great Spirit and yet exceeding proud which was the cause that he was both the less beloved and feared of his Subjects in general but especially of the Janizaries and other his Souldiers and men of War who scorning his loose Government and griev'd to see even the greatest Affairs of his State not only imparted to Women but by them managed and over-ruled also as by his Mother the Sultaness his Wife and others not only rebelled against him but were oftentimes in their Rages about to have deposed him He was altogether given to sensuality and voluptuous pleasure the marks whereof he still carried about with him a foul swoln unwealdy and overgrown Body unfit for any Princely Office or Function and a Mind thereto answerable wholly given over unto Idleness Pleasure and Excess no small means for the shortning of his days which he ended with Obloquy unregarded of his Subjects and but of few or none of them lamented He had Issue four Sons and three Daughters married unto three of the great Bassaes. His first and eldest Son was called Mahomet after his own Name whom he caused to be strangled in his own sight upon suspicion of aspiring to the Empire and conspiring with the Rebels in Asia but afterward finding him guiltless caused his Body to be buried in his own Sepulchre and hanged the Bassa that had misinformed him His second Son died a natural Death being yet very young His third Son was Sultan Achmat who succeeded his Father and came to the Empire by the untimely Death of Mahomet his eldest Brother His fourth Son being then a Youth of about sixteen Years old was carefully kept within the Seraglio with such a strait Guard set over him as that his Name was not to be learned even by a good understanding Friend of mine of late lying above three Months together at Constantinople who most curiously enquired after the same having very good means to have learned it He was reported to have been long since murthered howbeit that he of late lived but looking every day to be by his Brothers cruel Commandment strangled which is accounted but a matter of course and a Death hereditary to all the younger male Children of the Othoman Emperours the Policy for the maintenance of their great Empire entire and whole so requiring His dead Body lieth buried at Constantinople in a fair Chappel of white Marble near unto the most famous and beautiful Church of S. Sophia for that only purpose by himself most sumptuously built about fifty foot square with four high small round Towers about the which are certain small round Galleries of Stone from which the Turkish Priests and Church-men at certain hours use to call the People every day to Church for they use no Bells themselves neither will they suffer the Christians to use any But the top of this Chappel is built round like unto the ancient Temples of the Heathen Gods in Rome In the midst of this Chappel being indeed nothing else but this great Sultan's Sepulchre standeth his Tomb which is nothing else but a great Urn or Coffin of fair white Marble wherein lieth his Body covered with a great covering of the same Stone over it made rising in the midst and stooping on each sidâ— not much unlike to the Coffins of the ancient Tombs of the Saxon Kings which are to be seen on the North side of the Quire of S. Paul's Church and in other Places of this Land but that this Coffin of the Great Sultan is much greater and more stately than are those of the Saxon Kings it being above five foot high at the end thereof and by little and little falling toward the feet covered with a rich Hearse of Cloth of Gold down to the ground his Turbant standing at his Head and two exceeding great Candles of white Wax about three or four Yards long standing in great brass or silver Candlesticks gilded the one at his Head the other at his Feet which never burn but there stand for shew only all the Floor of the Chappel being covered with Mats and fair Turky Carpets upon them And round about this his Tomb even in the same Chappel are the like Tombs for his Wives and Children but nothing so great and fair Into this Chappel or any other the Turks Churches or Chappels it is not lawful for either Turk or Christian to enter but first he must put off his Shoes leaving them at the Church or Chappel Gate or carrying them in his hand Near unto this Chappel and the great Temple of Sophia are divers other Chappels of the other great Turks as of Sultan Selim this Man 's Grand father with his seven and thirty Children about him of Sultan Amurath this Man's Father with his five and forty Children entombed about him Anâ— in other places not far from them are the Chappels and Sepulchres of the rest of the Great Sultans as of Sultan Mahomet the Great of Sultan Bajazet Sultan Selim the first Sultan Solyman all by these great Mahometan Emperours built whose Names they bear And being all of almost one form and fashion have every one of them a fair Hospital adjoyning unto them wherein a great multitude of poor People are daily still relieved Some others of the great Bassaes have their Chappels and Sepulchres with their great and stately Alms-houses also not much inferiour unto those of the great Sultans as namely Ibrahim Bassa of all the Bassaes that ever were amongst the Turks the most magnificent hath his stately Chappel Sepulchre and Alms-Houses near both in Place and Beauty unto that of Solyman's The Turks bury not at all within their Churches neither are any at all buried within the Walls of the City but the great Turkish Emperours themselves with their Wives and Children about them and some few other of their great Bassaes and those only in Chappels by themselves built for that purpose All the rest of the Turks are buried in the Fields some of the better sort in Tombs of Marble but the rest with Tomb-stones laid upon them or with two great Stones the one set up at the head and the other at the feet of every Grave the greatest part of them being of white Marble brought from the Isle of Marmora They will not bury any man where another hath been buried accounting it Impiety to dig up another man's Bones by reason whereof they cover all the best Ground about the City with such great white Stones which for the infinite number of them are thought sufficient to make another Wall about the City But not to stand longer upon the manner of the Turks Burials leaving this great Sultan to rest with his Ancestors let us now prosecute the course of our History Christian Princes of the same time with Mahomet the Third Emperours of Germany Rodolph the Second 1577. Kings Of England Queen Elizabeth 1558. 47. Of France Henry the Fourth 1589. Of Scotland James the Sixth 1567. Bishops of Rome Clement the
removed to Bethlem a Town about the mid way betwixt Ioppa and Ierusalem But winter now coming fast on and want of Victuals like enough to increase the King changing his mind for the Siege returned with the greatest part of the Army to Ascalon which he that Winter new fortified the Walls thereof being before by Saladin in his dispair demolished the Duke of Burgundy with his Frenchmen all that while quietly wintring at Tyre In the mean time the power of the Christians was thus greatly diminished some one way departing from the Camp and some another The Italians for the most part with them of Pisa who in these three years Wars had striven with the Venetians for the Honour of their Service were now returned home as were the Venetians themselves also Nevertheless Winter now past and the Spring time come King Richard took the Field again and came to Bethlem where by the way he met with an exceeding great number of Camels charged with great store of Victuals and Munition sent by Saladin out of Egypt to Ierusalem all which he took but purposing to have gone on to the Siege of Ierusalem he was by the backwardness of the French glad to change his purpose and to return to Ptolemais for the Frenchmen perswaded by the Duke their General who well knew the French Kings mind that if any thing worth remembrance were done it was to be done by them and that the glory thereof should wholly redound unto the King of England as there in person present and to his Englishmen shewed themselves so unwilling to the Siege as that therein was nothing done to the great grief of that worthy Prince At which time also news was brought unto King Richard how that Philip the French King forgetful of his solemn promise made before his departure out of Syria had now invaded the Country of Normandy and excited Earl Iohn the Kings Brother a man of an haughty and aspiring nature to take upon him the Kingdom of England in his absence as had before in like case William the younger Brother served Duke Robert his eldest Brother then absent at his Father the Conquerors death in the first sacred expedition under Godfrey of Bulloin Wherefore King Richard beside the present difficulties fearing lest while he was so far off in Wars for defence of the Christian Common-weal he might lose his Kingdom at home thought it best to grow to some good end with Saladin and so to make his return but the politick and wary Sultan not ignorant of the discord of the Christians and that their Forces daily decayed in Syria either of the troubled Estate of the Kings affairs at home in his Kingdom or of his desire to return would not hearken to any other conditions of Peace but such as might both for the present weaken the Forces of the Christians in Syria and discourage others that had a mind to come thither afterward when they should see that for nought they should travel to conquer that which they must of necessity restore again The conditions he offered were That the Christians should forthwith restore whatsoever they had won in those three years Wars Ptolemais only excepted and from thenceforth for the space of five years the Turks should not in any thing molest the Christians but to suffer them in peace to live by them which hard conditions for that no better could be had the King was glad to accept and so concluded a Peace Whereby the labour and travel of the two great Kings and so many Nations with them were all become frustrate and vain having now to no purpose lost their Men their Mony their Time their Hope their Blood their long Travel to gain that they must now in one hour forego nothing more left unto the poor Christians in Syria than the Cities of Antioch Tyre and Ptolemais This done King Richard leaving the affairs of Asia unto the charge of Henry Count of Champagne his Nephew shipping the greatest part of his People with his Wife Berengaria first for Cicilia and from thence for England where they in safety at length arrived followed shortly after with some few himself where by the way by extremity of Weather he was in the Adriatique driven to land upon the Coast of Histria where travelling with a small retinue homewards in the Habit of a Templar he was discovered and taken Prisoner by Leopold Duke of Austria whom he had before disgraced at the winning of Ptolemais as is before declared who now glad to have him in his power made prise of him and sold him to Henry the Emperor for forty thousand pounds by whom he was kept Prisoner by the space of a year and three months and then ransomed for the Sum of an hundred and fifty thousand pounds About this time died the great Sultan Saladin the greatest terror of the Christians who mindfull of mans fragility and the vanity of worldly honours commanded at the time of his death no Solemnity to be used at his burial but only his Shirt in manner of an Ensign made fast unto the point of a Lance to be carried before his dead body as an Ensign a plain Priest going before and crying aloud to the People in this sort Saladin Conqueror of the East of all the greatness and riches he had in his life carrieth not with him after his death any thing more than his shirt A sight worthy so great a King which wanted nothing to his eternal commendation more than the true knowledge of his Salvation in Christ Jesus He reigned about sixteen years with great honour and dying left nine Sons which were all murthered by Sephradin their Uncle excepting one called also Sephradin Sultan of Alâ—ppo who by the Favour and Support of his Fathers good Friends saved himself from the treacherous practises of his Uncle Of this Sephradin the Uncle descended Meludin Sultan of Egypt and Coradin Sultan of Damasco and Ierusalem Saladin his great Kingdom being by them now again rent in pieces The death of Saladin in short time bruited abroad with the discord among the Turks and Sarafins about his Dominions put Celestinus then Pope in good hope that the City of Ierusalem might in that change and hurly be easily again recovered and that Kingdom established But when he had in vain dealt to that purpose with the Kings of France and England then altogether busied in their Wars the one against the other he perswaded Henry the Sixth then Emperor to take the matter in hand who for that he well could not or else would not himself in person undertake that long expedition sent Henry Duke of Saxony his Lieutenant with a great Army into Asia unto whom were joyned two Legats Conradus Archbishop of Mogunsia another of the Electors and Conradus the Bishop of Herbipolis At which time also may other great Princes took upon them that holy War namely Herman Lantgrave of Thurin Henry Palatine of Rhine Henry Duke of Brabant Conrade
his Deputy delivered Ancyra with the Castle of Prusa and all the rest that Solyman had gained in Asia to Mahomet who shortly after led his Army through the Countries of Carasia Aydinia Sarucania Tekensis and Germeania reducing them once again unto his Obeysance and afterwards returned to Prusa where he now the second time took possession of his Fathers Kingdom in Asia Musa still aided by the Valachian Prince his Father in law gave many great Attempts against his Brother Solyman but was still put to the worse At length having gathered some good strength and diligently attending the least smile of beâ—ter Fortune drew near unto the place where Solyman lay who at that time was as his manner was banquetting with great pleasure in his Camp and full of Wine Insomuch that when News was brought unto him that his Brother Musa was at hand with a great Power he in his Drunkenness caused the Messenger that brought the News to be beaten and when he had with greater earnestness than was to his liking affirmed that his Report to be true he commanded him to be slain for troubling his Mirth But shortly after Musa was come so near that the Vantcourriers of his Army did Skirmish with some of Solyman his Souldiers when as Chasis Eurenoses one of his Fathers old Captains pressing in told him that Musa was at hand and had skirmished with part of his Army Whereof Solyman now far in Wine had no regard but said Good Tutor do not trouble me no more my Brother Musa dares not come so nigh me if I do but hold up my Cap he is gone With which answer the old Captain going out discontended sent in Chasan Aga of the Ianizaries who boldly coming unto him told him plainly of the imminent danger and sharply reproved him for his Intemperance and Security With whose free Speech Solyman moved in great rage commanded his Beard to be cut off then no small disgrace amongst the Turks Chasan presently coming forth thus disgraced said to them that stood waiting without This is the Honour wherewith Sultan Solyman in his Excess rewards his most faithful Servants Wherefore be it known to you all I will from henceforth and not without cause serve Musa a Prince of greater Temperance and Discretion who so will follow me come and welcome So mounting to Horse and accompanied with a number of his Janizaries of whom he was greatly beloved went over to Musa as did many other great Captains also with their Companies moved by his Example so to do But when Solyman understood that Chasan with most part of the Janizaries and many other worthy Captains with the greatest strength of his Army were revolted to Musa then fast by and ready to set upon him it then repented him too late of his dissolute folly and finding no other remedy now to escape hid himself until it was dark night then taking Horse accompanied only with Caratze-Beg and Cara Muchil two of his Noblemen and one Country Turk whom they had retained for their Guid thought to have fled to Constantinople This malicious Clown having of purpose led them by unknown ways all that night to and fro as it were in a maze oftentimes misnaming unto them the places they passed by as if they had been in the right way brought them in the morning to a Village not far from the place from whence they departed the evening before and there riding a little before them of purpose gave warning to a sturdy Peasant or two of his Acquaintance that Solyman was coming after willing them to make stay of him These rude Country Churls with some others of like breed running out with Bats and Staves and such other homely Tools as first came to hand slew Caratze and Cara Muchil which would not yield unto them but stood upon their Guard and took Solyman alive where as it commonly falleth out in the vulgar peoples fury some cried out to kill him and so to end tâ—â— Wars some likewise to burn him and some to hang him and some few to save him every one as his rude affection led him In the heat of this Country uproar came Musa who glad to find his Brother Solyman so hardly beset caused him presently to be there strangled when he had reigned in Hadrianople six years and ten months This was the miserable end of Solyman the eldest Son that Bajazet left alive A man much given to Excess otherwise indued with many great Vertues being both of great valour and exceeding bountiful In his time lived the learned Doctor Achmetes which wrote the History of Alexander the Great in Turkish Verse and published it in the name of Solyman himself for which he was by him bounteously rewarded The dead body of Solyman himself was by the commandment of Musa conveyed to Prusa and there lieth buried fast by the body of his Grandfather Amurath So now of these Câ—dmeian Brethren remained none but Mahomet and Musa the one reigning in Asia and the other in Europe divers parts of the World and well bounded with the surest bounds of Nature yet not sufficient to content or contain their ambitious minds until that the younger had most unnaturally devoured the elder Musa presently after the death of his Brother Solyman took upon him the Turkish Kingdom in Europe who in the beginning of his Reign displaced most of them which had born great Offices before in the time of his Brother Solyman and had now of late revolted to him fearing to be by them betrayed or forsaken as his Brother was and in their rooms placed other his own Creatures And not so content proceeded further upon small causes most unkindly to imprison and put to death many of them who had of him well deserved Which cruel dealing so alienated the minds of his Nobility that many of them kept themselves out of the way doubtfully expecting the event of such his Tyrannical Government Chasis Eurenâ—ses that old and renowned Captain to escape his hands was glad to feign himself blind so to absent himself from Court. At this time he also by his Embassadors demanded of divers Christian Princes his Neighbours such Tribute as they had in times past either payed or promised to pay unto his Father Bajazet and in that Quarrel invaded many of them namely the Princes of Servia and Bulgaria Amongst other he sent Ibrahim Bassa a learned man of great experience and sometimes one of his Fathers grave Counsellors unto Emanuel Palaeologus the Emperor of Constantinople to demand the like Tribute of him Who so soon as he was come to Constantinople from thence by Letters advertised Mahomet of the undiscreet Government of his Brother Musa in his new gotten Kingdom and what untimely stirs he began to make before he was therein well setled losing the love both of his Subjects and Neighbour Princes with much other matter concerning his misgovernment Which things when Mahomet understood he sent a Messenger with Letters back
