so for that time he retired a little from the Walls But night being come certain busie heads among the common people and they not a few secretly meeting together gave him knowledge that about midnight when as all the Citizens were asleep and the Watchmen in security he should come unto the Walls where they would be ready with Ropes to draw him up unto the top of the Bulwarks which done the matter as they said was as good as dispatched for that they were perswaded that the Citizens so soon as they should once see him in the midst of the City amongst them would forthwith all revolt unto him So he according to this appointment about midnight approaching the Walls found there no such matter as he had well hoped for the receiving of him into the City But contrariwise the Watchmen carefully watching all alongst the Wall and calling one unto another Wherefore finding there no hope he with Catacuzenus and Synadenus his chief Counsellors leaving the South side of the City in a little Boat rowed softly all along the Wall that is toward the Sea if happily they might there find their Friends and so be received in but there the Watchmen also descrying them from the Walls and calling unto them but receiving no answer began to cast stones at them and to make a noise so that deceived of their purpose and out of hope they were glad to get them further off and to depart as they came But the evil success of this Exploit was shortly after with his better Fortune recompenced for by and by after secret Letters were sent unto him from Thessalonica requesting him with all speed to come thither assuring him in the name of the Bishop with divers of the Nobility and the good liking of the people in general at his coming to open the Gates of the City unto him Whereupon he leaving a great part of his Army with Synadenus to keep short the Constantinopolitans he himself with the rest of his Power set forward towards Thessalonica where he in the habit of a plain Country man entred the City unsuspected but being got within the Gate and there casting off that simple attire wherewith he had covered his Rich and Royal Garments and presently known to be the young Emperor the people came flocking about him and with many joyful Acclamations received him as their Lord and Soveraign yet some few more favouring the old Emperor fled into the Castle and there stood upon their Guard which after they had for a space notably defended was at length taken from them Thessalonica thus yielded Demetrius Andronicus and Asan Michael the old Emperors chief Captains then lying with their Army not far off and not well trusting one another fled most of whose Souldiers presently went over unto the young Emperor who departing from Thessalonica came to Serre which by composition was delivered unto him also but not the Castle for that was by Basilicus Nicephorus the Captain thereof still holden for the old Emperor This Basilicus was a man honourably descended but of no great Capacity or Wit as the finer sort supposed and therefore not of them much regarded or thought fit for the taking in hand of any great matter whom yet the old Emperor for his plain sincerity more than for any thing else had made Captain of that Castle and Governor of the Country thereabouts which he yet still held and in these most troublesome times shewed himself wiser than all that had so thought of him of whom some died in despair some fled some were taken Prisoners and so suffered a thousand evils the rest with the loss of their Honour traiterously revolting from the old Emperor to the young whereas he alone looking but even forward upon his Allegiance with his trust in God so long as the old Emperor lived opposed himself against these troubles and stood fast for him and was not to be moved with any fair Promises or cruel Threats of the young aspiring Emperor whereof he lacked none But having strongly fortified the Castle committed to his Charge there kept himself until that hearing of the death of the old Emperor he then reconciling himself to the young as unto his right Soveraign delivered up unto him the Castle who in reward of his Fidelity gave it him again to hold for him in as ample manner as he had before held it for his Grandfather For wise men honour Vertue even in their Enemies as did King Philip in Demosthenes when as he said If any Athenian living in Athens doth say that he preferreth me before his Country him verily would I buy with much money but not think him worthy my friendship but if any for his Countries-sake shall hate me him will I impugne as a Castle a strong Wall or a Bulwark and yet admire his vertue and reckon the City happy in having such a man. And so in few words to conclude a long discourse the young Emperor in short time having roamed through all Macedonia and without resistance taken all the strong Towns and Cities therein he there took also Demetrius the Despots Wife and Children with all his Treasure as also the Wives of Andronicus and Asanes and of all the Senators that followed them after whom the great Commanders their Husbands were also for the most part taken and cast into prison some at Thessalonica some at Didâ—motichum some of the rest afterward most miserably perishing in exile Wherewith the old Emperor discouraged was about to have sent his Embassadors unto his Nephew for Peace whilst he was yet thus busied in Macedonia and had indeed so done had not another hope arising in the mean time quite altered that his better purpose It fortuned at the same time whilst the old Emperor was thus thinking of Peace that Michael the Bulgarian Prince in hope of great profit thereof to arise secretly offered his Aid unto him against the young Emperor his Nephew of which his Offer the old Emperor gladly accepted and Embassadors were sent to and fro about the full conclusion of the matter no man being acquainted therewith more than two or three of the Emperor his most secret friends and trusty Counsellors Yet in the mean time disdaining to be so coupt up as he was by Synadenus one of his Nephews Captains even in the Imperial City sent out one Constantinus Assan with the greatest part of his strength against him who encountering him at the River Maurus was there by him in plain battel overthrown and taken Prisoner the rest of his discomfited Army flying headlong back again to Constantinople All things thus prosperously proceeding with the young Emperor and the Countries of Macedonia and Thracia now almost all at his Command he returned in hast with all his Power unto Constantinople to prevent the coming of the Bulgarians thither as fearing lest that they finding the City weakly manned should treacherously kill the old Emperor with such as were about him and so seize upon the City themselves
but indeed fearing the Citizens of Alba and the Men of War who exceedingly favoured the Sons of Huniades for their Fathers sake For all that Ladislaus returning into Bohemia caused both the Sons of Huniades upon the suddain to be apprehended and most cruelly executed Uladislaus being then about six and twenty years old Mathias the younger Brother was kept in Prison expecting nothing else but to be partaker of his Brothers hard Fortune as undoubtedly he had had not Ladislaus the young King upon the suddain as he was upon the top of his marriage with Magdalain the French Kings Daughter by untimely death been taken away After whose death the Hungarians for the love they bare unto the remembrance of Huniades by a military Election chose this Mathias his youngest Son then in prison at Prague to be their King. Whereof Pogebrach who after the death of Ladislaus of an old Governor had made himself the young King of Bohemia having speedy intelligence as he was sitting at Supper sent for Mathias his Prisoner and when he was come commanded him to sit down at the upper end of the Table whereat the young Gentleman being then but about eighteen years of age and sore abashed began to crave pardon But when the King would needs have it so and that he was set the King to quiet his troubled thoughts willed him to be of good chear for that he had good news to tell him Good news said he if it would please your Majesty to grant me liberty Yea that said the King and more too and then saluting him by the name of the King of Hungary brake unto him the whole matter how that he was by the general consent of the Hungarians chosen their King. And so in few daies after married to him his Daughter which done he furnished him with all things fit for his Estate and Royally accompanied him into Hungary where he was with great joy and triumph received of the Hungarians over whom he afterwards gloriously reigned for the space of eight and thirty years In which time he notably enlarged the Kingdom of Hungary and became a far greater terror unto the Turks than ever was his Father Huniades And therewithal which is not to be accounted in the least part of his praises was alwaies a great favourer and furtherer of good Letters and ingenious Devices But to return again unto our purpose Mathias having well considered of that the Venetians had requested answered them that they had many times before in like case refused to give aid unto the Hungarian Kings his Predecessors yea and that more was thought it a thing not reasonable that any such thing should be requested at their hands forasmuch as they then received no harm from the Turk but were in League and Amity with him so that the Hungarian Kings wanting their help had many times received greater loss from the Turks than otherwise they should have done if they had been by them aided Yet for all that he was content to forget all such unkindness and to grant them what they had requested promising the next Spring to invade the Turks Dominion and according to their request to take into his protection all their Territory betwixt the Rhetian Alpes and the Adriatique which thing he most honourably performed For with the first of the Spring he passed over Danubius at Belgrade with a puissant Army and rased the Forts which the Turks had built thereabouts and so entring into Servia laid all the Country wast before him and afterwards laden with Spoil returned home carrying away with him twenty thousand Captives Neither so rested but with great good Fortune maintained great Wars against Mahomet during all the time of his reign and afterwards against Bajazet his Son also wherein he most commonly returned with Victory so that it is of him as truly as briefly written That no Christian King or Chieftain did more often or with greater fortune fight against the Turkish Nation or had of them greater Victories Mahomet delivered of the great fear he had before conceived of the general preparation of the Christian Princes against him determined now to work his Will upon such as were nearest unto him and afterward not to forget them that were farther off The proceeding of Scanderbeg with the late overthrow of Seremet with his Army in Epirus stuck in his Stomach in revenge whereof he now sent unto Balabanus Badera a most valiant Captain with fifteen thousand Horsemen and three thousand Foot to invade Epirus This Balabanus was an Epirot born a Churles Son of that Country and being of a Boy taken Captive of the Turks as he was keeping of his Fathers Cattel and of long time brought up in servitude amongst them framing himself both to their Religion and Manners after long service got the credit of a good common Souldier But when as at the taking of Constantinople it was his fortune to be the first man of the Turks Army that gained the Top of the Walls and entred the City he was for that piece of Service ever afterwards of Mahomet greatly esteemed and beside his other great Preferment now sent General of his Army into Epirus Who as soon as he was come to Alchria a City upon the Frontiers of that Country sent many rich Presents to Scanderbeg making shew as if he had been desirous peaceably to lie upon the Borders committed to his Charge without farther purpose to trouble his Country yet indeed waiting nothing more than some notable opportunity suddainly to do him the greatest mischief he could But Scanderbeg well seeing into the malice of the man rejected his feigned Friendship and Gifts and in derision sent him a Spade a Mattock a Flail with other such Instruments belonging to Husbandry willing him to take in hand those Tools and to follow his Fathers trade of life and to leave the conducting of Armies unto men of greater skill and better place Which disgrace Balabanus took in exceeding evil part purposing in himself if ever it lay in his power to be thereof revenged Wherefore knowing that Scanderbeg with a small power lay not far off upon the frontiers of his Kingdom he determined suddainly in the night to set upon him before he were a ware of his coming and so if it were possible to overthrow him but Scanderbeg having knowledge thereof by his Scouts set forward in good order to have met him When Balabanus perceiving that he was discovered staid upon the way and encamped within two miles of Scanderbeg who had then in his Army but four thousand Horsemen and one thousand and five hundred Foot but all choice men and most expert Souldiers and then lay in a large pleasant Valley called Valchal At the farther end whereof Balabanus lay also encamped near unto a rough and woody Hill which enclosed that part of the Valley Whilst both Armies thus lay within view one of another Scanderbeg well considering the ground the Enemy had taken and that it
the loss of their provision fearing that if they should now stay longer in the Country they should forthwith be driven to great extremities for want of necessaries Wherefore when they had evilly rested that nigh t the next day early in the morning they presented themselves in order of battel before their Enemies braving them into the Field and daring them to Battel The Turks disdaining to see any prouder in field than themselves after they had in goodly order ranged their Battels set forward with Ensigns displayed against their proud Enemies There began a most terrible and bloody Battel sought with such desperate resolution as if they had solemnly vowed either to overcome or die in the place where they stood A man would have said that the former days fury had been but a play in comparison of this many valiant Souldiers covered with their dead bodies the same ground whereon they living stood when they received the first encounter of their Enemies Of both those great Armies none was seen to give ground or once look back the Turks Ianizaries and the Egyptians Mamalukes the undoubted strength of the greatest Mahometan Monarchs Souldiers for their Valour much feared and through the World renowned there buckled together and standing foot to foot spent the uttermost of their Forces one upon another as if they would in that battel have made it known unto the World which of them were to be accounted the better Souldiers Whilst Victory stood thus doubtful and the day was now far spent Usbeg the Egyptian General with fifteen thousand valiant Horsemen whom he had received for that purpose gave a fresh Assault upon the Turks Squadrons with such force that they had much ado to keep their order and began now to give ground which was by and by made good again by other fresh men speedily brought on by the Bassaes. Then became the Battel more fierce than before every man striving to the uttermost of his power to sell his life unto his Enemies as dear as he could In which manner of Fight all the rest of the day was spent until that after the going down of the Sun the darkness of the night coming fast on they were glad for lack of light to break off the Battel and to retire themselves into their Camps not knowing as yet who had got the better The Turks Bassaes taking view of the Army and finding that of an hundred thousand fighting men which they brought into the Field there was scarce a third part left and most of them also maimed or hurt and doubting to be set upon again the next morning by their resolute Enemies fled away secretly the same night leaving behind them for haste their Tents well stored with Victuals and all other things needful The Egyptians also having lost one half of their Army which was at the first seventy thousand and wanting their necessary provision were reretired also the same night into the Mountain Taurus not knowing any thing of the Flight of the Turks And some of the Souldiers passing quite over the Mountain without stay into Syria raised a report all over the Country as they went That the Sultans Army was overthrown and that the Turks had got the Victory so uncertain was the true knowledge of the event of that Battel even unto them that were present therein The Egyptian lying that night upon the side of the Mountain had speedy intelligence from Aladeules of the flight of the Turks which being also confirmed by his Espials to be true he presently came down from the Mountain and entred into the Turks Camp where he found plenty of Victuals and of all other things needful for the refreshing of his Army Aladeules the Mountain King with the People called Varsacide by whose confines the Turks must needs in their return pass robbed and slew many of them in their disordered Flight and had so stopped the passages that they were in flying overtaken by the Mamalukes and slain with so great a slaughter that of all that great Army of the Turks few remained alive to carry news home Calibeius and Cherseogles the Bassaes were in that flight both taken Prisoners and afterwards presented to Caytbeius the Sultan at Caire with eighteen Ensigns of the Turks Sanzachs which are great men amongst them having every one of them the regiment and command of some one Province or other and are in degree next unto the Bassaes. Neither was the fortune of Bajazet his Navy at Sea better than that of his Army at Land for as it lay at rode upon the Coast of Syria at the mouth of the River Orontes which runneth by the famous City of Antioch his Gallies were by tempest and rage of the Sea put from their Anchors and in the sight of their Enemies swallowed up of the Sea or else driven upon the Main and there with the Surges of the Sea beaten in pieces Bajazet not a little troubled with these losses both by Sea and Land at length with much ado year 1492. by his Embassadors concluded a Peace with the Sultan unto whom he restored all such places as he had before taken from him for which the Sultan delivered unto him Calibeius Cherseogles Achmetes and Ishender with all the rest of the Turks Prisoners which he had in great number in his keeping Shortly after this Peace was concluded betwixt these two great and mighty Princes Caytbeius the Sultan died who of a Circassian Slave by many degrees of Honour and by the favour of the Mamalukes his Fellows obtained the rich Kingdom of Egypt which he right worthily governed to his immortal praise by the space of two and twenty years commanding at one time the great and rich Country of Egypt with all Africk as far as Cyrene Westward and Iudea with a great part of Arabia and all Syria unto the great and famous River Euphrates Eastward In the later end of his Reign he overcome with the importunity of his Wife Dultibe an Arabian born a Woman of an haughty Spirit joyned his Son Mahomethes a young man of about four and twenty years old with him in the Fellowship of his Kingdom that so possessed of it his Father yet living he might the better enjoy it after his death Contrary to the custom of the Mamalukes who of long time had not used to have their King by succession but by their free election Who grudging to be thus defrauded of their wonted choise immediately after the death of Caytbeius slew Mahomethes his Son and in few months after four more who one after another without their good liking had aspired unto the Kingdom neither could they be contented until such time as that they had according to their wonted custom set up a Sultan of their own choice About the same time that the aforesaid Peace was concluded betwixt the two great Mahometan Princes Bajazet and Caytbeius Charles the French King was making great preparation against Alphonsus King of Naples giving it out That after
Germany Frederick the Third Arch-Duke of Austria 1440. 54. Maximilian the Third 1494 25. Kings Of England Edward the Fourth 1460. 22. Edward the Fifth 148â— 0. Richard the Third 1483. 3. Henry the Seventh 1485. 24. Henry the Eighth 1509. 38. Of France Lewis the Eleventh 1461. 22. Charles the Eighth 1483. 14. Lewis the Twelfth 1567. 17. Of Scotland James the Third 1460. 29. James the Fourth 1489. 25. Bishops of Rome Xystus the IV. 1471. 13. Innocentius the VIII 1484. 8. Alexander the VI. 1492. 11. Pius the III. 1503. 26 days Jullus the II. 1503. 9. En Selymus scelere ante alios immanâ—or omnes In Patris et Eratrum dirigit arâ—â—a necem In Persas movet inde ferox Memphilica Regna Destruiâ—â—el Syros Aethiopasque domat Hinc in Christiâ—olaâ— irarum effundere fluctus Ipsorumque uno vertere regna parat Cum diro victus prosternitur ulcere Christus Scilicet est populi portus et aura sui Lo Selymus the vilest of the Othoman brood Embrud his hands in Father's Brothers bloud Persian Egyptian Syrian and Moore Submit their Scepters to his insolent pow'r But when the Christians Realms he vainly thought To speedy desolation to have brought A mortall ulcer seizd him to make knowne The great Messiah can protect his owne The LIFE of SELYMUS First of that NAME The THIRD and most WARLIKE Emperor of the Turks THIS Selymus by favour of the great Bassaes and Men of War whom he had before corrupted year 1512. having deprived his Father Bajazet first of the Empire and shortly after of his Life also and now fully possessed of the Empire himself first took view of the Treasures which the Turkish Kings and Emperors his Ancestors had before of long time heaped up in great abundance out of which he gave unto the Souldiers of the Court two millions of Ducats and for a perpetual remembrance of his thankfulness towards them augmented their daily wages allowing unto every Horsemâ—n four Aspers a day and to every Footman two above their wonted allowance By which exceeding bounty he greatly assured unto himself the minds of the Men of War. Shortly after he passed over with a great Army into Asia leaving the government of the Imperial City of Constantinople unto his only Son Solyman and marching into Galatia came to the City of Ancyra in hope there to have oppressed his elder Brother Achomates But he understanding before of his coming withal wisely considering how unable he was to withstand his Forces fled before into the Mountains of Cappadocia upon the Confines of Armenia taking up men by the way as he went and praying aid of all sorts of People yea even of such as were but of small ability themselves and unto him meer Strangers that so he might in best manner he could provide such strength as might serve him to make head against his Brother and for the recovery of Asia Selymus having spent that Summer without doing any thing worth the speaking of and considering that he could not well winter in that cold Country near unto the great Mountain Taurus by reason of the deep Snows and extream cold there usually falling and that to go farther was to no purpose forasmuch as Achomates flying from place to place and Mountain to Mountain was not to be surprised he retired back again into Bithynia and sending his Europeian Horsemen down to the Sea-coast and the Janizaries to Constantinople resolved to winter with the rest of his Army at Prusa At which time being wholly bent against Achomates his Competitor of the Empire he for certain years continued the League which his Father Bajazet had before concluded with Uladislaus King of Hungary Sigismundus King of Polonia and the Venetians And thinking no care no not of Children superfluous which might concern the establishing of his Empire he called unto him five of his Brothers Sons Orchanes the Son of Alem Scach Mahometes the Son of Tzian Scach Orchanes Emirsa and Musa the Sons of his Brother Mahometes all young Princes of great hope of years betwixt sixteen and twenty excepting Musa who was not past seven years old Of all these Mahometes whom his Uncle Achomates had a little before taken Prisoner at Larenda as is before declared and upon the death of Bajazet had again set him at liberty being about twenty years old was for rare Fonture and Princely Courage accounted the Paragon and Beauty of the Othoman Family which great perfection as it won unto him the love and favour of the Men of War and also of all the People in general so did it hasten his speedy death only Selymus his cruel Uncle envying at his life After he had got these poor innocents into his hands he sent for divers of his great Doctors and Lawyers demanding of them Whether it were not better that some five eight or ten persons should be taken away than that the State of the whole Empire should with great effusion of Blood be rent in sunder and so by civil Wars be brought in danger of utter ruin and destruction Who although they well perceived whereunto that bloody question tended yet for fear of displeasure they all answered That it were better such a small number should perish than that the whole State of the Empire should by Civil War and Discord be brought to confusion in which general calamity those few must also of necessity perish with the rest Upon colour of this answer and the necessity pretended he commanded these his Nephews before named to be led by five of his great Captains into the Castle of Prusa where they were all the night following most cruelly strangled It is reported that Mahometes with a Pen-knife slew one of the bloody Executioners sent into his Chamber to kill him and so wounded the other as that he fell down for dead and that Selymus being in a Chamber fast by and almost an Eye-witness of that was done presently sent in others who first bound the poor Prince and afterward strangled him with the rest whose dead bodies were buried at Prusa amongst their Ancestors The cruelty of this Fact wonderfully offended the minds of most men insomuch that many even of his Martial men filled with secret indignation for certain days absented themselves from his presence shunning his sight as if he had been some fierce or raging Lion. Of all the Nephews of old Bajazet only Amurat and Aladin the Sons of Achomates yet remained year 1513. whom he purposed to surprise upon the suddain and so to rid himself of all fear of his Brothers Children having then left none of the Othoman Family but them and his two Brethren upon whom to exercise his further Cruelty These two young Princes had a little before recovered the City of Amasia from whence they were the Summer before expulsed by their Uncle Selymus at such time as Achomates their Father was glad to flie into the Mountains of Cappadocia Selymus fully resolved upon their destruction sent
most terrible and desperate Assaults at length namely the 13 day of September when they had with all their force for the space of six hours furiously assaulted the Castle and slain most of the Defendants at last look it Serbellio shot in with two Bullets and wishing rather to die than to fall into the hand of the Enemy thrust himself into the midst of the Turks there to have perished but by the hasty coming in of Pial Bassa both he and Salazar were taken alive as for all the rest that followed them they were put to the Sword. The Bassa in his rage struck Serbellio and the more to grieve him caused his Son to be cruelly murthred before his Face Neither was this Victory by the Turks obtained without Blood having in less than three months space that the Siege endured lost above thirty thousand Men. These strong Holds the greatest strength of that Kingdom thus taken the Turks marched to Tunes which they easily took and afterwards overthrew the Fortifications thereof because it should no more Rebel Mahomet the young King but the year before placed in that Kingdom by Don Iohn was there taken and in bonds sent aboord to be carried with Carrera Captain of Guletta Prisoners to Constantinople and thus the Kingdom of Tunes with the strong Castle of Guletta fell again into the possession of the Turks to the further trouble of the Christian Countries lying over against it The proud Bassaes having as they thought best disposed of all things at Tunes and Guletta departed thence and with their Fleet of 400 Sail came the fourth of October within sight of Malta But understanding that they of Malta were provided for their coming and remembring what dishonour their most magnificent Emperor Solyman had not many years before there sustained whereof divers of them had been eye-witnesses they turned thence and sailed directly to Constantinople Shortly after this great Emperor Selymus spent with Wine and Women unto whom he had given his great strength died the ninth of December in the year of our Lord 1574 when he had lived one and fifty years and thereof reigned eight and lieth buried at Hadrianople He was but of a mean Stature and of an heavy Disposition his Face rather Swollen than Fat much resembling a Drunkard Of the Othoman Kings and Emperors he was of least Valour and therefore least regarded altogether given to Sensuality and Pleasure and so dying left his Empire unto Amurath his eldest Son a Man of more Temperance but not much greater Courage who nevertheless by his valiant Bassaes and Men of War did great matters especially against the Persians the mortal and dangerous Enemies of the Turks as shall be hereafter in this History declared Christian Princes of the same time with Selymus the Second Emperors of Germany Maximilian the Second 1565. 12. Kings Of England Queen Elizabeth 1558. 45. Of France Charles the Ninth 1560. 14. Of Scotland Queen Mary 1543. 20. James the Sixth that now reigneth 1567. Bishops of Rome Pius the V. 1566. 6. Julius the XIII 1572. 12. Non ego fortis eram quis tanto nomine dignus Ni fortem faciat mens generosa virum Me tumidum fortuna tumens evexit in altum Et par fortuna mens mea semper erat Sic quamvis tenero mihi nil nisi molle placeret Nominis augendi raptus amore fui 〈…〉 ad fortia facta ministros 〈…〉 sublatum est nomen in astrameum 〈◊〉 I waâ— not none deserve that name 〈…〉 whose generous minds bespeake their fame Fâ—rtune advanc'd me high and fickle Shee Still found a Soule bravely prepard in me Soft in my tender years tho' I became 〈◊〉 still I priz'd the glory of my name 〈…〉 abroad my Ministers of State 〈…〉 â—he Slavish drugery of my fate pag 651. Mustapha Ferhates Sinan et ter maximus Osman Terrores Orbis Succubuere mihi Armenios domui fortes Medosque feroces Et mihi paruerat Regia Taurisij Sed mihi quid prodest tantorum parta labâ—re Gloria Si Subito maxima quaeque 〈◊〉 Et nihil est tanti quod non brevis aufere◠〈◊〉 Sic mea cum multis gloria victa 〈◊〉 Osman Ferhates Sinan Mâ—staphâ— The terrors of the World did me obeâ— I broke the Medes and the 〈…〉 And batterd downe the proud Taurâ—â—â—â—n Towers Yet what 's all this to my ill gott renowne Since greatest things are soonest tumbled downe We 're robb'd of all we have in one short houre And quickly we and ours shall be no more THE LIFE OF AMURATH The Third of that Name Sixth Emperour of the Turks THE death of the late Emperour Selymus year 1574 was for fear of the insolent Janizaries notably concealed by the great Bassa's until such time as Amurath his eldest Son then in Asia by speedy Messengers advertis'd thereof about twelve dayes after arrived at Constantinople and there received into the Seraglio took possession of the Empire the five and twentieth day of December solemn amongst us Christians for the Nativity of our Saviour Christ Jesus He was about thirty or as some write seven and twenty years old when he began to reign of a manly stature but pale and corpulent wearing his Beard thin and long in his Countenance appeared not the fierce nature of the Othoman Princes being indeed himself of a peaceable disposition a lover of Justice and in the manner of his Superstition very zealous The riot and excess grown amongst the Turks by his Fathers evil Example he reformed by his own Temperance and the severe punishment of notorious Drunkaâ—ds yet it is reported that he would oftentimes himself drink plentifully of Wormwood-wine he was much subject to the Falling-sickness and sore troubled with the Stone more spare-handed than was for the greatness of his State and yielding more to the counsel of his Mother his Wife and Sister than of his great Bassa's which was of many imputed to him for simplicity At his first coming to Constantinople to appease the murmuring of the Janizaries grieved to see themselves so disappointed of the spoil of the Christians and Jews which they were wont to take in the vacancy of the Empire he beside the usual largess which the Turkish Emperours at their first entrance into the Empire bestow upon them augmented also their daily wages and granted them this Priviledge That their Sons as soon as they came to be twenty years old should be inrolled amongst the nâ—mber of the younger Janizaries and be partakers also of their immunities whereby he won their favours exceedingly And immediately to rid himself of all competitors he after the unnatural manner of the Turkish Policy caused his five Brethren Mustapha Solyman Abdulla Osman and Tzihanger to be all strangled in his own presence The Mother of Solyman pierced through with the cruel death of her young Son as a Woman overcome with sorrow desperately struck her self to the heart with a dagger and so died At which so
eleven Sons namely Mahamet the eldest of an infirmity in his eyes sirnamed Codabanda a man of a peaceable and quiet disposition more delighted with the sweet pleasure of a contented Life than the careful Honours of so great a Kingdom Ismahel the second Son of a more fierce and troublesome nature so much abhoâ—ring quietness that not regarding the League hardly concluded betwixt his aged Father and the Tuâ—kish Emperours Solyman and Selymus he would now and then without his Fathers knowledge upon a youthful heat break out into the Frontiers of the Turks Dominions and there make great spoil for which doing although he was both of his Father and the People the more regarded yet was he by his Fathers commandment who in outward shew seemed to mislike of those his youthful pranks tending to the breach of the League restrained of his liberty and sent to the Castle of Cahacha betwixt Tauris and Casbin where he remained at the time of his Fathers death Aidere the third Son no less ambitious than was his Brother Ismahel but not of like valour kept by Zalcan Pyry Mahamet and other his Kinsfolks all men of great Power and Authority The other eight were Mamuâ— Solyman Mustapha Emanguli Alichan Amet Abrahim and Ismahel the younger The old King before his death had by his last Will and Testament solemnly appointed Ismahel his second Son to succeed him in the Kingdom as of all his Sons most fit to take upon him so great a charge Which thing Mahamet his elder Brother seem'd not much to dislike contenting himself with such Honours as his Father had before bestow'd upon him Tamas thus dead Ismahel was by the Sultans sent for to Cahacha to take upon him his Fathers Kingdom at Casbin when in the mean time there arose a great tumult in the City yea even in the Kings Palace for Aidere the third Brother who in the time of his Fathers greatest sickness had entred the Chamber where he lay drawing towards his end and in his sight most presumptuously set the Royal Crown upon his head to the manifesting of his ambitious desires for which he was then worthily reproved now after the death of his aged Father carried headlong with the same aspiring humour and supported by Zalcan and other his mighty Favourites had so effectually dealt with the great Lady Periaconcona his eldest Sister and the other Sultans Counsellors of Estate put in trust to see the Will of the dead King put in execution as that the Succession could not be any longer kept from him and preserved for Ismahel but by the help of some fine and secret deceit This Lady Periaconcona elder than all the young Princes the Sons of Tamas her Brethren a Woman of great spirit and deep conceit left in great trust by her Father seeing the proceedings of her Brother Aidere durst neither openly to move any thing unto the Sultans prejudicial to his designs neither could she in her heart indure so great an injury to be done to her Brother Ismahel appointed by his Father to succeed him Wherefore in this perplexity she cast in her wily head how to satisfie her ambitious Brother present how to save the right of Ismahel absent the honour of her dead Father's Will and Testament and the safety of the Kingdom For having thorowly debated the matter with the Sultans she resolved that Aidere invested in Royal Apparel and setled in the great Gallery should attend the acclamation of the People an be theâ—e openly inthronised as the very elected King. With which vain shew the unwise youth blinded with Ambition suffered himself to be led year 1576 and being set in his Majesty verily persuaded himself that he should now be honoured both of his Friends and Foes as King. But unto these his so hasty and prosperous designs the Success that sprung from the subtilty of those Counsellors and his dissembling Sister were nothing conformable for that she by their advice took order for the gates of the Palace to be presently lock'd leaving at every passage a sure Guard and only one wicket open safely warded with a company of most faithful and valorous Captains and Souldiers wholly devoted to Tamas and Ismahel with straight charge to suffer every man to enter in saving only the known friends of Aidere In this sort did she think to have entertained the young man until such time as Ismahel should arrive at Cahaca and so put in execution what he thought best for the honour of himself and the general quiet of the Kingdom Who joyeth now but Aidere in conceit a King replenished with unwonted joyes receiving honour from all men but his best Friends By means whereof perceiving now the prohibition of them and moved also with the great stir of Zalcan his greatest Favourite who discovering the deceit and crying upon King Aidere threatned the Lady the Sultans and the rest that waited upon the feigned Succession indeed ordained but for the scorn and despight of the ambitious man strucken with an exceeding fear and full of sorrow he withdrew himself closely amongst certain Women in the Court hoping so to find some way to escape with life In the mean time so greatly increased the cries and threatnings of the Friends and Favourites of Aidere who now had all of them prepared themselves for some dangerous and pernicious attempt that the Counsellors with consent of the Lady his Sister were inforced to take order That to bereave this tumultuous and seditious People of all their hope and courage Aidere should be deprived of his Life Whereupon Sahamal the Georgian Uncle to Aidere by the Mothers side by the appointment of the Lady Periaconcona and the Sultans after long search made for him at last found him hidden amongst the Women and without further delay taking him by the locks struck his head from his shoulders and in the place where Zalcan and the rest of his unfortunate Favourites stood crying and threatning amongst the thickest of the prease of the proud Conspirators flung the Head all bloudy and as it were yet breathing for heat crying aloud to them Behold there your King enjoy him at your pleasure At which sudden and horrible Spectacle every man burned in rage and anger neither for the present wanted there many a rash head that vainly threatned most cruel revenge but in the end when they perceived the neer Succession of Ismahel inevitable and the death of Aidere irrevocable every man betook himself to his own private Affairs and so at last divided themselves one from another and so departing from the Palace scattered themselves some one way some another every man as he thought best for his own safety Shortly after Ismahel the desired King arrived at Casbin where he was of his Sister and the Sultans joyfully received as their lawful and undoubted Sovereign and with the great acclamation of the People saluted King who as soon as he saw himself possessed of the Royal Seat and his power
loves to slide not stand And leaves fortunes ice vertues firm land Honour had rather be with danger driven Than stay with vertue on the hand of Heaven THE REIGN OF MUSTAPHA The First of that Name Ninth Emperour of the Turks year 1617 OSMAN the eldest Son of Achmat being not above twelve years old Mustapha Brother to Achmat being five and twenty was drawn out of a Cell where he lived as it were religiously and in Contemplation and proclaimed Sultan Mustapha Chan. They write of him that he grew cruel causing young Osman to be kept under sure Guards putting to death his Brethren He also did many indignities unto the Christian Ambassadours and to confirm him in his Throne he gave great Sums of Money to the Janizaries and Spahies and sent a Messenger to Vienna to the Emperour to assure him that he would maintain inviolably whatsoever had been concluded betwixt him and his deceased Brother Achmat. But growing odious by reason of his Tyranny the Grand Visier came out of Persia with an Army and deposed him forcing him to return to his Cell setting Prince Osman at liberty and seating him in the Imperial Throne But for that it may seem strange that Mustapha should be preserved alive during the Reign of his Brother Achmat contrary to the custom of the Othoman Emperours who do usually kill all their Brethren at their first coming to the Crown thinking thereby the better to assure their Estates it shall be fit to make mention thereof Mahomet the third of that name dying in the year 1602 and leaving Achmat and Mustapha his Sons by the Sultana Flatra a Lady of Cyprus some say of Bosna Achmat the eldest was sent for speedily out of Magnesia by the Bassaes to take possession of his Father's Crown being the first Emperour of that Name And for that the custom of the Turkish Emperours was as we have said to have neither Brother nor Nephew alive unless they could save themselves by flight yet the Visier Bassaes and other Officers of the Court concluded in Council that it was not fit that Mustapha Brother to Achmat should dye grounding their opinion upon a good reason of State for that their Emperour being but fifteen years old they feared that dying in his Nonage without children able to govern the Empire might fall into Combustion and ruine it self by reason of Civil Wars Whereupon they decreed that Mustapha's Life should be preserved but with that caution and restriction that he should remain still a Prisoner in some Chambers of the Emperour's Seraglio at Constantinople During Achmat's minority and before he had Children there was no cruel Decree made against Mustapha but he only continued in his Contemplation without any liberty But when as the Emperour saw himself fortified with Issue and remembring the cruel Custom of his Predecessors year 1617 he many times propounded the putting of his Brother to death to his Council the which may seem very strange it took not effect having been often concluded Among others it is written that his Death was concluded one Evening and that it should have been put in Execution the next day But Achmat was so frighted in the Night with Apparitions and fearful Dreams as day being come he said Seeing that the only Resolution to put his Brother to death had so terrified him he did believe that his Torments would much increase if he should put it in Execution and therefore he commanded his Brother should live more in regard of the Terror of his Mind than for any brotherly Affection Another time Sultan Achmat being in one of the Windows of his Seraglio he beheld his Brother Mustapha who by his permission was walking in the Gardens with his Guard Some one of his Bassaes or other Officer that was near unto him and willing to flatter his Humor told him that it was a matter of dangerous Consequence to suffer him to have so great Liberty Achmat move with jealousie and distrust grew into rage at his Words whereupon he suddenly took his Bow and Arrow being a very expert Archer as all the Turkish Nation generally are and aimed at his Brother to kill him but at that very instant he felt so great a pain in his Arm and Shoulder as not able to let loose his Arrow nor to perform what he had intended he said with a loud Voice That Mahomet would not have Mustapha to dye This Prince had three Chambers in the Seraglio where he ramained a Prisoner fifteen years and spent his time in a Contemplative kind of Life after the manner of the Musulmans his whole delight was to read the Arabian Books of their Doctors in divers Sciences The Grand Seignior gave him leave sometimes to take the Air of his Gardens with his Guard and called him to consult with him of Affairs of Estate taking his Advice many times knowing him to be of a sound Judgment After a long imprisonment and a daily apprehension of death the Emperour Achmat falling grievously sick in November as you have heard his Bassaes and other Counsellors about him seeing the danger he was in perswaded him to take some good course for the succession of his Empire He had Children by the Sultana but they so young as they were not capable to govern the Empire Moreover this Sultana was dead and the Children left Friendless and none to speak for them But on the other side the Sultana Flatra Mother to the Emperour Mustapha was yet living who thought that if the Bassaes should undertake to govern the State during the minority of the Emperour's Children her Honour would be much eclipsed wherefore she favoured Mustapha and persuaded the dying Emperour to make him his Successor On the fifteenth of November Achmat seeing his End grow near he called for his Brother and told him That seeing Death approached he desired to provide for the Preservation of the Empire and therefore had made choice of him to succeed him intreating him to take the Government upon him presently after his death Mustapha was much amazed at his Speech and answered him with Words full of Fear and Humility That he might not accept of the Honour which he did him seeing that the Empire did rightly belong unto his eldest Son. Achmat disabled his Son for so great a Government both for his Age and Capacity being necessary for the maintenance of so great a Monarchy that he who was of ripe years and deep judgment should take upon him the managing thereof recommending the Children he had by the Sultana unto him intreating him to use them in the same manner that he had used him leaving the other Children which he had by Concubines being his Slaves to his Discretion Soon after these Words Achmat dyed and Mustapha was generally acknowledged for Successor to the Turkish Empire who at the first was so amazed as he thought he had been in a Dream to see himself advanced to so great a Power and Sovereignty from a straight Prison and
was entred into the Souldiers Roll or Catalogue and required being first strangled was afterwards thrown headlong from the Wall of the Garden and committed to the farther satisfaction of their Enemies Revenge by whom from thence they were dragged to the Hippodromo and before the new Mosque cut into small pieces and their Flesh roasted and eaten by them The day following they apprehended Mulki and her Husband Schaban Kalfa both whom they put to Death nor ended this Tumult here until by means of dissention between the Spahees and Janisaries the principal Ministers found means and opportunity to interpose their Power and having executed several of the Spahees and performed other exemplary parts of Justice reduced Matters to some kind of quietness and composure and thus Order results often from Confusion and Tumults in corrupted Common-Wealths have operated good Effects to the redress of several Evils But besides this Insurrection or Mutiny of the Janisaries have succeeded divers other but because there hath been no disorder amongst them so notorious and memorable as that which occasioned the Death of Kiosem Grandmother to the present Sultan we have thought fit to record the certain Particulars of it to all Posterity CHAP. IV. A True Relation of the Designs managed by the old Queen Wife of Sultan Ahmet and Mother of Sultan Morat and Sultan Ibrahim against her Grand-Child Sultan Mahomet who now Reigns and of the Death of the said Queen and her Complices AFter the murther of Sultan Ibrahim by conspiracy of the Janisaries Sultan Mahomet â—ldest Son of the late deceased Emperor a Child of nine Years old succeeded in the Throne of his Father and the Tuition of him and Administration of the Government during his minority was committed to the old Queen the Grandmother called Kiosem a Lady who through her long experience and practice in Affairs was able and proper for so considerable an Office and so the young Sultan was conducted to the Mosch of Eiub where with the accustomed Ceremonies his Sword was girt to his side and he proclaimed Emperor through all the Kingdoms and Provinces of his Dominions For some time this old Queen governed all things according to her pleasure until the Mother of this young Sultan as yet trembling with the thoughts of the horrid Death of her Lord and fearing lest the subtile and old Politician the Grandmother who had compassed the Death of her Husband should likewise contrive the Murther of her Son grew hourly more jealous of his Life and Safety which suspicion of hers was augmented by the knowledg she had of the ambitious and haughty Spirit of the Grandmother and the private Treaties and secret Correspondence she held with the Janisaries which compelled her to a resolution of making a Faction likewise with the Spahees and Pashaws and Beyes who had received their Education in the Seraglio being a party always opposite to the Janisaries These she courted by Letters and Messages complaining of the Death and Murther of the Sultan her Husband the Pride and Insolence of the Janizaries and small esteem was had of her Son their undoubted Prince adding that if they provided not for their own Safety the old Queen would abolish both the Name and Order of Spahees The Asiatick Spahees awakened hereat with a considerable Army marched to Scutari under the conduct of Gurgi Nebi and demanded the Heads of those who had been the Traytors and Conspirators against the sacred Life of their late Sovereign all which were then under the protection of the Janisaries and supported by the powerful Authority of the Queen Regent Upon this Alarm the Grand Visier called Morat Pashaw who had had his Education among the Janisaries being adored by them as an Oracle and engaged with them in the late Treason against the Sultan speedily passed over from Constantinople to Scutari with an Army of Janisaries and others of his Favourites and Followers transporting likewise Artillery and all necessaries for entrenchment some Skirmishes passed between the Vanguard of the Spahees and the Deli which are the Visier's Guard and thereby had engaged both the Armies but that the two Chief Justices of Anatolia and Greece interposing with their grave and religious Countenances preached to them of the Danger and Impiety there was in the effusion of Musselmens or Believers Blood and that had they any just Pretences their Plea should be heard and all Differences decided by the Law. These and such like Persuasions made impression on Gurgi Nebi and other Spahees and the posture they found their Adversaries in to give them battel made them inclinable to hearken to Proposals for accommodation but especially their Courages were abated by what the Justices had declared that in case they repaired not to their own Homes the Vizier was resolved to burn all the Rolls and proclaim a general Nesiraum through the whole Empire which is an Edict of the King and Mufti commanding all the Turks of his Kingdoms from seven Years old and upward to arm and follow him to the War. The Spahees hereupon dispersed themselves and from their Retreat encreased the Pride of the Janisaries Faction and of their chief Commanders viz. Bectas Aga highly favoured by the Queen Regent Kul Kiahia Lieutenant of the Janisaries and Kara Chiaus a follower of Bectas who now esteemed themselves absolute Masters of the Empire These three now governed all Matters contriving in their secret Councils the destruction of the Spahees especially those famed for Riches and Valour and as one of the first Rank gave order to the Pasha of Anatolia to take away the Life of Gurgi Nebi whom accordingly he one day assaulted in his Quarters and being abandoned by his Soâ—ldiers shot him with a Pistol and sent his head to Constantinople The Spahees exasperated hereat entred into private Councils and Conspiracies in Anatolia against the Janisaries drawing to their party several Beyes and Pashaws of Asia and particularly one Ipsir a Circasian born but educated in the Seraglio a Person of a couragious Spirit and powerful in Men and Treasure assaulted many Quarters of the Janisaries in Asia and cutting off their Arms and Noses miserably slaughtered as many as fell into their hands On the other party Bectas Aga secure in his condition amassed Wealth with both hands by new Impositions Rapine and other Arts causing to be coined at Belgrade three hundred thousand Aspers one third Silver and two of Tin these Aspers he dispersed amongst the Tradesmen and Artisans forcing others to exchange his false Metal for Gold at the value of 160 Aspers for the Hungarian Ducat The people sensible of the Cheat began a Mutiny in the Quarter of the Sadlers at Constantinople which encreasâ—d so fast that the whole City was immediately in a general Uproar This Tumult was violently carried to the place of the Mufti whom they forced with the Seigh who is the Grand Signior's Preacher and the Nakib Esrif a Primate of the Mahometan Race to accompany them to the Seraglio where at
