faith vnto these also were joyned diuers other Christians which came out of GERMANIE BOHEMIA and HVNGARIE to serue the Turke in his warres This hath been none of the least meanes whereby the Turkish kings haue growne so great and their kingdome so mightily enlarged by enforcing and alluring Christians to fight against Christians to the vtter confusion of themselues Amongst the great multitude of the European Christians were mingled his effeminat soldiors of ASIA and his naturall Turks and Ianizaries which were in number fewest and yet commaunded all the rest With this great armie well appointed with all warlike prouision came Mahomet the Turkish king from HADRIANOPLE and the ninth day of Aprill in the yeare 1453 encamped before CONSTANTINOPLE and with the multitude of his armie filled all the maine land before the citie from the sea side of BOSPHORVS vnto the place where the same sea compassing in the citie on two parts and running farre into the land betwixt CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA maketh there a goodly hauen betwixt them This citie of CONSTANTINOPLE called in ancient time BIZANTIVM is in fourme of a Triangle situated in EVROPE in the pleasant countrey of THRACIA vpon a point of the main land shooting out towards ASIA called of Plinie Solinus The promotorie CHRYSOCERAS where the sea of PRODONTIS joyneth vnto that strait of sea which diuideth ASIA from EVROPE called in ancient time BOSPHORVS THRACIVS sometime the strait of PONTVS and the mouth of PONTVS and of the moderne writers the strait of CONSTANTINOPLE and about 200 yeares past or more S. George his aâ—me This point of the maine whereon the citie standeth lyeth about two Italian miles more Northward than doth the antient citie of CALCEDON on the other side of the strait in ASIA more than thirtie miles distant from the Euxine or blacke sea lying from it Northward and two hundreth miles from the strait of HELLESPONTVS or CALLIPOLIS from thence South Which noble citie of all others most fitly seaâ—ed for the empire of the world and with great majestie ouerlooking both EVROPE and ASIA is by the Cosmographers accounted to stand in the height of 43 degrees vpon seuen little hils of no great and easie ascent and was there first built by Pausanias the Lacedemonian king and called BIZANTIVM and so many yeares flourished as a populous and rich cittie vntill the ciuile warres betwixt Seuerus the emperour and Niger what time it endured the siege of the Romanes vnder Seuerus three yeares with such obstinacie that it yeelded not vntill it was brought to such extremitie that the citizens did eat one another and then yeelding had the wals ouerthrowne by Seuerus and the citie it selfe destroyed and brought to the low estate of a poore countrie village and so by him giuen to the Perinthyans In which base estate it continued vntill the time of Constantine the Great the sonne of Helena whom some will needs haue to haue ben an English woman by whom it was new built and beautified with buildings so stately and sumptuous that vnto the strange beholders it seemed a dwelling place for heauenly wights rather than for earthly men And to grace it the more translated his imperiall seat thether and called it NOVA ROMA or new ROME and all that pleasant part of THRACIA alongst the sea coast of HELLESPONTVS PROPONTIS and BOSPHORVS by the name of ROMANIA of the faire Romane collonies there by him planted which name it at this day retaineth and is of the Turks called RVMILIA and RVMILI that is to say the Romane countrey But as for the citie it selfe the glorious name of the founder so preuailed that the citie was and yet is of him called CONSTANTINOPLE or Constantine his citie and now of the barbarous Turkes commonly but corruptly STAMBOLâ— It is as we said built in the forme of a Triangle whereof the longest side which runneth from Northeast to Southwest is on the South side washed with the PROPONTIS and towards the ending of the point which is about the seauen towers is somewhat indented being commonly reputed to be eight miles long The other side lyeth East and West fiue miles in length being washed with the hauen which is somwhat more thaÌ„ eight miles long before it meet with the fresh water and about a quarter of a mile broad on the farther side whereof standeth the citie of PERA commonly called GALATA sometimes a colonie of the Genowaies This hauen is very deepe and by that reason as commodious as deepe bearing ships full fraught close to the shoare so that they may discharge their burthens with the least trouble that may be and is of Strabo called CORNV BIZANTII or the horne of Bizantium The third side of this citie towards the Continent lyeth almost North and South fiue miles also in length those two sides that lie vpon the sea and the hauen are enuironed and guirt in with a single wall built after the antique maner with many high towers which strongly defend flanke the same Without which wals especially towards the hauen there lyeth a street between them and the shore But the other side which is the third and regardeth the main land beside the ditch which is also fenced is defended with three wals the first wall standing vpon the ditch being but low and the second not farre distant from the first raised somewhat higher but the third ouerlooketh and commaundeth both the other from whence as from an high fortresse both the other wals and all the ditch without may easily be defended But the two vtter wals with the whole space betwixt them are now by the Turks but slenderly maintained lying full of earth and other rubbish euen as they were in the time of the Grecians some cause why they with lesse heart and courage defended the same against their barbarous enemies In the East part of the cittie on that point which in the raigne of the Grecians was called the cape of S. Demetrio distant from ASIA not much more than halfe a mile standeth the Seraglio or pallace of the great Turke containing in it selfe a great part of an hill enclosed round with a wall as if it were it selfe a citie in circuit more than two miles wherein amongst other stately buildings neere vnto the sea standeth a verie faire and sumptuous gallerie built for pleasure with a priuie gate well fortified and planted with great ordinance and other munition whereby the great Turke at certaine times passeth when he is disposed in his gallie to take his pleasure vpon the sea or to passe ouer the strait vnto his houses or gardens of delight on the other side in ASIA In this great citie are also many other most stately and sumptuous buildings as well of late erected by the Turkish Sultans since they became lords thereof as before by the Greeke emperours amongst all which the Temple of S. Sophia standing in the East side of the citie not farre from the Seraglio now reduced vnto
him and afterward not to forget them that were farther off The proceeding of Scanderbeg with the late ouerthrow of SEREMET with his armie in EPIRVS stucke in his stomacke in reuenge whereof he now sent one Balabanus Badera a most valiant captaine with fifteene thousand horsemen and three thousand foot to inuade EPIRVS This Balabanus was an Epirot borne a chorles sonne of that countrey and being of a boy taken captiue of the Turkes as hee was keeping of his fathers cattell and of long time brought vp in seruitude amongst them framing himselfe both to their religion and manners after long seruice got the credit of a good common souldiour But when as at the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE it was his fortune to bee the first man of the Turkes armie that gained the top of the wals and entered the cittie hee was for that peece of seruice euer afterwards of Mahomet greatly esteemed and beside his other great preferments now sent Generall of his armie into EPIRVS Who as soone as hee was come to ALCHRIA a citie vpon the frontiers of that countrey sent manie rich presents to Scanderbeg making shew as if hee had beene desirous peaceably to lie vpon the borders committed to his charge without farther purpose to trouble his countrey yet in deed waiting nothing more than some notable opportunitie suddenly to doe him the greatest mischiefe he could But Scanderbeg well seeing into the malice of the man rejected his faigned friendship and giftes and in derision sent him a spade a mattocke a flaile with other such instruments belonging vnto husbandrie willing him to take in hand those tooles and to follow his fathers trade of life and to leaue the conducting of armies vnto men of greater skill and better place Which disgrace Balabanus tooke in exceeding euill part purposing in himselfe if euer it lay in his power to be thereof reuenged Wherefore knowing that Scanderbeg with a small power lay not farre off vpon the frontiers of his kingdome he determined suddenly in the night to set vpon him before he were aware of his comming and so if it were possible to ouerthrow him but Scanderbeg hauing knowledge thereof by his scouts set forward in good order to haue met him When Balabanus perceiuing that hee was discouered staied vpon the way and encamped within two miles of Scanderbeg who had then in his armie but foure thousand horsemen and one thousand and fiue hundred foote but all choise men and most expert souldiours and then lay in a large pleasant valley called VALCHAL At the farther end whereof Balabanus lay also encamped neere vnto a rough and wooddie hill which enclosed that part of the valley Whilest both armies thus lay within view one of another Scanderbeg well considering the ground the enemie had taken and that it was like he would offer him battell with cheerefull speeches encouraged his souldiours straitly charging them vpon paine of his displeasure that if the enemie vpon the fortune of the battell should chance to flie or to retire they should not in anie case pursue them farther than the straits of the hill whereby the enemie lay ghessing too truly that hee would in so conuenient a place leaue part of his armie in ambush as a sure refuge to trust vnto whatsoeuer should befall When he had thus encouraged and instructed his souldiours he rise with his armie and in good order retired vnto the rising of an hill which was a