to spare the rest of his Army But if he accepted the Capitulation 't was on design to falsifie his Word and by cruel Punnishments to avenge himself on them for the time and Men he had lost The next day the better to conceal his Treachery he kindly presented the Christians with all sorts of Refreshments The greatest part of the Garrison and of the Baggage was already on board the Vessels to transport them when Bragadin coming forth of the Town sent to request Mustapha he would put in some of his Men to preserve the Inhabitants from ill usage The Desire met with a kind Reception from the Visir who appointed when Bragadin should come to him He went accompanyed by Baglioni Tiepoli Lewis and Hector Martinengo with several other Officers and attended by near Two Hundred Musketeers Mustapha on pretence of doing them Honour made the Troops about his Tent stand to their Arms. He and the Chief of his Company were brought in and had Seats given them with great Ceremony The Visir at first spake to them very kindly enquiring concerning many particulars of the Siege and commending their Courage and Constancy with a Flattery the more perfidious in that he was going to cut their Throats As they were taking their leave he spake to Bragadin to send him the Prisoners taken during the Siege Bragadin extreamly surprized answered him he knew not of any Prisoners to return him and thereupon this Barbarian who was prepared for it putting on Astonishment cryed out furiously That they were then murthered during the Truce and at the same time caused all these Christians to be seized on and put in Irons 'T was in vain for them to exclaim against the Breach of the Articles They were dragg'd out of his Tent and cruelly slain in his Sight The Unfortunate Bragadin was saved from this slaughter to satiate the Tyrants Rage by undergoing the greatest Torments Mustapha desiring to make him suffer more than one Death set thrice his Scimitar to his Throat which this Illustrious Christian still undauntedly beheld Having cut off his Nose and his Ears they threw him with Irons on his Legs into a hole whence the Executioners drew him on the following days to make him carry Earth in a Basket. They made him bow down with this heavy Burthen and kiss the ground every time he past before Mustapha who was setting Men at work to repair the Fortifications of Famagusta He was afterwards put on Board the Fleet where he suffer'd several other Indignities They tyed him to one of the Yards of the Gally to make the Deformity of his Visage more publick He was drawn into the Market place and being hung up by the Heels was flead alive The Cruelty of this Torment drew not from him so much as a Sigh or the least word that savour'd of Meanness and Dejection and this Hero surrendred his Soul to God reproaching his Enemies with their Perfidiousness and Barbarity His Skin seasoned with Vineger and Salt Mustapha caused to be stuffed with Hay and fastned on the Top of his Cabin for a Spectacle to the Coasts of Aegypt and Syria 'T was put into the Arsenal of Constantinople whence the Children of this generous Martyr redeemed it and preserv'd it as the most Glorious Trophy of their Family The Fury of Mustapha being appeased by this Barbarous Execution he gave the rest of the Garrison their Lives but chained them to the Oar. Thus Famagusta as valiantly defended as 't was obstinately attackt followed the mournful Destiny of the unhappy Isle of Cyprus THE CONTENTS OF THE FOURTH BOOK THe Arrival of Don John of Austria at Genoa Great deliberation amongst the General Officers on the different Designs of the Confederates Great Mis-understandings in the Christian Army the ill Consequences of which are prevented by Colonni Advice of Perteau touching the Battle Mutual Errour of the two Enemies Fleets Order of Battel of both Discourse of the Osficers to the Soldiers War-like Exploits of the Christian Slaves Victory on their side Hali kill'd on his own Vessel Perteau saves himself in a small Boat. Number of the slain of the Prisoners and Turkish Gallies taken and sunk Famous Action of the two Brothers of the House of Cornaro The Providitor Barbarigo kill'd in the Fight Venieri and Don John's Disagreement This Mis-understanding spoils the Fruit of the Victory Publick rejoycing at Venice Colonni receiv'd at Rome as a Conquerour Venieri besieges Leucada without Success Complaints carryed to the Senate of his Conduct He is removed from his Office at the Popes Request James Forscarini succeeds him Consternation in Constantinople Disgrace of Perteau Pius V. falls Sick. His Death and Elogium THE HISTORY OF THE WAR of CYPRVS The Fourth Book WHILST the Barbarians finish't the Conquest of the Isle of Cyprus Colonni and Venieri who expected in Sicily Don John of Austria beheld with grief the Desolation of Dalmatia Venieri advancing too far with his Fleet for the taking in of Provisions at Tropia was surprized by a Tempest in which he lost Seven Gallies that were dasht in pieces against the Rocks near the Shoar and for to compleat this Misfortune the Fire took the Powder of the Gallies commanded by Francis Griti These Disgraces joyned to the Losses which the Venetians suffered in the last Campaign afflicted them the more by how much they placed all their hopes in the Naval Forces The Pope who grew impatient at the slowness of the Spaniards continually dispatcht Couriers to King Philip complaining at their letting slip the best part of the Season without drawing any advantage from all these great Preparations of War. All Europe was attentive to the motions of the Spaniards But whether 't was an effect of the Gravity of the Nation or that Philip design'd the Republick's Ruine his small hast to second the Soveraign Prelate's Intentions gave cause to mistrust his Sincerity Although the time wherein his Fleet was to arrive in Italy was expired and the Season already far spent 't was not yet well known what was to be expected on that hand and the Conduct of Don John gave great Suspicions to the Republick This young Prince whose Army was ready to part busied himself in fitting up his Equipage by the Magnificence of which he pretended to draw admiration from all other Countries Besides this pittiful reason Maximilian's two eldest Sons whom the Empress their Mother caused to be brought up near Philip the 2d their Unkle waited the occasion of this Fleet to pass over into Italy One of these Princes fell sick and was a good while before he recover'd so that the Gallies could not leave the Port of Barcelolona and the Venetians murmured against this delay so prejudicial to the Affairs of Christendom and caused by reasons of such small moment In fine Pius V. sharply affirming the interests of Religion were betrayed by abandoning the Confederates the Spaniards ashamed at these Reproaches set Sayl and arrived at Genoa towards the end of July by
they are wonderful with the Wind they become useless and even cumbersom during the Calm and it would be difficult to row them back at the sight of the Enemies Fleet so that 't was not thought fit to hazard a Battle being Weaker in Gallies than the Infidels and having need of these Vessels to cover their Wings The next day they got towards the East part of the Isle and the Fleet drew up in Battalia near certain Rocks call'd Dragonares over against the Promontory of Malea as if they really design'd to engage the Enemy the Galeasses were on the Right Wing and the Ships of Burden on the Left to the end they might come to them with the Favour of the Wind in case it blew from the South The Turks far exceeded the Christians in the number of their Gallies but were much inferiour to them in Marriners Rowers and Soldiers since the Battel of Lepanto so that their Shipping was not 〈◊〉 serviceable This Weakness obliged Louchali only to shew his Fleet and carefully to avoid coming to Blows he fear'd being dishonoured and giving the Christians occasion to glory by standing too much upon his Guard And 't was an Advantage great enough for him to keep the Sea and his Enemies in Breath He no sooner understood that the Christian Fleet was in Battalia near the Dragonares but he set Sayl to make a shew of fearing nothing and leaving the Promontory of Malea he coasted the Land on the right hand of this Promontory as if he neither distrusted the Enemies Forces nor the ill Condition of his own The Wind blowing hard enough from the South to work the Great Ships they went with full Sayl against the Enemies who were making towards the West believing that they Fled and they would undoubtedly have engaged in Fight had not the Wind faln of a sudden Louchali seeing the Christians left Wing naked turned his Prows that way but Colonni speedily detacht the Frigats which had already secured the Ships of Burden The Two Fleets stood a long time facing each other within Cannon Shot yet without making any Attack The Christians fear'd being enclosed if they left their Gallies and bigger Ships and Louchali who perceived this Precaution made the greater semblance of Fierceness and Readiness to Fight In fine the Turks seeing the Night approach discharged all their Cannon and retreated under the Shelter of the Smoak The Christians coâ—â—â—nued in Battalia till the next day when 〈◊〉 went to Cerigo without any Order or Discipline on pretence of taking in Fresh Water The Negligence of the Officers was so great that the most part of the Gallies put in where they pleased not only in several parts of the Isle but even in the Ports of the Continent without obeying any Command But they were chastised for it by a terrible Alarm for not knowing what Course the Ottoman Fleet had taken word was brought them that they were within eight Miles advancing towards them They got aboard their Vessels in an hurry smitten with all the Terror such a Surprize could cause Colonni at the same time sent to gather in all the dispersed Gallies and having given the Signal of Battel lancht speedily forth into the Deep with Threescore Sayl putting the rest in Battalia as fast as they came up to the Fleet. Those that were most remote gave little Credit to the Orders and Signals which they unwillingly and very slowly obeyed However though they were throughly perswaded that Louchali would have defeated them had he took Advantage of this Disorder and though the neglect of Discipline be very destructive to an Army yet was there no example made of the Offenders Colonni and Andrada not daring to punish them because there were some Spanish Gentlemen amongst them The Infidels veering towards the West left the Christian Fleet not yet recovered of the Fright into which they were put by the hazard they had run and 't was believed they were then going to plunder the Islands and Frontiers of the Republick there being then nothing to hinder them Ours to prevent such an Affront immediately determined to follow them For this purpose Colonni chose out the best and swiftest of his Gallies and taking Equipage and Soldiers out of the others he would have sent them into Candy with the rest of the Fleet with a Resolution to fall on the Enemies who were beyond Zant or else to stay there for Don John in case he were not yet arrived and with him to pursue the Mis-believers or if it should be thought more convenient to attack some Place in Peloponesus being then in Condition to attempt great matters The Spanish General was of the same Opinion but the Venetians having debated this design amongst themselves disapproved the execution of it though for Reasons weak enough on which Foscarini had grounded his Sentiment They instantly desired Colonni to change this last Resolution and return to his former Colonni granted them this Favour for which Sorantio in full Council thanked him in Terms repleat with Praises The Reasons alledged by the Venetians were that having neither Galeasses nor great Vessels they were neither in Condition to Retreat nor defend themselves if they should meet with the Enemy but in truth they fear'd lest Don John and his Council might find some new Subterfuge to make them lose again this Campaign The Christians weighing Anchor in the Night perceived by break of Day the Ottoman Fleet. Louchali who was as well informed of their Motions as if he had been prefent at their Debates made all the advantage of this Knowledge that could be expected from a great Captain Finding himself too weak to hazard a Battle he aimed only to keep them in continual Alarm coasting always near them and presenting himself sometimes in their Front sometimes in the Rear incessantly watching to lay hold of any Advantages that might be given him by the Generals want of Experience or Disunion by the Disobedience of the Inferiour Officers or by the Accidents of Wind and Sea. He rode before the Promontory of Toenarus commonly call'd Metapan and the Christians not daring with their heavy Vessels to keep the Chanel the Barbarian made towards them on the Coast Our Fleet drew in Battalia in the same order that is with the Gallies between the Galeasses and great Ships the Infidels also ranking themselves as at first In the mean time the two Fleets descried afar off a Vessel coming with full Sayl 't was a Venetian Ship having aboard it a considerable quantity of Money for payment of the Soldiers and laden besides with Powder and other Ammunition for Candy This Vessel mistaking the Infidels for the Christians made directly to them and some of their Gallies were already advanced to invest it Ours perceiving its Error sent Quirini with the Five swiftest Gallies of their Fleet to prevent the Enemies and secure this Vessel Quirini having boarded her took out the Money and received Germanico and Mario Savorniani two Noble Venetians that
almost all of them perplexed with Domestick Wars disunited by Differences in Religion and consequently not in a capacity to assist the Venetians That the King of Spain was busied in reducing the Moors and pacifying the Troubles in the Low Countries That besides the League made between his Highness and the King of France this Prince was too young and his Kingdom too much weakened by intestine Wars to interest himself in this Quarrel As for the Emperor Maximilian it was not to be expected he would break the Peace lately made having experienced his Weakness and so expose himself a second time with such small Forces in hopes of the assistance of the Princes of the Empire whose Troops are seldom in a sufficient readiness to do any good Service As to the King of Poland being instructed by his Father's Example and made wise at his Neighbour's Cost he must understand his own Interest too well to break the Peace he made with the Ottoman Port so that the Venetians forsaken on all sides must inevitably lose the Isle of Cyprus before the News of it can come to the Senate Should Fortune moreover adds he favour this Enterprize a man might set on foot still greater Designs against this Republick to the Ruine of the Naval Forces of all Christendom and by this means open a way to invade all Italy a thing not unthought of by your Predecessors That the Idleness wherein the Venetians had languished this thirty years last past by means of the Peace Solyman had granted them rendered the Conquest of their whole State very easie having forgotten the Art of making War there being but few left of the ancient Officers and Souldiers so that seeing themselves in a manner lost they must submit to such Conditions as would please his Highness to impose and yield their Necks to the Yoke rather than undergo all the Calamities of War. So that in fine his Army enriched and laden with Spoil would return in Triumph to Constantinople followed by a prodigious number of Slaves and Captives making Vows and Wishes for the continuance of his prosperous Reign which would presage him a continual Series of Victories and Conquests and an immortal Glory by the Defeat of the Christians the most averse People to the Mahometan Law Piali who seconded Mustapha and Miches in their Arguments with the Emperor help'd to confirm him in the Design of this Conquest And Selim whose natural Pride was encreased by the Representation of his Grandeur the Confidence he had in his Power and the Respect of his Subjects which extends even to Adoration esteemed himself as the most mighty Monarch on Earth and despising other Soveraigns supposed there could be no Fleets opposed nor Land Armies able to resist his so that this War in his opinion must be finished from the moment Mustapha proposed it had not Mahomet who would avert this Tempest from falling on the Republick brought some difficulties for whether he feared the taking of the Isle of Cyprus would encrease his Enemies Credit or was willing to keep the Pension he received from the Venetians to keep up the Peace he made use of the pretence of Religion and told the Grand Signior he would do well to consult the Mufti on so important an Undertaking and know his Sence touching the infraction of a Treaty so solemnly sworn And being not well assured of the Mufti how his Answer would be he undertook himself to shew the Grand Signior That 't was more advantageous and honourable to carry the