established divers wholsom Lawes altered the Coyn and relieved the poor and because he would not seem to degenerate from his Progenitors he prosecuted his Fathers Warres by the Tartars Praecopenses in Octob. 1575 entring Russia of the Polonian Kingdom burning and destroying two hundred Noblemens Houses with a multitude of Towns and Villages making great slaughter of the people and carrying away great numbers of Cattel and prisoners bound in thongs of raw Hides but whilest they divided the spoil with Peter Vayuod of Valachia who had promised to give the Tartars no passage that way the Cossacks brake into their Countrey requiting them with like harm and bringing back a number of old Captives At this time the Polonians were at variance about the Election of their King Henry Valois after Charls his Brothers death stealing away from them into France to take on him the Kingdom some making choyce of 〈◊〉 the Emperour others no lesse inclining to the Duke of Muscovie and some unto others Amurath loath that either of those two great Princes should be strengthened with so great a Kingdom so near to him in the beginning of his Reign wrote to the Polonians to that purpose commending to them Stephen Bator Vayuod of 〈◊〉 for their King and threatning if they did otherwise to give all their Wealth and Goods Wives and Children for a prey to his Souldiers with the chief men of their Cities of Cracovia and Leptis which Letters so prevailed with them that both Maximilian and the Muscovite being passed over Anne of the Jagellonian House was chosen Queen of Poland yet so as to marry Stephen the said Vayuod who afterwards elected King worthily governed that Kingdom all his life and enlarging it with Territories by force of Arms gotten from his Neighbours especially the Muscovite Amurath would often boast and say he had given the Polonians their King The year following 1576 great and sore shaking troubles arising in Persia Amurath took opportunity to invade the same to the long quiet of the Christian Commonwealth Old Tamas the Persian King after above 50 years glorious Reign died May 11th 1576 leaving 11 Sons Mahomet the eldest of an infirmity in his eyes surnamed Codabanda being of a peaceable disposition was most delighted with a contented life Ismael the second Son was of a more fierce and troublesom nature whom his Father outwardly seeming to mislike of his youthful pranks aforesaid tending to the breach of the league betwixt him and the Turk sent to the Castle of Cahaca where he remained at the time of his death Aidere the third Son was as ambitious as Ismahel but not so valorous Tamas had by his last will appointed Ismahel to succeed him as of all his Sons the fittest for so great a charge which Mahomet seemed not much to dislike as contented with the honours bestowed on him by his Father Ismahel being sent for by the Sultans to take on him the Kingdom at Casbin there arose a great tumult in the City and Pallace for Aidere who in his Fathers sight when he lay drawing toward his end had presumptuously set the Crown on his head for which he was reproved now supported by Zalchan and other mighty favourites had so dealt with Periaconcona his eldest Sister and the other Sultans Counsellors of State that the succession could not be any longer kept from him but by some fine deceit Wherefore this Lady Periaconcona of great Spirit and deep conceit left in trust by her Father with the Sultans resolved with them upon a thorow-debate that Aidere in Royal Apparel in the great Gallery should attend the acclamation of the people and be there openly Enthronized as the very elected King which done she by their advice ordered the Gates of the Pallace to be presently locked and surely guarded with Souldiers wholly devoted to Tamas and Ismahel to suffer every man to enter in at the open Wicket save the known Friends of Aidere who is now in conceit a King but perceiving the prohibition of his best friends and moved with the great stir of Zalcan who discovered the deceit and crying upon King Aidere threatened the Lady the Sultans and the rest that waited on the feigned succession through fear and sorrow withdrew closely among certain Women of the Court hoping to find some way to escape In the meantime the cries and threatnings of Aidere's Friends so encreased that the Counsellours with the Ladie 's consent were enforced to take order that Aidere should be deprived of life Whereupon Sahamal his Uncle by the mothers-side after long search found him hidden amongst the Women who taking him by the Locks struck off his head and among the thickest press where Zalchan and the rest stood crying and threatning flung the Head all bloudy crying aloud unto them Behold there your King enjoy him at your pleasure Whereat every man burned in rage and anger and many vainly threatened most cruel revenge but at last perceiving Ismahel's succession inevitable and Aidere's death irrevocable every man departed scattering themselves as they thought best for their own safety Shortly after Ismahel arrived at Casbin where he was joyfully received and saluted King whose power being answerable to his desires he beheaded his eight younger Brethren and bereaved not onely those rear him in blood and affinity but all the favourites of Aidere of their lives so that Casbin was defiled with blood and filled with mourning and complaints which unexpected cruelty so altered the mindes of his Subjects that their hopes were turned into new feares and their joy into mourning but much greater did the miseries grow when 't was given out that he would change the Religion of the Persians into the superstition of the Turks for hereby and by force of an edict by him published many of his Priests and Governours of his friendly and subject-Cities were some exiled some imprisoned some as the Caliph of Casbin had their eyes pluckt out and not a few sundry wayes slain yea many Ladies and divers others of Ismahel's Kinsfolks endured sundry torments and strange calamities There went abroad withall a general rumour even as far as Constantinople that Ismahel with a puissant Army of such as favoured this new proclaimed vanity determined to go to Babylon there to receive the Crown of the Empire from him who should be the Successor of their great Caliph as Solyman the Turk and the Persian Kings had of old done The fear of further miseries incresing rather than otherwise he was by the help of the aforesaid Periaconcona whether through poyson strangling or otherwise taken out of this World November 24 1577 to the exceeding joy of all those Nations having reigned one year seven moneths and six dayes The Lady forthwith perswaded the Sultans that as they had for the good of all Persia contrived the death of Ismahel so they would take on them that Kingdom 's Protection till 't were known who should worthily succeed Emir Chan was in hope by meanes of a match with a
and not seek the sons blood for the Fathers offence Bajazet granted it yet took from him Castamona with most of Pontus giving it to Solyman Then also he oppressed Prince Germean and took from him all his Dominion And the Prince of Mentesia abiding at Castamona and doubting now of safety after Bajazet's Death fled into a Hermites habit to Tamerlane the Tartar Bajazet returning built a Magnificent Temple at Prusa during which he forbare wine reposing with grave and learned men and administring justice greatly winning his subjects and now all bordering Princes stood in great fear of him Achmetes King of Bagdat and Eiracum with Josephus of Colchis forced by Tamerlan's incursions fled for their lives into Syria and discovered were imprisoned by Aegypts Sultan from whence escaping they fled to Bajazet Achmetes after two months by Bajazets aid recovered Eiracum Josephus tarrying 8 months procured Bajazet to invade the Aegyptian who slew his general discomfiting his forces took Malatie in Armenia with 3 places taken from the Turcomans spoyling all threabouts Thence marching towards Erznitzane Tachretin its Prince meeting him yielded all into his power who giving it to Josephus after 6 daies finding them unwilling to be governed by a Stranger surrendred it into his hands again Them of 〈◊〉 requesting him to have their old Prince Tachretin he granted but sent his wife and children as a pledge to Prusa where they were ere long made away Bajazet having mightily prevailed in Romania Bulgaria c. and other places in Europe and having worse oppressed the 〈◊〉 Princes of Asia some of whom he slew some he exiled some imprisoned and other living but at his devotion and fearing no man was as he thought the Worlds terrour divers of these Mahometans met at Tamerlans Court whither they fled for relief Germian Ogli after long imprisonment in Europe brake prison with his great Counsellour who consorting and roaming with loytering Companions delighted the people with toyes so passing Hellespont came with much ado to 〈◊〉 the Prince of Mentesia shaven as aforesaid Aidin Ogli passing as a Pedler came thither also Tachretin as a 〈◊〉 man attending on Issendiar coming as an Embassadour from another Prince These with others ariving at 〈◊〉 every one particularly complaining all earnestly requested Tamerlane to revenge the wrong done them by the Tyrant Bajazet In so great a matter he coldly answered them that he could not tell whether all were so as they reported but he knew him very zealous in the 〈◊〉 Religion therefore warring on the Christians in which godly cause said he perhaps they refused to assist or had given him some greater offence For said he I can hardly believe such a Prince as he would without cause offer you such violence especially to Neighbours and of the same Religion Yet I will first send an Embassadour to him to understand more of him and his proceedings before I resolve on any thing But being advertized that Achmetes and Josephus were come to Bajazets Court for aid he deferred to send suspecting Bajazet by them incited would first war on him But they being departed he dispatched his Embassadour with many rich gifts c. requesting him to deal kindly with these poor Mahometan Princes as also with the Greek Emperour whose intercessour to him he was become Some report he desired the Kings of Bagdat and Colchis to be delivered him seeming to dislike his proceedings against the Turcomans But Bajazet highly offended with this Embassage in great scorne rejected his presents especially certain garments bidding his Master meddle with his own matters c. and not prescribe him Laws with whom he had nought to do and to send his rags to his inferiours not to Princes of greater power than himself Adding many despightful and disdainful words calling him plain Tamerlan and the Husband of a whore if he met him not in field wishing himself to take his thrice divorced wife polluted by another if he met him not in battle wherever he durst Which answer aggravated by Axalla a Christian Genoway and one of his greatest Counsellours and the Greek Emperours friend was so ill 〈◊〉 that he resolved all things set apart to go against the Turk Besides he thought it not fit to suffer so unquiet a Neighbour to grow great who adding conquests to conquest might in the end prove dangerous to his own Estate Tamerlan though a Mahometan for the fidelity valour and virtue he found in Axalla a Christian was advised by him in his greatest affaires disliked none for his Religion so he worshipped but one God Creatour of Heaven and Earth c. For which cause he permitted all Religions within his Countries were they not Atheists Idolaters or worshippers of strange gods Bajazet not ignorant of Tamerlan's power and purpose prosecuted the enlargement of his Empire and increase of his strength deeming Tamerlan's messages to be forewarnings of his designes against him which he was so far from fearing that 〈◊〉 spared no intemperate speech to provoke him the more It shall not be much from our 〈◊〉 to see what this mighty Tamerlane was who held the East in such 〈◊〉 that he was commonnly called Gods wrath and the Worlds terrour Most report him to have been poorly born and in youth to be a poor Shepheard or heardsman in the Mountaines where consorting with other sturdy Companions he become a masterful thief among them To whom other such still resorting he soon grew to that greatnesse as none but he ever yet came to contrary to the course of things which from small beginnings grow not to notable perfection but by degrees and that in long time Wherein late Historiographers seem too much to follow the Turks report who by him brought low charge him with many untruths making him first a very abject amongst men and for cruelty a monster in nature c. which reports I list not to follow especially others of no lesse credit with greater probability reporting of him the greatest honour He was born at Samercand chief City of the Zagataian Tartars whose Father was Zain Cham or Og their Prince 3d in descent from Zingis before remembred which Og of a peaceable Nature long lived in happy peace with his subjects contenting himself more with the increase of his cattle than hoording up gold or silver which haply occasioned some ignorant of the Tartars Princes custome to report Tamerlane as a Shepheard's son c. His Father well striken in years delivered him his Kingdom but 15 years old and joyning Ordinar and Aly two faithful Counsellours to assist him in Government retired himself to a Solitary life He first proved his Valour against the Moscovite for spoyling a City under his protection entring his Country proclaiming war against him whom he overthrew slaying 25000 of his foot between 15 and 16000 horse with the loss of scarce 8000 horse and 4000 foot of his own Where he beholding so many dead on the ground to a familiar lamented the condition of great Armies
therefore they should repair to Bedredin shortly to shew himself and promote his followers according to desert Many in hope of preferment resorted to Bedredin who at last came out of the Forrest with displayed Banner and a great multitude resorting daily unto him Mahomet sent his Son Amurath and Bajazet with 2000 to apprehend Burgluzes whom they found guarded with 3000 well appointed there was a bloudy battel and many slain the rebells fleeing Burgluzes was slain and hewen to pieces 〈◊〉 Bajazet executed Torlac Kema who with 2000 seduced did much harm about Magnesia Mahomet sending also against Bedredin whose followers seeing in him no such matter as they hoped for were fallen from him whereby he easily apprehended was brought to Mahomet at Serras and hanged in the Market-place Mahomet furnished the great Temple at Hadrianople begun by Solyman and Musa where he built a Princely Pallace also another Temple a sumptuous Abby a publick School 〈◊〉 with great Revenues giving also great sums yearly for Pilgrims travelling far to Mahomets Sepulchre at Medina or his Temple at Mecha Shortly after falling sick at Hadrianople he sent in post to Amasia for Amurath his eldest Son by his last will to succeed him But feeling death approach he streightly charged his Bassaes to conceal his death till his comming lest any trouble should arise So he departed about the year 1422 reigning 17 years Bajazet's rent Kingdom being by him wholly restored 7 years before his death The 3 Bassaes Evaises Bajazet and Ibrahim fearing the Janizaries and other Court Souldiers called a Counsel of war as if he were alive pretending the Kings pleasure for the Janizaries to passe to Baga Castle in Asia to war on the Prince of Smyrna Press-mony being presently given they were sent over with Letters c. The Bassaes sat daily in Counsel placing and displacing as if the King had so commanded His Physitians also went with their potions c. as they had wont Yet the Pensioners and others some of them of the Privy Chamber suspecting said They marvelled the King shewed not himself so long as before he did The Bassaes answered He was yet but little recovered and the Physitians would not suffer him to look abroad Then said they ready to force in We `will our selves see his Majesty Eivases desired them not then to trouble him having taken Physick but to morrow said he we will request if he please that ye may see him Geordiron a subtil Persian Physitian devised that the dead body Royally apparelled and wrapped about his head should be brought betwixt two as if led into an high open Gallery and a Boy neatly placed under his Robes behind to move his hand as stroaking his face or beard as his manner was Being brought accordingly suddenly a Physitian came in fuming and raging c. asking the Bassaes if they meant to kill the King by bringing him into the open air c. Pardon us good Doctor said Eivases for these pointing to the Pensioners were so importunate to see him that he was content to be led forth c. They supposing him to be alive held themselves contented The Physitians carried him in again as an extream sick man His death was thus concealed 41 daies He was wise and valiant exceeding bountiful but ambitious above measure He left to Amurath an entire Kingdom in the former greatness though not much augmented His body lyeth buried in a fair Tomb in a Chappel at the East of Prusa The Life of Amurath II. sixth King of the Turks and the great Establisher of their Kingdom AMurath or Murat being placed in his Fathers Seat and Mahomet's death published great troubles began to arise The Princes of Smyrna and Mentesia rose in Arms and at Thessalonica an obscure fellow took on him the name and person of Bajazet's Son slain long before against Tamerlain This counterfeit animated by Greek Princes and going to Vardarium set on so good a courtenance that not only the Country people but Tzunites Beg the prince of Smyrna's Son with Eurenoses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto him as to their naturall Prince Going to Hadrianople Amurath yet at Prusa he was received as Mustapha and shortly honoured as King in all the Turkish Kingdom in Europe Amurath sending Bajazet Bassa with a strong Army into Europe he found all the Country 〈◊〉 to Mustapha but being forsaken of the European Souldiers which he brought and afterwards of the rest he with his brother Hamze yielded for safety to Mustapha upon promise of loyalty sworne one of his Privy-Councel who the better to maintain his credit 〈◊〉 a great Army to make war upon Amurath in Asia On the way his Counsellours repining at Bajazet's 〈◊〉 advised him to beware he trusted him not too far c. Whereupon Bajazet apprehended was without tryal 〈◊〉 and Haze with much ado spared This done he proceeding marching over into Asia Amurath joyned three new 〈◊〉 Temurtases his Sons to Ibrahim and Eivases by whose advice he sent for Michael Ogli Viceroy in 〈◊〉 in Musa's time after 8 years imprisonment from Musa's deposing because well known to most chief men in Mustapha's Army Amurath setting forward to 〈◊〉 him distrusting his forces much inferiour to Mustapha's prostrated himself at an Emir's feet one of Mahomet's posterity to receive a blessing for his better 〈◊〉 c. For all whose charms he marched in fear 〈◊〉 to the River Ulibad causing through Mustapha's 〈◊〉 the bridge to be broken down encamped on 〈◊〉 side Mustapha finding the bridge broken encamped on the other side They thus lying that both might 〈◊〉 together Michael Ogli called aloud upon the old Souldiers in Mustapha's Army asking by name for 〈◊〉 old friends many there present rejoycing to see him whom they supposed dead in prison came to the rivers 〈◊〉 to hear him Who lowdly perswaded them that this man was not the honorable Mustapha but some base 〈◊〉 fellow set up by the 〈◊〉 Princes as a vail c. 〈◊〉 them Bajazet's Son ended his daies 22 years before in his Countries defence in the great 〈◊〉 against Tamerlane wherefore they should forsake that supposed one yield obedience to their undoubted Soveraign Amurath These words from him whom they generally reverenced and trusted so wrought that some adventured over the river unto him and many that 〈◊〉 doubted Eivases also sent in secret to 〈◊〉 to terrify him that Amurath next night 〈◊〉 to pass over above the bridge his chief Captains 〈◊〉 promised to deliver Mustapha into his hands 〈◊〉 with some Troops in the night passed the river in 〈◊〉 same place with such noise as if Amurath's whole 〈◊〉 was coming Mustapha seeing things begin as 〈◊〉 had written and carrying a guilty 〈◊〉 fled in 〈◊〉 but with 10 persons none pursuing till he came to Boga river and by a great sum to the Captain of the Castle got passage landing the 3d day over Hellespont at Callipolis This known they all yielded to Eivases who repairing the bridge Amurath joyned with him Ibrahim
