upon all the desperate Service yet notwithstanding his forwardness upon all Occasions Providence preserved him to be a Scourge to the Enemies of his Name Not long after Amurath made War upon Vladislaus King of Hungary for assisting the Despot of Missa and thereupon raising an Army of eighty thousand Men he sent Carambey the Bassa of Romania with Scanderbeg and an Army of twenty thousand Men to invade the Hungarians Vladislaus with the great Hanniades that famous Captain prepared an Army of five and thirty thousand men to encounter him The Bassa encamped by the River of Moravia Hanniades not enduring this Bravado with ten thousand Men leaving the King in his Camp passed the River to encounter with the Barbarians who contemning his small number began the Fight Castriot seeing an opportunity to accomplish what he had before resolved on in the beginning of the Battel began to retreat with his Troops and afterwards fled thereby putting the other Turks into a Consternation who made use of their Heels in like manner Scanderbeg having before imparted his Design to his Friends especially to his Nephew Amase as they fled through a Wood he laid his hands upon the Turk's Secretary and caused him with Threatnings to write Letters in the name of Amurath to the Governour of Croia the Regal City of Epirus to deliver up his Command into the hands of Scanderbeg as deputed by him to have the Command thereof and then killing the Secretary he posted by very long Journeys into the upper Dibria where sending for some of the principal men of the Town he discovered himself and his purposes to them who unanimously assented to what he desired presenting to him their Estates and Lives for the setling of him in his Kingdom and so taking good order for all his Affairs he hasted towards Croia sending Amase before to carry News to the Governour and to certifie him that Scanderbeg with his Train was not far behind he took with him his Friends and a select Number of Dibrians and so coming into Croia he delivered the Packet which being opened and read was easily believed and the Governour prepared to depart The Night after his Men at Arms which he had left secretly near the Town were let in with whom many of the Citizens joyned who setting first upon the Watch and then on the Garrison put most of them to the Sword and so having made himself Master of Croia he presently sent to Dibria to give his Friends notice of his Success and to stir up that Country and their Allies to lay hold of the opportunity for the Recovery of their Freedom He also gave notice to all the Country about Croia stirring them up to take Arms to free themselves from the Turkish Yoak who readily and with much Joy received him and many good Officers flocked to him so that having got together pretty considerable Forces he routed and put to the Sword an Army of the Turks that were upon the march for the opposing these Progresses And then he besieged and took Petrella Petra Alba and Stellisa all extraordinary strong Towns after which all the weaker Garrisons casily yielded to him Then leaving some Forces under his Lieutenant General Moses an excellent Souldier he returned to Croia and disbanded his Army but upon notice that the Turks were rendezvouzing taking his Followers and a hundred Horse he streight march'd to the place upon which the Turks scattered and dispersed themselves then with a thousand Horse he made an Inroad into Macedonia spoiling all the Country and returned loaden with the Prey Amurath having notice of all these Occurrences made Peace with the Hungarians and bent all his Thoughts against Scanderbeg The Spring coming on Scanderbeg took the Field with six thousand men conquered Morea a Pleasant and Fruitful Countrey and added it to his Dominions and then after some time Siege had Sfetigrade surrendred to him being a place of great importance These Successes highly incensed and alarmed Amurath so that he caused an Army to be raised of forty thousand Horse which he committed to the leading of Hali Bassa one of his most valiant and experienced Captains Whereupon Scanderbeg leavied an Army of eight thousand horse and seven thousand foot and though many more flocked to him he dismissed the rest with them he went into the lower Dibria where he heard daily of the approach of his Enemies Hereupon he detached Gree Musach and Amase with three thousand horse for to lie in Ambuscado which he had no sooner done than the Turks began to approach pitching their Camp near Scanderbeg yet knew not that he was so night them Scanderbeg having appointed good Watch bade the rest of his men to betake themselves to their rest The Turks having discovered him grew very Insolent and coming near the Christians Camp began to revile them and challenge them to the Battel Scanderbeg made his men to be quiet till the rising of the Moon then he caused them to refresh themselves with Food and so some of them to issue forth to skirmish with the Turks in the mean time he ordered his Battel Halli Bassa contemning the small number of his Enemies gave the first charge with a small Troop of horse who after they had charged retired hoping that the Christians with eager pursuit would disorder their Battel but Scanderbeg finding their Policy kept his men in good order so both Armies coming on the Wings began the Battel afresh Scanderbeg bringing on the main Battel in the face of the Bassa valiantly charged him No sooner were the Battels thoroughly joyned but the Ambuscado broke out and