of Black and White Eunuchs to the Door advising them to arm themselves with what Weapons were next at hand and there to remain until they received farther Orders All the other Chambers of the Pages and Officers were in the same confusion and were commanded in the like manner to arm themselves The Grand Signior fearing all this while he should be put to death as his Father was could not be pacified untill Mustapha Pasha his Sword-bearer taking him by the hand shewed him his Attendants all armed and ready at his command and passing by one of the Windows of the Lodgings was descried by a young Man who cried out with a loud voice God grant our King Ten thousand Years of Life at which all the Chamber shouted Allah Allah this Acclamation rang through all the Seraglio so that it reached the more remote quarters of the Drogists Cooks Pole-axe-men Faulconers and others who being ready and armed as the others answered with the like shout These Preparations were not only in the Seraglio but likewise without for the Vizier had given order to all the Pashaws and Beglerbegs and other his Friends that without delay they should repair to the Seraglio with all the force they could make bringing with them three days Provision obliging them under pain of Death to this Duty In a short space so great was this concourse that all the Gardens of the Seraglio the outward Courts and all the adjoining Streets were filled with armed Men from Galata and Tophana came Boats and Barges loaden with Powder and Ammunition and other Necessaries so that in the morning by break of day appeared such an Army of Horse and Foot in the Streets and Ships and Gallies on the Sea as administred no small terrour to the Janisaries of which being advised and seeing the concourse of the People run to the assistance of the King they thought it high time to bestir themselves and therefore armed a great company of Albaneses Greeks and other Christians to whom they offered Mony and the Title and Privileges of Janisaries promising to free them from Harach or Impositions paid by the Christians which Arguments were so prevalent that most taking Arms you might see the Court and City divided and ready to enter into a most dreadful confusion of a Civil War. In the Seraglio all things were in good order the Morning Devotions being finished the Baltagees who are a guard that carry Poleaxes called to the Pages to join with them and accompany them to the Presence Chamber These Baltagees were in number about 200 strong of large stature and of admirable agility at whose beck the Pages ran with all alacrity to the door of the Chamber where they at first received a repulse from the Master of the Chamber who was an Eunuch and one faithful to the old Queen's Interest who to yield all possible furtherance towards the protection of her Person reproved the insolence of the Rout in coming so boisterously to the Royal Lodgings to which they unanimously answered that they would speak to his Majesty that it was their desire to have the old Queen Enemy to the King and the Mahometan Faith put to Death at which words he being enraged and relying on his Authority reproved them with Terms of Rebels and Traitors to their Master What have you to do with the Queen said he Are you worthy to open your Mouths against â—er serene Name He reiterating these and the like words one of this Rabble said Kill that Cuckold for he also is an Enemy of the Faith. And whilst one lifted up his hand to strike him he fled by the way of the Tarras into the Garden whither being pursued by five or six of them he was overtaken and catching him by the Collar would have cut his Throat but that at his earnest entreaty they gave him so much liberty as first to cast himself at the Feet of the Sultan whither being dragged he delivered to the King a Seal and a Key of secret Treasure and being about to say something in his own behalf and defence of his Life a bold Youth of these Baltages called Ialch-Leferli struck him on the Head with his Ax and cleft it in two pieces the others seeing this first blow given him fell on him with their Scimiters and cut him to pieces his Blood and Brains were dashed on the rich Carpets which moved fear in many who were secretly of the Conspiracy with the old Queen The young King himself ignorant of the good Intentions of his Servants at the sight of blood-shed being yet tender-hearted cryed and closely embraced the Selihtar who then held him in his Arms but upon the removal of the Corpse out of his sight and some smooth words as that it was a Sacrifice of Love to him and the like his childish Tears were soon wiped away In this interim the new created Mufti and Kenan Pasha one of the Viziers of the Bench and Balyzade Efende who was formerly Lord Chief Justice and well affected to the Spahee's Party entring the Hazoda or Presence-Chamber perceiving a Tumult in his Majesty's presence with different Voices and Languages for some cryed in Georgian others Albanian Bosnian Mengrelian Turkish and Italian remained in great confusion how to proceed with Order and Reason in this important Affair for the Mufti and others were of Opinion that the Sentence against the old Queen was not rashly to be pronounced and so the Matter might calmly be debated and if possible an expedient might be found for saving her Life and securing the Sultan But the Rabble impatient of Delay cryed out defer not the Sentence for otherwise we shall esteem thee as one of her Adherents By this time news was come to the young Queen that there had been a Fight in the Streets who as yet doubtful of the success and fearing if the Janisaries should gain the Advantage Bectas would revenge the Blood of the old Queen by her Death came covered with a Veil into the Presence-Chamber saying as she passed Is this the Reverence you owe to the King your Lord Do you know the place where you are What would you have of a Woman Why do you busie your selves in the King's Affairs Some presently apprehended that this was only a Plot of the young Queen to make the World believe she would rather assist the Grandmother than contrive against her which made the Pages the more importunately to persist with the Mufti for the Fetfa or Sentence against her But one of the Pages suspecting that this Woman so veiled might be the old Queen her self cried out This is she you seek for she is in your Hands take your Revenge upon her At which some bestirring themselves to seise her she ran to the Feet of her Son and laying hold on him cryed out No no I am not the Grandmother I am the Mother of this his Majesty and wiping the Tears from the Eyes of her Son with her Handkerchief made signs to keep
up and turned her Head about upon which the Executioners being again called back the Cord was a second time applied and wrung so hard with the haft of a hatchet that at length she was dispatched and the News carried to the Royal Chamber The black Eunuchs immediately took up the Corpse and in a reverend manner laid it stretched forth in the Royal Mosch with about 400 of the Queen's Slaves encompassing it round about with Howling and Lamentations tearing the Hair from their Heads after their barbarous fashion moved compassion in all the Court. This Work being over the Vizier having given thanks to the Ichoglans or Pages for their pains gave order to produce the Banner of Mahomet which is carefully and reverently kept in the Treasury which being produced obliges all of that Faith from seven Years and upward to arm and come under it The Banner being brought forth with a rich Covering was advanc'd with great shouts of Allah Allah and carried by the Ichoglans out of the chief Gate of the Seraglio where it was shewn to the People who with wonderful admiration and devotion beheld their glorious Standard order was also given to proclaim through the whole City the Procession of the Heavenly Banner for they say that the Angel Gabriel brought it to Mahomet in the time of a great War made against the Christians as an infallible Sign and Evidence of Victory The opinion of this superstitious Flag so prevailed as it brought not only the Young and Healthful to fight under it but Sick and Old and Women judged themselves obliged to run to the defence of this Holy Ensign The news hereof and the death of the old Queen coming to the old Chamber of the Janisaries several of them and those also of the principal Heads began to murmure that it was now necessary to lay aside their private Interests and have a respect to their Faith and their Souls for should they oppose the Heavenly Banner they should run themselves into the State of Gaurs and Infidels and become liable to the same censure or punishment which is inflicted upon unbelievers But in the new Chambers Bectas endeavoured to remove this apprehension from the mind of his Souldiers by large Presents both of Gold and Silver perswading them to uphold their Fame and Reputation for that the Grand Signior and his Mother were Enemies to their Name and Designs and resolved to abase or destroy the order of that Militia and with assurance of Victory and encouragement against a People unarmed and undisciplined animated them to fight and to make the business more easie advised them to fire the City in several parts that so the People might be diverted and divided for safety of their own Goods and Dwellings But this proposition took not with the Officers and Souldiers who had many of them Houses and Possessions of their own in Constantinople but put them into great Distractions and Divisions in their Counsels In this pause came an Officer from the Grand Signior who to venture his life had the promise of a good Reward with a command in Writing which he threw in amongst them and galloped away as fast as he could crying out as he rode He that comes not under the Banner of the Prophet is a Pagan and his Wife divorced The Writing was taken up and carried to the presence of the principal Officers which being opened and read was to this purpose Bectas Aga I have made Pasha of Bosna Kara-chiaus I have made Captain-General of the Sea Kul-kahya I have made Pasha of Temiswar and Kara Hassan Ogle I have made Janisar Agasi and I require at sight of these Presents that every one of you upon pain of Death and ruine of his Family repair to his Duty and Station In this instant came news that the old Chamber of Janisaries had left their station and were run under the Banner without Arms and had refused Bectas's Mony and deserted his Cause and that the Spahees in great Troops and the Jebegees who command the Ordnance approached with Artillery to beat upon their Chambers The Spahees came thundring in upon the Janisaries in remembrance of their past Injuries and had certainly cut them off had not the Vizier with his Sword in his hand by good and bad words restrained them and appeased their Animosity The Janisaries of the new Chamber proclaimed their new Commander and visited him with their usual form of Congratulation running afterwards confusedly â—nder the Banner Kara Hassan the new elected Aga of the Janisaries went to the Seraglio to thank the Grand Signior for the Honour done him and with ten of his principal Friends was admitted to the Grand Signior's Presence who humbly kissing the Ground received the accustomed Vests and with some Admonitions was fairly dismissed and ordered to reduce his Janisaries to better Obedience By this time Bectas Kuskahya and Kara Chiaus with some of their Favourites remained wholly abandoned looking one upon the other full of Complaints and Railings each at other for the miscarriage of the Action But since it was not now time to condole but to save their Lives every one made to his House First Bectas fled to his Home where having ordered his Affairs he clothed himself in the Albanian fashion and escaped to the House of a poor Man formerly his Friend and Confident but the next day being discovered by a Youth was taken and being set on a Mule was with the scorn and derision of the People conducted to the Grand Signior's Seraglio and there strangled This Person was held in so much detestation by the common People that after his Death the Cooks and inferiour sort of Servants run Spits and Pitch-forks through his Body and plucking the Hairs out of his Beard sent them for Presents to their acquaintance through all Constantinople saying These are the Hairs of that Traitor who gloried that before he would lose his Head there should be raised a Mountain of Heads as high as St. Sophia But Kulkahya being come to his House filled his Portmantles with Gold and Jewels and accompanied with sixty Horse resolved to fly to the Mountains of Albania places so inaccessible that they have never yielded to the Turkish Yoke but finding himself hotly pursued in his Journey and that it was impossible to escape with so great a Number freely distributed a great part of his Gold upon his Retinue and thanking them for their Affection and good Intentions dismissed them all excepting one Servant with whom he journied with four laden Horses with Gold Jewels and other Riches and perceiving that this also was too great an incumbrance they buried a Treasure to the value of 600 thousand Dollars in the Country as they travelled which was afterwards found out by certain Shepherds who disagreeing about the division thereof the Matter came to be known to the Judg of that Country who seised upon it all and sent it to the Grand Signior's Treasury But Kulkahya travelling still farther with his
slight ib. a. hath Tunes yielded unto him 449 b. resâ—oreth it to Mulcasses now become his Tributary 451 a. returneth into Italy ib. a. with the Venetians and the Bishop of Rome entereth into a Confederation against Solyman 462 b. invadeth Algiers 484 b. sendeth a Messenger to Assan Aga Governour of Algiers for Batbarussa 485 a. his Messenger and Message scorned by Assan Aga the Eunuch ib. b. his notable courage in staying in the flight of his Army 487 a. most part of his Fleet lost by Tempest ib. b. the misery of his Army 488 a. Horses good meat in his Camp ib. b. raiseth his siege and departeth from Algiers 488 b. drowneth his Horses of great price to make room for his common Souldiers 489 a. after many troubles arriveth at length at new Carthage in Spain 489 b. resigneth his Empire unto his Brother Ferdinand and shortly after dyeth 529 b. Charles County Mansfelt sent by the King of Spain out of the Low-Countries with 2000 Horse and 6000 Foot to aid the Emperour in his Wars against the Turk 744 b. by the Emperour appointed Lieutenant General of his Army in the Lower Hungary under Matthias the Arch-duke and created one of the Princes of the Empire ib. b. with severity appeaseth the mutinous Germans 746 a. removeth suddenly with his Army from Dotis to Strigonium 747 a. in a great battel overthroweth the Bassa of Buda coming to the relief of Strigonium 749 a. dieth at Comara 750 b. Chars in three and twenty days fortified by the Turks 667 b. Chasan Chelife and Schach-Culi two hypocritical Persians Authors of the sect of the Cusel-bâ—ssa's or Red-heads among the Turks 317 stir up a great rebellion 319 b. Chasan Chelife slain 323 a. Chendemus Bassa by many grave reasons dissuadeth Selymus from invading the Persians 344 a. he is by the commandment of Selymus unworthily slain ib. b. Cherseogles Bassa what he was and why he turned Turk 329 b. a favourer of Learning ib. b. the only of great men faithful to Bajazet persuadeth him to give battel unto his rebellious Son Selymus 329 a. Chios taken by the Turks 554 a. Chiroche dissuadeth the Bassa's Partau and Haly from giving battel unto the Christians at Lepanto 592 b. encountereth with Contrarenus 596 b. slain and his Galley taken ib. b. Christians fight against Christians to the Confusion of themselves and benefit of the Turk 231 b. in seeking too greedily after the spoil overthrown and discomfited in the battel at Karesta 768 a. A notable Exploit done by a Christian fugitive 813 b. The Christians great Army 819 b. A rich booty lost through the negligence of certain Christians 823 a. The Christian General layeth a great Ambush to intercept the Turks 824 a. which ambush overthroweth them ib. b. they pursue the Turks flying Army 826 a. resolve to give the Turks battel ib. b. they offer the Turks battel 828 a. who shun it ib. a. take some booties from them 840 b. A Chiaus sent from Constantinopâ—e to Paris and the cause why 942 b. Cicala Bassa with his Army overthrown by the Rebels in Asia 844 b. discomfited the second time ib. b. again made General of the Turks Army in Asia 846 a. his evil success against the Persian 858 b. overthrown by the Persian 871 a. Cicala Bassa by the appointment of Osman the Visier Bassa commandeth the Turks great Army after his death in the return thereof from Tauris 701 a. dischargeth the Army at Van ib. b. afraid to give Aid to Giaffer Bassa at Tauris 703 a. restoreth the battel before lost at Karesta 768 a. with a great fleet cometh to see his Mother the Lady Lucretia at Messina 774 a. Columnius the Popes Admiral interposeth himself as a Mediator betwixt Don John and Venerius the Venetian Admiral and so well appeaseth the matter 592 a. Colonitz a valiant Captain in arms against the Turks 805 a. lyeth in ambush for them ib. a. in vain besiegeth Babotz 808 a. retyreth to Comara ib. b. his noble resolution 809 a. he opposeth the Tartars 813 a. defeateth two thousand Turks 814 a. besiegeth the Castle of Loqua 814 b. and taketh it 815 a. his notable enterprise upon the avantguard of the Turks Army 822 a. seeking to surprise the Turks is himself indangered 827 a. wisely appeaseth his discontented Souldiers 856 b. craveth aid from Vienna 857 a. overthroweth the Haiducks 867 b. A Combat fought betwixt the Lord Tischeuich and the Turks General 937 b. A Comet seen over Constantinople 950 a. Commissioners of the Turk the Emperour and Hungarians meet together to entreat a Peace 877 b. Commissioners appointed to appease the new Troubles in Hungary 885 a. Comparison betwixt Bajazet and Tamerlane 157 b. Confederation hard to trust upon 568 a. Conrade Marquess of Montferrat slain by two desperate Ruffians 50 a. Conrade the Third Emperour of Germany taketh upon him an Expedition into the Holy Land 22 a. cannot be suffered to enter into Constantinople but is treacherously dealt withal by the Greek Emperour 23 a. with a notable speech encourageth his Souldiers to adventure the River Meander 23 b. with a great slaughter overthroweth the Turks 24 a. besiegeth Iconium and so returneth ib. a. Constantine Prince of Bulgaria with the Tartars invade the Territories of Paleologus the Greek Emperour and spoileth Thracia 82 a. Constantine the Despot sent by the old Emperour Andronicus his Brother against young Andronicus his Nephew 113 b. taken Prisoner at Thessalonica and miserably used 114 a. Constantine the Greek Emperour in vain craveth Aid of the other Christian Princes 231 a. at the winning of Constantinople by the Turks troden to death 236 a. Constantinople built by Pausanias destroyed by Severus re-edified by Constantine the Great 231 b. how seated ib. b. taken and spoiled by the Latines 57 b. 58 a. recovered from the Latines by Alexius Strategopulus 81 a. betrayed unto the young Emperour Andronicus 119 b. in vain besieged by Amurath the Second 175 a. again besieged by Mahomet the Great 231 b. assaulted by the Turks 235 b. 〈◊〉 236 a. Constantinople again troubled by Fire 877 a. fired the third time 882 b. violent rain in the City 904 b. afflicted with Grashoppers 910 a. the People much wasted by the Plague 920 a. all the Dogs sent from thence ib. a. the scituation thereof described 956 a. Constantine Son of Jeremy enters the Government of Moldavia 909 a. his answer to the Turks Aga ib. b. he and Potosky taken Prisoners by the Turks ib. b. Contarenus the Venetian Admiral slain 282 a. Corcutus saluted Emperour before his Father Bajazet 297 a. kindly resigneth the Empire to his Father ib. b. given to the study of Philosophy and therefore not beloved of the Ianizaries 326 a. cometh to Constantinople 335 a. his notable speech unto his Father to perswade him to resign unto him the Empire before the coming of his Brother Selymus ib. a. comforted by his Father and put in hope of the Empire ib. b. flyeth to Magnesia
Prusa besieged by Othoman Michael Cossi turneth Turk Alteration of Religion in the Greek Church Persecution in the Greek Church for matters of Religion Andronicus spariâ—g to maintain his Navy weakneth his Empire Immoderate bounty in great men dangerous Alexius Philanthropenus aspireth Libadarius opposeth himself against the proceedings of Philanthropenus Andronicus the Greek Emperor reposing more trust in foreign aid than in his own Subjects greatly hurteth his State. Ronzerius what he was Ronzerâ—us for want of pay spoileth the Emperors Subjects Ronzerius slain The Turks first called into Europe by the Catalonians The Turcopuli The unfortunate battel of Michael the Emperor against the Catalonians and Turks Cassandria The Catalonians shut out of Macedonia A notable stratagem of the Catalonians The Turks divided into two Factions The unfortunate battel of the Emperor Michael Paleologus with the Turks in Chersoneâ—us Thracia spoiled by the Turks Philes Paleologus requesteth of the Emperor that he might go against the Turks The Battel betwixt Philes and the Turks The Turks overthrown The causâ—s of the decay of the Greek Empire Syrgiannes his craâ—ty Seditious Speech unto young Andronicus Young Andronicus cometh secretly armed to his Grandfather Thracia revolteth unto Andronicus Articles of agreement betwixt the old Emperor and his Nephew The Greek Empire in Europe divided whilst the Grecians are at discord amongst themselves Othoman layeth the foundation of the Turks Empire and the other other Turks incroach upon them also The Island of the Rhodes was by the Knights Hospitalers recovered from the Turks in the year 1308. Andronicus the old Emperor seeketh for Counsel of the Psalter as of an heavenly Oracle and so seeketh to make peace with his Nephew Psal. 68. vers 14. A treacherous meeting The young Emperor sendeth Embassadors unto his Grandfather The Speech of the young Emperor to his Grandfathers Embassadors The Speech of the old Emperor unto the Patriarch and the rest of the Bishops and Nobility concerning the young Emperor his Nephew The Patriarch with divers of the Bishops conspire against the Emperor Thessalonica yielded unto the young Emperor Constantinople bâ—â—râ—yed unto the young Emperor The pitiful Supplication of the old Emperor to his Nephew Niphon incenseth the young Emperor against his Grandfather The old Emperor becometh blind Andronicus the old Emperor against his will made a Monk and called Anthony The notable answer of the old Emperor to the catching question of the proud Patriarch The death of the old Emperor The Turks Kingdom founded by Othoman in Asia at such time as the Greek Emperors were at variance betwixt themselves in Europe Prusa yielded unto the Turks The death of Othoman Othoman buâ—ied at Prâ—sa The wealth that Oâ—homan leâ—t unto his two Sons Orchanes and Aladin when that barbarous manner of murthering their Brethren first began among the Turkish Sultans The City of Nice with divers other Castlâ—s recovered from the Turks after the death of Othoman The Emperor wounded The City of Nice surprised by the Turks Abydus besieged by the Turks Nicomedia yielded unto Orchanes Orchanes remoueth his Court to Nice Orchanes invadeth the Country of Carasina The Country of Carasina yielded unto Orchanes The Castle of Maditus tâ—â—en by the Tâ—rks The death of Solyman Bassa Orchanes his eldest Son. The death of Orchanes Amurath succeedeth his Father Orchanes in the Turkish Kingdom Didymotichum yielded unto the Turks Hadrianople yielded unto the Turks Rhodestum surprised by the Turks Hadrianople thâ— Royal Seat of the Tâ—rkish Kings in Europe Boga taken by Amurath and recovered again and rased by the Christians Boga new built by the Turks Amurath invadeth Servia Nissa taken by the Turks Appolonia won 〈◊〉 the Turks Amurath and Aladiâ— prepare themselves for War. The death of Chairadin Bassa The great battel in the plains of Caramania betwixt Amurath and Aladin Aladin flieth to Iconium Iconium besieged by Amurath Lazarus the Despot by his Embassador craveth aid of the King of Bosna Amurath marrieth the Emperor of Constantinoples daughter The Castle of Sarkive with the City jâ—yning unto it taken by thâ— Christians and rased Lazarus slain Amurath slain Amurath buried at Prusa Bajazet invadeth Servia Servia the second time invaded by Bajazet Thessalia invaded by Bajazet Constantinople eight years besieged by Bajazet Constantinople the second time besieged by Bajazet Bajazet marrieth Despina the fair Daughter of Lazarus the Despot Temurtases Bâ—jazet his great Lieutenanâ— in Asia taken Prisoner by Aladin the younâ— King of Caramania Amasia yielded unto Bajazet Sebastia delivered to Bajazet Bajazet invadeth Isfendiar Prince of Castamona The Mahometan Princes of Asia oppressed by Bajazet disguised flie unto Tamerlane for aid Tamerlâ—ne his opinion concerning the diversity of Religions The base opinion some have concerning the Birth and Rising of Tamerlane Tamerlane honourably descended The cause why some have reported him to have been a Shepherd or Herdsman Tamerlane marrieth the Daughter and Heir of the great Cham of Tartary Prince Axalla in great credit with Tamerlane The number of Tamerlanes great Army Sebastia besieged by Tamerlane Sebastia yielded to Tamerlane A Shepherd more happy than Bajazet The Prince of Ciarcan dealeth politickly with the Forerunners of the Turks Army The great and mortal Battle betwixt Bajazet and Tamerlane The Prince of Ciarcaâ— slain The Turks overthrown Bajazet and his Son Musa taken Prisoners Bajazet 〈◊〉 bâ—sâ—e Tamerlane with his Pride Bajazet like a Beast shut up in an Iron Caâ—e Solyman set up in his Fathers steaâ— Prusa taken by â—â—â—lle Tamerlane goeth to Constantinople Tamerlane much delighted with the pleasures of Constantinople A great Battel fought betwixt the Sultan of Egypt and Tamerlane Damasco won by Tamerlane Tamerlane cometh to Jerusalem Damiata taken by Axalla Tamerlane marcheth towards Caâ—er Caier besieged by Tamerlane Caier assaulted by Tamerlane The Sultan flieth from Alexandria Tamerlane desirous to return into his Country The miserable death of Bajazet A comparison betwixt Bajazet and Tamerlane Bajazet in his Posterity more fortunate than Tammerlane Divers opinions concerning the Successors of Bajazet The true Posterity of Bajazet Mahomet Gâ—vernor of Amasia Mahomet â—â—ndâ—â—h Spies into Tamerlane his Camp. Cara Dulet slain Mahomet his 〈◊〉 to Inaâ—l Ogli the Tartar Prince Inall Ogli his answer to Mahomet Inall Ogli overthrown by Mahomet Mahomet his Speech to Tamerlanes Embassador The great power Tamerlane continâ—ally kâ—pt The death of Tamerlane The description of Tamerlane Mahomet goeth against his Brother The answer of Isa to Mahomet his Offers The body of Bajazet honourably buried at Prusa Good counsel Isa with a great army sent by his Brother Solyman into Asia against Mahomet Prusa burnt by Isa. Isa flieth into Caramanâ—a and there dieth in obscurity The Castle of Prusa besieged by Solyman Musa marrieth the Prince of Valachia his daughter Musa in the absence of Solyman received at Hadrianople as King. Musa goeth against Solyman Solyman flieth Solyman strangled by his Brother Musa This Solyman is that same whom some call Celebinus and other some Calepinus and reckon
the Christian Reader what I was glad to seek for out of the confused Labours of many A Work so Long and Labourious as might well have deterred a Right Resolute and Constant Mind from the undertaking thereof being as yet to my Knowledge not undergone or performed by any Wherein among such Variety or more truly to say contrariety of Writers I did content my self as a blind man led by his Guide happily of no better sight than himself to tread the steps of this or that one man going for a while before me and by and by leaving me again stumbling in the Dark But out of the Learned and Faithful Works of many according to my simple Iudgment to make Choice of that was most probable still supplying with the perfections of the better what I found wanting or defective in the Weaker propounding unto my self no other Mark to aim at than the very Truth of the History as that which is it self of Power to give Life unto the Dead Letter and to cover the Faults escaped in the homely Penning or compiling thereof Which the better to perform I Collected so much of the History as possibly I could out of the Writings of such as were themselves present and as it were Eye-witnesses of the greatest part of that they Writ and so as of all others best able most like also to have left unto us the very Truth Such is the greatest part of so much of the History of the Greek Empire as I have for the better Vnderstanding of the rising of the Turks in this History set down gathered out of the Doings of Nicetas Choniates Nicephorus Gregoras and Laonicus Chalcocondiles all Writing such Things as they themselves saw or were for most part in their time and near unto them done Such are the Wonderful and almost Incredible Wars betwixt old Amurath the Second and his Foster-Child the Fortunate Prince of Epirus of the Turks commonly called Scanderbeg and by that wayward Tyrant at his Death together with his Kingdom delivered as it were by Inheritance unto his Son the Great and Cruel Sultan Mahomet all Written by Marinus Barletius himself an Epirot and in all those troublesom Times then living in Scodra a City of the Venetians joying upon Epirus Such is the Woful Captivity of the Imperial City of Constantinople with the miserable Death of the Greek Emperor Constantinus Palaeologus and the Fatal Ruine of the Greek Empire Written by Leonardus Chiensis Archbishop of Mytilene being himself then present and there taken Prisoner Such is the Lamentable History of the Rhodes taken for most out of Ja. Fontanus his Three Books de bello Rhodio a Learned Man then present and in great Credit with Villerius the great Master at such time as that famous Island after it had by him and the other Worthy Knights of the Order been most wonderfully of long Defended was to the great ruth of Christendom taken by the Great Sultan Solyman Such is the most Tragical History of Bajazet Solymans youngest Son Collected out of the notable Epistles of Augerius Busbequius Legationis Turcicae he himself then lying Ambassadâ—r for the Empiror Ferdinand at Constantinople and present in Solymans Camp at such time as he himself in Person went over with his Army into Asia to Countenance his eldest Son Selymus who Succeeded him in the Empire against his Valiant yonger Brother Bajazet and beside well acquainted with the Great Bassaes Achmet Rustan Haly and others oftentimes mentioned in the History following Such is also the History of the taking of the antient City of Tripolis in Barbary from the Knights of Malta by Sinan the proud Bassa Written by Nicholas Nicholy Lord of Arâ—euile present at the same time with the Lord of Aramont then Ambassador for the French King unto Solyman So might I say also of the miserable spoil of the Fruitful and Pleasant Islands of the Mediterranean made by Lutzis Bassa Solyman his Brother in Law and Great Admiral with the submitting of the Island of Naxos to the Turks Obeisence Written by John Crispe at that time Duke of the same Island And so likewise of diverse other parts of the History too long to rehearse But forasmuch as every Great and Famous Action had not the Fortune to have in it a Caesar such as both could and would commend unto Posterity by Writing that whereof they might truly say They were themselves a great part many Right Excellent Generals contenting themselves with the Honor of the Field and their Glory there Won leaving the Honorable Fame thereof to be by others reported for lack of such most certain Authors or rather as I before said Eye-witnesses I gathered so much as I could of what remained out of the Works of such as being themselves Men of Great Place and well acquainted with the Great and Worthy Personages of their Time might from their Mouths as from certain Oracles Report the undoubted Truth of many most Famous Exploits done both by themselves and others As might Pau. Jovius from the mouth of Muleasses King of Tunes from Vastius the Great General from Auria the Prince of Melphis Charles the Emperor his Admiral and such others Or else out of the Writings of such as were themselves great Travellers into the Turks Dominions and withal diligent observers of their Affairs and State as were the Physitians Pantaleon Minadoie and Leunclavius of all others a most curious Searcher of their Antiquities and Histories unto which great Clerks and some others of that Learned Profession we may Worthily attribute the greatest Light and Certainty of that is Reported of a great part of the Turkish Affairs But these in the Course of so long a History failing also as by conferring that which is hereafter Written together with their Histories is easily to be perceived to perfect that I had taken in Hand I took my refuge unto the Writings of such other Learned and Credible Authors as of whose Integrity and Faithfulness the World hath not to my Knowledge at any time yet doubted Yea for these few late Years I was glad out of the German and Italian Writers in their own Language in part to borrow the Knowledge of these late Affairs As also from the credible and certain Report of some such Hâ—norable minded Gentlemen of our own Country as have either for their Honors sake served in these late Wars in Hungary or upon some other Occasions spent some good times in Travelling into the Turks Dominions but especially unto the Imperial City of Constantinople the chief Seat of the Turkish Empire and Place of the Great Turks abode Amongst whom I cannot but deservedly remember my kind Friend and Cousin M. Rog. Howe unto whose discreet and curious Observations during the time of his late abode at Constantinople I justly account my self for many things beholden In which Course of my Proceeding if the Reader find not himself so fully satisfied as he could desire I would be glad by him my self to be better informed
gave the most hearty thanks that possibly he could unto the Latine Princes for that by their Bounty Charity and Valour the Greek Empire had been delivered out of a long and miserable Servitude and for his own particular that he had received of them so great good that albeit his sight could not be restored to him again nevertheless he acknowledged his Life his Liberty his Empire his Country his Son to have been unto him by them restored and he likewise to them for which their so great Deserts he could not as he said render them condign Thanks or devise Rewards or Honours answerable to their Demerits and Valour and that therefore he did ratifie and confirm whatsoever his Son had before promised unto them for his deliverance and not only that but further promised That if they were not therewith contented he would of his own bounty give them better contentment not meaning they should go discontented that had saved his life and otherwise so highly pleasured him Hereupon this good old Emperor began to consult with his Friends about the means whereby he might satisfie and content the Latines in such things as the young Prince his Son had unto them promised And to the intent that the Citizens of Constantinople might the more willingly do that he was to command them and the more chearfully pay such Impositions as he was to lay upon them he intreated all the Latines to retire themselves out of the City into their Camp or about their Ships which they accordingly did But the Imposition being set down and what every man was to pay seemed unto the Greeks as men of long accustomed to receive Tribute of others and not to pay Tribute to others a matter most heavy and intollerable In this very instant that this Exaction was required died the old Emperor Isaac who having of long been kept in a dark and stinking Prison in continual fear of death and now deliveâ—ed and restored to his Empire could not indure so sudden and unexpected a change both of the Air and of his manner of living but so suddenly died At this Exaction imposed for the contentment of the Latines the light Constantinopolitans grievously murmured and exclaimed saying That it was a villanous thing to see the Greek Empire ingaged and bound by a young Boy unto a covetous and proud Nation and so to be spoiled and made bare of Coin That the great and rich Island of Crete lying in the midst of â—he Sea was by him given as a Gift unto the Latines That the City of Constantinople and the Greek Church had by him been enforced and constrained to yield unto the See of Rome to receive the Opinions of the Latine Church to submit it self unto the Obeysance of old Rome from whence it had once happily departed ever since the time that the Empire was by Constantine the Great translated thence to them Thus every one said for himself in particular thus all men said in general And thereof the Noblemen in their Assemblies and the vulgar people in their meetings grievously complained whereupon a Sedition and Tumult was raised in the City Some presently took up Arms and the common people all enraged ran furiously disordered unto the Palace with a purpose to have committed some great Outrage upon the Person of the young Emperor Alexius who in that so sudden an Insurrection as might well have troubled a right constant man without longer delay resolved upon a most wholsome and necessary point for the appeasing of the peoples fury unto whom assembled in a wonderful multitude he shewed himself from above in his Palace promising them to remain in their Power and not from thenceforth to do any thing without their advice and liking but wholly to depend upon them with which good words the people held themselves well content and so was the tumult for that time appeased But forthwith the young Emperor considering the injury done unto him began to burn with the desire of Revenge and to change his purpose He could not together satisfie the Citizens and the Latines for if he would keep his promise with the Latines he must of necessity offend his own people neither was there any means to be found to satisfie both the one and the other But thinking himself more bound to keep his promise with the Latines whose Forces he knew not how to withstand he sent secretly to request the Marquess of Mont-Ferrat General of the Army to send him about mid-night certain Companies of Souldiers unto the City assuring him to receive them in by a Gate near unto the Palace which should be opened unto them by certain of his trusty Servants there left for that purpose Of this Plot Alexius Ducas of his bittle brows sirnamed Murzufle whom of a base Fellow the Emperor Isaac had promoted unto the greatest Honours of the Court was not ignorant who being a man of an aspiring mind and in those troublesome times having long thirsted after the Empire took now this occasion to work upon The night following he by his Agents men instructed for the purpose raised a tumult in the City not inferior unto that which had hapned the day before and at the same instant as if he had had nothing to do in the matter came suddenly to the young Emperor in the dead time of the night which he might at all time do by reason of the great confidence the Emperor had in him and with a sad countenance told him That the People were up again in an uprore and especially they of his Guard and that they were coming toward him to do him some violence for the love he bare unto the Latines With which unexpected news the young Emperor terrified demanded of him as of his most faithful Counsellor What were best in that case for him to do Who presently embracing him in his Night-gown led him out by a secret door into a Tent he had of his own in the Court as if he would there have kept him safe but far was that from his traiterous thoughts who departing from him as if he had gone to appease the Tumult had before taken order that he should presently after his departure be cast into Bonds and so be clapt up into a close stinking Prison which done the false Traitor openly shewing himself made an Oration to the People wherein he shewed himself to have great compassion of the Greek Empire and of the Greeks his Country men themselves especially in that they were governed by a youth unfit for the government who suffred himself to be misled according to the pleasure of the Latines And that it was high time for the City of Constantinople the seat of the Greek Empire to look about it and to have an Eye unto it self sith it was betrayed and sold by them which ought to preserve and keep the same that they had now need of a man that loved his Country and Country-men before that which yet remained of the
the setting forward of the Emperor Fredericks Son-in-Law for the recovery of his Wives Right to the Kingdom of Ierusalem which although he solemnly vowed at such time as he with all Princely Magnificence married the said Lady at Rome yet otherwise letted with troubles nearer home performed not the same untill almost seven years after all which time the Christians in Syria enjoying the fruit of the late concluded Peace for eight years lived in great rest and quietness where so leaving them until the arising of new troubles let us in the mean time return again unto the troubled affairs of the Turks Greeks and Latines at Constantinople and in the lesser Asia Henry the Second Emperor of the Latines at Constantinople after he had as is aforesaid with much ado repressed the Fury of the Bulgarians and Scythes his barbarous Enemies and so given peace to the miserable Country of Thracia died having reigned a most troublesome Reign about the space of eleven years Afteâ— whom succeeded Peter Count of Ausserre his Son-in-Law third Emperor of the Latines in Constantinople who in the beginning of his Empire willing to gratifie the Venetians and to revenge himself of Theodorus Angelus a great Prince of Epirus Competitor of his Empire besieged him in Dirrachium which strong City the said Theodorus had but a little before surprised belonging unto the Venetian Seigniory At which Siege Peter the Emperor lying was so cunningly by the wilie Greek used that a Peace was upon most honourable conditions betwixt them concluded and a familiar kind of Friendship joyned Insomuch that the Emperor at his request not well advised came unto him as his Guest who now of his Enemy became his Host entertaining him with all the formalities that feigned Friendship could devise But having him now in his power and fearing no harm regarding neither the Laws of Fidelity or Hospitality he most traiterously slew him as he was yet in the midst of his Banquet Of whose end some others yet otherwise report as that he should by the same Theodorus have been intercepted about the pleasant Woods of Tempe in Thessalia as he was travelling from Rome to Constantinople and so afterwards to have been by him cruelly put to death Of whose misfortune Tepulus Governour of Constantinople understanding for the more safety of the State in that vacancy of the Greek Empire made peace with Theodorus for five years and the Turks for two Shortly after came Robert the Son of the aforesaid unfortunate Emperor Peter with his Mother to Constantinople and there in his Fathers stead was solemnly saluted Emperor but not with much better luck than was his Faâ—her before him for shortly after his coming he took to Wife a fair young Lady the Daughter of a great rich and noble Matron of the City but before betrothed unto a gallant Gentleman a Burgundian born with whom the old Lady broke her promise and more careful of her Daughters preferment than fidelity gave her in marriage unto the new Emperor The joy of which so great an Honour was in short time converted not into a deadly heaviness but even into death it self for the young Burgundian more enraged with the wrong done him than discouraged with the greatness and power of the Emperor consorted himself with a company of lusty tall Souldiers acquainted with his purpose and awating his time when the Emperor was absent by night entred the Court with his desperate Followers and first meeting with the beautiful young Empress cut off her Nose and her Ears and afterward threw her old Mother into the Sea and so fled out of the City into the Woods and Mountains with those desperate cut-throats the ministers of his barbarous cruelty The Emperor pierced to the heart with this so great a disgrace shortly after went to Rome to what purpose was not certainly known but in returning back again through Achaia he there died leaving behind him his young Son Baldwin yet but a Child begotten by his first Wife to succeed him in the Empire who by the name of Baldwin the Second was crowned the fifth and last Emperor of the Latines in Constantinople And for because he was as yet but young and unfit for the Government he was by the consent of the Nobility affianced and afterward married unto Martha the younger Daughter of Iohn Brenne King of Ierusalem a worthy old Captain but as then Governour of Ravenna which City he being certain years before sent for out of France for that purpose by Honorius the Pope he notably defended against the Emperor Frederick his Son-in-Law but that affinity was before broken off by the death of the said Emperors Wife who now sent for out of Italy unto Constantinople had committed to his charge and protection both the Person and Empire of the young Emperor Baldwin now his Son-in-Law Which great and heavy charge he for certain years after worthily and faithfully discharged until such time as that Baldwin was himself grown able to take upon him the government Now although the Imperial City of Constantinople with the Countries of Thracia Thessalia Macedonia Achaia Peloponesus and the rest of the Provinces of Greece were all or for the most part under the Government of Baldwin the Emperor the Venetians or other the inferior Latine Princes yet were the oppressed Greeks the natural Inhabitants thereof in heart not theirs as abhorring nothing more than that their forreign government but wholly devoted to their own natural Princes Theodorus Lascaris and Alexius Comnenus the one reigning at Nice in Bithynia the other at Trapezond in Pontus both called by the Greeks Emperors and so of them generally reputed Lascaris of the two the better beloved and by far of greatest power had during the time of his Government fought many an hard Battel as is in part before declared and strongly fortified his chief Cities against the invasion of his Enemies as well the Turks as the Latines and so having as it were erected a new Empire in Asia and there reigned eighteen years died leaving behind him one Iohn Ducas Batazes that had married the fair Lady Irene his Daughter and Heir to succed him in the Greek Empire in Asia This Iohn was a man of a great Wit and Spirit and of more gravity for his years than was Theodorus his Father-in-Law never undertaking any thing before he had thereof well considered and once resolved not omitting or neglecting any thing for the performance thereof So that it was not unfitly said of the Greeks The planting of this new Empire to have required the celerity of Lascaris but the stay thereof to have been the gravity of Ducas He in the beginning of his Reign in very short time having set all things in good order greatly augmented his Legions and shooting at a fairer mark than the Empire he held even the Imperial City it self and the recovery of all Thracia and Grecia out of the hands of the Latines which could not be done
Wrath but struck as it were to the heart with a remorse of Conscience and oppressed with heaviness with tears running down his Cheeks and fetching a deep sigh said Why provoke you me to punish so just a man Whereas if I would my self have lived without reproach and infamy I should have kept my Imperial Majesty unpolluted or stained But now sith I my self have been the cause both of mine own disgrace and of the Empires I may thank mine own deserts if of such evil seed as I have sown I now reap also an evil harvest After the death of this good Emperor Theodorus his Son born the first year of his Fathers Reign being then about three and thirty years old was by the general consent of the People saluted Emperor in his stead who in the beginning of his Empire renewed the League which his Father had made with Iathatines the Turkish Sultan And so having provided for the security of his affairs in Asia he with a puissant Army passed over the Straight of Hellespontus into Europe to appease the troubles there raised in Macedonia and Thracia by the King of Bulgaria his Brother-in-Law and Michael Angelus the Despot of Thessalia who upon the death of the old Emperor began to spoil those Countries not without hope aâ— length to have joyned them unto their own by whose coming they were for all that disappointed of their purpose and glad to sue to him for peace But whilst he was there busied he was advertised by Letters from Nice that Michael Paleologus whom he had left there Governour in his absence was secretly fled unto the Turks with which news he was not a little troubled The cause of whose flight as Paleologus himself gave it out was for that he perceived himself divers ways by many of his Enemies brought into disgrace and the Emperors Ears so filled with their odious complaints so cunningly framed against him as that they were not easily or in short time to be refelled and therefore fearing in the Emperors heavy displeasure to be suddenly taken away to have willingly gone into exile if so happily he might save his life from the malice of them that sought after it At his coming to Iconium he found Iathatines the Sultan making great preparation against the Tartars who having driven the Turks out of Persia and other the far Eastern Countries as is before declared and running still on did with their continual incursions spoyl a great part of their Territories in the lesser Asia also and now lay at Axara a Town not far off from Iconium against whom the Sultan now making the greatest preparation he could gladly welcomed Paleologus whom he knew to be a right valiant and worthy Captain commending to his charge the leading of certain Bands of Greeks whom he had retained to serve him in those Wars as he had others of the Latines under the conduct of Boniface Moline a Nobleman of Venice and so having put all things in readiness and strengthened with these forreign Supplies of the Greeks and Latines set forward against his Enemies the Tartars who at the first fight of the strange Ensigns and Souldiers were much dismaied fearing some greater force had been come to the aid of the Turks nevertheless joyning with them in Battel had with them at the first a most terrible and bloody conflict wherein that part of the Army that stood against Paleologus and his Greeks was put to the worse to the great discomfiture of the Tartars being even upon the point to have fled had not one of the greatest Commanders in the Turks Army and a nigh Kinsman of the Sultans for an old grudge that he bare unto the Sultan with all his Regiment in the heat of the Battel revolted unto the Tartars whereby the fortune of the Battel was in a moment as it were quite altered they which but now were about to have fled fighting like Lions and they that were Victors now glad to turn their Backs and flie in which Flight a great number of Turks fell the fierce Tartars most eagerly pursuing them Paleologus with the General of the Turks hardly chased by the Tartars and glad every hour to make a stand and to fight for their lives with much ado after many days flight recovered a Castle of the Generals neer unto Castamona and so saved themselves The Tartars after this so great a Victory wherein they had broken the whole Strength of the Turks and brought in hazard the whole State of their Kingdom without resistance forraged all the Countries and Provinces subject unto the Turkish Sultan making Spoil of whatsoever they light upon insomuch that the Sultan discouraged and having now no Strength left to oppose against them fled unto the Greek Emperor Theodorus for aid who most honourably entertained him with all his Train and comforted him with such small aid as he thought good then to spare him which for his more safety he sent home with him under the leading of Isaacius Duâ—as sirnamed Murtzufle a man in great credit with him In recompence of which kindness the Sultan gave unto the Emperor the City of Laodicea whereinto he presently put a strong Garrison Nevertheless it was not long before it fell again into the Hands of the Turks being a place not to be holden by the Greeks Yet for all this the Sultan finding himself still to weak to withstand the continual invasions of the Tartars and weary of the harms he dayly stustained by the advice of his chief Councellors made a League with them yielding to pay them a certain yearly Tribute thereby to redeem his peace From which time the Tartars accounted of the Turks as of their Tributaries and Vassals Not long after this Michael Paleologus was by the Emperors kind and gracious Letters called home with his faithful promise also before given for his security who before his return bound himself also by solemn Oath to be unto the Emperor and his Son always loyal and from thenceforth never to seek after the Empire or give cause of new suspect for such matters as he had been before charged with but for ever to yield unto the Emperor his Son or other his Successors in the Empire his dutiful Obedience and Fidelity Upon which conditions he was again made great Constable and so received into the Emperors Favour and lived the rest of his Reign in great honour and credit with him Now Theodorus the Emperor having reigned three years fell sick and died leaving behind him his Son Iohn then but a Child of six years old to succeed him in the Empire whom he upon his death bed together with the Empire commended to Arsenius the Patriarch and one George Muzalo his faithful Councellor as to his trusty Tutors to see him safely brought up and the Empire well and peaceably governed This Muzalo was a man of mean Parentage but for his familiar Acquaintance and civil Behaviour of a Child brought up in the Court with the
and was afterward by Othomans commandment most cruelly cut in pieces within the view of his chief Castle which Othoman afterwards subdued with all the Country thereabouts The other Christian Princes and Captains saved themselves by flying into strong Holds farther off The Prince of Bithynia the chief Author of this War fled into the strong City of Prusa which the Turks now call Burusa whither Othoman not long after led his Army in hope to have won the same but finding it not possible to be taken by force began presently at one time to build two great and strong Castles upon the chief passages leading to the City which Castles he with great industry finished in one year and in the one placed as Captain Actemeur his Nephew in the other one Balabanzuck both men of great courage and skilful in feats of War and in this sort having blocked up the City of Prusa so that little or nothing could without great danger be brought into it he subdued the most part of Bithynia and so returned home leaving the two Castles well manned with strong Garrisons under the charge of the Captains before named Othoman returning home to Neapolis honourably rewarded his Souldiers according to their deserts establishing such a quiet and pleasing Government in his Kingdom that People in great number resorted from far into his Dominions there to seat themselves whereby his Kingdom became in few years exceeding populous and he for his politick Government most famous And so living in great quietness certain years being now become aged and much troubled with the Gout his old Souldiers accustomed to live by the Wars abhorring Peace came to him requesting him as it were with one voice to take some honourable War in hand for the inlargement of his Kingdom with great chearfulness offering to spend their lives in his service rather than to grow old in idleness which forwardness of his men of War greatly pleased him and so giving them thanks for that time dismist them promising that he would not be long unmindful of their request But yet thinking it good to make all things safe at home before he took any great Wars in hand abroad thought it expedient to call unto him Michael Cossi the only Christian Captain whom for his great deserts he had at all times suffered to live in quiet with his Possessions as it were in the heart of his Kingdom and by fair means if it might be to perswade him to forsake the Christian Religion and become a follower of Mahomet and so to take away all occasion of mistrust which if he should refuse to do then forgetting all former Friendship to make War upon him as his utter Enemy Whereupon Cossi was sent for being perswaded by the Messenger that Othoman had sent for him because he had occasion to use his wonted faithful Counsel and Service in a great exploit which he had intended as he had oftentimes before Cossi thinking of nothing less than of that which ensued came accompanied with such Souldiers as he thought to use in that service But coming unto Othoman and understanding the very cause why he was sent for and seeing danger eminent on every side kissing Othomans Hand after the manner of the Turks requested him in courteous manner to enter him in the Principles of the Mahometan Religion which he promised ever after to embrace And so saying certain words after Othoman he turned Turk to the great displeasure of God and the contentment of Othoman and his Nobility For which his revolting Othoman presently gave him an Ensign and a rich Robe tokens whereby the Mahometan Sultans assure their Vassals of their Favour and the undoubted possession of such Land and Living as they then hold Oftentimes after this Othoman for the contenting of his Souldiers invaded the Countries bordering upon him took many strong Castles and Forts subdued the most part of Phrygia Misia and Bithynia and other great Regions unto the Euxine Sea and being now very aged and diseased as is aforesaid with the Gout and thereby unable to go into the field in person himself oftentimes sent his Son Orchanes against his Enemies who to the imitation of his Father atchieved many great enterprises Othoman his Father yet living Now happily might the considerate Reader and not without just cause marvel what dead sleep had overwhelmed the Greek Emperors of those times first Michael Paleologus and afterwards his Son Andronicus both men of great Valour and still resiant at Constantinople thus to suffer the Turks not Othoman for he as yet bare no sway but others the sharers of Sultan Aladins Kingdom to take their Cities spoil their Countries kill their Subjects and dayly to incroach upon them in the lesser Asia and especially in Bithynia so near unto them and as it were even under their Noses But let him with me here as in a most convenient place but breath a little and consider the troubled State of that declining Empire now hasting to an end and he shall plainly see the causes of the decay thereof and how like an old diseased body quite overthrown and sick to death it became at length a Prey unto the aspiring Turks Michael Paleologus having by great treachery obtained the Greek Empire and by rare fortune recovered also the City of Constantinople from Baldwin the Emperor as is in the former part of this History declared fearing the power of the Princes of the West but especially of Charles King of Sicilia then a Prince of great Fame and Power whom he knew Baldwin the late Emperor ceased not to solicite for the restitution of him again into his Empire and to have also joyned with him a near bond of Affinity by marrying his Daughter unto Charles his Son to avert this danger and to intangle Charles with troubles near home by his Embassadors offred unto Gregory the Tenth then Bishop of Rome to unite and conform the Greek Church unto the Latine and to acknowledg the Bishops Supremacy in such sort as that it should be lawful for any man to appeal unto the Court of Rome as unto the higher and most excellent Court of which his offer the Pope gladly accepted promising to perform what he had before requested for the keeping of Charles otherwise busied But when it came to the point that this reformation and alteration of Religion in the Greek Church should be made Ioseph the Patriarch to begin withall gave up his place and shortly after forsaking the City retired himself into a Monastery near unto the Straight of Bosphorus where he at quiet devoutly spent the rest of his life The rest of the Clergy also discontented with this innovation in their Sermons openly inveighed against it perswading the People not to receive it crying out That now was come the time of their trial the time of their Martyrdom and the time wherein they were to receive the glorious Crown of their painful sufferings insomuch that great tumults were thereupon raised and