War into Spain to succour there a Nation that was of the same Religion and implored his Protection and in hopes thereof had already taken Arms against the Tyranny of Spain and alarm'd the whole Country by their vigorous Resistance That this Enterprize would draw no new Enemies upon him for the Venetians would not assist the Spaniards but on the contrary if the Republick was Assaulted the Spaniards would infallibly assist them That the Spanish Militia were not so valiant and brave in their own Country as out of it That all Christendom was lost when Spain should be subdued That France betwixt whom and Spain there are ancient Hatreds and Jealousies edged on by the Disgraces she received in the last War and engaged by an Alliance and several good Offices from the Port would be glad of this opportunity of Revenge and take part against the Spaniards there being also as much or more Honour in protecting unfortunate Believers related to him by the Sacred Bond of Religion than Profit in making himself Master of all Spain whereas should he abandon the Moors to the Executioners of Spain to set upon a State with which he lived in Peace he must undergo an universal Reproach of breaking his Word to his Allies and wanting Compassion for miserable Wretches forced to renounce their Mahometan Religion and embrace the Christian by the violence of Torments These Reasons moved not Selim and if he appeared less hot on the War of Cyprus 't was rather because he would not disoblige the Prime Visier whose Opinion he disliked than to determine what he was resolved to do for believing every thing just which he pleased to undertake his greatest Concern was to put it in speedy Execution The Riches of the Isle of Cyprus and the Work in which he would surpass all the former Emperors made such an Impression in his Mind that he had not the power to resist it Yet had this Undertaking been further put off by the Address of the Grand Visiâ—r had not such News arrived from Italy to Miches and Mustapha as hastened the Execution of it In the Year 1569. Italy was affiicted with such scarcity as made all the Cities thereabouts feel the smart of it and expect a terrible Famine Sicily and Pouille which are as it were the Store-houses of Italy were as empty of Corn as other Places Yet the Triumvirs thought on an Expedient which much helped the City They issued out an Order by which they promised a great Price to such Merchants as should bring Grain which brought so many Vessels laden with it to Venice that the People scarcely felt the Scarcity with which other parts were afflicted But that which was worse than this and hastened the War which the Infidels projected against the Republick was That on the 13th of September at Night in the same Year the Powder took Fire in the Arsenal of Venice and blew up the Magazines with such a dreadful Blow that all the Inhabitants dismayed at the Noise came out into the Streets and publick places lest they should be overwhelmed in the Ruine of their Houses The Sky seemed in a light Fire which caused such a terrible Consternation that several imagined Venice was threatned on all Parts and such as were most fearful reckon'd the Day of Judgment was now come The violence of this Fire made it self felt to the most solid Edifices of the City and the very Boats in the Channels were lifted up in the Air
of Supoto a City garrison'd by the Turks assuring this Place would be no sooner taken but the greatest part of the Epirots would declare themselves in favour of the Venetians Venieri liked the Proposition and all things being regulated by the Mediation of Marmorio General of the Grecian Cavalry in Corfou a man of great Credit amongst the Epirots he took for Hostages some of the Principal of this Nation and made all diligence to get ready Preparatives for the Siege Fifteen hundred Foot with some Horse were immediately transported to the firm Land. The Place altho' situated on a Mountain in the midst of several others and better fortifi'd by Nature than Art was easily invested The Venetian Batteries whence the Cannon plaid did no great Execution Marmario who had the ordering of it desiring to take from the Besieged all hope of Relief possessed himself of those high Grounds which commanded the Place and such parts by means of which they might have Communication with the Country He pick'd out for this Design the most resolute mongst the Epirots who made themselves Masters of this Post after a fierce Combat in which the Besieged were repulsed to their Gates The Turks fired several times their Cannon from their Walls but having not any expert Gunners amongst them they burst two of their greatest Pieces by over charging them which set fire on all their Powder This Accident together with the Belief that the Army of the Besieged was greater than indeed it was and that all Epirus had revolted hindred them not from defending themselves out of a desperate Obstinacy Venieri intending to profit by this Error dispos'd all things for a general Assault the next Morning The Infidels having notice of this Attack stole away privately out of the Town in the Night excepting a few who preferring a glorious Death to a shameful Flight were put to the Sword in sustaining the Fury of the Assailants The Fugitives were pursued and made Prisoners by the Epirots who knew the ways of the Country Venieri having left a Garrison in the Place the Government of which committing to Marmorio he returned himself to Corfou proud of his good Success Zani arrived there in the beginning of the Summer having tarried long at Zara in expectation of the Arrival of the Fleet to which were to be joyn'd the King of Spain's and the Pope's He judged it not fitting to set out to Sea without a considerable Assistance having Order from the Senate to sayl to Cyprus and fight the Enemy assoon as the Confederates should joyn him 'T was generally believed that had he parted immediately after Colonni was arrived with the Pope's Galleys without staying for the King of Spain's and made directly for Cyprus the Place might have been preserved Quirini joyn'd him at the same time with twenty five Galleys of Candia and took in his passage a Castle in the Morea defended by the Infidels whence he drew out twenty Pieces of Cannon Zani not willing to lose time at Corfou sent Sforza Palavicinus General of the land-Land-Army with forty Gallies to besiege Margariti a City of Epirus which was kept by a strong Garrison by reason of the Importance and Commodiousness of the Place Sforza Landed five thousand Men but drawing near the Town whether he feared the Enemies Horse might fall too fiercely on him or finding the Enterprize on a second view too dangerous he put his Men on Board again without daring to stay for the Turks aliedging for his Excuse That he did not believe the Place to be so far distant from the Sea He afterwards sent to Zani for new Orders who enjoyned him to call a Council of War in which it was determined to abide by this Siege it being not for the Honour of the Republick to draw back He desired the Officers of the Fleet to provide him with Cannon for Battery which they willingly undertook tho' their Carriage was extream difficult But Palavacinus's Courage again failing him shewed them that this Expedition would prove more dangerous than profitable and thereupon embark'd himself and his Men Altho' this General to regain his Honour earnestly desired Peâ—mission to return again the third time but with more Men yet it was not thought fitting to hazard a third Trial so that nothing was more undertaken all the while the Fleet remained at Corfou In the mean time this great Army having spent most of the Summer in the Ports by the neglect of the Commanders the Sea-men living in Gormandizing and Idleness fell into a contagious Distemper with which also the Souldiers were as greatly afflicted This Sickness encreasing carried away great Numbers so that Zani supposing Exercise and change of Ayr would in some sort cure them set Sayl for Candia But whether their Provisions were already corrupted or these new rais'd Men not accustomed to the Seas the Sickness encreased to that height that in two days time it cleared a whole Ship and those that were put in their places incurr'd the same Fate Both Souldiers and Sea-men falling one upon another and suffering insupportable Dolors breathed out the last moment of their Lives They were thrown into the Sea assoon as they expired and sometimes before Those that performed this sad Office expected soon to receive the same themselves from other hands and the horror of Death might be plainly read on each man's Face The excessive Heats and Malignity of the Air encreased still the Mortality and when arrived at Candia there were found missing twenty thousand Men. The General much perplexed how to repair this Loss forced the Candiots to find him Sea-men and Souldiers and tho' several were drawn out from the Isles of Zant and Cephalonia and the Providors Quirini and Canali had taken multitudes into Service by the Senate's Order out of Isles belonging to the Infidels yet with all this the Army was scarcely well recruited The Venetians at the beginning of this War had sent to request Assistance from Pope Pius V. who was not over-satisfi'd with the Senate for their frequent Encroachments on the Papal Authority and their Connivance at Heresie and Hereticks which began to spring up in their Chief City Yet did the Interest of Religion threatned by so cruel an Enemy awake the Zeal of this Holy Man and assoon as he understood the Danger to which the Republick lay exposed he assembled the Sacred Colledge imparted this grievous News to the Cardinals and conferred with them touching the means of preventing this dreadful Storm Antony Perennot sirnamed Cardinal Granvil was then at Rome his Father was but a Black-Smith's Son in the Franch County yet a Person whose Virtue was as high as his Birth mean he had introduced himself by his Merit inâ—o favour with Charles the Fifth who employing him in the Government of Affairs in the Low Countreys he had there acquired vast Riches Antony Perennot of whom we speak made use of the Estate his Father left him to get still more under the Reign of Philip the 2d
out from Constantinople that Summer all things were carried on at such a negligent rate that Baglioni and such as understood those Affairs continually advertiz'd Dandoli to stand on his Guard and expect a sudden Invasion from the Enemy Eugenius Sinclitici Count de Rocas one of the best Families of the Kingdom of Cyprus having been deputed to Venice to entreat assistance return'd to the Island with the Title of General of the Horse which the Senate had given him with the News That the War was certainly declared but he brought neither Men nor Ships All People were strangely surpriz'd to see him thus return considering the Condition of the Isle the Weakness of the Garrison Scarcity of Arms and especially of Muskets so that it was thought his new Honour had made some decay in his Sences seeing he forgat to represent these wants to the State. The Cypriots finding themselves thus frustrated in their expectations made bad Relations of his Voyage affirming his going to Venice was only for an Airy Title of Honour to satisfie his Vanity rather than the Exigencies of the Island so that he would have done as well to have staid at home with his Lady they having no need of a Captain who brought nothing but a Name and neglected the Duties of the Office. James Nores Count de Tripoli betwixt whom and Rocas reigned an hereditary Jealousie envying the Honour which Rocas came from receiving entertain'd these Complaints and Murmurs and his Merit having acquired great Credit amongst the Nobility the Publick conceived the greater Hatred and Contempt against his Enemie which proved very hurtful to the Welfare of the Country When the Council was assembled Rocas and Dandoli were of contrary Opinions so that no good could be expected to the present State of Affairs And thus the Winter was past over in Quarrels and fruitless Debates In the beginning of the Spring there arose a Dispute between the Magistrates of Nicosia and Famagusta touching the Transport of Grain which was gathered in the fruitful Plains of Messara equally distantfrom these two Towns. 'T was thought fitting for the adjusting of this Difference to agree on a Place and Time wherein all the Magistrates and Military Officers should meet in which Assembly Matters concerning the War should be treated on and each Person his Function and Post allotted him that he might be in a readiness on the first Occasion Which Meeting was held at a Place called Aschia where all present exhorted one another to lay aside their Differences and joyntly concur to the common Safety They afterwards decreed That the Corn of the Territory of Messara should be equally shared between Famagusta and Nicosia each of them gathering that part which lay nearest them They moreover Ordered when this was done That the Countreys which were farthest distant and whose Crops would be troublesom to be transported should be laid waste to hinder the Enemy from Forrage But they after changed their Design into that of preserving them for the refreshment of the Christian Army which they expected would come to their Assistance contenting themselves with pulling down all Mills to deprive the Enemy of the Use of them who yet profited by so abundant a Crop when they least expected it having already stored themselves with Provisions from Cilicia After a long Deliberation of what Place Baglioni should undertake the Defence 't was resolved he should shut himself up in Famagusta which according to all appearances was to be first besieged and that in expectation of the Three Thousand Men which Martiningo was to bring them from Venice there should be a like Number chosen from among the Freed Men of the Island to strengthen the Garrison That there should be as many put into Nicosia with some new Levies raised out of the Country and the Citizens of both Places were to take Arms and be listed into Companies which should be commanded by young Gentlemen There was afterwards an Account taken f the Number of Men each of these Cities could well contain and those who lived far in the Countrey were Ordered to leave their Villages and retire to these Places of Strength The mixt Multitude such as Women Children and aged Persons were enjoyned to betake themselves to the Woods and Mountains with whatsoever they could carry and several were sent out to discover in what Parts they could be in most surety John Susomini a prudent and careful Person had the Charge of leading them thither with their Goods and Chattels Cerines a Maritine Town situated over against Cilicia was ordered to be ruin'd as not being in a condition to hold out a Siege and its Artillery to be transported to Nicosia But some being of a contrary Opinion 't was thought expedient to communicate this Affair to the Senate and expect its Orders The greatest Difficulty agitated was Whether 't were most advantageous to oppose the Enemies Descent or let them Land without Resistance Rocas and Dandoli who endeavoured to raise their Reputation in Military Affairs by singular Opinions rejected such as were necessary to be followed and constantly maintained by a fatal obstinacy to their Countrey That the Infidels should be suffered to Land. Astor Baglioni endeavoured on the contrary to make them embrace a more generous Resolution He vehemently set before them That there is nothing more dangerous than Despair or Distrust at the sight of an Enemy People seldom coming to themselves in such a kind of Consternation That he knew after a particular Search there were more Horse in the Island than was conceiv'd there being enough to mount eight Thousand Men the greatest part of which might be Armed with Lances and the rest with Carabins and Muskets and in this Equipage might successfully oppose the Infidels Landing and being seconded by choice Men of the rest of the Militia and five and twenty Thousand Foot drawn up on the Hills of Salines on the Sea-Coast the sight of so considerable an Army would perhaps put a stop to the Enemies Fleet and defer their Landing That whatsoever might happen they must of necessity oppose them tho' they should fail and be overpowered by their Number That in fine All the Rules of War oblig'd them to resist their Entrance unless they design'd to render themselves contemptible to their Enemies and cast the Cypriots into a Consternation All the Gentry that assisted at this Council were of Baglioni's Opinion and promised him to use their utmost Endeavours to facilitate the execution of this Design But Dandoli and Rocas persisted in maintaining there were only Famagusta and Nicosia to be defended and that the Malignity of the Ayr with the excessive Heats would drive away the Turks from the other Parts of the Island Rocas added that Palavicinus had been of the same Opinion in Venice which was approved by the Senate and therefore he must yield without wavering to the Sentiment of so great a Captain being likewise confirm'd by the Sovereign Council without the least respect to the Reasons which
