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
resist it offered men and money to arme three score vessels prouided that the Senate would furnish them with bread and ordnance The Senate willingly accepted this offer and command a florin of gold to be giuen to euery man which should enter into those vessels The Gouernor of Zara aduertized the Senate that two thousand Turkish horse were entred on their confines and had taken great numbers of the country people still continuing their incusions The arriuall of the Turkish cauallery on the Zaratin made the Venetians thinke that they would not at that time beseege Rhodes Wherevpon they forthwith made two Prouidators namely Francesco Cicogna for Morea and Romania and Andrea Loredano for Corfou and beside these Andres Zancani was with forces sent into Frioull because they had intelligence that the Turke determined to come thither In the meane time the Turkish fleet came forth of the Streight consisting of more then two hundred three score and tenne saile and beeing come neere Negrepont directed it course towards Romagnia the great Lord being there in person who before his departure from Andrinople commanded all the Venetians which were in Constantinople to bee imprisoned and amongst others Andrè Gritti before mentioned who was more streighty looked to then any other for that in loue to his Country he had by letters written in caractery aduertized the Gouernor of Lepanto of al the Turks proceedings against his country which had like to haue cost him his life Grimani hauing speedily assembled all the vessels which were in the Islands neere adioyning made vp the number of forty six Gallies seuenteene great marchant ships and forty other lesser ones with as many brigantines and light vessels and anchoring at Modon had an eye on euery side vpon the Turke Hauing intelligence that the enemy was comming to seeke him hee sailed with all his nauy towards the Isle of Sapienza opposite to Modon and there embarrailed his fleete and hauing giuen order for all matters necessary for fight himselfe went somewhat forward with foure Gallies the Turkish fleet being not farre from thence which with the winde hee might haue assailed at his pleasure yet he deferred the fight and returned backe to Modon where after that the Turke had in a few daies made two or three seuerall brauadoes Grimani ordered his fleete resoluing to fight with him when at the very instant Andrea Loretano with eleauen Brigantines and foure great ships arriued hee came to Grimani and told him that hee was come to doe seruice to the State intreâ—…ting him to commaund what hee would haue him doe Hee was a valliant Gentleman and skilfull marriner and at his arriuall the whole fleete made great signes of ioy The Generall placed him in one of the great ships Albano Armerico commanded an other great shippe who in open Councell was enioyned by the Generall to assaile the enemies biggest ship which he performed and Loretan an other who grapled with it to fight more conueniently and in the bickering wild fire was throwne into the enemies ship which beeing on fire was by the winde carried amongst the Venetians and fiered them This accident did more hurt to the Venetians then Turkes because that they did easily saue their men with other small vessels but our men could not bee reskewed in time so that they all perrished some few excepted with Tomaso Duodo recouered in his long boate Albano was saued by the Turkes Grimani wonderfully troubled with this losse sounded the retreate and without any farther fight retired to the Isle of Podroma the Turkish fleet for a time remained in the selfe same place where it had fought Albano brought to Constantinople was solicited by Bajazeth to turne Turke which he boldly refusing to doe was sawed a sunder in the middle and so constantly died The French King solicited by the great Master of Rhodes whether it was reported the Turke would come to releeue him dispatched two and twenty Gallies which beeing rigged in Prouence sailed towards Rhodes But that Island needing no supplies as then they did by the Kings command ioyne with the Venetian fleet The Venetians and French comming to Zant resolued to assaile the Turkish fleet which lay at Tornes but drawing neere it perceiuing that the enemies vessels lay with their poopes to land ward and their prowes towards the sea filled sixe small vnseruiceable vessels with reedes and other combustible matter mingled with wilde fire and sent them before the winde vpon the enemies fleet but it succeeded not according to their hope And Grimani in the meane time omitted a second opportunity to fight with and vanquish the enemy wherevpon an other being sent into his place and himselfe cited to Venice he was committed to the examination of the Councell de Pregati The Turkish fleet went forward to Lepanto whither the Emperour was already come and by the arriuall of his vessels hauing beguirt the towne by sea and land those within it despayring of releefe and wanting all necessaries yeelded These newes did greatly trouble the Venetians and augmented their hatred toward Grimani euery man saying if he had done his duty the enemies fleet would haue beene defeated The Turkish Cauallery on the other side scouring the confines of Zara entred Frioull to spoile and wast and finding the country not defended spoiled and burned all places as farre as Liuenza where they tooke many prisoners vpon these newes Zancani with great forces was sent to the frontiers Seuen thousand of the enemies horse came in troupes through very badde waies into Histria and then crossing the Riuer Liuenza came and encamped nere vnto Gradisca where Zancani lay determining if hee came into the field to fight with him But the enemies Generall perceiuing that he meant not to come forth sent two thousand horse to wast and spoile the Cuntry whom hee commanded to make no long stay These disperfing themselues ouer that goodly Contrey tooke many prisoners burning and wasting many Contrey houses both on the Treuisan and Paduan territories Three hundred Albanese horse fallied forth of Vdina and defeated some hundred of the Turkes if Zancani with his forces had done the like the Turke would haue receiued a great ouerthrow but he would not suffer any one to goe forth of the Towne whereof accused at Venice hee was sent for thither as a prisoner and by a Decree of Senate confind for foure yeares to Padua On such termes stood the Venetian State at home and abroad when Cesar Borgia with the King and Senates forces went into Romagnia to beseege certaine townes which of right did belong to the Church being conquered Pope Alexander gaue them to his sonne This Borgia was a Cardinall as hath beene sayd and casting off his robe and Hatte of Cardinall married a wife in France Hee comming before Imola and Furli after some assaults enforced the inhabitants to yeeld but the Castles which were very strong held out longer especially that of Furli for the other
Citie In that place all the forces being landed the Cittie was inuironed and dâ—…uers peeces of Ordnance wereplanted in sundry places and with fiue and fiftie canons euerie day the wall was much battered The siege continued 30 dayes in which time besides sundrie light skirmishes made before the walls vpon occasions the Turke with all his forces gaue three assaults wherein he lost fiue and twenty thousand men as it was afterwards knowne at the muster of the Armie Some report that they haue heard the Turkes say that after the taking of Nigrepont more than fortie thousand were found to be wanting in their Armie But during this siege by Sea and Land the Venetian Fleete wanting victualls by continuing too neere Nigrepont sailed to Candie whereby the way meeting with some Turkish Fusts it sanke them and tarried there foure daies Ieronimo Molino Gouernor of the Island did presently take order to furnish them with necessarie victualls and did besides in that short space cause seuen ships of burthen to be armed Being strengthened with these armed vessells and with his owne fleete of 35 armed Gallies the Venetian returned from whence he came The newes in the meane time of the siege of Nigrepont being brought to the Senate did afflict them with griefe and feare It was certaine that without some speedie remedie that most excellent Island of all others of the Aegean Sea would be subdued by that cruell enemie to the great losse of the Common-wealth whereupon they speedily decreed to send as manie Gallies as could possibly be made readie one after an other without intermission to the reliefe of Nigrepont Canalis in the meane time departing from the place where he ankored went with his whole fleet lay in the streight of the channell neere to Laureta then with sailes oares winde and tide he went forwards against the enemie Those within the Citie beeing tired with continuall fight had already endured the siege almost a moneth and yet they durst not well trust some of their owne Citizens For Thomaso of Sclauonia that was sent with a troupe of Souldiers to guard the citie being conuicted of treason and sent for before the Magistrates was by commandement cut in peeces Some say that hee did by secret intelligence sollicit the Turke to vndertake that enterprize and that at the beginning he would haue deliuered the Citie to Ottoman if he would haue but graunted him and the townesmen their liues liberties Ottoman promised the traitor any thing sauing that which he demaunded and he would haue none other recompence but that Now whilst these practizes continued on either side as well by those which fled to the enemies as by letters tied to arrowes the whole matter was discouered to the Magistrate by a yong maide of Nigrepont The besieged being afflicted with so many miseries had in their extremitie but only one hope left which was that the Venetian Nauall Armie hauing first broken the bridge ouer the channell would come and bring them aide and assistance This did they talke of day and night and wished for it with teares in their eies when on a sodaine they descried foureteene Gallies and two ships of burthen within view of the Citie with which Canalis was come before the rest of the Fleet There was then great ioy in the Citie and the townesmen from the walls beganne to crie out vpon the enemies thereby to terrifie them This Generall noyse did altogether amaze them Some say that Ottoman hauing intelligence of the Venetians approach began to thinke on flight and to that end he mounted a very swift horse determining presently to passe forth of the Island into the firme Land and that without all doubt he would haue gon his way had not Mahomet the Gouernour of Asia a valliant and courageous man disswaded him from it telling him That if he fled the Souldiers and his Nauie being affrighted with the departure of their Generall would at one time together fal into great danger And therefore that he should do better to giue a generall assault to the Citie by Land and Sea more fierce than all the former and promise the spoile thereof to the Souldiers with a great recompence to him that should first aduance his Ensignes on the Walls The great Turke being moued with this good counsell commanded his Souldiers to giue the last assault His Gallies at Sun-set came forth of the channell neere to the Walls The Venetians that were come forward with the Generall as hath beene said went with full saile within a mile of the bridge Then because the winde tide and necessity did inuite them to set forward against the enemie with as great courage as they were come thither all men cried out that a fit time and occasion was offered to do a notable peece of seruice Canalis alone was of opinion to tarrie for the rest of the Fleet which staied at Politia no man knoweth whether they did it for feare or else because the Captaines of the Gallies were commanded so to do howbeit Canalis did condemne their slownesse Those which were there did earnestly solicite him to set forward saying aloud that there was no good meaning in that delay The Picemanes of Candie bretheren Captaines of a ship of Burthen craued leaue that they with theit ship might Saile against the enemie promising by the force of their ship and by the winde and tide to breake the bridge and if their enterprize should succeede badly they would at least thinke themselues happy to haue exposed their liues and fortunes in the seruice of the Common-wealth The Generall commanded them and all the rest not to stir but to tarrie still where they were till the rest of the Fleete were arriued Those of Nigrepont who in the meane time were furiously assaulted by Sea and Land perceiuing by day-breake that their Fleete Lay still like men amazed could hardly hold their weapons in their hands Great numbers of Arrowes couered the wretched inhabitants The ordnance confusedly beat downe whatsoeuer it encountered steeples towers walls and people Leonardo Caluo Gouernour of the Citie Giouanni Bondomaria the Prouidator Paulo Hericio the Magistrate and manie other Venetian Gentlemen were vpon the Wals and in the trenches some to exhort and encourage the Souldiers others to run vp and down to those places which had most neede of help And although many thousand enemies were neere to the wals they did not cease for all that still to fix their eies on that side from whence they had descried the Venetian Gallies The wretched inhabitants held vp their hands and eies to Heauen and them Then by day-breake they erected a black Ensigne vpon the higest tower of the citie to demonstrate their miserable condition to the end that those which lay in the channel being moued with their disaster might come and relieue them The fierce assault continuing without intermission had in such sort tired the besieged as those which guarded the gate Burchiana
Ferdinand to intreat the that they would the summer folowing arme against their common enemie the Turk and to tell them that the matter was not to be delayed but that it was time alreadie to be at Sea The Ambassadours were curteously entertained by either of them who promised all assistance according to their power Mocenigo likewise did by Letters intreate the King of Cyprus and the great Maister of Rhodes that they would arme against the Turkes Himselfe in the meane time visited all the Islands of the Aegean seas and confirmed them by his presence There is a small towne in Ionia opposite to the Isle of Chios which is called Passage whither from Asia all goodes were brought at such time as the Italian Marchants did frequent the Isle of Chios as into a common store-house Mocenigo hauing intelligence that the same place was without garrison came with his fleet before day neere to the shore and sent his Mariners and some of the Rowers to fetch this rich booty The Inhabitants of this Towne being affrighted at this sodain incursion escaped into the neighbour-mountaines the Shoppes full of Asian marchandise were rissed and the whole bootie beeing brought to the Gallies the towne was burnt Mocenigo returning to Modon for Winter was not yet spent made some stay there Then beeing prouoked by the common report how that the enemies fleete of fortie Gallies were ready to inuade Lemnos he with his fleet speedily sailed into the Island But finding this rumour to be false and beeing vnwilling to haue his comming thither to be to no purpose hee caused the towne of Coccina in the Isle of Lemnos to be repaired which before had beene ouerthrowne by an Earth-quake and hauing reedified it hee manned it with a strong Gar rison Hauing prouided for the assaires of the Island he returned to Modon where hee found two new Prouidators sent from Venice who were Stephano Maripietro and Vittori Soranza two of the chiefe Senators At their arriuall they concluded betwixt themselues that in euerie Gallie besides the Souldiers and Marriners tenne horse-men whom the Greekes call Stradiots should be placed These men are more apt to take booties than to fight They vse a buckler sword and lance few of them waere curases but they quilt their doubtles and casocks with cotton to beare off the enemies stroakes They haue very swift horse and wel breathed The Venetians did vse these kinde of men in the wars in Albania and Morea But those of Morea neere to Naples wee reaccounted most valiant The choicest of these were put into the Gallies The Fleete beeing furnished with such supplies put to Sea to waste and spoile the Prouinces of Asia It spared the Cities and Islands of Greece for respect it did beare to the Christian name notwithstanding that they were subiect to Ottoman From Morea hee went to Lesbos where neere to the Promontorie on the East-side where the Island is least habitable the Fleete cast Ankor in a safe Hauen Right ouer against it on the Sea shoare stands the Citie of Pergamus a towne in olde time very famous in the lesser Asia it was well knowne to the Romans for the Tapestrie that was made there but much more because it was the inheritance of king Attalus There is nothing to bee seene at this day but the ruines of tance of king Attalus There is nothing to bee seene at this day but the ruines of olde buildings The Territorie by reason of the fertilitie thereof is stored with villages The Venetian departing about midnight from Lesbos landed his troups on the opposite shoare in the lesser Asia and commanded Giacomo Parisotto the Admirall of the Fleete to place part of his troupes in Ambush and with the rest to spoile and wast the enemies Countrie putting all to fire and sword According to this commaundement all places were spoiled to the great terror of the Countrie-people and great store of cattaile with many prisoners were carried thence But the Turkish horse-men of the neighbour Garrisons hearing the lamentations of the poore people that fledde did fiercely charge the Venetians who retired to their shippes and by that vnlooked for assault did greatly molest the Souldiers that were loden with bootie Then the light horse of Morea comming speedily to their reskew did easily chace and pursue them with great slaughter The enemies heads together with the bootie were brought to the vessells and for euery head the Souldier receiued a Ducat the which recompence the Generall promised to all those that serued him in that iournie against the Turkes and was exactly performed during that warre The Fleet departing from the enemies Countrie went and cast Ankour in a desert Island betwixt Chios and the firme Land There was the bootie laied abroade and sold to them that offered most The Treasourers appointed for that purpose distributed the monie to the horse-men Souldiers and Marriners The same night the Venetian sailed to the Islands neere to Caria which in times past had belonged to the inhabitants of Gnidos to spoile and wast them Gnidos in times past among the Cities of Caria was very famous in regard of her Arsenall and two Hauens and at this day sundrie ruines of olde buildings are to bee seene there The Territorie neere adioining is not tilled but frequented by sheepheardes The Fleete being come to this place both horse and foot were landed to waste the Countrie many of all sex and ages were taken and brought to the Gallies but of Cattaile no more than serued for their present vse They found nothing else there but certaine tapestrie and fustians to make tents such as the Numidians vsed when they were wont to goe wandring vp and downe The Venetian putting to Sea went to Delos an Island of the Ciclades famous informer times for Apollos Temple and the great concourse of people that resorted thither it is now desolate and inhabitable there is nothing now to be seene but the ruines of the temple with those of an amphitheater of white marble columnes and other statues with a Colossus of fifteene cubites high From Delos Mocenigo directed his course to Morea because victualls grew scant By the way neere to the Cape of Mailles he met with Rachainesis the Generall of King Ferdinando his fleete with seuenteene Gallies and after reciprocall salutations with great acclamations and other signes of ioy after the manner at Sea they went together to Modon There the Venetian had intelligence that the Popes Fleet would soone arriue there But because he would make no long abode there hauing victualled his Fleet he and the Kings Generall departed from Modon and with a faire winde sailed to the Islands of the Rhodian Sea next to Asia Those of Rhodes possessed the Cittie which was exceeding strong by arte and manned with a strong Garrison called the Castle of S. Peter seated in that part of Caria opposite to the Isle of Coos the only refuge of the Christians that fled forth
conducted by Angelo Treuisano to make warre on the Duke of Ferrara which entring the Po at the mouth of Fornaces burnt Corbolo and other villages neere to the Po not sparing the whole country as farre as the Lake of Scarra from whence the light horse which kept way with it by land scoured as farre as Fiquerolles The incredible hatred which they had conceiued against the Duke of Ferrara did mooue them to doe so who not being content with that which he said did belong vnto him did detaine that which was none of his owne hauing receiued of the Emperour for money the village of Este in Fee and that of Montagnane by ingagement he hauing no title to those places which from time to time belonged to the Venetians The Duke of Ferrara was much amazed at the comming of this army and at the report that their land-army followed it for he had no meanes to defend himselfe till the supplies which he expected from the Pope and the French King were arriued but only with his artillery planted on the bankes of the Riuer to stop the enemies farther passage which was the cause that Treuisan lay at Ankor in the middest of the Riuer behind a little Island tarrying for the land forces without which he knew he could not goe forward And to remaine there at more safety til their arriual he caused two Bastions to bee made on the Riuer Po the one on Ferraras side and the other on the opposite shore with a bridge of boats to the end he might be able to releeue the Bastions chiefly that on Ferrara side The Duke determined to hinder the finishing of that worke whereupon hauing assembled the greatest forces he could as wel of the City as of strangers he sent them before to assaile the Bastion and he himselfe followed after with store of horse But those of the Bastion being releeued by their owne fellowes out of the vessels did with such fury charge the Ferrarois as they put them to rout so as the Duke who followed them at the heeles with his cauallery meeting with them turned them backe and encouraged them but it lasted not long For the enemies fury was such together with the safety of the place well fortified with small peeces of Ordnance as at the last he himselfe was constrained to retire with great losse of his people who were slaine and hurt This mooued the Lord of Chaumont to send a hundred and fifty French Launces for the gard of Ferrara and the Pope being incensed against the Venetians for that without respect to him they had assailed the Duke sent thither likewise the two hundred men at armes which hee had alotted for the Emperor But this aide would haue come to late if the Venetians had not beene enforced to call backe their army the which hauing conquered all the Pollesin was in readinesse to goe to the reliefe of their nauall army for it was enforced to returne backe hauing left foure hundred light horse and as many footmen for the defence of the Pollesin and for the helpe of their vessels because the Lord of Chaumont hauing entred Verona with great forces had lent eight thousand Ducats to the Emperour who had engaged to the King for the same sum and for others to be paied afterward the towne of Valeggia sixe miles from Bressia and a passage of the Riuer Mincia of great importance and made preparations beside as it was said to goe and beseege Vincenza The Venetians diuided their army into three parts which they placed in Legnaga Suaua and Vincenza then being desirous to conserue Vincenza they beganne to fortifie it with strong rampiers and with deepe ditches full of water they like they did afterwards to Suaua and Legnaga and in this manner standing on their guarde they assured the whole country especially for that winter Ferrara by this meanes was in some sort eased but not altogether freed from feare and daunger For those in the vessels seconded by the cauallery that was left with them did daylie scoure euen to the Cittie Gates and other Venetian vessels comming by an other way to assaile the Ferrarois had taken Comachia But by the arriuall of the Popes and French Kings forces the Duke and the Cardinall of Este beganne to take courage and for to make diuerse attempts to draw the enemies to fight they which they refused til the return of their army The Duke and the Cardinall perceiuing that the ouer-throw of the vessels would gaine the victory and that it might easily be effected if meanes were made for the safe planting of the artillery on the banke of the Riuer the Cardinal came and assailed the Bastion once againe and hauing beaten backe the enemies who were come forth to skirmish hee did take and fortifie the nerest part of the causey vnknowne to the enemies then in the night hee brought the artillery to the shoare opposite to the enemy and planting it with great silence it began in the morning to discharge very furiously The vessels would haue escaped by flight but not being able to make way by reason of the shot they were in a manner all sunke or taken The General leaping into a Skiffe saued himselfe by flight with the chiefe standard of the common-wealth fifteene Gallies fell into the Dukes power certaine great ships diuers Fusts with other small boates almost numberlesse two thousand men died there as well by the shot as by fire and water and threescore banners were taken Many that came on shoare were saued by the Venetian light horse men The Duke after this defeate sent forces of horse and foote to doe the like to those who had taken Comachia who recouered Loretta which the Venetians had fortified and they had defeated the army which was there if it had not retired to Bebies knowing the danger Such vnfortunate end had the seege of Ferrara which lasted about one month Their affaires prospered better on the Paduan territorie for the Emperour beeing on the Vincentin with foure thousand footmen the Venetians by the aide of the country peasants almost vnder his nose and before his face tooke the Paces of Escalla Cogola and Basciana whereof the Emperour complayning said That the departure of the Lord of La Palisse had bred diuers disorders and therevpon hee went to Bolsane and from thence to Inspruch to hold the Dyet which hee had appointed and the Lord of Chaumont following his example retired to Milan leauing strong garrisons in all places on the frontiers and especiallie in Verona which the Emperour could not haue defended alone During this cessation of armes Maximillian sought to take truce with the Venetians the Bishop of Pescera the Popes Nuntio practized it by his Masters commandement the Ambassadors were at Hospitaletto a little aboue Escalla and conferred with Iohn Cornare and Lodouico Mocenigo the Venetian commissioners But the Emperours excessiue demands brake off this treaty without any conclusion
distresse of the Imperials and on the contrary the great forces of the confederates and their desire to employ them all for them and with them to run one selfe same fortune and then the hope of the happy successe of that warre by reason of the aide which they dayly expected from France and finally the great preparations which were made to assaile the Imperials in sundry places Hee willed them to call to minde their ancient generosity and in particular sundry fortunate euents happened vnto them being vnited with the Signory of Venice how that the like might now befall them hauing the selfe same constancy and magnanimity that they then had that it was a thing most certain that as their loue and affection towards the league did much encrease the reputation thereof and did assure the confederates euen so in like manner their disunion would greatly hinder and preiudice it For to yeeld for feare of an imaginary danger was nothing else but to precipitate themselues into most certaine and pernitious mischiefes and by ruining themselues to draw forthwith by their downe-fall othermen into the same precipice or at least wise by their declyning to shake and put in hazard the liberty of all Italy wherevpon for the great affection that the common-wealth did beare vnto them and in regard of their common interest the Senate would not faile in any point of their duty The Florentines declared how pleasing his comming and remonstrance had beene vnto them and sent Alessandro de Pacis their Ambassadour to Venice to giue thankes to the Senate promising to continue steadfast to the league and in particular to haue sound intelligence and corespondence with the Republike perswading them to leauy sixe thousand foot more at their common charge that they might with them resist the Duke of Bourbon with more assurance who was reported to haue drawn forces from Milan and with them to march into Tuscany In the meane time the confederates nauall army did still continue neere to Genoa which being reduced to all extremity diuers meanes were propounded to hinder the Spanish nauall army to the number of forty ships prepared at Carthagena from comming to the reliefe thereof and among others Nauarre was of opinion to saile vnto the frontiers of Spaine and to assaile the Emperours army which lay in an open hauen and to burne it This opinion was allowed by the Venetian Prouidator but Doria al-be-it he likewise approued it did neuerthelesse consider that the quallity of that country was very contrary to that proposition and the dangers of the sea much greater where they should not finde any place of retreate to shield themselues from tempests and stormes and setting downe sundry other difficulties he made all the hearers to be irresolute and himselfe constant not to goe to Carthagena wherevpon they determined to saile into Corsica or Sardinia and nere to those Islands to waite for the Imperiall fleet intending if it came to put forth to sea and to fight with it for the which purpose they concluded to send for some great ships from Marseilles and to arme the Genoa ships which had beene taken at the beginning Whilest they dwelt on these resolute preparations they discouered the Imperiall fleet fifteene miles off from land consisting of sixe and thirty vessels of all sorts sayling with a faire winde directly towards Genoa which was deâ—…arted from Spaine sooner then was expected wherein were Don Charles of Lanoy viceroy of Naples the captaine Alarcon and Don Ferrant of Gonzaga So soone as the Venetian Prouidator that lay at Porto-uennere to cause the vessels to bee armed had notice of the enemies comming he put to sea with sixteene gallies that he had ready and gaue chase to the enemies vessels but being oâ—…ertaken with a contrary winde he was enforced to returne from whence he came and the Spanish army in the meane time pursuing their iourney drew still neerer to land determining to enter into the hauen of Genoa but at such time as it passed by Saint Florenzos Mount it was descried by Nauarre who lay at the foot of the hill with seuenteene gallies who comming with them forthwith to sea did with great courage giue in athwart the Imperiall army and falling foule one of an other they fought from morning till two houres within night where the Imperials were so roughly handled by those of the league and their whole fleete so torne by the artillery as had not a tempest arose which separated them it was certainely thought that it would haue beene wholy defeated The confederates fleet retired to Portofin staying the same night for the other gallies that lay at Portouennere and whether they did come or not their resolution was by day breake to seeke the enemie But so soone as it was day albeit that they followed them as farre as Liuorne yet they could not ouertake them by reason that they were already to farre The viceroy went on his way but so beaten by the tempest that his vessels were scattered part of which wherein Don Ferrant of Ganzaga was were carried into Sicily and afterwards came to Gayetta where they landed the Lansequenets and as for himselfe he arriued with the rest in the hauen of Saint Stephen which belongeth to the Sienois if Armiero the Prouidator who lay at Portouennere could haue come to the aide of his fellowes as he sought diuers times to doe all the Spanish army had beene defeated but hee could not come by reason of the tempest yet neuerthelesse he was called home to Venice by the councell of Tenne to come and yeeld an account of his actions and in particular for suffering victuals to enter into Genoa and for that he did not goe with the army to Carthagena and they sodainely sent Augustine de Mulla in his stead who was Prouidator in Friul But Armiero hauing cleered himself of al those imputations was wholy quitted and then they knew that the fault why Genoa was not taken did proceed from the not sending of suffitient troupes from the campe in Lombardy which should neerely haue shut the City in by land which the captaines of the gallies had oftentimes craued Now the Pope more then any else was most troubled with the viceroys comming into Italy fearing least the aide which he had brought with him would ioyn it selfe with George Frondsperg and therefore he sent the Archbishop of Capua vnto him to treat of agreement and to propound in the meane time a suspention of armes but the viceroy being desirous to treat on very hard conditions the whole matter was broken off without any conclusion the Pope hauing taken courage for that his army was encreased in reputation and strength by the arriual of Rance de Cera who beeing sent by the French King into Italy was come to Sauona with the nauall army and from thence went to ioyne with the Church-army which lay not farre from Rome for the subuersion of Colonnesi The viceroy on