their minds altogether estranged from that War easily staied the raging Turk they detested that War and forsook their Ensigns a great number of whom especially Horsemen without leave of their Captains returned to Constantinople and being commanded again to the Camp went indeed but with such countenance and chear as well declared how they were affected and what they would do if occasion served for them to revolt For which cause after that Solyman perceived that Bajazet could not alive be got from the Persian excusing himself by fear of revenge by him whom he had so grievously offended if he should by any means escape he thought it best to follow that which was next and to have him there slain which he was in good hope to compass and the rather for that the Persian had but lately written unto him That he could not but much marvel to see him deal so slenderly in a matter of so great importance That he on his part had sent him divers Embassadors and that he on the other side had sent him nothing but common Messengers with Papers which caused him to think that he made no great account of the matter wherefore he should do well to send unto him Men of account and place with whom he might confer and conclude also according to the weightiness and exigence of the cause besides that he was as he said not a little in his debt for that Bajazet and his Followers had been unto him no small charge before he could get him into his power all which it were good reason he should have consideration of Whereby Solyman perceived that Mony was the thing the Persian King sought after and therefore rather than he would in an unfit time of his life intangle himself in a dangerous and unnecessary War he determined by the counsel of his Bassaes rather with Mony than with the Sword to fight with the Persian King. Hereupon was Hassan Aga one of the chief Gentlemen of his Chamber appointed Embassador into Persia with whom was joyned the Bassa of Maras a Man both for his age and place reverend who departing with a large Commission almost in the depth of Winter with great speed and wonderful toil by those long and difficult ways arrived at last at Casbin the Seat of the Persian King having by the way lost divers of their Servants and Followers Being come to the Court the first thing they desired was to see Bajazet whom they found shut up in a close Prison pale and wan as a Man forlorn with his Hair and Beard so long and overgrown as that he was not to be known before he was new Trimmed which done then appeared the lively resemblance of his wonted countenance and favour so that Hassan verily knew him to be him for he had been brought up with him of a Child in the Court and for this cause especially had Solyman sent him thither to be assured that it was he At length after long discourse and conference between the King and the Embassadors it was agreed upon that the King should receive from Solyman full recompence of all the charges he had been at and of the harms by him sustained since the coming of Bajazet into Persia with such further reward as so great a good turn deserved which things performed that then it should be in Solymans power to have Bajazâ—t made away With this news Hassan posteth to his Master at Constantinople who forthwith caused the promised Reward together with such charges as the Persian King demanded to be made ready and with a safe convoy to be sent unto the Borders of Persia where they were of the Persians received Presently after returneth Hassan the appointed Executioner of the unfortunate Bajazet for so Solyman had straitly charged him to strangle him with his own hands Which thing this new made Hangman accordingly performed and with a Bow-string strangled the unfortunate Prince who is reported to have requested of the Executioner that he might but see his Children before he died and take of them his last farewel which poor request could not be granted but he forthwith commanded to die This was the woful end of the unlucky attempt of Bajazet a Prince of far more worth than was Selymus his Brother who in seeking to shun the death he feared hasted the same before his time Such as was the Fathers end was also the end of his four Sons Omer Amurat Selym and Muhamet of whom the three eldest were strangled at Casbin with their Father whose dead Bodies together with his were solemnly brought to Sebastia and there buried The youngest but new born left at Amasia and sent by his Grandfather to Prusa as is before said to be there nursed was now upon the death of his Father commanded by his said Grandfather to be strangled also The Eunuch sent by Solyman to have done the deed and loth to do it himself took with him one of the Porters of the Court a desperate and otherwise a hard hearted Ruffian a Man thought fit to have performed any villany he coming into the Chamber where the Child lay and fitting the Bow-string to the Childs Neck to have strangled him the innocent Babe smiling upon him and lifting it self up as well as it could with open Arms offered to have embraced the Villain about the Neck and kissed him Which guiltless simplicity so wounded the stony hearted Man that he was not able to perform the intended butchery of the poor simple Child but fell down in a swoun and there lay for dead The Eunuch standing without the Door marvelling at his long stay goes in and finding the Ruffian lying along upon the ground with cruel hand performed that the other could not find in his heart to do and so strangled the guiltless Child as had been given him in charge Whereby it evidently appeared that it was not the mercy or compassion of Solyman that so long caused the guiltless Infant to be spared but rather the opinion generally received amongst the Turks who measuring all things by the good or bad success refer all things that fall out well unto God as the Author thereof be they never so ungraciously begun and therefore so long as it was yet uncertain what success the attempts of Bajazet would have Solyman spared the Infant lest upon his Fathers good hap he might seem to have striven against the will of God. But now that his Father was dead and his quarrel by the evil success thereof condemned as it were by the sentence of the Almighty he thought it not good longer to suffer him to live lest of an evil Bird might come an evil Chick I had sometime saith the Reporter of this History great reasoning with my Chiaus about this matter for falling into talk with him of Bajazet he began bitterly to inveigh against him for taking up Arms against his Brother Whereunto saith this Author I replied That in mine opinion he was worthy both to be
thing and had before born some Sway. The Souldiers whose help he had used in aspiring to the Government he rewarded with great bounty all their Offices and Preferments he bestowed either upon his own Children or other his great Favorites divers of the Nobility of whom he liked not were by him in short time driven into exile some were by him deprived of their sight and some others cast into prison not knowing any cause why more than that they were by him secretly condemned for that they were of the Nobility or had done some good Service for the State or exiled for their Personage or some other thing that grieved Andronicus or else for the spark of some old displeasure which yet lay hid as fire raked up in the ashes So that the State of that time began to grow most miserable and the treachery even of men nearest in blood seeking the destruction one of another for to serve their own turns or to gratifie Andronicus most horrible not only one Brother betray'd another but even the Father his Son and the Son his Father if Andronicus would have it so Some accused their nearest Kinsmen that they derided Andronicus his proceedings or that without regard of him they more favoured Alexius the young Emperor then a great offence Yea such was the mischief of the time that many in accusing others were themselves accused and charging others of Treason against Andronicus were themselves charged by them whom they accused and so clapt up both together in one prison Neither were they of the Nobility only which were Enemies to Andronicus thus hardly dealt withall but even some of his great Favorites and Followers also for some whom but yesterday he had used most kindly and enrolled among his best Friends upon them to day he frowned and tyrannized most cruelly so that you might have seen the same man the same to day as it is reported of Xerxes his Admiral to be crowned and beheaded to be graced and disgraced insomuch that the wiser sort deemed Andronicus his praisings the beginning of a mans disgrace his bounty his undoing and his kindness his death The first that tasted of his Tyranny was Mary the Daughter of Emanuel the Emperor who for the hate she bare to Alexius the late President and the Empress her Mother in law had as is aforesaid above all other wisht for his coming but was now by one Pterigionites sometime an Eunuch of her Fathers corrupted by Andronicus having in his aspiring mind purposed the utter destruction of all Emanuels Posterity cunningly poysoned as was her Husband Caesar who lived not long after her poysoned also as was supposed with the same Cup that his Wife was Now among others of the late Emperors House none had ever stood more in his light than had the fair Empress Xene the young Emperors Mother whom now he ceased not most bitterly though wrongfully to accuse as an utter Enemy both to the Emperor and the State making as if he would leave all and again depart if she were not removed from the Emperor her Son and by his cunning so incensed the giddy headed vulgar people against her that they came flocking to Theodâ—sius the good Patriarch ready to tear him out of his Cloaths if he consented not to the removing of the Empress as Andronicus had desired So a Council being called of such his Favorites and others as were not like indifferently to hear her Cause but assuredly to condemn her the Guiltless Empress after many things falsly laid to her Charge was accused of Treason as that she should by her Letters have solicited Bela King of Hungary her Brother in law to invade Brantizoba and Belligrade two strong places belonging to the Empire Whereupon she was condemned and shamefully cast into a most filthy Prison near unto the Monastery of St. Diomede Amongst other Noblemen called unto this wicked Council were Leo Monasteriotes Demetrius Tornicius and Constantius Petrenus who not yet altogether devoted to Andronicus being asked their Opinions concerning the Empress said They would be glad first to know Whether that Council against his Mother were called by the Emperors consent or not With which Speech Andronicus pierced to the heart as with a Sword in great rage started up and said These are they which encouraged the wicked President to all his Villanies lay hands upon them Whereupon they of his Guard in threatning manner shook their Weapons and Swords at them as if they would even presently have slain them and the tumultuouâ— common people catching them by their Cloaks as they came out pulling them some one way some another were so fierce upon them as that they had much ado to escape out of their hands with life Now lay the fair Empress but the other day one of the greatest Princes of the East and honoured of all her Subjects in great misery and despair scorned even of her base Keepers every hour expecting the deadly blow of the Hangman Yet was not the cruelty of Andronicus against her any thing asswaged but grieving that she yet breathed shortly after assembled the former Council the Ministers of his Wrath demanding of them What punishment was by Law appointed for such as betrayed any Town or Province of the Empire whereunto answer being given in Writing That it was by the Law death he could no longer hold but that he must in great choler break out against the poor Empress as if it had been she that had done it and thereupon the wicked Counsellors crying out with one voice That she was to be taken out of the way as they had before agreed by and by without longer stay a damned Writing was subscribed by the young Emperor her Son as if it had been with the blood of his own Mother whereby she was I abhor to write it most unworthily condemned to die The men appointed to see this most horrible and cruel Execution done were Manuel Andronicus his eldest Son and Georgius Augustus his near Kinsman who both dismaid at the very mentioning of the matter not regarding the Emperors Command said plainly that they never before consented to the death of the Empress but had clean hands of so hainous an offence and therefore would now much less see her innocent Body dismembred in their sight At which unexpected answer Andronicus much troubled with his Fingers oftentimes pluckt himself by the hoary Beard and with burning eyes casting sometime up his head and sometime down sighed at his own most miserable tyrannical estate freting inwardly that they which were nearest unto him whom he thought he might even with a beck have commanded to have done any mischief abhorring his cruelty should refuse to do the thing he so much desired to have done yet repressing his anger for a while within a few days after he again commanded her to be strangled which was accordingly done by Constantinus Tripsicus and Pterigionites the ungracious Eunuch by whose help he
the Relief thereof he raised his Siege and retired as he did also next year after having in vain attempted the strong Castle of Mont-Royal on the further side of Iordan In like manner also the third year he came again into the Holy Land and spoiled the Country beyond Iordan but hearing of the Kings coming against him he forthwith returned again into Egypt All these light Expeditions this politique Prince made not so much for hope of Victory or to prove his Enemies strength as to train his Souldiers especially the effeminate Egyptians and to make them fitter to serve him in his greater designs year 1173. Shortly after died Noradin Sultan of Damasco and in his time a most notable Champion of the Turks after he had reigned nine and twenty years Upon whose death Almericus forthwith besieged the City of Paneale in hope to have again recovered the same but he was by the Widow of the late dead Sultan for a great sum of money and the delivery of certain noble Prisoners intreated to raise his Siege and depart So having sent away his Army and traveling with his ordinary Retinue to Tyberias where he had the Summer before been sick of the Flux feeling himself not well he returned on Horse-back by Nazareth and Neapolis to Ierusalem where his old Disease increasing upon him he was also taken with a Fever wherewith after he had been some few days grievously tormented he requested his Physitians with some gentle potion to loose his Belly which was now somewhat stayed which they refusing to do he commanded the potion to be given him upon his own peril hap thereon what hap should which being given him and his Belly again loosed he seemed therewith to have been at the first well eased but his wonted Fever with great vehemency returning before his weak and spent Body could be with convenient meats refreshed he suddenly died the tenth of Iuly in the year 1173. when he had reigned about ten years His dead Body was with the great lamentation of all his Subjects solemnly buried by his Brothers He was a most wise Prince and withall right valiant amongst many most fit for the Government and Defence of that troublesome Kingdom so hardly beset with the Infidels if it had pleased God to have given him longer life Four days after the death of Almericus was Baldwin his Son then a Youth about thirteen years old by the general consent of the Nobility chosen King and by Almericus the Patriarch in the Temple with great Solemnity Crowned in the year 1173. unto whom as not yet by reason of his tender age fit himself to manage the weighty Affairs of the Kingdom Raymond Count of Tripolis was by the whole consent of the Nobility appointed Tutor to supply what was wanting in the young King. Noradin Sultan of Damasco dead as is aforesaid left behind him Melechsala his Son yet but a Youth to succeed him in his Kingdom Whose Government the Nobility disdaining sent secretly for Saladin Sultan of Egypt unto whom at his coming they betrayed the City of Damasco the Regal Seat of the Turks in Syria Whereof Saladin possessed and entring into Coelosiria without Resistance took Heliopolis Emissa with the great City of Caesarea and in fine all the whole Kingdom of Damasco the City of Arethusa only excepted But thus to suffer Melechsala the young Prince to be wronged and the Kingdom of Damasco to be joyned to the Kingdom of Egypt was of the wiser sort thought not to stand with the safety of the Kingdom of Ierusalem lying in the middle betwixt them both Wherefore the Count of Tripolis Governor of that Kingdom made out certain Forces to have hindred his proceedings At which time also Cotobed Prince of Parthia and Melechsala Uncle sent certain Troops of Parthian Horse-men to have aided his distressed Nephew who were by Saladin overthrown and almost all slain near unto Aleppo where Melechsala lay As for the Count of Tripolis and the other Christian Princes with whom Saladin in the newness of his Kingdom had no desire to fall out he appeased them with fair Intreaty and Rewards unto the Count he sent freely the Hostages which yet lay for his Ransome at Emissa unto the other Princes he sent rich Presents and therewith so contented them all that they returned without any thing doing against him After which time three or four years passed in great quietness to the great strengthening of him in those new gotten Kingdoms At length upon the coming over of Philip Earl of Flanders the Christian Princes of Syria encouraged consulted of an Expedition to be made into Egypt whereof Saladin having Intelligence drew down into that Country the greatest part of his strength But Philip disliking of that Expedition and the rather for that he saw no great chearfulness in the Count of Tripolis and the rest thereunto they with one consent changed their Purpose for Egypt and turning their Forces a quite contrary way miserably and without resistance wasted the Country about Emissa and Caesarea Whilst the Christians wâ—re thus busied in Coelosiria Saladin on the other side took occasion out of Egypt to invade the Kingdom of Ierusalem of whose coming King Baldwin having intelligence with such small Forces as he had left hastned himself to Ascalon In the mean time Saladin with a great Army was entred into the Holy Land where burning the Country before him and raging in the blood of the poor Christians he came and encamped not far from Ascalon and struck such a fear upon the whole Country that they which dwelt in Ierusalem were about to have forsaken the City as for the King himself he lay close within the City of Ascalon not daring to adventure upon so strong an Enemy Wherewith Saladin encouraged and out of fear of his Enemies dispersed his Army some one way some another to forrage the Country Which the King perceiving secretly with all his Power issued out of the City if happily so he might overtake the Sultan unawares neither was he deceived in his expectation for coming suddenly upon him and secretly charging him he had with him for a good space an hard and doubtful battel until that the Victory by the Power of God at length inclining to the Christians Saladin with his Turks fled overthrown with a great slaughter most part of his great Army being either there slain or lost afterward with hunger and cold This Victory fell unto the Christians the 25 th day of November in the year 1177. not without the Almighty Hand of God year 1177. the Turk having in his Army above six and twenty thousand Horse-men and the King not past four hundred Horse with some few Foot-men After which Victory Baldwin in great Triumph returned to Ierusalem and there shortly after with great care and diligence repaired the decayed Walls of the City Saladin in revenge of this Overthrow made divers Incursions into the Frontiers of the Christians and did great harm specially in