might be alledged to the contrary Baglioni interrupting him To what purpose said he is Palavicinus and the Senate cited Are we not here on the Spot and consequently far better instructed in the present Exigency of Affairs than all the Republick joyn'd together who judge only from a simple Relation It is Men and not Counsel which ought to have been sent us from Venice The Passion with which he was transported made him add That if no body else would follow him he would go to the Sea-side with his Friends and Domesticks to receive the Infidels at their Descent for he would never consent they should Land as if the Countrey was to be delivered to them by Agreement That he would give them some Demonstrations of Courage at least with his small Company if he could not hinder their Design it being a grievous shame to be exposed to the Raillery of these Barbarians and hear them say The Venetians were so affrighted at the News of their Coming that they were not able to bear the sight of them The two Chiefs hardening themselves in their Obstinacy as fast as they found Resistance Baglioni added He would lead up as many Horse as he could find in the humor to attend him to the place most in danger at least to learn the Force and Number of the Barbarians being not able to bear the Reproaches which would be cast on his Countrey That they had not one Person of sufficient Valour to face the Enemy Dandoli made Answer He might do as he pleased but would never consent to his having any Troops committed to him Saying moreover he would send Notice to the Senate of the Success of so rash an Enterprize Baglioni who knew the Senate confided more in the Providors than in the Military Officers and that they do more approve a discreet Conduct than a bold and honourable Exploit pretended to persist in his Resolution but intended to do nothing contrary to the Providors determination The Assembly being broke up each Person departed to his Post to execute the Orders which belonged to him Things being in this condition and all People bewailing this Disunion amongst the Chief Persons in Authority the Vessels on which Martiningo was embark'd with the three Thousand Men which the Senate sent to Cyprus touched at Famagusta and brought the sad News of the Death of their Commander whose Age not being able to undergo the Tediousness of the Voyage encreased by the ill Ayr he died in the way not suffering them to carry him to shoar in order to his Recovery He was the more regretted by reason his Death was accompanied with that of the greatest part of his Men seiz'd by the same Distemper so that the Remainder arrived in such a condition as sensibly touched all who were interessed in the Welfare of the Republick On a Belief that the Infidels would begin by the Siege of Famagusta the Defence thereof was committed to Baglioni and Rocas return'd to Nicosia to command that Garrison And it being well known that neither Dandoli nor He understood the Art of War they had therefore two old Officers given 'em Ranconi and Palacio to assist them in their Councils in case they had Docility enough to be instructed Since the Conference at Aschia Affairs moved but slowly and the carrying on of the Fortifications was in a manner neglected The Officers encouraged the Souldiers in their Laziness by telling them The Turks would undertake nothing till the next Campaign so that they had time enough to provide for the Defence of the Countrey They were also so imprudent as to suffer the Freed Men newly listed to return home and bring if they would their Wives into the Garrisons Scarcely were they got to their Villages but Nicosia was alarm'd by the Discovery of Twenty five Sayl of Turks Men of War lying at Anchor over against the Isle of Baffo This News strangely surprized the Officers and cast the People into a horrible Consternation 'T was thought immediatly the whole Fleet was not far distant from this Squadron and indeed they were in the right for these were sent before commanded by Siroc one of the General Officers with Order to make Descent on the Island and get information from the first that fell into his hands of the State and Strength of the Countrey the Designs and Motions of the Governors and to return quickly with an Account of what he had learnt Siroc landed at a Place called Lara with five hundred Foot seized on some Peasants whose Villages he burnt and pillaged This Booty having drawn him farther into the Island he was charged by a Regiment of Epirot-Horse whose Quarters lay near Lara and beaten back to his own Vessels leaving eleven of his Men dead on the place and two of 'em were taken Prisoners with one of their Ensigns Zandochio who commanded this Regiment of Horse entred into Nicosia puft up with this small advantage and caused to be carried before him on the top of Lances the Heads of these Enemies that were killed 'T was known from these two Prisoners That the Barbarian Army lay in the Port of Finicia and that the Sultans never before set out such a numerous Fleet so well stored with Men and all sorts of Provision and Ammunition necessary for so prodigious an Army That the Visier who commanded it was still employ'd in embarking the Horse and would soon follow in Person Those who expected this inundation of Barbarians not before the next Summer and consequently believed the Danger at a great distance were terribly alarm'd seeing the Enemy so near Dandoli and Rocas who walk'd every day about the Town full of Pride and Confidence found themselves immediatly possessed with such a disheartning Faintness and Terror the Effects whereof could not be concealed from every vulgar Eye They at last saw themselves void of Counsel and Experience their Fortifications unfinished their Garrison without Arms and much weakned by the Leave they had given the Freed-Men They mistrusted the Fidelity of their Slaves the incapacity of their Officers of War and their Authority and Power over the Souldiers They sent immediatly Commands to the Freed-Men to return to Nicosia But most of these rude and brutish People refused to obey their Orders and withdrew into the Forests and Mountains believing themselves in greater safety and more at liberty there than within the Walls so that scarcely five hundred of the seven thousand who were Mustered returned 'T was also proposed to give Liberty to the Slaves and this was without doubt an excellent means to make them forget the Tyranny of their Masters and engage them faithfully to serve the Republick had not this Means been thought on too late Yet was it proclaimed throughout all the Island That the Senate granted a full and perfect Liberty in general to all those who were born Slaves exhorting them for an Acknowledgment of this Grace that such amongst them as were able to bear Arms should repair with diligence to
Sea and prepared for a Fight Mustapha on his side kept his Troops in breath ready to engage if need required But they both a while after learnt the Christians were withdrawn to Candia They triumphed at this Retreat as at a Signal Victory uttering a thousand Shouts of Joy and conveying on Board again their Booty they sayled for Rhodes Piali endeavoured to pursue the Confederare-Army with an hundred chosen Galleys but Heaven took pity on the Christian-Fleet there arising a contrary Wind which blew them into their Ports and he sayled on the first fair Wind to Constantinaple 'T is said the Grand Signior gave him but a bad Reception and reproach'd him with a great deal of sharpness that through his Fault the Christian-Fleet escaped an entire Overthrow Colonni and Palavicinus left Zani in the Isle of Corfou and gave themselves over for lost in their Return from Candia Colonni's Galley having gained the Gulph of Catarro by force of Oars was smitten with a Blast of Lightning which burnt her entirely the Men and Cannon being saved with much difficulty Colonni going on Board another Galley which was brought him from the lesser Port of Hiron assoon as the Sea grew calm was set upon by another Storm and run on shoar a little above Ragusia yet without any loss of his Men. He past over the Night under the shelter of a Rock using the best Precaution he was able but had the Turks been informed of this Disaster he had certainly perished He caused Horses to be brought from Ragusia on which he parted the next Morning before Break of Day and came to this Town at the same time wherein Palavicinus who was likewise surprized in the same Storm arrived Palavicinus parted thence for Venice and Colâ—nni for Rome having tasted both good and bad Fortune and happily escaped both Shipwrack and Fire The Turkish Garrison of Castelnovo a Place situated on the opposite Coast to that of Cataro seized through the Carelesness of the Officers on two Venetian Galleys which were left for the securing the Town and Gulph of the same Name The Turks being become by this Advantage Masters of the Gulph set out certain Vessels with which they pillaged the Venetian Countrevs and held Cataro block'd up so that they began to suffer under the want of Provisions The Republick sent four other Galleys commanded by Hermolaus Tripolus for the preservation of her Allies which repress'd the Insolence of these Barbarians and brought again Plenty to Cataro But the Plague being in three of these Vessels left for the Security of the Countrey the Distemper raged so violently that it carried away most of the Souldiers and Sea-men A great Ship laden with Money Cloaths and other Necessaries for the Fleet having been cast into the Gulph of Cataro by a contrary Wind found her self near Castelnovo the Cannon of the Place having forced her to the other Shoar to land her Men the Turks perceiving there was no Fraud in the Fear she shewed attack'd her in four Barks which they brought back laden with Booty Two other Galleys commanded by Francis Prioli and Angelus Toriano were ordered by their General to get Knowledge of the Enemy They fell on five Ottoman Galleys which Toriano no sooner perceived but he â—â—ed in all haste But Prioli seeing himself too far engaged to use the same Means exhorted his Men to perish rather than surrender themselves with their Arms in their hands to the Mercy of these Barbarians wherefore making all the Sayl he could towards them he fell in amongst the thickest of them and fighting like desperate People was himself slain with most of his Men but sold his loss at a dear Rate to the Infidels The Turkish Horse at the same time made great Inroads in Dalmatia and forced all the Countrey-people to retire to Places of Strength having wasted and spoiled all their Harvests Had these Disgraces happened to the Venetians at the beginning of the War they might have comforted themselves by the hopes they had in their Naval Forces but seeing Nicosia already lost and the whole Island in a manner swallowed up their Commanders constrained to quit the Seas and eighteen Galleys destroyed and taken in different and vexatious Occasions they were the more sensible of these Calamities by having flattered themselves with the Pope's and King of Spain's Assistance whereby they questioned not but to be able to drive the Barbarians from Cyprus and defeat them in a Naval Engagement This Confidence gave occasion to a false Report which ran touching these pretended Advantages of which they were so firmly perswaded at Venice that the Senate imparted this great News to Pius V. and the rest of the Confederates but they became afterwards ashamed and sorrowful for their fond Credulity The Venetians disheartned by these Misfortunes knew not where to betake themselves nor what to do They saw a formidable Army ready to enter on their Country and scarcely had any more Hope in the Spanish Assistance whose Slowness was no less suspected than the Artifice of him who commanded their Navy All Italy being dismayed at the Christians Misfortunes and the Progress of so formidable an Enemy reproached Doria with the secret Joy he felt from the Perplexity and Weakening of the Venetian State But they themselves were no less blamed for taking so little Care to preserve a Kingdom exceedingly threatened in not sending Forces sufficient nor choosing a Governor capable to oppose the Enterprizes of an open Enemy They were also blamed for having put the Command of their Fleet into the Hands of a Person wholly unworthy this great Trust especially considering this Navy was their only Confidence Complaints were made against the corrupt Dealings of those who were to furnish the Army with Victuals and Ammunition and the contagious Distemper which swept away so many Thousands was attributed to the bad Provisions wherewith the Victualers had supplied the Fleet. The Strangers which were engaged in the Service of the Republick murmured at the Pride of the Venetian Officers who used them with the same Disrespect as if they had been their Slaves 'T was publickly discoursed That this Severity disgusted their Friends and Allies and that they would be constrained at length sor want of Men to recal such as were banished and change corporal Penalties into several Years Service in the Wars and to make their Criminals Souldiers or Sea-men according to the greatness of the Punishment they deserved These Speeches being come to the Ears of the Senate they thought themselves bound to give a great Example of their severe Justice and make known to Europe That whatsoever Power a Citizen might be entrusted with and Command he might have in the Armies he is no less accountable for his Behaviour and submitted to the Censure of the meanest Subjects of the State 'T was resolved on then to set up a Tribunal against those who had the last Year the chief Administration of Affairs committed to them There were three Commissioners appointed
the Republick shall give the Pope twelve Galleys if he demands them without his Holiness's being obliged to satisfie any Dammage may happen to them but surrender them in the same Condition they shall return out of the War. That each of the Allies shall contribute such things with which they most abound and an exact Account be kept and Satisfaction made for them That the Venetians shall assist the King of Spain with fifty Galleys if he made any Enterprizes on the Cities of Algiers Tunis and Tripoly That his Catholick Majesty shall furnish the Venetians with a like Number in case they besieged any Places on the Coasts of the Adriatick Sea on this side the City of Piergo anciently called Apollonia yet on condition that their Army to whom these Succours should be given shall be stronger than the Auxiliary Troops That if the Infidels invaded by Sea or Land any of the Church's Countreys the Confederates should come immediatly to her Assistance with all their Strength That the Command of the Naval Army shall be divided between three Generals which are to meet on all Affairs wherein the common Cause is concerned And That Don John who is to be Generalissimo shall punctually execute whatsoever may be determined contrary to his Opinion by the Sentiment of the two others That in his Absence Marc Antony Colonni shall be entrusted with the same Authority That neither of the Generals shall set up any other Standards than those which the Sovereign Prelate shall send them which shall be common to all the Confederates That the Emperor the King of France and other Kings and Christian Princes shall enter if they please into the League and that his Holiness shall send Legates to them for that purpose That the Conquests shall be shared conformable to the Treaty of the Year 1537. By which 't was decreed the Allies shall be to restored whatsoever belonged to them and the rest divided according to the Charge each one was at excepting the Cities of Algiers Tunis and Tripoli which should be wholly yielded to the King of Spain That no Act of Hostility shall be committed in the City nor Territories of the Republick of Ragusa unless his Holiness shall otherwise determine That the Pope shall be made Arbiter of whatsoever Differences may happen and neither of the Confederates make Peace with the Port without the Advice and Consent of the rest And thus at length was concluded this much desired League when 't was least expected by the Zeal and Constancy of Pius V. which surmounted all Obstacles that seem'd to ruine the Success of it THE CONTENTS OF THE THIRD BOOK THe Naval Army of the Holy See routed Venieri fruitlesly attempts the taking of Durazzo The Cardinals Alexandrinus and Commendon nominated Legats the First into Spain and Portugal the Second to Germany and Poland King Philip and Sebastian of Portugal's answers An Embassie from the Venetians to the King of Persia Discourse of the King of France with Cardinal Alexandrinus Promotion of Cosmus de Medici's The Emperor Maximilian long resists Commendon's Reasonings but at length promises to enter into the League Commendon disswades the King of Poland from Repudiating his Queen Henry Duke D'Anjou Elected King of Poland Louchali and Caracossa Famous Corsaries Pertah burns Suda in Candia Those of that Island Revolt Design of the Infidels on Cataro discovered Bravery of