the Besieged their attempts have been frustrated Now the Turks Cannon had torne some houses and beat down some part of their Walls but the great number of Granadoes shot from the Enemies Morter-pieces did the greatest prejudice to the Town Now the Captain-general for prevention of all surprizes commanded all his Souldiers to keep their Posts allotted them by a very strict Proclamation and Ordered that all sorts of Victuals should be sold near the Walls of the Town to remove all pretences for their absence Then the Turks raised a Battery near the Post but to no purpose and bent the most considerable force they had against the Out-works of Mocenigo and Panigra and did them some damage by the often springing of Mines and chiefly that of Panigra At this time Signior Giustiniano Commissary of the Victuals with two other Officers were kill'd by the blowing up of one of them which wholly destroyed the Left-horn of Panigra and another Mine blew up the Counterscarp Upon an exact view of all the Souldiers in the City it was found that about 1500 had been killed since the Siege but that there were still above 10000 able men left to defend the place Now the Grand Visier being more intent then ever upon the taking of the City gave order that materials for building Huts and Lodges convenient for the Souldiers should be brought to the Leaguer intending to lye before the Town all the Winter resolving not to raise the Seige till he had either taken the Town or lost his whole Army in the Attempt And the Turks having made their approaches proaches to the Half-moon of Mocenigo and the Fort Panigra lodged themselves in the Trenches thereof and in a small time sprung several Mines under each Work which took so effectually that a wide breach was made in both places and the same night they immediately made a desperate assault appearing in great numbers upon the breaches distinguished by some white upon their Armes but the Besieged being very well prepar'd to receive them the Turks after a smart fight were forced by the Garrison to give over the Attempt with a great loss of men and some Colours So that the Enemy being so constantly defeated in their designs upon the Out-works have given over those places being much discouraged by their great losses The Visier therefore commanded the Pioneers to undermine the Town-ditch which the Christian Officers observing by their Counter-mines within endeavoured to defeat them and with great good success met with one of their Galleries which they absolutely ruin'd and buried the Turks therein that were imployed in that business The Candiots about this time received a recruit of 2000 Souldiers and 200000 Crowns for their encouragement In September the Grand Visier finding that his Souldiers especially the Janisaries were ready to break out into a mutiny and threatned to leave the Siege being impatient at the tediousness thereof resolv'd to put things to a speedy issue and therefore commanded a general assault to be made which was accordingly executed The Turks did storm the Breaches very furiously but were resisted so valiantly by the Besieged that after a fierce and bloody dispute they gave over with the loss of 7000 men The Christians loss was also great who had 1500 of their men slain among whom were five Noblemen of Venice who with great honour sold their lives in a defensive War against the Common Enemy of Christianity The Turks finding their labour fruitless notwithstanding their endeavours to lodge themselves in the breaches of Panigra and Mocenigo have since spent their time in filling the Trenches between the Bulwarks of those two Forts to hinder all communication between them and to that purpose they had brought thither a great quantity of earth though with considerable loss and danger and were in hopes to make a passage to the left Angle of the Fort Panigra where they had made the widest breach but the Besieged to frustrate their designes appear'd upon the breach with a party of select Souldiers and a certain number of Slaves taken out of the Gallies that rid then in the Harbour who behav'd themselves so couragiously that the Enemy retreated and the Christians in the interim cast up so strong a defence in that part of the breach clearing all to the Trench and throwing out the Earth they cast in that there was little encouragement for a second attempt besides they placed a Machine over against the Breach which was the invention of Captain-General Morosini which was Musquet-proof and could contain 20 Souldiers where they might safely manage their Arms to defend the Breach Many Mines were daily sprung and one of the Christians did notable execution where by blowing up twelve Barrels of Powder there happened a great slaughter among the Turks and many of their bodies were thrown into the Trench The Besieged also made many successful Sallies and to their great encouragement had receiv'd a supply of two thousand men with store of all necessary Provisions that arrived safe at Candia in their Convoy which consisted of twelve Ships This made them resolve upon a general Sallie out of the City which was performed with great loss to the Turks The Enemy being almost tyred out with the Siege especially the Janisaries and Spahi their Army bring reduced from 60000 to 20000 were resolv'd to quit the Siege yet the Visier by his great diligence and large promises perswades them still to continue at the Siege where they still beat the Town vvith their Ordnance But among other late adventures in October about four Gally-slaves belonging to the Venetian being imployed in one of the Out-vvorks discovered about 100 Turks dravving near them in a Body vvhereupon one of them vvhose name vvas Bressano making himself Captain encouraging his Companions and taking such vveapons as came next to hand issued out upon the Turks vvith great resolution kill'd 30 of them in a very small time vvounded many of the rest and put them all to flight for their safety Bressano having in this Sally given a sufficient testimony of his great courage by killing 16 of them vvith his ovvn hand The Captain-General at this very instant standing upon the Walls and observing all passages sent for him and commending him his valour rewarded him with a Gold-Chain and the Command of a Company of Foot being very liberal in bestowing moneys upon the rest of the Slaves and enrolling them into a Company Much about this time an Aga with four Turks fled into Candia with a considerable sum of money and ten or twelve thousand Turks had quitted the service being wearied with expectation and tir'd out with the Siege which extreamly incensed the Visier yet he gave order for the repair of the Fort of New Candia which he at his first setting down before the City had demolished as altogether useless being resolv'd to spend the whole Winter in lying before the Town and in order thereunto sent out several dispatches into Egypt Barbary and all other