inviting him to hasten his coming into the City who thereupon coming to Rhegium by his Embassadors sent from thence requested the old Emperor either to give him leave according to the League betwixt them to come into the City or else to send him certain of the chief of the Nobility and Clergy with some of the better and more understanding sort of the Burgers and Citizens also unto whom he might frankly speak his mind for them faithfully to deliver the same again unto the Emperor his Grandfather and the People Which request the old Emperor perceiving to be full of Deceit and Treachery for a good space answered thereunto nothing at all but stood all silent as doubting which to grant for to suffer his Nephew to come into the City he saw was dangerous the Citizens as he well knew being for the most part inclined to revolt to him so soon as they should once see him within the Gates and to send any forth unto him as he desired might be as he feared an occasion of some tumult to be after raised in the City for he knew that his Nephews drift therein was openly by fair words and secretly with great gifts and large promises first to gain them and by them the rest of the Citizens Both which things being dangerous he made choice of the easier and sent forth unto him two of the most noble Senators two of the most reverend Bishops two other grave Prelates and four of the chief Burgesses of the City unto whom at their coming unto him he in the open hearing of all men delivered this premeditated and crafty Speech It is not unknown unto the World you my Subjects to have alwaies been unto me more dear than I have been unto my self and how that I have not upon any ambitious conceit or desire of the sole Government against my Grandfathers good Will gon out For you see how that I neither spare mine own life or attend my pleasure for the care I have of you I come not unto you compassed about with a Guard of armed men as is the manner not of Kings only for the envy of their high place but of others also of far meaner calling whom disaster fortune banished from their Parents and Kindred hath enforced to wander here and there with death also before their Eyes Let any man tell me how I came by these wounds which I yet bear in my body but in fight with the Enemies of my Country which pass over out of Asia into Thracia or else dwelling near unto Isther do with their incursions from thence miserably waste that side of Thracia which is next unto them For I to tell you the very truth seeing the old Emperor by reason of his great years to become slothful and blockish and not possible to be awaked out of his drowsie sleep neither any whit to grieve when as the poor Christians his Subjects were both by day and night some as Sacrifices slain by the barbarous Enemies some carried away into most miserable Captivity and the rest poor and naked to be driven out of their Houses and Cities not to speak in the mean time of the greater mischiefs in Asia and how many Cities have been there lost through the old Emperors sloth and neglience when I saw these things I say strucken with a piercing grief which my heart could not indure I went out for two causes either by some kind of honourable death to end my grief together with my life or else to the uttermost of my power to stand my Country in some stead For by no means it can come to pass but that a man and he that hath of long time reigned must at length become loathsome unto his Subjects and encur their deadly hatred For why God hath made nothing in this life immutable and firm whereby it cometh to pass as we see that all worldly things joy and delight in change But if a man will as it were force Fortune to his desire and strive to bind things unto a certain firm and constant course he shall but lose his labour and in vain strive against nature But whatsoever is contrary unto nature or exceedeth the just bounds thereof hath in it neither comfort nor delight This was it that caused the wise men to say and to leave to us as Rules Not to dwell too long upon any thing and a measure to be the fairest vertue For you see how that my Grandfather being grown to great years and having reigned so long I may almost say as never did any but he is become hateful unto all his people and yet regardeth not either how to discharge himself of so great a burthen or how to relieve the declining State of the Empire or so much as grieveth to see the Successors of the Empire to die before him For my Father is dead without any fruit of the Empire except the bare Title only and others also nearest to him of blood and far younger than hâ— are dead likewise and happily I my self may die also before I shall receive any profit thereof for what can more easily happen especially unto a man that shunneth no danger and regardeth not his life But some perhaps will suspect me of Ambition for departing from the Emperor my Grandfather and for refusing to be ruled by him Which thing I neither flatly deny or altogether confess For might I see the Empire increase and the bounds thereof inlarged I could willingly content my self and at my ease take my rest chearing my self up with such hope as do they that bear with their Cooks making them to stay long for their dinner in hope thereby to fare the better But seeing the State of the Empire daily to decline from evil to worse and the miserable people carried away Captives or slain by their Enemies even at the Gates and under the Walls of the Imperial City what deem you me then to think For most men ease their present grief with the hope of future good although the same be but vain But unto me is not left even such vain hope unto my false comfort And can you marvel at the impotent affection of the Great Alexander of Macedon grieved and displeased to see his Father to heap Victory upon Victory and to cut off all the hope of his Sons glory by leaving him so few occasions of War and not think me to whom you see the quite contrary is chanced and from whom not only the hope of the Empire is cut off for the wasting thereof but even the course of a quiet life to fret and grieve thereat Moved herewith and not able longer to indure it at length I rise up and requested of the Emperor my Grandfather but a thousand men at Arms promising him by the Power of God with them to preserve the Cities in Bithynia and to drive his Enemies further off before that having them they should pass over the strait and besiege the Imperial City of
with most joyful Acclamations But the old Emperor hearing the great Tumult and Out-cry rose from his Pallet exceedingly troubled and destitute of all the help of his Captains and Souldiers for why his Palace was altogether desolate except of such as were his ordinary Waiters betook himself unto his Prayers beseeching God not to forsake him in so great a danger but in his mercy to defend him from the fury of those wicked men Who presently heard him and sent him present relief for whilst he was thus praying in the Palace the young Emperor without calling together all his Captains and Lieutenants straitly charged them upon pain of death neither by word nor deed to violate the Majesty of the old Emperor his Grandfather nor any other about him for this Victory said he God hath given us and not we our selves his Will ordereth all things whereunto all things obey the Stars the Air the Sea the Earth Men Floods Tempests Plagues Earthquakes Showers Dearth and such like sometime to our Bliss and sometime to our Correction and Destruction wherefore using us as the Instruments of his Chastisement he hath given unto us this present Victory which peradventure to morrow he will give to others to use against us and then as we have been unto them we have overcome such will they also shew themselves unto us again wherefore if neither nighness of blood neither that we be all of one Country may move us yet in respect of our selves let us use mercy that we feel not the Hand of God upon us in like case In the mean time a Courtier opened a Wicket unto the young Emperor with this Message from his Grandfather Forasmuch as God this day my Son hath given unto thee the Imperial Scepter taken from me I request of thee this one good turn for many which I have even from my birth bestowed upon thee for in this my hard estate I let pass that I next unto God have been the Author of thy Nativity and Increase give me my life spare thy Fathers head and with violent Weapon spill not that blood from which thou thy self hast taken the Fountain of life Man truly beholdeth Heaven and Earth and Heaven and Earth behold mens Actions wherefore make not the Heavens and the Earth beholders of so wicked an Outrage as never man ever committed If Brothers blood long ago cried out unto the Lord against Cain how much louder shall the Fathers Blood cry unto the Lord and declare so great a wickedness unto the Earth the Sun and Stars and make it abhorred of all the Princes of the World Regard my miserable old age which of it self promiseth unto me shortly death but unto thee a Rest after long Cares Reverence the â—ands which have oftentimes most lovingly embraced thee yet crying in thy swathing-Cloâ—ts Reverence those Lips which have oftentimes most lovingly kissed thee and called thee my other Soul Have pity upon a bruised Reed cast down by Fortune and do not thou again tread upon it And seeing thou art thy self a man be not too proud of thy present Fortune but consider the uncertainty and variety of worldly things taking by me Example see in me the end of long life and marvail how one night having received me an Emperor of many years leaveth me now subject unto another mans power for ever The young Emperor Andronicus moved with this Speech and taking great care of his Grandfathers safety scarce abstaining from tears entred the place and coming to his Grandfather humbly saluted him embraced him and with chearful words comforted him Straightway after he went unto the Monastery Manganium where as is aforesaid the Patriarch Esaeius was by the old Emperors Commandment kept in safe keeping whom the young Emperor now took from thence and carrying him away in one of the Emperors richest Chariots restored him again unto his Patriarchal Dignity wherein he afterwards spared not to revenge himself to the full and most cruelly to persecute the old Emperors Friends That day from morning unto night a man might have seen all the riches and wealth of such Noblemen as had taken part with the old Emperor carried away and their goodly Houses overthrown and made the scorn of the base common people but especially the House and Wealth of Theodorus Metochita a man but the day before in greatest favour with his Prince and of all others next unto the Emperor himself of greatest Authority and Credit whose whole Wealth not that only which was found in his house but that also which he had laid up in trust with his Friends discovered by Notes found in his Study became most part a prey unto the common people and the rest confiscated unto the Prince Thus he which earst of all others next unto the Emperor was accounted most fortunate was now upon the sudden with his Wife and Children brought unto extream beggery and after many years Felicity in one day cast into the bottom of despair and misery where a man might have heard many complaining say All that Wealth and Treasure to have been the blood and tears of the poor oppressed Subjects brought unto him by them whom he had made Rulers and Governors of the Provinces and Cities of the Empire to the intent that when they had dealt cruelly with the people as with their Slaves he might stop them for coming to complain of their griefs unto the Emperor and that the eye of the Revenger had not always slept but was now at length awaked and had of him yet scarcely taken sufficient punishment which every where to hear increased not a little his grief As for himself he was confined unto Didymotichum as the place of his exile and banishment where after he had a certain time poorly lived he was sent for back again to Constantinople where having nothing left to relieve himself for his house at the coming of the young Emperor was in the fury of the people pluckt down to the ground and the very pavement thereof digged up he went unto the Monastery of Chora there by which long before built by the Emperor Iustinian and become ruinous he in the time of his Prosperity had with great charge repaired and therein now having made shipwrack of all that he had quietly shrouded himself to the great comfort both of his Body and afflicted Mind where he not long after died But to return again unto the old Emperor as yet in doubt what should become of himself it fortuned that the same day that the City was taken the young Emperor at night returning to the Palace by the way met with Niphon sometime Patriarch who asked him how they meant to deal with his Grandfather Whereunto the young Emperor answering That he would deal with him honourably and Emperor like he was by him therefore blamed and reproved For this Niphon being of a crafty subtil Wit and malicious Nature besides that he secretly hated all them upon whom Fortune greatly either fawned or frowned
not before the time by him prefixed devour the Reliques of the Greek Empire And it were to be wished that the Christians of our time also by their example warned would at length awake out of their dead sleep who of late hath lost unto the same Enemy not the Castle of Zembenic or the City of Callipolis but whole Kingdoms as Hungary and Cyprus and are still fair in the way I say no more for grief and foreboding of evil fortune But again to our purpose Solyman having made this prosperous entrance into Europe and there got strong footing by speedy Messengers certified his Father what he had done and that it was expedient for him with all speed to send unto him a great supply of men of War as well for the sure defence and keeping of those Castles and Forts by him already gotten as for the further invasion of the Country This message was wonderful welcome unto Orchanes and whereas many Families of the Sarasins at that present were come into the Country of Carasina to possess the Dwellings and Places of them which in hope to better their Estate were before gon over into Europe all these Sarasins he commanded to pass over into Europe likewise which they did accordingly seating themselves for a time in the Country near to Callipolis In the mean time Solyman omitted no opportunity to enter further into the Country winning small Forts and Holds and still peopling the same with his Turks And on the other side they of Carasina passed over into Europe placing themselves as it were in a new World. For which cause and for the great desire they had to extend the Turkish Dominion and Religion they refused no pains of War so that all things at that time prospered with the Turks and went backward with the Christians In the time of these Wars not far from Callipolis was a little Castle called Congere the Captain whereof was by a Greek name called Calo Iohannes a valiant and painful man this Captain continually molested and troubled the Turks which lay on that side of Callipolis under the leading of Ezes-Beg many of whom he slew and took Prisoners as he could find them at any advantage Solyman much angred herewith by crafty and secret Espials learned a certain time when he was gone out of his Castle to do some exploit upon the Turks Whereupon he presently so beset the Castle with Souldiers that he could by no means return thither but he must first fall into their hands and for more assurance placed others also in by-ways lest he should by any ways escape The Captain ignorant of all this prosecuted his enterprise and having taken a Turk Prisoner thinking to return to his Castle was hastily pursued by Fazil-Beg for which cause making the more haste he suddenly fell into the danger of the Turks laid in ambush where his men were all slain and himself taken and brought before his own Castle and had there his head presently struck off whereupon the Castle was forthwith by them that were therein having now lost their Captain surrendred and Chazi Ili-Beg a valiant Captain of the Turks placed therein who from thence never ceased to trouble the Country even to the Walls of Dydimotichum as did Solyman also out of Callipolis Thus in the space of one year the Turks got strong footing in Europe possessing divers Castles and Towns with the Country about them which Solyman gave in reward unto his Captains and Souldiers as appeareth by the Graves and Tombs of Ezes-Beg and Fazil-Beg the two which first came over into Europe which are there yet well known About this time it fortuned that as this Martial Prince Solyman was for his disport hawking in the Fields of Bolayre on Europe side galloping in to his Falcon was with his Horse overthrown in a ditch of which Fall he being sore bruised shortly after died The news of his death being brought to Orchanes his Father gave unto him then being sick just occasion of great sorrow so that within two months after he died also being fourscore years old when he had raigned thereof 31 years and died about the year of our Lord 1359. Some Histories report otherwise both of his death and of the time wherein he lived as that he should be slain in a Battel against the Tartars or as others write with an Arrow at the Siege of Prusa in the year of our Lord 1349. But Ioannes Leunclavius in his History collected out of the Turks own Chronicles whom we follow as most probable reporteth it as before This Orchanes was wise courteous and bountiful more ingenious than his Father in devising warlike Engins He built divers Princely Churches Abbies Colledges and Cells and was in his superstitious Religion very zealous in so much that he appointed Pensions to all such as could in the Church say the Book of Mahomets Law by heart and appointed competent maintenance for all Judges of his Courts because they should not take any thing in reward of his Subjects for the perverting of Justice He greatly inlarged his Kingdom in Asia and not content to be inclosed with the Seas of Euxinum and Hellespontus set fast footing in Europe which some attribute to his Son Amurath He was to the Christians always a most mortal Enemy and so died FINIS Christian Princes of the same time with Orchanes Emperors Of the East Andronicus Paleologus the younger 1325. 29. John Paleologus 1354. 30. Of the West Lewis the Fourth of Bavaria 1314. 32. Charles the Fourth Son to John King of Bohemia 1346. 10 Kings Of England Edward the Third 1327. 50. Of France Philip Valois 1328. 22. John Valois 1350. 14. Of Scotland Robert Bruce 1306 24. David Bruce 1341. Bishops of Rome John the XXII 1317. 18. Benedict the XII 1335. 7. Clement the VI. 1342. 12. Innocent the VI. 1354. 10. †AMVRATHES PRIMVS TERTIVS TVRCARVM REX 1350. Saevus Amurathes animo dum maxima versat Discordes Groecos sternere marte parat Totus et intentus sines extendere Regni Europam penitrans obvia quoeque rapit Attoniti trepidant nimia formidine Thraces In medio quorum Sceptra superba locat Hinc Moesos premit ille feros miserumque Dynasten Cossovi in Campis obruit atque necat Sed non longa fuit sceleris tam dira voluptas A servo coesus condidit ense ferox Sterne Amurath new thoughts resolves upon With armes divided Greece to overrun And wholly bent to enlarge his narrow bounds Europe invades and all he meets confounds The too too timorous Thracians stand amaz'd To find his Scepter in their bowells plac'd The fierce Bulgarians did his fury quell And at his feet their noble Despot fell At last the ponyard of a little Slave Taught him what short liv'd pleasures Tyrants have The LIFE of AMURATH The First of that NAME Third King of the Turks And the great AUGMENTOR of their Kingdom AMurath the younger Son of Orchanes succeeded his Father in the Turkish Kingdom
them which not long after was by the Emperor pulled down to the ground and the Turks again driven out of the City at such time as Bajazet was by the mighty Tamerlane overthrown and taken Prisoner Bajazet in the beginning of his Reign presently after the death of Lazarus the Despot slain in the Battel of Cossova won part of Servia as is aforesaid the other part being still holden by Lazarus his Son called Stephen the Despot who about this time sent an honourable Embassador to Bajazet with loving Letters and Royal Presents by which Embassador also the old Princess Lazarus his Widow offered her fair Daughter Despina Stephens Sister a Lady of incomparable Beauty in marriag to him if it should please him to vouchsafe his Handmaid as she termed her so high a place This Lady was long before promised him whilst his Father Amurath yet lived Of this Embassador Bajazet was very glad but especially for the fair Ladies sake which being known to the Princess her Mother and the Despot her Brother she was forthwith honourably sent to Bajazet and so to him with great Solemnity and Triumph shortly after married Of all his Wives he held her dearest and for her sake restored to her Brother Stephen the City and Castle of Semendre otherwise called S. Andrew and Columbarium in Servia she allured him to drink Wine forbidden the Turks by their Law and caused him to delight in sumptuous Banquets which his Predecessors Othoman Orchanes and Amurath never used As the Turkish Kingdom grew in greatness so Corruption the Canker of great States and Commonweals increased likewise but especially in the Men of Law and Judges of his Courts Wherewith Bajazet grievously offended commanded divers of the same Judges to be apprehended determining to the terror of others to have executed them whose dangerous Estate was much pitied and also favoured of Alis Bassa and other the Kings great Counsellors yet for so much as Bajazet was of a furious Nature and in his anger dangerous to be spoken unto none of them durst adventure to intreat him in their behalf no not Alis Bassa Charadyn Bassa his Son sometime Judge of Prusa although he were a man in such special Favour with him that he was therefore of the Common People not only reverenced but as the King himself honoured There was at that time in the Court an Aethiopian Jester who under some covert pleasant Jest would many times bolt out that to the King in his greatest heat which his gravest Counsellors durst not once speak to him of in secret this Jester Alis Bassa requested to devise some means to intreat with the angry King in the behalf of these Judges promising to give him what he would reasonably desire if he could appease the Kings Displeasure The Aethiopian without fear undertook the matter and presently putting upon his Head a rich Hat all wrought over with Gold after the manner of the Turks Embassadors and fitting himself with other Apparel better beseeming an Embassador than a Jester thus attired presented himself before the King with a great counterfeit gravity Whereat Bajazet marvelling asked him the cause why he was so gay I have a request unto your Majesty said he and wish to find Favour in your sight Bajazet more desirous than before to know the matter asked what his request was If it stand with your pleasure said the Jester I would feign go as your Embassador to the Emperor of Constantinople In hope whereof I have put my self in this readiness To what purpose wouldst thou go said Bajazet To crave of the Emperor said he some forty or fifty of his old grave Monks and Fryers to bring with me hither to the Court. And what shall they do here said Bajazet I would have them placed said the Jester in the rooms of the old doting Judges whom you intend as I hear to put to death Why said Bajazet I can place others of my own People in their rooms True said the Aethiopian for gravity of look and countenance and so would the old Monks and Friers serve as well but not so learned in your Laws and Customs of your Kingdom as are those in your Displeasure If they be learned said Bajazet why do they then contrary to their Learning pervert Justice and take Bribes There is a good reason for that too said the Jester What reason said the King. That can he that there standeth by better tell than I said the Jester pointing to Alis Bassa who forthwith commanded by Bajazet to give the reason with great reverence before done shewed That those Judges so in displeasure were not conveniently provided for and were therefore inforced many times for their necessary maintenance to take rewards to the staying of the due course of Justice Which Bajazet understanding to be true commanded Alis Bassa to appoint them covenient Stipends for their maintenance and forthwith granted their pardon Whereupon the Bassa set down order That of every matter in suit exceeding one thousand Aspers the Judge should have twenty Aspers Fee for Judgment and for every Writing and Instrument out of the Court twelve Aspers which Fee they yet take in those Courts at this day Not long after Bajazet in his fury sent for certain of his Captains and Commanders of his Men of War with whom he was for some small occasion grievously offended intending in his rage to have put them all to death which was with him no great matter These Captains being brought before him the Counsellors seeing him all in Choler sat looking on the ground hanging down their Heads as the manner of the Turks is not daring to look him in the Face nor to speak a good word for them When suddainly the aâ—oresaid Aethiopian Jester stept forth earnestly requesting the King not to shew them any favour but to execute them presently as Villains and Traitors railing upon them as if he had known some great Fault by them Bajazet thinking he could have accused them of some great Crime because of his earnestness asked what reason he had so to exclaim against them Reason quoth the Jester because the Knaves be good for nothing and they say that Tamerlane is with a great Army coming against us if you will but take up an Ensign in your Hand and I go before you with a Drum I will strike up such a terrible march and you make such a dreadful shew that we shall need none of these bad Fellows or their Souldiers in the Field to get the Victory over our Enemies This conceit of the Jester struck such a melancholy imagination into Bajazet his Head that he stood muâ—ing a great while as it were in a deep study at last having well considered the drift of the Jesters Speech and his fury now somewhat asswaged granted them pardon which they looked not for This Aethiopian Jester Bajazet upon a time sent unto the old Queen his Mother to bring her news of the good success of his Wars against the Christians
danger to seek how to enlarge the same long lived in most happy rest with his Subjects no less happy than himself not so much seeking after the hoording up of Gold and Silver things of that Nation not regarded as contenting himself with the increase and profit of his Flocks of Sheep and Herds of Cattle then and yet also the principal revenues of the Tartar Kings and Princes which happily gave occasion to some ignorant of the manner and custom of those Northern Nations and Countries to account them all for Shepherds and Herdsmen and so also to have reported of this mighty Prince as of a Shepherds Son or Herdsman himself vainly measuring his Nobility by the homely manner of his People and Subjects and not by the Honour of his House and Heroical Vertues such as were hardly to be found greater in any Prince of that or other former Ages His peaceable Father now well stricken in years and weary of the World delivered up unto him not yet past fifteen years old the Government of his Kingdom joyning unto him two of his most faithful Counsellors Odmar and Ali to assist him in the Government of his State retiring himself unto a solitary life the more at quiet to serve God and so to end his days in Peace which two his trusty Servants and grave Counsellors he dearly loved whilst they lived and much honoured the remembrance of them being dead The first proof of his Fortune and Valour was against the Muscovite for spoiling of a City which had put it self under his protection and for entring of his Country and for proclaiming of War against him whom he in a great Battel overthrew having slain five and twenty thousand of the Muscovites Footmen and between fifteen and sixteen thousand Horsemen with the loss of scarce eight thousand Horsemen and four thousand Footmen of his own After which Battel he beholding so many thousands of men there dead upon the ground was so far from rejoycing thereat that turning himself to one of his Familiars he lamented the condition of such as commanded over great Armies commending his Fathers quiet course of life accounting him happy in seeking for rest and the other most unhappy which by the destruction of their own kind sought to procure their own glory protesting himself even from his Heart to be grieved to see such sad tokens of his Victory With this overthrow the Muscovite discouraged sent Embassadors to him for peace which upon such honorable Conditions as pleased him to set down was by him granted and so the Peace concluded Now the great Cham of Tartaria his Fathers Brother being grown old and out of hope of any more Children moved with the Fame of his Nephew after this Victory sent him divers Presents and withal offering him his only Daughter in marriage and with her to proclaim him Heir apparent unto his Empire as in right he was being his Brothers Son and the Daughters not at all succeeding in those Empires Which so great an offer Tamerlane gladly accepted and so the marriage was afterwards with great Triumph at the old Emperors Court solemnized and he proclaimed Heir apparent unto that great Empire Thus was Tamerlane indeed made great being ever after his marriage by the old Emperor his Uncle and now his Father-in-Law so long as he lived notably supported and after his death succeeding him also in that so mighty an Empire Yet in the mean time wanted not this worthy Prince the envious Competitors of these his so great Honours insomuch that whilst by the advice and perswasion of the old Emperor he was taking in hand to make War against the great King of China who had as then gon far beyond his bounds and so was now well onwards on his way he was by the Conspiracy of Calix a man of greatest Power and Authority in the great Cham his Court almost thrust out of his new Empire Calix with a right puissant Army having already seized upon the great City of Cambalu and the Citizens also generally favouring those his traiterous proceedings as disdaining to be governed by the Zagatian Tartar. For redress whereof Tamerlane was enforced with the greatest part of his Army to return and meeting with the Rebel who then had in his Army fourscore thousand Horse and an hundred thousand Foot in a great and mortal Battel wherein of the one side and of the other were more than fifty thousand men slain overthrew him though not without the great danger of his own Person as being there himself beaten down to the ground took him Prisoner and afterwards beheaded him Which so dangerous a Rebellion with the death of the Traitor and the chief of the Conspirators repressed and his State in the newness thereof by this Victory well confirmed he proceeded in his intended War against the great King of China brake down the strong Wall which the Chinoies had made four hundred Leagues long betwixt the Mountains for the repressing of the incursions of the Tartars entred their Country and meeting with the King leading after him three hundred and fifty thousand Men whereof there were an hundred and fifty thousand Horsemen and the rest on Foot in a great and dreadful Battel with the slaughter of sixty thousand of his Men overcame him and took him Prisoner whom for all that he in the course of so great a Victory wisely moderating his fortune shortly after set again at liberty yet so as that having before taken from him the one half of his Kingdom and therein left Odmar his trusty Lieutenant with a sufficient Power for the restraining of the proud King if he should again begin to raise any new stirs and withal imposed such other conditions as pleased himself with the yearly Tribute of three hundred thousand Crowns he well provided for the assuring of those his new Conquests and so in Triumph returned with Victory unto the old Emperor his Father-in-Law at Cambalu not a little glad to see both him and his Daughter who had in all those Wars still accompanied him But leaving him now thus by Birth great by his Fortune greater but by his Vertue greatest of all as able now to draw after him almost the whole Power of the East let us again return thither from whence we have for the better knowledge of him thus with him digressed The War against the Turkish Sultan Bajazet as is aforesaid by Tamerlane resolved upon he sent Axalla the great Captain to his Country of Sachetay called of some Zagatay to give beginning to the assembling of his Forces from all parts to the end that with the first of the Spring he might set forward for the relief of so many distressed Princes and the abating of the Pride of so great and mighty a Tyrant as was Bajazet Now had Tamerlane procured from the great Tartarian Emperor his Uncle and Father-in-Law an hundred thousand Footmen and fourscore thousand Horsemen hoping to have as many more from Sachetay his own Country
on his right Hand and the Despot on the left after whom followed other Colonels Captains and Lieutenants with their Companies who at their first meeting with the Citizens more than a mile out of the City in token of their mutual Joy gave together such joyful acclamations and outcries as that the Heavens seemed to resound and the Earth to shake with the noise thereof Before the King at his coming unto the City went a long Company of the notable Turks Captives and next before him Carambey bound in Chains upon whom all mens Eyes were fixed With them were also carried the Enemies Ensigns and such Spoils as had been saved Behind the King came Huniades in a triumphant Robe in the midst betwixt the Legate on the right Hand and the Despot on the left as he that next unto the King had best deserved the Honour of the Triumph Next unto them followed the devout Christians that for the Zeal of Religion had most honourably of their own Charges voluntarily served in those Wars and on both sides of them the Civil Magistrates and best of the Citizens behind them came the rest of the Legions and about them both upon the right Hand and the left the promiscuous common People doubling and redoubling the Praises of the King and Huniades Before all these went the Prelates and Priests in solemn Procession singing Hymns and Psalms of Thanksgiving unto Almighty God. Uladislaus coming to the Gate of the City acknowledging God to have been the Author of so great a Victory alighting from his Horse on foot went first unto the Cathedral Church of our Lady and there giving most hearty Thanks unto Almighty God hanged up the Enemies Ensigns and part of the Spoil in perpetual remembrance of so notable a Victory which he afterward caused to be most lively depainted in a fair Table of most curious work and there in the same Church to be hanged up as were also the Arms of all the notable Christians that served in that most famous Expedition which there long time after remained Which Solemnities ended he went to his Palace in his Castle and there having given to every man but especially to Huniades his due Commendation gave them leave to depart Thus the Hungarians with whom also the Polonians in most part agree report of this notable Expedition of their King Uladislaus howbeit the Turks notable dissemblers of their own Losses confessing the great Overthrow call the Bassa so overthrown not by the name of Carambey but of Cassanes and the noble Prisoner that was taken by the name of Mechmet Beg Sanzack of Ancyra Amurath his Son in law and Brother to Cali-Bassa Amurath his great Counsellor of some called Carambey after the name of his Father Out of this late slaughter of the Turks where Carambey was taken scaped that valiant Prince and famous Warrior George Castriot of the Turks called Scanderbeg as is before declared whose noble mind had long time desired to break out of the golden Fetters of the Turkish Thraldom and to be revenged of the intollerable Injury by Amurath done to his Country his Parents his Brethren and himself Although he had always most warily dissembled the same for fear of the old Tyrant being oftentimes solicited and animated thereunto by secret Letters and Messengers from his Friends in Epirus knowing right well that the least fortune thereof had been unto him present death But finding no fit means for the accomplishment thereof wisely dissembled the same with all the shews of Love and Loyalty to Amurath that might be until that now in this great Overthrow of the Turks Army under the leading of Carambey and in so great a confusion he took occasion to put in practice what he had long before in his deep conceit plotted for the delivery both of himself and his Country from the Turkish Bondage and Slavery At which time Scanderbeg for so from henceforth we call him having a little before imparted the matter unto some of his trusty Friends and Country-men no less desirous of liberty than himself but especially unto his Nephew Amesa the Son of his Brother Reposius a young man of great courage in great confusion of the Turkish Army when every man was glad to shift for himself had ever in his flight a vigilant eye upon the Bassaes Principal Secretary whom accompanied with a few Turks he with his Nephew Amesa and other of his faithful Friends closely followed as he fled from the slaughter but when he had got the Secretary with his few Followers in place most convenient for his purpose he set upon the Turks and slew them every one and carrying the Secretary away with him fast bound when he had brought him whither he thought good with great Threats compelled him sore against his will to write counterfeit Letters as from the Bassa his Master unto the Governor of Croia commanding him in Amuraths name Forthwith to deliver unto Scanderbeg the new chosen Governor the Charge of the City with the Garrison there cunningly enterlacing many other things in the same Letters whereby the matter might seem more probable Which Letters so extorted he presently slew the Secretary and as many more of the Turks as came in his way of purpose that his doings might be the longer kept from the knowledge of Amurath who not hearing what was become of him might reasonably conjecture that he was slain by the Hungarians among the rest of the Turks Whilst the fame of this great Overthrow is going to Hadrianople and there filleth the Turks Court with sorrow and heaviness in the mean time Scanderbeg having with him three thousand Epirot Souldiers which followed him out of the battel as men desirous rather to fight for the liberty of themselves and of their Country than in the quarrel of the Turk was with incredible celerity come into the upper Country of Dibra in the Borders of Epirus about seventy miles from Croia into which Country he was most joyfully received where he stayed but one day and chose a few of those three hundred which he brought with him to wait upon him when he went to Croia as if they had been his domestical Servants the rest with other three hundred lusty Souldiers which were then come unto him out of Dibra he appointed to be led by secret by-ways through the Woods and Mountains by perfect Guids until they came so nigh Croia as was possible for them to come unperceived and there to stay until he might find opportunity to convey them into the City to oppress the Turkish Garrison So he with a small Company of his Followers as if they had been his private Retinue took the way towards Croia But when he began to draw near to the City he sent Amesa before with two Servitors attending upon him as if he had been his Secretary to certifie the Governor of his coming This young Gentleman as he was of a most sharp wit and well spoken so had he framed his Countenance and
and was now come very near the same Feri-Bassa glad of his coming opposed his Army against him which Scanderbeg seeing retired a little of purpose to draw the Bassa farther from the Camp and then forthwith began to joyn battel with him The Bassa considering the small number of his Enemies and his own greater Power withdrew four thousand Horsemen out of his Army to fetch a compass about and to set upon the rereward of Scanderbegs Army hoping so to enclose him that he should never escape thence but there either to be slain or taken alive and his Army utterly defeated But the expert Captain perceiving his purpose to meet therewith left Moses to lead the main Battel and he himself with two thousand Horsemen so valiantly charged those four thousand of his Enemies before they were well departed from the rest of the Bassaes Army that they had now more cause to look to their own safety than how to circumvent others In this Conflict Feri-Bassa hand to hand as he had oft times before desired encountring with Scanderbeg was by him there slain All this while that Scanderbeg was in fight with Feri-Bassa in the right Wing of the Army and Musachy in the left Moses stood fast receiving the Assault of the Enemy without moving any thing forward expecting the success of the Wings But Scanderbeg having discomfited the right Wing and slain the General coming now in he set forward with such force and courage that the Turks not able longer to abide his force turned their backs and fled of whom many were slain in this chase though Scanderbeg doubting the great Power of his Enemy so nigh at hand durst not follow them far but sounding a Retreat put his Army again in good order for fear of some sudden Attempt from the Camp and after appointed some of the meanest of his Souldiers to take the spoil of the slain Turks When Amurath had understood what had hapned to Feri-Bassa he was so overcome with anger and melancholy that for a while he could not speak one word but after the heat was a little past he commanded certain small pieces of Ordnance which he had before used against the City to be removed into the Camp and there placed upon that side which was most in danger to the Enemy He also presently sent thither four thousand Souldiers to joyn with the remainder of Feri-Bassaes Army for defence of the Camp with strait charge that they should not issue out of the Trenches Nevertheless he himself continued the Assault of the City all that day but when night drew on and no hope appeared for him to prevail he caused a Retreat to be sounded and leaving the Assault he returned again into his Camp. At this Assault Amurath lost seven thousand Men beside many that died afterwards of their wounds but of the Garrison Souldiers were slain but seventy and ninety more hurt The terrour of the Turkish Army began now to grow in contempt throughout Epirus and Scanderbeg was in good hope that Amurath after so many Overthrows and shameful Repulses would at length raise his Siege and be gone yet he sent Spies continually to discover what was done in the Turks Camp and he himself with two thousand Souldiers would oftentimes shew himself upon the sides of the Mountains near unto Amurath his Camp of purpose to draw the Turks out that he might take them at some advantage But the old King had given Commandment upon pain of death That no man should go out of the Trenches without leave or once to speak of giving Battel or Assault so that he lay certain days in his Camp not like a King besieging of a City but more like a man besieged himself the which his still lying Scanderbeg had the more in distrust fearing greatly that he was hatching some mischief which so soon as it was ripe would violently break out Amurath considering with what evil Success he had many times assaulted the City and holding it for a great dishonour to raise his Siege and depart having done nothing worth the remembrance thought good once again to prove if it were possible to overcome the minds of the Garrison Souldiers with Gifts whom he was not able to subdue by force For which purpose he sent an Embassador unto the City offering unto the besieged and Garrison Souldiers easie Conditions of Peace with such large Gifts and Rewards as had not been heard offered to any Garrison in former time All which his magnifical Promises were lightly rejected by the common consent of all the whole Garrison prefering their faithful Loyalty before all his golden Mountains For all that Amurath was in good hope that amongst so many some would be found into whose minds his large Offers might make some Impression wherein he was not deceived For one base-minded Fellow amongst the rest corrupted with the Turks great Promises preferring his own private wealth before the welfare of his Country waiting his time had secret conference with the Turks Espials promising upon assurance of such Reward as was before by Amurath profered to find means that in few days the City should be yielded into his Power This corrupted Traytor had laid many mischievous Plots for the effecting of this horrible Treason but the first device he put in practise which of all others a man would have thought to have been of least moment served his wicked purpose in stead of all the rest All the Garrison Souldiers of Sfetigrade were of the upper Country of Dibra put into that City by Moses for their approved Valour above all the other Souldiers of Epirus But as they were men of great courage so were they exceeding superstitious both in their Religion and manner of living putting nice difference betwixt one kind of lawful Meat and other accounting some clean some unclean abhorring from that which they fondly deemed unclean with more than a Jewish Superstition choosing rather to die than to eat or drink thereof such is the strong delusion of blind Error where it hath throughly possessed the minds of men The City of Sfetigrade as is aforesaid is situate upon the top of a great high Rock as most of the Cities of Epirus now be and was then watered but with one great Well in the midst of the City which sunk deep into the Rock plentifully served both the publick and private use of the Inhabitants Into this common Well the malicious Traytor in the night time cast the foul stinking carrion Carkass of a dead Dog knowing that the concâ—ited Gaâ—rison Souldiers of Dibra would rather indure the pains of death and starve or else yield up the City upon any condition than to drink of that polluted water In the morning when that sâ—â—nking Carrion was espied and drawn out oâ— the Well the report thereof was quickly bruted in every corner of the City and that the Well was poysoned so that all the people were in manner in an uproar about the finding out of the Traytor
had not been taught the same by mine own experience to my great loss and hearts grief We entred into Epirus and here encamped an hundred and threescore thousand men strong now if leasure serve you take view of them examine the matter you shall find a great want of that number The Fields could not contain our Regiments and the multitude of our mâ—n but now how many Tents stand empty how many Horses want Riders You shall go to Hadrianople with our Forces much impaired As for me the Destinies have vowed my Spirits to this Country of Epirus as unto me fatal But wherefore do I impute unto my self these impediments and chances of Fortune For then first began this seed of mischief in Epirus when the Hungarians with other the Christian Princes rose up in Arms against us at which time we fought not with them for Soveraignty but for the whole State of our Kingdom as the bloody Battlâ—s of Varna and Cossova still witness unto the World. So whilst I had neither leisure nor sufficient pâ—wer to take order for all my important Affairs at 〈◊〉 in the mean time this Enemy grew as you see But how or in what order you are hereafter to wage War against him you may not look for any directions from me which have in all these matters so evil directed my self Fortune never deceived my endeavour more than in this But happily thou Mahomet my Sâ—a maist prove a more fortunate Warrior against him and for so many Honours already given unto me the Destinies have reserved the triumph of Epirus for thee Wherefore my Son thou shalt receive from me this Scepter and these Royal Ensigns but above all things I leave unto thee this Enemy charging thee not to leave my death unrevenged It is all I charge thee with for so great and stately a Patrimony as thou art to receive from me it is the only Sacrifice that my old departing Ghost desireth of thee Shortly after he became speechless and striving with the Pangs of Death half a day he then breathed out his gastly Ghost to the great joy and contentment of the poor oppressed Christians He died about the midle of Autumn in the year of our Lord 1450 when he had lived eighty five years as most write and thereof reigned eight and twenty years or as some others report thirty about five months after the Siege laid before Croia Thus lieth great Amurath erst not inferior unto the greatest Monarchs of that Age dead almost in despair a worthy mirror of Honours frailty yeilding unto the worldly man in the end neither comfort nor relief Who had fought greater Battels who had gained greater Victories or obtained more glorious Triumphs than had Amurath who by the Spoils of so many mighty Kings and Princes and by the conquest of so many proud and warlike Nations again restored and established the Turks Kingdom before by Tamerlane and the Tartars in a manner clean defaced He it was that burst the heart of the proud Grecians establishing his Empire at Hadrianople even in the Center of their Bowels from whence have proceeded so many miseries and calamities into the greatest part of Christendom as no Tongue is able to express He it was that first brake down the Hexamile or Wall of separation on the Strait of Corinth and conquered the greatest part of Peloponesus He it was that subdued unto the Turks so many great Countries and Provinces in Asia that in plain Feild and set Battel overthrew many puissant Kings and Princes and brought them under his Subjection who having slain Uladislaus the King of Polonia and Hungary and more than once chased out of the Field Huniades that famous and redoubted Warrior had in his proud and ambitious Heart promised unto himself the Conquest of a great part of Christendom But O how far was he now changed from the man he then was how far did these his last Speeches differ from the course of his fore passed life full of such base passionate complaints and lamentations as beseemed not a man of his place and spirit but some vile wretch overtaken with despair and yet afraid to die Where were now those haughty Thoughts those lofty Looks those thundering and commanding Speeches whereat so many great Commanders so many Troops and Legions so many thousands of armed Souldiers were wont to tremble and quake Where is that Head before adorned with so many Trophies and Triumphs Where is that victorious Hand that swaied so many Scepters Where is the Majesty of his Power and Strength that commanded over so many Nations and Kingdoms O how is the case now altered he lieth now dead a gastly filthy stinking Carcass a Clod of Clay unregarded his Hands closed his Eyes shut and his Feet stretched out which erst proudly traced the Countries by him subdued and conquered And now of such infinite Riches such unmeasurable Wealth such huge Treasures such stately Honours and vain glorious Praises as he in his life time enjoyed his frail Body enjoyeth nothing but left all behind it O the weak condition of Mans Nature O the vain glory of mortal Creatures O the blind and perverse thoughts of foolish men Why do we so magnifie our selves why are we so puft up with Pride why do we so much set our minds upon Riches Authority and other vanities of this Life whereof never man had yet one days assurance and at our most need and when we least think quite forsake us leaving even them that most sought after them and most abounded in them shrowded oftentimes in the Sheet of Dishonour and Shame That his death is otherwise by some reported I am not ignorant The Turks saying that he died miraculously forewarned of his death at Hadrianople and some others That he died in Asia strucken with an Apoplexy proceeding of a Surfeit taken of the immoderate drinking of Wine But Marinus Barlesius who lived in his time in Scodra fast by Epirus whose Authority in report of the Wars betwixt him and Scanderbeg we follow setteth it down in such manner as is aforesaid Presently after his death Mahomet his Son for fear of some innovation to be made at home raised the Siege and returned to Hadrianople and afterward with great Solemnity buried his dead body at the West side of Prusa in the Suburbs of the City where he now lieth in a Chappel without any roof his Grave nothing differing from the manner of the common Turks which they say he commanded to be done in his last Will that the Mercy and Blessing of God as he termed it might come unto him by the shining of the Sun and Moon and falling of the Rain and Dew of Heaven upon his Grave He whilst he lived mightily enlarged the Turkish Kingdom and with greater Wisdom and Policy than his Predecessors established the same insomuch that some attribute unto him the first institution of the Ianizaries and other Souldiers of the Court the greatest Strength of the Turkish Empire
