge inhabyted w t these riche noble men of diuerse nationes in shorte tyme increased so in welth that yt became the cheife citie of all the Orient And yf it had happened that Tamerlano had had with him some man of excellent learning and wysedome who mought w t his writings haue celebrated the great enterprises that he dyd their is no doute but that he mought haue ben numbred amonge the cheife and princypall captaynes eyther of the olde worlde orels of this present age but god gyueth not all things to one man also it semed that his great crueltye which he vsed towarde those y â— he ouercame dyd not deserue to haue his fame celebrated by writing ne yet y e it mought long remaine to his posteritie when Tamerlano died he lefteto succide him in his Empire whiche he had thus gotteÌ„ by y e sworde two sonnes which after his death fel oute maiÌ„tained ciuil warres betwene them were the cause y e the olde and ancient parthicke fame clerely extinckte brought to obliuion and after ward by Tamerlano reuiued coulde not continewe nor encrease But nowe retorninge to our Historie where we left after that the armie of Baiazith was defeicted
he taken by Tamerlano his sonnes fled awaye before the furie of y e victoriouse enemie who had berafte them the whole empire of the lesse Asia and when they came into Gretia they happened into the hands of the Emperour of Constantinople who preserued their liues and helde them vnder good garde and after the death of Tamerâ—ano he licensid the eldest sonne Calapino to passe into Asia wheare when he was ariued he was forthe with gratfullye receued of the people and in short time recoueryd the Empire whiche once was his fathers after that retorned into his state gouernement in Gretia from thence went against y e king of hungari who went then for aide to Charles the vi Kinge of Fraunce who graunted him a greate numbre of men at armies vnder the conducte and guide of Iohn Counte of Niuerse who afterwarde succyded his father in the gouernance and principalitie of the Duchie of Borgonie and of many other Captaines as it is some thing plainely declared alredye by vs in the Frenche Historie and in the life of the afore saide Charles the syxte also that when there were defeycted in hungarye at Mychopollye eyghte hundred Frenche launces the afore sayde Iohn with manye other noble men of Fraunce was taken prysoner for the summe of two hundred thousand ducates were set at lybertye by the afore said Calapino theÌ„ died this same Calapino left Orca his sone but Moises his brother succided him in his Kingdome who berafte Orca not only of his kingdome but also of his life but he long enioyed not that kingdom so wickedly gotten but died in shorte space after lefte his brother Mahometh to succede in his place who afterwarde made warres vpon the people of Valachia a stoute nation dwelling neare the mouth of the ryuer Danubio giuiÌ„g them many ouerthroes and consuming their contrey with continuall courses and spoiles compelled them to search appointment and to giue trybute after all this he emploied his force against certaine noble men of the Turkishe nation which dwelled in Asya and he fell to agrement with some of them and the greatest numbre of them he banished from their contreys and dominions and toke them cleane from them This Mahometh duryng hys raigne handled the christians that were hys subiects very cruelly and dyd plague them with sondrye tyranies wheÌ„ Mahometh died he left his Kingdome to Amorath his sonne who was then in Natolia vpon the fronters with an armye by the commaundement of his father for the garde therof who hearing of the death of hys father came with all spede of Calcedone to passe y e straite and so to entre into his dominions of Gretia but the Emperor of Constantinople dyd prohibite him the passage for a long season with his nauie and set Mustaffa the yongest sonne of Baiazith at libertie and also gaue hym ayde to recouer hys fathers kyngdome but when Mustaffa and Amorath were once ioyned in battayll Mustaffa with his power was sone defeicted Amorath with his armie remained there with the victorie vpon y e place and easyly possessid the dominions and kingdome of his father after that he brought his armie into Gretia and with continuall courses dyd so spoyle and impouerishe those prouinces that yet rested in the handes of the christians and lad his armie to the citie Thesalonica which was then possessyd by the Venetyanes by vertue of a graunt made vnto them by Theodoro son to Emanuell Emperor of Constantinople and toke it by force and sacked it and lefte it in maner deserte and folowing on the race of his victorie entred in to Epirro which of men of this age is called Lartha froÌ„ thence into the contreis of the people called Etolli contreis in ancient time of great power and nobilitie and at thys daye are ioyned to the gouernance of Macedonia wheÌ„ he had thus taken them he annexed them to his crown And shortly after he entred into Illiria whiche at thys daye is called Schiauonia in y e which their is contained Dalmatya Croacya and Istria with the people called Iburni he ouer ran it with exceding great spoile and destruction therof also he toke there certaine townes and caried awaye from thence an inestimable proye of men and catel And bycause among the Turkes it was lawful for one maÌ„ to haue many wiues Amorath although he had alredie a great nuÌ„ber of wiues yet he ioyned him selfe in mariage with a daughter of George Dispotto of Seruia but making smal acompte of y e band of affinitie with in short space after he entred into Seruia as an enemie with his armie but George knowing his force not sufficient to resiste the power and furie of his sonne in lawe furnished with men monition the citie of Sinderonia and left in it one of his sonnes for the defence therof and he with his wife children and familie fled in to Hungarie and caryed wyth hym a greate numbre of prestes Amorath in a shorte time became lord of al Seruia then laste of all with his armie went to Sinderonia and toke it by force and finding in it the sonne of y e dispotto he plucked out both his eies caried him prisoner with him when George had thus loste his contrey he continued in hungarie many yeres in exile tell on a time Iohn the vaiuoda which then gouerned hungarie entred iÌ„to Saruia This vaiuoda was acompted for his great Iudgement in warres one of y e most famouse captaines of Europe and had giuen to diuers of the Turkes Sauigiachi many ouerthroes and recouerid out of the hands of the said Turke a great parte of the contre of the afore named Dispotto but he restored him not to all that which he had recoueryd for some parte of it he gaue to his captaines other he helde to him selfe perswading him selfe that he had great reason so to doe coÌ„sidering that it was he that had recoueryd it and therfore thought it good to holde some part of it for him self and some for his frinds and the rather for that he knew the dispotto not worthye to be trusted for so much as as he put no difference betwene the Christian relygyon and the Mahometan and for that hys contrey laye betwene the hungarianes and y e Turks and wolde nowe enter in league with the one and then with the other and deceaue them both but nowe retorning to speke of Amorath a man truely of great power also of greate vnderstanding in warres who when he had brought vnder fote those noble men of his nation that helde anye parcell of his dominion and had reduced to his obedyence all the lesse Asia with pontho and Capadotia so that all those that dwellid in it were his excepte onely Caromano prince of Cilitia Asmabeco which gouerned in Armenia neare to the floode uphrates and the lord of Scandalaro which far beionde the citie of
