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
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
and all the chief Commanders of the Souldiers of the Sacred War appointed him Governor of the Kingdom reserving unto himself only the Title of a King with the City of Ierusalem and a yearly Pension of ten thousand Ducats all which was done to the great disgrace and discontentment of the Count of Tripolis the old Governor It was not long but that Saladin having breathed himself a little after so great Labours came again into the Holy Land where he took many Castles and did infinite harm insomuch that the Country people were glad for fear to forsake their Houses and to fly into Cities The Christian Army in the mean time lying fast by at Sephor not once moving although many a fair occasion were offered for the chief Commanders affectionated unto the Count of Tripolis and envying the Preferment of Guy the new Governor were unwilling to fight but finding one excuse or other suffered the Enemy at his pleasure to spoil the Country and so in safety to depart which he had never before done in those Quarters Within less than a month after Saladin with a great Army well appointed with all the Habiliments of War needful for the besieging of a City or strong Castle came again into the Land of Palestine and passing through the Country beyond Iordan sate down at last before Petra in hope by the taking thereof to have made his passage between Egypt and Damasco more safe Of which his purpose King Baldwin having knowledge and taught by the evil success of late to what small purpose it was to commit the managing of his Wars unto a General so evil beloved and less regarded as way Guy his Brother in law sent against him with his Army Raymund the Count of Tripolis the old Governor whom he had again restored unto the Government and displaced Guy Of whose coming Saladin hearing raised his Siege after he had lien there a month and so departed A little before this Expedition the King still growing sicker and sicker his foul Disease still increasing by the common consent of the Nobility appointed Baldwin his Nephew by his Sister Sybilla a Child but of five years old to succeed him in the Kingdom and the Count of Tripolis to have the Government of the State during the time of his Minority This Sybilla the Kings Sister was first married to William the younger Marquiss of Mont-Ferrat who dying within three months after left her with child with this his Posthumus Son Baldwin now by his Uncle deputed unto the hope of the Kingdom After whose death she was married to Guy Lusignan Count of Ioppa and Ascalon the late Governor who taking in evil part this the Kings designment especially for the Government of the Kingdom by the Count of Tripolis departed from the Court as a man discontented unto his City of Ascalon whereof the Patriarch and the Princes of the Sacred War fearing and that not without cause great danger to ensue came to the King then holding a Parliament in the City of Acon most humbly requesting him for avoiding of further danger and the safety of his Kingdom to receive again into his Favour the Count Guy his Brother in law and to make an atonement betwixt him and the Count of Tripolis But this their request sorted to no purpose so that the Parliament was dissolved without any thing for the good of the Common-weal in that point concluded After that time the Kindgom of Ierusalem began still more and more to decline In the old King Baldwin sick both in body and mind was almost no hope in the young King yet unfit for so great a burthen much less and the dissention betwixt the two Counts Guy and Raymund with their Favorites was like enough to bring great harm unto the State. Besides that the Count of Tripolis fearing the Power of Guy his Enemy was thought to have secret Intelligence with Saladin the Turk insomuch as the King was almost in purpose to have proclaimed him Traytor Wherefore the King now rested only upon the Counsel of William Archbisâ—op of Tyre and the Masters of the Knights of the Sacred War by whose advice he sent Hâ—raclius Patriarch of Ierusalem Roger Molins Master of the Knights of St. Iohns and Arnold Master of the Templars Embassadors unto Lucius the Third then Pope unto Frederick the Emperor Philip the French King and Henry the Second King of England to declare unto them the dangerous State of that Christian Kingdom and to crave their Aid against the Infidels These Embassadors coming to the Council then holden at Vâ—rona with great gravity and diligence in the presence of the Pope and of the Emperor declared the hard estate of the Christians of the East with their humble Request unto them for Aid in such sort that they moved them with all the Princes there present to Compassion From thence they were by the Pope directed unto Philip the French King with whom having dispatched their Affairs they from him passed over into England and afterward into Germany and had at length brought their Negotiation to so good pass that in every place great preparation was made for a great Expedition to be made against the Turks for the Relief of the Christians in the East with which good News the Embassadors returning to Ierusalem filled the sick King with the hope of great matters But greater Quarrels shortly after arising betwixt the Pope and the Emperor and sharp War likewise betwixt the French King and the King of England and the other Christian Princes also being at no better quiet the notable Expedition that had with the expectation thereof so filled the World was again laid aside and quite dashed Whereof King Baldwin understanding both by Messengers and Letters from his Friends oppressed with grief and heaviness more than with the force of his Disease a man for his prowess and painfulness not inferiour to any his Predecessors died without Issue the 16 th day of May Anno 1185. being but five and twenty years old year 1185. whereof he had reigned twelve His Body was afterward with the general mourning of his Subjects solemnly buried in the Temple near unto the Mount Calvary together with his Predecessors the Kings of Ierusalem King Baldwin thus buried Baldwin the Fifth of that name yet but a Boy was Crowned King. But then began the Sparks which had of long lien raked up and hidden in the ashes to break out into a great fire for Raymund Count of Tripolis contended the whole Government of the Kingdom and tuition of the King to be due unto him by the appointment of the late King and consent of the Nobility and did so much that he had almost obtained it to have been confirmed unto him in open Parliament But Sybilla a woman of a most haughty spirit Sister unto the late King and Mother unto the young King yet living prickt forward her Husband Guy in no case to give place unto his Competitor Raymund and so animated
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
happily in the absence of himself and of his Armies the Christian Princes might take occasion to invade his Dominions he strengthned the Frontiers of his Empire with most strong Garrisons and left his Son Solyman who afterward proved the scourge of Christendom at Hadrianople with a strong power and Pyrrhus Bassa his Tutor a man of great Wisdom and Government at Constantinople This great Bassa was of Cilicia a native Turk born which was a thing accounted strange forasmuch as the great Bassaes were alwaies chosen of the Christian blood After that he sent Cherseogles whom of all others he most trusted with his Army into Bithynia and made Zafferus an Eunuch Admiral of his Navy which he had but a little before built and with wonderful labor and charge rigged forth Then staying a few days at Constantinople to see the young Souldiers but then chosen Janizaries year 1516. he departed thence and went to his old Army lying with Sinan Bassa at Iconium purposing to have again invaded the Persian When he was come thither he understood that Campson Gaurus Sultan of Egypt with a great Army levied in Egypt and Iudea was come into Syria giving it out that he would aid the Persian King his Confederate and with all Hostility enter into Cilicia if Selymus should farther proceed to invade Hysmael the Sophi his Friend and Ally Selymus perplexed with these News and fearing that if he should once pass over the River Euphrates Campson lying so near in readiness should forthwith break in at his back into Asia by the Mountain Amanuâ— and so indanger that part of his Dominion staied at Iconium and sent his Embassadors with great Presents to Campson to pacifie him if it might be The chief Men in this Embassage were the Cadelescher a Man of great account amongst the Turks and of them exceedingly Reverenced for the opinion they had of his great knowledge in the Mahometan Superstition who afterwards wrote the Commentaries of this War and Iachis a great Captain The scope of whose Embassage was to intreat Campson that he would not hinder or disturb Selymus from making War upon the Persian King who had so oftâ—â— and so forcibly invaded his Dominions in Asia and by bringing in a new form of Superstition had corrupted and altered the most certain grounds of the Mahometan Religion And if they found him resolutely set down and not to be by any conditions removed then with all possible diligence to learn his strength and farther designs so far as by any means they could and with all speed to make their return But Campson now far spent with age and living in the height of worldly Bliss although he knew it fitter for him at those years to give himself to ease and quietness than to thrust himself into Wars and other Princes quarrels yet thought this Expedition to be for many causes both good and necessary First he deadly hated the Man for his inhuman Cruelty and therefore could never be perswaded to renew the League with him which he had in former time made with his Father Bajâ—zet besides that he desired to abate and repress his audacious insolency grown already by his prosperous Success beyond the bounds of reason for Selymus having taken Tauris overthrown the Persians and slain Aladeules began now to seem terrible to all the Princes that bordered upon him and there were many which said he was another Alexander who whilst other Princes sat still as Men asleep did in the mean time Plot in his victorious mind the Monarchy of the whole World. But above all things the fear of the losing of Syria and consequently the loss of all his Kingdom the quickest motive for stirring up of the suspitious minds of the greatest Princes most inforced Campson to take in hand this War so as much as the goodly Kingdoms of Egypt Iudea and Syria oppressed with the intollerable Government of the Proud Mamalukes and therefore less faithful to the Egyptian Kings were in danger to revolt to the Turks if the Persians should by any mischance or fortune of War be of the Turks vanquished For which cause Campson in the beginning of this War solicited by the Persian Embassadors had made a firm League and confederation with Hysmael and also moved with the misery of the woful young Prince Aladin the Son of Achomates was in mind perswaded that the cruel Turkish Tyrant might by his and the Persian Kings Forces easily be thrust out of his Empire in Asia and Europe For Aladin who after the death of Achomates his Father fled to Campson the Sultan of Egypt as is before declared had lived three years as a forlorn and distressed Prince in the Egyptian Court and by all means he could devise incited the Mamalukes to revenge the injuries and cruelty of his Uncle Selymus The eldest Son also of the late King Aladeules a goodly young Prince having at once lost his Father his Kingdom and whatsoever he had else was in good time fled to the Egyptian King and had so filled the minds of all Men with the indignation and detestation of Selymus his exceeding cruelty that the Princes of the Mamalukes of their own accord came to Campson humbly beseeching him to take upon him so just a War and if by reason of his great years he should think himself unable to indure the travel thereof it would then please him yet to give them leave of themselves to take the matter in hand for the repressing of the insolency of that great and wicked Tyrant These Mamalukes far excelled the Turks not only in strength of Body skilful riding and goodly armor but also in courage and wealth Beside that they had not forgotten with what small power they had under the leading of Caitbeius their great Sultan overthrown the Turks great Armies in Cilicia first at Adena and afterward at Tarsus where they took Prisoners Mesites Palaeologus the great Bassa and Cherseogles Bajazet his Son-in-Law by which Victory they grew into such a proud and vain conceit of themselves as if they had been the only Souldiers of the World able of themselves to vanquish and overcome whatsoever they should set upon These so valiant Souldiers were for the most part of the poor People called in ancient time Getae Zinchi and Bastarnae born near unto the Euxine Sea and the Fens of Maeotis especially on that side where the River Corax falleth into the Euxine Sea which Country is of later time called Circassia of the People called Cercitae near unto Cholchis These miserable and wretched People the Valachians Podolians Polonians Roxolanes and Tartars dwelling by Taurica pulled from their Mothers Breasts or by other violent means surprised were sold to Merchants who culling out the best for strength of Body or aptness of Wit conveied them by Sea to Alexandria from whence they were continually sent to the great Sultan of Egypt and by his appointment were at Caire after the old manner of that People delivered to Masters
done omitting for a while the Expedition made in person himself against the Persians we will first declare what he did by his Lieutenants against the Moors Hariadenus sirnamed of the Christians Barbarussa who succeeding his elder Brother Horruccius in the Kingdom of Algiers in Africk had by many Victories so inlarged the Kingdom before gotten by his Brother that his Name and Power was now become terrible both to the Christians and wild Moors and his fame grown great in the Turkish Court was the chief Author and perswader of Solyman to invade Africk But it shall not as I think be far from our purpose here briefly to rehearse by what means those two Mytilene Brethren basely born crept out of a small Galliot unto the Majesty of great Kings that herein they which come afterwards may also admire the wonderful changes and chances of these worldly things now up now down as if the life of man were not of much more certainty than a stage Play. These two Brethren Horruccius and Hariadenus born at Mytilene in the Island of Lesbos weary of the poor and base estate they led at home with their Father a Renegate Grecian stealing a little Galliot committed themselves and all the hope of their good fortune to Sea where by chance they consorted themselves with Camales a most famous Pyrat of that time under whom Horruccius the elder Brother for his forwardness became a Captain and growing rich by many Purchases and also strong with Gallies and Slaves which he had at sundry times taken and at last consorting himself with Haidin Sinam the Jew Salee and other less Pyrats which afterwards became men of great fame and account over whom he commanded as an arch Pyrat came seeking after purchase as far as Mauritania At which time Selymes King of Iulia-Caesarea which now we call Algiers was in Arms against his Brother Mechemetes Competitor of the Kingdom who aided by the Numidians now commonly called Arabians put his Brother in great doubt of his Estate Selymes glad of the coming of Horruccius and the other Pyrats his Followers with a great Mass of Mony paid before hand induced Horruccius and the rest to take upon them the defence of him and his Kingdom against his Brother which thing Horruccius so happily performed especially by the means of his Harquebusiers as then no small terror to the wild Moors and Numidians that in short time he repulsed that savage People and set Selymes at peace in his Kingdom Horruccius being a man of a sharp wit and by nature ambitious noting in the time of his service the Kings mild and simple disposition void of all distrust and that the naked Moors were no Souldiers but a light and unconstant People alwaies at variance among themselves and that the wandring Numidians living barely divided into many factions were easily by reward to be won or by force constrained suddenly falsified his faith and villanously slew Selymes the King as he was bathing himself mistrusting nothing less than the falshood of the Pyrat and in the same hurl murdring such as he thought would withstand his desire and with Bounty and Cruelty overcoming the rest so wrought the matter that he was by general consent chosen King of Algiers Thus of a Pyrat become a King he shortly after by Policy surprised Circello a famous City about sixty mile distant from Algiers by his Souldiers sent thither in the habit of Merchants After that he by his Brother Hariadenus no less valiant than himself troubled all the Mediterranean Sea from Algiers with his Gallies and all his Neighbours himself by land with daily incursions leaving nothing untoucht which might by force or policy be had so that his power daily encreased men of service continually resorting unto him as the chief man in all those parts Not thus contented he to enlarge his Kingdom drave the Spaniards out of â—ugâ—a a City famous both for the great Trade thither and for the Mahometan School sometime there kept at the taking whereof he lost his right Hand with a Shot and instead thereof ever after used a Hand of Iron wherewith he obtained many worthy Victories against his Enemies for near to Algiers he overthrew an Army of the Spaniards with Diego de Vara their General And shortly after at such time as Hugo Moncada returning out of Italy with the old Spanish Souldiers landed in his Country he enforced him again to Sea where he with all his expert Souldiers either perished by shipwrack or driven on shore were slain or taken Prisoners by Horruccius and thrust into his Gallies At last having in sundry Battels overcome the King of Tremissa Charles the Emperor his Confederate and thrust him out of his Kingdom he stirred up both the Christians and Numidians against him so that coming to take Ora and Portus two strong Holds kept by Garrisons of Spaniards sent thither to aid the King of Tremissa he was by them and the Moors at the first repulsed and afterwards quite overthrown where most part of his Army being slain or taken Prisoners he with a few of his Friends sought to save themselves by flight over the desart Sands and seeing himself hardly pursued by his Enemies scattered many pieces of Gold upon the Sands as he fled thereby to have staied their hasty pursuit but they more desirous of him than of his Gold followed so fast that at last they overtook him and without further delay struck off his Head which was afterwards sent into Spain and carried upon a Launce through all the Towns and Cities alongst the Sea Coast to the wonderful rejoycing of the People unto whom he had in former time done great harm After the death of Horruccius Hariadenus inferior to his Brother neither in Courage nor Martial Prowess by the general consent of the Souldiers took upon him the Kingdom of Algiers He made Heir not only of his Brothers Kingdom but of his Vertues and haughty Thoughts and of the surname also of Barbarussa began forthwith to aspire unto the Empire of all that part of Africk accounting what he had already gotten too little and too base to answer his desires Wherefore he entred into Arms and became a terror both to the Moors and Numidians holding Peace with some and Wars with others as best served his purpose and with his Gallies robbed and spoiled the Coasts of Spain Sardinia and the Islands Baleares Fortune so favouring him in all his enterprises that he became both famous and fearful to his Enemies He slew Hamet a great Commander among the Numidians and chased Banchades and Amida two of their greatest Princes out of the Country and with like fortune at Sea overcame Hugo Moncada a famous Spaniard who sore wounded had much ado to save himself by flight when he had lost divers of his Gallies He also in Battle at Sea overthrew Rodericus Portundus Admiral of Spain in which fight the Admiral with his Son were both slain and seven of