wonderfully even to the astonishment of the World increased and extended their Empire But of them more shall be said hereafter This great King was whilst he lived of his Subjects wonderfully beloved and no less of them after his death lamented He was more faithful of his word than any of the Turkish Kings either before or after him by Nature melancholy and sad and accounted rather politick than valiant yet was indeed both a great dissembler and painful in travel but wayward and testy above measure which many imputed unto his great Age. He had issue six Sons Achmetes Aladin Mahomet Hasan otherwise called Chasan Urchan and Achmetes the younger of some called Calepinus three of whom died before but the two youngest were by their unnatural Brother Mahomet who succeeded him in the Turkish Kingdom even in their infancy in the beginning of his Reign most cruelly murthered Christian Princes of the same time with Amurath the Second Emperors Of the East John Palaeologus 1421. 24. Constantinus Palaeologus 1444. 8. Of the West Sigismund King of Hungary 1411. 28. Albert the Second King of Hungary and Bohemia 1438. 2. Frederick the Third Arch-Duke of Austria 1440. 54. Kings Of England Henry the Fifth 1413. 9. Henry the Sixth 1422. 39. Of France Charles the Sixth 1381. 42. Charles the Seventh 1423. 38. Of Scotland James the First 1424. 13. James the Second 1436. 29. Bishops of Rome Martin the V. 1417. 13. Eugenius the IV. 1431. 16. Nicholas the V. 1447. 8. Qui riâ—i inÌ„uumeros populos tot regno lot urbes Solus eâ— immensi qui timor orbis â—ram Me 〈◊〉 quaecunque rapit mors improba sed sum 〈◊〉 â—xcelsa duclus ad astra tamen 〈◊〉 Aleâ—â—â—nder non me suit Anibal et non Eâ—deriâ— Auâ—oniâ—s tot licet ille Duces 〈…〉 Danaos domuique feroces 〈…〉 populâ—s Sauromatas que truces Pannonius sensiâ—â—â— antum surgebit in armis Vis meaâ—quâ—e latio cognita nuper erat Arsacidae sensere manus has sensit Arabsque El mea suâ—t Persae cognita tela duci Mens fueral bellâ—re Rhodum superare superbam Italiam sed non fata dedere modum Hei mehi nam rapuit mors aspera quaeque sub alto Pectore â—onâ—ideram rertit et hora brevis Sic hominum faâ—lus perâ—unt sic Stemata Sicque Imperium atque qurum quicquid et Orbis habet I who to kingdomes Cities brought their fate The terrour of the trembling world of late Yield to the greater Monarch Death but am Yet proud to think of my immortal fame Greater than Alexander once was I Or him that Camps of Romans did destroy I vanquisht the victorious Greeks and I Destroyd Epyrus and fierce Tartary From mighty Me th'Hungarians had their doome And the report reacht y e proud walls oâ— Rome Th'Assyrian and Arabian felt my hand Nor could the Persian my dread power withstand Ore Rhodes and Italy I designd to ride But fate the progress of my aimes denyd Ai me grim Death and one unlucky houre Has baffled all my thoughts and boundless power So haughty man and all his hopes decay And so all sublunary gloryes pass away The LIFE of MAHOMET The Second of that NAME The Seventh KING and First EMPEROR of the TURKS For his many VICTORIES sirnamed The Great THE report of the death of old Amurath the late King was in short time blown through most part of Christendom to the great joy of many but especially of the Greeks and other poor Christians which bordered upon the Tyrants Kingdom who were now in hope together with the change of the Turkish King to make exchange also of their bad Estate and Fortune and the rather for that it was thought that his eldest Son Mahomet after the death of his Father would have imbraced the Christian Religion being in his Childhood instructed therein as was supposed by his Mother the Daughter of the Prince of Servia a Christian. But vain was this hope and the joy thereof but short as afterward by proof appeared For Mahomet being about the Age of one and twenty years succeeding his Father in the Kingdom in the year of our Lord 1450. year 1450. embraced in shew the Mahometan Religion abhorring the Christian but indeed making no great reckoning either of the one or of the other but as a meer Atheist devoid of all Religion and worshiping no other God but good Fortune derided the simplicity of all such as thought that God had any care or regard of worldly men or of their actions which graceless resolution so wrought in him that he thought all things lawful that agreed with his lust and making conscience of nothing kept no League Promise or Oath longer than stood with his Profit or Pleasure Now in the Court men stood diversly affected towards the present State the mighty Bassaes and others of great Authority unto whom the old Kings Government was never grievous inwardly lamented his death doubting lest the fierce Nature of the young King should turn to the hurt of some of them in particular and the shortning of their Authority in general as indeed it shortly after fell out But the lusty Gallants of the Court weary of the old King who in hope of preferment had long wished for the Government of the young Prince were glad to see him set upon his Fathers Seat. And the vulgar People never constant but in unconstancy and alwaies fawning upon the present exceedingly rejoyced in their young King. The Ianizaries also at the same time according to their accustomed manner took the Spoil of the Christians and Jews that dwelt amongst them and easily obtained pardon for the same whereupon he was by the same Ianizaries and other Souldiers of the Court with great Triumph saluted King. Which approbation of these men of War is unto the Turkish Kings a greater assurance for the possession of their Kingdom than to be born the eldest Son of the King as in the process of this History shall appear so great is the power of these masterful Slaves in promoting to the Kingdom whichsoever of the Kings Sons they most favour without much regard whether they be the eldest or not This young Tyrant was no sooner possessed of his Fathers Kingdom but that he forgetting the Laws of Nature was presently in person himself about to have murthered with his own hands his youngest Brother then but eighteen Months old begotten on the Daughter of Sponderbius Which unnatural part Moses one of his Bassaes and a man greatly in his favour perceiving requested him not to embrue his own hands in the blood of his Brother but rather to commit the execution thereof to some other which thing Mahomet commanded him the Author of that counsel forthwith to do So Moses taking the Child from the Nurse strangled it with pouring water down the throat thereof The young Lady understanding of the death of her Child as a Woman whom Fury had made past fear came and in her rage reviled the Tyrant to
as God his judgment set apart wonderful and shameful it is to consider how it was by this Turkish King Mahomet so quickly taken and the Christian Empire of the East there utterly overthrown which happened on the nine and twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord 1453. Constantinus Palaeologus the Son of â—elena and last Christian Emperor being then slain when he had reigned about eight years Since which time it hath continued the Imperial Seat of the Turkish Emperors and so remaineth at this day The Potestates and Citizens of Pera otherwise called Galata a City standing opposite against Constantinople on the other side of the â—aven and then under the Government of the Genoways doubting to run the same course of misery with their Neighbours sent their Orators unto Mahomet the same day that Constantinople was taken offering to him the Keys of their Gates and so to become his Subjects Of which their Offer Mahomet accepted and sent Zoganus with his Regiment to take possession of the City Who coming thither according to Mahomet his Commandment there established the Turkish Government confiscated the Goods of all such as were fled and used the rest of the Citizens which staid with such Insolency and Oppression as that their misery was not much less than theirs of Constantinople and because it was doubted that the Genoways might by Sea give Aid unto the Citizens if they should at any time seek to revolt he caused all the Walls and Fortresses of the City which were toward the Land to be cast down and laid even with the ground Thus is the fatal period of the Greek Empire run and Mahomet in one day become Lord of the two famous Cities of Constantinâ—ple and Pera the one taken by Force the other by Composition At which time the misery of Pera was great but that of Constantinople justly to be accounted amongst the greatest Calamities that ever happened to any Christian City in the World. Mahomet had of long time born a secret grudge against Caly-Bassa sometimes his Tutor for that by his means Amurath his Father in the dangerous time of the Hungarian Wars had again resumed unto himself the Government of the Turkish Kingdom which he had before resigned unto him then but young But forasmuch as he was the chief Bassa and had for many years ruled all things at his pleasure to the general good liking of the people during the Reign of old Amurath and was thereby grown to be of such Wealth Credit and Authority as no man had at any time obtained greater under any of the Othoman Kings Mahâ—met in the beginning of his Reign before he was established in his Kingdom durst not take Revenge of that Injury as he deemed it but yet still kept it in remembrance warily dissembling his deep conceived hatred as if he had quite forgot it Nevertheless sometime for all his wariness words fell from him whereby the wary Courtiers which as curiously weigh their Princes words as the cunning Goldsmith doth his finest Gold easily perceived the secret grudge that stuck in his stomach against the Bassa and thereby divined his fall to be at hand So it hapned one day that as Mahomet was walking in the Court he saw a Fox of the Bassaes tied in a chain which after he had a while earnestly looked upon he suddenly brake into this Speech Alas poor Beast hast thou no money to give thy Master to set thee at liberty Out of which words curious heads gathâ—red much matter concerning the Kings disposition towards the Bassa This ominous surmising of the Courtiers which oft-times proveth too true was not unknown unto the Bassa himself but troubled him much wherefore to get himself out of the way for a season more than for any devotion he took upon him to go in Pilgrimage to visit the Temple of the great Prophet as they term him at Mecha which amongst the Turks is holden for a right Religious and Meritorious Work hoping that the young Kings displeasure might in time be mittigated and his malice asswaged But Mahomet perceiving the distrust of the Bassa and whereof it proceeded seemed to take knowledge thereof and with good words comforted him up willing him to be of good chear and not to misdoubt any thing neither to regard the vain Speech of foolish people assuring him of his undoubted Favour and the more to put him out of all suspition continually sent him rich Gifts and heaped upon him new Honours as if of all others he had esteemed him most Until that now at the taking of Constantinople it was discovered by Lucas Leontares that he had Intelligence with the late Emperor of Constantinople and his Letters produced For which cause or as the common report went for the old grudge that the Tyrant bare against him as also for his great Wealth he was by Mahomets commandment apprehended and carried in bonds to Hadrianople where after he had with exquisite torments been enforced to confess where all his Treasures lay he was most cruelly in his extream old age executed After whose death his Friends and Servants which were many for he was a man greatly beloved in Court in token of their grief put on Mourning Apparel so that in the Court appeared a great shew of common sorrow wherewith Mahomet being offended caused Proclamation to be made That all such as did wear such Mourning Apparel should the next day appear before him at which time there was not one to be seen about the Court in that heavy Attire for fear of the Tyrants displeasure After that Mahomet was thus become Lord of the Imperial City of Constantinople as is aforesaid and had fully resolved there to place his Imperial Seat he first repaired the Walls and other Buildings spoiled in the late Siege and by Proclamations sent forth into all parts of his Dominions gave great Priviledges and Immunities to all such as should come to dwell at Constantinople with free liberty to exercise what Religion or Trade they pleased Whereby in short time that great and desolate City was again well peopled with such as out of divers Countries resorted thither but specially with the Jewish Nation which driven out of other places came thither in great numbers and were of the Turks glady received So when he had there establisht all things according to his hearts desire he took upon him the Name and Title of an Emperor and is from that time not unworthily reputed for the first Emperor of the Turks Now among many fair Virgins taken Prisoners by the Turks at the winning of Constantinople was one Irene a Greek born of such incomparable Beauty and rare Perfection both of Body of Mind as if Nature had in her to the admiration of the World laboured to have shewn her greatest skill so prodigally she had bestowed upon her all the Graces that might beautifie or commend that her so curious a Work. This Paragon was by him that by chance had taken her
or Land been taken from the Turks With which his excuse Mahomet seemed to be reasonably well contented and with good words cheared him up nevertheless as soon as the City with all the other strong Holds in the Isle were by the Princes means delivered into his hands he no longer made reckoning of his Turkish Faith but cruelly caused many of the chief Citizens of Mitylene to be put to death and three hundred Pirats whom he found in the City to be cut in two pieces in the middle so to die with more pain And when he had placed convenient Garrisons in every strong Hold in the Isle he returned to Constantinople carrying away with him the Prince and all the better sort of the Inhabitants of Mitylene that were left alive together with all the Wealth of that most rich and pleasant Island leaving it almost desolate none remaining therein more than his own Garrisons with a few of the poorest and basest people Mahomet after he was arrived at Constantinople cast the Prince Nicholaus with Lucius his Cosin whose help he had before used in killing of his elder Brother into close Prison where they seeing themselves every hour in danger of their lives to win Favour in the Tyrants sight wickedly offered to renounce the Christian Religion and to turn Turk Which Mahomet understanding caused them both to be richly apparelled and with great Triumph to be circumcised and presently set at liberty yet still bearing in mind his old grudge he shortly after when they least feared any such matter clapt them both fast again in Prison and there caused them to be most cruelly put to death A just Reward for bloody Murtherers and Apostacy who to gain a little longer life were content to forsake God. Shortly after it fortuned that Stephen King of Bosna in ancient time called Maesia Superior who supported by the Turkish Emperor year 1464. had wrongfully obtained that Kingdom against his own Brethren refused now to pay such yearly Tribute as he had before promised for which cause Mahomet with a strong Army entred into Bosna and laid Siege unto the City of Dorobiza which when he had with much ado taken he divided the pleople thereof into three parts one part whereof he gave as Slaves unto his Men of War another part he sent unto Constantinople and the third he left to inhabit the City From Dorcbiza he marched to Iaziga now called Iaica the chief City of that Kingdom which after four months Siege was delivered unto him by Composition in this City he took the Kings Brother and Sister Prisoners with most of the Nobility of that Kingdom whom he sent as it were in Triumph unto Constantinople The other lesser Cities of Bosna following the Example of the greater yielded themselves also But Mahomet understanding that the King of Bosna had retired himself into the farthest part of his Kingdom sent Mahometes his chief Bassa with his European Souldiers to pursue him wherein the Bassa used such diligence that he had on every side so inclosed him before he was aware that he could by no means escape which was before thought a thing impossible So the King for safeguard of his life was fain to take the City of Clyssa for his Refuge where he was so hardly laid to by the Bassa that seeing no other remedy he offered to yield himself upon the Bassaes faithful promise by Oath confirmed that he should be honourably used and not to receive in his Person any harm from the Turkish Emperor Whereupon the Bassaes Oath to the same purpose was with great Solemnity taken and for the more assurance conceived in writing firmed by the Bassa and so delivered to the King which done the King came out of the City and yielded himself The Bassa having thus taken the King Prisoner carried him about with him from place to place and from City to City until he had taken possession of all the Kingdom of Bosna and so returning unto his Master presented unto him the Captive King who was not a little offended with him for that he had unto him so far engaged his Turkish Faith. But when the poor King thought to have departed not greatly fearing further harm he was suddenly sent for by Mahomet at which time he doubting the worst carried with him in his hand the writing wherein the Bassaes Oath for his safety was comprised nevertheless the faithless Tyrant without any regard thereof or of his Faith therein given caused him presently to be most cruelly put to death or as some write to be â—lain quick Thus was the Christian Kingdom of Bosna subverted by Mahomet in the year 1464. who after he had at his pleasure disposed thereof and reduced it to the form of a Province to be as it is at this day governed by one of his Bassaes in great Triumph returned to Constantinople carrying away with him many a woful Christian Captive and the whole Wealth of that Kingdom Mahomet following the Example of his Father Amurath had from the beginning of his Reign by one or other of his great Bassaes or expert Captains still maintained Wars against Scanderbeg the most valiant and fortunate King of Epirus the greatest part whereof although it did in the course of time concur with the things before declared and might by piece-meal have been amongst the same in their due time and place inserted yet I have of purpose for divers reasons wholly reserved them for this place first for that I would not interrupt the course of the History before rehearsed with the particular accidents of this War And then for that the greatest heat of this Hereditary War delivered as it were from hand to hand from the Father to the Son hapned not long after this time when as Mahomet having conquered the Kingdom of Bosna had surrounded a great part of Scanderbegs Dominion wherein I had respect also unto the Readers ease who may with greater pleasure and content and less pains also view the same together than if it had been dispersedly scattered and intermedled with the other greater occurrents of the same time In which discourse I will but briefly touch many thing well worthy of a larger Treatise And if forgetting my self I shall in some places happen to stay something longer than the Readers hast would require yet I hope that the zeal and love he bears unto the worthy memory of most famous Christian Princes together with the shortness of the History in comparison of that which is thereof written in just Volumes by others shall easily excuse a lager discourse than this But again to our purpose Mahomet in the beginning of his Reign sent Embassadors to Scanderbeg offering him Peace to that he would grant to pay unto him such yearly Tribute as his Father Amurath had in his life time demanded Which embassage the crafty Tyrant sent rather to prove what confidence Scanderbeg had in himself than for any hope he had to have his demand granted This dishonourable
by torture to wrest it out from him what might be got to make it in some sort appear that he died for his due desert Hereupon Bajazet deferred his Execution to a farther time and caused him there presently to be stript and carried away to be tortured Amongst other Gallants of the Court which attended the coming out of the great Bassaes whom they followed was one of Achmetes his Sons a Gentleman of great hope who missing his Father amongst the rest began presently to mistrust that all went not well and speedily running from one of the Bassaes to another with much ado learned the hard estate of his Father whereof he was also at the same instant advertised by a secret Friend near about Bajazet Hereupon this young Gentleman began forthwith piteously to lament his Fathers mishap and to exclaim against the cruelty of Bajazet called on the Janizaries for aid putting them in remembrance of his Fathers great and manifold Deserts towards them together with his imminent danger and so running up and down the City in the dead time of the night had in short space raised up all the Janizaries in Arms who understanding of the danger of their ancient Commander whom they generally loved and honoured as their Father came running by heaps from all parts of the City unto the Court-Gate there with terrible Exclamation doubling and redoubling their Bre Bre which barbarous word they commonly use in expressing their greatest discontentment and fury and did indeed so furiously beat at the Court Gate that Bajazet fearing lest they should break in by violence caused the outer Gate to be set open and shewing himself from above out at an Iron Window demanded of them the cause of that Tumult and Uproar To whom they insolently answered That they would by and by teach him as a Drunkard a Beast and a Rascal to use his great Place and Calling with more sobriety and discretion and among many other opprobrious words wherewith they shamefully loaded him they called him oftentimes by the name of Bengi Bengi that is to say Bachelor or Scholar which amongst those Martial Men Contemners of all Learning is accounted a word of no small reproach and disgrace And after they had in most despiteful manner thus reviled him they proudly commanded him forthwith to deliver Achmetes unto them or else to take that should ensue thereof Bajazet terrified with this Insolency of the Janizaries and fearing some sudden violence to be offered commanded Achmetes to be without delay delivered unto them which was done in such hast that he was brought forth unto them almost naked bare legged and bare headed bearing in his body the manifest marks of his hard usage The Janizaries receiving him with great rejoycing supplied his want of Apparel with such habiliments as they for that purpose upon the sudden took from Bajazets Minions and so taking him upon their shoulders with great joy carried him out of the Court still crying unto him How he did and how he felt himself And so guarded him home ready no doubt to have slain Bajazet and rifled the Court if he would have but said the word But he yet Loyal laboured with good words to appease that Tumult and to pacifie their fury excusing that which Bajazet had done against him to have been done only to correct him for that happily he had forgotten some part of Obedience and Duty Nevertheless hereupon remained no small heart-burning betwixt Bajazet and the Janizaries for a long time after yet Bajazet for fear of them reconciled himself to Achmetes and in open shew had him in greater Honour than before promoting him even unto the highest degrees of Honour howbeit he inwardly hated him to death And the more by the continual instigation of the old Bassa Isaac by whose perswasion when it was thought that all had been forgotten he was by Bajazets Commandment as he sate at Supper in the Court thrust through the body and slain This was the miserable end of Achmetes the great Champion of the Turks and one of the greatest Enemies of Christendom that ever lived in the Turkish Court for by him Mahomet subverted the Empire of Trapezond took the great City of Caffa called in ancient time Theodosia with all the Country of Taurica Chersonesus the impregnable City of Croia with all the Kingdom of Epirus the strong City of Scodra and a great part of Dalmatia and last of all Otranto to the terrour of all Italy by him also Bajazet vanquished and put to flight his Brother Zemes as is before declared In reward of which good Services he was by the Tyrant upon a meer suspition thus cruelly and shamefully murthered About this time also Caigubus Zemes his Son then but a Child was by the commandment of Bajazet his Uncle strangled in the new Tower of Constantinople Bajazet now grievously offended with the pride and late Insolency of the Janizaries caused secret inquiry to be made of them which were the Authors of those late Stirs and finding them to be the Officers of their Companies and specially those which had before slain Mahomet Bassa the great Politician immediately after the death of Mahomet the late Emperor at which time they had also raised great Tumults and done much harm in the City he under colour of Preferment sent away those Authors of Sedition into divers parts of his Empire appointing unto them as unto old Souldiers and Men of good desert certain Lands and Revenues for their Maintenance and Preferment But as soon as they were departed he by secret Letters commanded the Governors and Magistrates of those places whereunto they were sent suddenly to apprehend them and as Traytors to put them to death which was accordingly done The Janizaries of the Court and about Constantinople hearing what had hapned unto their Fellows became wonderful discontented and began to mutine in divers places of the City uttering Speeches against the Emperor full of Despight and Revenge year 1487. Which thing when Bajazet understood and had well considered the late danger he was in together with the intollerable Pride and Insolency of those his masterful Slaves he secretly purposed in himself for the curing of so dangerous a Disease to use a most desperate remedy which was suddenly to kill and destroy all the Janizaries especially those which were belonging to the Court or about Constantinople This his purpose he imparted to divers of his greatest Bassaes charging them upon pain of his heavy displeasure not to disclose it and for the execution thereof had sent for great numbers of those Souldiers which are called Acanzij who are amongst the Turks reputed for the best sort of Common Souldiers Most of all the Bassaes to whom he had imparted this his cruel device much disliked thereof as too full of peril and danger yet seeing him fully resolved for the performance thereof would not or durst not say any thing to the contrary Only Alis and Ishender Bassa both descended of
up his things of greatest price and with his Wives and Children fled into Arabia This Moratchamus is he whom some Historiographers called Mara-Beg and is in the Turks Histories called Imirsa Beg who as they report afterwards marrying the Daughter of Bajazet and recovering part of the Persian Kingdom was suddainly murthred by some of his Nobility whom he purposed secretly to have put to death if they had not prevented the same by murthring of him first Hysmael having victoriously subdued a great part of the Persian Kingdom and filled all the East part of the World with the glory of his name returned out of Assyria into Media and took in such Cities and strong Holds as were yet holden by the Garrisons of the late Persian King. And afterwards retuâ—ning into Armenia made Wars upon the Albanians Iberians and Scythians which dwell upon the Borders of the Caspian for that those Nations in ancient times tributaries unto the Persian 〈…〉 gs taking the benefit of the long Civil Wars wherewith the Kingdom of Persia and all the East Countries with the ruin of the Kings House had been of late turmoiled had neither paid any Tribute by the space of four years nor sent any honourable Embassage as they were wont and as was expected especially in so great a Victory and alteration of the State. Hysmael having thus obtained the Persian Kingdom in short time became famous through the World and was justly accounted amongst the greatest Monarchs of that Age. But nothing made him more to be spoken of than the innovation he had made in the Mahometan Superstition for by his device and commandment a new form of Prayer was brought into their Mahometan Temples far differing from that which had been of long time before used By reason whereof Ebubekir Homer and Osman the successors of their great Prophet Mahomet before had in great regard and reverence began now to be contemned and their writings nothing regarded and the honour of Hali exalted as the true and only Successor of their great Prophet And because he would have his Subjects and the Followers of his Doctrine known from the Turks and other Mahometans he commanded that they should all wear some red Hatband Lace or Ribband upon their Heads which they Religiously observe in Persia until this day whereof they are of the Turks called Cuselba's or Red-heads And in short time he had so used the matter that he was wonderfully both beloved and reverenced of his Subjects insomuch that his sayings were accounted for divine Oracles and his commandments for Laws so that when they would confirm any thing by solemn Oath they would swear by the Head of Hysmael the King and when they wished well to any Man they usually said Hysmael grant thee thy desire Upon his Coyn which he made both of Silver and Gold on the one side was written these words La illahe illalahu Muhame dum resul allahe which is to say There is no Gods but one and Mahomet is his Messenger And on the other side Ismaill halife lullahe which is to say Hysmael the Vicar of God. Whilst Hysmael was thus wrestling for the Persian Kingdom year 1508. Chasan Chelife and Techellis whom we have a little before declared to have bin brought out of the Mountains and Desarts into the Country-Villages and afterwards into the Cities and to have filled the Countries of Armenia and a great part of the lesser Asia with the novelty of their new Doctrine and Opinions first phantasied by one Giunet Siech and afterward revived by Haider Erdebil Hysmael his Father having gathered a great Army of such as had received their Doctrine invaded the Turks Dominion For after that Techellis this cold Prophet had with wonderful felicity in the presence of many prognosticated of things to come and Hysmael the Sophi of late a poor exiled and banished man was thought to have grown unto the highest type of Worldly Honours not by mans help but by uprightness of life and the fortunate passage of an undoubted Religion such a desire of receiving that new Superstition possessed the minds of the People in general that the Cities and Towns thereabouts were now full of them which in token of their new profession had taken upon them the wearing of the Red Hat the known Cognisance of the Cuselba's First they met together at the City of Tascia at the Foot of the Mountain Antitaurus or as the Turkish History reports at the City of Attalia to the number of ten thousand upon a great Fair-day where they laid hands upon the chief Magistrate of the City and executed him setting his quarters upon four of the highest Towers of the City and further perswaded by these new Masters of this new Superstition to take up Arms in defence of themselves and of their sincere Religion as they termed it in case that any violence should be offered them by the irreligious Turks they all swore never to forsake their Captains for any distress or yet refuse any labour or adventure for the honour of their most holy Religion as they would have it in defence whereof they had already vowed their Souls and Bodies These Ringleaders of Rebellion seeing the minds of their frantick Followers so well prepared for their purpose and reposing a great confidence in their valor and resolution and withal considering that the mony which was bountifully brought in unto them by the Country People partly for Devotion partly for Fear was not sufficient to maintain so great a multitude gave leave by publique Proclamation to their unruly Followers to forrage the Country round about them and to live upon the Spoil of them which would not receive their new found Doctrine Whereupon they dividing themselves into divers Companies and ranging up and down the Country brought into the Camp abundance of Cattel and other such things as the Country yielded and forthwith their multitude still increasing they entred into Lycaonia a populous and fruitful Country where they refreshed themselves many days roaming up and down to the great grievance and terror of the People and brought such a fear upon the whole Country that they which dwelt in open Durps and Villages were glad to flie with their Wives Children and Goods into the strong City of Iconium for Proclamations were in many places set up in the names of Chasan Chelife and Techellis wherein many both Spiritual and Temporal Blessings were in most ample manner proposed to all such as should forthwith take part with them and follow that their new Doctrine already established in Persia but unto such as should obstinately persevere in their old Superstition after they had once drawn their Sword was threatned utter destruction without without hope of pardon of Life So that all the Inhabitants thereabouts terrified with the terror of this Proclamation some for fear of Death some upon Inconstancy some for safeguard of their Goods and Possessions dearer unto them than any Religion some other indebted infamous in danger
War not only much decaied but almost quite lost after that Uladislaus far unlike in Policy and Prowess had succeeded the renowned Matthias in that Kingdom Neither had he as he said from his cradle learned to be afraid of death or of the common chances of War as knowing that neither God nor Man would be wanting unto him who with an honourable resolution did adventure upon vertuous and worthy attempts and that therefore he was fully resolved for his own honour which his Father had in some sort blemished by the immoderate advancement of his Brethren either to die honourably in the Field in battel against the Enemies of the Mahometan Religion or else gloriously to extend the bounds of the Turkish Empire and that he would not though one of the youngest in the Othoman Family be accounted inferior to any of his Brethren in Vertue and Prowess Thus was the Hungarian War never by Selymus entended notably by him pretended and with no less dissimulation by Bajazet disswaded The Embassadors although Selymus in all his Speeches shewed no token of Peace yet in his Fathers name presented unto him divers Gifts thereby if it might be to appease his fierce and cruel mind Unto his old Government they adjoyned Scamandria which the Hungarians call Schenderovia a strong City of Servia upon the borders of Hungary with many other strong Towns in the same Country they gave him also threescore thousand Ducats beside a thousand Garments of Cloath and Silk with good Store of Provision wherewith to relieve and content the Souldiers by him entertained lest that they drawn far from home in hope of Spoil should take it in evil part if they should be sent away empty handed Selymus in a happy time having received these Gifts returned the Embassadors unto his Father with more doubtful answer and uncertain hope than before yet changing nothing in himself of his former resolution secret Messengers and Letters from his Friends in the Court still whetting him forward too much already inflamed with desire of Sovereignty perswading him to make hast and to repose his greatest hope in his quick speed for that they understood that about the time of his setting forward his Brother Achomates was coming with a great power being sent for out of Cappadocia by his Father In the mean time Bajazet moved the rather with the fear of Selymus resolved upon that whereof he had long before in his mind deeply considered and now said openly That he would appoint his Successor who instead of himself spent with years and sickness should bring with him the flower of Youth and strength of Body fit to govern so great an Empire But when those things were propounded unto the Souldiers of the Court by the four great Bassaes who in all things both of Peace and War had next place unto the Emperor himself it was forthwith gainsaid by those Martial Men crying aloud with one voice That they would know no other Emperor but Bajazet under whose conduct and good fortune they had now served above thirty years and therefore would not suffer him to live a private life in obscurity who with so many Victories and strong Cities taken had brought the Othoman Empire unto that height of Renown and Glory They said moreover that there was in him yet strength enough if he would but with the reverend honour of his Age retain the Majesty of his place and the Glory he had gotten with his long and happy Reign and most famous Victories and that of his Children such an one should undoubtedly in his due time succeed in the Empire as of right ought only they wisht that the old Emperor might in the mean time live in health with a long and happy Reign neither needed he as they said to fear that after his death any controversie should arise among his Sons about the Succession for that the Othoman Progeny used to attain the imperial seat according to the old custom of their Ancestors the Othoman Kings by Right and Order only and not by Corruption or Faction But if he would needs upon his own private good liking or as it were by new adoption proceed to make choice of such an one as the People and the Men of War his most loyal and faithful Subjects could not so well like of it would be an occasion of much more trouble and happily the means to bring in that confusion of the State which he thought thereby to eschew For then beside the dislike of the People the other Brethren would never endure so notable an injury or ever be at quiet until they had as men wrongfully cast off and disinherited by strong hand and endangering of all recovered their honor lost by the headstrong Will of their aged Father The Souldiers thus before instructed by the Friends and Favourites of Selymus who with Mony and large Promises had corrupted their Captains and chief Officers spake these things frankly to have deterred the old Emperor from his purpose But he thinking that they had as he himself did especially affected Achomates his eldest Son for that they had generally protested That they would against all injuries defend his honour unto whom the Empire should of right appertain said he would make choice of Achomates if it should stand with their good liking But the chief of the Souldiers who corrupted by Selymus had together sold both their Faith and themselves cunningly commended Achomates and seemed wonderfully to like of him yet to accept of him for their Sovereign Bajazet yet living they said was not agreeing with the ancient custom of the Othoman Kings neither for the behoof of the men of War neither yet good for the State of the Empire forasmuch as neither his Brethren Corcutus and Selymus neither the Souldiers of the Court could patiently endure the least touch of the suspition of Infidelity which they must needs do if he as a suspitious Father should doubt either of the Love or Loyalty of his most dutiful Sons or of the Faith and Constancy of his most faithful Servants whereof he had made so many trials Besides that it seemed unto them all unreasonable that by the odious prejudice of that Fact the Souldiers should be left defrauded of the rewards usually granted unto them during the time of the vacancy of the Empire arising of the Spoil taken from them which are of Religion different from the Turks For it is a custom that immediately upon the death of the Turkish Emperor all the Jews and Christians which dwell at Constantinople Pera Hadrianople Thessalonica and Prusa especially Merchants exposed unto the injuries of the Turks are by the Janizaries and other Souldiers of the Court spoiled of all their Wares and Goods and become unto them a Prey neither will they give their Oath of Allegeance unto the new Emperor until he have granted unto them all that Prey as a Bounty and have solemnly sworn by his own Head the greatest assurance that can by Oath be
Wings on each side the great squadron of the Janizaries in the midst whereof was old Bajazet himself Other forty thousand Horsemen Servants to the great men of the Court were left in the Rearward and to guard the Baggage These Slaves for so indeed they are for their Apparel and Furniture yea and Valor also are little inferior to their Masters by whom they are so sumptuously maintained both for strength and ostentation The Battel thus ordered Bajazet commanded the Trumpets to sound and a red Ensign in token of battel to be displaied On the other side Selymus placing his Tartarian Horsemen in both Wings and his Turks in the midst in manner of a half Moon for that he in number of Horsemen far exceeded his Father did almost on every side inclose him and so charge him The Tartars when they were come within an hundred paces of their Enemies casting themselves after the manner of their fight into great Rings empty within in manner of a Crown and so running round that they might both backward and forward deliver their Arrows cast upon their Enemies whole showers of Shot as if it had been Hail to the great annoyance of the Turks when as in the mean time the other Tartarian Archers further off shooting their Arrows not right forth but more upright towards Heaven which falling directly down sore gauled the Turks Horses also But the old Souldiers taught by the example of their Captains â—erred close together and casting their Targets over their Heads as if it had been one whole Roof or Penthouse received their Arrows with less harm and hasted with as much speed as they could to come to handy blows The Pensioners also at the same instant bravely charged the middle of Selymus his Battel where his Turkish Horsemen stood and Ajax Captain of the Janizaries drawing out seven hundred ready Harquebusiers out of the Squadron of the Janizaries with them assailed the hindmost of one of the Wings of the Tartars and the four thousand Servants left in the Rearward as desirous as the rest to shew their forwardness with great Slaughter repulsed the other Wing of the Tartars which came to have spoiled the Turks Carriages This fierce battel betwixt the Father and the Son with doubtful event endured from Noon until the going down of the Sun Selymus in many places still restoring his declining Battel and fighting himself as for an Empire But after that the Tartars hardly charged by the Harquebusiers were not able to abide the Shot especially their Horses being with the unwonted noise thereof wonderfully terrified and so carrying back their Riders whether they would or no began to fly the rest of the Horsemen could neither by commandment threatning or wounds be inforced to stay but turned their Backs and fled The Footmen also whom Selymus had attired and armed after the manner of the Janizaries being forsaken of their own Horsemen were now by Bajazet his Horsemen compassed about and almost all slain Selymus his Army thus overthrown and himself hardly beset was by certain Troops of his Turkish Horsemen which yet staied with him delivered from the present danger and being wounded was mounted upon a fresh Horse and so with all the speed he could fled after the Tartars But doubting to be pursued and overtaken by his Fathers speedy Horsemen he changed his Horse and took another of a wonderful swiftness and so reserving himself to his future fortune with a few of his Followers fled to Varna and from thence by Sea to Capha The Horse whereon Selymus fled was all cold black called Carabulo that is to say a black Clâ—ud whom Selymus as a good Servitor ever after exempted from all service and had him in such estimation that covered with Cloth of Gold he was as a spare Horse without a Rider led after him in all his great Expeditions first into Persia and afterwards into Egypt where he died at Caire and there to the imitation of Bucephalus Great Alexanders Horse had a Monument erected for him wherein Selymus shewed himself more kind than to his own Brethren whom he cruelly Murthered and hardly afforded to some of them so honourable a Sepulture In this Battel of forty thousand which Selymus brought into the Field escaped not above eight thousand but they were either slain or taken prisoners Of Bajazet his Army were lost about seven hundred and three thousand hurt with Tartarian Arrows which loss he presently revenged with extream cruelty causing all such as were taken Prisoners to be without mercy put to the Sword in his sight whose heads were laid together by heaps and their dead bodies as if they had been Towers Of this notable Battel betwixt the Father and the Son in the year 1511 Chiurlus called in ancient time Tzurulum before an obscure old ruinous City or as Iovius calleth it a Village became famous but much more afterwards by the fatal destiny of Selymus who not many years after strucken with a most loathsome and incurable disease ended his days in the same place with an untimely and tormenting death God as it is to be thought with revenging hand in the same place taking just punishment for his former disloyalty towards his Father as shall hereafter in due time and place be declared Three days Bajazet lay still in the same place where he had obtained the Victory till such time as all his Souldiers were again returned from the chase of the Enemy after that he held on his way to Constantinople and there bountifully rewarded his Souldiers In the mean time Achomates hearing of all the trouble which had happened betwixt his Father and his Brother Selymus with the event thereof came with an Army of twenty thousand from Amasia through the Countries of Galatia and Bithynia unto the City of Scutari called in ancient time Chrisopolis though some suppose it to have been the famous City of Chalcedon which City is situated upon the Strait of Bosphorus directly against the City of Constantinople In this place Achomates encamped his Army near unto the Sea side expecting what course his Father would take after so great a Victory For beside the Prerogative of his Age and the especial love of his Father towards him the general affection of the Vulgar People with the good opinion he had of himself had already filled his mind with the hope of the Empire Wherefore he ceased not night and day to send Messengers over that narrow Strait to Constantinople and most earnestly to solicite Bajazet his Father in so fit an occasion to make hast to dispatch what he had so long before determined concerning the resignation of the Empire He also importuned his Friends and Familiars in best manner he could to commend him to his Father and in most ample sort to extol his grave purpose for translation of the Empire and to do the uttermost of their devoir that seeing God and good Fortune had justly overthrown the rash attempt and force of his Brother
two or three days in a place Whilst he was thus travelling Selymus no less careful of the keeping of his Estate than he had before been for the obtaining of the same began now to doubt That if he should depart from Constantinople and with all his Forces pass over into Asia against his Brother Achomates Bajazet in the mean time might in his absence return to Constantinople and so again possess himself both of the City and Empire Wherefore to rid himself of that fear he resolved most Viper like before his going to kill his Father and so most unnaturally to deprive him of life of whom he had received life such is the cruel and accursed Nature of Ambition that it knoweth neither Father Mother Brother Wife Kindred or Friend no sometimes not her own Children the fury whereof was never in any one more pregnant than in this most monstrous and cruel Tyrant Selymus The readiest and most secret way he could devise for the effecting of this his damnable device which without great impiety could not be so much as once by him thought upon was to work it by poyson upon which resolution he secretly compacted with Haman a Jew his Fathers chief Physitian to poyson him promising him for his reward a Pension of ten Ducats a day during his life And for that men are oftentimes with terror and fear as well as with reward enforced to be the ministers of mischief he to be the more sure of this Jew prone enough for gain to do evil threatned him with most cruel death if he did not both secretly and speedily work this feat commanding him so soon as he had done it to return unto him to Constantinople The deceitful Jew moved both with the fear of death and hope of reward two great motives coming shortly after to Bajazet and finding him very weak seeming to be very careful of him told him That he would prepare for him a portion which should both restore to him his health and also strengthen his weak body if it would please him to take it the next morning early lying in his bed Bajazet nothing distrusting his old Physitian whom he had so often and so long trusted said he would gladly take it Early the next morning cometh the Jew with the deadly poyson in a Cup of Gold Bajazet yet sleeping which he set down in the Chair of State and so stood waiting untill the aged Prince should of himself awake But Bajazet sleeping soundly as oftentimes it chanceth when men sleep their last and withal somewhat longer than stood with the Jews purpose he presuming of his wonted practice awaked him and told him That the time to take the portion was almost past and asked him if it were his pleasure then to take it Bajazet doubting no Treafon willed him to bring it whereof when the Jew had taken the essay having before himself taken a preservative against that poyson he gave it to Bajazet to drink who chearfully drank it up the Physitian commanding them that waited in his Bed-Chamber and attended on his person to keep him well covered with warm clothes and not to give him any thing to drink until he had well sweat This cursed Jew having thus poysoned the aged Prince to avoid the danger of the Fact and to carry the first news thereof to Selymus secretly conveyed himself away and in hast fled to Constantinople But Bajazet attainted with the force of the Poyso began first to feel most grievous gripings in his Stomach the strong pain whereof appeared by his miserable complaining and heavy groaning in the midst of which torments he gave up the Ghost in the year 1512 when he had reigned thirty years The Turks report that he died a natural death but Antonius Utrius a Genoway who at that time served in Bajazet his Chamber and was present at his death reporteth That upon his dead Body the evident tokens of Poyson were to be seen His dead Body with all his Treasures were presently brought back again to Constantinople and delivered to Selymus who caused the Body of his Father to be with the greatest solemnity that might be buried in a most sumptuous Tomb in a Chappel near unto the great Mahometan Temple which he had before built for himself at Constantinople which Monument there remaineth this day to be seen His Servants were all by Selymus restored to their places which they before held in the Court in the time of their old Master excepting five of the Pages of his Chamber who lamenting the death of their Master above the rest had attired themselves all in mourning Apparel for which cause they were by the commandment of Selymus cast into prison where two of them were put to death the other three at the suit of Solyman Selymus his Son and of other two Bassaes were saved but being stript of their rich Apparel and whatsoever else they had gotten under Bajazet they were inrolled for Common Souldiers under Sullustares Bassa Of these three Antonius Utrius the Genoway before spoken of was one who after ten years miserable Captivity amongst the Turks at last escaped at such time as Selymus was by the Persian discomfited and with much ado returning again into Italy wrote the History of all such things as he himself had there seen with the calamities of Bajazet his House and a great part of the tyrannous Reign of Selymus Haman the false Jew as the same Author reporteth coming to Constantinople and expecting some great reward for his foul Treason by the commandmet of Selymus had his head presently struck off with this exprobration of his Treachery That opportunity serving he would not stick for reward to do the like against Selymus himself Of this Bajazet Ianus Vitalis writeth this Elogium Dum rerum exquiris causas dum procul Hunnes Carmannos Cilices Sauromatasque domas Bajazethe domi proles tua te petit armis Et te per fraudes amovet imperio Adjicit inde novum sceleri scelus tibi miscet Pocula lethiferis illita graminibus Intempestivos crudelis vipera foetus Per sua sic tandem funera rupta parit Quid tutum est cui sint ingentia regna Tyranno Si timant natos progeniemque suam In English thus Whilst that thou Bajazethes seeks of things the hidden cause And fain wouldst bring the Hunne and Russ under thy Turkish Laws Thy Son at home steps up in Arms against thy Royal Crown And by false Treason and Deceit finds means to pluck thee down Whereto he addeth mischief more and straight without delay By Poyson strong in glittering Bowl doth take thy life away The cruel Viper so brings forth her foul untimely Brood Who eat and gnaw her Belly out their first and poisoned Food Which things may Princes hold for safe that do great Kingdoms sway If of their Children they must stand in dread and fear alway Christian Princes of the same time with Bajazet the Second Emperors of
Ufegi one of his Bassaes with five thousand Horsemen who by great journies travelling to Amasia might upon the suddain come upon these two young Princes and take them altogether unprovided and as then fearing no such danger which was thought no great matter for the Bassa to do forasmuch as he might with his light Horsemen easily prevent the fame of his coming and the City of Amasia where they lay was neither well walled nor as then furnished with any sufficient Garrison for defence thereof besides that Achomates himself was at that time absent busied in taking up of Souldiers upon the Frontiers of Caramania But Musthapha the old Bassa by whose special means Selymus had obtained the Empire as is afore declared in the life of Bajazet being privy unto his wicked purpose and now in mind altogether alienated from him detesting his most execreable Tyranny both for the unworthy death of Bajazet his Father and the guiltless blood of so many young Princes his Nâ—phews by him shed without all pity and having compassion of the imminent danger whereinto these two Brethren were now like also to fall by secret and speedy Messengers gave them warning of the coming of the Bassa and all that was intended against them Who upon such knowledge given presently advertised Achomates their Father thereof and laid secret ambush themselves for the intercepting of their Enemies So that within few days after the Bassa coming with his Horsemen towards Amasia fell before he was awar into the midst of his Enemies at which time also Achomates following him at the heels so shut him in with his Army on every side that most of his men being slain he himself with divers other Captains were taken Prisoners and brought to Achomates and by his commandment committed to safe custody Now it fortuned that some of Achomates Souldiers scoffing at the Prisoners whom they had taken told them how they had been deceived and how all the matter had been carried so hard a thing it is to have even the greatest Counsels in Court kept secret boasting that they wanted not their Friends even of such as were most inward with Selymus who secretly favored the better cause and would not long suffer the cruel Beast to rage further all which things Selymus his Souldiers reported again after they were ransomed and retuned home But Ufegi the Bassa lying still in Prison and getting certain knowledge of the whole matter by secret Letters gave Selymus to understand that Mustapha the great Bassa whom he most of all trusted had secret intelligence with Achomates and had been the only cause of the loss of his Army Selymus of late envying at the great Honour and Authority of Mustapha and wishing him dead whose desert he was not able or at leastwise unwilling to requite caused him upon this accusation without further trial to be secretly strangled in his sight and his dead body as it were in scorn of his former felicity to be cast out into the Street for every man to gaze upon This was the shameful end of this traiterous Bassa who had of long time at his pleasure commanded all things in the Turkish Empire and was for Riches Power and Authority next unto the Emperors themselves but now lieth as a dead Dog in the Street no man daring for fear to cast earth upon him A rare spectacle of the uncertainty of worldly Felicity and a worthy example of Disloyalty But Achomates hearing what had happened to Mustapha in revenge thereof in like manner executed Ufegi Bassa his Prisoner and according to his courteous nature set all the rest of the Prisoners at liberty Selymus thirsting after nothing more than the guiltless blood of his Brethren and Nephews upon whom he had against all right usurped the Kingdom whereof he never thought himself sufficiently assured so long as any of them breathed began with the first of the Spring to devise with himself how he might first take away his Brother Corcutus who then lived at Magnesia and having cast off all hope of the Empire gave himself wholly to the study of Philosophy which he seduced with Ambition had in evil time a little before forsaken but now retiring himself thereto again as to his greatest contentment spent his time in quiet contemplation not attempting any thing against his cruel Brother usurping the Empire Selymus resolved upon the destruction of this harmless Prince suddainly commanded his Captains to make choice of ten thousand Horsemen to be in readiness within three days giving it out that he would make an inroad upon the suddain into Cappadocia In the number of these Horsemen Antonius Moenavinus a Genoway Author of this History as he himself reporteth was one All things being in readiness against the appointed time Selymus in person himself set forward with his Army from Prusa still keeping the way on the right hand so that the Souldiers who thought they should have marched directly into Cappadocia and so to Amasia as it was before commonly reported began now to perceive by the contrary course they held that they were to go for Lydia and Ionia When a valiant Souldier among the rest who had sometime served one of the Bassaes in Corcutus his Court by divers circumstances gathering the intention of Selymus secretly conveied himself out of the Army and being excellently well mounted taking the nearest way came to Magnesia and gave Corcutus warning of the coming of his Brother Corcutus considering the great danger he was in richly rewarded the Messenger and leaving his House in such order as it was wont to be fled with two of his Servants to the Sea side in hope to have found passage either into Crete or else Rhodes The next day after Corcutus was departed early in the Morning came Selymus to the Castle of Magnesia before the rising of the Sun in hope to have found Corcutus yet in his bed but being deceived of his expectation he fell into a great rage and with cruel torments examined all his Brothers Servants and Eunuchs What was become of him and where he had hid himself and with much ado got it out of them That he had warning of his coming by a fugitive Souldier and was thereupon fled but whither they knew not Wherefore Selymus staied there fifteen days during which time he caused diligent search to be made all over the Country and along the Sea Coast for to have apprehended him But when after much search he could hear no tydings of him he caused all his Brothers Treasure and rich Furniture to be trussed up and to be sent by Sea to Constantinople So leaving one of his Captains with a thousand Horsemen in Garrison at Magnesia he returned again to Prusa with as much speed as he came from thence verily supposing that his Brother was for safeguard of his life by Sea fled into Italy All this while Bostanges Selymus his Son in Law lying with a Fleet of Gallies upon the Coast of Ionia had
