inuaded by Almericus they praid aid of Noradin the Turke Sultan of DAMASCO who vnto their reliefe sending Saracon with an armie repulsed indeed the Christians but oppressing their libertie tooke vnto himselfe the kingdome which he left vnto his nephew Saladine in whose posteritie it remained vntill it was from them againe taken by the Circassian slaues the Mamalukes vnder whose seruile gouernment it was holden of long time vntill that by the great emperor of the Turkes Selymus the first it was againe conquered and the Mamalukes vtterly destroied In the gouernment of whose posteritie the mightie emperors of the Turks it hath euer since remained as part of their empire vntill this day as in the processe of this historie God willing shall appeare Saladin thus possessed of the great kingdome of AEGYPT and all things set in such order as he thought best for the newnesse of his state with a great armie entred into the land of PALESTINE in the yeare 1170 and there besieged DARON which towne he woon and ouerthrew such as were sent by king Almericus to haue relieued the same with which small victorie contenting himselfe as with the good beginning of his rising fortune he returned backe againe into his kingdome Yet was his armie so great and populous as that the like armie of the Turkes had neuer before beene seene in the Holy land Wherefore Almericus considering in what great danger he stood his kingdome now being on both sides beset by the Turks sent out his embassadours vnto the Christian princes of the West to craue their aid for the defence of that kingdome which their fathers had woon And for the same purpose went himselfe in person vnto the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE of whom he was royally entertained and afterwards sent backe loaded with the promises of great matters as were also his embassadours from the princes of the West All which for all that sorted vnto nothing but vanished into smoake The yeare following viz. 1171 Saladin besieged PETREA the metropoliticall citie of ARABIA but hearing that Almericus with a great power was comming to the reliefe thereof hee raised his siege and retired As he did also the next yeare after hauing in vaine attempted the strong castle of MONT-ROYALL on the further side of IORDAN In like manner also the third yeare he came againe into the Holy land and spoiled the countrey beyond IORDAN but hearing of the kings comming against him he foorthwith returned againe into AEGYPT All these light expeditions this politike prince made not so much for hope of victorie or to prooue his enemies strength as to traine his souldiers especially the effeminat Aegyptians and to make them sitter to serue him in his greater designes Shortly after died Noradin Sultan of DAMASCO and in his time a most notable champion of the Turks after he had raigned nine and twentie yeares Vpon whose death Almericus foorthwith besieged the citie of PANEADE in hope to haue againe recouered the same but he was by the widow of the late dead Sultan for a great summe of money and the deliuerie of certaine noble prisoners intreated to raise his siege and depart So hauing sent away his armie and trauelling with his ordinarie retinue to TIBERIAS where hee had the summer before beene sicke of the flix feeling himselfe not well he returned on horsebacke by NAZARETH and NEAPOLIS to HIERUSALEM where his old disease increasing vpon him he was also taken with a feuer wherewith after he had beene some few daies grieuously tormented hee requested his physitians with some gentle potion to loose his belly which was now somewhat staied which they refusing to do he commaunded the potion to be giuen him vpon his owne perill hap thereon what hap should which being giuen him and his belly againe loosed he seemed therewith to haue been at the first well eased but his woonted feauer with great vehemencie returning before his weake spent bodie could be with conuenient meats refreshed he suddenly died the tenth of Iuly in the yeare 1173 when he had raigned about ten yeares His dead bodie was with the great lamentation of all his subjects solemnly buried by his brothers Hee was a most wise prince and withall right valiant amongst many most fit for the gouernment and defence of that troublesome kingdome so hardly beset with the infidels if it had pleased God to haue giuen him longer life Foure daies after the death of Almericus was Baldwin his sonne then a youth about thirteene yeares old by the generall consent of the nobilitie chosen king and by Almericus the Patriarch in the temple with great solemnitie crowned in the yeare 1173 vnto whom as not yet by reason of his tender age fit himselfe to mannage the waightie affaires of the kingdome Raymund countie of TRIPOLIS was by the whole consent of the nobilitie appointed tutor to supply what was wanting in the yoong king Noradin Sultan of DAMASCO dead as is aforesaid left behind him Melechsala his sonne yet but a youth to succeed him in his kingdome Whose gouernment the nobilitie disdaining sent secretly for Saladin Sultan of Aegypt vnto whom at his comming they betrayed the citie of DAMASCO the regall seat of the Turkes in SYRIA Whereof Saladin possessed and entring into CELESIRIA without resistance tooke HELIOPOLIS EMISSA with the great citie of CESAREA and in fine all the whole kingdome of DAMASCO the citie of ARâ—THUSA onely excepted But thus to suffer Melechsala the young prince to be wronged and the kingdome of DAMASCO to be joyned vnto the kingdome of Aegypt was of the wiser sort thought not to stand with the safetie of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM lying in the middle betwixt them both Wherefore the countie of TRIPOLIS gouernour of that kingdome made out certaine forces to haue hindred his proceeding At which time also Cotobed prince of PARTHIA and Melechsalas vncle sent certaine troupes of Parthian horsemen to haue aided his distressed nephew who were by Saladin ouerthrowne and almost all slaine neere vnto ALEPPO where Melechsala lay As for the countie of TRIPOLIS and the other Christian princes with whom Saladin in the newnesse of his kingdome had no desire to fall out he appeased them with faire intreatie and rewards vnto the countie hee sent freely the hostages which yet lay for his ransome at EMISSA vnto the other princes he sent rich presents and therewith so contented them all that they returned without any thing doing against him After which time three or foure yeareâ— passed in great quietnesse to the great strengthening of him in those his new gotten kingdomes At length vpon the comming ouer of Philip earle of FLANDERS the Christian princes in SYRIA encouraged consulted of an expedition to be made into AEGIPT whereof Saladin hauing intelligence drew downe into that countrey the greatest part of his strength But Philip disliking of that expedition and the rather for that he saw no great cheerefulnesse in the countie of TRIPOLIS and the rest thereunto they
to carrie newes home Calibeius and Cherseogles the Bassaes were in that flight both taken prisoners and afterwards presented to Caitbeius the Sultan at CAIRE with eighteene ensignes of the Turkes Sanzackes which are great men amongst them hauing euerie one of them the regiment and commaund of some one prouince or other and are in degree next vnto the Bassaes. Neither was the fortune of Baiazet his nauie at sea better than that of his armie at land for as it lay at rode vpon the coast of SYRIA at the mouth of the riuer Orontes which runneth by the famous citie of ANTIOCHIA his gallies were by tempest and rage of the sea put from their anchors and in the sight of their enemies swallowed vp of the sea or else driuen vpon the main and there with the surges of the sea beaten in peeces Baiazet not a little troubled with these losses both by sea and land at length with much adoe by his embassadours concluded a peace with the Sultan vnto whom he restored all such places as he had before taken from him for which the â—ultan deliuered vnto him Calibeius Cherseogles Achmetes and Ishender with all the rest of the â—urkes prisoners which he had in great number in his keeping â—hortly after this peace was concluded betwixt these two great and mightie princes Caitbeiâ—â— the Sultan died who of a Circassian slaue by manie degrees of honour and by the fauour of the Mamalukes his fellowes obtained the rich kingdome of Aegypt which he right worthely gouerned to his immortall praise by the space of two and twentie yeares commaunding at one time the great and rich countrey of AEGYPT with all AFFRIKE as farre as CIRENE Westward and IVDEA with a great part of ARABIA and all SYRIA vnto the great and famous riuer Euphrates Eastward In the latter end of his raigne he ouercome with the importunitie of his wife Dultibe an Arabian borne a woman of an hautie spirit joyned his sonne Mahomethes a young man of about foure and twentie yeares old with him in the fellowship of his kingdome that so possessed of it his father yet liuing hee might the better enjoy it after his death Contrarie to the custome of the Mamalukes who of long time had not vsed to haue their king by succession but by their free election Who grudging to be thus defrauded of their wonted choise immediatly after the death of Caitbeius slew Mahomethes his sonne and in a few moneths after foure mo who one after another without their good liking had aspired vnto the kingdome neither could they be contented vntill such time as that they had according to their wonted custome set vp a Sultan of their owne choise About the same time that the aforesaid peace was concluded betwixt the two great Mahometane princes Baiazet and Caitbeius Charles the French king was making great preparation against Alphonsus king of NAPLES giuing it out That after he had recouered that kingdome he would forthwith from thence inuade the Turkes dominions in GRaeCIA Which great attempt the haughtie king was induced to take in hand by the persuasion of diuers of his nobilitie but especially by the solicitation of Lodouicus Sfortia duke of MILLAN whereby the whole state of ITALIE was in short time after sore shaken and Sfortia himselfe author of those troubles at last carried away by the French miserably ended his dayes as a prisoner in FRAVNCE Alphonsus the Neapolitane king doubting the greatnesse of the French king his enemie entered into a confederation with certaine of the states of ITALIE against the French but especially with Alexander the sixt then Bishop of ROME for the beter assurance whereof he gaue his base daughter in marriage to Godfrey Borgia the Bishops sonne and made him prince of CARINVLA his other sonne Francis he entertained also in great pay to serue him in his wars And by his embassadour Pandonius Camillus lately returned out of FRANCE gaue Baiazet to vnderstand what the French king had purposed against them both requesting him to aid him with six thousand horsemen and as many foot against their common enemie promising to giue them honourable entertainement during those warres And to further the matter Alexander the great Bishop sent George Bucciarde a Ligurian skilfull in the Turkish language embassadour to Baiazet to declare vnto him with what great preparation both by sea and land the young French king desirous of honour and the enlargement of his kingdome was about to inuade NAPLES and then with what great power after he had dispatched his warres in ITALIE he purposed to passe ouer into GRaeCIA and that hee had to that end earnestly trauelled with him to haue Zemes his brother deliuered into his hands whom he desired to vse as a most fit instrument for the troubling of his state and empire by reason of his many friends yet that his Holinesse hauing the French in distrust as a proud and ambitious people as also carefull for the danger of the citie of ROME and of the state of ITALIE in generall had entered into a confederation with Alphonsus king of NAPLES with their vnited forces to withstand that proud nation both by sea and land wanting nothing more for the accomplishment thereof than mony by which onely meanes Baiazet might as hee said prouide for the safetie of his kingdome in GRECIA if he would put to his helping hand to furnish them with mony for the entertainment of souldiors for as much as the citie of ROME and the kingdome of NAPLES were the surest wals of that side of the Othoman empire if hee not altogether refusing the charge would not spare for a little cost to maintaine the warre rather in that forraine countrey than to receiue it brought home to his owne dore concluding That it were much more commodious and easie with his treasures to represse his enemie in a strange countrey a farre off than by dint of sword and plaine battell in his owne A thing by experience well knowne that they which haue neglected and set at nought remote dangers for sparing of charge haue afterwards been enforced with greater danger to receiue the same into their owne bosomes when as they were become desperat and past remedie Baiazet who both by his espials and often letters and embassadours from Alphonsus knew all this to be true gaue great thankes to the bishop by his embassador for that he sitting in so high place did so friendly and in so good time admonish him both a stranger and of a contrarie religion of things of so great consequence yet for answere hee willed him to returne againe to his master with one Dautius his embassadour who should carrie with him both money and his other secret resolutions concerning those matters Amongst other things giuen him in charge was an Epistle written in Greeke wherein the barbarous king with great cunning persuaded the bishop to poyson Zemes his brother as a man of a religion altogether contrarie to his for indeed of