especially in the newness of his Kingdom Neither did Touarres refuse the same as standing with his present profit for upon this agreement Amida was to give him certain Mony to pay his Souldiers and to deliver him the Prisoners he had taken with the Ensigns and Body of Lofredius For more assurance whereof he gave Sehites his Son then nine years old in Hostage yet upon condition that if an assured Peace could not be agreed upon but that they must needs enter into War then Touarres should forthwith restore him his Son Sehites in safety These Capitulations although they seemed not unreasonable and were of them well liked yet Touarres thought it not altogether agreeing with the honour of the Emperor that he should enjoy the Kingdom who by most horrible Treason and detestable Villany had thrust himself thereinto without the Emperors leave Wherefore he entred into a new device to call in the rightful Heir who might at the Emperors pleasure offended with the injury done by Amida reign in Tunes There was an exile amongst the Numidians one Abdamelech ever since the time that Roscetes fled to Barbarussa Him because he was Muleasses natural Brother Touarres sent for putting him in hope of the Kingdom supported by Anemseha a great Prince amongst the Numidians who had all that long time courteously entertained him Neither was Abdamelech slow to accept the occasion presented especially incouraged thereunto by the Numidian Prince his good Friend and the predictions of the Astrologers who had foretold him That he should die King of Tunes Which vain kind of Divination having in it no manner of assurance yet causeth great minds oftentimes to undertake great attempts beyond reason which falling out with more hap than they were with reason foretold giveth some credit to that Vanity and causeth those cold Prophets to be of some accounted as great Wizards And to work this feat such a time was offered as a better could not be wished for Amida having set all things in order as he pleased in the City and casting no peril was gone to Biserta to take order for his Customs which was there great upon Fishing Wherefore Touarres to keep his promise sent back Sehites Amida's Son in a Boat to Tunes and received Abdamelech who travelling most part by night was secretly come to Guletta and there resting himself and his Horses a few hours to prevent the fame of his coming posted in haste with a Troop of his Numidian Followers to Tunes and passing through the City went directly to the Castle which he entred without resistance of the Warders supposing him to have been Amida come from Biserta for Abdamelech had after the manner of the Moors covered his Face with a Skarf as if it had been to have kept him from the Sun and the Dust and by that happy slight got into the Castle before it was known who he was The Warders perceiving their error began as Men amazed now too late to betake themselves to their Weapons for in making resistance they were quickly slain by the Numidians which came in with Abdamelech who thus possessed of the Castle the chief strength of that Kingdom let in his Friends which were many in the City by whom he was presently saluted King the rest of the Citizens either well liking of the matter or at least not daring for fear to stir But as in these worldly things for which Men so vainly toil is no assurance so this new King shortly after fell sick and died when he had reigned but six and twenty days and was afterwards Royally interred After whose death his mighty Friends with the chief of the Citizens perswaded and encouraged by Touarres the Spaniard chose Mahometes his Son a Child scarce twelve years old to reign in his Fathers place appointing Abdalages Maniphet Brother to him who Amida slew Abdelchirinus Mesuar Shyriffus a great Man in the Mahometan Superstition and Perellus a Christian Knight to be his Directors and Governors which four swaied all at their pleasure But Abdelchirinus tendring the Welfare of his Country and devising out of season how to set up one of the Royal Blood that were of himself able to govern the Kingdom saying That it was not for the common good to be ruled by a Child was for his labour by his other three Fellows suddainly slain with all his Kindred and known Friends After whose death the other three erected a manner of Triumvirat Government every one of them laying hand upon one part of the State or other as liked him best Amida thus shut out of Tunes and having lost his Kingdom wandred up and down to Leptis Cyrapolis and many other places craving Aid of every Man to recover his Kingdom miserably rent in sunder as he said by most wicked Men who insolently triumphed over the Boy King. Which they of Tunes knew well to be true and dayly complained of the death of Abdelchirinus whom they called the faithful Counsellor and Father of his Country Whilst Amida is thus trudging up and down craving help of this and that Prince proving his Friends and sounding his Subjects Affection towards him Muleasses grown miserable with his long imprisonment and the calamity of his disaster Fortune obtained of the young King his Nephew so much favour as that he might sometime go out of the Castle to the Church under colour whereof he took Sanctuary a place in Tunes holden in such reverence amongst the Moors as that it was a most inviolable Refuge to all such as fled thereunto Not long after at such time as Bernardinus Mendoza the Admiral of Spain came to Guletta with the Spanish Fleet Muleasses at the request of Touarres was conveyed out of the Sanctuary to the Lake and so by Water to Guletta there to be present at the Consultation there holden for the utter subversion of Amida and the driving out of the Turks out of such Cities as they yet held alongst the Sea-Coast in Africa Muleasses had hardly before escaped the hands of certain of his Enemies in Tunes who sought after his life preserved by an old Woman who moved with pity hid him from their fury under a great heap of Garlike and had he not now in good time escaped to Guletta he had again fallen into the hands of his merciless Son Amida who shortly after recovered again his Kingdom and would not as he said himself have spared him for the Reverence of any Sanctuary For the Citizens of Tunes weary of the evil Government of such as were in Authority about the young King and not a little offended with the King himself for espousing Melucca his Cousin one of Muleasses his Daughters secretly encouraged Amida by Letters to repair to the City promising to aid him in recovering his Kingdom Whereupon he came in such haste that the young King had scarce time to get out of the City and Amida entring without resistance and holpen by his Friends easily obtained again the Kingdom
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
one thousand and of the Cilicians four thousand After whom followed the Souldiers of Graecia the Glory and Hope of all the Camp valiant Men to the number of ten thousand and after them the familiar and faithful Guard of the General ten thousand Ianizaries of Constantinople with Harquebuzes on their shoulders and Scimitars by their sides of the City also of Erzirum and the Jurisdiction thereof appeared four thousand under the Ensign of Beyran Bassa their General All these were Stipendaries to the Turkish Emperour unto whom other voluntary Adventurers joyned themselves in number not inferiour to the rest but better furnished and of greater Courage So that in this general survey of the Army were found about an hundred and ten thousand Men most part Horsemen yet was there not any stirred out of Arabia Egypt Affrica or Hungarie or other Places along the Sea Coasts neither were the Provinces from whence these Souldiers were drawn left destitute or unfurnished of their ordinary Garrisons Besides this multitude of Men. Mustapha brought with him five hundred small pieces of Artillery with many loads of Money for his Souldiers pay with further order for the taking up of more at Aleppo and other Places if his Occasions should so require He caused also great quantity of Corn to be transported by the great Sea called in ancient time Pontus Euxinus to Trapezond so to be conveyed to Erzirum being but four days Journey distant thence To be short having taken order for all things he thought necessary for the War he in seemly array departed from Erzirum and in eight days arrived at the Ruines of Chars and in the fruitful Country thereabout rested himself but was there surprised with such a violent Tempest of Wind and Rain as rent in sunder his Tents and did great harm by means whereof many fell sick and were constrained to forsake the Army Having stayed three days at Chars the Bounder of the Turkish and Persian Empires he departed thence with his Army and that evening lodged under the Mountains of Chielder supposed to be part of the Hills Periardo where hearing the Persians to be in Arms he thought it best for the security of his Army to pitch his Tents as that he might well discover the coming of the Enemy and not to be assaulted unawares And therefore planting himself in the Plain he gave order that Beyran Bassa of Erzirum should take Possession of a certain Hill on the right-Hand and Deruis the Bassa of Caramit should keep another Hill that stood on the left hand and with them Osman Bassa Mahomet Bassa Mustaffade Bassa adventurers with many others as well stipendary as voluntary men should likewise pitch their tents upon the same Hills in such sort as that they making as it were two Wings to the Camp might discover the comming of every man and yet he himself being shadowed with the two Hills might lie unperceived of any Mahamet the new King of Persia as yet scarcely settled in his Kingdom stirred up by the fame of these motions resolved in himself to stand upon the defence of his State and for a time to dissemble the conceived hatred which he bare to some of the Sultans of Persia and Princes of Georgia and to make some apparent shew that he was reconciled to them for that without them he could not promise unto himself any form of an Army or Defence wherein notwithanding all the troubled State of his Kingdom he wrought so cunningly that almost all the great men of account took upon them the Protection of his State and Kingdom And so Tocomac a Sultan the Chan and Governour of Reivan a famous man well known unto the Turks and of great Reputation amongst the Persians was chosen General of this Expedition with charge That the gathering together the greatest number of Men he could out of Atropatia out of Media the greater and other Places near unto the Turks he should by all means possible stop their passage into Georgia and Media Atropatia And thereupon Precepts were sent out into all parts of the Kingdom That all the Chans Sultans and Souldiers whatsoever should come ready prest to attend upon their new General Many obedient to the Kings Proclamation came but many there were that would not stir a foot for their Obstinacy in the Broyls begun and for the Suspition they had of unlooked for Mischiefs at whose Disobedience the King much grieved but now there was no Remedy but to make the best of the matter and for the safeguard of his Honour to make the best resistance they could So with those few which for the love of their Prince and Country were met together in those parts being in number not above twenty thousand Tocomac was dispatched about his Business if happily he might with these small Forces oppress the Enemy in some straight and troublesome Passage where the great multitude should rather serve to the confusion of themselves than to the help of one another These twenty thousand were all Horse-men armed with Scimitar and Bow with some Harquebuzers among and furnished with very fine and well tempered Armour but above all couragious they were and resolute and well the more for the Valour and Prowess of their General So provided of all things necessary they set forward and keeping the way of Tauris and Genge they came to the turning of Chars where they were advertised that the Enemies Army was already passed They were now come within a days Journey of Chielder when they sent quick and faithful Scouts to bring them certain News of the Condition and number of the Turks Army who came thither even at the very time that Mustapha was incamping his Army between the two Hills whereupon the two Bassaes Beyran and Deruis with their People had already pitched their Tents These Scouts discovering the Turkish host aloft perswaded themselves that there was not any other Battel than those which they saw upon the Hills whereof with all speed they could they returned News to Tocomac who at ease had followed these his Scouts a far off Tocomac thus misinformed by his Scouts of the number of his Enemies held on his way boldy with purpose to assault them and having discovered their Tents upon the Hills was throughly confirmed in the Opinion he had before conceived of the number of his Enemies and the Scouts relation and with so much the more confidence set forward to assail them But Beyran and Deruis who quickly from the Hills perceived the Persians coming in the Plain although they knew them to be men of great Courage yet reposing an assured Confidence in their Generals Battel with all speed mounted upon their Horses and ran to meet them So in the aforesaid Plains under Chielder within one hour after noon was joyned a most bloody Battel wherein at last were slain seven of the Turks Sanzacks with a very great number of Souldiers without any apparent loss at all among the Persians who fighting close