the Inhabitants of Dulsingo Admirable Courage of the Women of Cursola Complaint of the allyed Cities against the Republick Venice Fortified Scituation of Famagusta Besieged by Mustapha The Turks Defeated in an Atâ—ack Articles of Capitulation The Christian Soldiers Massacred contrary to the Conditions of the Treaty Horrible and Cruel Usage of Bragadin THE HISTORY OF THE WAR of CYPRVS The Third Book THE League was no sooner Signed but the Pope used all Endeavours to cause the Confederate Fleets to joyn in March on the Coasts of Greece And to lose no time by these Preparatives he borrowed Twelve Gallies of Gosmus de Medicis's ready equipt for each of which he paid him Five Hundred Crowns a Month To which he also added Four others of Malta and as many from the Duke of Savoy ordering Colonni to set Sayl on the beginning of June to encrease the Venetian Army and oppose the Infidel's Designs in expectation of the Spanish Assistance which was but slowly setting forward His Holyness and the Republick were agreed to go in search of the Enemy and having found him to engage immediately after the Conjunction of the Fleets the Venetians being greatly interessed to end this War in any sort The Pope on the other hand trusting to the Divine Assistance and fearing the League would not last long was also for deciding the Quarrel by a Combat expresly enjoyning this to Colonni at his departure Colonni having found the Fleet ready at Civita Vecchia weighed Anchor the Fifteenth day of June and arrived in the Eighteenth at the Port of Naples where he remained some days for the repairing the Gallies of Malta and afterwards came and cast Anchor in Sicily with 20 Vessels The Coast dangerous by reason of the Infidels being already at Sea he sent out two Frigats on discovery and order'd those who sat in the Watch-Towers on the Coasts of Calabria to give warning what Ships they espied to be very careful in their Observations and put a Light in their Lanthorn if they espied less than Twenty Vessels to put in Two if Twenty Five and thus encrease the Signals according to the number of which the Enemies Fleet consisted Three days after his departure from Naples he was informed approaching to Tropea that there appeared Seventy Sail which were thought to be the Ottoman Navy He went himself next morning to discover them and met by the way with Two 〈◊〉 Gallies commanded by Manipieri and 〈◊〉 They informed him that Venieri was at Sicily with the Fleet designing to stay at Spartivento in expectation of the other Confederates Colonni having toucht at Messina sent to entreat Veneri to come there as well to confer on their Affairs as for that he might there find all such things they needed Colonni met him out of the Town with a great Train of Attendants and afterwards they consulted together They resolved to stay for Don John although they were certain he was yet in Spain Venieri had received in Candia orders to command the Venetian Fleet whence returning to Corfou he thought himself obliged to Signalize this new Honour by some Famous Action In this regard he tacks about to Durazzo to besiege it although he wanted several things necessary to such an Enterprize But having found the Place in a better Condition than he imagined returned to Corfou where he received an account of the Conclusion of the League and expected the Assistance of the Ally's His Fleet consisted of Sixty Vessels when News came to him that the Infidels appeared before Candia Not finding the Road of Corfou secure he resolved to Sayl into Sicily as well to hasten
had beaten They thereon took Arms broke into and plundred this Gentlemans House and murthered him and his whole Family Which Action having encreased their Boldness they fell on the Nobility and made a great Slaughter of them pillaged their Estates and shared the Booty between them as if they had obtained the lawâ—ul Possession of it by right of Arms. They wrote at the same time to Perteau entreating him to take them under his Protection but he who had the charge of carrying their Message on his return relating this Bassa's departure from Suda the Remorse and fear of Punishment dissipated this multitude several of them returned into their Houses and others offer'd the Providitor to take a new Oath of Fidelity desiring Pardon for their Fault Caballo was the more inclin'd to grant it as apprehending the Consequence of so dangerous an Emmotion But when he understood the Enemies had weighed Anchor he sent a thousand Foot against these Rebels under the command of Peter Avogaro to whom was joyned Mathew Calergio followed by a great number of Friends and Domestic's Avogaro disarmed these Mutinous People and made them Prisoners several of which were condemned to dye and more to the Gallys The Turks at their departure from Suda drew near a place called Turluro to alarm those of Canea but were surprized by a Tempest wherein they lost Three Gallys and nine others had like to incurred the same Fate They put off from Candia to make a descent into Serigo and wasted the Country round about without offering to attack the Town They afterwards steer'd their Course toward Zant where they also landed some Men but Perteau seeing the Inhabitants retired into the Castle and bent on a Resolute Defence discharged his Choler on the Trees and Houses He cut down all the Vines with which this Isle is every where planted and burnt such a Prodigious quantity of Vessels that the Inhabitants were at a great loss where to bestow the next year their Wines From Zant he came to Cephalonia the Territory of which is far more extensive and Fruitful Where the Barbarians made a great Multitude of Slaves Drove away a prodigious number of Cattle and thence parted to Corfou Lewis Gorgio and Francis Cornelio to whom the care of this Isle was committed had prevented Perteau by a deligent Preparation on supposal they should be attackt They caused all the Corn in the Fields to be hastily transported into the City so that that the Turks finding nothing to Pillage revenged themselves on the Trees with Fire and Sword. The Venetian Soldiers not daring to set upon them in the open Field laid Ambushes for them and kill'd several who were straying in search of Plunder The Commanders were informed by some Prisoners they took that the Bassa had no design of besieging their Town being well fortified and in effect they soon set Sayl for Supoto The Venetians had possessed themselves of this place at the beginning of the War with as great Dexterity as Valour and Manlio by whose advice it was attacked was entrusted with the care of keeping it when 't was taken The Italian Garrison being dismayed at the Arrival of so formidable an Army slipt out at a private Gate and abandoned the place with more Cowardise than the Turks had one before them leaving their Commander to the Mercy of a Cruel and Spightful Enemy Yet Manlio defended himself with those few Men that staid with him to the last Extremity more edged by despair than hope of being relieved but at length was forced to yield the place and himself a Prisoner The War lasting all the Winter in Iliria and Dalmatia these Provinces were over-run with the Enemies Troops at the beginning of the Spring and the Inhabitants of Zebenico who had no Mills about their Town suffered great Inconveniencies for want of Flower Hemolaus Tipoli who commanded four Gallys along this Coast attacked during the Night an ancient place near Zebenico call'd Scardona kept by a Turkish Garrison which held the Country in Subjection Hermolaus having taken and burnt this place did thereby lay open a way to those of Zebenico for the grinding their Corn. He held afterwards four of the Enemies Vessels as it were besieged who retiring up the River of Narante set upon all the Barks which appeared in those parts Tipoli having given them Chase they made to Shore and landed a thousand Men who immediately opposed the Venetians approaches to their Vessels but their Cannon forced them to leave them and Tipoli having taken out thence whatsoever was valuable burnt them The Venetians at the same time met with an happy opportunity but the small Diligence and Vigour they used in effecting the Enterprize spoiled the Success of it There were some Persons sent privately by the Turks to Alexander Donati Governour of Antivari who were conducted out of the place by some Epirots that perswaded them by the way to deliver Scutari a Town well fortified and the Capital of the Province These Traytors agreed with Donati concerning the recompence of this Service and the means of accomplishing it The greatness of this Enterprize extreamly flattering the Vanity of the Governour of Antivari he wrote of it to the Senate not so much for the obtaining their order and further Succours as to make himself necessary The Senate judging it expedient to follow this advice sent him eight hundred Men commanded by Annibal Emiliani of Forli with order not to undertake any thing without the participation of Zachari Solomoni Magistrate of Cataâ—o Donati vext that he must share the Honour of this Enterprize obeyed with an ill will and kept the matter no longer as a Secret so that the Turks having notice of it punisht the Traytors with the greatest Severity and more carefully guarded the place The Venetians hoping to subject all Epirus ordered James Malateste to march to Cataro with Four Thousand Foot. This place besides the Plague with which it was afflicted had underwent all the Calamity of War and the Infidels thought to have surprized it by the Treason of a Sicilian Captain who was to deliver them a Gate the keeping of which was committed to him Salamoni discover'd this Plot saved the Town and caused the Sicilian to be strangled who was afterwards hang'd by one Foot on the outside of the Walls But the Designs on Epirus met with very unfortunate success and proved greatly dis-advantagious to the State. The Infidels becoming Masters of a Village about two hundred Paces from Kataro Malateste wanting Experience and not being able to smother his Resentments thought he was bound in Honour to drive the Enemies from a Post which was won in his Sight and whose Neighbourhood incommodated the Town and seeing no likelyhood of attacking them that Day he prepared himself the next morning and being informed of the place of their Retreat he sent one Party before him by Land and himself went on board a Gally with a considerable number of choice Men. He made
But both his Offers and Threatnings were rejected He sent then Podocatero and John Susomini to perswade them to surrender They were enjoyned to assure them that he was really interessed in their Fortune and that they ought to seek their safety in his promises and Faithfulness But these sayings were of no Force with the Besieged Susomini was detained by Force in the Town because of his great Skill in Fortifications and Podocatero o'rewhelmed with Sorrow by returning with such a disagreeable Answer to the Visir was sent back for fear of the ill usage of his Wife and Children who were kept in the Camp as Hostages The piteous Condition in which he appeared at Famagusta lively affected all those who knew him in his Flourishing Condition He was cloathed in a baâ—â— Slaves Suit which scarcely cover'd half his Body His Head was tyed about with a Dirty Linnen Cloath besmeared with Bloud his Beard full of Nastiness his Hair hanging clotted and unkembed and his pale and meager Visage rendred him scarce known to his Friends who remembred the Neatness and Gallantry of his Person and the Magnificence of his House Mustapha finding this Endeavour vain revenged himself on this poor Gentleman causing his Head to be cut off in the sight of his whole Army his Wife and Children being present who were dragged in Irons to assist at this Spectacle and this Barbarian thence forward had recourse only to Force and Violence Famagusta is situated on that side which faces Syria the Sea washing the Feet of its Walls The Rocks that reach from a little Promontory which is at the right hand of the Town form a Port very sure and large Two Shelfs of Sand arise behind these Rocks the one which joyns the Cittadel and touches the Sea Shoar serves for a Ditch and so closes the entrance of the Port that scarcely can the Vessels find a Passage This Channel is defended by a Castle built on the other side which answers the Citadel The Town contains about two Miles in Circuit she is surrounded by a deep Ditch and Stone Walls fortified by several Towers built after the ancient Manner more for Shew than Defence whose Materials are easily beat down by the Cannon The Venetians had raised some Works after the modern use according as the time and place allowed them The Visir having encamped his Army began his Lines of Circumvallation opening at the same time a Trench by forty Thousand Workmen defended by as many in Arms. He afterwards raised his Batteries in very advantagious Places The Besieged every day sallyed out with incredible Valour and kill'd great numbers of the Enemy They stole out in small Companies and tarryed not for the orders of their Commanders to attack their Trenches But whatsoever advantages they gained they lost still more than the Besiegers proportionably to their Forces Three hundred Men most Greeks armed with Sword and Buckler according to the manner of their Country having made a Sally were charged by the Turks in a place dis-advantagious to them where they suffered themselves to be imprudently surpriz'd They left Fifty of their Company dead behind them and the rest being grievously wounded were beaten back into the Town Since that time the Generals forbad on great Penalties all Persons to go out of the Town without leave The Batteries of the Besiegers being higher than the Walls of the City no body could safely walk the Streets nor abide in their Houses But seeing their Cannon did not such execution as they expected they set up another Battery against the Walls of the place and made therein a considerable Breach Yet dared they not to hazard an Assault but advanced as far as the Counterscarp and endeavour'd to fill up the Ditch to the Top of the Breach to ascend more easily thereon They threw Night and Day great quantities of Earth on the Ruines of the Wall and for fear it might be removed by the Besieged who had already attempted it they lined the Counterscarp with Musketeers who continually fired on the Breach so that the Christians not daring to appear in this place could not hinder the descent into the Ditch The Barbarians fill'd it up to the Rampart covering it on the right and left with Babbins and Sacks of Wool till 't was Musket Proof They attempted an Assault by this Breach which would have succeeded with them had not the Besieged who burnt their Sacks and Faggots driven them from this Post with the loss of many of their Men. The Turks discouraged neither by the greatness of the danger nor yet by the Difficulties or Fatigues re-took the Ditch and repaired again the ruined Works They set Miners here and in many other places The Besieged listning to them heard the noise of them under ground and made some Counter-Mines But there was one sprung on the side towards the Sea where 't was least mistrusted that with a terrible Noise overthrew a Tower and part of a Wall which buryed many Soldiers in its Ruine Presently after the blowing up this Mine the Besiegers who were in readiness made an Assault on this Breach with great Shouts and the place had bin lost if those who guarded that Quarter and were unprovided had been capable of Fear They bore this Shock maugre their Surprize with an Heroick Courage and Valour so that the Commanders getting leasure to draw Forces together the Enemies were vigorously beaten back Baglioni falling upon them with a handful of pick't Men tumbled them down into the Ditch Their Officers reproaching them for being beaten off with so small a numher from the Breach of a place half won made them return five times to the Assault but were always received with the same Vigour and in fine forced to a disorderly Retreat being sorely Wounded The Besieged to prevent such another Attack raised up a new Wall with Forts upon the Houses which were demolish'd for to make Retrenchments in case the Enemies should gain the out-works The Besiegers sprung a great Mine at the Gate called d'Limisso which blew up many Men and effected such a Breach as might be easily ascended The Infidels animated by Honour the Recompence their Commanders promis'd them and hopes of a Rich Prey fell desperately on this Breach rending the Air with their Shouts and marching over the Ruins of the Wall on the Bodies of the slain and wounded At the same time and with the same Vigour they attackt the other Breach thus to divide and weaken the Christian Garrison The Fight held for Six hours together in both these places without a moments Respite and if the Men that defended the place shewed this day the height of Valour the Women also testified more than could be expected from the Weakness of their Sex for not contented to carry Arms and Ammunition to the Soldiers they ventur'd into the greatest Dangers throwing down Stones and Scalding Water on the Turks who were exceedingly disturbed by it The Bishop of the City a Dominican was on a Bastion near
