removed to Bethlem a Town about the mid way betwixt Ioppa and Ierusalem But winter now coming fast on and want of Victuals like enough to increase the King changing his mind for the Siege returned with the greatest part of the Army to Ascalon which he that Winter new fortified the Walls thereof being before by Saladin in his dispair demolished the Duke of Burgundy with his Frenchmen all that while quietly wintring at Tyre In the mean time the power of the Christians was thus greatly diminished some one way departing from the Camp and some another The Italians for the most part with them of Pisa who in these three years Wars had striven with the Venetians for the Honour of their Service were now returned home as were the Venetians themselves also Nevertheless Winter now past and the Spring time come King Richard took the Field again and came to Bethlem where by the way he met with an exceeding great number of Camels charged with great store of Victuals and Munition sent by Saladin out of Egypt to Ierusalem all which he took but purposing to have gone on to the Siege of Ierusalem he was by the backwardness of the French glad to change his purpose and to return to Ptolemais for the Frenchmen perswaded by the Duke their General who well knew the French Kings mind that if any thing worth remembrance were done it was to be done by them and that the glory thereof should wholly redound unto the King of England as there in person present and to his Englishmen shewed themselves so unwilling to the Siege as that therein was nothing done to the great grief of that worthy Prince At which time also news was brought unto King Richard how that Philip the French King forgetful of his solemn promise made before his departure out of Syria had now invaded the Country of Normandy and excited Earl Iohn the Kings Brother a man of an haughty and aspiring nature to take upon him the Kingdom of England in his absence as had before in like case William the younger Brother served Duke Robert his eldest Brother then absent at his Father the Conquerors death in the first sacred expedition under Godfrey of Bulloin Wherefore King Richard beside the present difficulties fearing lest while he was so far off in Wars for defence of the Christian Common-weal he might lose his Kingdom at home thought it best to grow to some good end with Saladin and so to make his return but the politick and wary Sultan not ignorant of the discord of the Christians and that their Forces daily decayed in Syria either of the troubled Estate of the Kings affairs at home in his Kingdom or of his desire to return would not hearken to any other conditions of Peace but such as might both for the present weaken the Forces of the Christians in Syria and discourage others that had a mind to come thither afterward when they should see that for nought they should travel to conquer that which they must of necessity restore again The conditions he offered were That the Christians should forthwith restore whatsoever they had won in those three years Wars Ptolemais only excepted and from thenceforth for the space of five years the Turks should not in any thing molest the Christians but to suffer them in peace to live by them which hard conditions for that no better could be had the King was glad to accept and so concluded a Peace Whereby the labour and travel of the two great Kings and so many Nations with them were all become frustrate and vain having now to no purpose lost their Men their Mony their Time their Hope their Blood their long Travel to gain that they must now in one hour forego nothing more left unto the poor Christians in Syria than the Cities of Antioch Tyre and Ptolemais This done King Richard leaving the affairs of Asia unto the charge of Henry Count of Champagne his Nephew shipping the greatest part of his People with his Wife Berengaria first for Cicilia and from thence for England where they in safety at length arrived followed shortly after with some few himself where by the way by extremity of Weather he was in the Adriatique driven to land upon the Coast of Histria where travelling with a small retinue homewards in the Habit of a Templar he was discovered and taken Prisoner by Leopold Duke of Austria whom he had before disgraced at the winning of Ptolemais as is before declared who now glad to have him in his power made prise of him and sold him to Henry the Emperor for forty thousand pounds by whom he was kept Prisoner by the space of a year and three months and then ransomed for the Sum of an hundred and fifty thousand pounds About this time died the great Sultan Saladin the greatest terror of the Christians who mindfull of mans fragility and the vanity of worldly honours commanded at the time of his death no Solemnity to be used at his burial but only his Shirt in manner of an Ensign made fast unto the point of a Lance to be carried before his dead body as an Ensign a plain Priest going before and crying aloud to the People in this sort Saladin Conqueror of the East of all the greatness and riches he had in his life carrieth not with him after his death any thing more than his shirt A sight worthy so great a King which wanted nothing to his eternal commendation more than the true knowledge of his Salvation in Christ Jesus He reigned about sixteen years with great honour and dying left nine Sons which were all murthered by Sephradin their Uncle excepting one called also Sephradin Sultan of Alâ—ppo who by the Favour and Support of his Fathers good Friends saved himself from the treacherous practises of his Uncle Of this Sephradin the Uncle descended Meludin Sultan of Egypt and Coradin Sultan of Damasco and Ierusalem Saladin his great Kingdom being by them now again rent in pieces The death of Saladin in short time bruited abroad with the discord among the Turks and Sarafins about his Dominions put Celestinus then Pope in good hope that the City of Ierusalem might in that change and hurly be easily again recovered and that Kingdom established But when he had in vain dealt to that purpose with the Kings of France and England then altogether busied in their Wars the one against the other he perswaded Henry the Sixth then Emperor to take the matter in hand who for that he well could not or else would not himself in person undertake that long expedition sent Henry Duke of Saxony his Lieutenant with a great Army into Asia unto whom were joyned two Legats Conradus Archbishop of Mogunsia another of the Electors and Conradus the Bishop of Herbipolis At which time also may other great Princes took upon them that holy War namely Herman Lantgrave of Thurin Henry Palatine of Rhine Henry Duke of Brabant Conrade
rested upon the coming of the two mighty Princes Philip the Second of that name King of France and Richard the First King of England who having agreed betwixt themselves with their combined Forces to relieve the distressed Christians of the East and again if it were possible to repair the broken State of the Kingdom of Ierusalem were now met together at Marseilles in Provence From whence the French King first departing with his Fleet for Cicilia and with a prosperous gale for certain days holding on his course and now come nigh unto the Island was by force of a furious tempest suddenly arising so tossed and tumbled in the deep that many of his Ships there perished eaten up of the Sea others by force of Weather driven upon the Sands and Rocks were there broken all to pieces and the rest some with their Masts broken some with their Tacklings and Sails rent and all in general sore Weather-beaten with much ado arrived at Messana the desired Port. At which place King Richard afterwards but with better fortune arrived with his Fleet also Both the Kings now met together resolved there to winter the French King enforced by necessity so to do for the repairing of the late Losses he had received as well in his People and Provision as in his Shipping all which was to be relieved by new Supplies out of France and the King of England staying to take Order for the Dowry of his Sister Ioan Widow of William the late King of Cicilia with Tancred the base Son of Roger that had now aspired unto the Kingdom of that Island About which matter great Stirs arose betwixt King Richard the Queens Brother and Tancred the new King insomuch that it was like to have broken out into open War had it not to the good contentment of King Richard been otherwise taken up and so the Controversie ended But whilst these two great Kings thus wintred in this fruitful Island and oftentimes as good Friends met together sometime for their disport and sometime to confer of their so weighty Affairs the way as was thought to have appeased all former displeasure and to have increased love it fell out clean contrary jealousie and distrust not only reviving the old but also still raising new Quarrels betwixt them to the great hindrance of the common good by them intended which may serve for a warning to all great Princes willing to continue in Amity and to hold a good Opinion one of another never to see one the other or coming so to an interview not to converse or stay long together which as it is not often done without the danger of their persons so can it not possibly be long continued but that it will engender in themselves as well as in their Followers Jealousie envy hatred and mistrust aâ— we have before said and hereafter in the coursâ— of this History may appear There was an old 〈◊〉 betwixt these two great Kings Richard â—nd Philip about Adela the French Kings Sister whom Richard having before his Father yet living affianced had now rejected as her whom his aged Father Henry the Second had too familiarly used and in stead of her to the great disgrace of the French espoused the Lady Berengaria Daughter to the King of Navar which Indignity with divers others then arising betwixt the French and the English as then with great heart-burning smouldred up in respect of the common Cause then in Hand afterwards brake out again to the shameful overthrow of this most honourable Expedition and lamentable disturbance of both Realms Winter past and the Spring now come the French King not altogether the best pleased first loosed from Messana and with his Fleet in safety arrived at Ptolemais where he was by the Christians now the third year lying at the Siege so joyfully received as if he had been to them sent with Succours from Heaven After whom shortly after followed also King Richard of whose Fleet by force of Weather sore beaten and dispersed two Ships by the rage of the Tempest driven aground upon the coast of Cyprus were by the Island people spoiled and the Men that in them had hardly escaped the danger of the Sea with most barbarous Inhumanity some slain and some taken Prisoners the rest of the Fleet arriving there also were with like Incivility forbidden to land the Cipriots ready at hand in all places to keep them off With which so great an Indignity the King justly moved and by force landing his people with incredible Celerity and Success over-ran the whole Island never ceasing until he had made a full Conquest thereof and taken Isaac Comnenus commonly called The King of that Island and of some for what reason I know not Emperor of the Griffons Prisoner yet was he indeed neither King nor Emperor but being a man of great Nobility and Power and of the honourable Stock of the Comneni had in the troublesome Reign of Andronicus Comnenus the Emperor his Cousin laid hold upon that fruitful Island and there tyrannized as a reputed King until that now he was by King Richard taken Prisoner and for his unfaithful dealing sent fast bound in Chains of Silver into Syria The King thus possessed of the whole Island there at Limozin married the Lady Berengaria the King of Navars Daughter brought thither by Ioan late Queen of Cicilia the Kings Sister And so disposing as he thought best of all things for the safe keeping of the Island set forward again with his Fleet towards Syria Where by the way he light upon a great Ship of the Sultans laded with Victuals and other War-like Provisions for the relief of the besieged all which became a Prey unto him So holding on his course he at length arrived at Ptolemais where he was by the French King and the rest of the Christians there lying most honourably rereived Now had the City of Ptolemais been three years besieged by the Christians and notably defended by the Turks during which time many an hot Assault and bloody Skirmish had passed betwixt them And now the eyes of all men were fixed upon the two Kings of England and France unto whom all the rest offered their Obedience and Service The Christian Camp was great composed especially of Englishmen Frenchmen Italians and Almains not them that were left of the Emperor Frederick his Army for they were for the most part dead or else returned home again into their Countries but of such as moved with the Zeal they bare unto this Religious War came daily in great numbers thither as did also many others of divers Nations desirous in some measure to be partakers of so honourable a War. These Religious and Venerous Christians thus lying at the Siege had with much painful labour undermined one of the greatest Towers of the City called the accursed Tower with some part of the Wall also by means whereof they were in hope to find a way into the City Wherefore all things being
grant or accept Whereupon Saladin forthwith caused such Christian Captives as were in his power to be beheaded which albeit King Richard understood yet would he not prevent the time before agreed upon for the execution of his Prisoners being the twentieth day of August upon which day he caused the Turks Prisoners to the number of 2500. or as the French and Germans write to the number of 7000 in the sight of Saladins Army to be executed The loss of the strong Town of Ptolemais much empaired the reputation of Saladin even among his own People as it commonly falleth out that the evil success of a great Commander in his affairs altereth the good Will Affection and Opinion especially of the Vulgar Sort which judge of all things by the Event And albeit that his losses were great and such as much daunted him yet he thought it best as the case then stood to make them greater and with his own hands as it were to ruinate and overthrow such Towns and Cities as he saw he could not keep rather than to suffer them whole and undefaced to fall into the Enemies Hand So carried headlong with despair he caused all the Towns he had along the Sea coast in Syria and Palestine to be sacked and ruinated and their Walls overthrown especially such as were of most importance and like to stand the Christians in stead namely Porphiria Cesarea Ioppa Ascalon Gaza and Elam with divers other Castles and Citadels in the Countries thereabouts most part whereof were again by King Richard and the Templars fortified and repeopled although Saladin in the mean time did what he might to have letted the same Nothing more hindred the good proceeding of the Christian Princes in this and other their most honourable expeditions against the Infidels than the discord among themselves one still envying at anothers Honour and every one jealous of his own Great strife and heartburning there had been between the two Kings of France and England during the time they were together in this sacred Expedition to the great hindrance of the same No less contention had there been betwixt Guy the late King of Ierusalem and Conrade Marquess of Mont-Ferrat about the Title of that lost Kingdom whereby the whole power of the Christians in Syria was divided into two Factions Richard King of England Baldwin Earl of Flanders Henry Earl of Champaine the Knights Hospitalers of St. Iohn the Venetians and Pisans taking part with Guy And Philip the French King Odo Duke of Burgundy Rudolph Earl of Claremont the Templars the Genoways the Lantgrave of Thurin Leopold Duke of Austria and Robert Count of Nassau taking part with Conrade the Marquess But Conrade shortly after the taking of Ptolemais being slain by two of the desperate Assassins or as some others say by two desperate Ruffians suborned thereunto by the Prince of Torone in revenge of the despight done unto him by the said Marquess by taking from him Isabel his Espoused Wife as he was walking in his City of Tyre and doubting no such Treason King Richard seeing now a fit occasion offered for the utter extinguishing of that claim and how to entitle himself unto that Kingdom perswaded the aforesaid Isabel the Widdow of the late Marquess and in whose right he had laid claim unto the Kingdom to relinquish that so troublesom a Title and to take to her Husbnamd Henry Earl of Champain his Nephew unto whom he gave the City Tyre Guy the King exclaming to the contrary as of a wrong done unto himself Shortly after he began also to tamper with Guy perswading him to resign unto him that little right and interest he had in the Kingdom of Ierusalem and in lieu thereof to receive at his Hands the Kingdom of Cyprus which his offer the poor King was glad to accept By which exchange Guy became King of Cyprus and Richard King of Ierusalem which honourable Title he afterwards as some report used in his Stile as did some others his Successors the Kings of England after him So Guy with all his Wealth passing over into Cyprus took possession of the Kingdom where he long lived not Nevertheless that pleasant Kingdom continued in his Family of the Lusignans by the space of about 283 years afterwards untill that at length that Family failing in the Posthumus Son of Iames the Bastard last King of that Island it fell into the Hands of the Venetians by whom it was holden as a part of their Seigniory almost an hundred years until that it was in our fresh remembrance again from them taken by Selymus the Second great Emperor of the Turks in the year 1571. as in the process of this History shall in due place God willing be declared Now was King Richard for the increase of his honour more desirous than before of the City of Ierusalem as the most precious and honourable prize of all that religious War. And thereupon with all the power of the Christians then at his command set forward from Ptolemais and was come on his way as far as Arsuâ— a Town situated betwixt Cesarea and Ioppa In the Vauward was King Richard himself with the Englishmen after whom followed Odo Duke of Burgundy with his French and in the Rereward Iaques de Avenes with the Flemings Brabanders and Wallons who after the death of their Count Philip at the Siege of Ptolemais had put themselves all under his Regiment Saladin with a great Army still at hand and as it were tending upon them first with certain Embuscadoes charged the Rereward and so afterwards came on with his whole power upon whom Iaques turning himself with his Flemings received the charge with great assurance and so long themselves endured the same until the French came in to their succors and after them the English also There was fought a notable Battel and great Valour shewed both on the one side and on the other but especially by them of the Turks part who knew well the purpose of the Christians for the besieging of Ierusalem and that thereupon depended their only hope and that he that could hold the same might almost assure himself to carry away the glory of that War. The French and the English in that â—attel honourably strove who might shew the greatest Valour neither would the low Countrymen under Iaques their General seem to be any thing behind them This sharp conflict began about Noon and continued until the going down of the Sun. King Richard as some write was there wounded with an Arrow and Iaques valiantly there fighting was slain having sold his life dear to the great admiration of the Infidels and dying left the Victory unto the Christians It is reported that in this Battel was slain more Turks and Sarasins than in any one Battel within the memory of man before of the Christians were not lost any great number either any man of name more than the aforesaid Iaques the valiant General of the Flemings The next day the Christians