him seemed so to detest Mahomet's Tyranny and Superstition that they were reputed to be what they would be accounted and learning the Christian Principles were baptized but these Traytors while watching an opportunity falling at variance let some words fall whereby they were suspected by some present whereupon being examined they at last confessed the design and were presently executed Mahomet understanding what was befallen to Balabanus and Jacup became almost frantiek and by his Bassa's advice resolved to go in person with such an Army as should for ever end his wars in Epirus raysing 200000 men whereof Seanderbeg being advertized fortified all strong Holds especially Croia leaving Balthazar Perduci Governour thereof and conveighing the people into places of refuge he left nought for the Turks to prey upon as he did before at Amuraths coming Balabanus entring Epirus with 80000 horse after two days ranging sat down before Croia on whom Perduci made many brave salleys Mahomet encamping there also who fummoning the City upon his own conditions the Governour returned nothing but continual shot for answer whereupon he planting Ordinance for battery cast other new ones there rather to terrisie the Defendants than for any great hope of taking the City by force Scanderbeg the while lying abroad in the Woods and Mountains with a small Army cut off the Turks forragers c. and breaking into one quarter or other of their Camp by night with great slaughter suffered them not to rest in quiet wherefore Mahomet seeing no hope and fearing his Fathers mischance leaving Balabanus with 8 expert Companies under him with a great part of his Army to continue the fiege departed with the rest to Constantinople and by the way took some small forts also by fair promises corrupting the Governour of Chidna and his faith given that all the Souldiers lying there corrupting the Governour of Chidna being 8000 and people should safely depart it was delivered unto him but having them in his power he cut man woman and child in pieces to Scanderbeg's great grief and weakning who never received such a losse before and finding himself unable to relieve Croia his Souldiers being sore wasted and his enemies warily encamping he sent to the Uenetians and other confederate Princes praying their aid at this his need c. all which promised him succours Also he passing disguised into Italy came to Rome craving Pope Paul 2 his aid who being honourably entertained yet obtained nothing of what he came for only his Treasurer had 3000 Ducats at departure who returning into Epirus found all the promised aid ready chiefly the Uenetians most drawn out of 4 of their Garrisons so that he had 13400 choise Souldiers wherewith marching towards Croia he suddenly came upon Jonima with some Troops by night who was bringing supply to his brother Balabanus taking Jonima with his Son Hedar whom he shewed in bonds to Balabanus Then returning to his Army and so to Croia he drave the Turks from the Mountain Cruina which Balabanus seeing he riding with some Troops even to the Cities gates perswaded them to yield making them promises in his Masters name but they sallying out and forcing him to retire he enraged came upon them with a fresh charge to drive them into the City but being shot quite thorow the throat he ran as fast as he could to his Camp where presently falling from his horse he dyed The Turks herewith discouraged and with Scanderbeg's coming rising that night silently retired to Tirana Plain about 8 miles off Scanderbeg entring their Tents found store of victuals which he conveighing into Croia followed himself in great triumph to the besieged's joy whom he both cōmended rewarded and sending some Companies to take the strait passages out of Epirus the Turks by 2 Messengers offered to deliver up their Horses and Arms so they might depart with life which Scanderbeg propounding to his Captains himself at last answered That as they came into his Countrey without his command so they should not by his leave depart Whereupon the Turks in the dead of that same night brake thorow those straits by force yet not without their great losse for whose escape the Souldiers greatly murmuring were hardly appeased But Scanderbeg recovering all places taken from him and putting Mahomet's Souldiers therein to the sword he brake up his Army except 2000 Horse and 1000 Foot to defend his frontiers Mahomet hearing of this evill successe so fretted and grieved that he could neither eat drink nor take rest for a season At last he resolved to go again next Spring with a most puissant Army whereof Scanderbeg hearing provided for him as formerly who being entred Epirus first repaired or re-edified the ruinous City Valmes leaving a strong Garrison to trouble that part of the Country Thence he marching to Dirrachium now Durazzo a City not on the Sea-coast possessed by the Uenetians thought to have taken it unprovided but it being strongly fortified both by the Uenetians and Scanderbeg he having to his great losse in vain attempted it suddenly rising came again before Croia the chief cause being a perswasion that Scanderbeg was in Dirrachium because he had seen some of his men in his assailing thereof offering at first great things to the Citizens if they would yield otherwise threatning all warlike calamities vowing not to depart till he had it he receiving no answer but from the Cannon or brave Salleys Scanderbeg also every night molesting his Camp wherefore rising with his Army he marched to Kedon not far from Dirrachium and in spight razed Chiurili which Scanderbeg had begun to build Then seeking those Epirots retired into the Mountaines ' he was by them with great losse repulsed Scanderbeg at his heels daily cutting off part of his Armie So at last despairing of any good to be done he returned full of discontent to Constantinople After this Scanderbeg riding to view the state of his Kingdome came to Lyssa a City of the Vinetians to conter with the Legate and other Princes as in generall so how to take Valmes which much troubled that part of Epirus but he there falling sick of a Feaver and sending for his confederates and the Venetian Ambassadours and his Wife and Son after discoursing of his troublesome life and exhorting them in concord to stand in defence of their Religion Country and Liberty commending his Wife and Son with the Kingdome to the Venetians tuition according to the Articles of confederation willing them after his death to passe into Apulia quietly to live on possessions there held by King Ferdinands gift after prayer departed January 17. 1466. about 63 years old and raigning about 24 years His death was generally lamented chiefly of the Venetians and Albanian Princes who had lost their Watchman and Champion all his Subjects bewayling him as the onely stay of the Common-weale c. He was royally interred in Lyssa's Cathedrall which City the Turks about 9 years after taking in the way of the Siege of Scodra
the Camp who without his leave had private conference with the enemy and discouraging the Army Wherefore Velsius returned to Vicegrade taking the Castle wherein the ancient Crown was kept with lesse losse than he had the lower Town Ere long he marching to Alba Regalis through Perenus it was delivered him garrisoning it for Ferdinand Then he retired to Strigonium and the rather because the rough Germans and Hungarians could not agree together so that Velfius parting them was wounded in the Thigh and Perenus hurt with a stone Winter was also come far on and the Souldiers crying out for pay Wherefore he also sick of the stone billited his men that Winter about the Countrey having new fortified Pesth because 't was reported the Turks on their frontiers were preparing to ayd Buda While Ferdinand was levying his forces the Queen had craved ayd of the Turk 's bordering-Lievtenants who answered they might in no case without expresse Command from Solyman depart from their charges besides Mahometes was overcome by rewards from Lascus in his passage not to stir wherefore she certified Solyman what danger they were in craving his speedy ayd Lascus falling sick by the way sent his Physician before to the great Bassaes chiefly to Lutzis by whom he hoped to obtain his desire but in vain for Solyman besides defending his own right thought it would redound to his great profit and glory if he undertook the protection of the Widow and Fatherless Child in so great distress wherefore he said to the Embassadours that to declare his constancy inseparable from his bounty he would take such course that the Germans should not long rejoyce of the Warres begun and in token of friendship gave them a royal Robe a Buckler with a curious Bosse a Horsemans Mace with a golden handle and a Scimiter with a Scabbard richly set with Stones writing to Ustref and Mahometes speedily to ayd the Queen who if harmed through their cefault it should cost them their heads The Embassadors were scarce gone when Lascus came to Constantinople whose success he understanding yet he proceeded in his business c. But when he often mentioned the Emperour as if he would ayd his Brother with all the power of Germany Solyman was so moved that he was presently imprisoned young Rustan Bassa especially chiding him as worthy of death for offending by his liberal speech so courteous a Prince and as it were mocking the King of Kings requiring friendship while his Master most impudently warred in Hungary Ustreff and Mahometes assembling their dispersed forces by shipping brought them down Savus and Dravus into Danubius for t is hard to perform any great matter by Warre in Hungary without the help of a great Fleet but Danubius was then so frozen on both sides that the middle was scarce open so that the Turks not daring to return were enforced to abide the Winters incredible hardness in their Tents to shew their readinesse their most dear Horses starving for cold and want of meat The Spring coming on in the year of Christ 1541 they entred Hungary with whom Thuraccus the Queens General joyned also the Queen sending presents to the Turks Generalls victualling the Camp and furnishing them with Ordnance for besieging of Cities holden by Ferdinand who took Vacia but badly defended putting many to the Sword and burning the City thence removing to Pesth a Hungarian and a German so vallantly defended the City and the Turks not well relieved with Victuall that they passing Danubius and restoring the Ordnance returned home but in their retiring the Hungarians led by Gnarus slew many Achomates one of their best Captains being one The Turks gone Ferdinand perswading the Emperour not to give over the War so fortunately begun the late supplies for Velsius were sent into Hungary under Lord Regendorffe then gone as farre as Possonium to relieve Pesth unto whom Velsius gave place who joyning with the old Army marched to Buda besieging it Upon a great Hill called Gerard's Mount whose middle was equal with the top of the Castle over against it a great Valley and deep Ditch laying betwixt Regendorffe planted his Battery so shaking a new Tower thereof that it was thought it would fall if it had yet supposed dangerous to assault it having a treble Wall but he sparing the sumptuous Turrets and Galleries of the King's Pallace therein sent to the Queen wishing her to break 〈◊〉 sunder the Bishops Fetters and accept of Ferdinands offer ready to bestow on her a goodly Seigniory honourably to live and bring up her Sonne in safety which if she as a simple Woman and ignorant of her own danger should refuse he would beat down the Pallace about her eares The Bishop answered in her behalf she was not such a fool to exchange the Kingdom of Hungary for the principality of Sepusia scornfully answering him as a very doting and mad old man c. And above all requesting him of private courtesie to discharge his Pieces with a little lesse noyse lest his Sow at home great with Pig terrified should farrow before her time to the great grief of his Guests for he was of a sharp and taunting spirit so contemning the Germans that two being taken burning Houses in the Kings Orchard he hanged two Hoggs on the Gallowes with them Ere long Regendorffe removed to a place called the JEWES GRAVES near Jewes Gate the Bishop quipping him now as a proper wise man who had pitched his Tents in a most fit place among the dead c. But he battering the Walls in two places a great part thereof was beaten down another part overcharged with Earth cast up within side for strengthening it then fell down also to the exceeding dismaying of them in the City which opportunity Regendorffe let slip either through the smoak and dust not well aware or doing all things leasurely and suspiciously and the Germans not so easily brought to a sudden assault as Spaniards Italians and French so that it was deferred night coming fast on till the next morning the Budians the while with incredible diligence rating a rampier instead thereof In the morning they fiercely assaulted it so that Fotiscus with some Companies entering a shattered adjoyning House had almost recovered the top of the Rampier but they of Buda wondrously withstanding the Bishop encouraging and fighting amongst them the Germans were forced to retire above 800 men being lost Perenus being also repulsed but with lesse losse at the breach at the Gate Sabatina Then he began to undermine the City but by countermines was disappointed yet the common people in the City pinched with hunger mutinously cryed out 't was time to yield and end those common miseries but the Bishop shewing but himself in the Market-place as if he would have preached could turn the peevish people which way he pleased After this the City had almost by the treason of one Bornemissa a Lawyer been lost who hating the Bishop for taking part with a Banckrupt Jew against
with his multitude But far was it from Zomoschi's thought though the common opinion was so to do the Transilvanian Prince any good by keeping out the Tartars who envying at his glory had with the Cardinal his Brother the Princes Uncles conspired what they could his utter ruin wishing rather those Countries subjected to the Turk than to see them so at liberty governed by the Prince presently after the departure of the Tartars he passing the River Nijester into Moldavia when the Prince was going against Sinan seized the Castle of Chotjim which he garrison'd thence marching to Zorona the Metropolis had it yielded unto him had soon almost all the Country delivered unto him Stephen fleeing from place to place before him from whom he least feared any such thing The Chancellour presently placed one Jeremiah Vayuod in Stephen's room to hold it of the Polonian King yet he sent to 〈◊〉 requesting him not to take it ill that he had entered Moldavia placing a Vayuod there but in Mahomet's Name to confirm his deeds promising this new Vayuod should pay him the Tribute behind and for future a far greater than had Moldavia before But the haughty Bassa not fearing to be driven out of those Countries by the Prince answered It was not the Sultans mind that the Polonians should invade Moldavia for besides his ability without them to reduce those Countries he had given it to the Tartar in reward of his good service already done whose Subjects would ere long be ready to possess it yet Zamoschi defended the new Vayuod but if Sinan had not been as he was presently after overthrown and driven quite out the Chancellour had not now holden Moldavia who pretended also that Moldavia did of ancient right belong to the Kingdom of Poland which the Transilvanians took to be but open wrong by which supposed Title the King and States of Poland inferred the Invasion and placing a Vayuod of Moldavia to his discretion who laboured also by forced reasons to shew them the power of the Prince to be so inferiour unto the Turks that it was to be feared he should at length be thrust out of all and so it should happen that the Polonians should have an untrusty and trouble some Neighbour c. perswading himself to find such favour with the Turkish Emperour that he should be well contented with his Invasion which proved a great trouble of the Prince and benefit to the Turk The new Vayuod not long after opening a way for the Tartars to enter 〈◊〉 by the way of the Ciculi of Alba-Julia and of Valachia Sigismund after the flight of Sinan sent some Companies of Horse and Foot to Stephen the late Vayuod to try if he could drive out the Polonians again and recover his former Dignity with which ayd and others he bloodily fought with them but being overcome and taken he was a while kept as the Prince feared to be delivered to the Turk and as is said was afterward by them 〈◊〉 put to death This foul dealing of the Polonian much grieved many Christians as tending to a generall hurt Wherefore the Emperour thought to 〈◊〉 the Polonian King by his Embassadours to desist from such invasion of the Transilvanian Prince as nothing standing with his Honour and that some good reconciliation might be made between the Prince and his Uncles the authors of all these troubles Pope Clement the 8th also sent a Messenger with like Instructions and large Letters to the King pathetically perswading him not so to prosecute his wars against the Prince but to turn his thoughts to a more peaceable and Christian-like course especially with him with whom he was so nigh linked in marriage for they married 2 Sisters he also wrote 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like effect to Cardinal Bator and after many Admonitions cited him to Rome Which Letters dated from Rome Novemb. 8. were delivered in December the Pope sharply reproving the Cardinall and Chancellour as Authors and Contrivers of all these mischiefs The Tartar C ham also about this time sent his Embassadour to the King of Poland for confirmation of such Articles as he had before agreed on with the Chancellour whose Letters did declare the ground and purpose of his intended Expedition into Moldavia with the collusion of the Chancellour with the Turks and Tartars against the Transilvanian Prince saying When the Chancellour had promised He would take order that the Cossacks on the further side of Nijester should be utterly rooted out that they should not hereafter do any harm in the Sultans Territories and that the Presents usually sent him since the time of Solyman should no more be detained nor any harms done in any part of his Dominions he also consented that Jeremiah should hold the Vayuodship of Valachia Unto which agreement if his Majesty should consent then he should alwayes find brotherly friendship with him and all his Captains and Murzis Otherwise he did not perform the Oath and Covenants made The Embassador delivering a speech to the King to the same effect with the Letters gave him a Horse and an Arrow for a Present and was brought to a Lodging there to expect his answer At length it was given in sealed Letters which he taking much against his will requested the King to send an Embassadour to the Cham and by word to tell him what to answer to his Lord but other answer he could get none and so rewarded with a 〈◊〉 furred with Sables was dismissed without the Present requested by the Cham or any Embassadour Thus the Transilvanian Prince received more harm from the Polonians than from the Turk and 〈◊〉 for by taking away of Moldavia they weakened his strength and opened a way for the 〈◊〉 into his Country yet the Chancellour in his large Letters to the Pope alledged much for excuse of themselves with which however the Pope was contented yet it nothing pleased the Emperor and much less the Prince In the beginning of Novemb. Leucovits Governour of Carolstat the second time surprized Wihitz in the Frontiers of Croatia but not being able to take the Castle took the spoil of the City and setting it on fire departed Maximilian also attempted Zolnoc and the Christians at Strigonium and Plindenburg did with continual inroads 〈◊〉 the Turks at Buda all the latter end of this year and the beginning of the next and the Turks in Braila in Valachia fearing after the flight of 〈◊〉 to be besieged by Michael forsook the City passing over the River Danubius in such haste that 300 perished Sinan was ere long sent for to Constantinople but the old Fox knowing the fierce nature of the Sultan and warned by Ferat 〈◊〉 delay till he was the third time sent for The mean while he so wrought by his mighty friends in Court and rich rewards that he was honourably received at Court as the chiefest Bassa and being offered to be discharged of the wars as one above 80 years old he said He was born and brought