manner of Caps the Ianizaries use at this day The Turks also in Orchanes Reign and long time after used not to cut or shave their Beards but did wear them long so that if the King would disgrace any man he would in his displeasure command his Beard to be cut or shaven The manner of cutting and shaving their Beards which they now use they learned of the Italians of whom they have also borrowed many other fashions not only differing but quite contrary to their ancient Manners and Customs Orchanes about this time removed his Court to Nice where he lay a long time after There he built a sumptuous Church appointing a Preacher to preach to the People every Friday he erected in Nice also two fair Abbies in the one of which he with his own hands served the Strangers and Poor the first dinner He was the first that builded Abbies or Monasteries among the Turks whose example most of his Successors have imitated and is amongst them used unto this day The Government of Nicomedia Orchanes committed to his eldest Son Solyman as is before said a Prince of great towardliness giving him in great charge to have a vigilant Eye to the Towns of Taraxa Govinuca and Mudurne which were nigh unto Nicomedia yet in possession of the Christians all which Towns with the Countries adjoyning Solyman in short time got without force by composition This Solyman was of a Princely Disposition so tempering Justice with Clemency in his Government that many Christians allured with his Vertues became of his Religion and gladly put themselves under his Subjection the politick Laws of the Country he neither abrogated nor changed but maintained as they had been of ancient time accustomed whereby he greatly won the Hearts of the People Amurath his younger Son Orchanes made Lord and Governor of Prusa after he had removed his Court to Nice And the Castle of Chara-chisar with the Seigniory thereto belonging he gave to his Cousin Artemure the Son of his Uncle Iundus There was at this time in Orchanes Court a Noble young Gentleman called Turson-Beg the Son of Dharasis King of Charasia by whose perswasion Orchanes in Person himself with a strong Army made an Expedition into that Country for that his Fathers Subjects after the death of the King his Father denied their Obedience to his elder Brother wishing rather to have Turson for their Soveraign In whose behalf Orchanes taking that journy surprised by the way many Castles and Towns to his own use Orchanes was no sooner entred the Country of Charasia but Tursons elder Brother fled to Pergamum whither the Turks shortly pursued him where Turson desirous to speak with his Brother unwarily approaching the City was wounded with an Arrow shot from the Walls and there slain With whose death Orchanes was so greatly offended that he threatned to destroy the whole Country with Fire and Sword if they did not by a day prefixed generally submit themselves to his mercy The People terrified with this proclamation of so great a Prince already in Arms yielded themselves unto his Subjection The Kings Son also that was fled into Pergamum upon reasonable conditions yielded himself unto Orchanes who sent him to Prusa where after he had there lived two years he died of the Plague after whose death Orchanes made his Son Solyman Prince of Carasina Neither is this taking in of the Country of Carasina to be accounted a small Conquest one of the greatest Houses of the Turks the Successors of the Iconian Sultan Aladin now thereby taking end and their Dominions which were not small as containing almost Lydia with some good parts of Misia Troas and the lesser Phrygia now united unto the Othoman Kingdom Orchanes upon his return for the good success of this journy built a Church and Monastery at Prusa placing therein religious men with all diligence sought for out of all his Kingdom of which Religious the Turks write many Fables better worth the smiling at than the serious reporting Hitherto the Kingdom of Othoman and Orchanes his Son was contained within the bounds of the lesser Asia which the Turks call Anatolia Now it resteth to be shewed upon what occasion Orchanes or rather his Son Solyman Bassa as it were fatally with a small power first passed over Hellespontus into Europe where they and their Successors have by little and little so enlarged their Dominions that they have now long ago quite overthrown the Grecian Empire with many other great Kingdoms and are at this present a terror to all Christian Princes bordering upon them to the perpetual Infamy of the Greeks who for want of courage and busied with civil discord never sought in time to impeach their greatness Orchanes having now so augmented his Kingdom that he might from many parts thereof out of Asia take view of the pleasant borders of Europe from whence he was excluded only by the narrow Sea of Hellespontus and continually incited with the insatiable and restless desire of Soveraignty began to devise how he might possibly pass that strait Sea and set foot in Europe another part of the World. Which his conceit one day he imparted to his Son Solyman who presently answered his Father That if it would please him to give him leave he would not doubt to pass the Strait of Hellespontus and in time to plant the Mahometan Religion in those Countries of Europe possessed by the Christians Which answer of Solyman much pleased his Father who gave him leave to depart into his Country and in that matter to proceed further as he thought best and as occasion should best serve Solyman taking leave of his Father took his journey into Carasina where riding up and down the Country as it had been for his pleasure only he made his way to the place where it is thought the famous City of Troy sometime stood where yet as the Turks and some others say are to be seen the wonderful ruins of that unfortunate City by the Sea side In this place Solyman stood still a great while as it were in a study forecasting as it seemed some great matter without speaking one word to any of his Followers When one of his Chieftains called Ezes-Beg to put him out of his deep thoughts boldly said unto him My Lord and great Soveraign what strange thing is this that you are so deeply drowned in these your melancholy thoughts undoubtedly it is some great matter that you are studying upon Truth it is said Solyman for I was thinking how it were possible to pass over this Sea of Hellespontus into the borders of Europe and to take view of that Country and so to return undiscovered If this be the matter said Ezes-Beg joyning unto him one Fazil-Beg a man of no less valour than himself we two will by the power of God perform unto you this Enterprise Then was Solyman desirous to know of them about what place they would pass over which they well knowing the Sea coast shewed
over-ran them with his Horsemen excepting some few which were reserved for Prisoners As also that Bajazet there lost his eldest Son Erthogrul of some called Orthobules whose death with the loss of the City so much grieved him as it is reported that marching with his great Army against Tamerlane and by the way hearing a Country Shepherd merrily reposing himself with his homely Pipe as he sate upon the side of a Mountain feeding his poor Flock standing still a great while listening unto him to the great admiration of many at last fetching a deep sigh brake forth into these words O happy Shepherd which haddest neither Orthobules nor Sebastia to lose bewraying therein his own discontentment and yet withal shewing That worldly Bliss consisteth not so much in possessing of much subject unto danger as joyning in a little contentment devoid of fear Howbeit the Turks themselves reporting the taking of Sebastia speak not of Orthobules at all but give him lost six years before in the Wars against Casi Burchaniden and lieth buried by his Father at Prusa In this City of Sebastia was lost twelve thousand Turks Men Women and Children as their Histories report The rest of the Cities all the way as Tamerlane marched warned by the destruction of Sebastia yielded themselves for fear of like danger the Citizens whereof he courteously used especially the Christians whom he set at liberty in respect of Emanuel the Greek Emperor whom he seemed wholly therein to gratifie But he had not gon far into the Turks Dominion but that he was certainly advertised how that Bajazet with a great Army was coming against him and now within thirty Leagues of him which caused him after that time to march with his Army more closely Axalla leading the Vantguard sent forth Chianson Prince of Ciarcan with four thousand Parthian Horsemen to get knowledge of the Turks Army and where Bajazet lay as also what Country that was beyond Sennas and if he could learn any thing thereof to make relation of it unto him This Prince of Ciarcan was Tamerlanes near Kinsman a man of great reputation and next unto Axalla in whose absence he had the commanding of the Avantguard his charge who also sent before him another Parthian Captain with five hundred Horsemen So he had not ridden â—en Leagues but that he heard news of Bajazets coming and having surprised Sennas understood there the certain estate of the Turks Army which was then at Tataia and so marching forward Whereof Tamerlane certified commanded him not to retire from that place until he did see the arrival of the Enemy and thereof to give him advertisement every hour being himself resolved to pass on no further as come to a fair large Plain and a Country of advantage for the order of his Battel for he knew that his Army was far greater than Bajazets and therefore he made choice of those great Plains Yet for that his Army consisted of divers Nations and withal considering that he was not to fight against the Chinois a soft effeminate People as of late but against the Turks a most warlike Nation and well acquainted with all manner of Fights and Martial Stratagems he thought it good to be well advised how he proceeded against them Wherefore he presently sent for Axalla with him to view the said place and to have his opinion Whether it would be for his advantage or not there to stay who not misliking of the choice of the place yet advised him also to keep Sennas so long as he possibly could and so sent word unto them that were therein upon the approach of the Enemy to set fire upon the same and so to withdraw themselves from thence to the end that the Enemy should not have any desire to incamp there but come still forward near to those Plains where Tamerlane desired to fight especially for that he was stronger in Horse than Bajazet Thus the Turks still marching on thought to have surprised some of their Enemies in Sennas who as soon as they drew near retired all excepting some hundred left of purpose to fire the Town who having performed the same retired of purpose in great disorder Now the Prince of Ciarcan had divided his Forces into two parts and given commandment to the first that as soon as they perceived the Enemies to pursue the hundred Horse that so disorderly of purpose fled they should receive them and so retire all together He in the mean time with the rest of his Power stood close in a Valley near to a Wood side unseen at all Where having suffered two thousand of the Enemies Horse the Vantcurriers of the Turks Army to pass by him he following them in the tail charged them home the other which before retired now turning upon them also so that the Turks seeing themselves thus beset and hardly laid unto both before and behind as men discouraged fled in which Flight most of them were slain and the rest taken Prisoners This was the first incounter betwixt the Turks and the Parthians all the Prisoners there taken were by the Prince as a Present sent to Tamerlane and among the rest the Bassa of Natolia who led these Troops of whom Tamerlane earnestly demanded what caused Bajazet so little to esteem of him as to shew so great contempt of his Army which he should find strong enough to abate his Pride Whereunto the Bassa answered That his Lord was the Sun upon Earth which could not endure any equal and that he rather was astonished to see how he from so far had enterprised so dangerous a journy to hinder the fortune of his Lord in whose favour the Heavens as he said did bend themselves to further his greatness and unto whom all the world subjected it self and that he committed great folly in going about to resist the same Unto which so proud a Speech Tamerlane replied That he was sent from Heaven to punish his rashness and to teach him That the Proud are hated of God whose promise is to pluck down the mighty and raise up the lowly As for thy self said he thou hast already felt although I pity thy mishap what the Valor of my Parthian Horse is against thy Turkish and thy Master I have already caused to raise his Siege of Constantinople and to look to his own things here in Asia Furthermore Tamerlane changing his Speech demanded If his Master did come resolved to bid him Battel Assure your self said he there is nothing he more desireth and would to God I might acknowledge your greatness in giving me leave to assist my Lord at that Battel Good leave have thou said Tamerlane go thy ways and tell thy Lord that thou hast seen me and that he shall in the Battel find me on horseback where he shall see a green Ensign displayed The Bassa thanking him swore that next unto his Lord he vowed unto him his Service And so returning declared unto Bajazet how that he had seen Tamerlane and truly reported
unto Mahâ—mâ—t upon condition that he should restore no part thereof again unto his Son Cassumes who having long time served in Mahomet his Court and Wars could not be perswaded to return again unto his Father and therefore was by him thus disinherited Which great Gift Mahomet thankâ—ully accepted and in lieu thereof assigned unto Cassimes other great and large Possessions within his own Kingdom Mahomet after the death of his Brother Musa had sent Scheiches Bedredin his Brothers Cadelescher to Nice in Asia as unto a place of exile allowing him nevertheless a great Pension whereon to live This Bedredin had in his house one Burgluzes Mustapha his Steward these two consulted together how to raise some Tumult or Rebellion to trouble the peaceable Government of Mahomet For which purpose Burgluzes according to the Plot by them laid took this way into Aidinia sometime called Caria and there pretending great Zeal of Reformed Religion with a wonderful Gravity began to broach divers new and strange Opinions far differing from the Turkish ancient Superstition yet very plausible and well fitting the humour of the vulgar people By which means he was in short time reputed for a famous learned devout Man and had many Followers drawing after him much people fit to begin some great Innovation Bedredin glad of his mans success fled from Nice into the Prince Isfendiar his Country from whence he took shipping over the Euxine into Valachia and there withdrawing himself into a great Forest as if he had been some devout and religious Man allured unto him a great number of Outlaws and Theeves which there lived Whom when he had sufficiently instructed and framed to his purpose he sent them in the habit of Religious Men into the Country of Zagora and other places in the Frontiers of Mahomet his Dominions near unto him as his Disciples who with great boldness and confidence published Bedredin his Doctrine and Authority and how that he was by God appointed to be the King of Justice and Commander of all the World whose Doctrine and manner of Government was as they said already received as they gave it out in Asia being set forth but by one of his Scholars Burgluzes whose Fame was now dispersed throughout all the Turks Dominion and that therefore if any were desirous of Preferment they should repair to Bedredin who would in short time shew himself to the World and promote his Followers according to their Deserts Many of the Country people deluded with this phantasie and practise of these seditious Seed-Men resorted to Bedredin in hope of Preferment and with them some of good Calling also At last out of the Forest cometh this great Prophet with Banner displayed attended upon with a great multitude of the seditious vulgar people which daily resorted unto him more and more Mahomet for the repressing of these dangerous Tumults sent his Son Amurath and Bajazet the great Bassa with two thousand Men to apprehend Burgluzes in Aidinia but when they came thither they found him guarded with three thousand Men well appointed ready to adventure their Lives in defence of their foolish Prophet Nevertheless Amurath and Bajazet not dismayed with the multitude of those uplandish people set upon them where was fought a right bloody Battel for the number and many slain on both sides yet at last the Rebels fled in which flight Burgluses himself was slain and hewen all to pieces After which Victory Bajazet from thence hasted to Magnesia and there executed Torlac Kemal another seditious Turkish Monk which with two thousand by him seduced did much harm in the Country thereabout At the same time also Mahomet sent another Power against Bedredin but most of his Followers seeing in him no such matter as was by his Disciples and himself promised and as they hoped for were already fallen from him so that of that great multitude which before followed him few or none were left with him whereby he was easily apprehended by them that Mahomet had sent against him and so being brought to Mahomet to Serras was there in the Market-place before a Tavern-door fairly hanged without any further harm Mahomet in the short time of his Reign finished the great Mahometan Temple at Hadrianople before begun by his Brethren Solyman and Musa Where he also built a Princely Palace the Seat of the Turkish Kings in Europe until the taking of Constantinople He also built another Temple with a most sumptuous Abbey and a publick School thereto adjoyning endowing the same with great Revenews such as had by him and those his Brethren of late been taken from the Christians He gave also great Sums of Money yearly to be paid at Medina and Mecha for the relief of poor Pilgrims travelling from far to the Sepulchre of their great Prophet Mahomet at Medina or his Temple at Mecha Shortly after Mahomet fell sick at Hadrianople and perceiving himself in danger of death by his last Will appointed his eldest Son Amurath to Succeed him in his Kingdom and sent Elvan-Beg a man in great Favour with him in post to Amasia to will him with all speed to repair to the Court at Hadrianople But feeling death to approach and that he could not possibly live until the coming of his Son he straightly charged his Bassaes with all secrecy to conceal his death until his coming for fear lest any Trouble should rise upon the bruit thereof before his coming thither and so having set all things in Oder he departed out of this World unto his Prophet Mahomet about the year of our Saviour Christ 1422. when he had reigned Seventeen years accounting in his Reign that troublesome ten years next after the Captivity of Bajazet in which time the Turks Kingdom was by his ambitious Sons rent in sunder as is aforesaid until it was at length again by this Mahomet restored to the former Integrity about seven years before his death which the Turks account for the whole time of his Reign and the other troublesome ten years as a vacancy or Anarchy of their Kingdom as is aforesaid Mahomet being dead the three great Bassaes Eivases Bajazet and Ibrahim to rid themselves of the fear they had of the Janizaries and other Souldiers of the Court called a Divano or Council for the Wars as if the King had been alive wherein it was pretended That Mahomet had determined to make War upon the Prince of Smyrna and that for that Service it was his pleasure That the Janizaries should forthwith pass over into Asia to the Castle of Baga Whereupon Press-money was presently given them and they sent over with Letters directed to the Vice-Roy of Anatolia for the assembling of an Army for Baga In the mean time the great Bassaes of the Court sate daily in Council placing and displacing promoting and disgracing whom they thought good as if the King had so commanded the Kings Physitians also to countenance the matter were commanded continually to go to and fro with their
