and Maluesia The Republike had held vnder her dominion diuers of the principall townes of Morea the fruitfullest country of al Grecia and the most renouned for the great number of vertuous men that are issued from thence it had lost in the former wars against Baiazet Ottoman grand-father to this Soliman Modon and Coron it stil possessed these two being seated in a most strong place and filled with inhabitants that did greatly affect the Venetians Naples is seated on a small Promontory the which comming forth from the land maketh a great and safe hauen and is in such sort encompassed by the sea as of the foure parts thereof the therd is enuironed therewith and the land side hath a very high and difficult going vp so as there is but one little narrow way to goe vnto the towne which lieth betwixt the hilles side and the sea and the outward bankes are so high and vneasie as it is impossible for the gallies to batter the walles or to land those that are within them the entry likewise of the Hauen hath a very narrow mouth so as but one galley at once can enter iâ—…to it which may be easily defended by the ordnance of a little castle seated on a small rock in the middest of the sea right opposite to the entry some three hundred paces off which can on all sides beate vpon the vessels that will come nere to the hauen and yet it selfe not to be battered from the land nor by the gallies none but smal boats being able to come nere it by reason of sundry points of rocks which lie round about it Maluesia is likewise seated in the same Prouince and more neere to the Cape of Mailla vpon a mountaine or rather a small rock of eight hundred paces which being diuided from the firme land extendeth it selfe in a long and narow forme to sea wards so as this towne being seated on an high place is enuironed on all sides by the sea there beeing none other entrance into it but by a bridge the waters neere therevnto not being in any sorâ—… foordable by reason of their exceeding depth and as nature hath furnished that place with such strength and naturall safety it hath likewise giuen it wholesome fountaines with a good and fertill soile and a goodly plaine on the top of the mountaine from whence victuals may be prouided for fiâ—…ty or three score men who are sufficient for the guard thereof Vittore de Garzons in quality of Baily commanded Naples a man of ripe yeers and of great experience by reason of the great offices which he had borne both by sea and land This man by his valor and good councell and by the trustinesse of the inhabitants did not only defend the place from all perill and danger but likewise by the sallies of his cauallery did assure the country nere adioyning and greatly molest the enemies Cassin who for to obey Soliman was come into those quarters with as great forces as hee could raise hauing sounded those of Maluefia both by promises and threats returned towards Naples and hauing perceiued the difficulty of the enterprize and being without suffitient means to take it by seege or by assault hee dislodged thence and dismissed part of his army placing the residue in garrison in the nerest townes therevnto within â—…ixe miles of the city Barbarossa on the other side with three score and ten gallies and thirty as well Galeots as Fusts giuen him by Lustimbei hauing scoured the Islands of the Archipelago belonging to the Republike tooke some of them which had not meanes of defense either for want of souldiers or for that their sytuation was not strong enough to susteine his attempts such as were the Islands of Scyro Pathmos Ligina and some likewise belonging to particular persons as Nia proper to the family of the Pisani Stampallea to the Quirni Paros very famous for marble subiect to the family of the Venieri with diuers others Barbarossa pursuing his victory to the content of his souldiers vnto whom he gaue the pillage reseruing neuerthelesse the bâ—…st of the spoile as presents for the chiefe of the Port to purchase to himselfe new fauours to the end that the yeere following hee might be permitted to scoure the seas with greater forces and more authority Diuers Venetian captaines after that the enemies had raised their campe from before Corfoù propounded that the Venetian fleete should follow them to stop these incursions and disorders which euery man did already foresee by that meanes to preserue those Islands from whence they receiued many commodities and chiefly great numbers of men for to man their gallies yet neuerthelesse they had respect to the time and to the enemies forces from whom they feared some sinister accident and aboue all they especially considered the Senates intention which was to vnite the Confederates forces to which nothing was more contrary then to bee farre off with the army wherevpon they resolued quitting this proposition that the Generall Pesare taking with him a great number of souldiers from the garrisons of Dalmatia should with certaine gallies goe and beseege Scardona and Vitturi with other some should saile to Obrouazza Scardona lieth nere to Sebenic and therefore they thought it fit to take it for the safety of that fort and to take away the great discommodities which al those of the country round about might receiue from thence it being possessed by the enemy it was circled with very weake walles and had two small castles wherevpon so soone as the Venetian troupes drew nere the Turkes that were wiâ—…hin it after some small resistaâ—…ce did yeeld to the discretion of the generall Pesare who notwithstandâ—…g that he had â—…termined to receiue them on condition to giue them their liues and goods yet neuerthelesse his commandement being neither heard nor obeyed in that fury the first that entred it beganne forthwith to waste and â—…oile and the Turkes which were gon forth to escape into their Confines being encountred by a troupe of armed men of the country of Sibenic were all of them cut in peeces The Generall left Francisco Salomâ—…ne for the gard and gouernment of that place determining at that time to fortifie it yet neuerthelesse hauing afterwards considered the great difficulty of so doing and the expenses of entertayning a garrison amongst so many of the enemies fortes with the hurt which would redound if it weâ—… againe recouered by the Turkes he thought it fittest and most profitable to race the castles and to satisfie himselfe for hauing taken such a place of retreate from the enemies As for those of Obrouazza the Turkes that were within it though they were but few in number did valliantly for a time defend the place afterwards being enforced to quit it they retired into the castle the which whilest the Venetians made al things ready to beseege the gallies were countermanded by the General hauing had a new commandement from the Senate to
had this disease fourescore and ten died At the beginning thereof there was nothing heard nor seene in Venice which aboue all other Cities was greatly afflicted therewith but teares and sighes euery where burialls Phisitions looking to their patients Friends and Kinsfolks visiting those that were sicke Priests comforting them and doing their dutie But afterward this cruell disease encreasing more and more those that were infected therewith of what age and condition soeuer fell downe euery where one vpon another and sodainly died the Kinsman refused to succour his Kinsman the Friend to helpe his Friend the Brother to visit his Brother the Sister to releeue the Sister Parents forsooke their Children and Children in the like manner their Parents there was no more Phisitians nor Medicines euery man fled one from another and in what place soeuer a man was stricken therewith he there died without any helpe at all Funerall Pompe was no more knowne it was enough to dragge a dead body out of his own house by reason of the stench and to lay it in some poore boate which carrieâ—… it without pompe or ceremonie to be throwne hastily into some pit and it is thought that diuers were burned who were not fully dead This corruption of the aire begunne at the beginning of the Spring and encreased daily till May-day being then at the Prime and so lasted to the great losse of all men till the Moneth of Iune and then it beganne by little and little to decrease namely when the number of the liuing was so few as it found no more matter to worke on The Citie being thus bare of Inhabitants for there were none to be seene in the streets for the repeopling of the emptie and void places which did greatly deforme the Citie the Senate made a decree That as many as would come and dwell at Venice after they had remained there two yeares should bee held for Citizens of the same The Senate moreouer fearing that Lewis King of Hungarie making vse of this miserie of theirs would againe inuade Dalmatia for he was come at the same time into Italie with a great Armie to reuenge the death of his brother whom Queene Ioane his wife had put to death sent three Ambassadours to him Marco Iustiniano Andrea Morosini Knights and Nicolao Gradonico who either by intreaties or faire promises did so alter the Hungarian as he not only promised not to attempt any thing against the Venetians during their aduersitie but made a truce with them for ten yeares as some say or for eight according to other Authors But because the Venetians should be neuer freed from some forraine war those of Cape-Histria reuolted soone after the recouerie of Zara. The Venetians though it were in a very vnfit season did neuerthelesse leuie forces and vnder the command of Pancratio Iustiniano sent both by Sea and Land into Histria to reduce them vnto their obedience the which so soone as he arriued in the Prouince hee easily did The Authors of the rebellion were sent to Venice and commanded on paine of life not to depart thence without the Senates leaue because they should no more raise any new stirre in their Citie At the same time likewise Albert Prince of Croatia robbing and spoiling the Prouince of Histria constrained the Venetians to take Armes against him New forces were raised for that purpose and the warre being thus proclaimed against Albert two Senators were sent thither for Generalls of the Armie The Croatian being daunted at the first report of the marching of the Armie demaunded safe conduct of the Generalls and obtained it that hee might goe to Venice to the Prince and Senate where being arriued he threw himselfe prostrate at his feete who although they had iust cause to bee offended with him yet neuerthelesse obseruing their ancient custome they pardoned him after they had first taken certaine places from him which by the Senats commandement were razed to the end they should be no more a retreat for theeues and robbers Carosino who onely makes mention of this Dalmatian warre saith that those two Generals at their returne to Venice were condemned and depriued of their place of Senators because they had not in the same warre followed those directions which were commaunded them Soone after ensued the third warre with the Genoueses but it is thought that the cause of the warre proceeded as oftentimes before from them They possessed certaine Cities on the Ponticke Sea and therefore euer since Paleologus draue the Venetians from Constantinople they attempted by all meanes to depriue the Venetian marchants of the trafficke of those Seas Whereupon there and else where they offered them sundrie wrongs but especially neere to the Citie of Protospera which they held on the same coast Meeting in that place with certaine Venetian and Candiot ships they fel vpon them hauing taken them they constrained them to returne by Capha to the great hinderance and more shame of the marchants Carosin saith they were taken and spoiled in the â—…auen of Capho The Senate sent to the Genoueses to demand restitution of that which had beene taken from them which being denied they prouided a mightie Armie against the Genoueses Some gallies were armed in Dalmatia Caâ—…die and Nigrepont and diuers were likewise stayed at Venice who were readie to go forth for trafficke and Marco Morosino the Admirall of the Adriaticke Sea being called home from Ragusa where he remained with certaine gallies they made vp the number of fiue and thirtie the which were giuen to Marco Rucino but diuers Authors in steed of Rucino set downe Nicolao Pisano This man leauing Venice with an intent to assaile the enemies who were reported to be abroad at Sea was constrained by a sodaine tempest to enter into the Hauen of Cariste which lieth towards Nigrepont It fell out fortunately for the Venetians that fourteene Gallies of Genoa rode there at the same time at an Ankor laden with marchandize and store of Armour with diuers souldiers who were bound for Pera to fortifie it to the end that their countrimen who dwelt there might be no more surprized as at other times by the Venetians Others say that those gallies returning homewards into Italie entred that hauen The Venetian Generall hauing descried them commaunded his souldiers forthwith to prepare themselues to fight All of them speedily obeying his commaundement tooke their weapons and turned the prowes of their gallies towards the enemie and did shut in the issues and passages on all sides sauing towards the land fearing to fall vpon the rocks The Genoueses resolued to trie all meanes rather than to yeeld The Venetian then landed part of his forces and speedily fortified a place neere to the enemies from whence with his engines he began to batter them whilest the gallies likewise shot continually vpon them The Genoueses being assailed on euerie side perceiuing all things to fall out vnluckily on their sides watching the