somewhat retarded the Fleet she arrived not till the next morning at Cephalonia were she cast Anchor two days in the Alexandrine Port to learn News of the Mahometans Venieri received Letters in arriving from Caballo dated from Candia which gave him advice of the surrender of Famagusta and the Cruelty of Mustapha who had inhumanly massacred Baglioni with the Valiant Soldiers of the place and barbarously put to Death Bragadin against the right of Nations and the publick Faith. All the Soldiers gnashing their Teeth at the relation of this Barbarity urgently demanded to be led to revenge the death of these generous Christians and interrupt the exultations wherewith their Executioners were filled at the surrender of so considerable a place The Turks having cast Anchor at Lepanto understood that the Christians in their departure from Corfou came upon them with Full Sayl. They were hardly brought to believe this as not comprehending whence this new Courage should come to them They had so long bin in possession of the Seas without the least disturbance and were so prejudiced in their opinion concerning the pitiful condition of the Christian Fleet that they could not imagine them Couragious enough to challenge them to an Engagement Their Generals whom this report had strangely alarm'd immediately coming from their astonishment sent forthwith Barks into all the Ports of this Gulph to bring them Seamen and Soldiers They were much perplexed what to do Perteau was by no means for hazarding a Battel and an advantage which they possessed without striking a Stroak but the Grand Signior having laid on him a contrary order and he making himself responsable for the event of this in-excution he was for knowing the opinion of the Chief Officers before he declared his own The Wisest amongst them could see no likelyhood of Success in accepting the defiances of the Christian Fleet confident in their Strength and Bravery yet Selim would be displeased and enraged perhaps at this their wary Precaution Hali whose Age and Temper did not suit with such a Prudent Conduct and seconded by those who aspired after bold Attempts complained of the Affront offered the Musulmen by deliberating whether the Christians were to be engaged who offered them what they ever passionately desired We must said he be as mean Sprited as those People whom we have so often beaten both at Sea and Land to ballance a moment in going to receive them having been in search of them on the Coasts of Sicily they not daring to appear It seems as if 't were we who have bin chased tho' during the whole Campaign we have won Cities from 'em ravag'd their Fields and sunk and taken several of their Vessels with an Army always Victorious and seconded by the good Fortune of our Invincible Monarch yet we hesitate we tremble and would colour over our Cowardise with a chimerical and false Prudence And if the Enemies become Masters of the Entrance of this Gulph we shall keep our selves like Women shut up in our Ports exposed to the Scorn and Laughter of the Christians who according to the Rules of War will not fail to besiege some Maritime place to draw us to a Combat Shall we suffer the Tributary Cities to be laid Wast and taken without succoring them What will Europe attentive to the event of this War think of us Shall we suffer having so often defeated the Christians it to be be reported throughout the World That the Republick of Venice has made us at length abandon the Mediterranean and Archipelago God and his Holy Prophet preserve us from so great Infamy and grant that the Sultan who represents the Divinity on Earth be not informed of our irresolvedness If we be not ashamed to renounce the Advantages which we come from obtaining let us not at least dishonour the Victorys of the Ottoman Princes on the Christians and fall into such a meanness as may sully their Memory as well as the Glorious Reign of Selim. Have we forgotten that Piali lost the Command of this Fleet for having omitted to pursue the Enemies although he put himself in a posture to do it and became culpable only by the Winds Fault A Soveraign so jealous of the Reputation of his Arms will blush at our Waveringness and punish us for it as we deserve For in fine we ought only to deliberate how to spare our Soldiers Bloud and not doubt of Combating and Vanquishing our Enemies This Discourse moved those that were of a contrary advice and Perteau himself was drawn thereby to prefer what seem'd honourable before what was safe and profitable They were told that the Christian Fleet had already gotten above the Isle of Cephalonia they therefore sent the Corsary Caracossa Famous for his Valour and Skil to learn more particular and certain news He took a Skiff and drew so near the Cbristians under the favour of a dark Night that he could tell every Vessel He found not their Fleet so strong as 't was imagined and returned sull of joy to assure the Bassa's that the Enemies Forces consisted only of an hundred and ten Sayl. 'T is true he could discover no more and that the rest of the Gallies and other Vessels lay at Anchor in different Roads The Turks flattering themselves already with a Victory immediately weighed Anchor to cut the Christians short in their passage whom they imagin'd too weak to dare to expect them Two Hundred Gallies and near Sixty and Ten Frigats and other Vessels composed the Ottoman Fleet therein comprehending the Sixty Sayl which were discovered making towards Modon and which rejoyn'd them in the Night unknown to the Christians The Barbarians believing there were but an hundred and ten Gallies in the Confederate Fleet came in search of it with great Confidence and Triumph The Christians parted from the Port Alexandrine the same day being the Second of October and ordered themselves in the Gulph of Lepanto as if the hour of Combat had bin agreed upon by them and the Enemy Yet they despaired of fighting them and expected only the advantage of daring them to it The two Fleets thus deceived found themselves engaged by a fatal necessity to enter into Combat notwithstanding the foresight of the Generals The Barbarians who had during the Night got a little beyond the Gulph cast Anchor at Galengo and ours who advanced further cast Anchor between Petala and the Cursolary Islands The two Fleets quitted their Posts by break of day the next morning without each others knowledge and the Christians more minding their Preparations for a Fight than their Course ranged themselves in order of Battel and divided their whole Force into four Squadrons The Right Wing which reached towards the Sea consisted of Fifty Four Gallies and was commanded by John Andrew Doria. Augustin Barbarigo was at the Head of the Left Wing with a like number of Gallies Don John of Austria commanded the main Body consisting of Sixty one Vessels having on each hand of him Colonni and
Venieri The Duke of Urbin's Son joyned the Captain Gally of the Church being on board that of the Duke of Savoy and Alexander Parma that of the Venetians on the Admiral of the Republick of Genoa Peter Justiniani who commanded the Gallies of Maltha and Paul Jourdan were at the two ends of this Line The Marquis of St. Cruce commanded a reserved body of Sixty Sayl to help those who had most need John de Cardone preceded the whole Army with a Squadron of eight Vessels to make discoveries He was ordered to be at no greater distance from the Fleet than four hours Sayl to send notice to the Generalissimo as soon as ever he saw the Infidels and immediately return and re-joyn the Army The Six Venetian Galleasses made a kind of a vantguard on design to disconcert the Enemy by the Fire of their Artillery which carryed very far The Confederates Vessels were separated for fear they should take in the Fight particular Resolutions and 't was decreed they should mix that they might share the Danger and Honour and mutually animate each other to combat well and ingage the strongest to help the weak The same Vessels were difpersed and sent away of which there were a prodigious number to remove all hope from the Soldiers of saving themselves otherwise than by defending their Gallies Although the Vessels of Burden were well equipt and defended by good Soldiers and Artillery yet 't was not thought fitting they should enter into the engagement lest they might not be able to follow the rest of the Fleet in case the Wind changed or they wanted it The Two Fleets were separated by the Cursolaries at Sun Rising so that one could not discover the other Ours having still continued their Course were ap-perceived by the Infidels who appeared also some time after in the same order of Battel excepting their not having a reserved Body and that their Line by consequence being of greater extent than ours was according to their Custom drawn up in form of an Half Moon Hali as being chief Bassa of the Sea was in the midst of the Army on board the Admiral directly opposite to Don John's Perteau was on one side of him in another Gally Louchali and Syroch who commanded the two Wings faced Doria and Barbarigo They were no further distant than ten miles from one another when Don John observing their Course gave the sign to Fight by setting up the Standart sent to him at Naples from his Holyness The Adorable Image of Jesus Christ on the Cross curiously wrought on this Banner was no sooner displayed but the the whole Army saluted it with shouts of Joy. Some bethought themselves of advertizing this Young Prince not to expose himself too confidently in hopes of Victory to the hazard of a Battel the advantage of which could bring no profit to the King of Spain but whose loss would lay open to the Barbarians a way into Italy But an Advice given so late and impertinently was not so much as hearkned to and Don John commanded the Soldiers should be refreshed with meat and afterwards made to take Arms and all things else prepared for a Fight The Officers to whom was committed this care had the leisure of doing this without Precipitation and Disorder whilst Don John followed by Requiescens and Cardone went in a Shallop from one Gally to another to exhort the Soldiers to behave themselves like Christians He judged of the brave disposition of the Navy by the publick Acclamations and as soon as he came on board the Admiral on design to harangue his People he lookt up to the Standart and entreated of God with Profound Humility to grant his Protection to the Christians by casting Fear and Dread into the minds of the Enemies of his Holy Name Then all the Officers gave at the same time a sign for Prayers and the whole Army on their Knees devoutly adored the Sacred Image of Jesus Christ 'T was a Spectacle admirable enough to see such a prodigious number of Soldiers armed to fight and breathing nothing but Slaughter to prostrate themselves in a moment some looking towards Heaven others having their Eyes fixt on Crucifixes and all in the posture of Suppliants fervently praying for the Pardon of their Sins and for the Grace to vanquish these Barbarians This Countenance might make some suspect that seized with Fear and Dread they had no other hopes but in the extrordinary assistance of Heaven had not the Valour and Courage they shewed in this Rencounter sufficiently justified their Humility and Devotion These Sacred Solemnities being over the Captains represented to their Men That they were at length come to that happy day in which the Christians might take Vengeance for the Outrages they had received from the Infidels and for ever deliver themselves from the rigorous Yoak they would lay upon them or open by a Glorious Death the way to Paradise and Crown themselves to all Eternity whereas their Enemies must expect the infinite Pains of Hell if they lost their Lives in the Fight That God by his Mercy promised them in this World Riches Pleasures and Honours if they survived this perilous occasion and Riches of a different Price if they lost their Lives That they ought to remember the impatient and earnest expectation which all Europe had shewed for the union of the Christian Princes and with what Horrour they detested their Mis-understandings and Divisions That they saw themselves at present at the utmost of their wishes That their Army was filled with the bravest and most Illustrious Youth of Christendom That they were now in a Condition to testifie to their Country-men as well as the Infidels that it has not been hitherto through the want of Courage or Prudence they have been worsted seeing their particular Mis-understandings have been the onely cause That the Barbarians had ever made their Profit of these Divisions and that now God by his Grace had given the Soveraign Prelat and the rest of the Confederates a Spirit of Peace and Concord who would also give them Strength and Courage against the Profaners of his Name That the Turks puffed up with Pride at their advantages in the last Campaign disdainfully offered a Combat when they might end the War by keeping themselves peaceably in their Ports That God struck them with so great Blindness on purpose to deliver them to the just Resentments of the Christians resolved on a strenuous Attack confident of Victory and animated to revenge the Death of their Brethren on their cruel Murtherers That this numerous Fleet wanting Soldiers and Seamen was now falling a Prey into the hands of those whom she thought to terrifie by the multitude of their Vessels That they were interessed to fight not only for the sake of a Victory but to save what they esteemed most dear and precious That the Liberty of all Italy was in their hands with the Honour and Lives of their Wives and Children and that they themselves would be
taken and sold if their Valour made not all these Disgraces fall on the Heads of their Enemies In the mean time the two Fleets drew near to one another and that of the Turks was driven by a favourable Wind but which fell a little before the Fight began as if Fortune would make all advantages equal by preparing a great Calm on so remarkable a day But it blew a little afterwards in favour of the Christians and carryed the smoak of their Artillery into the Faces of the Ottoman Army so that this Change was lookt on as a kind of Miracle and an assistance sent from Heaven The Priests amongst whom were some Religious Capucins exhorted the Soldiers with Crucifixes in their Hands assuring them the Change of the Wind was an infallible mark of protection of the God of Hosts whose Ensigns they ought to follow with Confidence The Soldiers animated by these Discourses went to fight with as great Contempt of Death as hopes of Victory strong Motives to awaken Strength and Valour The Mahometans having seen our Fleet make up to them above the Cursolary Islands were strangely astonished at it They were immediately surprized at so bold a March. But when they perceived the prodigious number of Vessels which they did not suspect they felt themselves struck with a terrible Terror Perteau amongst the rest began to bewayl his Misfortune and was sorry he had engaged himself in so great danger for the humouring of young rash Heads But 't was no longer time to muse on any other Remedy than the necessity of making a strenuous Resistance or perishing When the two Fleets drew near at the distance of a Mile Hali fired one of his greatest Pieces to have the Honour of beginning the Action and Don John at the same time answered him in like manner from his Gally The Turks renâ—ing also the Air with Shouts accompanyed with the noise of Drums and Trumpets and other Warlike Instruments made up directly to the six Galeasses who were advanced and ranged two by two before the Fleet. The terrible Fire from these Floating Castles put a stop to the course of the Infidels and made them slacken their pace Some of their Vessels driven out of their order by the first Discharge quitted their Ranks and intangled themselves with those which were to supply their places so that both of them remained exposed to the Christians Cannon Had this Avantguard been less distant from the Body of the Battel and we charged the Barbarians on this first Disorder there might have been obtained a great and speedy Victory But the Gallies being obliged to march in a Front advanced but slowly and left too great a distance between them and the Galeasses As soon as the two Armies were within Cannon Shot both Fleets fired so fast that the obscurity of the Air caused by a thick Cloud encreased the Horrour which so dreadful a noise made in all parts The Officers and Soldiers surrounded with Darkness confusedly mixt and threatned with the same danger could no longer distinguish one another Some Turkish Gallies who would have gotten betwixt the Galeasses having drawn too near the Land to attack them in the Flank fell into a grievous disorder so that Barbarigo who commanded the Left Wing first charged them and drove them violently towards the Shoar Siroch who commanded the Enemies Right Wing was pent up between a Promontory called Molesegno and