kingdome of Naples who passed the sea into Arta hauing with him certaine bands of Italianes men at armes and hauing often tymes to doe with the Turckes gaue them many defeictes and set his sonne in lawe free from the inuasioÌ„ and aunoiance of the Turkes enforcing them to retorne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Romania to holde them with in the confynes therof but thys noble Captaine was not so sone departed oute of Acarnamia and gone home but within shorte space after the Dispotto was betraied by some of his owne people and deliuered on lyue in to the handes of Mahometh with his contre also when George the Dispotto of Seruia harde of the great preparatioÌ„ that the Turkes made for the warres being in doute of his state fled into Hungarie and leftâ— his cities and Townes well garded and furmished with souldiours and all kinde of munition and when he was ther arriued to demaunde ayde the king was not there whereupon he went to him where he was in Vienna in Austrice where he founde also freer Iohn Caprestano of the order of Sainet frauncis whoe being a man of good life and an excellent preacher dyd at that time w t great fruite preach the gospel to the Hungarianes and being destrous to talke with the Dispotto sent to him desiriÌ„g him that if it were not a trouble vnto him that he wold vouchesafe to speake with him wherunto the Dispotto agreed and vpon a daye they mette and by there Turcâ— men had great discourse of the Christian faithe and Caprestand dyd approue by great reason the auctoritie of the Romishe churche and the opinion of y e same as touching the Christian faith in such sorte that he constrained the Dispotto not hauing reason to answere for him selfe in that behalfe to yelde and woulde haue had him to refuse y e errour in the which he and his people were and to haue embraced the religion and faith of the Romishe church vnto whome George laying all reason a part answerid I haue lyued these foure score ten yeres in this faithe which was taught me by my forefathers imprinted in mine vnderstanding froÌ„ michildhed And amonge my subiectes althoughe I haue ben an in fortunate man I haue ben holden for a reasonable man woldest thou haue me nowe such a one as they seing me chaunged mought thincke that myne age hathe decaied myne vnderstanding in such sorte that I mought goe soocke againe acording to the prouerbe wherfore I wyll loose my lyfe rather then leue the faithe wherin both I my predecessours haue ben norished brought vp with which wordes he departed from Caprestano And for that he coulde obtaine no aide at y e kings hande whoe was much offended with him for his vntrouth he toke his leue not satisfied acording to his expectacion and retorned into Seruia a manifest document to admonyshe men to take hed howe thei vse double dealinge when George was comme home he vnderstode that Michell Zilugo whose systre Vaiuoda had to wife sholde â—e gouernour of the Towne of Alba which at this day â—s called Belgrado and was alredye with his brother Laodislao gone into his wagen to passe on his iourney and as they passed on by the confynes of his centrey he â—ent towarde them certaine bandes of armed men with commissyon to bringe them eyther on lyue or ded as â—one as Michell sawe him selfe like to be assayled by the Seruianes he lefte his wagen and toke his horse which was at hande lepte vpon him and with his sworde in â—is hand dyd cut his waie throughe the middest of them and so with flighte saued his lyfe the Seruianes finding â—aodislao in the wagen slewe him Michel determining to reuenge y e iniurie that was done him and the death of his brother also appointed certaine to goe and to vnderstande in what strength the Dispotto vsed to ryde when he passed from place to place with in his contrey from whom he receaued aduertizement that George with in fewe dayes after wolde passe on vppon the syde of Danubio to visyte certaine fortes and Townes of of force that he had standing vpoÌ„ the same ryuer wherupon Michell with certaine bandes of souldiours passed on and marched in the nighte and ambusshed them selues vpon the waye that George muste passe and as â—one as George came to the place where they laye in â—mbushe they shewed them selues and with great fuâ—ie assayled him and in the fighte he loste two of his fingeres and Michell toke him prisouer vnto whome he paied a great summe of money for his rausome and so retorned home to his house and when he came there he coulde by no meanes staunch the blediÌ„g of his wounds which bled continually in such sorte that in short tymeâ—e died And this was the ende of George the Dispotto of Seruia a man exciding troublouse and full of treaâ—on in whose place Lazaro his yongest sonne succided him and depriued his elder brother whose eyes were plucked oute by the commaundemente of Amocathe as before is mencyoned wyth in fewe monethes after Lazaro died vpon whose death theyr arose greate contencyon whoe shoulde succid him in state Georg he desired aide of Mahometh the wife of Lazaro being wydow demauÌ„ded aide and obtained of the king of Hungarie certaine bandes of both horse men and fote men to maintaine her in her state by the which meanes she contynued in it at that tyme was Carafagio the Cardinall Sainct Angelo in Almayne sent bi Calix to the Bishop of Rome to require them to aide the Hungarianes in that they had begone in the behalfe of the Dowgier Carafagio at the request of the Hungarianes entred with his armie into Seruia and fynding the Turckes alredie possessyd of it by meanes of the Seruians which of their owne acorde had yel ded them vnto them wherupoÌ„ he retorned backe againe and escaped hardly notwithstanding with great difficultie he came safe to Buda when all these thinges were done it semid to Mahometh that he had well established his affares of Gretia whereupon he prepared his armie and all kinde of munition thereunto belonging determining no lenger to defer the enterprise against y â— Hungarianes for somuch as this occasion was offerred him to be called in to Seruia by the Seruianes them selues wherupon he assembled his armie in the whiche he had acording to the opinion of some wryters a hundred and fyftie thousand able souldiours but their are other that write of whose opinion rather we are that they were a hundred thousande furnished souldiours and were fully perswaded to were the palme of that iorney wherevpon he conueid his armie ouer the mountaines of Tracia and so marched on tyll he came to the ryuer Sauo whervpon Iohn Carafagio Cardinall Sainct Angelo gatherid togyther all the power that he coulde promising to as manye as wolde folowe him in that iorney full remission of their synnes and by the Apostelique autoritie that