Armie at the place aboue said and for to enforce him to figâ—…t he encamped at the mouth of the Gulph neere to the mount Lacinia which is iust opposite to that of Salentina These two mountaines looking one vpon an other make this Gulph to be of a verie dangerous approach In that is situated the Citie of Tarentum I said the Venetian did rather encampe neere to Lacinia than elsewhere because that the Genoueses lying in the hauen of Tarentum and the Venetian being verie desirous not onely to draw him to the fight but to constarine him thereunto had rather encampe there to take away the meanes from them who lay a good way in the Gulph of flying backward At the last the enemie being come forth of Tarentum so soone as he perceiued the Venetians to come towards them did speedily put to sea-ward and turned forth of the way The Venetian neerely followed him hoping speedily to ouertake him when as he saw himselfe to be deceiued with a new tricke of warre The enemie made shew as though he would fight and as if he were out of al hope to escape And turning on a sodaine towards the Venetian he feined to make all things readie in his gallies for a battaile which Pisani perceiuing made a stand and commaunded his souldiers and marriners to arme themselues The Genouese so soone as he saw the Venetians in a readinesse the souldiers loden with Armour and the gallies all pestered with warlike engines he gaue a signe to his people to set saile Ye should haue seene then these two fleets sailing very differently the one from the other For the Genoueses who had their marriners readie and vnloden seemed to flie vpon the Sea with wings and the Venetians not able to stirre by reason of their weight and pestering By meanes whereof he escaped at his pleasure and tooke the direct way into Dalmatia Pisani hauing no place of retreate neere turned on the left hand towards Apulia At the same time fiue gallies being armed by the Senates commaund after the taking of Catharra departing from the Citie with the same which brought the newes of the victorie to goe vnto the Armie met with three Genoueses gallies neere to Berisone These three had scoured for a time vp downe to the Venetians losse and had taken as occasion serued diuers ships laden with marchandize The Venetian so soone as he had perceiued them a farre off sailed directly towards them to take reuenge But the Genoueses without any stay betooke themselues to flight and the one ceased not to pursue and the other to flie vntill they were in view of Zara for then the Venetian gallies giuing ouer their pursuite retired to Brandissa where so soone as they vnderstood that the Genoueses fleet was arriued in Dalmatia they stayed in that hauen fearing if they should passe on their iourney to bee surprized by the enemie The hauen of Brandissa is by nature great the mouth thereof containeth diuers and sundrie hauens which are not subiect to Sea tempests There are within it diuers pleasant places of retreat where ships lie out of danger The structure thereof is like to the hornes of an Hart whereof the Citie in times past tooke the name because the hauen with the residue of the Citie is made in the forme of an harts head which in the Messapian tongue is called Brandissa The Venetian hauing then receiued of the Gouernour and the inhabitants of the Citie the towers which lie at the mouth of the hauen did man them with good garrisons then they sent by land to Pisani who was said to be in Apulia with a great Armie to certifie him that they staied in the Hauen of Brandissa fearing to meete with the enemie who was not far from thence Victor vnderstanding the danger of his Countrimen came with speed to Brandissa And there adding the six Gallies to his owne fleet he made vp the number of one and thirtie wherewith he speedily sailed into Dalmatia to surprize the Genoueses going to Zara who hauing notice thereof did sodainely retire to Trahu But whilest these things were done at Sea the Venetians on the firme land tooke the Citie of Saligetta from Gerardo Caminensis soone after Cesalta which was burned and the other wholy ruinated The enemies in the meane time were not idle for Prince Carrario hauing assembled as well of his owne as of the Hungarians the Bishop of Aquileia and of other Princes of the league to the number of sixteene thousand men came and furiously besieged the Citie of Mestra and to take from the inhabitants all hope of succour and victuals he placed a strong Garrison on the riuer which leadeth from Mergera to Mestra within a while after the enemie seized on Morezane which is neare to Mestra without the losse of one man diuers men of note were taken there who were sent to guarde that place The Citie was afterward more sharpely assailed The Venetian sent three hundred braue Souldiers to releeue Mestra vnder the commaund of Nicolao Galianico the Luquois and Hircio Pisani who passed through the enemies watch ech of them carrying a bundle of arrowes on his horses crouper Afterward they made diuers skirmishes all along the dike At the last the enemie desplayed all his forces and battered the Citie more furiously than before Francisco Delfino commaunded within it who by his valour and good counsell did not onely defend the walls but did likewise constraine the enemie after he had lost his peeces of batterie and a great number of his Souldiers to retire into his Campe and within a while after to raise the siege and depart Diuers of the enemies being infected with the aire of the marishes fell into a deadly sicknesse whereof being returned home to their owne houses they soone died These are the exploits which were done that sommer Sixâ—… gallies returning from forrage brought newes to Victor Pisani who was encamped before Zara that the Genoueses Armie rode at an Anchor in the hauen of Trahu Victor departing thence to goe and fight with them and passing by chance not farre from Sicco a Sea towne he thought it fit before hee went farther to take it by assault Yet neuerthelesse hee would first of all summon the inhabitants to knowe whether they had rather to endure an assault than voluntarily to submit themselues to the Venetians Three Gallies were sent before to this purpose who hauing taken assurance of the citizens did enter the same where they acquainted the Magistrates with what they had in charge who answered very arrogantly that the Venetian should neuer expect to haue the Sicceans to yeelde voluntarily but if he ment to become master of the Citie it behoued him to vse other weapons than words Pisani being stung with this braue answere of the inhabitants trusting to the great number of his Gallies which were seuen and thirtie made hast to assaile the Citie Whereupon entring the
want thereof would haue enforced them to haue yeelded if he had maintained his siege but a while longer Whereupon so soone as the enemy was dislodged they ran with such earnestnesse to the riuer and dranke so excessiuely of the water which had a long time been kept from them as many of them surfeted and died sodainly Mocenigo being aduertised of the enemies depâ—…rture and being not able to recouer his health at Ragusa went to Venice Within a while after Triadin the Generall of the Armie a man of foure score yeares died â—…r Catharra Stefano Maripietro whom Mocenigo had left with the Fleet at St. Serâ—… Church hauing after the siege commanded all the Captains of Galleis soldiors and marriners who in a manner were all sicke by reason of the fenny aire of the Boyano to remoue to a wholsomer aire himselfe being verie sicke also retyred to Venice The report of the enemies discamping being brought to Venice before Maripietro his arriuall they did highly reioice the whole Cittie which whilest the siege lasted had been greatly afflicted with care All men extolled Laureâ—…ano and a decree was made that the Commonwealth should send him presents The Captains of the garrisons likewise were much esteemed but especially the loyaltie of the Inhabitants and their constancie in defending their Cittie and rewards were appointed for either of them Then they went to Church to giue thanks to God for that the Commonwealth had been freed from so dangerous a warre Great Rewards were likewise giuen to Mocenigo who after the death of Prince Marcello which deceased about the beginning of Winter was by the generall consent of the whole Senat declared Prince Marcello gouerned one yeare and three moneths and was honorably buried in the Chartreux ¶ PIETRO MOCENIGO the 70. Duke of Venice ANtonio Lauretano who for that he had brauelie defended Scutarie was made Generall of the Gallies did about the Spring time of the same yeare tooke a Geneuois Argozie betwixt Cyprus and Sicilia loden with rich Turkish marchandize and sunke it sixteene Gallies had fought with her and could not take it till Georgio Dragone arriued with a Venetian Argozie and then it yeelded her mast being struck ouerboord with a Cannon shot Not long after Solyman who the yeere before had besieged Scutari did with thirtie thousand Turkes besiege the cittie of Naupactum called at this day Lepanto seated on the Corinthian Gulph and in times past amongest the citties of Aetolia next to Calidonia verie famous but at this day it is not much inhabited and her walls are in a manner ruined Towards the North on the toppe of an hill it hath a castle This fort was valiantly defended as well by reason of the trenches and rampires as by the magnanimitie of those within it For Lauretano came thither with a mighty fleet before the Turkes arriued The enemies on all sides made a great batterie The souldiers of the Armie and fiue hundred horse that were in the Tower did not onely defend the Rampires but did make daily incursions vpon the enemies as occasion was offered this siege continued foure moneths But the enemie being out of hope to take it for besides the strong garrison within it the Venetian fleete lay in the Hauen which did aboundantly furnish the besieged with victualls men and munition and tyred with that warre raised his campe This is all which the enemie attempted by land that Summer But at Sea Ottomans fleete after it departed from Lepanto went to the Isle of Lemnos where hauing besieged the cittie of Coccina and with their ordnance beaten downe a great part of the walls the enemie vndoubtedly would haue taken it had not Lauretano come in time to the reliefe of the besieged who so soone as he had intelligence that the enemie had besieged Lemnos left the Prouidator with foure Gallies at Lepanto and sailed with the rest of the fleete to Psara a desart Island very neere to Lemnos He durst not on a sodaine assaile the enemie by reason that his souldiers were in a manner all sicke But the enemie interpreting his delay in an other sence as though the Venetian tarried there but till all things were in readines for the battel did put to Sea and sailed thence Then did Lauretano go to the Island The Inhabitants and souldiers of the garrison were highly commended It is reported that a young Maide of the Island was presented to him that had fought valiantly and by whose meanes as it was reported the citty had beene chiefly defended This Maid whose name was Muralla her father being slaine fighting valiantly at the Coccine Gate ranne to him and tooke vp his sword and target where alone she withstoode for a time the Turkes assault who had almost made themselues Masters of the Gate and then being assisted by her Countrymen they repulsed the enemie with great slaughter to their shippes in regard whereof the Generall gaue her double pay and the Prouidators with all the Captaines of the Gallies gaue her crownes a peece The Generall bid her make choice among all those braue Captaines which shee would haue to be her husband and promised her that the common-wealth should giue her a dowry She gaue him many thanks and answered That for her part she did not altogether respect the valour of a man but his wisedome and discretion and that she would neuer marrie before shee had exactly knowne the disposition of him that should be her husband By this Maidens discretion and vertue if it be lawfull to iudge of the rest I do affirme that the women of Lemnos do not at this day degenerate either in fortitude or valour from that excellent Hipsiphile of old times and from the rest who with her did commaund that Island and that the common Prouerb is most true How that the fortune of places is very often changed but not the manners and behauiour of the Inhabitants This is all that was done by land and sea during that Summer after which the Armies went to Garrison About the Spring time of the yeere following vpon a rumour that was spred how that King Ferdinand determined to inuade the Isle of Cyprus Iohn of the illustrious familie of the Georges was sent thither with fiue gallies and many shippes of burthen but this report being found to be idle vanished Lauretano in the meane time tooke speciall care for the defence of the sea-coasts of Morea with the Isles neere adiacent We do not find that the same Summer or the next that insued it till peace was made with the Turke which hapned foure yeres after any memorable matter was done in the Islands Prince Mocenigo the second moneth of his gouernement died and was buried in the Church of the Twinnes where at this day his sumptuous monument is to be seene enriched with the spoils of Asia Andrea Vendramino was chosen in his place ¶ ANDREA VENDRAMINO the 71. Duke of Uenice THE Summer following which was the third after the