places in the Ottoman Empire threatning the Bassa's with severe and present punishment if not absolutely and speedily obey'd The Grand Signior was now arriv'd at Morea in person to hasten the transportation of fresh forces intending to summon together the whole strength of his Empire rather then desert the Siege dishonourably Yet notwithstanding the great losses of men the tediousness of the Siege the frustrating of their designes in their assaults above and the successlessness of their Mines under ground the impatience of the Grand Signior maugre all discouragement whatsoever they still engage in many warm disputes and endeavour to fill up the Trenches but the Besieged still beat them off and throw out what they cast in but the Christian Officers lookt upon this as prejudicial and time ill spent seeing the Enemy from one of his Batteries planted upon the Counterscarp destroyed their Blinds and laid them open to their Small-shot therefore they resolv'd to destroy the Battery and imployed the Pioneers to that purpose who sprung a large Mine which blew it up wholly with a great number of Turks burying all their Cannons in its ruines together with the Mustapha Bassa Beilerbeg of Anatolia one of the most considerable persons among them and who chiefly advis'd the carrying on the Siege on that side of the City Several other Mines were sprung the day following on both sides by which the Panigra was totally destroy'd and reduc'd to a heap of rubbish though still defended with infinite valour the Christians appearing in white Armor to the terror of the Enemy After this the Besieged made many Sallies and in their retreat drew the Enemy over Mines which were prepar'd for them and when the Christians saw their opportunity fir'd them with great execution and in little time beat them to their second Redoubt returning with Arms and Baggage in all their Sallies Yet the Turks by the approaches of their Galleries made their advances with great obstinacy springing divers Mines upon the Trenches of the City with great damage to the Palisadoes of the Falsbray near adjoyning but the Christians by their industry placed new Palisadoes on the Falsbray The Turks still working their Mines with all the subtilty imaginable one whereof they sprung which was under the Half-moon at the right-hand of the Panigra which almost fill'd a part of the Trench near the Front of the Bulwark Bethlem with its ruines of which the Turks were resolv'd to make the best advantage they could and that very night were making preparations for a storm but there fell such violent rain in the night that they were forced to desist Afterwards they sprung another Mine in the Graft which removed many Palisadoes and endangered the person of the Marquiss Villa Another Mine of the Enemies which was ready to spring was happily discovered by the Christians and the Powder remov'd the Enemy afterwards when they thought it convenient fir'd the Train being big with expectation of the issue but they were set upon by a party of the Besieged who also gave fire to two Mines of their own near Mocenigo and one of 35 Barrels of Powder which overwhelm'd many Turks in the ruines and disordered their Mines in those places Now the Garrison having receiv'd a considerable supply of fresh Souldiers and some Horse they made a resolute Sally and the Turks drawing up all their forces maintain'd the dispute two hours together but they were at last beaten into their own Trenches with great loss of their chief Captains and Commanders besides private Souldiers the Grand Visier himself escaping not without great hazzard of his life or imprisonment The Turks Army being now reduced to 18000 were resolv'd upon a dernier effort and to make a general Sally but were repuls'd with great slaughter Now since the Turk had made several experiments of the valor of the Candiots by Assaults and Skirmishes which prov'd unsuccessful he endeavour'd to obtain by stratagem what he could not do by force to which end they shot several Arrows into the City to which they had fastned Letters both in French and Italian which contain'd many Arguments to perswade the Christians to a surrender bragging of their Supplies they suddenly expected resolving not to quit the Siege menacing them upon their refusal with all the extremities us'd by an incensed Enemy On the fifteenth of November in the Evening the Grand Visier discharged all his Cannon which were seconded with five Volleys of Musqueteers three of them with Bullets and two without accompanied with great shouts and setting up many Lights about the Camp which made the Christians jealous of some large Succours sent them or some extraordinary expectation from their Mines but they drew up their men and commanded them to stand all night to their Arms and in the morning they found it onely to be a Turkish Rodomontado a meer Artifice of the Grand Visiers by throwing out reports of Succours and Supplies to raise the drooping spirits of the Souldiers The sixteenth of November being the Anniversary of St. Giustina on which in the year 1570 the Christians gain'd a glorious Victory against the Turks was celebrated by the Besieged with as much true zeal and joy as that of the Turks the day before was counterfeit and feigned Some few days after the Grand Signior sent the Visier a Vest and Scimiter as a present which he receiv'd with some Moneys for the Souldiers pay which made them repeat the like Triumphs throughout the whole Turkish Camp After this the Christians made a large Mine without the Raveline di Samo Spirito divided into three parts which they sprung so prosperously that it ruin'd their Redoubts and Lines blew up their Bodies in the Air and entomb'd others of them in its ruines which was followed by a stout Sally to the destruction of many Turks and some Commanders of Eminencie At which the Visier was so much inrag'd that he resolv'd to win the Town or lost his life in the attempt sending to all his Bassa's throughout the Grand Signiors Dominions for all supplies of Provisions they could possibly furnish him withal The Turks having gain'd the ruin'd Out-works of Panigra advanced with their Mines and Galleries towards the great Trench but a considerable slaughter hapned among the Turks by the frequent springing of the Mines and numerous Sallies that were daily made but Signior Lorenzo Pisani the Proveditor of Candia was slain by one of their Morter-pieces and that Noble Venetian Bertolo Pisani unfortunately kill'd by a shot Yet the rains falling so excessively upon them the Grand Visier withdrew leaving about 6000 men behind him to defend the Batteries and other Works Much about this time Secretary Giavarina Minister of State to the Venetians who had continued some time in the Grand Visiers Camp lodged in the Tents of Caterzogolo which was a place of bad air died and five or six of his Family which might be occasion'd by the Contagion that raged so violently among the Turks The City was now
boast their ovvn loss being more considerable The Turks did now almost despair of reducing Candia yet vvith all their strength they assaulted it in several parts at once vvith great cryes setting upon the Out-works of the Forts of St. Dennis St. Andre the Sabionera and Panigra but vvere beaten off the three first with great slaughter their chiefest and greatest assault was made upon Panigra where coming on so violently and numerously they possessed themselves of a small Work without the Fort and kept it all night But the next morning Signior Carbonaro an expert Souldier and Engineer fell so vigorously upon them with a party in white Armor sallying out by break of day and so nobly engag'd them that after three or four hours dispute they were dislodged in spight of all assistance but the Enemy sprung a Mine at their departure under the Work which destroyed and hurt several of the Besieged with Signior Carbonaro But in this and the precedent days action the Enemy lost above 1000 men and since that played with such fury upon the Town both with their Cannon and Small-shot that the General Bernardo Nani was wounded in the head by one of the latter of which he afterwards dyed and some Souldiers were shot upon the Walls In this Month the Captain Bassa being at Sea with forty Gallies and five men of War of Barbary met with Cavalier Georgio Maria Vitali a Privateer of great renown who not at all considering the vast disparity and disadvantage in the number and strength both of Ships and Men entertain'd them with infinite courage and defended