them for their safety to ioyne with him for the which purpose passing along at the same time almost nere to Corfou he had craued conference with the Generall Pesare meaning expresly more then once to hold long discourse that he might cause the Turkes to enter into some suspition All these exploits being knowne at Venice did greatly trouble the Senate where the opinions neuerthelesse were different some blaming the indiscretion of those who by their rashnesse had throwne the common-wealth head-long into a great and dangerous warre contrary to the Senates intentions others publikely affirming the contrary said that they had done wel and discreetly according to the rule and discipline of sea affaires and the reputation of their army and after sundry other reasons propounded on both sides they concluded to tarry for aduertizements from the Baily to vnderstand particularly in what manner the Turke had taken those things which were past and all their determinations against those who had offended were deferred till then The Baily within a while after by Solimans commandement sent Alessandro Vrsino who did wholly resolue them of all that they desired to know and sent them word sharply to punish those who had violated and broken the peace and to make it apparent that whatsoeuer had beene done was not by the Senates will or consent and that by so doing Aiax the Visir Basha did put them in hope of the continuance of the peace Vpon this aduertisement they resolued to write to the Generall to send the Zaratine captaine Iusto Gradonico who commanded those Gallies that were for the gard of the Channell of Corfoù when Ianusbei was pursued with all the rest whom he should thinke had offended in that action with their legs and hands bound to Venice as for the Prouidator Contaren they commanded him to saile with his Galley to Zara where leauing both it and his office he should come to Venice and present himselfe before the Magistrate of the Auogario Some of the Senators were of opinion to call home the General Pesare likewise for to purge himselfe of that matter because that all errors committed in warre are to be attributed to the Generall who holdeth the soueraigne authority they supposing that if the Generall had punished the Zaratine all the other inconueniences would not afterwards haue happened and that therefore he was guilty thereof that the peace with the Turke was of such importance to the Common-wealth that all other respects were not to be compared to it besides in regard that the whole fleet was to remaine stil together there was no need to haue so many Generals who for the most part doe cause disorder in affaires of importance rather then any good gouernment The Senate not consenting to call home the Generall did sendbacke Vrsino to the Baily and yet they would not haue Soliman at that time to be acquainted with that which had beene concluded against the Prouidator and the captaines of the gallies because they would not haue the Turkes to thinke that what they had decreed was done rather to satisfie them then for their loue to iustice Therefore they enioyned the Baily to demonstrate the Senates sound and sincere affection and how desirous the Venetians were to continue their friendship and peace with Soliman and that for the better testimony thereof they would shortly send an expresse messenger vnto him with particular instructions of what had passed and within a while after Vincenzo Grimani Procurator of Saint Mark was chosen for that purpose But before Vrsino camebacke with his instructions to Valona Soliman who after the taking of Castro had beseeged Ottranto being spurred forward by disdaine and by Barbarossas pursutes notwithstanding that he had promised the Baily to attempt nothing til Vrsinos returne did neuerthelesse determin to returne to Valona and to turne all his forces both by sea and land against the Venetians and especially to assaile the Island and fort of Corfou it being at the same time very commodious for him It is reported that Aiax the visier Basha sought by soundry reasons to diuert Soliman from this resolution by shewing him that in so doing he would encrease the Imperials forces who were deadly enemies to the Ottomans with whom the Venetians should be enforced to ioyne for their owne defense and safety besides that the yeere being already very farre spent for it was the latter end of August would not suffer him to beginne any long or difficult enterprize that the campe did already want victuals by reason that Doria had taken so many small vessels laden with victuals But Barbarossa being greatly incensed for that Doria had taken and sunke twelue of his Gallies at the Merleres sought to reuenge himselfe vpon the Venetians saying that it was They who had giuen meanes and aduised the Imperials to assaile his Gallies neere to the Channel of Corfou and in their sight almost hauing secret intelligence with their enemies furnishing them with hauens victuals and all other commodities so as by these reasons he caused Soliman to condiscend to his councell Now so soone as he had resolued to make warre vpon the Venetians he wrote to all places of the Ottoman Empire where the Venetians had most trafficke that they should imprison their persons and seize vpon their goods and especially at Alexandria whither three great Gallies were come vpon his word Soliman came in the meane time from La Valona to Butrintotto right ouer against Corfou the more commodiously to passe ouer his forces from thence into the Island Barbarossa was already gon thither with part of the fleete and some thousand horse to spoile and scoure the country which he did The newes thereof being brought to Venice which they had before that time suspected did greatly trouble all men for notwithstanding that the castle of Corfou was thought to be strong enough to sustaine all the furious attempts of the Turkes they neuerthelesse feared that they should not long be able to resist so mighty an enemy and defend their owne State exposed in so many sundry places to his mercy The Isle of Corfou lieth right ouer against the Venetian Gulphe betwixt the Ionian and Adriattick sea on the North side thereof lieth the coast of Albania from whence it is some two miles distant and stretcheth it selfe from the West to the East in manner of a Cressent or halfe Moone sauing that in the middest the inward part thereof breaking betwixt the great arch maketh it like two Semicircles it being in circuit a hundred and twenty miles that space of sea which lieth betwixt the Island and the firme land is commonly called the Channell of Corfou The aire there is very good and soile fertil enough there being diuers goodly plaines on the Northside The towne is seated almost in the middest of the Island within it vpon the sea at the foote of an hil which in a manner doth wholly enuiron it it is of a sufficient bignesse
possest a little towne neere to Amastra and that they went ouer all the Countrey to meete with the Henetians as if they had beene no where to bee found But all of them doe in a manner affirme that this nation of whom wee speake did come from Paphlagonia The which XENODOTVS did not only maintaine but thought that the Cittie of Amisa was the same which was afterward called Henisa Howsoeuer those which thinke so bring in for their proofes the industrious care which both these nations had to breede Horses and Mules according to the testimony of HOMER who saith And from the Henetians come strong Mules And albeit this great Poet spake then of those of Asia STRABO a very diligent obseruer of Antiquitie maintaines that euen almost in his time the choicest and best Mares came from the Venetians inhabiting a parcell of the Adriaticke Sea which were highly esteemed for their singular pace and swiftnesse These things indeed and diuers others doe cause me to follow the opinion of those which say that the Henetians came into Italie with ANTENOR and were afterward by the altering of a letter called Venetians ANTENORS comming into the Adriaticke Gulphe is not only proued by the Venetians who were his fellowes but because the place where they first arriued was called Troy which name the Burrough hath euer since carried These men hauing first of all driuen away the Euganeans which inhabited this Countrie which lies betwixt the Sea and the Alpes did build the Cittie of Padua After that they did in processe of time so encrease as they did not only make themselues masters of that which did belong to the Euganeans whose power in times past was so great as it contained according to the opinion of CATO in his booke of originals foure and thirtie Citties but of diuers places of Bressia and Furli which they named Venetian For what places soeuer they conquered were afterward called Venice Some haue confined this Countrey with the Riuers of Po and Adda with the lake of La Garda in old time called Benac with the Alpes and the Adriaticke Sea PLINIE comprehended on the East side thereof Aquileia and STRABO on the contrary cuts it off After this sort did the ancient Venetians extend their Dominion in length and breadth in the pleasantest Countrey of Italie But the scituation of the places rather then this peoples manner of life did alwaies procure enuie to the ancient State of the Prouince For on the one side the ordinary thefts of the Liburnians and the fearefull and continuall roades of cruell nations on the other did hinder them from enioying any long rest so as it oftentimes happened that by how much their publicke and priuate affaires did seeme to be increased by some relaxation from forraine warres by so much the more were they miserably ouerthrowne by these sodaine stormes and alarmes This nation without this had beene most happy in regard it wonne by right of warre the goodliest Countrie of Italie for their dwelling For beside that it is enuironed on the south side with a most calme circuite of the Sea which makes it capable to receiue all maner of forraine marchandize it is moreouer watered with most pleasant Riuers by which all that comes from the Sea is easily transported into the middest of the Prouince It aboundes in Lakes Pooles and Forrests the territoric being meruailous fertile in Corne Wine Oyle and in all maner of Fruites It is stored besides with goodly Houses in the Countrie with Townes Castles and Citties very much recommended for their situation and circuit of their walls whereof we will heereafter make mention in his place But let vs now returne to these new inhabitants who from the time that their affaires grew prosperous were seldome freed from forraine warres It would bee too long and tedious a labour orderly to set downe in so ancient a matter their paines and trauaile as also it not being my meaning to insist farther on the deedes of the first Venetians Now after diuers and sundry roads of the Barbarians and that by continuall wars the one against the other from their beginning euen to the time of ATTILA their substance had beene continually wasted and were besides daunted by the fearefull assaults of the Gothes A greater danger than all the rest did on a sodaine assaile them The Huns conducted by ATTILA sonne to Mandluc with a horrible spoile did cast themselues into the Prouince This Nation as saith PRISCVS came from Scithia and dwelt neere to the Riphean mountaines After a long siege they tooke Aquileia spoiled and wholly burnt it They destroyed after the same manner Concorda Altina and almost the whole Venetian Territorie At the fearefull report of these warres the Venetians and the rest of Italy were in alarme long time before But in this trouble the Venetians were more amazed than any others as beeing accustomed euer to endure the first assaults of the Barbarians It is reported that at the same time great numbers of men left the firme Land and retired into the Islands where Venice now stands but at the enemies approach greater numbers ran thither Certaine vnknowen Historians who haue written this Historie haue in such sort ordered the warres of the Huns as it seemeth that Attila did twice enter Italy the which none of the most trustie haue noted but all of them say that neither at the same time nor yet all together went to dwell in one selfe same place The same authors doe affirme that diuers of the choisest men of Padua began the retreate and that vnder their conduct this runaway multitude arriuing at the mouth of the Riuer which was then very deepe whereby the name of Riuo alto remained to that place the fitst foundations of the Cittie were there laid And that those of the Countrie of Padua who fled being possessed with the like feare began to people Chioggia Malamoc and Albiola They affirme besides that diuers of Aquileia withdrew themselues at the same time into the marishes of Grada But so soone as Attila was gone they ranne in troopes from the fieldes along the Sea coasts to the neighbour Islands That the Aquileians put themselues into Grada a place neere to the firme land enuironed with water The runawayes of Concorda possessed Caorli and the Altinoes sixe small Islands neere togeather which they called by the names of the gates of their lost Cittie Tourcella Maiorba Buriana Muriana Amiana and Constantiaca This is in a manner all that which those Authors haue left vs in many words of the originall of the Cittie whom I finde almost to agree in euery point with the rest who haue written the same Historie except in this where they are of opinion that the Huns entred twice into Italy I suppose that this error proceeded from that they did reade that in the time of the Huns they did twice retire themselues from the firme Land to those Islands and
sides prepared for warre But soone after truce being agreed on betwixt Nicetes who commaunded in that Prouince for the Greeke Emperour and Pepin this Gouernour returned wâ—…th his Sea-armieto Costantinople and comming backe in time with the same Armie into Dalmatia refreshing himselfe in the same Prouince hee resolued to assaile the townes on the Sea coast for the truce was already expired which did obey Pepin So soone as Pepin had notice of these preparations he assembled all his French and Italian forces and tooke Comada rounded on euery side with the Sea and Lakes in forme of an Island for this place was very commodious to bridle the enemies attempts Nicetes comming thither soone after was with great losse of his people brauely repulsed In this encounter diuers Venetians were slaine and hurt But it is not knowne whether this Venetian succour which accompanied the Grecian were sent by the generall consent or whether the Grecian did hire them Nicetes being disapointed of his purpose came to Venice They say that after his arriuall Obellerio and his brother who then gouerned the Common-wealth sought to make an agreement betwixt Pepin and Nicephorus The Venetians power was alreadie so encreased as the two mightiest Empires of the Earth did looke vpon them as on a rocke exposed to the sundrie billowes of the Sea Some in those dayes did thinke that Obellerio during the treaty of peace did practise some treason against Pepin as witnesseth Paulus Diaconus in his Historie of the Lombards by meanes whereof Nicetes and Pepin departed malecontent from Venice so as the French soon after assailed the Venetians Al those in a manner who haue written the Venetian Historie doe impute the cause of this warre to Obellerio who being driuen thence by his brother that was allyed to France by marriage and had married the daughter of Charles as some say did sollicite the Emperour or according to the opinion the crediblest Authors Pepin to take away the libertie of the Venetians Blondus who hath written more of the Historie then any of the Modernes saith that he is of opinion according to Godfrey of Viterbo that Pepin made warre twice vpon the Venetians the first when Heraclea was ruinated of which exploit wee haue heretofore spoken and how that at this first time the Venetians were ouercome and then restored to libertie vpon condition that they should neuer more haue intelligence with the Greeke Emperour The which they not obseruing but vnder-hand practising the friend-ship of Nicephorus by the meanes of certaine Marchants trafficking toward the Propontide on the coaste of the Ponticke Sea Pepin was aduertised hereof which caused him forthwith to come assaile them once againe with the greatest forces hee could gather together as shall bee hereafter declared with the issue thereof But we must first of all refute Blondus who seemeth in some sort to contradict himselfe when he saith that they yeelded themselues at such time time as Heraclea was destroyed If it were so this had not hapned in the time of Obellerio and his brother but in that time of Giouanni and Mauritio the younger seeing that himselfe affirmes in another place that Heraclea was razed in their time Now because all those which haue written the Venetian Historie doe stedfastly denie that the Citie was euer in subiection the matter could not thus haue come to passe that through the Patriarch Fortunato his report made to Charles That the Venetians contrarie to the agreement sworne betwixt him and Nicephorus whereby they were declared neuters should haue practised by their Agents the friendship of Nicephorus Pepin was commaunded by his father to assaile them with all his forces and because he had destroyed Heraclea and Equiline and thereby greatly weakened their whole power the common report was that the Venetians with their Duke were subiected But it is certaine that the Venetians did euer retaine their ancient libertie and that they were freed from that warre on condition wholly to forsake the friendship of Nicephorus Some strife arising soone after betwixt the two Empires concerning Dalmatia the Venetians hauing openly taken Nicephorus part for it is reported that they succoured his Lieutenant Nicetes by Sea and Land Pepin being then incensed against the Venetians came and assailed them with greater forces than before All Authors moreouer doe agree that at such time as the French made warre vpon them Obellerio and his brother Beato were by a ciuill or domesticke broile driuen forth of the Citie and had retired themselues to the enemie whilst Valentin their yonger brother commanded within the towne And the better to vnderstand the state of this fearefull warre we will in breife speake somewhat of the scituation of the Citie beside that which hath beene said in the precedent booke The Citie of Venice is as hath beene said elsewhere scituate vpon Islands verie neere to one another which the continuall ebbing of the Sea doth seuer in a manner by equall spaces and yet in such manner as her shoares on the South-side betwixt the Sea the Lakes are diuided by the space of fortie thousand paces into ten waterie channels and all those shoares cut out after the manner of Islands were at that time wholly inhabited The first of them all on the South-side were the Brondolians after them came the Chioggians Pelestrians Albiolans those of Malamoc and of the Castle where at this day is the Patriarkes seat Those within beeing farther off from the Sea dwelt in the middest of the lakes the cheife of whom were those of Rialto who haue in our time by the great concourse of people and by their owne fame obscured all the rest Pepin hauing opposed his Sea-armie against that side to stoppe the incursions of the enemie and thereby to take from him all hope of hauing victuals did with his forces that he had on land assaile the neerest Islands to the firme land and hauing in part driuen awaie and partly subiected the Brondolians Chioggians and Pelestrians he marched against the Albiolans This siege hauing contrarie to all mens hopes staied him there sometime gaue Duke Valentin and those of Malamoc leisure to retire themselues to Rialto with their wiues and children and whatsoeuer such a like feare would suffer them to carrie awaie not only transporting their particular wealth but soueraine Magistrate and the whole maiestie of their common wealth where it hath euer since then made hir aboade with greater felicitie and encrease of all things But this place inuites vs to speake some-what of the antiquitie of Malamoc All those in a manner who haue written the Venetian Historie do affirme that this Malamoc which is seene at this daie on the left hand going to the Citie from Chioggia neere to the Port bearing the same name is not that ancient one which the first Venetians did build and from whence wee haue said that the inhabitants retired themselues to Rialto for feare of the French but that the
built likewise at the same time two Churches in the Islands in those daies called the Twinnes one to Saint Seuerus and the other to Saint Laurence Not long after his sonne Vrsus made a Monasterie of Nunnes of Saint Laurence his Church I finde in some Authors that he did likewise builde to the honour of the Prince of the Apostles the Church of Oliuollo which stands in that part of the towne which at this day is called the Castle and that at the dedication thereof the relicks of Saint Sergius and Bacchus were brought thither About the same time likewise diuers of the chiefest of the Citie conspired against these Princes Giouanni Talonico and Bono Bragadino chiefe of the conspiracie were put death Monetario one of the complices of this bad designe saued himselfe by flight but all his goods were confiscate Some Authors doe likewise affirme that vnder this Princes gouernment Vlric Bishop of Aquileia accompained with certaine of the chiefe of Friuli were vanquished by the Venetians in a fight at Sea This Vlric was a little before condemned for an Hereticke by Pope Alexander This man for despight that the Church of Grada was preferred before his of Aquileia being assisted by troopes of the Forlani came on a sodaine and assailed the Bishop of the Island The Venetians Fleete came as sodainely to his reskew who hauing drawne the enemie to fight did easily breake and defeate him and tooke Vlric with diuers other Gentlemen prisoners Then the victorious Venetian pursuing this scattered troope euen to the firme Land did put all the Sea-coast of the Forlani called at this day the Friuli to fire and sword and destroyed likewise certaine towns by their sodaine incursions Diuers that escaped from the battaile not knowing the waies after they had strayed a long time through the marishes of Caorli fell at last into the hands of the victors The Venetians to purchase the name of meeke and gentle did set Vlric and all the rest of the prisoners at libertie on condition that they should send yearely to Venice on the same day that the victorie was obtained twelue wild Boares with as many loaues of one size which with a Bull should be killed before the generall assemblie And they should beside ouerthrow with their Pikes Castles of wood All this is yet at this day obserued with great preparation as yearly sports in the market place on the sameday as the battell was fought This is that which hapned as well at home as abroad during the gouernment of Angelo Partitiatio who after that he had transported the Ducall state to Rialto did there beginne his gouernment with better augurie than did in times past Paulutio at Heraclea or Theodato since that at Malamoc For since the limits of the State were mightily enlarged the whole honour and maiestie of the Common-wealth hath there remained as in a settled and sure place ¶ IVSTINIANO the 11. Duke of Uenice IVstiniano after his fathers death gouerned the Commonwealth alone Soone after he persuaded the State to send to Michael the Easterne Emperour for the perpetuall conseruation of their friendship with the Grecian Empire certaine armed shippes to aide him against the Saracens who at that time did ouer-runne most of the Islands of Europe and chiefly Sicilie but not meeting the enemie they soone returned to the Citie And because we haue spoken of the Saracens it shall not be impertinent to saie somewhat of the originall of the name For it was then verie new and brought in according to the opinion of some in the daies of Mahomet who in his detestable Sermons whereby he hath almost diuerted the whole East from the true light folding them vp in such darkenesse as they could neuer since free themselues off was wont to call all those Sarracens by the name of Sara Abrahams lawfull wife who had embraced his sect as if those which followed his Doctrine had beene by a Diuine oracle the onely lawfull successors and heires of the Diuine promise I will not likewise denie but that this name may be deriued from Sarraca a Citie in Arabia Foelix But all Historians doe in a manner hold the first opinion for true This Nation hath made manie and diuers Roades into Affricke and Europe and manie likewise into Asia but they haue beene ouerthrowne and defeated as well by the French Armies as by those of the Venetians Let vs now returne to the Venetians affaires which of themselues succeeding happily in those daies did afterwards receiue a great encrease by the bodie of St. Marke brought to them from Alexandria after this manner The king of that Countrie caused a magnificent Palace to be built and for the erecting thereof had commaunded to take all the faire and rarest stones from the ancient Churches and other buildings as wel publike as priuate and S. Markes Church in Alexandria being built of the same matter it was thought that it would not bee spared the which Stauracius the Monke and Theodore the Preist both Grecians fearing who did not only celebrate Diuine Seruice there but as Sextens did heedfully keepe that sacred place were in great care But it luckily came to passe that Bono of Malamoc and Rustico of Tourcelles arriued there being driuen by tempest into that place contrarie to the publike appointment with ten ships These men comming for deuotion sake into the said Church and perceiuing the sorrowfulnesse of those two enquired the occasion of their sadnesse and vnderstanding that it proceeded from feare least the Church should bee destroied they assaied to winne them by many goodly promises assuring them that if they wold deliuer vnto them the body of S. Marke that both of them should be greatly honoured of the Venetians At the first they reiected this demaund as holding it a sacrilegious matter to remoue the holy bodie out of his place But it came to passe by the diuine prouidēce that whilst they were talking about the matter some of those who had cōmission from the king to seeke such stones came into the Church caused diuers stones which were fit for the building of the new-begun Pallace to be taken thence greatly therby disfiguring the Church These two Sextens being incensed hereat and vehemently vrged by the Venetians to cōdiscend to their request seeing some likelihood of the Churches ruine did consent to their demand But to the end that the Towns-men who were much addicted to the name of the Saint to the holy place in regard of the many miracles there wrought should not on a sodaine perceiue any thing they did vnrip the cloth behind wherein the holy body was wrapped not medling with the seales which were on the forepart therof did put the bodie of S. Claudina into the sheet in stead of that which they had taken awaie It is reported that at the same time there came such a pleasant sweete smell forth of the Church as euerie one ranne to taste it And the matter
