and so leaving the Ships and Galeasses at Zacynthus went with the rest of the Fleet to Cephalenia whether Don Iohn was not yet come but had sent word thither That if they had any desire to joyn their Forces with his they should yet come further back unto him in Corcyra This Message which they had rather feared than expected much troubled the Venetians who readier to suspect every mischief than to hope for any good began to fret and complain That the Spaniards could very well tell the Venetians what they had to do and forget in the mean time what was on their own part to be performed A hard thing it was to say and yet to be said that now they had more to do with those their dallying Friends and Cofederates than with their Enemies for with their Enemies they were to fight but in time of Battel but with them they were to wrestle at all times and in all places They were by them as thâ—y said drawn from the fight of their Enemies when as they might have been overthrown not to the intent that with their united Forces they might more safely â—ight against them or under the conduct of Don Iohn gain the Victory but rather lest any thing should have been done which might be to the honour or profit of the Venetians and that time which was to have been bestowed in the managing of the War spent in lingring and delaying and vain going forward and backward to no purpose One only way there was as they said to have dispatched with the Turk which was by overcoming him in another notable Battel and so to have utterly broken his strength at Sea which Course the Confederates made no less difficult by their backwardness and delays than the Enemy by declining of Battel That they had long ago by many secret signs probably conjectured that the Spaniards had more care to hinder and cross other Mens doings than to do any thing of themselves That their endeavours were to frustrate those great hopes which promised unto the Christian Common-weal the greatest Felicity and Happiness together with immortal Glory and That the Turks of late discouraged with the fortunate proceedings of the Christians might again rejoyce at their mishaps The Venetians notwithstanding all these their murmuring Speeches loath to fall off from the Spaniard kept still on with the rest until they came to Don Iohn at Corcyra who then lay with 53 Gallies and 18 Ships at Spâ—lca in the uttermost end of the Island At their first meeting Don Iohn shewed himself not a little offended that they had not with more duty before attended his coming and they again not a little complained of his long stay with many other their grievances which were tedious here to rehearse The Fleet now all with much ado at length met together which consisted of two hundred Gallies nine Galeasses and thirty six tall Ships It was by general consent agreed That they should again set forward toward the Enemy They were not yet under Sail when two of their Espials brought them news that the Enemies Fleet weakly furnished both of Mariners and Souldiers was come to Navarinum which filled them all with good hope that the Turks Fleet so evil provided might in that place upon the suddain be easily oppressed and the rather if they came upon them unexpected Wherefore because they would not be descried they kept not their Course on right forth but sailing by night kept aloof upon the right hand and having passed Zacynthus came with great silence unto the Strophades where they lay at Anchor all that day In the evening they loosed thence so casting their Course that the more to terrifie the Enemy they might before day fall upon him and be seen in the mouth of the Haven where he lay before there could be any report made of their coming thither But this Course so well set the time was so evil cast that it was fair day long before they could come to the appointed place when the Turks out of their watch Towers discovered a far off the coming of the Christian Fleet gave warning thereof unto their Fellows whereupon an Alarm was presently raised in the Town and all Men in Arms ran headlong to the Walls and to the Haven But the Turks out of hope with their evil rigged Fleet to be able to withstand the Christians and not daring to trust to that weak Habor and all now in a great hurly burly ran confuseded hand over head Souldiers and Mariners aboord and whilst they had yet time got them in hast out of that Habor and as Men chased by their Enemies got them into safe Harbor at Modon a strong Town of Peloponnesus about six miles off Columnius was sent before the rest of the Fleet to have pursued them but they were got so far before him that they had recovered the Harbor before he could overtake any of them The Christian Fleet coming before the Harbor and leaving a space as it were of purpose for the Enemy to come out into there lay in the face of the Town daring the Turks Battel But when they had so lien almost all that day and no Man durst come out and now towards the evening certain signs of Tempest appeared the Christians fearing to be by force of Weather driven on ground put farther off again to Sea. Then at length Uluzales sent out certain light Gallies to follow in the tail of the Fleet when the Confederates suddainly staying their Course and turning their Prows upon them drave them headlong again into the Harbor and afterwards retired themselves with the whole Fleet into the Islands Oenusae now called Sapientia right opposit against Modon The next day wanting fresh Water they removed unto the Bay of Messina there to water in the mouth of the River Pamisus which there falleth into the Sea where in passing by Corone they were oftentimes shot at out of the Town and landing their Men to water were encountred by certain Troops of Horsemen sent for that purpose by Uluzales There was Water dearly bought with the Lives of many there slain on both sides in the end the Christians prevailing watered and so again returned unto the Oenusae from whence they came Methoâ—e or Modon for it is by both Names known standeth almost in an Island stretching far into the Sea where towards the West runneth out a long point of the Land a great way into the Sea in the uttermost part thereof standeth a great round Tower. The Town it self is on the one side enclosed with the Sea and toward the Land so strongly fortified as that it seemeth almost impregnable Towards the South cometh in a fair Bay about three miles wide safe from all Winds except the Northerly Wind only and shut up by a little Island in the mouth of the Bay maketh a safe and quiet Harbor with two entrances thereinto on either side of the Island Within this Bay lay the Turks Fleet
and therefore commonly called him in derision a King but still with this addition Sans Ville that is to say Without a Town Now was the ten years Peace before taken betwixt the Turks and the Christians in Syria at the coming over of Simon Marquess of Mont-Ferrat as is before declared almost expired which had not so much given to those poor remnants of the Christians some time of rest and breathing as had the discord of the Turks among themselves which having for the space of nine years continued betwixt Noradin and Saphadin for the Soveraignty was now by the death of Saphadin ended Noradin contenting himself with the Government of Aleppo and Corradin and Meledin the two Sons of Saphadin dividing their Fathers Kingdom betwixt them the one taking unto himself Damasco and Syria and the other the great Kingdom of Egypt but all Enemies unto the Christians About this time also or not long after Innocentius tertius yet Pope summoned a general Council at Lateran whereunto besides a multitude of great Bishops and other reverend Prelates repaired also the honourable Embassadors of most of the Princes of Christendom unto whom so assembled among other things was propounded the dangerous estate of the Christians in Syria and how the same was by the help of the Christian Princes of the West to be relieved Whereunto all the Fathers and Princes there assembled easily gave their consent and thereupon were some appointed in every Country and Province to publish this Decree of the Council for the Relief of the oppressed Christians and to stir up the devout people for the undertaking of so religious a War. The chief Furtherers of this sacred Expedition to be thus taken in hand against the Infidels were the Bishops of Germany especially the three great Bishops of Mets Cullen and Triers whose example moved also many others all which to rehearse were tedious Out of France also were sent Henry the Count of Nivers and one Gualter the Kings great Chamberlain with a great number of the gallant Youths of France and so out of divers other places so that at length such a number of men were met together at divers Ports of the Adriatick as made up a Fleet of two hundred Sail which with a prosperous Wind carried over into Syria arrived in safety at Ptolemais the chief City of the Christians now that Ierusalem was lost After whom followed also Andrew King of Hungary long before bound both by his Fathers commandment and his own promise for the undertaking of that sacred Expedition with whom came also Lewis Duke of Bavaria and Leopold Duke of Austria with their Forces all well appointed unto whom also Iohn King of Ierusalem joyned himself with his Power Great hope and expectation there was for some great matter to have been done now that so great Forces of the Christians were thus met together Who setting forward from Ptolemais and the first day marching into Galilee by the way met with certain Companies of the Turks whom they easily overthrew and put to flight The next day they came to the River of Iordan where they also distressed certain of the Turks Garrisons There the King of Hungary bathing himself in the River forthwith as one