number drew the Emperour with his Army among the woods and mountaines where the King with his Army lay in waite where they being wearied and beset were overthrown with a great slaughter Baldwin himself taken and sent in bonds to Ternova where by the barbarous King his hands and seet were cut off lying 3 dayes in a deep valley where he was cast breathing he dyed no man burying him He perished in 1206 not having reigned a full year The barbarous King with his savage Souldiers tasting the Latins wealth over-ran all Thracia rifling and racing the City of Serrae with 9 more putting all to the sword except a few carried away prisoners Of all Provinces Thrace was most miserable first spoiled by the Latins now desolated by Bulgarians and Scythians Didimothicum and Adrionople valiantly defended escaped their fury The Latins made choice of Baldwin's brother to succeed him who aided by the King of Thessaly recovered all places taken by the Barbarians driving them quite out the Countrey But to come nearer to our purpose Alexius Angelus fled into Thessaly from the Latins and so to Leo Sturus who tyrannizing at Nauplus was grown greater by surprizal of Argos and Corinth by whom he entrapped Murzuffle for a secret grudg and put out his eyes himself an exile a deadly foe to other exiled who being shortly taken by the Latins was brought to Constantinople where for murdering young Alexius he was cast headlong from a high Tower and crushed to pieces miserably dying Not long after Alexius himself was wandring in Thraciae by Montferrat going against Scurus stript of all and sent away naked wandring as a beggar in Achaia and Peloponesus who hearing that Lascaris his Son in Law reigned as an Emperour in Asia inwardly grieved thereat came secretly to Jathathines the Turks Sultan lying at Attalia declaring his heavy state requesting he might be restored especially in that part of his Empire detained from him by Lascaris Jathathines not forgetful of his own troubles or of the kindness he had received from Alexius at Constantinople when fleeing from Azatines his eldest brother he was honourably entertained by him received after Azatin's death for the Turks Sultan and hoping to share of what he got threatned Lascaris with all extremities except he gave place to his Father in Law to whom those Countries of right appertained Lascaris fearing both the Sultan's power and the peoples inclination yet finding them ready and well-affected towards him set forward with 2000 choise horsemen with the Sultan's Embassadour to Philadelphia the Sultan with Alexius then besieging Antioch on the banks of Meander with 20000 Turks Lascaris understanding the gaining that strong City would hazzard his whole Empire resolved to do what he might with those few to relieve it And following the Embassadour at the heels who coming unto the Sultan and telling him of his approach and at length prrswaded of the truth thereof put his Army in the best order he could on such a sudden and the places straitness The Emperour had 800 resolute Italians who brake thorough the Sultans Army disordering them the Greeks following but being divided from the rest in coming back were by the disordered Turks all together 〈◊〉 having made an hard to be believed slanghter of the Turks The Greeks were now upon the point to flee but the Sultan singling out the Greek Emperour at the first encounter gave him such a blow on the head with his 〈◊〉 that he fell down astonished who quickly recovering his feet hoxed the hinder leggs of the Sultans tall Mare with which she faltred and the Sultan tumbled down whose head the Emperour cut off the sight of which so dismaied the Turks that they presently fled who for his small number pursued not but in the City gave thanks to God The Turks sent shortly concluding a Peace on his own conditions who carrying Alexius taken in this battel to Nice used him well notwithstanding his ill deserts Whilst the Latins spent their forces against the Greeks and Lascaris was troubled with the Turks the Christians affairs in Syria grew worse and worse whereof the Knights Hospitallers and Templers blamed Almericus King of Cyprus who being so near and marrying Isabel heir of Jerusalem's Kingdom given to pleasure did nothing to relieve the Christians for though the Turks were yet in League with them and at some mutual discord yet building new Castles c. they cut them short upon occasion The Knights requested Pope Inocent for remedy certifying him there was one Mary daughter of Montferrat whom they had brought up and were ready to bestow her on whom he should think worthy with her right to the Kingdom Innocent discharging Almericus gave it to John Count of Brenne a Frenchman of fame then in Arms with the Latin Princes who commending his Earldom to his brother came with what forces he could to Uenice and Constantinople and thence with rejoycing was received as King at Ptolemais arriving Sept. 5. and marrying Mary the last day was with her crowned at Tyre in 1209 Almericus soon dying for grief Some envying his promotion called him in derision a King Sans Ville that is without a Town The 10 years peace betwixt the Turks and Christians was almost expired 9 years discord having continned between Noradine and Saphadin for Soveraignty was ended by Saphadin's death Noradine contented with Aleppo Coradin and Saphadin's Sons one had Damasco the other Aegypt all enemies to the Christians Not long after Pope Innocent summoned a Councel at Lateran to which not only a multitude of Bishops but most Christian Princes Embassadours repaired the danger of the 〈◊〉 in Syria and their relief by the Western Princes was propounded To which all consented and some were appointed to publish their Decree in every Province for relief to stir up the people for undertaking the same The German Bishops of Ments Cullen Trivers were special furtherers of this whose example moved many Henry Count of Nivers and one Gualter with a great and gallant number were sent from France a Fleet of 200 sail meeting at the Adriatique Ports who arrived prosperously at Ptolemais Andrew King of Hungary before bound hereto followed with the Duke of Bavaria and Leopold of Austria to all which John of Jerusalem joyned There was great hope of some great matter to be done they the first day marched into Galilee easily overthrowing some met-Companies of the Turks The King of Hungary bathing in Jordan as discharged of his vow returned with all his power home all the rest crying out the contrary From Jordan they came to Tabor But Winter coming on and the Cattel dying by cold and want of meat they wintred at Ptolemais and Tyre John and the Austrian troubling the Barbarians that Winter by taking a Castle between Caesaria and 〈◊〉 The Army met at Spring they thought best to attempt the conquest of Aegypt which standing upright they should do no great matter in Syria and it being subdued Jerusalem and Palestine would of
forward against the Tartars who at first sight of strange Ensignes and Souldiers were much dismaied Yet they had with them a most bloody conflict wherein that part standing against Paleologus being worsted 〈◊〉 about to flee but the Sultan's Kinsman bearing him a grudge revolting with his Regiment to the Tartars the battle was quite altered the Tartars fighting like Lyons and the Victors were glad to flee a great number of them being slain Paleologus and the Generall were hardly chased glad to stand fighting often for their lives with much adoe after many daies recovered a Castle of the Generalls The Tartars hazarding hereby the Turk's Kingdome forraged all his Countries 〈◊〉 so that the discouraged Sultan fled to Theodorus for aid who comforted him with such small aid as he thought good sending them home with him for his safety under Isaac 〈◊〉 Murzufle who gave him Laodicea in recompence yet ere long it fell again into the Turks hands as not to be holden by the Christians The Sultan too weak to withstand the Tartars made a league with them for paying them a yearly tribute They are accounted from this time as their 〈◊〉 and Vassals Not long after Paleologus was called home by the Emperour's Letters with his faith for security who before his return was bound by Oath to be loyal never to seek after the Empire or cause new suspect of matters before charged but yield dutifull obedience to the Emperour or his Successours Whereupon he was again Great Constable living afterwards in great honour with him Who reigning 3 years died leaving John his Son but six years old to succeed him and commended him to Arsemus the Patriarch and George Muzalo as trusty Tutors together with the Empire Muzalo though of mean Parentage was brought up in the Court as the Emperor's play-fellow still ready to say or do what might please him And the elder they grew they increased in mutual affection and he as in greatest favour was promoted to the greatest honours and married to the Emperour 's nigh Kinswoman An Oath of obedience unto the young Prince and them as Tutors was exacted of all sorts whatsoever both before and after the Emperour's death for many Nobles murmured at Muzalo's sudden fortune many thinking themselvs to have better right thereto as of nearer Kin to the Emperour and fitter for such a charge than Muzalo who not honourably born and having been Theodore's minister of wrath against some Nobles was to be hated and contemned and if be should now affect the Empire he would spare no villany to effect his inordinate desire Muzalo's wits being awakened with these dangers he called all the Nobility into the Court courteously offering to yield up both the Empires administration and the tuition to any one whom they thought fittest for such a charge which all refused saying He was to be preferred to whom the Lord of both had committed both Muzalo 〈◊〉 requested the contrary for fear chiefly of danger to ensue But would he or not he must take the charge on him Now were all sworn with greater solemnity the third time than before wishing a shameful end to them and theirs if they failed to perform their obedience c. Yet 9 daies were not fully past but some of the chief Nobility conspired the unworthy death of Muzalo which was on the Emperour's funerall day in his Abbey at Maguesia where while the Hymns were singing c. the Souldiers before instructed by the Conspirator breaking into the Temple with drawn swords slew Muzalo at the Altar for refuge with Andronicus and Theodore his Brethren and divers others The mourning Matrons thronging out fled as fast as they could but the Priests and Monks thinking to do the like were by the Soulders forced into the Temple and on the Pavement slippery with blood ended in fear those bloody Obsequies Arsemius the onely Tutor was much troubled for though for learning and integrity not inferiour yet in state matters he was far to seek and of no great reach yet wishing all well he consulted with the Nobility what were best to be done for government of the Emperour and Empire now Muzalo was dead Which not being grounded on wise fore-sight was more dangerous to the young Emperour than the murthering swords Michael 〈◊〉 was also called to the counsell descended of the Comnen's house a man very courteous and liberall winning all mens hearts thereby especially the Commanders of the Army of whose aspiring many Rumours had formerly passed yea the Patriarch on speciall favour committed to his trust the Keys of the common Treasury when mony was to be paid out upon great occasions of State the readiest way to effect what he had long plotted for he powred out the Masse of treasure amongst the Nobility and Martiall men with others and many of the Clergy also The Patriarch was by his favourites who had many meetings sollicited though generally to take order for the States good Government which as a ship without a Master was in danger to perish Paleologus was then in every man's mouth as onely fit to take the charge on him till the Emperour came to Age. Unto which the Patriarch gave consent and so with a general contentment made him a Governour and Tutor This was the first step whereby he mounted to the Empire Not many 〈◊〉 after it was alleadged by his favourites in Counsel It was not seemly for a Tutor and Governour of State who was to hear forreign Embassadours to want the honour next to an Emperour whereupon he was honoured with the title of Despot Shortly after he was by certain great favourites near Magnesia with great applause saluted Emperour Arsemius being much troubled therewith fearing what would become of the young child He thought it better by Oath to bind the Emperour and his makers not to seek his life nor to go about to deprive him than to excommunicate them which was done Within a moneth the Patriarch perswaded set the Imperial Crown on this Usurpers head not as still to enjoy the Empire but according to present necessity till the child came of age to whom he was then to resign All being confirmed by oath good news was brought him of a victory obtained by his brother John against Michael Despot of Aetolia and Epirus who hearing of the Emperour's death his Father in Law with troubles in Asia being aided by 2 others entred Macedonia and Thracia burning and spoiling the Countrey and thinking to take most to himself The news he received when Crowned the great Commanders shortly bringing the Prince of Peloponesus and Achaia prisoners who gave to Paleologus for ransome three of the best Cities of Peloponesus wherein he put strong Garrisons and gained at length most of Peloponesus from the Latins shortly after purposing to besiege Constantinople with a great Army but as too difficult he left that and besieged the Castle of Pera on tother side the haven hoping by winning that to master the Town but he
vain one of whose servants fleeing to the enemy caused him to suspect the more So prevailing nothing and doubting to be betrayed he returned to Amasia Solyman glad to Prusa ordeding his Armies assembling but the Caramanian King and Mahomet agreeing in League to joyn against him he forthwith drew all to Ancyra Musa remaining all this while with Mahomet though no altogether well pleased spake one day to his brother Thou seest how Solyman coaseth not to vex us not unlike to prevail c. Now I would go to 〈◊〉 his enemy and procure passage over the Euxine into Europe where I doubt not in his absence to make some innovation c. which if I shall gain by thy support I promise to hold it of thee as my Soveraign Mahomet greatly pleased after their Turkish faith given to stand to each other during life furnished Musa with money and necessaries for so great an enterprize who setting forward Isfendiar entertained him as a great Prince and 〈◊〉 him with his purpose he visited the King of Caramania Mark of Valachia having his Countrey spoiled by Solyman's Garrisons wrot to Musa promising him his daughter and Heir if he would come and revenge the wrong done by Solyman Musa gladly returning into Europe the Valachian received him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and gave him his Daughter This fame was soon bruited thorow Solyman's Kingdom and wrought such effect that the vulgar submitted as it were all to him as their Soveraign so that coming to Hadrianople he was received as their King Solyman understanding Musa's proceedings was exceedingly troubled Leaving a Deputy in 〈◊〉 he with his Army obtained passage of the Emperour over Bosphorus promising therefore to restore him some places taken from him in Asia for Musa had brought all Turkish shipping unto Europe side Musa made toward him but their Armies ready to joyn battel many of Musa's Captains fled to Solyman he fleeing to the woods and mountains Solyman taking again his Kingdoms possession gave himself at Hadrianople to excesse without measure Solyman's Deputy lately received into Mahomet's favour delivered to him Prusa's Castle and all the rest in Asia who shortly reducing again Carasia Aidinia c. to his obeysance returning to Prusa he took a second possession of his Fathers Kingdom Musa still put to the worst by Solyman gathering some good strength drew near where Solyman was banquetting in his Camp and full of Wine So that news being brought Musa was at hand he caused the messenger to be beaten and when he affirmed it more earnestly than liked him commanded him to be slain Ere long Musa's Vaunt-courrours skirmishing with Solymans Souldiers Eurenoses told him 〈◊〉 had skirmished c. Solylyman in Wine said Good Tutor trouble me no more Musa dares not come so nigh me if I hold but up my Cap he is gone He discontented sent in Chasan Aga of the Janizaries who boldly told him the danger and sharply reproved him Solyman moved commanded his beard to be 〈◊〉 off Chasan coming forth thus disgraced said This is the honour wherewith Solyman in his excess rewardeth his Wherefore I will serve Musa a 〈◊〉 of more temperance and discretion Who will follow me come and wellcome So with a number of Janizaries he went to Musa as did others by his example But then it repented Solyman of his too dissolute solly and hiding himself till night then accompanied only with two Noble men and a Countrey Turk as their guide thought to flee to Constantinople This Clown led them on purpose all night to and fro bringing them in the morning not far from whence they departed and riding before willed a sturdy-peasant or two to make stop of Solyman who with others like running out with Bats c. slew 〈◊〉 and Muchil that stood on their 〈◊〉 taking Solyman alive some in their fury cryed out to kill him c. and end the wars some few to save him In this 〈◊〉 came Musa who caused him to be strangled reigning 6 years 10 months This was Solymans miserable end much in excess otherwise endued with many virtues 〈◊〉 writing Alexander the Great 's History in Turkish verse 〈◊〉 publishing it in his name he bountiously rewarded him His body lyeth buried at Prusa by his Grandfather Amurath Musa now reigning in Europe in the beginning displaced most that bare great Offices in Solyman's time fearing to be by them betrayed or 〈◊〉 as his brother was and on small causes imprisoned and put to death many well deserving of him Wherefore many Nobles doubting the event of such Tyranny kept our of the way Eurenoses seigning himself blind to be absent from the Court He also demanded of divers Christian Princes tribute payed or promised to Bajazet invading some of them and demanding by Ibrahim Bassa the like of Emmanuel the Emperour who advertizing Mahomet of Musa's undiscreet Government c. he sent back requesting the Bassa to come over to him with rich garments and Princely promises the Bassa going to Prusa was sworn one of his Privy Councel serving him faithfully and his Son Amurath after him Mahomet upon advantage of his Brothers ill government assembled 15000 choyse Souldiers to invade him before well established and was transported over Bosphorus into Europe by the Emperour after a League concluded betwixt them the one should never damnifie the other c. Musa having stopped all other passages Mahomet not marched far from the Sea Musa's Vaunt-Courriers met with his 〈◊〉 at Musa's were put to flight and chased to his Army who thinking Mahomet was upon them were almost ready to flee but both Armies rested that night Next day began a mortal and bloody fight Michael Bassa of Romania and other Captains on discontent revolting to Mahomet Many of Musa's Souldiers discouraged fled Mahomet's Souldiers so pursued that few were left with him yet in hope he set upon his brother who though half discomfited stood himself with 7000 Jannizaries valiantly receiving his charge But Mahomet was glad to flee to 〈◊〉 with scarce 200 men and was according to the agreement shipped into Asia by the Emperour Musa taking his Tents there encamped They who followed the chase returning to the Camp and finding it possessed by their enemies stood as amazed c. Musa suffered not his Souldiers to put them to the sword but dispoyling them of what they had suffered them to depart After this the Prince of Smyrna forcibly entred Aidinia to 〈◊〉 into Saruchania Mahomet with a great Army so spoyled his Countrey and distressed himself that submiting he was glad to hold his Dominion of him as of his Lord c. Mahomet levied a choise Army again to try his fortune against Musa craving aid of Dulgader Ogli his Father in Law from Amasia who answering his Letters sent his Son with a Company of brave Souldiers excellently furnished whom he royally feasting gave to the Prince his own rich apparrel and horse and all the gold and silver plate wherein they were served to every Noble man a