charged the Rereward of the Turks making such a slaughter that some of them began to fly Thus was the Bassa's great Army distressed by a few But he having placed his best Souldiers nearest to himself with them renewed the Fight so that Scanderbeg's fortune was at a stand till Heranocontes coming on with some fresh Troops from the Rear brake thorough the Bashaw's Army with incredible Slaughter of his Men so that the Turks seeing their Fellows lying by heaps wallowing in their own Blood betook themselves to flight whom the Christians fiercely pursuing slew two and twenty thousand of them took two thousand prisoners and four and twenty Ensigns of the Turks and so horsing all his foot Souldiers with the horses of the slain Turks he made a Road into Macedonia laying all waste before him and returned with a Rich Booty besides all the Spoiles gotten in the Turks Camp and with it went back to Croia where he was received with great Triumph Halli Bassa with the remainder of his men returned to Adrianople where he had much adoe to make his Peace with the Sultan who was almost ready to die for despair thorough his great losses before in Hungaria and in Epirus In the mean while the Pope's Legat perswaded the King of Hungary to break the League lately made with Amurath saying that Faith was not to be kept with Insidels and
the desires of those things which the one had begun or the faint-heartedness of the other should occasion them to fight feebly and also by their fears possess the hearts of such as were Bold and Valiant CLIII It was a common use among the Romans and divers other Nations as well amongst Princes as Private Persons that if there had happened any difference of an extraordinary Character amongst them they used to send a publick Officer or private Messenger to let them know whom they conceived they had Injury by that they did solemnly renounce all friendship with them and that they did forbid them their House and all expectations of any Rites of Hospitality And they thought it unreasonable to hear him by Word or deed who had been their Friend till they had sent him this Declaration that he might stand upon his Guard Thus Badius the Campanian betwixt both Armies renounced friendship with Crispinus a Roman that so he might have the freedom to assault him as an Enemy and thus dealt King Amasis with Polycrates not that he had dissobliged him but that he feared his misfortune CLIV. Amongst the Persians they had this custome that when any one was accused in the Court for the breach of the Laws though it did plainly appear that he was guilty yet should he not be immediately condemned but first there should be an exact inquiry made into the whole course of his life and a strict account should be taken whether his evil and unhandsom actions or his gallant and commendable ones were the most and then if the number of his base and unworthy doings were found to be the greatest he was condemned if otherwise he was absolved For they thought it was beyond human power perpetually to keep that which was right and that they were to be accounted good not who never did amiss but who for the most part did that which was honest CLV The custom of establishing a mutual and lasting Friendship betwixt two and also of Princes when they entred into inviolable Leagues or Alliances was this they joyned their right Hands and then both their Thumbs were hard bound about with a string as soon as the Blood came into the Extremities of them they were lightly pricked that the Blood came and then each licked some of the others Blood The Friendship or League contracted by this ceremony was held most sacred as being signed with their own Blood In this manner the Inhabitants of the Island Palmaria the Scythians Georgians and divers other Nations begin their Friendship and as we read in Athenaeus the Germans themselves CLVI The Corinthians were wont without much examination to hang up such as were suspected of Theft and upon the third day after the matter was strictly examined of the Judge then if it was found that they had really committed the Theft whereof they had been accused they left them hanging upon the Gallows but if they were judged to be innocent they were taken thence and buried with a Preface of Honour at the Publick charge But for the Readers greater Diversion after a draught of such variety of Customs I will give him the Life of George Castriot alias Scanderbeg King of Epirus especially since Hungary and other it's bordering Countries do now daily afford us matter of Discourse This George was descended of an ancient Family which had long reigned in Epirus or Asbania a part of Macedonia his Father surmounted his Predecessors in Prudence Gravity and Magnanimity in corporal Beauty and comeliness of Person his Mother was Voisava Daughter of the King of the Tribullians a Woman for Beauty Wisdom and Excellency of Spirit surpassing most of her Sex God blessed these Persons with nine Children four Sons and five Daughters whereof this George was the youngest upon whose Arm when he was born appeared the form of a Sword as naturally imprinted as if it had been engraven by the most dexterous Artificer Then it was the Turks extended their Conquests into Europe John Castriot amongst other Princes was constrained to sue for Peace which he obtained upon Condition of delivering up his Sons in Hostage who being in the Grand Seignior's hands he caused them to be circumcised giving to George in whom something more than ordinary appeared at