kept in order and gouerned great speakers but small doers greater in shew than in deed The Great Master hauing carefully prouided and ordered all things needfull for defence of the citie and fearing nothing more than the faint hearts of the citisens caused them all to bee called together for encouragement of whom hee spake vnto them as followeth Valiant gentlemen and worthie citisens we heare that the Turke our mortall enemie is comming against vs with a huge armie raised of diuers nations from whose naturall crueltie and wonted periurie except we defend our selues by force one and the selfe same danger is like to befall me my knights and you all For wee haue with common consent and hand greeuously spoiled him both by sea and land and you are by booties taken by strong hand out of his dominions enriched and at this day we keepe his people in greeuous seruitude and he ours but he iniuriously and we most iustly For his ancestors wearie of the darke dennes and caues of the mountaine CAVCASVS their naturall dwelling without right title or cause incited onely with couetousnesse ambition and the hatred of our most sacred religion haue driuen the Christians out of SYRIA and afterwards oppressed the Grecians in GRECIA where not contented to haue destroied the people with one simple kind of death as barbarisme is euer cruell and mercilesse they haue with most exquisit and horrible torments butchered many thousands of that nation All whom this wicked proud youth whose mischeefe exceedeth his yeares aâ— euill neighbour to all men not contented with the dominions of ARABIA SYRIA AEGIPT the greatest part of ASIA and of many other places moe seeketh in tyrannie murther spoile periurie and hatred against Christ and Christians farre to excell and forceth himselfe to the vttermost of his power to take from vs our Islands and to subdue the Christian countries that so at length being lord of all and commaunder of the World he may at his pleasure ouerthrow the Christian cities kill the Christians and vtterly root out the Christian name which he so much hateth For the repulsing of which intollerable iniurie we haue especially chosen this Island of the RHODES for our dwelling place because the same seemed more commodious than any other for the annoying of this barbarous nation We haue done what in vs lay holpen by you we know by proofe your great valor and fidelitie which we now haue not in any distrust Wherefore I will not vse many words to persuade you to continue in your fidelitie and loyaltie neither long circumstance to encourage you to play the men sithence worthie minds are not with words either encouraged or dismaied But concerning my selfe and my knights of the Order I will speake a few words I wiâ—â— them with whom as I hope the Christian princes and other my knights of the West will in good time ioine their forces are most readie and prest to defend your selues your children your wiues your goods the monuments of your ancestours and sacred temples dedicated to the seruice of our God Which opinion that it may remaine firme and fix in your minds if nothing els my faithfulnesse in your warres my bodie not yet altogether spent but able enough to endure paines and trauell the nobilitie of these worthie knights of the Order their loue towards you and their hatred towards your enemies were sufficient to confirme but beside this the strength of this citie which this noble Order hath with infinit charges so notably fortified with ditches wals towers and bulwarkes against all the force and furie of artillerie is such that no citie may worthely be compared much lesse preferred before the same It is wonderfully stored with all kind of weapons and war like prouision we haue laid vp plentie of wine flesh and corne in vaults so that neither wet weather nor wormes can attaint the same of wood and wholesome water not to be taken from vs things necessarie for men besieged we haue plentie and able men ynow for the defence of the citie All which things promise vnto vs assured victorie and such end of the warre as we wish for Besides this Necessitie which giueth courage euen vnto cowards will enforce vs to fight Yet standeth on our side true religion faith conscience deuotion constancie the loue of our countrey the loue of our libertie the loue of our parents wiues children and whatsoeuer els we hold deare Wheras they bring with them the proud commaund of their captaines infidelitie impietie vnconstancie a wicked desire of your bondage of your bloud and the bloud of your parents wiues and children Out of doubt beloued citisens our good God will not suffer so many good vertues to be ouercome by their foule vices Wherefore be you in minds quiet and secure and trouble not your selues with forboding feare of your enemies onely continue in the fidelitie and loyaltie which you haue alwaies kept inuiolat and vnspotted toward this sacred and honourable fellowship in most dangerous wars and hardest chances of fortune and if need shall so require with courageous hand shew your valour against your enemies and 〈◊〉 it knowne vnto the Spaniards French Italians Hungarians and English That the Rhodians are of power to daunt the Turkish pride and to auert their fleets and armies from ITALIE which they haâ—e so many yeares threatened with fire and sword and will no doubt thither with all speed hasten and come if that which my mind abhorreth to speake they should here preuaile Neither will this ambitious youth in courage falshood and crueltie exceeding Hanniball imitate him in that that hauing ouerthrowne the Romanes in the great battell at â—ANNAS knew not to vse his victorie but he will presently with more than Caesarsâ—eleritie â—eleritie bring forth the treasures his father got in AEGIPT and with great fleets and huge armies inuade APVLIA CALABRIA and SICILIA from whence he will forthwith breake into FRANCE and afterwards into SPAINE and other Christian countries raging through them with all kind of crueltie But I am caried away further than I purposed and than need is For your fidelitie and valor most worthie citisens to endure the siege and repulse the enemie is such as needeth not my persuasion and of greater resolution than that it can be shaken with the dangers incident to men besieged Yet the greatest and most forcible miseries of all which is hunger and thirst I assure you you shall neuer feele which pinching calamities for all that some people in faithfulnesse courage and valour nothing comparable to you haue neuerthelesse most constantly endured For they of PETELINVM besieged by the Carthaginensians for want of victuall thrust their parents and children out of the citie the longer to hold out the siege and liued themselues with hides and leather sod or broiled and leaues of trees and manie other homely things by the space of eleuen months and could not be ouercome vntill they wanted strength longer to stand vpon the wals and to
so put in execution what he thought best for the honour of himselfe and the generall quiet of the kingdome Who joyeth now but Aidere in conceit a king replenished with vnwonted joyes receiuing honour from all men sauing from his best friends By meanes wherof perceiuing now the prohibition of them and moued also with the great stirre of Zalchan his greatest fauourit who discouering the deceit and crying vpon king Aider threatened the ladie the Sultans and the rest that waited vpon the faigned succession indeed ordained but for the scorne and despight of the ambitious man strucken with an exceeding feare and full of sorrow he withdrew himselfe closely amongst certaine women of the Court hoping so to find some way to escape with life In the meane time so greatly encreased the cries and threatenings of the friends and fauourits of Aidere who now had all of them prepared themselues for some dangerous and pernitious attempt that the counsellors with consent of the ladie his sister were enforced to take order That to bereaue this tumultuous seditious people of all their hope and courage Aidere should be depriued of his life Whereupon Sahamal the Georgian vncle to Aidere by the mothers side by the appointment of the ladie 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 lockes strucke his head from his shoulders and in the place where Zalchan and the rest of his vnâ—ortunat fauourites stood crying and threatening amongst the thickest prease of the proud conspiratours flung the head all bloudie and as it were yet breathing for heat crying aloud vnto them Behold there your king enioy him at your pleasure At which sudden and horrible spectacle euery man burned in rage and anger neither for the present wanted there many a rash head that vainely threatened most cruell reuenge But in the end when they perceiued the neere succession of Ismahel ineuitable and the death of Aidere irreuocable euery man betooke himselfe to his owne priuat affaires and so at last deuided themselues one from another and so departing from the pallace scattered themselues some one way some another euery man as hee thought best for his owne safetie Shortly after Ismahel the desired king arriued at CASBIN where he was of his sister and the Sultans joyfully receiued as their lawfull and vndoubted soueraigne and with the great acclamation of the people saluted king who as soone as he saw himselfe possessed of the royall seat and his power now answerable to his desires he after the manner of the Turkish pollicie most vnnaturally caused the heads of his eight yonger brethren to be strucken off and withall vsed such further diligence that not onely all those which were neere vnto them in bloud or affinitie were bereaued of their liues but also all the fauourits of his late slaine brother Aidere were destroied in that publicke slaughter so that all the streets of CASBIN were defiled with bloud and all the citie resounded with mourning and complaints Which vnexpected crueltie altogether vnworthie so worthie a thought king so altered the minds of his subjects in generall that all their former hopes were now conuerted into new feares and their joy into mourning But much greater and farre more lamentable did the miseries grow as soone as it was giuen out That hee would change the religion of the Persians who with great