discharged of his Vow and Promise returned with all his Power unto Ptolemais and so from thence back again into his Country all the rest of the Army of the Christians crying out to him to the contrary who after the Kings departure still marching on came to the Mount Thabor But shortly after Winter now coming on and many of their Cattel dying for cold and want of meat they returned some to Ptolemais some to Tyre and there wintred King Iohn and the Duke of Austria in the mean time took a Castle betwixt Coesarea and Caipha called The Castle of Pilgrims from whence they much troubled the Barbarians thereabouts all that Winter Upon the appearance of the Spring and the Army again met together it was thought best by all the great Commanders that for so much as the Kingdom of Egypt was the chief Maintenance of the Mahometan Superstition against the Christians in those parts and that so long as it stood upright they should not be able to do any great matter in Syria to attempt the Conquest thereof as an exploit best beseeming their Valour and so great preparation for that Kingdom being once subdued the City of Ierusalem with all the Land of Palestine would of themselves without more ado straightway yield unto them And for as much as the famous City of Damiata called in ancient time Pelusium not much inferior unto Alexandria was the first and most commodious Port for that purpose as nearest unto Syria and that by the taking thereof they should have a fair entrance into the great River Nilus with the command of a most rich and pleasant Country about it They resolved there to begin the War and thereupon embarking themselves with all things necessary for so great an Enterprise at Ptolemais and carried with a fair Wind they in short time arrived at the desired Port. Now that rich and ancient City the Key of that side of the Kingdom stood about a mile from the Sea and somewhat distant also from the great River environed with a Navigable Ditch or Cut drawn out of Nile in manner of an Island as a man cometh from Syria by Land and compassed about with three strong stone Walls the work of the good Emperor Aelius Pertinax and of him as some affirm called also Aeliopolis At the mouth of this Cut as you should enter into the City stood a strong Watch-Tower for the defence thereof and round about it a number of fair Houses in manner of a pretty Town entrenched Besides that for the more safety thereof the same Cut was barred with a great strong iron Chain in such sort as that it was not possible for any Ship without breaking of the same to enter The Christians with their Fleet entring the mouth of the River and coming to this Cut by great strength brake the Chain but thinking so to have made their passage unto the City they found a greater stay at the Watch-Tower which strongly built of square Stone and well stored with War-like Engins of all sorts and a good Garrison of valiant Souldiers stayed their further passage overwhelming them as they approached with shot fire stones timber and such like before provided for that purpose The Christians after the manner of the fight of that time had upon certain flat Vessels built certain high Towers of Wood for the assailing of the Watch-Tower in the approaching whereof they were not only troubled with the Enemy but with the tumult and stir of their own people also some crying that they should yet draw nearer unto the Tower othersome crying out as fast to have the Bridges cast out thereby to enter and the Enemy likewise with much clamour encouraging one another for the repulsing of the Christians So the Souldiers hindred
rested upon the coming of the two mighty Princes Philip the Second of that name King of France and Richard the First King of England who having agreed betwixt themselves with their combined Forces to relieve the distressed Christians of the East and again if it were possible to repair the broken State of the Kingdom of Ierusalem were now met together at Marseilles in Provence From whence the French King first departing with his Fleet for Cicilia and with a prosperous gale for certain days holding on his course and now come nigh unto the Island was by force of a furious tempest suddenly arising so tossed and tumbled in the deep that many of his Ships there perished eaten up of the Sea others by force of Weather driven upon the Sands and Rocks were there broken all to pieces and the rest some with their Masts broken some with their Tacklings and Sails rent and all in general sore Weather-beaten with much ado arrived at Messana the desired Port. At which place King Richard afterwards but with better fortune arrived with his Fleet also Both the Kings now met together resolved there to winter the French King enforced by necessity so to do for the repairing of the late Losses he had received as well in his People and Provision as in his Shipping all which was to be relieved by new Supplies out of France and the King of England staying to take Order for the Dowry of his Sister Ioan Widow of William the late King of Cicilia with Tancred the base Son of Roger that had now aspired unto the Kingdom of that Island About which matter great Stirs arose betwixt King Richard the Queens Brother and Tancred the new King insomuch that it was like to have broken out into open War had it not to the good contentment of King Richard been otherwise taken up and so the Controversie ended But whilst these two great Kings thus wintred in this fruitful Island and oftentimes as good Friends met together sometime for their disport and sometime to confer of their so weighty Affairs the way as was thought to have appeased all former displeasure and to have increased love it fell out clean contrary jealousie and distrust not only reviving the old but also still raising new Quarrels betwixt them to the great hindrance of the common good by them intended which may serve for a warning to all great Princes willing to continue in Amity and to hold a good Opinion one of another never to see one the other or coming so to an interview not to converse or stay long together which as it is not often done without the danger of their persons so can it not possibly be long continued but that it will engender in themselves as well as in their Followers Jealousie envy hatred and mistrust aâ— we have before said and hereafter in the coursâ— of this History may appear There was an old 〈◊〉 betwixt these two great Kings Richard â—nd Philip about Adela the French Kings Sister whom Richard having before his Father yet living affianced had now rejected as her whom his aged Father Henry the Second had too familiarly used and in stead of her to the great disgrace of the French espoused the Lady Berengaria Daughter to the King of Navar which Indignity with divers others then arising betwixt the French and the English as then with great heart-burning smouldred up in respect of the common Cause then in Hand afterwards brake out again to the shameful overthrow of this most honourable Expedition and lamentable disturbance of both Realms Winter past and the Spring now come the French King not altogether the best pleased first loosed from Messana and with his Fleet in safety arrived at Ptolemais where he was by the Christians now the third year lying at the Siege so joyfully received as if he had been to them sent with Succours from Heaven After whom shortly after followed also King Richard of whose Fleet by force of Weather sore beaten and dispersed two Ships by the rage of the Tempest driven aground upon the coast of Cyprus were by the Island people spoiled and the Men that in them had hardly escaped the danger of the Sea with most barbarous Inhumanity some slain and some taken Prisoners the rest of the Fleet arriving there also were with like Incivility forbidden to land the Cipriots ready at hand in all places to keep them off With which so great an Indignity the King justly moved and by force landing his people with incredible Celerity and Success over-ran the whole Island never ceasing until he had made a full Conquest thereof and taken Isaac Comnenus commonly called The King of that Island and of some for what reason I know not Emperor of the Griffons Prisoner yet was he indeed neither King nor Emperor but being a man of great Nobility and Power and of the honourable Stock of the Comneni had in the troublesome Reign of Andronicus Comnenus the Emperor his Cousin laid hold upon that fruitful Island and there tyrannized as a reputed King until that now he was by King Richard taken Prisoner and for his unfaithful dealing sent fast bound in Chains of Silver into Syria The King thus possessed of the whole Island there at Limozin married the Lady Berengaria the King of Navars Daughter brought thither by Ioan late Queen of Cicilia the Kings Sister And so disposing as he thought best of all things for the safe keeping of the Island set forward again with his Fleet towards Syria Where by the way he light upon a great Ship of the Sultans laded with Victuals and other War-like Provisions for the relief of the besieged all which became a Prey unto him So holding on his course he at length arrived at Ptolemais where he was by the French King and the rest of the Christians there lying most honourably rereived Now had the City of Ptolemais been three years besieged by the Christians and notably defended by the Turks during which time many an hot Assault and bloody Skirmish had passed betwixt them And now the eyes of all men were fixed upon the two Kings of England and France unto whom all the rest offered their Obedience and Service The Christian Camp was great composed especially of Englishmen Frenchmen Italians and Almains not them that were left of the Emperor Frederick his Army for they were for the most part dead or else returned home again into their Countries but of such as moved with the Zeal they bare unto this Religious War came daily in great numbers thither as did also many others of divers Nations desirous in some measure to be partakers of so honourable a War. These Religious and Venerous Christians thus lying at the Siege had with much painful labour undermined one of the greatest Towers of the City called the accursed Tower with some part of the Wall also by means whereof they were in hope to find a way into the City Wherefore all things being