Cappadocia into Armenia and the Persian Kingdom for all the Mountain Countries were under his command and his Kingdom stretched from the Mountains called Scodrisci near unto Ponâ—us all alongst the great Mountain Taurus unto Amanus which divideth Cilicia from Syria Amongst the rest old Chendemus Viceroy of Natolia a Man of great experience and of all others in greatest credit favour and authority with Selymus perswaded him to stay a while in Cappadocia and there to refresh his Europeian Souldiers already weary of their long Travel and so to expect the coming of his Enemies And to perswade him from the dangerous expedition into Persia spake unto him as followeth It is not to be thought most mighty and invincible Emperor that the Persians are fled for fear because they retired before they set eye upon us their Enemies it is a fineness and they plainly go about to entrap us whiles they by flight make a false semblance of fear Know we not what cunning Heads and able Bodies Persia breedeth Will they fear the naked Turkish light Horsemen or Archers which with their câ—uragious barbed Horses and themselves strongly Armed feared not the Scythian shot or if they be too little which by their Valour have vanquished so many Nations and gained unto their King so great and large an Empire Think you that you have either greater or better Forces than had long ago Cassumes yâ—ur Uncle or Great Mahomet yâ—ur Grandfather who divers times proving their Forces against this Enemy were more than once put to the worst I my sâ—lf then serving in their Camps near unto Trapezond and the Mountains of Nicopolis I will not deny but that the great Ordinance which you carry with yâ—u may stand you in great stead so that fit place may be found to bestow so many field Pieces in but this scortched Ground the frozen and abrupt Mountains with the vast and solitary Plains beyond them terrifie me whom all the armed Forces of our Enemies in places of great advantage could not dismay You must fight not only with your valiant Enemies but with the difficulties of Nature also Neither may your Majesty give any credit to the Armenians or Aladeules Princes of most doubtful Faith although at your first setting forward they shew a fair Face and seem never so friendly for they will but expect and await some fit occasion to take you at an advantage and so to set upon you when you least fear them But admit you were assured of Victory O with how much warm Blood of your best Souldiers shall you buy the same with what other Souldiers with what other Forces will you defend Grecia if the Christian Kings hearing that you for enlarging your Empire or desire of Fame being gone into the furthest part of Armenia shall in the mean time Invade you Wheresore if it be better and more wisdom with safety to defeâ—d your own than with danger to seek for that is other Mâ—ns if Princes of greatest Policy have reposed the glory of their Victory not in the greatness of the slaughter of their Enemies but in the safety and presâ—rvation of their own Souldiers spare to object your self and your Army to most manifest danger and unadvisedly to commit all at once to the hazard of good Fortune which bâ—ing a most fickle and unconstant Mistress if she shall but once dally with your dangerous attempts you shall through your rashness in far shorter space tumble down head-long from the top of so great Majesty than you have thereunto a while ago by your rare Vertues worthily aspired Selymus as he was of a rough and fierce Nature so would he have all things done according to his own device and direction and though he were not a little moved with this Speech of so grave a Counsellor and most expert Commander and saw many of his Captains troubled with the imagination of the future danger yet in a fume refuting some little of that which Chendemus had said he dismissed the Counsel protesting openly that he would proceed in his intended purpose hap what hap should from Friend or Foe although that old Fellow were as he said so careful of his life that he feared to die a noble Death Which Selymus had no sooner said but presently others about him accustomed to serve his Humor which envied at the glory and wealth of old Chendemus took hold upon these words and beginning with the greatness of his Forces the valour of his Souldiers the store of his Artillery with his own invincible Fortune made easie matters of all the former difficulties and with great words laboured to extenuate all that the grave Bassa had before said concerning the prowess and power of the Enemy After that they began to discredit Chendemus saying That he being a martial Man and of known resolution in all his most warlike Actions had not said as before for want of courage of any distrust he had of the Victory but of purpose to hinder that most honourable Expedition and to cut off all hope of Victory which was as they said as good as already gotten being before loaded with Amurat his great Promises and the Gold of Persia. Wherefore they wished him to beware of the slie old Fox his wiles and treason and to proceed on in his Expedition so much the more boldly and not to think that his Souldiers would refuse any danger or labour so long as they saw courage in himself but would be ready as they said to undertake the most desperate difficulties of War and desired nothing more than to be conducted into those far Countries where by their martial Prowess and valiant Acts they might make their Emperor Selymus equal with the Great Alexander and themselves comparable to his Macedonians And to work the utter destruction of this most faithful Counsellor without all recovery these false Flatterers suborned bold-faced Accusers who falsly and shamefully affirmed that he had received great sums of Mony from Amurat and did not therefore in time go against the Persian Robbers whereby all the former Calamities hapned as they said to that Province For which pretended Causes Selymus commanded Chendemus without further hearing to be slain but indeed to terrifie others from like liberty of Speech and withal to teach them to deem those devices and counsels as most excellent which their Sovereign should as it were by divine Inspiration find out himself and so to accept of them without contradiction The sudden death of this most faithful Counsellor Chendemus struck an exceeding fear into the minds of all Men for that so honourable a Personage of late in so great credit and favour with his Sovereign was whithout hearing Executed who they had known as a Man of great account both for his prowess and policy to have stood fast on Selymus his side first in his Wars against his Father and of late against his Brother not doubting but that Selymus by nature cruel and suspitious even of trifles would with like
sharp Battels were at once made in divers places It is reported by some that were present in that Battel that what for the clamor and cry of Souldiers what for the noise of Drums and Trumpets and such like Instruments of War what for the thundering of Ordnance clattering of Armor and rising of the Dust all Mens minds were so confounded and abashed that running on headlong as Men furious and desperate when neither their Speeches could be heard their Tokens known their Ensigns seen or Captains understood mistaking one another in that hurly burly they slew many of their Friends in stead of their Enemies for never Battels met together with greater hatred neither did ever two great Kings with less care of their persons and safety more resolutely or desperately make shew of their strength and courage for both of them with like danger both of themselves and of their Armies seeing plainly that they had put both their Lives and Kingdoms to the hazard of a Battel promised unto themselves no other hope of safety but what they should obtain by Victory Gazelles desirous both of honor and of revenge to requite the Europeian Horsemen with like slaughter as he had before received from them not far from Gaza with wonderful fury assailed Ionuses Bassa and at the first encounter brake his first Ranks and overthrew certain of his Guidons at which time the Arabians pressing couragiously in at their backs enforced those victorious Troops which in all Battels had hitherto carried away the prize the very flower of Thracia Thessalia Epirus Macedonia and Graecia to flie and shew their backs which never Enemy had before that time seen At which time Sinan Bassa carefully attending every accident came speedily in with his most valiant Troops of fresh Men upon the side of the Enemy and restored again the Battel now declining and foully disordered But whilst Sinan who in this his last worthy labour had interrupted the manifest Victory of Gazelles was with an invincible courage valiantly fighting in the head of the Battel he was by the coming in of the couragious Captain Bidon with his Mamalukes overcharged and slain His most valiant Followers also labouring to rescue and carry away his dead Body were by Gazelles unfolding his Troops that standing thin they might at more liberty use their Swords in which manner of fight the Mamalukes far excelled the Turks for most part slain and the rest put to flight and that chosen Company of five hundred of the most valiant Janizaries now destitute of their Horsemen when they had most couragiously done what was possible for Men to do being compassed round with the Mamalukes Horsemen were all in a trice cut in pieces and trodden under foot Thus resteth this Eunuch Bassa in the Bed of Fame who living had the leading of this most warlike Emperor Selymus his greatest Armies in his most dangerous Wars Mustapha in the other Wing of the Turks Battel coming on couragiously with his Asian Horsemen did sore press the left Wing of the Egyptians whereof Helymis the Diadare and Giapal two valiant Captains had the leading who but a little before had received great harm by the great Ordnance which was discharged out of the midst of Selymus his Battel overthwart the Field which Mustapha perceiving and desiring to blot out the old infamy he had before received did fiercely press upon them so disordered and with his whole Troops overthrew their broken Ranks and glistering in his bright Armor with a loud voice encouraged his Asian Souldiers exhorting them that day with valiant prowess or honourable death to recover their ancient Honour of late lost in the Fields of Aleppo At the same time also Tomombeius breaking through the middle Battel of the Turks Horsemen was entred into the Squadron of the Footmen with his crooked Scimeter giving many a deadly Wound himself being a valiant big made Man and of great strength The Arabians had also in a ring inclosed the uttermost parts of the Turks Army and in many places inforced them to turn their Battel upon them being sore charged with a doubtful fight both before and behind when Selymus set forward with his Battel of Footmen and his Squadron of Janizaries his last and most assured refuge in that his hard distress whose invincible force neither the couragious barbed Horses nor their victorious Riders were able to abide for part of them with their Harquebusiers and the rest with their Pikes had so strongly set the front of their Battel that nothing was able to stand wheresoever that firm Battel linked together as if it had been but one whole entire body swayed Yet was this cruel Battel continued with divers Fortune on both sides from four a Clock until the going down of the Sun neither was there any part of their Armies which had not with divers success and change of fortune endured the fury of that Battel for both the victors and the vanquished being inraged with an implacable hatred one against another fought desperately as Men prodigal of their lives the Mamalukes disdaining to have the Victory wrung out of their Hands by them whom they had in so many places discomfited and the Turks taking it in no less scorn that they whom but of late they had overcome and vanquisht in two great Battels should now the third time make so strong resistance So that on both sides their fainting hands and bodies both wearied and weakned with Wounds supported only with anger and obstinacy of mind seemed yet sufficient to have maintained that bloody Battel until the next day if the darkness of the night now coming on had not made an end of that days slaughter Tomombeius undoubtedly vanquished and fearing to be utterly overthrown first caused a retreat to be sounded that his Mamalukes which were indeed not able to withstand the Janizaries might not seem to be put to flight but rather as Men commanded to retire Which he thought to concern much both for the encouraging of his Souldiers and for the keeping of his own credit and estimation with his Subjects for now the self same fortune which had deceived his first hopes seemed unto him as it fareth with them in distress still hoping for better to promise him more prosperous success if he were not discouraged but reserving such remainders of his Forces as were left he should again couragiously renew the War. The Battel thus broken off by the approach of the night the Turks as Victors enjoying the Tents and great Artillery of their Enemies pursued the Mamalukes until midnight who held on their way to Caire in manner as if they had fled This great Battel was fought upon a Thursday the 24 day of Ianuary in the year 1517. The Diadare was taken in the flight mortally Wounded and with him the valiant Captain Bidon having in the Battel one of his Legs broken in the Knee with a Faulchion shot wherewith his Horse was also slain under him Selymus commanded them
the hindermost still bearing forward the foremost tumbled by heaps one upon another into the covert Trenches and were there miserably impailed upon the sharp Stakes for that purpose before set up by the Mamalukes The Women also and Children with manly courage threw down Stones and Tyles and such other things from the tops of their Houses and out at their Windows upon the Turks and they on the other side as they could espy them fetcht them off from those high places with their Harquebuses or else violently brake into the Houses from whence they were assailed and there fought with diverse success But most part of the Egyptians diligently observing the fortune both of the one and of the other accounting them both for Enemies with diverse affection assailed sometimes the Turks and sometime the Mamalukes seeming still notably to help that part whom they saw for the time to have the better Many cruel and most terrible incounters were at once made in divers places of the City for as they crossed from Street to Street sometime the one and sometime the other hapned upon new Troops of Enemies and they which as Victors pursued their Enemies afront were by others following them at the heels slain down right so that in the Victory none could assure themselves of safety The Lanes and Streets a most horrible thing to behold did so flow with the blood of them which lay by heaps slain that the Dust which at the first rose wonderful thick was quite laid as with a plentiful Shower of Rain the Air was darkned with the smoke of Shot and showers of Arrows and such was the clamor of the People and Souldiers the clattering of Armor and report of the Artillery that the Earth seemed to tremble and the Houses to fall down This dreadful and doubtful Fight endured two whole days and nights without intermission yet so that the Mamalukes in number few and not able to endure so long labour and watchings giving ground by little and little and forsaking their first Munitions retired themselves further into the City The third day beset with the greatest dangers that could be as to lose themfelves with all that they had which commonly enforceth mens courages in their last attempts they renewed the Battel with such resolution that they constrained the Turks to retire a great way and for hast to leave behind them certain of their Field-Pieces With which repulse it is reported that Selymâ—â— despairing of Victory commanded to set fire upon the Houâ—es moved thereunto with just displeasure against the Egyptians for that Ionuses Bassa now his greatest Man of War had even before his face received a dangerous wound in his Head by a Stone cast out at a Window Now were the Houses pitifully burning and the Egyptians weeping and wailing cried for mercy The Turks themselves fought but faintly expecting the sound of the Retreat when News was suddainly brought by many at once that the Enemies in the other side of the City were by Mustapha Bassa enforced to retire and afterward had betaken themselves to flight as to their last refuge For Mustapha by the overture of the Egyptians and fugitive Mamalukes was directed to a fair broad Street where the Mamalukes had left their Horses ready sadled and bridled that if the worst should chance they might thither retire and taking Horse speed themselves to such places of refuge as they had before thought upon All these Horses reserved by the Mamalukes as their last refuge Mustapha took away having before put to flight the Garrison which kept them which was but weak consisting for most part of Horse-Boys and Muleters as safe enough in such a place of the City as was least to be suspected and feared This accident as it oftentimes falleth out in great and unexpected Mischances did not a little daunt the courage of the Mamalukes who now seeing themselves hardly beset and that dreadful Battel by no other hope or help maintained but only by courage being in their own judgment overcome betook themselves to flight Most part of them hasting to the River of Nilus with Tomombeius who in that Battel had all in vain proved the uttermost of his prowess and policy being transported over the River in Boats fled into the Country of Segesta others of them hid themselves in the Houses of the Egyptians and in the loathsome corners of the City A thousand five hundred of the better sort of the Mamalukes fled unto the greatest Temple of their vain Prophet whereafter they had a great while valiantly defended themselves as out of a strong Castle because they would not yield themselves but upon honourable conditions at last overcome with thirst weariness and wounds together with the fury of the great Artillery they yielded themselves to the pleasure of the Conqueror part of whom the furious Souldiers slew in the Porch of the same Temple and the rest within a few days after were sent down the River to Alexandria there to be afterwards murdered Selymus having thus gained the Victory forthwith sent part of his Army to quench the Fire then raging and caused Proclamation to be made through all the City That all the Mamalukes which would yield themselves within twelve hours should be taken to mercy but unto such as yielded not within the appointed time should remain no hope of life Unto the Egyptians also that should reveal the hidden Mamalukes he proposed rewards but to such as should conceal them he threatned to impail them upon Stakes and having sold their Wives and Children to burn their Houses Upon which Proclamation many of the Mamalukes before crept into corners came forth and yielded themselves and were forthwith cast into Iron All which were shortly after contrary to his promise most dishonourably murdred in prison because as it was given out they sought means to have escaped Many of the Egyptians which would not break the bonds of Faith and Fidelity with the Mamalukes their old Lords being impeached by their malitious Neighbours most constantly died for their Friends for whose sake they had vowed themselves to death With this Victory the Turks growing insolent ransackt every place of the City drew out the Mamalukes that had hid themselves and slew them rifled the houses of the Egyptians as well Friends as Foes and left nothing shut up or in secret And some there were which at one time in the same Houses raged with Covetousness Cruelty and Lust every man fitting his own humor whereunto he was by nature or custom inclined for that in time and place of so great liberty most men but especially the common Souldier flattereth himself to the full making conscience of nothing but measuring all things according to his insolent and disordered Appetite The same day that Selymus took Caire Gazelles who but a little before by the commandment of Tomombeius was gone to Thebais to assemble the Arabians and to entertain new Supplies came to Caire but finding all lost and seeing no
attached with the Hand of God and strucken in the Reins of his Back with a Cancer which melancholy and devouring malady contemning all cure did by little and little so eat and corrupt his body as that he before so much honoured became now loathsome and odious both to himself and others As he lay thus languishing his incurable disease still increasing leaning his head in the lap of Pyrrhus the Bassa whom of all others he most loved said O Pyrrhus I see I must shortly die without remedy Whereupon the great Bassa took occasion to discourse with him of many matters and amongst others that it would please him to give order for the well bestowing of the great Wealth taken from the Persian Merchants in divers places of his Empire perswading him to bestow the same upon some notable Hospital for relief of the poor To whom Selymus replied Wouldst thou Pyrrhus that I should bestow other mens goods wrongfully taken from them upon works of Charity and Devotion for mine own vain glory and praise assuredly I will never do it nay rather see they be again restored unto the right owners Which was forthwith done accordingly to the great shame of many Christians who minding nothing less than restitution but making ex rapina holocaustum do out of a World of evil gotten goods cull out some small fragments to build some poor Hospital or mend some blind way a poor testimony of their hot Charity Selymus lying thus sick to death year 1520. and rotting above the ground in his Tent as he was upon the way going to Hadrianople sent before Pyrrbus and Achmetes two of his greatest Bassaes to provide for the solemnizing of the great Feast which the Turks call Bairam and is as it were their Easter purposing to come after himself at leisure as his weak Body would give him leave and kept with him only Ferhates the third of his greatest Bassaes and Privy Counsellors But such was the fury of his foul disease continually attainting him with intollerable pains that shortly after the departure of the other two Bassaes he breathed out his cruel Ghost in the Month of September in the year 1520 near unto the City Chiurli in the self same place where he had sometime most unnaturally assailed his aged Father Bajazet with purpose to have slain him had not the fortune of the old Emperor in a great battel prevailed both against his Force and the Treason of his own People Thus intending the mischief he could not perform cut off by a loathsome and untimely death he to the great joy of all Christendom ended his days when he had lived six and forty years and thereof reigned eight which time of his Reign was nothing else but a most horrible and dreadful time of Bloodshed His dead Body was afterwards solemnly by his Son Solyman buried in a new Temple at Constantinople which he to the imitation of his Father and Grandfather had for that purpose before built Upon his Tomb is ingraven in the Greek Turkish and Sclavonian Tongues this short Epitaph Hic maximus adsum Selymus qui orbem domui Non bella relinquo sed pergo inquirere Non ulla me fortuna potuit evertere Licet ossa jacent animus quaerit In English thus Lo here I lie great Selymus which held the World in fear The World I leave but not the Wars which I seek though not here No Fortunes force or Victors hand could take from me the Spoils And though my Bones lie buried here my Ghost seeks bloody broils He used commonly to say That nothing was sweeter than to reign without fear or suspition of his Kindred A little before his death he commended his Son Solyman to Pyrrhus Bassa straitly charging him that after his death he should leave the Persians and turn his Forces altogether upon the Christians And the more to incense him to the effusion of Blood he left him the lively counterfeit of himself hanging at his bed side with sundry bloody Precepts breathing forth his cruel and unmerciful disposition Tabulae Epigraphe Soldanus Selymus Otomanus Rex Regum Dominus omnium Dominorum Princeps omnium Principum Filius Nepos Dei. S. S. S. Ad dextram Versus Graeca lingua adscripti in hunc sensum TUtus ut imperii Princeps sibi sceptra capessat Anxia ne dubio corda pavore premat Ne putet esse nefas cognatum â—aurire cruorem Et nece fraterna constabilire domum Iura Fides Pietas Regni dum nemo supersit Aemulus haud turbent religione animum Haec ratio est quae sola queat regale tueri Nomen expertem te sinit esse metus Ad sinistram lingua Sclavonica Te semel adversus peccantem mitis haberi Ne studeas poena vindice tutus eris Protinus ense rescindendum putrescore si quid Incipiet clemens Rex male sceptra gerit Ad veniam facilis peccanti porrigit ansam Qua sâ— sustentans ad nova damna ruat Ad Calcem tabulae lingua Turcica Qui non ipse sua Princeps bastilia dextra Agmen in adversum marte favente jacet Sed refugit saevis caput objectare periclis Dum gravia impavido praelia corde subit Iste sciat vanis belli sese artibus uti Et votis nunquam fata favere suis. Nulla sibi speret suscepti commoda belli Hostiles acies quisquis adite timet The Inscription of the Table Sultan Selymus Othoman King of Kings Lord of Lords Prince of all Princes the Son and Nephew of God. On the right hand of the Table were written Greek Verses to this sense THe Prince that safely seeks to reign and hold this State in quiet rest Must never suffer troubled care to harbour in his Princely Breast Nor think it sin to spill the blood of his most near and dearest Kin Not of his Brother so thereby assured safety he may win Law Faith Devotion and such like to break them all he must not spare Nor conscience make of any thing to rid him from aspiring care This is the way and only mean that may protect a Princes State And set him safe without all fear whilst none may live whom he doth hate On the left hand of the Table was written in the Sclavonian Tongue Of him that seeks to work thy wo deseve to be counted kind But take him for thy mortal Foe and plague him with revenging mind The rotten limb is cut away for fear of doing further harm The gentle Prince doth bear small sway if no abuse can make him warn Forbearance makes men more offend and to presume of further grace It doth but strength to Rebels lend to thrust their Sovereign out of place At the lower end of the Same Table was written in Turkish Verse What Prince in person dareth not in open Field to meet his Foe And there with unapplauded heart his deadly darts himself to throw But hides his head for fear of harm and shuns the danger
Mamalukes offering him therein the uttermost of his devoir and service But Cayerbeius either not trusting Gazelles his old Enemy or ashamed by new Treason to augment his former dishonor or else which was most like misdoubting his own strength in performance of so great an enterprise after he had attentively heard what the Embassadors had to say caused them presently in his own sight to be put to death as Traitors and with all speed certified Solyman thereof who without delay sent Ferhates Bassa with a strong Army into Syria Which thing Gazelles hearing and having in his power most of the Cities of Syria retired himself with all his Army into the strong City of Damasco whither at length Ferhates the great Bassa by long march came also Gazelles resolved to try the fortune of the Field and so either by speedy Victory or honourable Death to end the matter rather than to suffer himself to be shut up within the Walls of the City upon the coming within of the Bassa valiantly issued forth with all his power and gave him Battel which for the space of six hours was most cruelly fought and many slain on both sides At length Gazelles being oppressed with the multitude of his Enemies being eight times more in number and hardly assailed on either side was enforced to sight in a Ring and there performing all the parts of a worthy General and valiant Souldier honourably died together with his Mamalukes in the midst of his Enemies leaving unto them a bloody Victory Gazelles thus slain the City of Damasco with all the Country of Syria without any more ado yielded again unto the Turks obedience which the Bassa took in so good part that he would not suffer his Souldiers to enter into the City then richly stored with Commodities of all sorts brought thither by Merchants out of divers parts of the World. Syria thus pacified the Bassa went to Caire in Egypt and there commending Cayerbeius for his fidelity confirmed him in his Government and inveying against the cruelty of Selymus so to please the Egyptians wished them to hope for all happiness under the peaceable Government of the new Sultan Solyman And so when he had set all things in order in both the Provinces of Syria and Egypt returned again to Solyman The year following Solyman by the Counsel of Pyrrbus Bassa his old Tutor a mortal Enemy unto the Christians and by the perswasion of the Janizaries resolved to besiege the strong City of Belgrade otherwise called Taurunum situate upon the borders of Hungary where the Rivers Savus falleth into Danubius Which City his great Grandfather Mahomet surnamed the Great and before him the warlike Amurat had with all their power long time before to their great loss and dishonour vainly attempted Wherein until that time were reserved the Ensigns then taken from the Turks to their no small grief with other trophies of the glorious Victories of the worthy Captain Huniades and the great King Matthias Corvinus his Son. Wherefore Solyman sending his Army before was come as far as Sophia a City in Servia the place where the Turks great Lieutenant in Europe is always resiant before that the Hungarians were aware of his coming for they living at ease all the time that Uladislaus Reigned and now sleeping in security under the young King Lodovicus his Son a Man of no experience who contenting himself with the Title of a King suffered himself to be pilled and polled by his Nobility and great Clergy-Men inverting all the wealth of the Land to their own private gain that he was not able to raise any sufficient power to go against his puissant Enemy especially his Nobility in whose hands rested the wealth of his Kingdom promising him much but performing indeed nothing Huniades with his hardy Souldiers the scourge and terror of the Turks were dead long before so was also Matthias that fortunate Warrior after whom succeeded others given to all pleasure and ease to whose example the People fashioning themselves forgot their wonted Valour and gave themselves over to sensuality and voluptuous Pleasure so that Solyman without let presented his Army before the City of Belgrade and with battery and undermining in short time became Lord thereof having lost few of his People in that Siege How much the loss of that strong City concerned the Christian Common-wealth the manifold and lamentable miseries which afterwards insued by the opening of that Gap not unto the Kingdom of Hungary only but to all that side of Christendom did and yet doth most manifestly declare It was won by the Turks the nine and twentieth day of August in the year 1521. After the taking of the strong City of Belgrade Solyman returning to Constantinople brake up his Army and there lay still almost all the year following During which time year 1521. he caused great preparation to be made at Calipolis and other his Ports for rigging up of a great Fleet which caused the Italians Venetians and them of the Rhodes to look about them as Men careful of their Estates fearing that those Forces would ere long be imployed against some or all of them About the same time Philippus Villerius a Man of great wisdom and courage then following the French Court was in his absence by the Knights of the Rhodes chosen great Master of that honourable Company who embarking himself at Marcelles after a long and dangerous journey being not without the knowledge of Solyman hardly laied for at Sea by Cortug-Ogli a famous Pyrat of the Turks whose two Brethren the Knights of the Rhodes had but a little before surprised at Sea and slain and then held the third in Prison arrived in safety at the Rhodes where he was with great joy and triumph received The great Bassa by whose grave advice Solyman was contented in all his weighty Affairs to be directed consulting with the other Bassaes of divers great exploits which was first to be taken in hand for the honour of their Emperor and inlarging of his Empire were of divers opinions concerning the besieging of the Rhodes Pyrrhus the Bassa of greatest account disswaded the taking in hand of that Action as too full of difficulty and danger producing for proof thereof the example of the great Emperor Mahomet Solymans great Grandfather by whom it was unfortunately attempted and in fine shamefully abandoned But Mustapha next in place and reputation to Pyrrhus extolling the power and fortune of Solyman said That the greatness of their Emperor was not to be concluded within the attempts of his predecessors as well appeared by the late taking of Belgrade from whence first Amurath and after him Mahomet two of the most warlike Princes of the Turks had with great dishonour been repulsed and should no doubt with like good fortune prevail against the Rhodes also being able if need were to bring more Men before it than were stones in the Walls thereof Which he so confidently affirmed with extenuating the power
retiring forasmuch as they were stronger than their Enemies in Horsemen and equal also if not stronger in Footmen although they were sore weakned with Sickness Whilst these things were in Council diversly discoursed and the resolution set down as is before said the matter was brought to this pass that every Captain with troubled judgment conceived in himself secret cogitations far from the common good and without regard of Shame and Dishonour bethought himself how he might betake himself to flight the uncertain hope of desired life On the contrary part Mahometes using most certain Spies and advertised every hour of all the distresses of the Christians and thereby presaging his future Victory did by most diligent Watch and Troops of Horsemen besetting the passages far and near most vigilantly attend every motion in the Christian Camp of purpose that when the Army should rise and set forwards he after his wonted manner might in the Straits fit for his purpose set upon them being divided and dispersed one from another as they must needs in those troublesome passages for he had placed his Horsemen and Footmen in the known Tracts of those Woods that he had shut up the Christians as it were in a Toil. It was now almost midnight and the Army taking no rest so carefully expected the sign of setting forward that every little delay seemed to most men both tedious and dangerous so that many great Captains upon a cowardly conceit would stay no longer but hasted to depart and to go before the rest without any leave of the General The beginning of this mischievous departure is reported to have been begun by the common Hungarian Horsemen which knowing the passages and ways through the Woods made most haste to Walpo Ladislaus Moreus dishonourably following their example went the other way to his Castle Zenthuerzebeth After them followed in great haste the Stirian Horsemen without regard of shame led by Iohn Hunganot their General who was appointed to have guarded the Rearward Symon Bishop of Zagrabia fled in like manner known by his great Lanthorn wandring in the Wood yet with less shame than the rest because he being a Clergy man thought it not to belong to his vocation to put on Arms or to go into Battel In the mean time it was fearfully told told to Cazzianer That the Hungarian Horsemen were fled and that Ladislaus and Hunganot with the Stirian Troops were gone also and that all the rest of the Army not expecting the appointed signal were in like manner upon flying with which report the cowardly and dismaid General was so terrified that he presently got to Horse quite forgetting the signal he should have given for that he thought all the rest as he afterwards said to have been gone before and as he was unarmed betook himself to flight leaving behind him for haste his Tent stored with Plate and other rich Furniture In this Tumult of them which so disorderly fled Lodronius that famous Captain was called up and told by his Servants that the General was fled and gone to whom he answered again Without doubt it cannot be so that I should be so shamefully and perfideously betraied of him and so as a man meagred with long Watching and painful Labour laid himself down again to sleep Not long after Mahometes hearing the stir that was in the Camp rose with his Turks to assail his Enemies yet to be better assured what the Enemy did he thought it good to stay for day light causing his men to stand still in order of Battel and with wonderful silence to expect the sign of setting forward which was given by the soft sound of a Horsemans Drum passing through every Company For the old Captain acquainted with many Battels against the Christians doubting of their feigned Flight would not unadvisedly be drawn into Battel but in a place commodious for his Souldiers as one before fully set down after his wonted manner to perform that service not by the hazard of one set Battel but by dallying off the time with often skirmishes when he could take the Enemy at advantage The day appearing Lodronius again awaking heard a certain confused noise of the Turks and withal saw himself forsaken of the greatest part of the Horsemen whereupon he complained in vain that he was betraied yet for all that he was nothing discouraged but cheared up the Footmen exhorting them to remember their former Valor and to resolve with themselves only with Courage to overcome the danger which hard Fortune had at that time brought them into for that valiant men were rather to think of an honourable Death than shameful Flight whereby whether they should escape with Life or not was uncertain As for himself who had been their happy General in many Battels he said he was resolutely set down by repulsing the Enemy to bring them into a place of safety or else valiantly fighting together with them to end his days As Lodronius was yet thus encouraging the Footmen the Horsemen of Carinthia Saxony Austria and Bohemia who mindful of their duty had in vain expected the appointed signal from their General came unto Lodronius as unto the most valiant Captain beseeching him instead of their treacherous General to take upon him the place promising to do whatsoever he commanded and to fight as men against those Infidels for their Religion and King so long as they were able to hold up their Weapons Lodronius would in no case accept of that honour so frankly offered modesty protesting himself unworthy thereof yet as a man of Courage and moved with the hard estate of such an Army he with a solemn protestation promised to execute the place in the best manner he could and so did as long as his Fortune gave him leave It is reported that as Lodronius was encouraging the Footmen and earnestly inveighing against shameful flight an old German Souldier was so bold as bluntly yet sharply to say unto him Worthy Lodronius thou canst never be thought to fly shamefully with a Horse of such a prize under thee Lodronius perceiving the old Souldiers meaning alighted and with his Sword hoxed his Horse saying aloud This day valiant Souldiers shall you have me both your General and Fellow Souldier fighting on foot as one of your selves see now that you deceive not my expectation but let us either with glorious Victory or honourable Death end this War together yet so as that we die not unrevenged All his other Horses he gave away unto such sick and wounded Souldiers as he best knew amongst whom was one Picenard of Cremona a Captain who was then in an extream Fit of an Ague and had hardly escaped the hands of the Enemy The first Troops of Horsemen and Bands of Footmen were scarcely out of the Camp with their Ensigns but the Turks coming with a hideous cry assailed them on every side and many sharp skirmishes were given unto the Horsemen as they marched with such event
to lay first hand upon his Fathers Kingdom The People which as yet had heard nothing of the Kings death received him with doubtful countenance and as many stood marvelling that he was so rashly come into the City without his Fathers commandment Mahometes appointed by Muleasses to govern the City came out and sharply reproved him as guilty of high Treason perswading him to return again into the Camp and seeing him stay by force of multitude thrust him out of the City Amida deceived of his expectation got him out of the way into the pleasant Country of Martia between Utica and the ruins of old Carthage But Mahometes Governor of the City after he had repulsed Amida got him with all speed by Water to Touarres at Guletta to know of him more assuredly if any such evil News were brought from Sicily of the death of the King and to complain of the rashness and intollerable presumption of Amida Where staying somewhat long in discoursing with the Captain and afterwards returning to the City he was suspected to have practised with the Captain to make Mahometes the Pledge in Guletta King in his Fathers stead for so the common voice went. The Moors are by nature a faithless People hasty suspitious desirous of News which true or false they for the time interpret as serveth best their Factions whereunto they are exceedingly given So at the first there rose in the City a doubtful rumor of the making of a new King the suspicion whereof more and more increasing set all the City on an uprore By occasion whereof certain of the Citizens to whom the very name of Muleasses was odious speedily certified Amida then in the Gardens of Martia sighing and grieving at his hard Fortune how all stood and that now was the time to do himself good He revived with that unexpected News and encouraged by the perswasion of Bohamer and Adulzes and other his Followers resolved to take hold upon that good offer of Fortune which would not always frown and to follow his good hap So in haste returning to Tunes and entring in at the Gate which he then found open ran presently to the Governors House and finding him not at home cruelly slew all his Houshold and with his bloody company went presently to the Castle where Fares the Captain seeking to have kept him out and boldly laid hands upon his Horses Bridle to have thrust him back was by a desperate Ethiopian one of Amida his Followers thrust through with a Sword and slain over whose Body yet sprawling Amida forcing his Horse brake into the Castle with his Friends and finding Mahometes Governor of the City presently slew him also And so by this means Amida in the space of an hour a little before a man in despair obtained the City the Castle and the Kingdom together After that he murthred his younger Brethren and embrued with blood without shame polluted his Fathers Concubines Muleasses landed as we have before said at Guletta with such Forces as he had brought with him out of Italy was advised by Touarres the Spaniard not to adventure with such an handful of Men to go to Tunes before he were well assured of the good disposition of the Citizens towards him and was the more earnest with Lofredius not to go because the Viceroy had expresly written That he should in no case go any further than Guletta except the King according to his promise had a good strength of the Numidians to joyn with him But certain of the Noblemen amongst the Moors which under the colour of Friendship were fled out of the City and had after the solemn manner of their Nation put their Swords unto their Throats and sworn to be faithful unto him wonderfully prickt forward both the King and Lofredius too hasty of themselves to their own Destiny bearing them in hand That Amida upon the first sight of his Father would forsake the City and betake himself to flight So without more staying Muleasses with Ensign displaied set forward towards Tunes Lofredius chearfully following him Touarres requesting them in vain to beware of the Moors Treachery Muleasses marching still forward was come so nigh the City that they might from the Walls descry him when suddainly a strong Troop of Moors sallied out of the Gate with a terrible Cry and fiercely assailed him whom the Kings Horsemen valiantly received many falling on both sides Muleasses in this hot skirmish fighting couragiously against his Enemies was wounded in the Face and bled exceedingly which so discouraged them about him that they doubting of his life turned their Backs and fled when presently a wonderful number of Horse and Foot suddainly issuing out of the Olive Gardens had beset Lofredius and his Souldiers round upon whom the Italians discharged certain Field-Pieces but after they had once discharged them they had no leisure to charge them again for the barbarous Enemy came on so thick and so fast that the Italians seeing themselves too weak and compassed in round let fall their Waepons as Men discouraged and cast themselves into the Lake so by swiming and taking hold of the little Boats to save themselves from the Enemies Sword which Boats stood those distressed Men in great stead for being furnished with small Pieces they did beat back the Moors who eagerly pursued them even unto the Lake with their Horses Lofredius as a Man amazed with the suddain coming of the Enemy took the Lake with his Horse and was there unhorsed by the Enemy and slain as were divers with him Some few there were that fought couragiously chusing rather honourably to die in the midst of their Enemies than shamefully to be strangled in the stinking Lake Muleasses soiled with his own Blood and with the Dust flying amongst the rest was known and taken nothing more bewraying than his odoriferous Perfumes In this conflict a thousand three hundred Italians were lost the rest which escaped Touares relieved and shortly after shipped them over into Sicily from whence they travelled home to Naples but so poor as well shewed the misery of their Fortune Amida having thus obtained the Victory was more careful of nothing than to make his Father unfit for Government which he did by the cutting the sight of both his Eyes with a hot Penknife the like Cruelty he used upon Nahazar and Abdallas his Brethren then taken with his Father After that he certified Touarres Captain of Guletta That he had taken a few Youths Prisoners which he would deliver unto him and that he had bereft his Father of his sight who had deserved a worse punishment as he that had long before done the like to his Brethren but had yet left him his life as an example to other Tyrants and to shew that he dealt not altogether unmercifully with so perfideous a Father last of all he confirmed upon certain conditions the same League which his Father had with him which he well saw was to great purpose
yet had nor never shall I will therefore my self provide that thou nor none for thee shall ever hereafter in such sort shamefully triumph over a poor crooked Wretch And having thus much said stab'd himself with his own Dagger into the Body whereof he in short time died Which so soon as it came to the old Tygers Ears it is hard to say how much he grieved His dead Body was by his Fathers commandment carried from Aleppo in Syria to Constantinople and afterwards honourably buried on the other side of the Haven at Pera. For all this bloody Tragedy his covetous mind was not so troubled but that he could forthwith command all Mustapha's Treasures and Riches to be brought to his Tent which his Souldiers in hope to have the same given among them for a Prey willingly hasted to perform In the mean time the Souldiers which were in Mustapha's Camp not knowing what was become of their Master seeing such a multitude of Souldiers thrusting into their Camp without all order to repress their tumultuous insolency stept out in their Armor and notably repulsed them not without much Bloodshed At length the noise of this stir was heard by the rest of the Kings Souldiers who seeing the Tumult to increase more and more ran in to help their Fellows so that in short time there began a hot skirmish and cruel fight on both sides insomuch that two thousand were slain and more wounded neither had the broil so ended had not Achomat Bassa a grave Captain and for his long experience of no small Authority amongst the Souldiers kept back the Janizaries and staid their fury and turning likewise to Mustapha's Souldiers by gentle and mild words and courteous perswasions in this manner appeased their rage What my Brethren said he will you now degenerating from your ancient Loyalty for which you have been for so many Ages commended impugn the command of the great Sultan our dread Sovereign Truly I cannot sufficiently marvel what thing should move you whom I have hitherto proved to have been most worthy and valiant Souldiers in this civil conflict to draw those Weapons against your Fellows and Brethren which you have most fortunately used against the Enemies of the Othoman Kings except you mean thereby to make your selves a joyful spectacle unto your Enemies who grieving to see themselves overcome by your Victorious Weapons may yet rejoice among themselves to see you turn the same one upon another Wherefore my Sons for your ancient honours sake be careful that you do not by this your insolency lose the reputation of your Wisdom Loyalty and Valor for which you have hitherto been above all others commended reserve these your Weapons which you have now too too much used among your Fellows against your Enemies of whom you may get more Praise and Honour This Speech of the old Bassa so mollified the stout Souldiers that they freely permitted all that was in Mustapha's Tents to be carried to Solymanâ— but so soon as the death of Mustapha was blown into the Ears of the Janizaries and the rest of the Army in Solymans Camp another Tumult rose among them worse than the first They were quickly all up in Arms again and with a great noise confused with Tears and Lamentation as they were in rage and fury brake violently into Solymans Pavillion with their drawn Swords which struck the Tyrant into such a fear that destitute of all Counsel in himself he was about with the extream peril of his life to have fled but being holden by his Friends and making a Vertue of Necessity upon the suddain adventured to do that which at better leisure he would scarcely have thought upon for going forth out of his Tent but with a pale and wan Countenance he spake unto the enraged Souldiers thus What Broil is this what Stir what so great Insolency what mean your inflamed fierce and angry Looks know you not your Sovereign and him that hath power to command you Have you so resolved to stain the ancient and invincible honour of your selves and your Ancestors with the Blood of your Lord and Emperor Whilst he was yet thus speaking the Souldiers boldly answered That they denied not but that he was the Man whom they many years before had chosen for their Emperor but in that they had by their own Valour got for him a large and mighty Empire and in like manner preserved it that was therefore of them done that he should for the same govern them vertuously and justly and not to lay his bloody hands without discretion upon every just Man and most wickedly embrue himself with innocent Blood and that they came thither armed they did it as they said moved with just cause to revenge the unworthy death of guiltless Mustapha and that for that matter he had no just cause to be angry with them Wherefore they required that they might publickly clear themselves of the Treason whereof they were accused by Mustapha's Enemies and that the Accuser might be brought forth to justifie his Accusation protesting that they would never lay down their Weapons until the Accuser made his appearance in Jugdment and commenced his Accusation judicially upon pain to endure the like punishment if he failed in proof Whilst these things were in doing the hainousness of the late committed fact caused every Man to shed Tears so that Solyman himself seemed to be sorry for the Murther so lately by himself committed wherefore he promised unto the Souldiers whatsoever they required and did what he could to appease their angry minds For all that they in the mean time lest he should craftily slip away and deceive them of that he had promised and of the expectation of such things as they had required with a marvellous care and diligence all kept Watch and Ward Solyman to appease this fury of the Janizaries deprived Rustan Bassa of all his Honours and took from him his Seal whereof he had the keeping and delivered it to Achomates Bassa But Rustan worthily strucken with fear and horror seeing himself now in no safety in his own Tents fled secretly to Achomates asking his Counsel what were best for him to do and what Course to take in so doubtful and dangerous a case To whom the Bassa answered that it were best for him to use the great Emperors advice and to do what he commanded Which answer well satisfied Rustan and so he which of late gave other Men access unto the Emperor at his pleasure was now glad by his old Acquaintance and Friends to prefer this poor suit To know his pleasure what he would have him to do from whom he received this answer That he should incontinently without further delay get him out of his sight and out of the Camp which the Bassa said he could not conveniently do being by his displeasure and the Souldiers rage disfurnished of all things necessary for his departure Whereunto Solyman sent him answer