warres they sent to the king Lois of Fraūce for aide who sent them oute of prouince Genoa seuen shyppes well armed and furnished and fyftene galleys with a great quantitie of artillerie also certaine thou sandes of fote men the greatest parte Guascones vnder the conducte of the lorde of Grauistence who departed from Genoa and sayled towarde y e Archipelago whiche deuideth y e lesse Asia from Gretia to ioyne with y e Venetian armata and when he came to Scio he depated from thence to Mitilene entred the hauē and landed his people immediatli proied spoiled al y e Isle finalli came and encamped before the towne which was the cheife of the Isle and assayled it with greate furie the first daye that they came before it they planted their batteryes and batterid in suche sorte that they so feared y e Turcks of the towne with their sodden assaulte y e notwithstanding there was within it a granison of greate fame of men of great experience yet they were so affraied that they sent their postes by sea and lande to Baiazithe to declare vnto him the great preparation and force of the Christianes and the furie of their batteries protesting vnto him that yf they were not spedylye reliued they shoulde not be able longe to defend it when the arryual of y e Nauie of Fraunce was commonly knowen in Constantinople y e force of y ◠nation beinge then augmented and increase so at that tyme dyd put suche feare into the whole Citie and to all the reste of Romania that y e Mahometistes beinge oute of all hope to contynue ani longer in Gretia immagined howe to prouide shyppes and other vesselles where with to flee into Asia rather then to put them selues in order to succour Mitileno wher vp on Baiazithe beinge excidingly moued with the confusion that he sawe amonge his people makinge none accompte of his astate guyrded his gowne to him came downto y e hauēnes syde where his people were sō meembarcked and others redie to enbarcke and entretyd hys people that they wolde embarcke passe on to succour Mitileno and whiles the courte contynued in this sorte makinge no prouisyon at all in effecte for their defence their is no doubte that yf the Venetianes had gone on with their Nauie vnited them w t the Nauie of Fraūce and encreased y e power of the Christans cheifely of fote men wherof the frenshe had great wante but whē they had taken Mitileno and some other one place in Gretia they shoulde haue broughte the Turckes to that passe that they paraduenture of them selues wolde haue fled into Asia and haue for saken Gretia but the Venetianes whether that it were for that they were all redyentred into practize of a peace with Baiazithe which afterwarde they concluded by y e meanes of Andre Gritti and wolde no furder procure his indignation or els that the good successe of the frenshe dyd not lyke them whervpon they in dede procided slowly in all their affares cheifely in furnishinge the frenshe Nauie with victuall and men wherof they stode in great nede and prolonged so their comming to vnite them selue◠with the frenshe that when they had contynued there for a certaine space and made so great breaches y e yf they had had men sufficient to hane gyuen the assaulte they moughte easylye haue taken the towne but when they sawe the tarying of the Venetianes and the smale haste that they made the Captaine of the frenshe beinge in great distresse of victual by meanes wherof he coulde no lenger continue there and beinge also muche offendyd with there stacknes doubted that they went aboute te betraie him and his people and had them in great suspition where vpon he embarcked his people and artillerie disolued the sege and set sayle passed the Golfe and then alonge by Scicilia and retorned with his Nauie to Genea and then be in person toke the poste and went into Fraunce when Baiazithe considerede the great peryll wherin he had ben determining no more to incure the like chiefely for that he was of nature gyuen to be quiet and not ambitious nor desirouse to enlarge the confines of his dominions whervpon he determyned to attempte the Venetianes for peace and delyuered Andre a Gritti vpō suerties for his retorne then embarcked him sent him to Venise to entreate the peace when Gritti was cōme to Venise and founde the Senate the Duke and all the commons of the Citie well inclined to peace after that he had had great conference with the Senate he receaued auctorye and commission from them to conclude the peace whervpon he retorned to Constantinople and concluded the peace vpon suche conditiones as at this daye are obserued betwene them and Baiazithe when he had in thys sorte ceased hys hostilitie he lad his lyfe in great quietnesse and spent the greatest parte of his time his courte being in Andrinople at a certaine house of his not farre from the Citie a place of great pleasure where he buylded for his commoditie maruelouse sumptuous goodly lodginges and in this sorte he passed a great pece of his tyme in great quietnes and beinge come to the age of .lx. yeres and hauinge gouerned in the Empire .xxx. yeres to the great content of all his subiectes he began lyke a wyse man to consyder that he was olde and not helthefull of bodye and that he was lyke euery daye to be surprinsed by dethe and to be taken awaye wherfore he was desirous to prouide for and establyshe his succession for the quietnes of his subiectes and to take awaye all occasyon of tumultes that moughte happen by hys deathe consyderinge that he had three sonnes of lawful yeres whome he had apointed in thre sondrye partes of Asia to gouerne vpon his confynes euery of them had vnder his charge a great armie wherfore for onely remedie and maintenance of vnitie in his Empire to the ende that throughe the discorde of his sonnes it shoulde not be deuided and consumed with Cyuyll warres for so muche as there was not a better remedie for to auoyd suche disorder then to folowe the example of Amorathe his graud father whiche was to giue ouer the gouernaunce and to prouide in his lyfe tyme for the establishement of his successyon and to appointe who shoulde succede him and to gyue ouer into his handes al power and rule and to put him in possessyon of the Empire which shoulde be an occasyon of great quietnes for so much as be being olde and syckly and not able to endure so great laboure and trauayle thoughte that the people shoulde be better gouerned by a yonger man and the other bretherin shoulde be oute of hope to attayne to the Empire whiche shoulde be all redie possessyd by meanes wherof they shoulde be enforced to obey yf that they wolde not receaue furder incommoditie and he beinge entred into a priuate lyfe