at this day the farthest Countrie of Italie a neighbour in times past to Liburnia and consisteth wholly almost of Islands The Venetians first landing was at Parenza but he was scarsely come to the Island next to the Citie when as Andrea Bishop thereof accompanied with all the inhabitants came forth to meete him and committed his owne person his Citizens and all their meanes as well publicke as priuate into the Venetians hands The Prince beeing enuironed with troopes of Soldiours made his entrie into the Citie where he did not faile to visit the bodie of Saint Maurâ—… The fleete being gone from Parenza came to the Island neere to Pola which is a verie ancient Citie of Histria builded as hath been said elsewhere by the Colehians At his arriuall the Polani following the example of the Parentines came with one accord with Bercaldo their Bishop to receiue the Venetians Sundrie other people who had beene a long time desirous to yeeld vnto them ran to meet Vrseolo in the same place where by their Ambassadors they submitted themselues vnder their obedience Vrseolo after hee had made some stay there as well to giue audience to the Ambassadors and to receiue their othes and homage as to leuie new soldiours whom he embarqued he held his course towards Zara. That Citie was not long before yeelded to the Venetians in regard whereof all the people went out to meet and receiue them with great ioy calling them their Lords and deliuerers The Bishops of Coricta and Arba came thither soone after with the Commissioners of their Cities to sue for peace and to receiue his command swearing and protesting inuiolably to perfourme what soeuer he should command them adding thereunto that they would in their praiers make mention of the Duke of Venice as they did of the Emperour All things falling out thus luckily for the Venetians on the coast of Dalmatia Murcemirus who after hee had banished his elder brother did possesse the kingdome of Croatia namely that Croatia the red which the Modernes haue termed to be a part of Illiria which extends it selfe from the desert plaines which lie almost in the middest of the Prouince euen to Durazzo fearing least the Venetian spurred forward by the happie fortune which accompanied him would enter too farre into Dalmatia made hast by his Ambassadours to insinuate himselfe into the Dukes fauour promising the Venetians all aide and succour The Duke in the meane time sent ten Gallies from Zara to spoile the Narentines Countrie These Gallies surprised neere to the Island next to Belgrade called by the inhabitants Chama fortie Narentine marchants who were returned from Apulia Some saie that their comming was discouered by spies and that therefore the Gallies were sent to meete them The Duke after he had refreshed himselfe did forth with follow them but he found that before his arriuall those whom he had first sent had taken the Island neeâ—…e to the which wee haue said the Narentines were surprised Whereby it came passe that vpon Vrseolo his arriuall the Ambassadors of Belgrade Trahu came thither likewise to receiue the Venetians gouernment These men did promise aud sweare in the name of their Common-wealth to remaine for euer obedient to the Venetians hauing of their own accord requested that it might be so Trahu is an Island of Dalmatia ioining almost to the firme Land with a Citie of the same name builded by the Issetes Suringa of Croatia brother to Murcemirus was in this Island who after the yeelding vp thereof gaue his sonne Stephen for hostage to the Duke whom the Venetian did afterwards marrie to his daughter Hicela The fleet afterward departed to other places of Dalmatia Spalatra a verie rich Towne in those daies following the example of her neighbours receiued the Venetians into her wals After that he went to Corcira the black now called Cursula the which refusing to obey his commandements was taken by force That being done the Venetian Gallies came neere to the Isle of Pharos called likewise by the Modernes Lesnia in sted of Pharos by corruption of the language where they espied a fort builded on great Rockes in the middest of the Sea which a farre off seemed impregnable to the beholders The nature of the place had till then caused the Narentines to commit infinite robberies at Sea who in case of necessitie had that place alwaies for an assured retreit There was likewise in the same Island a towne stronge both by Art and Nature not farre from whence the Venetian Marchants were wont to bee rob'd and taken The Gallies at their arriuall tooke the Hauen of the Island Then they summoned the inhabitants to yeeld willing them by the examples of others not to trie the furie of the Venetian armes telling them that it was a follie for them to saie that they had rather endure all shamefull extremities with the hazard of their liues than to preserue their children and their goods by receiuing the Venetian quietly into their Citie This was sundrie times told them that they should beware least by their obstinacie they did incense the Venetians against them that after the assault should be begun there would be no hope of composition There was some likelihood that they would willingly haue receiued a Garrison and obeied forthwith if they had beene certaine to haue beene receiued on the same conditions as others were but fearing that which was true that if the Venetians were masters of the Towne they would raze it downe to the ground the loue to their Countrie which is that we chiefly loue made them resolute to defend themselues and to beate backe the enimie The Duke on the contrarie so soone as hee had vnderstood the meaning of the towns-men commanded to begin the assault The Islanders did brauely defend themselues There was a Castle as hath beene said inaccessible by reason of the steepnesse of the place but the Venetians from the foote of the hill shot at once such a number of arrowes vpon the besieged as being couered therewith like a cloud they were constrained to abandon their places of defence Then they which were in the shippes with the hired Soldiours did goe vp by the broken and pathlesse places of the mountaine euen to the toppe Those within the Town being amazed to see them there beganne to defend themselues and the Venetians did furiously assaile them and hauing set vp skaling ladders in diuers places they beganne a cruell fight on either side The hope to winne the Towne if they would a little striue to doe valliantly encreased the Venetians strength and despaire possessed the other A Tower in the meane time was taken by a few who expulsed the enemie from that side and made themselues masters of the wall Then those within being amazed flung downe their weapons and vpon their knees cried for mercie At this noise the gentle and mercifull Prince commanded to pardon those that were
was great Grandfather to this man So as perhaps some other of the Roiall bloud might conduct the Normans into TransAlpine Gaule which at this day is a part of Italie before his time From thence it comes that diuers doe affirme that this yong Robert marched first against the Saracens Neuerthelesse howsoeuer it is herein all doe agree that at the same time almost the Normans did driue the Barbarians out of Italie and Sicilie with manie thowsands of men slain on either side and the Greekes likewise out of Calabria and Apulia But after that the Norman forces after manie and sundrie exploits became suspitious to the Popes for that they were increased in Sicilie and in a great part of Italie more than was thought needfull for the safetie of the Lands of the Church and others the common rumor was that the Normans after they had possessed Lucania would seize on Campania It is reported that Pope Leo resolued at the same time if he could not stay them by entreaties and threats to vse force And hauing leuied a mightie Armie for the same purpose he fought with them with bad successe neere to Beneuentum where after he had receiued a notable losse he fledde forth of the battaile into the neerest Citie Neuerthelesse hee was not discouraged at this losse but being a man stout and couragious he found new meanes and forces to driue them forth of Italie but all his attempts proued vaine He being dead Pope Nicholas his successour not daring to contend with them thought it much auaileable for the safetie of the Churches Lands if paying them a yerely tribute he might oblige Robert to aide the holie Sea when need should be making him by that means to acknowledge that he did depend on an other man This is in a maner all that which some Authors haue set downe of the stirres of this Nation Others haue affirmed that the same Robert as we haue said came from Transalpine Gaule not making any mention of France and they say that Tancreâ—… Lord of that Prouince had twelue children among whom they highly esteeme two that is to say William surnamed Ferrabach and Robert Guiscard They doe moreouer denie that which we haue spoken of the Normans to bee done vnder the conduct of Robert but vnder his brother William And besides they do not set downe the matter like those whom we follow but quite contrarie That Campania and Lucania were neuer possessed by them and that the Saracens were neuer driuen thence but how that Willam iointly with the Princes of Campania and Salerne marched against the Barbarians who had alreadie possessed Sicilie and tooke into their fellow-ship Molloc Gouernour of Apulia and Calabria for the Greeke Emperour by whose meanes being ioined altogether the Barbarians were easily driuen forth of Sicilie And that Molloc after the Island was taken againe did seize on it placing strong Garrisons in the Emperours name vnto whom he said the Island did belong and not to his fellowes whereat the Norman beeing incensed did sodainely leaue the Island came the neerest way into the firme Land laid seege to Melphi in Apulia For the releeuing whereof Molloc leauing the Island the victorie remained to the Norman Molloc being defeated with the losse of all his Armie fled into Greece so that in the end the Normans beeing conducted by William made themselues masters of the greatest part of Apulia But after they had a long time debated the possession of this Prouince with diuers euents it came to passe that the Emperour Michael with three of his children were driuen from Constantinople by Nicephorus The Emperour delt with Robert Guiscard who at the same time beseeged Tarentum for it is certain that vnder his conduct the Normans did in those daies flourish in Italie to come to his aide into Greece assuring him that Nicephorus being vanquished the which by his meanes he presumed easily to do he should afterward haue the command of Greece Whereunto Robert being likewise perswaded by Pope Gregorie did agree and raising his seege on a sodaine came to Ottranto where assembling and imbarking such forces as he needed he did put to Sea and with a faire winde he landed first at Auellona and from thence comming to Durazzo hee beseeged it by Sea and Land Nicephorus sent Alexis with an Armie by Land against Robert and the Emperour Michael to enforce him to raise the seege of Durazzo This man obtained of Prince Siluio in the name of Nicephorus that the Venetians should send a mightie Armie against the Normans Some saie that Nicephorus obtained it by his Ambassadours before Alexis comming by meanes whereof the Venetian Prince came with a mightie Armie against the Normans and being come before Durazzo in the view of the enemie he put his people in battaile and without any long stay came furiously against them The enemies in like manner being puft vp with their former victories did couragiously and without feare receiue the Venetian Gallies The Enemies fought with such furie as they seemed not alone to fight for the imperiall dignitie of one of their confederates but likewise for their Countrie The victorie was for a long time doubtfull At the last the Norman Armie being broken part of their ships taken or sunck and the rest fled the victorious Venetian opened to those of Durazzo the passage to Sea which was before shut from them The end of the fourth Booke of the first Decade THE FIFTH BOOKE OF THE FIRST DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice ¶ The Contents of the fifth Booke of the first Decad. THe Venetians are defeated by the Normans vnder Prince SILVIO in a set battaile neere to Durazzo The Emperour HENRIE comes to Venice The miraculous appearing of Saint MARKES bodie after it had beene a long time hid from his Citizens Vpon what occasion all Christendome tooke the Crosse vpon them and armed themselues against the Turks and Saracens Pope VRBAN his Oration in the Councell of Clermont exhorting all Christian Princes to recouer the holie Land The voiage of the VLTRA-MONTANI into Asia How vnlikely the Christians fought at the beginning in Bythinia The Christians beseege Nicea with their notable victorie obtained against a great number of Turkes The taking of Iconium Heraclea with diuers other Cities from the Infidels by the Christians Antioch is taken by them after a long and painefull siege and sundrie incounters The Venetians take Smirna The dissensions and secret hatred betwixt BEAMOND and RAYMOND Earle of Saint Giles And whatsoeuer was done in Phoenicia is generally comprehended in this Booke THe raising of the siege of Durazzo on that side where the battaile was fought brought no great commoditie to the Venetians For Nicephorus being wholy vndone by the sodaine rebellion of his people the Norman after hee had repaired his fleete returning to besiege Durazzo by Sea and Land Michael and Alexis iointly possessing the Empire by meanes of Nicephorus ouerthrow
of Tyre it was the first that was besieged The maner of casting these Lots was thus The names of all the Cities which they would besiege were written in little scrowles of Paper and being laide together confusedly on a heape vpon the next Altar they were mingled by a yong boy then after the celebration of Diuince Seruice the same boy drew forth all those scrowles one after an other in the presence of the Princes and in this sort they concluded to begin the warre by the siege of Tyre This Citie was in time past an Island in the maine Sea seuen hundred paces distant from the firme land Alexander sonne to Philip being incamped before it caused that space or distance from the Sea to bee filled vp to ioyne it to the land It is very famous in respect of such excellent Cities as haue descended from thence namely Lepta Vtica and Carthage enuious of the Romane greatnesse with Gades scituate in the farthest parts of the earth This Island is in circuite nineteene thousand paces When Alexander besieged it it was taken by warlike engines the seuenth Moneth of the siege The excellencie and riches thereof consisteth in Purples and Scarlets in regard whereof forraine Kings and the Romanes likewise haue euer enfranchized the Inhabitants of that place The Citie it selfe is in circuit two and twentie Stadij It is thought that Agenor sonne to that ancient Belus was the founder thereof and that it was in times past called Sarra From whence it came as I thinke that we find in the Venetian Annals Surra for Tyre The Phoenicians among whom next to the Citie of Sydon Tyre hath euer held the chiefe place as well for greatnesse as antiquitie haue beene highly praised and esteemed by all ancient Authours for inuenting Arithmeticke and the Letters of the Alphabet and for being the first that gazed vpon the Starres in the night It was then concluded to besiege this Citie by Sea and Land where at the beginning of the siege it was agreed vpon betwixt Varimond and the Venetians That whatsoeuer Baldwin the first had in the last warres giuen to the Venetians in Syria should remaine firme to them Blondus saith that hee had seene the Coppie of the Priuiledge which did expresly containe That the Venetians should in all places of the Kingdome of Ierusalem and Principalitie of Antioch haue a particular place and streete apart and a place for them to pleade in before their Magistrate They obtained besides many other matters necessarie for the publike vse That the Venetian Merchants should be free in Syria from tolles and impositions And that if any Venetian should suffer shipwrack or dye in those places without making a will or heire all his wealth should be put into the hands of the Venetian Magistrate vnto whom the Treasurer generall of the kingdome should paye euerie yeare three hundred Crownes out of the Kings reuenues This is it which Bishop Varimond and those who did then manage the affaires of Syria did graunt to the Venetians and much more than this which Baldwin at his returne from prison did willingly ratifie In this treatie with Varimond it was expresly said That if the Cities of Tyre and Ascalon were taken the Venetians should partake the thirdes thereof This Citie had in times past beene besieged by Baldwin by the space of foure moneths who could not take it by reason it was so enuironed with the Sea This new siege likewise was much longer than was suspected But whilest it was besieged by Land and Sea those of the Land-Campe began to murmur against the Venetians saying That they alone were out of danger in their ships and that if the enemie whom they continnually expected should arriue who would assaile them by Land the Venetians in the meane time would put forth to Sea and get to some place of safetie and therefore they would either discampe or share equally the labour and danger betwixt them This slaunder being reported to Michaeli he was greatly troubled therewith and after he had continued a certaiue time pensiue ruminating to himselfe by what meanes he might roote out this suspition which his fellowes had vniustly conceiued he commaunded on a soddaine to plucke vp all the bords from the bottome of the vessells or as others say all the nailes and oares with other matters belonging to nauigation And causing them to be brought into the presence of Varimond and the rest of the Captaines hee vsed this speech vnto them The Princes Oration to Varimond and the rest I vnderstand quoth he companions in Armes that ye doe in some sort doubt of the faith and loyaltie of the Venetians that instead of holding vs for faithfull companions Ye repute vs cowards and traitours But our fidelitie is not of so small continuance that we will suffer yee long to suspect it for which we are resolued to hazard all dangers Take saith hee this certaine pledge of our fidelitie and in so saying he caused all the furniture of his vessels to be throwne downe before them Then he added Yee haue now as I take it O Varimond and the rest matter enough to repose trust in vs albeit that it is a common saying that before all things we should consider the nature and inclinations of people But to the end to take away from euerie one occasion of euill speaking it hath pleased vs to doe thus to let ye vnderstand that the Venetians haue the same â—…age like you It remaineth now that with a like affection wee goe forward with the Cities siege whiâ—…h being taken I hope that in short time we shall become masters of all Syria The fidelitie of the Prince and the Venetians was highly esteemed all men with a loud voice did greatly praise them and accounted them for faithfull companions and good Souldiers Thus being confirmed and continuing the siege with greater care than before they report an accident newly hapned in the Campe which the ignorant multitude may hold for a miracle Those which kept the guard experienced belike in such matters reported that they had descried a Doue executing the office of a Post comming from the Campe of Dachines King of Damascus who made great preparations to relieue the Tryians and at such time as it should flie ouer the Campe they tooke speciall care at the very instant to make a great noyse so as the Doue loosing her strength fell downe all amazed Being taken vp they knew by the letters which were tied to her feete That King Dachines did intreate the Tyrians to be of good cheare That within few dayes he would be neare them with great forces and by the death of their enemies free them from the siege The Princes were greatly moued at these newes For there was some likelihood that the Tyrians vpon this hope would haue more obstinately held out the siege and that which was most dangerous they feared to come to stroakes with so mightie an euemie
delay counsailed Vitalis to send his Ambassadours to Constantinople assuring him that he knew of a certaine that Emanuel would rathet choose a shamefull and discommodious peace than warre The Bishop of Equiline who spake good Greeke and Manasses Badoario were sent thither Vitalis in the meane time went to the Isle of Chios where hee soone reduced the Citie with the whole Island vnder his obedience And because the cold grew alreadie verie sharpe hee resolued to spend the winter there and to expect the returne of his Ambassadours And for that after the taking of Chyos there was some hope of peace hee absteined from making any more incursions on the lands of the Empire Emanuel in the meane time being cunning and polliticke so soone as the Ambassadours arriued made shew in publicke to desire peace sometimes crauing such things then refusing others now approuing the Ambassadours demaunds and on a sodaine saying that he would communicate them to his Councell and so of set purpose by these delaies hee mocked the Venetians At the last the Bishop of Equiline and Manasses returned to Vitalis hauing effected nothing at all accompanied with the Ambassadours of Emanuel who arriuing at Chios and alleadging now one matter and then another caused a meruailous delaie Whilest these things were doing the contagious sicknesse seizing on the Venetian Armie did in a short space carrie great numbers of them into another world The rumour was that the wells and fountaines from whence the Venetians drew their water were poisoned by the Emperours commandement and that the contagion in the Armie proceeded from the drinking of those waters Some thinke that Emanuel came with a great Armie to the rescue of the Islands but not daring to assault the enemie he returned after hee had caused all the waters to bee poisoned It is reported that the whole family of the Iustiniani was wholly extinct by this sicknesse For all the males of this familie that were able to beare Armes did follow the Prince to these warres The Citie did meruailously bewaile the losse of this family But calling to minde that there was one of the same house yet liuing called Nicholas who hauing taken holy orders on him did serue in Saint Georges Church right ouer against the market-place or as others say in Saint Nicholas Church on the shoare messengers were by the Common-wealth sent to the Pope to intreate him to permit the young man to leaue his profession and to marrie that hee might haue children Which being granted the race of the Iustiniani which hath produced since then so many learned men and great oratours was preserued in the Citie Although Vitalis was greatly vexed with this losse and perceiued the matter to be delaied by the malice of Emanuel yet would not he seeme to keepe his Souldiers idle Therefore at the beginning of the spring he departed from Chios and came to Lesbos and from thence to Lemnos then to Scyros But because the sicknesse which was begun in the winter time did still increase and that the Souldiers and Marriners did sodainely fall downe dead in the streetes being frighted with the cries and slaunders of his owne people hee refolued to bring backe the remainder of his Armie to Venice after he had lost the greatest part thereof Some Authours write that Trahu Spalatra and Ragusa did reuolt and yeeld to the Greeke Emperour which neuerthelesse diuers doe denie whilest the Venetian Armie was on the Coastes of the Islands Ciclades and that Michaeli at his returne recouered them The Armie being returned to the Citie the sicknesse followed soone after which waxing more contagious at home than abroad diuers thousands of persons died in few dayes Whereupon the people being called into the assemblie all men laid the blame of that losse on Michaeli calling him traitour to the Common-wealth and to his owne Souldiers who seeking to please Emanuel enemie to the Venetian people had suffered the opportunitie of so godly a victorie to be snatched forth of his hands hauing abandoned his Armie to the treacheries and deceits of the Greekes whereunto as hee was readie to answere and to alleadge his excuses there arose a sodaine noise among the people which was intermingled with reproaches Hee perceiuiug it dangerous to make any stay there stept aside out of the thronge hauing no man in his companie and went along the shoare the nearest way to Saint Zacharies Church Thus escaping he met with a certaine man who fell vpon him and gaue him many dangerous wounds whereof he shortly died hauing beene deuoutly confessed the seuententh yeare of his gouernmeut Others alleadge diuers other causes of his death But it is sufficient to knowe that enuie alone procured the same And nothing did him so much harme as the ouer-great desire hee had to peace the which sincerely pursuing he hid greatly endanger the Common-wealth As concerning other matters he was a vertuous man and at the beginning greatly beloued of euery one for his wisedome His funerals did manifest the good will and affection which the people bare vnto him who in great multitudes were present at the same So soone as he was buried the whole companie came into the Cathedrall Church where to cut off those troubles and seditions which seemed to threaten the Citie being yet in an vproare for the Princes murther they chose ten from among them who did sweare at that instant to elect no Prince but such an one as should bee for the profit of the common-wealth Diuers are of opinion that these ten were not appointed to elect a Duke but only for to punish the murther and not then only but likewise euer after when any one should offer outrage to the soueraigne Magistrate whose authoritie they would haue to be sacred and inuiolate Others affirme that fortie were appointed to proceede to a new election in the place of him that was deceased Now so soone as they entred into discourse concerning a new Duke it is reported that they all with one accord named Auria Maripietro a man of singular wisedome and ripenesse of counsaile and who at that time was one of the ten But he bearing an incredible affection towards his Countrie perswaded them at the same time to make choise of some other who would be more for the profit of the common-wealth than himselfe and in so saying hee named Sebastiano Cyani a man of threescore and ten yeares old and exceeding rich protesting that he was fitter for the common-wealth being one who was not able alone to helpe it in those dangerous times with counsaile but with meanes which it did chiefly want By this mans modestie wee may easily see how free those ancient Fathers were from ambition and how zealous they were for their Countries well-fare neglecting their owne priuate profit for the good of the publike According to his aduice his fellowes declared Cyani for their Prince who was forth-with receiued by the people with great applause And because diuers
and the defeate of the Pisans neare to Modona ISAAC is imprisoned by his brother ALEXIS after hee had depriued him of the Empire The Christian Princes that march against the Turkes arriue at Venice The Venetians agreement with these Princes The recouerie of Zara. The resolution of the Venetians and the stranger-Princes to goe into Greece at the entreatie of yong ALEXIS Constantinople is taken by the Christian Princes and by the Venetians The death of yong ALEXIS after the deceasse of his Father ISAAC through the treacherie of his people The recouerie of Constantinople by the Christian Princes and by the Venetians ioyned together BALDWIN Earle of Flanders made Emperour of Greece The Isle of Candie with all the Islands in a 〈◊〉 of the Aegean Sea allotted to the Venetians for their claime which they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Constantinople The beginning of the warre against the Genoueses for the Isle of Candie The victorie also against the Paduans for a wrong offered to the Venetians at a publike shew at Treuiso The Venetians send a Colonie to Corfu The Emperour HENRIE who succeedeth BALDWIN is treacherously taken by THEODORE the Albanois The taking of Damiet in Aegypt by the Christians where they became rich with the spoile and what prisoners they brought away with them THe common opinion is That by a Testamentarie legacie of Prince Cyani this holy distribution of money was likewise ordained whereby the Procurators of S. Marke doe at this day releeue with the publike money the necessitie of Orphans and other poore distressed People But the ancient manner of distributing it was altogether different from that at this day the which being more seemely was also more to bee praised For it is said That those distributers did themselues enquire of euery ones necessitie and then putting the money into little coffins of paper wherein were written the seuerall names of such only as they meant to releeue that day they would in the euening go to the poore mens houses and giue them the Almes in very great secrecie A man should not haue seene in those dayes because there was no such neede so many poore people at their Gates as now there are The recommendation of friends and kinsfolkes did then smally preuaile those onely which were knowne to be poore were alone releeued The ancient maner is now wholly changed and this change proceedeth from the great multitude of businesses For they which at this day haue those offices are almost of the chiefe of the Senate for Councell Age and Authoritie whereby they haue not onely the managing of this businesse of the Commonwealth but diuers others likewise and of greater importance So as being imploied in diuers businesses they themselues cannot in such manner intend this as did those of old time But they doe at this day liberally releeue all those who are recommended vnto them prouided that the partie who recommendeth be of good reputation and the pouertie of the person recommended apparant therein omitting no worke of charitie ¶ AVRIA MARIPIETRO the 40. Duke of Uenice IN the place of deceased Cyani the people did subrogate Auria Maripietro called by some Andrea hauing for the same purpose appointed foure men amongst them who should euer after haue authoritie to choose fortie Being by these men chosen Prince he had no sooner receiued the ensignes of Soueraigne dignitie but forthwith he disioyned the Pisans from those of Ancona who being backt by the Pisans and by conueniencie of the places had for a time by their ordinarie incursions greatly molested the Venetians at Sea But at the last after a reciprocall restitution of whatsoeuer had beene taken truce was granted for ten yeares At the same time those of Zara reuolted from the Venetians the fourth time and soone after this reuolt Bella King of Hungarie filled their Citie with Garrisons It is said that they did thus vpon discontentment that their Church should be subiect to that of Grada if it were vpon any other occasion yet this at the least was all their pretext It is certaine that this Citie which in respect of her often rebellions had beene a cause of extraordinarie expence to the Venetians was very glad vnder this pretence to vent her former determinations This reuolt being knowne all men were of opinion forth-with to leuie an Armie to reduce the Zaratins to their obedience and to punish them according to their deserts for their often breach of faith that they might serue for an example to others But mens hope to see this Armie in readinesse in regard of the pouertie of the common Treasurie was small wherevpon diuers of the wealthiest Citizens bearing a singular affection to the common-wealth louing their Countries profit more than their owne did giue great summes of money There were likewise diuers impositions exacted at Rialto towards this warre By meanes whereof the Armie being readie sailed into Dalmatia At the Venetians arriuall Zara was besieged and all the Islands neare to the Citie were in a short space recouered The Citie it selfe in regard of the Kings Garrison within it could not be taken But whilest the Venetians were busied in the Dalmatian warres the Christian Princes tooke armes for the recouerie of Ierusalem from whence the Sarracens vnder the conduct of Saladine had expulsed the French the foure-score and eighth yeare after it was taken by Godfrey Wherefore the Venetians taking truce for two yeares with King Bella at Pope Clement his entreatie who did earnestly solicit them to vndertake this voiage they soone resolued to leuie a mightie armie Diuers great Princes likewise did for the same purpose arme themselues as wee haue said at the Popes request Among whom were the Emperour Fredericke the Kings of France and England and Otho Duke of Burgundie accompanied by diuers great Prelats The Pisans likewise ioining themselues with the Venetians on the Adriatike Sea passed into Syria with diuers vessels But both their fleetes arriued there a long time before those of Frederick and the other kings For the Citie of Acre which the Christians had likewise lost was besieged before Frederick had crossed Saint Georges Arme to come into Asia or before that Philip departing from Messina whither he was come with Richard after they had crossed the Riuer of Genowaie and the Tuscan Sea did arriue in the Prouince Richard being tossed with a furious tempest cast Anker in Cyprus which he wholly spoiled because the inhabitants at his arriuall had refused to receiue him into their Hauen From whence soon after he passed into Syria Frederick after he had taken certaine Townes in Asia entred Armenia the lesse where vnaduisedly going into a deepe Riuer to wash and refresh himselfe beeing carried awaie by the force of the streame he was drowned But before this happened our people had a long time laboured before Acre for they had sometime fought with great hazard with Saladine And besides that want of all necessaries was so great in the