himself for the space of thirty six hours against them shattering many of the Enemies Gallies and destroying a multitude of their men but in the end was himself unfortunately slain with a Cannon-shot having of 500 men but six remaining his Ship being extreamly torn fell into the hands of the Enemy with Goods and Money to the value of two hundred thousand Reals During this engagement which was maintain'd by the Gallies the Men of War set upon Captain Sgara who was in the Neptune a Ship entertain'd upon the Publick Account attended by a Pinck the Ship after a resolute resistance was taken and the Captain too Prisoner but the little Pinck being nimble did fortunately save her self June the twenty seventh the Senate prefented Marquiss Villa who was then making preparations in order to his return to Savoy with a present valued at 6000 Ducats in acknowledgement of the eminent services he did for the Republique in this Siege And July the sixteenth S. N. the Marquiss Villa went to take his leave of the College and receiv'd a rich Bason of Gold as a present from the Republique on which was ingraven a grateful acknowledgement of the signal Services he had done them Now the Visiers Army was somewhat increased but not so much as was expected the Captain Bassa being nearly related to him is very zealous to afford him all the assistance imaginable they still continue the Siege notwithstanding the Venetian Fleet hinders their supplies so that there was so great a dearth among them that a pound of salt-flesh was sold for 40 Aspres a pound of Biscuit or Bread for 20 but Candia had plenty of all sorts of Provisions by reason that the Christian Privateers often resorted to their Port to sell their prizes Besides Monsieur de St. Andre Montbrun safely arriv'd at Candia to supply the place of Marquiss Villa with a great number of stout Souldiers who to render himself famous by some enterprise upon the Enemy made a resolute Sally with a party upon the Turks that lay before the Fort Sabionera forcing them out of their Trenches with great loss and destroyed the Work they had cast up against the Fort and Admiral Morosini the Proveditor Catarin Cornaro till the Senates farther order in the place of Bernardo Nani lately deceased Still the Turks obstinately continued the Siege and spent much shot upon Sabionera Bethlem and Panigra and the Visier ordered a general assault to be made being inform'd by a Fugitive Greek that the Venetians were too slenderly provided in their Forts to meet with any stout opposition but he found the contrary for the Besieged beat them into their own Line with the loss of some hundreds of their men Whereupon the Visier caused the Greek to be immediately impal'd for his mis-information The Christians lost some men in this attaque and among the rest Monsieur des Marets a person of great courage was kill'd out-right and Monsieur de St. Andre Montburn receiv'd a slight hurt in the face by a stone On Saturday July the twenty eighth S.N. the Senate made choice of his Excellency Girolome Battaja a person of prodigious Valor and great Conduct to succeed the late Bernardo Nani in his command as General of the Forces in Candia who by Order from the Senate was then preparing to depart Signior Alessandro Molino was made by the Senate Captain of the Venetian Fleet in the Levant to succeed in the Dignity of Censor and they also made choice of Signior Tâ—deo Morosini to succeed him in the Fleet. The Turks had now given a furious assault to the City which was continued a whole night the chiefest force being imployed against the Fort of Sabioneca but were repuls'd with incredible valor In this attempt they were thought to lose 1500 men at least with several Officers of note of the defendants there dyed about 200 with whom Colonel Aldobrandi a person of an undaunted spirit lost his life In another Assault soon after the Enemy for some little time were possest of the Half-moon of St. Andre but the Christians having before undermin'd it blew it up with great destruction to the Turks In the Port of Gira Petra ten Turks men of War belonging to Barbary met with five of the Venetian Fleet the Confidence the three Kings the Mary the Contarino and the Golden Palm commanded by the Sieur de Lionne and after a severe and smart fight one of the Enemies Vessels being grappled with the Contarino they both sunk to the bottom and the Captain of the Mary seeing that he was altogether over-power'd closed with another Barbary Ship of great strength but firing his powder they both blew up together the noise and roaring of the Cannon in this engagement had call'd in three other Ships to their assistance at whose appearance the Enemy made away with all the Sail they had though they were superior both in number and strength yet they departed not without some evident marks of this sharp encounter The Turks now for several days together play'd hard upon the Fort Sabionera with Cannon and Morter-pieces and then made a vigorous assault but were beaten off and at this time Monsieur St. Andre Montburn made a stout Sally upon them in which about 2000 Turks were slain Now had the Turks receiv'd a considerable succour which spirited the Visier and made him resolve to hold out the Siege But 800
men who immediately sate down before Canea without the least declaration of War The Venetian being thus so unexpectedly surpriz'd made all possible provision to put themselves in a defensive posture but before they could rouze their ancient and accustom'd courage they lost the whole Kingdom except Candia and Carabusa Spina longa and Suda three adjoyning Insulets The Grand Signior being elated and puft up with this success gain'd by that happy crime in his opinion prosperous treachery own'd the War openly and publickly declar'd the Senates sheltring of the Malteses to be the cause though 't was privately decreed that if they met with any considerable force or resistance in the first assault that the Captain Bassa should lose his head to pacifie the Senate for attempting it without Order and so to perswade them it was onely a Capricio of his own brain and a plot of his own contrivance Anno 1648 they soon were Masters of the Field and began the Siege of Candia with so furious an onset that they made a breach and entred it and for the space of seven hours vvere vvithin the Town but the Defendants by their valour beat them out with infinite loss and damage Anno 1649 they made a second attempt which proving fruitless and ineffectual they then left it never expecting to win it by storm On a rising ground about three Miles from the old they have built another Town called New Candia which is the Residence of the Turkish Bassa where they have strongly fortified themselves blocking up the City so that now there is no commerce at all but by Sea which furnisheth the Candiots with plenty of provisions and all other necessaries whatsoever AN ACCOUNT Of the Siege of CANDIA HAving given you a Description of Candia we will proceed to the last Siege and Surrender thereof which we have no account of till about September 1666 and then all hopes of peace being laid aside the Turks made some attempts upon Almissa a strong place in Dalmatia but with little or no success and much about the same time fell upon Marcasca a Town upon the Sea-coasts which they intended to attaque but General Cornaro rallied up those Forces he had and could get together so suddenly and marched towards the Enemy manning out several Barques and Gallies that might play on them with their Cannon and do execution yet before he appear'd the Turks had made an assault but were so warmly receiv'd that they were beat off with the loss of nigh 150 of their men which were left dead upon the place