and Henry the Third then reigning in England that they both promised them aid Whereupon Lewis a man of a great devotion and always forward in that service against the Infidels took upon him the Cross the cognisance of the sacred War causing his three Sons Philip that succeeded him in the Kingdom sirnamed the Fair Peter Count of Alangon and Iohn Count of Nevers sirnamed Tristan for that his Mother was in her greatest heaviness for the taking of her Husband delivered of him in Egypt and most of the Nobility of France to do the like unto whom also Theobald King of Navar his Son-in-Law Alphonsus his Brother and Guydo Earl of Flanders joyned themselves And so having put all things in readiness took his way to Marselleis and from thence embarking himself with his Army in the Genoway Ships hired for that purpose set forward the first of March in the year 1270. But being at Sea he was by force of Weather constrained to land in Sardinia year 1270. and there to stay a while departing thence he at length arrived at Carthage the place by him desired where in the entrance of the Haven he surprised certain of the Enemies Ships but landing his men and assaulting the Town he was there notably repulsed This is not that antient great and famous City which sometime mightily strove with the proud Mistress of the World for Soveraignty but another built long after in the ruins or at least not far from the ruins of the same In the besieging whereof the Frenchmen found such resistance as well put them in remembrance of the antient glory of the Carthaginians One day it fortuned as the King thus lay at the Siege that the Defendants made a great and fierce Sally out upon the Frenchmen who before commanded so to do by little and little retired to draw their Enemies further on betwixt whom and the City the Constable with a great power coming in and charging them behind and they which before retired now standing close unto them they were on both sides hardly beset who for all that as became valiant men worthily defended themselves and made there a great fight though not without extreme peril which they in the City beholding gave out a most hideous and piteous cry a certain sign of their hard estate within astonying with the suddenness thereof both their Friends and Enemies But whilst they of the Town betwixt hope and despair stood thus beholding the fight at Land the Frenchmen by Sea approaching a Bulwark on that side of the Town took it without resistance which so dismaied them without that they began forthwith to flie of whom the greatest part casting away their Weapons were by the Kings commandment taken to mercy and they likewise of the Town upon promise of their lives yielded the same unto the King. Carthage thus won the King laid Siege to Tunes the chief City of that Kingdom being not far off where by the way he was encountred by the King of the Countrey who having there lost ten thousand of his Moors betook himself to flight with the rest Who thus overthrown resolved no more to tempt Fortune but to keep himself safe within the Walls of the City if happily so he might as it oftentimes falleth out more weaken his Enemies by lying still and protracting the time than by open Force and Valour Which their purpose King Lewis perceiving resolved not to stir from thence until that he were become Master of the City which as it seemed could not hold out for want of Victuals considering the multitude of People that were got into it Nevertheless thus besieged both by Sea and Land and so straightly hemmed in on every side as that no relief could possibly be brought unto it yet held it out by the space of six Months After which time Wants daily more and more increasing amongst the besieged Embassadors were sent out to the King to intreat with him of peace But whilst these Embassadors go to and fro and reason upon the capitulations of the desired peace behold a great and furious Plague arose in the French Camp which began to cut them down by heaps there dyed Iohn Tristan Count of Nevers the Kings youngest Son born in the first expedition that the said King his Father made into the Holy Land even at such time as he was taken Prisoner which Tristan died the five and twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord 1270. The good King having yet scarcely performed the Obsequies of his Son fell sick of the bloody Flix whereof he there shortly after died also About which time arrived there Charles King of Sicily the French Kings Brother with a great number of fresh Souldiers whose coming lightned somewhat the Frenchmens hearts heavy for the death of their King and daunted the Moors before brag of the same Shortly after whom arrived there also Prince Edward King Henry the Third his Eldest Son who travelling through France and taking shipping at Aquesmort not far from Marseilles was now in ten days with a brave Company of Englishmen come to Tunes and thereof the other Christian Princes namely of Philip the French King his Father Lewis being now dead of Charles King of Sicily and of the two Kings of Navar and Aragon joyfully received But these Princes had a little before his arrival concluded a Peace with the Moors King and the Infidels upon condition that he should pay a yearly Tribute of forty thousand Crowns unto the King of Sicilia and to suffer the Christian Religion to be freely preached in his Dominions by such devout persons as should be there left for that purpose and that unto such as should by their preaching be converted unto the Faith in Christ Jesus it should be lawful for them to be baptized and to profess the Christian Religion Of which Peace Prince Edward understanding did what he might to have disswaded them from the same saying that the War was by them all taken in hand against the Infidels as Enemies to the Cross of Christ with whom they were not to have Peace and for the recovery of the Holy City But say what he would and do what he could the Peace to his great discontentment was now concluded which they might not as they said again break and thereupon with the first fair Wind hoised sail and returned towards Sicilia with purpose the next Spring to have gone into Syria which their determination was shortly after by the hand of God disappointed For being come upon the Coast of the Island not far from Drepanum most of the great Princes and other Nobility in their long Boats went on Land the rest of the Fleet lying at Anker about a League off for that being for the most part Ships of great burthen they were not able to put into the Harbor But as they so lay by force of a sudden and violent Tempest then arising some were eaten up with the rough Sea some falling foul one on
Emperor two hundred thousand Crowns with the Tenths both of the Clergy and Temporalty for six years and many goodly blessings were in his name also by the Preachers of that time promised unto all such as should with him take upon them that sacred War. Whereupon the Emperor with all his Family took upon them the Cross the sign of the sâ—cred expedition intended as did also the Duke of Lorain shortly after with some others Nevertheless the Emperor otherwise busied in Wars against the Bohemians and Bavarians and delaying still the time as not greatly willing to take upon him so long and dangerous a journey and the Pope still threatning his high sentence of Excomunication the time passed the Pope died and nothing was as yet done Until that at length the Emperor having happily finished his Wars in Bohemia and finding himself at some good leisure in some part to discharge his Vow and to satisfie the expectation the World had long conceived of him sent Henry Prince of Megapolis or as the Germans call it Meckelbourg with a strong Power into Syria to perform what himself had promised Who coming to Ptolemais made many notable incursions into the Country about Damasco with Fire and Sword destroying all before him as he went and carrying thence many great and rich booties until that at length he was by the Mamalukes circumvented and taken Prisoner and so carried unto the Sultan at Caire where he remained in strait prison six and twenty years after until that by chance one of the Mamalukes a renegate German being chosen Sultan caused him to be brought before him and at his coming demanded of him If it would not do him good to celebrate the remembrance of the Nativity of his Christ with his Friends in Germany for now that time of the year was at hand And I know said the Sultan that thou art so addicted unto thy Superstition that thou respectest the same more than thy Liberty Truth said Henry mighty Prince for Liberty would avail me nothing if Christ by his most mild Incarnation had not taken away our Captivity and therefore how much all men owe unto the reverend remembrance thereof I would to God thou O King didst also understand which as I most heartily wish so I would I could thereof perswade thee God forbid said the Sultan for I remember that when as I was chief Engineer unto thy Father at Knese-Fenicke in Livonia and there did him good service I was altogether of the Christian perswasion but now having left that common Error have therewith also changed my private Fortune But as for thy Religion I have nothing to say my talk is only concerning thy Liberty