deuotion honor their foolish Prophet Aly into the superstition of the Turks who with no lesse impietie obserue and maintaine the wicked rites of Ebubekir Haumer Osman and others by them supposed to be the most true successours of their great Prophet Mahomet For by meanes of this vncouth noueltie and vnexpected change and by force of an edict concerning that matter published by this new king many of his prophane priests many of the gouernours of his friendly and subject cities too much deuored to their former superstition were driuen some into exile some clapt into prison some had their eyes pluckt out among whom was the Caliph of CASBIN and not a few others in sundrie sorts depriued of their liues Yea many ladies joyned in bloud with Ismahel himselfe and diuers others of his kinsfolks to whom neither sex nor age nor innocencie could be a sufficient defence endured sundrie torments and strange calamities so that in PERSIA was neuer felt greater troubles or a more dangerous change In this so great an innouation and among these tumults there went abroad withall a generall rumour not in the cities of PERSIA onely but in the regions of the Turks also euen as farre as CONSTANTINOPLE That Ismahel with a puissant army of such as fauored this new proclaimed vanitie was determined in person himselfe to go to BABYLON now called BAGDAT there to receiue the crowne of the empire at the hands of him that he should find to be the successour of their great Caliph and in the chiefest place among their vncleane priests as had sometime Solyman the great emperour of the Turkes and the Persian kings of auntient times In this world of troubles when as the feare of farther miseries increased rather than any hope of auntient quietnesse he was when he least feared by the helpe of the aforenamed ladie Periaconcona suddenly bereft of his life but whether ouertaken in some of his owne amorous practises or poisoned by his said sister or that she as some probably affirme hauing secretly conspired with Calil Chan Emir Chan Pyry Mahamet Curchiâ— Bassi being all at that time men of great account and as it were presidents of the kingdome who disguised in womens apparell and brought in by her strangled him at such time as he had priuatly withdrawne himselfe amongst his parmours is vncertaine Howsoeuer it was sufficeth it that he by the helpe of the said ladie Periaconcona was by vnnaturall death taken out of this world the foure and twentith day of Nouember in the yeare of grace 1577 to the exceeding joy of all those nations who by his death thought themselues now freed of many great and dangerous troubles when he had raigned one yeare seauen moneths and six daies Ismahel thus taken out of the way the ladie began forthwith to persuade with the great Sultans the ministers of Ismahels death that as they had for the generall good of PERSIA contriued the death of the late king so now that they would take vpon them the protection of that great kingdome with the preseruation of the majestie and libertie thereof vntill such time as it were knowne who should worthily succeed in that crowne which now remained in their hands There was at that time many of the greatest princes and Gouernors of that kingdome assembled at CASBIN there gaping after such mutations of those troublesome times as might best serue their priuat dessignes Emir Chan burning in ambitious desires was in hope by means of a match to be made with a sister of Periaconcona
gaue occasion for many that loued her not to say That so troubled an estate required the gouernment of some worthie man Wherefore shee fearing lest that the Senat making choise of some other she and her children should be remooued from the gouernment thought it best for the preseruation of her state and her childrens to make choice of some notable valiant man for her husband that for her and hers should take vpon him the managing of so weightie affaires But to check this her purpose the onely remedie of her troubled thoughts shee had at the death of the late emperour Constantine her husband at such time as the soueraigntie was by the Senat confirmed vnto her and her sonnes solemnly sworne neuer more to marrie which her oath was for the more assurance conceiued into writing and so deliuered vnto the Patriarch to keepe This troubled her more than to find out the man whom she could thinke worthie of her selfe with so great honor Shee held then in prison one Diogenes Romanus a man of great renown honorably discended whose father hauing married the neece of the emperour Romanus Argirus and aspiring to the empire being conuicted thereof slew himselfe for feare to be enforced by torments to bewray his confederats This Diogenes was by the late emperour Constantine for his good seruice against the Scythes who then much troubled the empire highly promoted with most honourable testimonie in the charters of his promotions That such honours were bestowed vpon him not of the emperours meere bountie but as the due rewards of his woorthie deserts Notwithstanding after the death of the emperour he sicke of his fathers disease and swelling with the pride of ambition sought by secret meanes to haue aspired vnto the empire Whereof the empresse hauing intelligence caused him to be apprehended and brought in bonds to CONSTANTINOPLE where being found guiltie of the foule treason and so committed to safe keeping was shortly after brought foorth to the judgement seat againe to receiue the heauie sentence of death In which wofull plight standing as a man out of hope and now vtterly forlorne he mooued all the beholders with a sorrowfull compassion For beside that he was a man of exceeding strength so was he of incomparable feature and beautie adorned with many other rare qualities and vertues answerable thereunto wherewith the empresse mooued with the rest or pearsed with a secret good liking is hard to say reuoked the sentence of condemnation readie to haue beene pronounced vpon him and gaue him pardon And shortly after hauing set him at libertie sent for him as he was going into CAPADOCIA his natiue countrey and made him generall of all her forces with a ful resolution in her selfe to marie him and to make him emperour if shee might by any meanes get the writing out of the Patriarches hand wherein her oath for neuer marrying againe was comprised For the compassing whereof she entred into a deepe deuice full of feminine policie with one of her Eunuches whom she purposed to vse as her pander for the circumuenting of the Patriarch This craftie Eunuche instructed by his mistresse comming to the Patriarch Ioannes Xiliphilinus a man both for his place and integritie of life much honoured told him in great secret That the empresse had so far set her good liking vpon a yoong gentleman a nephew of his called Barda then a gallant of the court as that she could be content to take him to her husband and to make him emperour if shee might by his holinesse be persuaded that she might with safe conscience do it and by him be discharged of the rash oath she had vnaduisedly taken neuer to marrie againe whereof hee had the keeping The Patriarch otherwise a contemner of worldly honours yet mooued with so great a preferment of his nephew promised the Eunuch to do therein whatsoeuer the empresse had desired which he accordingly performed And so sending for the Senators one by one in whose good liking the matter cheefly rested he with much grauitie propounded vnto them the dangerous estate of the common weale with the troubles dayly encreasing and the continual feare of forreine enemies not to be repressed by the weake hand of a woman or the authoritie of yoong children but requiring as he said the valiant courage of some woorthie man After that hee began to find great fault with the rash oath which the empresse had taken a little before the death of her husband neuer to marrie and vtterly condemning the same as contrarie to the word of God and vnjustly exacted of her rather to satisfie the jealous humour of the emperour her late husband than for any good of the common-weale he in fine persuaded them that the vnlawfull oath might be reuoked and the empresse set at libertie at her pleasure by their good liking to make choice of such a man for her husband as might better vndertake so weightie affaires of the empire more fit for a man than for so tender a lady and three yoong children The greater part of the Senat thus persuaded by the Patriarch and the rest with gifts and promises ouercome by the empresse the Patriarch deliuered vnto her the writing she so much desired discharged her of her oath whereupon shee foorthwith calling vnto her certaine of her secret friends married Diogenes whom she caused to be proclaimed emperour Now thought Eudocia after the manner of women to haue had her husband whom she euen from the bottom of dispaire had exalted vnto the highest tipe of honour in all things loyall and pliant whereunto he for a while at the first forced himselfe but afterwards being a man of a proud nature and haughtie spirit became wearie of such obseruance and began by little and little to take euerie day more and more vpon him And for that the imperiall prouinces in the East were in some part lost and the rest in no small danger he aswell for the redresse thereof as for his owne honour and to shew himselfe an emperour indeed and not the seruant of the empresse left the court and passed ouer into ASIA although it were with a small armie and euill appointed for why it was no easie matter for him to furnish out the armie with all things necessarie which by the sloth and sparing of the late emperours had to the great danger and dishonour of the empire beene vtterly neglected Neuerthelesse the Turkish Sultan who at the same time with a great power inuaded the prouinces of the empire hearing of his comming and that he was a man of great valour and doubting what power he might bring with him retired himselfe and diuiding his armie sent the one part thereof into the South part of ASIA and the other into the North which spoiled all the countrey before them as they went and suddenly surprising the citie of NEO-CESARIA sacked it and so laded with the spoile thereof departed But the emperour vnderstanding thereof and not a