Venetians But it is farre more pâ—…obable that it was for some iealousie or secreâ—… grudge happened betwixt the Gouernour and himselfe after the battaile because that either of them enuying one another would seeme more affectionate to his countrey and to deserue better of the Common-wealth than his fellow and that at last he would haue driuen him out of the Island by force deâ—…ermining after he had chaced him thence to giue the VenetiaÌ„s a sufficient proofe of his loyalty in deliuering the Island vnto them peaceable and at quiet being defended by his aide Other reasons likewise may perswade vs to beleeue that it was vpon such occasions as I haue set downe For perceiuing by the new supplies that they pursued him as an enemie he would not of set purpose fight and though he possessed diuers places in the Island he neuerthelesse freely abandoned them depaâ—… ted forth of the Prouince Iâ—… he had marched as an enemy against the VenetiaÌ„s there wanted not those who would haue repossessed him in the Island The Genoueses would willingly haue accepted it who were iealous and enuious of the honour and fame of the Venetians But he did rather giue place to the publike peace than helpe his enemie Tepulo Some Historians referre to the same time that notable victorie ob tained by Giouami Treuisano ouer the Genoueses wherof we haue made mention in the precedent booke Candie remained not long quiet For a new commotioÌ„ much more terrible than that whereof we now spake did trouble the whole Island the which growing from a small cause kindled such a flame as the whole Prouince felt it The common report is that by the counsell of one named Pietro Philameno Gouernour of the Castle of Boreparitano the horses of a certaine Candiot Gentleman were stollen Which being told to Paulo Quirino who at that time was Gouernour of the Island he commaunded restitution to the Islanders of that which had beene taken from them Now because it was not done with that speed as they would haue it the Greeks who were set on by others tooke occasion to ouerrunne vnder the conduct of Petro Scordillo who did owe the stollen horses all the countrie of Reparitana from whence they carried away great spoiles The Candiots vpon this stir being desirous of nouelty complotted forthwith a reuolt whereupon in short space all that lieth from Milopotamus vnto the farthest part of the Island towards the West rebelled against the Venetians The Gouernour to stay these new insurrections of the Greekes speedily sent Pietro Thonisto and Giouanni Gritti with great forces beyond the streights of Milopoâ—…amus who passing through the forrest of Psieuronessus not sending out their discouerers were assailed and defeated by Constantine Seuasti Theodore Milesin who lay in ambush for them being accompanied with great multitudes of Greekes Many Venetians were there slaine by them who knowing the waies of the forrest did meete them scattered heere and therein amazâ—…d troupes Giouanni Gritti one of the Captaines died there who was an industrious and couragious person with Nicolaâ—… Balastro Marco Bono Andrea Thealdo and Vendramino of Aquileia with a greate numbeâ—… of souldiers A few of those which escaped the slaughter hauing throwne away their Armes came by verie strait and narrow waies to the Gouernour In whose place soone afterward succeeded Dominâ—…co Delfino vnder whom peace ensued betwixt the Venetians and the Greekes To some of whom to winne them by bountie as to Seuasto and his companions Authors of the reuolt were giuen in perpetuitie certaine Lands on the hither side the Riuer Musella towards the West There be likewise in the Island certaine Lands possessed in olde time by the ancient men at armes called by the common people Knight-ships Some of these were giuen at the same time to the chiefest of the Greeks as some other of them likewise to Theodore and Michaeli Melissini so soone as they were receiued into fauour This is all which we finde to haue hapned as well abroad as at home during the gouernment of Prince Cianiâ—… who after he had commaunded two and twentie yeares being become vnprofitable to the Common-wealth by reason of his olde age did willingly depose himselfe and dyed fortunately soone after in Saint Georges Monasterie whither he retired himselfe for deuotion sake His bodie was buried in the Monument of his Ancestors ¶ GIACOMO TEPVLO the 43. Duke of Uenice GIacomo Tepulo was by the fortie elected in his place Candie in this Princes time was not verie quiet whereof I will briefly mention some passages before I touch anie other matters which hapned as well abroad as elsewhere during this Principalitie The Venetians too much lenitie towards the Candiots was the cause that the Greeks who are by nature light-headed and inconstant insted of yeelding loue and obedience to the Venetians did shew themselues altogether stubborne and peremptorie For a base minde doth rather abuse another mans patiâ—…nce than make any good vse of it and is sooner brought to his dutie by seueritie and exemplarie punishment than by meekenesse and fauour Thus the Scordilli and the Melissini through too much licentiousnesse hauing giuen themselues ouer to all manner of vices and laying aside all shame beganne first to disturbe the common quiet by secret thefts and afterwards by open robberies to make hauocke in all places The Gouernour being mooued with these vnseemely actions did forthwith leauie Souldiours and sent to entreat Marco Sanuto with the greatest forces he could raise to come speedily into Candie for the more speedie expulsion of those theeues and enemies saying That the Islanders did incline to an open rebellion and that if their desseignes were not sodainely preuented and restained by force hee stood greatly in feare of the whole Islands reuolt from the Venetians Sanuto esteeming deâ—…ay in such a case dangerous to the Common-wealth with all speed possible assembâ—…ed his forces and then wafted ouer into the Isle of Candie Where to bridle the Rebelles â—…ee caused a Castell to be built in a verie comodious place At the sight whereof the enemies beeing daunted though not giuing ouer their wilfull headinesse sent to Iohn Vattasus who held Lesbos an Island of the Aegean Sea and who possessed at that time diuers places of the Greek Empire entitling himselfe Emperour of Greece promising him by their menssengers the entire dominion of the Island after the Venetians should be driuen thence so as hee would in time send them sufficient aide to expell the enemie The forces of Vattasus were at that time verie great For he was in league with the King of the Hexagons who likewise in the places neeâ—…e adioyning to the Ponticke Sea called himselfe Emperour of Greece determining at eithers charges to assaile the Empire of Constantinople This King was angrie because young Robert sonne to the Emperour Peter had by the aduice of his counsell preferred the alliance of the King of Hierusalem who had but the title of that Kingdome
before his Vattasus being drawne on by these promises sent thirtie Gallies to aide the Candiots At their arriuall Marco Saâ—…to being wonne by Vattasus as it is reported departed out of the Island with all his forces Whereupon the Generall of Vattasus his Armie resolued to besiege the Cities and entring Rethimna he constrained Marco Quirino to yeeld himselfe The like did Maâ—…gareto Foscari at Milopotamus and Conrad Millenius at Castel-nouo Yet all these places did not yeeld at the first summons but after they had fought and valliantly defended themselues for a time Catâ—…ldo Auenali who had seized on the Fort of Boniface with a good troope of Souldiours did valliantly defend that place till the comming of the Gouernour who was with an Armie secretly departed from Candace to relieue his owne Souldiours and to raise the siege whereby the enemie being constrained hastily to dislodge left behind him diuers engins of warre And because the victorie seemed not so easie as the Candiots had persuaded him it would be perceiuing withall that the warre was more troublesome to him than the Venetians he determined to returne to Lesbos Wherefore after he had shipped all his forces he left Candie to the Venetians and sailed thence His fleet soone after being verie great was in such sort tossed and beaten by a tempest neere to the Island of Cithera as they were all castaway three small vessels excepted Nicolao Mâ—…tatio and Marin surnamed Marini being sent Ambassadours into Greece about a peace suffered shipwracke in that tempest The Gouernour Nicolao Tonisto who succeeded Giouanni Storlato and Bartholomeo Gradonico his successor did recouer certaine townes Nicholas Seuastus and Michael Molesini Authors of the rebellion and so many mischiefes being delt with by Gradonico returned to the Venetians obedience and he gaue them all the territorie which lies from Petraea to the mount Athis on condition That they should send euerie yeare fiue hundred pound weight of Wax for the vse of Saint Markes Churche and likewise pray vnto God for the Venetian Prince and perpetually beare Armes against the Rebelles till they were all reduced vnder the Venetians subiection There remained no more Rebelles at that time but those that inhabited along the Riuer Petraea euen to the mount Summonium Gradonico dyed in the meane time and by his death the Prouidatori tooke the gouernment into their owne hands For to euerie Gouernour two Prouidatoâ—…i were giuen Gioâ—…anni Ardizino and Marco Molino had this place in the Island when the Gouernour dyed Molino being at the siege of Sithie a Sea-towne perceiued on a sodaine twelue Gallies who with full sailes came from the maine towards the Island Which Vattasus sent for supplies to the beâ—…ieged Whereupon fearing if this Fleet should enter the Hauen that the inhabitants presuming on this new aide would make some salley forth vpon him whom he should not be able to repell by reason his forces were very few or if they should saile to Candace they might at the very first take it he speedily raised his Campe and in all hast returned to the Citie from whence he sent Ardizino with those shippes of warre which he had readie in the Hauen for the same purpose to hinder the enemies landing if he found it to be necessarie for the Common-wealth Vattasus forces in the meane time were entred into the Hauen of Suda where the Venetian Gallies arriuing as soone as they did with great cries assaile the enemie who already possessed the Port. The Greekes forthwith prepared for the fight which they could not fitly doe by reason of the streightnesse of the place so as they attempted to repulse the enemies fleet by their warlike engines and shott The inhabitants bordering that place who at the first noise came running to the aid of their Countrimen did greatly helpe the Greekes For all the shoare was filled with townes-men and peasants who without intermission assailed the Venetians The fight lasted from morning till noone when as Ardizino the Prouidator beeing sore wounded commanded to sound the retreate The Venetians determined the next day to renew the fight which the Greekes fearing about midnight they left the Hauen and sailed thence into the maine Whilst the Prouidatori executed these warlike exploits Angelo Gradonico arriued in the Island as Gouernour By his wisedome the Subriti were reduced to the Venetians obedience neuerthelesse vpon condition to deliuer aliue into their hands Emanuel Dracontopulus and Constantine his brother or if that could not be done to kill them as the chiefe authors of all the Rebellions Because so long as they should liue there was no likelihood that the Island would euer be at quiet Besides that the Caleothetes and the Anatoliks who boasted to be issued from the Emperors of Greece should be bannished that thirtie of the Noblest families of the Subriti should come and dwell in the Towne of Boniface The Candiots and their affaires being thus pacified they which held the Citie of Nicella for there were diuers of Vattasus garrisons still in the Island did forthwith yeeld But it is now time to leaue the Candiots and to returne to other matters hapned at the same time in Greece as well in the firme Land as in the Islands neere adioining which being of greater importance haue more troubled and molested the Venetians For so soone as the new agreement or new affinitie as it was said betwixt Vattasus and the King of the Hexagoni was knowne abroad and that the rumor was that both of them ioining their forces together would assaile the Greeke Empire Iohn King of Ierusalem Gouernour of Constantinople beeing troubled with these newes began to consider by what cunning meanes he might preserue and defend the Empire committed to his charge in which busines the Venetians were they alone from whom he expected aid The which hauing imparted to Theophilo Zeno the Venetian Magistrate at the same time in Constantinople they both sent to Prince Tepulo to acquaint him with the League and affinitie of these two mightie Princes who by the report of all men were in Armes for the inuasion of the Greeke Empire and that therefore they had need of aide with all expedition which is a chiefe point in Martiall businesse saying That they knew of a certaine that both of them were verie busie in leuying a mightie Armie They entreated him therefore to hasten the succours if they desired to haue Constantinople preserued And not sparingly to send them this or that but all things whatsoeuer they knew to bee necessarie for the maintenance of so great and dangerous a warre Alleaging this further caution That they were not to delaie the matter for feare least the enemies which God-forbid should surprize some places fitt and commodious for the wars which afterward when they would they should not be able to remedie to the great preiudice of them and their confederats The Citie gaue a willing eare to this aduertisement and being
yeare on the same day the Cleargie doe go in procession to Saint Vitis Church being accompanied by the Prince and Senate to giue thanks to God for the preseruation of the Commonwealth and at their returne a solemne banquet is made in the Pallace Some Authors say that the issue of this conspiracie was different from that which we haue spoken of and that the Prince was aduertized of the whole matter before they went to Armes VVhereupon Michaeli and Guâ—…do Canuto were sent from the Senate to Baiamont to entreate him not to attempt any thing against his countrey and that the conspirators did hardly suffer these men to returne with their liues And after they had taken armes and burnt and spoiled certaine places they fought openly as hath beene said but at last the conspirators being roughly repulsed with great slaughter the Senates partie proued the stronger and that after the arriuall of Hugolino Iustiniano who at the same time was Podestate of Chioggia who came with troups of souldiers to the rescue of the Prince Baiamont his adherents who fortified themselues on the otherside of Rialto being daunted did yeeld themselues vpon the Prince and Senates word on condition that all those who were guiltie should depart forth of the Venetian territorie and by that meanes there was almost no Citie of Cisalpine Gaule nor village on all the Sea-coast of Flaminia and Forli wherein some of these banished conspirators were not But the former opinion is most true Those of Zara presuming on these calamities did reuolt the sixt time hauing chased away Michaeli Morosini the Gouernour They forthwith sent forces to recouer it vnder the command of Belletto Iustiniano In the meane time the Prince deceased in the twelfth yeare and ninth moneth of his gouernment His bodie was honorably buried in Saint Cyprians Church ¶ MARINI GEORGIO the 50. Duke of Uenice MArini Georgio surnamed the Holy did for his wisdome succeed him All the time of his Principalitie which lasted not a full yeare the Venetians were interdicted by the Pope by reason of the affaires of Ferrara which caused the Common-wealth to receiue many discomodities as well at home as abroad For we haue alreadie said in what danger the conspiracie of Tepulo had put it And then soone after the Armie had no good successe before Zara. Bellet was gone into Dalmatia with the Venetian troupes among which were a thousand horse who by the Senats appointment were commanded by Dalmasio a Spaniard a valiant man who being at Ferrara in the Popes paie had constrained the Venetians to leaue the Citie and to retire into the Castle with great losse The Venetian Armie being encamped in the next Island to the Citie this Dalmasio landed all his Cauallerie on the firme land encamped verie neere to Zara fortifying his campe with good Trenches and Rampiers Bannus commanded in the Citie with a good Garrison He comming forth of the Citie likewise with his troupes did lodge within a mile of Dalmasio The whole Summer was almost spent without any memorable action And Haruest alreadie drewnere without any hope alat to tak the citie when Bannus propounded certaine triuiall conditions of peace which taking none effect he beganne to vse his cunning and dealt secretly with Dalmasio to make him leaue the Venetians partie and to enter into the Citie saying That so soone as he should come thither he should receiue ten thousand crownes and should command therein with great entertainement so long as he would and that the inhabitants should defray his charges for corne and all other necessaries for his expence And that when he should please to returne into Italie or else where they would furnish him with shippes for himselfe his followers and their baggage This thus concluded Dalmasio made shew to be wearie of so long a siege and determined the next day to giue a generall assault to the Citie then hauing imparted his designe to diuers of his trustie friends hee willed them that when they should come to the assault they should secretly bring from the Camp whatsoeuer they made most account of and should place it and themselues in the formost ranckes to the end that without any impediment they might retire into the Citie The next morrow so soone as he had put his troupes in battaile and was come to the Citie to enter it at the first signall giuen he beganne to ride towards the enemies Fort whereat the Venetians were much amazed when to the great contentment of the inhabitants he entred the Citie All men did infinitly wonder as hath beene said of this sodaine change of Dalmasio and were afraid least this perfidious Traitor had practized some worse matter against them whereupon in haste for that they would receiue no greater losse for it was to be feared that those of the Citie ioyned to the troupes which Bannus commanded not farre from thence would make some sallie vpon them they retired all their Cauallerie to the shippes Dalmasio being come into the Citie and to shew that he was no fugitiue but had some iust occasion to doe what he had done would needs take vpon him the part of an vmpire to treate of peace betwixt the Dalmatians and Venetians wherein after he had a while laboured and perceiuing he could doe no good by reason of the difficultie of the Articles propounded on either side knowing besides how the Venetians did hate him for that he had forsaken them and vnderstanding likewise that the inhabitants did suspect him leauing off his negotiation of peace and not desiring to endanger himselfe any longer there he embarqued himselfe in the vessells which were promised him by the agreement and sailed towards Apulia But being in the maine Sea a terrible tempest arose on a sodaine by the which being tossed here and there and part of his shippes being dasht against the rockes he lost his followers and his goods receauing by this meanes the deserued guerdon of his treacherie Hauing escaped ship-wracke perceiuing all things to be contrarie vnto him fearing with the losse of his meanes to incurre the danger of his life without making any long stay there hee shipt himselfe in a small boat and went into Italie The small time that the Principalitie of Marini lasted maketh me thinke that the siege of Zara was not discontinued but that it held out till they yeelded which was as I finde it vnder Prince Souranza Marini in the meane time builded at his owne coast a great Church and Couent to Saint Dominicke where he founded a Colledge for students in diuinitie He built hard by that place an Hospitall which he endued with rich rents to the end that those who should celebrate diuine seruice there together with the sicke people might be releeued and entertained by the Procurators of Saint Marke vnto whom for these purposes he left the managing of all his wealth After these godly workes accomplished he deceased the tenth moneth of
Almaine horsemen were encamped in the Isle of Longare Mastin thinking to surprize them did speedily march thither with his forces The Island being assailed by land and water was not onely well defended but with the losse of his ships hee was ignominiously driuen thence Vbertino on the other side hauing with money corrupted the Garrison of Moncellesa entred the Citie on the side of the Castle which was within few daies after yeelded to the Venctians by Florentio the Gouernour therof Mastin in another place attempted by treacherie to recouer the towne of Montagnane but this designe fell out vnluckily Spineta Mariqus and Guido For anensis were commaunded with great secrecie to goe with their forces to the appointed place wherof the Venetians hauing notice placed fiue hundred Almaine horse not farre from Este in ambuscado so that the enemies marching forward hauing sent no discouerers before were surprized and assailed by those of the ambush and at the first brunt throwing downe their Armes betooke themselues to flight The number of the slaine was great but that of the prisoners greater among whom were Guido and Gilberto his brother and with them two hundred men at Armes Andrea Morosino for that hee had valiantly behaued himselfe in that encounter was afterwards knighted Orlando was at the same time in Padua from whence he speedily departed with his troups and came to Vincenza where approaching the citie neere to Saint Felix gate he lodged in the suburbes The poore inhabitants were then more terrified than before For being on euerie side shut in by the enemie they lost all hope of getting any victuals especially from Verona by reason the Venetians possessed Brendola and Montechia Diuers with their wiues and children being driuen forth of their houses by the men at Armes of the Garrison were constrained to begge At the last the Tyrantes pride being abated peace ensued very opportunely It is reported that being not able to raise the siege before Vincenza he harkened to a peace about which hauing sent his Commissioners to Venice he obtained it on these conditions That Feltre Beluna and Ceneda should remaine to Charles of Boheme Bergamo and Bressia to Visconte who possessed them Treuiso with the villages and Castles of the Treuisan to the Venetians with the Castles of Balde and Bassan with free libertie to trafficke on the riuer Adice and foure Cities of the territorie of Luca to the Florenitnes It is reported that the Florentines being discontented with this agreement because Luca which they demaunded was not yeelded to them sent to Venice about this businesse where the matter was rather debated out of wilfulnesse than of any hope they had to obtaine it But the Venetians inclining to peace the Florentines consented thereunto All the associate Lords which had taken part with the Venetians were likewise satisfied Albert with the rest of the prisoners were set at libertie The Venetians gaue the Castles of Balde and Bassan to Vbertino Carrario whereby we may see that the Venetians did not seeke by this warre to enlarge their estate For besides the breaking of the tyrants forces whom they could wholly haue ouerthrowne and by armes haue appropriated all that to themselues which they had taken from him they gaue the renowned Citie of Padua which they might haue held by right of warre to Marsilio Carrario a priuate Citizen and afterwards to Vbertino his successor two great Castles vvith their demaines taken from the enemy during the treatie of peace But Blondus affirmes it to be most true that the Venetians had neuer any desire to increase their dominions but onely to preuaile so farre which hapned as they desired as to be able to abate the tyrants pride to make him glad to sue for peace with heaued-vp hands who a little before had disquieted all Italie and who was not satisfied with the command of all which lieth on this side and beyond the Po within the continent of the Alpes but would besides haue enthronized himselfe in Tuscanie and haue attempted at the last not to take away for that he could not doe but to molest the quiet possession of the Sea which the Venetians of a long time had purchased with much labour and trauaile This then is the fruite as pleasing as great which they reaped by this victorie thinking that they had done enough and very much to haue troden the tyrants pride vnder foote vnto whom in the end being daunted and basely suing for a dishonourable peace his demand was not onely graunted but they made him a Gentleman of Venice Dandulo after he had fortunately abroad and at home gouerned the Commonwealth deceased in the eleuenth yeare of his Gouernment ¶ BARTILMEO GRADONICO the 53. Duke of Uenice BArtilmeo Gradonico was his successour and chosen by the fortie I find in some Authours that about the same time the great Hall was builded where euery eight dayes and sometimes oftner all the Gentlemen are assembled about the creating of new Officers And that they began at the same time to send Magistrates to Poueggia Palestrino and Malamoc Moreouer on the fiue and twentith of Februarie in the night there arose a suddaine tempest which caused such an inundation in the Citie as the waters stood three foote deepe which was neuer till then seene This being reputed a prodigie gaue beleefe to that which a poore Fisher-man reported to haue seene the same night which was thus So soone as he perceiued the storme in a great feare he drew vp his little Boate neere to Saint Markes Church and standing not farre from thence out of the raine and wind three men came to him who as if they had some carnest businesse entreated him in all haste to Ferrie them ouer to Saint Nicholas Church on the shoare which he refusing to doe for feare of the storme they on a sodainc went into his Boate as though themselues would guide it which the Fisherman perceiuing entred into it though against his will and guided the Boate. But being come to the Church they turned towards the mouth of the Hauen where they saw a Ship full of Diuels which these three men sudainely sunke by the helpe of God Whereupon the Sea in an instant grew calme And then one of them entred into the next Church the other was caried to Saint Georges and the third returned to the place where they tooke Boate of whom the poore old Fisherman albeit in regard of what he had seene he thought him some Diuine Person demaunded his hire who answered him Thou shalt goe quoth he to the Prince and Senate vnto whom hauing declared in order what thou hast seene this night they shall liberally reward thee The Fisherman replied they will not beleeue me and I know certainly that they will iest of me and so I shall become the laughing stocke of the people for my rash report whereunto this diuine personage answered him and said Take this pledge and gaue him a