then such Captives without delay be suffered safely to return home again Furthermore whatsoever Christians shall have any business to do in our magnificent Court or any part of our Dominions as are Embassadors Officers Servants and such others unto all these we not only grant and permit that they may come and go about their business and so again depart from our Court or Provinces but also have willed and commanded them to be well and courteously entreated by our Subjects and furthered with the interpretation of our Language And if it should fortune any contention or discord to arise betwixt our Subjects on either side about the Bounds and Limits of Lands or other such like causes such controversies we will to be decided and determined by discreet and indifferent Men on both parts and the Authors of such discord and variance to be punished as suspected persons and breakers of the League We also prohibite those Skirmishes or Combats which were wont to be sometimes on both sides made upon the Borders And desire that the form of this League and Peace and every Article thereof may be publickly read and set up in sundry places of your Dominions and commandment given that they may with due obedience and reverence be observed and kept Which we likewise have now before promised faithfully and assuredly to perform and your Embassador whom a few Months agon you sent unto us in your name requested the same of us and hath with earnest Prayers moved us by Imperial Oath and these Letters of Credence to witness that we did ratifie and confirm the same as if we our selves should speak to you in presence Wherefore we have given to him these our Letters of Pacification to you directed that your Generals Souldiers and Subjects may be bound also to observe and keep all these things wherefore so long as nothing contrary to this League shall be done on your part so long in like manner all these Articles of Peace shall be of me accepted and assured For witness and confirmation whereof I swear this Oath By the true and living Creator of Heaven and Earth by the true signs of our great and reverend Prophet by my Imperial Power and by my true Faith that nothing contrary or repugning unto the aforesaid Articles Conditions and Promises of the eight years League agreed upon betwixt us shall be attempted or done by any our Governours Generals or Vayvods c. Commanding moreover all our sworn Governours of our most mighty Empire in Walachia and Moldavia and King Stephen himself and others which have the Government of our Empire confining upon you That they all and every of them as well as our selves shall justly faithfully and religiously accept reverence and keep these conditions of Peace towards your Subjects Cities Castles Towns and other things appertaining to you and in the least thing not to hurt injure or wrong any your Subjects In brief we shall as far as our part concerneth us give unto this most mighty and great new made love and friendship so great honour reverence and authority that that which may even in the least things be had shall not on our part be wanting In token whereof we have suffered certain Christian Captives whom by your Embassador you requested to have set at lâ—berty frankly to return unto you without ransom â—ut of which Captivity they could never have been redeemed if in regard of this our amity and friendship we had not granted them liberty trusting that you will in like sort set at liberty such of ours as you have Captives Given at our Imperial Palace and Seat in the most mighty City of Constantinople the first day of September in the year of our great and reverend Prophet 969. The same Embassador after he had delivered these Letters presented unto the Emperor the Gifts he had brought from his great Master which was two great Cups of natural Crystal curiously wrought and set with Stones of great price a couragious Turky Horse with a Saddle and Trappings wrought with Gold and set with precious Stones and garnished with Chains of pure Gold and four of the fairest Camels that were to be got in all Constantinople In delivering of which Presents the Bassa made his excuse that the Horse and Camels had lost their beauty being with four months Travel from Constantinople grown somewhat lean and weary This Peace thus concluded betwixt the Emperor Ferdinand and Solyman year 1564. held firm until the death of Ferdinand who about two years after in the year 1564 upon St. Iames's day died being sixty years old whereof he reigned as Emperor not full seven years In whose place succeeded Maximilian his Son before chosen King of the Romans But immediately after the death of Ferdinand the Captains on the Frontiers of that part of Hungary which was holden for the Emperor on the one side and the Turks Captains with the Vayvod of Transylvania on the other side weary of their ease began contrary to the form of the League to surprise strong Holds and Towns one in anothers Confines whereof ensued much trouble The Author whereof was Melchior Balas the Emperors Lieutenant in that part of Hungary which bordereth upon Transylvania who first surprised certain Towns upon the Frontiers thereabouts in revenge whereof the Vayvod suddainly set upon Sackmar a Town in the Emperors Territory which he took and therein Balas his Wife and Children In despight whereof Balas ransacked and burnt Debrezin a great Town of the Vayvods But not long after the Vayvod Solymans Vassal aided by him with four thousand Turks and three thousand Moldavians did much harm upon the Frontiers of that part of Hungary which belonged unto the Emperor and first took Hadad and afterwards besieged Ungar In requital whereof Maximilian the Emperor sent Lazarus Suendi a valiant Captain who with an Army of eight thousand besieged the strong Castle of Tokay which he took the fifth of February in the year 1565 year 1565. and after that took the rich Town of Erden In the mean time Solyman who had in himself fully purposed to be revenged of all these injuries as well appeared by that he did the year following to stay the Emperor from proceeding father until such time as he were at better leisure to be revenged for as then he was making great preparation for Malta sent Marcus Lilinesius a Renegate Transylvanian of Cibinum his Embassador to Maximilian to put him in remembrance of the League made with his Father and to wish him to have regard how he further proceeded to the Breach thereof Whereupon the Emperor because he would not seem unwilling to hearken to peace commanded his Lieutenants and Captains no more to invade Transylvania or that part of Hungary which the Turks held Howbeit that whilst this Embassador was thus entreating of Peace at Vienna the Bassa of Temeswaâ— in the Borders of Transylvania made divers incursions into the Borders of Hungary and with six thousand
Majesty of a Kingdom as then when Richard the First King of England passing that way with his Fleet for the relief of the Christians then distressed in the Holy Land about the year 1191 was prohibited there to land and certain of his People by force of Tempest there cast on Shore were by the Cypriots either cruelly slain or taken Prisoners which barbarous violence King Richard took in so evil part that he there by force landed his Army and rested not until he had taken Isaac the King Prisoner and subdued the Island The King he sent in Chains of Silver to Tripolis there to be kept in close Prison the Kingdom he kept a while in his own hand which not long after he gave or as some say exchanged with Guido the titular King of Ierusalem for which cause the Kings of England for a certain time afterwards were honoured with the Title of the Kings of Ierusalem This Kingdom by many descents came at length to Ianus Son of King Peter who in the year 1423 was by Melechel a Sultan of Egypt taken Prisoner but afterwards for the ransom of an hundred and fifteen thousand Sultanins was set at liberty and restored to his Kingdom paying unto the Sultan and his Successors a yearly Tribute of forty thousand Crowns This Ianus left a Son called Iohn who after the death of his Father married the Daughter of the Marquis of Mont-Ferrat after whose death he married one Helena of the most noble House of the Paleologi in Grecia by whom he had one only Daughter called Carlotte but by another Woman a base Son called Iames. This King Iohn was a Man of no Courage altogether given to pleasure and according to the manner of his effeminate education shewed himself in all things more like a Woman than a Man which Helena his Wife a Woman of a great Spirit quickly perceiving took upon her the Soveraignty and whole Government of the Realm gracing and disgracing whom she pleased and promoting to the Ecclesiastical Dignities such as she best liked abolishing the Latin Ceremonies and bringing in them of the Greeks and took such further order as pleased her self in matters of State concerning both Peace and War her Husband in the mean time regarding nothing but his vain pleasure whereby it came to pass that all was brought into the power of the Greeks the Queens Friends Now the Queen her self was much ruled by the Counsel of her Nurse and the Nurse by her Daughter so that the People would commonly say The Daughter ruled the Nurse the Nurse the Queen and the Queen the King. The Nobility ashamed and weary of this manner of Government by general consent of the People sent for Iohn the King of Portugals Cousin-German whom some call the King of Portugal to whom they gave Carlotte the Kings Daughter in marriage with full power to supply that want of Government which was in King Iohn his Father in Law. He taking the Authority into his Hands quickly reformed the disordered Kingdom as well in matters concerning Religion as civil Policy The Latin Ceremonies were again restored and the Government of the Daughter the Nurse and the Queen brought to an end But the mischievous Daughter doubting the Countenance of the young King perswaded her Mother as she â—endred her own Life to poison the King. Which thing the wretched Woman by the consent of the Queen Mother as was reported in short time performed and so brought that noble Prince well worthy longer life unto his untimely end whereby the Government was again restored unto the Greek Queen who in the name of her weak Husband commanded again at her pleasure But above all the Nurse and her Daughter insulted upon the young Queen Carlotte which she not well brooking grievously complained thereof to Iames her baâ—e Brother requiring his help for redress thereof who not long after slew the Nurses Daughter not so much in revenge of the wrong by her done unto his Sister as to prepare a way for himself for the obtaining of the Kingdom grieving inwardly that she or her Husband should be preferred before himself Which thing Helena the Queen quickly perceiving perswaded the King her Husband to cause his base Son to enter into the orders of Priesthood and so to become a Churchman thereby to cut off all his hope of aspiring unto the Kingdom which the King at her instance did and made him Archbishop of Nicosia In the mean time Carlotte by the perswasion of her Mother and the Nobility of the Country married Lewis Son to the Duke of Savoy who being for that purpose sent for came with all speed to Cyprus After that the Queen-Mother and the old Nurse desiring nothing more than to revenge the death of the Nurses Daughter upon Iames now Archbishop devised first how to thrust him out of all his â—piritual Promotions which were great and afterward quite banish him the Kingdom Hereupon the Queen wrote Letters against him to the Pope to have him disgraded for that he being a Man base born with his hands imbrued with innocent Blood was unworthy of holy Orders Which Letters by chance came to Iames his hands who inraged therewith accompanied with a number of his Friends and Favorites suddenly entred the Court slew such of his Enemies as he found there divided their Goods amongst his Followers and as King possessed himself of the Regal City In this Broil the Greek Queen Helena died and shortly after her Husband also All things being thus in an hurly and out of order certain of the Nobility for redress thereof sent for Lewis the Husband of Carlotte as for him to whom that Kingdom in the right of his Wife most justly belonged who upon his arrival was of all sorts of Men joyfully received and welcomed as their King. Iames the Usurper understanding before of the coming of Lewis and perceiving the inclination of the People towards him fled with divers of his Friends to Alexandria to crave aid of the Egyptian Sultan in whose Court he found such Favour as that he was by the Sultans commandment Royally apparelled and honoured with the Title of the King of Cyprus which he promised for ever to hold of the Sultans of Egypt as their Vassal and Tributary At which time the Sultan also by his Embassadors commanded Lewis to depart the Isle who by all means sought to have pacified the Sultan declaring unto him his rightful Title yet offering to pay unto him the wonted Tribute and to allow unto Iames a yearly Pension of ten thousand Ducats during his life But all in vain for Iames still present in the Sultans Court and wisely following his own suit at last concluded with the great Sultan who thought it more honour to make a King than to confirm a King and receiving of him a great Army returned into Cyprus where in short time he so distressed Lewis that he was glad to forsake the Island with his Wife and to return into his Country
their Dominions with new Fortifications and Garrisons as did also the King and the Pope in Italy for why no Ship or Gally could now look out of any Port but it was presently surprised and taken by the Turks which with the sundry calamities before received so confounded the Venetians that they in their Assemblies and Consultations seemed rather to quake for fear than after their wonted manner gravely to consult how the Enemy was to be repulsed Yet for the more safety of their City and for fear lest the Turks Fleet should forcibly break in upon them they strongly fortified the Passages through the Rock or Bank which defended the City from the Sea and kept continually twelve thousand Men in readiness in the City for the more assurance thereof All the Turks Fleet being again met together Partau and Haly departed from Aulona the twenty sixth of August and sailed directly to Corcyra which little Island seemed to be compassed in round with the great Enemies Fleet. Partau Bassa at his first arrival there landed eight hundred Horsemen and a thousand Foot who ranging up and down the Island did great hurt and burnt the very Suburbs of the City At which time the Garrison Souldiers sailing out upon them with a thousand Horsemen and five hundred Foot slew a great number of them and amongst the rest one Paphus Rays a Man of great name Thus the Turks Fleet having done wonderful harm in the Venetian Territory as well in the Islands as upon the Frontiers of Dalmatia enriched with the spoil of those Countries and carrying away with them fifteen thousand most miserable Captives departing from Corcyra arrived all in the Bay of Corinth now called the Gulf of Lepanto where we will for a while leave them to ride in safety At such time as this great Fleet the terror of that part of Christendom first put into the Adriatick Venerius the Venetian Admiral then lying with fifty Gallies at Corcyra and fearing if he staied there longer to be enforced with so small a power to fight against so strong an Enemy or else so to be shut up that he could not joyn his Forces with the Spanish Fleet which was daily expected upon the coming of the Fleet departed thence to Messina there more commodiously and more safely to attend the coming of Don Iohn of Austria General of the Spanish Forces At his coming Columnius met him with twelve Gallies which the Great Duke of Florence had sent in the aid of the Confederates and three Gallies of Malta who only were yet come thither and with great honour received him Not long after M. Antonius Quirinus and Antonius Canalis came thither also with sixty and two Gallies before appointed by the Venetians for the relief of Famagusta but now called back again to joyn with the rest of the Fleet and in short time the Gallies of Sicily arrived there also At last after long expectation in the later end of August came Don Iohn with the Spanish Fleet a Man then about four and twenty years old in whom wanted no honourable parts his Mothers blemish only excepted who although he was most dear unto his Father Charles the Fifth yet left he him nothing by his Will but only at his death commended him unto his Son Philip as his Brother The Venetian and the Popes Admirals hearing of his coming went to meet him and that with such triumph and joy that all the former heaviness before conceived of his long staying was turned into gladness with most assured hope of triumphant Victory Their doubled Forces and two great Fleets joyned in one encouraged them above measure filling all the West with the expectation of some great matter The Venetian Fleet consisted of an hundred and eight Gallies six Galleasses two tall Ships and a great number of small Galliots Unto them were joyned twelve Gallies of the Popes of whom Columnius was Admiral And with Don Iohn the General and Auria the Spanish Admiral came fourscore and one Gallies of whom three were from the Knights of Malta In this Fleet beside Mariners were reckoned to be twenty thousand fighting Men an Army not only beautiful for shew as consisting of most choice Bodies but indeed most strong and puissant old beaten Souldiâ—rs almost throughout it in every place intermixed with others of less skill many known to be Men of great experience rich and lusty Bodies were by name called forth to this so honourable service and divers other of great Nobility as well old Men as young and lusty Gallants for the natural hatred they bear unto the common Enemy came and as voluntary Men chearfully thrust themselves into that religious War every of which Noblemen as they were greater by birth or power so had they drawn after them a greater number of their Favourits and Followers strong and able Bodies of their own charge bravely armed who sought for no other pay for their pains and danger but by some notable Victory to eternise their names or honourably to spend their lives in so just a quarrel as for the defence of the Christian Faith and Religion Amongst these most honourable and resolute Men were three of greatest mark Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma in time to be the honour and glory of Italy his native Country whose untimely death in the Low Countries even his honourable Enemies lamented and being dead is not without cause and worthy desert accounted amongst the most politick and famous Leaders of our age The second was Franciscus Maria Prince of Urbin a young Man honourably descended and of an invincible courage And the third Paul Iordanus Ursinus an honourable Gentleman of the Family of the Ursini in Rome All the power of the confederate Princes thus met together at Messina and all things now in readiness a Counsel was called by the General to resolve what course to take in those most dangerous Wars against so puissant an Enemy unto which Counsel were admitted only Don Iohn the General himself and Aloysius Rechezenes of some called Requisenius great Commander of Castile the General Lieutenant or rather director of his actions Sebastianus Venerius the Venetian Admiral and Augustinus Barbadicus General proveditor of equal authority and reputation with the Admiral and one Secretary Marcus Antonius Columnius the Popes Admiral with Pompeius Colonna his Kinsman The chief point whereon these great Commanders were to resolve was Whether they should adventure the general fortune of a Battel against so strong an Enemy or only seek to defend the Frontiers of their own Dominions Which question as all other of like sort was of divers diversly phantasied every Man pleasing himself with his own reasons Requisenius Don Iohn his chief Counsellor without whom he willingly did nothing and undoubtedly a Man of great valour and experience speaking first said That the Enemies strength was necessarily to be known before they committed all to the fortune of a Battel and that therefore delay was to be used lest
tragical a sight it is reported that Amurath let some tears fall as not delighting in such barbarous cruelty but that the state and manner of his Government so required In the beginning of his Reign he established divers wholsome Laws altered the Coin and bountifully relieved the Poor And albeit that he was of a mild and peaceable nature yet because he would not seem to degenerate from the Othoman Princes his Progenitors he prosecuted his Fathers Wars year 1575 and by the Tartars called Praecopenses in the month of October in the year 1575 entred into Russia part of the Polonian Kingdom where he burnt and destroyed two hundred Noble-mens houses besides an infinite number of Towns and Villages made great slaughter of the poor Country people and carried away great numbers of Cattel and Prisoners bound in thongs made of raw Hides But whilst they were dividing the spoil with Peter the new Vayvod of Valachia who had before solemnly promised to give the Tartars no passage that way the Polonian Cossacks who had lien waiting for their return upon the River Boristhenes brake into the Tartars Country and there requited them with like harm and brought back with them a number of old Captives who little expected that their so sudden deliverance The Polonians at this time were at variance among themselves about the Election of their new King Henry Valoys their late King being the last year after the death of Charles his Brother the French King secretly stoll'n from them into France to take upon him that Kingdom after whose departure some of the Polonian Nobility made choice of Maximilian the Emperour other some no less inclining unto the choice of the great Duke of Muscovy and some unto others also Whereof Amurath understanding and loth that either of those two great Princes his Enemies should be invested or strengthened with that so great a Kingdom and so near unto him to hinder that their Election and to bring in another of less power and so less dangerous unto himself even in the beginning of his Reign wrote unto the Polonians to that purpose commending unto them Stephen Battor the Vayvod of Transilvania for their King in manner following Amurath God of the Earth Governour of the whole World the Messenger of God and faithful Servant of the great Prophet unto the most honourable Nobility and Counsellors of the Kingdom of Polonia greeting IT is not unto the World unknown most honourable and mighty Senators our Noble Progenitors to have of long time and for many Years holden good Friendship and Religious Leagues with the Kingdom of Polonia For which cause it hath seemed good and reasonable unto us to put you in remembrance of this so antient a League and Bond of Friendship for that we understanding your Kingdom to be of late become destitute of a King by the departure of the Noble King Henry your Crowned King descended of the Royal Race of the French Kings our friend Who for the small regard you had of him so Great and Worthy a Prince and for your Disloyalty is departed out of your Kingdom without purpose of returning any more into Polonia Whereupon as it is reported unto us but how truly we know not you passing over your said Crowned King Henry are about to maâ—e choice of a new King and especially of Maximilian the Emperour or of the Duke of Muscovie both men of running wits and of us greatly hated For why you may well know they will be troublesome and grievous not unto every one of you only but even unto us also Wherefore be you ware that you be not deceived and take heeâ— lest your Confederations and Lâ—agues cannot long by their valour and prowess â—e established and withal consider well the great dangers and losses which you may thereby fall into Whereof we have thought good to give you a taste Wherefore beware that heavier things befall not your State. We know there are right Noble and Wise men amongst you which know better than they how to Rule and Govern And if so be it please you not to make choice of any of your own Nation there is not far from you one Stephen Bâ—ttor Prince of Transylvania a Man of great Honour and Valour by whose Labour and Dexterity you may easily procure the peace and quiet of your Kingdom Whereas if you shall do otherwise we take to witness your God and his Servant our Great Prophet to destroy all your Wealth and Goods which together with your Selves your Wives and Children shall be given for a prey unto our Souldiers with the chief men of your Cities of Cracovia and Leperis Which for all that we say not as any thing at all doubting of your Fidelity and Constancy toward us As for the rest which it pleased us by word of Mouth to have told unto you we have given charge unto this our Embassadour and Counsellour unto whom our desire is that you should give full credence From Constantinople the last of September in the Year of our Prophet Mahomet 983 and first of our Reign This great Sultan's commendations so much prevailed with the Polonians that notwithstanding that Maximilian the Emperour was by the Archbishop of Gnesna and some others choosen King yet was that his Election by the greater part of the Nobility revoked and both he and the great Duke of Muscovy being passed over the Noble Princess Anne of the most honourable Iagellonian House chosen Queen of Polonia yet with this condition That she should marry Stephen the Vayvod of Transylvania to them by Amurath commended Who afterward elected King all the time of his Life right worthily governed that noble Kingdom not only defending the same in such state as he found it but also notably extending the bounds thereof enlarging it with such Territories as he by force of Arms got from his Neighbours especially the Muscovite Of this Election Amurath would oftentimes afterwards boast and say That he had given the Polonians their King. But of him and of the League made by him with Amurath more shall be said hereafter The year following great troubles arose in Persia year 1576 whereby the flourishing state of that most mighty Kingdom was sore shaken and opportunity given for the Turkish Emperour to invade the same which he laying hold upon entred into that bloudy War which to the great quiet of the Christian Common-weal for long time after exercised the Forces of those most puissant Princes one upon another For the better understanding whereof it shall not be amiss compendiously to set down the same troubles of the Persian Kingdom the very ground of the long and mortal War between those two most mighty Monarchs Old Tamas the Persian King Son to the noble Hismael who with great glory had more than fifty years worthily governed that large Kingdom and mightily withstood the often invasions of the Turkish Emperours now spent with years died the eleventh of May in the year 1576. leaving behind him
accept the same And so prostrate at your Holiness's Feet I most humbly commend me to your Clemency From Zamoschie the tenth of Ianuary 1596. Thus much the great Chancellor in defence of himself and of that he had done in Moldavia which howsoever it contented the Pope well I wot it nothing pleased the Emperour and much less the Transilvanian Prince now not a little weakened by the taking away of the Country of Moldavia from him To end this troublesome year withal many sharp and bloody Skirmishes daily passed in divers Places of those frontier Countries the Turks almost in every Place still going to the worse In the beginning of November Leucowitz Governour of Carolstat the second time surprised Wihitz in the Frontiers of Croatia where these Wars first begun but being not able to take the Castle contented himself as before with the spoil of the City and afterward setting it on fire departed Maximilian also attempted Zolnoc and the Christians in Garrison at Strigonium and Plindenburg now become near Neighbours unto the Turks at Buda did with continual Inrodes not a little molest them both all the latter end of this year and the beginning of the next And the Turks in Braila in Valachia upon the side of Danubius fearing after the flight of Sinan to be besieged by the Vayvod forsook the City and in such haste passed the River that in that tumultuous passage three hundred of them perished Sinan Bassa by the Transilvanian Prince of late driven out of Valachia was not long after sent for to Constantinople but the crafty old Fox not ignorant of the fierce Nature of the great Sultan and warned by the late misery of Ferat found occasions to delay the time so long until that he was sent for again and after that the third time also In the mean while he had so wrought by his mighty Friends in Court and by rich Rewards mightier than they that at his coming to the Court he was there honourably received as the chiefest of the Bassaes and being afterwards offered to be discharged of the Wars as men of above fourscore years old he refused so to be saying That he was born and brought up amongst Souldiers and martial men and so wished among them to dye as not long after he did dying as was thought of conceit of the evil Success he had in his Wars against the Transilvanian Mahomet the Turkish Emperour exceedingly grieved with the loss of so many his Cities and strong Places this year lost as namely Strigonium Vicegrade Siseg Petrinia Lippa Ienna Tergovista Bucharesta Zorza and many others of less Name and both by Letters and Messengers understanding daily of the slaughter of his People and wasting of his Frontiers commanded great Preparation to be made against the next Spring giving it out that he would then in Person himself come down into Hungary with such a Power as never had any his Predecessors the Othoman Kings and Emperors and there take most sharp revenge of all his former Wrongs Nevertheless these his so hasty designs were by the Plague and Famine which then both raged extreamly in most part of his Empire and by other great occurrents of the same time so crossed that by that time the Spring came he scarcely well knew which way to turn himself first For beside these Troubles of the West of themselves enough to have filled his hands the Georgians in the East a warlike People moved with the good Success of the Christians in Valachia and Hungary had taken up Arms against him and the old Persian King but a little before dead had left that great Kingdom to his Son a man of greater Spirit than was like to endure the manifold Injuries before done unto his Father by the Turks to the great dishonour of that Kingdom and prejudice of himself Of which things the Bassa of Tauris gave him ample Intelligence wishing him betimes to provide for such Storms which joyned to the rest filled his Head with many troubled Thoughts whereunto we leave him until the next Spring The Transilvanian Prince careful of his Estate and not a little troubled with the dissevering of Moldavia thought it not unfit for his Affairs now after the flight of Sinan and discomfiture of the Turks to go in Person himself unto the Emperour and to declare unto him the wrong done him by the Polonian and further to confer with him concerning the managing of the Wars against the common Enemy So having put all things in readiness for his Journey he set forward in Ianuary 1596 and by the way of Cassovia year 1596 the fourth of February arrived at Prague in Bohemia where he was by the Emperours appointment most honourably entertained But immediately after his coming thither he fell sick of an Ague which grievously vexed him by the space of three Weeks In the latter end of February having somewhat recovered his Health he went to the Church where after his Devotions done he was by the Dean of the Cathedral Church welcomed with a most eloquent Oration setting forth his worthy Praises and further animating him unto the like Exploits against the common Enemy of all Christianity Whereunto he forthwith answered in Latine so eloquently and so readily that all men marvelled that heard him protesting in his speech That as he and his Subjects had not hitherto spared their Lives or Goods in defence of the common Cause so would they not afterwards spare the same but adventure all for the benefit of the Christian Common-weal well hoping that the Emperour and the other Christian Princes would not as occasion should require be wanting unto him with their Forces or the Clergy with their Prayers which done he doubted not as he said by the Power of God but to obtain more notable Victories than he had yet against the Turks the Enemies of God. Whilst he yet thus lay at the Emperours Court it fortuned that the People called Siculi offended to have their Liberties in some part infringed in the late Assembly of the States holden in Transilvania in December last rise up now in Arms in divers Places refusing to yield their former Obedience to the Prince A matter like enough to have wrought him much trouble and supposed not to have been done without the privity of the Cardinal his Uncle but by the Wisdom and Courage of such as he had in his absence put in trust with the Government of his Country divers of the Ringleaders of this Rebellion were apprehended and in divers sorts executed and three hundred of their Complices to the Terror of their Fellows had their Noses and Ears cut off By which wholesome Severity all those Troubles were appeased and the Country again quieted At the same time also the Transilvanians obtained of the Turks a notable Victory with an exceeding rich booty Mahomet the Turkish Sultan had about this time sent a new Bassa for the Government of Temeswar against whose coming the old Bassa before
believe that the great Sultan himself was desirous of Peace and that his Captains well affected thereunto were willing to further the same Which done the Bassa presented unto Collonel Althem two Cases full of Turks Arms of all manner of Fashions very rich and cunningly wrought both carried by a Mule with Furniture for an Horse embroidered with Gold and Pearl very sumptuous and rich as a Present from the great Sultan his Lord and Master to the Emperour And for the Archduke Matthias he presented unto the Collonel a Robe of purple Velvet with Sleeves cunningly embroidered with Gold and Pearl embossed with fine and curious Figures cunningly wrought with the Needle for the rareness thereof as admirable to behold as for the richness thereof to have been desired which was by every man wondered at when as shortly after it was by Althem presented unto the Arch-duke together with other Presents from the Turks Besides that the same Bassa in token of Friendship presented unto Althem himself another very fair and rich Robe all the rest of the Commissioners receiving also from the Bassa other Robes of less Value but yet all very rich and sumptuous This business for this time thus ended and the Truce for twelve days concluded the Christian Commissioners loaded with Presents took their leave of the Turks with the shews of their good Wills and so returned back again to Pesth Howbeit these the Enemies fair Presents still favoured but of Enmity being indeed but like to the Presents of Hector and Ajax tending rather to War than to Peace Now the Death of the most valiant and renowned Lord Nadasti which at this time happened was another evil Presage of the bad Success of this Treaty of Peace now at hand who having of long been a bar unto the Turks Rage in that part of Hungary where he dwelt they now after his Death with the violence of their Forces as with an heady stream bare down before them all our good Fortune in that Province This worthy man of great Fame and Desert had spent both his Years and Fortune in the most honourable Wars against the Turks wherein he was so skilful and expert that he was of them feared as another Huniades and of the Christians honoured as another Matthias He had a thousand times most valiantly fought against these Miscreants and as many times foiled them to the great benefit of the Christian Commonweal the advancement of the Emperour's Service and the relief of his distressed Country These his heroical deeds of Arms were engraven upon the Gates of the Towns and Cities of Hungary and within the Rocks of Transilvania having both in the one Country and the other right happily defeated these Infidels He had the Honour to have received the first Incursions and Attempts of the Turks at such time as Amurath the Third having perfidiously broken the League made with Maximilian the Emperour with his Forces invaded Hungary and was the first of all the Christian Chieâ—tains that made head against them and being by their sudden coming in by them almost surprised performed yet great and worthy Exploits and Service against these faithless men It should seem that good Fortune favoured the Country of Hungary but only in respect of him for he being dead it died also burying it self as it were in his Grave and him in Glory not suffering him to grow old and so to languish in the Ruines of his native Country He died of a natural Death about fifty and four Years old most part whereof he lived in Arms still charged with the burthen of his Armour and even at the yielding up of the Ghost yet breathing Wars against these the Enemies of the Christian Faith. His Death was much lamented of many faithful Christians but especially of his own Tenants and Subjects whom he had always kept and preserved in Safety and still maintained them in all Peace and Tranquility during all these former Wars the Turks not daring once to assail them nor to enter into their Territory being staid from so doing by the Bulwark of his Valour right dreadful to their Attempts Never Turk was buried in his Territory no more than were the Barbarians upon the Banks of the River Eurotas his Wisdom had so wisely provided for the Preservation of his People and his Valour so worthily assured them of their Health and Safety He was for his Country another Epaminondas who made his Town not only free from the Arms and Invasions of their Enemies but also dreadful to their Forces so long as he lived The Turks on the contrary part no less rejoyced for his Death but accounting his Country now rich and plentiful for that it had never been by them spoiled for their most assured Prey came now thither on all sides to have taken the Spoil thereof and therewith to have enriched themselves But as they were about so to have done the valiant Collonitz honouring the Remembrance of the Lord Nadasti his late Fellow and Companion in Arms and holding that for his own which he had left opposed himself with his Forces against these ravening Wolves so that they were no sooner entered into this his Territory but that contrary to their Expectation they were encountered by this new Nadasti and by him so overthrown and cut in pieces that for a good while after they durst no more attempt the like This so great a loss of so worthy a man was a little â—ased by the Victory about the same time gained by the Vayvod of Valachia against the Tuâ—ks spoiling of his Country This valiant Champion not able longer to endure the proud Insolency and Tyranny of those barbarous People gathered together his Troops of Horse-men with such other small Forces as he had whereof the Turks having made small reckoning and therefore without order pillaging and ransacking his Country were when they least feared by him upon the sudden surprised and overthrown many of them being cut in pieces a number more taken Prisoners with all the Spoils they had got and the rest with such fear chased out of his Country as that being glad to have escaped they took no pleasure for a great while after to look into that his Province again But to return again to the Commissioners for the Peace to be made betwixt the Great Sultan and the Emperour The Bassa of Buda to the end that the Captains and Governours of the Turks and Castles belonging to the Turks being ignorant of the Truce should not continue their war-like Actions to the prejudice of his Faith given immediately after the departure of the Christian Commissioners from Buda dispatched divers Courriers towards them to give them knowledge thereof and especially the Governour of Agria commanding them from thenceforth to abstain from their ordinary Incursions into their Enemies Territories and from all other Actions of Hostility and so to keep themselves quiet until they were from him otherwise commanded This little time of respite and
all the Dogs and Cats Mice and Rats that they could get fell to eating of dead Horses and the loathsome Carrion of other hunger-starved Beasts It is reported also That one man should eat another and that at Hermanstat a Woman having six Children did among them eat one another until they were at length all six devoured and to the contrary that two men did eat their own Mother yea Thieves and other Malefactors hanged for their Villanies were by the poor and miserable hungry People cut down from the Gallows and devoured the People generally living upon nothing but upon the Roots of Weeds green Herbs and the leaves of Trees For remedy of which so extream Miseries it was on all Parts agreed That a General Assembly of the States of the whole Province should be holden at Dewa wherein it was accorded That all Hostility set apart the Gentlemen of Transilvania having by their Rebellion forfeited both their Lives and Lands should be pardoned their Lives with three fourth Parts of their Lands reserved unto them and that for ready Money they might of the Emperour redeem the fourth part also But concerning the Moveables of such as were dead in the time of these Troubles and already confiscate unto the Emperour they should so remain and that they should pay their Dismes or tenth part of their Wine and Fruits unto the Emperour And farther That there should be no farther exercise of Religion permitted unto them but only the Romish Religion and that thâ— Towns of Cronstadt and Clausenburg should within the space of three Weeks pay the one twenty thousand Dollars and the other eight thousand and the Magistrates of those Towns should deliver the Keys of their Towns with all their Power into the hands of the Emperour's Lieutenant and that the Gentlemen of these Towns which would not be accounted in the number of the Rebels should for the safety of their Persons take Letters of Pardon for their Rebellion of the General of the Army This Pacification gave some little time of breathing unto this poor distressed Country which bared of all strength and as it were upon the Graves brink had now but even the last Gasp to give and the Country People began again to give themselves unto their wonted Labours in hope at length to reap the profit thereof themselves but alas all in vain for why the ravening Souldiers inured to Prey after their wonted manner made havock and spoil of all things leaving nothing unto the poor Country-man but his labour for his Pain and time enough to bewail his manifold and remediless Miseries the Causes whereof were the Nobility and Gentlemen themselves who not liking to be governed or rather as they took it oppressed by the Germans and having not upon any desire that they had of Peace but rather by necessity inforced yielded unto the Pacification aforesaid ceased not still under-hand to incite the Souldiers ready enough of themselves to do mischief and in what they might to trouble the Government of the State by the Germans being unto them as they accounted of them but Strangers All which their doings Basta the Emperour's Lieutenant well perceiving caused three of the greatest of the Gentlemen of the Country and whom he most suspected to be the Authors of these Troubles to be apprehended and fast mured up betwixt two strong Walls in an old ruinous Monastery whither their Friends afterwards coming to have visited them and finding them starved to death were therewith much abashed as were also other their Complices assoon as they heard thereof But leaving them to work themselves farther Troubles let us again return unto the Turks Affairs Now was all the hope of Peace betwixt the Christians and the Turks become desperate the Turks making thereof no more account seeing that according to their Desire they had provided Alba-Regalis Agria and Buda of their necessary Provisions They had in four Waggons put into Agria the Pay due unto their Garrisons so that their Affairs being now in good estate and their Courages revived they began to scoff and jest at our Credulity to believe that they had had any purpose to conclude upon any thing that was not agreeing with their Profit how far soever it were differing from their Honour or from their Faith so that now these faithless men began again to renew their wonted Incursions and Pillages upon the Christians with all other manner of Hostility and that in more cruel manner than ever before and our Hussars on the other side well requited them with the like being as well contented as they with these manner of doings their whole Fortune depending upon the points of their Weapons and ever ready to the Service of their Prince for their Pay Now it fortuned that fourscore of the Turks going forth to seek for Booty chanced to meet with certain of these Hussars who finding themselves too weak to encounter with our men and betaking themselves to flight were certain of them taken Prisoners and so brought unto the General unto whom they upon Examination confessed That the Turks much marvelled at the Simplicity and Foolishness of the Christians to believe that they were desirous of Peace and not to have discovered their so manifest Intentions to the contrary tending only to the pleasuring of themselves and the annoying of them their Enemies to the strengthning of themselves and destruction of the Christians as by Proof it appeared so soon as their Desires were accomplished unto the prejudice of their Enemies and that their young Emperour was always against this Treaty of Peace whatsoever shew he had made to the contrary constrained thereunto by the Victories and Conquests of the Persian King all his Wishes and Desires aiming at no other mark than at the general Ruine of Christendom Our Garrisons also seeing themselves charged by the Turks took up Arms likewise and requited them with like Outrages as they did They of Pappa and Vesprinium were the first which began these Broils after the Treaty of the Peace who having joyned their Forces together and making head toward Alba-Regalis met with a number of Turks driving of Sheep and Cattel thither whom they surprised and together with their Cattel carried them away with them Prisoners Which good hap was seconded with the Liberty of twenty Christian Prisoners from Buda who one night seeing their Keepers oppressed with Sleep and with Wine cut their Throats and so happily escaped over the River to Pesth Now while these Troubles betwixt the Christians and the Turks after the Treaty of Peace broken off thus began again in Hungary the Turks beside the Rebellion in Asia were together by the Ears in the Province of Bosna Zellaly having by force joyned with Policy driven Zeffer Bassa as is aforesaid out of Bosna and possessed himself of that Province thought himself now sure enough within the strength of his Government although he being by the great Sultan sent for to Constantinople had
out in Barbary betwixt Muley Xequy King of Fez and Muley Sidan his younger Brother both Mahometans in which War the younger forced the elder to flie his Country and to come and crave Aid from Philip King of Spain But the unfortunate loss of Don Sebastian King of Portugal was a good President for the Spaniard not to trust in barbarous Kings without good assurance He treated with the Barbarian and promised him Succours with an hundred thousand Duckats to return to Alarache a place which held for him where by Money or other Practises he should draw unto him as many Souldiers as he could and that for the safety of the Succours that he should give him he should put Alarache or Arrache into his Hands This Arrache is a strong Town in the Realm of Fez in the Province of Algar seated upon the Ocean at the Mouth of the River of Lucus whereon part of it is built and the other part upon the Ocean It hath a goodly Port and hard to take for that it is defended by a Fort in the which the Kings of Fez do usually entertain a Garison of three hundred light Horse and three hundred Harquebusiers for that the Portugals and Castilians hold in a manner all the Sea Towns of the Provinces of Habat and Erif where they have great Garisons This Province is from the River of Nocor along the Mediterranean Sea unto the straight of Gibralter the other is upon the Ocean from the said straight unto the River Lucus in the which the King of Spain holdeth at this day the strong Towns of Tanger Arzilla and others According to the former accord the Barbarian returned to Arrache with his Money in one of the King of Spain's Ships to whom in a short time repaired many of his Friends and Servants The Spaniard in the mean time having prepared a Fleet of a great number of Gallies and Ships and embarqued ten thousand Souldiers therein he gave the command thereof unto the Maâ—quess of Saint Germaine who arrived on the twentieth of November in the Evening at the Port of Arrache and there rode at Anchor all the Night The next day in the Morning the Marquess calling all the Captains to a Council imparting unto them his Design for to force Arrache in case that the Moorish King did not keep his Promise they gave him assurance that they would carry themselves like unto brave and valiant Souldiers But see what happened The King of Fez having no means to go from his word seeing the Spaniard so strong as he might well force it many of his Followers and People fearing to fall under the Power of Spain they would have abandoned him but having the Governour of the Castle at his Devotion he thrust out the Garison and delivered the Keys himself unto the Marquess of Saint Germain Upon the first bruit that the Spaniards were entred into the Castle all the Inhabitants ran to Arms and thinking to resist them after that many of them had ended their days valiantly during three hours Combat they were forced to yield unto the Marquess who presently planted the Cross and Arms of Castile upon all the Towers and Steeples Thus this strong Town which the Castilians and Portugals had so long desired and whereby the Inhabitants received a great ruine is in the end fallen under the Domination of their King. The News of this Exploit being brought into Spain pleased the King much and the People made bone-fires for joy these are the Alterations of times The Moors in old time were wont to over-run Spain and now the Spaniards take their Pleasures in Mauritania About the end of this year News came to Constantinople of the great Wars which had been between the Uncle and the Nephew by the death of the Great Cham of the Tartars the Son who during his Fathers Life time had continued at Constantinople as an Hostage and was now sent back into his Country by the Sultan Achmat thinking to enjoy his Fathers Estate his Uncle Brother to the deceased Cham practised to seize upon the Crown but either of them having drawn an Army of 60000 Men together in the end they joyned battel whereas after the slaughter of 40000 Men upon the place the Son had the Victory and by that means obtained the Crown of Tartaria I will conclude this year 1610 with the Relation of a particular Business to shew the greedy desire of the Turks to get by any unjust means whatsoever and their Infidelity and Falshood to say and swear any thing for Bribes Some years before one Master Willoughby an English Gentleman having rigged up a Ship for war into the Levant he came into Algier in Barbary to sell his prize where at that time one Solyman Catania was Bassa This Ship was suddenly seised on and rifled by the command of this Bassa upon no other Subject but that the Bassa pretended this Ship had burnt a Caramousal of his which in truth the Bassa himself had caused to be set on Fire that under colour thereof he might seise upon the Ship and Goods Master Willoughby went to Constantinople and there made his complaint to Sir Henry Lilloe then Ambassador for the English but yet could get no satisfaction whereupon he returned into England and obtained Letters from his Majesty to the Grand Seignior and to Sir Thomas Glover then Ambassador residing at Constantinople which having received he went presently to the Chimacham who was Lieutenant to Murath Bassa the Grand Visier he being then imployed in the Wars against the Persian The Chimacham having read these Letters would not suffer them to be delivered to the Grand Seignior promising to do Justice upon Solyman Catania whom he discharged from his Place and sent for him to Constantinople who being come and called in question he denied the Fact Master Willoughby having no certain proof of his loss suborned one Ofish Bassa a Turk who had been at Mecha and was therefore held a very holy man who set a Brother of his to procure false Witnesses upon promise to have the tenth part of what should be recovered The Witnesses being ready to swear to his Assertion Solyman Catania hearing their Oath compounded with Master Willoughby and gave him four or five thousand Dollars so the business ended Which shews the Corruption of the Turks and that the holiest of them for Money will not stick to bear false Witness and take false Oaths This year 1610 the City of Constantinople was wonderfully afflicted with the Plague the which dispersed it self over all and crept into the Grand Seignior's Seraglio wherein one of his Sons died of that Infection whereupon the Grand Seignior was forced to retire for his safety and to paâ—s the remainder of the Summer in his Palace or Seraglio of Darut Bassa about a League and a half distant from the City this violent Contagion did so rage in Constantinople for the space of five Months as there were numbred two
reason of the Riches of the People and the Fertility of the Soil to which pretences could never be wanting on the score of those Differences which always arise amongst the People of the Frontiers During these Debates and Counsels Preparations were made for War both by Sea and Land as yet uncertain where they should be imployed To command them the Great Vizier was ordered to hasten his Journey from Persia whose Arrival was celebrated at Constantinople with a solemn Entry and for a particular and distinguishing Honour the Grand Signior sent him a Vest from his own Back to wear on the day of his Triumph This Vizier was a Person very austere in his Behaviour bold and valiant as he evidenced by his Actions in taking Bagdat zealous for his Master's Interest and what is rare in a Turk not much addicted to his own He had acquired a great share in the Esteem of his Master and his Authority increased as the daily Decay of the Grand Signior's Health rendred him less able for Government For now the strong Complexion of Morat began to grow feeble by excesses of frequent Debauchery his Stomach was become cold and weak not able to digest the lightest Meats his hand shook and a paralytical Distemper seized him in every part so that his Mother and the Physicians perswaded him to forsake the use of Wine as Poyson and Destruction to his Health and he whilst he was sensible of his languishing Condition like a true Penitent made many Protestations and Vows against it forbidding the accursed Poyson to be received within the Walls of the Seraglio Howsoever his kind Heart could not possibly withstand the Temptation of a Banquet to which his Pot-companions did sometimes invite him amongst which the Great Vizier would not be wanting also to please and cajole the Humour of his Master with the Liquor that he loved But his chief and constant Camerades in drinking were his Persian Favourite and Mustapha Pasha of Bosna one educated in the Seraglio promoted to the place of Selictar Aga to whom he gave the stately Palace of Ibrahim Pasha on the Hippodrome together with his eldest Daughter in Marriage These two stout Sons of Bacchus perswaded the Grand Signior to appoint one solemn Drinking-day in time of the Biram which is the great Festival of the Year and introduced by their Prophet in imitation of our Easter Morat being at this time possessed with the Spirit of Debauchery accepted the Motion and invited the two Drunkards to dinner with him The Persian provoked his Pleasure of drinking by salt Meats and by peppered and spiced Dishes the sort of Wine they most used was a sweet Malvoisia sometimes twisted and encouraged with the strong Waters called Rosa Solis of which they sucked so long and with such Excess that falling under the force of it they were insensibly carried away to their several Beds This dissolute Repast became fatal to the Grand Signior for a Fire being kindled in his Veins and Bowels he fell into a violent and continued Feaver The Physicians being called were fearful to administer Remedies lest proving unsuccessful their Lives should pay for the ineffectual Operation At length they agreed to let him blood but this hastened his Death For he died the fourth Day of his Feaver being the 8 th of February in the seventeenth Year of his Reign and the one and thirtieth of his Age having ruled in the height of all Disorders and irregular Excesses which his youthful Years enabled him to support With his Death all his thoughts and Designs of making a War against Christendom perished having sworn after his Return from Persia to reduce all his neighbouring Countries to the Mahometan Law. He was of a most cruel and implacable Disposition having amongst his other Acts of Tyranny imbrued his Hands in the Blood of his two Brothers Orchan and Bajazet as also strangled his Uncle Mustapha whose innocent Weakness had been sufficient to secure his Life against any but the most horrid Monster of human Tyranny He left no Son for though he had divers they died in their Infancy notwithstanding which his Kindred were so detested by him that he envied the Descendence of Monarchy on his Brother Ibrahim who was preserved by a strange Providence from his Fury often saying that he wished that he might be the last of the Ottoman Line that the Empire of that Family might end with him and devolve unto the Tartar. He was certainly the most absolute Prince that ever swayed the Ottoman Empire but of no Religion seldom fasting in the Month of Ramasan contemning and laughing at the Santones and others of their Religious Orders He was very inquisitive into all Actions of the City for which he maintained his Spies and oftentimes took his Rules and Measures from Discourses of People concerning his Government He was a great Dissembler ready active and revengeful covetous to Extremity having left fifteen Millions of Gold iâ— his Treasury which was empty when he entred upon the Soveraignty In short he was so bad that he had scarce any Allay of Vertue being so great a Tyrant that at length he became his own Assassinate and fell unlamented by all but the two Companions of his beâ—tial Excess The End of Sultan Morat's Life I that of Ott'man blood remain alone Call'd from a Prison to ascend a Throne My easy mind I bend to soft Delights Hateing th'unpleasent thoughts ofNavalFights Till mad with manton Loves I fall at first Slave to my orone then to my peoples lust THE REIGN OF Sultan IBRAHIM TWELFTH EMPEROR OF THE TURKS SVltan Amurath or Morat after a Fever of eight Days continuance caused by an excess of Debauchery in Wine having on the eighth of February 1640 according to the New-Stile expired his last Breath His Mother called Kiosem comforted her self with the thoughts that her Son Sultan Ibrahim still lived and was the sole Surviver and undoubted Heir of the Ottoman Family To whose Succession that she might make the more facile and undisturbed Entrance she consulted with all the Viziers requesting their Consent and Assistance in the lawful promotion of her remaining Son to the Throne of his Ancestors For she had understood that Morat who always abhorred the ill-shap'd Body and weaker Mind of his Brother envied him the Dignity of the Ottoman Scepter and therefore had bequeathed the Succession to the Tartar having in the Heat of a Debauch and Fumes of Wine compelled his Pasha's to swear to the performance of his Testament Wherefore the Queen assembling them together with gentle Words desired them to remember That Ibrahim was the Lawful Heir and their true Emperor that the Tartar Han was a Stranger odious to the Souldiery and not beloved by the People that an Alteration of this Nature could never be contrived and executed without danger to the Actors and that they to whom she assured the continuance of the same Honours and Offices in Reward of their constant
