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
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
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
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
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
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
Infidels perceiving them had time enough to get into the Port of Modon The Blame was laid upon the Admirals Pylot who to excuse this ill Conduct said that he thought himself obliged to slacken his Sayls during the Night for fear of running a ground But whether the Fault were in the Pylot or whether Heaven was still angry with the Christians 't is evident that the Confederates miss'd an opportunity of gaining a compleat Victory over the Barbarians The Christians perceiving that the Enemies hasted away with Sayl and Oar Colonni proposed to Don John the sending a Detachment of Gallies to fall upon their Rear and offered to command this Detachment himself This Design was approv'd and Six and Twenty Gallies given him for the execution of it but he was scarce got half his way with great hopes of a Glorious Success when he received Orders to come and join the Fleet. Don John to justifie this sudden Change told the Officers that the Infidels made a show of coming to charge him and that 't was necessary all their Forces should be together for fear of a Surprize The most clear-sighted were perswaded that Colonni's Enemies jealous of his Reputation had done him this ill Office. He went nevertheless afterwards to view the Barbarians having with him but one Gally more and offer'd to attack two of their Gallies which lagg'd behind the rest of the Fleet but these two being assisted by Six others the Christians sent out Ten which Louchali no sooner perceived but he advanced with the greatest part of his Fleet and escaped the Affront they were like to receive before Don John could bring up his to oppose them Colonni retreated in good order and there was in this Rencounter a second opportunity lost of gaining a great Advantage for if Don John had made Head against the Enemy they would rather have abandoned their eight Gallies than have fought so weak as they were but the sluggishness of the Confederates facilitated their Retreat into the Port of Modon where they were secure Don John drew up in Battalia and presented himself before the Mouth of the Harbor He a long time defied them with Injuries and Reproaches and about Evening retired in the same order Louchali that he might not be convinced of shunning the Fight came forth out of the Port of Modon and drew up under the Walls of the place Don John returned at the same time and sounded to Battel The Turk trusting more to the Walls of the place than to his Shipping durst not come too far off nor ours approach too near them so that having a long time shot at each other the Enemies returned into their Harbour leaving the Christians Masters of the Sea. The next day Don John returned in the same order to the same place but none of the Turkish Ships appearing the Christians set Sayl with the Honour of having forc't the Ottoman Pride to yield them the Sea and went to take in fresh Water at Coron a place of the Continent not very far off Louchali landed Four Thousand Foot to drive them thence but Paul Sforza whom Don John had put ashore with a considerable Detachment so vigorously charged this Foot which already incommoded our Men that having slain two hundred of them he put the rest to Flight The Christians on the Two next days again offered the Infidels Battel and Louchali was content with putting himself a second time in Battalia under the Ramparts of Modon The Christian Fleet putting in at the Isle of Sapienza the most experienced Captains were of Opinion to get an exact Understanding of the State the Town and Port of Modon were then in Don John highly approved of this Design went aboard Colonni's Gally attended by Foscarini and some other Officers to go and take a view of it himself Having sufficiently obsered the Strength and Weakness of the place he resolved to attack the Enemies there and for this purpose sent for the Great Vessels from Zant to shelter the Gallies from the Fire of the Town there were two Bottoms joyned together and covered with great Planks on which they Built a Fort and filled it with Earth for the better securing the Gallies Don John was of opinion that the Infidels frighted with this Stupendious Machin would leave their Vessels and fly ashore and without doubt this Project would have succeeded had the Execution of it been more speedy But while the Squadron was expected from Zant and the new Building went slowly on Don John advanced to Navarin either with an Intentention to surprize the Place though the Venetians told him the taking of it would be of little Importance to them or because he thought he might more easily take in Water there through the Commodiousness of the River The Enemies who had already seiz'd the Avenues of it were ill treated by our Canon and Sforza at the Head of Five Thousand Men driving them back into the Town favoured the Christians Watring Alexander Farnese attempted to besiege Navarin by order from Don John who gave him Six Thousand Men with some Pieces of Canon already put in Battery But the place was immedily reliev'd by so great a number of Turks flocking thither from all parts the Christians got with all speed to their Ships being glad to be quit with the loss of their Cannon The Design also of setting upon the Turkish Fleet in their Harbor for which all things were ready was given over by Don John the Venetians alarmed by the Uncertainty of the Success not caring to press him any further on it They afterwards deliberated on the besieging Modon but 't was not thought fit to attempt any thing more the Turks keeping themselves close and the Spaniaràs testifying a desire to end the Campaign towards the middle of Autumn Their Impatience to return made them about the midst of October represent to Don John that he had long enough serv'd the Republick and that he ought now to think of returning towards Sicily and this Prince who was no less impatient than they to leave the Morea acquainted the Venetians that he had spent his Provisions having scarce enough left to carry him into Italy where he was resolved to put the Fleet into Winter Quarters He promised them to come the next year much earlier and far better provided and endeavour'd to perswade them that they ought to be contented with the Progress of this Campaign and that 't was no small Honour for them to have forc't the infidels to keep close within their Ports and to have held them as it were besieged there The Venetians more troubled than surprized at this Discourse and not able to comprehend that Don John having made them wait for him all the Summer should come from so plentiful a Country as Sicily with not above Fifteen days Provision earnestly besought him not to leave the Fleet in the very Moment that seemed to give the Confederates the greatest hopes of entirely defeating the Infidels and rendring the Christian