Majesty of a Kingdom as then when Richard the First King of England passing that way with his Fleet for the relief of the Christians then distressed in the Holy Land about the year 1191 was prohibited there to land and certain of his People by force of Tempest there cast on Shore were by the Cypriots either cruelly slain or taken Prisoners which barbarous violence King Richard took in so evil part that he there by force landed his Army and rested not until he had taken Isaac the King Prisoner and subdued the Island The King he sent in Chains of Silver to Tripolis there to be kept in close Prison the Kingdom he kept a while in his own hand which not long after he gave or as some say exchanged with Guido the titular King of Ierusalem for which cause the Kings of England for a certain time afterwards were honoured with the Title of the Kings of Ierusalem This Kingdom by many descents came at length to Ianus Son of King Peter who in the year 1423 was by Melechel a Sultan of Egypt taken Prisoner but afterwards for the ransom of an hundred and fifteen thousand Sultanins was set at liberty and restored to his Kingdom paying unto the Sultan and his Successors a yearly Tribute of forty thousand Crowns This Ianus left a Son called Iohn who after the death of his Father married the Daughter of the Marquis of Mont-Ferrat after whose death he married one Helena of the most noble House of the Paleologi in Grecia by whom he had one only Daughter called Carlotte but by another Woman a base Son called Iames. This King Iohn was a Man of no Courage altogether given to pleasure and according to the manner of his effeminate education shewed himself in all things more like a Woman than a Man which Helena his Wife a Woman of a great Spirit quickly perceiving took upon her the Soveraignty and whole Government of the Realm gracing and disgracing whom she pleased and promoting to the Ecclesiastical Dignities such as she best liked abolishing the Latin Ceremonies and bringing in them of the Greeks and took such further order as pleased her self in matters of State concerning both Peace and War her Husband in the mean time regarding nothing but his vain pleasure whereby it came to pass that all was brought into the power of the Greeks the Queens Friends Now the Queen her self was much ruled by the Counsel of her Nurse and the Nurse by her Daughter so that the People would commonly say The Daughter ruled the Nurse the Nurse the Queen and the Queen the King. The Nobility ashamed and weary of this manner of Government by general consent of the People sent for Iohn the King of Portugals Cousin-German whom some call the King of Portugal to whom they gave Carlotte the Kings Daughter in marriage with full power to supply that want of Government which was in King Iohn his Father in Law. He taking the Authority into his Hands quickly reformed the disordered Kingdom as well in matters concerning Religion as civil Policy The Latin Ceremonies were again restored and the Government of the Daughter the Nurse and the Queen brought to an end But the mischievous Daughter doubting the Countenance of the young King perswaded her Mother as she â—endred her own Life to poison the King. Which thing the wretched Woman by the consent of the Queen Mother as was reported in short time performed and so brought that noble Prince well worthy longer life unto his untimely end whereby the Government was again restored unto the Greek Queen who in the name of her weak Husband commanded again at her pleasure But above all the Nurse and her Daughter insulted upon the young Queen Carlotte which she not well brooking grievously complained thereof to Iames her baâ—e Brother requiring his help for redress thereof who not long after slew the Nurses Daughter not so much in revenge of the wrong by her done unto his Sister as to prepare a way for himself for the obtaining of the Kingdom grieving inwardly that she or her Husband should be preferred before himself Which thing Helena the Queen quickly perceiving perswaded the King her Husband to cause his base Son to enter into the orders of Priesthood and so to become a Churchman thereby to cut off all his hope of aspiring unto the Kingdom which the King at her instance did and made him Archbishop of Nicosia In the mean time Carlotte by the perswasion of her Mother and the Nobility of the Country married Lewis Son to the Duke of Savoy who being for that purpose sent for came with all speed to Cyprus After that the Queen-Mother and the old Nurse desiring nothing more than to revenge the death of the Nurses Daughter upon Iames now Archbishop devised first how to thrust him out of all his â—piritual Promotions which were great and afterward quite banish him the Kingdom Hereupon the Queen wrote Letters against him to the Pope to have him disgraded for that he being a Man base born with his hands imbrued with innocent Blood was unworthy of holy Orders Which Letters by chance came to Iames his hands who inraged therewith accompanied with a number of his Friends and Favorites suddenly entred the Court slew such of his Enemies as he found there divided their Goods amongst his Followers and as King possessed himself of the Regal City In this Broil the Greek Queen Helena died and shortly after her Husband also All things being thus in an hurly and out of order certain of the Nobility for redress thereof sent for Lewis the Husband of Carlotte as for him to whom that Kingdom in the right of his Wife most justly belonged who upon his arrival was of all sorts of Men joyfully received and welcomed as their King. Iames the Usurper understanding before of the coming of Lewis and perceiving the inclination of the People towards him fled with divers of his Friends to Alexandria to crave aid of the Egyptian Sultan in whose Court he found such Favour as that he was by the Sultans commandment Royally apparelled and honoured with the Title of the King of Cyprus which he promised for ever to hold of the Sultans of Egypt as their Vassal and Tributary At which time the Sultan also by his Embassadors commanded Lewis to depart the Isle who by all means sought to have pacified the Sultan declaring unto him his rightful Title yet offering to pay unto him the wonted Tribute and to allow unto Iames a yearly Pension of ten thousand Ducats during his life But all in vain for Iames still present in the Sultans Court and wisely following his own suit at last concluded with the great Sultan who thought it more honour to make a King than to confirm a King and receiving of him a great Army returned into Cyprus where in short time he so distressed Lewis that he was glad to forsake the Island with his Wife and to return into his Country
was once attempted against the Portugals at Diu and Ormuz the like whereof Alphonsus Albuquercius the King of Portugal's Viceroy in India attempted when as with his light Horsemen running through that Country he thought upon a sudden to have spoiled Mecha and to have robbed the Sepulchre of Mahomet as had hapned under the Empire of the Sultans and as Trajan the Emperour had long since in like manner attempted to rage and spoâ—l Those Places which he possessed in Affrick were as they said to be set upon and the Coast of Spain towards the Mediterranean to be infested so at length to gratifie the Moors his Subjects who still instantly requested the same that so they might more safely traffick and travel and that so the Moors might at length be delivered from the imperious command of the Spaniards of which exploit Sultan Selymus lately before dead was in his life time well perswaded but might now at this time be much more commodiously done for that the Moorish Nation was now greatly increased and much oppressed by the Spaniards and having got great Wealth by the Trade of Merchandise even by Nature or Religion had conceived a mortal hatred against the Spaniards whereunto might not a little avail the Ports in Affrick whereinto the Turks Fleet might at all times in safety retire And in brief that which was of greatest importance to the better success of this War the French King and the Queen of England had of their own accord promised the Continuation of their Wars and that the French King should invade Navarre and by force of Arms recover the right he pretended unto that Kingdom whilst in the mean time the Queen of England should not only trouble him in the West Indies and other Places of the Ocean toward the North and West but might also stir up new Broils in the Kingdom of Portugal where most part of the People with great impatience bear the proud command of the Spaniard as perswaded and that truly all their Prosperity and Quietness to have been lost together with their last King their true and lawful Sovereign For he at Peace with the Kings of France and England exceedingly thereby enriched his Subjects by Traffick whereas since they fell into the Hands of the Spaniard they daily complain of their new Losses and Dangers by Reason of his perpetual Wars Moreover that there was to be found great store of exiled Spaniards dispersed here and there which being malecontent and weary of the Spanish Government were fled not only out of Portugal but even out of Arragon and other parts of his Kingdom which now living in France England and Constantinople both secretly and openly liberally offered great helps the like whereof many of the Moors also promised All which together seemed to promise a most easie Expedition and certain Victory if any should upon the sudden invade Spain for that there was almost no use of Arms the Inhabitants at home seldom times exercising themselves therein neither in Places needful having any ordinary Garrisons and but few Horses fit for Service And that in fine it was to be considered Spain to be greatly bared of men which knew how valiantly and courageously to manage Arms for the often choice they make of them which almost most daily transported into the Indies Italy and the Low-Countries whereby the strength of his Country must needs be exceedingly impaired so that if they should be invaded with any strong and mighty Army they might seem hardly able to be holpen or defended by their own People but should need the Aid and help of the other near Provinces subject unto this Kingdom which if they should be either letted or stay to come in good time they should leave so much the more easie Victory unto their Enemies In the fifth place were they which went about to perswade Amurath to break his League with the Venetians using Reasons rather probable than true although they might seem unto the Turks less doubtful for that men easily and willingly believe such things as they themselves desire These men went about to prove no Expedition to be less difficult than this as judging of things present by the event of former Wars passed wherein the Turks had always taken something from the Venetians who to redeem their Peace were divers ways enforced to satisfie the Turks That the Venetian Common-wealth was afraid of the Turks and abhorred War was manifest they said in that that in all Actions it had propounded unto it self Peace as the end thereof and after the manner of their Ancestors never entred into Wars but enforced thereunto and would happily upon the first denouncing of Wars willingly depart with certain Places for fear of greater harm or to be utterly overcome as it appeared they did in the yielding up of Cyprus The Power and Force whereof was not so great as that it could alone stand against the great Sultan and to confederate it self with others would require no small delay for the great and many Difficulties which commonly used to arise in making of Leagues not being now so conjoyned with the Spaniard as in times past of whose aid it being of late destitute was constrained to make an hard Peace with Selymus And if so be the Spaniard would needs joyn himself unto the Venetians against the Turks yet that he could by no means afford unto them such Aid and Supplies as were of necessity to be required unto so great a War he himself being in his Wars otherwise so intangled as for all other Confederation they could make without him to be but weak and to no purpose That which the Pope could do herein to be but little for albeit he should according to his Duty exhort other Christian Princes to give Aid and to stir them up unto this War yet that beside some little supply of Money hardly drawn out of his own Coffers and the Ecclesiastical Revenues he could scarcely perform any thing more or when he had done his uttermost devoir could but joyn five Gallies of his own unto the Venetian Fleet which with the Gallies of the Duke of Savoy of the Knights of Malta and of the Florentines could but make a Fleet of some twenty Gallies which was but a small matter Besides that the Turks were perswaded that betwixt the Venetian State and the other Christian Princes was no such Friendship and good Agreement as the greatness of the imminent Danger of that War and as the necessity of the cause would require and that hitherto their Treasures had been so exhausted in paying the Debt they were run into in the last War and in building of Fortresses that happily they were not now so furnished with Coin as was requisite for the defraying of so great a War. And unto this War against the Venetians consented almost all the Visier Bassaes differing only in this Where or against what Place of the Venetian Territory this War were to be first begun some naming one place
that we soon struck our Top Mast boared our main Yard and so fished the Mast it self where it was defective that with the help of our fore-Sail and the benefit of better Weather we safely arrived on the Thirty first in the Port of Lisbon The Match being then in Treaty between Charles the Second our Dread Soveraign and Catherine the Infanta of Portugal now our gracious Queen all the concernments of England were extreamly acceptable to the Court of Portugal and particularly the Person of the Earl of Winchelsea a Peer of England qualified with the Character of Ambassadour Extraordinary to the Ottomon Port. For at our first arrival there I being then Secretary to the said Earl was employed to carry a Letter to the King which was received by the Councel of State then sitting After the Letter had been read and considered I was called in and an answer given me by the Marquis de Nissa and D. Gasper Faria de Sevarin then Secretary of State to this purpose That they were glad so grateful an opportunity presented whereby they might Demonstrate their warm and real affections towards the King of England by serving his Ambassadour in so necessary a piece of Service as that which was required That Orders were given to furnish the Ship with a Mast and what she wanted out of the Kings Stores and that both his Excellency and Lady with all their Retinue should be welcomed a shore with due regard to their Quality and Condition The Day following his Excellency was complemented from the King by a Maestro de Campo sent to him on Ship-board and being come ashoar and lodged at the House of Mr. Maynard the English Consul he was visited by D. Francisco de Melo who had before and was afterwards employed Ambassadour into England and by D. Antonio de Saousa and others After Eight days his Excellency had Audience of the King and the Queen Mother and was received by both with many demonstrations of a hearty desire to contract a firm Alliance with England He was afterwards invited by the Conde de Odemira Governour of the young King and Chief Minister of Portugal to a Quinta or Garden-house at Bellain where were present the Duke of Calaval the Visconde de Castel Blanco and D. Francisco de Melo the entertainment was very splendid with variety of Dishes and Wine corresponding rather with the inordinate Tables of English than with the frugality and temperate Diet of Spaniards Our Ship being in this interim refitted we returned aboard on the Twelfth of November the Earl of Winchelsea being presented by the King with several Hampers of sweet-Meats Vessels of Wine and other Provisions for his Voyage and his Lady by the Queen Mother with a Jewel of considerable value and with diverse boxes filled with Purses of perfumed Leather and Amber Comfits On the Thirteenth we set Sail being design'd by Order of his Majesty for Algier to settle a Peace with that unsetled People where arriving on the Tewenty second day about Three a Clock in the Afternoon we came to an Anchor about Two Miles distant from the Town which we saluted with Twenty one Guns but received none again in answer thereunto it being the custome of that People not to acknowledge Civilities but to repay injuries and not requite benefits We found that they had already begun to break the Peace Having brought in thither an English Ship which lay between hope and fear of freedom or seizure So soon as we had dropt our Anchors a Boat came from that Ship acquainting us of the State of Algier and how near Matters were to a Rupture with them by this Boat my Lord Ambassadour sent a Letter to the Consul appointing him to come aboard who the next Day being the Twenty third appeared accordingly to whom his Excellency imparted the Instructions and Orders from his Majesty to renew the Peace on the former Articles and particularly to insert a Caution That the Algerines should on no terms search our Ships but that the Passengers and goods thereon whether of English or Strangers should be free and exempted from all seizure and Pyracy whatsoever I being appointed to assist the Consul in this Treaty accompanied him ashoar and in the first place we applyed our selves to Ramadam Bullock-bashee then the Chief of their Divan and Head of their Government whom we acquainted that on the Ship in the road was an Earl of England sent Ambassadour by his Majesty our King to the Grand Signor and in his way thither was appointed to touch at Algier and to inform the Government of that place of the happy Restoration of his Majesty to the Throne of his Father and to confirm the same Peace which was before concluded with usurped Powers and so delivered him the Letters from his Majesty which were superscribed in this manner To their Excellencies the Aga Iiabashees and rest of the Honourable Council of State and War in the City and Kingdom of Algier Ramadam answered us that he was well satisfied with the Proposal that there was a Peace already with the English and that they were Brothers that the next Day was appointed for a general Divan of great and small at which we might freely open our breasts and declare whatsoever was committed to us by our King and his Ambassadour But for the better understanding of the State of Algier at this time we must observe that for many years before this government was composed of a Divan the Chief and Head whereof was a Pasha sent every Three years to preside there and had so continued until that some few Months before this time one Halil a poor Fellow who had no better Estate than the Sixteenth part of a Vessel but bold and desperate complained one Day in open Divan against the Pasha accusing him of many miscarriages with which he so affected the Divan that he rudely threw him from his Seat drubbed him trampled on him and plucked the Hairs out of his Beard which is the greatest mark of ignominy and contempt that any Person can offer to another and having committed him to Prison and Chains he with the Divan took upon himself the unlimited Power of an Arbitrary Government And thus for the space of Six or Eight Months this Miscreant tyrannized and ruled without controul Until an obscure and contemptible Moor an ordinary Jerbin or Countryman instigated as was supposed by the Aga or General of the Souldiery approaching near him in the Streets under pretence of kissing his Vest struck him with a long Knife between the Ribs which boldness of the Moor so astonished the Attendants which were about him that none had power to lay hands on the Murderer but suffered him to depart and fly unpursued Of this wound Halil dyed in Two days in which time he nominated Ramadam his Kinsman to be the most proper and fit Person to succed him in the Government and this recommendation so prevailed on the Divan that he was elected