should haue paid them with verie foule and contumelious words as that there was not money enough to pay the Christian soldiers of the Latines and the Greeks much lesse those vile dogs whom they so called for that they had but a little before receiued the damnable doctrine of the false prophet Mahomet the great seducer of the world who euen in that time flourished Vpon which discontentment they at their returne reuolted from the empire and joyned themselues vnto their great prophet and so afterwards vnto the Caliphs his successors extending his doctrine together with his soueraigntie to the vttermost of their power and that with so good successe that in short time they had ouerrun all AEGYPT SIRIA the land of promise and taken the Holy citie With these the disciples of Mahomet and his successors the Sarasins for so now they would be called the Greeke emperors ensuing had for certaine yeeres diuers conflicts with diuers fortune for the possession of SIRIA But at length wearied out by them ouercom they left the aforesaid countries wholy vnto their deuotion Hereby it came to passe that the Sarasins for the space of 370 yeeres following held those countries with many others in great subjection oppressing still the poore Christians in IERVSALEM with most grieuous tributes and exactions vnto whom they yet left a third part of the citie for them to dwell in with the temple of the Sepulcher of our Sauiour and mount SION not for any deuotion either vnto them or those places but for that it yeelded them a great profit by the recourse of deuout Christians trauelling thither reseruing in the meane time vnto themselues the other two parts of the citie with the temple of Salomon before reedified by the Christians Now whilst the Sarasins thus triumph it in the East and not in the East onely but ouer a great part of the West also contenting themselues with such tributs as they had imposed vpon the subdued nations and countries vp start the Turks a vagrant fierce and cruell people who first breaking into ASIA as is before declared and by rare fortune aspiring vnto the kingdome of PERSIA subdued the countries of MESOPOTAMIA SIRIA with the greatest part of the lesser ASIA and IVDEA together with the Holy citie who both there and in all other places held the poore oppressed Christians in such subjection and thraldom as that the former gouernment of the Sarasins seemed in comparison of this to haue beene but light and easie Neither was there any end or release of these so great miseries to haue beene expected had not God in mercie by the weake meanes of a poore heremit stirred vp these most woorthie princes of the West to take vp armes in their defence who hauing with their victorious armies recouered the lesser ASIA with a great part of SIRIA were now come vnto this Holy citie The gouernour of IERVSALEM vnderstanding by his espials of the proceedings of the Christians had before their approch got into the citie a verie strong garrison of right valiant souldiers with good store of all things necessarie for the holding out of a long siege The Christians with their armie approching the citie encamped before it on the North for that towards the East and the South it was not well to be besieged by reason of the broken rocks and mountaines Next vnto the citie lay Godfrey the duke with the Germans and Loranois neere vnto him lay the earle of FLANDERS and Robert the Norman before the West gate lay Tancred and the earle of THOLOVS Bohemund and Baldwin were both absent the one at ANTIOCH the other at EDESSA The Christians thus strongly encamped the fift day after gaue vnto the citie a fierce assault with such cheerfulnesse as that it was verily supposed it might haue beene euen then woon had they beene sufficiently furnished with scaling ladders for want whereof they were glad to giue ouer the assault and retire But within a few daies after hauing supplied that defect and prouided all things necessarie they came on againe afresh and with all their power gaue vnto the citie a most terrible assault wherein was on both sides seene great valour policie cunning with much slaughter vntill that at length the Christians wearie of the long fight and in that hot countrey and most feruent time of the yeere fainting for lacke of water were glad againe to forsake the assault and to retire into their trenches onely the well of Siloe yeelded them water and that not sufficient for the whole campe the rest of the wels which were but few being before by the enemie either filled vp or else poysoned Whilst the Christians thus lay at the siege of IERVSALEM a fleet of the Genowaies arriued at IOPPA at which time also a great fleet of the Egyptian Sultans lay at ASCALON to haue brought reliefe to the besieged Turks in IERVSALEM whereof the Genowaies vnderstanding and knowing themselues too weake to encounter them at sea tooke all such things out of their ships as they thought good and so sinking them marched by land vnto the campe There was amongst these Genowaies diuers enginers men after the manner of that time cunning in making of all manner of engines fit for the besieging of cities by whose deuice a great moouing tower was framed of timber and thick plancks couered ouer with raw hides to saue the same from fire out of which the Christians might in safetie greatly annoy the defendants This tower being by night brought close vnto the wall serued the Christians in steed of a most sure fortresse in the assault the next day where whilst they striue with like valour and doubtfull victorie on both sides from morning vntill midday by chance the wind fauouring the Christians carried the flame of the fire into the face of the Turks wherewith they had thought to haue burnt the tower with such violence that the Christians taking the benefit thereof and holpen by the tower gained the top of the wall which was first footed by the duke Godfrey and his brother Eustace with their followers and the ensigns of the duke there first set vp to the great encouraging of the Christians who now pressing in on euerie side like a violent riuer that had broken ouer the banks bare downe all before them All were slaine that came to hand men women and children without respect of age sex or condition the slaughter was great and the sight lamentable all the streets were filled with blood and the bodies of the dead death triumphing in euerie place Yet in this confusion a woonderfull number of the better sort of the Turks retiring vnto Salomons temple there to do their last deuoire made there a great and terrible fight armed with dispaire to endure any thing and the victorious Christians no lesse disdaining after the winning of the citie to find there so great resistance In this desperat conflict fought with woonderfull obstinacie of mind many fell on both sides
foorthwith yeelded the cittie to Tamerlane in hope so to haue saued their liues but hee as the Turkes report being entered the cittie commaunded a great number of deepe pits to be digged and all the people of the cittie without respect of age sex or condition to be throwne into the same and there buried quicke Which done the citie was by his commaundement vtterly rased also After that calling vnto him Malcozzius the gouernour of the cittie whom he had for that purpose onely spared he commaunded him to goe and tell his master what was happened to his strong cittie of SEBASTIA and what hee had there himselfe seene Of which tragicall action Malcozzius hauing made true relation vnto Baiazet was by him demanded whether of the two armies he thought bigger or stronger for now Baiazet had assembled a mightie armie of three hundred thousand men or as some report of three hundred thousand horsemen and two hundred thousand foot Whereunto Malcozzius hauing before craued pardon answered That it could not bee but that Tamerlane might in reason haue the greater number for that hee was a commaunder of farre greater countries Wherewith proud Baiazet offended in great choller replied Out of doubt the sight of the Tartarian hath made this coward so afraid that he thinketh euery enemie to be two Most of the Latine histories report that when Tamerlane had taken SEBASTIA he put all the men to the sword and bringing the women and chidren into the fields without the citie there ouer-ran them with his horsemen excepting some few which were reserued for prisoners As also that Baiazet there lost his eldest sonne Erthogrul of some called Orthobules whose death with the losse of the citie so much greeued him as is reported that marching with his great armie against Tamerlane and by the way hearing a countrey shepheard merrily reposing himselfe with his homely pipe as he sat vpon the side of a mountaine feeding his poore flocke standing still a great while listening vnto him to the great admiration of many at last fetching a deepe sigh brake foorth into these words O happie sheepeheard which haddest neither Orthobules nor SEBASTIA to loose bewraying therein his owne discontentment and yet withall shewing That worldly blisse consisteth not so much in possessing of much subject vnto danger as in joying in a little contentment deuoid of feare Howbeit the Turkes themselues reporting the taking of SEBASTIA speake not 〈…〉 at all but giue him lost six yeares before in the warres against Casi Burchaniâ—â—n and â—eth buried by his father at PRUSA In this cittie of SEBASTIA was lost twelue thousand Turkes men women and children as their histories report The rest of the cities all the way as Tamerlane marched warned by the destruction of SEBASTIA yeelded themselues for feare of like danger the cittizens whereof he courteously vsed especially the Christians whom he set at libertie in respect of Emanuel the Greeke emperour whom hee seemed wholly therein to gratifie But he had not gone farre into the Turkes dominion but that hee was certainely aduertised how that Baiazet with a great armie was comming against him and now within thirtie leagues of him which caused him after that time to march with his armie more closely Axalla leading the vantgard sent forth Ghianson prince of CIARCAN with foure thousand Parthian horsemen to get knowledge of the Turkes armie and where Baiazet lay as also what countrey that was beyond SENNAS and if he could learne any thing thereof to make relation of it vnto him This prince of CIARCAN was Tamerlane his kinsman a man of great reputation and next vnto Axalla whose absence he had the coÌ„manding of the avantgard his charge who also sent before him another Parthian captain with 500 horsemen So he had not ridden ten leagues but that he heard news of Baiazet his comming hauing surprised SENNAS vnderstood there the certaine estate of the Turks armie which was then at TATAIA so marching forward Wherof Tamerlane certified coÌ„manded him not to retire froÌ„ that place vntill he did see the arriuall of the enemie and thereof to giue him aduertisement euery hower being himselfe resolued to passe on no farther as come to a faire large plaine and a countrey of aduantage for the order of his battaile for he knew that his armie was farre greater than Baiazets and therefore made choice of those great plaines Yet for that his armie consisted of diuers nations and withall considering that hee was not to fight against the Chinois a soft effeminate people as of late but against the Turks a most warlike nation and well acquainted with all manner of fights and martiall stratagemes hee thought it good to be well aduised how he proceeded against them Wherefore hee presently sent for Axalla with him to view the said place and to haue his opinion Whether it would be for his aduantage or not there to stay who not misliking of the choice of the place yet aduised him also to keepe SENNAS so long as he possibly could and so sent word vnto them that were therein vpon the approch of the enemie to set fire vpon the same and so to withdraw themselues from thence to the end that the enemie should not haue any desire to encampe there but come still forward neere vnto those plains where Tamerlane desired to fight especially for that he was stronger in horse than Baiazet Thus the Turks still marching on thought to haue surprised some of their enemies in SENNAS who as soone as they drew neere retired all excepting some hundred left of purpose to fire the towne who hauing performed the same retired of purpose in great disorder Now the prince of CIARCAN had diuided his forces into two parts and giuen commaundement to the first that as soone as they perceiued the enemies to pursue the hundred horse that so disorderly of purpose fled they should receiue them and so retire all altogether He in the meane time with the rest of his power stood close in a valley neere vnto a wood side vnseene at all Where hauing suffered two thousand of the enemies horse the avauntcourriers of the Turks armie to passe by him he following them in the taile charged them home the other which before retired now turning vpon them also so that the Turks seeing themselues thus beset and hardly laied vnto both before and behind as men discouraged fled in which flight most of them were slaine and the rest taken prisoners This was the first encounter betwixt the Turks and the Parthians all the prisoners there taken were by the prince as a present sent to Tamerlane and amongst the rest the Bassa of NATOLIA who led these troopes of whom Tamerlane earnestly demaunded what caused Baiazet so little to esteeme of him as to shew so great contempt of his armie which he should find strong ynough to abate his pride Whereunto the Bassa answered That his lord was the Sunne vpon earth which could not endure any equall and