practice Hamanity you who so barbarously and cruelly treat our Christian Prisoners To which Mahomet made him this witty Answer Your Excellency will be pleased to pardon our Ignorance since we have been hitherto only used to take Prisoners not having yet been such our selves in the Christians School The Pope in the mean time solicited the Crowns to join their Arms to those of the Confederates and the Cardinal of Lorrain who came to Rome to assist at the last Conclave had given Gregory Hopes that the Allyance between France and the Grand Seignior might be broken This Cardinals Esteem amongst the French having giv'n him an entire Knowledge of that Kingdoms Affairs and the Kings true Sentiments His Holiness on such good assurance believed he might successfully endeavour this Dis-union He writ about it to Charles the Ninth who answered him He should willingly enter into the League but the great Revolutions which had happened in his Kingdom permitted him not to join with the Confederates France broken and shattered into different Factions was exposed to the Plunder of the Germans and the Invasions of her other Neighbors The Lorrain Princes and other Principal Persons in the Court retired into the Country being neither able to suffer the Imperious Humour of the Queen nor submit themselves to the King of Navarre But these Princes being a little after reconciled with Annas de Mommorency Constable of France drew the King of Navarre into their Party by giving him new hopes of recovering his Kingdom and of diminishing the over-great Authority of Queen Catherine and ruining the Projects of the Prince of Conde they entred Paris guarded by their Friends and Creatures and drove all those of the opposite Faction from Court. Thus France becoming the Stage of a Civil War saw more Blood shed in most of her Towns than in the Famousest Sieges and Battels of the last Age. They no longer amused themselves with Disputes and Controversies the divided Families deciding Questions of Religion by the Sword. The first Battel was fought near the Town of Dreux the Kings Army being commanded by the Constable and the Duke of Guise and the other by the Prince of Conde and the Admiral de Coligni The Success was equal on both sides the Prince of Conde and the Constable being boht taken Prisoners The Duke of Guise laid Siege to Orleans and pressed it so close that it was upon the point of yielding when a Villain came to the Camp and watching an opportunity for the execution of his Design he slew this Prince with a Shot from a Carbine as he was returning from visiting the Works attended only by Three Horsemen The Duke of Guise's Death was extreamly prejudicial to France besides his Military Perfections which rendred this Duke the greatest Captain in the Kingdom he had gain'd the Peoples Hearts by such a Charming Sweetness such admirable Liberality and Sincerity and such Courteous and Familiar Behaviour that one could not forbear loving him His Death almost ruin'd the Fortune of his House A Peace was afterwards concluded but 't was only to give both Parties leisure to make Preparation for beginning the War afresh The Prince of Conde freed out of Prison made great Levies in Germany and soon got a new Army on Foot. He endeavoured to surprize and carry away the King as he was returning from Meaux to Paris but a Battalion of Six Thousand Switzers which guarded the Court in its March and repulsed several Attacks by the way ruin'd this Audacious Design Some time after the Constable displeased with his Nephews whom he accused of Ingratitude and Revolt gave them Battel in the Plain of St. Denis routed them and raised the Siege from before Paris The Constable who was near Fourscore years old received a Mortal Wound in his Reins by a Pistol Shot as he was in the midst of the Fight charging the Enemies with a Vigour worthy his Name and his Office. The Hugonots though vanquisht made Peace on what Terms they pleased the Queen being obliged to accept them as frighted with the great Number of Forreign and Domestick Forces that filled the Kingdom This Second Accommodation was also but a Cessation of Arms the War breaking forth again with more Fury than before The Hugonots lost a Third Battel at Jarnac gain'd by the Duke of Anjou who commanded the King his Bothers Army where the Prince of Conde was slain upon the Place Gaspar de Coligny was a Gentleman of a good Family but much more considerable by that of his Mother who was Sister to the Constable de Mommorency His Unkle whom â—ecause of his singular Merit King Henry the Second honoured with his Favour had procur'd him the Office of Admiral one of the first of the Crown Coligny had serv'd under him during the Reigns of Francis the First and Henry the Second with no little Reputation He had been employed in several Important Negotiations by which he had acquired a perfect Understanding of Affairs He was a Man of a thorow Experience but close full of Address naturally Eloquent and no less a Statesman than a Soldier tho' far more cautious than advent'rous In the Year 1522. France being almost ruined there was a new Agreement made The Admiral at the same time negotiated a Marriage between the Princess Margaret the Kings Sister and Henry King of Navarre Anthony his Father dyed some years before of a Wound receiv'd at the Siege of Roan The Admiral came to Paris to assist at the Marriage followed by so great a number of Gentlemen and Vassals that the King himself could scarce have found so Magnificent a Train He was received with extraordinary Testimonies of Confidence and Friendship He had often private Conferences with the King in which 't was known they treated of making War upon Flanders and this we have since understood obliged Philip the Second to stay in Italy for fear of some Surprize from the French. In the mean time there was a Rumour whether grounded on Reallity or invented by the Queen who was laying a Snare for the Admiral as her Enemies would have it that the People he had without any Order or Permission brought to Paris under pretence of being present at the King of Navarre's Marriage conspired against the Royal Family The Queen whether the better to conceal her Design or really fearing some secret Plot caused the Guards of the Louvre to be doubled Whilst these things ware doing the Admiral returning from the King to his own House was wounded in the Right hand by a Shot from an Arquebush which was by some People said to have been done by the Procurement of the Queen or the Duke of Guise The Duke of Guise was accused because the House in which the Assassin had planted himself belonged to one of his Creatures who had some time before left it empty to prevent the discovery of this Action These Suspitions were strengthned by the irreconcilable Hatred there was between the Prince and the Admiral and