upon all the desperate Service yet notwithstanding his forwardness upon all Occasions Providence preserved him to be a Scourge to the Enemies of his Name Not long after Amurath made War upon Vladislaus King of Hungary for assisting the Despot of Missa and thereupon raising an Army of eighty thousand Men he sent Carambey the Bassa of Romania with Scanderbeg and an Army of twenty thousand Men to invade the Hungarians Vladislaus with the great Hanniades that famous Captain prepared an Army of five and thirty thousand men to encounter him The Bassa encamped by the River of Moravia Hanniades not enduring this Bravado with ten thousand Men leaving the King in his Camp passed the River to encounter with the Barbarians who contemning his small number began the Fight Castriot seeing an opportunity to accomplish what he had before resolved on in the beginning of the Battel began to retreat with his Troops and afterwards fled thereby putting the other Turks into a Consternation who made use of their Heels in like manner Scanderbeg having before imparted his Design to his Friends especially to his Nephew Amase as they fled through a Wood he laid his hands upon the Turk's Secretary and caused him with Threatnings to write Letters in the name of Amurath to the Governour of Croia the Regal City of Epirus to deliver up his Command into the hands of Scanderbeg as deputed by him to have the Command thereof and then killing the Secretary he posted by very long Journeys into the upper Dibria where sending for some of the principal men of the Town he discovered himself and his purposes to them who unanimously assented to what he desired presenting to him their Estates and Lives for the setling of him in his Kingdom and so taking good order for all his Affairs he hasted towards Croia sending Amase before to carry News to the Governour and to certifie him that Scanderbeg with his Train was not far behind he took with him his Friends and a select Number of Dibrians and so coming into Croia he delivered the Packet which being opened and read was easily believed and the Governour prepared to depart The Night after his Men at Arms which he had left secretly near the Town were let in with whom many of the Citizens joyned who setting first upon the Watch and then on the Garrison put most of them to the Sword and so having made himself Master of Croia he presently sent to Dibria to give his Friends notice of his Success and to stir up that Country and their Allies to lay hold of the opportunity for the Recovery of their Freedom He also gave notice to all the Country about Croia stirring them up to take Arms to free themselves from the Turkish Yoak who readily and with much Joy received him and many good Officers flocked to him so that having got together pretty considerable Forces he routed and put to the Sword an Army of the Turks that were upon the march for the opposing these Progresses And then he besieged and took Petrella Petra Alba and Stellisa all extraordinary strong Towns after which all the weaker Garrisons casily yielded to him Then leaving some Forces under his Lieutenant General Moses an excellent Souldier he returned to Croia and disbanded his Army but upon notice that the Turks were rendezvouzing taking his Followers and a hundred Horse he streight march'd to the place upon which the Turks scattered and dispersed themselves then with a thousand Horse he made an Inroad into Macedonia spoiling all the Country and returned loaden with the Prey Amurath having notice of all these Occurrences made Peace with the Hungarians and bent all his Thoughts against Scanderbeg The Spring coming on Scanderbeg took the Field with six thousand men conquered Morea a Pleasant and Fruitful Countrey and added it to his Dominions and then after some time Siege had Sfetigrade surrendred to him being a place of great importance These Successes highly incensed and alarmed Amurath so that he caused an Army to be raised of forty thousand Horse which he committed to the leading of Hali Bassa one of his most valiant and experienced Captains Whereupon Scanderbeg leavied an Army of eight thousand horse and seven thousand foot and though many more flocked to him he dismissed the rest with them he went into the lower Dibria where he heard daily of the approach of his Enemies Hereupon he detached Gree Musach and Amase with three thousand horse for to lie in Ambuscado which he had no sooner done than the Turks began to approach pitching their Camp near Scanderbeg yet knew not that he was so night them Scanderbeg having appointed good Watch bade the rest of his men to betake themselves to their rest The Turks having discovered him grew very Insolent and coming near the Christians Camp began to revile them and challenge them to the Battel Scanderbeg made his men to be quiet till the rising of the Moon then he caused them to refresh themselves with Food and so some of them to issue forth to skirmish with the Turks in the mean time he ordered his Battel Halli Bassa contemning the small number of his Enemies gave the first charge