would have had all the Rebels put to the sword but by Eivases they were generally pardoned Amurath coming to Boga hanged the Captain and intending to pursue him hired by chance a Genoway ship to transport his Army into Europe for Mustapha caused the shipping to be brought to the other side He now fleeing to Hadrianople fearing to be betrayed speeded thence coming to an obscure place in the Country whence the pursuers brought him bound to Amurath at Hadrianople where he was hanged from the battlements of a high Tower Some Writers report him indeed to be Bajazet's Son but the Turkish Histories reporting as before call him Dusme or counterfait Mustapha c. 〈◊〉 of the common Souldiers apparelled and armed like Janizaries sell into the true Janizaries hands Amurath's guard who used them with all possible indignities A Janizary being hungry brought 2 of these to a Cooks shop to sell them for a little victuals who refusing to give him as having no use of such the Janizary swore to cut off their heads and give them him for nought if he would not redeem them for a thing of nought The Cook moved with pity offered him a Sheeps head which he took swearing he had given more than they were worth which disgrace is yet often objected by the insolent Janizaries telling these Asapi in their rage two of them are not worth a sodden Sheeps head Amurath was not a little grieved to think that this dangerous rebellion was first plotted by the Greeks and then 〈◊〉 by the Emperour of whom 〈◊〉 to be revenged he sent Michael Ogli with his Europeans to 〈◊〉 about Constantinople following in person with the Janizaries and Asians filling the Land's neck before the City from Sea to Sea and beginning furiously to batter the walls but they stronger than he supposed and the Defendants still repairing he ceasing his battery desperately assaulted it but they were notably repulsed some losing their hands some their armes but most their lives no shott falling from the walls in vain Which Amurath beholding sounded a retreat and shortly in great rage departed To whom the Emperour sending about peace he would not hear but threatned ere long to be revenged Wherefore the Emperour to keep him busied devised with the Caramanian King countenancing another Amurath's younger Brother to his no small trouble Mahomet had 5 Sons and 7 Daughters Mustapha surnamed the little was the second who being but 13 years old was set up by Caramanian and other Mahometan and Christian Princes to impeach Amurath's greatnesse who strengthened with their forces besieged Nice at length yielded to him But Amurath corrupting by great gifts and promises Ilias Beg the Princes Tutor he in 9 dayes came to Nice entring with small resistance Mustapha being presented by the Tutor to him who because he would not spill a drop of Sacred Othoman blood strangled him with a bow-string buried at Prusa Amurath now fearing no Competitour removed the 3 Bassaes into honourable places retaining onely Eivases and Ibrahim of his Council Eivases being shortly accused that he sought to aspire the Kingdome usually wearing a privy Coat the Tyrant jealous cast his arme about him as in kindnesse as he rod with him finding him secretly armed would know the cause who answered for fear of some enemies in Court but he forthwith apprehended had his eyes burnt out with a hot steel glasse Mahumethes the while Caramanian King besieged Attalia 6 months Valiantly 〈◊〉 d by Amurath's Lievtenant the King being slain with a great shot as he viewed the City Ibrahim succeeeding brake up the siege to bury his Father Then also Dracula of Valachia passing Danubius did much hurt about Silistra but afterwards was forced to become Amuraths tributary Tzunites then about pretending an interest of descent in the Seignory of Aidinia by all meanes vexed Jaxis Beg the Lievtenant secretly favoured of the Country what they durst Amurath Commanded Anatolia's Viceroy with all power to war on him who invaded the Princes Country who meeting him well provided gave him battle Hasan the Prince's son with a part put part of the Turks to flight and too furiously pursuing left his Father hard beset by the Viceroy glad to flee to Hipsily Castle Hasan returning ignorant of the hap was overcome and taken The Viceroy presently besieging the Castle after a while the Prince in extremity yielded to him without Violence to him or his son to be sent prisoners to Amurath the Viceroy promising it by Oath Iaxis whose brother the Prince by chance before taking put to death attending Hamze to his tent and Hasan as the Turks manner 〈◊〉 sitting on the ground drawing him by the Coller to his fa hers feet struck off his head and in the same rage the aged Prince's also to the great dishonour or the Viceroy Their heads set on 2 Launces in the Castles sight the defendants yielded After Zunites his death all this territory was united to the Othoman Kingdome After all this Amurath married Isfendiars Daughter He now thought high time to 〈◊〉 revenge of the Greek Princes that aided the Rebels aforesaid wherefore ranging with a great Army thorow Macedonia to Thessalonica he surprized divers places belonging to the Emperour by the way This famous City sometime for beauty and wealth not inferiour to any in Greece Amurath hardly besieged with 〈◊〉 battery corrupting secretly some Citizens to have let him in by a secret Mine which being by the Venetian Governours perceived the plotters 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 fled to the Turks Amurath promising his Souldiers all its spoyle if they wan it so inflamed them especially the Janizaries that by a most terrible assault they entred the City The Venetians fleeing to their Galleys got to Sea but no tongue or pen describe the miseries the Christian Citizens endured heartily wishing to die and could 〈◊〉 The furious enemy devoured all Sexes and Ages but those who for strength or comelinesse were reserved to labour and lust afterwards dispersed into most miserable slavery The infinite riches became a spoile the houses desolate given for a habitation to such Turks as at pleasure repaired thither and at this day possessed by them This happened in 1432 〈◊〉 returning to Hadrianople sent Caratze with most of his Army into Aetolia whose Prince Charles dying a little before divided Acharnania amongst his 3 Base sons leaving the rest to his Brothers Son Charles Shortly after Amurath sending aid to one of the brethen falling at discord in fine subjected all Aetolia to himself The Princes of Athens Phocis Boetia and all Greece unto Corinths strait terryfied hereby became tribularies to the Tyrant living long under his slavery Thus the Greeks lost their liberty c. and 〈◊〉 now so degenerate that whereas they accounted all Nations 〈◊〉 in comparison themselves are 〈◊〉 no lesse 〈◊〉 John Castriott who reigned in Epirus seeing how the Turk 〈◊〉 against his Neighbour-Princes for peace delivered his 4 Sons Szanstius Reposius Constantine and George Hostages to Amurath promising well
in bonds wherewith the Citizens discouraged yielded themselves and City into his power who entering it and taking his Daughter and all his Children with all Nobles he found sent them forthwith by Sea with the Emperour to Constantinople as in triumph choosing what Citizens he pleased for his own service bringing up 800 Christian Children for Janizaries many Citizens sent captives to Constantinople dividing the beautiful Women to his friends and men of Warre he sent some choise ones to his Sonnes The other Towns shortly submitted to the Turkish thraldom wherein they have since miserably lived he appointed Janizaries for the Castle and his Admiral to govern the common Souldiers in the City So Mahomet having in few moneths subdued Paphlagonia Pontus and a great part of Cappadocia c. returned in great triumph Afterwards Usuns Queen seeking to get some of her Uncles children possibly by her Husbands power to advance to her Fathers Empire Mahomet cruelly put to death David with all his sonnes and kinsmen rooting out all the Family of the Comnens but George the youngest Sonne who at first turned Turk and whose Sister was afterwards one of his concubines This Empire was by Mahomet subverted in 1461. The year following Ulanus Prince of Valachia resolving to joyn to the Hungarians Mahomet thought to circumvent this his tributary before wholly fallen from him wherefore he sent Catabolinus his Secretary to bring him to Court promising him greater promotions than ever and commanding by him Chamuzes Bassa Governour of Bidina c. to do his utmost for entrapping of Uladus promising him great rewards Chamuzes devised the Secretary to give him notice of the day of his return from the Prince when 't was like Uladus would bring him on his way of himself or at least being by the Secretary requested the Bassa passing with Troops over Danubius should lay close in ambush on the way The Secretary forced his wit to perswade the Prince to go to Court c. But he obtained no more from him wary than good words and in courtesie to conduct him unto Danubius side The Secretary giving Chamuzes notice he lay where the Secretary must needs passe comming at the prefixed time to the place Chamuzes suddenly assailing the Prince slew divers But Uladus being of great courage and better appointed than the Bassa supposed slew many Turks and at length took Chamuzes with the rest whose hands and feet he cutting off thrust their bodies on sharp stakes fastned in the ground hanging the Bassa and Secretary on a Gibbet much higher than the other And gathering his forces passed Danubius burning along the River side killing man woman and Child so returning into Valachia This newes set Mahomet into such a rage that he commanded Bassa Mahometes telling him of it to be cruelly whipt But when he surely understood rather worse than the Bassa reported it is not to be expressed into what a rage he fell Wherefore assembling speedily his Souldiers to Philopopolis he soon raised such an Army as had not been against Constantinople sending also 25. Galli s and 150 small Vessels to land in Danubius and joyn with the Podolian who for a grudge against Uladus promised to aid the Turk who before Mahomets comming with the Polodians help had burnt Prailaba the greatest Trade-Town in Valachia then besieging Cebium awhile with some losse the Podolian departed into his Country the Admiral to his Fleet. Mahomet got over burnt c. making havock of all in his way taking but few Prisoners for the Valachies had retired all unfit for Warres into strong Cities or Woods or high and rough Mountains The Prince kept the Woods and Mountains following the Turks as near as with safety and cutting off straglers many times yet being but a handful durst not shew himself in field Mahomet roaming up and down and not reckoning of so weak an enemy pitched in open plains not entrenched Uladus understanding thereof furiously assailed in the dead of night the Asian quarter of the Camp slaying many in their Tents the rest terrified fled to the European Souldiers whom the Prince following did great harm in that quarter also so fearing the Turks in generall that they were on the point to flee Yea Mahomet fearing the Hungarians had joyned with the Prince had fled had not Mahomet Bassa perswaded him and by Proclamation none on pain of death to forsake his place enforced a head against the Prince which Uladus perceiving after great slaughter and spoil of the Asians Tents retired into the Woods It being day Halybeg with select Companies pursuing them took one thousand putting the rest to flight who were presently put to the Sword After that Mahomet entrenched every night keeping better Watches and Ward in every quarter Who as he marched came where the Bassa and Secretary hanged and the dismembred Turks on stakes with which he was grievously offended Passing fu ther he came to a plain almost one mile broad and two long full of Gallows Gibbets and Stakes c. hanging full of dead men women and children deemed about twenty thousand Some their limbs broken on wheels with many horrible kinds of death All which the cruel Prince jealous of his estate had for desert or suspition put to death his Souldiers had their goods executing the whole Family sometime the whole kindred with the offender Mahomet though by nature fierce and cruel wondred Yet said onely Uladus knew how to have his Subjects at command Then sending Josephus to skirmish with the Valachies he was put to the worst But Omares comming in they were overthrown and two thousand heads brought on launces into the Camp for which Omares was by Mahomet made Governour of Thessalie Mahomet seeing it to no purpose to hunt after his fleeing enemy returned to Constantinople leaving Haly-beg with Vladus his younger Brother called also Vladus to prosecute that Warre with a party This younger Dracula was of a little youth brought up in Mahomets Court who for his comely feature sought first by fair words and gifts to corrupt him at last to force him The youth enraged drew his Rapier to slay him grievously wounding his thigh and fled yet being drawn back he was pardoned and reconciled becomming his Ganymede and being long beloved and honoured was now set up for a Stale to 〈◊〉 the Valachies into rebellion divers of whom comming to Haly to ransom their friends taken in those Warres young Vladus declaring the Turks great power and as lamenting the Countries endless miseries imputed them to the disordered Government of his cruel Brother assuring speedy relief if the Valachies forsaking his Brother would cleave to him as their Soveraign By whose lively reasons c. they present perswaded and others by them soon all forsook the elder and chose him the younger who by Mahomets consent took on him the Government yet holding it as his vassal Vladus thus forsaken fled into Transilvania where he was laid fast by the Hungarian King at Belgrade for cruelly and unjustly
executing divers Hungarians yet after ten years being inlarged he died in battel against the Turks Mahomet sent the same Fleet into the Aegeum to take the Islands who before under the Constantinopolitan had put themselves now under the Venetian especially Mitylene pretending its Prince harbored the Italian Pirates and others buying prisoners and booty taken from the Turks at Sea and along the Sea-coast also that he slaying his eldest Brother unjustly governed Himself passing into Asia came to Possidium over against Mitylene Landing his small Army over the narrow Strait he soon over-ran and spoiled the Island captivating all its Inhabitants who being sold at Constantinople were thence dispersed Then besieging the Prince in the City Mitylene he battered it twenty seven dayes and the defendants by sharp assaults greatly diminished the Prince offered to yield up all in the Isle for some other Province of like value which Mahomet accepting solemnly sware to perform The Prince humbly comming forth excused himself for receiving the men of Warre that they might not spoil his own Country denying he had bought or shared any of their prizes Mahomet seemingly contented cheared him with good words yet all being delivered into his hands he put to death many of the chief Citizens cutting three hundred Pirates in the middle and placing Garisons he returned carrying the Prince with him and all the better sort with all the wealth leaving his Garrisons with a few of the poorest people Being arrived he closly imprisoned the Prince with his cousin used in killing his Brother who in danger of their lives every houre offered renouncing Christianity to turn Turk Mahomet in rich Apparel triumphantly circumcising them set them at liberty yet bearing the old grudge soon clapt them fast again cruelly putting them to death Shortly after Stephen King of Bosna who through the Turks support had wrongfully obtained it against his two brethren refused to pay Mahomet his promised tribute wherefore entring Bosna he besieged Dorobiza which taken one part of the people he gave slaves to his men of War sending another to Constantinople a third to inhabite the City Marching to Jaziga now Jaica the chiefe City it was delivered after four months on composition Here taking the Kings Brother and Sister with most of the Nobles he sent them in Triumph to Constantinople The lesser Cityes yielded also Mahomet sent Mahometes Bassa to pursue the King retired into the farthest parts who so inclosed him before he was aware that he could not escape a thing thought impossible The King taking refuge of Clyssa was so hardly laid to that he yielded himself on the Bassaes solemne oath conceived in writing that he being honourably used should not be hurt by the Emperour The Bassa carryed him about with him till he possessed all Bosna whose Master was offended with him for engà ging his Faith so far The poor King departing was suddenly sent for who doubting carryed the Bassas Oath in writing yet the faithlesse Tyrant most cruelly put him to death or as some slew him quick Bosna was subverted by Mahomet in 1464 who reducing it into a province returned in great triumph to Constantinople with many a wofull Captive and that Kingdom 's wealth Mahomet in the beginning of his reigne sent to Scanderbeg offering him peace so he would pay him the yearly tribute demanded by Amurath rather to prove his confidence than in hope to have it granted Scanderbeg scornfully rejecting this entred into