his Circumcision the name of Scanderbeg i. e. Lord Alexander he was about nine years old at this time and Amurath taking a liking to him appointed him good Masters and Instructers under whom he quickly learned the Turkish Arabian Greek Italian and Sclavonian Languages and as his Strength encreased he acquired all those Exercises as might fit him for the War and sometimes with his Sword and sometimes with his Bow on Horseback and foot he gave incredible testimonies of agility and readiness of Body and of an undertaking couragious Spirit hereupon the Sultan made him a Sunziack and Collonel of five thousand Horse His Brethren also proving very good Souldiers he employed them in several parts of his Empire Scanderbeg when he was eighteen years old was sent by Amurath into Natolia where in his first Enterprise his Virtue and good Success in War appeared and he returned victorious and afterwards he with his Regiment always made one in all Enterprizes and the good Success was by the common Consent of all the Souldiery still cast upon him And now Troubles arising in Asia he at those Years was chosen General of the whole Army by which means and the quick and speedy defeat of his Enemies he surmounted all the glory of his former Performances About this time there came a Gyant-like Scythian to the Court demanding if there were any that durst encounter him in Arms and prove himself in fight against him Amurath the Sultan proclaimed and promised to the Conquerour a great Reward to encourge his Men to undertake the Combate But when every one dreaded the purchase of Honour upon such desperate Conditions for they were to fight in their Shirts in a narrow place with their Swords only Scanderbeg stepping to him said Either shalt thou not O Scythian bear away this Prize and Glory or else being made more glorious by my Death thou shalt be enriched with these Spoils and Ornamenas In the Duel Scanderbeg slew the Scythian without receiving the least Wound from him and presenting his Head to Amurath received the reward of his Victory Afterwards two Persians of a fair and goodly Stature came and made the like Challenge to fight on Horseback and when all refused he took up the Gantlet against them and whereas contrary to the Agreement after his first Course they both assaulted him together he so acquitted himself that he slew them both and presented their Heads to Amurath About this time died John Castriot his Father in Epyre upon notice whereof Amurath seized upon his Kingdom put Garrisons into all the Cities and strong Holds and poysoned all the Brethren of Scanderbeg Now though Scanderbeg dissembled his Resentment of this Conduct yet the Sultan growing jealous of him put him
Miscreants and he absolved the King and his Nobles from their Oath to the great Turk and thereupon great preparations were made a great Army raised whereof Hunniades was made the Lieutenant General The King of Hungary also wrote to Scanderbeg who after a Council held with his Princes assented to it and raising a potent Army and seeking to God by Prayer for a prosperous Journey he marched towards Hungary But God intending to chastize the Perjury of the Hungarians and to preserve Scanderbeg from having had a hand in so horrid a Sin stirred up the Despot of Missa a Person of no Religion to deny him passage thorough his Country Whereupon Scanderbeg resolved to force it though it was like to prove a difficult work and indeed before he could do it the Turks and Hungarians had fought a dreadful Battel wherein many were slain and amongst others Vladislaus with his perjured Nobles and the Christian Army was wholly overthrown The news whereof coming to Scanderbeg he was so grieved and inraged also at the Despot that he spoiled his Country with fire and sword and so returned home again Amurath being informed of the Extraordinary spoil and havock that Scanderbeg had made in Macedonia resolved he should next feel the effects of his resentment and first thought to have undermined him by the artifice of a profered Peace and Amity which being warded by Scanderbeg the Sultan was extreamly incensed and sent for Feressay Bassa a Captain of a fierce and ready Spirit and loading him with promises if he returned Victor he gave him nine thousand Horse all chosen men commanding him in all haste to go surprise the Enemy in Epirus who having dismissed his Army kept the Field only with a few Horse The Turks promising themselves a certain Victory marched on merrily till they came to a narrow Valley called Mocrea which Scanderbeg and his men having seized on upon notice of the Enemies designs where Scanderbeg put the Bassa to flight cut most of his men to pieces and the rest he took Prisoners This news incensed Amurath to a high degree and thereupon sent one Mustapha a bold and politick Captain with a new supply of six thousand Souldiers to take Feresaye's charge which joyned with other Forces made up an Army of above twenty thousand men but he was in like manner incountred by Scanderbeg his Forces routed five thousand of the Turks slain three hundred taken and Scanderbeg lost but twenty Horsemen and fifty Footmen Mustapha obtained afterwards another mighty Army of Amurath with which he marched against Scanderbeg who lying at the Siege of Duyna against the Venetians upon notice of the Enemies approach he detached five hundred Horse and a thousand five hundred Footmen wherewith he hasted to the relief of his Garisons leaving the rest with Amase to continue the Siege