toute the slaughter and spoyle of an infinite nūber of Turckes In the ende y ◠Senate of Venise to conclude a peace with the Turcke were content to giue him that Citie sauing the lyues and goodes of the Citizens acording to the conditions of the peace that was made with Tauth Bassa of Romania by meanes of y ◠magnificient Pietro Angelo who was sent with commissyon honorable in ambassade from the mightye Antonio Loredano generall of y ◠Venetian Armata to the aforesaid Tauth with whom Ducagino was prisoner by whose meanes he obtayned a safe conducte for the Senate to send an ambassadour for the conclusion of the aforesayde peace to Constantinople Then the Venetianes sent their secretarie Iohn Dario ambassadour to y ◠great Turcke concluded that peace In this meane tyme all the inhabitantes of Scutarie came to Venise and were receaued by the Senators and rewarded largely for their faithefull and true seruice After this the Turckes toke the Citie of Alessio where with all deligence they soughte for the bodye of Scanderbeg as sone as they had founde it althoughe in his lyfe tyme they feared it and also hated his name yet being ded they worshypped it as we vse to worshipe Canonizad sainctes and in the ende happie was he that coulde gete some pece of his bones esteming it for a holly relique and set it in golde or syluer and hanged it aboute their neckes as thinges of great hollinesse saying that therby thei hoped to haue alwai victorie whiche is a paganishe superstition Althoughe that for the offences of vs Christians which are so deuided amonge oure selues by meanes of oure Ambition and gredines god hath gyuen the Turckes manye greate victories a gainst vs euen to this present daye acording to oure moste iuste desertes and merites FINIS A discription of the successe of the house of Ottomanno IN the yere of oure helthe 1353. Amorathe Ottomanno prince of the Turckes passed into Gretia with 70. thousand men in the aide of one of the bretherē sōnes to the Emperour of Constantinople then lately deceased he spoyled all the countre of the loer Seruia called Burgaria with the countre of Macedonia and the higher Seruia In the yere 1366. he toke the Citie of Gallipolli of the dominions of the Emperour of Constantinople In the yere 1370. he toke the kyngedome of Burgaria In the yere 1375. Baiazithe the fyrst entred into Gretia with his armie making warres against the Grekes and in shorte tyme possessed all Romania leuing to the Emperour but only Constantinople and Pera. In the yere 1390. Tamerlano the parthian prince made warres vpon Armenia vpon the confynes wherof Baiazithe the Turckishe prince encountred him in battayle and was taken prisoner his armye defeicted by him and also the Empire of y ◠lesser Asia possessed Amorathe the .2 toke the Citie of Solenich with dyuerse other places to the greate preiudice of the Christians he made warres against George Castrioth sometyme named Scanderbeg in the ende he dyed in dispite before the Citie of Croia in the yere 1442. In the yere 1453. Mahomethe the seconde sonne to Hierenia the daughter of George the Dispotto of Seruia and to Amorathe the seconde aforesaid toke the Citie and Empire of Constantinople In the yere 1459. he toke the whole kingedome of Seruia after the death of his Vncle Lazaro he toke also the kingdome of Bassina and made warres in Albania against the afore named George Castrioth but he receaued alwaye the foyle at his hand In the yere 1460. he toke the whole countre of More a Athenes and all Thesalia In the yere 1462. he toke the Empire of Trebisonda In the yere 1463. he toke the Isle of Meteline at the same time they of the Isle of Scio put them selues vnder the protection of Mahomethe and graunted to paie him trybute In the yere 1470. he put a Nauie to sea of 400. saile vnder the conducte of Mahomethe Bassa sending him to take the Citie of Calcide standing vpon the Isle aunciently called Euboica nowe called Negroponte and after many assaultes toke both the Citie and the Isle In the yere 1475. he toke the Citie of Caffa In the yere 1474. he came to the Isle of Rodes landed his people and beseged the towne of Rodes but he coulde not take it he sent at that same tyme Acomathe his Bascia with 15000. men towarde the Golfe who assayled the Isle Eucadia or Sent Manra and toke it he toke also Cephalonia and Hiacinta and then passed the Golfe and went into Puglia toke Ottranto In the yere 1477. after the death of Scanderbeg aforesayde he toke the Citie of Oriuasto he obtained Scutari by the making of a peace with the Venetians he toke also dyuerse other townes in Albania In the yere 148. Baiazithe the. 2. entred into Cilicia and foughte with Caromano prince therof ouercame him in battayle flewe him and defeicted his armie possessyd in shorte space all his dominions Aboute that same tyme he agreed with the prince of Scandaloro prince of Cilicia Trachea gyuinge him in exchaunge of his countre other possessiones in Natolia In the yere 1498. he put his Nauie to the sea and he in person went with his armie by land and came to the Golfe of Patrasso and beseged the towne of Lepantho in shorte tyme toke it The yere folowing he beseged Modone and toke it Selim the successour of Baiazithe in the yere 1512. departed from Trebisonda and encountred his father in battayle and was defeicted by him In the yere 1514. Selim came to Constantinople against the determination of his father thoughe the ayde of the Gianizaries deposed his father from the gouernement In the yere 1515. he gaue battaile to both his bretherē and defeicted their armies flewe them with certaine of his Nephewes In the yere 1516. went with a great armie against the Sophie king of persia gaue him battayle and ouerthrewe him In the yere 1518. he marched with is armie toward Alepo and encountred Campson the Soldane ten miles beyonde Alepo vpō the banke of the ryuer Singa gaue him battayle in the which both he was slayne and his people put to flighte and flayne within shorte tyme after he marched on towarde Cairo and encountred in battayle the newe elected Soldan Tomombeio defeicted his power and toke him and put him in miserable sorte to deathe and possessyd all Egipte with the whole coūtre of Sorria In the yere 1520. he made redie a puissant Armata with other great prouision by land and then dyed In y ◠yere 1531. Gazzele rebelled in Damasto against Soliman soune to Selim whervpon Solimanno sent his armie against him flewe him and defeicted all hys power Faultes escaped in the printing In y ◠2. lease 2. page Eugenio for Egeo fol. 4. page 1. Emirna for Smirna fol. 7. page 1. Ianio for Ionio fol 8. page 1. Sagenio for Eugenio fol. the 10. pag. 1. Varia for Varna fol. 11. page 1. sturre