Justice the people being discontented hastened the removal of the Chimacam and now another entring on the Office the Kahya remained exposed to the malice and complaints of all his Enemies amongst which none was of greater force than an accusation laid against him for having granted leave to the Armenian Christians at Constantinople for a Sum of Money to erect a Church for which though a Command was granted by the Great Vizier obtained at a good price to build one there of Timber but of a low and mean Fabrick yet the Kahya for a greater Sum of twenty Purses of Money or ten thousand Dollars improved this Command and changed their Materials from Timber to Stone and Mortar the which Building beginning to rise with some magnificence offended the neighbouring Turks which so much scandal that great numbers of them carried the Complaints thereof to the Grand Signior who calling the Vizier and examining the Case the Vizier would own no other Command than for repairing of an old Church but not building one new Whereupon Sentence of Death being passed on the Kahya an Officer was sent to execute it And in his way to Constantinople at a place called Selebrea meeting with the Offender he caused him to return again with him to Constantinople where having strangled him his Body was thrown into the Sea. We have thus far discoursed of the Affairs at home which consisted for the most part in jollities and divertisements let us now look on the enterprizes and attempts abroad and we shall find no great matter of action this year performed against Poland more than some incursions made into Vkrania by the Turks and Tartars under the Conduct of Ibrahim Pasha in which we have no Battels nor great Skirmishes to recount only a seizure or surprize of those Cosacks which were not under the jurisdiction of Dorosensko who like sheep were driven from their pastures and Men Women and Children carried away into Captivity and transplanted into Countries where they might better serve the purposes and designs of the Turkish Empire to which ends also vast numbers of Tartars with their Families were called to inhabit the circumjacent parts of Kemenitz for better security of that Conquest to which the Tartars most willingly concurred esteeming it a happy Bargain to exchange the Soil of Tartary for the fruitful Plains and more gentle Air of Poland And thus we may consider what the intestine Discord of the Poles hath brought upon themselves that they who in former days maintained their honour and reputation with the Turks beyond any of the bordering Nations not having ever suffered them to continue in their Country much less to sojourn or possess one palm of Ground therein can now more easily see them before the Walls of Leopolis or Cracovia and planted in the very Bowels of their Countrey rather than a King of their own Countrey set over them not agreeable to their own humour and fancy or perhaps rather than behold the envied exaltation of some persons to dignity or some little disorders in their Government of which the Turk knows well to make use it being no new Lesson for him to profit himself of the Discord and Animosities of the Christians In like manner the Marine Affairs of the Turks this year afforded little worthy of observation unless it were That the Captain Pasha was employed with about thirty Sail of Gallies into the Black Sea for transporting of Ammunition and Provisions to those Forces in Vkrania but he returned not with an equal number of Gallies with which he departed having lost have of them by storm and then arrived at Constantinople on the 26 th of October called by the Greeks the Feast of St. Demetrius and by the Turks Cassin-gheun a day which is commonly remarkable for Storms at Sea of which the Turks and Greeks are so aprehensive or superstitious that on that day or near that time either before or after until the storm hath vented its fury and taken its course they will not adventure themselves unto the Sea upon the most pressing occasion or hopeful inducement whatsover And here I judge it requisite to conclude this Year with two matters very observable relating unto Trade The first is with reference unto the Genoueses who in the Year 1666. first sent their Ambassador Signior Durazzo with many Presents and great Magnificence to conclude a Peace with the Ottoman Empire with the sole design and intention of Trade which having been established on no other foundation at the beginning than that of their Temins and the Fabrick of their own Cloth when the first failed as it did in two years after and that their Cloth turned not to account but was out-sold by the English and Dutch then their Trade began to decay or rather never came to perfection like the fruit of a young tree which buds fairly and produces fruit but hath not strength to digest or bring it to maturity Even so it was with the Genoueses who having been at the charge of an Ambassadour Extraordinary and setled a Resident at Constantinople and a Consul at Smyrna and all the other Formalities of Trade wanted that nourishment thereof from their own soil which produces the true and natural fruit of Commerce which is gain and profit and being out-done by other Nations in shipping there could little or no benefit be expected from their own Navigation in the Levant For these reasons their Trade failing the Duties of Consulage on Goods appointed to maintain the Officers and defray the publick Expences were consequently wanting so that the Count Fieschi Resident for that Republick at Constantinople finding himself in great distresses and necessities and unable to maintain himself and his Attendants agreeable to his Character and Quality often advised his Prince and the Senate of the unhappy state of their Affairs desiring from them either to provide a Supply agreeable to the occasions or to recal him from that Office where he could no longer live in that Honour required This importunity produced the exchange of Officers and the Mission of Signior Giustiniano to reside at Constantinople and Signior Gentile at Smyrna the first of which some few days after his arrival being unfortunately killed with a Carabine in his Chamber at Constantinople as before related the Office of Resident came to be still continued in the person of Fieschi who remaining without provisions necessary to maintain his degree and the annual Presents expected by the Turks which they esteem as due as their Income and as part of their Revenues was forced to take up money on Pawns and his own Credit at the Interest of 20 25 or 30 per cent according as hâ—s necessities increased and the apprehensions men conceived of an insufficiency and hazard in their security was the cause that the debt which in the beginning was inconsiderable increasing with Interest upon Interest came at length to the Sum of sixty or seventy thousand Dollars which the Republick of Genoua attributing in a
himself by what means the disorders might be corrected and the Revenue and Tribute improved for he had an excellent Genius or Spirit in the matters of Money nothing in advantage of Interest could ever escape him so that he began to lay a new foundation in all proceedings he would not be contented with the old Taxes and Impositions and where he found Lands improved or the Customs augmented he would put in for a share of the Benefits and would reform every thing wherein he judged his Master to have been abused But though he was acute and sharp-sighted in such matters as these yet he wanted experience in the Government of Egypt for these great Beghs of this Country being alarmed with the innovations began to stand upon their Guard and to enter into private Consultations in what manner to oppose themselves to this new way of Government which looked like slavery and designs of bringing them into servitude and a subjection unknown to them and their Fore-fathers For indeed the Government of Egypt if well considered is rather Aristocratical than Monarchical for though they acknowledge the Sultan to be their Head and accept his Pasha for Ruler and pay a yearly Tribute yet the Beghs which are great Lords in their respective Countries carry the sway and Dominion in all other matters and will endure nothing with favours of oppression or innovation so that these persons grown jealous by the proceedings of the new Pasha flew into open Sedition and immediately to Arms with force of which they assaulted the Pasha's Palace took him and threw him into Prison The News whereof flying with all haste to the Ottoman Court appeared at the first apprehension or surprise as if all Egypt had revolted and gave the World occasion to discourse That the Wars were to be carried Eastward and that the sudden resolution of removing the Court to Constantinople was in order to a farther March into those parts But frequent Messages with time making the business to be better understood caused the Grand Signior to dispeed with all haste another Pasha with Commission to remove the former and to continue all the ancient Customs and Priviledges from the beginning indulged to the Beghs of Egypt with which Message and gentle words of grace and favour from the Sultan all discontents being pacified the former Pasha was released from his Imprisonment and suffered to depart and thence proceeded to the Island of Candia where he entred on that Pashaluck sâ—ceeding Ibrahim Pasha in Charge who as before related was sent to Kemenitz to be General of the Army in place of the Pasha lately deceased But here I must not forget a story which happened during the time of this Summer whilst the Grand Signior had his abode and injoyed his Recreations in the circumjacent parts of Constantinople there was a certain Sultana which had been a cast Wench of Sultan Ibrahim who after his death having been married to some Pasha obtained her release from the old Seraglio and being also a Widow by the death of this Husband had liberty to take her habitation on the Banks of the Bosphorus or where she thought fit This Lady was called Soltana Sporcha in Turkish Modar how she came to be so nominated I cannot tell perhaps some Italian Pages of the Court might in respect to her way of living impose this Name upon her for she was no other than a Bawd or something worse making it her Profession to buy young Girls and to educate them in singing dancing and in all the ways which best accomplish Courtisans Amongst this Train of Scholars she had one more brisk and aeâ—y than the others which could sing and dance and prate incomparably and was so quick in her Reparties that she greatly delighted the Pasha's and Lords whose pleasures she attended bringing from them considerable Gifts and Presents to the enriching of her self and Mistress and became so much the talk of the Court that at length the report of her arrived the cars of the Grand Signior who being also desirous to injoy some divertisements by the pranks of this witty Girl sent to the Sultana one of the black Eunuchs for her which Imperial Command she not daring to disobey consigned her with great submission into the hands of the Messenger but with this caution that she humbly desired the Sultan not to make any attempt on her Chastity in regard she was both a Virgin and Free-woman The Grand Signior having pleased himself with the wantonnness of this Wench began to take a fancy to her and resolved to take her into the Seraglio but she shewing a kind of nicety and coiness the Grand Signior who perhaps was better accommodated sent her back again to her Mistress reflecting as was supposed with some disgust on the caution which accompanied her It happened not long after that this Girl exercising her Art in the presence of some great Persons one Chesmé Aga a Bosnian by Nation Captain of the Great Visiers Guard a stout and valiant man happening to be a Spectator one night became unfortunately enamoured of her and from that time not being able to remove the impression she had made in his heart resolved if possible to make her his Wife and to that end made his affections known and his intentions of Marriage both to her and to her Mistress The Girl was well enough pleased to become the Wife of so honourable a Person but the Sultana unwilling to lose the profit and benefit she daily brought her in refused the March declaring That she was a Slave and not at her own disposal and therefore in no capacity of bestowing her self any way without her consent This impediment giving a stop to the Marriage put the two Lovers on plots and contrivances in what manner to injoy each other and Love being ingenious quickly found out a means to bring them together for the Girl escaping from her Mistress lodged her self in those Chambers which her Lover had found for her And being now missed none but Chesmé Aga was charged with her of whom she complained to the Grand Signior and cited him before his Master the Great Vizier to answer for her but he denying to know any thing of her and no witness appearing against him all farther proceedings were superseded for the present But Soltana Sporcha keeping watchful spies upon all the motions of Chesmé Aga at length found him and his Mistress together and by the Authority of Officers brought them both before the Vizier to whom the Sultana sent a rude message That Chesmé Aga should be punished and that her Slave should be returned The Visier hereof acquainted the Grand Signior and gave him to understand the message which the Sultana had sent him desiring to know what punishment he was pleased should be inflicted on them In which interrim Chesmé Aga told the Visier That he expected no other than a sentence of death from the Grand Signior only he desired that his beloved Mistress might
Mustapha to whom be Honour Glory and Benediction hath render'd himself by the multitude of his Miracles the greatest of all the Sovereigns of the one and th' other World and most August of Emperours who having caused our innumerable Armies protected always by Divine Providence to come hither We are resolved to take Vienna and establish there the Cult of our Divine Religion 't is therefore that before we draw our fatal Cymetars as our chief End is the Propagation of the Musselman Faith and that is expresly commanded us by the Laws of our Holy Prophet first and before all things to exhort you to embrace our Holy Religion we do hereby advertise you that if you will cause your selves to be instructed in our Mysteries you will find the Salvation of your Souls therein If you will deliver up your City without fighting whether you are young or more advanced in years Rich or Poor we assure you that you may all live there peaceably If any desire to quit the place and go live elsewhere no harm shall be done him in his Person or Goods and he shall be conducted with his Family and Children whither he pleases For such as will rather stay they shall live in the City as they did before But if you suffer us by your Obstinacy to take the City by force we shall then spare no Body and we swear by the Creator of Heaven and Earth who neither hath nor never will have his equal that we shall put all to the Sword as is ordained by our Law. Your Goods will be pillaged and your Wives and Children will be carried away Slaves We shall pardon only such who shall obey the Divine Orders Given at the Emperours Camp before Vienna the 8th of the Moon Regeb in the year of the transmigration of the Prophet 1094. The Turks continued to deepen their Trenches to four foot and shot many Bombs but without any considerable effect most of them bursting in the Air except some few which falling near the Walls burnt an old Play-house which being of Wood it was feared lest the Flames should reach the Convent and Church of the Augustines which occasion'd its sudden demolishing There happened also another Accident but more dangerous The Fire having seized upon the Scots Church consumed that stately Building as also the House of Frendorf lately perfectioned by the Bishop of Heliopolis Suffragan to the Arch-bishop of Vienna The flame proceeded to the Arsenal full of Powder and Munitions of War which would have proved fatally ruinous if Conte Serin had not caused the Gate which they had in vain attempted to unlock to be broken open and immediately removed the Powder which a few moments delay would have rendred impossible But on the other side they could not hinder the Fire to consume the Palaces of Aversberg Traun and Palfi which were reduced to Ashes A Boy of sixteen years old habited like a Girl was accused as guilty of this burning being found thereabouts who was by the enraged People immediately pull'd in pieces so that the truth by this precipitated death could not be made known This Fire continued three days which if it had seised the Powder in the Arsenal as in the year 1629 the Turks might easily have entred that way into the City Since this Accident the Infidels shot that way that they saw the flame appear and endeavoured to ruine the Court and the Lyon Bastions with the Ravelin betwixt both but the Besieged bravely opposed them with their Sallies and Countermines They wanted good Engineers in the City insomuch that Hasner a Captain of the Garrison who from a private Souldier was by his Virtue come to that degree being observed to note all the faults the Miners committed in their Works the conduct of them was committed to him wherein he acquitted himself with good Success Count Starenberg who was Governour General was all this while busie in repairing the Walls deepning and palizadoing the Ditches and in raising the Earth which was drawn out of the Ramparts and Retreats to cover themselves when the first Posts and Parapets were thrown down which afterwards contributed much to the defence of the Place The Turks advanced their Works on the Court and Lebel Bastions side carrying them on within thirty paces of the Counterscharp notwithstanding the continued fire of the Besieged They also discharged their Cannon and Mortars without ceasing and intirely ruined the Emperour's Palace the Houses and neighbouring Churches Count Starenberg who neglecting the danger visited every moment the Posts to see if his orders were faithfully executed upon his going out of the Court-Bulwark was hurt in the Head with a Brick-bat which a Cannon bullet had forced He was immediately carried to his Lodging and so happily cured that in three days he found himself able to quit his Bed and his Chamber during his hurt the Count of Daun was also incapable of acting being dangerously sick of a violent Fever which reduced him to extremity so that he was not out of danger before the fourteenth Day of his Malady But the Counts Serin Souches and Schaffenberg Brigadiers of the Garrison applied themselves with so much care for the defence of the Place that the Enemy drew no advantage from this misfortune In the mean time the Duke of Lorrain finding himself obliged to remove farther from the City his first care was to molest the Enemy Count Dunewald Lieut. Marshal of the Field was sent to Krembs with his Regiment the two Rements of Lodron and Keri Cravats Kemgsegs Regiment of Polish Dragoons were likewise dispatched thither not only to keep the Bridge which was of great Importance but to hinder the Enemies Forragers and oppose the Parties of Tartars which ravaged about And here we may wonder at the Politicks of these Miscreants who burn and ruine all the Forrages and all the Victuals which should make them subsist and which would have very much accommoded their Army in the distresses they afterwards found themselves Lorrain likewise sent Orders to Count Hermestein who was in Styria to advance to the Frontiers on the side of the Mountains to attempt the Enemies He gave also the same Orders to the Garrisons of Raab and Comorra and to Castel's Dragoons who were at Newstat He sent likewise to survey Closterneubourg which is an Abbey upon the Danube The Turkish Camp was but two Leagues off and according to the report made to him of the Place he judged it necessary to conserve this Post which â—e did by putting Foot into it the which might descend the Danube upon occasion if the Enemy came to attack them with Cannon He dispatch'd an Officer to Raab for the Regiments of Grana and Baden which the Duke of Croy brought him with so much diligence that parting from Raab at Mid-night they came in 24 hours to Presburg and the next day to the Camp. Count Lesley was sent to Krembs to conduct the Artillery thither and to expect the Bavarians Auxiliaries those of Saxony
with Women in Turkey is but strange and unfamiliar yet not to be guilty of this discourtesie I shall to the best of my information write a short Account of these Captivated Ladies how they are treated immured educated and prepared for the great Atchievements of the Sultan's Affection and as in other Stories the Knight consumes himself with Combats Watching and Penance to acquire the love of one fair Damsel here an Army of Virgins make it the only study and business of their Life to obtain the single nodd of invitation to the Bed of their great Master The Reader then must know that this Assembly of fair Women for it is probable there is no other in the Seraglio are commonly Prizes of the Sword taken at Sea and at Land as far fetched as the Turk commands or the wandring Tartar makes his Incursions composed almost of as many Nations as there are Countries of the World none of which are esteemed worthy of this Preferment unless Beautiful and undoubted Virgins As the Pages before mentioned are divided into two Chambers so likewise are these Maids into two Odaes where they are to work sew and embroider and are there lodged on Safawes every one with her Bed apart between every five of which is a Kadun or grave Matron laid to oversee and hear what Actions or Discourse passes either immodest or undecent Besides this School they have their Chambers for Musick and Dancing for acquiring a handsome Air in their carriage and comportment to which they are most diligent and intent as that which opens the Door of the Sultan's Affections and introduces them into Preferment and Esteem Out of these the Queen-Mother chuses her Court and orderly draws from the Schools such as she marks out for the most Beauteous Facetious or most corresponding with the harmony of her own Disposition and prefers them to a â—ear attendance on her Person or to other Offices of her Court. These are always richly attired and adorned with all sorts of precious Stones fit to receive the Addresses and Amours of the Sultan over them is placed the Kadun Kahia or Mother of the Maids who is careful to correct any Immodest or light Behaviour amongst them and instructs them in all the Rules and Orders of the Court. When the Grand Signior is pleased to dally with a certain number of these Ladies in the Garâ—en Helvet is cry'd which rings through all the Seraglio at which word all People withdraw themselves at a distance and Eunuchs are placed at every Avenue it being at that time death to approach near those Walls Here the Women strive with their Dances Songs and Discourse to make themselves Mistresses of the Grand Signior's Affection and then let themselves loose to all kind of lasciviousness and wanton Carriage acquitting themselves as much of all respect to Majesty as they do to Modesty When the Grand Signior resolves to chuse himself a Bed-fellow he retires into the Lodgings of his Women where according to the Story in every place reported when the Turkish Seraglio falls into Discourse the Damsels being ranged in order by the Mother of the Maids he throws his Handkerchief to her where his eye and fancy best directs it being a Token of her election to his Bed. The surprised Virgin snatches at this Prize and good Fortune with that eagerness that she is ravished with the Joy before she is deflowered by the Sultan and kneeling down first kisses the Handkerchief and then puts it in her Bosom when immediately she is congratulated by all the Ladies of the Court for the great Honour and Favour she hath received And after she hath been first washed bathed and perfumed she is adorned with Jewels and what other Attire can make her appear Glorious and Beautiful she is conducted at Night with Musick and Songs of her Companions chanting before her to the Bed-chamber of the Sultan at the Door of which attends some Favourite Eunuch who upon her approaching gives Advice to the Grand Signior and permission being given her to enter in she comes running and kneels before him and sometimes enters in at the Feet of the Bed according to the ancient Ceremony or otherwise as he chances to like her is taken in a nearer way with the Embraces of the Grand Signior This private Entertainment being ended she is delivered to the care of the Kadan Kahia or Mother of the Maids by whom she is again conducted back with the same Musick as before and having first washed and bathed hath afterwards the lodging and attendants that belongs to Hunkiar Asa-kisi that is the Royal Concubine if it be her good Fortune to conceive and bring forth a Son she is called Hasaki Sultana and is honoured with a solemn Coronation and Crowned with a small Coronet of Gold beset with precious Stones Other Ladies who produce like Fruits from the Grand Signior's Bed have not yet the like Honour but only the Name of Bash Hasaki Inkingi Hasaki the first and second Concubine and so forward The Daughters that are born from the Grand Signior are oftentimes at four or five years of Age wedded to some great Pasha or Beglerbeg with all the Pomp and Solemnities of Marriage who from that time hath care of her Education to provide a Palace for her Court and to maintain her with that State and Honour as becomes the Dignity of a Daughter to the Sultan At this tenderness of Age Sultan Ibrahim Father of the present Grand Signior married three of his Daughters one of which called Gheaher Han Sultan hath had already five Husbands and yet as is reported by the World remains a Virgin the last Husband deceased was Ishmael Pasha who was slain in the passage of the River Raab and is now again married to Gurgi Mahomet Pasha of Buda a Man of 90 Years of Age but rich and able to maintain the greatness of her Court though not to comply with the youthfulness of her Bed to which he is a stranger like the rest of her preceding Husbands After the death of the Grand Signior the Mothers of Daughters have liberty to come forth from the Seraglio and marry with any Person of Quality but those who have brought forth Sons are transplanted to the old Seraglio where they pass a retired Life without Redemption unless the Son of any of those Mothers by death of the first Heir succeeding release his Mother from that Restraint and make her sharer with him in all his Happiness and Glory CHAP. X. Of the Agiam-Oglans WE have hitherto spoken of the Ichoglans or Pages Mutes Dwarfs Eunuchs and the Feminine Court it will now be necessary to speak of the under Officers and Servants called Agiam-Oglans who are designed to the meaner Uses of the Seraglio These are also Captives taken in War or bought of the Tartar but most commonly the Sons of Christians taken from their Parents at the Age of ten or twelve Years in whom appearing more strength of Body than of Mind they are
Soldiers ruled and the powerfull Soliman himself who then reigned trembled at nothing more than the apprehension of some secret Ulcer of perfidiousness which might lie concealed within the reretiement of the Ianizaries But as there is no question but a standing Army of veterane and well Disciplined Soldiers must be always usefull and advantageous to the Interest of a Prince so on the contrary negligence in the Officers and remisness of Government produces that licentiousness and wrestiness in the Soldiery as betrays them to all the disorders which are dangerous and of evil consequence to the welfare of a State. And so it hath fared with the Ottoman Empire which rifing onely by the power of Arms and established on the bloud of many valiant and daring Captains gave Privileges Honours and Riches to the Militia and at all times encouraged their prowess and forwardness by Rewards and Connivance at their Crimes by which indulgence and impunity these men ill-principled in rules of Vertue and unequally bearing prosperity and the favour of the Prince have for a long time been gathering a stock of ill humours ready to receive any contagion of seditious design and to maintain it with an impudence contrary to the Ianizaries for some ages which may equal the levity of the Roman Soldiery untill they shamelesly set their Empire to sale and forgot both their old obedience to the Senate and reverence to their new Emperours The death and ruine of many Grandees and of the Sultan himself by such like Seditions hath at length by dear experience taught the principal Ministers how unsafe it is to permit an Army lodged in the bowels of the Capital City of a disposition favourable to it self envious and impatient of any other jealous and always at enmity with the Court rich and powerfull with Possessions and Rents appertaining to its Commanders in Anatolia and a Treasury of unknown sums which have descended to the common Bank by the decease of their Generals or Ianizar Aga's and therefore have by degrees and as prudently as might be begun to diminish the strength of this Militia by the destruction of the veterane Soldiers and ruine of their reputation by various arts in the estimation of the world The particular means whereby the Ianizaries have been studiously destroyed are by many ways evident for first they are exposed upon every obscure Service and drawn forth to encounter every Assault of the Empire as the Wars of Candy have exhausted the flower of this Militia the Battels at Sea buried vast numbers who were formerly reserved for times of eminent exploits and glory Secondly Which destruction of the veterane Soldiers hath created other mischiefs to this Order in point of Discipline as prejudicial as the former for as the Agiamoglans were obliged to perform six or seven years Novitiate now by reason of the constant necessities to supply the Wars they overskip the orderly formalities of the first Institution and create them Ianizaries after a year or half a years service And others I have known educated in Mechanick professions and from framing Timber and carrying Burthens in the Arsenal have at once for the service of Candy been created Ianizaries who neither know how to manage a Musket nor are otherwise Disciplined to any exercise of Arms. Thirdly That Europe may not be dispeopled by the triennial seisure of Christian Children for the Grand Signior's service which in Turkish is called Deuschirme the politick Custome and principal conservation of the Discipline of Ianizaries is as we have said before wholly forgotten and instead thereof election is made of Vagabonds that proffer themselves out of Asia or other parts who having passed five or six months like Novices are afterwards made Ianizaries and being ignorant in the use of Arms and unaccustomed to labours and sufferings run from their Colours and renounce their Order which has been in times past one of the most honourale in the whole Empire Fourthly The old veterane Officers which had by degrees and steps proceeded to honour methodically from inferiour Soldiers have either by their own seditious spirits or jealousies of the Prince been dispeeded from this World and in their places the Sons of Constantinopolitan Ianizaries succeeded who have been bred up with softness and effeminacy and their Tchorbagees or Captains have not obtained their Commands by time by valour but Buy their Places with Money and Presents to their Prime Officers Fifthly And to forward the decay of this Militia and to take off their warlike and haughty Courages the confinement to their Chambers is not severe but liberty given upon colour of Poverty and impossibility of livelihood on their mean Pay to attend other Trades and Services whereby the exercise of Arms and thoughts of the War is converted to Mechanick Arts and an intention to ways of maintenance of themselves and Families Sixthly Hope of reward and fear of punishment which are the incitements to worthy actions and restrictions from the vilest crimes are rarely help up to the Ianizaries in these times for their encouragement or terrour for without Money to the superiour Officers none of them obtains Preferment nor can any worn out with age and wounds procure dismission from the War with the enjoyment of the usual stipend who are called by the Turks Oturak and by the Latins Exauctorati and on the contrary the Children of Officers born in Constantinople are often made Oturaks in their Cradles and lusty Youths are with favour and Money exempted in the flower of age from the labours of War and yet enjoy the benefits due to a tollesome Militia And yet as if all the connivance at these various disorders and subversion of the good institutions of the Soldiery were not sufficient to impoverish their spirits to mould them into a more effeminate temper and cause them to lose their interest and reputation it is the common opinion that the Visier Kupriuli laid the designs for the late War with Germany before his death and enjoined it to his Son to prosecute with an intention amongst other expectations of benefit to the Empire to complete the final destruction of the ancient Spahees and Ianizaries so as to be able to lay a foundation of a new Discipline which may more easily for the future restrain the Turkish Militia within the compass of better modesty and obedience which design hath taken so severe effect in the War of Hungary in the year 1664. that the bloudlest part of slaughter in the Battels fell on the Ianizaries and Spahees and by how much more any were more bold and forward in their attempts by so much more fatal and hasty was their ruine so that it is reported that the valiantest Soldiers of the Confines the veterane and best disciplined of the Spahees and Ianizaries and the best number of their skilfull Commanders and expert Captains perished promiscuously together to the great damage and weakning to the Ottoman Power so that now it is not probable that a new Militia succeeding
Venice is so greatly esteemed by the Turks that they seem not to desire the conquest of that place for any other reason more than the benefit of the Arsenal as a person of great quality amongst them said once that had they made a Conquest of Venice they would not inhabit there but leave it to the Venetians in regard that the City affords not fresh Water which is necessary for the use of their Moschâ— and their Washing before Prayer but that the Arsenal and a Tribute would satisfie the desires of the Grand Signior But the Turks are not likely to be Masters of this Sea of Neptune whilst they so unwillingly apply their minds to Maritime Affairs who being conscious of their former ill success at Sea and how little use they make of those advantages they have for shipping acknowledge their Inabilities in Sea Affairs and say That God hath given the Sea to the Christians but the Land to them And no doubt the large Possessions and Riches they enjoy on the staple Element of the Earth is that which takes off their minds the deep attention to matters of the Sea which is almost solely managed by Renegadoes amongst them who have abandoned their Faith and their Countrey And it is happy for Christendom that this faintness remains on the Spirits of the Turks an aversion from all Naval Employment whose numbers and power the Great God of Hosts hath restrained by the bounds of the Ocean as he hath limited the Ocean by the Sands of the Sea-shoar THE CONCLUSION BY the Discourse made in the three foregoing Books it will evidently appear what sort of Government is exercised amongst the Turâ—s what their Religion is and how formidable their Force which ought to make the Christian World tremble to see so great a part of it subjected to the Mahometan Power and yet no Mean thought of to unite our Interests and compose our Dissensions which lay us open to the inundation of this flowing Empire To which I shall add this one thing very observable That the Grand Signior wages his War by Land without any charge to himself an advantage not to be parallel'd by the Policy of any Government I ever heard or read of before for his Spahees and Ianizaries are always in Pay both in War and Peace his Zaims and Timariots have their Lands to maintain them and other Militia's enjoy the fixed Revenue from their respective Countries and yet notwithstanding through the expence of the Naval Forces the building Gallies and the like matters not provided for those who laid the first foundation of this Government the Revenue of the Empire hath been bankrupted and by the corruption of the Officers or ill management been sold for 3 years to come until all was redeemed and restored again by the wisedom of that famous Visâ—er Kuprinli whom we have occasion so often to mention in the foregoing Treatise We cannot now but pity those poor Borderers in Hungary Styria Croatia and other parts subject to the Incursions of this cruel Enemy since we know in the last War not three English miles from Vienna many poor people have been surprized and fallen into the hands of the Tartar and Turk and sold afterwards into perpetual slavery this consideration ought to move us who are barricado'd and fortifi'd by the Seas from the violence of our Enemies to bless God we are born in so happy and so secure a Countrey subject to no dangers but from our selves nor other miseries but what arise from our own freedom and two much felicity we ought to consider it is a blessing that we never have felt any smart of the rod of this great Oppressour of Christianity and yet have tasted of the good and benefit which hath proceeded from a free and open Trade and amicable Correspondence and Friendship with this People which have been maintained for the space of eighty years begun in the Reign of Queen ELIZABETH of blessed memory preserved by the Prudence and admirable Discretion of a series of worthy Ambassadours and daily emproved both in business and reputation by the excellent Conduct and Direction of that Right Worshipfull Company of the Levant Merchants hath brought a considerable benefit to this Kingdom and gives employment and livelihood to many thousands of people in England by which also His Majesty without any expence gains a very considerable increase of His Customs The sense of this benefit and advantage to my own Countrey without any private considerations I have as a Servant to that Embassie or the obligations I have to that worthy Company cause me to move with the greatest sedulity and devotion possible to promote and advance the Interest of that Trade And as some study several ways and prescribe Rules by which a War may be most advantagiously managed against the Turk I on the contrary am moâ—e inclinable to give my judgment in what manner our Peace and Trade may best be secured and maintained knowing that so considerable a welfare of our Nation depends upon it that a few years of Trades interruption in Turkey will make all sorts of people sensible of the want of so great a vent of the commodities of our Countrey And therefore as I am obliged to pray for the glory and prosperity of His Majesty our gratious Sovereign so likewise as that which conduces to it for the continuance of the Honour of this Embassie in Turkey and the profitable returns of the Levant Company FINIS THE CONTENTS Of the several CHAPTERS The First Book Chap. I. THE Constitution of the Turkish Government being different from most others in the World hath need of peculiar Maxims and Rules whereon to establish and confirm it self Page 1 Chap. II. The absoluteness of the Emperor is a great support of the Turkish Empire 2 Chap. III. The Lesson of Obedience to their Emperor is taught by the Turks as a Principle of Religion rather than of State 4 Chap. IV. A True Relation of the Designs managed by the old Queen Wife of Sultan Ahmet and Mother of Sultan Morat and Sultan Ibrahim against her Grand-Child Sultan Mahomet who now Reigns and of the Death of the said Queen and her Complices 6 Chap. V. The Education of Young Men in the Seraglio out of which those who are to discharge the great offices of the Empire are elected it being a Maxim of the Turkish Polity To have the Prince served by such whom he can raise without envy and destroy without danger 12 Chap. VI. Of the Method in the Turkish Studies and Learning in the Seraglio 15 Chap. VII Of the Platonick Affection and Friendship the Pages in the Seraglio bear each to other 16 Chap. VIII Of the Mutes and Dwarfs 17 Chap. IX Of the Eunuchs ibid. Of the black Eunuchs and Apartments of the Women 17 18 Chap. X. Of the Agiamoglans 19 Chap. XI Of the Visier Azem or Prime Visier his office the other six Visiers of the Bench and of the Divan or place of Iudicature 20
Eunuch Bassa dealeth treacherously with the Kings of Arabia 451 b. Solyman hardly perswaded that his Father was dead 581 a. saluted Emperour by the Ianizaries ib. b. his Letters to Villerius Great Master of the Rhodes 384 a. his Oration to his men of War declaring his purpose for the besieging of the Rhodes ib. b. he maketh great preparation for the siege 385 a. his threatning Letters unto them of the Rhodes 388 b. cometh himself in Person to the siege 392 a. his cholerick Oration to his Soldiers ib. b. displaceth his Admiral and punisheth him like a slave 396 a. about to have forsaken the siege ib. b. comforteth his discouraged Soldiers perswading them with patience to continue the siege 397 a. his Letters to the Great Master and the Rhodians sent by their own Ambassadors 399 b. his speech unto the Great Master at his coming to yield up the City 403 a. he entereth into the Rhodes upon Christmass-day in the year 1522 404 a. Solyman upon the discord of the Christian Princes and disordered State of Hungary taketh occasion to invade that Kingdom ib. b. cometh into Hungary against King Lewis with an Army of two hundred thousand men 405 a. overthroweth him in battel at Mohatz ib. b. cometh to Buda 406 a. Solyman in the quarrel of King John against King Ferdinand cometh into Hungary with an Army of 150000 men 410 a. without resistance entreth into Buda and besiegeth the Castle ib. b. layeth siege to Vienna 411 a. without ransome releaseth certain Christian Prisoners 412 a. loseth his great Ordnance upon the Danubius ib. b. burieth 8000 of his Turks in the Mines 413 a. having lost 80000 of his Turks raiseth his siege and returneth to Buda 414 a. he restoreth the Kingdom of Hungary unto King John ib. a. returneth himself to Constantinople ib. b. maketh great preparation for the subduing of the Territories belonging to the House of Austria as also for the Conquest of Germany with the short time he prefixed unto himself for the performance thereof ib. b. Solyman with a mighty Army cometh again into Hungary 416 b. besiegeth Gunza ib. b. his proud Letters to Charles the Emperour 417 a. shunneth to meet him at Vienna and so turneth out of the way into Carinthia 418 b. the causes moving him so to do ib. b. returneth towards Constantinople 420 a. Solyman perswaded by Abraham Bassa resolveth to go against the Persians 436 b. cometh with his Army to Tauris 437 a. followeth Tamas the Persian King into Sultania ib. a. his Army strangely distressed by Tempest ib. b. hath Babylon with the Countries of Mesopotamia and Assyria yielded unto him 438 a. he ransacketh Tauris ib. b. discouraged by the harm done him by Delymenthes giveth over his Wars in Persia and returneth to Constantinople 439 b. he with a wonderful charge prepareth a great Fleet at Suetia against the Portugals in the East-Indies 451 a. Solyman by the French Ambassador incited to invade Italy with an Army of two hundred thousand men cometh to Aulona 452 a. sendeth Lutzis Bassa and Barbarussa with his Fleet before him into Italy ib. a. converteth his Forces prepared for Italy against the Venetians 453 b. in danger to have been slain in his Tent in the midst of his Army ib. b. invadeth Corcyra ib. b. carrieth away above sixteen hundred Prisoners and doth good Iustice upon such Turks as had violated their Faith at Castrum 454 b. Solyman angry with the secret Consederation between King Ferdinand and King John 468 b. promiseth to protect the Queen and her Son 473 a. with a great Army cometh to Buda 478 b. sendeth for the young King into his Camp 479 a. courteously receiveth him ib. a. craftily surpriseth the City of Buda 479 b. detaineth the Nobility of Hungary ib. b. diversly perswaded by his Bassa's for the disposing of that Kingdom ib. b. he sacrificeth after the Mahometan manner in Buda 481 a. pronounceth the doom of Hungary and converteth it from a Kingdom into a Province of his Empire ib a. his proud answer unto King Ferdinand's Ambassadors 482 a. he returneth to Constantinople ib. b. sendeth his Fleet to Barbarussa his Admiral to aid the French King against the Emperour 496 a. Solyman with a great Army cometh again into Hungary 497 a. taketh Strigonium 498 b. entereth into the City and there setteth up the Mahometan Superstition 499 a. winneth Alba-Regalis 501 b. returneth to Constantinople ib. b. by the Instigation of Dragut the Pyrate sendeth out Sinan Bassa with a great Fleet to revenge the wrong done unto him by Auria 509 a. Solyman amorous of Roxolana 512 a. manumiseth her 513 a. marrieth her ib. a. by her persuaded resolveth to put to death his eldest Son the noble Mustapha ib. b. goeth himself with a great Army into Asia to kill his Son 514 b. sendeth for Mustapha who coming is cruelly strangled in his sight 515 b. his stout Speech unto the Ianizaries up in Arms for the unworthy death of Mustapha 516 b. he glad to yield unto the Ianizaries ib. b. Solyman desirous with as little stir as might be to appease the grudges betwixt his two Sons Selymus and Bajazet sendeth Partau and Mehemet two of his Visier Bassaes to bring them to the Provinces by him appointed for them 322 b. maketh preparation against Bajazet and sendeth Aid to Selymus 323 a. for countenancing of Selymus goeth himself in person with his Army over into Asia 525 a. dissembleth with Bajazet 526 a. seeketh to stop his flight into Persia deceived of his purpose procureth to have him and his four Sons strangled in prison in Persia 529 a. Solyman by his Ambassador Abraham Strotza confirmeth his League with Ferdinand the Emperor for eight years 533 a. his proud Letters unto the Emperor Ferdinand ib. a. his Presents sent unto the Emperor 534 b. he maketh preparation against the Knights of Malta 535 a b. his Oration unto his Captains for the Invasion of Malta ib. b. his Fleet arriveth at Malta 537 a. with shame returneth 552 b. Solyman purposing now the seventh time himself in person to invade Hungary causeth a Bridge of a mile long with incredible labour to be made over the great River Savus and the deep Fens toward Sigeth 555 b. besiegeth Sigeth ib. b. cometh himself with a great power into the Camp 556 a. winneth the old Town ib. a. falleth sick and dieth of the bloody Flux at Quinque Ecclesiae ib. b. his Death by Muhamet the Visier Bassa concealed and the Siege continued ib. b. his body with great solemnity by his Son Solymus buried at Constantinople 559 b. The Spahies and Ianizaries mutiny 809 b. their proud Speech to Sultan Mahomet 810 a. their Insolency justly punished 807 a. The Spaniards rejoycing at the Overthrow of the Italians by Salec are themselves foiled by Tabacces 443 b. The States of Bohemia their Requests to the Emperor 888 a. Stellusa with Desdrot the Governor thereof delivered to Scanderbeg 194 b. Stephen Rozwan instead of Aaron by
on the 17 th about eight a Clock in the Morning the new Grand Seignior went by Boat from the Seraglio to Eiub where the Nakib Effendi or Chief of Mahomet's Kindred Girt him with the Sword which is a Ceremony answering to our Coronation and having said Noon-Prayers at that place and all the Ceremonies ended he rode from the Mosch in a Solemn Cavalcade through the City back to the Seraglio but not with such Splendor and Magnificence as had been done in the time of the Grand Seigniors his Predecessors All People crouded as we may believe to see the Features and Fashion of their new Sultan of whose Person and Abilities Reports had created already a high Expectation He was of a long lean pale Visage but not of an ungrateful Aspect his Eyes were full and black and his Beard was black but somewhat grisly what his Qualications of Mind were will be more evidently discovered hereafter and come then more properly to be described in their due place But in the mean time we may reflect that the change of the person of the Prince could not be of much advantage to the Publick For what the other did out of a remiss and voluptuous Humour attending only to his Divertisements and leaving the Care and Management of all his Affairs to the Contrivance and Conduct of his Ministers this Grand Seignior must now do out of necessity being wholly unexperienced in the World having all his Life been kept up in a Chamber without other Conversation than that of a few Eunuchs some old Women and two or three Hogiaes or Masters to assist him in his Studies As Books were his Entertainment in his confined Life so â—he seemed to have had an affection for them in the choice he made of Kupriogli for his Favourite who was esteemed in that Country a learned Man and to have had the best Library of any in that whole Empire It was said That he had promised his deposed Brother all security of his Life and that he should be kept in the same manner as he was and that he might allow him what comfort he could in that manner of Life he suffered his Children to be with him for some Days but they were afterwards by the Councils of others taken from him and lodged apart His other Brother Achmet the Companion with him in his Imprisonment he visited and promised to be kind to him but he was not perfect Master of his Senses of which we shall speak more when we come to see him on the Throne after the Death of Sultan Solyman The Hazaki Sultana or Empress of the deposed Sultan was sent to the old Seraglio there to remain until Death or some other Revolution of Fortune shall release her In the place of her the Mother of the present Grand Seignior who for some years was reported to be dead appeared alive and removed from the old Seraglio to her Son but she was a little Maddish Thus were all things turned up-side down all the great Officers of the Empire except the Captain Pasha or Admiral being changed Which when a Man seriously considers and that these Revolutions were carried on by common Soldiers one would admire that they should pass with so little Confusion or Blood-shed For except those six which were killed in the Army and Cuchiuck Mahomet at Constantinople in a Military Fury there was only Solyman and Regeb cut off for the Death of Ibrahim at Rhodes did not proceed from them but from Regeb As to the daily Insolences in the Streets they were not committed by the Spahees but by poor Drunken Ianisaries who had neither Money nor Cloths and therewith would be supplied from Christians and Iews and Turks too But this was no new thing but what had been formerly practised by the baser sort of the Soldiers as often as they came from the War or were shortly going thither And now since things were thus changed some Reformation was expected and that was to begin in the Seraglio where the first and most plausible thing was the Retrenchment of the Expences which during the time of the late Sultan had been excessive the very Barly for the Horses costing One thousand five hundred Dollars or Three hundred pounds Sterling a Day the number of the Hawks and Dogs with the People who attended them was vast all which were ordered to be reduced for the present Sultan took so little delight in these Divertisements thaâ— he was to learn how to Ride and the Stables were to be reduced to a Hundred Horse one Hundred and fifty of the Pages were to be made Spahees and the rest were to be changed and new ones put into their places The same was to be performed in the Courts and Chambers of the Women so that the Retrenchments made were calculated to amount unto Eight thousand Purses of Money a year every Purse being Five hundred Dollars and may be accounted to be almost a Million of pounds Sterling The Greyhounds and Dogs of which there were many Hundreds kept in the Seraglio for the use of the late Sultan were all let loose and suffered to run about the Streets of Constantinople where they might have starved had not the godly Men whose Religion consists much in feeding Dogs and Cats taken Compassion on them and fed them daily with Bread from the Bakers Shops These Retrenchments of expence in the Seraglio pleased the Soldiers wonderfully hoping that thereby the more Money would be coming to them and so they continued very observant and quiet during all the time that the Money was paying out but so soon as that began to fail and fall short they became as troublesome as ever assembling with great Insolence at the Vizier's House threw Stones at his Windows storming and raging like Mad-men until such time as with fair words and promises of Money within a few Days they were for a while appeased Thus far had the Soldiery found the ways to raise Money but now they being at a stand it was the Vizier's turn to set on foot some new invention or conjuration for more But so empty and drained were all the great Banks that no other way could be thought on but only to go over the rich Men once more and to squeeze them to the last Dreggs of all their Estates to perform which they began with the old Kuzlir Aga who obtained his Liberty upon payment of Nine hundred Purses in all besides his Furniture and Curiosities which were taken from him to a great value and after that he had the favour to be Banisht to Grand Cairo The Hasnadar Aga who as we have said succeeded him was displaced and paid Two hundred Purses and the Aga of the old Seraglio was made Kuzlir Aga which Promotion was according to the ancient Methods that every one should rise and succeed gradually and favoured something of a Reformation But because this new Tax would not reach the entire Sum required for