wouldst thou therefore gladly be free and so return home to thy Friends That Nature craveth said Henry although my fortune gainsayeth which yet dependeth on your pleasure I desire indeed to return home which if you should deny me I must as I have done take it in good part assuring my self that my Wife Anastasia with my beloved Sons Henry Leo and Iohn having long since celebrated my Funerals and ended their mourning Thou art deceived said the Sultan for I am sure that they know thou yet livest and pray moâ—â— heartily for thy return Truly I owe much unto the remembrance of thy Father and therefore this day give thee thy Liberty And having so said furnished him with all things necessary and gave him leave to depart with one Martin his Servant who taken with him had born him company all the long time of his Captivity So taking his leave of the Sultan he came to Ptolemais but shipping himself for Cyprus he was by the way by certain Pyrates taken at Sea and as a Fugitive Captive brought back again unto the Sultan who pitying his hard fortune set him again at liberty and by a ship set out for that purpose transported him into Cyprus where he was by the Queen of that Island his Aunt as some say honourably entertained and so furnished of all things fit for his Estate Departing thence he came to Marseilles where after he had some few days refreshed himself he from thence travelled by Land home into his own Country where at the first he was not known of his own Children and Friends as being grown old in prison and by them long before accounted among the dead but now at last found again and by them known he was of his Children joyfully received as their Father and of his Subjects as their Prince Howbeit he shortly after died and was honourably buried in the Monastery of Dobran Thus in the whole course of this History it appears by that which is already written what notable expeditions even the greatest Christian Princes of the West to their immortal glory from time to time undertook against the Enemies of Christ and his most sacred Word and for the relief of the poor distressed Christians in Syria and in the Land of Palestine whereof as divers of them had right glorious success unto the great profit of the Christian Common-weal so some of them answered not with like Event as undertaken with too small strength or otherwise overthrown by the discord or malice of the Christians themselves rather than by the Enemies Force Which nevertheless how unfortunately soever they fell out in the hands of such worthy men as undertook them yet have they this glory commendation and comfort That they were taken in hand for the honour of the Son of God Christ Jesus and the defence of his Verity against the false Prophet Mahomet and his most blasphemous Doctrin so honourable and just a quarrel as might well beseem the greatness of the greatest Prince yea of all the Princes of Christendom Yet could not the worthiness thereof even in those more zealous times or the dangerous Estate of that part of the Christian Common-Weal even then like to perish as some others be now or the lamentable complaints of the poor oppressed Christians crying out unto their Christian Brethren for aid any whit move the Christian Princes of that time with their combined Forces to reach unto them their helping hands or to yield unto them any succor or relief for they little feeling those harms so far off and more regarding their own hereditary quarrels employed those Forces one against another unto the effusion of so much Christian blood as might have sufficed not for relief of the distressed Christians in Syria only but also to have regained whatsoever had been before from them taken by the Turks or Sarasins The German Princes were still at a jar about the choice of their Emperors the French agreed not with the English or them of the Low-Countries neither the English with the Scots the Arragonians were at odds with the French and in Italy were almost as many deadly Factions as Provinces Of which discord of the Christians the greatest occasion of their ruin and decay Melechsares the Egyptian Sultan understanding by his Espials raised a great Army of
the Mamalukes and others with a full purpose to have utterly rooted out all the remainders of the Christians in Syria and the Land of Palestine and so to have entirely joyned those two great Countries unto his own Kingdom But what he had so mischievously devised he lived not to bring to pass being in the midst of those his great designs taken away by sudden death After whom Alphix or as some call him Elpis succeeding him in the Kingdom and with a puissant Army entring into Syria laid Siege to Tripolis which he at length took by undermining of it and put to the Sword all the Christians therein except such as by speedy flight had in time got themselves out of the danger and rased the City down to the ground which calamity betided unto the Christians the ninth of April in the year 1289. Presently after he had the strong Castle of Nelesine yielded unto him year 1289. whereinto he put a strong Garrison to hinder the Christians from building again the late destroyed City In like manner also he took the Cities of Sidon and Berythus which he sacked and laid them flat with the ground And after that he removed to Tyre which aâ—ter three months straight Siege was by the Citizens now out of all hope of relief yielded unto him upon condition That they might with bag and baggage in safety depart With like good Fortune he in good time and as it were without resistance took all the rest of the strong Towns and Castles which the Christians yet held in Syria and the Land of Palestine excepting only the City of Ptolemais whereunto all the poor Christians fled as unto a Sanctuary to be there defended by the honourable Knights Templars and Hospitalers Nothing now leâ—t unto them more than that strong City the Sultan of his own accord made a Peace with them for the space of five years fearing as was supposed to have drawn upon him all the Christian Princes of the West if he should at once have then utterly rooted out all the Christians in those Countries together The Christians affairs thus brought to the last cast in Syria and yet faintly as it were breathing by the benefit of the late obtained Peace Peter Beluise Master of the Templars with the grand Master of the Knights Hospitalers suddenly passed over as Embassadors from the rest into Europe unto Nicholaus quartus then Pope craving his fatherly aid Who moved with so great miseries of the poor afflicted Christians solicited the other Christian Princes to have sent them relief especially Rodolph the German Emperor who then busied 〈◊〉 the affairs of the Empire and his Troubles nearer home as were the other Christian Pâ—inces also gave good words but no help at all Yet some of them under the colour thereof got from their Subjects great sums of Mony which they imployed to other worse uses only the Pope sent fiâ—teen hundred men at Arms whom with devout perswasion and much earnest Preaching he had induced to take upon them that sacred Expedition and entertained them of his own charge unto whom also many others out of divers Countries upon a Religious Zeal joyned themselves as voluntary men who meeting together at Brundusium and there embarked with the two grâ—nd Masters of the Templars and Hospitalers in safety at length arrived at Ptolemais There was then in the City a great number of People of all sorts of able men there was about fifty thousand and about forty thousand of the weaker sort amongst whom divers Murders Felonies Rapes and such other shameful Outrages all hastning the dreadful judgments of God were dayly committed and let pass unregarded more than of them that were injured For all the chief Commanders were then at variance among themselves every one of them laying claim not worth a rush unto the vain Title of the Kingdom of Ierusalem Henry King of Cyprus coming thither with a great Fleet charged the Templars to deliver him the Crown of that Kingdom which they had as he said wrongfully taken from Almericus and Guy his Ancestors And Charles King of Sicilia by his Embassadors laid claim unto the Title of that Kingdom as due unto the Kings of that Island and understanding it to be given unto Henry King of Cyprus caused all the Revenues of the Templars within his Dominion to be brought into his Treasuries and their Lands and Houses to be spoyled Hugh also Prince of Antioch laboured with tooth and nail to defend the overworn Right that his Father and Grandfather had unto that lost Kingdom And the Count of Tripolis laid in for himself That he was descended from Raymund of Tholous and that beside himself remained no Prince of the antient Nobility which had won that Kingdom out of the hands of the Sarasins and that therefore that regal Dignity did not of better right appertain unto any other than unto himself Neither did these four Princes more strive for the Title of the lost Kingdom than for the present Government of the City straightway about to perish The Popes Legate pretending thereunto a right also for that King Iohn Brenne had before subjected it unto the See of Rome As for the claim unto the City of Ptolemâ—is the Patriarch of Ierusalem challenged unto himself the Preheminence for that the Metropolitical City of Tyrâ— under which the City of Ptolemais was the third Episcopal Seat was under his jurisdiction even by the Decree of the West Church The Templars also and the Knights Hospitalers whose power in the City was at that time far the greatest pretended the Government thereof of best right to belong unto them as the just reward of their blood already and afterward to be spent in the defence thereof promising great matters if it might be wholly referred unto them Neither spared the French King or the King of England by their Messengers to claim the Soveraignty of the City by their Predecessors sometimes won And they of Pisa having still a Consul therein and by often Marriages with the natural Inhabitants grown into great affinity with them did what they might to get the Government into their Hands The Venetians also by their Authority and great Wealth laboured to gain the good Will of the People sparing therein no Cost And they of Genoa no less cunning than the rest supplanted the strongest Factions by giving aid both apertly and covertly unto the weaker that so having weakned the Faction they most doubted and hated they might by the joynt favour of the weaker aspire unto the Government of the stronger and so consequently of the City it self The Florentines also by their continual Traffique thither were not out of hope by one fineness or other amongst so many Competitors to find a mean to step up above the rest But the greatest part of the People for all that were most inclined unto the Armenians and Tartars as both for their nearness and power most like of all other to stand them in stead All