besides a considerable number of wounded persons which they brought off with them and a few days after made another assault upon the Town but General Cornaro drew out of the Garrison all the men privately in the night undermining the Fort with an intent to blow up the Turks they came up furiously to the Walls but finding no Enemy grew jealous of the Stratagem and retreated and in a short time saw the Mine fired which made them march farther into the Country but the Venetian Forces returned to Spalatto and there continued to observe the Enemies motion Little was done by them till towards the latter end of this instant September at which time some Turks were discovered before Candia Nuova but they onely fired a few Guns and returned back to their Quarters the Garrison being well fortified and furnished with men and provisions At the same time they made an attempt upon Gradan a strong Fort near Marcasca but they were so vigorously entertained by the Besieged that they were forced to quit their Posts with the loss of four hundred men In October the Turks of Canea took the Field vvith their peeces of Cannon intending to leavy Contributions in the Country and to prevent all information set strong Guards upon the adjoyning Sea-coasts Tovvards the latter end of this Month Signior Barbaro Proveditor-General arrived in Candia his Predecessor Signior Priuli being upon his departure to Dalmatia in the quality of General The Morlacks vvho are Croats or Dalmatians so called from the Hills where they formerly lived being a sort of people that forsook the Turkish bondage and put themselves under the Senates Government about this time made several incursions into the Turkish Quarters vvith great success taking a considerable number of Slaves and bringing several droves of Cattle along vvith them In November the Grand Signior declar'd his resolution to make War with the Republique by making preparations both by Sea and Land to attempt Candia the next Spring to vvhich purpose he lays great Subsidies upon his people throughout all his Dominions and by his light Gallies hath landed some Forces in Canea This month also the Grand Visier arrived in Canea and was received with great joy which the Turks manifested by many days feasting who resolved to take the Field as soon as the Season would permit and to lay close Siege to Candia The Grand Signior himself giving all possible incouragement to the Levies and promising extraordinary pay to those that will list themselves among the Janisaries with an exemption from all Taxes and Subsidies The Turks preparations being now very considerable for some weighty designe the Senate doth strengthen the City again it all attempts and though it be so well fortified by Nature yet they defended it with above 1700 pieces of Cannon being very well furnisht with expert Veteran Officers and Souldiers In December the Grand Visiers intentions to besiege Candia are daily more and more discovered which occasion'd General Cornaro and Marquiss Villa to go to Candia with a considerable number of choice men to its assistance Towards the latter end of this Month the Grand Visier lay about Retimo having a Body of 40000 Turks drawn together in the Field and the Marquiss Villa disposed all things in good order and raised several outworks which did very much contribute to the strengthing of the City About this time there was talk of a Treaty to make the Christians careless in their defence In January the Turks drew near Candia and the Garrison made several brisk Sallies with some loss to the Turks in one of which Vertmiller was slightly hurt The Grand Visier upon a general Muster of his Forces in the Isle of Candia found his Army consisted of 23000 men and issued out Orders to all parts adjoyning in the Turks Dominions to hasten recruits of Men and Ammunition in order to the speedy besieging of Candia and to cast several vast Guns of extraordinary business to be employed in that service The Chief Visier continued still at Retimo making all necessary provisions for his intended design and sent several of his Officers to take a view of the City and her Fortifications which the Marquiss did take daily care to strengthen and for the removal of all combustible matter out of the Houses to avoid the execution of their Morter-pieces Toward the latter end of this Month the Venetian Convoy arrived at Candia under the command of
Cannon-shot June the fifth in the morning near the Works of St. Mary they raised a new Battery playing upon the Besieged with four great Guns and wrought very hard to cast up a Trench to secure a Passage for their Artillery in which they were defended by a great number of Musqueteers drawn thither for that designe but they had such a peal of Ordnance Small-shot and Granadoes from the Town that they desisted from their enterprize with an extraordinary loss of men the Besieged onely had some few Souldiers wounded but lost not one man that day June the sixth the Guns onely played on both sides The seventh the Turks plyed again their Works and made their approaches with greater preparation then formerly working under ground The eighth instant they raised another Battery against St. Andrews Bulwark and endeavoured the reparation of their old Battery at the Lazaretto but the Marquiss Villa ordered a Counter-battery well planted with Guns to be made to secure the place and in his retreat by the Mole received a slight hurt in his hand by the flying of the Stones occasion'd from Cannon-short that strook upon the Walls That night they made a Sally from the Half-moon of Mocenigo where there was a sharp fight which continued for many hours but concluded with great slaughter of the Enemy by the Cannon and Morter-pieccs from the City-works On the nineteenth of July Signior Baroni with two Gallies and not long after Signior Carenzo Pisani who was chosen Proveditor for Candia entred the Port with Succours for the City and the same Evening his Excellency Captain-General Morosini followed them Incognito with two Gallies more He was at his landing near the Arsenal received by Signior Barbaro with great joy and all the Martial Ceremonies usual upon such occasions who presented him with the Keys of the City and with a great Train of Officers and Souldiers accompanied with Signior Maro Proveditor to the Fleet and the Proveditor of the Isle attended him to his Coach and the Lodgings prepar'd for him He passed under a Triumphal Arch erected in the great Street for him being met also by the Cavalry at the Gates of the City and saluted by the great Guns the whole City testifying their extraordinary joy and satisfaction for his arrival by their loud Acclamations and rare Fire-works The next morning the Turks at break of day discharged a great Volley of Musquets and Cannon against the City which the Besieged scorning to be indebted to them return'd from the Walls The same morning Colonel Chateauneuf attaqued a Redoubt cast up by the Enemy near Panigra to give the Captain-General some signal testimony of the courage and resolution of the Besieged and very freely threw his Hand-granadoes among them but the Turks being prepar'd for their reception issued out and pressed very hard and close upon them yet they being seconded by another party commanded by the Captains Castelli Bonefort and a third whose name we have no certain knovvledge of renewed their assault and did considerable execution upon the Turks but the Alarm being by this time grown warm and great numbers coming to their assistance the Candiots retir'd to the Covert way of the Fort Panigra and the Enemy pursued them with great shouting and notwithstanding the Palisadoes and a Guard of forty Musqueteers that play'd upon them with their Vollies