Potions and Receits after their wonted manner as if they had had the King still in Cure and Letters were sent in post to Elvan Beg for speedy dispatch of the business for which he was sent into Asia Yet for all this cunning dissimulation the Pentioners and other Souldiers of the Court wont to be near unto the Kings Person and some of them always of the Privy-Chamber began to suspect the matter and coming to the Bassaes said they marvelled that the King in so long time did never shew himself as he had always before done Whereunto the Bassaes answered That he had been dangerously sick and was as yet but a little recovered and that therefore the Physitians would not suffer him to look abroad or take the Air for fear of casting him down again Then will we our selves said the Pentioners go and see his Majesty and with that were ready to force in upon the Bassaes. Eivases seeing their importunity desired them to hold themselves contented and not as then to trouble the King for that he had that day as he said taken Physick but to morrow said he we will request his Majesty if he so please to shew himself that you may see him wherewith they for that time held themselves content Now among the Kings Physitians there was one Geordiron a Persian a man of a quick spirit and subtile device which found means to deceive the Pentioners he devised that the dead body of the King being apparelled in Royal large Robes should be brought betwixt two as if he had been led into an high open Gallery and being there set to have a Boy so neatly placed behind him under his large Robes as that he unperceived might move the Kings hand up to his head as if he should stroke his Face or Beard as his manner was The next day the dead King being accordingly brought forth by the Bassaes in his rich Robes and wrapped with Clothes about his Head as if it had been for fear of the Air or of taking cold and so placed in an high open Gallery as was before devised suddenly the Physitian came running in fuming and raging as if he had been half mad ready to tear his Clothes for anger and in great choler casting his Cap against the ground asked the Bassaes if they meant to kill the King by bringing him into the open Air We said he have with great pains in long time a little recovered him and will you thus foolishly cast him down again Pardon us good Doctor said Eivases for these Gentlemen pointing to the Pentioners were so importunate to see his Majesty that to satisfie their desires he was content to be led forth of his Chamber whereof we hope shall ensue no harm The Pentioners seeing the King many times moving his hand to his face and as it were stroking his Beard held themselves well contented supposing him to have been alive although but weak and therefore not willing to speak unto them The Physitians taking him up amongst them carried him into his Lodging again which was but fast by making as if they had carried an extream sick man. Thus was his death cunningly concealed one and forty days until the coming of Amurath his Son. This Mahomet was both wise and valiant and withall exceeding bountiful but Ambitious above measure and may of right be accounted the Restorer of the Turks Kingdom for he recovered again all those Countries in Asia which Tamerlane had taken away and given unto other Mahometan Princes after the Overthrow of Bajazet And when as the Kingdom of the Turks was rent in pieces and almost brought to nought by Civil Wars and the Ambition of himself and his Brethren he at length got possession of the whole and so left it to his Son Amurath an entire Kingdom in the former greatness although not so much by him augmented His body lieth buried in a fair Tomb made of artificial stone very beautiful to behold in a Chappel at the East side of Prusa where we leave him at his rest Christian Princes of the same time with Mahomet the First Emperors Of the East Emanuel Paleologus 1387. 30 Of the West Rupertus Duke of Bavaria 1400. 10. Sigismund King of Hungary 1411. 28. Kings Of England Henry the Fourth 1399. 13 Henry the Fifth 1413. 9. Of France Charles the Sixth sirnamed The welbeloved 1381. 42. Of Scotland John Stuart otherwise called Robert. 1390. 16. James the First 1424. 13 Bishops of Rome Boniface the IX 1391. 14. Innocent the VIII 1405. 2. Gregory the XII 1407. 2. Alexander the V. 1410. 1. John the XXIII 1411. 5. Martin the V. 1417. 13. Europam lucâ—u et funesâ—is cladibus implens Soevus Amurathes totus in arma ruit Major at Huniades virtute et fortibus ausis Cogit eum trepida vertere terga fuga Consilia Eugenij bellum â—urialia suadent Sacrorum antistes Martia ad arma ruit Arma viri tractent curet sua templa Sacerdos Europoe exitium res tulit ista grave Fierce Amurath vers't in warr do's next arise And fills poore Europe with laments and cries Till by the brave Huniades outdone The dastard Sultan was compell'd to run The Priest Eugenius dismall Warrs perswades The privilege of Buff the Gowne invades Had the Priest prayd and let alone the Drum Europe had not to such confusion come The LIFE of AMURATH The Second of that NAME Sixth King of the Turks And the great ESTABLISHER of their Kingdom AFter that the death of Mahomet had been politickly concealed one and forty days by the three great Bassaes Bajazet Eivases and Ibrahim Amurath or Murat as the Turks call him his eldest Son at that time coming to Prusa was by them placed in his Fathers Seat and the death of Mahomet at the same time published whereupon great Troubles began on every side to arise The Princes of Smyrna and Mentesia rose up in Arms and at Thessalonica an obscure Fellow crept as it were out of a Chimney-corner took upon him the Name and Person of Mustapha the Son of Bajazet which was slain many years before in the great battel against Tamerlane at Mount Stella as is before declared in the life of the unfortunate Sultan Bajazet This counterfeit Mustapha animated by the Grecian Princes and going from Thessalonica to Vardarium set so good a Countenance upon the matter with such a Grace and Majesty that not only the Country people apt to believe any thing but men of greater Place and Calling also as Tzunites Beg the Prince of Smyrna his Son with the Sons of old Eurenoses Bassa perswaded that he was the very Son of the great Bajazet repaired unto him as unto their natural Prince ad Soveraign From Vardarium he went to Serrae and from thence to Hadrianopole Amurath being as then at Prusa where he was received as if it had been that noble Prince Mustapha whom he feigned himself to be so that in short time he was honoured as a King in all
wonderfully even to the astonishment of the World increased and extended their Empire But of them more shall be said hereafter This great King was whilst he lived of his Subjects wonderfully beloved and no less of them after his death lamented He was more faithful of his word than any of the Turkish Kings either before or after him by Nature melancholy and sad and accounted rather politick than valiant yet was indeed both a great dissembler and painful in travel but wayward and testy above measure which many imputed unto his great Age. He had issue six Sons Achmetes Aladin Mahomet Hasan otherwise called Chasan Urchan and Achmetes the younger of some called Calepinus three of whom died before but the two youngest were by their unnatural Brother Mahomet who succeeded him in the Turkish Kingdom even in their infancy in the beginning of his Reign most cruelly murthered Christian Princes of the same time with Amurath the Second Emperors Of the East John Palaeologus 1421. 24. Constantinus Palaeologus 1444. 8. Of the West Sigismund King of Hungary 1411. 28. Albert the Second King of Hungary and Bohemia 1438. 2. Frederick the Third Arch-Duke of Austria 1440. 54. Kings Of England Henry the Fifth 1413. 9. Henry the Sixth 1422. 39. Of France Charles the Sixth 1381. 42. Charles the Seventh 1423. 38. Of Scotland James the First 1424. 13. James the Second 1436. 29. Bishops of Rome Martin the V. 1417. 13. Eugenius the IV. 1431. 16. Nicholas the V. 1447. 8. Qui riâ—i inÌ„uumeros populos tot regno lot urbes Solus eâ— immensi qui timor orbis â—ram Me 〈◊〉 quaecunque rapit mors improba sed sum 〈◊〉 â—xcelsa duclus ad astra tamen 〈◊〉 Aleâ—â—â—nder non me suit Anibal et non Eâ—deriâ— Auâ—oniâ—s tot licet ille Duces 〈…〉 Danaos domuique feroces 〈…〉 populâ—s Sauromatas que truces Pannonius sensiâ—â—â— antum surgebit in armis Vis meaâ—quâ—e latio cognita nuper erat Arsacidae sensere manus has sensit Arabsque El mea suâ—t Persae cognita tela duci Mens fueral bellâ—re Rhodum superare superbam Italiam sed non fata dedere modum Hei mehi nam rapuit mors aspera quaeque sub alto Pectore â—onâ—ideram rertit et hora brevis Sic hominum faâ—lus perâ—unt sic Stemata Sicque Imperium atque qurum quicquid et Orbis habet I who to kingdomes Cities brought their fate The terrour of the trembling world of late Yield to the greater Monarch Death but am Yet proud to think of my immortal fame Greater than Alexander once was I Or him that Camps of Romans did destroy I vanquisht the victorious Greeks and I Destroyd Epyrus and fierce Tartary From mighty Me th'Hungarians had their doome And the report reacht y e proud walls oâ— Rome Th'Assyrian and Arabian felt my hand Nor could the Persian my dread power withstand Ore Rhodes and Italy I designd to ride But fate the progress of my aimes denyd Ai me grim Death and one unlucky houre Has baffled all my thoughts and boundless power So haughty man and all his hopes decay And so all sublunary gloryes pass away The LIFE of MAHOMET The Second of that NAME The Seventh KING and First EMPEROR of the TURKS For his many VICTORIES sirnamed The Great THE report of the death of old Amurath the late King was in short time blown through most part of Christendom to the great joy of many but especially of the Greeks and other poor Christians which bordered upon the Tyrants Kingdom who were now in hope together with the change of the Turkish King to make exchange also of their bad Estate and Fortune and the rather for that it was thought that his eldest Son Mahomet after the death of his Father would have imbraced the Christian Religion being in his Childhood instructed therein as was supposed by his Mother the Daughter of the Prince of Servia a Christian. But vain was this hope and the joy thereof but short as afterward by proof appeared For Mahomet being about the Age of one and twenty years succeeding his Father in the Kingdom in the year of our Lord 1450. year 1450. embraced in shew the Mahometan Religion abhorring the Christian but indeed making no great reckoning either of the one or of the other but as a meer Atheist devoid of all Religion and worshiping no other God but good Fortune derided the simplicity of all such as thought that God had any care or regard of worldly men or of their actions which graceless resolution so wrought in him that he thought all things lawful that agreed with his lust and making conscience of nothing kept no League Promise or Oath longer than stood with his Profit or Pleasure Now in the Court men stood diversly affected towards the present State the mighty Bassaes and others of great Authority unto whom the old Kings Government was never grievous inwardly lamented his death doubting lest the fierce Nature of the young King should turn to the hurt of some of them in particular and the shortning of their Authority in general as indeed it shortly after fell out But the lusty Gallants of the Court weary of the old King who in hope of preferment had long wished for the Government of the young Prince were glad to see him set upon his Fathers Seat. And the vulgar People never constant but in unconstancy and alwaies fawning upon the present exceedingly rejoyced in their young King. The Ianizaries also at the same time according to their accustomed manner took the Spoil of the Christians and Jews that dwelt amongst them and easily obtained pardon for the same whereupon he was by the same Ianizaries and other Souldiers of the Court with great Triumph saluted King. Which approbation of these men of War is unto the Turkish Kings a greater assurance for the possession of their Kingdom than to be born the eldest Son of the King as in the process of this History shall appear so great is the power of these masterful Slaves in promoting to the Kingdom whichsoever of the Kings Sons they most favour without much regard whether they be the eldest or not This young Tyrant was no sooner possessed of his Fathers Kingdom but that he forgetting the Laws of Nature was presently in person himself about to have murthered with his own hands his youngest Brother then but eighteen Months old begotten on the Daughter of Sponderbius Which unnatural part Moses one of his Bassaes and a man greatly in his favour perceiving requested him not to embrue his own hands in the blood of his Brother but rather to commit the execution thereof to some other which thing Mahomet commanded him the Author of that counsel forthwith to do So Moses taking the Child from the Nurse strangled it with pouring water down the throat thereof The young Lady understanding of the death of her Child as a Woman whom Fury had made past fear came and in her rage reviled the Tyrant to
by the Turks Horsemen and brought back to the Bassa Techellis thus put to flight Ionuses caused strait inquisition to be made through all the Cities of the lesser Asia for all such as had professed the Persian Religion and them whom he found to have born Arms in the late Rebellion he caused to be put to death with most exquisit Torments and the rest to be burnt in their Foreheads with an hot Iron thereby for ever to be known whom together with the Kinsfolks and Friends of them that were executed or fled with Techellis he caused to be transported into Europe and to be dispersed through Macedonia Epirus and Peloponnesus for fear lest if Techellis now fled into the Persian Kingdom should from thence return with new Forces they should also again repair unto him and raise a new Rebellion This was the beginning course and ending of one of the most dangerous Rebellions that ever troubled the Turkish Empire wherein all or at leastwise the greatest part of their Dominions in Asia might have been easily surprised by the Persian King if he would throughly have prosecuted the occasion and opportunity then offered The remainder of Techellis his Followers flying into Persia by the way lightning upon a Caravan of Merchants laden with Silks and other rich Merchandize took the Spoil thereof for which outrage coming to Tauris the Captains were all by the commandment of Hysmael executed and Techellis himself to the terror of others burnt alive year 1509. The next year which was the year 1509. the fourteenth day of September chanced a great and terrible Earthquake in the City of Constantinople and the Countries thereabouts by the violence whereof a great part of the Walls of that imperial City with many stately Buildings both publick and private were quite overthrown and thirteen thousand People overwhelmed and slain The terror whereof was so great that the People generally forsook their Houses and lay abroad in the Fields yea Bajazet himself then very aged and sore troubled with the Gout for fear thereof removed from Constantinople to Hadrianople but finding himself in no more safety than before he left the City and lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. This Earthquake indured by the space of eighteen days or as the Turks Histories report a month with very little intermission which was then accounted ominous as portending the miserable calamities which shortly after hapned in the Othoman Family After this Earthquake ensued a great Plague wherewith the City was grievously visited and for the most part unpeopled But after that the Earthquake was ceased and the Mortality asswaged Bajazet caused the imperial City to be with all speed repaired and to that purpose gave out commissions into all parts of his Dominions for the taking up of Workmen so that there were at once in work eighty thousand Workmen who in most beautiful manner in the space of four months again repaired the ruins of that great City Bajazet had by his many Wives eight Sons and six Daughters which lived to be Men and Women grown and the Sons all Governors in divers Provinces of his large Empire whom the Turkish Histories reckon up in this order Abdullah Zelebi Alem Scach Tzihan Scach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Muhamet Yet Antonius Utrius a Genoway who long time lived in Bajazet his Court and as he of himself writeth waited in his Chamber at the time of his death reckoning up the Sons of Bajazet maketh mention but of these six Sciemscia Alemscia Achomates Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus naming the forenamed by names something differing from the other Sciemscia the eldest Governor of Caramania for his towardliness most dearly beloved of his Father died a natural death before him and was of him and his Subjects greatly lamented Alemscia died in like manner of whose death as soon as he was advertised by mourning Letters written in black paper with white Characters as their manner of writing is in certifying of heavy news he cast from him his Scepter with all other tokens of Honour and caused general mourning to be made for him in the Court and through all the City of Constantinople by the space of three days during which time all Shops were shut up all trading forbidden and no sign of mirth to be seen and for a certain space after the manner of their Superstition caused solemn Sacrifices to be made for the health of his Soul and seven thousand Aspers to be given weekly unto the Poor His dead body was afterward with all Princely Pomp conveyed to Prusa and there with great solemnity buried Tzihan Governor of Caria and Muhamet Governor of Capha upon their Fathers heavy displeasure were by his commandment both strangled Of his other four Sons Achmet otherwise called Achomates Machmut or Mahometes Corcut or Corcutus and Selymus the second namely Mahometes was of greatest hope and expectation not given to sensuality or voluptuous pleasure as Achomates his eldest Brother neither altogether bookish as was Corcutus nor yet of so fierce and cruel a Disposition as Selymus but of such a lively Spirit sharp Wit bountiful Disposition and Princely Carriage of himself that in the judgment of most men he seemed already worthy of a Kingdom Which immoderate favour of the People caused his elder Brother Achomates yea and Bajazet also himself to have him in no small jealousie as if he had affected the Empire and was in short time the cause of his untimely death which thing he nothing doubting hastened as fatal things are by such means as he lest feared might have procured any such mortal distrust or danger Most of Bajazet his Children were by divers Women yet Achomates and this Mahometes were by one and the same Mother for which cause Mahometes took greater pleasure in him than in any his other Brethren although it were not answered with like love again Achomates was Lord and Governor of Amasia and this Mahometes of Magnesia who desirous to see the manner of his Brothers Life and Government disguised himself with two of his familiar and faithful Friends as if they had been religious men of that Order which the Turks call Imâ—lier These men are for the most part comely Personages born of good Houses who in cleanly Attire made after an homely fashion do at their pleasure wander up and down from Town to Town and Country to Country noting the disposition and manners of the People whereof as fitteth best their purpose they make large Discourses afterwards to others they commonly carry about with them silver Cymbals whereon they play most cunningly and thereunto sing pleasant and wanton Ditties for which idle delight they receive Mony of the People as an Alms given them of Devotion These are the common corrupters of youth and defilers of other mens beds men altogether given to ease and pleasure and are of the Turks called The religious Brethren of Love but might of right better be termed Epicurus his Hogs than any