in his stead Mahomet Effendi Treasurer in the time when the Giurbaes governed an ill Man and of a bad Reputation Nor could the Vizier think himself secure whilst Yeghen Command his Forces so near as Sophia and was disobedient to all Commands aspiring to no less than to be Seraskier or General of the Army nor could it be thought he would stop there or at any other point until he came to be Grand Vizier Wherefore Mustapha Vizier dispatched private Orders to have Yeghen strangled who remained hovering about between Belgrade and Sophia keeping all Strangers from any near approach so that the execution of those Orders were respited until a more opportune conjuncture For he continued still in Rebellion having refused to go to Bosna declaring that he would not give up the Command of Seraskier of the Army in Hungary to Hassan Pasha or any other Whilst these things were in Agitation an Envoy arrived at Constantinople from the Emperor of Morocco with Letters of Complement to the Grand Seignior upon his Exaltion to the Throne and with Offers year 1688. that as the Christians were united together against the Musulmen so he was ready to give his Assistance to the Grand Seignior in defence of the Mahometan Faith. It being now the Spring time when the Turks always put their Horses out to Grass and Soil The Imbrahor or Master of the Horse invited the Grand Seignior into the Fields to see in what order his Horses were governed at their Pasture and there gave him a very Splendid Entertainment The Grand Seignior was so pleased with the Dinner the Air and the Fields that in two or three days afterwards he went again to the Meadows at Cat-Hanah about two English Miles at farthest from Pera where he was again feasted not without the Censure and Murmuring of the People who said That in a short time he would follow the Example of the late Sultan in his Diversions and Negligence in the Government so they should have changed as indeed they had to little purpose It began now plainly to appear That the Turks by reason of their intestine Divisions had made very inconsiderable Preparations either by Land or Sea year 1688. Howsoever something was necessary to be and therefore in the first place Eleven Gallies were sent to Guard the Black Sea against the Cosacks who as was reported were preparing to make Incursions into the Parts near Constantinople as they had usually done in former times But their chief Apprehensions and Fears were raised from a Report that the Imperialists were marching towards Belgrade And indeed they had great Reasons for it for they had nothing of Force on the Frontiers nor nothing to oppose them in case the Emperor should think fit to push forward his Conquests which nothing could obstruct besides Famine and Hunger in a March through a ruined and a desart Country The Turks in these extremities finding no safety or success and protection in their Arms had recourse to their last refuge which was if possible to obtain a Peace with the Emperor a Method which they had never practised before since they were an Empire to be the first to Sue for a Peace But now Necessity pressing them they were for dispatching an Ambassador to the Kings of France England and the States of Holland whose design substance and main drift of his Embassy was only pretended to give notice unto those Powers of the Exaltation of Sultan Solyman to the Throne of the Ottoman Empire But with private Instructions to insinuate unto those Princes severally to interpose in a Mediation of Peace and to use their endeavours to give a stop to the Career of the Imperial Arms which good Offices in order to a Peace might reasonably be expected from Kings and Princes who had for many years maintained a happy Peace and Correspondence with the Ottoman Port where their Ambassadors had been treated with Friendship and their Merchants with Security and their Trade flourished on all sides with Profit and Advantage One Achmet Aga being proposed for this Embassy he was severally treated and feasted by the three Ambassadors who by the Discourses they had entertained with him observed him to be a Person discreet and better practised in Affairs of Countries different to their own than commonly Turks are who think it an Indignity to them to look into the States of Christian Princes year 1688. which so lately the Ottoman Empire overlooked as unworthy their Consideration To Transport this Ambassador a French-ship was appointed and his Equipage prepar'd but by the Conduct of Sir William Trumbal English Ambassador then at Constantinople and the confused Affairs of the Turks this Embassy did not succeed And indeed the Turky Company could not expect to Reap any thing from thence but trouble and expence and perhaps displeasure at the Port in case his Entertainment had not equalled that which he had received at Paris Howsoever the Turks were better resolved in the Point of that Embassy designed to the Emperor And to that end they chose Hamedi Effendi one who had been bred up a Clerk and afterwards came to be first Accountant in the Treasury and Mauvro Cordato a Greek by Nation a Man of Intrigue and Business having for many years been employed for Interpreter to the Grand Vizier ever since the Death of Panaioti The Turks being ashamed as a thing below the Dignity of their Empire to Sue for Peace thought it might prove a certain consequence in Answer to a civil Letter written by the Grand Seignior to the Emperor giving notice of his Exaltation to the Ottoman Throne much after the same Tenour with that which was written to the other Powers with this Addition and Alteration year 1688. That whereas the ancient Amity and Friendship had been broken during the Reign of his Predecessor he as to his own Person had not been consenting nor instrumental thereunto and that God having punished the Authors of this War he resolved to take different Measures and considering the Emperour as his Neighbour he was desirous to enter into a League of Friendship with him and to establish a firm and lasting Peace in case the Emperor should be inclining thereunto These Ambassadors were appointed to begin their Journey towards the end of Iune towards whose expences the Grand Seignior intended to allow Six thousand Dollars which was esteemed a sufficient Provision for them until they came to the Confines whence according to the ancient Canon they are to be conducted by the Emperor's Guards and defray'd at his Expence Their Retinue consisted of 60 persons half of which was habited in the Turkish and half after the Grecian Fashion As yet they had received no Passports for them but in assurance that they would be granted the Ambassadors were posted away to Belgrade there to remain in expectation of them The New Grand Seignior during all these Combustions and Negotiations minded little or nothing of Business nor indeed was
loath to stay the course of his Victory by the Valour of the Defendants resolved there to spend their lives he departed thence and marched directly unto Ierusalem the chief City of that Kingdom and approaching the same gave summons thereunto perswading the Citizens yet whiles they had time to yield themselves together with the City unto his mercy Which they refusing to do he inclosed the same with his Army and by the space of fourteen days laid hard Siege unto it leaving nothing undone or attempted that might help for the gaining thereof At which time the Citzens considering the danger they were in and that the Strength of the Kingdom with the Flower of their Chivalry were in the late Battel lost and that they were not now to expect any forreign aid agreed upon certain conditions to yield up the City which were That such Christians as would might remain still with their Liberty and Goods and that such as would not might in safety depart with so much of their Goods as they could carry upon their Backs These Conditions being by Saladin granted the Holy City was unto him delivered the second of October in the year 1187. after that it had been by the Christians holden from the time that it was by Godfrey of Bulloin and other Christians won about 89 years Saladin entring into the City prophaned first the Temple of the Lord converting it unto the use of his Mahometan Superstition the other Churches he used as Stables for his Horses only the Temple of the Sepulchre was by the Christians for a great sum of Mony redeemed and so kept undefiled The Latine Christians he thrust out of the City yet with leave to carry with them such things as they were able themselves to bear who travelling with heavy Burthens but much more heavy Hearts some to Tripolis some to Tyre some to Antioch for only these three Cities were now left unto the Christians in Syria were by the false Count of Tripolis by the way lightened of their Burthens to the increasing of the heavyness of their Hearts most of them being by him and his Followers spoyled of that little they had by the mercy of their Enemies saved in the ruin of their State. Unto the other Christians that were natural Syrians Greeks Armenians Georgians and such like Saladin appointed certain places of the City for them to dwell in where some of their Posterity were long time after to be found All the Monuments of the Christians were by the barbarous Mahometans and Turks defaced only the Sepulchre of our blessed Saviour Christ with the Monument of Godfrey of Bulloin and his Brother Baldwin for the reverence of the mâ—n were by them spared In these so great troubles above twenty Thousand of the Christians perished amongst the rest the Count of Tripolis was shortly after found dead in his bed and as some say circumcised a manifest token of his Revolt not from the King only but from the Christian Faith also Ierusalem thus won Saladin returned again to the Siege of Ascalon which after he had by the space of ten days most straightly besieged was unto him by composition delivered wherein amongst other things agreed upon for the safe departure of the Citizens was comprised also that he should freely set at liberty Guy the King and Gerard Master of the Templars both before taken Prisoners as is before declared which he afterward performed Thus the victorious Turk still urging his good fortune departing thence attempted to have taken Tripolis but having made some proof of his own Forces and the Valor of the Defendants he was glad to give over the Siege and to depart as he came Marching thence with his Army because he would leave no place unattempted he laid Siege unto the City of Tyre where Conrade Marquess of Mont-Ferrat was a little before arrived with Isaac Angelus the Greek Emperors Fleet and a supply of certain Companies of good Souldiers Unto which place were come great numbers of the poor distressed Christians fled from Ierusalem and other places so that the City was full of Men. This City Saladin most furiously assaulted but was by the Christians notably repulsed not without the great loss of his best Souldiers At which time also the Admiral of Sicilia discomfited his Fleet at Sea and landing his Forces came unlookt for upon the back of him so that having his Hands full before by them of the Town and charged behind by these new come Enemies he was glad to retire in such hast as that he leâ—t his Tents with all that therein was unto the Spoyl of the Christians Within a few days after Saladin having again repaired his Army invaded the Country about Antioch with Fire and Sword destroying whatsoever was subject to his Fury even to the gates of the City but knowing that so strong a City was not without great charge and long Siege to be won he thought it good to make proof if it might by policy or corruption be gained Wherein he so cunningly dealt with the Patriarch that he had by his means the Castle otherwise almost impregnable for gold betrayed unto him By means whereof he in short time became Lord and Master of that famous City about nineteen years before hardly gained by the whole power of the Christians after eleven months Siege and with it five and twenty Cities more that depended on the fortune thereof with all the Provinces belonging thereunto always deemed to have been the third part of the Kindom of Ierusalem The loss of so great a City together with the Ruin of the whole Kingdom had in a short space filled every corner of Christendom with the heavy Report thereof Wherewith the Christian Princes of the West namely Frederick the German Emperor with Frederick his Son Duke of Suâ—via Philip the French King Hâ—nry the Second King of England Otto Duke of Burgundâ— Lâ—â—poâ—â— Duke of Austria with many other gâ—eat Princes and Prelates of Germany Italy and other places not a little moved as also with the pitiful complaints of the Embassadors at the same time sent from the distressed Christians and the effectual perswasions of Clement the Third then Pope promised and all or most part indeed made great preparations which they afterwards though not all at once as letted by other occasions but at divers times imployed for the most part with the danger of their own Persons against the Turks for the relief of the poor oppressed Christians and recovery of the Holy Land but with what success shall hereafter God willing be declared Of which so great preparations made against him Saladin not ignorant set at liberty Guy the King of Ierusalem who contrary to his promise made at Ascalon he had now detained a year in Prison yet before his inlargement exacting of him an Oath Never by force of Arms afterwards to seek to recover his Kingdom or to revenge the wrongs he had sustained hoping thereby to stay the coming of the other
another there perished together others driven upon the Main were there beaten in pieces so that of that great Fleet before the Storm ceased perished about an hundred and twenty Sail with all the People as well Mariners as Souldiers left in them and great store both of Armor and Munition In such sort that most of the common Souldiers and Mariners which had escaped the Plague at Tunes there upon the Coast of Sicilia perished by Shipwrack Only Prince Edwards Fleet being in number but thirteen Ships escaped free without loss either of Ship or Man. Neither were they that were got to Land at Drepanum in much better case the Plague still following them whereof died Theobald King of Navar and Isabel his Wife King Lewis his Daughter Elizabeth the French Queen with a wonderful number of noble Gentlemen and other common Souldiers in such sort that Philip the French King discouraged with the greatness of the mortality and the miserable loss at Sea resolved there to make an end of the intended War and so returned into France as did the rest that were left every Man into his own Country Only Prince Edward having passed that Winter in Sicilia year 1271. with the first of the next Spring set forward again on his Voyage and in 15 days after arrived with his Fleet at Ptolemais where after he had by the space of a Month rested Himself and his Souldiers after their long travel and fully inquired of the State of the Country he with six or seven thousand Souldiers marching from Ptolemais about twenty Miles into the Land took Nazareth and put to Sword all them he found therein and so again returned After whom the Enemies following in hope to have taken him at some advantage he understanding thereof turned back upon them and killing a great number of them put the rest to flight And after that about Midsummer understanding that the Sarasins were again making Head at a place called Cakhow about forty Miles off he set forwards towards them and coming upon them early in the Morning before they were aware slew about a Thousand of them and dispersed the rest Aided also by the Nobility of Cyprus he with like success as before made a third Expedition against the Turks and Infidels insomuch that his Fame began to grow great amongst them and they to stand of him in no little dread But whilst he thus prevailed he was by foul Treachery almost taken out of the way The Admiral of Ioppa feigning himself desirous to become a Christian and willing to further the Princes proceedings had by a secret Messenger and Letters sundry times Intelligence with him as well concerning his own good Entertainment as the effecting of that which he had promised This Messenger by the Admiral thus employed was though to the Prince unknown one of the Assasines a company of most desperate and dangerous Men among the Mahometans who strongly deluded with the blind zeal of their Superstition and accounting it meritorious by any means to kill any great Enemy of their Religion for the performance thereof as Men prodigal of their Lives desperatly adventure themselves unto all kind of dangers So now this Messenger being resolved to die coming the fifth time unto the Prince and being searched for having any Weapon about him as the manner was had access unto him then lying in his Chamber upon his Bed in his Jerkin bare Headed because of the heat of the Weather where after due reverence done he pulled out certain Letters from his Lord unto the Prince which he read with great delight as penned of purpose for to please But as he was further questioning with him of many matters and all the company voided the desperate Messenger making as though he would have pulled out some other secret Letters suddenly pluckt out an envenomed Knife which he had secretly hidden about him thinking to have struck him into the belly as he lay for the avoiding of which stroke the Prince lifting up his Arm was therein grievously wounded But as the Villain was about to have doubled the stroak the Prince with his Foot gave him such a blow that he felled him to the ground and with that starting up caught him by the hand where in strugling with him for the knife and wresting it out of his hand he hurt himself therewith in the Forehead but getting it from him presently thrust it into the Murtherers Belly and so slew him The Princes Servants being not far off and hearing the bustling came running in where finding the Messenger dead on the floor one of them with a stool beat out his brains whereat the Prince took some displeasure for so striking a dead man. This danger of the Princes much troubled and grieved all the Christians in Syria and the more for that the wound in his Arm after it had been certain days well dressed by the skilful Surgeons and Physitians began to mortifie and grow black insomuch that they and others about him began to mutter among themselves and to look heavily upon the matter as not without danger Which he perceiving said unto them Why whisper you thus amongst your selves What see you in me Can I not be healed Tell me the truth and fear not Whereunto one of them answered And like your Highness we doubt not of your healing but that it will be painful for you to suffer If suffering said he may again restore my health I commit my self unto you work on me your skill and spare not So the next day they cut out all the dead and poysoned flesh out of his Arm and in fifteen days after perfectly cured his wound to the great rejoycing of all his People The great Sultan to clear himself of this so dishonourable a treachery sent three of his Noble men unto the Prince calling to witness his false Prophet That the same was done neither by him nor his consent Which Embassadors the Prince honourably used but suffered them not to come nigh him So having tarried eighteen Months at Ptolemais and no ayd coming from the other Christian Princes as was expected he took shipping and returning homeward landed first in Sicilia and from thence crossing over into Apulia and so travelling to Rome was there honourably entertained by Gregory the Tenth then Pope and from thence by the way of France arrived in England where he was shortly after crowned King in the year 1272. his Father the old King Henry the Third being a little before his return dead The year following Gregory the Tenth not ignorant of the hard estate of the Christians in Syria year 1273. as having there been of late himself with Prince Edward at which time he was in his absence elected Pope and now desirous to procure them some relief ratified the election of Rodulphus of Hapspurge unto the Empire upon condition That he should promise to take upon himself the Cross and to give them relief for the performance whereof he offered unto the
thus ended shortly after a great Sedition was raised at Constantinople by the Souldiers of the Court which returning out of Persia with great Insolency demanded their Pay. For the satisfying of whom by the consent of the great Sultan himself the Value of the Coin was inhansed and a new kind of Subsidy for levying of Money imposed upon the Subjects in general none excepted who standing upon their antient Liberties and Priviledges refused to pay it especially the Ianizaries and other Souldiers of the Court. Wherefore their Aga or Captain was commanded to appease them and to perswade them to pay the demanded Tribute in attempting whereof he was in danger to have been slain by the insolent Ianizaries and yet nevertheless for prevailing no more with them was in displeasure thrust out of his Office and another placed in his room that should have married Amurath's Daughter of whom for all that the Ianizaries would not accept in any case but threw Stones at him and threatned to kill him The next Night a great Fire arose in the City for the quenching whereof the Ianizaries were commanded as their Duty was to put to their helping hands which they not only most obstinately refused to do but also kept back others that brought Water for the quenching thereof and together with the other Souldiers of the Court did what they might to make it burn the faster With the rage of this Fire were consumed seven of their Temples twenty five great Inns fifteen thousand Houses with many Warehouses and Shops To appease this dangerous stir and to prevent further mischief commandment was given to the Beglerbeg of Graecia and David Passy a Jew the first Authors of this new Imposition that they should either gather the aforesaid Tribute by them devised and pay the Souldiers or by some other means to give them Contentment But here began the Priests publickly to perswade the People from payment of this new Tribute or any other such like perswading them in any case to defend their antient Liberties and Customs whereupon the Churches were by the Priests shut up publick Prayers for the Health of the Sultan intermitted the Bassaes Houses assaulted and all the City on a new hurly burly For the appeasing whereof Amurath was glad to yield unto the Ianizaries to pay the Souldiers out of his own Treasury to revoke his Mandates given out for the exaction of the new tribute and to deliver the two Perswaders thereof to the Pleasure of the Ianizaries who drew them up and down the Streets at Horses Tails and afterwards cutting off their Heads in scorn tossed them from hand to hand one to another as if they had been Tennise Balls About the latter end of September Sinan Bassa of Buda having with the assistance of the Sanzacks about Fille raised an Army of eleven thousand Souldiers with purpose to have spoiled all the upper part of Hungary came the sixth of October before the Castle of Putnoc and gave thereunto summons but finding them in the Castle better provided and more resolute than he had before supposed he departed thence and passing the River Schayo came to Sixo a Town of about five hundred Houses which after a sore battery he took and burnt it down to the Ground In the mean while Claudius Russel General for the Wars