by His Majesty for Ambassador to the Grand Signior in the place of Sir Daniel Harvey who dyed in August 1672. at his Country-house not far from Constantinople His Excellency entred the City on the first day of Ianuary 1673 4. rejoycing the English Factory with the sight of their new Ambassador that Office having been now void for the space of sixteen months who was welcome also to people of the Country judging him fortunate for arriving at the Feast of their great Biram nor less pleasing was the News thereof to the Court especially to the late Pasha of Tunis whose Goods and Monies taken by one Dominico Franceschi out of an English Ship called the Mediterranean in her passage from Tunis to Tripoli this Ambassador had recovered from Ligorne and Malta which being an action without example was greatly admired and applauded by the Turks and esteemed an evident demonstration of that great Interest and Power which the Glory of our King hath acquired in Foreign parts and of the singular dexterity of such a Minister About the 18 th of March Sir Iohn Finch arrived at Constantinople being transported to the Dardanelli on his Majesties Fregat the Centurion and thence on a Gally hired at Smyrna for that purpose Some few days after his arrival the Grand Signior and Vizier being at Adrianople the Lord Ambassador had audience of the Chimacam whom he saluted with this speech I am come Ambassadour from Charles the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland sole Lord and Soveraign of all the Seas that environ his Kingdoms Lord and Soveraign of vast territories and possessions in the East and West-Indies Defender of the Christian Faith against all those that Worship Idols or Images To the most Powerful and mighty Emperor of the East to maintain that peace which hath been so useful and that commerce which hath been so profitable to this Empire For the continuance and encrease whereof I promise you in my station to contribute what I can and I promise to my self that you in your will do the like But to proceed to the Wars The Pâ—landers being thus prosperous made use of their success and the sharp cold of the Winter-sâ—ason to make their Incursions and Winter-quarters through all the Principalities of Moldavia for they being born in cold Countries and accustomed to the Snows and Frosts were more patient and enduring of extremity of weather than were the Turks who were brought forth from more mild and moderate Climates so that neither could the Poles be driven out from those Countries nor Keminitz be relieved by them until such time that the Sun getting high and thawing the Snows and warming the Earth prepared a season fit for return of the Turks who marching according to their custom with an Army composed of great multitudes quickly compelled the Poles to retire For the Grand Signior and Vizier having both seated their Winter-quarters on the Banks of the Danâ—be were ready at the first opening of the Summer to enter their Arms into the Enemies Countries and having called the Tartars to their assistance did according to the usual custom make Incursions for depredation of Slaves Cattel and whatsoever else was portable in a running March. The Chan or King of this People was at that time greatly indisposed in his health of which he advised the Great Vizier as if he intended thereby to obtain a release from his personal attendance that year in the War But the Vizier who either supposed this excuse to be only a pretence or that he had a kindness for his Person immediately dispatched away his own Physician called Signior Masselini an Italian born a worthy Learned man a good Christian and my intimate Friend with whom maintaining a constant correspondence by Letters he wrote me That from the Grand Signiors Quarters which were at Batadog near the Banks of the Danube he arrived after seventeen days Journey in Chrim where he said he was received with singular honour and kindness by the Great Chan whom he found to be a Prince of admirable prudence gentleness and generosity but greatly afflicted with a Hypochondriacal Melancholy which being an infirmity of some years standing was with the more difficulty removed howsoever he was so far from being uncapable to follow his Army that he advised him to divert his mind with the thoughts of War which counsel having taken after thirty days abode in the Camp he found himself much more chearful than before and greatly relieved of that pressure of Melancholy and caliginous Vapours which offended his Brain We are now said he at Vssia at the Mouth of the Boristhenes which we have passed from the other side unto this where the River is nine miles brâ—ad from hence we are marching towards Bender upon the Niester to pass into Moldavid and there to joyn with the Ottoman Army The Poles have sent to demand Peace but with condition that Kemenitz be restored to them which Proposition was with great disdain rejected and will never be granted whilst this Emperour reigns These people greatly desired a Peace with Poland which the Election of Sobieski for King may probably facilitate for not only they but the Turks also dread a March into Poland and are so inveterately bent to take revenge on the Muscovites and Cosacks who lately became their Subjects that they could accept of any reasonable Terms of Accommodation with Poland I for my part found Tartary a very pleasant Country plentiful of all Provisions and the people much more courteous and obliging to the Strangers and Christians than those Turks with whom you and I have conversed Thus far Masselini writes in commendation of the Tartars and in farther confirmation hereof I have read in some Books That as to their Morals there are very few Nations to be found less vicious they are extremely severe and faithful they have no Thieves or false Witnesses amongst them little Injustice or Violence and live in union and great tranquillity the marvellous fidelity of the Captive Tartars in Poland is every day to be observed who never fail to return at the time appointed when they are licensed upon their word to go and procure their Liberties by the exchange of Polish Prisoners which they execute punctually or return themselves not failing a minute And it is observed That the Polish Gentlemen do rather trust the young Tartars which are in their Service with the keys of their Money and Jewels than any of their Houshold The time for Armies to draw out of the Winter-quarters and take the Field being now come the Grand Signior and Vizier with great numbers both of Horse and Foot passed the Danube and prosecuting their March to the Câ—nfines of Poland they relieved Kemenitz in the first place the Poles at the News of their approach rasing the Siege Thence they proceeded to Chuâ—zim a strong Fortress on the Niester taken from them in the last year by the Christians after the defeat given to Chusaein Pasha
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
Tâ—rkish Empire the 25 th day of December in the year 1574. The description of Amurath He pacifieth the Ianizaries and augmenteth their priviledges He strangleth five of his Brethren A desperâ—te woman Russia invaded by the Turks Leon. Gorecius de Bell. 〈◊〉 Amurath 's Letters unto the Nobility of Polonia Stephen Vayvod of Transilvania upon the commendation of Amurath chosen King of Polonia The eleven Sons of Tamas the Persian King. Ismahel appointed by his Father to succeed him in the Kingdom Aidere aspireth to the Kingdom of Persia. Aider slain and his Head cast amongst his Favorites Ismahel saluted King. He murdereth eight of his yonger Brethren Ismahel suddenly murthered by the device of his Sister Periaconcona Amurath intentive to the stirs in Persia. Mahamet resolveth to take upon him the Persian Kingdom Mahamet proclaimed King of Persia. The Head of Periaconcona presented to Mahamet on a Lance. No assurance in the Turks League Ambition the Cause of the Persian War. * A Consultation holden amongst the Bassaes about the manner of the Invasion of Persia Vstres Bassa beginneth the Wars in Persia. The League betwixt Amurath the Turks Sultan and Stephen King of Polonia Mustapha Bassa made General of the Turks Army Mustapha cometh to Erzirum and there mustereth his Army Mustapha at Chars Mustapha cunningly encampeth his Army at Chielder Tocomac General of the Persians Mustapha commeth with his Battel to relieve his distressed People A Bulwark made of the Heads of the slain Persians The speech of Manucchiar to Mustapha The Answer of Mustapha A terrible Rain and Tempest Mustapha surveyeth his Army at Archichelec and lacketh forty thousand of his Men. The Turks Victuallers cut off by the Georgians Alessandro the Georgian sendeth Ambassadors to Mustapha Alessandro curteously entertained by Mustapha The Turks Army afflicted with Hunger Ten thousand of the Turks Forragers slain The Persians fly and in flying are many of them drowned in Canac The Resolute Answer of Mustapha to his tumultuous Souldiers Eight thousand Turks drowned in passing the River Famine in the Turks Host. The Turks Army refreshed Mustapha returneth out of Siruan Mustapha relieveth his distressed Garrison at Teflis The Misery of the Turks Army in passing the Straights of Georgia The Georgian Widow submitteth her self with her Son Alexander to Mustapha Mustapha cometh to Erzirum and dischargeth his Army Mustapha magnifieth his own Exploits to Amurath Ares Chan hanged at Sumachia Emanguli Chan taken and Genge sacked by the Tartarians Ere 's recovered by the Persians Sumachia besieged by the Persian Prince Sumachia yieldeth unto the Prince Abdilcheraâ— beloved of the Persian Queen Abdilcheraâ— slain in the Court. The Persian Queen made away Sahamal slain by Osman The Consultations of Amurath Mustapha careful to put in execution Amurath's command Manucchiar turneth Turk Alexander constant in his Religion Emanguli Chan taketh upon him the defence of Siruan Simon with Aliculi Chan sent for the Defence of Georgia The meeting together of the Turks Army at Erzirum Chars fortified in twenty three days space Snows at Chars in August Hassan Bassa sent with twenty thousand to the succour of Teflis The Persians assail the Turks and make of them a great slaughter The Persians overthrown and Aliculi Chan taken The Misery of the Turks in Garrison at Teflis Simon destroyed the rereward of Hassan's Army and taketh from him his Treasure Mustapha returneth to Erzirum and there dischargeth his Army Hassan Bassa rewarded for his good Service by Amurath Mustapha discharged of his Generalship and called home to Constantinople Sinan accuseth Mustapha to Amurath Io. Leuncla in supplement Annal. Tuâ—cicorum pag. 79. Mustapha by the Mediation of certain great Ladies appeaseth the displeasure of Amurath The strange Death of the great Visier Bassa Muhamet Sinan Bassa chosen General for the Persian War. The Persian King sendeth Maxut Chan his Ambassador to Amurath The Admonition of Sinan to the Persian Ambassador The Preparations of the Persian King against the Turks Sinan mustereth his Army at Erzirum Maxut Chan reporteth unto the King what he hath done and is for his good service by him rewarded Maxut Chan flyeth unto the Turks Sinan cometh to Teflis Sinan departeth from Teflis Seven thousand Turks slain by the Georgians and Persians Sinan derided of his Souldiers Sinan cometh to Erzirum and there breaketh up his Army Amurath circumciseth his eldest Son Mahomet Io. Leuâ—c sup Annal. Turc p. 82 Mahamet Bassa refuseth Battel offered by the Georgians and Persians The Turks discomfited and the Treasure and Corn taken by the Georgians and Persians Mahamet with his discomfited Army cometh to Teflis The Oration of Mahamet Bassa in the Castle of Teflis The Turks among themselves make a Purse of 30000 Duckets for the relief of the Garrison of Teflis Mahamet deviseth how to betray Mustapha the Georgian Mustaffa notably revengeâ—h himself of the Treachery intended against him by Mahamet the General The proud answer of Sinan to Amurath Sciaus Bassa made Visier in Sinan's Place Mahamet the Persian King resolveth to go to Heri against his Son Abas Mirize Mahamet cometh to Heri Abas Mirize by his Ambassadours purged of Treason The Ambassadours of Abas accuse Mirize Salmas the Visier Mirize Salmas the Visier found guilty of Treason and beheaded Ferat Bassa chosen General of the Army in Sinan's Place General Ferat departeth from Constantinople He cometh to Reivan Ferat in the space of fifteen days buildeth a Fort at Reivan 750 yards about Ferat cometh to Erzirum and there breaketh up his Army The Death of Hama Chadum Amurath's Mother Ferat raiseth a new Army The Persian King with a great Army cometh to Tauris Ferat cuteth down a thick Wood at Tomanis and buildeth a Fort upon the Straight The compass of the Castle built at Tâ—manis by Ferat Simon in danger to have been taken escapeth by a strange chance A wonderful dearth in the Turks Army at Triala The insolent speech of the mutinous Souldiers against Ferat their General The mutinous Souldiers again threaten their General The stout answer oâ— Ferat The Souldiers overthrow the Generals Tents and threaten to kill him Ferat at Ardachan breaketh up his Army The dangerous Passage from Reivan to Teflis secured unto the Turks Emir Chan having his Eyes put out dieth miserably in Prison Amurath sendeth for Osman into Siruan The Tartar King sendeth 12000 Tartars to lie in wait for to kill Osman Osman assaulted by 12000 Tartarâ— Osman overcometh the Tartars Osman strangleth Mahomet the Tartar King with his two Sons and placeth Islan his Brother in his stead Amurath demandeth Osmans Opinion concerning the Enterprise of Tauris Osman's Resolution Osman Bassa made chief Visier and General of the Army Io. Leunc sup Annal. Turcicorum pag. 91. A most barbarous outrage committed by Petrus Emus a Venetian The Villany discovered Amurath sendeth a Messenger to Venice to expostulate the Injury done unto his Subjects Petrus Emus beheaded Io. Leunc sup Annal. Turcicoruâ— pag. 92. Ramadan Bassa slain by the insolent Ianizaries
four hundred years The next day after having buried the dead and cleansed the City they gave thanks to God with publick Prayers and great rejoycing The poor Christians before oppressed now overcome with unexpected joy welcomed their victorious Brethren with great joy and praise and the Souldiers embracing one another sparing to speak of themselves freely commended each others valour Eight days after the Princes of the Army meeting together began to consult about the choice of their King among whom was no such difference as might well shew which was to be preferred before the others And although every one of them for prowess and desert seemed worthy of so great an honour yet by the general consent of all it was given to Robert Duke of Normandy who about the same time hearing of the death of the Conqueror his Father and more in love with his Fathers new gotten Kingdom in England in hope thereof refused the Kingdom of Ierusalem then offered unto him which at his return he found possessed by William Rufus his younger Brother and so in hope of a better refusing the worse upon the matter lost both After whose departure Godfrey of Buillon Duke of Lorain whose Ensign was first displayed upon the Walls was by the general consent both of the Princes and the Army saluted King He was a great Souldier and indued with many Heroical Virtues brought up in the Court of the Emperor Henry the Fourth and by him much employed At the time of his inauguration he refused to be crowned with a Crown of Gold saying That it became not a Christian man there to wear a Crown of Gold where Christ the Son of God had for the salvation of mankind sometime wâ—rn a Crown of Thorn. Of the greatest part of these proceedings of the Christians from the time of their departure from Antioch until the winning of the Holy City Godfrey by Letters briefly certified Bohemund as followeth Godfrey of Buillon to Bohemund King of Antioch Greeting AFter long travel having first taken certain Towns we came to Jerusalem which City is environed with high Hills without Rivers or Fountains excepting only that of Solomons and that a very little one In it are many Cisterns wherein water is kept both in the City and the Country thereabout On the East are the Arabians the Moabites and Ammonites On the South the Idumaeans Aegyptians and Philistians Westward along the Sea-coast lie the Cities of Ptolemais Tyrus and Tripolis and Northward Tiberias Caesarea Philippi with the Country Decapolis and Damasco In the assault of the City I first gained that part of the Wall that fell to my lot to assail and commanded Baldwin to enter the City who having slain certain Companies of the Enemies broke open one of the Gates for the Christians to enter Raymond had the City of David with much rich Spoil yielded unto him But when we come unto the Temple of Solomon there we had a great conflict with so great Slaughter of the Enemy that our men stood in blood above the ancles The night approaching we could not take the upper part of the Temple which the next day was yielded the Turks pitifully crying out for mercy and so the City of Jerusalem was by us taken the fifteenth of July in the year of our Redemption 1099 thirty nine days after the beginning of the Siege four hundred and nine years after it fell into the bands of the Sarasins in the time of Heraclius the Emperor Besides this the Princes with one consent saluted me against my Will King of Jerusalem who although I fear to take upon me so great a Kingdom yet I will do my devoir that they shall easily know me for a Christian King and well deserving of the Universal Faith but love you me as you do and so farewell From Jerusalem Whilst these things were in doing at Ierusalem such a multitude of the Turks and Sarasins their Confederates now in their common calamity all as one were assembled at Ascalon a City about five and twenty miles from Ierusalem to revenge the injuries they had before received as had not before met together in all the time of this sacred War. Against whom Godfrey the late Duke and now King assembled the whole Forces of the Christians in those Countries and leaving a strong Garrison in the new won City set forward and meeting with them joyned a most dreadful and cruel battel wherein as most report were slain of the Infidels an hundred thousand men and the rest put to flight The Spoil there taken far exceeded all that the Christians had before taken in this long Expedition Godfrey after so great a Victory returning to Ierusalem gave unto God most humble thanks The rest of the Princes returned either to their Charge as did Bohemund to Antioch Baldwin to Edessa Tancred into Galilee whereof he was created Prince or else having now performed the uttermost of their Vows returned with honour into their own Countries This was of all others the most honourable Expedition that ever the Christians took in hand against the Infidels and with the greatest resolution performed for the most part by such voluntary men as moved with a devout Zeal to their immortal praise spared neither life nor living in defence of the Christian Faith and Religion all Men worthy eternal Fame and Memory Not long after ensued a great Pestilence the ready attendant of long war and want whereof infinite numbers of People died and among the rest Godfrey the first Christian King of Ierusalem never to be sufficiently commended who with the general lamentation of all good Christians was honourably buried in the Church of the Sepulchre of our Saviour on the Mount Calvary where our Saviour suffered his Passion in which the Christian Kings succeeding him were also afterwards buried He departed this life the eighteenth of Iuly in the year of our Lord 1100. when he had yet scarce reigned a full year year 1100. Whose Tomb is yet at this day there to be seen with an honourable Inscription thereupon After the death of Godfrey the Christians made choice of Baldwin his Brother Count of Edessa who leaving his former Government to Baldwin sirnamed Burgensis his near Kinsman came to Ierusalem honourably accompanied and was there by the Patriarch on Christmas-day with all Solemnity crowned King in the year 1101. year 1101. He aided by the Venetians and Genoways at Sea and by Bohemund King of Antioch by Land took from the Infidels the City of Cesarea Stratonis standing upon the Sea-side and overthrew certain Companies of the Aegyptian Sultans at Rama But understanding that the Christian Princes of the West were coming to his aid with a new Power he glad thereof went to meet them and safely conducted them to Ierusalem alongst the Sea-coast by the Cities of Berythus Sidon Tyre and Ptolemais all yet holden by the Enemy At which time the Turks at Ascalon having received great aid from the Arabians and Aegyptians invaded