had before worn and for the further gracing of her to be deckt with many most precious Jewels of inestimable value Whereunto the poor Soul gladly obeyed little thinking that it was her Funeral Apparel Now in the mean while Mustapha altogether ignorant of the Sultans mind had as he was commanded caused all the Nobility and Commanders of the Men of War to be assembled into the great Hall every man much marvelling what should be the Emperors meaning therein who had not of long so publickly shewed himself But being thus together assembled and every man according as their minds gave them talking diversly of the matter behold the Sultan entred into the Palace leading the fair Greek by the hand who beside her incomparable Beauty and other the greatest graces of Nature adorned also with all that curiosity could devise seemed not now to the beholders a mortal Wight but some of the stately Goddesses whom Poets in their Extasies describe Thus coming together into the midst of the Hall and due Reverence to them done by all them there present he stood still with the fair Lady in his left hand and so furiously looking round about him said unto them I understand of your great discontentment and that you all murmur and grudge for that I overcome with mine affection toward this so fair a Paragon cannot withdraw my self from her presence but I would fain know which of you is so temperate that if he had in his possession a thing so rare and precious so lovely and so fair would not be thrice advised before be would forego the same Say what you think in the word of a Prince I give you free liberty so to do But they all rapt with an incredible admiration to see so fair a thing the like whereof they had never before beheld said all with one consent That he had with greater reason so passed the time with her than any man had to find fault therewith whereunto the barbarous Prince answered Well but now I will make you to understand how far you have been deceived in me and that there is no earthly thing that can so much blind my senses or bereave me of reason as not to see and understand what beseemeth my high Place and Calling yea I would you should all know that the Honour and Conquests of the Othoman Kings my noble Progenitors is so fixed in my Breast with such a desire in my self to exceed the same as that nothing but death is able to put it out of my remembrance And having so said presently with one of his hands catching the fair Greek by the hair of her head and drawing his Falchion with the other at one blow struck off her head to the great terrour of them all and having so done said unto them Now by this judge whether your Emperor is able to bridle his affections or not And within a while after meaning to discharge the rest of his choler caused great preparation to be made for the Conquest of Peloponnesus and the besieging of Belgrade At the same time that the barbarous Turks took the Imperial City of Constantinople Thomas and Demetrius Palaeologi Brethren to the late unfortunate Emperor Constantinus governed a great part of Peloponnesus one of the most famous Provinces of Grecia which in form of a leafe of a Plane-Tree is almost in manner of an Island environed with the Seas Ionium and Aegeum which running far into the Land on either side thereof separateth the same from the rest of Grecia by two great Bays leaving but a strait neck of Land called of the Greeks Istmos in breadth about five miles which was sometimes by the Grecians and afterward by the Venetians fortified by a strong Wall and five great Castles near unto which place stood the great and famous City of Corinth This Province is in length 175 miles and almost as much in breadth wherein are contained the Countries of Achaia Messenia Lacedemonia Argolica and Archadia with many famous Cities and goodly Havens wherein it far exceedeth all the other Provinces of Grecia These two Princes Thomas and Demetrius dismayed with their Brothers disaster Fortune began now so far to despair of their own Estate that upon the first bruit thereof they were about presently to have fled by Sea into Italy And as it commonly falleth out That one evil happeneth not alone so at the same time it fortuned that the Albanians rise in Arms against the said two Princes their Soveraigns and under the leading of their Rebellious Captain Emanuel Catecuzenus grievously troubled both the poor Princes These Albanians were a rough and hardy kind of people which living after the manner of the rude Scithian Herdsmen by feeding of Cattel had of long time planted themselves in Peloponnesus differing from the natural Greeks both in their manner of living and Language which diversity was no small cause that they oftentimes spurned as now against the Government of the Grecian Princes In this extremity the two distressed Princes not well knowing which way to turn themselves sought for Peace at Mahomets hands year 1454. offering to become his Tributaries Of which their Offer he willingly accepted as an induction to the full Conquest of that Country and sent Turachan Governor of Thessalia one of his greatest Men of War with an Army into Peloponnâ—sus to Aid those Princes against the Albanians by whose help the masterful Rebels were in short time discomfited and the Country of Peloponnesus quieted yet so that it was now become Tributary to the Turkish King. These two Princes Demetrius and Thomas the last of all the Christian Princes that reigned in Peleponnesus having thus lost their Liberty lived for a few years as the Turks Vassals paying such yearly Tribute as they had before promised During which time many Displeasures arose betwixt the two Brothers being both jealous of their Estate and desirous by all plausible means to win the hearts of their Subjects one from another whereby it came so to pass that whiles they both desired to become popular they weakned their own Credit and had not their Subjects at such command as best stood with the safety of their Estate Nevertheless as soon as they understood that the Christian Princes of the West were making great preparation against the Turk and that Calixtus the Third of that Name then the Bishop of Rome had already put a Fleet of Gallies to Sea which did great spoil upon the Borders of the Turks Dominions they vainly perswading themselves that the Turks would in short time be again driven out of Grecia refused to pay any more Tribute to the Turkish King or to keep League any longer with him Upon which occasion Mahomet with a puissant Army came down and first besieged Corinth and afterwards entring into Peloponnesus took divers strong Towns and destroyed the Country before him and forced the two Princes for safeguard of their lives to fly the one to Mantinia and the other into the strong
done he returned again to Euboea Shortly after he with the same Fleet put to Sea again and sailing alongst the coast of Macedonia and Thracia surprised the City of Aenus which standeth upon the mouth of the River Meritza called in ancient time Hebrus upon which River the famous Cities Andrianople and Philippopolis are also situate Canalis after he had taken the spoil of the City returned to his Gallies carrying away with him two thousand Captives into Euboea At the same time also the Venetians giving Aid unto Nicholas Duchaine against his Brother Alexius then at variance for the Principality of Zadrima near unto the River of Drino in Epirus gave a great Overthrow to the Turks which came in the quarrel of Alexius Mahomet not a little offended with the harms done unto him by the Venetians year 1470. and perceiving that the Island of Euboea now called Nigroponte was for the commodious situation and strength thereof the chief place from whence they wrought him all these wrongs and whither they afterwards retired again as unto a most sure place of Refuge determined with himself at once to be even with them for all and to imploy his whole Forces both by Sea and Land for the gaining of that place This Island of Euboea is about an hundred miles in length and lieth over against that part of Graecia which was of old called Boeotia from whence it is separated with a narrow strait of the Sea it aboundeth with Corn Wine Oil Fruit and Wood fit for shipping The chief City thereof was in ancient time called Chalcide and of latter time Nigroponte by which name also the whole Island was known albeit the Turks now call it Egribos a populous rich and strong City so fortified with Walls and Bulwarks that in most mens judgment it seemed a place impregnable Unto this strong City Mahomet resolved to lay siege knowing well that upon the fortune thereof dependeth the state of the whole