with a small Troop of horse who after they had charged retired hoping that the Christians with eager pursuit would disorder their Battel but Scanderbeg finding their Policy kept his men in good order so both Armies coming on the Wings began the Battel afresh Scanderbeg bringing on the main Battel in the face of the Bassa valiantly charged him No sooner were the Battels thoroughly joyned but the Ambuscado broke out and charged the Rereward of the Turks making such a slaughter that some of them began to fly Thus was the Bassa's great Army distressed by a few But he having placed his best Souldiers nearest to himself with them renewed the Fight so that Scanderbeg's fortune was at a stand till Heranocontes coming on with some fresh Troops from the Rear brake thorough the Bashaw's Army with incredible Slaughter of his Men so that the Turks seeing their Fellows lying by heaps wallowing in their own Blood betook themselves to flight whom the Christians fiercely pursuing slew two and twenty thousand of them took two thousand prisoners and four and twenty Ensigns of the Turks and so horsing all his foot Souldiers with the horses of the slain Turks he made a Road into Macedonia laying all waste before him and returned with a Rich Booty besides all the Spoiles gotten in the Turks Camp and with it went back to Croia where he was received with great Triumph Halli Bassa with the remainder of his men returned to Adrianople where he had much adoe to make his Peace with the Sultan who was almost ready to die for despair thorough his great losses before in Hungaria and in Epirus In the mean while the Pope's Legat perswaded the King of Hungary to break the League lately made with Amurath saying that Faith was not to be kept with Insidels and
matters of Love as within his Empire caused the Roman Argyropulus to be sought out and commanded him to repudiate his Wife whom he had lawfully married to take his Daughter on Condition that he would make him Caesar and associate him with himself in his Dignity but if he condescended not to his Will he threatned to pull out his Eyes and to make him all the days of his Life miserable The Lady who was present seeing her Husband involved in all the Perplexities that might be and ignorant what Answer to give unto the Emperour Ah! Sir said she I see you are much hindred in a brave way if it only rest in your Wife that you be not great and happy I freely deprive my self of all yea of your Company which is more precious to me than all the Empires of the World rather than prejudice your Fortune for know I love you better than my self And saying this she cut off her Hair and voluntarily entred into a Monastery which the other was willing enough to suffer preferring Ambition before Love CIV 3. The Emperour Conrad the Third besieged Guelphus Duke of Bavaria in the City of Hensbery in Germany The Women perceiving that the Town could not possibly hold out long petitioned the Emperour that they might depart only with so much as each of them could carry upon their Backs which the Emperour condescended to expecting they would have loaden themselves with Silver and Gold c. But they came all forth with every one her Husband on her Back whereat the Emperour was so moved that he wept received the Duke into his favour gave all the Men their Wives and extoll'd the Women with deserved Praises CV 4. Hota was the Wife of Rahi Benxamut a valiant Captain and of great Reputation amongst the Alarbes she had been bravely rescued out of the hands of the Portugals who were carrying her away Prisoner by the exceeding Courage and Valour of Benxamut her Husband She shewed her thankfulness to him by the ready performance of all the Offices of Love and Duty Some time after Benxamut was slain in a Conflict and Hota performed her Husbands Funeral Obsequies with infinite Lamentations laid his Body in a stately Tomb and then for nine days together she would neither eat nor drink whereof she died and was buried as she had ordained in her last Will by the side of her beloved Husband He first deceas'd she for a few days try'd To live without him lik'd it not and dy'd CVI. 5. King Edward the First while Prince warr'd in the Holy Land where he rescued the great City of Acon from being surrendred to the Souldan after which one Anzazim a desperate Saracen who had often been employ'd to him from the General being one time upon pretence of some secret Message admitted alone into his Chamber he with an empoyson'd Knife gave him three Wounds in the Body two in the Arm and one near the Arm-pit which were thought to be mortal and had perhaps been so if out of unspeakable Love the Lady Elianor his Wife had not suck'd out the Poyson of his Wounds with her Mouth and thereby effected a Cure which otherwise had been incurable Thus it is no wonder that Love should do Wonders seeing it is it self a Wonder CVII 6. Artemisia the Queen of Caria bore so true a Love to her Husband Mausolus that when he was dead she prepared his Funeral in a sumptuous Manner she sent for the chiefest and most eloquent Orators out of all Greece