most famous and imperiall citie Some few there were of the Christians who preferring death before the Turkish slauerie with their swords in their hands sold their liues decre vnto their enemies amongst whom the two brethren Paulus and Troâ—lus Bochiardi Italilians with Theophilus Palaeologus a Greeke and Ioannus Stiaâ—us a Dalmatian for their great valour and courage deserue to be had in eternall remembrance Who after they had like lyons made slaughter of their enemies died in the midst of them embrued with their bloud rather oppressed by multitude than by true valour ouercome In this furie of the Barbarians perished many thousands of men women and children without respect of age sex or condition Many for safegard of their liues fled into the Temple of SOPHIA where they were all without pittie slaine except some few reserued by the barbarous victors to purposes more grieuous than death it selfe The rich and beautifull ornaments and jewels of that most sumptuous and magnificent Church the stately building of Iustinianus the emperour were in the turning of a hand pluckt downe and carried away by the Turkes and the Church it selfe built for God to be honored in for the present conuerted into a stable for their horses or a place for the execution of their abhominable and vnspeakable filthinesse the Image of the crucifix was also by them taken downe and a Turks cap put vpon the head thereof and so set vp and shot at with their arrowes and afterwards in great derision carried about in their campe as it had been in procession with drums playing before it railing and spitting at it and calling it the god of the Christians Which I note not so much done in contempt of the image as in the despite of Christ and the Christian religion But whilest some were thus spoyling of the churches others were as busie in ransacking of priuat houses where the miserable Christians were enforced to endure in their persons whatsoeuer pleased the insolent victors vnto whom all things were now lawfull that stood with their lust euerie common souldiour hauing power of life and death at his pleasure to spare or spill At which time riches were no better than pouertie and beautie worse than deformitie What tongue were able to expresse the miserie of that time or the prowd insolencie of those barbarous conquerors whereof so many thousands euerie man with greedinesse fitted his owne vnreasonable desire all which the poore Christians were enforced to endure But to speake of the hidden treasure money plate jewels and other riches there found passeth credit the Turkes themselues wondred thereat and were therewith so enriched that it is a prouerb amongst them at this day if any of them grow suddenly rich to say He hath been at the sacking of CONSTANTINOPLE whereof if some reasonable part had in time been bestowed vpon defence of the cittie the Turkish king had not so easily taken both it and the cittie But euerie man was carefull how to encrease his owne priuat wealth few or none regarding the publike state vntill in fine euerie man with his priuat abundance was wrapped vp togither with his needie neighbour in the selfesame common miserie Yea the securitie of the Constantinopolitans was such that being alwaies enuironed with their mortall enemies yet had they no care of fortifying of so much as the inner wall of the citie which for beautie and strength was comparable with the wals of any citie in the world if it had been kept well repaired but suffered the officers which had the charge to see to the fortifying of the citie to conuert the greatest part of the money into their own purses as appeared by Manuel Giagerus a little before a verie poore man and likewise by Neophitus who then hauing that office to see vnto the fortification of the citie had in short time gathered togither seuentie thousand florens which became all a worthy prey vnto the greedie Turkes After that the barbarous common souldiour had thus by the space of three daies without controlment taken his pleasure in the citie as Mahomet had before promised and throughly ransackt euerie corner thereof they then returned into the campe with their rich spoils driuing the poore Christian captiues before them as if they had ben droues of cattell or flocks of sheepe a spectacle no lesse lamentable than was the sacking of the citie It would haue grieued any stonie heart to haue seene the noble gentlewomen and great ladies with their beautifull children and many other faire personages who lately flowed in all worldly wealth and pleasure to bee now become the poore and miserable bondslaues of most base and contemptible rascals who were so farre from shewing them any pittie as that they delighted in nothing more than to heape more and more miserie vpon them making no more reckoning of them than of dogs There might the parents see the wofull miserie of their beloued children and the children of the parents the husband might see the shamefull abuse of his wife and the wife of her husband and generally one friend of another and yet not able to mourne together the least part of heauie comfort being in the thraldome of diuers cruell masters by whom they were kept in sunder like in few dayes to be dispersed into diuers farre countries without hope that they should euer find release or one see another againe The souldiors being all retired into the campe Mahomet as a proud conquerour with great triumph entered into the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE then desolate and void of all Christian inhabitants and there after the manner of the Turkish kings made a sumptuous and royall feast vnto his Bassaes and other great captaines where after he had surcharged himselfe with excesse of meat and drinke he caused diuers of the cheefe Christian captiues both men and women of whom many were of the late emperours line and race to bee in his presence put to death as hee with his Turks sat banquetting deeming his feast much more stately by such effusion of Christian blood Which manner of exceeding crueltie he daily vsed vntill such time as he had destroyed all the Grecian nobilitie that was in his power with the cheefe of the late Constantinopolitan citizens At which time also diuers of the Venetian Senatours with Baiulus their Gouernor and many rich marchants of GENVA and other places of ITALIE were in like manner murthered so that of seuen and fortie Senatours of VENICE which were there taken whereof most part came thither by chaunce bound for other places but there vnluckily shut vp some few found the fauour with exceeding great ransomes to redeeme themselues Amongst these noblemen thus lamentably executed was one Lucas Leontares or Notaras coÌ„monly called Kyr-Lucas or lord Lucas but of late great chancellor of CONSTANTINOPLE a man of greatest account next vnto the emperour himselfe whom the Turkish tyrant seemed greatly to blame that hee being a man in so great credit with the late emperour persuaded him not
that they oftentimes spurned as now against the gouernment of the Graecian princes In this extremitie the two distressed princes not well knowing which way to turne themselues sought for peace at Mahomets hands offering to become his tributaries Of which their offer he willingly accepted as an induction to the full conquest of that countrey and sent Turachan gouernour of THESSALIA one of his greatest men of warre with an army into PELOPONESVS to aid those princes against the Albanians by whose industrie the masterfull rebels were in short time discomfited and the countrey of PELOPONESVS quieted yet so that it was now become tributarie to the Turkish king These two princes Demetrius and Thomas the last of all the Christian princes that raigned in PELOPONESVS hauing thus lost their libertie liued for a few yeares as the Turkes vassales paying such yearely tribute as they had before promised During which time many displeasures arose betwixt the two brothers being both jealous of their estate and desirous by all plausible meanes to win the hearts of their subjects one from another whereby it came so to passe that whiles they both desired to become popular they weakned their owne credit and had not their subjects at such commaund as best stood with the safetie of their estate Neuerthelesse as soon as they vnderstood that the Christian princes of the West were making great preparation against the Turke and that Calixtus the third of that name then the bishop of ROME had alreadie put a fleet of gallies to sea which did great spoile vpon the borders of the Turkes dominions they vainly persuading themselues that the Turkes would in short time be againe driuen out of GRECIA refused to pay any more tribute vnto the Turkish king or to keepe league any longer with him Vpon which occasion Mahomet with a puissant army came downe and first besieged CORINTH and afterwards entring into PELOPONESVS tooke diuers strong townes and destroied the countrey before him and forced the two princes for safegard of their liues to flie the one to MANTINIA and the other into the strong cittie of EPIDAVRVS now called RAGVSIVM The poore princes destitute of such aid as they expected and altogither vnable to withstand the power of the mightie tyrant began againe to sue for peace which he hauing now spoiled their countrey granted vpon condition That all such places as he had already taken should be still his owne and also that the citie of PATRAS with the countrey adjoyning should be deliuered vnto him and that for the rest the said princes should pay vnto him a yearly tribute which hard conditions the poore princes now in danger to loose all were glad to accept of wherupon a peace was for that time againe concluded In his returne he tooke the citie of ATHENS in his way which he not long before had taken from Francus Acciauoll by composition by meanes of Omares the sonne of Turechan one of his great captains promising to giue him the countrey of BEOTIA with the citie of THEBES in lieu thereof This Francus was nephew to Nerius sometime prince of ATHENS and had of long time been brought vp in the Turks court as one of Mahomet his minions and was of him as was supposed entirely beloued But when he had receiued the dukedome of THEBES in exchange for his princely state of ATHENS he was shortly after as if it had been in great friendship sent by Mahomet to Zoganus his lieutenant in PELOPONESVS by whom he was at first courteously entertained but afterwards being about to depart he was according as Mahomet had before commanded suddenly staied and when he least feared cruelly murdred About three yeares after the peace before concluded betwixt Mahomet and the two brethren Mahomet vnderstanding that the Christian kings and princes had combined themselues against him with a purpose to driue him againe out of GRaeCIA thought it now high time and much for the assurance of his estate to roote vp the small reliques of the Grecian empire which yet remained in PELOPONESVS in the two princes of the imperiall bloud Thomas and Demetrius whereunto he saw a faire occasion presented Forasmuch as those two brethren were at that time at great variance betwixt themselues neither paied him such tribute as they had before promised hereupon he with a great and strong army came to CORINTH where Arsanes a noble man of great authoritie and power in that countrey whose sister Demetrius had married came vnto him from the prince his brother in law attended vpon with many gallant gentlemen his followers of purpose to aid him against the other prince Thomas nothing fearing any harme to haue been by the Turke intended against himselfe or his brother in law Demetrius whom they both reckoned of as of a friend But when Mahomet was entered into PELOPONESVS and come to TEGEA he caused the same Asanes with all his cheefe followers to be laied hold vpon and cast into bonds knowing as it should seeme no man for friend which might any way hinder his ambitious designes Demetrius hearing what was happened vnto Asanes fled to SPARTA now called MIZITHRA whether Mahomet in few dayes after came and laied siege to the citie But the poor prince considering that he must needs at length fall into his hands went out of the cittie and humbly submitted himselfe with all that he had into his power Which so well pleased the Turkish tyrant that hee courteously receiued him comforted him and promised him in stead of SPARTA to giue him other lands and possessions of like value elsewhere Neuerthelesse hee committed him to safe custodie and carried him about with him as his prisoner vntill hee had finished those warres After he had taken SPARTA he besieged CASTRIA where he lost diuers of his Ianizaries for which cause when he had taken the citie he put all the souldiours therein to the sword and cut the captaines ouerthwart in two peeces From thence he marched to LEONTARIVM called in antient time MEGALOPOLIS which he tooke with another cittie called CARDICEA whither they of LEONTARIVM had before conueyed their wiues and children as to a place of more safetie There he cruelly put to death all the inhabitants of those cities men women and children in number about six thousand of whom he left not one aliue and yet not so satisfied commaunded the very beasts and cattell of those places to bee killed Many cities of PELOPONESVS terrified with the dreadfull example of their neighbours forthwith yeelded themselues and amongst others SALVARIVM a great and strong citie of ARCHADIA where hee caused all the inhabitants men women and children to the number of ten thousand to be cast into bonds looking for nothing but present death all which he commaunded afterwards to be sent captiues to CONSTANTINOPLE and with them peopled the suburbes of that citie After that he by the counsell of Demetrius sent one of his captaines called Iosua with certaine companies of Greeke souldiors vnto the