good way behind the place where he before lay of purpose to haue the aduantage of the ground if the enemie should follow to giue him battell Balabanus seeing him retire and the small number of his armie thought verily that he had fled for feare and therefore to stay him who ment nothing lesse than to flie set forward in great hast The Turkes thinking vpon so great aduantage to haue found no great resistance followed after Scanderbeg as if they had had him in chase and by that time they were come to the place where hee staied were by their hast greatly disordered and out of aray Scanderbeg his old trustie souldiours nothing dismaied with the hastie comming hideous clamour of the Turks receiued them with great courage so that there began a fierce battell with much slaughter on both sides which for a great while stood doubtfull Yet such was the inuincible courage of Scanderbeg his resolute souldiours that the Turkes who as then fought in great disorder were at last put to flight and with much slaughter chased vnto the straits of the mountaine where Scanderbeg had before commaunded his men to stay But certaine of his best and principall captaines forgetting what he had said vnto them and led on whether with the heat and furie of the battell or rather with ineuitable destinie is hard to say vnaduisedly pursued the enemie into those straits whereof they were by Scanderbeg before warned and charged that they should not enter where they were on euerie side beset with their enemies arising out of ambush and after they had a long time desperatly fought as wild beasts enclosed with hunters at last oppressed with multitude were there togither taken and brought to Balabanus by whom they were forthwith sent to Mahomet to CONSTANTINOPLE Who as soone as hee heard of their taking is reported with great rejoycing to haue said Now am I sure that the strength of Scanderbeg is broken The names of the principall men which were there taken was Moses Golemus of DIBRA the greatest captaine of EPIRVS next vnto Scanderbeg himselfe Giuriza Vladerius Scanderbeg his kinsman Musachius Scanderbeg his nephew by his sister Angelina Ginius Musachius Ioannes Perlatus who valiantly defended SFETIGRADE against Amurath Nicholaus Berisius Georgius Chucca and Ginius Manessius whereof euerie one of them was able to haue conducted a great armie and might worthely haue beene accounted amongst the greatest captaines of that age The taking of these worthie men brought such a generall sorrow and heauinesse vpon EPIRVS that the victorie was nothing accounted of euerie man lamenting the losse of such notable leaders Scanderbeg carefull of their deliuerance presently sent an embassadour to Mahomet requesting that hee might redeeme his prisoners either by exchanging of others for them or else for such raunsome as it should please him to set downe But hee knowing them to be Scanderbeg his best captaines would neither exchange them for others not grant that they should be raunsomed for anie gold but after hee had vsed them with all the dispight he could deuise caused them all by little and little to be flaine quicke in which miserable torment they liued fifteene daies and so died Scanderbeg hearing thereof was therewith rather encouraged than discouraged and in reuenge thereof with fire and sword entered into the Turkes dominion sparing nothing that hee could either burne or possibly by anie other meanes destroie Mahomet glad of the taking of these notable men although they were bought with the liues of manie of his people
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
liues For if Christ died for vs how much more right is it that we for him should die also vnto this so honourable an expedition let vs also giue an honourable end let vs fight in Christs name with a most assured hope of an easie victorie For none of them I trust shall be able to abide our force but shall all giue way euen to our first charge But if we shall die which God forbid there shall be an honourable place of our buriall wheresoeuer we shall for Christ fall Let the Persian archer for Christ his sake strike me I will die in an assured hope and with that arrow as with a chariot I will come vnto that rest which shall be to me deerer than if I should with a base ordinarie kind of death in my sinnes end my daies in my bed Now at length let vs take reuenge of them with whose impure feet our kinsmen and Christian brethren troden downe are gone into that common sanctuarie in which Christ our Sauiour equall and associat to his father is become a companion of the dead We are those mightie men we all haue drawne our swords which stand about the liuely and diuine sepulchre as about Solomons bed Wherefore we that be free borne let vs take out of the way these Agarens the children of the bondwoman and let vs remooue them as stones of offence out of the way of Christ whom I know not why the Grecians feed vp as greedie wolues to their owne destruction and with shame fat them with their blood when as with couragious minds and thoughts beseeming wise men they ought so to haue beene driuen from their prouinces and cities as rauening wild beasts from their flocks Now for as much as this riuer as it seemeth is not but by some aduenture to be passed ouer I my selfe will shew you the way and be the first that shall take it Let vs serred together forcibly breake into the riuer and we shall well enough ride through it I know that the water beaten backe by our force will be at a stand and breake the course returning as it were backward By not vnlike meanes the Israelits in antient time on foot passed ouer IORDAN the course of the riuer being staid This attempt shall be spoken of in all posteritie it shall by no tract of time be worne out or forgotten but still remaine in fresh remembrance to the great dishonour of the Turks whose dead bodies ouerthrown at this riuer shall lie like a mountaine and be seene as a Trophey of our victorie vnto the worlds end and our immortall praise and glorie Hauing thus said and the signall of battell giuen euerie man hauing before by deuout praier commended himselfe vnto almightie God he was the first that put spurs to his horse and tooke the riuer after whom followed the rest so close and so forcibly with such a terrible outcrie that the course of the water being by the force of their horses staid and as it were beaten backe towards the fountaine the whole armie passed ouer with lesse trouble than was feared And then charging the Turks alreadie discouraged to haue seene them so desperatly and contrarie to their expectation to haue passed the riuer after some small resistance put them to flight wherein such infinit numbers of them fell the Christians like fierce lyons pursuing the chace that all the vallies ran with blood and the fields were couered with the bodies of the dead Many of the Italians were wounded with the Turks arrowes and but few or none slaine But what a multitude of the enemies there fell the sundrie and hugie heapes of bones to be compared vnto great hils did long time after well declare whereat euerie man that trauelled that way did woorthily woonder as did I my selfe saith Nicetas Choniates in reporting this historie Not much vnlike that is reported of the Cimbers slaine by Marius in such number that of their bones the countrey people about MARCELLIS where the field was fought long time after made wals for the defence of their vineyards After this so great a victorie the Christians without resistance came to ICONIVM the chiefe seat of the Turkish kings in the lesser ASIA which they hardly besieged Neuerthelesse such was the strength of the citie being strongly fortified both by nature and art together with the valour of the defendants that lying there long they little preuailed pressed in the meane time with greater extremities and wants in the campe than were the besieged in the citie whereupon ensued such a mortalitie people dayly without number dying in the armie that the emperour was glad to raise his siege and to returne into his countrey The chiefe cause as well of this so great a mortalitie as of the ouerthrow of so notable an action most men ascribe vnto the malice of the Greeks who not without the priuitie of their emperour as it was commonly bruited mingled lime with the meale which they brought to sell into the armie whereof the hungrie souldiers desirously feeding were therewith poysoned and so miserably died Of the certaine time of this journey of the emperours into ASIA authors agree not howbeâ—t most refer it vnto the yeere 1146. This expedition though not so fortunat as was at the first well hoped of yet profited the Christian common weale in this That the Turks therewith throughly busied and doubtfull of the euent thereof Baldwin in the meane time fortified GAZA sometimes a famous citie of the Philistines but as then ruinous which serued as a most sure bulwarke for the defence of that part of his kingdome toward AEGYPT and also for the distressing of ASCALON the onely refuge of the Aegyptians then left in that country which strong citie standing vpon the sea side he with all the power of his kingdome afterward besieged both by sea and land vnto the reliefe whereof the Caliph of AEGYPT after it had beene fiue moneths by the Christians besieged sent a strong fleet of threescore and ten gallies At which time also on the other side Noradin the Turke who had now got into his hand all the kingdome of DAMASCO to withdraw the Christians from the siege of ASCALON besieged PANEADA from whence he was by the valour of the citizens repulsed as was also the Caliphs fleet at sea and the siege at ASCALON continued Where at length the Christians after long batterie had made a breach in the wall but giuing thereunto an assault they were with great losse of their men repulsed and the breach againe by the enemie repaired who to the greater despite of the Christians hanged ouer the walles in roaps the dead bodies of their slaine with which spectacle the chiefe commanders of the armie were so mooued that they with all their power returned againe to the assault with a full resolution to gage thereon their whole forces which they so couragiously performed that the besieged discouraged with the great slaughter of their men and now with