as hayle from the heighte of the walles the Turckes were muche anoyed by meanes of the darkenes for that they could not see how to defende them selues from the arrowes and stones where with manye of them were slaine and hurt when it was perfit day Mahometh approched neare y e towne with al his power commaunded when he should geue a signe the towne to be assayled rounde to the end that they of the towns should not be able to defende euerye where his force he appointed to euerye colonell wyth his regiment a certaine space of the wall to assayle for that they shuld fight apart to the end the vertue of the assaylants and their worthy actes mought be sene that thereby they moughte be the more enflamed thorough desyre of honour to committe them selues to all kinde of peryll In like sorte was their order geuen to them of the Armata with commaundement that in one instant euery man should assayle that place wherevnto he was appoynted there were broughte also nere to the walles certaine towres of woode which were set vpon high groundes of aduauntage vpon the which he placed many souldiours to the end thei mought with their shot bete a longe all the circuite of the walles he had also with his artillery taken away all the defenses so that when they should come to defende the breache and walles they must stande all open against his shotte When Mahometh had done all these thynges the token of the assault was geuen with the sound of trumpettes bornes bagpipes and drummes that the ayre resounded of it immediatly herevpon the assault began the Turkes couered thir heades with roundels targes in such sort that it was like the rofe of an house ouer their heads in this sort came to y â— walles set vp theyr ladders enforsyng themselues with great corage to clyme to the height of the walles on the other syde they of the towne endeuoured them selues to defende it and threwe downe vpon them greate stones myghtye pieces of tymber and annoyed them merueylouslye wyth the shotte of their Crosse bowes Dartes and suche lyke throwen by the arme they aboue vsed theyr Mykes so well that they threwe the Turkes contynuallye from theyr ladders downe slewe and hurte a greate number of them and handled them so hardlye that they enforsed them to scatter and made them glad to abandone the assaute wherevpon Mahometh drewe neare with his company and encouraged them calling by name nowe one and then another especyally those that were moste valiaunte and worthye comfortynge them to reuiue the assaute and in y â— end some he threatened wyth cruell wordes and to other some he made great and large promises and in this sorte wroughte with them that he caused them to put on noble mindes and to begynne agayne the assaulte with farre greater furye then before and euerye man soughte to gette vp the wall one clymynge on the others shoulder and vp by theyr Pykes lyke Cattes some other wont close together couerynge theyr heades with theyr targes and roundels and they that were on the lowe steppes of the ladders vare before them euen of force those that were on the hyghest of the ladders and manye layde holde of the Pikes and punchinge staues of theyr enemies as they thrust at them and so with greate courage gate vp walles and when they were at the highest were stricken downe headlonge into the botome of the dyke by them of the towne and also they made suche spoyle of the enemies by throwynge downe vpon them huge stones artificiall fyres burnynge Piche with Dartes and Pikes of fire workes that it was very strange to behold yet not withstaÌ„ding the emperour maynteyned theassaut with great discretion and in the place of the weried and spoyled he sente alwayes newe and freshe bandes in suche sorte that he gaue them of the citie no iote of tyme to repose but styll augmented the fighte with newe men so that they of the towne were merneylouslye consumed in a shorte space but that that moste discouraged was that one Iohn Giustiniano a Genouese borne a Noble manne in hys countrey who at the tyme of the seyge happened to bee in Constantinople and behaued hymselfe so worthelye in the defence thereof that they imputed the greatest parte of theyr defence to consist in hym vntyll that at the laste as he was valiauntlye fightinge vpon the walles with the enemies through disgrace he was sore wounded and as it is sayde seing him selfe to lose much bloude woulde not discourage the multitude with callinge for a Surgion but secrently w t drewe him froÌ„ the assaute of whose departure when CoÌ„stantine y e Emperour vnderstode he feared it wouldbe the losse of the citie whervpon he went in person to him desired him not to leue y â— assaute but Giustiniano would by no meanes grauÌ„t therunto but required to haue a gate opeÌ„ to y e end he mought go to be dressed then to returne again to y â— citie al y e gates of y â— braies were shut betwene them and the towne to the end that they which fought vpon the vttermost walles shoulde determine there to obtayne the victorie or elles to die in the place for so muche as they beinge once abandoned the losse of the towne muste nedes folowe when the gate was opened Giustiniano went oute through whose absence they of the towne were merueylously discouraged and began verye coldlye to defende the assaulte whiche when the Turkes Bascias and Colonels perceyued they marched on wyth theyr bandes and regimentes serred and with greater furye then before assayled the towne and beganne to climbe the breche whiche they had made with their batterie some by their ladders and some besyde their ladders by the spoyle of the walles and beganne to waxe maisters of the vtter walles and repâ—â—sed the Grekishe souldiours enforsynge them to flye in great disorder and euerye man by fotemanshyppe soughte to saue one and to get into the citie throughe the same gate that was opened to Giustiniano When the Emperour sawe the shamefull flighte and great disorder of his people he also fled after them not regardyng his imperial maiestie nor sekynge as it became so mightie a prince rather honourably to die with his sworde in his hand then to shew such want of magnanimitie He cam on toward this same gate also wher with the force thrustinge of those which repaired thither to get in he was throwen downe to the earth and in the preasse troden to deathe And amonge so greate a number of Souldiours as then were within the Citie there were found only twayn y â— vtterly despised seruile life and lyke worthye men honorablye died with their swordes in their handes fyghtynge to the vttermoste y e one of theÌ„ was Theophilo Paleologo a Greke borne the other Iohn Stiauo a Dalmatian which men este med it to vile in such sort to flie and for a long