which extending towards the South-east makes the Hauen like to a semicircle and is stronger by situation then art This the Turkes carefully garded for the commodiousnesse of the hauen lying in the very hart of Morea There are two wayes leading to the Castle that on the left hand is not farre from the Sea the other behind it towards the firme land lies by a lake not farre from thence and is very narrow and hidden The Prince of Parma had charge of this enterprize who landing two thousand Spanish and Italian foot and tenne peeces of battery took the open and plaine way to cut off supplies from the enemies but he either neglected or knew not the other narrow secret way Iuan di 〈◊〉 and Morettâ—… the Calabrois went afterwards to make good the passage but they were on a suddaine assailed by great number of enemies and with great difficulty came off By this meanes aboue two thousand Turkes came to releeue the Castle who beeing maisters of that narrow passage did at their pleasures not onely put in what supplies they thought good but had leisure to seaze on certaine high places commanding the wayes from whence with their small shotte they still annoyed our men busied in planting the Ordnance lying open also at the same time to the Castles shot so that in three dayes they could hardly plant two Canons and the danger more and more increased the soldiers wanting rampiers to defend themselues and the enemies numbers still augmented with whom to their owne great disaduantage they were daily enforced to skirmish This did greatly trouble the confederate Generals who knew that to quit the enterprise would blemish their reputation and to continue the siege would not much auaile them but their greatest difficulty was want of bread which Don Iohn and his faction dayly amplifying said That of necessity they were to depart And yet it seemed strange and incredible to most men that the Spanish Nauy comming lately from Sicily with so many ships which is the Magazin or Granary of Italy should in so short time want bread or if it were true that scarcity might easily haue beene supplied by sending to Tarento for certaine vessels laden with Bisket which the Spaniards themselues reported they had left there The Venetian Generall that he might cut of all occasion of the Spaniards departure offered Don Iohn part of his owne Store earnestly entreating him to accept his offer telling him that the rest of his Nauie might bee easily supplyed by those vessels before mentioned It is not certainly knowne why the Spaniard refused this curtesie who stopped their eares against all reasonable perswasions which might delay their departure which they onely intending discamped from before Nauarin leauing a safe and open way for Vluzzali to conduct his fleete to Constantinople and the Honor to bee accounted a skillfull and valiant Captaine Yet Don Iohn did what he could to cause Generall Foscarin and the Venetians to consent and be well pleased with his departure assuring him of his earnest desire to purchase honor and reputation whereof Fortune had bereft him by taking from him the meanes to fight with the enemy yet if by the way he did chance to meet with those ships of supplies he would then willingly embrace any occasion whatsoeuer to doe some notable seruice to the league ere hee returned with his fleet into the West and that though he now wanted opportunity hee hoped the next yeare to recompence that which necessity had enforced him to loose The Venetian Generall perceiuing his resolution consented therevnto because hee would not giue an occasion to the enemies to thinke that the league was broken as also for that hee knew himselfe alone too weake to attempt any great matter Yet when our men thought least of it they were more likely then euer to giue the enemy battaile for at the very instant when the confederats were vpon departure they had intelligence that a Spanish ship come from Corfou was in fight with certaine Turkish Galleys not farre from Sapienza wherevpon all things beeing put in order the fleete speedily left the Hauen of Nauarin to rescue the shippe and to fight with the enemies Ere our men could get out of the Hauen Vluzzali with three score of his Gallyes came forth of the channell of Modon to rescue those that were in fight and to secure others which hee had sent to scoure the seas So soone as Don Iohn saw Vluzzali hee commanded the Prouidator Souranza to meete him with a certaine number of Galleys to hinder his comming on any farther the Marquis of Santa Cruz and the Prouidator Canalis with their Squadrons to charge the enemies with fiue and twenty Galleys who discrying our fleete left the ship and betooke themselues to flight When Vluzzali saw the Prouidator comming towards him he made a stand but at last turning his prowes without any farther delay he retired vnder the Castle of Modon being still pursued by our Gallies who beeing come neere to the towne bestowed diuers Cannon bullets on it The Gallies which fought with the shippe beeing light and able to make way escaped with ease one excepted commanded by the Sanzach of Mitelene nephew to the famous Barbarossa who fighting longer then any of the rest and his slaues in hope of liberty rowing slowly was taken by the Marquis of Sancta Crux but night approaching they gaue ouer farther pursute Then D. Iohn sounded the retreat and commanded eùery one to returne into the hauen of Nauarin beeing vnwilling to leaue the engin behind that the enemies might not terme his departure a flight then the greater vessells beeing forth of the Hauen and a faire southeast wind blowing he willed them presently to saile to Zant and himselfe the next morning directed his course thither with the whole fleet being so desirous to returne home as going a neerer way through the Channell of Giscarda contrary to the aduise of the skilfullest Marriners who councelled him to goe to Cephalonia he escaped a great danger neere to the Gulph of Larta and there lost one of the Popes Gallies which was broken to peeces vpon the Rocks of Paxu Vluzzali after the Confederates departure freed from all hinderances in his iourney did without any order put to Sea and came vnto the Cape of Malâ—…a where by reason of a contrary northerne wind he was enforced to continue certaine dayes but in the end hauing a faire Gale he sailed to Constantinople with an hundred Gallies where he was with all honour entertained the Turkes openly term ing themselues Conquerors for that they had defended Morea and their other territories dared as they said the Christians oftentimes to battaile lastly driuen them forth of their dominions secured the Sea and made it nauigable The Confederates in the meane time arriued at Corfou the twentith day of October who though their fleet were augmented with thirteene Gallies and certaine shipps loden with wheat brought by the
the next Spring Gilberto Dandulo departed from Venice with two and thirty Gallies and being come into Greece met vpon the way neere the hauen called the Seauen swine the same fleete of Genoueses which the Venetians the yeare past durst not deale withall as they came forth of the Bosphorus to spoile whatsoeuer they could light on belonging to the Venetians Being come in sight one of another they presently put themselues in order of battaile readie to fight running one vpon another with great furie The fight was verie sharpe at the encounter but it lasted not long by reason of the smal number of the vessels neither was it verie bloudie For the Genoueses with losse of foure of their ships escaped away by strength of their oares putting themselues into the hauen of Maluasia But the Genoueses soone after made their losse good by the sodaine surprisall of three Venetian ships laden with victuals and munition Now albeit the maine warre was neere to the Islands of the Aegean Sea and along the coast which runneth from Morea to the straite of Gallipolis â—…et the affaires of Syria were not altogether quiet For all the Italians in a manner that were in Iernsalem did so much fauour the Venetians in Acre as it was plainly seene that they did more affect them than they did the Genoueses whereas on the contrarie those of Tyre held altogether for the Genoueses By this meanes all the Christians which were then in Syria were diuided in factions one against another for the partie of these two mightie people and those Cities which in times past had beene with so much labour and bloud freed from the cruell Empire of Mahomet were in an instant by this vnnaturall warre filled with murther and sedition Neuerthelesse the Venetians that they might not seeme carelesse of what more neerly concerned them the third or fourth yeare according to some Authors of this first Genoan warr set forth fiftie Gallies or as some say seuen and thirtie against their enemies the Genoueses who being come into the maine directed their course to Sicily where the Genoan fleet was reported to ride And not finding the enemie there they sailed into Syria where neere to Tyre they tooke an Argozie of the enemies After this they entred the hauen determining to force the Citie But Andrea Barofio a discreet and valiant Captaine was gouernour of the towne who although the Venetians had sent to Ptolomais for supplies to girt the Citie with a streighte siege both by sea and land did neuerthelesse with the garrison thereof verie brauely defend it The Genoueses in the meane time were not idle For vnderstanding by their spies that a great ship called the Strong Castle with ten other ships of burthen laden with marchandize were to come forth of the hauen of Venice bound for Asia they lay in ambush for them behinde a Rocke at the issue of the Adriaticke Gulph But the marchants being thereof aduertized by a small boate which went before for discouerie affrighted with the newes made presently to land And vnlading their ships on the shoare where lay a garrison of Albanians they left the emptie vessels to the enemie who perceiuing themselues discouered and knowing the Venetians meaning forsooke their ambush and shewed themselues Some historians affirme that Michael Doria commaunded that Genoan fleete and how they fought at Sea as also that the Venetians trusting to the strength and greatnes of an Argozey returned to Venice after they had lost the other ships laden with marchandize The Venetians in sted of being discouraged at this losse were the more animated to reuenge so as not long after they sent Giacomo Dandulo into Dalmatia with seuen Gallies with full power If it should be expedient for the Common-wealth to ioine with those whom hee should finde there for the guard of the Islands Whereupon after he had taken three from Zara hee sailed into the Sea of Sicilie where receiuing three other Gallies of Candie and not long after foure from Nigrepont strengthened with these supplies hee sailed to Ragusa where hee met Marco Gradonico with tenne Gallies These two fleetes beeing ioined together sailed into Sicilie where after they had coasted all that part of the Island which looketh towards the East and almost all that which lieth from Mount Pachino toward the South they tooke neere to Lilibeum three Genoa-Gallies conducted by Lanfranc of Bourbon This