could by pollicie bring that to passe which he was otherwise with great danger to attempt by force Wherefore faining himselfe to be extreame sicke he sent embassadours to Alis requesting him as a friend to vouchsafe to come vnto him being at the point of death vnto whom he had many things of importance from the great emperour to impart and would if he should die leaue with him all his charge vntill Solyman should otherwise dispose thereof Alis who from his youth had alwaies honoured the Turkish emperours and faithfully serued them mistrusting no harme came to the Bassa accompanied with his foure sonnes whom the faithlesse Bassa without regard of infamie caused presently to be put to death with their father and so reducing all that countrey into the manner of a prouince vnder Solymans obeisance came to him with twentie thousand men about the time that the citie of the RHODES was yeelded vp This is the faithlesse dealing of the Turks not with the Christians onely but with them of their owne superstition also vsing it as no small pollicie vtterly to extinguish the nobilitie in all countries subject to their seruile tyrannie Solyman after he had thus subdued the RHODES and disposed of the Island as he liked best returning to CONSTANTINOPLE brake vp his armie and for the space of three yeares after followed his pleasure not doing any thing worthie of remembrance During which time and many yeares after the rich and flourishing countrey of ITALIE sometime mistres of the world was miserably afflicted and rent in peeces by Charles the fift then emperour and Francis the French king the one enuying vnto the other the glorie of the empireâ—punc and he not content therwith seeking with immoderat ambition to make himselfe lord of all ITALIE most of the other Christian princes and states being at the same time either by the one or by the other drawn into the fellowship of that warre to the great trouble and sore weakening of the Christian common-weale Whereupon Solyman waiting all occasions that might serue for the enlarging of his empire and annoying of the Christians thought it now a fit time for him to set his foot into HVNGARIE whereinto he had alreadie laied open a way by the taking of BELGRADE He knew right well that Lewes then king of HVNGARIE was but yong altogether vnacquainted with the warres commaunding ouer his headstrong subjects especially his rich prelates and nobilitie no otherwise than pleased themselues being himselfe rather by them altogether ouerruled Besides that he was in good hope that the other Christian princes neere vnto him either carried away with regard of their owne estate would not or els before vnto himselfe by league fast bound could not affoord vnto him any great aid or succour The Germanes hee knew would make small hast vnto such warres as should yeeld them much danger and but small pay As for the princes of the house of AVSTRIA Charles the emperour and Ferdinand his brother although they were joined vnto the young king with the neerest bonds of alliance Lewes hauing married Marie their youngest sister and Ferdinand Anne king Lewes his sister yet was there as he thought small helpe to be expected from them Charles hauing his hands full in ITALIE and Ferdinand altogether carefull of himselfe And that Sigismund king of POLONIA would for the young kings sake breake the antient league he had with the Turkish emperors he could hardly be persuaded As for other Christian princes farther off he stood not in any great doubt Thus hauing with himselfe singled out this young prince the Hungarian king whom he had in his greedie mind alreadie deuoured he set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE and was come on his way as far as SOPHIA in SERVIA with a mightie armie of two hundred thousand men before that the Hungarians had any knowledge of his comming so blind sencelesse was that state which now sleeping in securitie had long before lost those eyes which euer watcht and neuer spared cost or paines to keepe the same in safetie in stead of whom were others come in place sharpe of sight and too too prouident for that concerned their owne aduancement but blind as beetils in foreseeing this great and common danger wherewith they were shortly after all quite ouerwhelmed vntill it was now brought home vnto their owne dores The yong king of himselfe but weake by reason of his youthfull yeares and nothing strengthened by them for whom he had most done and should haue beene his greatest stay was wonderfully dismayed with the fame of the approch of so mightie an enemie yet the better to withstand him he sent embassadors with all speed vnto the Christian princes his neighbors requesting their aid against the common enemie but all in vaine In the meane time after the auntient manner of his countrey he gaue out generall summons for the assembly of his counsell for the warres whether his great stipendarie prelates of dutie bound to appeare came with their troupes of euill appointed horsemen and not halfe full who also deliuered in lesse summes of money by farre than of right they should haue done towards the maintenance of the charge of that common war And the temporall nobilitie forgetting the warlike discipline of their famous ancestors as fresh water souldiors which had neuer seene the Turkish emperour in his strength and but little acquainted with some light skirmishes or small inuasions in their vaine brauerie made light account of the Turkes proudly vaunting That although they were in number but few yet they would easily ouerthrow the great numbers of them if euer they came to handâ—e strokes But aboue all the rest one Paulus Tomoreus archbishop of COLOSSA sometimes a Minorite who had before been in diuers light skirmishes against the Turks with great insolencie did so confidently brag and boast of the victorie he vainely dreamed of that in his sermons vnto the souldiours and in open talke with the nobilitie if he could haue done so much as he vaunted of it should seeme that he himselfe had been ynough to haue ouerthrowne the Turks whole armie But when all the kings armie was assembled and a generall moster taken there was hardly found fiue and twentie thousand men in all horse and foot So that the foolish hardinesse of Tomoreus and others so forwards to giue the Turks battell was of most wise men disliked The old souldiors and men of great experience said plainely That it was meere follie and madnesse with such a handfull of men to giue battell vnto the enemie who would bring eight times so many moe into the field as they were Wherefore some wished that the young king should be withdrawne from the imminent danger amongst whom Stephanus Verbetius a noble captaine of all the rest best acquainted with the Turkish warres gaue counsell that the person of the yong king should for the safetie of the common state whatsoeuer should happen be kept out of
pallace at CONSTANTINOPLE Enuie the fatall and cruell companion of princes immoderat fauours had with her prying eyes quickly discouered in court Solymans changed countenance vpon the great Bassa and began now to shew her gastly face They which before were most readie to doe him all the honor possible yea to haue laied their hands vnder his feet sought now by all secret meanes to worke his disgrace and confusion But of all others the two great ladies Solymans mother and the faire Roxolana ceased not by dayly complaints to incense Solyman against him the mother for that he had by his persuasion contrarie to her mind and her superstitious obseruations drawne her sonne into the dangers of the Persian war and Roxolana for that he most honoured and sought the preferment of Mustapha Solymans eldest sonne by another woman whereas shee aboue all things laboured by all subtill meanes to preferre Baiazet her owne sonne to the empire after the death of Solyman his father Which her designement she perceiued to be much crossed by the credit which the Bassa had with her Solyman and therefore did what shee might both to bring him out of fauour and to worke his destruction But that which most empaired his credit with Solyman was the common report raised of him by his enemies That he being in heart a Christian did in all things fauour the Christians a thing most odious amongst the Turkes and had for that cause craftely persuaded Solyman to take in hand the vnfortunat Persian warre And that which more encreased the suspition was That he about that time had caused one Marke Nicholas a Venetian marchant who had not without the suspition of some oftentimes come vnto him with letters and secret messages whilest he lay at BABYLON to be taken in the night and murdered at CONSTANTINOPLE and cast into the sea because hee should not discouer any thing that might be hurtfull vnto him Abraham thus brought in disgrace with Solyman was after the manner of the Turkish tyrannie bid to a solemne supper in the court about the foureteenth of March after which time he was neuer more seene It is reported that after supper Solyman fell into a great rage with him charging him bitterly That he had misgouerned the state inuerted his treasures to his owne priuat and as a traitor had secret intelligence with the Christian princes his enemies for proofe whereof Solyman with sterne countenance shewed him his owne letters which had by chance been intercepted oftentimes asking him in furious manner If he knew not that hand if he knew not that seale All which the Bassa lying prostrate at his feet humbly confessed and with many teares craued of him pardon But his hard heart was not by any prayers to be mooued for the same night as he was slumbring vpon a pallet in the court ouercome with heauinesse an eunuch cut his throat with a crooked knife which Solyman for that purpose had deliuered vnto him with his owne hand He was murdered sleeping because Solyman had in former time of his fauour solemnely sworne vnto him That he would neuer kill him whilest he liued By which oath the great Mahometane priest said he was not so bound but that he might kill him sleeping for as much as men by sleepe depriued of sence are for that time not to be accounted as liuing but as dead mans life consisting altogether as he said in liuely actions It is reported that after Solyman had looked