they were forc'd to leave their Colonel Chateauneuf behind them and shelter themselves in the Moat but he with an inconsiderable number of Officers valiantly beat off the Enemy twice or thrice together and was at last relieved by Serjeant Major Motta who Sallying out of the Fort beat back the Turks into their Redoubt with a great slaughter he himself receiving a shot in the breast but without hurt his Armor being well tryed and of proof In this attaque the Christians came off with the loss of one Serjeant two Souldies and two others wounded At the same time Colonel Martinom Commander of Panigra sent out twelve Souldiers with Granadoes and forty Foot-men commanded by Major Bricheras Lieutenant to assault another Redoubt cast up on the right hand of the Fort which they performed with great courage beating out the Turks and putting many of them to the Sword but the Enemy growing more numerous they retreated their Lieutenant being shot dead under the Redoubt but like true Souldiers resolving not to leave the Body of their Officer in the power of the Enemy they return'd upon them and with great valor forced them to give ground taking up the Body and retiring to their Works with much glory and renown The Savoyards also being but 60 Officers and Souldiers with Granadoes under the Command of Colonel Torre Sallied out from the Ravelin of Bethlem and fell upon the Enemies Line where a Body of Turks stood upon their Guard to defend the Pioneers and there hapned a very hot dispute but they sending out a recruit of Savoyards so assist them the Enemy was beaten from the Line and forced to seek their safety in some of their Redoubts leaving 60 of their party dead upon the place four of whose heads the Candiots brought with them and presented to the Captain-General whose valour in this noble attempt was rewarded with forty Reals and in this Service they were so fortunate as to come off with the loss of a single Souldier Colonel Arborio and Marino with the Count Brusano Captain of the Guard to Marquiss Villa sallied out of the Post of St. Mary with a party of fifty men forced the Turks out of two several Redoubts kill'd a considerable number of them and lost onely one Serjeant There was also great execution done upon the Enemy by a Squadron that issued from the Fort of St. Demetrius who slaughtred many of them The Turks being by this time sufficiently sensible of their successless procedings by Batteries and open force were wholly bent upon their Mines imploying constantly night and day ten thousand Pioneers to work in them whereupon they advanced greatly in their approaches the driness of the Season contributing very much to their designes and laboured extreamly to meet with the Mines from the Out-works some whereof the Christians did spring and blow up which proved very fatal and destructive to the Turks In the interim the great shot fly very liberally on both sides but with little damage to the City onely beating down the tops of some Churches and high Houses with the loss of four or five persons The Turks still plyed the City very close with their Guns from the Batteries and throwing Morter-pieces into the Town with little loss to the Besieged but great loss to the Besiegers The Christian Corsayres did very considerable service by cruising upon the Sea and in the Archipelago by which means they did infinitely inrich themselves having taken several great Prizes and intercepted the Enemies Vessels which were laden with Provisions intended for their Armies supply Now the Turks began to be very sparing of their Cannon-shot which was supposed
in a good condition by reason of their constant supplies from the Fleet but the Turks endeavoured to make good their Post in the ruines of the Fort Panigra and the Venetian General ordered a new Line to be drawn in the old Works to the end that the Besieged might be in a capacity to defend every part of the Town sufficiently if the Turks according to their menaces should imploy their whole power against Candia the next Summer The Grand Visier being now retir'd with the major part of his Army into the Vale of Giofiro the 6000 men that he left still employed themselves about the defence of those Posts that they had in their possession the Besieged minding during this vacancy the prepration of their Works and clearing their Trenches but the Visier sent some additional Forces and plenty of Provisions from the Walls where the gross of the Army retir'd with express orders to lose no opportunity of gaining upon Candia which so encouraged them that about Christmas they made frequent assaults and were as frequently beaten off but on St. Stephens day there was a great dispute the Besieged issuing out in white Arms destroyed a great number of the Enemy In January the Turks quitted all their Batteries before Candia but two and sent most of their Cannon into Candia Nuova and at this time there dyed among them near 200 in a day of the Plague which made the Visier retire ino Canea sending his sick and wounded Souldiers into Napoli di Malvasia The Christian General resolving now upon a Sally drew out a strong party fell upon the Enemies Redoubts and put the Turks to their heels with a great loss of men on their part and but forty of the Besieged Now the Bassa of Morea had raised a Body of 8000 Turks who were ready to be imbarqued for Canea but they in their way seeing 3000 Turks wounded who were conveyed in Carts to several Hospitals in Morea prepar'd for their reception this sight made so deep an impression upon them that they all quitted the service fleeing into the Mountains for safety and leaving their Bag and Baggage behind them declaring their unwillingness to engage in such desperate service where an Army of 60000 that sate down before Candia at first was already reduc'd to 16000. But the Grand Signior resolv'd to employ all his Forces both by Sea and Land for the carrying on of the War against Candia and therefore dispatched two Chiauces to Tunis and some other parts of Barbary to command all assistance of Shipping that they could possibly afford him but he receiv'd a cold and dissatisfactory answer by way of excuse In February the Turks having receiv'd some Supplies renewed the Siege and cast up a large Fort at the Sabionera and planted many pieces of Ordnance thereon wherewith they played very hard upon the Port and Town but with very inconsiderable damage Towards the latter end of this Month a Renegado that commanded a Body of two thousand Turks endeavoured to surprize the Fort St. Andre but the Marquiss Villa having timely notice of their designe sent Colonel Motto with a considerable number of able and resolute men who assaulted the Enemy so couragiously that they slew 500 of them upon the place put the rest to the rout and with a very small loss return'd with 50 heads to the Town Now the City had receiv'd a considerable supply of men and Captain Molino having made a discovery of five of the Turkish Gallies coming out of the Dardanelloes having aboard them men and Ammunition for the Grand Visier chased them with his Squadron for some hours and sunk two of them the other three run aground upon one of the Islands to avoid him where they were broken in pieces but the men escaped The Turks about this time got many Ships together with Supplies intended for Canea but they understanding that the Christians Fleet was cruising about those Coasts were forced to flee into Rhodes for shelter and there expect the opportunity of a safe passage Yet notwithstanding all these discouragements they continued their Mines and attempted to make a way through the Graft that they might assault the Town with the less difficulty but by the vigilancy of the Defendants at this very