in that part of Hungary having assembled his Forces came upon him and after a hard fight put him to the worse when he had slain of his Turks about two thousand five hundred besides three hundred other drowned in the River Schayo Shortly after the Christians in like manner breaking into the Frontiers of the Turks took from them the Castles of Blavenstein Gestes with some other small Forts thereabouts in the upper part of Hungary year 1589 Sinan for that he had contrary to the League and without the Commandment of Amurath so unfortunately attempted War in Hungary was the next year in great Displeasure sent for to Constantinople and Ferat Bassa of Bosna late General of the Turks Army against the Persians and now but newly come home placed in his room at Buda Amurath before not ignorant of the great Preparation that Philip the King of Spain had made and of the invincible Armado as it was termed by him set forth for the Invasion of England the Fame whereof had long before filled a great part of the World as also of the evil Success thereof the last year viz. 1588 and of the purpose her Majesty of England had for the troubling of his rich Trade especially into the West Indies and for the relieving of Don Anthonio by him driven out of Portugal wrote unto her about this time concerning those and such like matters as had been moved by her Agent as followeth Amurath the Third Emperour of the Turks unto Elizabeth Queen of England France and Ireland greeting MOST Honourable Matron of the Christian Religion Mirror of Chastity adorned with the Brightness of Sovereignty and Power amongst the most chast Women of the People which serve Iesu Mistriss of great Kingdoms reputed of greatest Majesty and Praise among the Nazarites Elizabeth Queen of England to whom we wish a most happy and prosperous Reign You shall understand by our high and Imperial Letters directed unto you how that your Orator resiant in our stately and magnificent Court hath presented unto the Throne of our Majesty a certain writing wherein he hath certified us how that about four years ago you have made war upon the King of Spain for the abating and breaking of his Forces wherewith he threatneth all other Christian Princes and purposeth to make himself the sole Monarch both of them and all the World beside As also how that the same King of Spain hath by force taken from Don Anthonio lawfully created King of Portugal his Kingdom and that your Intention is that his Ships which go and come into the Indies may from henceforth be embarred and stayed from that Navigation wherein are yearly brought into Spain precious Stones Spices Gold and Silver esteemed worth many millions wherewith the aforesaid King as with a great Treasure enriched hath means to molest and trouble all other Christian Princes which if he shall still proceed to do he will make himself daily stronger and stronger and such an one as may not easily be weakned After that your aforesaid Orator requested our Highness in the beginning of the next Spring to send out our Imperial Fleet against him being assured that the King of Spain could not be able easily to withstand it for that he had now already received a great overthrow by your Fleet and being scarce able to withstand you alone if he should be on divers parts invaded must needs be overcome to the great benefit of all the Christian Princes as also of our Imperial State. Besides this that whereas the aforesaid Don Anthonio is by force driven out and deprived of his Kingdom that we to the imitation of our
be published That no man should go out of his House nor keep any Light in it after the ordinary Cry which is made an hour within night when as the Talismans crying from the tops of their Mosques invite the People to make the Sala or Prayer After the Publication of this Ordinance he sent certain Chaoux to intreat all the Ambassadors residing at the Port not to suffer their People to go out by night to the end that their liberty might not serve as a dangerous Example to others But notwithstanding all the Bassa's Entreaties and Prohibitions three English-men of the Ambassador's Train went out by night into the Street where they were met by the Provost of Pera who took them and presently without respect of the quality caused either of them to have an hundred and fifty blows with a Cudgel and then committed them to Prison the doors whereof are never opened but with a silver Key so strictly do they observe in Turkey the orders of the Princes Lieutenants without exception of Persons About the end of the Year the Patriarch of Constantinople by reason of divers Complaints made against him was deprived by the Grand Visier and one Cyrillus Patriarch of Alexandria a learned and religious Bishop was much against his Will preferred to the place The former Patriarch hereupon excommunicated all such as had wrought his Overthrow but he himself was banished into the Isle of Rhodes In his Passage the Bark wherein he went was cast upon Mytilene in which Place he renounced all Right and Claim to the Patriarchship before the Bishop of that Place and resigned it to the Bishop of Patras whereupon the Bishop came from Patras to Constantinople and laboured with the Visier Nassuf for the place who upon promise to pay him fifteen thousand Chequines which is ten thousand more than they were wont to pay made him a Grant thereof which Cyrillus the late elected Patriarch understanding he came with all the Grecians to expostulate the Business with the Grand Visier who answered That he was to do what he could for the Emperour's Profit and nothing against it wherefore if they would give so much as the other had promised Cyrillus should continue in the Place which the People were very willing to perform but Cyrillus refused it and so the other was made Patriarch who presently sent for the old Patriarch to come from Rhodes to make Peace with him for that they held not his Excommunication just being not deprived by a Council but only by the King. About the same time Nassuf the Grand Visier sent for the four Ambassadors of England France Venice and the States of the Low-Countries and the reason why he sent for them was to raise their Custom One in the Hundred more than the Merchants had formerly paid Whilst that the Sultan Achmat's Army drew near to Transilvania and fortified the Places which he held in those Countries Cosmo de Medicis Great Duke of Tuscany bent his generous Designs against the Fort of Agliman in Caramania in old time called Cilicia a Province which in the Writings of Antients hath been honoured with two famous Cities that is to say Tharsis the Country of St. Paul and Seleucia the Fort and Port whereof is called Agliman a Haven which in old time hath contained within its bosome the fearful Forces of the Pyrates of those days from thence in former times hath come forth a powerful Army of Pyrates with a thousand Sail so proudly rigged as many of them had their Sails of Purple the Tackling of Gold Thread and the Oars garnished with Silver marks of the Spoils of above four hundred Cities ruined by those Pyrates who struck a terror even to the Romans and forced them to avoid their Fury to set to Sea that great Fleet whereof Pompey the Great was General The Trophy year 1613. erected â—pon the Walls of Agliman of the Heads of forty Florentines lost in a Ship called the Prosper by the ignorance of the Captain which commanded in it made the Great Duke to study to have his Revenge for this Affront and his desire to abate the Pride of the common Enemy elevated his Mind to generous Enterprises In the end of March this present Year 1613 he armed six Gallies under the Command of the Admiral Inghirami the which he manned with six Companies of Foot commanded by Iulio de Conty called Montano General at Land besides forty Knights of the Order of S. Stephen and a good number of Gentlemen Adventurers among the which was Don Petro de Medicis This Fleet parted from Ligorne and came to Civita Vecchia In the beginning of April they took in many Noblemen and Gentlemen of France which attended them and would be Partakers in the Enterprise the which were the Earl of Candale eldest Son to the Duke of Espernon Cipierre Themines De Vic Monterrault De la Tour and his Brother Boissiere Villandre Vernegue Du plessis De la Motte magnus Avenes Del Tour Sainct Cyre Monplaisir and Loyres About mid April the Gallies landed in the night near unto a little Town in Asia the Less called Ieronda held for that Geronda of the Antients but their Descent was fruitless they found it desart by the flight of the Inhabitants who had prevented all Surprises They returned again to their Gallies and sailing towards the East they encountred three Vessels like unto their Caramousals the which they set upon and took and about the Fifteenth of May having scoured the Levant Seas they resolved to attempt Agliman Upon the way they took a Vessel called Grippe which instructed them of the Estate of the Fortress They understood there were two Gallies of Cyprus in the Port that the Place was well furnished with all things necessary and guarded without by a good number of Horse-men and that within few days after one of the said Gallies should come out of the Port of Agliman and go to the Island of Pappadula to fetch a new Mast. Inghirami thought to prevent it carrying his whole Fleet thither the which he laid close in the Island to surprise the Turkish Galley but it having discovered his Fleet put out to Sea and with speed returned to the Port of Agliman to give the alarm unto the Country Notwithstanding the Christians resolved to assault it they went with their Fleet to the Port Cavalier twelve miles from Agliman from whence they sent a Long-boat to discover the which brings them word that the whole Country was in Arms. These News might well have daunted the Courages of some that had been less generous yet they pass on and about three of the Clock in the Morning they came near the Shore being covered with the silence of the Night so as before six of the Clock they had made their Landing about a mile and a half from the Port. The Seignior of Montano and the Earl of Candale with some few choice men landed first to discover a mile from
which had been fought wherein there had been an hundred thousand men slain And although the Turks lost the greatest number yet they remained Masters of the Field and spoiled the Perâ—ians Camp who was retired or fled for that the manner of the Sophy is to fight with the Turks in retiring or giving way a little and with this manner of fighting they have always made Head against the Turks After this Overthrow the Visier advanced with his Army and entred far into Persia which made many doubt that his Return would prove difficult yet soon after there came Letters to Constantinople importing That the Turks being in Persia in great distress for Victuals the Sophy had sent an Ambassador to the Visier to demand Peace promising hereafter to satisfie the Tributes of Silk which he ought yearly unto the Turk and that the Visier in regard of the necessity of his Army had accepted his Offer and granted him Peace the which Sultan Osman did afterwards ratifie After the conclusion whereof the Sophy sent many Camels loaden with Victuals unto the Turks Army which was in great distress and want During the Turks War in Persia upon the Anniversary day of Sultan Achmat there appeared in the Night a Comet over the City of Constantinople in form like unto a crooked Sword or Turks Scimiter and it was so great as it extended from the Meridian near unto our Zenith unto the Horizon the point began to shew it self an hour after midnight and then it appeared little and somewhat whitish and gave but a glimpse after an hour it was more apparent and of a deeper colour and the more it did rise the redder it was and like unto blood but at the break of day it vanished by little and little in the light and it was so big when the point approached near unto the Zenith as the Hilt was hidden under the Horizon The Mathematicians did observe that it followed the motions of the Heavens it did always rise in one place and the bending of the said Sword was toward Crates more Southerly than it It did appear directly in the East a quarter toward the South the point coming directly towards Constantinople and the Blade extending it self to the said East a quarter to the South which is justly the part where Persia is situated The Edge looked directly towards Constantinople the which made men discourse diversly and many were amazed fearing that it did signifie the loss and defeat of their Army in Persia whose Return they feared much Vri and Husseine Chiaus having finished his Embassy in France came into England with the like Charge and had Audience from his Majesty at White-hall Sir Thomas Glover being Interpreter from whom I received a true discourse of his whole Speech as followeth The Turkish Ambassador's Speech to his Majesty HAc subhanehu ve Allahuteale Saadetlu ve izzetlu Padishah hazeretlerinung vmriny ve deuletiny ziyad ve berziyad eileie Amen yah Rabil alemin Ziyade cudretlu ve saadetlu Sultan Ali Osman Chan Padishah Hazeretleri saadetlu Padishah Hazeretlerine juzbin selamler ve doaler idub bu namei humaiun saadet maakrunile Sultanum Hazeretlerine irsal idub vmidleri oldurchi maabenilerinde munakid olan sulhu selah bu anedeghin ne veczuzre chywz olundise halia dachi ol vslub vzre her daim giunden ginne artirub mucarer olmasina murad humaiunleridur Ali Osman Padishahung dachi Lala ve Bash vezirazam Bassa hazeretleri saadetlu Sultanum hazeretlerine juz bin selamber idub bu mektub sherifleri dachi haki pay sheriflerine irsal idub doaler ider Assitanei saudette dachi mutemekin olan elczighiz nam Paulo Pinder Cullighiz haki pay sheriflerine juz kylyndikdensongra mubarek aiaghyn pusse idub bu mektub Sultanum hazeretlerine irsal eiledy ler. The Interpretation hereof is thus THat most true incomprehensible and most high God increase and multiply your Majesties Years in all Happiness and Felicity Amen oh thou Lord of the World. The most invincible most mighty and most happy Sultan Osman Chan of the Othoman Empire Monarch sendeth unto your excellent Majesty a hundred thousand Salutations and Greetings evermore praying the most high God for your Majesties Happiness sendeth unto your Highness with all possible Honour and Renown this his Imperial and most noble Letter and withal hopeth that the sacred bond of Peace which hath been hitherto inviolably on your Majesties parts kept and observed your Majesty will be well pleased still on your part with daily increase more and more of Friendship earnestly to continue therein And his Imperial Majesty on his behalf is also resolved in like manner evermore punctually to keep and observe the same Also the most mighty Emperour's Tutor and his chief Visier Bassa hath addressed to the dust of your noble Feet this his most honourable Letter with a thousand Commendations praying everlastingly that mighty God for your Majesties long Life and Happiness Also your Majesties Ambassador at Constantinople your Slave Paul Pinder bowing his Forehead to the dust of your Majesties Feet and most humbly kissing your Highness blessed Feet hath directed unto your Majesty this his submissive Letter This that now followeth is the said Ambassador's Speech to his Majesty at the taking of his Leave at White-hall SAadetlu Padishahum Nitekim bu kullighiz haki pay sheriflerine effendimuz olan Cudretlu ve adaletlu Ali Osman Padishah Hazeretlerinung name humaiunlerin destimuzile teslin eileduk Regia ve temenamuz budurki Sultanum hazaretcleri dachi angha giore effendimuze name sheriflerile giouab idub bu killighize teslim èi lemek erzany buriurila ve herdaim saadette ve deulette peydar ola The Interpretation verbatim is thus MOST happy Emperour As I have with mine own Hands bowing my self to the dust of your Princely Feet appresented unto your excellent Majesty the most mighty and high Sultan Osman my Lord and Master his Imperial Letter so likewise I most humbly beseech your Majesty that you will be pleased in conformity thereof to vouchsafe your princely Answer by your noble Letter and to deliver the same into the hands of me your Slave and be ever Partaker of all Blessedness and Happiness A Copy of the Letter of Sultan Osman the Othoman Emperour written to the King's Majesty and presented by Hussein Chiaus ALthough in this transitory World if the King or the Beggar should enjoy the longest term of Life that might be and obtain all that his heart could wish yet it is most certain that in the end he must depart and be transported to the World Eternal and it is well known unto the wise that it is impossible for man to abide for ever in this World. The occasion of this Prologue is that the immortal omnipotent and only God hath by his divine Will and Pleasure called unto himself our Father of blessed Memory Sultan Achmat Chan who in life was happy and in death laudable and departing out of this momentary World to be nearer the merciful Creator being changed into perfect Glory and eternal Bliss hath his habitation on high
is a Prediction of some great Troubles and Alterations For either the opening of this Book in the Womans hand doth foretel our falling away from the first intent of our Law whereat these armed Men departed as confounded with the guilt of their own Consciences or else it signifies some other Book in which we have not yet read and against which no power shall prevail so as I fear our Religion will be proved corrupt and our Prophet an Impostor and then this Christ whom they talk of shall shine like the Sun and set up his Name everlastingly Hitherto the Company was silent but hearing him speak so boldly they charged him with Blasphemy and knowing their Law which makes all Blasphemy capital they presently condemned him and having the Beglerbegs consent and Warrant they put him to death As their Rage against him was violent so their Execution was extraordinary for they neither cut off his Head nor strangled him as they usually do to Malefactors but they tortured him by degrees for stripping him first naked they gave him an hundred blows on the soles of his Feet with a flat Cudgel until the Blood issued forth the poor Priest crying continually on the Woman that opened the Book After which they took a Bull 's Pizzle and beat all his body until the Sinews crack'd and in the end they laid him upon a Wheel and with an Indian Sword made of Sinews they brake his Bones to pieces the poor Man crying to the last gasp O thou Woman with the Book save me and so he dyed At which time there was a fearful Tempest The Beglerbeg sent certain Spahies to the Port of Sidon to imbark for Constantinople to the end they might advertise the Emperour of these Tidings Sultan Osman from the first entrance into his Reign was freed from all Cares of foreign War or intestine Combustions for he had that happiness being himself very young and not able to Govern so potent an Estate as by the Counsel and Assistance of Halil Bassa his Grand Visier he had forced the King of Persia to demand a Peace and to pay the Tribute which had been formerly promised His Rebels in Asia were all pacified and the Truce with the Emperour which had been somewhat interrupted by misinterpretation or the practise of bad Ministers was newly confirmed a little before his coming to the Crown onely Moldavia had been the Theatre of War for some years where his Father had exercised his Arms and imployed his Forces to advance whom he pleased to be Vayvod of that Countrey against another party that was supported by the Polonians as you have formerly heard Michna Prince of Valachia being made Vayvod of Moldavia by Achmat and the Polonian party wholly overthrown in the Year 1616 he enjoyed it not long but whether he dyed of a natural Death or fell into disgrace with the Grand Seignior I do not read yet I find that after him there was another Vayvod or Prince of Moldavia who is yet living but in disgrace with the Sultan his Name is Casparo Gratsiani and to the end you may understand that the Turks never respect the Birth and Quality of any Man in their Advancements I will relate what this Man was from the mouth of him that knew him very well This Casparo was born at Gretz a Town of great strength belonging unto the Arch-dukes of Austria by the which a Branch of that House is distinguished from the rest and whereof the Emperour now reigning is the head but being a Man of small Fortune and little expectance in his own Countrey he went to Constantinople and put himself in Service with Sir Thomas Glover before that he was Ambassador for his Majesty to the Grand Siegnior under whom he learned both to write and read the Turkish Tongue After which he came with him into England and there by his recommendation was imployed to Constantinople for the redeeming of young Sir Thomas Sherley who was then a Prisoner among the Turks Having performed his Charge orderly and being come to Venice with the young Knight hearing that Sir Thomas Glover was sent Ambassador to the Grand Seignior he left Sir Thomas Sherley and went to Constantinople to his old Master where he was imployed yearly to buy or exchange Christians for Turks carrying the Christians into Italy and so returning Turks for them About the end of Achmat's Reign arriving at Constantinople with a Ship full of Turks which he had exchanged he acquainted the Bassa Visier with the good Service he had done unto the Grand Seignior who demanding of what Countrey he was and his Breeding asked him if he would undertake a Service which should be for his Advancement which was to go unto the Emperour to reconcile all Difficulties concerning the Peace wherein he carried himself so discreetly as Commissioners were appointed who concluded all Difficulties as you have heard But before his return home the Grand Seignior was dead yet he pressed the Bassa for the performance of his Promise desiring him that he might be made Vayvod of Moldavia which the Bassa effected but the Presents he gave advanced him more than his Merits Since he grew into some disgrace so as the Grand Seignior making choice of another Vayvod gave Charge to certain Capigies to go into Moldavia to strangle Casparo and that they should take four hundred Turks upon the Frontiers to assist them But Casparo having good Spies at Constantinople who advertised him of their Design resolved to prevent them wherefore taking some Troops with him he met them upon the way and cut them all in pieces then returning to Yas he slew one thousand Turks After which he fled into Poland with two thousand Horse from whence they write that he hath made divers Incursions into Moldavia and committed great Spoils upon the Turks being assisted by the Cossacks and keeps possession of the Countrey although there be another Vayvod made by the Turk Sultan Osman seems to be much incensed against the Polonians as well for this support as for former quarrels making it his colour for the levying of the greatest Army that hath been seen since that Solyman went unto the Siege of Agria consisting as it is said of three hundred thousand Men having drawn down all his Forces out of Asia God knows where he will imploy it but it is much to be feared that he will make use of this division betwixt Christian Princes who should unite their Wills and Forces to oppose them against the common Enemy of Christendom who watcheth only to get an Advantage little regarding his Word and Promise The Turk having no imployment for his Forces by Land sent threescore Gallies to Sea to make some Enterprise upon the Christians They came into the Mediterranean Sea and having coasted the Island of Sicily they sent twenty Gallies to land in the Kingdom of Naples where they surprised the Town of Manfredonia and spoiled it carrying away fourteen or fifteen