vpon the dead bodie and bitterly cursed the same he caused a great weight to be tied vnto it and so cast into the sea His treasure and goods which were almost infinit were the next day all ceised vpon for the emperour and a small portion thereof appointed for his poore wife to liue vpon His death was no sooner known but that the vulgar people deuised of him infamous songs and slaunderous reports as of a traitour most justly condemned and in further despight with stones and mire defaced the trophies of the Hungarian victorie which hee had in most stately manner erected before his sumptuous house in CONSTANTINOPLE This was the wofull end of Abraham the great Bassa who whilest he stood in fauour with his prince was of all others accounted most fortunat wanting nothing but the name of the great Sultan but after falling into disgrace became the scorne of fortune and the lamentable spectacle of mans fragilitie He was murthered the 15 day of March in the yeare 1536. How the kingdome of TVNES was by Barbarussa the Turkes great admirall taken from Muleasses we haue alreadie told but how the same was againe taken from him by Charles the emperour a little before the returne of Solyman out of PERSIA remaineth now to be declared It was commonly reported and not without just cause feared that Barbarussa possessed of the kingdome of TVNES and supported by the power of Solyman would the next Summer not content himselfe with the spoile of the coasts of SPAINE SARDINIA and ITALIE as he had in former time but with all his forces inuade SICILIA the garnerie and storehouse of ITALIE and from thence attempt the conquest of the kingdome of NAPLES which it was thought he in his immoderat desires had longed much after To represse this his barbarous insolencie and to worke the safetie of the frontiers of the Christian kingdomes much subject to the rapines of the Turkish pyrats Charles the emperour resolued in person himselfe with a puissant armie to passe ouer into AFâ—RICKE whilest Solyman was yet busied in the Persian wars and by force of armes to dispossesse the pyrat of his new gotten kingdome in TVNES For the accomplishment wherof he caused souldiours to be leuied in all parts of SPAINE and came downe to BARCELONA with eight thousand footmen and seuen hundred horsemen farre sooner than was by any man expected amongst whom were many of the nobilitie of SPAINE with their followers most gallantly appointed but especially Ferdinand of TOLEDO duke of ALBA whose forwardnesse in that honorable action with the desire he had to reuenge the death of his father Garzias slaine before by the Moores at GIRAPOLIS gaue great hope euen theÌ„ vnto his countrymen That he would in time prooue a worthie chiefetaine as indeed he afterward did In the meane time Andrew Auria the great Admirall vnto whom onely for his approoued fidelitie and long experience the emperour had fully communicated what he had with himselfe before purposed had with wonderfull diligence and celeritie rigged vp a great fleet of ships and gallies so furnished with all manner of warlike prouision as might well haue suffised a great armie whereunto he joyned also his owne fleet of seuenteene gallies and three galeasses wherein he had embarked the flower of GENVA and LIGVRIA who with exceeding cheerfulnesse had voluntarily offered themselues to follow him their old Generall in that sacred expedition With this great preparation Auria came to the emperour at BARCELONA Thether came also
she probably thought to wish the succession of the empire to one of her owne sonnes his wiues full brethren rather than to Mustapha her halfe brother Beside that she was not ignorant how that Rustan as one carefull of the emperors profit the readiest way to preferment had abridged the pensions and fees of the officers and seruitours in court which he perceiuing to please the emperour proceeded so farre therein that he attempted to haue cut off if it had beene possible some part of Mustapha his princely allowance for which doing she knew how odious he was to all the courtiers whereof he made small reckoning but especially to Mustapha insomuch that it was thought he would not forget so notorious an injurie if euer he should obtaine the empire Hereupon she brake with Rustan vpon the matter whom she found readie ynough of himselfe to doe what in him lay to further her mischieuous desire To begin this intended tragedie she vpon the sudden became very deuout and being by the fauour of Solyman growne exceeding rich pretended as if it had beene vpon a deuout zeale for the health of her soule after the manner of the Turkish superstition to build an Abbey with an Hospitall and a Church which so godly a purpose she imparted to the Muphti or cheefe Mahometane priest demaunding of him If such workes of charitie were not acceptable vnto God and auaileable for her soules health Whereunto the Muphti answered That those works were no doubt gracious in the sight of God but nothing at all meritorious for her soules health being a bondwoman yet very profitable for the soule of the great emperour Solyman vnto whom as vnto her lord both she and all she had appertained With which answere of the great priest she seemed to be exceedingly troubled and thereupon became wonderfull pensiue and melancholie her cheerefull countenance was replete with sadnesse and her faire eyes flowed with teares her mirth was mourning and her joy heauinesse Which thing Solyman perceiuing and sorrie to see his loue vpon conceit so to languish sent her word to be of good cheere and to comfort her selfe promising in short time to take such a course as should ease her of all her greefes which he forthwith did solemnely manumising her from her bond estate So great a fauour obtained Roxolana with great cheerefulnesse began those meritorious workes by her before intended as if she had thought of nothing but heauen whereas indeed her thoughts were in the depth of hell When she had thus a good while busied her selfe in pauing the way to heauen as was supposed Solyman not able longer to forbeare the companie of her in whom his soule liued after his wonted manner sent for her by one of his eunuchs who should haue brought her to his bed chamber to whom she with her eyes cast vp to heauen demurely answered That her life and whatsoeuer els she had was at her dread soueraignes commaund but againe to yeeld her bodie vnto his appetite she might not in any case do without the great offence of the high God and manifest breach of his sacred lawes which permitted her not now voluntarily to yeeld him that being free which he before without offence might commaund of his bondwoman and because she would not seeme to vse this as an excuse she referred her selfe in all things to the graue judgement of the learned and reuerend Muphti with whom she had before at full conferred This she did presuming of the soueraignetie she had ouer that great Monarch whom she right well knew she had so fast bound in the pleasing fetters of his affection towards her as that she was sure ynough of him without a keeper Solyman rauished with her loue and well the more for her deniall sent for the Muphti requiring his judgement in the matter who before instructed in all points agreed with that Roxolana had said agrauating the heinousnesse of the fact if he should proceed to enforce her as his slaue whom being now free he might not without great offence touch vnmarried Whereupon Solyman more and more burning in his desires became a fresh suter to her for mariage whom he had so often before commaunded which his sute easily obtained as the marke she had all this while aimed at he with all speed to the great admiration of all men and contrarie to the manner of the Mahometane emperors solemnely married her appointing for her yearly dowrie fiue thousand Sultanyns But here before we proceed any farther stay a while and take the view of that faire face whereon this great Monarch so much doted as it is by the skilfull workemans hand most liuely expressed ROXOLANA Solyman his best beloued wife Frontis nulla fides nulla est fiducia formae Pectore dum saeuo dira venena latent Philtra viro miscet fallax miserumque coegit Sanguine natorum commaculare manus RICH. KNOLLEVS To fairest lookes trust not too farre nor yet to beautie braue For hatefull thoughts so finely maskt their deadly poisons haue Loues charmed cups the subtile dame doth to her husband fill And causeth him with cruell hand his childrens bloud to spill This woman of late a slaue but now become the greatest empresse of the East flowing in all worldly felicitie attended vpon with all the pleasures her heart could desire wanted nothing she could wish but how to find means that the Turkish empire might after the death of Solyman be brought to some one of her owne sons This was it that had as we haue before said long troubled her aspiring mind and in the middest of all her blisse suffered her yet to take no rest Noble Mustapha Solymans eldest sonne and heire apparant of the empire although farre absent was yet still before her eies present his credit his valour his vertues his perfections were all bars to her desires he was the onely cloud that kept the sunne from shining on her if 〈◊〉 any meanes might be taken away then wanted nothing that she desired Which to bring to passe the wicked woman laboured cunningly by little and little to breed in Solymans head no small suspition of Mustapha That he being a young man of a hautie spirit desirous of soueraigntie generally beloued and swelling with the immoderat fauor of the men of warre which were all at his deuotion left nothing else to be expected of him but when he should as did his grandfather Selymus lay hand vpon the empire and worke his aged fathers destruction This mischieuous plot by her deuised was not a little furthered by Rustan the great Bassa by whom passed all great matters who nothing omitted that could be slily deuised for the disgrace or confusion of the young prince For he as a great secret craftily told all them that were sent gouernours into SYRIA that Mustapha was secretly suspected by his father of aspiring to the kingdome and therefore charged them particularly carefully to obserue all his actions