that did this Cobelitz vnto Amurath The dead bodie of Amurath was presently with all secrecie conueied into his tent by the Basâ—aes and captaines present at his death whether Baiazet was also brought with an ensigne before him as the successour in his fathers kingdome His younger brother Iacup surnamed Zelebi or the noble yet ignorant of that had hapned was by the great Bassaes sent for as from his father who casting no perill but comming into his fathers tent was there presently by them strangled by the commaundement of Baiazet as most histories report howbeit the Turkes annales charge him not therwith This was the beginning of the most vnnaturall and inhumane custome euer since holden for a most wholesome and good policie amongst the Turkish kings and emperours in the beginning of their raigne most cruelly to massacre their brethren and neerest kinsmen so at once to rid themselues of all feare of their competitors This Amurath was in his superstition more zealous than any other of the Turkish kings a man of great courage and in all his attempts fortunat he made greater slaughter of his enemies than both his father and grandfather his kingdome in ASIA hee greatly enlarged by the sword mariage and purchase and vsing the discord and cowardise of the Grecian princes to his profit subdued a great part of THRACIA called ROMANIA with the territories thereto adjoyning leauing vnto the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE little or nothing more in THRACIA than the imperiall citie it selfe with the bare name of an emperour almost without an empire he wan a great part of BULGARIA and entred into SERUIA BOSNA and MACEDONIA he was liberall and withall seuere of his subjects both beloued feared a man of verie few words and one that could dissemble deeply He was slaine when hee was threescore eight yeares old and had thereof raigned thirtie one in the yeare of our Lord 1390. His dead bodie was by Baiazet conuaied into ASIA and there royally buried at PRUSA in a faire chappell at the West end of the citie neere vnto the Bathes there where vpon his tombe lieth his souldiours cloake with a little Turkish tulipant much differing from those great turbants which the Turkes now weare Neere vnto the same tombe are placed three launces with three horse tailes fastened at the vpper end of them which he vsed as guidons in his wars a thing in antient time not strange There standeth a castle with a tombe made in remembrance of him in the plaines of COSSOUA where he was slaine and his entrailes buried which giueth occasion for some to report that hee was there also himselfe enterred FINIS Christian princes of the same time with Amurath the first Emperours Of the East Iohn Palaeologus 1354. 30. Andronicus Palaeologus 1384. 3. Emanuell Palaeologus 1387. 30. Of the West Charles the fourth 1346. 32. Wenceslaus son to Charles king of Bohemia 1378. 22. Kings Of England Edward the third 1327. 50. Richard the second 1377. 23. Of Fraunce Iohn Valois 1350. 14. Charles the fifth 1364. 16. Charles the sixt surnamed The welbeloued 1381. 42. Of Scotland Dauid Bruce 1341. 29. Robert Stuart 1370. Bishops of Rome Innocent the VI. 1354. 10. Vrban the V. 1364. 8. Gregorie the II. 1372. 7. Vrban the VI. 1378. 11. BAIAZET BAIAZETTHES PRIMVS QVARTVA TVRCORVM REX ANNO 1390 Fulminis in morem celeri rapit agmina motu Baizethes fidei pacis impatiens Regni Hadrianopolim sedes sibi legit vt esset Posset vt Europae iungere regna suis. Constantinopolim gemina obsidione fatigat Iam Graetas vana spe sibi spondet opes Cum Tamburlano praebet sua terga catenis Vinctus in cauea probra pudenda subit Prowd Baiazet most false of faith and loathing blessed peace His warlike troupes like lightening to shake he doth not cease Of HADRIANOPLE he makes choice for his imperiall seat That EVROPS kingdomes he might joyne vnto his empire great CONSTANTINOPLE he distrest twice with straight siege and long And vainly thought to haue possest the Graecians wealth by wrong But ouercome by Tamberlane fast bound in fetters sure Trod vnder foot and cloas'd in cage great shame did there indure THE LIFE OF BAIAZET THE FIRST OF THAT NAME THE FOVRTH AND MOST VNFORTVNAT KING OF THE TVRKES BAiazet or as the Turks call him Baiasit of his violent and fierce nature surnamed Gilderun or lightening succeeded his father Amurath in the Turkish kingdome his younger brother Iacup being strangled immediatly after his fathers death as is before declared He in the first yeare of his raign inuaded SERVIA and there besieged CRATOVA a citie of the Despots whereunto the siluer mines of SERVIA not the least cause of that warre belonged Which citie was yeelded vnto him vpon condition That the Christian inhabitants might with life and libertie depart Who were no sooner gone out of the cittie but that by his commaundement they were all most cruelly slaine by his men of warre for that purpose sent out after them At this time hee also woon VSCUPIA with diuers other castles in the countrey neere vnto CRATOVA Sigismund at the same time king of HUNGARIE a yong prince of great hope and brother to Wenceslaus then emperour of the West aduertised from the Seruians his allies and confederats of these proud proceedings of Baiazet by his embassadours sent of purpose requested him That as he was a just prince and wished to liue in quiet with his owne to desist from doing of such open wrong and from inuading of such countries of his friends and confederats as he had no right in Which embassadours so sent Baiazet detained without answere vntill such time as he had ouerrun a great part of the Despot his country and therein done what he thought good Then calling the said embassadours vnto him into one of the strong townes which hee had in euerie corner filled with his owne souldiours told them that they might there see that his right both vnto that towne and the rest by him taken was good inough for as much as the verie wals acknowledged the same and so giuing them leaue to depart willed them so to tell their master Which his proud answere by the same embassadors reported vnto the yong king no lesse troubled him than if open warre had by them been denounced vnto him seeing the tyrant as should seeme pretending right vnto whatsoeuer hee could by force get neuerthelesse being himselfe not yet well setled in his kingdome and in doubt of the contrarie faction that altogether liked not of his election into HUNGARIE for their king he was glad at that time to put it vp and so to hold himselfe content The next yeare Baiazet by Ferises Beg tooke the citie of VIDINA with many other strong townes and castles in SERVIA and afterwards returned to HADRIANOPLE But whilest that hee thus raged in EUROPE the Caramanian king inuaded and spoiled the frontiers of his countries in ASIA which although he was not then at
contemne thine enemie be he neuer so weake of which one thing aboue all others I haue repented my selfe of long and shall doe after my death if any feeling of humane thinges remaine in the dead And that I was so foolish and inconsiderat as to foster vp as it were in my bosome this my domesticall and neglected enemie wherby I haue purchased vnto my selfe this calamitie and for euer blemished the honor of the Othoman kings whilest I so basely ending my daies vnder the wals of CROIA shall become a by-word vnto the world and all posteritie for euer This traitour should euen then haue been oppressed when hee by great treacherie first recouered his wicked kingdome in that newnesse of his estate and before the minds of the people were assured vnto him then it had been an easie matter without bloudshed to haue vtterly extinguished the wretch together with his name Ali Bassa whose euill fortune was the first beginning of his good nor the other Generals who by him slaine or taken prisoners increased his strength and credit with his subjects should not haue been sent against him a thing which I haue oftentimes thought vpon but could scarce haue beleeued that euer I should haue thereby receiued such disgrace together with the ignominious renting of my kingdome if I had not been taught the same by mine owne experience to my great losse and hearts greefe We entred into EPIRVS and here encamped an hundred and threescore thousand men strong now if leisure serue you take view of them examine the matter you shall find a great want of that number The fields could not contain our regiments and the multitude of our men but now how many tents stand emptie how many horses want riders You shall go to HADRIANOPLE with our forces much impaired As for me the destinies haue vowed my spirits to this country of EPIRVS as vnto me fatall But wherfore do I impute vnto my selfe these impediments and chances of Fortune for then first began this seed of mischiefe in EPIRVS when the Hungarians with other the Christian princes rose vp in armes against vs at which time we fought not with them for soueraigntie but for the whole state of our kingdome as the bloudie battailes of VARNA and COSSOVA still witnesse vnto the world So whilest I had neither leisure nor sufficient power to take order for all my important affaires at once in the meane time this enemy grew as you see But how or in what order you are hereafter to wage warre against him you may not looke for any direction from me which haue in all these matters so euill directed my selfe Fortune neuer deceiued my endeuors more than in this But happely thou Mahomet my sonne maiest prooue a more fortunat warriour against him and for so many honors alreadie giuen vnto me the destinies haue reserued the triumph of EPIRVS for thee Wherfore my sonne thou shalt receiue from me this scepter and these roial ensigns but aboue all things I leaue vnto thee this enemie charging thee not to leaue my death vnreuenged It is all I charge thee with for so great and stately a patrimonie as thou art to receiue from me it is the only sacrifice that my old departing ghost desireth of thee Shortly after he became speechlesse and striuing with the pangs of death halfe a day he then breathed out his gastly ghost to the great joy and contentment of the poore oppressed Christians He died