having given Two hours space for to carry the intelligence we weighed our Anchors and stood in for the Port of Constantinople At this time a Bostangee one belonging to the Grand Signior's Garden came aboard sent by the Bostangee-bashee or Head of the Gardeners to discover and know what Ship it was of such Equipage and greatness advising us also that the Grand Signior was seated in a Chiosk or Summer-house on the corner Wall of the Seraglio Having thus our Anchor aboard with a fresh and favourablegale our Flags and Ensigns displayed and a Streamer at every Yard-arm our Guns and Wast-clothes out and being near the Wall of the Seraglio the same Bostangee came again aboard acquainting us that it was the Grand Signior's pleasure that we should rejoyce with Guns which was his expression the Ship having her Sails swelled out with a gentle Gale and the swiâ—tness of her motion retarded by the current gave the Turks an opportunity to take a full prospect of her the decks being full of men we fired Sixty one Guns as we passed and with that order that the Vessel could never appear with better advantage had she been described by the Hand of the most skilful Painter And thus we came to an Anchor on Toppennau side where Sir Thomas Bendysh came immediately aboard to congratulate the safe arrival of this new Ambassador And now here it may be enquired whether the Seraglio returned any answer to this salute by those Guns which lye under the Garden-wall of which most or all are dismounted I answer noâ— for this having been the first Man of War or first Royal ship that ever carried up an English Ambassador to Constantinople it having been the custom formerly to have them transported thither on some goodly Merchant-ship laden with the rich Commodities of our Country a return of Guns was never demanded or expected and perhaps it was a matter not then thought of which if it had and been required it is probable in that conjuncture if ever it would have been granted both because old Kuperlâ—e the Father then governed who was a great friend to the English and Enemy to the French whose Ambassador was then under restraint would have in meer opposition and hatred to them bestowed those honours on our Nation which at another time could not have been extorâ—ed for a great Sum of Money and so much I collect from the very words of Kuperlee who after our Lord Ambassador had made his Entrance in a more splendid manner than usual as we shall understand by the sequel he demanded of our Chief Druggerman how the French resented this treatment He answered not well but with an envious Eye as he supposed let them burst with malice replied the Vizier Of late years since the glory and greatness of France their Ambassadors have been always transported up to Constantinople in the Kings Ships Monsieur la Haye the younger came on a Man of War of the Kings and a Fireship Monsieur de Nointel with Two men of War and a Fireship and now lately Monsieur de Guilleragues with no less an Equipage than the former All which before they entered Constantinople made a stop about the Seven Towers capitulating first to have a re-salute from the Seraglio before they would pass their Complement to that place which being denied as a thing never practised the French Men of War have of late passed with silence without giving or receiving a salute Howsoever as things stand now I should scarce advise that English Men of War should insist upon the like for we having once done it a custom may be pretended and that may give a beginning to such a dispute which a new Ambassador ought studiously to avoid the present circumstances of France not suiting exactly with the sole Interest of Trade which is exercised by England Against the next Day being the Eighteenth things were provided for the entrance of his Excellency and indeed with that state and handsome Equipage that neither any Embassador from England nor yet from the Emperor passed with greater Splendor and Honour than this For when his Excellency first descended from the Ship into his Boat the Ship fired Fifty one Guns so leisurely that they so continued until he set his Foot on the shoar where mounting on Horse-back covered with a rich Velvet Foot-cloth the whole Equipage marched in this Order on Horse-back also First the Vayvod of Galata and his Men. 2. The Captain of the Janisaries with his Janisaries 3. The Chaous-bashee with his Chaouses 4. The English Trumpeters 5. The English Horsemen Merchants of Constantinople and those of Smyrna which came to attend his Excellency by order of the Factory being in number Six with their Servants 6. The Embassadors Druggermen and Janisaries 7. His Excellency with St. Thomas Bendysh attended with their Pages and Footmen 8. The Secretary and Gentlemen 9. The Countess of Winchelsea in her Coach and Three other Coaches following with her Women covered with Red-cloth made after the fashion of Waggons lying on the carriages unhung 10. Which were followed by some Officers and Reformadoes of the Ship. Such an appearance as this being Extraordinary the Streets were crouded with People and all Windows filled with Spectators and that which made the passage more uneasy was the Rabble scrambling for Five Sol-pieces of which sort of Money 500 were by Order of the Lord Ambassador scattered amongst the People who regarded not the danger of being trampled under foot whilst they had the Silver in their Eye His Excellency being thus lodged at his House at Pera he was immediately saluted from the Emperors Resident by his Secretary and soon after by Signor Padavino Secretary to their Excellencies Balarino and Capello of whom we shall hereafter have occasion to name being those who negotiated the Affairs of the Venetian Republick And the next Day following the like Complement was passed from the French Ambassador and the Dutch Agent Three days after the Grand Signior sent a Present to his Excellency of Ten Sheep Fifty Hens a Hundred Loaves of Bread Twenty Sugar-loaves Twenty Wax candles Ten whereof were white and Ten yellow This we mention particularly because it was a Gift anciently bestowed in the times of the first Ambassadors and though it had not been of late years practised yet being found in the Old Registers the custom was again revived because the Turks were in an humour to gratifie and shew all the Honour they could to the English Ambassador On the Twenty eighth of this Month of Ianuary his Exellency had his first Audience of the Great Vizier and being attended thither and met by the Turkish Officers on Constantinople side in the same manner as when he first landed he was conducted to the Viziers Palace and being held up under the Arm by Two of his Gentlemen that being the fashion of great men amongst the Turks he was introduced to the Presence of the Vizier who being aged and decrepit
more numerous than the multitudes of their Enemies The next matter under consideration was the nomination of Ministers to be sent abroad to implore assistance from Christian Princes more remote the Count Piccâ—lominâ— was to negotiate in the Courts of Italy but having taken a Distemper in his Journeys died afâ—er a short sickness at Milan Also the Count Colalto sent to his Majesty of Great Briâ—ain died in his Journey before he arrived at London notwithstanding which the generous Piety of His Majesty was not wanting with a liberal Hand to contrâ—bute towards the Promotion of the Christian Interest From Poland nothing more could be obtained than Terms of Courtesy and Demonstrations of Good Will and Desires for that their Forces being employed against the Moscovite to recover the lost Countries of Lituania could not possibly attend the Service and Command of his Imperial Majesty tho they could not but at the same time reflect on their Premures and Necessities with Shame and Confusion which disabled them from answering with like returns the grateful Memory they still retained of the assistance against Sweden To his Most Christian Majesty Count Strozzi was employed before whose Arrival at Paris the common Report and Vogue was That that King resolved to contribute an effectual Assistance to the Christian Cause in that present Conjuncture which pious Disposition Strozzi so happily improved that he obtained from his Majesty a Grant and Promise of four thousand Foot and two thousand Horse raised and payed at his own Charge to be united with the Troops of the Rhinish League And farther His Majesty was so gracious herein that he published a Declaration That what Person soever would serve the Emperor against the Turk his Resolution and Action therein should be accepted by him in the same manner as if the Service were immediately tendered to himself Upon which many Persons of Quality resolved upon this Expedition amongst which was the Duke of Buglion the Marquis de Villeroy the Abbot of Richeliâ—u and many other Heroes and Persons of Bravery who ventured their Lives with no other Consideration than that of Honour and Religion But before I pass from this Embassy give me leave to report a Complement which Count Strozzi passed upon this King which some say did savour a little too much of Flattery and Affectation The matter was this Count Strozzi being admitted to his Audience so soon as he entered into the Chamber I know not whether it was feigned or real he seemed to be struck with such an Amazement and Fear that for a while he was not able to pronounce a word Articulate or Intelligible but at length recollecting himself he began with a trembling Voice to excuse this Hesitation of his Speech having his Senses dâ—ssipated and his Eyes dazled with the Rays and Splendor of so much Majesty and with that as in a Rapture or Ecstasie broke out into an Admiration of the French Monarchy the report of whose Greatness and Glory tho arrived to the utmost Confines of the Universe came yet far short of that real Majesty which he saw and admired whose dreadful and mysterious Throne was sufficient to revive the dead Ashes of the Sâ—bean Queen to prostraâ—e her self before this new Solomon much excelling the Wisdom the Richess the Virtue and Happiness of the former And thence descending with the like sagacious Obsequiousness to confute the malicious Reports of malignant Tongues who envious of the harmony of Christian Spirits represented His Majesty as ill-affected to the Austrian Family whereas 〈◊〉 the contrary he could testifie to have found that excess of Affection and admirable Disposition in Hâ—s Majesty towards the Emperor his Ally as rendred his Embassy abundantly happy and successful which joined to the Zeal His Majesty had towards the Christian Cause was like Friendship united to Charity and moral Virtues made perfect by spiritual Qualifications In fine he compared his Christian Majesty to that Glorious Sun which communicating his light to the Christian World affords the most benign Influence to the Catholick Climate with much better reason therefore ought Germany to participate so great a Circle of those Rays as may serve wholly to obscure and darken the dim and barbarous Light of the Oâ—â—oman Moon In sum Strozzi knew so well how to manage his Discourse and play the Orator that he obtained consiâ—erable Assistances and returned to his Master the Emperor wâ—th full Demonstrations of all obliging Terms and courteous Treatments And having thus understood what Preparations are making in Christâ—ndom let us pass over into the Turks Quarters and see what is in the mean time transacting in those Dominions At this time the Rumour of a Rebellion and Mutiny amongst the Great Beghs at Grand Cairo in Egypt afforded matter for Trouble and Consultation at the Ottoman Court for that those Beghs who have great Possessions and Power in that Country made Seizure of â—brahim Pasha and imprisoned him being about the Expiration of his three years commonly allotted to that Government and therefore near upon departure The demands they had upon him was for no less than three thousand Purses of Money which according to the Cairo Account are reckoned seven hundred and fifty Dollars a Purse and pretended to be taken from them against Law and Justice and that without Restitution thereof they resolved not to restore him his Liberty This Insolence â—gainst so eminent a Pasha qualified with such absolute Power in his Government and one related to the Grand Signior by Marriage of his Sister compared with the late neglects and disobedâ—ence of that People who for some years had â—aiâ—ed in the full payment of their â—ribute were inâ—erâ—â—â—eted as evident Symptoms of Disaffection and Malignancy which that People entertained against the Otâ—oman Subjection Wherefore the Sultan immediately dispatched away the Master of his Horse to Cairo with full Power to apease this Rebellion and with Lenitives to moderate the Fury of the People who seemed to be too Licentious and Unbridled to be governed by a Musselim Deputy Wherefore the Selictar Aga was elected Pasha and to depart with all Expedition In the mean time this Messenger to make greater haste took post through Asia with thirty in his Company and in a short time arrived at Grand Cairo where with fair terms and Restitution of some Money from the Pasha all matters were reduced to an amicable composure only the punishment of the chief Mutiniers with a fair Countenance deferred for a Season was afterwards according to the Turkish Fashion when time and opportunity presented remunerated to those factious Spirits with a severe Interest and Satisfaction to Justice Not long after Ibrahim Pasha having obtained his Liberty returned from his Government of Cairo to Constantinople where refreshing himself some time with the Embraces of his young Sultana an Imperial Command for immediate payment of four hundred Purses of Money to the Grand Signiors Treasury disturbed hâ—s delightful quiet The Pasha
Competitors taking advantage of these divisions offered himself a Candidate for the place and so operated with the force of mony and with assistance of the younger Nephew who would rather yield to an Uncle then to a brother that he clearly carried the election by the common suffrages of the people The Elder Son Ciddi Meâ—met not enduring the indignity to be thus degraded took the field and set up his standard After him followed all his Fathers Old Spahees and the Moors abroad came into him so that in a few days he became so formidable as to give Laws to the Dei and People of Tunis â—bliging them immediately to banish his Uncle and to receive him as sole and absolute General of all the Land Souldiery in those Dominion Hoffse-bey not being able to resist this force posted away with such expedition that he adventured to embark himself retinue and treasure which as was reported being modestly calculated amounted to three millions of Dollars on no better a Vessel then a French Satee for Tripoli where he was honourably received by that Government and Letters sent from them to the young Bei at Tunis mediating for the return of his Uncle with promise that he should live quietly and give no interruption to the course of his Government but Ciddi Mehmet resolving not to trust him positively declared against his readmission as not consistent with his Government and Safety It happened at this time that the English had War with Tripoly and blocked up the Port and that afterwards a Peace ensuing Hoffse-bey as we said before showed himself very forward and zealous in the Mediation which taking effect he was afterwards together with his retinue transported on the Bristol Fregat Commanded by Sir Iohn Berry to Modon in the Morea from whence he went by Land to carry his Complaints to Constantinople whilst the Bristol Fregat proceeded to Smyrna to receive the Turky Companies Ships under Convoy for England Hoffse-bey being arrived at the Grand Signiors Court prepared an easie and ready access to the Grandees by the great Presents he sent them which being the only means to mollify and make tender the hearts of Turks he found upon all his addresses such resentments and compassionate feelings of his aggreivances that if assurances in words and promises would do his work he might be ascertained of engaging the entire power and puissance of the Empire for his re-establishment The news of Hoffse-bey being gone to address himself to the Turkish Court for relief much perplexed the Government at Tunis and at the same time the plague desperately raging there made them sick and infirm both in body and mind wherefore after serious considerations and debates hereupon it was concluded necessary to Fight Hoffse with his own Weapons and immediately to dispatch away four Ships for Constantinople with Messengers and Presents to the Grand Signior and his Officers being the only means to open the reasons and understandings of the Turks and make them as well capable to comprehend the justice of their cause as to reconcile their affections The four Ships arriving at Constantinople were seized on at the instance of Hoffse-bey and he declaring that those Ships were belonging to him and his own proper Estate easily procured a judgment in his favour and the Captains of them being called to the Divan were Commanded to own Hoffse-bey for their Master and to obey him as their Pasha and absolute Lord under the Grand Signior It was too late when at Tunis they apprehended the Error they had Committed in sending these four Ships to Constantinople which now upon more serious consideration then the former they expected to return freighted with armed Men and Imperial Commands to re-establish Hoffse-bey in the Government of which and of what was farther preparing at the Ottoman Court that they might have good advice they dispatched two Messengers for Constantinople on a French Sâ—tee which they had freighted for that purpose to Land them at Smyrna where being arrived they addressed themselves to me then Consul there bringing me Letters of recommendation from friends at Tunis to assist and help them in all their occurences I was well informed in all particulars concerning the success and motions of Hoffse-bey at Constantinople and I did not omit to relate all matters distinctly to them for not long before I had occasion to be acquainted with Hoffse-bey himself having at his earnest request found means to furnish him with the Sum of three thousand Dollars upon a good Pawn of Gold and Jewels amongst which there was a Fetlock of Gold enameled and set with Diamonds just in the form and fashion of those which we put on our horses when they go to grass and this I understood was one of the Ornaments which they put on the Ancle of the Bride on the marriage day I know not whether it were to grace her legs as bracelets do our wrists or to put her in mind of her servitude so soon as she submits to Wedlock I acquainted them as I said with all matters That the Grand Signior and his Officers had greatly resented the sufferings of Hoffse-bey and that they owned his cause having stopt the four Ships of Tunis at Constantinople and had promised to furnish him with a whole Chamber of Janisaries with a Licence to raise such Voluntiers on the Sea-coast of Asia as would willingly and of their own accord follow his Colours I had not many days given them this intelligence which others confirmed in like manner before Hoffse-bey himself with his four men of War and two other hired Ships arrived in the Port of Smyrna where having stayed some days to take in provisions and embark those who had listed themselves for his service in those Parts they departed for Tunis touching at Scio Navarine and Tripoly in their Way reinforcing themselves with such as voluntarily followed their Standard The Messengers posted back with all speed on a Vessel hired at Smyrna and arriving some time before Hoffse-bey rendered an account of the treatment which he had found at Constantinople with the particulars of the forces he brought with him The Tunesines being prepared with this intelligence took courage to oppose a handful of men to whom they refused License so much as to one man of them to land only out of respect to the Grand Signior's Commands they were willing to admit Hoffse-bey to a treaty and to receive him ashoar with three or four Servants and Companions They sleightly perused his Papers rather to discover his strength and the progress of his negotiations then with intentions to condescend in the least to his desires which having done and given permission to see his house and visit his wife and children they hastned him again aboard and all the Country being in Arms they threatned to treat him and his People as Enemies if they adventured to make a descent Hoffse-bey being discouraged with this rude Treatment and with the Union and general Confederacy of the people