the Turks bordered dominion wasting the Country returning with spoyl Mahomet in revenge sent Amesa with 12000 Horse into Epirus to do the like of whose comming he understanding lay close with 6000 on the Mountain Modrissa The Turks by night being almost gotten to its rough and sleep top were suddenly charged and with great slaughter driven down amaine their horses being rather their hinderance Being come to the foot they were againe fiercely assailed by Scanderbeg on one side and his Nephew Amesa on the other who before had placed themselves advantagiously So that the Turks soone overthrowne were put to flight 7000 were slaine Amesa their Generall taken with divers Captaines and sent to Croia where was great triumph and feasting for joy Scanderbeg then enlarging Amesa and the rest to be partakers thereof and using them with all courtesie during their abode Amesa requested he might send to Mahomet how the case stood with them and to procure their ransome which Scanderbeg granting set downe at 13000 Duckats The newes sore grieved the Tyrant but seeing the Armies remainder most of their Ensignes and Armour lost and Amesa's messenger he enraged denied any thing for ransome imputing all to his treachery folly or cowardise Yet he was perswaded by his Bassaes and other Amesaes friends to think better of him and to send his ransome lest he should discourage other Captaines who might haply fall into like danger on receipt whereof they freed were conveyed out of Epirus Scanderbeg dividing the mony among his Souldiers The Tyrant determining to send another Army and promising great rewards c to the vanquisher of Scanderbeg among others Debrias in great favour by great sute obtained that charge promising confidently to make a better beginning than others before sent requiring no more power than was sent the yeare before But Amesa setting forth Scanderbegs virtues and valour with his Souldiers courage Debrias was content with a new supply having 14000 with whom marching to Polagus and encamping with great security being not yet come into Enemies Country Scanderbeg chose 6000 of his best Horsemen and marching 〈◊〉 all speed came by night where the Turks lay to be upon them before aware But by the Moon-light he was timely discried yet the sudden approach and strange attempt oismaied the whole Army But Debrias encouraging his Souldiers sent light Horse-men to receive the first charge till he might set his Army in order betwixt whom and others of Scanderbeg's a sharp skirmish beginning Scanderbeg doubting seconded them with fresh Troops under Amesa by whose comming the Turks were chased even to their main battell In which Moses had following too fast been enclosed had not Amesa stayed his fury blamed by Scanderbeg commending such forewardnesse in a private Souldier not in so great a Commander Scanderbeg now fiercely affailed the Turks with his Army Debrias so encouraged his Souldiers that Scanderbegs fortune was even at a stand till Musachius with resolute Troops out of the left wing so charged that he sore disordered the side of the Turks Army which Debrias perceiving came to that place cheering them up with his presence and valour seeming the life of his Army Scanderbeg the while mainly charging the Enemies front they began in their Generalls absence to loose order and give ground Moses then breaking into the thickest threw amongst his followers a taken Ensigne who thereby so pressed on their Enemies that they discouraged and disordered were almost ready to 〈◊〉 Debrias here-upon hastening to encourage his Souldiers among the foremost was
where refreshing and new victualling they putting to Sea landed in Asia whom the Country Turks encountring they put them to flight pillaging for four dayes store of rich booty especially Turkie Carpets thence sailing to Halicarnassus a part of Caria they took a wondrous spoil there comming to them the Bishop of Modrussa with twenty Gallies from the Pope joyfully welcomed also two Gallies from the great Rhodian Master With these 85 Gallies they sailed to the Isle Samos over against Ephesus then desolate to consult of further proceeding Loosing thence they landed at Attalia the Metropolis of Pamphilia of great Traffique in whose Suburbs finding store of rich Commodities from Aegypt and Syria taking what pleased them they burnt the rest with the Suburbs and beginning to besiege the City not without great losse to be taken they departed and running along Pamphylia burning and destroying they returned to Rhodes where meeting an Ambassador from Usun-Cassanes for great Ordnance they understood by him that his Master was preparing against the Turk Mahomet the while no lesse requiting the Venetians for Scanderbeg being dead he much prevailed on the Princes of Epirus and Albania c. but the Fleet from Rhodes landed in the Myndians Countrey returning to the Isle Naxos with great spoil whence Ferdinand's Galleys the year farre spent returned home with much spoil but Mocenicus with the Legate returning into Asia took Smyrua with its spoyl setting it on fire much hurting also about Clazomene not farre off So laden with Asia's spoils Mocenicus returned to Modon and the Legate into Italy Mohomet through the insatiable desire of Soveraignty had not long before under pretence of a friendly parley circumvented the King of Mysia cruelly putting him to death and subduing his Kingdom slew all of his bloud Then invading Caramania where Pyramet and 〈◊〉 reigned he drove them both out Pyramet fleeing to Usun-Cassaues Cassanbet seeking to recover his Inheritance was besieging some Towns on the Sea-coast which taken would draw in all the rest of the Kingdom who requesting Mocenicus now on Cilicia's coast he landing some Companies and great Artillery under Victor So battered Sichinum's walls that the Turks yielding it up he delivered it to Cassambet also Corycus which he took then besieging Seleucia upon 〈◊〉 about five miles from the Sea the Governour discouraged at the great Artillery delivered it to Victor who restored it to Cassambet who thus re-brought into his Kingdom much thanked the Admiral promising himself and Brother to be alwayes the Venetians friends Mocenicus departing harried all along the Sea-coast of Lycia sailing also into Cyprus to appease an insurrection against the Queen left to the Venetians protection by her dead Husband which he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appointed Admiral being come into Peloponesus he hastning thither to give up his charge returned to Venice About which time Usun Cassanes who of a small Prince was accounted amongst the greatest Monarchs theu living began to warre upon Mahomet He was the Sonne of Tachretin who with other poor Princes were exiled by Bajazet the first his violence and was again restored by Tamerlane Usun Cassanes obtaining a small territory in Armenia by Tachretin's death Wherefore not contented he wrung one province from this Prince another from that and thrusting some quite out of all thus soone getting a great part of Armenia into his hands So that Calo Joannes the Trapezond Emperour whose style exceeded his power fearing Mahomets greatnesse gave him Despina his onely Daughter in Marriage agreeing that Usun Cassanes after Calo's death and of David his Brother should in his Wives right enjoy Pontus Despina freely to exercise her Christian Religion by whom he had a Daughter Martha Mother of Hysmael the Sophi Usun Cassanes now ceasing not daily to encroach at length began to lay hold on part of the Persian Kings Dominion in Armenia Zenza then reigning in Persia in a sort commanded Usun not to come within the bounds of his Dominion threatning otherwise to turn his forces upon him wherewith Usun offended commanded the Ambassadours speedily to depart and tell their Master he would shortly come and debate the matter with him face to face The Persian King moved set forward an Army thought sufficient to subdue a sar greater Prince Usun Cassanes though he had scarce one man to 10 searing nothing set forward by great journeys to meet them and with whom joyning 〈◊〉 after a long and cruel fight overthrew them with a great slaughter Zenza raising a far greater Army the very strength of his Kingdome set 〈◊〉 in person and joyning battell with Usun the Persians were againe put to flight more being slaine than were in the first Army he slaying Zenza with his own hand and taking Cariasuphu's Son Prisoner whom to please the Persians he honoured with the Title of King calling himself the Persian Protector But having under colour of a peaceable Governour gotten the Regall City Tauris with the rest he secretly dispatching the titular King the last of Tamerlaines posterity took on himself the highest place Mahomet the while having scornfully rejected his Ambassadours and presents and flaine David the Trapezond Emperour his aliance turning Pontus into a Turkish Province which Usun Cassanes of right claimed after Usun was surely seated through the remembrance of the former injuries suggested by 〈◊〉 and the Venetian's solicitation he raising a great Army and passing toward Pontus was nigh Euphrates encountred by Mustapha Mahomets eldest Son and Amurath the Romanian Bassa whom Mahomet had sent out of Europe to joyne with Mustapha who were by Usun Cassanes over-thrown Amurath with 30000 Turks being shine Mustapha and the rest saving themselves by flight Mahomet being exceedingly troubled therear leavied a mighty Army of 320000 men Usun Cassanes Army being nothing in number inferiour which two Mahometans meeting neer Armenia's Mountaines at the first encounter a Turkish Bassa was slaine with 40000 Turks wherewith Mahomet was so daunted that he had retired had not some of his most valiant Captaines sharply reproved him c who now withdrew his Army into a straite between two Mountains fortifying the front with his Carriages behind which were his Ordnance on either side of his Archers The Persians encouraged comming on without fear were all ere they were aware on the mouth of the Turks Artillery which breaking their ranks took away a number of them Besides the Persian Horses through the unacquainted report of the Ordnance were not to be ruled wherefore Mahomet fiercely charged them with his Horsemen being by themselves now out of order yet the Persians slew many Turks but they were at last forced to flee wherein a great number were slain and their Tents taken whose flight Usun's eldest Sonne labouring to stay was slain forty thousand Turks not above one thousand Persians fell Mahomet contented with this dear-bought Victory returned homewards and Usun leaving another Sonne with his Army to defend Armenia to Tauris But 〈◊〉 the Christian Princes expected the event of these Warres they
into Greece Bajazet forthwith sent Mustapha Bassa to Pope Alexander with like instructions who comming safely to Rome among many things in charge the life of Zemes was that he most sought for of the Bishop Charls the French King then in 1495 passing thorow Italy against Alphonsus and so thorow Rome so terrified Alexander the Bishop that he yielded to all conditions he demanded not purposing the performance of any giving him Casar Borgia his Sonne in hostage then a Cardinal covering the disgrace with his Sonnes Title of Legate and was forced to deliver him Zemes who to the Bishop's profit had remained seven yeares there in custody who three dayes after died at Caieta thought to be poysoned before by a wondrous white and pleasant powder cunningly mingled with the Sugar which Zemes drank with water whose dead body sent to Bajazet was by his appointment honourably interred at Prusa Borgia also deceiving his Keepers at Velitras returned to Rome before Charls came to Naples which wicked imp shortly after envying Candianus his Brother General of the Bishops forces then great having supped together with their Mother caused him to be murthered going home and his body to be cast into Tiber. Then casting off his 〈◊〉 Robes took on him the leading of his Fathers Army And with exceeding prodigality exhausting his Fathers Coffers and the Church Treasures bound to him desperate Ruffians and Souldiers chiefly Spaniards his Fathers Countreymen which proceedings his Father winked at fearing it was thought to be murdered of him himself He now became a terror to the Roman Nobility and Signiories thereabouts by his Fathers help desiring to make him great drave the Family of the Columnii out of the City then out of Italy and poysoning or killing the honourable of the Ursine and Caetane Families took their possessions strangling at once 4 Nobles of the Camertes and driving Guide Feltrius out of Urbin taking Pisaurum from John Sfortia hardly escaped his hands and driving the Malatestaes out of Ariminum thrusting the Lady Catherine Sfortia out of Forum Liuli and Cornelii shamefully leading her in triumph thorow Rome And shedding blood without measure he took Faventia from young Astor Manfredus whom having abused against Nature he caused to be strangled and east into Tiber But he being with his Father at a solemn Supper in the Vaticane prepared to destroy some Cardinalls and other chief Citizens they were both poysoned by a waiter's mistaking the Flagon of poysoned Wine prepared for the guests the Bishop dying few dayes after but his Sonne the same being more allayed with water died not a long time after yet was so sick that he was soon forsaken of his followers seeing two of his enemies Pius the 3d and Julius the 2d sitting in his Fathers place Pius enjoying it but 16 dayes whom Julius succeeding caused Casar Borgia to be shut up in a Castle whence he freed him upon delivery of some strong Holds held by his Garrisons who fleeing to Ostia and so by Sea to Naples he was for fear of raising new stirs in Italy apprehended by Ferdinand King of Spain's Command and imprisoned in Spain in Medina Castle where after three years he escaping by a rope from a high Tower fled to the King of Navarre in whose Warres he was in a hot skirmish though he got the Victory slain with a small shot whose body found stript and brought to the King on a bad Beast was honourably buried at Pampilona But the French King having lost Zemes by death and Borgia by escape journied toward Naples all places yielding to him as he went without much resistance Alphonsus destitute of requested aid and most of the Nobility hating him for too severely punishing the late rebellious the Princes of Sarne and Salerne being chief and the people murmuring at their heavy exactions for these Warres maintenance with teares in sight of the Neopolitans resigned his Kingdom to his Sonne Ferdinand scarce reigning a year after his Fathers death passing over to Mazerea in Sicilia Ferdiuand was to the wondrous content of the Neapolitans with joy c. saluted King returning presently to his Army by which time the French King was with his forces entred far into Naples and having taken divers Cities by assault struck the Neopolitans with a general terror Ferdinand had taken the Straits of St. Germanes Forrest to hinder Charls his further passage but suddenly hearing that Columna had broken by the Appenines into Campania he doubting to be shut up betwixt two Armies retired to Capua where through the River Vulturnus deepness he purposed to stop the French but newes being brought that the Citizens of Naples were all up in Arms doubting which way to turn he troubled leaving his Army and Capua in charge to his Captains rode back post to Naples by whole arrivall every man laying down his Arms generally welcommed him who earnestly requesting them not to betray him their natural King unto his cruel enemies c. they all answered they would spend themselves in his quarrel while keeping his Army whole and defending Capua but if the Arragonians should be overthrown or abandon that City and the French King approach Naples he should against reason and equity exact his Subjects fidelity So exposing City and Country thereabouts to be spoiled c. Charls the while being come to Capua the Citizens though ever affected to the Arragon Kings yet the French King beating down all before him they consulted of yielding up the City and the rather through the revolt of Trivultius and his followers which caused Verginius Petilianus to flee to Nola with their Companies The French hereupon entring the Suburbs Gothfredus Gaspar two valiant Germanes sallied forth with their Companies and having valiantly repulsed the French in their return were shut out of the Gate and in danger of the enemy who on their knees entreating the cowardly Citizens on the Walls not so to berray their friends c. at length were received ten by ten in at one Gate and put out at another farthest from the enemy who going towards Naples met with the King at Aversa declaring what had hapned at Capua who notwithstanding came to its very Gates calling on divers chief ones to be let in but none answering him and a French Ensign being on the Wall he returned to Naples where he found the Gates shut against him and all the Citizens in Arms not willing to receive any but the King himself for it was famed that all his chief Captains were gone to the enemy or fled the Army broken up and Capua yielded wherefore they began to contemn Ferdinand who fetching a compasse came to the Castle whereinto he was received but foreseeing he should there be besieged by Sea and Land he commending it to valiant Davalus his keeping departed with 20 Gallies to the Island Aenuria not farre off But Justus the Captain of the Castle traiterously shut the Gates against him wherewith the Prince wondrously perplexed with intreaty and remembrance of