to speak Orations in his Praise upon the chief day of the Solemnity When the Body was burn'd she had the Ashes carefully preserv'd and by degrees in her Drink she took down those last Remainders of her Husband into her own Body and as a further Testimony of her love to his Memory she built him a Sepulchre with such Magnificence that it was numbred amongst the seven Wonders of the World CVIII 7. Camma the Wife of Sinatus the Priestess of Diana was a Person of most rare Beauty and no less Virtue Erasmoria to enjoy her had treacherously slain her Husband he had often attempted in vain to perswade her to his Embraces by fair Speeches and Gifts and she fearing he would add force to these feigned her self to be overcome with his Importunity To the Temple they went and standing before the Altar as the Custom was the new Bride drank a Cup of Wine in a golden Viol to the Bridegroom which he received and drank of with great Pleasure which done falling on her Knees with a loud Voice she said I thank thee O venerable Diana that thou hast granted me in thy Temple to revenge the blood of my Husband which was shed for my sake which said she fell down and died Now did Erasinorix perceive the Wine he had drank was poysoned nor was it long e're he himself as another Sacrifice fell dead at the foot of the Altar CIX 8. Pandocrus was one of the Captains of the Men of War under Jacobus King of Persia who was the Son of Vsun Cassan this Man had a most beautiful young Lady to his Wife though not above sixteen Years of Age by whom he was most entirely beloved He having rebelled against his Sovereign she long besought him that he would not enter Battel with his Enemy but when he would not agree to her in that she then intreated that at least he would kill her before the Fight that so she might not be compelled to out-live him when he had also denied her in this he gave Battel wherein he was overcome and slain and his Wife being taken was by the King bestowed upon one of his Captains When therefore he would take her to Wife she long opposed his Intentions and when at last she perceived he went about to gain that by force which he could not by entreaty she requested some time wherein to deliberate upon the Matter it was granted and when she had sent him a Note wherein she had written No Man shall ever say that the Wife of Pandocrus did long survive him she fell upon a Sword and died CX 9. Leonidus King of Sparta had married his Daughter Chelonis to Cleambrotus afterwards he fell out with him and would have slain him Chelonis taking her two little Sons went to her Husband earnestly begging his Life of her angry Father telling him that if he proceeded to kill her Husband she would first kill her self and pitifully complaining she laid her Face upon Cleombrotus his Head and casting her swoln and blubber'd Eyes upon the Standers by Leonidus was mov'd to Pity and commanded Cleombrotus to get him thence into Exile withall praying his Daughter for his sake to remain with him and not to forsake her Father who did so dearly love her as for her sake alone to save the forfeit Life of her Husband But she by no means would yield to his Request but rising up with her Husband she gave him one of his Sons and taking
time having gotten together an Army of a hundred and sixty thousand men with which he again invaded Epirus and laid Siege to Croia the Capital City thereof And after many Artifices and Endeavours to suborn the Governour and the other Officers finding that could not be effected after having battered it with great Mortar-pieces the Sultan made a general Assault But just as the Turks began it Scanderbeg with five thousand men brake into one of their Quarters and at the first Encounter slew six hundred of them yet engaged himself so far in the Fight that he was in much danger to be slain or taken Prisoner but at length resolutely breaking through them he escaped and came to his Camp to their great Joy and Comfort Whereupon Amurath renewed the Assault wherein he lost eight thousand Men without any considerable damage to the Garrison And Scanderbeg in the night broke in again upon their Quarters making a much greater slaughter of the Enemy than the Garrison had done After the Turks had still made several Attacks in vain wherein they lost many thousands more of their Men Amurath laid it to heart that so small a Town should eclipse all his former Glory that he died in the Army of Grief Rage and Despair but charging his Son and principal Officers not to leave his Death unrevenged and so gave up the Ghost After the Death of Amurath Mahomet his Son presently rais'd the Siege and offered Peace to Scanderbeg if he would pay him a certain Tribute but Scanderbeg scorning the Motion made an Inroad into the Turkish Dominions which he grievously wasted and returned home laden with spoil To revenge this Mahomet sent an Army into Epirus under one of his principal Bassa's but being re-encountred by Scanderbeg he slew seven thousand of them took the Bashaw and principal Officers Prisoners whom Mahomet ransomed with thirteen