determined to chose to their prince a noble man a Greke borne who pretennted title â—o it did so attempt it that they entred into warres aâ—aut it wherupon on both sides thei addressed theÌ„selues or aide to Mahometh who when he harde the matter â—horowly debated Iudged y e two brethren to haue the â—ight wherevpon he graunted them his frendshipas to â—hose that had the right on their side sent in their aide â—ertain bands of men by whose good helpe thei sone reâ—ressed the force of the Albaneses enforsed theÌ„ to dwel â—nder y e rule goueruance of Thomas Paleologo there Dispotto who agreed w t Mahometh to paye him yerely â—euentine M. ducates in this sort commended himself â—nd his state to his protection for asmuche as y e ryght was descended vnto him by the death of his brother the â—mperour he mought lawfully haue called himself emâ—erour of Gretia in the which his auÌ„cestors had coÌ„mauÌ„â—ed many yeres but fearing to offend Mahometh he abâ—tained from that title contented himselfe w t the only â—itle of the Dispotto of Morea But shortly after when â—e vnderstode that Calixto the thyrde a Spaniarde â—ucceded Nycholas the fyfte in the Romyshe seate who forthe wyth sente hys Legates and Cardynalles â—o all the Prynces of Christendome to perswade â—heym to make warres agaynste the Turckes for â—he recouerye of Gretia And also vnderstanâ—ynge the greate preparatyon that was made in â—talie for the Sea and the leauiynge of the armye in Hungarye denyed flattelye to paye anye Trybute vnto Mahometh and also ouer rashly refused his frendship and protection being deceyued in his imagination perswadiuge himselfe that forthwith the Turkes shoulde haue bene chased out of Gretia but after when he sawe the bishoppes preparation toke none effect he was enforsed with great gyftes and paiment of the tribute for two yeres before hande at one paiment to reconcile him selfe to Mahometh and to renewe the league betwene them wherevpon Mahometh dessemblynge for a tyme the iniurie that he had receyued at his hande receyued him agayne into his fauour and protection but within fewe yeres after when he perceyued himselfe to be assured in his seate in Gretia he called to mynde the foresaide rebellion and sente his armie into Peloponesso and toke the walle of Esmilia that was buylded vpon the straite called Isthmos which shutteth vp that strait of lande beynge fyue myles in breadeth stretchynge from the sea Ionio to the sea Egeo of the which seas all the rest of Morea which aunciently was called Pelâ— ponesso is enuironed And when the Turks had wonne the walle they entred into Morea and toke the citie of Corintho and made bothe the Dispotts his vassalles the one being deuided from the other and toke froÌ„ them their state and patrimonie The prouince of Peloponesso is the chiefe parte of Gretia for the commodiousnes thereof and also for the great wealth and power of the nobilitie and commons that in the olde worlds inhabited the same that piece of grounde well considered will declare it selfe to be the foundation of the Greke Empyre for as muche as in it there are manye godlye goolfes many large and great caues and promontories manye manifique and sumptuos cities and they saye that the forme of the platte therof is like vnto that of the leafe of a platane the length and breadeth therof are almost equall and from the one ende to the other it conteyneth a hundred seuentie and fyue miles and in circuite accordyng to the opinion of Pollible it conteyneth fyue hundred myles and Anthemidoro addeth vnto it fyftye miles and and we haue declared it is enuironed with two seas sauynge that piece of lande called Isthmos which confyneth vpon the seas afore sayd and containeth in lengthe v. miles nere where vnto is the noble and famous citie Corintho and their is contayned in y â— same Peloponesso nowe called Morea Achaia Messenia Licaonia nowe called Lacedemonia Largolica and Arcadia which lieth in the middeste of them but nowe retorning to the declaration of our historie beginning where we lefte when Mahometh was becomme lorde of Constantinople and beinge determined there to appoint the seate of his Empire the firste thing that he toke in hand was to amend and repare the walles of the citie and to make them defensyble also to repare the spoyled buyldings of the towne and also to furnishe it with inhabitants for that it wanted a great number by meanes of y â— great slaughter that there had ben wher vpon he caused inhabitants to come oute of all partes and gaue to them greate priuileges and liberties to vse what traffique and also what religioÌ„ they wolde wher vpon within shorte space there came thither an infinite numbre of inhabitants namely of Hebrues or Iues which were chased oute of Spaine besyde thys he vsed the custume that the princes of the easte partes of the worlde doe vse which is that when soeuer he toke anye Citie or Towne after that tyme he woulde take oute of them the chise and most noble housholdes and families with al their treasure and substance and send them to Constantinople to inhabite there he vsed the matter so that at y e tyme of his death he lefte it a Citie of great traffique and also maruelously replenished with inhabitants as sone as he was become Emperour of Constantinople he determyned in him selfe the warres against the hungarianes Iudging it a great assurance to his state of Europe yf that he mought bring to passe to subdue Hungarie and make it subiecte to him which he greatly defired consideringe the propinquitie thereof also the valiantize of y â— people he determined to prouide him of aptaines of great Iudgement and of good soul diours and to assure him in his seate of Gretia whervp on he deferred the enterprise for thre yeres and began to make warres vpon the citie of Athenes which onelye rested oute of his handes of all the prouince of Attica which Citie althoughe it were then of no great circuite ne yet anye thing in comparysson so Populouse or riche as it had ben in tyme before yet notwithstanding thei had builded a forte vpon the walles that were lefte of the ancient Temple of Minerua whiche was thoughte inprennable bnt the lorde therof which was a florentine borne and of the noble house of Acciauolli seing no waye howe to defende it for so much as he had attempted the princes of Italie in sondrie sorte for aide but all was in vaine wherupon he fel to composition w t him and agreed to delyuer him the Towne in exchauÌ„g of certaine houses and yerly rentes that y e Turcke had promised him for the maintenance of him felfe and his familie and herupon yelded the Towne to the Turcke when the Turke had recompensed him he toke froÌ„ him two of his sonnes and brought them vp in his Seraglio to serue him of the which