about the middle of Autumne in the yeare of our Lord 1450 when he had liued 85 yeares as most write and thereof raigned 28 or as some others report 30 about fiue months after the siege laid before CROIA Thus lieth great Amurath erst not inferiour vnto the greatest monarchs of that age dead almost in despaire a worthy mirror of honours frailtie yeelding vnto the worldly man in the end neither comfort nor reliefe Who had fought greater battails who had gained greater victories or obtained more glorious triumphs than had Amurath Who by the spoils of so many mightie kings and princes and by the conquest of so many prowd and warlike nations againe restored and established the Turkes kingdome before by Tamerlan and the Tartars in a manner clean defaced He it was that burst the hart of the prowd Grecians establishing his empire at HADRIANOPLE euen in the center of their bowels from whence haue proceeded so many miseries and calamities into the greatest part of Christendome as no tongue is able to expresse He it was that first brake downe the Hexamile or wal of separation on the strait of CORINTH conquered the greatest part of PELOPONESVS He it was that subdued vnto the Turks so many great countries and prouinces in ASIA that in plaine field and set battaile ouerthrew many puissant kings and princes and brought them vnder his subiection who hauing slaine Vladislaus the king of POLONIA and HVNGARIE and more than once chased out of the field Huniades that famous redoubted warriour had in his prowd and ambitious heart promised vnto himselfe the conquest of a great part of Christendome But O how farre was he now changed from the man he then was how farre did these his last speeches differ from the course of his forepassed life full of such base passionat complaints and lamentations as beseemed not a man of his place and spirit but some vile wretch ouertaken with dispaire and yet afraid to die Where were now those haughtie thoughts those loftie lookes those thundring and commaunding speeches whereat so many great commaunders so many troups and legions so many thousands of armed souldiours were woont to tremble and quake Where is that head before adorned with so manie trophies and triumphs where is that victorious hand that swaied so many scepters where is the majestie of his power and strength that commanded ouer so many nations and kingdoms O how is the case now altred he lieth now dead a gastly filthy stinking carkas a clod of clay vnregarded his hands closed his eyes shut and his feet stretched out which erst prowdly traced the countries by him subdued and conquered And now of such infinit riches such vnmeasurable wealth such hugie treasures such stately honors and vainglorious praises as he in his life time enjoyed his fraile bodie enjoyeth nothing but left all behind it O the weake condition of mans nature O the vaine glorie of mortall creatures O the blind and peruerse thoughts of foolish men Why do we so magnifie our selues why are we so puffed vp with pride why do we so much set our minds vpon riches authoritie and other vanities of this life whereof neuer man had yet one daies assurance and at our most need and when we least thinke quite forsake vs leauing euen them that most sought after them and most abounded in them shrowded oft times in the sheet of dishonor and shame That his death is otherwise by some reported I am not ignorant the Turkes saying that he died miraculously
Turkish captaines by sending them great presents and receiuing the like againe And last of all his letters directed to certaine Hungarian captaines were produced wherein he seemed to promise them as his friends and followers greater entertainment than agreed with his present estate All which things king Ferdinand of his owne disposition not easily to be persuaded to conceiue euill of the Germanes his countreymen were it neuer so apparant or true but of strangers any thing quickly beleeued and therefore caused him as is beforesaid to be apprehended But Perenus as he was brought by Medices the Admirall to VIENNA when he was come neere vnto the gate of the citie and heard that Phillippus Torniellus with certaine other braue captaines of his acquaintance were come to meet the Admirall he requested that the close coach wherein he rid might be opened and that he might haue leaue to speake to those noble and valiant gentlemen Which thing was easily graunted for that the nobilitie and approoued valour of the man seemed vnto them which had the charge of him vnworthie of such restraint of libertie or imprisonment yea or of the least suspition thereof So he turning himselfe towards them spake vnto them in this sort Wretched I noble gentlemen said he whom despightfull enuie hath circumuented guiltlesse but much more miserable king Ferdinand whom domesticall theeues bereaues of substance friends and honour all at once For so it commeth to passe that by this inconsider at wrong done vnto me he shall vtterly lose the loue and fidelitie of the Hungarian nation and may therefore for euer not without cause despaire for the obtaining of the kingdome of HVNGARIE sithence that it is not lawfull for me inferiour to none of my nation in birth and hauing for my good and faithfull seruice well deserued reward of a iust king so much as to reioice for the deliuerance of my sonne from the captiuitie of the Turks but that by my sinister fortune dreadfull death in stead of incomparable ioy must be presented to mine eyes For will these malicious pick-thanks guiltie of their owne cowardise the wicked contriuers and witnesses of my wrongfull accusation spare me being laid fast and in durance which neuer spared the kings honour For euerie man of what nobilitie soeuer be he neuer so guiltlesse when he is once in hold must be content to endure not what he hath deserued but what his hard fortune assigneth Yet my vpright mind and cleare consâ—ience which onely thing God the most iust iudge leaueth as a comfort to men in miserie wrongfully accused deliuereth me of this care and so will the Marquesse our Generall to whom I before vpon a mistrust foretold that such a danger would shortly befall me and that I had rather be slaine guiltlesse than to withdraw my selfe from triall which thing I told him at such time as I was so guarded with mine owne strength that I feared no mans force I beseech you doe me this honourable fauor as to request king Ferdinand in my behalfe quickly and honourably to proceed to the triall of my cause and according to his owne princely disposition and not the will of others to discerne betwixt his faithfull friends and faigned flatterers Truly wee are too too vnfortunat captaines if for a little euill successe we shall be so adiudged as men that had ouerthrowne their fortune Cazzianer peraduenture receiued the iust punishment hee had deserued for the shamefull forsaking and losing of the armie at EXEK when as he possessed with an vncouth feare forgot the dutie of a Generall more afraid of death than dishonour for when he had voluntarily committed himselfe to safe custodie be was so generally condemned of cowardise that despairing to defend his cause he brake prison and as wickedly as vnfortunatly reuolted to the Turkes But neither was I of late the Generall neither were we vanquished although we preuailed not but honourably retiring valiantly repressed the insolencie of the pursuing enemie As for the kingdome of HVNGARIE I might then well haue affected the same and easily haue deserued it at Solymans hands when as king Ferdinand after the death of king Iohn was making his preparation for that warre at which time my friends and followers at my deuotion with the loue of the Hungarians towards me seeming of no small importance for the obtaining of the victorie might haue ministred no vnreasonable or vnseasonable hope to haue drawne a man into courses not altogither beseeming a Christian Wherefore I haue and will so long as I liue fight against the Turkes if king Ferdinand shall shew himselfe an indifferent iudge in this accusation falsely surmised against me by the malice of mine enemies When he had made an end of speaking the Admirall courteously persuaded him to haue good hope in the clemencie of the most just king and shortly after performed his request for he and Torniellus taking the king as he was hunting entreated him to deale fauourably with Perenus For all that Perenus could not obtaine that his cause might be openly heard but was committed to safe keeping there to remaine in perpetuall prison but whether it was for the misprission of new treason or for reuenge of his old inconstancie is vncertaine Thus three the only great princes left of the Hungarian bloud equally worthie of the kingdome Valentine Maylat and Perenus snarled almost in like snares of enuie cut off all hope of raising a king to their seditious and therefore miserable countreymen when as Perenus lay too late bewailing his vnconstancie in perpetuall prison and the other two fast in chaines neere vnto the Euxine sea expected death the end of their miseries This end had the wars taken in hand against the Turks by the generall consent of the Germans in the yeare 1542 which many thought might worthily be compared with the greatest losses of those times When as king Ferdinand hauing in vaine spent a great masse of treasure the fittest stay for the imminent warre and lost the opinion before conceiued of the strength of GERMANIE had now as a weake prince and subject to injurie prouoked against him the Turkes bold enough otherwise but as then insolent for their late victories Polinus the French kings embassadour still following the Turkes court ceased not by all meanes to solicite Solyman with his gallies to aid the king his master in the inuasion of the dominions of Charles the emperour in ITALIE SICILIE and SPAINE In which sute he was so crossed by Solyman the eunuch Bassa then Vesier that he was almost in despaire of speed for the malitious eunuch being himselfe a great sea man and enuying the honor of Barbarussa who was to be imploied in that seruice sought by keeping him out of all honourable actions to diminish his former glorie and concerning the present protested openly as he sat in counsell that he saw no other cause why the Turkish emperour should to his great charge and the common danger send out such a