part Mariners able Bodies who in the time of the Siege did great service encouraged by their Sea Captains the Island People which repaired into the City served to little other purpose but to dig and carry Earth unto the Rampiers and the Citizens except it were some few of the better sort were for the most part weak and of small Courage not able to indure any labour or pains and yet hardly to be kept in order and governed great speakers but small doers greater in shew than in deed The Great Master having carefully provided and ordered all things needful for the defence of the City and fearing nothing more than the faint Hearts of the Citizens caused them all to be called together for incouragement of whom he spake unto them as followeth Valiant Gentlemen and worthy Citizens we hear that the Turk our mortal Enemy is coming against us with a huge Army raised of divers Nations from whose natural cruelty and wonted perjury except we defend our selves by force one and the self same danger is like to befal me my Knights and you all For we have with common consent and hand grievously spoiled him both by Sea and Land and you are by booties taken by strong hand out of his Dominions inriched and at this day we keep his People in grievous servitude and he ours but he injuriously and we most justly For his Ancestors weary of the dark Dens and Caves of the Mountain Caucasus their natural Dwelling without Right Title or Cause incited only with Covetousness Ambition and the hatred of our most sacred Religion have driven the Christians out of Syria and afterwards oppressed the Grecians in Grecia where not contâ—nted to have destroyed the People with one simple kind of death as Barbarism is ever cruel and merciless they have with most exquisite and horrible Torments butchered many thousands of that Nation All whom this wicked proud youth whose mischief exceedeth his years an evil Neighbour to all men not contented with the Dominions of Arabia Syria Egypt the greatest part of Asia and of many other places more seeketh in Tyranny Murther Spoil Perjury and Hatred against Christ and Christians far to excel and forceth himself to the uttermost of his power to take from us our Islands and to subdue the Christian Countries that so at length being Lord of all and Commander of the World he may at his pleasure overthrow the Christian Cities kill the Christians and utterly root out the Christian name which he so much hateth For the repulsing of which intollerable injury we have especially chosen this Island of the Rhodes for our dwelling place because the same seemed more commodious than any other for the annoying of this barbarous Nation We have done what in us lay holpen by you we know by proof your great Valour and Fidelity which we now have not in any distrust Wherefore I will not use many words to perswade you to continue in your Fidelity and Loyalty neither long circumstances to encourage you to play the men sithence worthy minds are not with words either encouraged or dismayed But concerning my self and my Knights of the Order I will speak a few words I with them with whom as I hope the Christian Princes and other my Knights of the West will in good time joyn their Forces are most ready and prest to defend your selves your Children your Wives your Goods the Monuments of your Ancestors and sacred Temples dedicated to the service of our God. Which opinion that it may remain firm and fixt in your minds if nothing else my Faithfulness in your Wars my Body not yet altogether spent but able enough to endure pains and travel the Nobility of these worthy Knights of the Order their Love towards you and their Hatred towards your Enemies were sufficient to confirm but beside this the strength of this City which this noble Order hath with infinite charges so notably fortified with Ditches Walls Towers and Bulwarks against all the force and fury of Artillery is such as that no City may worthily be compared much less preferred before the same It is wonderfully stored with all kind of Weapons and Warlike Provision we have laid up plenty of Wine Flesh and Corn in vaults so that neither wet Weather nor Worms can attaint the same of Wood and wholesome Water not to be taken from us things necessary for men besieged we have plenty and able men enough for the defence of the City All which things promise unto us assured Victory and such end of the War as we wish for Besides this Necessity which giveth Courage even unto Cowards will enforce us to fight Yet standeth on our side true Religion Faith Conscience Devotion Constancy the Love of our Country the Love of our Liberty the Love of our Parents Wives Children and whatsoever else we hold dear Whereas they bring with them the proud command of their Captains Infidelity Impiety Unconstancy a wicked desire of your Bondage of your Blood and the Blood of your Parents Wives and Children Out of doubt beloved Citizens our good God will not suffer so many good vertues to be overcome by their foul vices Wherefore be you in mind quiet and secure and trouble not your selves with forboding fear of your Enemies only continue in the Fidelity and Loyalty which you have always kept inviolate and unspotted toward this sacred and honourable Fellowship in most dangerous Wars and hardest chances of Fortune and if need shall so require with couragious band shew your Valour against your Enemies and make it known unto the Spaniards French Italians Hungarians and English That the Rhodians are of power to daunt the Turkish Pride and to avert their Fleets and Armies from Italy which they have so many years threatned with Fire and Sword and will no doubt thither with all speed hasten and come if that which my mind abhorreth to speak they should here prevail Neither will his ambitious youth in Courage Falshood and cruelty exceeding Hannibal imitate him in that that having overthrown the Romans in the great Battel at Cannas knew not to use his Victory but he will presently with more than Caesars celerity bring forth the Treasures his Father got in Egypt and with great Fleets and huge Armies invade Apulia Calabria and Scicilia from whence he will forthwith break into France and afterwards into Spain and other Christian Countries raging through them with all kind of cruelty But I am carried away further than I purposed and than need is For your Fidelity and Valour most worthy Citizens to endure the Siege and repulse the Enemy is such as needeth not my perswasion and of greater resolution than that it can be shaken with the dangers incident to men besieged yet the greatest and most forcible miseries of all which is Hunger and Thirst I assure you you shall never feel which pinching calamities for all that some People in Faithfulness Courage and Valor nothing comparable to you have nevertheless most
if it had been but to look to his charge when he was come as near as he could to Alis without mistrust thought good to assay if he could by policy bring that to pass which he was otherwise with great danger to attempt by force Wherefore feigning himself to be extream sick he sent Embassadors to Alis requesting him as a friend to vouchsafe to come unto him being at the point of death unto whom he had many things of importance from the great Emperor to impart and would if he should die leave with him all his charge until Solyman should otherwise dispose thereof Alis who from his youth had always honoured the Turkish Emperors and faithfully served them mistrusting no harm came to the Bassa accompanied with his four Sons whom the faithless Bassa without regard of infamy caused presently to be put to death with their Father and so reducing all that Country into the manner of a Province under Solymans obeisance came to him with twenty thousand Men about the time that the City of the Rhodes was yielded up This is the faithless dealing of the Turks not with the Christians only but with them of their own superstition also using it as no small policy utterly to extinguish the Nobility of all Countries subject to their servile Tyranny Solyman after he had thus subdued the Rhodes and disposed of the Island as he liked best returning to Constantinople brake up his Army and for the space of three years after followed his pleasure not doing any thing worthy of remembrance During which time and many years after the rich and flourishing Country of Italy sometime Mistress of the World was miserably afflicted and rent in pieces by Charles the Fifth then Emperor and Francis the French King the one envying unto the other the glory of the Empire and he not content therewith seeking with immoderate ambition to make himself Lord of all Italy most of the other Christian Princes and States being at the same time either by the one or by the other drawn into the fellowship of that War to the great trouble and sore weakning of the Christian Common-weal Whereupon Solyman waiting all occasions that might serve for the enlarging of his Empire and annoying of the Christians thought it not a fit time for him to set his foot into Hungary whereunto he had already laied open a way by the taking of Belgrade He knew right well that Lewis then King of Hungary was but young altogether unacquainted with the Wars commanding over his headstrong Subjects especially his rich Prelates and Nobility no otherwise than pleased themselves being himself rather by them altogether overruled besides that he was in good hope that the other Christian Princes near unto him either carried away with regard of their own Estate would not or else before unto himself by League fast bound could not afford unto him any great aid or succour the Germans he knew would make small hast unto such Wars as should yield them much danger and but small pay As for the Princes of the House of Austria Charles the Emperor and Ferdinand his Brother although they were joyned unto the young King with the nearest bonds of Alliance Lewis having Married Mary their youngest Sister and Ferdinand Ann King Lewis his Sister yet was there as he thought small help to be expected from them Charles having his hands full in Italy and Ferdinand altogether careful of himself and that Sigismund King of Polonia would for the young Kings sake break the ancient League he had with the Turkish Emperors he could hardly be perswaded As for other Christian Princes farther off he stood not in any great doubt year 1526. Thus having with himself singled out this young Prince the Hungarian King whom he had in his greedy mind already devoured he set forward from Constantinople and was come on his way as far as Sophiâ— in Servia with a mighty Army of two hundred thousand men before that the Hungarians had any knowledge of his coming so blind and senseless was that State which now sleeping in security had long before lost those Eies which ever watcht and never spared cost or pains to keep the same in safety in stead of whom were others come in place sharp of sight and too too provident for that concerned their own advancement but blind as Beetles in foreseeing this great and common danger wherewith they were shortly after all quite overwhelmed until it was now brought home unto their own Doors The young King of himself but weak by reason of his youthful years and nothing strengthned by them for whom he had most done and should have been his greatest stay was wonderfully dismaied with the fame of the approach of so mighty an Enemy yet the better to withstand him he sent Embassadors with all speed unto the Christian Princes his Neighbours requesting their Aid against the common Enemy but all in vain In the mean time after the ancient manner of his Country he gave out general Summons for the Assembly of his Counsel for the Wars whether his great stipendary Prelates of duty bound to appear came with their Troops of evil appointed Horsemen and not half full who also delivered in less sums of Mony by far than of right they should have done towards the maintenance of the charge of that common War. And the temporal Nobility forgetting the warlike Discipline of their famous Ancestors as fresh-water Souldiers which had seen the Turkish Emperor in his strength and but little acquainted with some light skirmishes or small invasions in their vain bravery made light account of the Turks proudly vaunting That although they were in number but few yet they would easily overthrow the great numbers of them if ever they came to handy strokes But above all the rest one Paulus Tomoreus Archbishop of Colossa sometimes a Minorite who had before been in divers light skirmishes against the Turks with great insolency did so confidently brag and boast of the Victory he vainly dreamed of that in his Sermons unto the Souldiers and in open talk with the Nobility if he could have done so much as he vaunted of it should seem that he himself had been enough to have overthrown the Turks whole Army But when all the Kings Army was assembled and a general muster taken there was hardly found five and twenty thousand men in all horse and foot So that the foolish hardiness of Tomoreus and others so forwards to give the Turks battel was of most wise men disliked The old Souldiers and men of great experience said plainly That it was meer folly and madness with such a handful of men to give battel unto the Enemy who would bring eight times so many more into the Field as they were Wherefore some wished that the young King should be withdrawn from the eminent danger among whom Stephanus Verbetius a noble Captain of all the rest best acquainted with the Turkish Wars gave Counsel
Bethlis understood certainly where the Turks lay weary of their long travel as men without fear keeping little or no Watch in their Camp Whereupon he determined in the dead time of the night following to assail them in their Camp and by secret Messengers gave knowledge both of his coming and of this his purpose to the Captain of the Castle of Bethlis requesting him at an appointed hour upon sign given to be ready to sally out with his Garrison upon that side of the Turks Camp which was towards the Castle Which his venturous designment was so furthered both by the darkness of the night and the abundance of rain which fell at the same time as if it had been wished for that he was got with all his resolute Followers within the Turks Camp before they were aware of his coming where the Persian Souldiers as Wolves amongst Sheep did such speedy execution amongst the sleepy Turks that the two great Bassaes and Ulemas had much ado to get to horse and save themselves by flight And such was the fury of the Persians and the greatness of the sudden fear increased by the darkness of the night that the Turks not knowing which way to turn themselves or what to do were slain by thousands some sleeping some half waking some making themselves ready to fight and some to fly few of all that great Army escaped the Sword of the Persians Of the five great Sanzacks which were in the Army three were slain and one taken Eight hundred Janizaries seeing themselves forsaken of their Chieftains laid down their Harquebusies and other Weapons and yielded themselves upon Delimenthes his word The fierceMountain people also who in former time had suffered great injuries of the Turks after the death of Aladeules their King had now joyned themselves to the Persians and notably revenged their Wrongs to whose share all the Baggage of the Turks Camp fell for a prey It might then well have been said of the Turks which the Poet speaketh of the night wherein Troy was sackt Quis cladem illius noctis qui funera fando Explicet The slaughter of that night was so great that it is of the Turks until this day accounted amongst their greatest losses and the Victory so welcome to the Persians that in Memorial thereof they kept that day which was the thirteenth of October as one of their Solemn Holidays for many years after Delimenthes returning all bloody with the slaughter of the Turks and loaded with their Spoils was of Tamas joyfully received and honourably rewarded This Overthrow reported to Solyman by the two great Bassaes and Ulemas as men that had hardly escaped Ship-wreck so daunted his proud conceits that he resolved in himself to return home and no further to prosecute that unfortunate War the evil event whereof his Mother as he said had more truly presaged than had the cold Prophet Mulearabe but secretly in mind displeased with Abraham the great Bassa by whose perswasion he had taken in hand that dangerous Expedition By the way as he went he was met at Iconium by Barbarussa and Sinan Bassa sirnamed the Jew a man for his skill at Sea in reputation next to Barbarussa These two great Personages lately come from Algiers to Constantinople with the remainder of his Fleet met him so far by Land to shew their joyfulness for the Conquest he had made of Mesopotamia and Assyria and to excuse themselves for the loss of the Kingdom of Tunes which won by