greater courage than good speed set forward and so joyning battel with the Enemy was therein overthrown with the greatest part of his Army and himself taken Prisoner in the fight with certain other of his best Commanders who all together were carried away Captives unto Carras Upon the report of this overthrow and taking of the King the Chaliph of Aegypt on the other side took occasion with all his Power to invade the Kingdom of Ierusalem and having in himself purposed the utter ruine thereof beside the great Army which he sent thither by Land which lay incamped not far from Ascalon he put to Sea an huge Fleet also of 700 Sail for the distressing of the Sea-Towns which he well knew were not otherwise to be won This Fleet of the Sarasin Kings for Aegypt with the Kingdoms of Tunis and Morocco were yet in possession of the Sarasins arriving at Ioppa there put ashore their Land Forces and hardly besieged the Town both by Sea and Land. But whilst they thus lay in great hope to have won the Town Dominicus Michael Duke of Venice stirred up by Calixtus then Bishop of Rome was come to Cyprus with a Fleet of two hundred Sail for the Relief of the Christians in Syria and the Holy Land and hearing of the distress of Ioppa nothing dismaid with the number of the Enemies Fleet hasted thither and came so suddenly upon them that he had as some report overthrown them before they could put themselves in order or be in readiness to fight or as some others say after a great and doubtful fight having sunk or taken a great number of them and put the rest to flight he obtained of them a most glorious Victory With like good Fortune also were the Sarasins overthrown in a notable battel at Land near unto Ascalon by the Lord Eustace unto whom the defence of the Kingdom was committed after the taking of the King who not long after so great a Victory died Ioppa relieved as is aforesaid the Duke of Venice travelled by Land to Ierusalem where he was honourably received by Guarimund the Patriarch and the Confederation before made betwixt King Baldwin and the Venetians upon the same conditions solemnly again renewed The Sarasins thus notably discomfited both by Sea and Land and the Christians thereby not a little incouraged and joyning their forces together with the Venetians came and the first of March laid Siege unto the ancient and strong City of Tyre which they having beset both by Sea and Land gave thereunto many a sharp assault which the Turks as Men fighting for their Lives and Wives right valiantly repulsed In which sort the Siege was continued longer than the Christians had at the first thought should have needed yet at length after four Months siege the Turk sore weakened with often assaults and hardly pinched with want of Food all their store being spent yielded the City by composition Thus was the City of Tyre the most famous Port of Phoenicia yielded unto the Christians the nine and twentieth of Iune in the year 1124. year 1124. The third part of this City was given to the Venetians according to the Composition made betwixt them and the Kings of Ierusalem That of all such Cities as were by their help won from the Infidels in Syria they should have a third part with one street and free Traffique in all the rest of the Cities of the Kingdom on Ierusalem Shortly after was King Baldwin set at liberty for the Ransome of an hundred thousand Ducats after he had been eighteen months Prisoner among the Turks The Duke of Venice having now spent almost three years in this Sacred Expedition and well confirmed the state of the Christians in Syria returning home by the way took the Islands of Chios Rhodus Samos Mitylen and Andrus with the City of Modon in Peloponesus all places belonging unto the Greek Empire Which he did in revenge of the Injuries done by the Emperor in the time of his absence who envying at the success of the Christians in Syria as had his Father Alexius before him had in the absence of the Duke infested the Territories of the Venetians for the which he was now justly requited with the loss of a good part of his own Baldwin also not unmindful of the Injuries unto him before done by the Turks in requital thereof invaded the Country about Damasco and there in three notable battels overthrew the King and spoiled the Country wherein he took so great a Prey that therewith he redeemed his Daughter whom he had at the time of his deliverance left in Hostage with the Turks for the payment of his Ransome He also overthrew the Sarasins at Ascalon who aided by the Chaliph of Aegypt had sundry times invaded the Country about Ierusalem And so having well repressed his Enemies for a space lived in peace Not long after Hugh Paganus first Master of the Templars an Order of Knights first begun in the Reign of this Baldwin before sent to crave Aid of the Christian Princes of the West against the Turks and Sarasins returned with a great number of zealous Christians ready to lay down their Lives for defence of the Christian Faith and Religion with whom Baldwin and the other Christian Princes of Syria joyning their Forces set forward and besieged Damasco the Regal Seat of the Turks in those quarters But such was the strength of this City with the valour of the Defendants and contagiousness of the Air that the Christians the Heavens as it were then fighting against them were glad to raise their Siege in vain begun and so to retire Whilst things thus passed in Syria Fulke Count of Turin Mayn and Anjou a man almost of threescore years having as he thought best disposed of his things at home had for devotion sake taken upon him an expedition into the Holy Land. In the time of which his preparations Embassadors came unto him from King Baldwin offering him in Marriage Melisenda or as some call her Margaret his eldest Daughter with the Succession of the Kingdom of Ierusalem in dowry if he should survive the King and in the mean time to content himself with the Cities of Tyre and Ptolemais of which offer he accepted and so held on his journey before intended It fortuned about three years after that the King fell dangerously sick and feeling his death drawing on having laid aside all Regal Dignity caused himself to be removed out of his own Palace into the Patriarchs house which was neerer unto the Temple of the Sepulchre and there calling unto him Fulk the Count his Son-in-Law with his Daughter and his Son Baldwin then but two years old in the presence of the Patriarch and divers other Princes and great Commanders commended unto them the Government and Defence of the Kingdom appointing Fulk to succeed him And taking unto himself the habit and Profession of a Monk if he should have longer lived presently after gave up the
so notable an Expedition But whilst they there stayed somewhat long the Plague arose among the Germans whereof in short time after both the Lantgrave and the Bishop died with many of the other best Souldiers The Emperor himself was upon his way as far Malâ—a upon the further side of Peleponnesus where falling desperately sick of a Burning-Fever and put back with contrary Winds he returned again to Brundusium and there stayed a great while after Then began the Pope again to fret and fume and to cast out his Excommunications against the Emperor as if it had been Thunder and Lightning accusing him of Perjury Infidelity and many other grievous Crimes of all which the Emperor was ready to have cleared himself in an open Assembly of the Princes of Germany to have been holden at Ravenna had it not been by the Pope and the Troubles of Lombardy disturbed Nevertheless he by open Protestations and Writings fully answered all the Popes unjust Accusations wherewith he had been so hardly charged and yet desirous to perform the Expedition by him taken in hand having set all things in good Order and put himself again in a readiness he set forward from Brundusium in August in the year 1228. leaving the Charge of his Territories in Italy under the care of Reynold Duke of Spaleto The Pope displeased for that the Emperor at his departure had neither reconciled himself nor taken his leave of him and deeming therein his Excommunications and Fulminations to be contemned and set at naught fell into such a rage and choler that he forbad all the Christian Forces that were in Syria to follow him or to yield to him their Obedience and writ Letters also unto the Sultan not to come to any agreement with the Emperor or to yield unto him any part of the Holy Land which Letters the Sultan afterwards sent unto the Emperor Neither yet so contented immediately after his departure ran upon his Kingdom of Naples and so filled all Italy with Troubles Nevertheless the Emperor happily arriving at Ptolemais was there honourably received of the Christian Forces notwithstanding the Popes Threats and Cursings Of whose arrival Sultan Meledin having Intelligence and loth to draw so mighty an Enemy as was the Emperor upon him by his Embassadors offered him most honourable Conditions of Peace which before he would accept of he by convenient Messengers sent unto the Pope to have his consent and approbation But such was his rage as that he would not suffer the Messengers to come into his presence or vouchsafe to read the Emperors Letters being brought unto him but like a mad man presently rent them in pieces All which Indignities the Emperor nevertheless took in good part and concluded a Peace with the Turks for ten years upon these conditions First That he should be anointed and accounted King of Ierusalem then That the holy City with all the Land of Palestine should be delivered unto him thirdly That he might at his pleasure fortifie the Cities of Nazareth and Ioppa fourthly That all such places as were sometime in the Power of Baldwin the fourth King of Ierusalem and taken from him by Sultan Saladin should be restored and last of all That all Prisoners on both sides should be set at liberty without Ransome So the Peace concluded the Emperor with his Army came to the desolate City of Ierusalem and there upon Easter-day with great Solemnity was Crowned King thereof year 1229. in the year 1229. And so having repaired the Walls of the City with certain Churches fortified Nazareth and Ioppa and furnished them with strong Garrisons and appointed Raynold Duke of Bavaria his Lieutenant in Syria he with two Gallies only returned into Italy Ever since which time the Kings of Sicilia have been also called Kings of Ierusalem and have oftentimes born the Arms of both Kingdoms The next year Pope Gregory in despight of the Emperor Frederick year 1230. more than for any Zeal to the Christian Religion did by the Dominicans and Franciscans two Orders of Friers but then lately erected as by his Trumpeters stir up a wonderful number of zealous and devout Christians almost in every part of Christendom to take upon them the Cross as they termed it the cognisance of such as had by Vow bound themselves to take up Arms against the Turks and Sarasins for the Recovery or Defence of the Holy Land. These devout men met together in great number under the leading of Theobald King of Navar Almericus Count of Montfort Henry Count of Champaigne and others too long to rehearse of purpose stirred up to trouble the ten years Peace before concluded betwixt the Emperor and the Turks in Syria set forward and after long travel passing the Strait of Bosphorus not far from Constantinople into Bithynia came to the River Sangarius and there stayed a while to refresh themselves Afterwards passing through Galatia and so from Country to Country through the lesser Asia they came at length unto the Straits of the Mountain Amanus a part of the Mountain Taurus which they found before taken by the Turks and the Sultan of Iconium Himself not far off incamped with a strong Army Nevertheless the valiant Count of Montfort which had the leading of the Vantguard couragiously marching forward by plain force opened the passage of the Mountain having slain or put to flight the Turks appointed for the keeping thereof the King of Navar in the mean time though in vain assailing the Sultan in his Camp who fearing the great Power of the Christians kept himself within his own strength and would not stir Wherefore the King seeing it to no purpose there longer to stay dividing his his Army into three parts left the Sultan and followed after the Count placing his Baggage in the midst and thâ— best of his Souldiers in the rereward But whilst they thus march up the great Mountain the Turks better acquainted with those passages were still at hand assailing them sometime behind sometime on the one side sometime on the other as they saw occasion and at length taking them at an advantage in a great Plain set upon them now before almost spent with hunger and travel and there slew of them an exceeding great number But by the coming on of the night the battel was broken off and the Christians repairing unto their Ensigns passed the Straits and so at length arrived at Antioch having lost by the way the greatest part of the Army with all their Wealth their Victuals and most part of their Horses the remnant yet left having a little refreshed themselves were by Sea transported to Ptolemais from whence they were afterward by the Templars conducted to Gaza where they lay and of the spoil of the Country greatly enriched themselves As for any other great matters they were not able of themselves to take in hand and help of such â—â—rces as the Emperor had before left at Ierusalem and other places they could have none having express
charge from the Emperor himself not to do any thing against the Enemy tending to the breach of the ten years League which the Turks well perceiving and that they had to do but with these new come Guests and some few others their partakers having gathered together their Forces lay in ambush for them in every corner to cut them off Neither was it long but that these of Gaza going far into the Country and returning laded with spoil were set upon by the Turks whom they casting away the spoil they had before taken notably repulsed and put to flight the day now drawing to an end But early the next morning appeared a far greater number of Turks than before which now putting on charged the Christians who all that night had stood watching in their Armor and so joyned with them a most cruel battel wherein the Christians shewed so much valour as was possible for men to do but wearied with the long fight and oppressed with the multitudes of their Enemies they were overcome and slain almost every Mothers Son. Amongst the rest the two Counts Almericus and Henry fell the King of Navar Himself hardly escaped by the exceeding swiftness of his Horse and by uncertain ways wandring up and down the Country not knowing well which way to take after two days came by good fortune to Ioppa some few others escaped by flight to Ptolemais the heavy Messengers of the misfortune of their Fellows The King afterwards visiting the holy places at Ierusalem returned home into his Country with some few of his Followers having performed nothing of that the World expected About four years after Raynold Duke of Bavaria whom Frederick the Emperor had left his Lieutenant in Ierusalem died having by the space of five years peaceably governed that bruised Kingdom After whose death the Templars who he yet living would oftentimes have broken the League but that they were by his wisdom restrained now took occasion to stir up the people to take Arms against the Turks without respect unto the League yet in force or of the dangers like thereof to ensue Whereof the Egyptian Sultan hearing raised a great Army sending also for the Chorasines a War-like Nation then lying near unto Babylon to come unto his Aid Thus become very strong he first laid siege to Gaza but a little before repaired and fortified by the King of Navar and the Templars which he at length took by force and put to Sword all that were therein as well the Citizens as the Garrison Souldiers in like manner he dealt also with them of Ascalon and other places as he went. To repress this his fury the Templars and Hospitallers had assembled the whole strength of that weak Kingdom and near unto Tyberias came to have given him battel Who upon their approach hastily retired as if he had for fear shunned battel But whiles the Christians as Victors the night following lay negligently incamped along the River side he returning back again with his Army came upon them before they were well aware half-sleeping half-waking but altogether unarmed with a most horrible Out-cry The Christians now altogether awaked and not a little troubled with the suddenness of the matter hastily and disorderly as must needs in so great a confusion