who was alreadie greatly enclining vnto him to be exalted to the soueraigntie of all PERSIA Mirize Salmas the chiefe Sultan hoped on the other side to aduance into the estate either Mahamet Codabanda the eldest brother of the dead king or else Hamze the eldest sonne of the said Mahamet and by bestowing vpon him his daughter in marriage as afterwards he did so to encrease the glorie of his house Others there were that thought they should be able to draw Abas Mirize the middlemost sonne of Mahamet out of HERI and to make him king Neither wanted the infant Tamas his aspiring friends whose tutour waited likewise for some opportunitie to settle him in the kingdome and so by meanes of his greatnesse to make himselfe greatest amongst his fellowes A number of others there were that secretly waited vpon euerie occasion that time should present for their preferment Howbeit in this so great varietie of thoughts the Sultans answered the ladie with one consent and promised her in most liberall tearmes all the protection that their forces could affoord or their weapons procure and yet did euerie one of them both in action and word clearkly dissemble their seuerall imaginations whereunto their minds were as prone and readie as their hearts were cunning closely to conceale them Amurat the Turkish emperours now wakened first at the death of the old renowmed Tamas and then at the rumour of the desire Ismahel had to passe with an armie to BABYLON as also at the fresh report of the Turkish superstition newly published in PERSIA and withall throughly instructed what harme this late king had done in PERSIA what dissentions he had raised and how hardly the prouinces of that empire had endured those calamities began forthwith to thinke hereby a faire occasion to be ministred vnto him to take vp armes against the Persians and matter sufficient suggested for him to put in execution the great desire he had of some new conquest For it is an antient custome which is grown to be as it were a law amongst the Othoman kings That they may not challenge their due honours in their life time nor their prowd monuments after their death vnlesse they attempt some great and ambitious actions and enterprises and performe some exploit conformable to their majestie Amurath therefore bent vpon these great stirs in PERSIA would not direct his mind any other way or take any other war in hand vntill he might first see what issue these maruellous innouations in PERSIA would bring forth which in the person of Mahamet the succeeding king seemed to be more pregnant than euer before and ministred vnto Amurath new occasions of victorious and strange hopes For as soone as Ismahel was dead the aforenamed Mirize Salmas in dignitie chiefe man among the Sultans though in bloud and nobilitie inferiour to them all after many letters dispatched to and fro at last assured Mahamet Codabanda how with all quietnesse of mind and securitie of person he might come and possesse himselfe of the kingdome He was also aduertised by the said Salmas of the whole conspiracie plotted against his brother to bring him to his end and likewise made acquainted how the fraudulent ladie with the Sultans had capitally consulted against himselfe and how she fauouring Emir Chan and Abas Mirize of HARI her nephew and his sonne more than became her did little regard the due and rightfull succession of him being the eldest brother So Mahamet bearing himselfe vpon the faith and diligence of Mirize Salmas and desirous withall to see his eldest sonne Hamze Mirize aduanced to some such soueraign dignitie as he saw was due to the liuely hope euerie man perceiued to be in him in regard of his vertue and prudence for mannaging the common-wealth and matters of warre wherein also he shewed himselfe vnto his father jealous and suspitious least some other man should vsurpe vpon him that honour and authoritie which so properly appertained vnto him resolued in the end not to leaue the kingdome in the hands of priuat persons nor the lightnesse of an vnconstant woman of suspected modestie and a rebellious conspiratour against her owne bloud wherwith she had without any pittie or remorse of conscience now twise defiled her selfe And therefore he wrote backe againe That he was minded to take the rightfull succession vpon him and that for the same purpose he was putting himselfe vpon his journey with straight charge notwithstanding that Mirize Salmas should before his entrance within the gates of CASBIN present him with the mischieuous head of Periaconcona a woman in respect of the scorne exercised against her brother Aidere and of the treacherous death of her other brother Ismahel and of the peruerse imaginations which she had conceiued to cause the succession to fall into other mens hands and of the prodigall familiaritie which she had with some of the Sultans well worthie of a thousand deaths Secretly did Mirize Salmas put in execution whatsoeuer Mahamet had priuatly enjoined him so that by his means he was presently and solemnly proclaimed king of PERSIA And afterwards hauing gathered togither many squadrons of men wholy deuoted to the bloud and name of Mahamet the same Mirize Salmas met him on the way carrying the head of that manlike Virago Periaconcona vpon the point of a launce with her haire dispersed and some other vncouth sights to the terrour of the beholders From which nouelties one mischiefe as it were hudling vpon the necke of another there sprung vp diuers inward hatreds sundrie tumultuous seditions and much ciuile warres this new king by the instigation of Mirize Salmas seeking on the one side to be reuenged on the Sultans for his brothers death and they on the other side opposing themselues with all their power against him the state of PERSIA began to fall into great inconueniences and of these nouelties to reape new losses Sahâ—mal the Georgian fled into his mountaine of BRVS fearing the wrath of this new lord Leuent ogli likewise an other of the lords of GEORGIA vnderstanding of the flight of Sahamal his neighbour estranged himselfe so farre from his old loue and auntient deuotion towards the Persian kings that he seemed now to desire some new innouation The nations also that were neighbours to the Turkes and the people of MEDIA ATROPATIA now called SIRVAN disliked of this new king and in the end it appeared that PERSIA vnder this king through many mutations was in short time fallen into most notable miserie and the state thereof more weakned than it had been of long time before Of all these things had Amurath from diuers places intelligence but more particularly from Vstreff of VAN a citie of ARMENIA the greater situat vpon the lake Actamar who sent him most perfect information of all the stirs in PERSIA Discoursing vnto him of the death of Ismahel the consultations of the Sultans the trecheries and death of Periaconcona the broiles betweene the king and the Sultans the nature of
Osman the Visier Bassa commaundeth the Turks great armie after his death in the returne thereof from Tauris 995 c. dischargeth the armie at Van. 996 h. afraid to giue aid to Giaffer Bassa at Tauris 998 l. restoreth the battell before lost at Karesta 1098. with a great fleet commeth to see his mother the ladie Lucretia at Messina 1107 b. Columnius the Popes Admirall interposeth himselfe as a mediatour betwixt Don Iohn and Venerius the Venetian Admirall and so well appeaseth the matter 874 g Comparison betwixt Baiazet and Tamerlan 227 c Confederation hard to trust vpon 840 h Conrade Marques of Montferrat slaine by two desperat ruffians 71 d Conrade the third Emperour of Germanie taketh vpon him an expedition into the Holy land 31 c. cannot be suffered to enter into Constantinople but is treacherously dealt withall by the Greeke Emperour 32. with a notable speech encourageth his souldiours to aduenture the riuer Meander 33 a. with a great slaughter ouerthroweth the Turks 34 g. besiegeth Iconium and so returneth h. Constantine prince of Bulgaria with the Tartars inuade the territories of Palaeologus the Greeke Emperour and spoileth Thracia 117 b Constantine the Despot sent by the old Emperour Andronicus his brother against young Andronicus his nephew 163 a. taken prisoner at Thessalonica and miserably vsed f. Constantine the Greeke Emperour in vain craueth aid of the other Christian princes 340 h. at the winning of Constantinople by the Turks troden to death 347 b Constantinople built by Pausanias destroied by Seuerus reedified by Constantine the Great 341 a. how seated 340 a. taken and spoiled by the Latines 83 a. recouered from the Latines by Alexius Strategopulus 115 d betraied vnto the young Emperour Andronicus 171 d. in vaine besieged by Amurath the second 257 f. again besieged by Mahomet the great 340 k. assaulted by the Turks 346 k. woon 347 c Contarenus the Venetian Admirall slain 413 e. Corcutus saluted Emperour before his father Baiazet 437 d. kindly resigneth the Empire to his father 438 g. giuen to the studie of Philosophie and therefore not beloued of the Ianizaries 478 k. commeth to Constantinople 491 d. his notable speech vnto his father to persuade him to resigne vnto him the Empire before the comming of his brother Selymus 491â— comforted by his father and put in hope of the Empire 492 m. flieth to Magnesia 495 a. sought after by Selymus hideth himselfe in a caue 501 f. is found and taken 522 g. by the commaundement of Selymus strangled h. Cortug-Ogli the pyrat persuadeth Solyman to besiege the Rhodes 570 g Corone Pylus and Crisseum cities of Peloponesus belonging to the Venetians yeelded vnto the Turke 460 h Corone besieged by the Turks 627 f. relieued by Auria 629 d. abandoned and forsaken by the Spaniards 631 c. Cornâ—a and Serbellio two auntient Spanish captaines persuade the giuing of battell vnto the Turkes at Lepanto 872 i. Costly dishes 745 d Cowardise punished 1093 e Crete described 868 h Croia besieged by Amurath the second 323 b. in vaine assaulted 324 k. besieged by Mahomet the great 400 i relieued 401 c. againe besieged by Mahomet 402 h. the third time besieged 413 d. yeelded to the Turks 417 a. Cubates Selymus his embassadour commeth to Venice 839 f. but homely entertained there 840 f. his speech in the Senat of Venice k. for feare of the people secretly conueied away 842 g Curzola forsaken by the men defended by women 869 c Cusahin Bassa of Caramania riseth vp in rebellion against Mahomet the third 1114 k. ouerthroweth the Sanzackes sent to haue oppressed him l. at the comming of Mehemet the Visier Bassa sent against him flieth 1115 b. forsaken of his followers is taken and tortured to death at Constantinople d. the Cuselbassas when and how they begun amongst the Turks 465 f Cyprus described 843 b. how that kingdome came to the Venetians e. taken from them by Selymus the second 867 f. Cyrene yeelded vnto the Turks 852 i Czarnieuiche corrupted giueth the Turks passage ouer the Danubius into Valachia 911 d. reuolteth vnto the Turks 912 k D DAmasco betraied to Saladin Sultan of Aegipt 58 m. taken and sacked by the Tartars 113â— yeelded to Selymus 532 m Damiata and the description therof 89 a. taken by the Christians being before vnpeopled by the plague 92 m Dandulus Admirall of the Venetian fleet 85 a. Dauid and Alexius Comneni nephewes to Andronicus the Emperour erect vnto themselues a new Empire in Trapezonde 84 l Dauid the last Emperour of Trapezonde put to death by Mahomet the Great and that Empire subuerted 36 m Daut Chan for his good seruice rewarded by Amurath the third 996 i Dearth in the Turks armie at Triala 970 h. Debreas slaine and his armie ouerthrown by Scanderbeg 367 c Dedesinit the Georgian widdow with her sonne Alexander submit themselues to Mustapha the great Bassa 937 e Delimenthes with fiue thousand Persians pursueth the Turks armie 652 k. assaileth their campe by night and maketh of them a great slaughter m. Demetrius submitteth himselfe vnto Mahomet the Great 355 b Demetrius the Rhodian traitour slaine 329 a. Desdrot Gouernour of Stellusa to the terrour of the Turks in Sfetigrade before their faces executed 287 a Didymotichum yeelded vnto the Turks 189 c. Diogenes the Emperour discomfiteth the Turks 8 h. himselfe by the treason of Iohn Ducas by them againe ouerthrowne 9 c. taken prisoner 10 g. honourably vsed by the Turks Sultan h. ouerthrowne and taken prisoner by Andronicus hath his eyes put out whereof he dieth m. Dissention among the Turks about the succession after the death of Mahomet the Great 437 b Dissention betwixt Don Iohn and Venerius the Venetian Admirall 873 e Dium a castle of the Venetians in the East Indies in vaine assaulted by the Turks 670 l Doganes Aga of the Ianizaries whipt and displaced 339 b Dotis taken by the Turks 1099 c Dragut a most famous pyrat of the Turks by Auria driuen out of the citie of Africa in the kingdome of Tunes 752 i. commeth to the siege of Malta 797 b. his souldiors enforced shamefully to retire 799 a. slaine 801 h. Dracula Vayuod of Valachia dissuadeth king Vladislaus from farther proceeding in his wars against Amurath 205â— aideth him with his sonne and foure thousand horse 296 h. his last farwell vnto the king i. the Drusian people what they are 982 i. Dulcignâ— Antiuari and Budua strong towns of the Venetians vpon the coasts of Epirus and Dalmatia yelded to the Turke 869 a the duke of Muscouie his letters and presents sent vnto the Emperor 1071 a. Duke Mercurie Generall of the Emperors forces in the lower Hungarie commeth in vaine to relieue Canisia 1131â— in retiring looseth three thousand of his men with certaine pieces of great ordinance and his baggage 1132 g. besiegeth Alba Regalis 1134 m. winneth it 1135 f. enforceth Assan the Turks Generall with the losse of six thousand of his Turks to retire 1136 l. Dyrrhachium now called Durazo taken by the Turks 461