time two of the Galleries made near one of the Principal Bulwarks of the Town were blown up by the Christians Countermines The Grand Signior appear'd still more active in and intent upon the business of the Siege then ever drawing up great numbers of men in all places intending to make them in all 100000 strong and to employ 100 Gallies and fifty other Ships of force in the Service with a great supply of all necessaries to the effecting of such a work On the eighth of March seven Venetian Gallies cruising in the Archipelago were set upon in the night by twelve under the command of Durach Bey a famous Corsaire but some other Christian Vessels coming opportunely to their assistance the Admiral took seven of them which he sent into the Port of Candia sunk three so that there onely escap'd two very much disabled In which Naval engagement the Christians lost 400 men and among the rest Signior Daniel Giustiniano the Pay-master Foscarini one Captain of a Gally and six other Officers were wounded but there fell of the Turks Durach Bey himself and some other persons of note with a great number of men four hundred and ten Prisoners were taken and 1100 Christians and upwards freed from Turkish servitude About the beginning of April 1668 Georgio Maria Vitali was by the Senate made Knight of the Order of St. Mark for his service against the Turks Upon this defeat the Captain of the Armata sent a Tartan from Candia to Venice who arriv'd the 21 of April S. N. being Sunday and brought with him several Flags and other Trophies of Victory as a present to the Grand Duke and upon the entry of these Prizes into the Port of Candia where they had a very joyful reception and were welcomed with the discharge of the Towns great Guns General Villa observing the Turks idly gazing upon the Triumphs of the Christians sallied out upon them unexpectedly forcing them to flee into their Camp and killing them on their own Redoubts returning with 100 of their heads or thereabout which with Durach Bey's and several Turkish Captains that were slain at Sea were placed upon Poles round about the City-Walls to the terror of the Turks and confusion of the Bassa who vvas seen in a raging humour to tear his Beard out of vexation to see that he in his designes prov'd so unfortunate Upon the arrival of this Nevvs the Senators attended the Duke to congratulate for this success vvho vvith the Popes Nuncio and Spanish Ambassador that vvere then at Venice vvith a numerous Train of the Nobility advanced to the Church of St. Mark vvhere they heard Te Deum sung and then vvent in procession as is usual upon such solemn occasions This very
was broke in pieces and they driven back with extraordinary damage In this action the prodigious valour of a Gally-slave was very observable who was found to have kill'd forty two of the Enemy with his own hand in one day which the Captain-General taking notice of publickly rewarded him and made him at that instant Serjeant to a Company On the thirteenth instant the new General Battaja arriv'd at Candia with 2000 Souldiers which he put into the Town with a great sum of money and Ammunition About the latter end of his Month the rains falling in such abundant showers destroyed many of their Mines and Pioneers and did them much mischief On the fourth of October the General St. Andre Montbrun made a notable brisk sally upon the Enemy from the Fort of St. Andre beating the Turks out of their own Line and possest themselves of one of their Batteries drawings off a Morter-piece and intending to carry off their Cannon planted there but the Turks coming suddenly upon them with their whole strength obstructed them in that enterprize so that it prov'd ineffectual and they retreated into the Town Signior Francisco Battaglia a Duke in Candia and Brother to the General of that name as he was with his own hands drawing off one of the Turks Guns was kill'd unluckily by a Musket-shot but his body was carryed off in spight of all opposition by the valor of Carlo Dona and Pietro Badoar besides eighty men were lost in this service and several wounded among the rest Signior Matteo Semitecolo was shot in the Arm since this a Fugitive from the Enemies Camp inform'd the Besieged that the Turks lost in this action about 1200 Souldiers and among them the Aga of the Janisaries the Grand Visiers Lieutenant and two other eminent Commanders and had 1500 wounded persons which so discouraged the Besiegers that many of the Janisaries deserted the service and fled into the Mountains near adjoyning and farther that 300 Janisaries besides had seized upon some small Barks and were put to Sea being quite wearied with the length of the Siege and the little success of their enterprizes resolving to return home and withal that the Enemies Gallies had landed about 1000 Janisaries for the succour and reinforcement of their Army which upon the strictest and most exact inquiry then made notwithstanding all their supplies and recruits did consist onely of twenty thousand men among whom were judged to be at least seven thousand Pioneers On the fifth of October the Turks made three several assaults upon the Fort St. Andre and that so furiously and obstinately that the Town was in very great danger of being utterly lost but in the end the Defendants forced them off with the slaughter of three hundred men and some Officers The Besieged about this time were very much dejected at the sudden departure of the Popes and Malta Squadron by which means the Turks took an opportunity to reinforce their Army with some thousands of men but the Marquiss St. Andre Montbrun upon the appearance of the French Succours with a party of resolute Germans that were lately arriv'd at Candia made a stout Sally beat the Enemy from their Posts and did great execution In revenge of this affront the Turks the very next day made a general assault with 30000 men at once carrying Wool-sacks before them to keep off the Small-shot which being perceiv'd by the Besieged they immediately drew their great Guns to the Breaches leden with Case-shot and pointed upon them which so gall'd the Turks that they were forced to retire whereupon the Besieged made another Assault upon them with great slaughter insomuch that the Enemy lost in these actions about 10000 men Don Vincenzo Rospigliosi General of the Popes Gallies being a little before return'd from the service of Candia which highly incensed his Holiness excus'd it by laying the fault upon the Duke De Ferrandina who being negligent and not coming up with the Neapolitan and Sicilian Squadrons which he Commanded he was unwilling alone to expose the Popes Gallies to such imminent danger The Visier at this time was very severe having taken off the head of one of his Bassa's for making a fruitless assault without order the Turks fleeing daily from their Colours and scattering themselves in several parts of the Island though he had us'd all means imaginable to induce them to return but his severity in putting them to death when return'd made the rest betake themselves to the Mountains for security The Grand Visier despairing of success having receiv'd so many and so great losses by the repeated Sallies of the Besieged and being very much injur'd by the Autumnrains took up a resolution to withdraw his Forces to New Candia but the Grand Signior being very much incensed at his ill success threatned him with the loss of his head if he gave him not a better account of the Siege then hitherto he had done His Holiness being very active to assist the Candiots against the Common Enemy of the Christian World gave the Senate his Bull to dispose of some Monasteries in their Territories to the value of one Million of Crowns which the Republique made