losse beeing reported at Genoa eight and twentie Gallies were sodainly set forth to reuenge this iniurie who sailing into Sicilie with a direct course to meete the enemie found the Venetians at Ankor in the Hauen of Trapani Some write that the two fleetes met by chance before Trapani But whether it were so or no it is certaine that the Gallies on either side sailed in order of battaile readie for fight It is reported that the Genoueses came too eagerly to charge and so by consequence too vnaduisedly For after their comming from Genoa they feared nothing so much as to misse the Venetian so that their hatred concurring with their power the fight began sodainly Hatred on the one side and desire of glorie on the other did greatly augment eithers forces And as well the one as the other would manifest to the Sicilians in whose sight they fought which of them was best experienced in Martiall discipline who were best Sea-men They fought a long time with vncertainetie of victorie But the Genoueses fortune at last declining their wilfulnesse was such as rather than to escape with dishonour they chose there to die fighting In this fight were taken foure and twentie of their Gallies and the residue burnt or sunke Aboue two thousand fiue hundred were taken prisonerâ—… and more than twelue hundred slaine the rest were drowned The victorie was not vnbloudie to the Venetians but their ioy to haue so brauely vanquished the enemie would not suffer them to thinke on their great losse And because that by this ouerthrow the Genoueses power was thought to be wholly abated Paleologus who till then had taken their partie made truce with the Venetians for fiue yeares The Senate after the battaile of Trapani sent one and twentie Gallies to Modona for the guard of the Sea-coast because as I thinke they were aduertised that the Gallies of Genoa made incursions on those places It happened by chance that certaine of the enemies ships being come at the same time as farre as Modon to rob spoile so soon as they vnderstood of the Arriuall of the Venetian Armie presuming on theiâ—… swiftnesse on a sodain like run-awaies they turned their backs The Venetians holding themselues not deceiued in their enemies flight forthwith followed them But the Genoueses beeing still daunted with their former losse receiued in Sicilie and determining from the beginning not to sight did escape by strength of their oares into the Hauen of Rhodes from whence soon after departing they tooke a Venetian ship laden with
surnamed Iustinian obtained of the Pope in the name of the Common-wealth to traffick into Syria and the time of these two trafficks was prolonged for ten yeares At the same time they beganne in the Citie to build St. Anthonies Church the beginning whereof is attributed to one Iannotto a Florentine of the familie of Abbi vpon a little Rocke where was first builded a little Chappell of wood In the same place at this day is to be seene a great voide place or rather an Island made by a continuall heaping together of earth which the water in processe of time hath brought thither It hath a delightfull prospect towards the Lakes and besides the Church which is faire and large there stands neare to it a new sumptuous building which serueth for an Hospitall About the same time those of Zara reuolted from the Venetians the seuenth time The report was That they had sent to Lewis King of Hungarie to certifie him if he would come into Dalmatia they would deliuer their Citie Hauen Lands persons and meanes as well publike as priuate into his hands The Senate presently vpon these newes gaue fiue armed Gallies to Pietro Canalis who sailed into Dalmatia Being come neere to Zara hee receiued Marco Cornari the gouernour with all his familie and diuers other Venetians into his vessells who were in the Citie when it reuolted from whence hee presently departed For to haue besieged the Citie with so few vessells and by Sea only would haue beene as foolish as vnprofitable He first retired to Pague the inhabitants whereof hauing receiued him into their Citie deliuered the Gouernour into his hands which those of Zara had sent thither not long before together with all those which had aided or assisted him whom Canalis sent to Venice Soone after hauing fortified the place he tooke with those few Gallies which he had diuers vessells of the enemies which laie neere to the Islands But whilst by these meanes hee went about to hinder the Zaratines Marco Iustiniano came by Land with his Armie and encamped at the Fountaine next to the Citie where he sodainly caused his Souldiors to build a Fort. Then from thence he did with his engins batter the Citie beat downe the walls ouerthrow the houses and made all things verie incommodious to the enemies If the Zaratines were streightly besieged by Land by Sea they were no lesse For the Venetians hauing taken from them the Towne of Damiana they did at times approch verie neere to the Citie then they speedily returned and after some stay came back with more furie to assaile the Hauen Thus stood the affaires of the Zaratins when Andrea Morosino and Simon Dâ—…dulo the Princes brother arriued at the Campe to prouide and take order for whatsoeuer should be expedient for the Common-wealth and I thinke this was the cause why from the beginning they called these Magistrates Prouiders but we will alwaies call them Prouidaetori At their arriuall it was resolued to giue a generall assault to the Citie by Sea and Land It may be they had notice that Lewis King of Hungarie was not farre off with great forces The Citie being assailed with great furie the Sea-forces threw bridges from the Gallies vpon the walls seeking by that meanes to enter the Citie On the other side the Land-Armie drew neere the walls with their engins and other warlike instruments But both sides had no great successe Some were gotten vpon the walls on the bridges from the shippes who did greatly affright the inhabitants slew diuers of them But soon after the Townesmen waxing desperate did furiously fall vpon them and beat them from the walls breaking the bridges whereupon the Souldiours on that side were constrained to make a base retreat The fight on the Land-side was as vnfortunate For the engins of batterie breaking at their first approach made all the Venetians attempts bootlesse which the Generall perceiuing commanded to sound the retreat After this assault King Lewis ariued with six score thousand men and encamped not farre from Zara who to free the Citie which was giuen vnto him from the siege gaue a sodain assault to the Venetian Campe. The Hungarians with fearefull cries made an attempt on the Venetians Fort not thinking to meet with trenches and rampiers that were able to keepe them out The Zaratines likewise made a sallie and together with them assailed the Fort. The Venetians did not only valiantly defend it but repulsed the enemies farre from thence with great effusion of bloud In the meane time those in the Gallies hearing the noise and fearing that their fellowes were assailed leauing a sufficient number of Souldiors for the guard of their vessells they came on shore and marched in a close battalion to the reliefe of their countrimen which they in the Fort perceiuing presently issued forth vpon the enemie There was on either side a cruell fight neere to the Fort and much bloud-shed But the Hungarians who at the Venetians first comming had begun by little and little to disorder their owne rankes being ouercome by this sodain sallie betooke themselues to flight who were pursued and slaine heere and there by the Victorious Venetian The Dalmatians perceiuing the bad successe of the Hungarians retired with great amazement into the Citie The King thus repulsed with losse of a great part of his Armie returned in manner of a flight into Hungarie But because it was scarce credible to speake truely that so great an Armie should be defeated by so small a number It is most likely that Lewis brought but twentie thousand men into Dalmatia and that the Printersr and not the Historians haue greatly erred in the number yet whatsoeuer their Armie was for vndoubtedly it was great the Venetians got that day a glorious victorie of the enemies And besides the slaughter of the enemies was so great as the aire beeing corrupted with the infection of so manie dead bodies did in short space cause great mortalitie in the Campe. The siege neuerthelesse was not discontinued but the Venetians on the contrarie did more sharpely vex those Rebells by Sea and Land In the end the Venetians hauing broken the chaine of the Hauen the Zaratines despairing of all forrain aid and distrusting their owne forces craued leaue to send to Venice the which was freely graunted them The messengers beeing come to the Citie craued mercie committing themselues and their Citie to the mercie of the Senate Zara beeing recouered Iustiniano was made Gouernour The chiefe of the Citie who had beene the Authours of this seuenth Rebellion were by the Senate for euer banished the Citie We may by this gentle punishment perceiue how great the Venetians clemency hath still beene who were contented to punish a Citie that had so often Rebelled and been thereby so troublesome to the Common-wealth by the only banishment of a few of her inhabitants The ordinarie iudges of the Citie of Venice not being able in regard of
hauen on a sodaine he commaunded his Souldiers to land and to march furiously to the assault The Souldiers went to it so couragiously as hauing set vp ladders in sundrie places of the wals vndermined them the Citie was taken in a moment with great slaughter of the inhabitants the greatest number of whom were retired with their wiues and children to the Palace where for a while was a bloudy fight But that place being likewise forced great crueltie was vsed on all sexes and age whatsoeuer diuers were slaine and some were throwne headlong downe from the top of the Palace There was a Castle in one of the corners of the Citie which was strong by nature and art into the which diuers had retired themselues who presuming on their great numbers did dare to make a sallie on the enemies and to fight in the middest of the Citie The fight lasted for a time doubtfull and more bloud was shed there than in any other place But the Dalmatians being at last ouercome were constrained to retire againe into the Castle which Pisani would not of purpose besiege fearing if hee should stay long in that place the enemie would be gone into the hauen of Zara. The Citie then being spoiled and burnt and diuers prisoners carried thence a great bootie was brought to the Gallies He sent away a Gallie to Venice to aduertise the Senate of the taking of Sicco and of their want of victualls Then imbarking his troupes he sailed towards Trahu The hauen of Trahu hath two entries one towards the East and the other on the West side The Genoueses had so artificially stopped both of them as the Venetian returning from the assault was constrained to lie at Anchor on the West side One part of the Genoueses Armie was at the same time gone into Apulia for victuals from whence returning they entred the Hauen on the other side not being perceiued which Pisani hauing notice of did diuide his Armie into two parts to shut in the Genoueses on euery side Then to molest them in sundrie places he landed certaine troupes of Souldiers It is thought that the footmen made certaine light skirmishes which are not worthie of memory At the last Victor being impatient of so long stay came and assailed the Citie but all his attempts were in vaine For hee was so farre from entring as on the contrary he was beaten backe by the Genoueses whose number in the Citie was very great â—…nd constrained to retire with great losse to his Gallies Luca Valerosa a Venetian Gentleman died in this assault Victor being frustrate of his expectation and victualls beginning to faile not hoping to recouer any force from Venice the dearth of all things being very great there he raised his siege and came and encamped before Zara where he did more feare than hurt the inhabitants He sent besides tenne Gallies to the Albanois to know their minds who being daunted with the mishap of the Catharrians and with that of the Sicceans did voluntarily yeeld Francisco Contareni was sent thither to commaund the Citie The Senate being aduertized that the Armie was dislodged from before Trahu did forthwith arme fiue Gallies and laded them with victualls which were sent to Pisani who lay before Zara who was commanded to returne instantly before Trahu and not to stir from thence till either by force or famine he had taken the Genoueses Gallies which lay there But the Genoueses after the first siege had with greater labor and trauaile than before fortified the hauen by meanes whereof