Scanderbeg at his return having drawn some Forces out of his Garisons had got together a Body of Men consisting of four thousand Horse and two thousand Foot with which he prepared himself for Battel Mustapha did the like but before the Battel began there came from the Turks a man at Arms in rich and gallant furniture challenging any one of the Christians to fight hand to hand with him Paul Menessi thereupon stepped to Scanderbeg desiring leave that he might accept the challenge and chastize the proud Turk which Scanderbeg assenting to and praying for his Success he presently mounted on Horseback rode forth to the Turk bidding him to prepare himself to the Battel both Generals agreed upon the Laws for Combat and so the Champions taking their course ran each at other with their Spears and Menessi ran the Turk thorough the head and so slew him and there alighting he struck off his head took his Armour and returned to the Camp laden with his Spoyls This good Omen did so incourage Scanderbeg's men that they charged the Turks with such fury that they forced them to retire Mustapha seeing that put Spurs to his Horse resolving to win the Field or die most of his chief Captains did the like which a little renewed the Battel but presently Mustapha and twelve of his chiefest men were taken Prisoners the rest slain and scattered There were in the Turks Camp killed ten thousand men and fifteen Ensigns taken The Christians lost but three hundred and they found a rich Prey Then did Scanderbeg make an Inroad into Macedonia spoiled and took a great Booty after which he left two thousand Horse and one thousand Foot for the guard of his Frontiers and so returned to the Siege of Duyna But shortly after he made Peace with the Venetians Amurath too sent him rich Presents with five and twenty thousand Duckats for the Redemption of his Captains nevertheless Scanderbeg having divided the Money amongst his Souldiers made another Inroad into Macedonia and dividing his Army into three parts he laid all waste and brought away a rich Prey that he might leave nothing for the relief of his Enemies when they returned again This put Amurath into such a Rage that he resolved to go in Person with such an Army as might fill every Corner of Epirus and make an easie Conquest of it Scanderbeg having notice of the great Preparations that the Sultan was making for an Invasion did likewise put all things in the best posture of Desence that was possible Amurath in the mean while came with an Army of a hundred and fifty thousand Horse and Foot into Epirus but Scanderbeg having laid an Ambuscade for a detachment of forty thousand that were going to besiege Sfetigrade his Men killed two thousand of the Turks took a thousand Horse and the Christians lost but two and twenty Men. During the Siege of the forementioned Town Scanderbeg with his handful was perpetually beating up and alarming the Turk's Quarters and set so furiously and so unluckily upon them one Night that he slew two thousand of them the Souldiers too within the Town made a brave Defence and beat off several general Attacks with great Slaughter of the Turks And Scanderbeg having gathered nine thousand Souldiers resolved to assault the Camp but Feri Bassa despising his small number sent several thousand Horse to encompass him in behind but all to his own Disadvantage for fighting with Scanderbeg hand to hand he was slain by this latter and in that days work were seven thousand Turks killed by the Wounded But Amurath seeing he could not prevail by force used means to corrupt some of the Garrison which having effected the Town was delivered to him the Traytors received their promised Reward but within a few days after were secretly at his Command made away as a just Recompence for their trayterous Wickedness Amurath having lost thirty thousand of his Souldiers in this Expedition returned home being followed at the heels by Scanderbeg who slew many more of his Men in narrow Passages which more and more provoked Amurath to the making extraordinary Preparations against the ensuing Campaign by which
time having gotten together an Army of a hundred and sixty thousand men with which he again invaded Epirus and laid Siege to Croia the Capital City thereof And after many Artifices and Endeavours to suborn the Governour and the other Officers finding that could not be effected after having battered it with great Mortar-pieces the Sultan made a general Assault But just as the Turks began it Scanderbeg with five thousand men brake into one of their Quarters and at the first Encounter slew six hundred of them yet engaged himself so far in the Fight that he was in much danger to be slain or taken Prisoner but at length resolutely breaking through them he escaped and came to his Camp to their great Joy and Comfort Whereupon Amurath renewed the Assault wherein he lost eight thousand Men without any considerable damage to the Garrison And Scanderbeg in the night broke in again upon their Quarters making a much greater slaughter of the Enemy than the Garrison had done After the Turks had still made several Attacks in vain wherein they lost many thousands more of their Men Amurath laid it to heart that so small a Town should eclipse all his former Glory that he died in the Army of Grief Rage and Despair but charging his Son and principal Officers not to leave his Death unrevenged and so gave up the Ghost After the Death of Amurath Mahomet his Son presently rais'd the Siege and offered Peace to Scanderbeg