use of At the latter end of this Month the new Venetian General of the Fleet Tadeo Morosini arriv'd at Candia with store of Ammunition Souldiers Provisions and Money wherewith he discharged the Souldiers Arrears to their great satisfaction Whereupon they made frequent Sallies against the Turks to their damage in one of which Monsieur St. Andre Montbrun had a slight wound in the shoulder by a Musquet-shot The Sister an able Vessel belonging to the Venetian Fleet was attaquet by five men of War of Tripoli in her Voyage homewards from the Levant who defended her self for many hours very resolutely but the Captain finding that he was over-power'd and out-numbred and so much disabled that he could make no further opposition blew up his Ship and destroy'd great numbers of the Turks that were at that time boarding of him In November the Turks withdrew themselves from Sabionera but stood still with great obstinacy before the Fort St. Andre intending to advance upon the Shoar and shut up the entry into the Haven but the French succours marching out in four divisions made a brisk Sally being commanded by the Duke de Roannez who was owned there by his ancient Title of de la Feuillade with extraordinary slaughter of the Enemy The Count Strafoldi who arriv'd about this time at Palma Nuova from Venice intending to direct his course for Candia to Command a Regiment of the German Souldiers lately employ'd in that service was unfortunately drown'd as he imbarked at Talia Vento with eighteen men by the folly of the Sea-men the Bark being over-set The Senate ordered that a present of Gold Plate valued at thirty eight Marks should be sent to Cardinal Rospigliosi as an acknowledgement of the sense they have of his zeal to promote their interest The Grand Visier having receiv'd some
succours from the Captain Bassa was very much encouraged to continue the Siege raising Terrasses about his own Tent and had taken 2000 of his stoutest Souldiers as a Guard to his person General Morosini about this time dispatched Colonel Machierotti a Candiot with Letters to the Visier desiring him to accept of an exchange for Signior Lascaris General de Bataille formerly taken Prisoner who went in a Felucca with a white Flag before Giofiro but receiv'd this short answer from the Visier That he came thither to take the City and not to treat about Prisoners whereupon Cavalier Grimani was imployed in the vacant charge The Turks continue the Siege with great eagerness notwithstanding their numerous and signal defeats and the vast inconveniences of the Winter-Season and press very shrewdly upon the Bastion of St. Andre playing upon it with their Cannon by one of which the Sieur du Prc Major to the Brigade belonging to the Count de St. Paul had his head taken off and the Sieur de Chamilly and Lare was hurt with the stones beaten out of the Parapet by the same shot the Sieur de Marianval of the same Brigade was slain the Chevalier de Merinville wounded by a Granado and the Sieur de Sabloniere hurt with an Arrow The Grand Signior being willing to supply the Visier as much as was possible commanded 6000 men to be levyed out of the neighbouring places sending them to Salonica but before the Captains could ship them they rais'd a mutiny and betook themselves to their heels to avoid the service On the twenty-eighth of November the succours from Malta arriv'd safe at Candia and were nobly receiv'd by the Generalissimo and the Marquiss St. Andre Montbrun who was then recover'd of his hurt he lately receiv'd but the Duke de Roannez was somewhat displeas'd he being disappointed of his hopes of commanding them Now a party of 350 French Volunteers with 50 more of the Garrison sallied out upon the Enemy but the former lost thirteen of their number and the others three but they kill'd some of the Enemy brought off four of the Turks heads and the General made another Sally with sixty choice men who cleared the Trenches killing fifty time with the assistance of two Christian Privateers took five Saiques off of Canea laden with Provisions and Ammunition intending for that Port and in the ingagement sixty Turks were slain with their Captain a Renegado of Calabria and fifty four Prisoners taken who were put to the Chain and the Provisions sent into Candia The Pope now ordered preparations to be made by his Chamber for the honourable Interment of the Marquiss Villa Commander of the Popes Forces in the Church of St. Maries the great who was kill'd in a Sally by a Cannon-shot with the same Funeral State and Pomp that was made for Signior Mutio Mattei who had the same Charge and dyed in the same Cause The Grand Visier having intelligence that the French Forces were re-imbarqued and homewards bound made a furious assault in the night upon the Bulwarks of the Sabionera and St. Andre at the same time with 4000 men at each place and obstinately disputed with the Besieged for two hours space but they were forced to retreat to their Posts leaving the ground covered with their dead and carrying off many that were wounded the Christians losing not above forty men in this service About the latter end of February or beginning of March Morosini the Captain-General or Admiral of the Armata landed at Candia with 2000 able Souldies from Zante 1700 Barrels of Powder and a great quantity of Provisions arid Ammunition The three Regiments of Lunenburghers consisting of 2500 stout well-disciplin'd men were in March imbarqued for Candia being very well satisfied with their noble reception at Venice the Senate bestowing gold Chains upon their Officers and a Ducat apiece was given to the Souldiers as a Donative About this time the Christians sprung a Mine and fired it by the which was destroyed a great number of the Enemy with a Turkish Engineer who was in great repute among them and whose directions they observ'd in all their attempts The Visier to revenge his death and the loss of his men sprung a Mine too but it had not that effect which was expected and then the Turks by his command attempted the Bulwarks of St. Andre with Ladders but they were beaten off with great loss and many of their Ladders were by force drawn up from them into the Town Upon the Popes request his Imperial Majesty granted him 3000 men for the succour of Candia who were privately listed without beat of Drum out of the Imperial Hereditary Countries onely On Saturday March 30 1669 S. N. the noble Giacomo Cornaro was chosen Proveditor General of the Armata and Signior Pietro Diedo an experienc'd Senator as Commander of a Convoy of many Ships laden with all manner of Provisions and wherein also were many Souldiers Chyrurgeons Gunners and Labourers to be imployed about the Works and in the Mines Colonel Giovanni Battista Zano endeavouring to take a Gallery from the Turks near Santo Spirito was buried in one of their Mines but the General sent out a strong party who beat off the Turks and recovered his Body out of the ruines of the Mines and carried it into the Town Signior Pietro Diedo by reason of his extraordinary indisposition of Body was upon his request excused from his Voyage into the Levant and the Senate made choice of Cavalier Zozzi Cornaro in his room In April 1669 the Turks made three desperate assaults upon the Town but were in all of them beaten off and the Besieged by the successful firing of one of their Mines totally ruin'd the Enemies Mount and Battery rais'd before the Fort St. Andre In this Month the Grand Signior sent a Bassa to the Visier who in his name condemned the Visier for the little advantage he had made in the Siege trifling away three years time with an expence of so much Treasure and the loss of such numbers of men as might suffice for the Conquest of intire Kingdoms The Visier being very much disatisfied with this message gave a furious assault to the Bulwark of St. Andre and Ravelin di Santo Spirito but the Turks after an hours hot dispute drew off and about 5000 of them hoping to pass over one of the Mines of the Besieged of 150 Barrels of Powder it was fired and blew up 3000 of the Enemy wounding and disordering them and taking hold of this advantage made a sally upon the Besiegers and returned to the Town with 1000 Prisoners or thereabouts On Saturday May the twenty sixth S.N. the Holy Sacrament was in St. Marks Church in Venice pablickly and solemnly expos'd and on the Tuesday following the Duke Senate and the greatest part of the Nobility went in Procession publick Prayers being made in all Churches to crave a blessing upon the succours and supplies intended to be sent to Candia by the Republique Now