EMPIRE CONTINUED From the Year of Our Lord 1676 to the Year 1686. By Sir Roger Manley Knight year 1676 THE History of the Turkish Empire having been transferr'd to us by Mr. Knolles very methodically and well and continued by the deserving Pen of Sir Paul Rycaut to the Year 1676 being the Twenty eighth of Sultan Mahomet the Fourth now reigning We have as well by inclination as to satisfie the desires of some Friends thought fit to prosecute so landable a Design by extending the History of that great Monarchy to our present Times And though we may be defective in skill for so Eminent an Undertaking we shall notwithstanding add Industry to our Endeavours and compensate our Failings by the candour and ingenuity of our Narrative Achmet the great Visier being dead in his way to Adrianople was succeeded by Kara Mustapha his Brother-in-Law aged about fifty and who had exercised the Office of Caimacan for many years The Grand Seignior to indear him the more to him married him to one of his Daughters though very young not exceeding five years of age according to the custom practised by the Sultans to be rid of their Daughters betimes which are always numerous by reason of the multiplicity of their Concubines and by this means to ease themselves of the Expence which they are obliged to be at in maintaining them according to their Quality In the same Month of Ianuary the strong Garison of Canisia having drawn out a Party to attack the Isle of Sexin allarmed all Croatia by their Military Executions exacting Contributions and pillaging and burning such places as did not submit to their tyranny The Turks of Newhausel did also ravage the Countrey on their side as far as Frystat But before we enter upon this stage of War it may be requisite to say somewhat of the Troubles of Hungary which preceded and their causes and how the Infidels came to be Principals in a War of Religion between Christians The Kingdom of Hungary being subdivided into Counties as in England or Communities have right to send their Deputies to the Dyets or Conventions of the Estates which ought to be summoned every three years according to the Laws of the Kingdom year 1676 This Assembly is composed of the Clergy the principal Lords the Gentry and the said Deputies of the Counties In hath the right of choosing a Palatine who ought to be an Hungarian according to the priviledges of the Nation and to have the intire direction of War and Justice The great Lords have â—o great Authority over their Vassals that they are look'd upon as so many lesser Sovereigns in their several Territories They have also great Revenues which inables them upon occasion to raise considerable Bodies of Men the People in general being strong active and valiant but covetous vindicative and inconstant The great Employments of the Kingdom were also invested in the Natives and no Strangers were to be imposed upon them or Foreigners enquarrered amongst them all which the Emperour upon his Election to the Crown was obliged to observe by the solemnity of an Oath But on the other side there being very many Arrians Calvinists and Lutherans in the Countrey they added to the aversion the Natives have to the Germans having been as they thought too severely used by them complaining that they were hindred in the free Exercise of their Religion their Churches violently taken away from them and their Ministers forced from their Duty It was farther complained that the Grandees of the Kingdom were not permitted to injoy their Priviledges of which one was That none of them should for any Crime whatsoever be convened before any Iudges but those of their own Nation Notwithstanding all this as the Emperour had sworn to maintain their Priviledges he had likewise promised to defend their Country which could not be done against the Insults of so powerful an Enemy as the Turk without an Army and those strangers living ill with the Inhabitants and they again shutting their Towns against them occasioned infinite Violences and Disorders on both sides which Repugnancy was the source of all the Troubles in Hungary The Emperour beginning to suspect the fidelity of the Hungarians by reason of the obstinacy wherewith they refused to lodge his Troops began seriously to think of securing the Kingdom to himself which being perceived he augmented by that Precaution the hatred which the Nation had conceived against him which was re-doubled by the refusal of his Generals to withdraw their Troops out of their Fortresses These Grievances did so far agitate these Spirits already jealous and dissident that they at length resolved to shake off a Yoke that seemed so insupportable Many great Lords by their particular Interest were glad to entertain this aversion which might serve for the Execution of the Designs they had already formed And thus the Spirit of revolting did insensibly diffuse it self through the whole Kingdom and the general aversion grew to that height that they of the Religion said openly that they would rather live under the Domination of the Turks than the Tyranny of the Germans whilst one of their Preachers did dare maliciously to insinuate That these Infidels would at least grant them the liberty of their Religion whilst the Dutch would rack their Consciences under pretence of reforming them The Emperour being informed of these murmurings thought it expedient to secure the Lower Hungary and so strangle the Rebellion in its birth Their reiterated pressing to have the German Troops removed out of the Kingdom gave him just cause of jealousie and besides he would not lose the expence of all his toyls and those vast charges he had been at in fortifying the Frontier places and entertaining Armies capable to oppose the Invasions of the Turks Finally he judged it absolutely necessary to reduce a Nation to their duty that gloried in their disobedience to his Orders being a King is no farther a Sovereign than whilst he obliges his Subjects to pay obedience to the Laws and his Commands And thus in short we have shewed the cause of this Revolt which yet lasts on both sides and though perhaps this digression may seem foreign to some yet being the Turks have been so mainly concerned as to become Parties in it we thought it reasonable to subjoyn it to their History And now to come nearer to the matter in hand we will say somewhat of the Maxims of these Infidels which will give us some light into their Policies And first it is a fundamental one to keep their Men perpetually imployed for Idleness ingenders indigested Humours in the Politick as well as the Natural Body which renders it infirm Another Maxim is that they do never imploy their Forces more than in one War at one time unless against weak Princes Nor do they desire to continue long in Arms against the same Enemy unless constrained by their constancy to the â—nd they may not grow too warlike and expert but leaving them by Treaties and
satisfactions he shewed them the Emperour's Commission and Orders to begin the Campaign with the Siege of Buda exhorting them to do their duty in an enterprise of such great importance whereon depended not only the conservation of his Highness's Conquests the security of his Crown and the good of Christendom but also the ruine of the Ottoman Empire being the loss of this considerable place would be attended on with the surrender of the other Cities and Fortresses of Hungary which would return to the Obedience of their natural Sovereign The Generals who expected to begin with the Siege of Agria or Alb-Royal were overjoy'd to understand that the design was upon Buda and this News being spread amongst the Officâ—rs and Souldiers of the Armies they all testified their Satisfaction by their forwardness and their desire to see themselves before a Place where they might signalize their Valour and revenge the Death of their Comrades who had been interred in the Trenches of the former Siege The Voluntiers to the number of six thousand of all Quality and Conditions which were come thither out of Germany France England Spain the Low-Countries and other parts of Europe to seek Honour in so pious a War shewed much Ardour and Zeal to signalize themselves in so glorious an undertaking The Troops of the Circles were not yet come and they of Brandenburg who marched through Silesia and the Straits of Iabluncka advanced but slowly by reason of the difficulty of their way and could not come so soon as desired But the Armies to lose no time discamped on the twelfth of Iune by break of day the Duke of Lorrain taking his way by the Bridge of Gran had passed it the thirteenth the Troops of Saxony having the Vauntguard The Elector of Bavaria marched on this side the Danube to possess the City of Pest. Whilst the two Armies were thus marching on both sides the River Count Rabatta who was Commissary General had caused a prodigious quantity of Gabions and Fagots which the Souldiers had made as they came to the general Randezvouz to keep them from Idleness to be imbark'd and sent by Water towards Buda together with the Artillery Ammunitions Provisions Forrage and other necessary things for the subsistence of Armies The next day the Armies advanced the great one near Vicegrade and the other by Vaccia The fifteenth the Imperial Horse followed by the Foot and their Cannon and Baggage passed Vicegrade some Prisoners having been made by a party that the Duke had sent to make Discoveries These unanimously declared that they of Agria and Alba Regalis fearing a Siege had refuged all their best Moveables in Buda and that this Capital City was as well as the other Places furnished with Troops and necessary Provisions to sustain a long Siege in expectation of Relief Being come within an hour of the Town without any encounter the Horse made halt as well to repose themselves as to expect the coming up of their Infantry and Artillery and now they begin to lay a Bridge of Boats at the Isle of St. Andrew for the Communication of the two sides of the Danube On the eighteenth the Baron of Diependal General de Battalia invested the City of Buda whilst the Infantry were marching up and taking up their Posts half a League from the place they began to break Ground and work at their Line of Circumvallation A great party of Horse and Foot appeared out of the Garrison at the Vienna Port but they returned again upon the advance of a Detachment of Imperial Horse who had Orders to charge them contented to welcome the Assailants with eight Volleys from their Cannon though they kill'd but one Pioneer by reason of the too great distance The nineteenth the Duke advanced with the Army as far as the hot Baths the Turks having abandoned that Post the day before The general Quarters were taken up within a quarter of a League of the Town The same day the Elector of Bavaria seized upon the City of Pest which the Turks had quitted retiring with their Cannon Ammunitions and Provisions into Buda after they had broken part of the Bridge behind them The Croats who scouted about the Country took a Turkish Chiaux with a Convoy of forty Spahis who was sent with Letters from the Port to the Visier of Buda Being brought to the Camp his Letters were examined which contained rigorous Orders to the Visier to be very careful of the Places which depended on his Government and to assure him of a quick and powerful relief in case he were attack'd On the twentieth the Bridge over the Danube was finished The same day a party of Horse sallied out of the Town with design to surprise the Christians advanced Guard but the Duke being advertised of it in time sent four squadrons to which many Volunteers joyned themselves with orders to charge them but they upon their approach retired without any engaging The Artillery being arrived two Batteries were raised against the lower Town where the Duke of Lorrains Attack was and at Night the Trenches were opened A Janizary who deserted reported much after the same manner that the Prisoners already mentioned had done that there were but eight thousand men of formed Troops in the Town The Visier having some time before sent two thousand Souldiers to Agria and as many to Alba-Regalis upon a supposition that the Christians would not think of besieging Buda which had been so fatal to them but two years ago This Run-away affirmed further that the Place was abundantly furnished with all manner of Provisions and Ammunitions to sustain a very long Siege that the Visier Abdi Bassa was no great Warrior and therefore the less considered by the Souldiery that he had assembled all the Officers and Souldiers of the Garrison together had exhorted them to do their Duty and to support with Honour the Glory of the Turbant adding that he had Orders from the Grand Seignior to defend the City with his Life which he was resolved to do and expect the Succours which the Grand Visier would infallibly bring them To this the Ianizaries and Spahis replyed that they were ready to sacrifice their Lives in his Highness's Service and for defence of their Laws upon Condition however that the Visier would immediately give them ten Crowns a Man that the Souldiers and Officers that were detained in Prison for what Crime soever should be set at Liberty and that he would not suffer things to come to the last extremity lest the same misfortune might happen to them as did to those of Newheusel all which the Visier promised them to oberve exactly I must acknowledge I am entring into a tedious Narrative and somewhat against my Humour which affects lucid brevity but the History of this Siege perhaps circumstantially the greatest upon Record full of such strange Events of Emulation in the pursuit of Glory of succesful Temerity and an invincible Resolution on the one side as also the Fidelity the
danger of his own Life in some mutiny deny them dismission for that Year's Campaign VVhich the Janisaries esteemed always a Privilege due to their Order but the Asiatick Timariots called Timar Spahcelar were always sooner dismissed in consideration of the long Iournies they were to make to their VVinter-Quarters some of them being as far distant as Bagdat or Babylon as Damascus or Scham as Aleppo and Iconium and other Parts which to Travel backwards and forwards would take up commonly four or five Months time After which to pass a Summers Campaign was very Laborious for the Asiatick Forces to undergo who commonly are esteemed a soft People which yet they were obliged to do on Forfeiture of all their Hereditary Estates in which the Turks by their ancient Constitutions were so Rigorous that they would admit of no excuses for their absence even of Death it self for in case the Father died lealeaving an Infant Son of a Year old even then he was obliged to the VVar though he was carried in the Arms of his Nurse The Hungarians consequently being always in Action and obliged to a perpetual Duty against the Enemy were never excused from a strict vigilance over all the Motions of their Neighbours whom in the times of Peace we might properly call Enemies for they Fought very often and yet without VVar so called for in case they met and engaged in the Field with a less number than Five thousand Men on a side and without Cannon it was not called VVar but a Martial Exercise in the times of Peace and that is the reason why we find so many Palancas raised over all Hungary on one side and the other which are designed to give a stop to any suddain Irruption of an Enemy within which Palancas so called the Poor Inhabitants on either side Shelter their VVives and Children their Horses and Cattle with all their Faculties and Substance it being not lawful for the Enemies on either side to possess them Besides on their High-ways and Roads to a Market every thing was to be secured and neither side could touch the same without Iustice performed upon due Complaints made to the Pasha or Christian Governour of the Province This was the Ancient Constitution whilst the Turks prevailed in Hungary But since the last VVar and Peace concluded things no doubt have been set upon another Foot and other Provisions have been made to secure the Christian Cause and Interest for before this time the Turks were become the most Insolent People in the VVorld and would never do Iustice to a Christian for unless it were consistent with their own Interest and Design they would shew themselves Proud Haughty and Supercilious expecting Gifts and returning none expecting for a Flower a piece of Gold or some piece of Cloth of the finest Dye and Spinning we have in England and to this Pass were the Turks come that they called the Presents made to them by the Christians to be their Tribute and the Ambassadors sent to them they acknowledged for no other than for Mahapous as they called them which signified Hostages given for Peace and the Security of the Good-behaviour of their Masters towards the Port Their Pride was also so extraordinary that they would never vouchsafe to require any Counterpart from the King or Prince with whom they Treated or Copies unless such as were conserved amongst their Archives or Office of the Reis Effendi or Chief Secretary inferring that the Power of the Grand Seignior was able to make good whatsoever he should require on the Score of the Royal Signature which no Sovereign Prince will now receive from a Proud and Insolent Turk For praised be that God of the Christians who hath brought down that Imperious Spirit of the Turks to such a Degree That they can now own their Weakness and be ashamed of their former Follies which render'd them insupportable in their Conversation with Christians Mahomethes Quartus Magnus Turcarum Imperator Qui Requat Anno 1687. THE HISTORY OF THE TURKS From the Year 1678 to the Year 1699. WE have in our preceding History represented the Ottoman Empire for several years past under many Circumstances of Happiness and Glory The Turks had been successful in their Wars abroad having increased and enlarged their Empire by adding Newhausel in Hungary thereunto with the Countrey belonging to it They had gained and conquered all the Island of Candia with that invincible Fortress and thereupon had put an end to a War with the Venetians which had continued for the space of Twenty six Years After which they carried their Conquering Arms into Poland where they took the strong Fortress of Caminiec which is the Key of that Kingdom and thence marched into that Countrey as far as Leopolis which they brought under the Tribute of Eighty thousand Crowns a-year and so returned back again into their own Dominions without any Opposition or so much almost as the Appearance of an Enemy And to render this Action the more observable it was attended with the least Expence of Blood and Treasure of any Enterprize of so bold and daring a Design and proved an Expedition so profitable and beneficial that scarce a Ianizary or Horseman returned without Spoil or Plunder or Slaves of both Sexes All which Wars were acted within the space of Thirteen Years during the Government of Achmet Kuperli with such Intervals also of Peace that War seemed but an Entertainment to exercise the Soldiery and amuse their Minds lest they should fall into Mutiny and Sedition all the Particulars of which we have already at large related And here I cannot but observe and say That Justice is the proper means to render a People flourishing and happy an Instance whereof we have through all the Government of Kuperli who being a Person educated and skilful in the Law administred Justice equally to the People his Eyes were not blinded with Avarice which might biass or thwart him in giving Judgment he was not cruel or bloody or inclined to take away Mens Lives for the sake of their Riches nor more ambitious than what served to make him jealous of his Honour and zealous to conserve and keep up his Fame and Reputation in the World which is necessary for Ministers in his sublime Station Wherefore let us look on those Times which were as quiet calm and peaceable as any that ever had smiled on the Ottoman State and justly attribute those Blessings to the Favour of Heaven which was pleased in those Days to behold so much Justice and Equity dispensed to a People unaccustomed thereunto and perhaps in Reward thereof to make the Government more easie and pleasant than either before or since those Halcyon Days But now that Kara Mustapha comes to succeed in the Place of so just and equal a Governour a Person of Violence Rapine Pride Covetousness False Perfidious Bloody and without Reason or Justice we have nothing to represent at the beginning of his Government besides his Oppression