the Cursolarys and saw himself set upon by our Gallies on the side of the full Sea. But some of his Gallies having made a vigorous attempt to cut through our Right Wing charged the Venetians with the greatest Valour imaginable This Effort of theirs would have endangered the Christian Gallies had not some of the Enemies Frigats dismayed at the first Attack began to fly towards the Land. The two Fleets had as yet only fired their great Peices with which the Christians were better stored than the Turks and whose use they knew better than they They had amongst others certain Pieces of a new Invention whose surprizing effect much contributed to the gaining of the Victory These were a kind of Mortar Pieces which falling into the Turkish Vessels made a horrible Slaughter The Christians after several Broad Sides continued the Fight with Musket Shot the Turks answering them with Darts and Arrows But these kind of Arms are generally laid by as being of no great Effect 'T is true a Man cannot use a Musket with that readiness but then on the other hand they do greater execution Ours had sheltered themselves by thick Planks on the side of their Gallies which served for a kind of Wall which received the Enemies Shot and behind which they threw several artificial Fires Besides they were most of them armed with Head and Back Pieces whereas the Infidels on the contrary presented themselves naked But that which contributed most to their Defeat was Don John publishing a little before their Fight by the advice of the two other Generals that liberty should be given to all the Slaves condemned for their Crimes to the Gallies if they obtained the Victory The Captains at the same time set them loose giving them Arms to deserve by couragious Endeavours the recompence which was now promised them Some from the hopes of deliverance from their Slavery others breathing Pillage according to their natural Inclination to Theft leapt into the Enemies Gallies through Swords and Darts with a Valour so determined that Don John made good his Word to them But if this Expedient was advantagious it proved also very prejudicial for by this means the Gallies were not in a capacity to pursue the vanquished The Infidels who bethought themselves of promising as much to their Slaves did not draw thence the same advantage Their Gallies being full of Christians so ill handled that they look't upon their Death as the lightest of their Miseries But these people became as furious as Wild Beasts escaped out of their Dens where they had bin long shut up seized on the Arms of those who had bin killed at the same Instant and on whatsoever came to their Hands and being far more animated by Revenge than hopes of Liberty massacred their Patrons and Officers so that several Turkish Gallies were lost by the Fury and Rage of these desperate People The Fight was then very earnest on all hands and the Vessels of the two Fleets mixt together boarding one another without distinction those that came next to them Both good and bad Fortune presided in their turns in these several Rencounters Some Gallies avoiding Boardings by their Lightness and swiftness and Skill of their Pylots made up to others unequal to 'em in number but far stronger in Soldiers and Equipage Others who could not dis-engage themselves fought with excessive Courage and with an obstinacy without Example One Squadron kept fighting against another a little distant two other Vessels were singly engaged some Gallies were hooked and chained to others by their Grapling Irons and so
which carryed Haly's two Sons and which kept on side the Admiral ran against Colonni's Gally with such violence that she made her quit her Rank but was her self so plyed with the Cannon by two of our Friggats from which she endeavor'd to escape that these two young Lords were taken Prisoners with their Vessel and Equipage Colonni set on the Turkish Admiral with as great Boldness and Courage as if his Gally had never been damnified and took a Brigantine which attack't him in the Flank all whose Soldiers he put to the Sword. Ramagsio Sequani a Commander of the order of Malta well experienced in the Seas signaliz'd himself in this occasion by as great Valour as Prudence General Venieri who went continually from one end of his Gally to the other often exposed himself to eminent dangers with his Sword and Buckler He earnestly wished to encounter some Infidel and make him fall under his Blows and neither of the Generals shewed in the heat of the Fight more Courage and Stout heartedness than this Old Commander The Infidels lost thirty thousand Men in this Engagement the Bloudyest they ever felt since the Establishment of the Ottoman Empire Five Thousand were taken Prisoners amongst whom were Haly's Two Sons Their Father was for giving them the sight of the Flight and rout of the Allys which he thought unquestionable to inspire them with the same Contempt and Disdain against the Christians which he had and make them learn Military Experience at the Christians cost but had he never so little mistrusted his ill fortune he would have left them in the Town of Lepanto or permitted them to be Spectators only of the Fight at a distance on the Shoar The Conquerors made themselves Masters of an Hundred and Thirty Turkish Gallies Fourscore and Ten or thereabouts were run on Ground sunk or burnt But the Liberty which Twenty Thousand Christian Slaves of different Nations recovered gave as much Joy to the Confederates as the loss of these Gallies The Booty was no less considerable for besides the Pillage of the Isles the Barbarians had moreover laden themselves with that of several Merchants Vessels which they had taken on the Seas The Booty was shared amongst the Soldiers excepting the Prisoners the Gallies and Artillery This was without doubt a Signal Victory and the greatest which has been won from them on the Seas this six Ages This Battle was fought in the same Gulph and almost in the same place where Caesar Augustus defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra and whatsoever Elogiums Ancient Authors have made on this Victory 't is hard to know which of the Two was most Famous The First carryed it by the number of Vessels the Fame and Magnificence of the Preparations and the great Concourse of several Nations But this surpassed in the good Condition of its Gallies the length of its Action and the Courage and Obstinacy of the Combatants Marc Antony's Flight immediately put his Enemy in possession of the Victory and Don John disputed it a long time before he could obtain it and lost more Men though he drew not so great Advantage by it as the Emperor Augustus The Christians lost eight thousand of the Stoutest Men in their Fleet. Twenty Captains of the Venetian Gallies lost their Lives most of them being of the Ancientest Families in the Republick amongst whom we may reckon the Three Brethren Grand-Children to Lewis Cornaro Sirnamed the Sober Louchali had attackt their Gally and their Governour who seized on a Skiff to get two of them away from the Danger could never obtain of them their Consent to forsake the Third who could not follow them by reason of his Wounds They dyed with their Arms in their hands near the place where their Brother lay expiring and signaliz'd at the same time their Fidelity and Tenderness Several other considerable People were also lost and especially on board the Generals Gallies who were most fiercely engaged amongst whom is not to be forgotten Fabian Gratiani a Young Gentleman of great Courage and Hopes who was killed by a Musket shot in the Head and fell dead at Colonni's Feet The Author of this History supposes the Reader will give him the liberty of rendring this Testimony of Love to the memory of a Brother who deserved a more happy destiny But Barbarigo was alone as much regretted as all the others together He had broke the Enemies Right Wing and animated his Men to pursue them But exposing himself too desperately he was struck into the Eye with an Arrow with which he dyed soon after in the Arms of his dear Friends He askt in dying news how the day went and of the State of the Christian Fleet and having understood the Barbarians were utterly defeated he lifted up his hands to Heaven and surrendred up his Soul in Peace making Signs that he dyed content after so glorious an Advantage He was worthy without doubt of the greatest Honour for by his Prudent Conduct the Confederates were brought to fight the Turk and he behaved himself in the whole Action with incredible Valour and Courage He gave the first charge and first routed the Enemy But the Immortal Glory which he now enjoys is a far greater Recompence than the Praises and Honours which could be given him on Earth Don John of Austria after Haly's Death and the taking of his Gally attended by Venieri and Colonni and several others who had no longer any Enemy to encounter went on compleating their Victory wheresoever they found any still resisting The Fight lasted from five in the Morning till the close of the Evening The Darkness of the Night and the Sea which began to grow troublesom obliged the Conquerours to retire with the Captive Gallies into the Neighbouring Ports Such as were wounded were carefully lookt after The next Day and Night were spent in rejoycing and Thanksgiving to God. Don John forgat his Animosity embraced Venieri with great Testimonies of Friendship and told him in most obling terms how much he admired the youthful Valour which he shewed in so great Age. But this new Friendship lasted not long 'T was resolved the next morning by a general Consent to pursue the vanquished and not give them the leasure of coming to themselves Don John being grown more enterprising since this great Victory design'd to leave the Sick and Wounded at Corfou with whatsoever was cumbersom in the Fleet to take an hundred and twenty Gallies to equip them with the Spoils of others and besiege the Town of Lepanto The Consternation of the Barbarians made him believe the place would surrender as soon as it saw his Ensigns He design'd afterwards to encourage the Greeks to an Insurrection whom the defeat of the Turks had animated to a Revolt and expected only some small Assistance to declare themselves This Project was well contrived and the most advantagious the Confederates could form in this War. But Venieri's troublesom humour unhappily broke all the measures of it 'T was
lost beyond repair had their Naval Army been routed and the remembrance of their dangers and past sufferings made their Joy the greater Some of the Senators endeavour'd to get through the Croud to the Doge's Palace others made towards the Churches and afterwards imparted their Joy to their Wives and Children Justiniani was surrounded with an infinite number of People some embraced him others took him hold by the hand and all were for hearing from his Mouth the relation of this memorable Action The Crowd having carryed him to his House so closely stopt up all Passages to it that his Mother who came from the Church could not come near the Door and had like to have retired with the displeasure of not seeing her Son had not her Tears and entreaties at length obtained way Justiniani was accompanyed for several days and followed along the Streets with the same Croud as at the first day of his Arrival He carryed the Mobile along with him wheresoever he went so that to see his Train a man would think him to be the Head of some Seditious Party Never any Noble Venetian received so much Honour from all kind of Persons in the Republick He was of so advantagious a Stature that he was taller by the Head than all those that surrounded him and knew to express himself so freely that he won the Hearts of all his Fellow Citizens by his Eloquence After the first Transports of the publick Joy the Magistrates sent immediately expresses to their Embassadours especially at Rome and Madrid to give them notice of this important News The Senate assembled the next morning to order a day of publick Thanksgiving in all Churches of the City and especially that of St. Justin whose Festival is kept on the Sixth of October Gusman de Silva the King of Spains Embassadour who was also a Priest Celebrated Mass therein from whose hand the Doge and Principal Officers of the State communicated 'T was ordered by a solemn Decree that for a remembrance of this Victory the People should cease from all kinds of Labour on that day of the year for ever and that the Doge accompanyed by the Senate and People should assist at a Solemn Mass in the same Church of St. Justin The private Joy succeeded to the publick and lasted several days The Festivals were solemnized with Justs Wrestlings and several other Spectacles which the several Corporations of Artificers presented in Emulation one of another Only Barbarigo was bewayled in the midst of this rejoycing and Praises and Commendations of their Valour was given to several other Venetians who perished in the Engagement instead of Tears Their Families did not so much as go into Mourning for fear of lessening the publick Joy by Testimonies of private Grief The Pope who since the departure of the Confederate Fleet had incessantly made Vows and Prayers for the happy Success of the Christians Arms expected every day news with an Impatiency worthy of his Zeal The Venetian Embassadour came in fine to him with an account of what past of the entire defeat of the Turks and loss of their Gallies This good Pope animated with a new Fervor went directly to the Chappel to return God Thanks and remained long fixt on his Knees like a Statue He imparted his joy to the Cardinals who were then all in the Vatican telling them that the Bounty of Heaven was greater than he could wish or hope for He afterwards gave order to make ready against the next morning the great Altar in St. Peters Church to Celebrate there himself the Holy Mysteries in the Presence of all those who were to assist at these Sacred Ceremonies The whole City followed his Holynesses Devout Example and the other Churches were filled with Offerings and Prayers A Thousand Blessings were given to Pius V. and 't was publickly declar'd that the Christians owed their Victory to the Tears he every day shed in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass In the mean while Colonni was ready to arrive at Rome where the Pope was for making him a Reception agreeable to his Character and the Service he came from rendring the Church The Spaniards traversed this Design shewing this would be an Affront to Don John of Austria to pay the General of the Holy See such Honours as were only due to him alone But the Pope deriding their Proud Oppositions consulted no body but himself touching the manner of receiving this Prudent Commander to whom he had entrusted the Conduct of his Naval Forces The Spaniards extreamly offended forbad all those of their Nation and who were their Creatures from going to attend Colonni and also to stand where they might behold his passage on the day of his publick Entrance Such a disdainful proceeding encreased the desire which the Italians had of giving him an Honourable Reception There were chosen Six Thousand Men amongst the Citizens who were ranged under several Ensigns and went in good order out of the Town The Magistrates in their Robes followed on Horseback this Infantry accompanyed by the Flower of the Nobility The Pope hereunto added three Companies of his Guard. His Major-Dome in the midst of his Officers and several Cardinals concluded the Cavalcade The Captives immediately preceded Colonni mounted on a Spanish Jennet He rode to the Capitol according to the custom of Ancient Romans and came back through the chief Streets of the City to the Palace of the Vatican His Holyness received him in Constanstine's Hall in the presence of several Cardinals He made a Speech to his Praise and at the same time for a Token of his Liberality presented him with Sixty Thousand Crowns of Gold. He gave also a Rich Abby in the Town of Bonevent to his Son Ascanius with a promise of a Cardinals Hat as soon as he should be of Age to be received into the Sacred Colledge Venieri finding himself alone at the Head of the Naval Army bestowed on himself the entire Honour of the Victory The Praises he continually received and which he shared to no body softned that rough Humour which he shewed in his bad Fortune and blasted the Fruit which might have been gathered from the Consternation of the Enemy He flattered himself at first that nothing could be hence forward too hard for him He resolves to pursue Louchali into his own Ports to possess himself of the Maritime places of the Morea and in his own Fancy seem'd to threaten Constantinople But his slowness and unresolvedness ruined these vast Projects The Providitor Phillip Bragadin an expert Seaman came and joyned him with fifteen Gallies the next morning after the fight at Lepanto He instantly entreated him to let him have fifty Sayl to go in search of the rest of the Ottoman Fleet promising him to make great advantage from the disorder of the vanquished without running into any Hazard Venieri approved of his design and commended his Zeal But he deferred the execution of it to have no Rival in the Honour he so much