took up their Weapons such as came first to hand and so couragiously opposed themselves against their Enemies There was fought a most terrible and doubtful battel and that also for a long space the Christians still encouraging one another to do their last devoir but the Turks still keeping their Order against the disordered Christians and far more also than they in number prevailed and there overthrew them with a great slaughter but not without the loss of many thousands also of their own men which there lay dead upon the ground Most part of the best Commanders both of the Templars and Hospitalers were there slain such as escaped fled to Tyre year 1234. The Sultan incouraged with so great a Victory marched forthwith to Ierusalem which he took without resistance and there put to Sword all that he found therein Men Women and Children without respect of Sex or Age and afterwards having rifled the same rased it down to the ground burning the Buildings and overthrowing the Walls not long before repaired by the Emperor Frederick and much beautified by his Lieutenant Raynold And carried with an infernal fury defaced and most shamefully polluted the Sepulchre of our blessed Saviour never before then violated or defiled but of all Nations untouched and reverenced which for all that may seem to have been done not so much for the hatred unto the Christian Religion as for that it was the place of all others most desired of the Christians and for the gaining whereof they had undertaken so many hard Adventures and so much troubled the Sarasins and Turks Thus by the unfaithful breaking of the League the most ancient and famous City of Ierusalem sometime the terrestrial Seat of the most High and glory of the World fell again into the Power of the Turks and Infidels in the year 1234. in whose hands it hath ever since remained even until this day now a poor ruinous City governed by one of the Turks Sanzacks and for nothing now more famous than for the Sepulchre of our blessed Saviour again repaired and much visited by the devout Christians and not unreverenced by the Turks themselves The loss of this so famous a City together with the dangerous State of the Christians in Syria much grieved the other Christian Princes of the West especially Frederick the Emperor by whom it had been but a few years before gained Howbeit he could not now remedy the matter according to his desire being himself grievously entangled with the endless Troubles which Pope Gregory had as it were by tradition left unto the other Popes his Successors for the troubling of his State until at length they had deprived him of his Empire and not long after of his life also Among other the great Princes careful for the poor Christians in Syria was Lewis the Ninth the French King a Prince of great Power but of all others of that time most famous for his Zeal unto the Christian Religion and for his devout manner of life who abounding in wealth and all things else of a great Prince to be desired and withall oftentimes considering the notable Expeditions many Christian Princes had to their Immortal Glory made some into Syria some into Egypt against the Enemies of Christ and for the Relief of the oppressed Christians was many times about to have taken upon himself the like But in these his devout motions before he could resolve upon so great an Enterprise he fell dangerously sick insomuch that for certain days he lay speechless devoid of sense and motion without any sign of life but that he did a little faintly breath when coming a little unto himself whither moved by devotion or troubled with his former
and Henry the Third then reigning in England that they both promised them aid Whereupon Lewis a man of a great devotion and always forward in that service against the Infidels took upon him the Cross the cognisance of the sacred War causing his three Sons Philip that succeeded him in the Kingdom sirnamed the Fair Peter Count of Alangon and Iohn Count of Nevers sirnamed Tristan for that his Mother was in her greatest heaviness for the taking of her Husband delivered of him in Egypt and most of the Nobility of France to do the like unto whom also Theobald King of Navar his Son-in-Law Alphonsus his Brother and Guydo Earl of Flanders joyned themselves And so having put all things in readiness took his way to Marselleis and from thence embarking himself with his Army in the Genoway Ships hired for that purpose set forward the first of March in the year 1270. But being at Sea he was by force of Weather constrained to land in Sardinia year 1270. and there to stay a while departing thence he at length arrived at Carthage the place by him desired where in the entrance of the Haven he surprised certain of the Enemies Ships but landing his men and assaulting the Town he was there notably repulsed This is not that antient great and famous City which sometime mightily strove with the proud Mistress of the World for Soveraignty but another built long after in the ruins or at least not far from the ruins of the same In the besieging whereof the Frenchmen found such resistance as well put them in remembrance of the antient glory of the Carthaginians One day it fortuned as the King thus lay at the Siege that the Defendants made a great and fierce Sally out upon the Frenchmen who before commanded so to do by little and little retired to draw their Enemies further on betwixt whom and the City the Constable with a great power coming in and charging them behind and they which before retired now standing close unto them they were on both sides hardly beset who for all that as became valiant men worthily defended themselves and made there a great fight though not without extreme peril which they in the City beholding gave out a most hideous and piteous cry a certain sign of their hard estate within astonying with the suddenness thereof both their Friends and Enemies But whilst they of the Town betwixt hope and despair stood thus beholding the fight at Land the Frenchmen by Sea approaching a Bulwark on that side of the Town took it without resistance which so dismaied them without that they began forthwith to flie of whom the greatest part casting away their Weapons were by the Kings commandment taken to mercy and they likewise of the Town upon promise of their lives yielded the same unto the King. Carthage thus won the King laid Siege to Tunes the chief City of that Kingdom being not far off where by the way he was encountred by the King of the Countrey who having there lost ten thousand of his Moors betook himself to flight with the rest Who thus overthrown resolved no more to tempt Fortune but to keep himself safe within the Walls of the City if happily so he might as it oftentimes falleth out more weaken his Enemies by lying still and protracting the time than by open Force and Valour Which their purpose King Lewis perceiving resolved not to stir from thence until that he were become Master of the City which as it seemed could not hold out for want of Victuals considering the multitude of People that were got into it Nevertheless thus besieged both by Sea and Land and so straightly hemmed in on every side as that no relief could possibly be brought unto it yet held it out by the space of six Months After which time Wants daily more and more increasing amongst the besieged Embassadors were sent out to the King to intreat with him of peace But whilst these Embassadors go to and fro and reason upon the capitulations of the desired peace behold a great and furious Plague arose in the French Camp which began to cut them down by heaps there dyed Iohn Tristan Count of Nevers the Kings youngest Son born in the first expedition that the said King his Father made into the Holy Land even at such time as he was taken Prisoner which Tristan died the five and twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord 1270. The good King having yet scarcely performed the Obsequies of his Son fell sick of the bloody Flix whereof he there shortly after died also About which time arrived there Charles King of Sicily the French Kings Brother with a great number of fresh Souldiers whose coming lightned somewhat the Frenchmens hearts heavy for the death of their King and daunted the Moors before brag of the same Shortly after whom arrived there also Prince Edward King Henry the Third his Eldest Son who travelling through France and taking shipping at Aquesmort not far from Marseilles was now in ten days with a brave Company of Englishmen come to Tunes and thereof the other Christian Princes namely of Philip the French King his Father Lewis being now dead of Charles King of Sicily and of the two Kings of Navar and Aragon joyfully received But these Princes had a little before his arrival concluded a Peace with the Moors King and the Infidels upon condition that he should pay a yearly Tribute of forty thousand Crowns unto the King of Sicilia and to suffer the Christian Religion to be freely preached in his Dominions by such devout persons as should be there left for that purpose and that unto such as should by their preaching be converted unto the Faith in Christ Jesus it should be lawful for them to be baptized and to profess the Christian Religion Of which Peace Prince Edward understanding did what he might to have disswaded them from the same saying that the War was by them all taken in hand against the Infidels as Enemies to the Cross of Christ with whom they were not to have Peace and for the recovery of the Holy City But say what he would and do what he could the Peace to his great discontentment was now concluded which they might not as they said again break and thereupon with the first fair Wind hoised sail and returned towards Sicilia with purpose the next Spring to have gone into Syria which their determination was shortly after by the hand of God disappointed For being come upon the Coast of the Island not far from Drepanum most of the great Princes and other Nobility in their long Boats went on Land the rest of the Fleet lying at Anker about a League off for that being for the most part Ships of great burthen they were not able to put into the Harbor But as they so lay by force of a sudden and violent Tempest then arising some were eaten up with the rough Sea some falling foul one on
his Deputy delivered Ancyra with the Castle of Prusa and all the rest that Solyman had gained in Asia to Mahomet who shortly after led his Army through the Countries of Carasia Aydinia Sarucania Tekensis and Germeania reducing them once again unto his Obeysance and afterwards returned to Prusa where he now the second time took possession of his Fathers Kingdom in Asia Musa still aided by the Valachian Prince his Father in law gave many great Attempts against his Brother Solyman but was still put to the worse At length having gathered some good strength and diligently attending the least smile of beâ—ter Fortune drew near unto the place where Solyman lay who at that time was as his manner was banquetting with great pleasure in his Camp and full of Wine Insomuch that when News was brought unto him that his Brother Musa was at hand with a great Power he in his Drunkenness caused the Messenger that brought the News to be beaten and when he had with greater earnestness than was to his liking affirmed that his Report to be true he commanded him to be slain for troubling his Mirth But shortly after Musa was come so near that the Vantcourriers of his Army did Skirmish with some of Solyman his Souldiers when as Chasis Eurenoses one of his Fathers old Captains pressing in told him that Musa was at hand and had skirmished with part of his Army Whereof Solyman now far in Wine had no regard but said Good Tutor do not trouble me no more my Brother Musa dares not come so nigh me if I do but hold up my Cap he is gone With which answer the old Captain going out discontended sent in Chasan Aga of the Ianizaries who boldly coming unto him told him plainly of the imminent danger and sharply reproved him for his Intemperance and Security With whose free Speech Solyman moved in great rage commanded his Beard to be cut off then no small disgrace amongst the Turks Chasan presently coming forth thus disgraced said to them that stood waiting without This is the Honour wherewith Sultan Solyman in his Excess rewards his most faithful Servants Wherefore be it known to you all I will from henceforth and not without cause serve Musa a Prince of greater Temperance and Discretion who so will follow me come and welcome So mounting to Horse and accompanied with a number of his Janizaries of whom he was greatly beloved went over to Musa as did many other great Captains also with their Companies moved by his Example so to do But when Solyman understood that Chasan with most part of the Janizaries and many other worthy Captains with the greatest strength of his Army were revolted to Musa then fast by and ready to set upon him it then repented him too late of his dissolute folly and finding no other remedy now to escape hid himself until it was dark night then taking Horse accompanied only with Caratze-Beg and Cara Muchil two of his Noblemen and one Country Turk whom they had retained for their Guid thought to have fled to Constantinople This malicious Clown having of purpose led them by unknown ways all that night to and fro as it were in a maze oftentimes misnaming unto them the places they passed by as if they had been in the right way brought them in the morning to a Village not far from the place from whence they departed the evening before and there riding a little before them of purpose gave warning to a sturdy Peasant or two of his Acquaintance that Solyman was coming after willing them to make stay of him These rude Country Churls with some others of like breed running out with Bats and Staves and such other homely Tools as first came to hand slew Caratze and Cara Muchil which would not yield unto them but stood upon their Guard and took Solyman alive where as it commonly falleth out in the vulgar peoples fury some cried out to kill him and so to end tâ—â— Wars some likewise to burn him and some to hang him and some few to save him every one as his rude affection led him In the heat of this Country uproar came Musa who glad to find his Brother Solyman so hardly beset caused him presently to be there strangled when he had reigned in Hadrianople six years and ten months This was the miserable end of Solyman the eldest Son that Bajazet left alive A man much given to Excess otherwise indued with many great Vertues being both of great valour and exceeding bountiful In his time lived the learned Doctor Achmetes which wrote the History of Alexander the Great in Turkish Verse and published it in the name of Solyman himself for which he was by him bounteously rewarded The dead body of Solyman himself was by the commandment of Musa conveyed to Prusa and there lieth buried fast by the body of his Grandfather Amurath So now of these Câ—dmeian Brethren remained none but Mahomet and Musa the one reigning in Asia and the other in Europe divers parts of the World and well bounded with the surest bounds of Nature yet not sufficient to content or contain their ambitious minds until that the younger had most unnaturally devoured the elder Musa presently after the death of his Brother Solyman took upon him the Turkish Kingdom in Europe who in the beginning of his Reign displaced most of them which had born great Offices before in the time of his Brother Solyman and had now of late revolted to him fearing to be by them betrayed or forsaken as his Brother was and in their rooms placed other his own Creatures And not so content proceeded further upon small causes most unkindly to imprison and put to death many of them who had of him well deserved Which cruel dealing so alienated the minds of his Nobility that many of them kept themselves out of the way doubtfully expecting the event of such his Tyrannical Government Chasis Eurenâ—ses that old and renowned Captain to escape his hands was glad to feign himself blind so to absent himself from Court. At this time he also by his Embassadors demanded of divers Christian Princes his Neighbours such Tribute as they had in times past either payed or promised to pay unto his Father Bajazet and in that Quarrel invaded many of them namely the Princes of Servia and Bulgaria Amongst other he sent Ibrahim Bassa a learned man of great experience and sometimes one of his Fathers grave Counsellors unto Emanuel Palaeologus the Emperor of Constantinople to demand the like Tribute of him Who so soon as he was come to Constantinople from thence by Letters advertised Mahomet of the undiscreet Government of his Brother Musa in his new gotten Kingdom and what untimely stirs he began to make before he was therein well setled losing the love both of his Subjects and Neighbour Princes with much other matter concerning his misgovernment Which things when Mahomet understood he sent a Messenger with Letters back