open to them such matter as in respect of other men might cause their coming to prove profitable to all Persia which request they solemnly promised to perform being very desirous to know what those strange novelties should be whereupon Abas sent unto them two of his chief Counsellors with full instructions who after many speeches swore by the Creator of all things by the head of Hali and by the Religion of Mahomet that such perverse thoughts never entred into Abas Miriz alledging many manifest proofs that when the King was advanced to the Kingdom and in his battels against the Turks his Sonne had alwayes caused devout prayers to be made for his prosperity and never desiring to hear but of his happy success they brought with them abundance of precepts and loyall Letters from Abas to the Governours his Subjects for Government of the State never naming himself King of Persia but onely your King and Governour of Heri they prayed the King also if there should be found any shadow of such a suspition in his Sonne upon a diligent process framed against them to take from him his Estate and liberty offering themselves as his Hostages but if Abas should be found free from these accusations then 〈◊〉 the Earth they besought him to take information upon what mind his Counsellor had advised him to undertake so dangerous a voyage c. And as for Abas his forbidding the Governours to go to Warres against the Turks that was onely in respect of an invasion justly feared in those quarters by the Tartarian Gesselbas who by divers inroads had already done great harms thereabouts all which was by writing signified unto the Visier himself which he maliciously concealed to try if he could bring to passe that Abas and the King might be taken away in those troubles whom Emer Hamsey succeeding himself might remain the superintendant of his Sonne in Law c. which they imputed not to the Prince altogether ignorant of such a purpose but onely to the ambition of the wicked Traitor Miriz Salmas the King by nature credulous made great construction of these grave Speeches and could not chuse but harken unto their so earnest and upright requests wherefore calling unto him all the chief Officers of all the Cities of Heri he demanded of them how they esteemed of Amas and in what degree he desired to be esteemed of them who all answered they held him and he desired to be taken for their Lord and Lievtenant to the King of Casben bringing forth divers papers wherein he entituled himself only Your King of Heri and demanding of them whether those Tartars had attempted any such Warres they largely informed him they had to the great dammage of all those Territories though he might justly now have put Salmas to death as the Authour of so great troubles and bloodshed yet for better information sake he first of all in great secresie examined the Prince why he had advised this Journey against his guilty Bro Abas who answered onely from the credit he always gave to his Father in Law Miriz Salmas as to a chief Counsellor c. touching whom the King diligently inquiring both of Courtiers and Army-men found him guilty of all that the Embassadors of Heri had accused him for which so foul a Treason the false VISIER by the Kings command had his Head struck off so the 2 Brethren being reconciled and the Son to the Father after Abas had again promised Obedience which he most dutifully performed the King returned towards Casbin where by reason of the Turks unexpected motion he had bin long looked for Amurath through the rough speeches of Sinan was more and more setled in his purpose for continuance of the Persian War Wherefore he resolved at last to make choice of Ferat Bassa for his general fierce in courage tough in opinion hardy in Counsel but especially devoted to the King Who calling him apart encouraged him to take the charge upon him with a firm resolution to perform all things answerable thereunto with the Opinion he had of his valour Ferat promised to do his utmost to execute whatever should be offered him either by occasion or his real command Amurath at first onely intended to employ him in assuring the passage to Teflis and so into all Georgia and to have destroyed Mustaffa his Country who had put his whole Army into confusion but hearing of the troubles between the Persian King his Son he commanded Ferat to erect a Fort at Reivan belonging to Tochmac and to assure the passage from Chars thither so should they be revenged of many harms received by him and lay open the way to Tauris he willed Ferat to dissemble his ill Opinion of Mustaffa and if possible to make use of him for convoying succours to Teflis whereby all Georgia would be won without any more Fortresses and next year they might attempt the enterprize for Tauris In the beginning of the year 1583. all Cities that used to appear at these Wars were commanded upon Summons to be ready to execute their new General 's Injunctions all which sent their Captains and Souldiers accordingly So Ferat coming to Erzirum viewed all his Army and provision thence arriving at Chars conducted by Maxut-chan he set forwards Reivan but 3 dayes before he came thither he erected a Fortress of some ruines of an old Castle leaving in it 400 Souldiers with a Zanzack and some Ordnance Between Reivan and Tauris 8 or 9 dayes journey distant are Stannasivan Chiulfal Maraut and Sosian having goodly Gardens and Greens but in the way are many craggy Mountains and sundry hard passages Here Ferat consulted with his chief Captains where to build the Fort who advised him to fortifie the Houses and Gardens of Tochomac which he did and enclosed the Gardens with strong Walls and deep Ditches whereinto he conveyed water from a certain River This Fortress was finished in 15 dayes being 750 yards about Tochomac exceedingly grieved so suddenly to lose his Country and dwelling sought at least in some part to be revenged of so great an injury Wherefore he wrote to King Emer-chan and Simon gathering Souldiers out of the Villages but he could receive no help the King being so far against his son the Georgian being bufied by hindering the relief of Teflis and Emer-chan either would not or could not stir from Tauris having as some supposed secret intelligence with Ferat not to disturb him in this work So Tochomac not able of himself to do much yet by privy Ambushes killed sometimes a 100 sometimes 150 Turks and sometimes more and dispatched Horsmen in haste to the King at Chorazan amplifying by Letters the cowardize of Emer-chan with some causes of suspition that he had some Intelligence with Ferat who having built this new Fort and furnished it with all necessaries appointed Sinan Bassa son of a Runagate Genuan with 8000 Souldiers to keep the same and so departing he arrived in 10 dayes at Chars where
rather imputed to the Tartar Nomades Melgrellians c. or to any body then to himself Amuraths Messengers coming to Osman he presently set forward towards Constantinople having first taken a very good Order in Derbent and Sumachia and an assured establishment of all places which Mustapha had subdued in Sirvan and himself maintained he chose out also 4000 tried Souldiers through whose Valour he doubted not but to pass thorow the treacheries of the Albanians and the 〈◊〉 squadrons of the Tartarians and Mengrellians Thus coasting along even at his first entrance unto the shoares of the Euxine-sea he was by the said twelve thousand Tartars apparrelled like Theeves suddenly assailed who stood so fast and firm turning the bold countenances of his resolute Souldiers against them who at first as their manner is used great force that they began at last to quail Whereupon Osman couragiously forcing upon them very soon and with a very small loss put them to flight killing a number of them and taking many by whom he was informed of their Kings treachery whereof Osman 〈◊〉 a perfect process to be made with the dispositions of the prisoners which he sent the shortest way he could to Amurath declaring all that had passed enflaming him to revenge so dangerous an injury Who took order that Uluzales his Admiral with some Galleys should fetch Osman and carry with him Island a Brother of the Tartar Kings commanding Osman to the terrour of others to put the treacherous King to death and put his Brother in his room This Mahomet was one of those mighty Princes who led a most violent troublesome life as Tributaries and Vassals under the Othomans power whose younger Brother Island became a Sutor to The Turk at Constantinople to be placed in his Brothers Kingdom who was for his ill Government hated of his Subjects which his suit was so crossed by the Kings Embassadours who spared for no cost that the ambitious youth was sent to Iconium and clapt fast up in prison where apparrelled like a Hermite he led his life altogether conformable to his misery but whilst he thus lived separated from all worldly cogitations he was now in post-haste sent for to Constantinople to the end aforesaid Now in the mean time Osman had cunningly got into his hand this Tartar-King reported to be betrayed by his own Counsellours corrupted by Gold whom with his two Sonnes Amurath caused to be presently strangled with a Bow-string and Island to be saluted King yet as Vassall to Amurath This was thought justly to have happened to this Tartar-King who not long before supported by Amurath had most unnaturally 〈◊〉 his most aged Father Osman embarquing himself at a Port of Caffa arrived at Constantinople where he was received with great pomp and singular signification of love but with most express kinds of Joy was he received by Amurath himself When he had declared unto him the particularity of matters that happened in his long and important Voyage and his Conquests in Sirvan afterwards he conferred with Osman about the enterprize of Tauris and in the end would needs know of him what issue he could promise him of this his desire and how by his advise the Forces should be employed and disposed for subduing that City which was so famous and so great an honour to the Persian Kingdom Who answered that since the matters of Georgia were now well setled and Sirvan under his Obedience established there was no cause why he should longer fore-slow so famous an enterprize but by erecting a Fort in that proud City to bring a terrour upon all Persia and raise a glorious Renown of so mighty a Conquest among the Nations of Europe thinking either the same Army or a very little greater so it were of the best Souldiers would suffice to do it by reason of one of the Letters which Sciaous wrote to the Tartar and by the 〈◊〉 of Mahomets mother jealous of his near alliance with her Husband as prejudicial to her Son Amurath had in the open Divano deprived him of his 〈◊〉 and hardly pardoning his life at the intercession of his Wife his Sister had banished him so that he lived about Chalcedon in a close Pallace he had there built for his own pleasure appointing Osman to be chief Visier and General of his Army against the Persians Truth it is that from a private Souldier though well born he by degrees grew up to the highest Honour of that so great an Empire Great was Osmans joy and great his desire to be worthy of so Honourable a favour Wherefore since the greatness of the Enterprize required a greater Army it was needful also for him the sooner to send out his advertisements into the Provinces and by his own example to stir up others even in Winter to pass over to Seutari and in the Territories of Angori Amasia and Sivas to drive out time till his Souldiers were all gathered together And that it might not fall out by this great speed that the Enemy misdoubting his purpose for Tauris should provide the greater Army he had it given out that he must go for Nasivan notwithstanding the Persians being very jealous of the City of Tauris ceased not diligently to enquire about it and sent divers Messengers to Osman as if he had meant to feel his mind touching a peace but indeed only to sound his designments which for all that he could not with all his cunning discover but still remained doubtful the fame still running for Nasivan In the beginning of this year Amurath sent Ameanechias to Stephen King of Poland to excuse the death of 〈◊〉 as if it had happened not by his command but by the insolency of some Souldiers bringing with him 2 base fellows as authors of that outrage for the king to take revenge upon who were indeed no such men but rather as was thought condemned for some other fact worthy of death for whom the Chiaus proudly and threatningly required present restitution of all goods which the Cossacks had taken from the Turks and their Captain to be delivered also unto him to be carried to Amurath which he so hardly urged that all the goods were forthwith restored which he almost triumphantly presented unto Amurath who disporting himself with his Mutes this Summer was almost dead They are lusty fellows deprived of speech who ye by signes can aptly express both their own and others meaning who for their secresie are the Ministers of the Turkish Tyrant's most horrible commands and therefore greatly regar ed by them With these mounted upon fair but heavy Horses was Amurath upon a ready Hore sporting himself riding about one and another and striking now the Horse now the man at his pleasure and was taken suddenly by a fit of the Falling sickness and falling from his Horse was taken up for dead whom the Janizaries supposing to have been dead fell to spoiling of the Christians and Jewes and had not their Aga hanged up one of them taken in the
even within the mark of their Artillery which the Persians perceiving hardly began to assail their main body into the midst whereof the Prince entring dispatched every man that came in his way and singling out the Bassa of Careamit who sustained Osman's place smote off his head gave it one of his followers to carry upon the 〈◊〉 of his Lance which brought a great terrour upon the Turks and exceedingly 〈◊〉 the Persians who intermingled themselves more and more amongst them made of them a most confused and general slaughter there dying also the Bassa of Trabszonda and 6 Zanzacks with 20000 Turks more as was commonly reported the Bassa of Caramania being also taken with divers other common Souldiers but night comming on and the Persians come somewhat too nigh to the Turkish Artillery they withdrew themselves back to the King Camp The Fortress of Tauris being fully finished the Souldiers of Greece and Constantinople wearied to see their fellows thus 〈◊〉 and having laid up the prey and booty gotten in Tauris Winter also comming fast on by 〈◊〉 trusty friends about Osman who was in despair of life represented 〈◊〉 him the 〈◊〉 of their return and after many reverend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto him that if he would needs 〈◊〉 dallying out time in those dangerous places where no need was they should be forced to forsake him Osman promised to satisfie their request by departing the next morning So he made Giaffor the Eunuch Bassa of Tripolis a crafty and cruel man Governor of the new-built Fortress whom to encourage to undertake that charge he gave him for 3 whole years the Office and Revenues of the Bassa of Careamit 〈◊〉 slain Honouring him also with the Title of Bassa of the 〈◊〉 so that after his 3 yeares Office of Careamit he was to sit amongst the Soveraign seats of the Bassaes of the Porta The Bassa hereupon dispatching his Lieutenant for Careamit 〈◊〉 a 100 of his own followers setled himself in the said Fort with 12000 Souldiers furnished with all necessaries till the next Spring so the General departed the same morning being the 87th day after his departure from Erzirum came to Sancazan 7 miles from Tauris The Tauris being now ready confusedly to encamp There was heard the neighing of Horses and noise of Drums and Trumpets which when the whole Camp understood they ran disorderly to rescue on that side where those noises were heard but whilst the Turks intentively expected the Enemies comming on that side the Prince with 28000 Horsmen was ready upon them on the other side and with a safe Convoy had taken 18000 Camels and Mules well loaden with Booty and Victuall which he sending away with 6000 Souldiers Himself 〈◊〉 22000 Persians entred into the Turks Army who now on that side also had made a Head against him In a moment the Tents and Pavillions were turned upside-down and replenished with dead Carcasses and bloud and so generall a slaughter made that the Turks themselves marvelled at and do to this day with great admiration recount the Valour of the Persians but they doubting lest the enemy should have entred the Lodgings of the sick Visier now at the last 〈◊〉 He that commanded in his Name ordered the Artillery to be forthwith unbarred and discharged which in that medly overthrew both friends and foes did perhaps most harm to the Turks For the Prince with his followers at the noise thereof speedily retired so that the Turks left behind were more annoyed then the Persians the Turks made shew as if they would gladly have overtaken them but night coming on they feared to proceed any further In this Battel were slain 20000 Turks 〈◊〉 any notable loss of the Persians Osman the General also here at Sancazan died through the violence of an ague a flux of bloud which was kept secret from the whole Army because the Charriots wherein he lay were stil kept close And in his name Cicala Bassa for so he had appointed gave out commands to the Army yet 3 young men who had the charge of Osmans Jewels Treasure fleeing to the Persians with the best therof and the fairest of his Horses disclosed to them the death of the Generall who were thereby encouraged to attempt the utter overthrow of the Turkish remnant whereupon the Prince with 14000 followed the Turks who were removed to a certain River of salt water not far from Sancazan where he pitched a few Tents about 4 or 5 miles distant from the Turks camp the said brook running betwixt the 2 Armies Now the Prince purposed to assail the Turks in the morning while they were loading their Carriages which his design was revealed to the Turks by one of his Spies which they caught wherefore they neither rose so early as their manner was nor loaded their stuff till they were all ready to receive their Enemies yet the Persian considering they should find no other good opportunity to annoy them before next Spring resolved to venture the assault and observing the Enemies Artillery to be on the right side they began to enter on the left but the Turks presently so turned their Artillery against them that it was to their great loss danger yet were they so nimble to shroud themselves under the Enemies Army that being now come very near them they must needs joyn Battel they had purposed as soon as they saw the Turks begin to stir to retire so to draw them on into a filthy and deep Marsh which being then dry was not doubted but onely by those that were well acquainted therewith or born thereabouts which policy Maxut and Dant-chan perceiving gave notice thereof to Cicala Who caused a great compassing-wing to be made and to charge the Persians home which they did so that their fore-front opened with very large corners upon the Prince who by and by perceiving that his purpose was discovered without stay began to retire which could not so readily be done but that 3000 Persians were over-trodden and 〈◊〉 in the mire with very little loss to the Turks This onely Battel of 5 that were fought in those Quarters being least hurtful to the Turks The Prince returned to his Fathers Camp recounting unto him the whole action and the Enemies departure The Turk came to Salmas where Osman's death was published thence they went to Van where surveying their Army they missed about 85000 persons or more at Van they were all dismissed whence Sicala gave notice to Amurath of all that had happened First was published Osman's death at Constantinople with many signes of great sorrow also the bloudy and mortal actions that were performed in that Expedition the whole City seemed much discomforted and in many places were much secret railings on the King many curses of these wars and of those manifold mischiefs after which was dispersed the great fame of the 〈◊〉 at Tauris with all the losse that had happened to the City an Edict published that through all the Cities of the Empire they