two one proffited so well in the exercise of armes and also in gouernance that the Turcke had him in great estimation And in Albania the whiche is that part of Macedonia that lieth toward the weste and stretche the oute frō Durazzo to the ancient Citie Appolonia the langage of the Albaneses is propre to them selues and dothe differ from the speche of all those people that dwell aboute them for neither the Greeke ne yet the Schiauonese vnderstandeth it and we are not certaine in what sorte nor by what meanes they fyrste arriued in those partes ne yet of their ancient originall althoghe it be sayde that this nation with diuerse others came oute of Scithia Asiatica from that ancient Citie Albania not farre from Colchide and so went on wandring to seeke newe habitacions and seates and fynally occupied that parte of Macedonia whiche beareth their name aboute the tyme of the losse of Constantinople the prince of their contrey happened to dye whose name was Camusa whoe beinge discended of christian parents became so beastly that of his owne acorde he lefte the christian faythe and embraced the folisheand beastly religion of Mahometh but hauinge smalle affiance in it euen as he had raishely forsaken Christe so vnaduisedly refused he Mahomet he and retorned to the religion of his ancestours willing althoughe he had no great affiance nether in the one nor other rather to dye beringe the name of a Christian then of a Mahometiste vnto whome George Scanderbag succided in gouernaunce as lawfull heire whoe was discended of a noble parentage in his contrey and when he had haunted the warres along time he became an excellent and famous Captaine and spent the reste of his lyfe in the defence of the Christian religion when Mahomethe vnderstode the deathe of Camusa he sent one of his Bascias with an armie to Valona whiche standeth vpon the sea bancke and althoughe it be but a litle Towne it hathe a suer and a goodly hauen from whence in to Italie the passage is but shorte and withoute daunger and manye yeres before that tyme it was possessed and holden by Baiazithe and when he died they threwe from them the Turquishe yoke but Amorathe within shorte space after toke it againe and from thence for the was it contynually holden by the in fydels to the greate reproche and dishonour of the Christian princes and to the greate terrour of all Italie it is possessyd euen at this daye by the infidels when this Bascia had broughte his people to valona he assayled Scanderbeg whoe althoughe he dyd alwaies worthilye defende him selfe and his people and diuers tymes with his power had encountred the Turckes and departed from them alwayes with the victorie yet notwithstandinge he sent for ayde to the kinge Alphonso of Aragone then kinge of Naples and obtained of him dyuers bande of men at armes well furnished in euery respecte whiche passed in to Albania by the waye of Durazzo not farre from the Cytye of Croia and with the helpe of George Scanderbeg they defendyd that contre for alonge tyme from the Tyrannie of the infydels when Calixto the Romishe Byshoppe vnderstode the danger that Scanderbeg was in Scanderbeg was in weinge his power w t the vnspekeable power of his enemye he wolde not se him wāte but supplied him with a great some of money to entertaine his souldiours and with these aydes he de fendyd y ◠contrey of Albania very skylfully and valiantly In this meane time their was a practize discouerid y e whiche a Nephewe of his his brothers sonne whoe hauing intelligence with Mahometh agreed with him vp oncertaine condityones to sleye his vncle by treason or els if he coulde by any meanes bring it to passe to delyuer him on lyue in to Mahomethes handes when this practeze was discouered by one of the menagers of this same he laid handes on him and so caused him to be examined in the which he confessyd the whole wherupon he thought it not conueniēt to shed his owne bloude but banished him sending hym with his processe to the king Alphonso whoe commaunded to put him into the Donge on called Miglio there to continewe during his naturall lyfe And whileste Scanderbeg lyued he defended Albania from the tirany of the infydels fyghting onely for the zeale he bare to the Christian religiō caused his subiectes to perseuere in the faith of christe and his worde notwithstanding the contynuall inuasious and courses that his enemies made vpon his cotre impouerishing his subiectes vtterly spoiling y ◠laborers of the earthe lainge waste a greate pece of his contrey bringing it into vnspekeable miserie and calamitie whē Mahometh vnderstode the death of Scanderbeg he sent forth with his armie in to Albania and toke the citie of Croia with all the reste of the contrey except those places that the venetianes held aboute that tyme after the taking of Constantinople he dyd maruelously vexe the religion of Rhodes both by sea and land but the greate master of the Hospitall of Iherusalm vnto whome the Isle dyd appertaine with his souldiours defended it cōtynnally euen to these our dayes and whan Calixto the gre at Byshope was called vnto for ayde he put his Nauie of Shippes Galleys to y ◠sea sent them to Rhodes vnderthe conducte of y ◠patriarcke of Aquileia who being in those seas had often to doe with the Turckes toke and drowned manye of their Galleys and fustes drowned and slewe their people and departed alwaye from them with the victorie when he had taken from the Turkes y ◠Isle of Salaminā whiche in ancient tyme was called Lēno and also that that is called Tasso w t the Isle of Nēbro and certaine other litle Isles nere vn to them he went and spoyled all alonge the sea coastes from helesponto euen to the confynes of Egipte to the great impouerissing of the inhabitants there of holding them in contynuall doute and feare and it semed that if he mought haue contynued he wolde with time haue greatly preuailed but as sone as Calixto was deade he departed from thence with his Nauie in to Italie leauing Rhodes with all others places that y ◠Christianes possessid in those partes in great peryl And in Acarnia which lieth in the myddeste betwene Epiro and Boetia and is called at this daye the Duchie and the Dispotto which then raigned in Acarnama and Epiro whiche at this daye is called Arta which begynning towarde the weste at the permontories of Acrocera doe stretch oute toward the easte to the baie Ambrachio whiche at thys daye is called y ◠golfe of Arta this Dispotto being maruelously vexed with Mahomethes souldiours and being desyrous to purchase some forien amitie by meanes of the king Alphonso he toke to wyfe a daughter of y e lord Iohn Vnitimiglia a Captaine of great fame that came into Italie with the king Alphonso of Aragone to the winning of the