taken of the Expence they had been already at pretended that they were much more Money out than they were oblig'd to by the Treaty and demanded to be re-imburst The Pope all whose Cares were employed upon this Holy Expedition fear'd the too exact Charge of the Venetians and the too subtile Discharge of the Spaniards and to hinder their Contests about the past from prejudicing the present Affairs forbad the examining any of them till they had agreed with what number of Troops and on what part of the Mahometan Countries the War should be carryed on in the Spring As soon as they had submitted to his Holynesses Sentiment the Venetians propos'd that Greece should be attackt by all the Confederate Land and Sea Forces These Troops together made a Body of Fifty Thousand Foot and Four Thousand Five Hundred Horse not counting the Militia of the Fleet consisting of Two Hundred Gallies and an Hundred Vessels of Burden laden with Victuals and Ammunition The Emperor was thereupon to be furnisht with the Troops which Cardinal Commendon had promised him to engage him in the League and put him in condition to attack Hungary And in case Maximilian was not sure to put himself in the Field the Army must take the way of Macedonia through the Provinces of Illyrium and Epirus for to enter into the Enemies Country The Turks were too much weakned to resist such great Efforts and 't was hop'd they might be driven out of Europe Repose restor'd to Italy for ever and all Christendom secured The Spaniards continued obstinate in their first opinion of keeping on the Defensive endeavouring by that means to ruine the Venetian Fleet and make advantage of the War by carrying it on the Coasts of Africk Not daring openly to maintain this Proposition for Fear of drawing on themselves the publick Hatred and knowing that the Emperour would keep a Neutrality they pretended there could not any attempt be made on the Sea Coasts unless he attackt Hungary a great Diversion on that side being necessary to hinder the Turks upon the Mediterranean from sending speedy Relief to any Maritime place the Christians should assault without which their Efforts would not only be useless but also dangerous That it was therefore added they more fit in expecting the Emperors Declaration to keep two Hundred Gallies in good Condition and ready to act and surprize the Enemy according to the occurrence of Affairs and to rid themselves of the trouble of the Vessels of Equipage whose attendance the ablest Sea-Officers had always slighted That with an Hundred and Fifty Soldiers on each Gally they might in a moment land Thirty Thousand Men attack and take many strong places before the Enemy could have time to relieve them That they should no more expect Resolutions from Rome where neither the Condition of Affairs nor situation of Places was known but that all should be left to the Prudence and Fidelity of the Generals by making them absolute Masters of the whole Fleet. They represented farther that in respect to the Generalissimo the Fleet should assemble in Sicily this Isle being moreover able abundantly to furnish all Provisions necessary for so numerous an Army It seem'd that it should be referr'd to the Generals Determinations and the Spaniards who believ'd that Colonni would assert the King their Masters Interest doubted not but that if the Fleet had its Randezvous in Sicily they might soon pass over from the Morea to the Coasts of Mauritania The Venetians formally opposing it with consent of the Cardinals Commissaries the Spaniards explained themselves more openly remonstrating that 't was unjust to have Respect only to the Interests of the Venetians and that the King their Master who contributed most to the Expences of the War should have no part of the Profit That all his Coasts were exposed to be plundred by the Corsairs as if his Catholick Majesty had not any Vessels at Sea or that it cost him nothing towards the maintaining the Confederate Fleet That if the Ports of Africk were once cleansed of these Thieves who had no other Retreat Spain would in acknowledgement of so great a Benefit make new Efforts to assist the Holy League That Italy was not much less exposed to the Incursions of these Pyrates than Spain That this Enterprize was neither long nor difficult there being no Garrison in Algier the best of their Ports which would yield as soon as the Christian Army should appear That they would incontinently after repass into Greece to employ the rest of the Campaign in other Conquests which the Report of taking this important Place would already have prepared That they would in the mean time resolve nothing on their own Head and that they were ready to refer themselves to the Prudence of their Generals who would know how to take their Measures on the present State of Affairs Paul Tipoli Embassadour of the Republick afterwards took up the Discourse and answered That it was in vain to deliberate on things already decided That the Fleets were oblig'd by the Treaty to meet every Year in the beginning of the Spring at Corfou to go and attack the Enemies in Greece That it was no longer to be talkt of leaving to the Generals Discretion what had been regulated by all the Confederates and that 't was contrary to good Sence and Reason to change such just Measures That they ought not to amuse themselves about making Shots out of reach at an Enemy when they might give them Mortal Wounds But suppose continued he that in clearing the Coasts of Africa from Pyrates you restore Repose to Spain and Italy by entirely securing the Maritime Places What Benefit will you get by it if you give the Infidels time to put forth a new Fleet to Sea and see your selves once again exposed to the Perils from which you were but just now miraculously delivered You will then no longer have to deal with the pitiful Boats of Thieves whose Surprizes to avoid is sufficient but you will see the Coast of Sicily and Italy covered with the Enemies Vessels under the Shelter of which the Corsairs will in less time be re-settled in Africk than you will have been in driving them thence When the whole Body is assaulted by some great Distemper we neglect curing the remoter Parts and apply Remedies to the places where the Malady is more dangerous and pressing What will the taking of Algier with the Defeat of the Corsairs signifie to the Reputation of our Arms and the decisive Point of the War which is the Question if we must necessarily attack the Enemy in the Heart of his Dominions For in fine whether we ravage Greece or hinder the Re-establishment of the Ottoman Fleet we shall make our selves without fighting Masters of Africk whereas at present we cannot invade it without abundance of danger and Expence We shall have to do with such as have from their Infancy been bred up to War and that will defend themselves like Mad-Men and
Desperado's nor shall we find there as in Greece People exasperated by the Rigor of their Government and wholly ready to declare for us But if we must not expect any Success unless the Emperor enter into the League as the Spanish Ministers aver will he approve of turning War on the Coast of Mauritania when we should by attacking the Enemy in the Archipelago divide the Ottoman Forces which without this Diversion will all fall upon him in Hungary This Prince is undoubtedly too clear-sighted to sign the Treaty of Union as soon as he shall judge by the Attempt upon Africk that the Spaniards abandon the publick Interest to mind only that of the King their Master Tipoli in fine concluded upon the forming two Armies one by Sea and the other by Land of all the Confederate Troops and vigorously pressing the Enemies before they were recovered of their Consternation These Disputes took them up two Months without coming to any Agreement but the Parties referring themselves to the Pope he in this manner regulated all these Differences He ordered that the Fleets should repair to Corfou about the latter end of March with all sorts of Ammunition and Equipage That the Venetians should add Three Galeasses to Six others which were already in their Navy and that Greece should be invaded on the side which the Commanders should think fittest that the Holy See and the King of Spain should send the same number of Vessels as in the last Camapign That there should be embarkt only Two and Thirty Thousand Foot and Five Hundred Horse That there should stay at Otranto Twelve Thousand new-raised Men ready to pass over upon the first Order from the Generals That there should be Thirty Pieces of Canon with Powder and Ball enough for each Piece to make a Thousand Shot That there should be Twenty Thousand Muskets Thirty Thousand Swords Fifteen Thousand Partisans Two Thousand Lances and Five Hundred Iron Coats with all sorts of Utensils and Instruments necessary for such an Army The Pope did not only solicite the Emperour to joyn with the Princes of the League he sent also at the same time two Prelates Antonio Salviati and Paulo Odescalchi to the Princes of Italy inviting them to contribute every one according to his Ability towards the defraying so Holy an Enterprize They all promised to second his Holynesses Zeal Gulielmo de Conzaga Duke of Mantua offered Two Hundred Horse and a Thousand Foot the Duke of Parma engaged to send as many and the Duke of Urbin whose Power was much inferiour to that of those two Princes promised only a Regiment of Horse compos'd of Two Hundred choice Men the Republick of Lucca which had not any Troops taxt themselves at six Thousand Crowns of Gold a Year the Genoueses answered that they had lent the King of Spain Four Gallies for this Expedition and that their Militia was embark'd on his Catholick Majesties Fleet. Philibert Duke of Savoy offered Two Thousand Foot and Four Hundred Horse but at the same time he besought the Pope to consider that he had much more need for them for the securing of his own State than against the Turks being threatned by Gaspar Coligny who had put himself at the Head of the French Protestants The Duke of Savoy had reason to distrust so Potent and brave a Man. He had newly without the Dukes consent marryed a Gentlewoman born his Subject of one of the best Houses of Savoy exceeding Rich Lady of many great Castles and who for the sake of this Marriage had renounced the Romish Religion Cosmo de Medicis gave five Hundred Horse and Six Thousand Foot on condition that the Emperour and the other Confederate Princes should grant him the Title of Great Duke of Tuscany Alfonsa Duke of Ferrara offered his Holyness as many Troops as he should ask â—im without determining the Number but the Jealousie given him by the Elevation of Medicis with whom he had long been disputing about Precedency and Power and the Offers of this Redoubtable Rival oblig'd him to make a Journey to the Emperor to oppose the settling this new Title The Pope who fear'd the Duke of Ferrara would divert Maximilian from entring into the League lost all the good opinion he had of him and gave apparent Signs of his Indignation against this Prince The Cares and Authority of Pius the Fifth having surmounted the greatest Difficulties and regulated all things betwixt the Allyes the Christians might Rationally promise themselves a Glorious Success in the next Campaign and Colonni having given all Orders necessary for his Departure was setting forth for his Post when Heaven more than ever incenâ—ed against our Crimes chastised us for them by the Death of Pius the Fifth which happened a few days after He felt himself at first assaulted by Pains of which neither himself nor Physitians could Divine the Cause He had no great opinion of their Prescriptions being perswaded that all the secret Physick consisted in abstaining from things pâ—ejudicial to Health and in a simple and frugal manner of living Hence he had but one Physitian who had a long time been his Servant These sharp and continual Pains gave the Physitians to understand that he had a Stone in his Bladder But he could not be brought to use the Remedies necessary for his Cure bcause they too much offended his Modesty and himself judged that his Distemper was incurable by the Redoubling of his Pains He would not then hear of any Affairs but his Salvation and applyed himself sick as he was to continual exercise of Devotion He undertook to visit on Foot the Seven Churches maugre the Prayers and Tears of his Nephews He employed but a day and an half in this Holy Pilgrimage though he stayed a considerable time at Prayers in every Church but he returned so tir'd that the Physitians believ'd this violent excercise join'd to the cruel pains he suffered and to the Authority he used till his death would shorten the days of this Holy Man. He dyed to the great Unhappyness of all Christendom but to his own Repose and Glory on the first of May. He was a Personage comparable to the first Vicars of Jesus Christ for the Innocency and Holyness of his manners the firmness of his Faith the Ardor of his Zeal for Religion and who merited no less than those whose Memory the Church Solemnly Celebrates He was born in the Year 1504. near the Town Alexandria in a Village called le Bois His Birth and Fortune were mean enough though some Authors to flatter him have written that he was descended of the Ancient and Noble Family of the Ghislieri of Bononia He was from his Childhood educated in the order of the Dominicans of which he took the Habit and liv'd to the Age of Fifty Years in the most Religious Observation of St. Dominicks Rule This Uniformity of Conduct gained him the esteem of a perfect Religious 'T is said he never had any Office in the Order and that
had taken this opportunity of coming to the Fleet. The Ship securely took her way for Candy and Quirini returned Louchali not daring to make to him for fear of being forc't to accept a Battle In the mean time the Fleets by little and little approacht each other the Infidels extending their Front to a great Length Ours where fain to do the like lest the Enemy might fall upon their Flank or Reer their heavy Vessels being always on the Wings according to their first order The Left Wing of the Turks trusting to their Swifness and Lightness and contemning the sluggishness of the Christians heavy Vessels advanced a little too forward on our Right The Galeasses and Ships gave them so warm a Reception that they were glad to retreat in Disorder Sorancio who commanded this Wing animated hereby made a sign to the other Gallies to fall upon these Fugitives and himself with incredible swiftness pursued them Angelo Soriano so vigorously followed them that falling into their Squadron he in such a manner attackt one of their Vessels as he was like to make himself Master of her The Christians had undoubtedly gained this day a signal Victory had their whole Right Wing charged at the same time as the Barbarians began to fly but except five Vessels which followed Sorantio not one seconded his Bravery Colonni transported by the Ardor and Alacrity of the Soldiers who already set forth shouts of Victory advanc'd with the body of his Fleet not considering he left the two Wings behind him Foscarini who was in the Head cried out loud enough to be heard by every one That we ought to give them Battel That the Infidels were in Disorder and that Heaven declar'd in Favour of the Common Cause but if the Enemies Disorder drew Colonni after them the Reflexion which followed this first Motion cast him into a strange Perplexity He knew not whether he should go on or return to his first Post nor was he less disturbed by the hope of Victory than by the fear of being defeated He remembred how displeasing the Honours he received at Rome at his return from the last Campaign were to Don John of Austria and what ill Offices the Spaniards had done him with the King their Master so that having no longer the same Protection he had under the precedent Pontificat he was ruined with Philip the Second though he should have gained the Victory Don John having forbidden him to make any Attempt without him These were the true reasons which hindred Colonni from attacking the Enemies though he alledged for his excuse that their Retreat was but a Stratagem to divide the Christian Fleet by drawing after them the Gallies alone which would have been defeated without the help of the greater Vessels In the mean time Sorantio complaining that he had been abandoned by his had re-gained his Post seeing the Infidels recovered and making a semblance to charge him Louchali wondred not at the routing of his Left Wing and their being pursued by ours he threatned his People with Death if they returned not to the Fight and ordered the Officers to re-settle this Disorder during a little Relaxation which the Christians gave them foreseeing that he should himself be engaged by the Fugitives if the Christians knew how to make use of their Advantage he bethought himself of a Stratagem which demonstrated him to have the Genius of an able Seaman he caus'd his Admiral Ship to be insensibly towed backward