time began to make their saile-yards in readinesse The Venetian perceiuing their intent was at the first amazed at the strangenesse of the matter But vnderstanding that the enemie went sodainly to flie did with great attention marke which way he would escape They on the other side making shew as if they intended some other matter hauing turned their prowes to that side which the Venetians had left without any guard being aided by their sailes and oares they betooke themselues to flight And foure of the Gallies had in this sort escaped one after an other when Marco Morosino Admirall of the Adriatike sea being vexed therewith commanded one of those Gallies which he had receiued the yeare before for the guard of the Gulph to run athwart the fift Genoa Gallie which was readie to escape which was so speedily done as the same being taken the residue which were readie to follow being amazed ranne vpon the next rocks and were easily taken And because they were laden with richmarchandize the soldiors sailers bourded them being busied in pillage suffered the other foure to escape with ease who were already in the maine Sea not caring for the Generals commandement who being angrie for loosing so goodly an opportunitie through the couetousnesse of his people commanded to set fier on fiue of the Gallies which were taken and had not been yet pillaged He did it to the end to enforce his Souldiours who were thereby depriued of their hope of more spoile to pursue the enemies For so soone as they left off to spoile they followed the chace The Genoueses in the meane time were farre enough off yet neuerthelesse tenne of their Gallies with the Generall of their Armie and threescore and tenne Gentlemen were taken not accounting those of meaner qualitie who were many in regard of the number of the Gallies The victorious Venetian after this victorie at Chariste sailed towards Nigrepont where he left the Genoa Gentlemen with a thousand of the chiefest prisoners to be kept the residue to the number of foure hundred or thereabout were sent into Candie and there put to the chaine and oare The newes of this victorie brought great ioy to the Citie The Senate in the midst of this mirth being mindfull of Religious matters decreed That the same day that the Genoueses were ouercome at Chariste should for euer bee solemnized among the holidaies at Venice It is thought that vpon this occasion the day of the decollation of S. Iohn is till this day celebrated which before then was no holiday Others say that it was vpon S. Victors day the Martyr The Venetians making no long aboade at Nigrepont after they had scoured the Aegean and Ionian Seas came on a sodaine to haue besieged Pera But the enemie hauing notice of his comming by their spies who had brought newes of their late losse at Chariste and how the Venetian Gallies were at hand had fortified all places round about the Citie and chained the shippes together which lay in the Hauen with their Masts and saile yards in manner of a Fort and Rampier and prouided so carefully for all other matters as the Venetians who came thither soon after with great shoutes perceiuing what the enemie had done durst not assaile them But tarrying certaine daies in the streight of Gallipolis they surprized diuers vessels of Genoa In the meane time those foure Genoa-Gallies which had escaped from Chariste hauing ioined themselues to six others which were conducted by Philippo Doria hauing notice of the departure of the Venetian Armie came with all speed to assaile Nigrepont Thomaso Viari who at the same time was Gouernour of the Citie being affrighted so soon as he descried the enemie a farre off fled with the Prouidatori out on the other side of the Citie which lieth towards the Channell The Genouese at his arriuall hauing assailed the Citie wondered at the sodaine flight of the officers and did in a moment take and spoile it then after he had set the prisoners at libertie and brought thence great numbers of the inhabitants he burnt the Citie Doria being exceeding glad to haue in this sort reuenged their losse lately receiued departed from Nigrepont and from thence came soone after and seized on the Isle of Chyos The Generall of the Venetians after he had beene abroad fortie daies on this iournie and being out of hope to take any greater prize returned toward Venice but on the coast of Dalmatia he met with tenne Venetian Gallies which the Senate sent vnto him whom he there staied and caused them to returne with him to Venice The report of the great bootie which the Armie brought home and answered all mens expectation made his returne most welcome Some Authors affirme that the spoile which was brought to Venice amounted to the valew of foure hundred thousand crownes and others say three hundred thousand The same yeare that the warre began the King of Arragon vnto whom the Venetians had sent Mihaeli Steno ioined his forces to their against the Genoueses The Senate being strengthened by the alliance of such a Prince hoping to execute some great designe commanded a verie mightie Armie to be set forth and appointed fiue and twentie of the chiefe among them to make prouision in the Citie of all things necessarie for the warre Nicolao Pisani being chosen Generall of the Armie departed from Venice with twelue Gallies and with him Giouanni Delfino who went to Constantinople to make a League with the Greeke Emperour against the Genoueses Pisani being arriued in Dalmatia receiued one Gallie from the Corictani an other from those of Ragusa then he commanded three others of Venice to follow him who met him at Nigrâ—…pont Giouanni Delfino who came from Venice with him went on his Ambassade to the greeke Emperour who allied himselfe with the Venetians against the Genoueses But whilst the Greekes prepared their shippes of warre thirtie Venetian Gallies departed from Venice vnder the command of Pancratio Iustiniano Admirall of the Gulph who sailed towards Sicilie to ioine with the Armie of the Arragonois which was said to be at hand These two Armies being there ioined together left Sicilie and sailed directly towards Greece intending to passe beyond Morea But being on the maine such an horrible tempest arose as in the memorie of man was neuer the like seene The Fleet was meruailously beaten and in great danger one of the Gallies was drowned and diuers others striking on the shoare were split in peeces but without any great losse of men by reason they were so neere Land At the last the tempest ceasing they sailed towards Modon whither Nicolao Pisani came within a while after from Nigrepont The Genoueses a few daies before had giuen him chace with fortie Gallies from the maine euen almost to Nigrepont whither he speedily retired himselfe and sunke certaine shippes at the entrie of the Hauen to barre the enemies entrance beeing resolute
some were flung into the Sea Diuers were pardoned who had promised to aide the conspirators but they were not made acquainted with their practise but they were so noted as some for shame and for feare forsooke the Citie with their wiues and children the number of whom was about fiue hundred Phalerio his Pallace was giuen to the Church of the holy Apostle He which discouered the conspiracie was not onely pardoned but they gaue him a yearely pension of a thousand duckates and besides a Senators place But he thinking it a meane recompence for such a peece of seruice did publikely accuse them of ingratitude detracting from them in euerie place The Senate being prouoked at his impudencie had like to haue put him to death but the remembrance of his late good seruice made them to abstaine whereupon hauing taken from him the publike recompence he was banished for ten yeares to Ragusa From whence departing before the prefixed time hee died in his iourney towards Hungarie During these troubles Marco Cornari gouerned the Commonwealth as Vice-Prince Then at the next assembly Giouanni Gradonico surnamed Naso was chosen Duke ¶ GIOVANNI GRADONICO surnamed NASO the 56. Duke of Venice ABout the same time Bernardo Iustiniano departed from Venice with seuen gallies He hauing fortunately scoured the Seas for a time did greatly molest the Genoueses and would haue done much more if peace had not opportunely ensued for the good of either people this warre hauing lasted fiue yeares Order was diligently taken for both of them and with their allies and Armes were laid aside as well by Sea as Land against Bernabo and Galeas Viscount who succeeded Iohn Then the prisoners taken in the warres were on each side set at libertie whereupon the Genoueses to the number of two thousand being deliuered on the feast day of Marie Magdalen went by couples carrying each of them a burning taper in his hand to giue thanks vnto God at the Church of the same Saint This spectacle moued the whole Citie to deuotion so as euer since that feast-day hath beene solemnized which before then was not obserued The end of the third Booke of the second Deead THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE SECOND DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice The Contents of the fourth Booke of the second Decad. THe truce being expired LEWIS King of Hungarie allieth himselfe with the Carrarians and the Patriarch of Aquileia and at one time assaileth the Venetiaris in Italie and Dalmatia The same King returneth into Hungarie hauing spent some time in vaine before Treuiso and leaueth certaine troupes there to continue the siege The Paduans forbidden to traficke at Venice A troupe of mercenarie Almans defeated by the Hungarians neere to the Riuer Brente The Generallreuolt of Dalmatia from the Venetians in fauour of King LEWIS Peace with the same King Two Venetian Ambassadours sent to the Emperour are taken in Germanie by theeues The Duke of Austria rescueth those Ambassadours and bringeth them backe to Venice The Nobilitie of Candie reuolt from the Venetians LVCHIN VERMIO goeth into the Island with great forces The Venetians vanquish the Greekes neere to Mount Strombula who retire to Candace The Venetians recouer the Citie of Candace The Island being quieted Tilts and Turneyes were made in the Citie for ioy of the victorie The King of Cyprus in the companie of the Venetian Armie taketh Alexandria in Egypt A new sedition in Candie worse than the former so soone as the troupes were gone forth of the Island Those of the Island being a long time very much molested and their forces at the last broken submit themselues to the Venetians obedience The rebellion of the Thriestines The Venetians victorie ouer the Duke of Austria at Thrieste Strife betwixt the Venetians and Paduans concerning their limits ARmes being laid a side by Sea and by Land and the Citie restored to her ordinarie trafficke diuers shippes sailed to Cyprus and to other Faires and Martes of the Aegean Sea who for their more safetie for albeit they feared not the Genoueses yet the incursions of the Barbarians kept them in much awe had certaine armed Gallies for their conuoy commanded by Bernardo Iustinian who hauing brought them to a safe Port returned speedily into Dalmatia from whence hauing taken order for the affaires of the Prouince he brought backe his Armie in safetie to Venice Giouanni Baldo was the first that was sent to gouerne Val-marin that Earledome being fallen to the Venetians by the death of Phalerio This yeare about the Spring-time because the rumour was that Lewis King of Hungarie made preparations against the Venetians Marco Cornari and Marin Grimani were sent into Hungarie from whence they returned within a while after hauing found the Hungarian disposed to Warres Some Authors affirme that the cause of the Kings hatred to the Venetians was because they denied him shipping for the passage of his Armie into Italie at such time as hee would haue made warre on Queene Ioane But it is most certaine that this King was vanquished by the Venetians at Zara before that he beganne any warre in Italie But whether it were on this occasion or for any other as some say for wee know not herein whom to follow without all doubt the Ambassadours were sent into Apulia to the Hungarian who as some Authors say made truce with him for eight yeares and as others say for ten But at the beginning of the Genoueses warre albeit the time of the truce was not yet fully expired he beganne to quarrell with the Venetians about Dalmatia and there were presumptions that hee would forth-with make warre vpon them had not the mediation of the Emperour Charles the fourth caused him to giue ouer who commanded him to stay till the truce was ended whereupon he deferred the warre till this present which the Senate plainly foreseeing made them as it is thought to hasten the peace with the Genoueses the which they had before denied them when they stubbornely craued it to the end that being freed from the Genoan warre they might with more ease intend the other as they had done Some Annales make mention how that Cornari and Grimani the Ambassadours might at the same time haue easily shunned that warre if they would in the Common-wealths name haue promised him a white horse as a yearely tribute for Dalmatia The Venetians not intending thereby to wrong their right to Dalmatia refused it whereupon so soone as the truce was expired hee entred furiously into Dalmatia without farther denouncing of warre It is reported that at his first comming he brought so great an Armie as at one time he besieged Zara Scia Spalatra Trahu and Nona The Venetians who doe nothing rashly measuring the enemie by themselues did not imagine that he would so soone haue beene in the field by reason whereof they had not furnished the Prouince with necessaries But when they heard how that all the Cities almost of Dalmatia were besieged by the
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
from himselfe to the end that the Greeks should not afterward reedifie the Fort which the Venetians should demolish But on what pretence soeuer he did it the Commissioners being enforced to depart thence came to Venice The Senate tooke this refusall in bad part knowing that vnlesse Tenedos were deliuered the Common-wealths credit through one mans follie would be crackt among the Italians and forraine Princes and that all men would impute the blame to the Senate and not to one man alone And that besides their breach of faith it was to be feared that so soone as the Genoueses King Lewis and the other associates should heare that the Island was not deliuered to the Sauoyan they holding the couenants of peace to be broken would forthwith take Armes They therefore decreed to send to Mutatio and the Islanders Carolo Zeno was sent thither who neither by entreaties nor threats could alter his determination At Zeno his entrance because by one mans rashnesse the Common-wealths promise should not be infringed they decreed to proceed by Armes whereupon a speedie leuie of Souldiers was made vnto such a number as was thought sufficient to subdue the Island Fantino Georgio was made Generall of these forces He departing from Venice with sixe Gallies well Armed and arriuing at Tenedos landed his men and in an instant gaue a furious assault to the Towne and Castle There were great numbers of Archers in the Camp so was there in the Castle by meanes whereof at euery assault and sallie diuers died on either part Some say that they fought more eagerly than against ordinarie enemies For if any one were taken he was forth with hanged or else being put into one of the engines of Warre was in sted of a stone throwne into the Camp and so from the Camp into the Citie whereby it plainly appeared that it was neither the Prince nor Senates fault that the Island was not deliuered according to the treatie of peace but only through the wilfulnesse of Mutatio The siege lasted aboue seuen Moneths but victualls failing they yeelded on these conditions That neither Mutatio nor those who were with him should bee called in question for detaining Tenedos to the hindrance of the Common-wealth That the Inhabitants should depart forth of the Island with their gold siluer and other moueables That as many of them as would go dwell in Candie should haue as much Land there as they had in Tenedos and as many as would goe to Constantinople or else where should receiue money for the iust value of their Lands And in this sort those within gaue place to the Garrison The Castle being recouered Fantino entred it with two hundred Archers dismissing the residue of the Armie Giouanni Memo by the Senates decree did afterwards succeede him The residue of the Articles being performed and the Inhabitants being gone the Fort was at the last razed The Thryestines who in the hottest of the warre were reuolted from the Venetians fearing that so soone as they should be at quiet both by Sea and Land they would on a sodaine come and inuade them did yeeld to Leopold Soone after King Lewis died At the first it was thought that his death would in some sort abate the pride of Prince Carrario who till then had neuer ceased to molest the Treuisans but on the contrarie in sted of desisting he assailed them more furiously than before and gaue them so many assaults and ouerthrowes as Leopold despairing of being able to defend the Citie did on certaine conditions giue it ouer with her confines to the Paduan who in a manner was Conquerour All this hapned almost three yeares after that peace had beene established by Sea and Land But in the meane time Prince Contareni died after he had gouerned fourteene yeares and was honourably buried in St. Stephens Church ¶ MICHAELI MOROSINO the 61. Duke of Venice MIchaeli Morosino succeeded him At his entrie into the Gouernement a Law was made against Murtherers that whosoeuer should kill a man should loose his head whereas in time before they who were conuicted of such crimes were hanged according to the custome of the Countrie It was thought of a certaine that if his Principalitie had lasted any long time he would haue beautified the Common-wealth with sundrie holy Lawes and Statutes But by how much the hope thereof was greater by so much was his Regiment shorter For about foure Moneths after his Creation hee deceased and was buried in the Church of the Twinnes ¶ ANTONIO VENIERI the 62. Duke of Uenice ANtonio Venieri being absent was subrogated in his sted a man who besides his ancient Nobilitie was of a meeke and gentle disposition and beloued of all men Being called home from Candie where he remained he arriued the thirteenth of Ianuarie at Venice on S. Nicholas shore where the whole Senate and a great part of the people receiued him and from thence after diuers reciprocall embracements going into the Bucentauro he was with great ioy brought to the Ducall Palace His presence was the more welcome to all men because by reason of his long absence it had been so much desired He had beene seuen yeares absent with his familie and had well gouerned the Common-wealth in diuers places and chiefly at Tenedos His gouernment was very meeke and gentle without any tumult or strife in the Citie with plentie of all things which was greatly desired of all men But his owne domesticke losse did in some sort trouble the fortunate successe of his affaires Albeit I doe not well know whether his seuere iustice did purchace the old man more honour and reputation than his sonnes death did afflict him with griefe and sorrow He had a Sonne named Lodouico who was enamoured on a Senators wife But as it often happeneth some jealouzie arose betwixt the two louers whereupon this yong Lord by chance in disgrace of his Mistris whom he then hated caused hornes to be hung vp at her husbands gate Inquirie thereof being made the Prince being moued at the iniurie done to a Senator commanded his Sonne forthwith to be imprisoned where he remained till he died to the great griefe of all the people The same yeare at sundrie times the Marqueses of Aest and Mantua came to Venice with diuers other Princes and Princes Ambassadours to treate with the Senate concerning great affaires of State albeit some of them came but to see the Citie A while after peace still continuing abroade and at home great warre and contention arrising betweene Antonio Escalla of Verona and Francisco Carrario the elder Giouanni Galeas Visconte whose power was at the same time very great at Carrario his entreatie did make warre vpon Escalla and hauing vanquished him he tooke from him Verona and Vincenza Then as the desire of getting doth encrease when prosperitie doth follow vs he did as furiously assaile Padua as he had not long before done those of Escalla
furie earne safe to Venice The yeare following three Gallies departed from Venice the Duke of Austria had prepared two of them and Prince Carrario the third to fetch and conuoie from Apulia the sister of King Ladislaus who being newly restored to his kingdome was Crowned King by Barthimeo Iuliari Cardinall of the Sea Apostolike sent from Pope Boniface This sister was promised to one of the Dukes of Austria But these Gallies came back to Venice by reason that Ladislaus refused to send his sister Some Annales make mention how that the Emperour Robert with his wife came the same yeare to Venice where he was magnificently entertained and honoured with diuers rich presents But those Authors whom we follow conceale the cause of his comming I finde in some that Robert being vanquished by Galeas in the Territorie of Cremona hauing in a manner lost all his Armie retired to Trente where hauing leuied new forces he came to Padua and from the firme Land to Venice where being curteously entertained after he had familiarly discoursed with the Prince and Senate of the wrong which Galeas had done him he returned into Germanie But because mention is made of his wiues being there with him we must think that he left her at Venice because himselfe went on pilgrimage to Rome For it was the yeare of our Saluation one thousand foure hundred at such time as Pope Boniface the ninth celebrated the great yeare of Iubilie The same yeare the bridge of Rialto was reedified In this manner did the Common-wealth peaceably flourish and the greatest care of the inhabitants was set on trade of Marchandize But this quiet was interrupted by the Genoueses new stirs They had about the same time armed one and twentie Gallies and sixteene great Argosies Some Authours make no mention of Argosies The report was That this preparation was made against the King of Cyprus Boucicault a Frenchman was Generall of the Armie The Genoueses had beene for a time as they were then vnder the French Kings protection and the most part of their Gallies were manned with French-men The Fleet departing from Genoa arriued after a tedious course at Scandelora a Sea-Towne of Cilicia those who are most expert in Nauigation affirme this place from the firme Land to be opposite to Cyprus The Genoueses receiued there so great a losse as of all the Gallie-slaues in one and twentie Gallies there were not so manie left as would furnish eleuen Departing thence they sailed into Syria where surprizing Barut they ransackt spoiled as enemies all the Venetian ships and others who by chance were then in the Hauen From Syria they sailed into Moreâ—… Carolo Zeni whome the Senate at the first report of the Genoueses preparations had sent with eleuen Gallies into the Adriatick Gulph hauing at Sea narrowly pursued the Genoueses Fleete had speciall care that they should not attempt on any place belonging to the Venetians for their Armie spoiled all places where they came and yet he would not fight with them because they were not proclaimed enemies In this sort both of them dissembling the Venetians kept the Genoueses in aw and the Genoueses the Venetians But both of them staying neere to Modon they made shew of other matters than they had done at the beginning Zeni fearing least by his patience the Venetians affaires might incurre some great danger did on a sodaine set forward towards the Genoueses Fleete who vnder colour of taking in fresh water lay betwixt Modon and Ijonches At Carolo his vnlookt-for arriuall there was a sharp-fight and the Venetians fortune was so much the worse because the Genoa Gallies were better manned than theirs It is reported that euerie Gallie had besides the ordinarie banke of Rowers fortie men at Armes and all French-men who fought furiously with the Lance sword after the manner of their Countrie And the Venetians did but in a manner beare off the blowes at such time as Hermolao the Lombard returning from a long voiage came thither opportunely with two Gallies He perceiuing the danger wherein the Venetians were did with great furie turne the prowes of his Gallies vpon the enemie who was busied in fight and strooke one of their Gallies with such force as he ouerturned it into the Sea with the Souldiers and Marriners At Hermolao his arriuall fortune sodainly changed For the enemie who had alreadie in a manner wonne the victorie for the losse of one Gallie began to faint The Venetian on the contrarie being strengthened by these two Gallies did valiantly renew the fight Their fortune hung for foure houres space in equall ballance at the last three of the enemies Gallies being sunke and as manie taken the residue which were fiue betooke themselues to flight More than fiue hundred of the enemies were slain and drowned and more than eight hundred were taken prisoners The Venetians for their part obtained not this victorie without bloud shed who found an hundred and three and fortie of their men to be wanting It is said that after the victorie certaine Captaines of the Gallies were disgraced and noted of cowardize for comming too slowly on the enemie at the beginning of the fight because by their basenesse they had endaungered the state of the Common-wealth Others among whom was Gyles the Black were honored with great rewards because they had brauely borne themselues in that conflict The fiue Genoueses Gallies which fled from the fight encountring with a Venetian Gallie loden with victualls they easilie tooke it after that they tooke an Argosie wherein were diuers Venetian Gentlemen Much more harme besides they did to the Venetians but because after this defeate they knew no safe place of retreate they returned verie disconsolate to Genoa Within few daies after a French-man of the number of those who were taken prisoners in the fight being wearied with imprisonment said in choller That he hoped one daie to wash his hands in the bloud of the Venetians This cruell presage being reported to the Senate did so highly offend euerie mans eares as they all with one voice commanded that hee should bee hanged betwixt the two Columnes In this mean space Nouello Carrario commanded in Padua where he was some few yeares before replanted by the Venetians This vnthankfull man did hate the Venetians more than euer his Father had done He practized day night against them their state he dreamed on nothing else all his attempts tended to that purpose The Venetians hauing knowledge of a long time how he stood affected to them had I know not by what meanes discouered all his practises vnderstood by the French prisoners that he had beenâ—… the cause of the setting forth of the last Genoa Fleete that was defeated They knew likewise by letters found in the coffers of Galeas Visconte lately deceased the traps which those Tyrants had laied for them And besides all this after Galeas his decease hee
to guard them Carmagnolla with a braue troupe was come within three miles of the Towne and had sent certaine foot companies before who being opportunely arriued diuers of them ascended the walles by the same Ladders that were alreadie reared and they marching into the Citie surprised the Corps-deâ—…guard and seized on the next Gate by which the others entring did easily sustaine the attempts of the Inhabitants who ranne to the alarme If Carmagnolla had sent his supplies Cremona had beene taken but failing therein and pretending that the enemie had laid an ambush to entrappe him those which had entred the Towne hauing lost many of their fellowes retired to their ensignes Some saie that the Venetians held that place which they had taken two whole daies together And others whome I rather beleeue eight houres onely This opportunitie of taking the Citie being thus lost the Venetian Generall for winter was alreadie come and then the great raine that had fallen in Autumne had made both the weather and the waies verie bad did lead his Armie to their wintering Stations Vpon the coast of Genoa after Lauretanos departure the affaires had no great good successe For after the defeate of the Genoueses vpon the Rapallitan Sea Bernabo Adorini with thee hundred horse which the Marquis of Montferrat had giuen him had caused all the coast of Genoa in a manner to reuolt on the lands side Picinino being sent to pacifie these tumults hauing defeated Adorini and all his Cauallerie at Nouara there was no kind of crueltie which he did not execute vpon the poore Inhabitants For besides great numbers that were slaine in two battailes hee did by the Hang-man execute all those whome the hazard of warre had pardoned Afterwards being glutted with bloud he set to sale to them that offered most yong children Matrons and reuerent Priests Then hé marched against the Prince of Montferrat from whome in a short space he had taken thirtie Castles The Generall Lauretano being come to Corfu had acquainted the Senate with his need of supplies together with the want his Gallies had of trimming which were halfe broken in the last battaile He could not speedily obtaine his desire in regard of another Nauie which the Senate had a while before sent to take the Isle of Chios belonging to the Genoueses This fleet consisted of ten ships of burthen and foureteene Gallies with diuers other small vessells vnder the conduct of Andrea Mocenigo who arriuing in the Island with the fleet did by Sea and Land besiege the principall Citie of that place of the same name And after that he had battered it on all sides with engins and warlike instruments by the space of two months yet he could not take it being manned with a verie strong Garison In the meane time there was a great rumour spred that great number of vessels were arming at Genoa Whereupon Mocenigo hauing lost many men in that siege perceiuing that hee must needs raise his Campe and being out of hope to take the Towne ere succours arriued did in a rage and despite spoile the residue of the Island by cutting downe the Vines and Fruit-trees Hee departed thence before any supplies came from Genoa The enemie hauing intelligence that the Venetians had dislodged certaine Gallies and some fewe ships of burthen sailed thither to continue there the remainder of the winter The Summer following Pietro Spinola went thither with a greater fleet of foureteene ships of burthen seauen Gallies and eight thousand fighting men The Venetians vpon the first newes of this fleet of the enemies did likewise augment theirs which lay at Corfu to the number of thirtie three vessells to resist the attempts of the Genoueses Lauretano departed thence and with wonderfull speed came whilest the enemie coasted Sicil to Liuorne from whence the Genoueses not long beforè departed Spinola being come sooner to Corfu than he was lookt for did mightily affright those of the Island who had not as yet finished their fortifications Therefore the Senate in all hast did by letters aduertize Lauretano of the danger wherein Corfu was if speedie aide were not sent thither He hauing notice thereof sent sixe of his best Gallies thither to which the Senate hauing ioyned foure more did make Siluestro Morosino their Generall who was commaunded to follow the Genoueses whithersoeuer they went and to defend the Sea-coasts together with the Gulph Whilest these things were done at Sea Picinino hauing wasted all the Marquisat of Montferrat returned to the Cremonese where in short space he recouerd Torricelles Bordelan whereat all men did greatly wonder in regard that Carmagnolla with his troupes was not farre from thence The Senate being mightily incensed thereat did at last reuiue that which a long time before it had propounded Many had suspected him from the beginning who did openly crie out in the Senate that the suspition which they had conceiued of the man was so farre off from beeing smothered as on the contrary it was much increased and daily augmented acknowledging nothing in him but the name of Generall which was not an enemy to the Venetians Others were of opinion not to haue him called in question as culpable vntill that the presumptions of his trecherie were approued The Aduocates and Procurators Fiscall required to haue him committed to prison and if after hee had beene tortured hee should be found conuicted of treason to haue him punished with death This determination which was of long continuance did manifest the Venetians faithfull and secret constancie in the managing of their publique councells and affaires For the Senate which is composed of sundry orders of officers being assembled for this purpose the Senators came in the euening by torch light into the pallace and departed thence the next morrow by day-breake stil consulting vpon that busines Carmagnola was at the same time in Venice who comming in the morning to salute the Prince as hee came from the pallace asked him with a smiling countenance whether he should bid him good night or good morrow in regard he had not gone to bed that night The Prince answered smiling that the Senate being assembled about important matters had in that nocturnall councell often mentioned him Then on a sodaine he changed his discourse for feare lest he should suspect any thing Eight moneths were spent from the time of this consultation till the day of his execution during which time the matter was kept so secret as Carmagnola neuer suspected any thing although diuers of the councell were his familiar friends and some of them very poore so as both the one and other might haue drawne from him what summe of money they had pleased by discouering vnto him that which had beene concluded against him About the same time for they had already begunne to treate of peace with Philip being sent for by the Senators letters hee came to Venice where comming forth of his Gondola diuers gentlemen according to the manner went