this last attempt was as vaine as the former wherof we now spake The Armie for certaine daies lay at ankor before the hauen But Pisani being enforced by hunger and cold for it was winter alreadie departed from thence hauing effected nothing came into Histria From thence he wrote to the Senate to know their pleasures whether he should with the whole Armie returne to winter at Venice or else tarrie abroad They decreed that the enemie being so neare it was needfull that hee should tarrie abroade all winter the which of a certaine did greatly hurt the common wealth For the Souldiers and Marriners being vndone by hunger and cold were scattered here and there without any leaue searching for victualls and left their Ensignes badly attended Diuers likewise died with hunger and others with cold And because victualls were scarce in the Citie they concluded to send diuers ships that winter into Apulia to fetch corne and that Pisani should conuay them for feare of being surprized by the enemies The dearth did in some sort cease in the Citie by meanes hereof The Armie returned into Histria to their wonted place But the extremity of the cold daily increasing and many dying euery hower the number of those which remained was so small at it was not sufficient to arme twelue Gallies so as Pisani sent diuers of them emptie to Venice to the end they might be furnished anew against the spring time if the Senate so pleased Eleuen Gallies newly armed at Venice were sent to Pisani with diuers other vessells laden with victualls and among the rest a great ship of burthen full of armour and other equipage for ships the which Pisani commanded to bee forthwith carried into Candie to furnish those Gallies which the Senate had appointed to be made readie in the Island The Armie departing from Pola where it had wintered and being come into the maine a terrible tempest arose on the sodaine which scattered them here and there This ship of burthen which was full of Armour was by the force of the winde carried safely into the Hauen of Ancona where it met with a Venetian Barze loden with Syrian merchandize Being ioyned together they expected a fit time to depart thence but on a sodaine they espied twelue Genouesan Gallies on the maine The Venetians suspecting the truth and that they were Genoueses would forth with haue vnloden their ships and determined to carrie their best and richest wares into some place of safetie but the Townes men would not suffer them so to do saying that their Hauen was a safe retreate for all men and that they needed not there to feare the Genoueses nor any whatsoeuer protesting that they should doe no worse than themselues The Venetians on this assurance did not vnlode The Genoueses in the meane time entred the Hauen and kept themselues quiet for a while but after they had beene at meate they armed themselues and with great noise seized on the Towers and Walls of the Hauen and from thence they ran to spoile the ships The Venetians which were on the Citie walls would haue shot at the Genoueses but the Inhabitants would not suffer them saying that they would not incense the Genoueses against them by any new injurie They then perceiuing themselues to be betraied did not stirre The Venetians ships being drawne forth of the Hauen the one of them being vnloden of the
persons I am so farre off from taking any reuenge as I protest and sweare by that most holy Sacrament which I hope I haue this day receiued to my soules health and by that holy diuine seruice which I was present at neuer hereafter to remember it And I intreat those who haue in any sort enuied my fortune and prosperitie to beleeue that I beare them no lesse good will than to my dearest friends and that they shall neuer by me nor for me receiue any displeasure whatsoeuer but I will on the contrarie striue to performe all offices of loue and kindnesse towards them As for your charitable affection inuiting me to the seruice of the Commonwealth I doe most willingly vndertake the defence thereof and I would to God I were a manable in these dangerous times to relieue it in any sort either with counsell or industrie but howsoeuer my loue shall neuer be wanting This being said he was embraced by the Prince and by all the Senators whose eyes were full of teares and then he went home to his owne house It is reported that as he walked in the streets among great numbers of people who came to congratulate him the whole Citie in a manner following him they clapped their hands in signe of ioy and there were some who at randon said that he ought to be Prince and not a priuate Citizen but he mildly reprehended them telling them plainly that those praises ought to be giuen to Saint Marke the Cities Patron and to the Prince and not to an humble Citizen And because the Senate had giuen him charge of those troupes which were neere to the hauen that he might together with Caballa the Veronois aduise what should be most expedient for the Commonwealth the common people thought that he had beene restored to his office of Generall of the nauall Armie Then did all the religious Orders all the Colledges the companies and fraternities of the Citie come to offer themselues both in publike and particular to furnish an Armie freely at their owne costs some likewise made offer at their owne charges to arme all the gallies But he after hee had courteously entertained them sent them backe to the Prince and Senate telling them that it was they who had the managing of all matters and that they would listen to their offers which concerned the good and profit of the Commonwealth In the meane space he spent the time in visiting the works and fortifications made at Saint Nicolas Church against the enemies incursions the which as vnprofitable he caused to be beaten downe and made others of better forme But when the people knew that he was not restored to his former office yee should haue seene in an instant how they stood affected to him and taxed the wilfulnesse of the Senators who in so great a danger would still respect their priuate hatreds What said they shall not so notable a man most skilfull in marine matters and famous for the reputation of his high attempts be restored to the office of high Admirall This is not done for the good of the Commonwealth but onely to satisfie the enuie of a few particular persons These or such like detractions of the common sort being reported at the Pallace the Senate did againe assemble where they propounded the small danger which at any other time the peoples murmuring against the Senate could import but that it was most necessarie at that present to bee at vnitie one with another inregard the safetie of the Commonwealth was then in hazard VVhereupon by a generall consent Victor was admitted to his former office It was presently blowne abroad the Citie how that by a new decree of the Senate Pisani was declared Generall of the nauall Armie and that he was with his forces to lie betwixt the Citie and the Paduan confines Great numbers of people did forth with runne vnto him and in three daies sixe gallies were armed and many more might haue beene made readie if need had beene euerie man striuing who should first enroll his name for that seruice Many Ganzarioles and other small vessels were added to these gallies All which being readie to depart Pisani came with the nauall Armie to the Hauen where he conferred with the Generall of the land troupes to change the Fort which had been builded at the first into a bricke wall to build at both ends two small towers with good garrisons The Senate allowed this opinion of his and euerie one falling forthwith to worke in foure daies the two towers were builded Pisani Thadeo Iustiniano Caballa and diuers other noble men hauing laid the first foundations Then they began the wall in the same place where the trench was the which being drawne from one tower to another was ended in fifteene daies great numbers of townsmen souldiers and marriners laying their hand to it The ruines of this building are at this day to be seene on the left side of the Hauen There was afterward a great yron chaine drawne neere to the Iewrie to hinder the enemies incursions and foure great couered ships were there placed to serue for a defence Then without they made a trench from the new wall vnto Saint Martins Church where diuers light boates were placed who all night long went the round least the enemie entering secretly should burne the buildings next to the Citie They did besides in the night time place diuers corpes-de-guard for feare least the Citie should receiue some harme by a surprize VVhilest these things were done in the Citie diuers persons in light boats made incursions beyond Montauban and those places from which men go from the firme land to Chioggia where they assailed diuers boates which went vp and downe which being easily taken with the profit that arose by them did encourage diuers others to doe the like There passed no day but some vessell or other was taken so as in a while after none durst goe from Padua to Chioggia The Genoueses soone perceiued that if the passages were shut from them victuails would faile VVherfore to stay these incursions or rather hoping to execute some great exploit they came with their gallies and diuers other armed vessels furiously to possesse the Hauen of Malamoc and to encampe there and hauing builded a Fort in the same place where that of the Venetians had stood they landed part of their troupes on the opposite shoare to take Poueggia by force The Venetians being aduertized of the enemies approach did shut vp the channels which came from Chioggia to Venice with two ships which were sunke one neere to the other a little beyond the Church of the holy Ghost and on the side of them another greater than they lying at Anker with store of archers in it The enemies gallies being come thither Thadeo Iustiniano who lay at the foresaid Church did with fiue gallies euerie day giue them alarme where they fought more with arrowes and dartes than
most part of whom retired to Venice The enemie hauing no good successe at Noualla being wearied with so long a siege and being out of hope to take the Citie raised his campe and returned to the Paduan territorie Where because winter drew neere he disposed his armie into diuers garrisons and sent them away to winter This is all that was done on the firme land that Summer and a part of Haruest At Sea Lauretano approached with the nauall Armie neere to Ancona and afterwards sailed into Histria But soone after departing thence he tooke Bressia and Senia on the frontires of Liburnia by assault which hee spoyled howbeit through an vnfortunate fire at that time hapning in Senia the whole bootie was almost consumed At the report of the comming of this great Armie the Goritani being affrighted forsooke the Citie and retired with their wiues and children to the highest hilles in the Island The Bishop of the place came to the Venetians and offered them the Citie and humbly entreated Loretano not to suffer his souldiers to commit any hostile actes in a Citie that yeelded Whereupon there was no outrage done not so much for present curtesie as in regard of the faithfull friendship which the ancient Lords of that Island had borne to the Venetians wherein they had by mutual offices stil continued till such time as king Lewis tooke all Dalmatia from them From thence he came to Bocharis which being taken by force hee wholly burnt and spoyled it Then he departed towards Pola where by the Senates letters he was aduertized that Carolo Zeno was appointed Generall of the nauall Armie whereat all men highly reioyced For besides his valour he was next to Pisani the most popular man From Pola he came to Parenza wherein few daies after Zeno arriued Hauing mustered the Galley-slaues he found that many were wanting VVherevpon fearing that for want of rowers he might incurre some danger if he should happen to meete the enemie he disarmed seuen of the formost gallies and with their spoiles manned such as had need and being thus disarmed because without rowers they could not serue in the warres he sent them backe to Venice into which Caballa of Verona entered with the troupes of the land-Armie being called home by the Senate by reason of the warre of Treuiso Three of these gallies being come to Venice were presently armed and giuen to Marco Phalerio for the defence of Romagnia and La Marca For the Genoa gallies making daily incursions neere to Ancona had in such sort turned the marchants from commerce with Venice as the dearth began alreadie in the Citie But Phalerio his arriuall restrained the enemies boldnesse whereupon the dearth ceased The passage at sea being assured to the marchants Phalerio by the Senates decree went with his gallies to Zeno