Island Wherefore he assembled a mighty Army and made great preparation both by Sea and Land and when all things were in readiness sent Mahomet the great Bassa of the Court with a Fleet of thâ—ee hundred Gallies and certain other small Vessels well furnished with Souldiers Mariners and all things necessary by Sea into Euboea and with a great Army marched himself by Land through Achaia until he came over against the City of Chalcis The Venetian Admiral hearing of the coming of the Turks Fleet set forward to have met them near unto the straits of Hellespontus but after he had by his espials descried the great number of the Enemies Fleet finding himself too weak shaped his course to the Island of Scios The Bassa coming out of the Straits of Hellespontus covered the Sea with his Fleet and holding on his intended course without let came to Euboea where at his first landing he took Stora and Basilicon two small Towns which he rased to the ground and from thence went directly to Chalcis As soon as this great Fleet was there arrived Mahomet caused a great Bridge to be made of his smaller Vessels over the Strait betwixt Achaia and Euboea whereby he passed all his Army and so belayed the City round both by Sea and Land. And after he had planted his Battery began most furiously to shake the Walls wherein he had in short time made fair Breaches and the sooner for that one Thomas of Liburnia chief Canoneer of the City before corrupted by the Turks by signs agreed upon gave them certain knowledge in what places the Walls were weakest whereby they so aptly planted their Battery as if they had taken view on the inside of the Walls Which foul Treason was at length perceived and the Traytor therefore worthily executed Yet little prevailed the Tyrant thereby for such was the industry of the Defendants that whatsoever he had by the fury of his great Ordnance beat down by day that they with restless labour repaired again by night Thus was the Siege continued thirty days in which space many a sharp Assault was given by the Turks to their great loss and the City still valiantly defended by the Christians At length the Venetian Admiral to the great comfort of the besieged came with his Fleet within view of the City making semblance as if he would have given the Turks battel Whereupon it is reported that Mahomet was about to have raised his Siege and have got himself over into the Main for fear the Venetians should with their Gallies have broken the Bridge and so have shut him up into that Island which thing it was thought the Admiral might have done to his great praise if he would as a couragious Chieftain have adventured the matter as he was earnestly requested by the Captains of every private Gally who generally grieved to see him so great a Commander to let slip so fair an opportunity But he fearing to come any nearer came to an Anchor and moved not neither gave any sign of comfort or relief to the besieged Which thing the Turkish King quickly perceiving and therewith encouraged having now in divers places beaten down the Walls and made them assaultable brought on his Men to the Breaches promising them the spoil of the City with many other great Rewards and high Preferments according to their particular Deserts whereof he said He would Himself be an Eye-witness Hereupon the Turks gave a most fierce and furious Assault which the Defendants with invincible courage received and made such slaughter of them that the Ditches were fill'd and the Breaches made up with the bodies of the dead Turks But such was the number of that populous Army the greatest strength of the Turks that the living little felt the loss of the dead Mahomet continually sending in new supplies of fresh Men in stead of them that were slain or wounded so that one could no sooner fall but two or three stept up in his room and so successively as if new Men had sprung out of the Bodies of the dead Twice they had even won the Breaches and were both times with wonderful slaughter beaten out again This deadly and dreadful Assault was maintained a whole day and a night without intermission At length the Defendants being for the most part slain or wounded and the rest wearied with long fight and unable to defend the Town now assaulted almost round retired from the Breaches into the Market-place and there like resolute Men sold their lives at a dear price unto the Turks Amongst the slain Christians were found the dead bodies of many notable Women who seeing the ruine of the City chose rather to die with their Friends in defence thereof than alive to fall into the hands of their barbarous Enemies Mahomet being now become Lord of the City and having lost forty thousand of his Turks in that Siege in revenge thereof caused all the men that were found in the City alive to be put to most cruel death especially the
Turks the Island of Aegina and landing in divers places of the Turks Dominions left unto them the woful remembrance of his being there Afterwards meeting with Gonsalvus sirnamed the Great sent by Ferdinand King of Spain to aid him against the Turks at Zacynthus he invaded Cephalenia which Trivisanus his Predecessor had in vain attempted the year before and laid hard Siege to the City which was for a space valiantly defended by the Turks yet at length by the good conduct of Gonsalvus it was by force taken when as Gisdare the Governor thereof with his Garrison of Turks had before fought it out even to the last man. The City being taken all the whole Island yielded forthwith to the Venetians Pisaurius having taken Cephalenia repaired the City and leaving a strong Garrison for defence of the Isle departed to Corcyra where he was advertised that the Turks were rigging forth a great Fleet against the next Spring whereof some part lay in the Bay of Ambracia not far from Corcyra some at Eante and the rest within the Straits of Hellespontus Wherefore purposing to do some exploit upon those Gallies which lay in the Bay of Ambracia to avert the mind of the Enemy from perceiving of that he had secretly with himself intended he sent the greatest part of his Fleet unto the Island of Neritos who suddainly landing should put the Inhabitants in fear The Captains sent about the business chearfully put in execution what the Amiral had commanded and by their suddain landing raised such a tumult that all the Countries thereabout were filled with the expectation of that which should ensue thereof The Bay of Ambracia is so straitned on either side with the Mountains of Epirus that the entrance thereof is but half a mile over but by and by opening it self into a great wideness and running up into the Land maketh a most pleasant and safe Harbour for Ships and Gallies to ride in Pisaurius with a fair Wind coming thither with eight Gallies well appointed when the Turks thought him to have been at Neritos and entring the Strait rowing farther into the Bay burnt one of the Turks great Gallies to the terror of all them that dwelt round about the Bay and carried with him eleven more laded with Munition and Victual through the Strait the Turks in vain fretting thereat and doing what they could with their great Ordnance from Shore to have sunk him in going out of the Bay. But having done what he came for he returned with his Prey again to Corcyra Not long after he also recovered the Castle of Pylos in Morea which as it was suddainly gotten so was it as suddainly lost for Camalia a notable Pirat of the Turks who had been abroad seeking after purchase putting into that Harbor by chance took three Gallies there left by the Admiral for defence of the place and so terrified the faint-hearted Captain that he fell to composition with the Pyrat to yield him the Castle so that he and his Souldiers might in safety depart which the Pyrat granting had the Castle delivered unto him which he could not with far greater strength have possibly won So was Pylos for fear twice in one year yielded up unto the Turks and was both times the death of the cowardly Captains which gave it up being both beheaded by the commandment of the Admiral About the same time Pisaurius attempted to have burnt other of the Turks Gallies lying in the River Eante upon the coast of Macedonia but not with so good success as before for the Turks made more careful by the loss they had but a little before received at Ambracia did now more vigilantly look unto their Gallies so that when Pisaurius had in certain small Vessels made of purpose for that service embarked two hundred resolute Souldiers to have gone up the River to have fired the Gallies they were by the way after they had entred a good way into the River encountred by the Turks and enforced to return But before they could get out of the River the wind rose so contrary with such a stiff gale full in the mouth of the River that the Mariners overmastred with the violence of the Weather when they had done what they could and spent all their strength were driven ashore some on one side of the River and some on the other and so fell into the hands of their Enemies of whom it booted not to crave mercy About this time Bajazet took also the ancient and famous City of Dyrrachium now called Durazo from the Venetians before ruinous and almost quite abandoned by the Inhabitants as a place of danger and not to be kept now that the Turk had got all the Country round about it The Venetians sore pressed with these Wars so long maintained against the Turk had many times prayed Aid of other Christian Princes and were well holpen by the Spaniard in the taking of Cephalenia and now Lewis the French King upon a good devotion to that War sent the Lord Ravestin with seven tall Ships and fifteen Gallies well appointed out of Provence and Genoa to aid the Venetians his Friends This Fleet departing from Naples