commaund was stricken off and borne in triumph through the Campe and Cittie Some say that hee was smothered at the Roman Gate among the throng which fled and that hee was afterwards knowne by his Coate-armour The enemies nauall armie was not idle in the meane time for the Venetian Gallies and the rest of the Christian nauall armie with diuers others who came running to the shippes at the enemies first assault being out of hope to defend the cittie presently went their way but the Turkes tooke diuerse of them neere the sea-shoare The city was wholly sacked Virgins were defloured yong boyes forced and wines tormented with detestable filthinesse according to the maner of that cruell Nation Men that escaped death were made slaues Diuerse Venetians were on that day slaine and taken among whom were seuen and fortie Gentlemen In this manner was Constantinople the chiefe cittie of Grecia taken by Mahomet the Turkish Emperour and thus was that most ancient Grecian Empire ouerthrowne the yeare 1121. after the establishment thereof The newes of this losse gaue great terrour to all Christendome Pope Nicholas sent to Venice to haue fiue Gallies armed at his charge against the Turkes and propounded to as manie as should take armes vnder the Ensignes of the Roman church against those Infidells plenarie remission of all sinnes which they had till then committed And if anie souldier that was forth of pay should refuse to enroule himselfe for that warre hee did incurre his bitter curse The Venetians sent Bartolomeo Marcello to Mahomet to craue restitution of their countrymen with their goods An other Messenger went ouerland before Marcello who promised to returne to Venice from Constantinople within fiue and thirtie dayes The Senate was verie desirous to vnderstand what was become of those Venetians which were in Constantinople when it was taken whether they were still aliue or dead and if they were liuing in what state they were either at liberty or captiues The aboue mentioned Gallies with certaine shippes of burthen had alreadie before then sailed to sea vnder the commaund of Giacomo Lauretano who vpon newes of the taking of Constantinople retired into the Isle of Nigrepont The Senate thought vpon this new warre whilest all Lombardie was filled with armes and souldiers for Sforza hauing recouered all towns vpon the plaine approched with his armie neere to Rhoades that he might become Master of the mountaine where during his abode the townes of Romans Martinenga the Camonick valley and Brisanza yeelded to him the like did all the Inhabitants of the Gyradade Rhoades also being afterwards taken hee went to besiege the new Orgies in which meane space those of Soncina yeelded to him At the last the Orgies being recouered Romanenga who alone did obey the Venetians did voluntarily yeelde as the rest had done Afterwards there were no greater exploits done in Lombardie Toward the latter end of Haruest when Winter drew neere Sforza was desirous in the behalfe of Lodonico Gonzaga to take Asola but he was inforced to giue ouer his enterprize and to put it off till some other time as well by reason of a mightie tempest which then happened as in regard of the continuall raine that followed it Renatus being in a rage as it is supposed against the Florentines and Sforza went hisway in the middest of Winter and returned through the countrie of Ast and Thurin into Fraunce But to returne to the affaires of Greece The Venetians being desirous to vnderstand of the welfare of those who with the cittie of Constantinople had beene taken by the Turks had intelligence within a while after by some that came to Venice that the Venetians that were taken in Constantinople were prisoners and that the enemie had vsed no crueltie on those whom Fortune had saued within a while after Lauretano's letters did assure the Senate of the prisoners redemption and that the Turkes for seuen thousand crownes would set them at liberty The very same day of these newes the Popes Nuncio came to Venice who was receiued by great troupes of people Hee spake to the Senate concerning peace which he said he had motioned at Florence and said that at his departure thence he would go to Sforza to treate likewise with him And that the Pope did determine to quiet Italie the better afterwards to preuent the great daunger which threatned all Christendome from the Turkes and to that end he was desirous to be Iudge and Vmpire of that peace and that hee which should impugne it should be held as excommunicate and for an enemie not onely to Italie but to all Christendome This aduertisement beeing giuen which the Venetians did willingly entertaine hee tooke his leaue of the Venetians and went to Sforza Lauretano who had intelligence as hath been said of the taking of Constantinople was gone to Nigrepont from whence he writ to the Senators certifying them That he was resolued to tarrie there for the guard of the Island that he had sunke foure of the enemies great Gallies and thirteene other small ones that their Rowers and Mariners swimming to Land had beene all slaine by the Countrie people and that he had hanged those whom he tooke in the Gallies No sooner were Lauretans letters read in the Senate but the Popes Gallies which were readie to set saile were commanded to goe and ioine with their Nauall Armie with which Lauretano being strengthened determined to tarrie for the Gallies from Alexandria and Syria and then with that mightie Fleet to set forwards against the enemies whom he had still forborne to meddle with till such time as the troubles of Italie being pacified he might increase the number of his vessells Within a while after Christophero Moro and Vrso Iustiniano were sent to Rome to treate of peace with the other Ambassadors of Italie in the Popes presence The Venetian cauallerie before the Ambassadors departure had surprized certaine victualls from the enemie together with those which conuoied it but after that the treatie of peace was mentioned the Venetians made no more incursions into Lombardie Yet because they would not seeme quite to abandon the Prouince they sent acertaine number of Archers and some vessells thither by the Riuer Po. They did afterwards make a league with the Genoueses and those of Luca for which generall processions were made in the Citie They did likewise at the same time procure Bartilmeo Coyoni vnderhand to come and serue them But whilest this was done the Popes fiue Gallies which at the beginning went against the Turkes about the Spring-time returned to Veniee without Lauretano's leaue Giouanni Dandulo Antonio Quirini Andrea and Nicholao Contareni who were Captaines of them were by the Senates decree committed to prison Andrea Contareni and Giouanni Dandulo being found guiltlesse were acquitted and the rest condemned in a pecuniarie fine and to indure imprisonment for half a yeare were declared vnworthie euer after to haue any command at Sea And against foure
and had inuironed all the Islands receiued of Cominius the Pirate the Isle of Lemnos in Morea He with two Gallies had taken it from Mahomet who had made it his owne by reason of the Empire whereon it depended and after that hee had held it for a time distrusting as it is to be supposed his owne forces he did deliuer it into the Venetians hands The nauall Armie wintered in the confines of Modon Zonchia Naples and Coron Vrso Iustiniano did at the Spring time succeede Lauretano in the place of Generall He departed from Venice about the beginning of Ianuary but in regard of the extreme cold he arriued in the Prouince three moneths after with three gallies At Zonchia he receiued one and twenty Gallies that lay in the Hauen with those and them which he brought with him he sailed towards Modon where halfe way he met Lauretano with three great Gallies who after sundrie reciprocall embracements did according to the Senates commaund surrender the charge of the Gallies to him and retired himselfe to Sapienza Vrso stayed at Modon till the whole Armie were come thither together then departing thence with two and thirtie Gallies he sailed towards Coron and within a while after passing by Naples he came in a short space to Nigrepont and from thence hauing coasted all the Islands of the Aegean Sea he had heedfully obserued what state they were in But whilst Vrso made these reuiewes Nicolao Ragio and Iohn surnamed the fatte Captaines of the bands of men at Armes with those troupes that they had with them tooke certaine small townes from the enemie vpon the Gulph of Patras Francisco Sidicino Cicco Brandolino with diuers other Venetian Captaines were encamped with three thousand men at Mantinea and the enemies at Pithyma fiue hundred of whose horse beeing come to Tulmutha which was a towne betwixt both Armies came to defie the Venetians who contemning the small number of the Barbarians went forward presently to assaile them who a long time stood firme against the formost rankes of the Venetians vntill that the rest of their Cauallerie whom they had sent for by sundrie messengers did arriue For then by their comming those which beganne the fight beeing slaine they which were left aliue were without armour Captaines and ensignes miserably massacred heere and there It is reported that fifteene hundred Christians lay dead vpon the place among whom were Brandolino and Giouanni Attellano who the day before was come from Modon to Mantinca with Andrea Dandulo the Prouidator Giouanni Massano and diuers other noble men who had commaund in the Venetians Armie The Republique had no better successe neere to the Islands For Vrso hauing viewed them went to Lemnos and from thence returned to Nigrepont where within a while after hauing receiued supplies from thence and hauing fortie Gallies in his companie he sailed fiercely against the Isle of Lesbos From Nigrepont he came directly to Lemnos hauing by the way taken a ship of the enemies he did put tenne Turkish Marchants to death that were in it and hung vp the rest Then about midnight departing from Lemnos he went with great rumour about the third houre in the morning and encompassed Mytelene the chiefe Citie of the whole Island It hath two hauens on the North side and one towards the South The Armie entered into this as being further off Those of the countrey betooke themselues to flight and the whole Island was in allarme Then three hundred Turkes that were brought to the Gallies were by Vrsos command impaled throwne into the Sea and some of them hanged Within a while after he did by day-breake giue an assault to the Citie by Sea and Land hauing first sent a ship of Genoa which to that end he had stayed by the way and a Dalmatian Galley to take the tower vpon the hauen And himselfe in the meane time landed his troupes on the other side of the Citie The two vessels being sent against the tower did presently retire by reason of the Ordnance shot The troupes being landed went brauely to the assault throwing themselues inconsiderately to manifest daunger whereupon the fight lasted with wonderfull furie for sixe houres space to the losse and ruine of the Venetians who being vanquished by the multitude of shot and grieuously wounded after a great ouerthrow were enforced to retire It is reported that three thousand of them were slaine that day This losse did not abate the Venetians courage for within a while after returning againe to assault the enemie with greater furie they were after sundrie vnprofitable attempts beaten from the wall with like losse as at the first In the meane time newes was brought that the enemies nauall Armie did approach the which besides other smaller vessels consisted of fiue and fortie Gallies It was likewise reported that two thousand horse landed on the other side of the Iland would presently arriue Vrso being daunted with these newes after that hee had lost fiue thousand men and the rest for the most part hurt quitted Mitylene and came to Nigrepont where with remorse of conscience for such bad successe he fell into so great sorrow and melancholy as notwithstanding that he was a man of a great spirit did neuerthelesse behaue himselfe like one that had lost his senses From Nigrepont being brought to Morea and from thence to Modon he was landed by his owne seruants where on a sodaine being oppressed with griefe he died within halfe an houres space Such was the end of Vrso Iustiano a man valiant and noble among his countrimen Giacomo Lauretano was after his death sent to command the Armie He departing from Venice was followed by Sigismond Malateste accompanied by a thousand Italians A long time before Pope Pius had made a league with the Venetians the king of Hungarie and Philip Duke of Burgondie against the Turks But Malateste so soone as he came into the Prouince where he heard of the death of Giouanni Attellano and Brandolino and saw the small forces there made a lowde protestation that he would neuer haue imbarked himselfe for that warre if he had but knowne in what state the affaires of that Countrey had beene yet because men should not say that his comming thither was in vaine he marched with all the troupes he could leauie to take Sparta a Citie in old time most famous among the chiefest Cities of Greece the which in a short space he forced It being taken which at this day is in a manner inhabitable he began to batter the Castle with his Ordnance That siege continued many moneths and it could not be taken by reason of the strong Garrison within it About the latter end of Autumne fifteene thousand Turkes arriued there who encamped verie neere to the Venetians Sigismond distrusting his owne small number for he had but two thousand men in his camp durst not assaile them with his whole forces at once but skirmished oftentimes with them And so
being grieuously wounded and weakned with hunger and watching did quit the walls to the enemies which they on a sodain seizing on all other parts of the wals were in an instant abandoned Then they began in euerie place to murther the poore inhabitants together with the Magistrates and officers Leonardo Caluo was murhered in the Palace Bondemario in the house of Paulo Andreatio who hath written the historie of the taking of Nigrepont And Hericio comming vpon Ottomans word forth of a verie strong place which he had made good was by the tirants cōmand sawed a sunder in the middle that trecherous scoffer saying That he had promised to pardon his head but not his flanks Then he made a cruell decree That all yong men of twentie yeeres of age should be slaine and that he which should saue any one of that age should himselfe be put to death Then was a horrible slaughter made vpon the townes-men and against those whom aduerse fortune had brought thither all places reeking with bloud The heads of those that were slaine being laid on an heape in S. Francis market-place neere to the Palace before the Patriarkes house did serue for a pittifull spectacle to women children The dead bodies lying heere and there for feare least the stench should infect the aire were throwne into the neighbour channell At the very same time that the citie was taken the Gallies whom the Generall had ouernight sent for arriued when it was too late And perceiuing that the Venetian Ensignes were no more vpon the towers and that by other euident signes they knew that the Citie was lost they did in sad and lamentable manner with teares in their eies behold the Cities wals and because there was no safetie in abiding there they weighed Ankors and sailed thence The end of the eighth booke of the third Decad. THE NINTH BOOKE OF THE THIRD DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice The Contents of the ninth Booke of the third Decad. OTTOMANS nauall Armie contrarie to all mens expectation returneth whole and vnbroken to Constantinople CANALIS attempteth in vaine to recouer Nigrepont PIETRO MOCENIGO commeth to the Armie CANALIS is confined to the Port Gruario a Castle of the Forlani Peace being for a time treated of with OTTOMAN taketh none effect MOCENIGO goeth to the frontires of Ionia and returning within a while after into the same Prouince he mightily wasteth Pergamene and the inhabitants of Gnidos He doth the same on the confines of Caria He doth with the supplies of the Pope and King FERDINAND take the Citie of Sattalia in Pamphilia MOCENIGO giueth courteous entertainment to the Ambassador of VSSAN-CASSAN king of Persia who was sent to the Venetians The Turkes begin to make incursions into Albania Dalmatia and other places on the frontires of Italie The troubles of Ferrara doe for a time hold the Venetians in iealousie MOCENIGO taketh the Citie of Smyrna by assault He wasteth and spoileth the territorie of Clazomene A young man of a noble house doth in a night burne OTTOMANS Arcenall at Gallipolis MOCENIGO rest◅reth CARAMAN to his kingdome He doth confirme the widow of the late king of Cyprus who was a Venetian Ladie of the familie of the CORNARES in her kingdome OTTOMAN fighteth with good successe against VSSAN-CASSAN the Persian AAter the taking of Nigrepont the Venetian fleet was for a time banished as it were from their countrey wandering vp and downe in the neighbour Islandes At last returning to their first Rendeuous it was in a short space though too late meruailously encreased Giacomo Venieri came to it with fiue and twentie well-armed vessels and within a while after fourteene other Gallies arriued who were followed with sixteen others after them presently came diuers more so as in a verie short time the number amounted to more than an hundred vessels fit for seruice The ships of burthen because they would not saile without winde were left at the Isle of Cea neere to Negrepont The Gallies gaue chace to the enemies fleet which was loden with bootie as farre as Chios For Ottoman hauing left a stong Garrison in Nigrepont was gone forth of the Island and retired by land with all his troupes The Isle of Chios lieth betwixt Lesbos and Samos Ephorus hath termed it Ethalia by the ancient name Methodorus and Cleobulus say that it was called Chios of the Nimph Chione It is in circuite an hundred and fiue and twentie thousand paces and it is seated right ouer against Erithrea It was in former times free now it acknowledgeth the Genoueses for her Lords who by a corrupted speech call it Sio The Venetians being come to the Promontorie of Mastic in the enemies view Canalis fearing if he should loose the battaile which he determined to giue that then he should more encrease mens hatred towards him called all the Captaines of the Gallies to councell and craued their aduise if they thought it expedient for the Commonwealth to fight that day with all their forces and to giue the enemies battaile Their opinions thereupon were various At last most of them being of opinion not to precipitate the Commonwealth into an apparent danger the fleete returned to Sea without fight It is reported that so soone as the enemie descried the Venetian Gallies neere to Chios he presently determined to make away resoluing by no meanes to fight in regard of his smal number of men so as some of them were alreadie embarked in light vessels fit for flight and others so soone as they perceiued the Venetians comming towards them determined to leaue their vessels and to swimme to the neighbour shoares But when they descried that the Venetian fleet shaped another course they presently left Chios sailed to Lesbos to man their vessels with rowers From Lesbos going to the streight they were afraid lest the Venetian fleete should be at Tenedos and there whither they would or not enforce them to fight But hauing intelligence by their discouerers that all there was quiet after that they had passed by Tenedos they sailed with great cries and wonderful ioy to a safe Hauen It is reported that the Generall of the Turkish fleete hauing crossed the streight turned towards his souldiers with a smiling countenance said vnto them The Venetians haue dealt verie courteously with vs for they haue accompanied vs with great numbers of Gallies from Tenedos to Nigrepont then from thence to Chios The losse of Nigrepont did affect the Senate and people with such discontent as they would hardly haue receiued greater if they had lost all that they possessed on the firme land or at sea All men generally said that this losse did not onely concerne the Venetian State but all Italie That they had no Island channell or sea-streight left that was able to withstand the attempts of that barbarous enemie but that he might at his pleasure with a direct course saile to Italie That their owne negligence with that of others had beene
Cities gouernour presuming vpon them would not endure to heare tell of yeelding But when the Venetian perceiued it to be time to vse force and no threatning he planted his Ordnance on the South and West sides of the Citie and hauing made a great breach in the wall Ismael yeelded on conditions to haue his owne life and those of his souldiers saued The Venetian surrendred the Citie to Caraman From thence he went to besiege Seleucia Seleucus one of Alexander of Macedons successors builded it fiue miles from Sea This Citie is now ruinate Nessembeg lay in Garrison in the Castle which was strong by situation and art who although at first he made shew not to yeeld yet so soone as he perceiued the ordnance other engins to be planted against him he forthwith yeelded the fort the garrison to the Venetians who by Souranza did presently deliuer it to the king his friend Caraman hauing won his kingdom presented the Venetian general with a horse bridled sadled barded withsiluer with a tame Leopard giuing him infinite thanks for that by his meanes he had recouered his fathers kingdome assuring him that whatsoeuer his brother and himselfe should possesse they would euer confesse to hold it of the Venetians Warre being in this manner ended in Cilicia Mocenigo hearing no newes of the king of Persias Armie determined to inuade Licia which had not as yet tasted the miseries of war But newes being brought vnto him that Iames king of Cyprus lay grieuously sicke of a Dissenteria or flix he sailed to Cyprus to visit him The Venetian being come into the Island hauing after reciprocall salutations enquired of his disease of the remedies applied thereunto entreated the king to be of good cheere and with patience to beare the force of his maladie who made him this answere I know verie well most excellent Captaine and feele how that by the violent torment of my disease I am in great danger of life and not to flatter my selfe I haue no hope to escape I make my deerest wife with the childe which she beares in her body mine heires and she is as thou knowest daughter to Marco Cornari and being adopted by the Venetian Senat was by it giuen to me in mariage If I die which I make no question of I recommend my wife issue and kingdome to the Venetians And I heartily entreat thee in regard of our friendship and for the greatnes of the Venetian state if it come to that that thou wouldest defend and keepe both her selfe issue and kingdome from all wrong and oppression Thy body quoth Mocenigo most Royall King is yet in good estate and thou in the prime of thine age which may put thee in good hope of speedy recouery but if it should fall out otherwise which God forbid I bescech thee be confident that neither my selfe nor the Venetians forces will euer be wanting to thee or thine And then taking leaue of him he speedily sailed with all his fleete to the Islands neare to Licia from thence going to the firme land and carrying away a great bootie from that coast he resolued to besiege Micra a towne neare to the sea and because hee had small hope that it would otherwise yeelde hee planted his ordnance on both sides The wall was in some places very much shaken when Aiasabet Gouernour of Lycia shewed himselfe with great troupes of souldiers The light horse of Morea went against him and there was a cruell fight on both sides Aiasabet being slaine the Turkes were with great slaughter broken and put to rout An hundred and fiftie of the enemies heads were brought to the Campe and being fixed vpon launces with that of Aiasabet were set vp neere to the walles to the end the besieged might behold them Charago the Tribull who commaunded in the Citty being daunted with the disaster of his Countrymen and perceiuing a great part of the wall to be beaten downe he capitulated for himselfe and the Inhabitants that they might haue their liues saued and depart whither they pleased This being graunted the Venetians sacked and burnt the citie From thence the fleet sailed to Flisca which in times past was opposite to Rhodes but at this day there is nothing to be seene but the ruines the territorie round about it is filled with Villages The horse of Morea and the Mariners being landed wasted all that Countrey The Generall had determined to passe the streight and had already commaunded the Captaines of the Gallies to bee ready to that end when the Messengers of Charlotta sister to the King of Cyprus whom her brother had driuen foorth of the kingdome and like a banished woman had liued a long time at Rhodes arriued who certified the Generall of the King of Cyprus death by whom his sister Charlotta being borne in lawfull matrimonie had been wrongfully expelled from her fathers kingdome They craued his aide and entreated him to assist the King of Cyprus daughter and kinswoman to the Duke of Sauoy and to restore her to her fathers kingdome from which her brother sonne to a concubine had driuen her Mocenigo after that he had acquainted them with the auncient league and alliance which had beene betwixt the Venetians and King Iames answered That in the Common-wealths name he would doe the Ladie Charlotta all right yet hee did greatly wonder that shee did not remember how that the right of Kingdomes is rather debated by the Sword than by Law And that the Realme of Cyprus had not beene onely taken from her and from the Genoueses who then held a part thereof That for his part hee knew how that the wife of the late King the adoptiue daughter of the Venetian Senate being left with child had beene together with the fruit of her wombe made heires by the deceased King before his death and therefore hee tolde them plainely That hee would in that iust quarrell take vpon him the defence of the Queene wife to the late King who did hope ere long to be mother to a King Hee willed them then to depart and to seeke aide elsewhere against her for hee was resolued in honour of the Republique to defend her from all wrongs and oppression The Ambassadors being dismissed with this answere he determined to passe the streight but in the meane time hee receiued Letters from Catharine Zeno which did aduertize him that the Armies of the Persian king and the Turke were not farre off from one an other and that their meaning was to fight with displayed ensignes for the finall deciding of their controuersie that he should doe well speedily to bring his fleete to the sea coast of Cilicia whither the Persian king promised to bring his troupes there to treate with him after what maner the warre should be managed These Letters made the Venetian to giue ouer his iourney into the streight and to shape his course towards Cilicia and after that