in Dalmatia The Armie after diuers passages to and fro through Histria and the frontires of Dalmatia not finding the enemie any where was brought backe to Venice about the first of Nouember hauing done no memorable matter leauing onely foure gallies to guard the Prouince VVithin a while after Carolo departed from Venice with three hundred small vessels well armed and came and besieged Marrana a sea-towne of the Forlani By the way hee met with threescore well armed vessels of the same sort belonging to those of Grada and Piran who came to him at the hauen of Lignana wherewith hauing ioyned his owne hee gaue a furious assault to the Citie But it being circled on euerie side with the Sea and well fortified their attemptes proued bootelesse The Venetian hauing viewed the place perceiued that he should but loose his labour But because he would not seeme to depart thence for feare hauing brought his forces to the walles for a while they fought fiercely but at last diuers being hurt Zeno retired without any further losse The great expences of the warre had exhausted the publike treasure when as the Senate being enforced by the dearth commaunded sixe Gallies and sixteene boates with two rankes of Oares to be prepared to goe into Candie to fetch thence the richest wares of certaine particular persons to the end that they being sold by their consent the money might be imployed for entertainment of the Armie being lent for a time to the Commonwealth At the beginning of the spring for sooner they could not by reason of the tempestuous VVinter the fleete went to sea vnder the conduct of Simonetto Michaeli But I finde in the meane space that these preparations were made in Venice That diuers light skirmishes were made on either side as well on the Treuisan as in Histria and that they fought with different successe as aduantage was offered The Garrison which the Venetians held in Castell-Franco hauing receiued no pay for certaine moneths first chaced away Andrea Paradiso the Cities Gouernour and afterwards assisted by the inhabitants receiued Carrarto into their wals This reuolt caused diuers others on the Treuisan shortly after to doe the like The newes of this losse being brought to the Citie another soone followed For the Hungarians that were encamped on the mountaines and who from thence did ouerrunne the Countie of Ceneda had imprisoned Gulielmo Caminensis an associate of the Venetians accusing them to haue contrarie to the agreement relieued during the warres the townes of Sacilla Cogniliana and diuers others subiect to the Venetians with victuals and they demanded to haue the Hauen of Bufatere deliuered to their hands and that Caminensis with all his family should retire to Conigliana The Venetians affaires being in this sort brought to all extremitie on the firme land and not knowing from whence to be supplied either for victuals or money to sustaine the charge of the warre the Senate resolued to send to Leopold Duke of Austria and in the Commonwealthes name to offer him the Citie of Treuiso with her confines which if the Paduans should not hereafter desist to molest it was certaine that the Almaine would on a sodaine come into Italie with the greatest forces he could leauie and that thereby the Commonwealth being elswhere sufficiently busied with Sea-matters should by forraine sorces be eased of the warre on the firme land Pantaleon Barba was by the Senates decree sent to the Duke In the meane time aboue a thousand horse of those at Mestra for want of their pay went from the Venetians to the enemies side Those who remained after the others departing did in the night bring some victuals to Treuiso and in their returne thence were surprized by the enemies ambush wherevpon some of the horse being taken and the residue put to flight went first to Treuiso and afterwards to the campe so as all the troupes which were at Mestra were in a short space brought to nothing The Venetians being daunted with so many losses sought meanes of agreement with Carrario referring themselues to the arbitrement of Alberto d'Este And to this purpose they sent vnto him Frederico
them and took diuers prisoners great numbers of peasants were there slain Aboue foure hundred prisoners were taken among whome were fiftie Gentlemen Italus by fauour of the night escaped to Sales The end of the third Booke of the third Decad. THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE THIRD DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice The Contents of the fourth Booke of the third Decad. SFORZA through the Countries of Flaminia and Ferrara leadeth great troupes first to Chioggia and then to the Paduan Territorie MELLATO ioyneth with SFORZA The Venetian passing ouer the mountaines causeth the enemie to raise his Campe from before Verona PICININO with all his forces retireth beyond the Riuer Adice The Venetians Nauall Armie is put to rout vpon the lâ—…ke of La Garda PICININO is defeated by night in the vale of Lodron SFORâ—… 〈◊〉 in battaite vanquisheth the enemies at Thienna PICININO and the Mantuan surprise Verona but not the Castle SFORZA recouereâ—…h Verona thirtie dayes after it was lost Bressia in the middest of winter is victualled by the way of the mountaines MELLATO faileth sicke PICININO sendeth forces into Tuscanie against the Florentines SForza was in the meane time come from La Marca with diuers braue men in his companie among whom were Alessandro Giouanni and Leon his brethren Roberto Sanseuerino Dominico Malateste Lodouico Duke of Hadria to whose daughter hee was betrothed Franciso Ortonio with many other notable Captaines From Esia which was the Rendezuous they came to the temple of Fortune and from thence to Arimini where mustering his troupes hee found Guido Fauentino to bee wanting who was gone to the contrarie side which when he vnderstood for a time he remained doubtfull with what place he should first begin For he perceiued it to be Philips practise by that new enemie to stop his passage into Lombardie But being sodain in his resolutions supposing that there was nothing which could more auaile their intended iournie seeing they were of necessitie by Armes to win themselues a passage to the Venetians camp than to take Rauenna and Forlimpopoli from the enemie from whence he might open himselfe a very short way into Lombardie he besieged Forlimpopoli enforced them to yeeld the second day of the siege From thence marching towards Rauenrâ—… speedy newes was brought him that the enemies had crossed the Adice and taken in a manner from the Venetians whatsoeuer they possessed on both sides the Riuer Verona and Vincenza excepted and that those of Verona were streightly besieged that the Paduans and Vincenzans hauing expulsed their Garrisons had mutined and that vnlesse he made hast it was to be feared that all would fall into the enemies hands But it is reported that concerning the commotions in those two Cities it was made by the Souldiers who by ouermuch libertie did spoile and rob the wretched Townes-men as though they had beene enemies taken in warre As for the Paduans if by reason of these outrages they tooke Armes they were presently appeased at the Gouernours comming But those of Vincenza being troubled vpon the like occasion hauing driuen away the Garrison said That they were loyall to the Venetians that they needed no forraine forces to keepe them that their constancie and loialtie was well known to the Senate and that by those Rampiers their Citie would bee better guarded against the enemies attempts than by any Mercinarie succour Mellato vpon the first report thereof went thither greatly commending the Vincenzans and exhorted them still to perseuer in their ancient loue and loialtie and gaue them leaue according to their owne desire to guard their Citie them selues These newes being greater in apparence than in effect caused Sforza to change his minde so that leauing the way of Rauenna he returned speedily to the bridge of Roncanes Then hauing enforced Guido and Francisco sonnes to Picinino to retire to Forli with a great cauallerie he departed the fifth day after by the Bolognese Territorie he came to Bondina From thence hauing sent all his baggage by the Po to Chioggia he marched by Ferrara which was opened to him to Goria and presently after to Hadria whereof the neighbour-sea taketh the name It was a Citie belonging to the Tuscans and for a long time very rich But thus much I thought good to speake by the waie because I would haue no man thinke that the Adriatick Sea did take name of that Hadria which is in La Marca Now this mightie Armie came sooner than it was looked for to the Venetians aide vpon the Paduans Territorie notwithstanding that it was to passe foure great Riuers First they made a bridge at Goria ouer one of the Armes of Po on two and thirtie long boates strongly ankored and vpon them long plankes were laid couered with sand with strong Railes on both sides for feare least the horses being frighted with the shaking of the bridge should fall into the water and twelue vessels strong lyarmed were appointed for the guard therof to the end that if the enemie should come downe the Riuer to make any attempt they might defend and guard the bridge It is reported that Sforza's troupes held it for a prodigie because that on a sodaine the Po did in such sort swell as it had almost ouer-flowed the bankes and with the inundation had like to haue drowned the Campe which lay not far from the Riuer and also for that great numbers of serpents had gotten into the Souldiers cabines The other passage was at the Fornaces on foure and fortie boats made verie fast together And because that place was more commodious for the enemie to place an Ambush twelue Gallies well armed with an hundred archers a peece were appointed for the defense of the bridge The third was at the mouth of the Adice neere to the Fossoni composed of fourescore small boats that being passed the troupes were conducted along the Sea-side to Brondolles where the Armie did likewise passe But because that passage was verie broad the bridge was likewise made longer than the rest containing 90. vessels Sforza being from thence come to the Hauen of Chioggia found three hundred small vessells ready to transport the troupes to the firme Land with the horse and foot companies who were with a faire wind carried through the Lakes which are betwixt the Sea and the Land Manie tooke great delight and especially the Generall who was well acquainted with Land Armies but not with Sea Fleetes to see at one time three hundred saile floting vp and downe with more than a thowsand other small boates of all sortes dispersed heere and there abroad which were come to meet him some to offer him their seruice others with a desire to see him some were likewise sent in the Common-wealths name to congratulate his happie passage and to present him with rich guifts The Armie being landed vpon the Paduan Territorie they numbred six thousand two hundred fortie foure horse and sixteen hundred footmen Those which make the number lesse