the Grand Visier being very apprehensive of the Christian succours from several parts was resolv'd to make a general assault on the Forts of Sabionera St. Andre and Santo Spirito ordering his Army which notwithstanding his recruits consisted but of 24000 into three Bodies to be imployed against those three places and for the better expedition of his designe did from several Batteries play for several days upon the Town and principally upon the Jews quarter upon which they had done some execution but he altered his minde as to the general assault for the present and call'd a Council of War being resolv'd if possible to oblige the Town to a surrender before the arrival of the Christian supplies and in order hereunto On the tenth of May two hours before break of day the Turks according to their usual custom fell upon the Bulwarks of Sabionera with great noise and fury but after a bloudy dispute of three hours continuance the Christians springing several Mines forced them to a rude and disorderly retreat leaving several scaling Ladders behind them and they lost in ' this service three Bassa's with several other eminent Officers besides a great number of men And about this time the Venetian Captain-General of the Armata having receiv'd intelligence that there were eighteen men of War belonging to Barbary enter'd into the Grand Signiors Service for that Summer and were set out from several parts of Alexandria Smyrna and Soria laden with Men Ammunition and Provisions bound for Canea divided twenty four Men of War under his Command into three Squadrons with orders to ingage the Enemy if discovered The Admiral himself sailing to the Eastward of Candia with ten Ships where he discovered them making all the Sail imaginable for Canea whom he immediately fell upon without any consideration of their number and a smart dispute was entertain'd for some time but the noise of the Guns brought in another Squadron of eight Venetian Ships to his assistance so that in a short time the Enemy was worsted six Vessels sunk and four taken the rest making away from him very much torn and in great disorder besides the number kill'd in that engagement they took 800 Turks Prisoners The Besiegers notwithstanding all these ill successes continued on Shore pressing the City on all parts plying it with their Batteries and Granadoes especially on the side of the Fort St. Andre where his Excellency Signior Cavalier Cattarin Cornaro Proveditor extraordinary of the Armata was kill'd unhappily by a Granado which wounded him in the flanck who receiv'd the Sacrament and dyed an hour after On Monday June the seventeenth S. N. the Senate made Election of his Excellency Signior Alvise Mocenigo to succeed in the place of the deceased Cavalier Cornaro and conferred the Dignity of Knighthood upon his Brother Signior Girolamo Cornaro in testimony of the high esteem they had to the party slain ordering a solemn Funeral to be celebrated for him upon the publick account and a stately Tomb to be erected to his memory On Saturday June the twenty second there arriv'd at Venice a Ship from Candia with the Body of the late deceased Proveditor extraordinary Cavalier Cattarin Cornaro The Venetians had now received several Recruits under the Command of Signior Priuli as well as the Turks who with somuch assiduity continued their Batteries Storms and Mines that they made themselves Masters of the most part of the Fort planted there a Battery of ten pieces of Cannon intending to play upon the Retrenchment of the Christians with the which they dismounted several of the Defendants Cannon and did great execution in the Town In these late actions Signior Giacomo Contarini receiv'd a very dangerous wound in the Arm Colonel Pini an experienc'd Officer was kill'd and Monsieur de St. Andre had a slight hurt in the Arm by the breaking of a Granado The French Succours put to Sea in June and arriv'd at Candia in his most Christian Majesties Fleet commanded by the Duke de Beaufort the Land-Forces being under the Command of the Duke de Navailles And the Duke de Beaufort went in person to visit the City of Candia who was receiv'd with the discharge of all their Artillery and with great acclamations who taking a view of the Enemies posture receiv'd a slight wound by a Hand-Granado About this time one Andrea Borazzi fleeing to the Enemy profer'd his service to the Visier promising to inform him which were the weakest parts of the Town who was sent accordingly with some Turkish Officers but he leading them to an Eminencie near the Walls that they might the better survey the Town the besieged fired a Mine under him which blew up the Officers he onely escaping but the Grand Visier commanded him at his return to be put in Irons suspecting his designe to be a meer piece of Treachery Still the Turks employed their whole strength against the Bulwark St. Andre and made a considerable Breach in the Retrenchment but the Christians oppos'd them undauntedly and repair'd by night what they beat down by day and sprung a Mine of 150 Barrels of Powder under the Enemies Battery upon the ruines of the Bastion which blew up a great number of the Turks and four of their Guns but the Besieged lost a person of great Resolution and Conduct the Noble Pietro Querini by a Bomb which breaking gave another Officer a mortal wound the Captain-General who flood between them observing the Enemies remaining untoucht The Sultan upon advice of the arrival of the French supplies proposed terms of peace as he had formerly done oftentimes onely to amuse them he being absolutely averse to any such thing in reality and to gain upon them the better by such fair propositions The Turks now had by their frequent assaults and mines made themselves Masters of the ruin'd Bastion of St. Andre except a part of an Orillon which was still in dispute But the General with a party of flout men made a sally upon the Turks who not being able to stand in opposition with them quitted their Posts This vacant time the Besieged spent in casting up a small Defence there which kept the Enemy at a farther distance Now that the French Forces were arriv'd and the Duke de Navailles had consulted with the Captain-General the Turks were advanced and had taken up their Posts upon the Bastions of St. Andre and la Sabionera upon this Consultation with the French and Venetian Officers it was thought very proper to attaque them upon the Sabionera and the Duke de Navailles the General of the Forces desir'd to have those Souldiers out of the Garrison that could be well spar'd which they condescended unto and farther order was given for five or six hundred Pioneers to be imployed in throwing down the Works made by the Enemy and a Sally to be made at the same time to divert them from sending relief to the other side The Duke de Beaufort unwilling to be an unactive spectator offer'd them