he had already done in Persia having as he boasted by his Servants there performed more than his Predecessors could do in person wherefore he resolved to turn his forces against the Christian Emperour for first it grieved him to see the honour of the House of Austria and that he durst make head against him besides it would be farre lesse difficult to make Warre upon a Countrey so near him then upon Persia where his Armies were still to be led through his own Countries whence they were to be at all times plentifully relieved Sinan confirming him also in this Opinion who having vainly perswaded him to Warre against the Venetians now furthered this hoping thereby to recover his credit impaired by the little he did in 〈◊〉 as also by the discord betwixt him and Ferat commonly called the black Serpent as also to increase his Wealth who was shortly after made Generall by Amurath for those Warres but above all Hassan Bassa of Bosna furthered this matter in hope to gain great Riches with the greatest honours of the Field as he was vainly perswaded by his bold Prophets wherefore he daily certified Amurath of the burnings spoylings and robbings of the Uschocci and other the arch-Dukes Subjects upon his Frontiers inciting him to begin his Warre in Croatia and continue the same either against the Emperour or Venetians or that way to break into Italy as had sometimes before been done by which his importunity he got leave to begin those stirs in the Frontiers of the Empire yet unto this leave was this condition annexed that he should not seem to do it by Amurath's Command but of himself under colour to restrain the Uschocci who both by Land 〈◊〉 Sea as he pretended spoyled both the Christians and Turks whom the Princes of Austria had small care to chasten neither was it any great matter for Hassan so to do for disturbing of the peace the Turks Leagues with their Neighbours being seldom so but that their Souldiers in Garrisons and adventurers by Sea might to keep themselves doing upon a Military insolency as they terme it now then make incursions for booty by Sea and Land so that the Venetians wronged at Sea by their Embassadors complained at Constantinople of injuries done them by Turkish Pirates 〈◊〉 to have them called home and justice done upon them The Emperour also seeing many things both this year one thousand five hundred ninety one and the next attempted by Hassan in Croatia and the other Turks in Hungary by his Embassador then laying at Constantinople complained of these outrages desiring to know whether they were done by Amuraths consent and knowledge if not then that order may be taken for restraining thereof which was accordingly done for a while Amurath making shew as if the League of eight years should not on his part be in any wise infringed at which time the Persian King's sonne dyed in the Turks Court where he lay in Hostage whose dead body Amurath honourably sent home to his Father with an Apology of a suspicion of some that 〈◊〉 should be the cause of his untimely death still urging withall the confirmation of the League which by the death of the Prince had like enough been broken whereof Amurath was the more desirous because perswaded to make Warres with the Emperour he hoped thereby to add the Reliques of Hungary to his Empire with a good part of the Territories of the House of Austria and so open a way into the heart of Germany wherefore he raised a strong Army putting a great Fleet of Gallies into the Achipelago for the safety of his Islands there So the Bassa of Bosna in 1592 entred Croatia with 50000 Men burning destroying and sparing nothing that came in his way and also besieged Wihitz the Metropolis of that Country strongly scituated as incompassed about with the River Una which he 〈◊〉 soare battered and twice assaulted was by the distressed Defendants yielded on Composition that the Germans in Garrison might depart with Bagg and 〈◊〉 and that such Citizens as would might still remain there without hurt in body or goods the Bassa faithfully and safely conveighed the 400 Souldiers into their own Territory but exercised afterwards all Turkish Tyranny upon the Citizens the Emperour upon this unexpected invasion sent the Lord Petzen to pray ayd of the German Princes against the common Enemy who largely promised their help first Ernestus Arch Duke of Austria his Brother with five thousand Souldiers came to Grâ—ys the chief City of Stiria to whom more daily repaired out of Carinthia the Turks Army the while daily increasing inclosed six thousand Foot and five hundred Horse of the Christians who had taken the Woods Mountains and strait-passages and so that few of them escaped with life amongst whom many valiant Captains and expert Souldiers were slain the Bassa to make his Victory more famous lading six Waggons with the Heads of the slain the Turks thus raging in Croatia brought a fear upon all Hungary and divers Provinces of the Empire whereupon the Emperour assembling the States of Silesia and Moldavia declared unto them the eminent danger perswading them to joyn their forces with the rest for repulsing the Enemy After long delay Ernest the Arch-Duke August the tenth came to the Emperour his Brother with the Embassador of Hungary and the seventh day after were called together the Embassadors of the Kingdoms and Provinces of the Empire thorowly debating How the Turks were to be resisted and from whence forces money c were to be raised for now longer delay did seem dangerous and the rather for that the Beglerbegge of Greece with 60000 select Souldiers was ere long expected for preventing of which so great and manifest dangers they sate daily at Prague yea even from morning to night for the Hungarians especially the Lord Nadasty instantly urged to have succours sent into Hungary for if the Turk should get into his hands the rest of the Towns and Castles there 't was to be feared lest he should soon after indanger all Germany whose strength the Turk lesse feared than the reliques of Hungary others were as careful of Croatia and Stiria as more proper to themselves the Enemy now there raging the Hungarians with the other distressed crying to the Emperour for help and he also calling upon the Princes of the Empire divers Assemblies were had in divers places and Embassadors sent to the Emperor from almost all the German Princes all was full of consultation but help came in slowly yet that which was was sent into Croatia to defend the Fortresses against the furious Enemy September the 18th the Turks on a sudden by night assaulted Toccay Castle in upper Hungary hoping to surprize it but finding it a more difficult matter then they imagined they departed attempting the lesser Comara which standing in a Marsh-ground was easily defended then also the Bassa of Buda entred the Christians Frontiers but upon viewing the strong Holds thereof finding nothing for
having his right hand given to him in pawn of his Faith and his Head struck off upon a Scaffold at Vienna and so buried So June 10th following in the high street after the sentence read and he commending himself to Gods mercy on his knees with eyes covered and his right-hand covered with black both Head and Hand were so suddenly struck off that it could scarce be judged which was first done so being conveyed away in his Coach covered with black he was buried among his Ancestours The Tartars departing from Sinan's Camp purposed to have gone home thorow upper Hungary and by the borders of Transilvania and Moldavia 2 parties of whom being utterly defeated and cut off by Palfi the rest finding the passages hardly beset by the Prince of Transilvania and Vayuod of Valachia returned the same way they came and rifling and burning some Towns and Villages about Tockai passed the River and wintring in places about Rab lived on the spoil as far as Meinersdorf The Tartars at their first comming by order from Amurath stayed on the Borders of Transilvania either to have surprized that Country or to have thrust out Sigismund Bator the young Prince or sent him in bonds to Constantinople for it was reported that he weary of his heavy Tribute having bin divers times enhaunsed intended to revolt from the Turk and enter a confederacy with the Emperour which change some of the chief of Transilvania sought by all means to hinder and acquainting Amurath hereof and conspiring with the Tartars undertook the aforesaid matter wherefore they cunningly perswaded the Prince that Samosche the Polonian Chancellour lay on his own borders expecting his comming to consult with him of important matters counterfeiting Letters to that effect from the Chancellour to the Prince so that he suspecting no Treason put himself upon his way but he was advised by some suspitious friends not to go any further whose comming was not attended by the Polonians but the Tartars his Enemies who lay in wait for him at Hust The Prince astonied retiring to the strong Fort of Rehwere staying 14 dayes as for fear of the Tartars onely and the while gave notice to the Nobles and Governours his Friends of the eminent danger who repaired to him in Arms But the Traytors perswaded Bornemissa the Princes Generall that to fight with the Tartars was of no small danger Wherefore he should only shew himself near them as not unprovided for them So the Army was brought so nigh the Tartars that they might hear the noise of their Drumms and Trumpets Whereby the Tartars as by a Watch-word perceiving themselves discovered removed and breaking another way thorow Transilvania and so into Hungaria rifled and burnt 500 Villages slew all males above 12 years old carrying away the rest to the Turks Camp then at Rab. The Traitors the mean time conspired to set up Bator the Princes kinsman and with Amuraths favour to prefer him to the Government Wherefore Sigismund doubting wholly to trust his own Subjects wrote to the Rascians and other Confederates praying their ayd which he receiving appointed an assembly of all his States at Clasehburg every one to appear personally upon a great pain none absenting but Cardinall Bator and Stephen his Brother who as guilty were fled into Poland All thus met the Prince commanded the Gates to be shut watch to be diligently kept and none on pain of death to speak of imagined Treason politiquely also publishing in writing that the Germans had got a notable Victory over the Turks commanding Bon-fires and other signes of Joy to be made he prepared also a Banquet whereto he with others the chief Conspirators were invited who being at dinner he apprehended 14 committing them to prison executing 5 in the Market-place n xt morning He who had undertook to have slain the Prince after 3 or 4 light cuts in the neck being drawn in pieces with 4 Horses the other 4 were beheaded and left there as a Spectacle the rest being afterwards executed and Balthazor his Kinsman that should have been exalted strangled Then by a publike Edict he gave leave to all his Subjects of their own charge to take up Arms against the Turks and whatsoever they could take from them to have it to themselves whereby the Transilvanians encouraged armed themselves to the number of 40000. who being sworn to hold together against the Turks came first to Danubius where they lighted on some Turks ships laden with provision for the Camp Merchandize of all sorts and much Treasure of whom they took 7 but the 8th the Admirall escaped they took an exceeding rich booty slew many carrying back seven Turkish Ensignes to the Prince This prosperous beginning caused great joy in Transilvania Sinan is reported to say If this provision had come to him in safety he could more easily with that Treasure have bought Vienna than he had Rab. After this Victory the Prince besieged Temesware but hearing of the Tartars comming towards Transilvania upon their return he gave off to look to his own Country Ere long about December 22. a tumult of the Janizaries at Constantinople grew to such a height that a Bassa was slain with other great Ones and a son of Amurath's sore wounded and with much ado saved Upon conceit whereof Amurath fell into a grievousfit of the falling sicknesse vexed 3 dayes and 3 nights therewith so that the City was filled with heaviness and fear and the Courtiers even ready to think of a new Lord. This tumult many supposed was the cause of Amurath's death shortly ensuing whose grief malady daily encreased by ill news still brought him chiefly out of Transilvania where the Prince waiting on every occasion cut the Turks short in every place and took also this Month many of their strong holds He had then in field 3 Armies one under Ferens in the Country Lugaz nigh Temesware another under Horat on th' other side Danubius to intercept the Turks coming to Buda the 3d. under Cornoyse nigh Giula to whom came 1500 Horse out of upper Hungary Sigismund thus revolted from the Turk thought best betimes to enter a confederacy with those of Valachia and Moldavia who shortly after also cast off the servile yoke but chiefly with the Emperour Wherefore he sent his Embassadours who arrived at Prague Jan. 12. with 20 Waggons and 150 Horse where they were most honourably received and entertained and having audience after much grave consultation the Confederacy was fully concluded 1. That they should mutually proceed in their Wars begun and not enter any League with the Turk without the liking of each other and that in all conclusions of peace made by the Emperour Transilvania Valachia and Moldavia should be comprised nor the Prince to enter any League with the Turk without the consent of the Hungarian Nobility also 2. Transilvania with all parts thereof possessed by the Prince in Hungary to remain to 〈◊〉 and his Heirs male in absolute Authority yet to acknowledge the Emperours
in divers parts so that shortly after all Transilvania swore Obedience unto the Emperour most of the Nobles being slain and put to death by the Vayuod among whom were 5 who corrupted by the Cardinall had undertaken to kill him Novemb. 14. After divers reports of the Cardinals escape his Head was presented to the Vayuod which being for a while set up in Alba Julia was afterwards sent for a Present to the Emperour and the Arch-Duke his body being honourably buried in a Monastery there in the same Tomb he made for his Brother beheaded by his Cousin Sigismund His Treasure also fell into the Vayuods hands said to be 3 millions of Gold Transilvania being thus again restored to the Christian Empire the Cardinall not having possessed his Princely Honours full 8 months Sigismund who almost all this while had stayed in Borussia hearing news of the Cardinals overthrow secretly got him into Polonia to seek new Fortunes Swartzenburg then uniting his Forces in lower Hungary with those of Stiria took in above 200 Villages for the Emperour but thinking to surprize Capisuar-Castle and approaching the Gates by night with a Petard not taking the expected effect he was discovered repulsed and forced to retire with the loss of above a 100 and divers wounded all of good account who in revenge sent out divers Troops which scouring as far as Zigeth burnt it and returned with a great booty Ibraim Bassa much troubled with this overthrow sent news hereof in Post to Constantinople which brought a fear upon the whole City so that the Sultan gave him Commission to come to some honourable Peace with the Emperour and to bring it with him who was shortly to return to Constantinople his Army besides the cold season greatly wanting bread and many of his best Souldiers dying of the plague besides abundance of their cattel also so that the Souldiers fell to robbing one another and at length into mutiny wherein divers being slain most of the rest by divers wayes returned home not well trusting each other So that nothing more was now done with the Turks great preparation neither for relief of those evils did Ibraim bring at his return any conclusion of peace unto his Lord. Besides these troubles Cusahin or Cassan the Son of a Sultaness brought up in the Seraglio and having served in the Wars of Persia and Hungary and at length made Bassa of Caramania a man of great spirit upon the report of the ill success in Hungary and the desire he saw in the Persians to recover their lost Fortress and grieved also with some particular wrongs to himself resolved to take up Arms laying before his Souldiers the Deformities of the present State and Gallantly perswading them What an easie thing it were to chase Mahomet out of Asia And so having won to him 3000 Harquebusiers and 5000 Horsmen he took the field News whereof comming in post to Court 4 Zanzacks nearest unto him were commissioned for suppressing that Rebellion but even then arising who going against Cusahin with 10000 Horse and Foot he went to meet them overthrowing them with a great slaughter taking their baggage with 6 pieces of Ordnance Then he seized upon all the Castles thereabouts giving whatever he found therein to his Souldiers who also much enriched themselves with the spoil of the Jewes never resting till he had made almost all Caramania his own After which he besieging Cogna a City in the confines of Natolia it was yielded unto him He also openly proclaimed that for reformation of the disordered State he would ere long go to besiege Constantinople Wherefore those that would follow him should be well entreated by him threatni ng to the rest most cruell destruction Mahomet then disporting himself at his Gardens of pleasure in the Country hearing hereof hasted with all speed to Constantinople dispatching Mehemet Bassa Sinan's Son with all the Forces he could make to go against him who passing into Asia yet fearing to come to a Battel with him who was desperate and favoured of his own Souldiers so wrought by large promises that Cusahin's foot were ready to forsake him Whereupon he fled into Arabia with his Horsmen and those of Sinan the Georgian purposing at Spring by help of the Arabians and Persians to appear with greater Forces Mehemet following him came to Aleppo there to Winter and to expect the Rebels return This dangerous Rebellion with the troubles of Transilvania Valachia caused the Sultan to be readier to encline to peace whereto the Emperour was not hasty to hearken but on honourable conditions as knowing the Turks end in requiring the same His Janizaries also and other men of War in this his so weak Government being hardly to be commanded threatning in their discontent to depose both his chief Officers and Himself and to banish the Sultaness his mother saying She had bewitched him that she her self might rule But Casahin grown strong was come into the field and even ready to give the Bassa battel who thought it best again to prove if his followers might by fair means be drawn from him and so comming nigh him proclaimed a generall pardon to all who should forthwith forsake the Rebell and return home which thing was the ruin of Cusahin for most of them enriched with great booties upon this free pardon returned unto their own Countries to live of their ill-gotten goods leaving Cusahin with some few others so that in few dayes he was taken and brought to Constantinople where he was with most exquisite torments tortured to death The Emperour with the beginning of the next year 1600 called A dyet of the Princes of the Empire to consider with him of such helps as were to be given against next Spring who all promised to send their Souldiers with their pay and sufficient contribution to maintain that defensive War Pope Clement also this Year of Jubilie sent such ayd of men and mony as he had promised At first of the Spring the Turks began to stir who although Ibraim Bassa was then in some speech with the Emperour about a peace yet ceased they not with their scattering Companies to do what harm they could upon the Emperour's Frontiers the cause why he the more speedily called on his Friends for ayd He also made Duke Mercurie who had drawn a great number of Horse and Foot out of France his Generall sending Ferrent Gonzaga whom he had sent for to Mantua Governour in upper Hungary So the Souldiers daily resorting into Austria were thence sent to repress the Turks incursions as they did for 8000 Turks going suddenly to surprize Pappa were by that Garrison overthrown And while Ferdinand the Arch-Duke was assembling his people in Croatia for defence of that Country 6000 Turks entring as far as Baccari burning the Villages as they went and taking many prisoners with much cattell were in their return set upon by Serinus in strait and troublesome passages where they least feared any such thing being overthrown and put