depart away with his horses of seruice which he kept very good and had cunningly stuffed the saddles full of gold thinking so slyly to haue conueyed it the Turke laughing at him tooke from him his horses furnished as they were saying That he which was to goe by water needed no horses So was the couetous wretch at once quit of the great wealth which he had in long time euill gotten The captaines with the rest of the souldiors dispoiled of their armes were conueyed ouer the riuer of Danubius and so trauelled on foot to POSSONIVM where the countie Salme by the commaundement of the king apprehended Liscanus Salamanca and some other of the captaines for suspition of treason and committed them to safe custodie there to answere for their cowardly yeelding vp of the citie Solyman entred into STRIGONIVM the tenth of August in the yeare 1543 and there conuerting the Christian churches into temples for the Mahometane superstition first sacrificed for his victorie as he had before done in BVDA and after with all speed so strongly fortified the citie as if he would thereby for euer haue taken from the Christians all hope of recouering the same againe deriding the slouthfull negligence of the Germans who possessed of it foureteene years had neglected all that time to fortifie it Not long after Solyman leauing Ossainus a valiant captaine gouernour of STRIGONIVM and sending his Tartarian horsemen to spoile the countrey on the left hand as farre as ALBA REGALIS went himselfe to besiege the castle of TATTA called in auntient time THEODATA The garrison souldiours terrified with the losse of STRIGONIVM and the sight of the Turkes armie vpon the first summons yeelded the castle without resistance and were so suffered quietly to depart That castle after the manner of the Turkish discipline who with few and those very strong holds keepe their prouinces in subjection was by Solymans commaundement presently rased downe to the ground Torniellus Generall of the Italians caused Hanniball captaine of the castle to haue his head strucke off for his cowardly yeelding vp of the peece he had taken charge of thereby to admonish others which had the charge of strong places not to refuse an honourable death in defence of their countrey for feare of an ignominious death attending their cowardise TATTA thus layd in the dust Solyman marched with his armie towards ALBA surnamed REGALIS for that the kings of HVNGARIE by an auntient custome vsed to be there crowned and also buried BVDA STRIGONIVM and ALBA REGALIS three principall cities of the kingdome of HVNGARIE stand in manner of a triangle almost equally distant one from another about a hundred miles in compasse BVDA and STRIGONIVM are siâ—â—at vpon the riuer of Danubius but ALBA standeth more into the land strongly seated in the midst of a great lake but not so wholesomely especially in the Summer time the Winter waters then decreasing and grosse vapours arising with the heat of the Sunne From the citie thorow the marrish or lake vnto the firme land lie three broad and high causeyes in manner of the strakes of a cart wheele well built with faire houses and gardens on either side and a broad way in the middle whereby men passe in and out of the citie At the end of euery causey towards the land were cast vp strong bulwarkes which the citisens vsed not to watch but in dangerous times of warre so that by these bulwarkes the houses of the suburbs standing vpon these causies were safe from the danger of the enemie the lake filling vp all the spaces betwixt the causies which what for the depth what for mud flaggs and bulrushes growing in it was not by horse or man to be passed thorow And the citie it selfe standing in the middest of the lake compassed round about with a strong wall and a deepe ditch alwayes full of water was hardly to be besieged for which causes a great number of the countrey people vpon the comming of Solyman fled into it with their cattell as vnto a most sure hold In the citie lay in garrison two companies of Germans and two hundred horsemen vnto whom were joyned fiue hundred Hungarian horsemen such as in time of peace liued by robbing and are by an infamous name called Vsarous vnto these the Italian countie Torniellus who with his Italians was come as farre as IAVARINVM or RAB sent foure captaines with their companies such as were most forward in that seruice after whom followed Barcocius captaine of the kings guard with a companie of horsemen appointed by the king for Generall Who was no sooner come into the citie but news was brought of Solymans approch Whereupon he in hast called together the other captaines with Birrous then maior of the citie and other the cheefe citisens to consult with them What was best to be done for the defence of the citie but especially Whether the suburbes of the citie standing vpon those three broad causies were to be destroyed or not that so the citie standing in the middest of the great marrish might both with lesse labour and danger be defended This question was seriously debated and great reasons alleadged on both sides at last the citisens cried out with one voice against the matter and said That they would neuer suffer those goodly suburbs wherein were so many churches and faire buildings as might compare with the citie it selfe to be so shamefully destroied to the vtter vndoing of so many rich citisens for what could be said they more dishonourable or lamentable than to the encouraging of the barbarous enemie to shew such a token of extreame feare and with their owne hands to burne and destroy those stately buildings which might by strong hand be well enough defended against the enemie if they did not play the shamefull cowards Of which opinion with the citisens was also Octauianus Serosactus an Italian captaine alleadging that both the citie and the suburbs might both with like danger be defended forasmuch as they were equally fortified with the benefit of the marrish and if the worst should happen the defendants might yet safely enough retire into the citie At last standing vp as one thrust forward both with the publicke hard fortune and his owne said Valiant gentlemen what shew will you giue of your valour or what honour shall you haue of your seruice If you shall defend so famous a citie by deforming of it your selues and cutting off the suburbes as it were the armes thereof before the danger vpon too hastie desperation Verily you shall doe nothing either in the seruice of the king or the honour of your selues except this citie if God so please be of you whole and sound valiantly defended Vpon this speech they all arise the wiser sort and of greatest experience giuing place to the importunitie of the ignorant and simple Barcotius himselfe full of care and ouercome with the vaine opinion of the greater part yeelded also vnto that fatall resolution
ZACYNTHVS as the Generall had commaunded Whilest they were yet thus discoursing newes was brought That the enemie was come with his fleet into the fret of CERIGO which caused them all with one consent to resolue in such order to passe by the enemie as if they should haue giuen him present battell whereas before they were determined by the persuasion of â—uscarinus to haue gone to CRETE and there leauing the ships and galleasses in safetie to haue afterwards returned to the Generall In such order the Christians passed by the enemies fleet which lay still in the fret of the sea without moouing standing as it were rather vpon the guard of themselues than resolued for battell In three daies sailing they came to ZACYNTHVS where they found not Don Iohn but two of his gallies and commandement that they should there leaue their heauie ships and with their gallies come to CEPHALENIA where they should not faile to meet him Hereupon the Venetians were exceedingly grieued and muttered through the whole fleet That the Spaniards bearing themselues vpon their wealth were too proud and in comparison of themselues regarded neither the conditions of the league neither any other mans credit but trode all men vnderfoot and would now vse the Venetians not as their friends and confederats but as their slaues and vassales feeding them in the meane time but with vaine hope Yet for as much as the time and necessitie so required they were content to be ouerruled and so leauing their ships and galleasses at ZACYNTHVS went with the rest of the fleet to CEPHALENIA whither Don Iohn was not yet come but had sent word thither That if they had any desire to joyne their forces with his they should yet come further backe vnto him to CORCYRA This message which they had rather feared than expected much troubled the Venetians who readier to suspect euery mischeefe than to hope for any good began to fret and complaine That the Spaniards could very well tell the Venetians what they had to doe and forget in the meane time what was on their owne part to be performed A hard thing it was to say and yet to be said that now they had more to doe with those their dallying friends and confederats than with their enemies for with their enemies they were to fight but in time of battell but with them they were to wrestle and striue at all times and in all places They were by them as they said drawne from the sight of their enemies when as they might haue beene ouerthrowne not to the intent that with their vnited forces they might more safely fight against them or vnder the conduct of Don Iohn gaine the victorie but rather least any thing should haue beene done which might be to the honour or profit of the Venetians and that time which was to haue beene bestowed in the managing of the warre spent in lingering and delaying and vaine going forward and backward to no purpose One onely way there was as they said to haue dispatched with the Turke which was by ouercomming him in another notable battell and so to haue vtterly broken his strength at sea which course the confederats made no lesse difficult by their ofwardnesse and delaies than the enemie by declining of battell That they had long ago by many secret signes probably conjectured that the Spaniards had