in the Citie which was called Marcello by the Authors name The end of the ninth booke of the third Decad. THE TENTH BOOKE OF THE THIRD DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice The Contents of the tenth Booke of the third Decad. THE description of the Isle of Cyprus The Islanders sedition and CORNARI his death are mentioned in the beginning The conspirators leaue the Island vpon the arriuall of the Venetian fleet MOCENTOO by his presence assureth the state of the Island The description of Albania and 〈◊〉 SOLIMAN the Eunuch with great forces besiegeth Scutarie The Venetiansâ—… se all meanes by land and water toraise the siege The Venetians Gallies fight fortunately with the Turkes at the mouth of the Boiano The Turkes are with great losse repuâ—…ed from the walles of Scutarie TRIADAN GRIâ—…TI being infected with the â—…adayre of the Boyano dieth at Catharra The king of Hungarie at the same time fâ—…ghteth often with good successe against the Turkes The siege of Scutarie is raised ANTONIO LAVRETANO who had defended Scutarie being made Generall of the Gallies doth by his â—…ppartune arriuall first keepe Lepanto and afterwards Lemnos The Venetians are vanquished and receiue a great utter throw in 〈◊〉 before Croya and within â—… while after another in Italie neere â—…o the Riuer Lizonza where they loose their Cauallerie The Turkes put all the countrey of Friull to fire and sword Scutarie is againe besieged by the Turkes more fiercely than it had beene foure yeares before The Turkes make incursions into Italie Peace is made with OTTOMAN during the siege of Scutarie Yet scarce obserued in the Islands about controuer sie for the Garrison of Xant Peace being made with the Turke warre is continued for a time in Tuscanie in the behalfe of the Florentines THE Isle of Cyprus being afterward entangled in new broyles did in the middest of winter call the Venetian to heraide The familie of the Gothâ—…lans was verie powerfull in that Island for king 〈◊〉 hauing in a manner thrust all the nobility forth the country together with his sister Charlotta had mightily enriched these men and seated them in the chiefest places of his kingdome In former times they had giuen themselues to piracie and liued onely by theft But the king being dead and they by his bountie possessing goodly inheritances were neuerthelesse desirous to embroyle the state of the Prouince Of their faction there was a Cypriot Bishop a man esteemed by his countriâ—…en no lesse ingenious than fortunate At the kings death he was his Ambassador with King Ferdinand This Bishop determined to inuade the Realme by tyrannie and the better to effect his purpose he perswaded King Ferdinand to pursue by his meanes the marriage betwixt his bastard sonne and the bastard daughter of the late King Iames gotten on a concubine And for speedie conclusion of the businesse the Bishop with two Gallies returned to Cyprus with one of King Ferdinands trustiest Councellers Mocenigo who lay at Modon hauing intelligenâ—…e of the arriuall of the kings Gallies began to suspect that they were not sent thither but vpon some great occasion whereupon he presently dispatched Coriolan Cepio and Pietro Tolmiere the Dalmamatian with two Gallies into Cyprus and commanded them to enquire of the Queene whether those of the Island practized any innouation and if the feared any treacherie boldly to send him word what she would haue him to doe who would be readie to come to her with the whole fleete vpon any occasion After their departure Mocenigo had intelligence by letters from the Gouernour of Candie that the Cypriots had an intent to rebell and that it was to be feared that vnlesse their designes were broken by the sodaine arriuall of the Venetian fleet in Cyprus that the state of the Island would be greatly endangered The Generall being moued by these letters did speedily send Victor Souranza with eight Gallies into Cyprus who comming to Candie before that the two Gallies which were first sent were gone from thence Souranza commanded Coriolan to pursue his iourney and told him that he with the rest of the Gallies would follow after Whilest the Venetians were on their way the Cypriots hauing commplotted with their Bishop did in the night come forth of their houses armed and sâ—…ue Polizappa of Cyprus and the Queenes Phisitian who being 〈◊〉 with that sodaine rumour ranne to his chamber Andrea Cornari at the first noise fled to the Castle where the Captaine refusing to giue him entrance he hid himselfe betwixt the two walles but being discouered and comming forth vpon the conspirators words that he should haue no harme he was presently by them murdered together with Marco Bembo his Nephew sonne to his sister They left their bodies naked in the place These murthers being committed they ranne with the selfe same furie to the Venetian Magistrates house who remained in the Island to doe iustice to his conntreymen Nicolao Pascali was then Magistrate they told hâ—…m that the souldiers had slaine Cornari because he would not giue them their pay and that they would not haue that nights murther committed through the couetousnesse of one man to be by the Venetians imputed to them who protested still to continue loyall to the Queene and the Venetians intreating him to write to the Venetian Generall that Cornari had beene slaine by his owne fault for defrauding the souldiers of their pay they told him besides that they would send messengers to the Prince and Senate to assure them of the Islanders loyaltie towards the Queeene and her sonne and of their friendship towards the Venetians Although Pascali knew all this to be false he made shew neuerthelesse to beleeue them and promised them to write to Mocenigo They in the meane time entring into the Pallace betrothed the kings bastard daughter of sixe yeares old to king Ferdinands bastard They intituled him Prince of Galilee wherewith the successors in the Kingdome were wont to be honoured and assigned him diuers lands and signoriâ—…s for her dowrie These things being done they presently in a Galley sent away King Ferdinands counseller who came thâ—…ther with the Bishop to acquaint the King his master what had past They sent messengers likewise to Venice to satisfie the Senators with words and to sweeten the bitternesse of 〈◊〉 death or if they could not appease them yet at least in some sort to defeâ—… the warre which the Venetians might make vpon them before their forces could be vnited They compelled the Queene to write to Mocenigo that Cornari her vncle had beene slainâ—… by the souldiers for his couetousnesse that with her sonne she freely gouerned the kingdâ—…me that all the Cypriots were dutifull and loyall all which the poore Princesse being enuironed with traitors durst not refuse to write That done they beganne to strengthen their faction and manned the Castles and strong places with men at their owne deuotion and sharers in the conspiracie In the meane time Cariolan arriued who seeming to be ignorant
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
word to Count Marcian presently to breake downe the cawsies and bankes of the Riuer betwixt Mellaria and Hostilia for that once done they needed no more to feare the enemies incursions and himselfe returned againe to Ficarolles But in his absence the townesmen had fortified the trench planted their Ordnance on the opposite shore broken downe the camps Rampiers and burnt the Souldiers Cabins Vrbin comming thither afterwards from Hostilia had strengthened the Towne with a stronger Garrison and from thence retired to Stellata on the opposite shore and there remained to releeue his people when neede were with supplies armor and victualls all his troupes came thither to him Robert in the meane time being somewhat tyred did againe fill the trench and encamped on either side thereof But whilest these things were done there Christofero Muletto a valiant Captaine who commanded the small vessells for Damiano Moro Generall of the fleete vpon the Po had passed on beyond the enemie besieged and took Hadria a very ancient Citie The souldiers of the garrison and townsmen did at first brauely defend it The situation of the place did greatly auaile them which is for the most part enuironed with water not nauigable but by certaine Channels through which very hardly vessells come neere the Cittie Dominico Hericeo a couragious souldier was slaine at the first assault The Venetians incensed by his death did with greater furie assault the Citie and without feare of danger mounted the rampires and neuer gaue ouer till the souldiers and mariners entred it Then the inhabitants casting downe their Armes cried for mercie The Conquerors at their first entrance slew diuers and the houses in many places were burnt and spoiled and Hadria had that day beene wholy ruined had not the Venetian presently commaunded the souldiers to abstaine from spoile and murther We haue elsewhere spoken of the situation and antiquitie of this ciâ—…tie Hadria taken the whole Countrey round about was wasted Comachia likewise at the same time yeelded to the Venetians These Citties with others neere adioyning some by force and others voluntarily beeing taken by them and Moro sailing with the fleete vp the Riuer all men fled on both sides the Po for the Inhabitants of the Countrey terrified with the losse of Hadria ranne with their wiues and children to Ferrara and other Townes of safetie Hercules had fortified a place vpon the Po called Pilosella by which the fleete was to passe and had there builded three Castles of wood one in the middest of the Riuer and the other on both sides which hee furnished with ordnaunce and other necessaries and strong garrisons Sigismond d'Este Hercules brother and Giouan Bentiuole of Bolognia lay there with six hundred horse and as many foot Moro had great numbers of vessells to wit gallâ—…ots small boates Ganzarioles with many other of sundry sorts to the number of two hundred well armed and readie to fight Himselfe in his owne Gallie sailed against the enemie the like did the forces by land The Venetian beganne the fight with such animositie as putting the Cauallerie and the rest which were on each shoare to flight after along and dangerous bickering hee tooke the Fortes vpon the water The victory was verie bloudy But the ioy to haue vanquished made them forget their present losse They sent the Castle which was builded in the middest of the water vpon a great vessel to Venice the others were burnt Moro victorious caused his souldiers and mariners to spoile and waste all places neere to the Riuer they being as well prouoked by reuenge as desire of bootie pillaged all villages and countrie houses vpon the Riuer and then burnt them and so satisfied carried away with them great numbers of prisoners and cattell and thus loaden with bootie arriued at the campe before Ficarolles These men by theyr speed comming thither before the fleet and being taken for enemies did put the Campe in alarme but when they were knowne to be friends they did cheerefully embrace one another and continued the siege both by land and water then they made so fierce a battery as they ouerthrew the Citties walles and rampires Fredericke of Vrbin who was on the opposite shore beholding the danger of his friends was not idle but annoyed the Venetians with his ordnance from the farther side and supplied the besieged with armour victuall and whatsoeuer else he knew to be necessarie for a siege But nothing did so much hurt to the Venetian as certaine peeces called Bases then not vsuall For neither armour rampire or fortification could withstand their fury and yron bullets which carried away with them whatsoeuer they met with And because that contrarie to the discipline of those times they played aswell by night as day Sanseuerino sent him word by a Trumpet that if hee did not cease his new kinde of warre hee would turne his Cannons from the walles of Ficarolles vpon his Campe whereupon they agreed together that when Sanseuerino should assault the Citie or batter the walls with his ordnance the enemie might vse those peeces Moreouer Sanseuerino resoluing wholy to shut vp the Riuer from the enemie commanded certaine vessells of the fleet to bee drawne by Land vp the Riuer beyond the enemies camp Vrbin sent for nine Galeots from Hostilia of those fiue and twentie which he had brought with him from Milan to ouer-runne those vessells Fiue of them being come to an Island neare to the Venetians fleet foure hundred of the Souldiers landed there to refresh themselues by reason of the great heat and lay downe here and therein the shade vpon the grasse The Venetians aduertised of their landing and vnwilling to omit so faire an occasion landing on the farther side of the Island to the number of 150. did sodainly assaâ—…le the enemie halfe asleepe who being amazed with such an vnlookt for assault in sted of defending them selues fled towards the vessells most of them were slaine or taken threescore and ten being taken aliue were brought to Sanseuerino who vnderstanding that they were Milaneses and Artificers not comming thither of their owne accord to fight but sent by their Princes commandement did vse them gently and furnishing them with clothes and money gaue them leaue to depart It was not long ere the enemie had his reuenge with greater losse to the Venetians The Po diuides it selfe into two branches as hath been said fiue hundred paces beneath Ficarolles The Venetian Captaines determined to build a Fort at the point of the Island where this separation begins that the right side thereof on the way from Stellata to Ferrara might be shut vp from the enemie Antonio Marciano was the first that propounded it wherefore the charge thereof was committed to him He being accompanied by Bartilmeo Falceria Tomaso of Immola and two Companies of foot did on a sodaine seize on the place and then with great numbers of peasants brought thither with him to that end began the worke The soldiors and
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
The French King on the other side beeing prouoked by discontent caused thirty Galleys to bee armed at Marseilles his intent therein beeing not knowne It was likewise reported that great numbers of vessells of all sorts were armed and prepared in Barbary not to scoure and robbe at sea but to ioyne with the Turkâ—…h Armie conducted by Caâ—…aaine and among other Captaines there was a very famous Pirate called Sinam Câ—…fut surnamed the Iewe a man very valiant and well experienced in marine businesse The Pope in like manner to assure his Sea townes from all incursions and inuasions or â—…or some other deseigne as it was sâ—…pposed had armed ten Galleys All these fleetes begaâ—… iealousie in the Venetians and enforced them to expences by augmenting the number of their Galleys and the soldiers of the garrisons in their sea townes whereby beeing in extreame need of helpe in these extraordinary expences it was propounded in the Councell to acquaint the Pope againe therewith to the end to obtaine leaue of him for that purpose to raise the summe of an hundred thousand Ducats vpon the Clergie of their owne State Some others of those of the Councell who had already in this businesse tried the Popes rigor were of opinion that the Senate without tarrying for that leaue should begin to leuie that summe of money or else to proceed therein more earnestly with the Pope declaring how that the wealth dedicated to the Churches of their State was very great and ample which beeing freed from all publick contribution their other subiects were oppressed with subsidies and intollerable charges for the paiment of their fleets and soldiors leuyed for the conseruation of their liberty and publick faculties That it was not credible that the holy intent of those who had enriched the Churches was that the Republick being ruined and destroied should be depriued of making vse of that which they had giuen to those Churches in case of necessity That the Pope stood badly affected to their State and to whatsoeuer concerned them â—…o as hee made difficulties vpon all their requests or else vsed long delayes therein Bâ—…t notwithstanding these prepositions the zeale of Religion and the respect to the Sea Apostolick were of such force with the Senators as preferring it before all other profit and commodity this proposition was reiected constantly affirming that it did not beseeme the Republick which was founded encreased in Christianity vnder a continuall obedience and vnion to the Church and Pope of Rome whereby it had purchased an immortall glory and commendation to lay her hands on Church goods or therein to force the Popes will That they in times past had great and vrgent affaires for which they had prouided without that aid and without enterprizing scandalous matters that they were not to doubt but that he which knoweth the inward thoughtes of men and can doe all things would raise them vp aid and succor by meanes to them vnknowne much greater and farre moâ—…e 〈◊〉 then that where-unto they werâ—… councâ—…lled by an euill example and if the Pope did still continew his vsuall rigor by so much the more would appeaâ—…e before God and the world the deuout and holy intent and accustomed wisdome of the Venetian Senate This opinion being allowed they pursued with all honor and reuerence the expedition of their request in the Court of Rome the which at last they obteined By this means the Senate hauing raised money they began to augment the number of their galleis whereof Capello was still Generall and to leuy footmen to send to the Islands and other sea places vnder their obedience to the end to assure them expecting what would become of the preparations of so many fleetes Now the Turkes whiâ—…est their nauall army was preparing were come by land to besiege Coron did so strictly shut it in as the Spaniards that were within it beeing impatient and in a manner desperate by reason of the miseries they there endured made a sally vpon the Turkes which succeeding vnfortunatly they were enforced to retire into the castle with great losse of their soldiers whervpon finding themselues by that losse likewise by pestilence to be reduced to a very small number so soone as the Sicillian ships arriued which brought supplies the Spanish Captaines being out of hope to keepe that towne embarked themselues in the same ships and left it to the Turkes discretion Yet neuerthelesse it was supposed as a matter more likely that the same happened by the Emperors expresse commandement who perceiuing that hee would not but with great expences defend that place enuironed on all sides with enemies and beeing out of hope of any farther progression determined to quit it Cariadine in the meane time hauing put to sea with an hundred saile and beeing come neere to the Venetian Gulphe the Generall who narrowly obserued his actions prepared according as the Senate had willed him at the beginning to retire farther in and not to abandon the defence and safety of the Gulphe but the Turkish fleete directing their course towards the Tirrhene sea sailed to the sea coasts of Calabria where on a suddaine hauing landed great numbers of soldiers they did not onely spoile the countrey but tooke two townes vpon the sea-shore though of small consequence The feare of the inhabitants of Naples and Rome at the report of the arriuall of these Barbarians was very great so as if Cariadine had marched thither he might easily haue taken them there beeing no forces to hinder him but the Turke hauin scoured and spoiled the whole Prouince went vnto the Isle of Ponze to take in fresh water and then sailed towards the coast of Affrick chiefely to exectute his deseigne for which hee was come from Constantinople albeit that hee had cunningly made shew to â—…aile towards the coast of Spaine that hee might on a sodaine and vnlookt for assaile his enemy Amulcasse King of Tunis Cariadine was sufficiently enformed of the whole State of that Countrey of the situation and strong townes and of the Kings forces and what affection his sâ—…biects did beare vnto him Wherevpon adding to all these things which hee well knew force and cunning â—…ee hoped that his enrererprise would fall out prosperously as it did For hee gaue forth that hee brought Roscetta with him the Kings brother knowing how pleasing that name was to the people where after sundry exploits hee did at last take the Citty of Thunis The other fleetes at the same time did nothing worthy of memory except that of the Venetians which was enforced to come to strokes with certaine vessels of Malta to chastice their Captaine It was Philippo Mazzo a Knight of Malta who hauing very audaciously with certaine vessels scoured not onely the Leuant seas but came into the Venetian Gulph spoiling robbing both Christians and Turkes indifferently was taken by the Generall and sent to Venice where his processe beeing by the Senate referred to the criminall
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
enterprize being executed vnder his conduct and command as Generall of the army As also for that he was obliged therevnto by his promise often made to the Venetians vpon which they had not feared to commit into his hands all their forces which were very great and such as the assurance of their Estate by sea did wholly depend vpon them Doria not being mooued with all these reasons answered that they should haue accepted his offers at that time when occasion was offered of ouerthrowing Barbarossa when with a part of his army he passed thorow the Channel of Corfou so as neither the Popes letters which he wrote vnto him with his owne hand nor the arriuall of the Emperors Ambassador at Naples who for that purpose came thither expresly from Rome in post could in any sort alter his determination but he speedily departed from Naples to goe to Genoa saying that he would acquaint the Emperor with what had passed and there attend his commandment The departure of Doria and his manner of proceeding did greatly trouble the Venetians not so much for that their hope was frustrate of being able to breake the Turkish army as for to see themselues vnder vaine promises deceiued by the Imperials yet neuerthelesse al-be-it that Doria his departure and the report that Barbarossa was comming into the Gulphe with an hundred gallies might haue perswaded them to countermand their Generalls not to goe to Brandiza the Senate notwithstanding to shew their constancy in matters determined and resolued vpon and to preserue the reputation of their army which would haue beene much blemished if they should haue seemed to depend wholly vpon Dorias councels and actions after sundry opinions resolued to alter nothing of that which had been determined but made a new request to the Pope that he would command the Count of Anguillare to saile with the Churches gallies and those of Malta to Brandiza according to their former resolution The Turkes in the meane time had landed fiue and twenty thousand men and thirty peeces of ordnance in the Isle of Corfou builded foure Caualliers round about the castle to make them equall to those within it and to beate downe their defenses hauing first wasted the whole Island cut downe the fruite trees burned the country houses and led away as prisoners al those whom they found in the Island which had not saued themselues in the castle many neuerthelesse escaped into Saint Angelos castle the sytuation of the place being able to gard them Then hauing begunne the battery and perceiuing that by reason of the long distance of the place where they had beene enforced to build their Caualliers for feare of the ordnance within their cannon shot was of no great force they were desirous to approch neerer but they were beaten backe with cannon shot to their great harme losse The Visier Basha came twice from Butintrot into the Island and being come vpon the brinke of the castle dike to view the place reported to Soliman that the sytuation of the place and the fortifications were such as their was no hope in a long time to doe any good there wherevpon he councelled Soliman to raise the seege and to retire his armies which beganne already to seele great discommodities as well by sicknesse as by the small store of victuals that was brought thither as also because that winter drew nere a very vnfit season for such an enterprize and that the longer he tarried there the more he should loose his reputation being afterwards enforced to discampe without any prosperous successe that hee had by a sodaine alteration turned his forces vpon that enterprize which had beene prepared for other more easie purposes against the Emperour and therefore that hee was not to wonder if the euent of a rash and head-long action had not answered the fortunate successe which was wont to follow the wise and discret councels of the Ottomans that he should send away his two armies by sea and land to Constantinople there to refresh them which were much weakened by sundry accidents to the end they might the yeere following with better successe enterprize some exploit more assured and generous Such was the opinion and councell of Aiax the Visier Basha yet neuerthelesse to preserue their reputation feigning some other deseignes contrary to that which he spake or rather enuying Barbarossa his greatnesse and seeking to disgrace him by reconciling the Venetian Common-wealth to Soliman he called for the Venetian Baily who had still followed the campe and told him that if his countrymen would satisfie the harmes and dammages as well of men as other matters which Soliman had susteined at that seege and make a demonstration how that whatsoeuer had happened was not by the consent or appointment of the common-wealth he had so handled the matter that the seege should be raised from before Corfou and his countrimen should recouer peace and friendship as in times before with Soliman Ianusbei the first Dragoman did afterwards affirme that the same came from Solimans selfe as that did manifest which soone after ensued the Baily hauing leaue giuen him to send one of his followers to Venice for that purpose who was conducted in safety by two Chiaus to Castel-nouo But Soliman almost at the same time not tarrying for any answere raised his campe and hauing shipped his ordnance and al his souldiers sailed towards Constantinople after that he had continued his seege for ten daies space and carried away with him more then fifteene thousand soules into bondage The Isle of Passu very nere to Corfou with Butrintor seated on the firme land on Albanias side a nere neighbour to it tasted the like harme and losse Barbarossa departing with the army from before Corfou sailed towards Preueze Soliman not permitting him to remaine vpon those seas with an hundred gallies to scoure the coastes of Puglia and Sicily It was supposed at that time that the chiefest cause that mooued Soliman so sodainely to raise his campe was certaine newes from Persia because that two daies before this resolution some Olaches were speedily come to the campe and the cause of their comming not being diuulged it was certainly thought that they had brought bad newes that nation being wont to publish euery where anything that did concerne their glory or reputation and to keepe secret and conceale that which might procure them any contrary effect but vndoubtedly the true cause of his dislodging proceeded from the great difficulties which Aiax had discouered in that enterprize of Corfou The newes of the enemies discamping did infinitely reioyce the Venetians and generall processions were made for it with praiers in Churches and sundry almes giuen to the poore Monasteries and other deuout places of the city But Soliman seeking to molest the Venetians in sundry places had at the same time commanded Cassin the Sangiack of Morea that assembling all the souldiers round about he should beseege Naples of Romagnia
Contaren the Prouidator in Candy that hee should speedily arme fiue and twenty Galleys in that Island The Senate at the same time decreed that foure thousand artificers of the Citty should bee enrolled with whom foure times a yeare the Galleys appointed for that purpose should bee manned that they might all of them row together and they did commonly call it Regater and sundry stipends were appointed for such as had continued that course thrice together This was done that they might bee assured by this exercise still to haue men fit and ready to man on a sodaine a certaine number of Galleys They did likewise confirme Guy Vbaldo Duke of Vrbin in the degree of Generall of their forces by land who in his fathers life time had serued the Republick they encreased his place with an hundred men at armes an hundred light horse and the pay of ten Captaines with foure thousand Ducats for his entertainement This Duke was thought a very fitte man for the seruice of the Common wealth as well for the excellent parts that were in him hauing from his youth beene trained vppe in martiall discipline vnder his deceased Father as by reason of his Countrey full of good Souldiers it beeing commodiously seated for the easie sending of them from thence to their Fortes along the Sea coast Therefore the Senate after the death of the Duke his father did in signe of loue and honor send Francesco 〈◊〉 their Ambassador to condole with him for his death and to assure him that the Senate would neuer forget the notable seruices which hee had done to the common-wealth But certaine moneths were spent before they confirmed him in his place in regard of the Pope fearing least hee would take it ill to see them honor and entertaine a Duke that was a feodatarie of the Church hee being at variance with him The occasion of their striâ—…e as hath beene already mentioned proceeded from the Dutchy of Camerin which the Duke of Vrbin did enioy by reason of his wife the sole daughter and heire to the last Duke of Camerin and the Pope pretended that the line masculine failing that infeofment was to returne to the sea Apostolick The Senate in remembrance of Duke Francesco Maria who had deserued well of the common wealth and for the loue that it did beare to the sonne did earnestly employ it selfe in that businesse fearing least it might stirre vp some new troubles in Italy because that the Duke of Mantua Vncle to Duke Guy his wife did determine to defend him not onely with his owne forces but with those of strangers whom he did meane to call into Italy The Pope at the last resoluing by force to haue that Dutchy if hee could get it by faire meanes it was agreed that Duke Guy should referre himselfe to the sea Apostolick and that his Holynesse should giue him a certaine summe of money in recompence in name of dowry of the Dutchesse Iulia his wife This controuersie beeing thus ended Duke Guy was confirmed as hath beene sayd in the pention of the Common-wealth But to the end likewise that the Nauall Army should not bee without an Head whilest Capell by the Senates permission lay at Venice for the recouery of his health who was not yet in state to execute his place they chose in his steed Iohn Moro Prouidator Generall at that time in Candy but the Senate hauing notice within a while after of his death the place of Generall was giuen to Thomaso Moceniga a man excellently seene in the important affaires of the Common-wealth at home and abroad Iohn Moro was slaine in Candy in a Popular Comotion betwixt the Greekes and the Italians of the Garrison among whom hee running with his Halbardiers to appease the tumult was stricken with a stone vppon the head whereof within a while after hee died These were the preparations of the Venetians whilest the Turkes did speedily make ready their fleete beeing not able to digest the losse of Castel-nouo as men that were alwayes wonte to the great losse of all Christendome to winne and not to loose therefore resoluing before all other things to attempt the recouery of that place thereby to repaire their honor which that accident had bereft them of they made great preparations of men and warlike engins sufficient for a farre greater enterprise Dragut in the meane time whom as hath beene said Barbarossa had left in the Gulphe of Lepanto departed thence with thirty vessels both Galleots and Fusts all well armed and beeing come into the Isle of Paxu did there barre the Christians free Nauigation for hiding himselfe in Saint Nicholas Hauen foure miles off from Corfu hee often sent his vessels to scoure the channell of Corfou and to take those ships which should arriue in that Island but the Prouidator Pascalic beeing not able to beare that indignity determined to goe forth with twelue of his best Galleys against certaine Turkish Galleys which were come neere to the land but the enemies not tarrying for him fled towards the Gulphe of Larta to deceiue the Prouidator and to make him thinke that there were no other Vessels of theirs at Paxu but as the Prouidators Galleys giuing chase to those Galeots were come farther to Sea-ward they discouered Dragut who comming forth of Paxu with the residue of his Galeots and Fusts had put himselfe forward to Sea to take the aduantage of the winde that hee might the better bee able to encompasse the Prouidator who then perceiuing the danger whereinto hee should runne by gooing any farther forward did sodainly did sodainly hoist sailes and turned back towards Corfou beeing still pursued by the enemies vessells which comming very neere to them caused three Venetian Gallies who feared that they should not be able to escape by flight to runne on ground vppon the Sands of Messanga twelue miles off from Corfou where they did beat themselues in peeces all the men within them with their goods escaped one only Galley belonging to Antonio Canalis whose saile yards were broken and thereby vnable to follow the rest was taken by the enemies This successe hauing made the Turkes more bold and insolent they went with those vessells into the I le of Candy where landing vpon the territory of Canea they burnt and spoiled the Countrey but great numbers of Stadiots and feudataries of the Island being gathered together did charge them so fiercely as hauing slayne diuers of them they did enforce the rest to returne to their Gallies Gritti the same time returned from Constantinople about the beginning of Aprill hauing made great hast in his iourney hee reported how that by the meanes of Ianusby hee had beene brought into the presence of the Visier Bascha who although hee entertained him very curteously did neuerthelesse first of all greatly complaine of the hostile actions which sundry officers of the Republike had executed vpon the Musulmans which the Signory had left vnpunished then proceeeding farther hee told him how