into a Fever which endangered his Life and gave occasion to the People to Talk much of his Death and setting up in the Throne Sultan Mustapha the Son of Sultan Mahomet IV who had been Deposed But this Passion of Mind which possessed the Grand Seignior passing over with a little Time he being Naturally of a Jolly Temper given to Musick and Wine his Fever quitted him and he recovered So also did the Old Ali Pasha who had been Chimacam at Adrianople and upon the Death of Kupriogli as we have said was made Grand Vizier his Disease was the same with that of the Grand Seignior proceeding from Afflicting himself at the News of the Rout of the whole Turkish Army and the Apprehensions he had of new Turbulencies arising thereupon amongst the Soldiery the which had struck him with a kind of Apoplexy and a Stupidity in his Understanding but it went off so soon as he perceived the Soldiery to return more mildly Home than was expected and then he began to revive and take upon him the Power and Authority of his Government He was an Ancient Man and of great Experience but he was neither esteemed for a Wise nor an Undertaking Man which are two Qualities very necessary in a Grand Vizier But the Mufti made some amends for the Inabilities of that Great Minister for being a Person of a deep Understanding and highly esteemed by all Parties for his profound Wisdom he became very helpful to the Grand Vizier who had the good quality to hearken unto the Counsels of those who were wiser than himself it being one of his Infirmities to be irresolute which shows an Imbecility of Mind and is a quality the most disagreeable to an absolute Monarchy But being pushed forward by his Friends he governed well for being a Man not very Avaritious as few Turks but are he preferred none but such as were Men of Merit and had signalized themselves by long Services or some great or good Actions his Country was Bosnia which hath given many Valiant and Stout Soldiers to the Turks being reputed Men of Bravery and Fidelity in their Words and Actions Never had the Ottoman Empire since it came to be an Empire more need of Able Valiant and Wise Men than at present and never were they more rare and hard to be found For what with the War which destroyed their brave and best of their Gallant Soldiers and Commanders and with their Seditions and Tumults at Home in which their Principal Officers both Civil and Military were cut off none remained alive but only Upstarts or some Leaders of the Insolent or Seditious Soldiery And this was the State of the Empire not only oppressed by the Victorious Enemy on the Frontiers but by a want of all things at Adrianople even to a Famine which raised the Out-cries and Clamours of the People against the Government which being joyned to the Abuse of Copper-Money than which at that time no other was to be seen or currantly passed discouraged the Country-Men from bringing Provisions to the Market and caused the People more earnestly to cry out for a Peace and exclaim against the French for having now for four Years engaged them in a War the most Bloody the most Ruinous and most destructive to the Ottoman Empire that was ever known The French Ambassador fearing that these Tumults and the Inclinations of some of the Ministerswould at length prevail for a Peace he bestowed his Money very liberally where he thought it might be well placed for as yet the French King wanted not Money as he did some Years afterwards but he could not as yet fix any on the Chimacam Chusaein Pasha at Constantinople who always told the Ambassador's Servants that he wanted none of his Presents being well provided with what was necessary for his Maintenance and Equipage The Difficulty of this Great Minister's Proceedings did not a little trouble the Thoughts of the Ambassador especially when he had understood that this Chimacam had wrote to the Mufti to perswade to a Peace the League with France being apparently destructive to the Empire saying as it were How long shall these People be a Snare to us And hereof the Ambassador was the more apprehensive when he heard that the Sultan was returning to Constantinople for his Health being perswaded by the Physicians That the Air of that City and the Sea would be more conducing to his Health than that of Adrianople by which he feared that the Chimacam might have the better opportunity to instill these Imaginations into the Head of the Grand Seignior than he could at a distance But before the Departure of the Grand Seignior from Adrianople for Coâ—stâ—ntinople a General Council of War was held by all the Chief Officers of the Army At which three principal Points were concluded The First was To do their best Endeavours and use all possible means for the Relief of Great Waradin But on the other side it was considered That the Miliâ—ia on the Frontiers was tyred out and become weak by their Labours and Disgraces of the preceding Campaign so that the Means for executing this Design was not prescribed A Second Proposal was not to confide much in the Counsels of the French but to consult the Opinion of the Soldiery whether they were inclinable to a Peace And Thirdly In case the Soldiery shou'd be averse to a Peace that then Preparations should be made with all diligence to raise Men and make Provisions of War for the ensuing Year But whilst Matters were disposing to quiet the Minds of the Soldiery of which great Numbers were passed over into Asia much harassed and discontented so that some Insurrections were feared in those Countries Behold on a sudden the People murmured against the base Allay of the Money which was nothing but Copper or at best mixed with a little Silver which was a mighty prejudice to Trade and caused a dearness of all Provisions so that the Poor were almost Starved whereupon the Rabble in a furious manner assaulted the Mint-Office and Killed the Master who was set over the Coinage and committed many other Insolences and were not appeased until an Order was published That the Copper-Money should be no longer Currant at which the People dispersing Silver-Money was issued from the Mint where the Officers worked Day and Night in Coining Aspers and greater Money and with Promises of being paid shortly in this Money the Soldiers were very much pleased and satisfied tho' the Discontents of the Asiatick Soldiers gave great Apprehensions and Fears to the Port of some Revolt or Insurrection in Asia which had it at that time happened it had in all probability produced a Peace But this Blessing both to the Christians and the Turks was reserved for a more happy time as we shall see if God gives us Life some Years afterwards with which we shall put a Period to this History Anno 1692. THE English Ambassador Sir William Hussey
de deux demy ecus les ayant divisez en trois sortes des riches de moyenne condition des pauvres oté toutes les autres Impositions Ce qui â—uy ferà ramasser des tresgrandes sommes d'Argent J'envoye cellecy par la Valachie la Transylvanie je vous prie Monsieur de me faire l'honneur par le même chemin d'un petit mot de rescription Ce que j'attendray avec impatience demeurant Monsieur Votre tres humble Serviteur COLYER A Péra di Constantinople le dernier de Mars 1691. In this manner Mr. Herbert came provided to Belgrade with Instructions for prosecution of the Treaty which Sir William Hussey had begun but he soon found that the minds of the Turks were not as yet inclined to a Peace and that all his labours and endeavours would prove ineffectual whilst the Turks harkned to the Suggestions of the French who had now got so far into their good Opinion that their Interests being made the same their Counsels could not be other than sincere and their friendships of advantage and therefore it was apparent to Mr. Herbert that the Turks regarding no other Ambassador but the French resolved to take no other Methods than such as should be dictated by them The case being thus manifest struck Mr. Herbert to the heart who was a hot-spirited and a passionate man and not able to endure to see that a Frenchman which lately came from France named Monsieur Marquis de Lorain placed in the Affections of the Grand Vizier with design to thwart him in all his Negotiations he grew so impatient that his blood boyl'd within him to such a degree as Fevour'd him into a kind of Madness which joyn'd with his old Enemy the Gout he died thereof on the 31st of Iuly 1692. The death of these two Ambassadors so near the time to each other seemed as if there had been a kind of fatallity in the Treaty of Peace or that the French had by unlawful means contrived the death of these Ministers but for my part I have no belief or jealousie thereof not but that the French may be ready enough to enter into such secret Machinations where the Interest of their Monarch may be advanced but like as the Devil when he hath catched a Sinner close within his Clutches is not very hasty to bring him to his end so the French who had wholly possessed themselves of the minds and humours of the Turks had no need of having recourse to facinorous actions which were detestable to God and Man. And thus did the Marquis de Loran remain with the Vizier at Belgrade whilst the late Ambassador Monsieur de Chauteauneuf returned by order of the King into France The Campagne as we have said being ended nothing of action happened during the residence of the Vizier at Belgrade who kept himself wholly on the defensive and lest the Germans should think fit to attack his Forces which lay encampt on the other side of the Rivers near Belgrade he made two Bridges one over the Save and the other over the Danube over which upon news that the Christians were advancing he caused his Army to retreat and to pass the Bridges into the Town where their Head-quarters were kept during the Winter season and thus all Military Actions ceasing license was given to the Militia of Anatolia to return home about the 20th of October unto their own Countries the which was more readily granted in regard to the great Mutinies and Insurrection of the People in the Lesser Asia and to the Venetian Successes at Sea in the Archipelago During the whole course of this Years Actions the Venetians were unprosperous their Design upon Canea failing them which they had streightly besieged for the space of a full Month and had hopes of carrying the Place had not a Thousand French leavied for Service of the Venetians deserted and at their first landing gone over to the Turks by whose assistance the Venetians were obliged most shamefully to raise the Siege with the loss of many Men and of most of their Cannon which was the substance and sum of all their Expedition for this Year 1692. About the end whereof the Grand Seignior had two Sons born to him who were Twins the one named Ibrahim and the other Selim on which occasion great rejoycing being shown amidst thereof a dreadful fire happened at Constantinople which began at Balasa and consumed above 4000 Houses with about 2000 Shops This Fire happened in three several places of the City one of which being near the Great Mosche of Sultan Soliman one of the Menarees or Steeples thereof fell to the ground which the People interpreted for an evil Omen and Presage for the succeeding Year The Grand Vizier being returned from the War towards the end of October gave an account to the Grand Seignior of the state of the War and that he had given the Command of the Army unto Lame Husaein Pascia and odered him with 10000 men to watch the Motions of the Enemy and especially to take care of Temeswaer Anno 1693. THIS Year begins with the Death of the deposed Sultan Mahomet IV. who died of a Dropsie on the 4th a Ianuary year 1693. 1693 which had like to have produced a Peace for the great Officers of the Empire being at that time assembled together at Adrianople a Council was held in which it was debated and concluded that the present state of the Ottoman Empire was such as required a Peace Howsoever another Party prevailed excited by the French Ambassador who very liberally dispensed his Presents amongst the Military Men in whose Hands at that time remained the Balance of War and Peace the which was actuated by two different Principles the one by the Presents given by the French and by the Arrival of several French Officers Engineers Gunners Artificial Fire-workers and some Money distributed amongst the Chief Turkish Officers for carrying on the War. On the other side the Mediators as the English and Hollanders whose Business it was to procure a Peace seemed to over-act their Parts and by their Sollicitations and earnest Importunities enhansed the Price thereof and made the Turks believe that either the Emperor could not subsist without a Peace or that some Fraud lay couched under such Specious and Importunate Pressures My Lord Paget as we have said arriving at Adrianople the 31st of Ianuary and having receiv'd his first Audiences with the Grand Seignior and Vizier he had another on the 14th of March following in Company with the two Ambassadors of Holland Heemskirk and Colyer wholly relating to the Peace at which were present the Chief Officers of the Empire but nothing more was done besides reading their Credentials publickly with the Propositions and so were dismissed for that time without a final Answer telling them that they should receive the same in four or five Days but on the 18th
was Vice-Consul for the English Nation in that Island fled with his Family and was well received at Tino Domenico Castelli Son of Vincenzo Castelli escaped also with whom I was well acquainted together with forty of the chief Families of the Latine Rite leaving their Possessions and Moveables behind them Antonio Rendi happened to be then at Smyrna but his Family deferring their Departure his House was Plundered and all his Estate ruined like that of his Neighbours for tho' they fled to Smyrna for refuge by this Revolution the Greeks gained a clear Victory and Ascendant over the Latines For whereas formerly there were great Animosities between those two Rites the Latines by reason of their Riches having the Pope on their side were always esteemed the Superiors and by the great Collections made for them and Legacies bequeathed they gained much more of the Hearts and Favour of the Turks than the Poverty of the Greeks was able to purchase but now a fair Opportunity happening of gaining and Confiscating all that appertained to the Latines they seized on all that belonged to them treating the Greeks more favourably because they believed them to be the less culpable having the less Riches and in reality the Greeks having been under the Dominion of the Turks for some Ages were become almost their Natural Lord from whom they expected better Quarter than from the Venetians or other Italians and so always wished well to the Turks Thus was Scio in a short time fallen again into the Hands of the Turks from whence they are never again likely to recover it unless the Venetians amend their Politicks and prove more Vigilant and Brave in the Wars both by Sea and Land but that is not now to be expected nor those of the Latines permitted to live in that Island unless they conform to the Rites of the Greek Church the greatest part of which were restored to the Enjoyment of their Estates with their Ancient Privileges but the Latines were deprived of both by the Instigation of their old Inveterate Enemies the Greeks tho' at first they were put in hopes of obtaining the like or equal Favours with them After the Death of Sultan Achmet and that Sultan Mustapha was exalted to the Throne in the first place Achmet Pasha Chimacam of Adrianople was Disgraced and all his Goods and Estate Confiscated to the Use of the Grand Seignior and he himself made a Prisoner in the Seraglio but pardoned at the Intercession of the Grand Vizier and sent Governour to the Island of Mytilene where I had once a Pasha for a Friend Married to a Sultana which had like to have cost me dear but God be praised I escaped him without much loss In the Place of this Chimacam the Nisangi Pasha who sets the Grand Seignior's Firme to certain Writings was put in his place and the Vizier's Kahya into the Place of the Nisangi and Geleâ—i Ibrahim Aga was made Kahya Upon the Arrival of the Valide Sultana at Adrianople Iastisâ— Aga who had been formerly Kahya to the Hasaki Sultana or the Royal Queen was Constituted Aga or General of the Janisaries and at the same time Vizier of the Bench These were succeeded by the Spahyler Agasi who is General of the Horse and his Place supplied by a Salakiar of the Seraglio About the beginning of March Ymam-Sâ—de Mahomet Effendi then Kadilesker of Romelia was created Mufti by the Grand Seignior and his Predecessor was sent to Constantinople from whence the Sultan sent for Mimadi Effendi to be Kadilesker of Anatolia The Nakib who is the Chief of the Green Heads or those of the Race of Mahomet was deprived of this Office and Mahomet Effendi Kadi of Câ—nstantinople which was as much as Recorder of that City was put into his Place In like manner the Tefterdar-Kahyasi or the Lord Treasurer's Steward or Secretary called Galil Effendi was also changed who had been Treasurer in the Time of the foregoing Vizier Ali Pasha and thus had he formed all his Court according to his own Humour and Fancy And as to the High and Sublime Offices Abroad he began also to form and modelize them That of Egypt he Conferred upon Ishmael Pasha who had been lately Beglerbeg of Damascus and the Government of this latter he bestowed on the Kadilesker of the Deceased Sultan Achmet Hassan Pasha who was Kinsman to the Queen Regent late Governour of Scio was called back to Court from his Banishment at Hatsack and made the Deputy-Chimacam or Vikil-Chimacam to Govern at any time during the Grand Seignior's Absence A LIST of such as were put to Death for the late Conspiracy at Adrianople STRANGLED BENGLI HASSAN PASHA late Governour of Tripoli of Soria BEHEADED Hassan Turcman Agasi Bester Aga Salahor of the Grand Seignior Weli Aga of the Chimacam Hassan Effendi Kahya of the Chimacam Mutpach Emmini or Customer HANGED An Astrologer These following were Banished Fisula Effendi formerly Mufti who had been Banished to and afterwards Exiled into the Upper Egypt Iohaia Effendi late Kadilescher sent to Aleppo Mahomet Effendi Nakib Banished to Aleppo Ganziack Effendi under Kadi of Galata was sent to Lemnos As was also Nissani Ogla Hussaein Aga Favourite to the aforementioned Vizier Ali Pasha Besides these were above a Hundred more Strangled of Inferiour Quality whose Bodies were thrown into the River Meritz which runs by Adrianople The Valide Sultana being arrived at Adrianople was received with open Arms by her Son who governed himself much by the Measures had been given him by his Mother who made several Changes and Alterations every Day amongst the Officers of State only the Grand Vizier and Mufti continued in their Offices and the greatest part of the others consisted of Old Servants of the Court established in the time of his Father Sultan Mahomet IV. of which the Queen-Mother had an Opinion that they would prove the most Faithful Servants of any in the Courr To make room for these Men the Chimacam the Great Master of the Horse to the Sultan the Chehaya Bey or Lieutenant-General of the Janisaries who is always more feared and esteemed by the Soldiery than the Aga himself were all displaced with the Janisar-Aga as also the Principal Officers of the Spahees having an Opinion That the Youngest are always the more Bold and Daring their Courages being excited with Ambition and Vain-Glory Things being in this manner modellized both for Domestick and Martial Affairs the Grand Seignior again confirmed and published his Resolution to go this Year to the War and to make Provisions of Money to maintain the same with the usual Donative to the Soldiery which was always given in former times whensoever the Sultan made his first Years Campaign Those who were against the Grand Seignior's going in Person to the War pressed very hard the prevailing Argument of want of Money to raise which all means possible were contrived for the Sultan would not be put by his Resolution alledging That the Negligence of
worthy such a Traitor The oration of the Gâ—eat Masâ—â—r to the rest of the Knights aâ—d Souldiers to encourage them valiantly to withstand the Turks Eight hundred Turks slain Treason against the Great Master discovered and the Traitors executed Two thousand â—ive hundred Turks slain in the Assault The resolute answer of the Great Master A fair Breach made by force of the Turks battery The Bassa raiseth his Siege Achmetes landeth his Army in Apulia near to Otranto and spoileth the Country Otranto taken by the Turks Mahomet dieth at Geivisen in Bithynia not without suspition of poison He is buried at Conâ—â—antinople The description of Mahomet The Sons of Mahomet Mustapha Bajazet and Zemes Otranto yielded by the Turks upon composition Dissention among the Turks about the Succession Bajazet comeâ—â— Conâ—â—tinople Zemes riseth against his Brother Bajazet Bajazet goeth against Zemes Achmetes made General of Bajazet his Army Zemes flyeth in into Syria Zemes his Speech to Caytbeâ—us Sultan of Egypt Catâ—â—ius the Egyptian Sultan sendeth Embâ—ssadors to Bajâ—zâ—t The King of Caramania soliciteth Zemes to take up Arms against Bajazet Zemes flieth to Sea. Zemes his Letters to his Brother Bajazet Zemes flieth to the Rhodes The description of Zemes. Aâ—hmetes his death contrivâ—d Achmetes his Son stirreth up the Ianizaries to help his Father Bajazet for fear delivereth Achmetes to the Ianizaries Achmetes slain Bajazet purposeth to destroy the Ianizaries Bajazet invaâ—eth Moldavia Mary great Princes sâ—e to the Master oâ— the Rhodes foâ— Zâ—mes Bajazet invadeth Carâ—mania Tarsus in Cilicia yieldeth to Bajazet A long and terrible battel betwixt Bajazet and the King of Caramania Achmetes being discomfited is taken Prisoner and sent to Caire A long and terrible Battel betwixt the Turks and the Mamalukes The Turks flie away by night A Peace concluded betwixt Bajazet and Caytbeius Alphonsus King of Naples and Alexander Bishop of Rome crave aid of Bajazet against Charles the French King. Bajazet sendeth Dautius his Embassador to Alexander Bishop of Rome Jo. Roverâ—us robbeth the Turks Embassadors Zemes dieth poisoned by Alexander Bishop of Rome The evil life of Caesar Borgia The death of Caesar Borgia The French King invadeth Naples Ferdinand departeth from Capua to pacifie an uprore at Naples A most resolved act of King Ferdinand Charles the Frâ—nch King received into Naples A great League made by divers Christian Princes against the French King. Ferdinand recovereth his Kingdom of Naples from the French and dieth The death of Charles the French King. The Turks invade Podolla and Rassia and in their return are for the most part lost Friuli part of the Venetian Territory spoiled by the Turks A Fight at Sea betwixt the Turks and the Venetians Lepanto yielded to the Turks Methone besieged both by Sea and Land by Bajazet Methone taken by the Turks Corone Pilus and Crisseum yieldeth to the Turks Cephalenia taken by â—he Venetians Pylos taken from the Tâ—rks and again yielded unto them Dyrrachium taken by the Turks Mytâ—lene besieged The Siege of Mytilene broken up Neritos taken by the Venetians A Peace concluded betwixt Bajazet and the Venetians Bajazet in danger to have been slain by a Dervislar or Turkish Monk. Bajazet by nature peaceable The Turks and Persians diâ—â—er not about the interpretation of their Law but about the true Successor of their great Prophet Mahomet Haider marrieth Martha the daughter of the great King Usun Cassanes Haider Erdebil secretly murdred The beginning of the Cuselbassas Hysmael his behaviour in the time of his exile Hysmael retâ—rneth into Armenia and recovereth his Inheritance Sumachia taken by Hysmael Hysmael cometh to Tauris Hysmael taketh the City of Tauris and defaced the Tomb of his Uncle Jacup Hysmael goeth against the Persian King. Elvan the Persian King slain Hysmael goth against Moratchamus Hysmael exceedingly beloved and honoured of his Subjects Chasen Chelife and Techellis invade the Turks Dominions Hysmael sends Embassadors unto the Venetians to joyn in League with them against Bajazet Orchanes and Mahometes two of Bajazet his Nephews overthrown by Techellis The battel between Caragoses and Techellis Techelliâ— besiegeth Caragoses the Viceroy in the City of Cutaie Caragoses the Viceroy with his Wives and Children taken by Techellis in the City of Cuâ—aie Bajazet sendeth Alis Bassa out of Europe against Techellis The batâ—el betwixt Alis Bassa and Techellis Chasan Câ—â—life slain Alis Bassa slain Jonuses Bassa 〈◊〉 by Bajazet General 〈◊〉 his Army against Techellis Techellis burnt at Tauris A great Earthquake at Constantinople The Children of Bajazet Mahometes disguised as a seafaring man cometh to Constantinople and so to the Court. Mahometes poysoned by Asmehemedi Asmehemedi justly rewarded for his Treachery Selymus aided by Mahometes his Father in law riseth against his Father Bajazet sendeth Embassadors to Selymus Presents given to Selymus by his Fathers Embassadors Bajazet would appoint his Successor whilst he yet lived Bajazet seekeâ—h to prefer Achomates unto the Empire Selymus marcheth with his Army toward Hadrianople Selymus his dissembling Embassage unto his Father Selymus overtaketh his Father The chief men about Bajazet secâ—etly favour Selymus and disswade him from giving him Battel Cherseogles Bassa the only great man faithful to Bajazet pâ—rswadeth him to give Battel to Selymus Bajazet's Speech to the Souldiers and Ianizaries of the Court. The common sort of the Ianizaries faithful to Bajazet desire battel The battel betwixt Bajazet and Selymus Selymus his Army discomfited The â—stiâ—ation Selymus â—â—d of his horse whereon he escaped from his Father Bajazet willing to prefer Achomates to the Empire Achomates inciteth his two Sons Amurathes and Aladin to take part with him against their Grandfather Bajazet Bajazet sendeth Embassadoâ—s â—o Achomates Achomates killeâ—h hâ—s Fatâ—ers â—mbassador Achomates proclaimed Traitor The crafty oration of the great Bassa Mustapha to Bajazet for the bringing home of Selymus Corcutus cometh to Constantinople Corcutus his oration to his Father Bajazet Bajazet comforteth Corcutus and promiseth to resign to him the Empire aâ—ter that Selymus was passed over into Asia Bajazet his crafty Speech unto his Son Selymus The crafty dissimulation of Selymus The blunt speech of Mustapha to Bajazet persuading him to resign the Empire to Selymus The resolute answer of old Bajazet to Mustapha and the other Bassaes Corcutus flyeth Selymus practiseth with Haman a Iew Bajazet his Physitian to poyson him Bajazet poysoned by the Iew. The 〈◊〉 of Bajazet Selymus causeth two of his Faâ—hers Pagis to be put to death for mourning for their Master Haman the Iew justly rewarded for his treachery Paluus Jovius Illust. virorum Elog. lib. 4. Selymus going into Asia against his Brother Achomates Selymus murthereth five of his Brothers Sons Selymus seeketh after the lives of Amurat and Aladin the Sons of Achomates his Brother Ufegâ— Bassa taken Prisoner Mustapha Bassa shamefully murthered Ufegi Bassa put to death Selymus tâ—keth the spoil of his Brother Corcutus Corcutus taken The lamentable death of Corcâ—tus Treason against Selymus discovered Sinan Bassa discomfited by Achomates
braveth the Christians Castronovum taken by the Christians Auria neglecting to pursue Barbarussa returns into Italy to the grief of the Venetian Admiral Barbarussa sent by Solyman to besiege Castronovum Castronovum hardly besieged by Barbarussa Castronovum taken Sarmentus slain Alphonsus Vastius and Hanebaldus sent Embassadors from the Emperor and the French King to the State of Venice Vasâ—â—us his Oration to the Venetian Senate The answer of the Duke to Vastius Vastius his answer to the demand of the Venetian Senators The Venetian Senators diversly affected towards thâ— confederation with the Emperor and the Frâ—â—ch â—â—ng against Solyman Foscarus a grave Senator Foscarus disgraced by the mâ—ltitude The Venetians sent Aloysius Badoerius their Embassador to Solyman to conclude a Peace The most secâ—â—t decree of the Vetian Sâ—nate made 〈◊〉 to Sâ—lyman A Peace concluded betwixt the Venetians and Solyman The Traitors which revealed the secrets of the Venetian state to Solyman executed The secret confederation betwixt King Ferdinand and King John revealed King John in his old years marrieth Isabella King Sigismunds Daughter The Queen with Child Queen Isabella delivered of a Son. The death of King John. The honourable saying of King John. Embassadors sent out of Hungary to Solyman A young Child Crowned King of Hungary George Bishop of Veradium one of the Kings Tutors a notable Man. The fugitive Hungarians perswade King Ferdinand to invade Hungary Laschus disswadeth King Ferdinand from seeking for the Kingdom of Hungary by force perswading him rather to request it of courtesie of Solyman Laschus sent Embassador from King Ferdinand to Solyman King Ferdinand sendeth an Embassador to the Queen to demand of her the Kingdom of Hungary The Queens answer to the Embassador King Ferdinand invadeth Hungary Vâ—â—egrade taken Pesâ—h and Vachia taken Buda besieged King Ferdinands Army departs from Buda Alba Regalis yielded to King Ferdinand The Queen câ—aveth aid of Solyman against Ferdinand Solyman promiseth to protect the Queen and her Son against Ferdinand and sends Presents to the young King. Laschus King Ferdinand his Embassador imprisoned by Solyman The Queen joyneth her Forces with the Tâ—rks and burneth Vacia Peâ—â—h in vain besieged by the Turks Kinâ— Fâ—rdinâ—n◠〈…〉 with 〈◊〉 Army inâ—â— Hungâ—ry Buda besieged Rogendorff threatns the Queen The Bishop his scornful answer to Rogendorff A great Breach in the Walls of Buda The Germans assaulting the Breach are with loss repulsed Bornemissa practiseth to betray the City of Buda Bornemissa receiveth in the Germans by a Postern supposing them to have been Hungarians The Germans not conducted are discovered and discomfited Solyman at one time maintainâ—th Waâ—s in diâ—ers places of the World far distant Mahometes Bassa cometh with the Turks Army to relieve Buda The order of King Ferdinands Army The Bassa entrencheth his Army within half a mile of the Kings Army Skirmishes betwixt the Christiaâ—s and the Turks Rayschachius for sorrow of his Son slain by the Turks suddainly dieth The Turks suddainly assail the Christians in the Island Valentinus General for the Queen in Buda certifieth Perenus of the coming of Solyman The Christians Army departeth by night from Buda The Tâ—rks assail the Christians in their Camp at their departure A mischievous practise of the Bishop Great slaughter of the Christians Pesth taken by Cason Admiral of the Turks Fleet. Rogendorff against his Will carried away by his Physician and Chamberlain to Comora there dieth Solyman cometh to Buda Turkish Cruelty Solyman sends for the young King into the Camp. The Queen sendeth the young King her Son to Solyman in the Camp attended with the Nobility Solyman courteously receiveth the young King. Solyman craâ—tily taketh the City of Budâ— Solyman detaineth the Noblemen of Hungary in his Camp. The great Bassaes of divers opinions for the disposing of the Kingdom of Hungary The Oration of Mahometes of Belgrade to Solyman concerning the disposing of the Kingdom of Hungary Mischievous Counsel Solyman entreth Buda the thirtieth of August 1541 and there first sacrificeth after the Mahometan manner The Doom of Hungary The Queen departeth out of Buda with her Son. King Ferdinand sendeth Embassadors and Preâ—enâ—s to Solyman The frugal Chear of the Turks The request of the Embassadors in the behalf of King Ferdinand Solymans proud answer to King Ferdinand his Embassadors The Turks Camp well ordered Solyman retuâ—neth towards Constantinople Lascus set at liberty by Solyman shortly after dieth Maylat the Vayvod not able to keep the Field against Achomates and the Prince of Moldavia flieth to Fogaras Maylat cometh into the Turks Camp. Maylat tâ—eâ—cherously tâ—ken Prisoner by the Moldavian Transylvania given by Solyman to the young King. Charles the Emperor returneth out of Germany to invade Africk The French Kings Embassadors slain by the Emperor The Emperor and the Bishop of Rome meet at Luca. The Emperor driven by tempest into Sicilia Tâ—e Emperor cometh to Algiers The Emperors Fleet out of Spain and the Low Countries The Duke of Alva Delay in great actions hurtful The Emperor sendeth a Messenger to Assan-Aga Governor of Algiers for Barbarussa The scornful answer of Allan the Eunuch to the Empâ—rors mâ—ssenger The Emperor landeth his Army at Algiers The description of Algiers The Numidians skirmish with the Spaniards The Spaniards put the Numidians to flight and gain the Hills The description of the Numidian Footmen and Horsemen A marvellous Temâ—est The Moors put to flight by the Italians The Italians discomfited by the Moors flie and indanger the whole Camp. The notable courage of the Emperor in staying the flight of his Army An horrible Tempest The Christian Fleet perisheth by Shipwrack A hard choice Many Gallies lost by saving of one Man. The misery of the Christian Army The chearfulness of the Emperor comforteth the whole distressed Army Horses good Meat in the Emperors Army The Emperor dâ—parteth from Algiers He enbarketh his Army Horses of great price drowned by the Emperors command to make room for the common Souldiers Two Spanish Ships full of Souldiers driven by Tempest to Algiers Assan taketh the Spaniards to mercy The Emperor cometh to Buzia The Emperor arriveth in Spain The French King the more to trouble the Emperor soliciteth Solyman to invade his Countries Polinus the French Embassador meeteth Solyman coming from Buda and offereth unto him â—resen from the French King. The request of the French Embassador to Solyman Polinus return into France Polinus sent back again to Solyman cometh to Venice and notably soliciteth the Venetians to take up arms with the French King against the Emperor The crafty answer of the Venetians to the French Kings Embassador Solymans Embassador cometh to Venice Polinus coming to Constantinople findeth not the Turk so ready to send his Fleet to aid the French King as he had hoped The sharp Oration of Solyman the Eunuch Bassa to Polinus the French Embassador Polinus by the means of the â—apiaga is brought to the Speech of Solyman himself Solymans answer to Polinus The Princes of Germany jâ—yn their
Michael The Turks forced to retire The Christian Fleet driven by Tempâ—st to the Island Aegusa The Christian Fleet cometh to Gaulos A fugitive discovereth the enemies purposes to the Great Master The Vice-Roy arriveth at Malta and landeth his Forces The Turks forsake the Siege The Turks overthrown by the Christians fly to their Gallies The Turks depart from Malta The carefulness of the Great Master The Great Masters Letters to the Grand Prior of Almaine concerning the manner of the Turks proceedings in the Siege of Malta The Island of Chios taken by the Turks The Turks surpâ—ise Towns in Hungary Great troubles in Hungary The good success of the Emperors Captains A great Prey The Turks with much labour make a Bridge over the great Rivâ—r of Dravus The Turks â—ncamp bâ—fore Sigeth Count Serinus his comfortable and resolute speech to his Souldiers Solyman cometh into the Camp at Sigeth The defendants burn the new Town The Turks win the old Town Solyman dieth of the bloody Flux Muhamet Bassa concealeth the death of Solyman The great Bulwark undermined and set on fire by the Ianizaries The little Castle set on fire The last speech of Count Serinus to his Souldiers Serinâ—â—s slain Serinus his Head sent to Count Salma The Bassaes quipping Letter to Count Salma Nicholaus Keretschen corrupted for mony betrayeth Gyula to the Turks A Traitor well rewarded The Governor of Alba Regalâ—â— taken The Turks sharp answer to thâ— Spaniard The Turks Army returneth with the Body of Solyman to Belgrade Selymus saluted Emperor of the Turks in the year 1566. Solymaâ— buried Troubles in Hungary The Bassa of Buda desirous to farther the Peace Maximiâ—â—an and Selymus both desâ—rous of Peace Maximilian the Emperor sendeth Embassadors to Selymus The Embassadors come to Buda Presents given by the Emperors Embassadors unto the Bassa of Buda The Emperors Embassadors honourably received by the Turks at Constantinople Prâ—sents given by the Emperors Embassadors to the great Bassaes Presents send unto Selymus by the Emperor The Emperors Embassadors honourably conducted by the Tâ—rks unto the Court. The first Gate of the Great Turks Palace The second Gatâ— A homely Fâ—ast given to the Embassadors Followers in the Turks Court. The third Gate The Embassadors brought in unto Selymus with the manner of the Entertainment of them and their Followers Iâ—â—nerario Di. Marc. Antonio Pigafetta ca. 5. The principal Point whereupon the Embassadors differed from the Turks in the Treaty of Peace The â—hief Capitulations whereon a Peace was concluded betwixt Maximilian the Emperor and Selymus Embassadors sent from Tamas the Persian King to Selymus * Schach â—uli Soltâ—â— was not the proper name of this Embassador but a Title of Honour and signifieth as much as a Prince Servant to the King. * Sayms are Souldiers of greater honour than the Spahi having for their Stipend yearly 2000 Aspers at the least out of the Revâ—nues of â—certain Towns and Villages * A Mescali is four drams †Tumenlich is in value as much as the Turks Aspâ—r * December The Persian Embassador honourably entertained by the Turks at Hadrianople The Persian Embassador in going to visit Muhamet the Visier Bassa in danger to have been slain The rich Present sent by the Persian King unto Selymus The Embassadors Present to Selymus An honourable allowance Muhamet Bassa disswadeth Selymus from the invading of Cyprus Selymus sendeth Cubates his Embassador to Venice Hard to trust upon Confederations The Turks Embâ—ssador homely â—ntertained at Venice Cubateâ— the Turks Embassadors spâ—ech in the Senate at Venice The effect of Selymus his Letters to the Venetians The answer of the Venetians to the Turks Demands The Turkâ— Embassador sent away in secret from Venice The resolution of the Senate for War diversly liked and disliked of others The Emperor the French King and the King of Polonia entangled with their Leagues refused to aid the Venetians against the Turks What Christian Princes promised to aid the Venetians The description of Cyprus King Richard in England How the Kingdom of Cyprus came to the Venetians Sabellic Eâ—nead 10. lib. 8. Selymus invadeth the Venetians Pial Bassa sent against the Venetians Mustapha Bassa his Letters unto the Venetians Mustapha Bassa goeth for Cyprus The Turke Fleet descried in Cyprus The Turks land in Cyprus Mustapha Bassa marcheth towards Nicosia Nicholaus Dandulus Governour of Nicosia The desâ—ription of Nicosia The Turks before Nicosia Nicosia battered and assaulted and by the Christians valiantly defended The Venetian Fleet of an hundred and seventeen Sail at Corcyra The Christian Fleet setteth forward toward Cyprus The Christians sally out of the City upon the Turks Scouts sent out of the City taken by the Turks and executed Letters shot into the City Mustapha Bassa in vain perswadeth them of Nicosia to yield Mustapha encourageth his Souldiers Nicosia most terribly assaulted by the Turks The Turks gain the Bulwarks and Walls of Nicosia Nicosia taken by the Turks A great slaughter Cyrene yielded unto the Turks Famagusta besieged Mustapha raiseth his Siege The Turks at Sea advertised of the coming of the Christian Fleet prepare themselves for Battel The Commanders of the Christian Fleet of divers opinions for giving of the Turks Battel The Christian Fleet returneth upon the foul disagreement of the Commanders Zanlus the Venetian Admiral discharged of his Office and sent in bonds to Venice A desperate Fact of a Woman The strong Castle of Chymera taken by Venerius Quirinus taketh a Castle of the Turks in Peloponnesus Quirinus a valiant Gentleman Negligence severely punished by Selymus Muhamet Bassa a secret friend unto the Venetians puts them in hope of Peace The Venetians send an Embassador to Selymus to entreat with him of Peace Ragazonâ—us the Vâ—netian Embassador cometh to Constantinople The conference betwixt Mohamet the great Bassa and Ragazonius The Pope and the King of Spain fâ—aring lest the Venetians should make Peace with the Turk hasten the confederation The Venetians resolve to accept of the League with the Pope and the King. A perpetual League concluded betwixt the Pope the King of Spain and the Venetians Tâ—e proportioning of the charge of the Wars against the Turk and the other Capâ—tulations of the League The League proclaimed The Venâ—tians the more to trouble the Turk seek to stir up Tamas the Persian King to take up Arms against him Alexander the Venetian Embassador hath audience with the Persian King. The answer of Tamas the Persian King unto the Venetian Embassador Mustapha Bassa â—etuâ—neth to the Siege oâ— Famagusta The descripâ—ion of Famagusta The number of the Defendants of Famagusta Famagusta assaulted and notably defended by the Christians Famagusta again assaulted by the Turks Bragadinus encourageth the defendants Balâ—onius a valiant Captain The Turks sâ—â—k to undermine â—he City The breaches notably defended They of Famagusta blow up one of their own battered Bulwarks with six hundred Turks thereon Famagusta hardly assaulted The Citisens of Famagusta request the Governor in time to yield up the City A
Christian Troops to the place of Rendezvous Pr. Lewis views the Troops The Forces joyn Titul surrendered to the Turks The Turks falsifie their Faith. July PeterWaradin fortified Preparations for a Battle The Turks strong in Ships hinder the Provisions of the Army Skirmishes in Parties The Armies near Pr. Lewis marches back to Salankement The Turks repulsed An Aâ—arm given The Germans in â—anger Count Bucquoy 's Regiment cut to pieces The Christians lose all their Provisions 1691. August 19th The Disposition of the two Aâ—â—mies The Battle of Salankement 1691. Aâ—gust Thâ— Christians in a daâ—â—gâ—ous poâ—â—â—re The Christians enter the Enemies Camp. The Turks land 5000 Men out of their Fleet. A New Vizier Ali Pasha The Death of the Lord Ambassador Sir William Hussey Treaties of Peace are laid aside The Army at Belgrade dispersed The Misery of the Turkish Army A Consultation held at Adrianople The Misâ—eâ—es amongst the Turks 1691. Novemb. The French Ambassadoâ— encourages the Turks He scarcely escapes the People Counsels held by the Prime Officers Complaints against the Tartars And against other Pasha's of the Army 1691. August Are Punished August The Turks pursued by the Rascians Te Deum sâ—ng A Resolution at a Council of War. Pr. Lewis made Lieutenant-General 1691. Septemb. Lippa 〈◊〉 to Genâ—raâ— Veterani 〈◊〉 Lewis continues his March. Reiâ—forces Lippa A Party of Tekeli 's Men defeated C. Schlick defeats a Party from Gr. Waradin Count Marsigli and his Chiaus at Great Waradin October 1691 October Brod. 〈…〉 Turks And fly tâ— another 〈◊〉 Which was a so dâ—serted by them and flying into the Woodâ— arâ— for the most part cut off Great Waradin Attacked The Palanca of Great Waâ—adin taken The Town Bâ—sieged Novemb. 1691. Novemb. Novemb. 10th The Mannâ—r oâ— the Blockade Pâ— Lewis 〈◊〉 oâ—f Sultan Achmet fallen into a Fever by ill News He Râ—â—â—vers The Grand Vizier sick and recovered His Qualifications 〈…〉 of Constantinopâ—e an 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 French. Resolutions at a Council oâ— War. Tumults against Copper-Money The Turks râ—sâ—lve to continue the War. A Teftish Pasha sent into Asia A Persian Ambassador at Adrianople February The Persian Ambassador's Manner of going to Audience March. The Persian Ambassador continues at Adrianople against the Inclination of the Turks A Character of the Grand Vizier The Artifices of his Son. The Arts by which the Grand Vizier was kept in his Office. Tekeli at Adrianople His Audience with the Grand Vizier The French Ambassador visits him Tekeli and the Tartar dispatched away Change of Officers The French Ambassador encourages the Turks 1692. March. Preparations for the War. Instances for a Pâ—ace promote the War. Thâ— Persian Ambassador continues at Adrianople Preparations for the War. Factions in the Court. The Grand Vizier seeks the Life of the Chimacam He is ruined thereby The Chimacam refuses to be Vizier Another Vizier named The Old Vizier Banished And his Estate seized The Soldiers at Belgrade offer to prefer another but denied The Persian Ambassador pleased herewith All at a stâ—nd until the Vizier's coming The Vizier arrives and received by the Grand Seignior A Counsel of War May 1692. The Vizier marches towards Belgrade The Ianisaries mutiny for Pay Are pacified A New Châ—macam made The Mufti recalled Waradin in great distress May. Heusler Summon's the Town They refuse to yield The Turks make Sallies and are repulsed Continue resolute to maintain the Town Howsoever they Capitulate June The 〈◊〉 march out of Waradin June The Turks repulsed by the Rascians from Titul and Titz The Croats take Behatz from the Turks Tâ—e Turks 〈◊〉 confusion â—y changeâ— Conspiracy against the Vizier July The Persian Ambassador takes his Conge of the Grand Seignior The Marquis of Loâ—and arrives fâ—om France Hâ—s Reports made to the Turkish â—ourt The Vizier promises to continue the War. The Marquis permitted to go to Belgrade Reports from the Tartars 1692. July The Turks repulsed from Portsâ—a The Ban of Croatia Attacks the Turks 1692. August The Rascians take great Boâ—ties The Campaign of the Year 1692 ends Poland 〈◊〉 Tuâ—ks 〈…〉 Sorâ—ka â—ctober 〈◊〉 Turks 〈◊〉 1692. October Raise the Siege Mr. Herbert sent Ambassador to the Turks Mr. Herbert 's Letters to the Author Tâ—e grâ—aâ—est difficulty in all this Treaâ—y was this 5 th Article about Transylvania Mr. Herbert at Belgrade His Death Old Style Reflexions on the Death of the two English Ambassadors The Grand Vizier at Belgrade A thousand French desert the Venetian Service Fires in Constantinople Debates about a Peace March. Lord Paget arrives at Adrianople His Audiences * Interpretâ—r Sultan Achmet sick of the Dropsie Changes aâ— Coâ—rt The â—ew Vâ—zier sâ—nt to thâ— Aâ—my May. The Mediators dismissed Pr â—oâ—â— for the Seâ—â— The Vizier begins his march from Adrianople Fire at Constantinople July The Turks in Asia drowned in the Waters Junâ— July 11. August The Palanca of Boskoua capitulates 1693. August The Turks make a Sally Are driven in with loss Another Sally Bombs thrown into the Town The Grand Vizier marches to relief of the Town Septemb. The Christians loss 1693. Septemb. The Siege of Belgrade raised Septemb. Brunzieâ—â— taken by Storm August Constantinople burn'd a second time this Year Corban made at Constantinople and Adrianople The Grand Viziâ—r dâ—posed Ali Pasha Vizier Chimacam Ahmet Pâ—sha banisâ—â—d April Polish Envoy's Audience with the Tartar Han at Adrianople A sham Envoy from Poland The Turks averse to a Peace with the Surrender of Caminiecâ— Thâ— Polish Envoy seâ—t awâ—â— with Disgraceâ— Mâ— Heeâ—skirk seâ—t â—aâ—k The Nogay Tartar The Grand Vizier deposed March The New Vizier Character â—f the New Vizier Sultan Achmet in danger of Death August Septemb. A Storm on the Danube A Fight by Water and Land. Septemb. The Brandenburg ers râ—infoâ—ce the Gâ—rmans The Grand Vizier raises the Siegâ— Sâ—io takâ—n by the Venetians The ill condition of the Turkish Affairs A Seditious Preacher 1694. October A Sedition quâ—lled The Sultan sends in haste for the Grand Vizier The Mufâ—â—'s 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 Letters to Exhort the Scheriff to Peace The Vizier delays his return The Turks design to recovâ—r Scio. The good Qualities of Mustapha Pasha Sultan Achmet's Deatâ— The Queen Mother Sultan Mustapha's Beginnings Sultan Mustapha his Saying The Sulâ—an's Humour February Lord Paget at Adrianople A Fight between the Poles and the Tartars The Tartars beaten The Tartars withdraw Scio regained by the Turks Thâ— Greeks in Scio fâ—vâ—â—â— by the Turks Changes at Court. 1965. March. March. All Persons Taxed A Donative refused to the Soldiers 〈…〉 The Mufti Depâ—sâ—â— the Vizier Strangled June New Orders for the Army The Grand Seigniâ—r's Severities June Septemâ— Veteranâ— dâ—fenteâ— The ill Conduct of the Imperial Army in Anno 1695. Great Honour gained by the Sultan The Sultan Orders for his Return to Adrianople The Grand Seâ—gnior marcheâ— back The Turkish Discipline The Grand Sâ—igniâ—r marchâ—s to Constantinople Novemb. The Allai or Triumph at the Entrance into Constantinople Sahin Pasha killed Tekely neglâ—cted The Venetians at Sea give a Defeat to the Turks The Pasha of Diarbekir put to Flight And the Turks defeated The Grand Seignior with the Queen Mother leaves Constantinople April A Fiâ—e at Constantinople June July The Battle of Olâ—sch The Tuâ—ks 〈◊〉 Septemb. 27 onâ— 28. October Thâ— French do greaâ— Serviceâ— Novemb. Audience of thâ— Persian Ambassador The Persâ—ans aâ—paâ—t Septemb. Preparatiâ—â—s for the Turkish â—leet Alteration of the Coyn in Turky Maritime Preparations for the Year 1697. A Storâ— oâ— the Consul and a Jew at Gran Cairo March. The Greek Patriarch a Rash Man. Tekely 's Poor State and Condition April Tekely's â—â—â—lâ—ctions August The Battle of the Tibiscus Inclinations of the Turks towards a Peace October Castle Doboy Surrenders October 1698. January June Octob. 26. O. S. Novemb.
of Narbona rifled certain Towns in Spain standing upon the Sea-Coast and about the Promontory of Venus called of the Mariners Creum took great prize and in the Haven of Palamos took one Merchant Ship and a Gally with which Prey they passed over to Algiers as they were commanded there to winter and with the first of the Spring to return again to Barbarussa in Brovence That Winter Barbarussa repairing his Fleet was furnished with many necessaries by the Genowayes and especially by Auria himself who under the colour of redeeming of Prisoners willingly furnished the Turk with such things as he wanted for although he professed himself one of the Emperors Captains yet would he not shew an Enemies mind by the unseasonable denial of a little Sea Furniture lest in so doing he should have hurt his Native Country of Genoa which he saw then subject to the injury of so great a Fleet so nigh at Hand But leave we now Barbarussa to winter in Provenoâ— and with the course of time turn a little out of the way to see in Muleasses King of Tunes the small assurance the greatest have in highest place of worldly honour This Mahometan King once before thrust out of his Kingdom by Barbarussa and restored again by Charles the Emperor as is before declared hearing of his coming with this great Fleet and imagining nothing less than that he should come to the aid of the most Christian King doubted not without cause lest it was prepared against himself Besides that divers great Cities of his Kingdom namely Constantina Mahemedia and Mahometa called in ancient time Cyrtha Leptis and Adrumentum were then holden by the Turks Barbarussas Favorites Wherefore fearing the worst about the same time that Barbarussa was sailing alongst the Coast of Italy he passed over into Sicily to have met the Emperor at Genoa and to have obtained of him greater Aid against the Turks At his departure out of Africk he committed the tuition of his Kingdom to such valiant men as he supposed would have been unto him most faithful First he appointed Mahometes then Maniphet to govern the City and Corsus otherwise called Fares his old Servant to keep the Castle leaving Mahometes his Brother and Fares his Son with Touarres a Spaniard Captain of the Castle of Guletta as Pledges the one of his Brothers the other of his Fathers Faith but unto Amida his Son he committed the leading of his men of War for the defence of his Kingdom against the Turks and Numidians As he was passing out of Sicilia to have met the Emperor at Genoa he was by contrary Winds driven first to Cajeta and afterward to Naples where he was by the Viceroy honourably entertained and a House appointed for him richly furnished the Neopolitans wondring at the strange Attire of the People with the manner of their feeding and curious plenty of all manner of sweet Perfumes for into every Dish they put in Odors of exceeding price so that it was well known that a Peacock and two Pheasants dressed after the manner of the Kings Kitchen cost above an hundred Ducats so that not only the Dining Chamber when they were carved up but all the House was so filled with the strange and fragrant smell that all they that dwelt near thereabouts were partakers of that unusual and delicate Perfume From Naples he was about to have travelled by Land unto the Emperor being then in conference with the Pope at Buzetum fearing to adventure the Sea possessed by the Enemies Fleet had not the Emperor by his Letters willed him to stay still where he was But whilst he made his aboad at Naples and carefully attended what Course Barbarussa would take who furnished with so great a Fleet was departed from Nice disappointed of his purpose he was by certain Messengers advertised out of Africa That Amida his Son was risen up against him and possessing himself of the Kingdom had slain his Captains polluted his Wives and taken the Castle of Tunes With which news he being exceedingly troubled determined without delay to pass over into Africk and though late yet as he might to remedy his domestical troubles in hope to oppress that Rebellion in the beginning and his Son also before he could gather any strength to rest upon Wherefore he with all the haste he could opened his Coffers and entertained Souldiers the Viceroy giving leave to all such banished Men as would to come and give their names to pass over as Souldiers into Africk upon report whereof such a number of Malefactors and condeâ—ned persons came flocking to Naples that it was thought a sufficient Army might have been made of such kind of men every one of them chusing rather to enter into Pay and blot out the infamy of banishment and prove the fortune of Wars than to live wandring up and down the Woods and in danger every hour to be hanged Of these infamous Men one Ioannes Baptista Lofredius a Man well born but of a fierce and covetous disposition undertook the leading he covenanting with Muleasses to have three months Pay before hand levied a thousand and eight hundred Men which he presently shipped and keeping the greatest part of their Pay to himself passed over with the King into Africk and landed at Guletta But how Amida rose up against his Father and what was the end of that bloody Rebellion shall not be amiss briefly to rehearse There were certain Noblemen of great Authority about Amida when Muleasses departed which at their pleasure ruled the young Prince who easily hearkned unto their Counsel and followed the same the chief of these was one Mahometes Son of Bohamer who in the Reign of Mahometes Muleasses his Father was Maniphet whom Muleasses possessed of the Kingdom put shamefully to death by cutting off his Privities because he had by hasty Marriage deceived him of Rhahamana a Maiden of incomparable Beauty the Daughter of Abderomen Captain of the Castle whom he most passionately loved for which cruel fact Mahometes his Son had long time conceived a deadly hatred against Muleasses which he had many years dissembled that he might as occasion served be the more cruelly revenged Next unto him was another Mahometes sirnamed Adulzes whom Muleasses was wont commonly to call his worst Servant These two with a few others conspiring together gave it out that Muleasses was dead at Naples and before his death had most irreligeously as they accounted it revolted to the Christian Religion With which report they perceiving Amida moved came unto him and perswaded him quickly to enter into his Fathers Seat lest Mahometes his younger Brother then lying in hostage with the Christians at Guletta should by the favour and help of Touarres whose Garrison was ever ready be preferred before him For Mahometes was eighteen years old resembling his Grandfather in Name Favour and Disposition and therefore of the Citizens of Tunes best beloved Wherefore Amida came in post haste out of the Camp to Tunes