his part because his enterprizes proceeded not from any particular interest but from a sole and sincere desire of the liberty of Italy but he could not hope much from them by reason their treasure was exhausted and them-selues oppressed with sondry difficulties The French King beeing by so many experiences assured of the Popes bad meaning towards him determined to strengthen him-selfe as much as he might with the Emperors friendship and to passe in person the spring following into Italy to make warre on the Venetians or on the Pope according as the state of his affaires should petmit The end of the eight Booke of the fourth Decade The Contents of the ninth Booke of the fourth Decade WIth what boldnesse and resolution Pope Iulius marched against the Duke of Ferrara and beeing not able to ouercome him by temporall armes he vsed spirituall A Generall Councell published at Lions A new Confederacy as well offensiue as defensiue betwixt the Emperor and the French-King How greatly the marche of the French Army toward Bolognia did afright the Pope and all his Cardinals The Lord of Chaumonts retreate into the Dutchy of Milan The Duke of Ferrara defeateth the Venetians nauall Army The Popes Army taketh the Citty of Concorda Mirandolo taken by the Confederates The King doth wholy resolue to make warre on the Pope The Death of the Lord of Chaumont where vpon Triuulcio is made Generall of the Army A great Earthquake at Venice and in the Countrey neere adioyning The Popes Army is defeated before the Bastida Geniuola The French Kings discontent for that the Emperor consenteth to a peace with the Venetians The King of Arragons secret practises against the French King The Cardinall of Pauia flyes from Bolognia at the arriuall of the French The flight of the Duke of Vrbin Generall of the Popes Army Death of the Cardinall of Pauia slaine by the Duke of Vrbin The French King greatly desireth to bee at peace with the Pope How the Venetians did still maintaine their forces and greatnesse A new confederacy betwixt the Pope the King of Arragon and the Venetians The Swisses come downe into the Dutchie of Milan The Army of the Confederates before Bolognia the which is releeued by Gaston of Foix. And lastly how the Confederates Army dislodgeth from before Bolognia The ninth Booke of the fourth Decade of the Historie of Uenice THe Pope continuing his displeasure against the Duke of Ferrara omitted all other designes onely to pursue this and to this end hee came to Bolognia at the later end of September by his presence to hasten matters and to giue the greater authority to his affaires resoluing to assaill Ferrara both by land and water with all his owne forces and those of the Venetians who at his request sent two armed fleetes against Ferrara which being entred into the Po by the Fornaces and by the hauen of Primara made great spoile on the Ferrara territory the like did the Popes forces at the same time and yet they came not neere to Ferrara where besides the Dukes forces were two hundred and fifty French lances and the Popes army was not suffitient to assayle the Citty by land For allbeit the Pope gaue pay for eight hundred men at Armes six hundred light horse and six thousand foote the complete number of so many was greately wanting as also for that by his command Marke Anthony Colonna and Iohn Vittelli were gone with two hundred men at armes and three hundred foote for the gard of Modena In regard whereof he requested seeing that the Venetians had in a manner recouered the country of Friull that part of their army might be brought on the Ferrarois He did more-ouer expect three hundred lances which the King of Arragon was bound to send him according to the articles of the inuestiture of the realme of Naples making account vpon the arriuall of all these forces to assaile Ferrara for his part and that the Venetians should doe the like for theirs hee perswaded him-selfe that the people of the Citty would forth-with take armes in his behalfe against the Duke and hee would not harken to those who told him That it would not so fall out in regard of the garrison within it which was sufficient to defend the Citty and to hinder the people if they were so bent from reuolting About the same time an intelligence which the Venetians had on the Citty of Bressia was discouered the Author whereof Earle Iohn Maria of Martinenga was beheaded there Now the Pope perseuering in his hope did promise to him-selfe though all his other forces should faile to be able to take Ferrara with his owne and the Venetian fleets notwithstanding al the reasons giuen by his Captaines to the contrary but he found himselfe to be deceiued For the Duke comming forth of Ferrara did assaill the Venetians fleete which was entred by Primaria and comming to Hadria with two Galleis two Fusts and with diuers small boates hee did easily defeate it then hee went to meet with the other the which consisting onely of fustes and other small vessells had entred by the fornaces and was come to Puliselsa which attempting to retire into the riuer Adicé by a chanell neere at hand it could not by reason of the shallownesse of the water where-vpon being assailed and beaten with the enemies ordnance those of the fleet not beeing able to defend it were enforced to forsake it and to vse meanes to saue them-selâ—…es and their ordnance The Pope perceauing that his temporal armes were not of force to execute his deseignes made vse of spirituall and did publickly excommunicate Alfonso of Este and all those who were or should come to his aid and namely the Lord of Chaumont and all the cheefe persons of the French army The French King who already vpon the Popes behauiour determined to call a generall councell against him and had caused all the prelates of his Kingdome to meete at Orleans and afterwards at Tours hauing notice of his Ecclesiasticall censure executed so rashly vpon his subiects was of opinion in this assembly where he was present diuers times that before hee would free him-selfe from his obedience to send Ambassadors to him to aduertise him of the articles concluded on by the French Clergy against which if hee thought to except he should be cited to the generall councell which all Christian Princes had determined should bee assembled by a certaine day According to this resolution the Councell was published at Lyons against the first day of March next ensuing Within a while after the Bishop of Gurcia sent from the Emperor arriued at Tours where his entertainment was sumptuous which shewed how greatly his comming was desired with whome the King continuing to treat of matters which had already beene handled at the first they seemed to bee very casie but they were afterwards drawne forth at length as well by reason that the Emperors answers were very slow
the first shot of ordnance which the beseeged made vpon the armed boates which did disorder them and slew some the sailers and soldiers were so danted as on a sodaine they retired as far off as they could from the shot of the Cannon whereas at the beginning they craued to be led to the assault so as afterward they durst in no sort stirre vntill that foure armed gallcies arriued to their aid The towne-walls next to the Hauen were in some sort lower then other places where the small towers likewise had beene beaten downe by the Canon the Venetians made account to enter there with ease and to make the matter lesse difficult to assaile it on a sodaine in sondry places as well on the land side as on the Hauens to the end that the beseeged beeing busied in so many places might be the weaker in all According then to this resolution they went to the assault but on a sodaine there fell such a shower ofrayne as those on the land side were enforced to retire not only from the walls but a great way from the towne the whole plaine being couered with water by reason of the Marshes neere adioyning by meanes where-of the beseeged being assured on that side turned all their forces towards the Hauen from whence with ease they draue the assaylants who already beganne to mount the walles At the same time as this happened the soldiers whom Scipio had sent to garde the passages of the mountaines to stoppe all ayd from the beseeged sent intelligence to the Campe that Frangipan approached with great nombers of soldiers requesting to haue supplies sent vnto them otherwise they should bee enforced to abandon those places beeing to weake to resist them Sauorgnane who was in the army being out of hope to take the towne vpon these news turned his forces towards the Mounts but he had not marched a mile ere he met with those that sent for more aide who being afrighted at the great numbers of those who were said to be comming to releeue the towne had not the courage to attend them and Sauorgnane vniting them with his forces went to the horsemens quarter who were lodged on a little rising hill not farre from the campe and did earnestly entreate them hauing acquainted them how their affaires stood to approch neare to Maran to ioyne them-selues with the residew of the army and to keepe backe the aid that was comming to the towne they were not ashamed to refuse it where-vpon those of the Campe being affrighted at the report of the enemies great numbers did in a manner all disband vnder collour that they had not their pay Frangipan in the meane time beeing come with his succors did without any difficulty enter the towne finding no where any resistance where he tooke without delay part of the Almaines who lay there in garrison and ioyning them with his soldiers they made a good troope with which hee went on a sodaine and assayled the remnant of the Venetians campe who little expected it so as with ease hee did put them to rout who thinking on nothing but how to escape forsooke their campe and their ordnance whereby the greatest part of them were either taken or cut in peeces Francisco Tron Captaine of a Gally did winne that day great reputation who remembring the Venetian glory did neuer forsake the place which hee had seased on with a few soldiers vntill he saw the most part of them slayne or greeuously hurt Frangipan following the course of his victory went on a sodaine to Strasoda and Montfalcone townes of the Friul which hee finding vnfurnished of garisons did easily take and committed most lamentable spoyle During this vnfortunate successe of the Venetians warre and the small hope they had that the French King would that yeare send an army into Italy a greeuous fire hapned in Venice in the night in the beginning of the yeare 1514. on the bridge of the Rialto which being driuen forward by the North-windes did so runne on as no dilligence or humaine labour could for a long time quench it it burned the most inhabited and welthiest part of the Citty The Pope at the same time being desirous to attone the Emperor and the Venetians did in his owne person cause a new compromise to bee made with ample vnlimited power whervpon by a breefe he commanded both parties to surcease their armes which was not very wel obserued by the Spaniards and Almans because the Spaniards in the meane time did spoyle the whole country neere to Este and the Viceroy sent to take Vincenza because hee would be found to bee possessed thereof at such time as the sentence should bee giuen Frangipan on the otherside hauing done great harme in the Friull as hath beene said began to scoure the whole country the like did the Almans vnder the command of the Captaines Rissan and Calepine who seperating them-selues Calapine came afterwards to Feltre which he tooke by assault where staying three daies hee was expulsed by Iohn Brandolino who marching to the recouery thereof by the commandment of Ieromino Pisare the prouidator with strong troopes gathered together from Valmarino and with his light cauallery enforced the enemies who were daunted at his sodaine arriuall to abandon the Câ—…tty and to seeke meanes to escape by flight Calepine with the greatest part of his soldiers retired to Bassan where not standing on his grade he was assailed a new by Francio Duoda Gouernor of the country for the Venetians hauing called to his aide Bernardino Antignole with his light horse and Calepine being surprized in that place was taken prisoner and three hundred of his foot were slaine But 〈◊〉 with eight hundred foot and three hundred horse hauing taken the way of Goritia met with Frangipan as he returned and hauing vnited their forces together and by that meanes beeing to the number of fiue thousand foot and a thousand horse they resolued to assaile Vdina The Senate hauing intelligence thereof sent Malateste Sogliane and Iohn 〈◊〉 thither the one to coÌ„mand the army and the other to be Prouidator with sixe hundred horse and two thousand foot Ieronimo Sauorgnane was there already with two thousand men of the country where after long consultation whether it were best to tarry there for the enemy or by crossing the Riuer Liuensa to goe vnto some safer place at the last it was concluded vpon the aduice of the inhabitants concerning the commodities and discommodities of that place to quit and abandon it and to retire else where beyond the Riuer the which was speedily done for feare least the enemies preuenting them their passage might be stopt Sauorgnane retired to Osof a place of his owne to keepe and defend it from the enemies Vdina being thus abandoned did yeeld at the enemies first summons their liues and goods being saued on condition to pay a thousand crownes to the army to auoide the sack of