Milladonna Secretary to the Councell of Tenne to read it which in effect was thus That the Senate did greatly maruaile that his Lord beeing no way by them prouoked nor vpon any iust cause would violate and enfringe that oath by which he had so solemnly confirmed the peace and tooke for a pretence to make warre vpon them that they should giue away a kingdome which the common-wealth had for many yeares lawfully and peaceably enioyed the which hee might bee well assured that they would neuer part from but seeing hee was determined to proceed against them after that manner the Venetian Senate would not faile to defend that which did belong vnto it hoping by so much more to bee the better able to doe it by how much the iustice of their cause would procure them all ayde and succour both diuine and humaine They told him afterwards that his Lords letters beeing translated and read hee should receiue an answer and so the Chiaus without any farther discourse was dismissed The beginning of those letters was stuffed with sundry complaints against the Venetians for that they had disquieted the ancient bounds of Dalmatia which by conuention made with his predecessors had beene established betwixt both the one and other Empire that contrary to the old and new agreement the Admiralls of the Venetian Galleys hâ—…d put diuerse Turkish Pirates to death after that they had taken them aliue in fight but especially for that the Westerne Pirates were welcome into the Isle of Cyprus who did continually disquiet his neighbour citâ—…ies and barred his subiects from their free nauigation then toward the latter end hee craued that if the Venetians were desirous to continue their ancient friendship with him that they should surrender vnto him the Isle of Cyprus to take away that cheefe cause which did entertaine those controuersies betwixt them otherwise they should prepare for a fierce warre by sea and land for hee was determined to send his nauall Army with great forces to take that Island and in other places to inuade their dominions by land hoping in God the giuer of victories and in his blessed Prophet Mahomet by whose fauour the Ottoman Family had obtained so great an Empire to be victorious in that enterprise The Senate made this answer to these letters That the Venetians had euer inuiolably maintained peace made with the Ottâ—…man Emperors and contemned all other respects whatsoeuer by refusing all occasions whereof they might haue made good vse to their owne profit because that aboue all other things they thought it fit and beseeming a Prince carefully to keepe his promise and they being desirous to auoyde all suspition of so great an infamy had dissembled and buried in silence diuerse wrongs done vnto them because they would not bee the first desturbers of the peace But now perceiuing that vppon no occasion warre is denounced against them at such a time as they least expected it they would not refuse it for the defence of their owne and in particular for the defence of the Realme of Cyprus the which as their Aucestors had enioyed it with so iust a title for so many yeares they did likewise hope that God would giue them the grace to defend it valiantly against all those that would vniustly take it from them Warre beeing in this sort denounced against the Venetians and by them entertained the Senate made a decree to sell diuerse publick possessions to accept of sundry loanes of money to the great profit of those that brought them and in a word to vse all meanes to gather great sums of money together wherevpon for this purpose the number of the â—…rocurators of Saint Marke was augmented which is the cheef dignity next to the Duke bestowing it vpon those that should lend twenty thouâ—…and Ducats to the Common-wealth they did likewise permit all young Gentlemen to enter into the great Councell before the time appointed by the lawes who thereby might be capable to elect magistrates and likewise to execute the like places themselues so as they would lay in deposito certaine sommes of money in the publique treasury The surcease of armes had continued for a while till the returne of Cubat and the end of his negotiation but being come to Raguza the answere which he brought was soone divulged wherevpon the souldiers that lay in the parts neere adioyning not tarrying for any others commandement being assembled in great numbers did not only waste and spoile the champaine country of Albania and Dalmatia which was subiect to the Venetians but went and encamped before Dulcina and Antiuari who finding them to be manned with strong Garrisons and hauing no ordnance to batter them they were enforced to retire Now the Chiaus being returned to Constantinople and the Senates answere being knowne all men did greatly wonder at it for the Turkes hauing seene in former time what deere account the Venetians made of the great Lords friendship supposed that they would try all meanes before they would take armes against him But Selim did not so much wonder as he did scorne and disdaine accounting himselfe highly wronged and contemned in his owne person because that the vsuall ceremonies and entertainments done to Ambassadors had beene denied to Cubat and for that they had not sent an expresse messenger to him with their answere but had contrary to their promise detained the Secretary Bonricci at Venice In regard whereof his pleasure was being so councelled by Mahomet to haue Cubat come into his presence and particularly to relate the Venetians speeches and entertainment giuen vnto him together with their preparations for warre which he vnderstanding from his mouth was some times amazed at the report of the Republikes forces repenting him in a manner of his determination and on a sodaine he would enter into rage and choller being therevnto prouoked by his owne pride and by the flattery of his councellors wherevpon he placed gards about the Baylies house that he should not goe abroad commanding the Bashas of Cairo and Aleppo to doe the like to the Venetian Consuls of Alexandria and Syria yet they were afterwards set at liberty on condition they should not depart nor conuay their marchandize forth of the Turkes Dominions LODOVICO MOCENIGO the 85. Duke IN the meane time Prince Loredan died at Venice and Lodouico Mocenigo was chosen in his place to the peoples great ioy and vnusuall applauds presuming that they had a Prince who was wise discreet and a louer of the poore and would constantly oppose himselfe against all those perils and dangers which did then threaten the Commonwealth The Senaâ—…e after this election hauing acquainted all Christian Princes with the comming of the Chiaus to Venice together with their answere went about to continue the former motions of the league Therefore for the greater recommendation of the matter they resolued to send an expresse Ambassador to the Emperour and to that end they appointed Giacomo Sourance a man of great
in the Hauen of Nista opposite to it where he speedily landed his souldiours and willed them to march on a sodaine to assaile the enemies thereby hoping with ease to surprize them and to seize vpon the place and to this purpose he sent certaine Harquebuziers before and himselfe followed after with the residue of his forces but hauing marched a great while through narrow and difficult waies they did from farre descry the caâ—…tle which they went to surprize being seated on the top of an hill in a plaâ—…e of very difficult accesse 〈◊〉 hauing well considered al matters and finding things to be otherwise then they had beene reported thought it against reason to hazard those troupes which were destined to greater atchiuements and therefore on a sodaine hee turned backe againe although the Prouidator was of a contrary opinion and countermanding the Harguebuziers that he had sent before he marched backe to the Hauen of Nista and returned to Corfou At the same time Marco Quirini came with his Gallies from Candy to Corfou hauing by the way taken the fort of Brazza de Menia which the Turkes held He was presently commanded to go with twenty Gallies and scoure the Islands of the Archipelago wherevpon he sailed to the Isle of Andros one of the renowned Cicâ—…ades Within a while after the Generall Zanne receiued commandement from the Senate to saile with his forces farther vp into the Leuant and by assayling some of the enemies townes to diuert them from the inuasion of Cyprus Wherevpon he left Corfou and went to Modon where Quirin with his Gallies met him and within two daies after he arriued in the Isle of Candy anchorâ—…d in the Gulph Anfialea which at this day marriners call the Hauen of Suda The Generall being there desirous to make speedy prouision of whatsoeuer the fleet needed found great difficulties in it chiefly in recouering suffitient numbers of men to supply the places of them that were dead wherevpon he sailed with forty Gallies to Candace the chiefe city of the Island the sooner by his presence to hasten the necessary prouisions leauing both the Prouidators and Palauicin in the hauen of Suda with foure score Gallies enioyning them to leauy men from all parts Now after that the fleet was sufficiently furnished with souldiers marriners and other necessaries they vnproffitably spent the time and the best season of the yeere expecting the Popes and Spanish Gallies the which according to the Venetians directions being ioyned together were to meet them in Candy At the last toward the latter end of August Marâ—…-Antonio Colonna the Churches Generall and Gioâ—…an Andrea Doria the Catholike Kings being arriued the Venetian 〈◊〉 was merueilous ioyfull of their comming The Generall and fleet went forth of the Hauen of Suda to welcome them where according to the manner they saluted with volies of shot then all of them entring together into the hauen made no long aboad there but after some propositions made the whole fleet retired to Siâ—…hy there more maturely to consult what were best to be done to free the Isle of Cyprus from inuasion Whilest the Christian fleet had spent much time in preparing and vniting it selfe togither the Turkes with greater celerity had assembled all their forces and being mighty at sea had without any difficulty prosperously pursued their enterprize the which was more speedily performed because that Selim who said that hee would in person goe to the army changed his determination and resolued to remaine at Constantinople by the aduise of Mahomet and Mustapha to whose authority and councell all the other Bashas condescended Selim then tarrying at Constantinople made Mustapha his Lieutenant Generall in that warre committing the whole enterprize by land to him and all marine actions to Piali Admirall of the Gallies Piali within a while after departing from Constantinople with fifty fiue Gallies and certaine other vessels Mustapha set saile with like number vnto whome for an extraordinary fauour the great Lord had giuen the Imperiall Galley to transport him which is of extraordinary greatnesse and most sumptuously decked in which the great Turke embarketh himselfe when he goes forth on any enterprize They anchored first at Negrepoâ—…t then at Rhodes where hauing intelligence that the Venetian fleet lay at Zara and could not depart from thence by reason of ficknesse and other impediments and that they had no newes at all of the Spanish fleet the Turkes being out of feare that the fleetes would ioyne together and supposing that they durst not come on any farther determined to saile directly to Cyprus But as 〈◊〉 Turkish fleet passed along from Negrepont to Rhodes Piali made an attempt to take the fort of Tina which is an Island in the farthest part of the Archipelago belonging to the Venetians and comming vnlooked for in a morning to that Island thinking to surprize it it was discouered at sea by Ieronimo Paruta a Venetian Gentleman Gouernor of the Island a valiant and discreet person who of a long time hauing feated their arriuall hee made prouisions of all necessaries for defense Hee perceiuing the enemies for to bend their course thitherward shot off a warning peece to aduertize those of the Island that were abroad in the country that they should quickly retire into the castle which beeing done in time they prepared themselues to withstand the Barbarians assaults which were very cruell not onely once but twice and thrice in euery of which they were brauely repulsed with great losse of their men and were enforced to discampe after that they had with incredible fury wasted the whole Island burned the Country houses ruined Churches and slaughtered all the cattaile that were in that Island From Tina Piali went to Rhodes where all their fleet lay which amounted to more then two hundred armed vessels accounting an hundred and fifty Gallies together with Fusts and Galeoâ—…s but in the great fleete were certaine Mahonnes which are like to great Gallies not altogither so bigge as a Gallion sixe ships and great numbers of other vessels commonly called Caramuscolini and some fifty Palandaries to transport horse This fleet bending it direct course toward Cyprus was discried neere to Baffo on the first day of Iuly in the yeere 1570. which scoured all the coast from Limissa as farre as the Promontory commonly called the Cape of the Cat then landing part of their forces they burned and spoiled the sea coasts taking many prisoners the next day pursuing their iourney they went to Salines where finding no resistance they vnship't their ordnance and the rest of the souldiers who presently fortified their campe with deepe trenches and strong Rampiers from whence they afterwards wasted and spoiled the country neere adioyning Then marching to Leucata nine miles from Salines they did easily make themselues Masters of the country and people vnto whom Mustaphaa gaue great guifts and goodly promises to draw on others and especially those of the mountaines seeking
rather to winne them by faire meanes then by force In the meane time they dispatched foure score Gallies and diuers flat bottomed vessels to Tripoli and to the Riuer of Caramania there to raise other horse and foot forâ—…es which arriuing in Cyprus made vp the number as most authors write of fifty thousand foot fiue and twenty hundred horse three thousand Pioners with great numbers of horse of carriage and thirty peeces of great ordnance with an hundred and fifty Falconets There were no suffitient Garrisons in the whole Island able to resist these forces for the ordinary Garrison was but two thousand Italian foot men and some thousand others sent from the firme land with Martinengos two thousand souldiers many whereof died by incommodious transportation so that the greatest hope of beeing able to defend the townes and castles consisted in the new supplies which those of the country had promised to leauy There was no other cauallery in the whole Kingdome but fiue hundred Stradiors which were kept there in pay by the Common-wealth Things beeing thus and suffitient forces wanting to repulse â—…o mighty an enemy for the cauallery was to weake for to hinder his landing and the infantery not suffitient to defend for any long time the two chiefe fortes which they held Nicotia and Faâ—…agosta and for to guard the mountaines and other passages of the Island hee beeing landed therefore they resolued espetially to defend those two cities Astor Baillone who by Martinengos death was Generall of all the forces in the Island in the absence of the Prouidator for Lorenzo Bembo died not long before and other Venetian Magistrates called a councell where the chiefe offices and commaâ—…d in that warre were distributed to sundry Cypriot Gentlemen of honourable ranke as well for their wealth as nobillity but smally experienced in martiall matters The Count Roccas was made Lieutenant to Baillone Giacomo de Nores Count of Tripoli Master of the ordnance Gioâ—…an Singlitâ—…co captaine of the Cypriot cauallery Giouan Sosomene captaine of the Pioners Scipio Caraffa and Pietro Paulo Singlitico captaines of the foot who were appointed to guard the strong places of the mountaines and others were appointed to other places They did likewise conclude in that councell to attempt to hinder the enemies landing and to that end the chiefest of them went into the field with the greatest forces they could assemble but considering their enterprize to be to dangerous and vnseasonable the enemy hauing already landed part of his forces they returned home to their Garrisons so that the Turkes landed without any difficulty which made them at first to suspect that they did it for some pollicy to draw them afterwards into an ambuscado wherevpon at their first arriuall they were very wary but running afterwards vp and downe the country and finding no opposition beeing thereby emboldened their army did not onely aduance forward but went about in disbanded troupes without Ensignes to robbe and spoile at their pleasure The Turkish captaines beeing vnwilling to loose time resolued to assaile one of the two chiefest fortes of the Island Piali was of opinion to beseege Famagosta first hoping quickly to take it and that it being taken Nicotia would of necessity yeeld which had many vnproffitable eaters within the circuit of her walles which being seated farre from sea in the middest of a champaine country possessed by great numbers of enemies could not bee releeued nor without new prouision long hold out the seege that Famagosta was no great fort but weake and so defectiue as it would neuer endure one onely battery and that they within it were not many or so bould and valliant as to sustaine any assault Mustapha mainteined the contrary saying that the reputation of so great an army as theirs ought not to be blemished by attempting any meane enterprize thereby to encrease the enemies courage and diminish their owne That the Geneuois for foure score and tenne yeeres had held Famagosta at the same time as the Kings of the family of Lusignan commanded the Island whereby might be gathered that the taking of that city would bee of no great importance for the winning of the whole Kingdome That the Nobillity and very many of the people were retired into Nicotia that all the wealth and munition of the whole Island was there so as that onely exploit beeing well performed would end all the rest and their first attempt giue end to all their deseignes These reasons forcible in themselues and strengthened by the reputation of the author caused them to resolue first to beseege Nicotia whither the whole campe marched the two and twentith of Iuly hauing first sent fiue hundred horse towards Famagosta to cut off all correspondence and intelligence betwixt those two cities the Turkes pursuing their iourney approached neere to the walles of Nicotia Great feare seized on the inhabitants when they perceiued the enemy at their Gates like men who wanting discreet fore-sight to prouide for dangers a farre off did extreamely feare them beeing neere at hand hauing alwaies beene incredulous that the Turkish fleet would come into the Island though the Venetian Baily at Constantinople and the Senate had giuen them many aduertizments thereof that they might prouide for their affaires in time Nicolo Dandulo was at the same time Gouernor of the city a man to weake to vndergo that burthen which not desert but opinion had laied on him yet to whom long experience had rather giuen abillity to execute then nature to direct The sodainnesse of the danger had encreased his feare and his feare the danger for at the arriuall of the enemies army the trenches were vnfinished and the souldiers disordered and the city vnvictualled Now whilest those in Nicosia beeing incompassed with many miseries were busied in furnishing the city with necessaries and inconsulting by what meanes to srustrate the enemies deseignes they were so tedious in their resolutions in regard they had no eminent Commander able to decide the controuersies which arose from diuersity of opinion that the Turkes had time to pitch their tents to plant their ordnance and likewise for to fortifie their campe which stretched it selfe from Saint Marines as farre as Aglangia possessing the whole space opposite vnto foure Bâ—…lwarkes and on the other side of the towne which was not enuironed by the campe both the Bashas did daily send an hundred foote and as many horse that none might issue forth or enter into the Citty This Citty is seated in the middest of the champaine in an wholesome temperate aire it hath great store of water and the soile is very fruitfull In former times it was nine miles in compasse about but the Venetians beeing desirous to fortifie it reduced it to three it is proportioned like a starre with eleuen points in euery of which is a bulwarke made onely of earth which were not yet finished when the Turkish army arriued and the rules of fortification were so well obserued as the
Hungarie for fiue years Baldwin taken prisoner by Dalochus king of the Parthians The Popes resolution for the succour of the holie Land The Venetians resolue to succor the holy land The number of the Fleet. Ioppa besieged by the Barbarians The Barbarians defeated by the venetians before Ioppa The Duke of Venice commeth to Ierusalem The lot fell vpon Tyre Description of the Citie of Tyre The Phoenicians the inuentors of Arithmeticke the Alphabet and Astronomie The conditions graunted by Varimond to the Venetians Tyre besieged The distrust concâ—…ed against the Venetians A couragious act of Prince Michaeli Proof of the Venetians loyaltie A strange case of a Pigeon The Christians stratagem before Tyre The yeelding vp of Tyre The like done by a Pigeon before Modena The third part of the Citie giueÌ„ to the Venetians Baldwin ratifies it New warre against the Greeks All the Islands of the Grecâ—…an Empire taken Zara and all the other Cities of Dalmatia recouered The Prince returneth to Venice In whose time the Turkes recouered the holy-Holy-land The building of the Hospitall of the publike charitie The Faneseâ—… made Tributarie to the VenetiaÌ„s A new Religious order Agreement with the Pisans The Paduans defeated Rogero sonne to Guiscard King of Sicilie Emanuell his request against the Normans A new Armie against the Normans Corfu taken by the Venetians The Venetians Armie in Sicilie The death of Rogero king of Sicily A sodaine fier A league with Willam King of Sicil. Zara made an Archbishopricke The Venetians neighbours take armes against them Ulrich Bishop oâ—… Aquileia brought to Venice as a prisoner The originall of the Games at shrouetide A secret league betwixt the Greeke Emperour and the king of Sicilie The Emperour Emanuels Ambassadours at Venice The answere made to the Greeke Ambassadours Emanuel seizeth on the Cities of Dalmatia Treacherie of Emanuel A great Fleete against the Greeke Emperour A new deceit of the Greekes The contagious sicknesse in the Venetian Armie The family of the Iustinians woâ—…ne out by the sicknesse The family of the Iustinians restored The Plague very great in Venice Prince Vituliâ—… murthered The creation of the ten An example of great affection to a mans Countrey Three great Pillars brought to Venice How the Columnes were erected by whom The recompence which the Ingâ—…ner demanded Crueltie against the law of Nations Cruell determination of a Woman All the Princes of the Greeke Empire murthered The cause why Emanuell hated the Uenetians When the loane began at Venice The True cause of Vitalis his death Wherefore the Emperour Frederick hated Pope Alexander the third A generall councell published to be holden at Dijon The flight ofâ—… Pope Alexander The Emperour Fredericks rigorous 〈◊〉 against the Pope Pope Alexander comes to Venice in disguise How the Venetians entertained the Pope when they knew him A resolued Ambassade to Fredericke in the Popes behalfe At what time the Venetian Prince began to seale with lead Fredericke his answere to the Uenetian Ambassadours Frederickes menaces Preparations for warre against Fredericke The Prince imâ—… himselfe in the Popes presence Fredericke his Fleet put to flight and his sonne brought prisoner to Venice At what time the Venetian Prince did beginne to mâ—…rrie the Sea Otho â—…is discourse to his father Fredericke How farre Otho his entreatie preuailed with his Father The Emperour ariues at Venice The Emperours obedience to the Pope Diuers opinions of the Historians concerning this reconciliation How long the Venetian Princes haue vsed the Canopie Why they vse siluer Trumpets The ornaments and ensignes of the Venetian Princes The death of Prince Cyani and his last Will. The description of Saint Markes Church Who was the Author of the publike Almes The ancient maÌ„ner of distributing Almes A new manner of electing the Prince The fourth rebellion of those of Zara. Example of great loue towards a â—…ans Countrie A New Armie of Christians for the recouerie of the bolly Land Who were the chiefe of this enterprise against the Turkes The Emperour Frederick dieth in Armenia Great famine in the Camp before Pâ—…olomais Saladines Armie defeated Ptolomais yeeldeth The Pisans take Pola The Pisans defeated by the Venetians Peace granted to the Brundusians Great ingratitude and crueltie of a brother The Christian Princes arriued at Venice The number of the Christian Armiâ—… The Venetians boâ—…ntie to the christian Princes Agreement betwixt the Venetians and forraine Princes The number of the Ships for the Voyage Histria reduced to the Venetians obedience The recouerie of Zara. Yong Alexis commeth to the Armie The complaint and request of yong Alexis Yong Alexis 〈◊〉 promiseâ—… The Venetians and the Princes resolue to goe to Constantinople Incursions of the Bandetti of Zara Agreement with the Bandetti of Zara. Description of the Citie of Constantinople Yong Alexis giueâ—…h the Isle of Candie to Boniface of Montferrat Constantinople besieged by Sea and Land Theodore Lascaris sallies foorth on the Christian Pilgrims A great â—…ght aâ—… the Hauen Constantinople streightly besieged An assault giuen to the Citie The flight of Alexis Isaac deliuered out of prison The mutuall coÌ„fort of the father and the Sonne Isaac ratifies what his Sonne had promised Isaac dieth sodainly Sedition against the yong Emperour A discreet answere of the yong Emperour Myrtillus issued from meane Parents The treacherie of Myrtillus Myrtillus speech to the people Yong Alexis murthereâ—… A new Greekish inuention to deceiue the Châ—…istians The Greekes put to flâ—…ght neare the Citie A new agreement betwixt the Venetians and the Princes Constantinople besieged the second time Myrtillus flight Constantinople yeelds Fifteene men appointed to elect a new Emperour Baldwin of Flan ders chosen Emperour of the East Thomaso Morosino Patriarch of Constantinople The Princes liberalitie to the new Emperour Thrace reduced to the Emperors obedience The Isle of Candy giuen to the Venetians Thomasâ—… confirmed Patriarch by the Pope The coronation of the Emperour Baldwin The death of the Emperour Baldwin Henrie brother to 〈◊〉 Emperour of the East Prince Dandulâ—… decâ—…aseth The 〈◊〉 why the Emperour Emanuel hatâ—…d the Venetians The meaning of the prophecie Boniface King of Thessaly A Deeree of the Venetians about the possession of the Islands The cause of this decree The Venetians flecte against the Pirats Modâ—…na end Corona recepâ—…acles of theeueâ—… and Piraâ—…s â—…ned The names of the Islands passesseâ—… by particular persons Henrie the Fisher maketh aâ—…tempts on 〈◊〉 Isle of Candie The Venetianâ—… send a Colonie to Candace The Genâ—…ueses defeated by the Uenetians Pleasant games inuented at Treuiso The Paduans the Venetians quarrell at the games of Treuiâ—… The Paduans make roads on the Venetians The Paduans defeated Peace beâ—…xt the Paduans the Venetians A great cuâ—…tesie A new strife betwâ—…xt the Uenetians and Paduans The Bâ—…shops See at Malamoc translated to Chioggâ—…a A Colonie sent to Corfu A â—…dition of the â—…stantinopolitans affirming their Church not to be subiect to that of Rome The Emperour Otho confiâ—…mes the Uenetians priuileges