where they had by the way put in and passing about Italy and so through the Ionian Sea came to Melos one of the Cyclades at which Island Pisaurius with his Fleet in short time arrived also from whence they by mutual consent departed together to invade the Island of Lesbos and being there safely arrived landed their Forces and laid siege to the strong City of Mytilene where by the fury of their Artillery they in short time had made a fair breach in the Wall. In the time of this battery whilst the breach was in making Pisaurius with part of his Fleet sailed to Tenedos for it was reported that certain of the Turks Gallies were then coming for that place out of Hellespontus Which report as some write was of purpose given out by the French thereby to draw the Venetian Admiral from the Siege that so in the mean time they being in good hope to take the Town in his absence might themselves carry away the honour thereof together with the rich spoil Others favouring the French blame the Venetian Admiral as if he had of purpose departed envying at the honour of the French. Which is hardly to be believed in so honourable a Personage and in an action so much concerning the good of his Common-Weal Howsoever it was the breach being made in his absence was by the French presently assaulted although that Palus Valatesius the Venetian Vice-Admiral earnestly requested the French Admiral to defer the Assault for a while and to expect the return of Pisaurius Which his Counsel the French Admiral gave him the hearing of but yet went forward with the Assault The Frenchmen after their manner furiously assailing the breach were valiantly repulsed by the Turks so that in the breach was made a deadly and most terrible Fight many
falling on both sides Yet for all that the City was manfully defended by the Turks and the Frenchmen were enforced to retire The French Admiral having taken this repulse commanded all things to be carried aboard puposing to have forsaken the Siege and so to have departed when in the mean time the Venetian Admiral returned and with much ado perswaded the French to stay Whereupon the battery was again begun with greater fury than before and now the Leaders were consulting of a fresh Assault to be given when suddainly news was brought That the Turks Fleet was coming to relieve the City and thereupon the Assault was for a time deferred and the battery continued But those Turks which came being in number but few were for the most part by them in the Gallies taken and cast over board some few that got to Land saved themselves in the Woods and desart places of the Isle By this time the City was again made assaultable and the Venetians with great Courage assailed the breach and had twice gained the top of the Rampiers from whence they were again both times beaten down by the Turks the French all the while looking on Many valiant men were there slain and hurt and in the end the Venetians were glad with loss to retire as had the French done before Whilst this was in doing a Pinnace came to the Fleet with news That the Great Master of the Rhodes was coming with his Gallies to the Siege whereupon the Admirals determined to maintain the Siege until his coming But the next day after the French Admiral changing his purpose shipped his men and hoysing sail departed to Chios and sailing thence towards Italy was overtaken with a most terrible Tempest wherein the Admiral Gally with two others were lost with eight hundred good Souldiers the Admiral himself with above forty others were by chance contrary to all hope saved and with much danger with his Weather-beaten Fleet recovered the Haven of Tarentum The Venetian Admiral thus forsaken of the French and seeing the time past wherein he expected the coming of the Great Master of the Rhodes brake up the Siege and departed from Lesbos to Chios and from thence to Paros where he found the Master of the Rhodes with his Gallies unto whom he complained greatly of the inconstancy of the French imputing it unto them that the City of Mytilene was not won Neither were they behind with him but in every place where they came laid the fault as much or more upon him From Paros the Venetian Admiral took his course to the Island of Melos year 1502. where he found one Richius an Arch Pyrat of the Turks who by force of Tempest was driven on Shore and by the suddain coming down of the Island people taken him for that he had exercised exceeding Cruelty upon certain Christians that he had taken Pisaurius caused to be fast bound to a Spit and with a small fire to be roasted to death From Melos he returned to Corcyra and there wintered The next Spring Pisaurius with certain Gallies which Alexander Bishop of Rome had sent unto him under the command of Iacobus Pisaurius Bishop of Paphia sailed to Neritos now called S. Maura which is an Island parted from the firm Land with a little fret of the Sea long time before that way let in by the Corinthians Here Pisaurius suddainly landing his men surprised the Island and with wonderful celerity and industry cast up two great Trenches in such sort and to so good purpose that three thousand of the Turks Horsemen coming at a low water over that narrow Strait which parteth the Island from the Main were with loss repulsed and forced to retire Whereupon S. Maura the chief City was forthwith delivered unto Pisaurius with the rest of the Island The Venetians weary of this long and chargeable War against so mighty an Enemy sent Lodovicus Manetius their Embassador to Bajazet to treat with him for Peace but Bajazet stood upon such hard points that nothing could at that time be concluded Yet Manetius so discreetly used the matter that Bajazet sent with him at his return to Venice his Embassador to propound unto the Senate such Conditions as it pleased him to grant them Peace upon This Embassador had audience in the Senate twice where he in the name of his Master propounded such proud and unreasonable Conditions that they were by the Senate rejected and so he himself dismissed and sent back again The year following the Venetians sent an Embassador to Bajazet year 1503. who moved with the pitiful complaints of his own Subjects for the daily harms they received from the Venetians alongst the Sea Coast as also for want of Trade and fearing also some troubles like to arise in his Kingdom in Asia as indeed there did not long after yielded himself more willingly to hear of Peace than before This Embassador called Zacharias Phriscus was well heard of Bajazet and after long suit had brought the matter he came for unto some good terms and being honourably rewarded by the Turkish Emperor returned home carrying with him unto the Senate far more reasonable Conditions of Peace than had at any time before been by Bajazet propounded Hereupon the Venetians shortly after sent Andreas Gritti an honourable Senator a man well known to Bajazet both for his famous traffique in former time at Constantinople and also for that in these late Wars he was taken Prisoner at the winning of Mâ—thone and his life spared at the intercession of Cherseogles Bajazet his Son-in-Law and afterward ransomed he in the name of the State from whence he came concluded a Peace with Bajazet The Capitulations whereof were first That the Venetians should deliver up the Islands of Neritos and Leucadia reserving unto themselves the Island of Cephalenia only Then That Bajazet should restore all such Goods as had been taken from the Venetian Merchants in these late Wars And that it should be lawful for them as they were wont safely to traffique into the Euxine Sea and to Constantinople and there to have their Consul or Governor as they had had in former time And last of all That the Venetian Territory should be certainly known and separated from the Turks by certain Bounds and Limits These Conditions were solemnly agreed upon and confirmed both by Bajazet and the State of Venice and so a firm Peace concluded in the year 1503 after the Wars had continued betwixt them about the space of five years The same year Bajazet assembled a great and puissant Army of his best and most approved Souldiers as well in Asia as Europe which met together at Sophia purposing as it was thought to have invaded Hungary but worthily doubting the success of that War against so warlike a Nation he changed his purpose and leaving Achmetes Bassa with his Asian Souldiers at Sophia turned himself with the rest of his Army into Albania to reduce those rebellious People again to his obeysance and