when it was resolv'd that the War should be carry'd into Hungary which Resolution was first taken in the Year 1681. then the Vizier concluded a Truce with the Moscovites for twenty Years upon Conditions which the Czars sent by way of their Ambassador residing at the Court of the Tartar Chan call'd Baucha Sarai whose chief Business there was to Redeem and Exchange Prisoners the which Letter directed to the Grand Vizier was to this effect AT the instance of the Tartar Chan We have wrote to the Czars that he would be pleas'd to grant you a Peace as desir'd by you In answer unto which he hath given us to understand that he will consent thereunto provided that besides Kiovia you renounce all Title and Pretence to Tripol Staiki and Vasikow which have always been Dependences thereupon And that you farther promise that your People shall not Inhabit nor hold Fairs Commerce or Markets on our side of the Nieper but that all that Country shall remain desert and waste as it is at present And that from the Towns of Tripol Staiki and Vasikow to the Isles of the Cosacks Zoporoges you renounce all your pretensions unto us This is what we demand and without these terms we shall conclude nothing with you The Vizier having resolv'd on a War against the Emperor receiv'd these Propositions with full satisfaction and immediately return'd Answer thereunto in a Letter wrote to the Czars full of their usual sublime Expressions and of high and fulsom praises of their Wisdoms and Grandeur Signifying that in the Name of the Grand Seignior he did accept and confirm all the Conditions propos'd desiring him to send an Extraordinary Ambassador to confirm the Treaty But lest the Czars should refuse to send a new Ambassador before the other then residing was return'd the Vizier about six Weeks afterwards gave License for his Departure and accompanied him with Presents of greater value than those which the Grand Seignior had formerly bestow'd upon the Czar Of all these Particulars Kaunitz who Resided at Constantinople in the Place of the Secretary Hoffman lately there Deceas'd gave Intelligence to the Emperor signifying also that after the Moscovite Ambassador was arriv'd with Ratification of the Peace the Grand Seignior would soon afterwards remove to Adrianople in Order as was most probable and in all appearance to a War against Hungary This Matter was acted in the year 1681 which we have anticipated that we might not abruptly break off the Treaty with Moscovy the nature of which may be best understood when it is carried forward in one Piece which having done we must look back again to the year 1680. and to the Actions of the Malecontents Tekeli was very active all this time in Recruiting his Army and preparing for War and having compos'd a Body of four thousand Transilvanians he march'd with them to the General Rendezvous intending as he had done the year before to take upon him the Command of the Army But when he came thither he was strangely surpriz'd to find the same refus'd to him by Count Wessellini Son of the late Paul Wessellini deceas'd who so resolutely contended for the Chief Command that nothing could decide it but the Sword. In short both Parties drew out into the Field and charg'd each other and after a long Dispute Tekeli got the Victory and put Wessellini and his Forces to the Rout and having pursuâ—d them with a Detachment of his Forces the Competitor Wessellini was taken and brought Prisoner to Tekeli who causing him to be tied on his Horse sent him to Prince Apafi in Transilvania after which Tekeli without a Rival took upon him the sole Command of the Army The Emperor besides a War against his Râ—bâ—l Subjects was under great Mortifications and Troubles his Imperial Palace at Vienna was burnt the Plague Rag'd violently in his Hereditary Countries and in his Army of which the Baron de Kaunitz year 1680. and other principal Officers died And at the same time nine hundred Paisants of the Circle of Braslaw in Bohemia arose in Arms against the Counts Galas and Bredaw their Lords pretending that they were treated like Slaves and refus'd to pay the Contributions which were demanded for the Emperor Howsoever to make the Justice of their Cause appear they sent four Deputies to Prague to make known unto his Imperial Majesty their many Aggrievances which were so Tyrannical and Burthensom as could not longer be sustain'd and therefore they desir'd that Council might be assign'd them to plead their Cause against their Lords at the Bar of Justice But instead of hearkning to the Petition of these distressed Paisants the Deputies were Imprison'd and to stifle this Tumult in the beginning two Regiments under the Command of Count Piccolomini were sent to reduce them upon the appearance of which the Mutineers dispers'd and fled every Man to his own home But this Combustion was not long suppress'd before it burst forth again in a more violent and outragious manner than before for four thousand of these discontented Paisants were got together in a formidable Body Conducted by several Reformed Officers with Colours flying and Drums beating and with Mottos on their Ensigns which serv'd to incite others to joyn in their Rebellion They at first attempted a Castle belonging to the Count de Thun who was Envoy about that time in England for the Emperor where they expected to find Arms but missing thereof they proceeded on other Designs but were interrupted and stop'd by Count Piccolomini who was sent with Forces to reduce them to Obedience Whereupon these Rebels made a second Experiment of sending their Deputies to represent their Aggrievances who were as before clap'd into Prison But Advices coming that some other Counties were up in Arms in like manner and for the same Cause the Deputies were set at Liberty and a General Pardon Granted to all those who would lay down their Arms and remit their Pleas to be Treated at the Tribunals of Justice Upon this Declaration five thousand submitted and return'd to their own Habitations And the Emperor himself upon hearing the Cause between the Lords and the Paisants did determine that the Paisants should be oblig'd only to Labour three days for their Lords whereas formerly they were constrain'd to the Service of five Days in the Week having but one single Day allow'd them for the Care and Support of their Family In the mean time the Resident for the King of Poland at Vienna press'd very instantly to have the League between his Master and the Emperor against the Turk to be Compleated and Sign'd to which at length this Answer was given That so soon as the Poles had drawn the Moâ—covites into an Union with them and that the Turks had also declar'd a War that then the Treaty which was already drawn should immediately be Sign'd Tekeli on the other side offer'd New Propositions of Peace and in the mean time desir'd a Cessation of Arms. Upon
the Soldiers Pay and Donative they were forced to Coin out of Plate and Silver and Gold taken off from the Horses Furniture belonging to the Seraglio Two hundred Purses in Gold and Sixty in Silver with which every one being satisfied all was quiet and calm again and the Spahees returned to their own Homes leaving six of the Chief Mutiniers to remain behind a◠Constantinople That is to say one Chief with two Assistants for the white Colours and the like for the red and Four hundred Captains called Bolucbashees Two hundred for each Colour or Ensign and these were appointed to hold the power in their Hands which their Mutinies and late Rebellions had gained for them About this time the Turks proposed at the instigation of the French Ambassador to send a Chiaus into France England and Holland to acquaint those Princes with the advancement of Sultan Solyman to the Throne of the Ottoman Emperors The which Embassy thô little desired by the other Ministers being a Complement insignificant in it self and which would only cost Money and Trouble was yet much pressed by the French who were then contriving to do something extraordinary to engage the Turk in a strict Alliance with them being at that time resolved to disoblige and enter into a War against the Emperor and all the Princes of Germany But by Troubles afterwards amongst the Turks themselves and by the revived Spirits of Mutiny amongst the Soldiery their thoughts were so taken up with their Seditions Forreign Enemies and other Misfortunes that they thought it not so seasonable to send such triumphant Messages in the declension of their Affairs as might have been in more happy and prosperous times Howsoever the French Ambassador and Merchants at Constantinople to evidence their good Affection to the Port freely supplied the late Selictar Aga now appointed Pasha of Grand Cairo with two Ships to Transport him and his Equipage to Alexandria and farther to oblige him lent him in Money and Goods to the value of One hundred and fifty Purses for security of which Pawns were given to remain aboard until the Debt was satisfied And now the Grand Vizier began to appear in publick with the usual Pomp and Equipage he made his Visit with great State to the Mufti and daily held the Divans in the Seraglio besides those at his own House The new Sultan had been so little a while in the Government that he could not as yet give many Indications of his Temper but as to what appeared of him at first he seemed very devout a strict observer of his Law and much addicted to reading so that he could not shake off his habitual retiredness nor enjoy the pleasures of a Court and of such a Throne as anciently cast off all the Cares of it on the Vizier and other Ministers for he neither conversed with Women nor took any publick Diversion In the mean time his deposed Brother Sultan Mahomet who had always used much Exercise began by an unaccustomed Confinement to be tainted with the Scurvy his Legs swelled and gave Symptoms of the Dropsy Wherefore he sent to his Brother the present Sultan desiring that some Physitians might be permitted to come to him for his Cure. But grave Solyman returned him answer That in case he should allow that and he miscarry the World would say that he was an occasion of his Death so that in lieu of the Physitians he would pray to God for him and he who sent the Sickness could give him a Cure. These civil Commotions and Mutinies amongst the Soldiers were more dangerous to the Ottoman State than all the Ruins Defeats and Losses they had received from the Enemy and gave the Imperialists an opportunity to act and succeed in all their Enterprizes in Hungary and march and rove with their Parties through the whole Country without opposition or controule But the Season of the year being too much advanced it was thought time to draw the Armies into Winter-quarters and to lodge them in the conquered Countries Thus Count Dunewalt after he had fortified and secured the Castles and Places which he had taken quartered his Army at Possega Valkovar and other places bordering upon Croatia Likewise the two Regiments of Palfy and Staremberg which had lately been detached from the Duke of Lorain's Army to attend the Emperor's service at Possonium on occasion of the Coronation of Ioseph King of the Romans joyned with some other Hungarian Troops near Buda attacked in their way thither the Fortresses of Ciocca and Palotta and took them by which the Garrison of Alba Regalis was much streightned and disabled from making Incursions so far as the Danube The Duke of Loraine marching as we have said towards Transilvania resolved to take Quarters for his Army in that fruitful Principality as yet not much wasted with the War and the better to prepare them dispatched away the Baron Huntschin with full Commission to Prince Apafi to Treat about the places which might be assigned with most convenience for the Soldiery and ease to the People Huntschin speedily returned with advice that he had been favourably received by Apafi who having assembled several of his Boyars or Noblemen together had resolved to send Deputies to the Duke of Loraine giving him to understand the great joy and satisfaction they had received by the happy Successes of the Imperial Arms by which they flattered themselves so far as to believe that they should now be freed from the Tyranny and oppression of the Ottoman Yoak and that as a Testimony thereof they had readily consented to afford all the succour and subsistence they were able to the maintenance of the Christian Troops during the whole Winter season But as to assign them places for Quarters within the Principality of Transilvania they instantly desired to be acquitted in regard that such a Concession would greatly offend the Port and lay them open to the Incursions and to the Fire and Sword both of the Turks and Tartars To this Message the Duke of Loraine made Answer in obliging but yet in general Terms and in the mean time the Army still advanced without farther Treaty it being well known that neither the Turkish Troops nor those of the Country were in a capacity to Dispute their Passage so that on the 11 th of October the Army arrived at Salone the first Town of Transilvania year 1687. where after having without many questions or complements put a Garrison of about a Hundred Men into the place they marched forward towards Clausembourg But on their way thither the Duke of Loraine was met by three Deputies from the Prince and States who repeated the same Offers which had been related by Baron Huntschin touching the Ammunition and Provisions with which they would furnish the Troops to which they added also an offer of some Money but as to assigning places for Winter-quarters it was a matter impossible and of the most dangerous consequence
enraged hereat drew up into a Body before the Vizier's House and some of them ran upon the Walls and drew from thence two Pieces of Cannon intending therewith to batter down the Vizier's Palace which was ready for Execution when the Renegado Wrebeck a Fellow very dear to the People came with Tears in his Eyes to dissuade them from so violent an Attempt and having used many very pungent Arguments to them he prevailed so far that the Tumult was appeased During this interval or suspension of Arms I who was as it were the Tribune of the People was called again and desired to appease the Multitude promising to answer their desires But they having been so often deluded refused to give any Credit to their Words unless they would solemnly swear on the Alchoran to yield the City nor yet would they draw off and return the Cannon unto the Walls until such time as they had begun to make some steps towards the execution of their desires Hereupon the three Commanders with some of the Citizens assembled in the great Moseh as if they intended to agree upon the Propositions which were to be offer'd to the Enemies but in reality they intended nothing less labouring all that Day to appease the Tumults with Mony and Provisions The Vizier made large distributions to the Spahees and the Aga to the Janisaries and the Pasha to the Citizens and Soldiers of the Country and by these means they took an Oath of the People patiently to endure until St. George's Day being the 23d of April which is a Day regardby the Turks But howsoever they would esteem themselves absolved from this Oath in case an Enemy should in the mean time appear before their Walls and streighten them yet farther by a Siege Colonel Riccardi having by this Relation been rightly informed of the true State of the Town he thought fit to make Tryal of another Appearance before the Walls and came with more than One hundred Horse within Cannon-shot of the place which had he done the preceeding Day before the People had taken an Oath to hold out until St. George's Day the City had most certainly been yielded But now instead thereof they made several Shots from the Bastions and sallied out both Horse and Foot without any other execution on either side than the taking of one Turk whose Head they cut off in sight of his Companions Thus the Colonel having sufficiently been informed of the State of the matter on which he was employed he departed from Palotta with his Troops on the 31 st of March year 1688. and Lodging that Night within a League of Alba Regalis a certain Ianisary well armed and clothed came to them in the Morning and gave an Account that he was fled from the City with some other Companions amongst which was an Odabashee or Captain of the Ianisaries who having been over active and forward in the late Mutiny feared in cooler Blood to be called to question by the angred Officers After which Colonel Riccardi finding little farther to be done marched back to Buda as Colonel Bisterzi did with his Forces to Palotta The obstinate Defence which Alba Regalis made gave some trouble to the Court at Vienna both because it was necessary to have it subjected before the beginning of the Campaign and because the Captive Turks and Deserters were so numerous in those parts and in the Towns and Redoubts over all those Qarters as might give just occasion of Jealousie and fear of Danger in case any design of Massacre or Assassination should be plotted by them But so vile and mean were the Turks esteemed and their price and value so low that a lusty Fellow was sold for a Dollar and a Woman for a quarter But we must here take our leave of Alba Regalis for a while and return to Constantinople where we shall find the Seditions and Military Mutinies broken out again with more Fury and Danger even to the very shaking of the Foundations of the Empire than at the latter end of the last year For the Cabals daily increased amongst the mutinous Soldiers They had lately received their pay and were satisfied in all they could demand their Officers had some of them been displaced and others strangled as they were pleased to bestow their Heads and Offices but not being herewith contented unless every one of them could be made a Vizier or Pasha they were emboldned to proceed to farther Outrages There had been a kind of a cessation of these intestine Troubles for about the space of two Months during which time the new Sultan was persuaded as a thing accustomary to send an Ambassador to France England and Holland to give notice of his happy exaltation to the Sublime Throne of his Ancestors but whilst this was meditating and preparations making for carrying on the Wars of the ensuing Summer which was designed most vigorously to be acted in the Morea and in a defensive manner only in Hungary the Thoughts of sending an Ambassador into Christendom as lately designed were laid aside which was not unpleasing either to Sir William Trumbal who was then Ambassador for his Majesty of Great Britain at Constantinople nor yet to the English Company of Merchants at London trading into the Levant Seas who could expect to reap nothing but trouble and expence from such an Embassy And indeed all things were at a stand by the Insolencies of the Soldiers the Officers both Civil and Military being discouraged and at a stop and full Period in the Grand Seignior's Service had work enough to contrive how to guard their own Persons against the violence of the Soldiers and provide for the safety of their own Lives The daily Cabals of Mutinous Soldiers having been held in several places of the City were adjourned at length to the Vizier's own House where with Menaces and greater Insolencies than formerly they demanded the removal of Kuperlee the Chimacam from his Office saying That he was as bad a Man as his Father who had spilt Rivers of Blood and ruined the Empire It was an unusual Piece of Favour and Mercy in this People to deal thus gently with him who were accustomed formerly to be Executioners of their own Sentence upon those whom they suspected to be no good Wishers to their Side and Faction To oppose them herein had been to no purpose and to expostulate with them had been equally dangerous wherefore the Vizier being sensible of their Outragious and Irrational Humour not patient of the least Contradiction seemed to concur with them in all they asked and ordered a Gally immediately to Transport Kuperlee to the Castles on the Hellespont or Dardanelli There was no need of Commands or Force to drive Kuperlee away for he was affrighted and readily leapt into the Gally thinking it a happy occasion to save his Life and escape out of their Hands The Vizier also at their instance discharged several Officers which they had nominated putting the Chief