fortifie Which he accordingly did enclosing the Gardens with strong Walls and deep Ditches round about whereinto he conveyed Water from a certain River that comming down from the Mountains ran into Araxis Which Work was performed with such Expedition that within the space of fifteen days the Fortress was finished being in circuit seven hundred and fifty yards It grieved Tocomac exceedingly thus to lose his Country and Dwelling and so much the more because it hapned so suddenly and as it were unlooked for He himself as soon as he understood that the Turkish Army was coming to that Coast having withdrawn himself and his Men of War out of the City he could not keep sought by all means to be revenged if not altogether yet in some part of this so great an Injury And therefore he wrote unto the King at Corazan to Emir Chan at Tauris to Simon in Georgia he gathered Souldiers out of the Villages and used all his possible indeavour to enable himself to annoy the Enemies Army but from none of these places could he receive any help the King being so far off in Wars against his Son the Georgian being busied by hindering any Relief to be brought to the besieged in Teflis as for Emir Chan who by solemn promise unto the King before his departure to Heri had undertaken the defence of that side of the Kingdom against the Turks he either would not or could not stir neither sent so much as one Souldier having as some supposed secret Intelligence with General Ferat not to disturb him in this his Work. So Tocomac destitute of all other help and not able of himself to do much against so mighty an Enemy yet ceased not to lay such privy Ambushes for the Turks as he could killing of them sometimes 100 sometime an 150 and sometimes more as they fell into his danger And to ease his Stomach against Emir Chan who sitting still at Tauris as it were to behold his Misery would not so much as shake a Sword against these spoiling Turks he spared not to dispatch certain Horsemen in haste to the King at Corazan and by eloquent Letters to amplifie the cowardise of Emir Chan intermedling withall some causes of Suspition that he had some intelligence with the Turkish General Ferat having thus built this new Fort at Reivan as Amurath had commanded and furnished it with Artillery and all other things needful for the defence thereof appointed Sinan Bassa the Son of Cicala a Renegate of Genoa and by Selymus the late Emperour in the flower of his Youth created Aga or Captain of the Ianizaries with a Garrison of eight thousand Souldiers to keep the same And so departing thence by the way of Aggia Chalasi in ten days arrived with his Army at Chars Ferat had not long stayed at Chars but strange News were brought thither That Mustapha the Georgian to whom Amurath had sent thirty thousand Duckats by two of his Capâ—gi and two of his Chiaus to have by him been conveyed to Teflis for the Relief of them in the Fort was revolted from the Turkish Obedience and being now become a Rebel had left that Fortress in manifest danger to yield if by some other means it were not relieved Which strange Novelties exceedingly troubled the General who to know the certainty thereof called before him all such as were the Messengers of this Misfortune by whom he was certainly informed That Mustapha the two Capigi and the Chiaus having put themselves upon their way towards Teflis with the Treasure guarded with a Convoy of five hundred of his Souldiers in the mid way had met with his Cousin Simon the Georgian by whom he was perswaded to return again to his antient Faith and Religion which he had to the great Peril of his Soul so prophanely abandoned and to shake off the Service of Amurath which would yield him no other recompence than an hard and infamous Captivity and in the end some fraudulent and treacherous Death and that his Perswasion had so prevailed with Mustapha that he caused the two Capigi and the Chiaus to be apprehended and presently beheaded and dividing the Treasure with his said Cousin had with him and his other Kinsmen vowed a solemn and perpetual Confederacy and so having withdrawn themselves to their wonted Passages lay there in wait for such Succours as should by the Turks be brought to Teflis When Ferat understood these and such other Particularities he all in a Fury swore that he would not return to Erzirum untill he had put all the Country of Mustapha to Fire and Sword yet first he thought it needful to relieve Teflis which would otherwise be in danger to be yielded to the Enemy and for that purpose made choice of Hassan Bassa who in the last year of the Generalship of Mustapha had most courageously conveyed the like Succours and taken Aliculi Chan. Unto him therefore did the General assign forty thousand Duckets with other Provision necessary for that Service and for the more Security appointed him fifteen thousand of the most choice and valiant Souldiers in all the Army to conduct the same In ten days space Hassan Bassa went and came from Teflis having in his Journey to and fro had many Skirmishes with the Georgians wherein he lost some few men without any other loss worth the remembrance After this the General sent one Resuan Bassa with six thousand Souldiers to spoil the Country of Mustapha the Georgian the late Renegate but now become a Rebel to the Turk which Resuan without any long stay over-ran all his Territory burnt his Towns and committed most uncouth outrages which extended even unto the poor insensible Trees and carried away with him many captive Souls with much Corn and Cattel like a raging Tempest destroying whatsoever came in his way Now was the General also retired to Ardachan whither came Resuan to meet him with his foresaid Booty But because they had now performed what they had before intended and the approach of Winter perswaded their return they removed from Ardachan and by the way of Olti retired to Erzirum from whence all the Souldiers were licensed to depart to their several Places of abode and a memorial sent to Amurath of all the Actions had been performed and especially of the good service done by Hassan Bassa who for the same was now once again honoured by the King with Cloth of Gold a Battel-axe and Targuet all gilt About this time one Podolovius a Gentleman of Polonia sent by Stephen King of Polonia to Constantinople by the leave of Amurath to buy certain Horses in Anatolia returning homewards with four and twenty goodly Horses which he had bought was notwithstanding the Great Turks Pass by his Commandment stayed upon the way all his men in number four and thirty slain excepting one Boy who getting into a Wood escaped and Podolovius his Head struck off The Horses brought back to Constantinople were by the appointment of Amurath some bestowed
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
to the Arsenal he called the Visier Bassa the Admiral and the great Treasurer before him where it was concluded to make ready at least an hundred Gallies for the preparation whereof sixty thousand Chequines were then delivered the Visier promising to furnish the rest of the whole charge with expedition of his own purse and to take it up upon the King's Assignations Whereupon the Grand Seignior with great content did vest them as a mark of favour and gave present Commission to the Admiral to be ready to depart by the midst of April following and for his better strength he gave a command to send for Aids to Tunis and Algier which was thought requisite because it was reported that the Prince Philibert of Savoy then Viceroy of Sicily had in readiness sixty Gallies and six Gallions at Messina which force was doubted would be employed to give Succour to the Emir of Sidon or to revenge the attempt and late sack of Manfredonia so that they were with all expedition rigging and preparing the Armado in the Arsenal and for provision and prevention of the worst there was ordained twelve small Gallies and the ordinary Fleet of Frigots to keep the black Sea from the incursion of the Cossacks And though it was given out that this Army was only prepared against the Emir yet many that understood the secrets of that Empire knowing it to be too great did believe it should be sent to prevent a general revolt which was then murmured and suspected in Asia About this time contrary to the counsel and will of all his Ministers the Grand Seignior married the Grand-child of a Sultana Wife to Pertau Bassa only for her Beauty without any Pomp which was ill interpreted in that Court his Ancestors of late years not usually taking Wives especially of a Turkish race for respect of Kindred This and other inconstancies with extream Avarice made him odious with the Souldier and his daily haunting the Streets on foot sometimes disguised with a Page or two prying into houses and Taverns like a petty Officer increased his contempt even in the City Secret Order was given about the same time to Diac-Mahomet the Bassa of Canisia and to Gelut-Emirze a Tartarian to unite themselves with Bethlem Gabor against the Emperour of Germany But the Bassa of Buda did advertise the Grand Seignior that Bethlem Gabor had concluded Peace with the Emperour which news did greatly displease him being ardent in the desire of War. The Peace between the Grand Seignior and the King of Poland was not yet fully concluded but Ambassadours were weekly expected at the Port from Poland and other places to hasten a full consummation thereof Amongst which Sir Thomas Roe Knight Ambassadour in ordinary from his Majesty of Great Britain to the Grand Seignior arrived there the first of Ianuary and had his first audience of him speedily when he made this Speech unto him in English which immediately followeth MOst High and Mighty Emperour his sacred Majesty the King of Great Britain France and Ireland my most gracious Lord and Sovereign according to the antient League of Friendship and Amity of long time begun and continued between the most noble Ancestors of your Majesties and in his Royal Person confirmed by his sundry Ambassadors and Letters both to your renowned Father and your Imperial Majesty being fully determined on his part to maintain and inviolably to hold a fair and good Peace and Correspondency with your Majesty hath commanded and sent me with his Letters of Credence and friendly Present to reside as his Ambassador in your Royal Court Not doubting but your Imperial Majesty will accept them and receive me his unworthy Servant with your wonted Honour and Favour and that you will give Credit unto me in divers matters of importance which he hath commanded me to deliver in his Name comprehended in five Articles written in this Memorial And that you will be pleased to do therein according to the Royal Friendship of his Majesty and your Princely Wisdom and Iustice. The particulars whereof I desire your Majesty to read and consider at your ease and leisure and to afford me your Royal answer his Majesty resting assured he shall receive Content and Satisfaction worthy his Royal Friendship The Letter of Credence sent by Sir Thomas Roe IAMES by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Christian Faith against all those that falsly profess the Name of Iesus c. To the most High and Mighty Prince Sultan Osman Han chief Lord and Commander of the Ottoman Kingdom and Empire of the East sendeth Health and Greeting WE doubt not but you received our Letters sent you by our Subject John Chapman whereby we signified unto you our Royal Pleasure to recall and discharge our Ambassador Sir John Ayre from his Employment and Residency in your Court whom we desired you in your Frincely Favour to dismiss for our especial Service and to receive the bearer of our said Letters as Agent to remain in your Protection for the better support and maintenance of our Subjects which do trade and abide in your Dominions and for the advancement and continuance of the mutual Commerce and Friendship which hath been a long time contracted between your Predecessors and ours until the arrival of our Servant Sir Thomas Roe of whom as then we made choice to send unto your Port as Ambassador as well to propound unto you divers things necessary for the general Peace as to reside in your Court for our particular Service Notwithstanding lest the said Letters should not come safely to your Royal Hands we have thought sit again to make known our purpose of recalling our former Ambassador Sir John Ayre and to desire you to discharge and dismiss him from your Port and to receive and admit in his room our trusty and well beloved Servant Sir Thomas Roe one of the principal Gentlemen of our Court and of our Privy Chamber whom we have now expresly sent and whom we authorise under our great Seal of England as our Ambassador to reside at your Port and to negotiate in our Name and in the behalf of our Subjects abiding within your Kingdoms of whose Fidelity and Discretion as we are well assured so we doubt not but he will give you good content in his Demeanour and Negotiation with you We have also thought fit to put you in mind of those common Rovers upon the Seas who are Enemies to the Laws of Nations and spoilers of the quiet and peaceable Merchant by whom Amity and Friendship is maintained between Kings and Princes That you would please to exercise your Great and Mighty Power to chastise and destroy them as Traitors to your Honour and infringers of the sacred and publick Peace In full assurance that you will extend the same good respect unto us as your Royal Ancestors have done unto our most renowned Predecessors whereby that antient League and Commerce may be
seek to ward off the blow of a War with Germany and yet secretly nourished and encouraged it by giving Orders to the Pasha of Buda to take up his Winter-quarters with the Prince of Transylvania and to follow his Directions but yet so to govern Matters with Caution as not to engage too far on uncertain Grounds or doubtful Hazard but to embrace Propositions of Peace if offered with Honour and Security In prosecution of these Rules Morteza observing that Weymar and Mansfelt having united their Forces with Gabor had formed a considerable Army and were able to fight with Wallestein General of the Imperialists joined also his Forces to theirs judging it a prudent and politick Design to wage a War at the Blood and Expence of others With these Encouragements and with the favour of a good Opportunity the Confederates fell upon the Army of Wallestein near the River Gran who not being able to withstand their Force and Fury was put to flight and pursued in the Rear with great slaughter and endeavouring to pass the River on two Bridges of Boats were closely followed by the Prince's Forces who gaining the Pass put the whole Army into great amazement and resolved to pursue them to the Gates of Presburg or Vienna Notwithstanding this Success the Prince of Transylvania observing the backwardness of his Allies to contribute the Succours of Men and Mony which they had promised and fearing that the unfortunate Estate of the Turkish Affairs should cause the Sultan to disown the War dispeeded a Messenger to the Emperor in the Winter-season to excuse the Constraint upon him of taking up Arms and to offer Terms of Accommodation and Peace But the Emperor refused all Treaties until such time as Gabor had separated himself from his Allies and from association with the Turk Upon which Answer Gabor retired to Cassovia and Morteza to Pesth This Compliance gave beginning to a Treaty at Komara where the Commissioners on part of the Emperor of the Grand Signior and Prince of Transylvania assembled All Parties seemed inclinable to War and yet with occult Intentions to make Peace being necessitated thereunto by the urgency of their distinct Interests The Emperor was urged by his Wars with the Protestants of Germany and apprehension of Forces from England in favour of the Elector Palatine then King of Bohemia The Grand Signior was encumbred by the unfortunate condition of his Wars in Asia And Bethlem Gabor jealous of being disowned by the Port deserted by his Allies and exposed to fight and contend singly with the Emperor In short Gabor concluded a Peace with the Emperor apart which gave some Jealousies and displeasure to the Grand Signior Howsoever he dissembled his Discontent and willingly interessed Gabor with Morteza as Commissioner for him who being variously disposed yet moved with the considerations of their common Advantage work'd all Differences into a Composition of Peace the Articles of which being brought to Constantinople by an Internuncio from the Emperor and delivered in presence of the two Ambassadors of Gabor they were accepted by the Chimacam and ratified by the Grand Signior Articles of Peace concluded between the Emperor of Germany Ferdinand the Second and Bethlem Gabor in the Month of December 1626. I. THE Prince of Transylvania doth promise by the Faith of a Christian never to move Arms or use any Hostility against the Majesty of the Emperor or the House of Austria or their Successors much less to enter into their Dominions with an Army nor to aid his Enimies or keep a Correspondence with them Not to plot any Innovation in the Kingdom of Hungary or other Christian Countries Nor to stir up or provoke the Turks Tartars or others to invade them Not to entertain or assist in any evil Counsel against his Majesty nor to give ear to the Requests and Destres of his Enemies but rather to reveal all their Conspiracies and Wickednesses which shall be made known unto him and by all means to demonstrate and shew a sincere mind truly desirous of Peace and sollicitous of the Common Good. III. That the Prince shall instantly depart with his whole Army out of the Territories and Cities of the Emperor and that he shall restore as well all Goods belonging to the Imperial Treasure as those of his faithful Subjects III. That he shall remove from him the Rebel Mansfelt and all other his Followers and Adherents desirous to invade the Dominions of the Emperor And that he shall not aid any Stranger whatsoever who at his Instance hath entered into the Territories of his Majesty with Count Mansfelt to whom Letters of Publick Safety shall be given that they may return by twenty or thirty in a Troop conditionally that in no place of their Retreat they shall joyn with the Enemies of the Emperor IV. That seeing it is fit for Establishment of the Peaâ—e that the Inhabitants of Countries and Cities belonging to the Prince by consent of the Emperor should remain during his Life in Obedience and Fidelity to him and that those Inhabitants should do Homage to the Emperor saving their corporal Oath to the Prince to keep inviolate these Articles That they should have leave by Letters of full Authority and Power granted them by the Prince in their first Assemblies and Conventions to make sâ—ch Oath of Homage V. That at the same time of performing the Homage and Oath besides the Oath before the last War they shall take a new Oath according to the Agreement between the Prince and the Commissioners of the Emperor VI. The Prince shall procure that all Places upon the Confines which were taken by the Turks in the last War be restored and that all Captives taken Prisoners shall be set at liberty And that the Prince shall procure the freedom of all such the Emperor's Subjects as shall be in the Turkish Captivity VII That all the Subjects of the Emperor lately incited and drawn to the Service of the Prince shall be free from their Oath and if the Prince hath any of their Writings Obligatory in his Hands that he shall restore them And that these Conditions being confirmed all other things formerly treated shall remain in their former State and Vigour VIII That if any other Difficulties arise they shall be accommodated with Fidelity and Quietness by Commissioners on both Parts And that all those who in the last Commotions have served the Prince shall be absolved according to the Treaty and Agreement at Vienna IX That all the Inhabitants of Cities and Countries which have served the Prince shall be absolved only those excepted who have voluntarily taken up Arms against the Emperor for whom the Prince only shall intercede excusing always private Men who have done private Wrongs for they shall according to Law and Custom seek their Restitution by Civil Action X. That all other Articles of Peace concluded at Nichilsburg and Vienna shall remain in their former Vigour and Force And that all Goods of the Emperor's Clergy