Nalda Augustin Clusone Haniball Fregosa Caesar Martinenga and diuers others whose valour did greatly apeare in that action The businesse of Genoa being ended and Iohn Mora the Prouidator of the Venetians nauall army being come with sixteene Galleis to Liuorne where hee found Doria who tarried for him with sixteene Gallies they resolued together to giue in vpon the Isle of Sardinia hoping easily to winne it and that it would bee very commodious for them for the conquest of Sicily but this enterprize proued infortunate for the fleete being come neere to the Island and hauing taken certaine Sea townes it hapned as it went from one place to another that it was assailed by a furious tempest which did scatter it into sundry places certaine Venetian Gallies beeing a long time beaten in it did at last arriue safely at Liuorne The rest after-wards hauing runne the same fortune came to Corsica whether the French Gallies had already escaped two excepted which were broken vpon the rockes of Sardinia And not being able at that time to enterprize any thing at Sea by reason that winter approched Iohn Mora retired with his Gallies to Corfou Petro Lande was at the same time Generall of the Venetians nauall army who was commanded to scoure the Seas neere to the Islands and places of their dominions to assure and comfort their subiects and that sayling into Sicily hee should take all the ships that were fould to bee loden with corne and send them to Venice where was great scarcity of victualls But the Generall hauing for the assurance of the Seas sent Augustine de Mulla the Prouidator with two light Gallies to scoure on the one side and Antonio Marcello with foure Bastard Gallies whereof hee was Captaine on the other it fell out that Marcello beeing come to Candy into the Hauen of La Suda had intelligence that a Turkish Gally was to passe neere vnto the Island he suposing that it was Cortugoll a famous Pirate who not long before in the same Seas had taken and spoyled a Venetian shippe and then burnt it killing all the Marriners and passengers that were in it did speedily come forth of the Hauen and beeing desirous to reuenge that iniury came on a sodaine to assaile it the which hee tooke and then retired with his owne and this Gally to La Bicorna Where the Gallies ryding with their Poopes towards the land hee descried within a while after seauen Turkish Galleis to passe along one after another which belonged to the Moore of Alexandria as the same did which he had taken Marcello remaining firme in that place without any feare at all was amazed when he saw himselfe assailed on the sodaine by the Barbarian who hauing re-assembled his owne did furiously assault him where-vpon Marcello was enforced to escape by flight the like did his fellowes who not departing so soone as he but one alone escaped the other two being taken were carried to Alexandria The Venetian Captaine beeing to yeeld an account for this deed the Aâ—…ogares of the Republick were commanded to take notice thereof and for this purpose he was sent for from the army as a prisoner but greefe by the way killed him Soliman being aduertized of the indiscretion of the Captaine and of the Senates good will not like a barbarous Prince vsing curtesie and liberality towards the Senate sent back their Galleies which were taken being loden with salt-peeter which they greatly needed and bestowed them vpon the Venetians as his guift For this cause and for diuers other signes of friendship the Senate thought good to send an expresse Ambassade to him to giue him thankes in the common-wealths name for all his curtesies and demonstrations of Frendship towards it and to continew and encrease that good will in him Thomas Contaren was chosen for this purpose vnto whom were giuen diuers rich garments and other presents of great value to present to the Baschas of the Port and cheefely to Ibraim who for the friendship and affection which the great Turke did beare vnto him was at the same time in great credit and reputation Whilst these thinges were done in the Leuant the Lord of Lautrec returning to his former deseignes at such time as all men expected that following the course of his victory he would haue marched towards Milan to beseege it he turned another way and hauing with his army passed the Po he marched towards Placentia intending as he said to lay by all other enterprizes and to thinke on nothing but how to sette the Pope at liberty All men wondred at this sodaine change seeing the faire occasion which was offered if he had continued to giue an end vnto the warre of Lombardy by taking the Citty of Milan It was not knowne whether Lautrec was mooued thereunto rather by some particular affection or for some interest of his King then for any care he had of the Popes liberty It is certaine that in his heart he did beare a secret grudge to the Venetians and Francis Sforza for their oppositions concerning the matter of Alexandria These suspitions were confirmed by his manner of proceeding who speedily departing with such ill prouision as hee had forth of the state of the Dutchy of Milan did afterwards pursue his iourney very slowly and for that after hee had ioyned him-selfe with the Almaine foote-men vpon the expecting of whome hee had at the firstexcused his delay he remained at Parma without doing any thing The Army of the league had no better successe who beeing lodged neere to Montefiascone did spend the time vnprofitably notwithstanding that the weaknesse of the enemies army did sufficiently affoord them meanes to execute somme enterprize This gaue occasion to the Venetians to suspect that the Duke of Vrbin for his owne perticular interest did not proceed with such fidelity as he ought therefore they placed guardes ouer his wife and children who lay at that time at Mâ—…rana The Duke of Vrbin hauing intelligence that the Venetians did distrust him sent Horacio Florida oue of his Gentlemen to Venice to procure leaue for him to come thither that he might iustifie himselfe and yeeld an account of his actions The Senate either for that they were better informed or else beeing very desirous to fitte them-selues vnto time and necessity would not permit him to depart from the army but hauing remoued the guards from his wife and children made a shew that they were well satisfied and contented with his seruice to the Republike And perceauing after-wards that they could not alter the Lord of Lautrecs resolution they placed their forces which they had in Lombardy which were fifteene thousand foote in garrison in sundry places for the gard of those townes which they had recouered in the state of Milan and gaue to the said Lord Lautrec fifteene hundred light horse for the enterprize of Rome All the care and meanes to keepe the conquered townes in the Dutchy of Milan fell vpon the
Venetians to the end thereby to oblige them to take the person of Pietro Lodouico and his State into â—…heir protection and safegard because it was not to bee doubted but that the Venetians in acknowledgment of such a benefit and sor their owne proper interest desiring rather to haue a particular Lord of that State to bee their neighbour then the Church would employ all their forces for the maintenance and preseruation of the greatnesse of the Farneâ—…ia family wherevnto the Pope hearkning very willingly and hoping for some greater matter the pursutes for the Dutchy of Camerine was for the Venetians sakes smoothered of whom hee then â—…eemed to make great account All the Princes of Italy at the same time and especially the Venetians were in feare and stood vpon their guard by reason of a mighty Army which the Emperor prepared vntill such time as they were aduertised that it was for Affrick to recouer Thunis and thereby to assure the kingdome of Naples a neere neighbour to it which Cariadine did dayly threaten to inuade The Emperor did particularly aduertise the Venetian Senate of all his deseignes seeming to bee very zealous for the common good of Christendom and in particular for that of their Republick desiring to continue the same friendship and good correspondence which was betwixt them This demonstration of friendship was the cause of the renuing the confederacie betwixt them according to the same conditions which had beene concluded at Bolognia onely to shew that by the Popes death it was neiâ—…her finished nor broken off Wherevpon they commanded Marc-Antonio Contaren their Ambassador that in signe of continuance of amitie heâ—… should follow which he did the Emperor whether soeuer hee went After that generall processions and publick prayer were made in Venice by the Cleargie that it might please God to fauour that enterprise This great preparation of the Emperors Army had caused the Tâ—…rkes to suspect diuerse matters and this suspition was most of all increased in them as it was reported by Iohn Forrest the French Ambassador at Constantinople thorow his reports made to the Baschaes seeking to make them beleeue that the Venetians did perswade the Emperour to turne his great forces vppon Greece against Solimans state and yet neâ—…erthe lesse the French Ambassador resident at Venice did offer to the Senate in his Kings behalfe all fauour and curtesie that might be he did likewise enâ—…reat them to take speciall heed to the Emperors actions and that such great preparations ought verily to cause them to suspect and that the common rumors abroad were so many signes of the imminent dangers and preiudices which threatened the Common-wealth These offers and aduerticements did greatly trouble the Senate who did well perceiue that they tended only to cause the Republick to suspect and distrust all men and to thrust it into open warre either against the Emperor or Soliman to enforce them thereby to haue recourse to the French King to make vse of his fauour toward the Turke or of his forces against the Emperor Yet neuerthelesse partly dissembling these suspitions they thanked the King for his offers and good-will for which though at that present they had no need of them the Common-wealth should neuerthelesse remaine much obliged to that Crowneâ—… they did after-wards complainâ—… of the bad offers which his Ambassador at Constantinople had done vnto them cleane contrary to truth wherupon the King did disauow it and assured them that he had neuer giuen him any such commissions Howsoeuer it was it is certaine that notwithstanding all these reports and bad offices done to the Venetians towards Soliman he did still loue and highly respect them for at his returne from Persia he failed not particularly to acquaint them with the prosperous successe of his iourney how he had chased away his enemies entred Persia spoiled and sackt the Citty of Tauris the Royal seate of that Kingdome had beene at Babilon from whence hauing expulsed the Garrison he became Maister thereof and lastly that he was returned victorious to Constantinople The report was that soone after his returne home he was desirous to leuy a mighty army wherupon he called for the same purpose Cariadine and diuers other Captaines before him to consult with them about the affaires of warre thereby shewing that his meaning was not to suffer his Army long to continue idle The Emperor in the meane time the winter season beeing past and all things in readinesse for the Voyages of Affricke tooke shipping at Barcelona where all the fleet lay to the nomber of three hundred â—…aile of all sortes vnder the conduct of Prince Doria with forty thousand fighting men not accounting the Marriners and Rowers who were very many being attended on by all the Spanish Nobility together with the Infant of Portugall who met him at Barcelona with fourescore saile of shippes of warre The first landing of the army was in Sardinia in the Hauen of Caliers and hauing there taken order for all warlike necessaries it sailed to Carthage then being come neere to the land not farre from Goletta the armâ—… was forthwith landed which encamped not farre from thence knowing very well that on the taking thereof depended that of Thunis because that Goletta is a Tower enuironed with diuers Bastions and seated almost vppon the mouth of a Channell through which the Sea entring in a good way it maketh a Lake right ouer against it vpon which the Citty of Thunis is seated some twelue miles from Sea At their first arriuall the Turkes Garrison in Goletta did valiantly defend themselues but the Emperors ordnance hauing almost ruined the Fort it fell into the Spaniards possession who entring afterwards into the Lake did without any disficulty or fight take fifty three vessells as Gallies Galliots and Fusts which Cariadine had left there as in a place of most safety This losse did so daunt Cariadine as notwithstanding that at the beginning comming forth of Thunis with his army hee made a shew as if he would giue the Emperour Battaile yet neuer-the-lesse giuing place on a sudaine he retired into the Citty of Bonna where finding himfelfe in no great safety and vnderstanding that Doria followed him he went to Argiers The Citties of Thunis and Bonna being forsaken by their Captaine notwithstanding that there were strong Garrisons in them did very quickly and with ease fall into the Spaniards hands Cariadine escaping all these dangers went within a while after to Constantinople whither he was sent for and being come into Solimans presence who was newly returned from Persia he did in the best manner he could excuse all that which happened and the losse of the Kingdome Solimaâ—… being ioyfull for his victories obtained in Persia did pardon and receiue him to fauour and after-wards gaue him the super-in-tendence of his Army by Sea The Emperor on the other side hauing with royall bounty rendred the Kingdome of Tunis which he had conquered to Amulcasse on