which they found in the Woods so that being come to this Castle they 〈◊〉 abundance of Victuals every one requesting to return unto their Garrisons being scarce able to bear their Arms but 〈◊〉 from little Comara they heard the Turks had shut up the wayes whereby they were to passe home 〈◊〉 Collonitz was so far from being 〈◊〉 that whereas it was reported that the Turks marched near to a 〈◊〉 of the Christians to make head upon a 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 toward the same place on the sudden to encounter the Enemy who thought to have surprized him by cowardize and the Souldiers though weakened with hunger and apprehending the danger gave out and yet upon a good courage were content to follow their Generall any whither resting on his great resolution and their own 〈◊〉 to go further but they being come to the Castle there was no body to be seen yet did those hungry men stay one day in Ambush expecting the comming of the Turks who appeared not giving them time safely to retire every man unto his own Garrison But at such time as Hassan Bassa departed from Constantinople to go to the Conquest of Alba-regalis Mahomet caused to be presented unto him a Sword and a Crown this in reward of his valour if he returned with Victory the other in revenge of his cowardize if he failed thereof promising him indeed his Sister in marriage among other Trophies of his Victory and threatning him with death amongst the griefs of his dishonour but he taking the City and returning to Constantinople was magnificently received of his Prince courteously saluted of all the Nobility and with the greatest reverence honoured of the people His Lord had also caused them to be most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the solemnizing of the marriage and contentment of the Bassa but the solemnization it self being now every day by all men expected 25000 Janizaries Spahi and other Court-Souldiers suddenly and unexpectedly presented themselves in Arms before the Divano or Tribunall holden for the chief administration of Justice in the Turks Pallace the first 4 dayes of every week and setting Guards at the Court-gates demanded audience for certain Spahi and Janizaries whom they had chosen to deliver in their names their grievances to the Bassaes being entred into the Divano at the first demanded to have Hassan Bassa delivered unto them who affraid of his Head passed wan and pale thorow this mutinous multitude to go to the Sultan protesting his own Innocency and calling on his Prophet to discover unto them the truth of all things but they after a 1000 injuries and reproaches heaped on him demanded of him Whence it was that whilst he with a great power was busied in Hungary there was the while no good order taken for repressing the Rebells in Asia who by sufferance now were come within three or four dayes journey of Constantinople with Ensignes displayed Whereto he in fear answered Even his Enemies could witnesse that he had done his duty while in Asia and now of late in Hungary But seeing himself ready to die he yet requested That his guiltless death might be profitable to the State in generall and in discharging of his conscience to declare unto them the causes of this contempt and neglect for the suppressing of this Asian 〈◊〉 saying It proceeded only from the ill Government of the Sultans Mother and from the carelesnesse of the Capi-Aga They hearing him though with much 〈◊〉 so well to excuse himself gave him leave to go to 〈◊〉 Sultan to request him that they might speak with him and to deal with him that they might have the heads of those who had bin the cause of this dishonourable service or had cowardly behaved themselves in Asia threatning him if he performed not his charge he should feel the heavy effects of their just fury and heavy charge but he must now so do or else die So he comming to the Sultan almost as fearfull as himself he partly cut of Justice partly from Prudence in such an extraordinary case perswaded him to give way to their request who thus perswaded as also to appear in his 〈◊〉 unto his discontented Subjects One part of their desire necessity so requiring presented himself in his Imperial Seat unto them accompanied with the Mufci and a few other Doctors of their Law who by Mahomct commanded to sit down and the Bassaes standing up the chief of the seditious stepping forth 〈◊〉 leave to speak for himself and the rest which granted he boldly said That they his obedient slaves full of grief and discontent to see a great part of his Empire endangered desired to know of him Why his Greatnesse did not employ the means God had given him for remedy thereof That they supposed the Rebells courses in Asia were unknown unto him since they were so hardy as to come without resistance so near to his Imperial City That they desired to know if he had known all this and whether he would take upon himself the care of his great Monarchy or no which through the negligence and ill Government of some put in trust was like a great and well proportioned Body but of little or no strength Or else that he could be content that all should be dismembred and every man take what he could lay hand of as the Rebells did However Mahomet was moved with so insolent a Speech yet being 〈◊〉 with such a furious and armed multitude whom he had no meanes to withstand 〈◊〉 wisely dissémbled his choler and with the best and calmest words he could devise sought to appease them imputing the disorder and ill success of his affaires to the unfaithfulness of his Ministers and the concealing of the Truth thereof from him and saying That he had resolved before to reform these matters and to take from them all occasion of discontent or of any Speech not beseeming them whose Obedience and loyall respect to him their Soveraign should have been an example to all the rest of his Subjects Hereupon they fiercely demanded of Hassan Why he gave not his Majesty an account of the Rebells proceeding in Asia Who answered He had never failed of his Duty therein but that the Capi-Aga alwayes said It was not needfull to trouble their Soveraign therewith having committed these matters to others c. And further That the cause of all these Disorders proceeded from his Mother the Capi-Aga a few others to whom he had commended the managing of those affairs The mutiniers now more moved furiously said They were assembled to demand the Heads of such offendours being resolved to take another course if he should refuse to grant it them meaning to make a new Emperor Howbeit Mahomet answered It was no reason neither would he for their humours put those whom they demanded innocently to death but willed them to be contented till they might by order of justice be tryed and then he would give them even his own Son if he were found culpable But they replyed He had not
executed his Brethren by justice but for preservation of the State and that those whom they demanded were so guilty that they deserved not an orderly tryall c. As for the Empress his mother they were content she should be confined farther off and no more to meddle with State-matters So Mahomet through the violent resolution of these most insolent men caused the Capi-Aga and such others as they required to be brought forth Who presented themselves as already half-dead whom Mahomet did what he might to have saved but the mutiniers clamour to have them dispatched could not be appeased till they saw their Heads struck off from their shoulders Mahomet inwardly grieved commanded the Executioner to serve some other of the chief Bassaes whom he knew to be much beloved of the Janizaries and whom he could willingly have bin rid off as he had the Capi-Aga the rest but then their murmuring and mutiny was as it were re-doubled so that Mahomet was for fear forced by giving way to appease them The old Empress for all that was not then confined Mahomet himself but a few dayes before had beheaded Capion one of his great Bassaes either for desire of his wealth or for envy of his Honor Valour yet the former seemed to many the more probable for immediately after his death he seized upon all his Riches except 400000 Duckats which Calil Bassa his Father detained for himself which his purloyning Mahomet having discovered demanded of him one day if it were true that he had retained those Duckats which Fact Calil through fear and covetousness denied and forswore Whereupon thinking by lying to have saved his life he was for the truth put to death having his Head forthwith struck off the greedy Tyrant for the Bassaes blood served but for a shew seizing rifling and carrying away all his wealth and changing the Dowry and succession of his Wife and Children into Bonds Prisons and Slaveries Mahomet another Bassa perceiving the like danger to hang over his own Head resolved to flee to the Rebels in Asia but this his purpose discovered by certain Spics and he with a chief follower of Capin Bassa taken by the Janizaries were both by them cut in pieces In the mean time the Rebels in Asia prosecuted their Rebellion with all diligence every man joyning unto the first Forces which were in good estate and rich with the spoils that they had taken They resolutely besieging Angore a great and strong Town the Citizens affraid offered them a great summ to redeem themselves and City and so at last upon the payment of 200000 Duckats they presently departed Shortly after Mahomet's new Captains whom he had put in place of them whom he executed for the appeafing of the Court-souldiers arrived there also who would needs make it Treason and put the Citizens to death for giving the Rebels the said mony though 't were done for preservation of their lives and sack their City Whereupon arose a great and cruell fight betwixt these Souldiers and Citizens both the Subjects of one Prince and all of one Superstition but the one side armed with pride and 〈◊〉 and the other with necessity and despair At last the Citizens having slain a great number of the Souldiers chased the rest out of the City which ill encounter of these new Captains encreased the Rebels courage So that 40000 under one of the Tartar Han his Brethren besieged Burze a great and rich City the Armory and Place where all the Customs and Taxes of 〈◊〉 were kept which after certain dayes siege and great resistance made they by force took 〈◊〉 the Inhabitants and sacked the City By which exploit their 〈◊〉 and reputation encreasing with their booty and courage Mahomet dismayed resolved by fair means to appease them for this good Fortune had drawn the Government of Babylon on their side also the great Shaugh or Sophy of Persia thrusting himself into these 〈◊〉 had now taken Corbery a strong Town upon the Turks borders and was preparing for new Conquests So Mahomet at length but not without his great dishonour came to some good agreement with his 〈◊〉 Subjects granting unto them all their demands disarming them by yielding and not by Valour and giving unto Zellaly one of their Chieftains the Bassaship of Bosna to content his ambition and to bind him thereby to his service Mahomets other men of War seeing this dishonourable 〈◊〉 and preferment of the Rebels instead of punishments which they should have justly endured began to 〈◊〉 into great murmuring discontent against their great Sultan such Honours of Right belonging to his most faithfull and loyal servants yea they resolved to thrust him out of his Imperial State and set up his eldest son Mahomet in his 〈◊〉 These are the ordinary effects of injustice and cowardize the overthrow of Princes These Mutineers joyned to 〈◊〉 discontents Mahomets Sloth Effeminateness and insufficiency and cowardize They drew also into this plot the Sultanness Mahomets chief Wife who blinded with Ambition cast both her self and son the young Prince into most desperate danger This important project resolved on 〈◊〉 of these men according to the Turkish manner 〈◊〉 with an Astrologer touching the success of the Prince who erecting a Figure of his Nativity consulting with his Spirits and considering the 〈◊〉 Bodies gave judgement for his good and 〈◊〉 and so dispatched an Eunuch towards the Sultarness with Letters that she should be of good courage and in 〈◊〉 hope 〈◊〉 her Son within few dayes should have the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set on his Head and the 〈◊〉 Scepter 〈◊〉 into his 〈◊〉 His Art he said 〈◊〉 the same and Spirits with whom he had conference 〈◊〉 him thereof but it chanced that these Letters were intercepted and 〈◊〉 to Mahomet Whereupon it happened that he which took upon him to foretell a long life and Empire to fall to another man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his own life being himself by the Sultans command with the yong Prince the Eunuch and 50 others of the 〈◊〉 and consenters thereunto strangled and the Sultanness drowned yet some report this Prince was strangled upon suspition of conspiring with the 〈◊〉 Rebels against his Father which after his death being 〈◊〉 not to be so the Bassa who caused the suspition was 〈◊〉 Tartar Han comming with a great Army 〈◊〉 Hungary demanded of the King of Polonia Tribute and passage through his Country but the King denied both and roughly answered his threats Wherefore the 〈◊〉 Tartar for fear of being 〈◊〉 in his passage by the Polonians as the Tartars had often been turned with his Army toward Valachia Whereupon Radoll hearing that besides the 〈◊〉 of his Country they purposed to set up another Vayuod in his stead marched to his Borders with the greatest power he could make to attend their comming and 〈◊〉 them from entring and taking all the advantages of the Strait-passages in the 2 first encounters notably repulsed the fierce Enemy with this little
The Grand Seignior being still bent to dethrone Ragotzi sent rigorous Orders to the Moldavian and Wallachian Princes That they should invade him But he sent more severe Order to the 〈◊〉 of Buda threatning That if he did not his duty he should be flead alive and his skin placed on one of Buda's Towers whereupon Ragotzi challenged the 〈◊〉 to a fight advancing about the beginning of July who thereupon breaking up from Lippa the Transilvanians fired the Suburbs of Arad Castle towards which he was marching The Turks Officers who led the Avaunt seeing the smoak and fire hastned directly to the 〈◊〉 whom the Hungarians following put to flight Mustapha Beg being taken Prisoner whereby the encouraged Transilvanians drew near the Turks main Army the Turks thereupon discharged 3 great Guns to warn their men to retire within the Waggons placed for a 〈◊〉 but the Transilvanians so plyed them with their great Guns that they fled into a Valley who the Transilvanians pursuing them into the River Mor were drowned and the whole Turkish Army became a prey on July 4th 1658. The chief prisoners besides Mustapha wounded being the Bassa of Agria the Col. Aga of the Janizaries Col. Gyenety Aga at Buda and the Beg of Lippa Alai Beg of Waitzen being trodden to death by the Horse the Bassa was likewise so put to it in flight that he was forced to run into the water whom a Hussar pursuing catched by the Garment to take him but he was rescued and the Hussar slain The Prince's men pursuing them above 30 leagues to one of their chief Cities they returned with rich booties The newes of this overthrow caused such an alteration at Constantinople that contrary to the Law of Nation they imprisoned the Imperial and French Embassadors charging the French of being a Complice with his Son in his Letter in Cyphers which he intercepted and the other That his Master had suffered some German Companies to serve under Ragotzi though the Emperour's Deputies had demonstrated it was without his consent and that the Turk for his money might have as many of them as he would The Turks besieged the chief City of Candia expecting that the Captain Bassa who was at Sea would shut up all the passages by Sea with 40 Galleys but he hearing that the Venetian Galleys were in his way retired to Scio. The Venetian General re-inforced his Fleet with Galleys sent by the Pope and the Grand Master of Malta having monies and all 〈◊〉 of Ammunitions and Provisions with 4 Fire-ships provided for him July 9. wherewith he defeated 44 Turkish Galleys at the Dardanelles which were commanded to clear the Passage taking very rich booty Prince Ragotzi having had good success against the Turks thereby so obliged the States of Transylvania to him that they resolved to establish him in that 〈◊〉 from which the Grand Seigniour would have 〈◊〉 him sending him an Embassadour to let him know That they desired his good Will for the continuance of the Prince Who July 18. defeated a Party of Turks but gave no Quarter and holding a Generall Muster there appeared 16000 fighting men besides a great party of Dragoons which he expected whereby in part he recovered two 〈◊〉 which the Turk had before taken from him The Hungarians also raised an Army 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7 Towns 〈◊〉 to them which the Turks formerly had taken whereof they would restore but three July 18. 1658. Prince Leopold of Austria King of Hungary and Bohemia was elected to be Emperour of the Romans at Franckford by the Prince Elector Palatine the Elector of Mentz Trior Colen Saxony and the Brandenburgish and Bavarian Embassadours with all the State and Splendour usual in that Ceremony And Sept. 24. was received into Vienna with all magnificent Soem nity possible Prince Ragotzi proceeding against the Turks put the Bassa of Buda 〈◊〉 flight 4 of his chief Commanders and 6000 men being taken and killed But the Prime Visier marched towards Belgrade with 80000. men besides Forces which were to come Aug. 1. Count Vorgats commanded 300. Hussars to fetch away the Cattle from Graen but 300 Janizaries issued 〈◊〉 and put them to flight yet the Count at length forced them into a Village which he set on fire burning some of them and carried away 〈◊〉 Prisoners Aug. 9. Prince Ragotzi came upon the Turks at unawares defeated them and pursued above 30 〈◊〉 to one of their chief Cities and returned with rich booty And after that he burned Lippa to the ground About this time the Hungurian General Prince Gonzaga finding the Turks in a Warlike posture demanded what they intended and they answered That they intended no hostility against Hungary but that the Great Turk was Resolved to call Ragotzi 〈◊〉 an Account for his Actions The Turks Sept. 21. took the Castle Jeno without much opposition and besieged Wardein 300 foot and 300 Horse of theirs falling in at the Old Castle put many of Ragotzi's men to the Sword where was store of Gunpowder the rest blew themselves and the Turks into the Ayr. The Venetian Fleet Sept. 28. departed to Candia to a oid Tempests at Sea And the Ships of Malta and the Pope's Galley's returned home with great booty which they got out of the Turkish Islands Octob. 9. The Turks laid waste all the Territories which belong to Ragotzi using the people cruelly carrying away many thousands in Captivity and from thence they went towards the Danow to suppresse 〈◊〉 Rebellious Bassaes which made the Hungarian States consult daily to help Prince Ragotzi but could get no answer from the Emperor concerning this point because he would know what the Turkish Embassadour would propound and had appointed Lamboy to be General of the Army in Hungary in stead of Gonzaga The chief Vizier having taken 〈◊〉 Castle besieged Varadin by reason of which Prince Ragotzi finding himself too weak retired so far that the Tartars took Alba-Julia the Metropolis of Transilvania and made more then 40000 slaves Octob. 12. About which time the English Ship 〈◊〉 was set upon comming from Constantinople to Legorn by three ships of the Pirate 〈◊〉 they defended themselves bravely and much endamaged the Pirates but the captain seeing that he could not save the ship blew up themselves with the Pirates that had boarded her The Venetian Generalissimo Morisini perceiving he could 〈◊〉 no opportunity to engage the Turks as he desired thought fit by uniting with the Pope's Squadrons and those of Malta to attempt a surprise of the City of 〈◊〉 which seemed easy in regard the Governour was gone forth with the better part of the Garrison and had gained Intelligence of the principal 〈◊〉 For Execution whereof the Fleet set Sail to Delos and staid there three dayes under the command of the Marquess of Villa nova where the Generalissimo arriving gave order for Fire-works Petards Scaling-ladders and other necessary Instruments designing to every one what Post to attaque Seignior Philippo Ghesi had command to break the chain in the entrance