that the Factories should be transferred again over to Tripoli in Soria a place formerly â—requented by our Merchants but by reason of the danger and inconvenience of that Port the Trade was transported to the Scale of Scanderoâ—n This alteration the Tefterdar pretended to have been granted to the Merchants at their earnest Petition and promise to the Grand Signior of payment of 13000 Dollars Yearly for discharge and maintenance of those Guards which were requisite in that place for safety of the Coast and defence of the Caravans which pass with Merchants goods to Aleppo but time and corruption of the Ministers had deprived the Grand Signior of the benefit of that duty And this he urged with the greater instance and eagerness knowing that the Scale of Scanderoon being prohibited the Hattesheriff whereon consisted the priviledg of the Merchants and their sole security must consequently fall and they forced to a new agreement On this occasion our Lord Ambassador had Audience with the Vizier and insisted on that point of our Capitulations which gives us liberty to Trade in any part of the Grand Signiors Dominions and therefore to consent to be restrained or confined to any particular place was to assent to a breach of the Capitulations which was out of his power and only to be dispensed with by his Master the King of England and the Grand Signior by whom they were established and to connive or assent to the breach of one particular clause was to hazard the loss and breach of the whole year 1666. for that our Capitulations to use the Turks saying are like a string of Beads of which when one link is broken the others drop off To which the Vizier replied that the Scale of Scanderoon was open and clear as before for the English Trade but because the Tefterdar and Customer pretended that the Grand Signior was put to great expences for maintenance of a Watch and Guard at that Port which was only in respect to the security of the Merchants Goods Orders shâ—uld be given for taking away those Officers as unnecessary and insignificant to the publick Service no Guards having ever been in that place the Embassador judged his business to be granted and so thanked the Vizier and departed But not many days after the Tefterdar procured a Command for shutting the Scale of Scandeâ—oâ—n and transporting the Factory to Tripâ—li which Command was rather intended to affright our Nation into some composition than really to be put in execution as appeared by the sequel for the Tefterdar better considered than to bring so great an Odium upon himself from the whole Country and City of Aleppo and to enforce the Embassador to have recourse to the Grand Signiors own person for redress of an abuse of so high a nature in derogation of his Imperial Capitulations Howsoever it is observabâ—e in the transaction of all this business that it is dâ—fficult to bring a corrupt Turkish Minister to Juâ—â—â—ce or punishment meerly for breach of our Capâ—tulations or in respect to any difference or abuse offered to Christians unless the complaint be â—ccompanied with Presents or Money which are most prevalent Arguments in the Turkish Court and in this case I really believe that had three or four thousand Dollars been offered as a reward for bringing the Customer to capital punishment the complaint had found acceptance and honourable success for default of which the Cause was starved and naked and carried no fire or heat in those aggravations with which it was represented It is lâ—kewise observable that business in the Turkish Court doth not always find that dâ—â—patch or expedition as is generally believed in â—hâ—istendom unless it come accompanied with the interest of the Ministers themselves and then it is transacted in a moment which otherwise languishes with delays and will never want excuses to defer it Anno 1666. Hegeira 1077. WE shall begin this Year with the strange rumour and disturbance of the Iews concerning Sabatai Sevi their pretended Messiah which for being most principally acted in Turkey may properly belong to the History of this time and place which therefore for delight of the Readers I shall here insert for though it may have been elsewheâ—e published yet being an issue of my Pen I may lawfully now own it and annex it to this Hiâ—tory in respect of that near coâ—erence it may have therewith and that many other particulars have been added thereunto which succeeded until the Death of this Sabatai According to the Predictions of several Christian Writers especially â—f such who comment upon the Apâ—calypse or Revelations this year of 1666. was to prove a year of Wonders of strange Revolâ—tions in the World and particularly of blessing to the Iews either in respect of their Conversion to the Christian Faith or of their Restoration to their Temporal Kingdom This opinion was so dilated and fixt in the Countries of the Reformed Religion and in the heads of Fanatical Enthusiasts who dreamed of Fifth Monarchies the down-fall of the Pope and Antichrist and the greatness of the Iews insomuch that this subtil people judged this Year the time to stir and to fit their Motion according to the season of the Modern Prophecies Whereupon strange reports flew from place to place of the March of multitudes of People from unknown parts into the remote deserts of Arabia supposed to be the Ten Tribes and a half lost for so many Ages That a Ship was arrived in the Northern parts of Scotland with her Sails and Cordage of Silk navigated by Marriners who spoke nothing but Hebrew and with this Motto on their Sails The Twelve Tribes of Israel These reports agreeing thus near to former Predictions put the wild sort of the World into an expectation of strange accidents this Year should produce in reference to the Iewish Monarchy In this manner Millions of people were possessed when Sabatai Sevi first appeared at Smyrna and published himself to the Iews for their Messiah relating the greatness of their approaching Kingdom the strong hand whereby God was about to deliver them from Bondage and gather them from all the parts of the World. It was strange to see how this fancy took and how fast the report of Sabatai and his Doctrine flew through all parts where Iews inhabited and so deeply possessed them with a belief of their new Kingdom and Riches and many of them with promotion to Offices of Government renown and greatness that in all places from Constantinople to Buda which it was my fortune that Year to travel I perceived a strange transport in the Iews none of them attending to any business unless to wind up former Negotiations and to prepare themselves and Families for a Journey to Ierusalem all their Discourses their Dreams and disposal of their affairs tended to no other design but a re-establishment in the Land of Promise to Greatness and Glory Wisdom and Doctrine of the Messiah whose Original Birth and Education is first to be recounted
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
their Sovereign The Truth is the Palatines and great Men of the Kingdom being weary to see the Crown as it were Hereditary in the House of Austria made use of the pretence of Religion to stir up the People and oblige them to take Arms for defence of their Liberty both Spiritual and Civil And this aversion was the true Cause of the War. The Emperour was no less dissatisfied with the Turks for General Kops having sent complaints to the Bassa of Waradiâ— for that he had given Quarters to the Hungarians in Places which depended on his Government the Bassa told him That he look'd upon them as Passengers who paid for what they took for their subsistance and that consequently he could not look upon their Reception into his Territories as any violation of the Peace The Hostilities betwixt the Imperialists and the Turks did still continue notwithstanding their Negotiations Five hundred Christian Horse commanded by Azos Benas advancing towards Erlaw were cut in pieces by the Infidels Another Party commanded by Collonel Wolping was likewise defeated by a Detachment from the Garrison of Newhausel with the loss of above 200 the Commander being also much hurt A few days after this Encounter the Bassa of that City dyed which occasioned an Accident which did well-nigh make a rupture betwixt the Emperour and the Port. The Imperialists had unadvisedly attack'd the new Bassa which the Grand Seignior did send to Newhausel and defeated his Convoy consisting of 200 Horse by way of Reprisal as they gave out for the Damages which had been done them by the Garrison of that Place without considering that this new Governour had had no share in these Violences The Bassa of Buda sent his complaints of this Affront to the Imperial General with threats that he would acquaint his Master with it and exact satisfaction by all the ways imaginable And they did so for drawing out strong Parties from the Garrison of Erlaw and Waradin they resolved to revenge the Insult done to the Bassa of Newhausel and marching towards Sando near Butrac which they pillaged they returned with above 200 Prisoners Count Wourmb the Emperour's General demanded Justice for this Violence from the Bassa of Buda but received no other answer but that what was done was by way of Reprisal During these Traverses Count Paul Wesselini dyed who had Commanded the Army of the Malecontents with great success but is succeeded by Count Tekeley young yet wary and brave who to this day heads the however broken discontended Party The Emperour who knew that the greatest force of Tekeley's Army came from Transilvania would divert Abaffi by re-establishing the Party of Pedipold who had formerly contested for the Sovereignty of that Principality To this end he obliged that Prince to send four Deputies to Constantinople to implore the protection of the Grand Seignior but the Visier caused them to be put into the Castle of the seven Towers which extremely surprised the Emperour's Resident who had orders to Negotiate that Affair joyntly with them The Emperour being informed hereof sent Monsieur Iullies with secret Instructions to the Port but he dyed by the way which did not a little trouble his Imperial Majesty being all this Envoy's Papers fell into Count Tekeley's Hands who drew no small advantage from the lights he received by them Hoffman Secretary of State returning from Constantinople was stopped at Belgrade being the Bassa of that Place refused to furnish him with necessaries for the continuation of his Journey But the Emperour having dispatch'd an Express to the Bassa of Buda to complain of this incivility he obtained what he desired Being upon his departure from Belgrade he was informed that the Great Visier was arrived upon the Banks of the Danube with a great Army and design to enter into the Province of Vkraine to fight the Muscovites he sent to demand Audience of him but this Minister returned him for answer That he should have it at Constantinople when the Campaign was ended Many and great were the Encounters betwixt the Imperialists and Malecontents the latter being for the most part successful who also ravaged Moravia being assisted by 2000 Tartars and Austria it self under the Command of Collonel Iosua sometimes a Priest known by the Name of Father of Ioseph who turning Protestant raised 6000 Men at his own Charges and joyning with the Malecontents grew formidable even to the Gates of Vienna But the Imperialists had also their turn and Count Esterhasi Governour of Papa attacked 2000 Janizaries and 500 Spahies near Vesâ—ren He took several Prisoners and amongst them some Agas As this Action might cause a Rupture if mis-represented betwixt the two Empires his Imperial Majesty dispatch'd a Courier to the Port to inform the Grand Seignior with the particulars of this Combat year 1679. The constancy of the Malecontents and their Intelligence with the Turks did not a little disquiet the Emperour but he was more troubled when he heard that these Infidels were upon the point of agreeing with the Muscovites which would put them into a Condition to turn all their power against him He thought he could not do better than to divert them by obliging the King of Persia to break with them and therefore sent the Baron of Meierburg to Hisâ—ahan to negotiate that Affair The Diet of Transilvania being held at Clausenburg the Grand Seignior as well to secure his own Interest as being dissatisfied with Prince Abaffi's Conduct sent the Bassa of Waradin with a strong Army to preside at that Assembly But things being accommodated betwixt them to the satisfaction of the strongest the Transilvanian and the Bassa's bordering upon his Principality who had been at the Diet had no other thoughts but of deliberating with the Deputies of the Hungarians of the means how to assist them The Emperour being advertised hereof sent Doctor Ferling to Constantinople to endeavour to penetrate into the Intentions of that Monarch and hinder that the Bassaes should not succour the Rebels There was also some under-hand dealing with the great ones of the Party to make their particular Peace with the Court. Amongst others the Proposition being made to Palaffi Imbre he found so little security in it that to shew his Companions he would never accommode himself with the Emperour he treated with the Bassa of Buda to deliver all the Places that were in his power into his hand and possession the which also he put in Execution tho' his Castle of Devin was in the mean time invested by Count Strasoldo before the Turks could enter it and together with the City forced by him 500 of the Garrison being made Prisoners The Grand Seignior to shew the esteem and satisfaction he had of the Person of Abaffi sent him a Sable as a token of his Favour and gave Orders at the same time to all the Bassaes of Hungary to send Troops and Forces as oft as he should require them being absolutely resolved to assist the Malecontents which he also