meanes of the aforesaid diuisioÌ„ he began at Viterbo which was then holden by one of the factions by his auctoritie called home againe those that for feare were fled reconciled them w t their aduersaries in this sort lefte them al in good peace vnder his protection gouernance after this he sent his legates into y e duchie into the contrey of Marca and finding these prouinces infected w t the afore saide Maladye one citie being in armes againste the other and diuerse citie beinge deuided in them selues the one part of the Citie against the other some were of the Colonese factino other of the Orsius and nowe had the one the better and then the other tyl at the laste by the great prouidence and industrie of the legates they were all pacified and lefte vnder the regiment and gouernaunce of the popes officers in perfecte tranquiletie and quietnes after this when the pope behelde y â— miserable state of his contrey the great spoyle therof that had ben made throughe the Ciuile disorder and warres y â— had ben amonge them by meanes wherof they had consumed a great numbre of their people also were brought into extreme pouerty it was a great griefe vnto him and then gaue he order that they which gouerned shoulde by common consent restore againe to their firste degres and honours the orders of gentlemen and the twelue and shoulde cal from exile certaine worthie citizens and in this sorte he enlarged his regiment and state and lefte it quiet and in peace tyll at the laste in the contre of Marca their arose the lord Sigismonde Malisti and gatherid an army and encountred with the popes Legate and gaue him a great ouerthroe by meanes wherof all the Contre of Marca was in armes and folowed this Sigismonde wherupon the pope sent thither his legate the Cardinall of Tiano apistolese borne with the Duke of Vrbine and the lorde Napoleone Orsino which gaue to Sigismondo such an ouerthroe not farre from Sinigaglia that they enforced him to leue y â— feelde and so repressed his furie y â— in a shorte tyme they toke from him Sinigaglia Fano and a good pece of the countie of Arrimino and after diuerse encouÌ„tres in the kingdome of Naples the kings Ferrante remained victoriouse and the Duke Iohn with his Angionme faction was retorned into Fraunce when Ferrante was well established in his kingdome and that the pope sawe him selfe deliuered of two great warres and had established the temporal state of his church and brought it to perfecte quietnes he then called againe to minde y â— enterprise of Asia against the Turckes and being confederate with the kinge of Hungarie the Duke of Borgonie and with the state of Venise they then consulted and determined in what sorte they woulde make these warres the pope sent forthe his letters with his messagers to al the princes of Christendome exhorting and requiring theÌ„ to coÌ„me ayde him in this iorney against thâ— infidels and appointed the tyme that in the yere of our helthe a thousand foure hundred threscore and foure the xv daye of Iune all the armie shoulde be redie in y â— contre of Marca not farre from Ancona where they shoulde fynde the Nauie reddie to receaue both y â— popes hollynes and them also who wolde in person goe to so glorious an enterprise and when the pope had thus determined he passed on for the recouerie of his helthe to Siena meaning the nexte spring folowing according to his custume to goe to the baines at Petriuolo and wheÌ„ he was there arriued newes came to him that Philippe Duke of Borgonie seing the great tumultes and emotiones that were in Fraunce betwene the king and the nobilitie wolde prouide for y â— securitie of his state wherfore he wolde not deale at all in the enterprise againste the Turckes but emploied all his force vnder the conducte of his sonne Charles against Loys king of FrauÌ„ce whereupon he changed his purposed iorney to y e baines and retorned to Rome where he was maruelously troubled with the goute and also with the feuer wherupon he was enforced to contynewe there a longe tyme contrarie to his determination which was the cause that he coulde not be at his daye appointed at Ancona according to his proclamation that he had made of the iorney in the meane tyme their came to Rome seuerally ambassadours both from Loys the frenshe king and also from Philippe Duke of Borgonie excusing ether of them for so muche as beinge troubled with domesticale warres they coulde not at that tyme gyue anye aide toward the iorney when the pope was some thing recouerid of his disease he called the Cardinales to the Consystorie there discoursed of the heresies that then were in y e kingdome of Bohemia wherupon he graunted forthe his citationes and then with his Cardinales and other Cortigianes he departed from Rome and passed throughe y â— contre of Sabina into the Duchie and from thence into the contre of Marca and beinge caried in a horse lytter in consyderation of his weakenes passed so on to Ancona and as he passed on y â— waye he mette with a great numbre of men â—â—ich came oute of Almanie Fraunce and Spaine of tâ—â—ir owne good willes to goe that iourney against the infidels of the whiche numbre the greatest parte and chiefely those that came oute of Almanie brought with them no prouision wherwith to susteine them in that iorney wherupon he gaue them his bene diction and absolued them clearely from al the offences that euer they committed vntyll that present and in this sorte licensid them to retorne into their couÌ„treys againe and being in Ancona he loked for y e Nauie which was made redie in diuers places of Italie and shoulde repare thither to vnite them selues and also he loked for the Duke of Venise with his armata to arriue there in this meane time the feuer dyd so growe and encreas vp on him that the same daye that the Duke of venise landed in y e hauen of Ancona accompanied with xii galleys and a great numbre of gentlemen he yelded vp his soulâ— to god which was the yere of our helth 1464. and the â—iiii of August immediatly vpoÌ„ his death y â— Cardinales retorned to Rome to electe a newe Byshoppe and the Duke of Venise retorned againe to Venise with his armata and in this sorte the Nauie was deuided and all the preparation that was made for the iorney into Asia was but in vaine and when the Duke was come home to Venise the Seniours thoughte it not good to losse al that which they had bestoed in furnishing their Nauie and their armie where upon they made Nicholas de Canale general of their Nauie and sent him with their Nauie to the sea who sayled alonge the coaste of Gretia landed in Romania and sacqued the Citie of Euia and toke oute of it a great