Barbarussa in the beginning of the Persian War was before the ending thereof again wrung out of his hands by Charles the Emperor and restored to Muleasses as shall be hereafter declared They with great humility declared unto him the whole process of that War and with what Success they had endured the force of Charles the Emperor himself in Person shewing plainly unto him that there wanted neither valour in the Souldiers nor direction in them the Commanders but only Fortune which as it mightily reigneth in all mens actions so especially in matters of War. Solyman graciously accepted of their excuse and courteously took them up prostrate at his Feet commending them for their valour in their evil haps in a Plot so well by them laid more than he did the Victory of others got by good Fortune not grounded upon any good reason willing them to be of good chear saying That that he would in short time find occasion for them to recompence that disgrace and again to shew their approved valour After long travel he came to the Strait of Bosphorus where Abraham the Bassa going before him had in token of Triumph caused the Shore all along the place where he should go aboord the Gally provided for his Transportation to be covered with Persian silk for him to tread upon from whence he passed with much Triumph over to his Palace to Constantinople Envy the fatal and cruel Companion of Princes immoderate favours had with her prying Eyes quickly discovered in Court Solymans changed countenance upon the great Bassa and began now to shew her gastly Face They which before were most ready to do him all Honour possible yea to have laid their hands under his Feet sought now by all secret means to work his Disgrace and Confusion But of all others the two great Ladies Solymans Mother and the fair Roxolana ceased not by daily Complaints to incense Solyman against him the Mother for that he had by his perswasion contrary to her mind and her superstitious Observations drawn her Son into the dangers of the Persian War and Roxolana for that he most honoured and sought the Preferment of Mustapha Solymans eldest Son by another Woman whereas she above all things laboured by all subtil means to prefer Bajazet her own Son to the Empire after the death of Solyman his Father which her designment she perceived to be much crossed by the Credit which the Bassa had with her Solyman and therefore did what she might both to bring him out of Favour and to work his Destruction But that which most impared his credit with Solyman was the common report raised of him by his Enemies That he being in heart a Christian did in all things favour the Christians a thing most odious among the Turks and had for that cause craftily perswaded Solyman to take in hand the unfortunate Persian War. And that which more increased the suspition was That he about that time had caused one Mark Nicholas a Venetian Merchant who had not without suspicion of some oftentimes come unto him with Letters and secret Messages whilst he lay at Babylon to be taken in the night and murdred at Constantinople and cast into the Sea because he should not discover any thing that might be hurtful unto him Abraham thus brought in disgrace with Solyman was after the manner of the Turkish Tyranny bid to a Solemn Supper in the Court about the fourteenth of March after which time he was never more seen It
Inhabitants of the Island as they were flying into the Mountains and in revenge of the hatred he had conceived against Vastius at the Siege of Nice he burnt Forino Pansa and Varranium three chief Towns of that Island but Pithacusa the dwelling place of Vastius standing upon a broken Rock somewhat distant from the Sea he durst not adventure upon Then scraping along the Island Prochita with less hurt because most part of the Inhabitants were before fled to Pithacusa he put into the Bay of Puteoli and sent Salec the Pyrat with part of his Fleet to make proof if the City of Puteoli might from Sea be battered Salec drawing near the City shot into it with his great Ordnance and by chance slew one Saiavedra a valiant Spaniard upon the Walls and put the Citizens in a great fear lest the whole Fleet should have landed they themselves as then unprovided but the Viceroy came presently with a power both of Horse and Foot from Naples which Barbarussa discovering from Sea as they came down the Mountains called back Salec and leaving the Island of Capri and passing by the Promontory Atheneum was about to have seised upon Salernum when a Tempest suddainly arising dispersed his Fleet and drave him beyond the Promontory Palinurus upon the Coast of Calabria where he did exceeding much harm especially at Carreato From thence he departed to the Island of Lipari betwixt Italy and Sicily which Island he miserably spoiled and with forty great Pieces so battered the City that the Citizens were constrained for fear to yield whom he carried away all Prisoners about the number of seven thousand of one sort of People and other and burnt the City So loaded with the rich Spoil of Italy and the Islands upon the Coast he returned towards Constantinople with such a multitude of poor Christian Captives shut up so close under Hatches amongst the excrements of Nature that all the way as he went almost every hour some of them were cast dead over-board every man detesting the endless hatred betwixt the Emperor and the French King the very ground of all this and many thousand other most woful and underserved calamities of the poor Subjects With this rich Prey and an infinite number of Captives Barbarussa arrived at Constantinople in the beginning of Autumn in the year 1544 where he was honourably received of Solyman and highly commended for his good service both by Sea and Land. Solyman triumphing at Constantinople of the good success he had in Hungary in the midst of all his glory was advertised of the death of Mahomet his eldest Son whom of all his Children he held dearest whose dead Body was shortly after brought from Magnesia and with wonderful solemnity and no less mourning buried at Constantinople How entirely Solyman loved this his Son well appeared by the great sorrow he conceived of his death and not contented to have built him a stately Tomb erected also in memorial of him a Mahometan Church called the Church of Mahomet the Lesser for the difference of Mahomet the Great who won Constantinople Whereunto he also annexed a Monastery and a Colledg with many things more after the gross manner of their Superstition for the health of his Soul as he vainly supposed After that Solyman according to his wonted manner which was but every second or third year to take in hand some notable expedition ceased from Wars by the space of two years in which time many of the great Princes and worthy Men of that Age died amongst whom was Francis the French King. Hariadenus Barbarussa that famous Turk of whom we have so often spoken who being of great years and no less fame left this life in the year 1547. and was buried at a House of his own called Besictas near unto Bosphorus Thracius on Europe side not far from the Mouth of Euxinum about four miles from Pera where he had but few years before at one time sold about sixteen thousand Christian Captives taken out of Corcyra and to make famous that place appointed for his Burial he of his own cost built there a Mahometan Temple there yet with his Sepulcher to be seen That place was in ancient time called Iasonium About which time also died of conceit that famous Captain Alphonsus Davalus Vastius taken away by untimely death when he had lived but forty five years At which time Charles the Emperor by his Embassador Gerardus Veltunich concluded a Peace with Solyman for five years wherein King Ferdinand was also included which Peace was afterwards before the expiration thereof by Solyman at the request of Henry the French King broken year 1548. Solyman had now almost three years taken his rest year 1549. when it fortuned that Ercases Imirza King of Sirvan moved with the often injuries of Tamas his Brother the great Persian King fled to Solyman at Constantinople to crave aid of him against his Brother Solyman glad of such an occasion to work upon entertained him with all courtesie and promised to take upon him his quarrel and to protect him against his unnatural Brother And when he had made all things ready for so great an expedition passed over into Asia and after long and painful travel entred at last with a puissant Army into Armenia and there in the Borders of the Persian Kingdom first besieged the City of Van which after ten days siege was yielded unto him upon condition that the Persian Souldiers there in Garrison might with life and liberty depart with their Arms as Souldiers which was at the first by Solyman granted and so the City surrendred From thence Solyman sent his chief Commanders with a great part of his Army to burn and spoil the Enemies Country which they for a time chearfully performed and running far into the Country strive as it were amongst themselves who should do most harm where Imirza amongst the rest for whose sake Solyman had undertaken this War was as forward as the best to wast and spoil his Brothers Kingdom sparing nothing that came to hand the best and richest things he got he presented to Solyman to draw him on still in that War. But that served not his turn to recover again his Kingdom of Sirvan for Tamas without shewing any power to withstand the Turks had after his wonted manner caused his people to withdraw themselves far into the Mountain Country leaving nothing behind them in that wast Country to relieve them but the bare Ground so that the farther the Turks went the more they wanted without hope of better success than such as they had before to their loss made proof of in their former expeditions into that great Kingdom The conceit whereof so much pierced not the common Souldiers only but even the Captains themselves that to make an end of that long and unprofitable War taken in hand for another Mans good they consulted amongst themselves either to kill Imirza or else to disgrace him with Solyman Which they so
Marquess Villa presented him with a Bason of Gold valued at six thousand Ducats together with a Patent recounting at large the many famous Exploits which he had performed in their Service which they expressed with a stile so generous and obliging as may serve for a Record to transmit the Fame of his Merits to all Posterity Marquess Villa being departed from Candia the Captain-General recalled all his Forces from divers parts of the Archipelago which he had sent thither with the Soldiers wounded in the last Battle and being returned they brought with them great numbers of Pioniers and Workmen to labour in the Fortifications and Mines at the same time also the Captain-Pasha arrived at Canea bringing two thousand Janisaries withhim The Marquess St. Andrea Montbrun a Gentleman of the French Nation was transported to Candia by the General Proveditor Cornaro where being entred into the Charge and Office of Marquess Villa wanted nothing of the vigilance and circumspection of his Predecessour And therefore in the first place having visited all the Forts Out-works and Retrenchments of the Town ordered what was necessary for repair of the breaches and amended what was deficient in the most distressed Fortifications And though the Turks fired a Mine the 22 th of August at the point of the Fort St. Andrea which made a most dangerous breach yet it was so valiantly defended and so speedily repaired that the Enemy gained little or no advantage and all by the extraordinary diligence of this Marquess St. Andrea who passed whole months without uncloathing himself and as his nights were without sleep so his days consumed without repose applying himself personally to all places where was most of danger especially at the Fort of St. Andrea where he took up his constant Quarters The Turks now daily pressing the Town more nearly than before Skirmishes and Sallies were more frequent and more bloody so that about this time the Proveditor General Bernardo Nani applying himself with all earnestness in the performance of his Charge was slain by a Musket-shot in his head his death was much lamented by all being a Gentleman who was born as may be said in the Fleet having had his Education there and passed his youth in Wars and dangers for the safety and honour of his Country Girolamo Bataglia was elected by the Republick to succeed him in the Office whose death was also seconded by that of Francesco Bataglia Brother of the Duke of Candia being shot in the breast with a Musket-bullet and though he was sent thither to administer Justice to the People yet his zeal and courage carrying him to Martial Acts beyond his duty made a grave for him amongst the other Heroes and Worthies of that place The Turk approaching daily nearer with their Works infested very much the passage of Vessels to the Town and shot so directly into the Port that no Ship Galley or Bark could remain in any security from their Cannon to remedy which a small Redoubt was raised at Tramata which being well and strongly fortified served for a small Port under the shelter of which the lesser Vessels found some protection and was of great relief to the distressed City About this time the Popes Gallies with those of Malta arrived commanded by Fra. Vincenzo Rospigliosi the Popes Nephew who having not brought a greater number of people than what served to man their Gallies they were not able to spare many for defence of the Town The long continuance of this Siege and the same thereof noised through the whole World moved the heroick and gallant Spirits of our Age to descend into this Campus Martius this Field of War and give proofs of their Prowess and Valour in defence of the Christan Cause some being moved by a principle of vain-glory proceeding from the briskness of a youthful and aery Spirit and others from the sense of Devotion and fervour towards Religion amongst which none were more forward than some Gentleman of the French Nation as namely Monsieur La Fueillade alias Duke of Roanez with the Count St. Paul a young Cavalier to forward which design taking first the Licence and Benediction of their King they appointed their Rendezvous at Tolon where they listed two hundred Gentleman Cadets or younger Brothers who went in quest of Honour and not of Pay with four hundred ordinary Souldiers who expected their maintenance from the bounty of their Leaders The chief of whom was Monsieur La Fueillade and his Lieutenant the Chevalier De Tresmes Their whole Body was divided into four Bridgades The first commanded by Count St. Paul. The second by the Duke Dâ— Cardâ—â—ousse The third by the Count De Villa Maur. And the fourth by the Duke De Cheateau Tiery When these Persons of Honour and Courage arrived at Candia they found the City hardly beset and reduced to a strait and difficult condition for the Turks were advanced so near to the Fort of St. Andrea that the Souldiers within and without could cross their Muskets and reach Tobaco one to the other howsoever this breach was so well repaired with a good Palissado fortified with several Bonnets and a double Retrenchment on the Bastion it self and a third Retrenchment of squared stone withal that the courage of the Besieged being nothing abated by the many and furious assaults of the Enemy the Town still remained in a defensible posture and still capable with good Succours and Supplies to yield matter of imployment for several years to the Ottoman Forces These worthy Champions as I said being arrived moved with the sense of Religion and desire of glory to themselves challenged the priviledge of mounting the Guard of St. Andrea but that being already prepossessed by the Knights of Malta and other Officers of the place was refused to them Howsoever the Captain-General Morosini was pleased to gratifie them with the Guard of a small Chapel over that Bastion on the right hand of the breach a place of no less danger and therefore of no less honour than the other with which the Cavaliers being satisfied Monsieur St. Paul mounted the Guard one day at six a clock in the morning and continued there â—â—til the same hour of the day following during which time he lost his Major Dupre and Monâ—ieur De Marenval the latter of which had his brains knocked out with so violent a blow of a great shot that some pieces of his skull dangerously wounded the Sieurs De Chamilly and De Lare who were near to him and more maliciously did the Turks ply the stations of these new-come Guests than any others throwing Bomboes Granadoes Stink-pots and other sorts of artificial Fire without cessation into their Quarters notwithstandiug which this young Prince and Monsieur La Fueillade exposed themselves like common Souldiers animating their men more with their example than their words And now by this time by so many Works and removals of Earth by so many Traverses and Mines under ground and throwing up the