if he would pay him a certain Tribute but Scanderbeg scorning the Motion made an Inroad into the Turkish Dominions which he grievously wasted and returned home laden with spoil To revenge this Mahomet sent an Army into Epirus under one of his principal Bassa's but being re-encountred by Scanderbeg he slew seven thousand of them took the Bashaw and principal Officers Prisoners whom Mahomet ransomed with thirteen thousand Duckats and other rich Presents which he sent to Scanderbeg Hereupon one Debreas one of the Turk's best Generals undertook with such an Army to conquer Epirus and bring Scanderbeg's Head to Mahomet Accordingly he marched with such and as many Men as he desired and a Battel was so valiantly fought that Scanderbeg's Fortune seem'd to be at a stand yet Scanderbeg having at last encountred Debreas fought with him hand to hand and slew him with whose Death the whole Enemies Army was discouraged and fled and of the Turks were slain four thousand one hundred and twenty but of the Christians very few The Grand Seignior finding by these Defeats that it lay not in his Power to prevail by Force had Recourse to Artifice and sought to corrupt by mighty Offers and Promises the principal Officers of Scanderbeg and at length found the means to seduce Moses Galome a great Commander who had treacherously assured Scanderbeg of Success if he would besiege Belgrade which having done upon his Advice he brought the Town to great distress before it could be relieved but Moses having given the Turks warning of his Designs they came upon him unawares slew many of his Men and rais'd the Siege nevertheless Scanderbeg fought their Army slew three thousand of the Misereants and with his own hand two brave Champions who had before sworn to Mahomet to kill him if they met with him The poor Christian Captives taken by the Turks were some sold for Slaves others impailed alive upon sharp Stakes others hanged on iron Hooks and others cruelly tortured to death at the Victor's Pleasure Moses threw off the Mask and went to Mahomet of whom having obtain'd upon assurance of Conquest a great Army with all things necessary went against Scanderbeg When the two Armies were ready to joyn a Messenger came from the Turks to see if any durst prove his Valour against a Champion of the Turks hand to hand the Challenger was accepted and the Turk appearing Zacharie Groppa having obtained leave of Scanderbeg went out against him and after a short Parley they ran with their Lances each against other with such Fury that both Horses and Men were overturned then nimbly recovering themselves they drew their Semiters and encountred each other with such sturdy Strokes that at last both their Swords fell out of their Hands then grapling together they wrestled so long till Groppa overthrew his Adversary and with his Dagger thrust him into his Throat and then taking a Sword he cut off his Head and returned to Scanderbeg with great Honour Then the Signal of the Battel being given it was obstinately fought on both sides and Scanderbeg ran great danger of his life for a couragious Turk with his Horse-man's Staff bare him quite backward upon his Horse so that the Turks shouted for Joy hoping that he had been slain but Scanderbeg chafed with such an unwonted Disgrace suriously assailed the Turk and slew him and pursued his Victory with that Eagerness that the Turks were defeated eleven thousand of them slain and not above one hundred of the Christians and eighty wounded After this Moses being tormented in Conscience stole from the Turks returned to Scanderbeg obtain'd Pardon and his former Trust and Offices In the mean while Amase Scanderbeg's Nephew was inveigled by Mahomet so that he abandoned his Uncle and went to the Grand Seignior Hereupon in the Spring following he and Isaac Bassa were sent the Spring following with a mighty Army and Amase was proclaimed King of Epirus in Mahomet's name After several Skirmishes between the two Armies wherein the Turks had always the worst at length Scanderbeg and his Army descended from the Mountain with such horrible Shouts and noise of Instruments of War that the Turks were in a kind of Consternation and thought the Enemy to be much more numerous than they were nevertheless Amase rallied and made a brave Defence but at length was forced to yield to his Uncle's Bravery and Conduct so that the whole Turkish Army was routed many of them were slain and many taken Prisoners together with twenty of the Turks fairest Ensigns of whom were slain about twenty thousand and of the Christians about sixty Amase being likewise taken and condemned to perpetual Imprisonment Then a Peace was concluded between Mahomet and Scanderbeg after the expiration of which Mahomet sent Synanbeg with an Army of twenty thousand into Epyrus with which Scanderbeg forthwith encounter'd and overthrew so that few escaped by flight Then sent he Asambeg with thirty thousand with whom Scanderbeg in plain Battel vanquished at Ocrida and took Asambeg Prisoner and used him honourably and afterwards dismissed him Jussumbeg came after with eighteen thousand was set upon by Scanderbeg had many slain and himself hardly escaped by flight Then Carafabeg an old and expert Captain desired Mahomet to let him try his Fortune who sent him with an Army of almost forty thousand Scanderbeg fearing him more than any of the former and therefore raised more Forces yet he was too cunning as well as too brave for the Bashaw for he slew many of his Men and had