thousand Duckats and other rich Presents which he sent to Scanderbeg Hereupon one Debreas one of the Turk's best Generals undertook with such an Army to conquer Epirus and bring Scanderbeg's Head to Mahomet Accordingly he marched with such and as many Men as he desired and a Battel was so valiantly fought that Scanderbeg's Fortune seem'd to be at a stand yet Scanderbeg having at last encountred Debreas fought with him hand to hand and slew him with whose Death the whole Enemies Army was discouraged and fled and of the Turks were slain four thousand one hundred and twenty but of the Christians very few The Grand Seignior finding by these Defeats that it lay not in his Power to prevail by Force had Recourse to Artifice and sought to corrupt by mighty Offers and Promises the principal Officers of Scanderbeg and at length found the means to seduce Moses Galome a great Commander who had treacherously assured Scanderbeg of Success if he would besiege Belgrade which having done upon his Advice he brought the Town to great distress before it could be relieved but Moses having given the Turks warning of his Designs they came upon him unawares slew many of his Men and rais'd the Siege nevertheless Scanderbeg fought their Army slew three thousand of the Misereants and with his own hand two brave Champions who had before sworn to Mahomet to kill him if they met with him The poor Christian Captives taken by the Turks were some sold for Slaves others impailed alive upon sharp Stakes others hanged on iron Hooks and others cruelly tortured to death at the Victor's Pleasure Moses threw off the Mask and went to Mahomet of whom having obtain'd upon assurance of Conquest a great Army with all things necessary went against Scanderbeg When the two Armies were ready to joyn a Messenger came from the Turks to see if any durst prove his Valour against a Champion of the Turks hand to hand the Challenger was accepted and the Turk appearing Zacharie Groppa having obtained leave of Scanderbeg went out against him and after a short Parley they ran with their Lances each against other with such Fury that both Horses and Men were overturned then nimbly recovering themselves they drew their Semiters and encountred each other with such sturdy Strokes that at last both their Swords fell out of their Hands then grapling together they wrestled so long till Groppa overthrew his Adversary and with his Dagger thrust him into his Throat and then taking a Sword he cut off his Head and returned to Scanderbeg with great Honour Then the Signal of the Battel being given it was obstinately fought on both sides and Scanderbeg ran great danger of his life for a couragious Turk with his Horse-man's Staff bare him quite backward upon his Horse so that the Turks shouted for Joy hoping that he had been slain but Scanderbeg chafed with such an unwonted Disgrace suriously assailed the Turk and slew him and pursued his Victory with that Eagerness that the Turks were defeated eleven thousand of them slain and not above one hundred of the Christians and eighty wounded After this Moses being tormented in Conscience stole from the Turks returned to Scanderbeg obtain'd Pardon and his former Trust and Offices In the mean while Amase Scanderbeg's Nephew was inveigled by Mahomet so that he abandoned his Uncle and went to the Grand Seignior Hereupon in the Spring following he and Isaac Bassa were sent the Spring following with a mighty Army and Amase was proclaimed King of Epirus in Mahomet's name After several Skirmishes between the two Armies wherein the Turks had always the worst at length Scanderbeg and his Army descended from the Mountain with such horrible Shouts and noise of Instruments of War that the Turks were in a kind of Consternation and thought the Enemy to be much more numerous than they were nevertheless Amase rallied and made a brave Defence but at length was forced to yield to his Uncle's Bravery and Conduct so that the whole Turkish Army was routed many of them were slain and many taken Prisoners together with twenty of the Turks fairest Ensigns of whom were slain about twenty thousand and of the Christians about sixty Amase being likewise taken and condemned to perpetual Imprisonment Then a Peace was concluded between Mahomet and Scanderbeg after the expiration of which Mahomet sent Synanbeg with an Army of twenty thousand into Epyrus with which Scanderbeg forthwith encounter'd and overthrew so that few escaped by flight Then sent he Asambeg with thirty thousand with whom Scanderbeg in plain Battel vanquished at Ocrida and took Asambeg Prisoner and used him honourably and afterwards dismissed him Jussumbeg came after with eighteen thousand was set upon by Scanderbeg had many slain and himself hardly escaped by flight Then Carafabeg an old and expert Captain desired Mahomet to let him try his Fortune who sent him with an Army of almost forty thousand Scanderbeg fearing him more than any of the former and therefore raised more Forces yet he was too cunning as well as too brave for the Bashaw for he slew many of his Men and had