though still facing the Christian Fleet which was already at no small distance from the greater Vessels Canale who commanded the Left Wing of which many Ships were but in a bad Condition could not make so much hast as the rest of the Fleet and the Enemies on the contrary recovered of their Fright sayled in good order 'T was now the Christians turn to be in very great Consternation and smitten with a sudden Terror which presaged some Disgrace they kept silence as if they were on the point of being defeated Many of the Gallies left their first Rank for to fight only in the Rear where the Danger would not be so great so that the Front was become very thin Colonni to remedy this Disorder took a Skiff and passing round the Fleet employed his Authority joined with Reasons and Requests to make these Gallies return to their first Station he told their Officers that they had to do only with the same Enemies of whom they had kill'd above Thirty Thousand Men in the last Battel and taken almost an equal number of Prisoners though they were then commanded by excellent Generals their Army being also compleat and full of Confidence and Pride That they were now Headed by a pitiful Slave fit only to lead Thieves to a Robbery That his Fleet was Tumultuously Assembled and his Soldiers but Novices That they need only to return to their Post and the Infidels would be necessitated to fly to avoid being a second time discomfited Colonni endeavour'd by these Discourses to re-assure those that were most alarmed and recall their Courages But the Distrust Louchali had of his Forces hindred his benefiting by this Consternation and seeking no other advantage but not to be beaten he gave Canale leisure to get up with the great Vessels to the Fleet whose Arrival made the Christians take Heart again Thus these Two Generals as expert as they were committed each of them a Fault which they could never repair The Two Fleets having a long time menaced each other within the reach of Cannon Shot retired about Sun-Set with mutual Reproaches The Infidels who went first away recovered Metapan and the Christian Fleet returned to Cerigo Sorancio publickly complained against the Officers of the Right Wing whose Disobedience he pretended had pluckt the Victory out of his Hands and demanded they might be prosecuted Foscarini at his Request informed against them but the Friends and Credit of the Accused stopt these Prosecutions This Impunity encouraged the Soldiers Insolence and the Generals rendred themselves culpable by their Neglect of Discipline without which there is no Assurance of any Success in War as the Republick but too often experimented in this The Christians by the Favour of a seasonable Wind sail'd from Cerigo to Zant. Colonni thinking to meet Don John there and go afterwards against the Enemies found only the Marquess of St. Cross arrived whom this Prince had sent with Orders to the Fleet to come and attend him there They were well pleased with their having prevented this Command and flattering themselves that they should soon seehim sent back the same Marquess to beseech him to hasten his Departure Colonni had in the mean time some days before sent away a Spanish Officer named Pedro Pardo to inform himself of the Place where the Enemies were of the number of their Vessels of their Strength and â—o go and give Don John an Account of what he should have learnt and give him a particular Relation of all that had passed betwen
Assistance of Christendom They seemed to make the same Reproach to the Pope in Respect of those sent by the Duke of Savoy and Tuscany that were incorporated into the Fleet of the Holy See. The particular of all these Debates would not deserve a place in this History were it not to shew the Spaniards Insolence and Pride who desiring to have the Advantage in every thing declar'd that this Expedition having been undertaken only in favour of the Venetians the King their Master was no further concerned in it than as having granted them his Protection The Venetians in the mean time pleased themselves with framing Difficulties on the smallest matters purposely to tire out the Pope and all those that medled in this Negotiation But there arose a new Dispute of far greater Consequence An Augmentation of the Gallies had been accorded because of the prodigious Preparations making at Constantinople but the time when they were to meet on the Coasts of Greece was not agreed on The Venetians desir'd they might be ready to fight by the Month of March affirming that the Success of this Campaign depended on their extream Diligence The Spaniards on the contrary required the whole Month of June to put their Fleet in Condition Every one murmur'd against them at Venice when Tipoli gave the Senate advice of this unjust and dangerous Proposition But the Council of Ten secretly rejoiced at it because of the Leisure given them by it to learn from their Embassadour at the Port what hopes there was of Peace and take a Resolutition suitable to the State of their Fortune They acquainted Tipoli with their secret Negotiations at Constantinople giving him order to conclude nothing at Rome to make no Relaxation of the Time by which the Fleets were required to set forth and even to refuse the Augmentation of the Gallies he had himself solicited At his declaring himself in the Assembly about this matter every one mistrusted some Intelligence between the Port and the Commonwealth These Suspicions very much cool'd their Negotiations and matters were extream slowly treated on at Rome The Council of Ten no sooner understood that Tipoli had in Obedience to their Orders perplex'd the Affairs but they commended this Ministers Dexterity as having by his Address put them in the best Condition they could desire but one amongst them rising up said Have a care Gentlemen of alienating the Confederates Minds and breaking with them before you know what to expect from the Port and on what Conditions they will grant you Peace This Discourse obliged the Council to enter into new Deliberations and fearing to see themselves expos'd on every side by being disappointed of a Peace and at the same time breaking the League they sent Orders to Tipoli to regulate the Conditions on which he had shewn himself so difficult These Contests having taken up all the Winter the Pope in fine by his Authority ordained that his Fleet and the King of Spains should meet at Messina by the end of March whence they should immediately depart to join the Venetians at Corfou That they should all sail together into Greece fight the Infidels if they met them by the way and attempt whatever their Generals should judge necessary and advantagious for the Common Cause That the Fleet should be composed of Three Hundred Gallies Forty Vessels and as many Galeasses as the Republick could set forth That the Army should consist of Threescore Thousand Men That Every Gally should carry at least an Hundred and Fifty Soldiers That they should have Four Thousand Five Hundred Horses for fear the Enemy should attack any of the Confederates by Land That no new Delay should be granted for the Departure of the Fleets That the Generals should set Sail on the day appointed with what Vessels they should have ready and that the rest should follow as soon as they should be in Condition to quit the Ports and that other things should be ordered as they were in the last Campaign The Venetians obtained farther of his Holiness That none of the Allies might withdraw his Forces from the Christian Army should even his own Territories be attackt by some declar'd Enemy All Differences being thus regulated Tipoli pressed the Assembly for the speedy setting forth Three hundred Gallies to pillage the Ottoman Islands and secure the Republicks The Spaniards not daring to oppose it because the Pope approved it answered that they must Adress themselves to Don John to whom the King of Spain had probably sent Orders about it There was at the same time a Proposal made to Gregory about exchanging of Prisoners There were sent to Rome some considerable Turks taken at the Battel of Lepanto whose Throats would have been cut in Prison had the Venetians been hearkned to at first but Pius the Fifth abhorring such Inhumanity they thought best to ransom with them several Christian Officers who had lost their Liberty in their Service for fear lest after the Conclusion of the Peace the Pope should refuse to put them into their Hands There was amongst them two Sons of Haly by a Sister of Selim's one of which dyed at Rome The Mother requested the other of Don John by such moving Letters accompanyed with such Magnificent Presents that he yielded to her Importunities her Daughter also who passed for one of the Fairest Persons in the World writ to this Prince in Terms so full of Tenderness that he esteemed it an Honour and Pleasure to himself to solicit her Brothers Liberty with the Pope who granting his Desire he sent him back to Constantinople having first treated him like the Grand Seignior's Nephew But his Holiness thought not fit to give the rest their Liberty so soon One of the Principal amongst them was Mahomet Bassa of Negro Ponte a Man whose disposition was no way rude and barbarous and who perfectly understood the Manners and Customs of the Europeans He spake Italian reasonably well and some Romans who had been at Lepanto took delight in discoursing with him about the Battel He told them that two things principally gain'd the Christians the Day to wit their great number of Musketeers whose Arms were much better in a Fight than their Darts or Arrows and the Boards set upon the sides of their Gallies in manner of Parapets with which their Soldiers being sheltered fired on the Enemy with far greater Assurance but he hoped we should not for the future have this Advantage over them since the Experiment had cost 'em dear enough One speaking to him of the Victory at Lepanto as of a Loss to the Grand Seignior far exceeding what he got by the Conquest of Cyprus He smilingly answered You have shaved our Beard and the Hair will grow again But the Venetians will never re-join to the Body of their State the Part which we have cut off Colonni visiting the Prisoners taken in this Battel commanded his Officers and Soldiers to treat them courteously and then turning to Mahomet said Learn of us to
Spaniards and lost three Battels he still kept the same Authority with his Party and never shewed more Courage and Constancy than in the midst of his greatest Disgraces yet it is certain he was rather a cunning than a valiant Captain very skilful in choosing his Post but distrustful of the Fortune of War in Battels and not engaging himself but in the last Extremity The Count de la Rochefoucault Teligny Pardaillan Clermont d' Amboise and several other Hugonots of Quality were slain the same Night Mongommery was for some time pursued by the Duke of Guise who eagerly sought to kill him but he fled into England at the first Report of the Admiral 's Death The Hugonots had so highly incensed the People that it was impossible to moderate their Fury till they had made a very great and lamentable Slaughter The Emperor gave always Hopes that he would sign the Treaty of Allyance though he had a very great Repugnance to make War upon the Infidels he could not resolve to break the Peaâ—e with them tho' their Faithlesness rendred it uncertain and ill assured But he desired also not to discontent the Pope nor the Venetians That which held them thus in suspense was the Passion he had to get the Prince Ernestus his Son chosen King of Poland Sigismund Augustus the deceased King having left no Heirs Maximilian consider'd this Crown as an Acquisition that would much augment his Power The Polonians were then at Peace with the Port but there was need of great Sums to purchase the Principal Electors Suffrages so that the Money and Favour of the French prevailing above the Authority of the House of Austria the Duke of Anjou was preferr'd before the Emperors Son. In the mean time Maximilian treated still with the Pope shewing the greater earnestness the surer he was not to take up Arms. The Confederates resolved to refuse him nothing that they might draw him in and all Germany granted him Five Thousand Foot more than the Troops he had ask'd of Cardinal Commendon John Delphini Bishop of Torcello the Pope's Nuncio with his Imperial Majesty had agreed That there should be given Five and Twenty Thousand Foot and Four Thousand Five Hundred Horse on condition that Maximilian should bring into the Field as great an Army as the Succour of the Confederates amounted to The Auxiliary Troops were to stay in his Service Six Months in the Year to enter into Winter Quarters with his Army in such Posts as were most commodious and advantagious for the Progress of the German Affairs and this Treaty to continue as long as the War should last the Emperor desired farther that whoever of the Confederates should break the League should be look'd upon as an Enemy and that the Pope should with all requisite Solemnities issue out the greater Excommunication against him but this last Article was refused him and in lieu thereof 't was agreed That for the Payment of the Confederate Troops destin'd to his Service Money should be sent every Three Months to Ausbourg for which the Richest Merchants of the Town should be security The Emperor on these Conditions engag'd this Year to make War on Hungary with a design to keep up the League but he was determin'd to find daily new Pretences not to enter into the Field excusing himself sometimes on the Tediousness of Assemblies and Diets and sometimes on the difficulty of raising Soldiers and Money out of the Soveraign Estates of Germany As soon as Gregory understood the Conclusion of the Treaty with the Emperor he sent for the Venetian Embassadour to whom he imparted this agreeable News giving him Order to assure the Senate of it The King of Portugal had promised to send his Fleet this Year into Greece and the Pope to encourage the Venetians made Preparations to augment that of the Holy See. These fair Hopes which the Venetians well knew would come to nothing serv'd only to make his Holiness take more heinously the Republicks Agreement with the Port. The Spring was now far advanced and the Venetians vehemently importun'd the Pope and the King of Spain to send their Fleets immediately to Corfou when Tipoli received advice from the Senate that the Peace was concluded at Constantinople Barbaro had no sooner received Power to treat with the Grand Visier but he applyed himself seriously to it He knew 't was the Intention of the Colledge of Ten whose Favour by this means he should gain He also knew the Weakness of the Commonwealth and that he should at the same time recover his own Liberty The French Embassadour at the Port concerned himself much in this Affair by Order from the King his Master and fervently sollicited Mahomet about it but these good Offices served only to render this Minister more difficult because he would not share the Honour or Profit of this Negotiation with any one Barbaro perceiving it pretended to be sick and ask'd leave for Solomon the same Jewish Physitian he had already made use of to come to him Solomon was no sooner entred the Chamber where he was kept but Marco Antonio making him Presents and Promises conjur'd him to do his Endeavour to procure an end to his Imprisonment and Repose to his Country letting him understand that 't would be no less to his Advantage than his Honour if he brought it to pass The Jew leaving Barbaro went to the Grand Visier whom the difficulty of setting forth a new Fleet rendred much more tractable He sounded him to find how he was inclined to an Accomodation and afterwards propos'd it to him Mahomet at first entred into a particular Debate upon the Articles of Peace demanding that the Republick should give the Grand Seignior the Isle of Corfou the Towns of Cataro and Budua and fhould pay him all the Charges of the War. Barbaro answered with a great deal of Constancy that the Republick would part with nothing of what they possessed before the War that they would restore Supoto and only in respect make Selim a Present of Threescore Thousand Crowns in Gold who should also cause the Lands which the Turks had taken in Dalmatia to be restored The Grand Visier receded from the Demand of Corfou but insisted on the Surrender of Cataro and Budua saying that Peace was not to be mentioned but on these Conditions and threatning Soloman to have him strangled if he did not oblige the Venetian to yield him these two Places And what added he with a fierce and angry Countenance The Venetians to obtain a Peace granted Solyman the strong fortified Towns of Nauplia and Malvafia with all they had in Peloponnesus and do they now make a Scruple of yielding the Grand Seignior Two One weak and half-ruin'd and the other dispeopled by the Spoil the Plague has made in it To bring the Venetian Embassadour to his Bow he spread a Report That the Musulman Fleet should be composed of three Hundred Gallies and as many small Vessels and that the Ottoman Emperors had never