more care to hinder and crosse other mens doings than to doe any thing of themselues That their indeuours were to frustrat those great hopes which promised vnto the Christian common-weale the greatest felicitie and happinesse togither with immortall glorie and That the Turkes of late discouraged with the fortunat proceedings of the Christians might again rejoice at their mishaps The Venetians notwithstanding all these their murmuring speeches loath to fall off from the Spaniard kept still on with the rest vntill they came to Don Iohn at CORCYRA who then lay with three and fiftie gallies and eighteene ships at SPILCA in the vttermost end of the island At their first meeting Don Iohn shewed himselfe not a little offended that they had not with more dutie before attended his comming and they againe not a little complained of his long stay with many other their grieuances which were tedious here to rehearse The fleet now all with much adoe at length met togither which consisted of two hundred gallies nine galeasses and thirtie six tall ships it was by generall consent agreed that they should againe set forward toward the enemie They were not yet vnder saile when two of their espials brought them newes that the enemies fleet weakly furnished both of marriners and souldiors was come to NAVARINVM which filled them all with good hope that the Turkes fleet so euill prouided might in that place vpon the sudden be easily oppressed and the rather if they came vpon them vnexpected Wherefore because they would not be descried they kept not their course on right foorth but sayling by night kept aloofe vpon the right hand and hauing passed ZACYNTHVS came with great silence vnto the STROPHADES where they lay at anchor all that day In the euening they loosed thence so casting their course that the more to terrifie the enemie they might before day fall vpon him and be seene in the mouth of the hauen where he lay before there could be any report made of their comming thither But this course so well set the time was so euill cast that it was faire day long before they could come to the appointed place when the Turkes out of their watch towers discouering a farre off the comming of the Christian fleet gaue warning thereof vnto their fellowes whereupon an alarum was presently raised in the towne and all men in armes ran headlong to the wals and to the hauen But the Turks out of hope with their euill rigged fleet to be able to withstand the Christians and not daring to trust to that weake harbour and all now in a great hurly burly ran confusedly hand ouer head souldiors and marriners aboord and whilest they had yet time got them in hast out of that harbour and as men chased by their enemies got them into safe harbour at MODON a strong town of PELOPONESVS about six miles off Columnius was sent before the rest of the fleet to haue pursued them but they were got so farre before him that they had recouered the harbour before he could ouertake any of them The Christian fleet comming before the harbour and leauing a space as it were of purpose for the enemie to come out into there lay in the face of the towne daring the Turkes battell But when they had so lien almost all that day and no man durst come out and now toward the euening certaine signes of tempest appeared the Christians fearing to be by force of weather driuen on ground put farther off againe to sea Then at length Vluzales sent out certaine light gallies to follow in the taile of the fleet when
the confederats suddenly staying their course and turning their prows vpon them draue them headlong againe into the harbour and afterwards retired themselues with the whole fleet into the islands OENVSae now called SAPIENTIA right opposite against MODON The next day wanting fresh water they remoued vnto the bay of MESSENA there to water in the mouth of the riuer Pamisus which there falleth into the sea where in passing by CORONE they were oftentimes shot at out of the towne and landing their men to water were encountred by certaine troupes of horsemen sent for that purpose by Vluzales There was water deerly bought with the liues of many there slaine on both sides in the end the Christians preuailing watered and so againe returned vnto the OENVSae from whence they came METHONE or MODON for it is by both names knowne standeth almost in an island stretching farre into the sea where toward the West runneth out a long point of the land a great way into the sea in the vttermost part whereof standeth a great round tower The towne it selfe is on the one side enclosed with the sea and toward the land so strongly fortified as that it seemeth almost impregnable Towards the South commeth in a faire bay about three miles wide safe from all winds except the Northerly wind only and shut vp by a little island in the mouth of the bay maketh a safe and quiet harbour with two entrances thereinto on either side of the island Within this bay lay the Turks fleet with the sternes of their gallies toward the land and their prows towards the sea At the Southerly comming in of the bay standeth an hill which the inhabitants call ALBVS on the top whereof the enemie had placed six great pieces of ordinance wherewith to keepe the Christians from entring that way So had they also vpon that point of the maine which as we said runneth out from the towne and vpon S. Bernards rocke planted other great pieces of ordinance to defend that passage also The Christians comming vnto the mouth of the bay there lay with their fleet diuided into foure parts but yet doubtfull what to doe for beside that the entrances of the bay were but narrow they were also farre more dangerous to be entred by reason of the great ordinance planted vpon them Neuerthelesse the Venetian Admirall in hope of good successe and loth to let the fearefull enemie so to escape out of their hands would faine haue persuaded the Generall with his whole fleet to haue entred the bay and there in the harbour to haue oppressed the enemie which he shewed to be no 〈◊〉 to doe for that the enemie was too weake in strength and could not be from land relieued In which doing they should indeed ouerthrow but one fleet but in the ouerthrowing of that one cut in sunder all the sinewes of the Turkish empire by sea and raising a tumult in the bay and filling all with a generall feare should vndoubtedly at the first onset put the enemie to flight Which done what should let but that carrying about with them the terrour of the victorie they should with their victorious fleet â—ake from the Turke all the islands of the AEGâ—â—â— That truly and wisely it was said of Themistocles That whosoeuer had the commaund of the sea must needs also preuaile in the rest and at length carrie away the victorie by land also It was as he said the part of good chieftains not to be wanting vnto themselues when occasion was offered besides that they were the same Turkes whom they had but the yeare before vanquished and what had that one yeare either taken from them or giuen vnâ—â— the Turks or what should they feare six pieces of ordinance mounted vpon an hill who if they â—hould vndertake the battell were not to feare the great store of ordinance in two hundred and threescore of the enemies gallies and galliots I my selfe said he will be the guide and leader in whatsoeuer shall seeme most difficult and dangerous and will in person my selfe be the first that shall enter the harbour and aduenture the first danger Great victories he said were not to be gained but with great aduentures and that therefore the matter were to be hasted before more aid should be sent vnto the Turkes Wherefore they should as resolute men attempt that the Turks thought the Christians durst not to haue attempted and with the same courage breake into the bay wherwith they had but the yeare before broken the strength of the same enemy and by the power of God carrie away another notable triumph of the vanguished Turks who ouercome in a second battell at sea must needs depart with all their maritime territories With euill liking of the Spaniards was the Venetian Admirall heard And Don Iohn the Generall deeming both the time and place vnfit for the attempting of so great an exploit rehearsed on the one side the strength of the enemie the disaduantage of the place the difficultie of the battell with the manifold and great calamities receiued by the ouerhastie and rash attempts of their enemies That the enemies strength was not to be so much deemed by the eye or by report as by reason and that many in seeking to increase their former glorie had in so doing ouerthrowne the same That the Christians in entring and aduenturing the harbour should on the one side be beaten with the artillerie from the hill and on the other with the artillerie out of the castle of MODON And that it was not like that Vluzales should if need were lacke aid from land who but the other day had sent great troupes of horsemen to haue kept the Christians from watering That a matter of so great importance was by Fuscarinus his leaue not rashly to be taken in hand vpon an heat and hautinesse of stomacke but vpon graue and mature deliberation for if they should in a place of so great disaduantage hazard the fortune of a generall battell it should seeme that either he knew not that kind of fight and force of the enemie or else would make the bay of MODON more famous by the ouerthrow of the Christians than was the CVRZVLARI by the slaughter of the Turks Then what a shame would it be if they which were about to oppresse the enemies fleet should themselues be ouerthrowne and that in their owne deuise He had rather as he said preserue his owne fleet than to take six hundred of the enemies gallies and to account the same for a greater honour Which he determined not for that he would not haue any thing done but that vnripe occasions should not be too much hastened and as it were thrust headlong forward whereas time would giue opportunitie for the ouerthrow of the Turks fleet so that they ran not blindly on headlong and that in future time the Venetians would rejoice that they had so moderated their desires The Christians he said had sufficiently preuailed if those