The number of the Zaims and Timariots in the Governments of the Beglerbegs of Buda Temswar and Bosna I find not particularly described in Ottoman Books but however according to the best information that Militia on the Confines of the Empire called Serhadly amount to the number of about 70000 fighting men paid out of the Rents of the Sangiacks of that Countrey But though the Militia of Buda be not set down in the Registers of more ancient date at Constantinople because it is as it were a principality independent both for its Eminency Revenue and large extent of Dominions yet in that City it self is strict order observed and the Rolls of their force most exactly known and computed to which the Turks have a strict eye it being a frontier Garison of much importance and the Key of Hungary the Militia of which as I leaâ—ned from Officers of Note during my residence in that place was according to this precise Account Of Ianizaries 12000 Spahees 1500 Zaims and Timariots 2200 Azaps which are the meanest sort of Souldiery 1800 Belonging to the Castle of Buda 1200 Iebeges or Armourers 1900 The Guard of the Gate called Cuchuc Cappe 500 Topgees or Gunners 500 Martoloes a sort of Foot Souldiers 300 Souldiers belonging to the Powder-house 280 The Souldiery who are Servants to the Pashaw 3000 In all 22180 to which adding the Militia of Bosna and other parts of Selavonia and all along the Frontier Countries which extend for above 800 English miles the number may amount to no less than 70000 fighting Men. But we here discourse onely of the number of the Zaims and Timariots which whole sum amounts to of Zaims 10948 and of Timariots 72436 which makes in all 83380 but this is calculated at the lowest rate they may very well be reckoned to be one third more beâ—ides other Militia's of Cairo or other Orders of Souldiery to be treated of in the following Chapters These Partitions or Divisions were â—irst made by Solyman â—he Magnificent as the best Rule and Method for an orderly disposition of his Militia and as the strongest nerve of the Ottoman Force but as with time in the most exact compositions of Discipline coâ—ruptions through covetousness and ambition of Officers are introduced so also in the just disposal of these Rents according to the ancient Institutions for the Beglerbegs Pashaws Treasurers and other Officers instead of bestowing this maintenance to the Souldiers according to their merits of Valour or long Seâ—vice reserve it to prefer and gratifie their Servants and Pages obligâ—ng them in recompence thereof under various Services some that live at Constantinople or near the Sea to defray the Charges of all Boats and Vessels which carry their Houshold Provisions others that live in the Inland Countries agreeing with the Teasurer of the Souldiery without regard to the true Heirs or any other consideration set to sale these Rents to them who profer most so that in time of Harvest the Pashaw sends abroad his Officers to gather his Profits from the poor Timariots with that oppression and violence as causes disturbances differences and Law-Suits amongst them which being to be decided by Judges partly interessed in the quarrel the Sentence is certainly determined on their side who have most Power and most Money The foregoing account of Zaims and Timariots is the most reasonable one can be given And because we have reckoned them at the lowest rate making some allowance to the 83380 this Militia may amount to an hundred thousand Men which as I have heard is the utmost number of this sort of Soldiery CHAP. IV. Of certain Customs and Laws observed amongst the Zaimets and Timariots AMongst these Forces of Ziamets and Timariots are in time of War and Action mixed certain Voluntiers or Adventurers call'd by the Turks Gionulli who maintain themselves upon their own expence in hopes by some signal Actions of Valour to obtain the succession into a Zaims or Timariots Lands as places are made void by the slaughter of the War. These Men are often very hardy and ready to attempt the most desperate Exploits moved by a desire of the Reward and by the Persuasion that at worst dying in a War against Christians they become Martyrs for the Mahometan Faith. It is reported that in one day upon the assaults given to Sorinswar or the new Fort of Count Serini one Timariots Farm was bestowed eight times one being slain it was conferred on another and so on a third and so the rest all which had the misfortune to fall untill it rested on the eighth the others dying with the Title onely of Timariots The Zaims or Timariots being aged or impotent have in their life-time power to resign up the Right of their Estates to their Sons or other Relations It is not lawfull for a Peasant or Clown to mount his Horse or girt his Sword like a Spahee untill first he hath had part of his Education in the Service or Family of some Pashaw or person of Quality unless it be on the Confines of the Empire where having given evident testimonies of his Courage he may then become Competitour for the vacant Farms of a Zaim or Timariot It is the Custome of Romania that a Zaim or Timariot dying in the Wars his Zaims Rents are divided into as many Timariots Farms as he hath Sons but if a Timariot hath no more than 3000 Aspers Rent it descends entirely to his eldest Son but if it be more it is proportionably divided amongst the rest of his Children But if they die of a naâ—ural death at their own homes the Lands fall to the disposal of the Beglerbeg of the Countrey either to confer them on the Heirs of the deceased on any of hâ—s Servants or sell them at the best advantage But in Anatolia there are many Zaims and Timariots whose Estates are Hereditary to them and their Heirs and are not obliged to serve in Person in the War but onely to send their Gâ—bâ—lues or number of Servants according to the value of their Estates of which duty if they fail in the time of War the years Rent is confiscated to the Exchequer and this Estate descends to the next of Kin whether derived from the Male or Female Line CHAP. V. The state of the Militia in Grand Cairo and Egypt THE guard and protection of the Kingdom of Egypt is committed to the charge of twelve Begs some of which are of the ancient Race of the Mamalukes confirm'd by Sultan Selin upon the taking of Cairo these have the command of the whole Militia in their hands whereby they are grown proud powerfull and ready upon every discontent to rise in Rebellion every one of these maintains 500 fighting men well appointed for War and exercised in Arms which serve but as their Guard and for Servants of their Court with which they go attended in Journies in their Huntings and publick Appearances under the command of these twelve Captains are 20000 Horse paid at the charge of
Eunuch Bassa dealeth treacherously with the Kings of Arabia 451 b. Solyman hardly perswaded that his Father was dead 581 a. saluted Emperour by the Ianizaries ib. b. his Letters to Villerius Great Master of the Rhodes 384 a. his Oration to his men of War declaring his purpose for the besieging of the Rhodes ib. b. he maketh great preparation for the siege 385 a. his threatning Letters unto them of the Rhodes 388 b. cometh himself in Person to the siege 392 a. his cholerick Oration to his Soldiers ib. b. displaceth his Admiral and punisheth him like a slave 396 a. about to have forsaken the siege ib. b. comforteth his discouraged Soldiers perswading them with patience to continue the siege 397 a. his Letters to the Great Master and the Rhodians sent by their own Ambassadors 399 b. his speech unto the Great Master at his coming to yield up the City 403 a. he entereth into the Rhodes upon Christmass-day in the year 1522 404 a. Solyman upon the discord of the Christian Princes and disordered State of Hungary taketh occasion to invade that Kingdom ib. b. cometh into Hungary against King Lewis with an Army of two hundred thousand men 405 a. overthroweth him in battel at Mohatz ib. b. cometh to Buda 406 a. Solyman in the quarrel of King John against King Ferdinand cometh into Hungary with an Army of 150000 men 410 a. without resistance entreth into Buda and besiegeth the Castle ib. b. layeth siege to Vienna 411 a. without ransome releaseth certain Christian Prisoners 412 a. loseth his great Ordnance upon the Danubius ib. b. burieth 8000 of his Turks in the Mines 413 a. having lost 80000 of his Turks raiseth his siege and returneth to Buda 414 a. he restoreth the Kingdom of Hungary unto King John ib. a. returneth himself to Constantinople ib. b. maketh great preparation for the subduing of the Territories belonging to the House of Austria as also for the Conquest of Germany with the short time he prefixed unto himself for the performance thereof ib. b. Solyman with a mighty Army cometh again into Hungary 416 b. besiegeth Gunza ib. b. his proud Letters to Charles the Emperour 417 a. shunneth to meet him at Vienna and so turneth out of the way into Carinthia 418 b. the causes moving him so to do ib. b. returneth towards Constantinople 420 a. Solyman perswaded by Abraham Bassa resolveth to go against the Persians 436 b. cometh with his Army to Tauris 437 a. followeth Tamas the Persian King into Sultania ib. a. his Army strangely distressed by Tempest ib. b. hath Babylon with the Countries of Mesopotamia and Assyria yielded unto him 438 a. he ransacketh Tauris ib. b. discouraged by the harm done him by Delymenthes giveth over his Wars in Persia and returneth to Constantinople 439 b. he with a wonderful charge prepareth a great Fleet at Suetia against the Portugals in the East-Indies 451 a. Solyman by the French Ambassador incited to invade Italy with an Army of two hundred thousand men cometh to Aulona 452 a. sendeth Lutzis Bassa and Barbarussa with his Fleet before him into Italy ib. a. converteth his Forces prepared for Italy against the Venetians 453 b. in danger to have been slain in his Tent in the midst of his Army ib. b. invadeth Corcyra ib. b. carrieth away above sixteen hundred Prisoners and doth good Iustice upon such Turks as had violated their Faith at Castrum 454 b. Solyman angry with the secret Consederation between King Ferdinand and King John 468 b. promiseth to protect the Queen and her Son 473 a. with a great Army cometh to Buda 478 b. sendeth for the young King into his Camp 479 a. courteously receiveth him ib. a. craftily surpriseth the City of Buda 479 b. detaineth the Nobility of Hungary ib. b. diversly perswaded by his Bassa's for the disposing of that Kingdom ib. b. he sacrificeth after the Mahometan manner in Buda 481 a. pronounceth the doom of Hungary and converteth it from a Kingdom into a Province of his Empire ib a. his proud answer unto King Ferdinand's Ambassadors 482 a. he returneth to Constantinople ib. b. sendeth his Fleet to Barbarussa his Admiral to aid the French King against the Emperour 496 a. Solyman with a great Army cometh again into Hungary 497 a. taketh Strigonium 498 b. entereth into the City and there setteth up the Mahometan Superstition 499 a. winneth Alba-Regalis 501 b. returneth to Constantinople ib. b. by the Instigation of Dragut the Pyrate sendeth out Sinan Bassa with a great Fleet to revenge the wrong done unto him by Auria 509 a. Solyman amorous of Roxolana 512 a. manumiseth her 513 a. marrieth her ib. a. by her persuaded resolveth to put to death his eldest Son the noble Mustapha ib. b. goeth himself with a great Army into Asia to kill his Son 514 b. sendeth for Mustapha who coming is cruelly strangled in his sight 515 b. his stout Speech unto the Ianizaries up in Arms for the unworthy death of Mustapha 516 b. he glad to yield unto the Ianizaries ib. b. Solyman desirous with as little stir as might be to appease the grudges betwixt his two Sons Selymus and Bajazet sendeth Partau and Mehemet two of his Visier Bassaes to bring them to the Provinces by him appointed for them 322 b. maketh preparation against Bajazet and sendeth Aid to Selymus 323 a. for countenancing of Selymus goeth himself in person with his Army over into Asia 525 a. dissembleth with Bajazet 526 a. seeketh to stop his flight into Persia deceived of his purpose procureth to have him and his four Sons strangled in prison in Persia 529 a. Solyman by his Ambassador Abraham Strotza confirmeth his League with Ferdinand the Emperor for eight years 533 a. his proud Letters unto the Emperor Ferdinand ib. a. his Presents sent unto the Emperor 534 b. he maketh preparation against the Knights of Malta 535 a b. his Oration unto his Captains for the Invasion of Malta ib. b. his Fleet arriveth at Malta 537 a. with shame returneth 552 b. Solyman purposing now the seventh time himself in person to invade Hungary causeth a Bridge of a mile long with incredible labour to be made over the great River Savus and the deep Fens toward Sigeth 555 b. besiegeth Sigeth ib. b. cometh himself with a great power into the Camp 556 a. winneth the old Town ib. a. falleth sick and dieth of the bloody Flux at Quinque Ecclesiae ib. b. his Death by Muhamet the Visier Bassa concealed and the Siege continued ib. b. his body with great solemnity by his Son Solymus buried at Constantinople 559 b. The Spahies and Ianizaries mutiny 809 b. their proud Speech to Sultan Mahomet 810 a. their Insolency justly punished 807 a. The Spaniards rejoycing at the Overthrow of the Italians by Salec are themselves foiled by Tabacces 443 b. The States of Bohemia their Requests to the Emperor 888 a. Stellusa with Desdrot the Governor thereof delivered to Scanderbeg 194 b. Stephen Rozwan instead of Aaron by
Prusa besieged by Othoman Michael Cossi turneth Turk Alteration of Religion in the Greek Church Persecution in the Greek Church for matters of Religion Andronicus spariâ—g to maintain his Navy weakneth his Empire Immoderate bounty in great men dangerous Alexius Philanthropenus aspireth Libadarius opposeth himself against the proceedings of Philanthropenus Andronicus the Greek Emperor reposing more trust in foreign aid than in his own Subjects greatly hurteth his State. Ronzerius what he was Ronzerâ—us for want of pay spoileth the Emperors Subjects Ronzerius slain The Turks first called into Europe by the Catalonians The Turcopuli The unfortunate battel of Michael the Emperor against the Catalonians and Turks Cassandria The Catalonians shut out of Macedonia A notable stratagem of the Catalonians The Turks divided into two Factions The unfortunate battel of the Emperor Michael Paleologus with the Turks in Chersoneâ—us Thracia spoiled by the Turks Philes Paleologus requesteth of the Emperor that he might go against the Turks The Battel betwixt Philes and the Turks The Turks overthrown The causâ—s of the decay of the Greek Empire Syrgiannes his craâ—ty Seditious Speech unto young Andronicus Young Andronicus cometh secretly armed to his Grandfather Thracia revolteth unto Andronicus Articles of agreement betwixt the old Emperor and his Nephew The Greek Empire in Europe divided whilst the Grecians are at discord amongst themselves Othoman layeth the foundation of the Turks Empire and the other other Turks incroach upon them also The Island of the Rhodes was by the Knights Hospitalers recovered from the Turks in the year 1308. Andronicus the old Emperor seeketh for Counsel of the Psalter as of an heavenly Oracle and so seeketh to make peace with his Nephew Psal. 68. vers 14. A treacherous meeting The young Emperor sendeth Embassadors unto his Grandfather The Speech of the young Emperor to his Grandfathers Embassadors The Speech of the old Emperor unto the Patriarch and the rest of the Bishops and Nobility concerning the young Emperor his Nephew The Patriarch with divers of the Bishops conspire against the Emperor Thessalonica yielded unto the young Emperor Constantinople bâ—â—râ—yed unto the young Emperor The pitiful Supplication of the old Emperor to his Nephew Niphon incenseth the young Emperor against his Grandfather The old Emperor becometh blind Andronicus the old Emperor against his will made a Monk and called Anthony The notable answer of the old Emperor to the catching question of the proud Patriarch The death of the old Emperor The Turks Kingdom founded by Othoman in Asia at such time as the Greek Emperors were at variance betwixt themselves in Europe Prusa yielded unto the Turks The death of Othoman Othoman buâ—ied at Prâ—sa The wealth that Oâ—homan leâ—t unto his two Sons Orchanes and Aladin when that barbarous manner of murthering their Brethren first began among the Turkish Sultans The City of Nice with divers other Castlâ—s recovered from the Turks after the death of Othoman The Emperor wounded The City of Nice surprised by the Turks Abydus besieged by the Turks Nicomedia yielded unto Orchanes Orchanes remoueth his Court to Nice Orchanes invadeth the Country of Carasina The Country of Carasina yielded unto Orchanes The Castle of Maditus tâ—â—en by the Tâ—rks The death of Solyman Bassa Orchanes his eldest Son. The death of Orchanes Amurath succeedeth his Father Orchanes in the Turkish Kingdom Didymotichum yielded unto the Turks Hadrianople yielded unto the Turks Rhodestum surprised by the Turks Hadrianople thâ— Royal Seat of the Tâ—rkish Kings in Europe Boga taken by Amurath and recovered again and rased by the Christians Boga new built by the Turks Amurath invadeth Servia Nissa taken by the Turks Appolonia won 〈◊〉 the Turks Amurath and Aladiâ— prepare themselves for War. The death of Chairadin Bassa The great battel in the plains of Caramania betwixt Amurath and Aladin Aladin flieth to Iconium Iconium besieged by Amurath Lazarus the Despot by his Embassador craveth aid of the King of Bosna Amurath marrieth the Emperor of Constantinoples daughter The Castle of Sarkive with the City jâ—yning unto it taken by thâ— Christians and rased Lazarus slain Amurath slain Amurath buried at Prusa Bajazet invadeth Servia Servia the second time invaded by Bajazet Thessalia invaded by Bajazet Constantinople eight years besieged by Bajazet Constantinople the second time besieged by Bajazet Bajazet marrieth Despina the fair Daughter of Lazarus the Despot Temurtases Bâ—jazet his great Lieutenanâ— in Asia taken Prisoner by Aladin the younâ— King of Caramania Amasia yielded unto Bajazet Sebastia delivered to Bajazet Bajazet invadeth Isfendiar Prince of Castamona The Mahometan Princes of Asia oppressed by Bajazet disguised flie unto Tamerlane for aid Tamerlâ—ne his opinion concerning the diversity of Religions The base opinion some have concerning the Birth and Rising of Tamerlane Tamerlane honourably descended The cause why some have reported him to have been a Shepherd or Herdsman Tamerlane marrieth the Daughter and Heir of the great Cham of Tartary Prince Axalla in great credit with Tamerlane The number of Tamerlanes great Army Sebastia besieged by Tamerlane Sebastia yielded to Tamerlane A Shepherd more happy than Bajazet The Prince of Ciarcan dealeth politickly with the Forerunners of the Turks Army The great and mortal Battle betwixt Bajazet and Tamerlane The Prince of Ciarcaâ— slain The Turks overthrown Bajazet and his Son Musa taken Prisoners Bajazet 〈◊〉 bâ—sâ—e Tamerlane with his Pride Bajazet like a Beast shut up in an Iron Caâ—e Solyman set up in his Fathers steaâ— Prusa taken by â—â—â—lle Tamerlane goeth to Constantinople Tamerlane much delighted with the pleasures of Constantinople A great Battel fought betwixt the Sultan of Egypt and Tamerlane Damasco won by Tamerlane Tamerlane cometh to Jerusalem Damiata taken by Axalla Tamerlane marcheth towards Caâ—er Caier besieged by Tamerlane Caier assaulted by Tamerlane The Sultan flieth from Alexandria Tamerlane desirous to return into his Country The miserable death of Bajazet A comparison betwixt Bajazet and Tamerlane Bajazet in his Posterity more fortunate than Tammerlane Divers opinions concerning the Successors of Bajazet The true Posterity of Bajazet Mahomet Gâ—vernor of Amasia Mahomet â—â—ndâ—â—h Spies into Tamerlane his Camp. Cara Dulet slain Mahomet his 〈◊〉 to Inaâ—l Ogli the Tartar Prince Inall Ogli his answer to Mahomet Inall Ogli overthrown by Mahomet Mahomet his Speech to Tamerlanes Embassador The great power Tamerlane continâ—ally kâ—pt The death of Tamerlane The description of Tamerlane Mahomet goeth against his Brother The answer of Isa to Mahomet his Offers The body of Bajazet honourably buried at Prusa Good counsel Isa with a great army sent by his Brother Solyman into Asia against Mahomet Prusa burnt by Isa. Isa flieth into Caramanâ—a and there dieth in obscurity The Castle of Prusa besieged by Solyman Musa marrieth the Prince of Valachia his daughter Musa in the absence of Solyman received at Hadrianople as King. Musa goeth against Solyman Solyman flieth Solyman strangled by his Brother Musa This Solyman is that same whom some call Celebinus and other some Calepinus and reckon