which he became Dey and Captain which having carried the usual Present to the Sultan was some time afterwards Captain-Pasha of the Grand Seignior's Fleet. Now returning back to Algier and unhappily meeting with these two Ships in their way six of them invested the St. Iseppâ— and the other four undertook the St. Marcâ— a Ship of 60 Brass Guns After some Hours Fight an unlucky Shot from the Enemy entered the Powder-Room of the St. Mark with which the Ship blew up and thereby the Soldiers and Seamen with all the Equipage were lost and that brave Ship entirely perished Hereupon the whole Number of the 10 Ships uniting together fell upon the St. Iâ—eppo which suâ—â—ined the Conflict valiantly for the whole Day and making a running Fight was in hopes by the sound of the Guns to call out some help from the Fleet which lay then at Napoli di Malvasia but no Succour coming Admiral Valier entered the Line into the midst of the Enemies where by some unlucky Shots the Masts and Helm or Rudder were shot away In this distressed Condition was Admiral Valier when still fighting with his Sword in his Hand upon the Quarter-Deck he called to him his Lieutenant Captain Petrina and made him swear That whensoever he was dead he would blow up the Ship rather then render it up into the Hands of the Turks then he threw Overboard all his Publick Letters Orders and Instructions as also all the Flags and Colours in which the Lion and Arms of St. Mark were described that nothing which belonged to the Republick might fall into the Hands of the Enemy and consequently he caused both the Pumps to be unfixed that the Vessel might sink and not fall into the Hands of the Turks And afterwards seeing two of the Enemies Ships preparing to come Aboard he called to those few of his Men who were left alive and coming on the Quarter-Deck animated them to stand by him and whensoever those two Ships were aboard to give Fire to the Powder and perish with the Enemies on either hand But whilst Valier was giving these Instructions he was taken off by a Cannon-Bullet and immediately as he had ordered his Body was cast into the Sea having protested That neither Alive nor Dead would he fall into the Hands of the Enemy Valier being dead and his Lieutenant Captain Petrina grievously wounded and very few Soldiers and Seamen remaining alive or unwounded and the Ship after a whole Days fight entirely disabled to make any longer resistance the Turks howsoever durst not adventure to come near the Ship but at length displaying White Colours they adventured to lay the Ship aboard with their Long-Boat where being entered they enqured first for the Admiral and his Lieutenant and being informed that the first was killed and his Corps thrown Overboard and the latter mortally wounded they made Prisoners of all those remaining alive in the Ship and having demanded of Petrina the reason why he had with such obstinacy fought against 10 Ships He answered That it was not accustomary to suffer the Ships belonging to the Republick to fall into the Hands of the Enemy and that in case he had not been wounded he would have blown the Ship up rather than have seen the Turks become Masters of her In fine whilst the Turks were Aboard Pillaging and Plundering what they could find about four Hours in the Night the Ship sunk with all the Cannon only some few Seamen and Soldiers getting the Skiff when it was very Dark made their way for Milo where finding a French Tartana they were thence transported to the Armata This Fight tho' unfortunate was yet Glorious to the Venetians and for that reason tho' it happened at the beginning of the Year we shall yet in honour to that Republick conclude their Campaign with this glorious Action and proceed to the next Year in which we shall find the Imperial Forces much more fortunate and crowned with Glory and Success than in the preceeding Year Anno 1691. year 1691. THE Turks having the last Year regained Nissa Widin and Belgrade with some other Advantages began to recover their Courages which before were sunk very low and would gladly have accepted any tolerable Conditions of Peace whatsoever but now as there was no speaking thereof on less Terms than a Surrender of all that the Emperor had conquered and gained from the Turks in Hungary so this Resolution was heightned and confirmed in them by the Mediation which the Ambassadors of England and Holland had offered and pressed upon them wherefore the War going forward the Grand Seignior returned to pass his Winter at Constantinople where and in the Black-Sea six or eight great Ships were put on the Stocks to serve the next Summer against the Venetians on the Coast of Morea with which addition to their Naval Force they hoped to over-match the Venetian Fleet and do great Feats on the Coast of Morea In the mean time the English Trade in Turkey was in a most unhappy and unfortunate Condition for it had not been long since the terrible and affrighting Earthquake which had about two Years before as we have already related destroyed the whole City of Smyrna and by an irruption of Fire consumed vast quantities of Goods belonging to the English Levant Company and what was of great Consideration the Books Accounts and Papers of the Merchants perished with them After this amazing Judgment of God the War breaking out between England and France the Navigation for Merchant-Ships both in the Mediterranean Seas and in the Ocean became very hazardous especially for Ships of so great a value as those from Turkey which were sufficient to open the Eyes and tempt the Avarice of the French at the Expence of a strong Fleet to lie in wait and watch for them of which the Interested were so sensible that some of the Ships lay two Years at Smyrna before they could take the Courage and Resolution to adventure on so hazardous a Voyage but Necessity having no Law for they must either perish in Port or proceed in which doubtful case they chose the latter and with the Blessing of God arrived safe at Leghorn where having joyned a strong Squadron of 16 Men of War commanded by Sâ—r Francis Wheeler they proceeded for England and some of the Merchant-men being stout Ships and of considerable defence they esteemed themselves equal to any force the French could send against them But whilst they sailed forward without fear of any danger from their Enemies the French having had Advice of all their Motions and of that great Treasure they carried thought it a Prize fit for their Royal Navy and accordingly dis-speeded Monsieur Tourville with all their great Ships out of Brest to cruise upon them and so well timed their Affair that they had certainly taken sight of them had it not pleased God to cover them with a thick Mist which lasted until such time as they were
Michael The Turks forced to retire The Christian Fleet driven by Tempâ—st to the Island Aegusa The Christian Fleet cometh to Gaulos A fugitive discovereth the enemies purposes to the Great Master The Vice-Roy arriveth at Malta and landeth his Forces The Turks forsake the Siege The Turks overthrown by the Christians fly to their Gallies The Turks depart from Malta The carefulness of the Great Master The Great Masters Letters to the Grand Prior of Almaine concerning the manner of the Turks proceedings in the Siege of Malta The Island of Chios taken by the Turks The Turks surpâ—ise Towns in Hungary Great troubles in Hungary The good success of the Emperors Captains A great Prey The Turks with much labour make a Bridge over the great Rivâ—r of Dravus The Turks â—ncamp bâ—fore Sigeth Count Serinus his comfortable and resolute speech to his Souldiers Solyman cometh into the Camp at Sigeth The defendants burn the new Town The Turks win the old Town Solyman dieth of the bloody Flux Muhamet Bassa concealeth the death of Solyman The great Bulwark undermined and set on fire by the Ianizaries The little Castle set on fire The last speech of Count Serinus to his Souldiers Serinâ—â—s slain Serinus his Head sent to Count Salma The Bassaes quipping Letter to Count Salma Nicholaus Keretschen corrupted for mony betrayeth Gyula to the Turks A Traitor well rewarded The Governor of Alba Regalâ—â— taken The Turks sharp answer to thâ— Spaniard The Turks Army returneth with the Body of Solyman to Belgrade Selymus saluted Emperor of the Turks in the year 1566. Solymaâ— buried Troubles in Hungary The Bassa of Buda desirous to farther the Peace Maximiâ—â—an and Selymus both desâ—rous of Peace Maximilian the Emperor sendeth Embassadors to Selymus The Embassadors come to Buda Presents given by the Emperors Embassadors unto the Bassa of Buda The Emperors Embassadors honourably received by the Turks at Constantinople Prâ—sents given by the Emperors Embassadors to the great Bassaes Presents send unto Selymus by the Emperor The Emperors Embassadors honourably conducted by the Tâ—rks unto the Court. The first Gate of the Great Turks Palace The second Gatâ— A homely Fâ—ast given to the Embassadors Followers in the Turks Court. The third Gate The Embassadors brought in unto Selymus with the manner of the Entertainment of them and their Followers Iâ—â—nerario Di. Marc. Antonio Pigafetta ca. 5. The principal Point whereupon the Embassadors differed from the Turks in the Treaty of Peace The â—hief Capitulations whereon a Peace was concluded betwixt Maximilian the Emperor and Selymus Embassadors sent from Tamas the Persian King to Selymus * Schach â—uli Soltâ—â— was not the proper name of this Embassador but a Title of Honour and signifieth as much as a Prince Servant to the King. * Sayms are Souldiers of greater honour than the Spahi having for their Stipend yearly 2000 Aspers at the least out of the Revâ—nues of â—certain Towns and Villages * A Mescali is four drams †Tumenlich is in value as much as the Turks Aspâ—r * December The Persian Embassador honourably entertained by the Turks at Hadrianople The Persian Embassador in going to visit Muhamet the Visier Bassa in danger to have been slain The rich Present sent by the Persian King unto Selymus The Embassadors Present to Selymus An honourable allowance Muhamet Bassa disswadeth Selymus from the invading of Cyprus Selymus sendeth Cubates his Embassador to Venice Hard to trust upon Confederations The Turks Embâ—ssador homely â—ntertained at Venice Cubateâ— the Turks Embassadors spâ—ech in the Senate at Venice The effect of Selymus his Letters to the Venetians The answer of the Venetians to the Turks Demands The Turkâ— Embassador sent away in secret from Venice The resolution of the Senate for War diversly liked and disliked of others The Emperor the French King and the King of Polonia entangled with their Leagues refused to aid the Venetians against the Turks What Christian Princes promised to aid the Venetians The description of Cyprus King Richard in England How the Kingdom of Cyprus came to the Venetians Sabellic Eâ—nead 10. lib. 8. Selymus invadeth the Venetians Pial Bassa sent against the Venetians Mustapha Bassa his Letters unto the Venetians Mustapha Bassa goeth for Cyprus The Turke Fleet descried in Cyprus The Turks land in Cyprus Mustapha Bassa marcheth towards Nicosia Nicholaus Dandulus Governour of Nicosia The desâ—ription of Nicosia The Turks before Nicosia Nicosia battered and assaulted and by the Christians valiantly defended The Venetian Fleet of an hundred and seventeen Sail at Corcyra The Christian Fleet setteth forward toward Cyprus The Christians sally out of the City upon the Turks Scouts sent out of the City taken by the Turks and executed Letters shot into the City Mustapha Bassa in vain perswadeth them of Nicosia to yield Mustapha encourageth his Souldiers Nicosia most terribly assaulted by the Turks The Turks gain the Bulwarks and Walls of Nicosia Nicosia taken by the Turks A great slaughter Cyrene yielded unto the Turks Famagusta besieged Mustapha raiseth his Siege The Turks at Sea advertised of the coming of the Christian Fleet prepare themselves for Battel The Commanders of the Christian Fleet of divers opinions for giving of the Turks Battel The Christian Fleet returneth upon the foul disagreement of the Commanders Zanlus the Venetian Admiral discharged of his Office and sent in bonds to Venice A desperate Fact of a Woman The strong Castle of Chymera taken by Venerius Quirinus taketh a Castle of the Turks in Peloponnesus Quirinus a valiant Gentleman Negligence severely punished by Selymus Muhamet Bassa a secret friend unto the Venetians puts them in hope of Peace The Venetians send an Embassador to Selymus to entreat with him of Peace Ragazonâ—us the Vâ—netian Embassador cometh to Constantinople The conference betwixt Mohamet the great Bassa and Ragazonius The Pope and the King of Spain fâ—aring lest the Venetians should make Peace with the Turk hasten the confederation The Venetians resolve to accept of the League with the Pope and the King. A perpetual League concluded betwixt the Pope the King of Spain and the Venetians Tâ—e proportioning of the charge of the Wars against the Turk and the other Capâ—tulations of the League The League proclaimed The Venâ—tians the more to trouble the Turk seek to stir up Tamas the Persian King to take up Arms against him Alexander the Venetian Embassador hath audience with the Persian King. The answer of Tamas the Persian King unto the Venetian Embassador Mustapha Bassa â—etuâ—neth to the Siege oâ— Famagusta The descripâ—ion of Famagusta The number of the Defendants of Famagusta Famagusta assaulted and notably defended by the Christians Famagusta again assaulted by the Turks Bragadinus encourageth the defendants Balâ—onius a valiant Captain The Turks sâ—â—k to undermine â—he City The breaches notably defended They of Famagusta blow up one of their own battered Bulwarks with six hundred Turks thereon Famagusta hardly assaulted The Citisens of Famagusta request the Governor in time to yield up the City A
The main Castle surrenders The Turks endeavour to take Singh Singh assaulted by the Turks They are repulsed The Siege raised 1687 The Emperor prepares for the next Camâ—aign The States of Austria convened They promise Money As do also the States of Stiria Alba Regalis in distress Messengers sent to Belgrade Are taken Valkowar Confession of Achmet The Turks of Alba Regalis Sâ—ize four Waggons with Provisions They are encouraged Means taken to hinder the Succours from Alba Regalâ—s Tekeli writes to his Princess Febr. 1688. He wasts the Countries Tekeli defeated General Carafa at Hermanstadt The Soldiers Allowance in Winter-Quarters increased Halmet yielded Felsiat surrenders 1688. March. The Despot of Valachia submits Alba Regalis in Mutiny Denies to surrender The Blocade closely watched Marquess of Baden at Ratisbon C. Caprara commands in Hungary The designs of the Turks defeated in Sclavonia Ratza taken from the Turks and burnt Baron Amanzaga defeats the Pasha of Gradisca The Garrison of Possega seasonably relieved Colonel Riâ—cardi made enquiry into the State of Alba Regalis Colonel Riccardi desires a parâ—y with the Pasha Iealousies in the Town A Skirmish near the Gates An Uproar in the Town A Relation of the Mutiny in the Town of Alba Regalis Colonel Ricceâ—rdi leavâ—s Alba Regalis Mutinies begin again at Constantinople Kuperlee laid aside He is sent in a Gally to the Castles The Vizier forced to dissemble A Zechin is about 9 â— 6 d. The Grand Seignior's Command read to the Soldiers Tesfagee refuses to obey And is killâ—d Hadgi Ali another Muâ—inous Fellow Kills the Aga of the Janisaries The Tumult increaâ—es The Vizâ—er gives up the Seale He is killed Hâ—s Wâ—fe House c. ransacked Great conâ—usion The ruin of the Mutiniers from whence Mahomet's Standard spread The Sedition suppressed Divers punished The Sultan takes upon him to govern Ismael made Vizierr by Chance March 1688. The Vizier â—ndâ—avourâ— to settle himself Kuperlee sent to Canea Several Imprisoned and Fined Yeghen Bei commits some outrages Pasha of Bâ—snia strangled The Grand Vizier makes excuse for not going to the War. Yeghen intrusted with the Army He demands Money The Vizier answers not Yeghen demands the Grand Seignior's Seals But is degraded New fears in the City from Yeghen Ismael the Vizier undermined Mustapha Pasâ—a sent for Muâ—tapha made Vizier Yeghen writâ—s to Ismael and the Mufti Mustapha Vizier answers Yeghens Letter Ismael blamed Ismael Fined May Fears and terrible Reports at Constantinople Deputies sent from Grand Cairo They are dispatched back again Robbers in Asia trouble the Country Mutinies in Candia Ismael banished Yedic was to be suppressed Yeghen câ—â—â—â—nues in Rebellion Tâ—â— Pâ—â—ple 〈…〉 with the â—â—w Sultâ—n The Turks make small Preparaâ—ions Thâ—â— seek fâ—r Peaâ—e An Ambassador designed â—â—r England The Embassy put off Ambassadors designed to the Emperor The Humour of Sultan Solyman Yeghen made Saraskier His Complices encouraged An Aga sent to Transilvania Alba Regalis straightned May. The Turks make a Sally They Capitulate The Articles are agreed and Messengers sent to Vienna May. The Garrison of Alâ—a Regalis Marches out Counsels of War at Viennâ— The Commanders on either side compared The Christian Generals and Officers Character of the Duke of Loraine Charactâ—r of the the Elector of Bâ—vâ—ria Character of Prince Lewis of Baden Count Caraffa Count Staremberg The Prince of Salm. Count Rabata Dunewald Count Palfi Count Serien P. of Croy. Gondola Count Taff. Souches Schaffenberg Neuburg P. of Savoy Veterani Heusler Piccolomini Result of the Couâ—sels of War at Vienna The Duke of Loraine Sick. The City of Stephanopolis refusâ—s to receive a Germâ—n Garrison The City Surrendered Lippa attacked Lippa yielded Lagos yielded The Elector of Bavaria made General An Earthquake at Smyrna A Fire breaks out Seditions in the Army A Conspiracy against the Vizier plotted and discovered The Methods of the Plot. How prevented Yeghen suspected to have been in the Conspiracy The Viziers respect to Yeghen Money come â—rom Grand Cairo Four nâ—w Vâ—ziers of the Benâ—h made Yeghen in Mutiny He returns to Belgrade Seizes on Hassan Pasha The Turks seek for Peace Their Messengers are suspected Illock abandoned by the Turks 1688. Iuly The E. of Bavaria at Vienna and hastens to the Camp. Sigeth and Kanisia straitned Consultations to pass the Save Five hundrâ—d pass the River Hâ—ffâ—irâ—hâ—n attâ—câ—ed by Topal Pasâ—a Wâ—o is 〈◊〉 Tâ—â— Tuâ—ks endâ—avour to â—e at Hoffâ—â—rchen out of Proot Are repulsed With great loss Proot demolished Iuly Piccolomini sent in quest of Hoffkirchen He retreats He Retreats with much Art and good Conduct Prince Lewis Marches towards Gradâ—ska The Elector of Bavaria prepares his March for Belgrade August 1688. The Cannon c. joyns the Army Resolved to pass the River Attempts to pass the Save The Christian Army passes thâ— Save The Tuâ—ks discourageâ— August The Tuâ—ks Fly. The Citizens of Belgrade abandon their Dwellings August A Fire consumes the Suburbs The Trenches open'd August 1688. Batteries raised The Turks Sue for Peace The Turks throw Bombs and Carcasses Theâ— make a sally and are beaten back The Duke of Loraine câ—mes to the Camp. Is received by the Elector of Bavaria The Turks spring another Mine and make a sally August 1688. Septem 1688. An Attack intended Belgrade Stormed Count Scherffemberg killed The Elector stands on the Breach The Turks Capitulate The P. of Commercy enters on the other side â— Heusâ—er forces a Gate Massacre and slaughter of the Turks The Pasha and other Officers made Prisoners The Cruelty of the Soldiers Sept. 7. Te Deum sung The Turkish Ambassador comeâ— to the Camp. It Feasted with the Generals Topal signifie Lume 1688. Septem P. Lewis passes the Save The Turks assault the Germanâ— The Turkish Horsâ— put to Flight And the Foot exposed to danger P. Lewis returns to Proot News sent to Vienna The French K. obstructs the Wars against the Turks The Rascians in Arms against the Turks The Elector of Bavaria returns to Vienna A Solemn Day of Thanksgiving The French obstructs the War against the Turk The Cruelty of the French in Germany The Elector returns to Monaco The German Troops recalled from Hungary The Pasha of Belgrade Prisoner Capâ—ara commands at Belgrade The Works about Belgâ—ade negligently repaired Caprara seizes on Semandria The Rascians submit to the Emperor They take two places and defeat the Turks Caprará returns to Belgrade Yeghen Pasha commits great Spoils Piccolomini dispatched to Vienna P. Lewis recalled to Vienna The Turks desire Peace The Emperor unhappily reâ—uses it The Turkish Ambassadors in Prison F. Morosini Elected Doge Troublâ—s amongst the Turks in Candiâ— Thâ— Turkish Fleâ—t very weak The Veâ—etian A 〈◊〉 joyned Cornaro in Dalmatia Solyman Pasha troubles the Christians His Kaja beaten by the Cutzi Succours sent to the Cutzi Part of the Venetian Fleet 〈◊〉 to the Dardanelli They stop the Captain Pasha from coming 〈◊〉 The Description of the City of Negropont Negropont when taken by the Turks