destroy all your wealth and goods which together with you selues your wiues and children shall be giuen for a prey vnto our souldiors with the cheefe men of your cities of CRACOVIA and LEPERIS which for all that we say not as any thing at all doubting of your fidelitie and constancie towards vs. As for the rest which it pleased vs by word of mouth to haue told vnto you we haue giuen charge vnto this our embassadour and counsellour vnto whom our desire is that you should giue full credence From CONSTANTINOPLE the last of September in the yeare of our Prophet Mahomet 983 and first of our reigne This the great Sultans commendations so much preuailed with the Polonians that notwithstanding that Maximilian the emperour was by the Archbishop of GNESNA and some others chosen king yet was that his election by the greater part of the Nobilitie reuoked and both he and the great duke of MVSCOVIE being passed ouer the noble princesse Anne of the most honourable Iagellonian house chosen queene of POLONIA yet with this condition That she should marrie Stephen the Vayuod of TRANSYLVANIA to them by Amurath commended Who afterward elected king all the time of his life right worthily gouerned that noble kingdome not onely defending the same in such state as he found it but also notably extending the bounds thereof enlarging it with such territories as he by force of armes got from his neighbours especially the Muscouite Of this election Amurath would oftentimes afterwards boast and say That he had giuen the Polonians their king But of him and of the league by him made with Amurath more shall be said hereafter The yeare following great troubles arose in PERSIA whereby the flourishing state of that most mightie kingdome was sore shaken and opportunitie giuen for the Turkish emperour to inuade the same which he laying hold vpon entered into that bloudie warre which to the great quiet of the Christian commonweale for long time after exercised the forces of those most puissant princes one vpon the other For the better vnderstanding wherof it shall not be amisse compendiously to set down the same troubles of the Persian kingdome the very ground of the long and mortall warre betweene those two most mightie Monarchs Old Tamas the Persian king sonne to the noble Hismaell who with great glorie had more than fiftie yeares worthily gouerned that large kingdome and mightily withstood the often inuasions of the Turkish emperours now spent with yeares died the eleuenth of May in the yeare 1576 leauing behind him eleuen sonnes namely Mahomet the eldest of an infirmitie in his eies surnamed Codabanda a man of a peaceable and quiet disposition more delighted with the sweet pleasures of a contented life than the carefull honors of so great a kingdome Ismahel the second sonne of a more fierce and troublesome nature so much abhorring quietnesse that not regarding the league hardly concluded betwixt his aged father and the Turkish emperours Solyman and Selymus he would now and then without his fathers knowledge vpon a youthfull heat breake out into the frontiers of the Turkes dominions and there make great spoyle for which doing although he was both of his father and the people the more regarded yet was he by his fathers commaundement who in outward shew seemed to mislike of those his youthfull prankes tending to the breach of the league restrained of his libertie and sent to the castle of CAHACA betwixt TAVRIS and CASBIN where he remained at the time of his Fathers death Aidere the third sonne no lesse ambitious than was his brother Ismahel but not of like valour kept by Zalchan Piry Mahamet and other his kinsfolkes all men of great power and authoritie The other eight were Mamut Solyman Mustapha Emanguli Alichan Amet Abrahin and Ismahel the younger The old king before his death had by his last will and testament solemnely appointed Ismahel his second sonne to succeed him in the kingdome as of all his sonnes most â—it to take vpon him so great a charge Which thing Mahomet his elder brother seemed not much to dislike contenting himselfe with such honours as his father had before bestowed vpon him Tamas thus dead Ismahel was by the Sultans sent for to CAHACA to take vpon him his fathers kingdome at CASBIN when in the meane time there arose a great tumult in the citie yea euen in the kings pallace for Aidere the third brother who in the time of his fathers greatest sicknesse had entered the chamber where he lay drawing towards his end and in his sight most presumptuously set the royall crowne vpon his head to the manifesting of his ambitious desires for which he was then worthily reproued now after the death of his aged father carried headlong with the same aspiring humour and supported by Zalchan and other his mightie fauourits had so effectually dealt with the great ladie Periaconcona his eldest sister and the other Sultans counsellours of estate put in trust to see the will of the dead king put in execution as that the succession could not be any longer kept from him and preserued for Ismahel but by the helpe of some fine and secret deceit This ladie Periaconcona elder than all the young princes the sonnes of Tamas her brethren a woman of great spirit and deepe conceit left in great trust by her father seeing the proceeding of her brother Aidere durst neither openly to mooue any thing vnto the Sultans prejudiciall to his designes neither could she in her heart endure so great an injurie to be done to her brother Ismahel appointed by his father to succeed him Wherfore in this perplexitie she cast in her wily head how to satisfie her ambitious brother present how to saue the right of Ismahel absent the honour of her dead fathers will and testament and the safetie of the kingdome For hauing throughly debated the matter with the Sultans she resolued That Aidere inuested in royall apparrell and setled in the great gallerie should attend the acclamation of the people and be there openly enthronised as the very elected king With which vaine shew the vnwise youth blinded with ambition suffered himselfe to be led and being set in his majestie verely persuaded himselfe that he should now be honoured both of his friends and foes as king But vnto these his so hastie and prosperous designes the successe that sprung from the subtiltie of those counsellours and his dissembling sister were nothing conformable for that she by their aduise tooke order for the gates of the pallace to be presently locked leauing at euery passage a sure guard and onely one wicket open safely warded with a companie of most faithfull and valourous captaines and souldiours wholly deuoted to Tamas and Ismael with streight charge to suffer euery man to enter in sauing onely the knowne friends of Aidere In this sort did she thinke to haue entertained the young man vntill such time as Ismahel should arriue from CAHACA and
his friends and the rest of the nobilitie of his countrey to consider thereupon Hauing it by the prince plainly laid downe before him how a sufficient number of souldiors might at all times be raised their pay prouided and aid still sent him as need should be from the Germane emperor or himselfe out of TRANSYLVANIA as also that Aaron the Palatine of MOLDAVIA would at all times be readie to combine himselfe vnto them that so with their vnited forces they might vpon the bankes of Danubius and Nester easily represse the incursions both of the Turkes and Tartars their enemies the Christian emperour in the meane time with lesse trouble proceeding in his warres against the Turke in the other side of HVNGARIE Now whilest this plot was thus in laying and matters too and fro in debating not altogither without the Turkes suspition Sinan Bassa comming with a great armie into HVNGARIE had taken the strong towne of RAâ— as is before declared with which mischance so much concerning the poore remainders of HVNGARIE the Vayuod not a little mooued began more deeply to consider of his owne estate And as he was a man of a great spirit and no lesse zeale towards his countrey grieuing to see his subjects committed to his charge to be so daily by the insolent Turkes still more and more oppressed he as he had before promised to the Transyluanian called an assembly of all the States of VALACHIA to consult with them what were best to be done for the remedie of so great euils as also for the preuenting of greater not without cause then to be feared Where by the generall consent of them all it was agreed rather to joyne with the emperor and the other Christian princes in confederation as they had been oftentimes by them requested than longer to endure that heauie yoake of the Turkish thraldome and slauerie Whereupon the Vayuod taking vnto him two thousand of the Hungarian garrison souldiors now before for that purpose secretly laid vpon the frontiers of his countrey and calling vpon the name of Christ Iesus in one day to begin withall slew about two thousand of the Ianizaries who without his leaue had in that countrey prowdly seated themselues with all the rest of the Turks in the middest of their insolencie togither with the traiterous Iewes not leauing one of them that he could come by aliue in all the open countrey And purposing to driue them out of their strong holds also and so to make a cleane riddance of them he within foureteene daies after set vpon DZIVRDZOVVA a great towne of the Turks vpon the banke of Danubius which he burnt all sauing the castle and hauing there made a great slaughter and loded with the spoile of the Turks returned to BVCARESTA the chiefe seat of his Palatinat But long it was not after this his so great presumption but that he perceiued the Turkes in reuenge thereof to seeke after his life although he yet seemed to yeeld his obedience vnto Amurath and to haue done that he did as enforced thereunto by the insolencie of the Turks and for the necessarie reliefe both of himselfe and his subjects For the same moneth RAB being as is aforesaid taken by Sinan one of the Turks Emirs discended of the great family and stocke of Mahomet their false Prophet and then Cadilescher a man of great account and place amongst the Turkes accompanied with two thousand chosen souldiors fiftie of the great Sultans chamber and