forces with King Ferdinand against the Tâ—rk in Hungary The Marquess of Brandenburg cometh to Pesth with his Army The Turks sally out of Pesth and put the Christians to the worse The Turks sallying out again are discoâ—fited by Vitellius and Perenus Mauritius in danger to be slain A Breach made in the walls of Pesâ—h The Breach assaulted by the Italians The Germans stand still as lookers on whilst the â—alians give the Assault The contumelious Speech of a Turk against the Germans The Germans and the Italians retire with loss A notable skirmish betwixt the Turks and the Hungarians The Christians removing from Pesth are assailed by the Turks The Christian Army broken up at Vienna Perenus the notable Hungarian apprehended upon suspicion of Treason The uncourtesie of Liscanus the Spaniard in the apprehension of Perenus Matters surmised against Perenus The lamentable speech of Perenus to Tornieâ—â—us and the other Captains concerniâ—g his apprehension Perenus his râ—quâ—st of the Admiral and the râ—st of the Captaiâ—s Perenus Valentine and Maylat three of the greatest Nobility in Hungary kept in perpetual Prison Solyman granteth to send his Fleet by Barbarussa to aid the French King against the Emperor Solymans Letters to the French King. Barbarussa amorous of the Captain of Rheglum his Daughter The French Embassadors Letters to comfort Rodolph the Cardinal the Popes Legate in Rome Solyman cometh with a great Army into Hungary The Castle of Walpo treacherously yielded and the Traitors justly rewarded Solyman cometh with his Army to Strigonium The stout answer of the Captains The terrible battery of the Turks at Strigonium The Turks repulsed thrice at the assault of the Breach A Christian Fugitive discovereth the strength and state of the City unto the Turks Salamanca goeth out of Strigonium to parly with the Turks about the yielding up of the same Strigonium yielded to the Turks by Liscanus the Spaniard Liscanus the coveous Spaniard merrily stript of all his wealth by Halis Captain of the Ianizaries Solyman entreth into Strigonium and there setteth up the Mahometan Superstition A cowardly Captain worthily rewarded Solyman goeth to Alba Regalls The description of Alba Regalis The Citizens of Alba will not suffer the City to be destroyed The Turks with incredible labour fill up the Ditches and Lake and by plain force assault the Bulwark of the Suburbs towards Buda A notable Act of an Hungarian Woman The Suburbs of Alba Regalis won by the Turks The miserable slaughter of the flying Christians Embassadors sent to Solyman to entreat upon conditions for the yielding of the City Solyman entreth into Alba Regalis Solyman causeth the chiâ—f Citizens of Alba Regalis to be slain Solyman retâ—rneth to Constantinople Nice in Provence besieged by the French aâ—d the Turks The Citizens crave parly and after yield the City The Castle besieged Barbarussa in his rage threatneth to lay hands on Polinus and to return forthwith to Constantinople The Turks and French give over the Castle of Nice and set fire on the City Barbarussa derided by the Turks Captains His answer to their taunts Muleasses fearing the coming of Barbarussa departeth from Tunes into Italy to crave aid of Charles the Emperor Costly Dishes Amida riseth against Muleasses his Father and usurps the Kingdom of Tunes Muleasses turneth into Africk to Guletta Amida thrust out of Tunes Amida returneth and possesseth the Kingdom Muleasses going to Tunes by the way overthrown Lofredius slain Muleasses taken Amida put out his Fathers and Brthrens Eyes Touarres sends for Abdamelech Amida his elder Brother Abdamelech by Policy obtaineth the Kingdom of Tunes Abdamelech dieâ—h and Mahometes his Son is chosen King in his place Muleasses at the request of Touarres is sent to Guletta Amida recovereth the Kingdom of Tunes and takes revenge upon his Enemies Muleasses disdaineth to kiss the Popes Foot. Barbarussa his Leters to Appiadus Governor of Elba Appianus glad to deliver the Captive whom Barbarussa required Sinan the Iew dieth for joy Barbarussa in his return toward Constantinople doeth much harm upon the Coast of Italy Barbarussa arrived at Constantinople Mahomet Solymans eldest Son diâ—th The death of the famous Pyrat Barbarussa Vastius dieth Van yielded to the Turks Imirza murthred in Prison Solyman returneth to Constantinople Dragut a famous Pyrat of the Turks possesseth certain Cities in Africk Malta attempted by the Turks The Turks Flâ—et arriveâ—h at Tripolis in Barbary Tripolis battered by the Turks Hard conditions oâ—fered by the Bassa to the besieged More easie conditions offered by the Bassa which he confirmeth by his Oath The wary answer of the Governour to the Bassa The Castle yielded The shameless answer of the faithless Bassa to the French Embassador The Turks Triumph for the winning of Tripolis A shameful cruelty of the Turks Temeswar and Zolnok taken by the Turks George Bishop of Veradium murthred in his own House Agria besieged by the Turks The Turks give over the Siege of Agria Muâ—tapha Solymans eldest Son in great esâ—imation with the People Solyman becomâ—th amorous of Roxolana Mustapha sent to Govern Caramanâ—â— The malice of Roxolana against Mustapha Roxolana conspireth with Rustan Bassa her Son in Law against Mustapha Roxolana faineth her self Religious Solyman manumiseth Roxolana Solyman sends for Roxolana She excuseth her self and refuseth to come Solyman marrieth Roxolana Roxolana plotteth the confusion of Mustapha Mustapha in danger to have been poisoned by Roxolana Roxolana and Rustan together put Solyman in fear of his Son Musâ—apha Solyman sends Rusâ—an Bassa with an Army to take Mustapha The malicious device of Rustan Solyman goeth himself with an Army to kill his Son. He sendeth for Mustapha Mustapha perplexed in mind His talk with his Doctor Mustapsta cometh to his Fathers Camâ— The exceeding treachery of Bustan against Mustapha The melancholy Dream of Mustapha in coming to his Father Mustapha cometh to his Fathers Tent. Mustapha most cruelly strangled in his Fathers sight Mahomet Mustaphaes Son strangled also Solyman offereth to Tzihanger all Mustapha's treasure and Wealth Tzihanger for sorrow killeth himself A bloody tumult betwixt the Souldiers of Solyman and Mustapha The Tumult appeased by Achomat Bassa The Ianizaries up in Arms against Solyman for the unworthy death of Mustapha The stout speech of Solyman to the Ianizaries The fierce answer of the Ianzaries to Solyman Solyman yieldeth unto the Ianizaries Rustan disgraced by Solyman flyeth to Constantinople The miserable end of Achomates the great Bassa Zigeth besieged by the Bassa of Buda A terrible Assault Zigeth notably deâ—ended Solymans Letters to the Pope in behalf of the Iews Merchants * The ninth of March Ann. 1556. Haly Bassa besiegeth Zigeth again Haly Bassa overthrown Henry the French King soliciteth Solyman to invade the King of Spain his Territories The Guise Lord Grand Prior in France Admiral of Malta taketh certain of the Turks Gallies Solyman in nothing more unfortunate than in the proos of his Children Bajazet Solymans younger Son seeketh to aspire unto the Empire The crafty dealing of the
themselves unto Eivases Bassa who taking possession of Mustapha his Tent caused the broken Bridge to be repaired whereby Amurath passing with his Army joyned himself with Eivases The other Bassa Ibrahim counselled Amurath to put to the Sword all those Rebels that had followed Mustapha but by the mediation of Eivases to whom they had yielded themselves they were generally pardoned Amurath departing from Ulibad or Lopadium came to Boga and there hanged up the Captain that had given Mustapha passage From thence he held on his way to Lampsacum intending to pursue Mustapha into Europe but being come to the Sea side he could find no passage for that Mustapha had caused all the shipping on that side to be brought over into Europe Yet at last Amurath by good fortune chanced upon a great Genoway Ship which he hired for four thousand Ducats to transport his Army and so with much ado at length landed in Europe Mustapha seeing that Amurath was now come over fled to Hadrianople where he found such cold Entertainment that fearing to be betrayed he was glad to speed himself thence thinking all the World too little to hide himself in and so came to an obscure place in the Country of the Turks called Kisul-Agatze-Genitze where the Souldiers sent to pursue him overtook him and brought him bound to Amurath then being at Hadrianople by whose Commandment he was shamefully hanged from the Battlements of one of the highest Towers of the City and there left to the Worlds Wonder This Mustapha is of some Writers reported to have been in deed the Son of the great Sultan Bajazet and that he was kept in prison all that long time and thus at length set up by the Greeks to trouble the State of the Turkish Kingdom but the Turkish Histories report as before calling him Dusme or counterfeit Mustapha And it is very likely that if he had been one of the Sons of Bajazet he would have found some means to have made some great stir long before that as all the rest of the unquiet Brood of Bajazet did which never rested until they had like the Earth-born Brethren one destroyed the other besides that their bloody Natures considered it is very like that Mahomet his younger Brother who reigned in Hadrianople almost eight years and was in League all that time with the Emperor of Constantinople would for his more safety have got him into his own Power if he had been in prison with the Emperor or else have dispatched him if he had been in prison with himself All which I am the rather perswaded to think for that Orchanes a Child the Son of Solyman could find no safe place of abode at Constantinople in the Reign of Mahomet but flying was apprehended and his eyes put out as is before declared in the life of Mahomet much less is it like that Mustapha being a Warlike Prince and his elder Brother could have been so long preserved and kept in prison from his fury It fortuned in these late Broils as oftentimes it doth with others in like case divers of the Rebels Asapi or Common Souldiers whom he for his greater Countenance had apparelled and armed like Janizaries to fall into the hands of the true Janizaries Amurath his faithful Guard whose lives indeed they spared but using them with all the Despight and Indignities possible Amongst the rest one of the Janizaries being an hungred brought two of these Asapi his prisoners unto a Cooks Shop offering to sell them unto him for a little Victual which the Cook refused to give him as having no use for such unnecessary Servants Wherewith the proud Ianizary inraged swore many a great Oath presently to cut off their Heads and to give them him for nought if he would not for a thing of nought redeem them And like enough he was to have so done had not the Cook moved with pity offered him for them both a sheeps head which the Ianizary took for them swearing that the Cook had given for them more than indeed they were worth Which disgrace so long since done unto these Asapi is yet oftentimes by way of reproach in great contempt by the masterful and insolent Janizaries objected unto the whole body of the Asapi the greatest part of the Turks huge Armies of whom for all that the proud Janizaries make small reckoning accounting them scarcely for Men and in their rage oftentimes telling them That two of them are not worth a sodden sheeps head Amurath having at length with much ado thus pacified the dangerous Rebellion raised by the counterfeit Mustapha both in Europe and Asia was yet not a little grieved to think how the same had to the great hazard of his Estate been first plotted by the Greeks and afterwards countenanced by the Greek Emperor of whom he thought now to be revenged And therefore sending before him Michael Ogli his Lieutenant General in Europe with his Europeian Souldiers to invade the Country about Constantinople followed himself after with the Janizaries and his Asian Forces and incamping before the City filled all that neck of land which lieth before it from Sea to Sea. And so incamped began right furiously to batter the Walls in hope so to have made a breach and by the same to have entred the City but finding the Walls of greater strength than he had before supposed and the Defendants still repairing whatsoever the fury of his Artillery had beaten down or shaken he ceased his Battery and coming on with all his Forces desperately attempted by Assault to have gained the City wherein his Fortune was not answerable to his Desire for approaching the City with Arrows as showers falling upon the Defendants and scaling-Ladders in the mean time clapt up to the Walls and the Janizaries with other of his best Souldiers valiantly mounting the same they were by the Defendants notably repulsed and beaten down losing some their hands some their Arms some their Heads but most their Lives no Shot falling in vain from the Walls Which Amurath beholding and grieved to see though unwilling commanded a Retreat to be sounded and the Assault given over and shortly after seeing no hope to prevail in great rage raised his Siege and departed Unto whom for all that the Greek Emperor not long after sent his Embassadors to intreat with him for Peace whereof he would by no means hear but proudly threatned to be ere long of all his Wrongs revenged which caused the Greek Emperor to devise what he might for the troubling of his Estate so to keep him otherwise busied as he did shortly after with the Caramanian King by countenancing another Mustapha sirnamed Cutzug or the Little Amuraths younger Brother against him to the raising of new Stirs and Amurath his no small trouble Mahomet the late King had five Sons and seven Daughters whereof Amurath was the eldest and succeeded in his Fathers Kingdom Mustapha the second sirnamed the Little Achmetes the third who died before his Father
the other two Iosephus and Machmutes both died of the Plague being but Children after the death of their Father Three of their Sisters were married to the three Sons of the King of Caramania Ibrahim Aladin and Isa other two were bestowed upon the Sons of the Prince Isfendiar Ibrahim and Casimes the sixth was given in marriage to Cozza-â—eg Vice-Roy of Anatolia and the seventh to the Son of Ibrahim Bassa who died at Mecha whither she went upon Superstitious Devotion on Pilgrimage At such time as Amurath was busied in his Wars in Europe against Mustapha the supposed Son of Bajazet the younger Son of Mahomet called also Mustapha being but thirteen years old and Amurath his Brother indeed was set up to raise new Troubles by the King of Caramania and other Princes as well Mahometans as the Christian Princes of Grecia who thought it good policy by that means to impeach the greatness of Amurath This young Prince Mustapha strengthned with the Forces of his Friends entred into his Brothers Dominions in Asia and besieged Nice which was at length yielded unto him Amurath advertised of this new Rebellion by great Gifts and large Promises corrupted Ilias Beg the young Princes Tutor to betray the Prince into his hands Whereupon Amurath with great celerity set forward with his Army from Hadrianople and in nine days came to Nice where he entred the City with small resistance as was to him before promised where Mustapha was by his false Tutor to him presented who because he would not spill one drop of the sacred Othoman blood as the Turks call it commanded the Executioner presently to strangle him with a Bow-string which was done accordingly and his body afterwards buried by his Father at Prusa Amurath having suppressed these two Rebellions and now out of all fear of any Competitor thought his five Counsellors too many by three and therefore removed the three Bassaes Omure Urutzi and Alis the Sons of Temurtases into honourable Places retaining of his Council only the two old Bassaes Ibrahim and Eivases But shortly after Eivases was secretly accused to Amurath that he sought by his Favorites the Souldiers of the Court to aspire unto the Kingdom himself and to depose the King and that intending some such matter he did usually wear a Privy-Coat This suspitious Report troubled the jealous Tyrant wherefore on a time as he rid accompanied with Eivases he cast his Arm about him as if it had been in kindness but finding him secretly armed would needs know the cause thereof whereunto Eivases answered That it was for fear of some Enemies he had in the Court but this Excuse could by no means serve his turn wherefore he was forthwith apprehended by the Commandment of Amurath and both his Eyes burnt out with a hot Steel glass Whilst Amurath was thus busied in subduing Rebellions at home Muhamethes the Caramanian King besieged Attalia a great City in Pamphilia by the space of six months which was valiantly defended by Hamza-beg Amurath his Lieutenant there at which Siege the unfortunate King himself as he was taking view of the City was slain with a great shot out of the City whereupon Ibrahim which succeeded him in the Kingdom brake up the Siege and returned home to bury his Father At this time also Dracula Prince of Valachia passing over Danubius did the Turks much harm about Silistra but was afterwards enforced to submit himself to Amurath and become his Tributary About this time also Tzunites the Prince of Smyrna which had before aided the Rebel Mustapha did by all means he could vex and molest Iaxis-beg Amurath his Lieutenant in Aidinia and having by chance taken his Brother Prisoner put him to death This Prince of Smyrna was descended of the ancient Princes of Aidinia and therefore pretended an interest in that Seigniory which his Claim the people of the Country secretly favoured so far as they durst for fear of the Turks Amurath hearing of the harms that this Prince of Smyrna did commanded Hamze-beg Vice-Roy of Anatolia with all his Power to make War upon him The Vice-Roy without delay assembled a great Army and invaded the Princes Country and the Prince being well provided for his coming meeting him upon the way gave him battel wherein Hasan the Princes Son leading a great part of his Fathers Army had put one part of the Turks Army to flight and pursuing them with too much fury left his Father at the same time so hardly beset by the Vice-Roy that he was glad to fly to his Castle of Hipsily fast by Hasan returning from the chace of the Enemy not knowing what had happened to his Father was by the Turks in his return overcome and taken Prisoner After which Victory the Vice-Roy presently laid Siege to the Castle wherein the Prince was This Siege continued a great while at length the Prince brought to extremity was content to yield himself unto the Vice-Roy upon condition he should use no violence against the Person of himself or his Son but to send them Prisoners unto Amurath which thing the Vice-Roy by solemn Oath promised whereupon the Prince came out of the Castle and yielded himself Prisoner to the Vice-Roy Iaxis-beg whose Brother the Prince had before put to death attended the going of Hamze the Vice-Roy to his Tent where finding Hasan the Princes Son sitting upon the ground as the manner of the Turks is took him by the choler with great fury and drawing him along to the Feet of the Prince his Father there most cruelly struck off his head and in the same rage laying his bloody hands upon the aged Prince struck off his head also to the great dishonour of the Vice-Roy who had before given his Faith for their safety The heads of the Prince and his Son were set upon two Launces within the sight of the Castle which the Defendants seeing and now despairing of all rescue yielded themselves with the Castle This infortunate Tzunites was the last Prince of Smyrna after whose death all his Territory was united to the Othoman Kingdom After all these Troubles Amurath with great Triumph married the Daughter of the Prince Isfendiar Amurath having laid up in the depth of his thoughts the remembrance of that the Grecian Princes had done in giving Aid to the Rebels aforesaid thought it now high time to take revenge of that wrong and for that purpose gathered a great Army wherewith he ranged at his pleasure through Macedonia until he came to Thessalonica surprising by the way divers Cities and Castles at that time belonging to the Constantinopolitan Empire This famous City of Thessalonica now called Salâ—nichi for beauty and wealth sometime not inferior to any of the greatest and most renowned Cities of Graecia is situate upon the Borders of Macedonia close unto a Bay of the Archipelago or the Sea Aegeum which Bay was in ancient time called Thermaicus-Sinus and now the Bay of Salonichi To the Christian Congregation there dwelling St.