the Soveraignty of so great an Empire howsoever it was got caused the young Princes Eyes to be most cruelly put out the usual practise of the Tyrants of the East upon such as they are loath or fear to kill and yet would make them unfit for Government Of which barbarous cruelty his Sister Theodora married to Constantinus Prince of Bulgaria hearing ceased not with tears and prayers and all other womanly perswasions to stir up her Husband in revenge thereof whereunto also Iathatines the Turks Sultan gave no small furtherance who weary of Exile and to be so in a corner confined as into a Prison from whence he might not start by secret Messengers intreated the Bulgarian Prince to make War upon the usurping Emperor promising him a great summ of Mony if by his help he might recover his former Liberty Wherewith he the rather moved with a great power of his own and above twenty thousand Tartars which then lay by the River Isther suddenly brake into the Emperors Territories and in shorter time than was to have been thought overran all the Country of Thracia even unto the Sea side leaving neither man nor beast in all that Country as he went in good hope also to have by the way surprised the Emperor himself even then returning from his Wars against the Despot in Thessaly who hearing of his speedy coming being got unto the Sea side and having no way left to have escaped by Land shipped himself into a Gally of the Latines which with another her consort bound for Constantinople by good hap put in there for to water and so in two days arrived safe at the Imperial City Thus disappointed of the Emperor all his care was for the delivery of the Turks Sultan Wherefore marching in hast to Aenum he so terrified the Citizens with his coming that they without farther delay delivered him into his hands so to redeem their own Peace In his return you might have seen the Souldiers especially the Tartars driving before them infinite numbers both of Men and Cattel in such sort as that in the open Country of Thracia for a space was hardly to be seen either Countryman or Beast it was so clean swept both of Inhabitants and likewise of Cattel Iathatines the Sultan by the Tartars carried over Ister and so by them set at liberty shortly after died In whose Kingdom succeeded not his Son Melicke as some write but two others as the Turks themselves report the one called Mesoot the Son of Kei-Cubades and the other Kei-Cubades the Son of Ferameine born also of the Selzucâ—ian Family as were all the other Turks Sultans but how near of blood unto the late Sultan Iathatines they say not Betwixt which two as his Vassals Gaza the great Tartar Cham by whom they were so preferred for the payment of a yearly Tribute divided the Turks Kingdom apportioning unto Mesoot the Cities of Amida in antient time called Amisus and Aminsus in Galatia Melatia otherwise called Melesine in the lesser Armenia Sivaste in antient time Sebastia and Harbarie before Satabrea both in Cappadocia with all the Country about them And unto Kei-Cubades Iconium the antient seat of the Turkish Sultans with all Rumilia Asiatica or the Countries of the lesser Asia alongst the Sea-coast which these two Princes held as the Tartars Tributaries as had the late Sultan Iathatines before them until such time as he was by the same Tartars again expulsed So that the Turks Kingdom which had of long time flourished in the Selzuccian Family in Persia in Syria Palestine and Egypt there quite overthrown by the Mamalukes and Tartars as is before declared and now brought underfoot in the lesser Asia also where only rested all the hope of that Nation was now at a low Ebb divided betwixt two weak Princes reigning but at the devotion of the Tartar. In which confusion of the Turkish Empire so rent not only divers men of greater Power and Authority amongst them shared unto themselves some one corner of the declining Kingdom and some another but many of the obscure and basest People also bearing with them nothing but their Bows and Arrows took the straight passages of the Mountains and from thence with their dayly Incursions did much harm in the Countries of the Christians joyning upon them which was no great matter for them to do the Garrisons which were wont to defend the same being for want of pay quite disbanded and the Castles upon the Frontiers by them abandoned which at the first as a thing of small importance neglected was at length unto the Greeks a great cause of the ruin and decay of the greatest part of their estate in Asia These mischiefs unregarded grew dayly more and more the Turks still gaining upon the Greeks what they lost unto the Tartars Whose invasions the Glory of their Kingdom only excepted was not so hurtful unto them as the cause of their much greater felicity afterwards At length it fortuned that a great power of these adventurous Turks meeting together in Paphlagonia were about to have invaded the Territories of the Christians against whom Michael Paleologus the Emperor sent out a strong and puissant Army to stay their further coming on lest breaking in that way they should without resistance at their pleasure forrage the Country before them Which Army conducted by unskilful Captains encountring with the Turks was by them in a great Battel overthrown and utterly defeated few or none of all that great multitude escaping for whilst the Greeks unadvisedly pursued the Turks retiring of purpose before them they were by them drawn into the danger of a greater Power lying in ambush for them and so entraped were slain with an exceeding great Slaughter After which so great a Victory the beginning of the misery of the Christians in the lesser Asia the Turks without let or stay overran all the Country unto the River Sangarius upon the Banks whereof the Greek Emperor was glad to fortifie divers Towns and Forts to keep them out of Bithynia Nevertheless they in short time after subdued all the Countries from Poâ—ntus and Galatia unto the Lycian and Carian Sea and the River Eurymedon which they divided amongst them into divers Toparchies little or nothing acknowledging the Soveraignty either of Mesoot or Kei-Cubades Whilst the Turks in the lesser Asia thus win from the Christians on the one side and lose to the Tartars on the other many an hard conflict in the mean time passed betwixt the Egyptian Sultans with their Mamalukes and the Tartars for the Soveraignty of Syria The poor remainder of the Christians all that while there in doubt both of the one and of the other from whom and from the Armenians then also much infested with the Mamalukes divers Embassadors were sent unto the Pope and the Christian Princes of the West to crave their aid and help in that their hard Estate whose prayers little prevailing with the rest yet so moved Lewis the French King
Kings Mony coined with the same Inscription but the chiefest Authority rested in George the Bishop for he was Treasurer and had at his command the Castles and strong Holds yet were the Souldiers with their Ensigns and Furniture at the devotion of Valentinus Thuracus In the middle between these two was placed Peter Vicche the Kings Kinsman and by the old King appointed for one of the Tutors of his young Son suspected of neither part honoured with the name of High Constable But because the name of this George the Bishop was most famous in this woful War which we were about to write I thought it worth the labour to speak something of his nature and disposition that it may be known to all posterity by what policy this War was managed and how this flourishing Kingdom by the madness of the Hungarians came into the hands of the Turks This George was born in Croatia and brought up from his youth in the House of King Iohn where vertue and industry never wanted relief when as he unadvisedly before had entred into the Orders of a Monastical life and weary too late of the straitness thereof had forsaken his profession Wherefore being of a very pleasing nature and still following King Iohn driven out of his Kingdom and long living in exile he won such credit and commendation for his Fidelity Integrity and ready Counsel in the Kings most doubtful and dangerous Affairs that after Sibacchus that worthy Bishop was by the treachery of Aloysius Grittus slain at Baxovia he obtained the great Bishoprick of Veradium After that when he had strengthned his credit with great Wealth he always as a faithful Counsellor swaid and happily ruled both the Court and Kingdom to the profit of the King. But he was of such a diverse and pliant Nature that performing in all actions all the parts of a most ready and excellent Man he seemed to be made of contrary qualities and born to do any thing for in saying of his Princely Service and performing the other Ceremonies of the Christian Religion he shewed or at leastwise counterfeited such a contrition in his devout Countenance and Speech that a Man would not have thought it could possibly be the same Man who in the most weighty Affairs both of War and Peace did most stoutly shew the wonderful force of a most pregnant and couragious Wit for he used to keep whole Companies of most excellent and ready Horsemen and would oft-times come forth into the Battel armed he would with often Banquets and Rewards win the Hearts of the Souldiers and after the manner of great Chieftains maintain the honour and credit of his Name both with punishment and reward as occasion required Besides that no Man looked into the Wealth of the Kingdom more diligently than he no Man did to more profit let to farm the Customs old Mines Feedings and Salt-Pits no Man could devise finer means to raise Mony of all others the readiest way to credit insomuch that King Iohn would confess himself to reign by the especial industry of that one Man And King Ferdinand would many times say That he envied at King Iohn for nothing he had but for one hooded Fellow which was better for the defence of a Kingdom than a thousand with Helmets on their Heads Wherefore this Bishop having taken upon him the Tuition of the young King was still busied in all the weighty causes of the Kingdom both Civil and Martial he laboured with great care that the Hungarians should agree together in Love and Unity and did what he might providently to foresee that no Tumult or Rebellion should any where arise whereby the beginning of the Kingdom yet but weak might any way be troubled But King Ferdinand hearing of the death of King Iohn thought it now a fit time for him to recover again the Kingdom of Hungary which he had so long desired Whereunto he was also the more prickt forward by the perswasion of Alexius Torso Ferentius Gnarus Petrus Bachit Balthazar Pamphilus Francus Capolnates Ianus Castellamphus and Casparus Seredus all Noblemen or Gentlemen of great account in Hungary who in the former troubles followed the part of King Ferdinand against King Iohn and lived now in Exile these all with one consent told King Ferdinand That now or never was the time when they might be again restored unto their Country with honour and that the War might that Autumn be dispatched if he would make haste for as much as Winter coming fast on would stay the coming of the Turks and such Noblemen of Hungary as took part with the Queen did not very well agree together being unwilling to be commanded by George the Apostate Monk who as they said with great cunning and dissimulation seducing the Queen and possessing the Treasure enjoyed all alone the power of a King and that they which for taking part with the right had long lived as banished Men might now safely return into their Country and be honourably preferred by the Queen the Bishop which commanded all assuring them thereof if they would return unto the young Kings Court unto their Friends and ancient Houses But they had as they said before given their Faith unto him as to a vertuous and faithful Prince whom they had preferred before one that was an Hungarian born wherefore he should do both unadvisedly and unkindly if letting slip the occasion presented he should defer to make War. For what could be more dishonourable to him so great a King and also Emperor elect than by shameful delay to forsake them being noble and valiant Gentlemen which had followed his part and were then ready with strong Troops of Horsemen to do him the best service they could The German Captains in like manner perswaded him to take the matter in hand who as Martial Men expecting some one preferment some another in the Army were desirous of Honour Pay and Prey the chief comforts of their travel and peril But Laschus the Polonian who in matters concerning Peace and War saw more than all they as he that knew the dispositions of many Princes and had seen the Manners and Fashions of divers Nations having travelled through a great part of the World and oftentimes been Embassador in the Courts of the greatest Princes was of a contrary opinion and told King Ferdinand plainly That the Kingdom of Hungary was to be obtained rather by policy than by force by craving it at Solymans Hand to hold it of him by Tribute as King Iohn had done For said he that may by petition and fair entreaty be easily obtained of that Heroical Prince who in his vain humor oftentimes fondly seeketh after honour which will never be got from him by force of Arms. I throughly know said he Solymans haughty mind and the proud disposition of his Bassa 's he contemneth Wealth and is cloyed with so many Kingdoms but they upon their insatiable covetousness and exceeding pride desire nothing nor perswade
him to nothing more than War. Wherefore it is good to beware that with the noyse of this suddain War you stir not up the Turks which lie ready as it were expecting such an occasion which cannot be withstood but by the United Forces of the Christian Princes which might by their general consent be done but that their Eies blinded with fatal darkness cannot see it and the Unity of the Christians now desperate seemeth by God reserved to some better time seeing that of late the Christian Kings are fallen off and cannot agree upon the long expected Peace Is not said he the French King deceived of his hope and as he would have it thought greatly dishonoured with his late unkindness Which renewing his old wound will revive in him an endless hatred Away with all dissimulations Enemy to grave Councils and let plain truth although unpleasant unto Princes ears prevent flattery Undoubtedly he being a Prince of no base Courage as it oftentimes falleth out with Men throughly grieved will in his anger as an Enemy pour forth his Gold whereof he hath great store to cross the Emperors designs to trouble the Assemblies of the States of Germany to withdraw the minds of the Princes and with bounty to gain them to himself who envying mightily at the Imperial Dignity wont to be indifferently given to them that best deserved the same to be as it were invested in the House of Austria which in this perpetual succession of so many Emperors hath as it were got a right by long custom Wherefore they will secretly conspire together and as notable lingerers by nature will either give no help at all or else too late at such time as the Turks Garrisons shall come flying to the succor of the young King. Neither is there any cause why any Man should think that the Governours of the Turks Countries near at hand will for the approach of Winter be slack in this cause for they undoubtedly making an honest and honourable shew will take upon them to defend the Fatherless Child and Widow of purpose to make an entrance to the secret desire they have to gain the Kingdom to themselves for if you shall once joyn with them in Battel if the best happen and fortune favour our first attempts truly you shall have War without end with such an Enemy which will bring with him Wealth that will never be spent power not to be overcome and couragious Souldiers sworn to our destruction So will it come to pass and I pray God I be a false Prophet that in seeking for the Kingdom of Hungary by War you shall at length be glad to fight for Austria it self and your own Kingdom also This Speech so moved King Ferdinand that although he purposed to go on with the War yet he thought it good by an honourable Embassage to prove Solymans mind and purpose also which to do no Man was thought fitter than Laschus himself Author of that Council being unto him very well known and familiarly acquainted with all the great Bassa's of the Court. Which service Laschus refused not but being furnished with all things needful for such an Embassage departed from Vienna towards Constantinople Yet for all that King Ferdinand persisting in his former purpose made withal preparation for Wars trusting upon the aid of the Emperor his Brother and the coming over of the Hungarians who ever thought it cause honest enough for them to revolt if it so stood with their present profit But before he would enter into open Wars he sent Nicholas Count of Salma to the Queen to shew her the Instruments of the last League betwixt the King her late Husband and him and to exhort her to yield up the Kingdom which by the late League was another Mans right and not by delaying of the matter to hurt both her Self and her Son for King Ferdinand offered to give unto the Child the Province of Sepusia as was before agreed betwixt the two Kings expresly in the League and to the Queen a greater Revenue and whatsoever else she had in Dowry But if she would forget that lawful League he threatned that neither the Emperor Charles his Brother nor he wanted force wherewith to recover by strong hand the Kingdom annexed to the House of Austria both by ancient right and the new consent of most of the Hungarian Nobility The Count of Salma being received at Buda hardly obtained to be admitted to the presence of the Queen for George the Bishop and Vicche mistrusting her Woman-like Courage said she was not to be spoken withal by reason she was so full of heaviness and sorrow and that they were of Authority as the Kings Tutors and ready to give him both audience and answer Which opinion of her weakness and want of judgment the Queen being a Woman of an heroical and royal Spirit took as tending so much to her disgrace that she said she would kill her self if the Embassadors were not permitted to come into her Chamber which was a dark Room hung with Black as the manner is and she sitting upon a low Pallet negligently attired as one that had no care of her self wan and pale Coloured but as then shedding no Tears yet with voice and countenance so heavy as might shew her Tears to be rather dried up with long Mourning than that her sorrow was any thing abated for the desire of bearing rule had now so possessed her mind that she contemned all the dangers of imminent War and for defence of her Sovereignty resolved with her self to call in the Turks After the Count admitted to her presence had with due reverence and great protestation delivered his Message she demurely answered That such was the Fortune of her Sex and Years that being bereft of the King her Husband and perplexed with the daily griefs both of Body and Mind she could neither give nor take Council but purposed in so weighty a Cause to use the advice of Sigismund her Father whose Integrity and Justice was such as King Ferdinand need no other Judge or Arbitrator to end that Controversie Wherefore she requested a convenient time and space wherein she might ask Counsel of her Father to whose just judgment she said she would stand as she thought the Nobility of Hungary would also Which small time of delay if it should be denied and that they would needs forthwith make War upon her she said that the Emperor and King Ferdinand his Brother should surely win no great Honour if they should come to oppugn her a Widow consumed with Tears and a young Child yet crying in his Cradle The Count so sent away when he was returned to King Ferdinand told him That the Queen was altogether in the power of the Bishop and could neither say nor do any thing but what she had before received from him for he only as he said commanded all as for the rest of the Nobility they shared amongst them the Honours and Preferments of