many of the Zausij and Spahi vpon the sudden came to BVCARESTA vnder the colour of refreshing themselues after their long trauell but in deed with purpose to haue taken the Vayuod where they without controlement committed all kind of outragious villanie and taking vp all the chiefe houses in the citie imperiously demaunded of the Vayuod who then lay at his pallace neere vnto the new monasterie without the citie built without any castle or defence vpon the riuer Dembowiza ten thousand Florens for a present with victuals and other necessarie prouision for his followers And presently after being certainly enformed that he lay there but slenderly accompanied and almost himselfe alone the Emir himselfe on foot with a thousand of his souldiors went out of the citie as if it had been but for his pleasure and in curtesie to haue seene him Of which so suspitious a guests comming the Vayuod vnderstanding got him betimes away into the campe of his Hungarian mercinaries which then lay but fast by when the Turke thus deceiued of the hope he had before conceiued for the taking of him craftily sent certaine of his followers to know of him to what end he in time of peace did entertaine such a number of Hungarian souldiors Whereunto the Vayuod cunningly answered That they were at the first entertained for the taking of Peter the sonne of Alexander sometime Palatine of MOLDAVIA who although he were now before apprehended and openly hanged vpon an hooke at CONSTANTINOPLE yet that those souldiors were for their readie seruice of necessitie still to be billited in the countrey vntill such time as their pay might be prouided Which the Turke hearing commaunded the Vayuod forthwith to discharge them as men vnnecessarie and to his subjects troublesome promising the next day to lend him a tunne of gold to pay them their wages Which faigned promise the Vayuod seemed thankfully to take yet neuerthelesse commaunded the Hungarians forthwith in armes to stand in readinesse in the campe for the intercepting of the Turkes if happily by him distressed they should betake themselues to flight whilest he in the meane time with his courtiers and other souldiors secretly assembled into a valley thereby came suddenly vpon the Turkes not as then dreaming of any such thing compassed about the Innes wherein they lay and setting fire vpon them in fiue places notably forced them both with fire and the sword the two greatest extremities of war seeking now for nothing more than the just reuenge of his spoiled citie his forced virgins and wronged subjects Howbeit the Turkes for a space right valiantly defended themselues and by plaine force although in vaine sought to haue broken through the middest of their enemies and so to haue fled Yea many of them by force of the fire driuen out of their lodgings and tearing off their burning cloathes fought starke naked but most of them which could fled vnto the pallace where their great Emir lay there with him readie to die or liue All which their last endeuours of desperation the Vayuod easily frustrated with two great pieces of artillerie opening a way for his souldiors vnto them So that the prowd Emir now in despaire like the hunted Castor threw downe out of a window a great chest full of gold and pretious stones and other jewels of great valour if happily he might haue so appeased the Vayuods wrath humbly now requesting no more but to haue his life spared fearfully promising a large raunsome for himselfe and those
conuenient Whereunto the besieged Turkes answered That the Christians had now fiue weekes lien at the siege and must yet lie three weekes longer and that whereas of late some few of their friends came to haue relieued them and had failed therein there was yet an hundred thousand moe to come after them who if they should not be able to performe that they came for yet that they would not for that deliuer or forsake the citie before they were readie to be drawne out of it by the heeles and that yet they would then take three daies to resolue thereupon Now had the Christians with long and continuall batterie sore beaten both the vpper and the lower towne which batterie they now maintained with greater furie than at any time from the beginning of the siege and within the citie their wants increased daily hauing nothing left to liue vpon but a little wheat and barley with some horseflesh vnto whom thus distressed the lord Palfi by the commandement of the Countie to trie what confidence they yet had in themselues the ninth of August sent two Gentlemen to the citie to doe a message from him to the Gouernour Who aduertised thereof being a verie aged and courteous man accompanied with the Aga of the Ianizaries came to the wals to heare what they had to say where one of the said gentlemen in few words deliuered him this short message My most gratious Lord the lord Palfi most worthie Gouernour greeteth thee well and knowing thee to be a captaine both valiant and wise and one that hath alwaies courteously vsed such as haue fallen into thy hands hath compassion of thy desperat obstinacie and therefore whereas thou art to looke or hope for nothing else but present death and destruction he as thy neighbour and a louer of thy vertues aduiseth and exhorteth thee if thou wilt saue thy selfe and thine from most vndoubted and imminent death and vtter confusion without delay to deliuer vp this citie which thou canst not longer hold Vnto whom the old Gouernour thus without stay courteously answered Thy speech my friend and thy masters aduise are vnto me both vaine Tell the lord Palfi in my name that I cannot pleasure him with the least stone in this citie One foot I haue alreadie in the graue and will with honour carrie these my graie haires into the same and am yet comforted with a most certaine and vndoubted hope that my most dread and mightie soueraigne and my lord Sinan Bassa will not forsake me yea and that if they should write vnto me that they could find no meanes or way to relieue me which I am sure they can yet would I well and at leisure consider whether it were fit for me to deliuer vp this citie or not seeing that of the defence thereof dependeth all mine honour and credit Besides that what reward they haue on both sides that so easily deliuer ouer the cities they haue in charge all the world doth see With this answere he sent them away All this while the Aga of the Ianizaries standing by spoke not one word but sighing in silence and grinding his teeth declared by his countenance his indignation and inward griefe In the mid way betwixt BVDA and STRIGONIVM in the middest of the riuer of Danubius lieth a little island called VIZZE wherein many rich clothiers dwelt this island the Hungarian Heidons spoiled and in returning thence met with foure and twentie wagons laded with corne going to BVDA which they tooke with eight and twentie prisoners which they brought into the campe The lower towne being with long and continuall batterie made saultable was by the Christians the thirteenth of August in three diuers places at once assaulted The Bauarians were by lot to giue the first charge who in the performing thereof beginning to faint for that they were notably repulsed by the Turks but seconded by them of REITNAW and SVEVIA pluckt downe a great palisado filled the ditches remoued whatsoeuer stood in their way and so long fought with the Turks in the breaches that by the comming in of the Marquesse of BVRGAVVE with six ensignes of fresh men they preuailed vpon the enemie and so altogither brake into the towne In the middest of this dangerous fight was the Marquesse himselfe who both with his presence and cheerfull speech so encouraged his souldiors that they as men fearing no perill ran headlong into all danger vntill they had entred the towne There might a man haue heard a most miserable crie especially of women and children throughout the citie when as the Christians breaking in on euerie side slew whosoeuer came in their way without respect of age or sex sparing neither women great with child neither the little children hanging at their mothers breasts Yet did not all that were entred so much attend the present execution as some of them did the spoile and prey and especially the Hungarians vnto whom all was good bootie euen the verie hinges of the doores and windowes whereby many escaped into the castle and vpper towne with the Bassa and Alis-Beg the old Gouernour The Christians had not many houres possessed the towne but that diuers fires began to breake out in diuers places but by what meanes was not at the first knowne At last it was found out that the Turks doubting the losse of the towne had before where they thought best left gunpouder which taking fire by matches left burning for that purpose should at a certaine time set all on fire by which meanes many most horrible fires were raised in the towne which consumed many goodly buildings and other things which might haue stood the Christians in great stead and could hardly be in a day or two quenched This so joyfull a victorie saw not he by whose good direction next vnder God it was gained the worthy Countie for he a few daies before being fallen sicke of a feauer taken by drinking too much cold drinke in his heat with immoderat paines taking in the late battell and so afterwards falling into a great flix with a feauer was by the counsell of his physitions for the better recouering of his health remoued to KOMARA as a place of more quietnesse hauing before his departure sent for the Archduke to come vnto the campe and for Blankemier into BAVARIA to supply his owne roume But his disease still encreasing became at last desperat so that the physitions themselues now dispaired of his health Yet lying thus drawing towards his end he almost euerie houre enquired how the armie did and whether the citie were yet taken or what hope there was of the taking thereof But when it was told him a little before his death that the lower towne was woon he thereat greatly rejoyced and the next day being the fourteenth of August towards night quietly departed this world to the great losse of the Christian common-weale and the exceeding griefe of the whole armie A man euen from his childhood brought