conclusion he was sent back again accompanied but with one private Souldier to carry the Great Masters Letters unto the Turkish Tyrant the tenor whereof was thus Philippus Villerius Liladamus Great Master of the Rhodes unto the Turk Greeting THat you are mindful of me grieveth me nothing and I am also mindful of you You repeat your Victory in Hungary wherewith not being contented you hope for another nay you promise and assure your self thereof before you have attempted the War. Beware you deceive not your self mens expectations never decieve them more than in Wars Farewel from the Rhodes The other Letters written to Pyrrhus were to this effect Philippus Villerius Liladamus Great Master of the Rhodes to Pyrrhus the Bassa I Have advisedly considered thy Letters with the behaviour and disposition of thy Messenger As I contemn not thy counsel so I will not follow the same whilst my men of War do spoil the Countries and Ports of thy Lord and Master which I bear withal by reason of the injuries they have sustained of the Turkish Pirats But I will call them home and will send Embassadors unto thy great Lord so that thou before send me safe conduct under thy Masters great Seal for their safe coming and return Farewel from the Rhodes But these Letters were never delivered unto the great Turk or the Bassa for as soon as the Turkish Messenger was come over into the Main he presently took Horse which was there in readiness for him and posted towards Constantinople with as much speed as he could leaving the Christian Messenger his Companion behind him who returning back again to the Rhodes and telling what he had heard and seen gave them all great occasion to despair of Peace whereupon Villerius sent into Crete to hire certain Companies of Cretensian Archers In the mean time advertisement was given unto the Great Master by Letters from the Island of Naxos That the Turks were ready to put their Fleet to Sea with the first appearance of the new Moon which thing they most superstitiously observe in the beginning of all their great actions The same news was brought also by certain Merchants of the Island of Pathmos who came to the Rhodes with a great Ship laded with Corn from Euboea under the color of the sale whereof they by the commandment of the Turks to whom they were Tributaries diligently noted all that was done in the City shortly to be besieged The great Master with no less diligence sent divers of his small Gallies amongst the Islands and alongst the Main to learn what might be of the Enemies doings Ioannes Lupus one of the Knights of the Order and Captain of one of these Gallies meeting with a great Ship of the Turks laded with Corn took her and brought her home to Rhodes But Alphonsus Captain of another of the Gallies lying in harbour in one of the Islands and suffering his men to straggle too far into the Land was set upon by a Turkish Pyrat and taken About the same time the Turks by often Fires made upon the Main in the night season gave sign unto the Rhodians that they desirous to have some parly with them as their manner was Whereupon one Meneton a French man one of the Knights by commandment of the rest of the Order was sent with a Gally well appointed to the Main to see what the matter might be and with him was joyned Iacobus Xaycus a Pay-master for the Gallies that he might of the inhabitants of the place and his Friends there dwelling diligently enquire of all things concerning the intended War for this Xaycus besides that he was a skilful Sea-man and one that knew the Coast well had also good experience in Civil Affairs and was wonderfully beloved and made of by the Turkish Merchants whose Language he had perfectly learned Drawing near the Shore he found the Turkish Merchants making merry upon the Main with their Carpets Cotten-Wool and such like Merchandise about them as they used to exchange with the Rhodian Merchants for woollen Cloaths unto these Merchants he gave due salutations gaging his Faith for their safety and they likewise to him But being requested to come ashore to make merry until one of his familiar and old acquaintance might be sent for who as they said was not far off he answered that he could not so do except they would first deliver a Pledge for him a Shipboard The perfideous Turks laughing as it were at his needless fear willingly sent their Merchandise and a Pledge aboard the Gallies Xaycus then going ashore and embracing the Turkish Merchants which met him upon a sign given was forthwith beset on every side and taken Prisoner and by Post Horses conveied with all speed to Constantinople where he was with most exquisite torments that could be devised for any man to endure enforced to confess whatsoever his cruel Enemies could desire After Xaycus was by treachery thus lost then began their provident wisdom to be highly commeâ—sed which were the occasion that the Decree made of sending Embassadors unto the Turk was again revoked The hostage given for Xaycus being brought to the Rhodes and examined was found to be a simple Country fellow whom the Turks had of purpose well apparelled to deceive the Rhodians who frankly and plainly according to his simple knowledg answered to all things that were of him demanded as that the Turks were making great preparation for Sea upon the Coasts of Caria and Lycia and had taken up many Souldiers in the Countries thereabouts to send into the Frontiers of his Dominions towards Syria for defence of the same against the Persians All which was true for Solyman to put the Rhodians out of all suspicion of invasion whom he knew carefully to observe his doings sent the Souldiers whom he had levied in the Countries nearest to the Rhodes far away against the Persian as if he had meant nothing against the Rhodes and so upon the suddain to set upon them with his Army brought out of Europe before they were awar But this his device served to small purpose for the Great Master perceiving by many circumstances but especially by that late calamity of Xaycus that the Rhodes was the place the Turkish Tyrant longed after and fearing that delay might bring farther danger caused a cessation from all other business to be proclaimed until all things necessary for defence of the City were accomplished Watch and Ward was kept in every Street the great Artillery planted upon the Walls and Bulwarks Companies appointed for the defence of every place the publick Armory of all warlike provision was open all the Streets were full of Men carrying Weapons some to one place some to another At which time a general Muster was taken by the chief Men of the Order where were found about five thousand men able to bear Arms among whom were six hundred Knights of the Order and five hundred Souldiers of Crete the rest were for most
from the highest to the lowest had solemnly sworn to defend the City and not to give it over unto the last man reposing their hope not in the Walls and Fortresses thereof but in their Weapons and Valour being men of great resolution and not easily to be vanquished or discouraged With which answer although Solyman was a little moved yet dissembling his present heat said he had hitherto made War against divers Nations and alwaies had the Victory whereof he doubted not now also but as for him and the others taken with him they knew they were in his power to save or kill at his pleasure yet to make them know that he could shew mercy unto his vanquished Enemies he frankly granted them their lives and liberty charging them that after they were again returned into the City they should in his name wish the Defendants of themselves to yield up the City which it was impossible for them long to defend against his mighty power which neither the strong City of Belgrade nor the famous City of the Rhodes were able to withstand and to accept of such reasonable conditions as he should grant unto them promising that amongst other things proceeding of his infinite bounty he would take order that they should in safety depart thence with bag and baggage in which doing they should well provide for the safety of themselves and of their Goods by flying unto his mercy in time before the fury of the War was grown to further extremity all which it would be too late to expect after the Victory when nothing was to be hoped for but cruel death murther and miserable destruction Wherefore it were good for them well to consider of the matter and not foolishly to refuse that was now frankly offered them of mercy which they should not afterwards obtain with any Prayers or Tears for why he was resolutely set down as he said not to depart thence before he had taken the City When he had thus schooled them he gave unto every one of them three Hungarian Ducats and so sent them away They being received into the City with great joy made relation unto the Princes and great Captains of all the threatning and proud speeches of the Turkish Tyrant which they took in such disdain that they would not vouchsafe to return him any answer Solyman not a little displeased that his great words were so lightly regarded by way of derision sent word to the City That if they wanted help he would send them the three hundred Bohemians whom he took in the Castle of Altenbourg to whom answer was returned by them of the City That they needed no help from him wherefore he might dispose of his Prisoners as he thought good By this Solyman perceived that Vienna was not to be won with words nor the Defendants to be discouraged with great looks wherefore he began to use his Force and with such Ordnance as he had brought with him to batter the Walls which because it was not great but fitter for service in Field than for battery did not much more harm than to beat down the Battlements and such like standings made of Timber and Boards in manner of Galleries hanging here and there over the Wall for the small Shot to play out of a simple device instead of Flankers His great Artillery provided for battery was coming up the River of Danubius which he dayly looked for but by good hap Wolfgangus Hoder a forward Captain hearing of the Turks coming up the River went out of Possonium with certain small Vessels well appointed and meeting with the Turks set upon them with such courage and resolution that he slew many of them and sunk divers of their Boats and Pinnaces amongst whom were they which were bringing up Solymans great Pieces for battery to Vienna which was there all sunk in the River with the Boats that brought it By this good service Solyman was disappointed of his great Artillery and the City delivered of a great danger So Wolfgangus having made great Spoil among the Turks and lost some few men returned with Victory to Possonium Yet another part of the Turks Fleet coming up to Vienna at the first coming brake down all the Bridges for a little above the City the River of Danubius dividing its Channel maketh divers Islands which by sundry Bridges are joyned together over which lieth the way from Austria unto the City This Fleet so kept the passage that no man could without danger either by Water or by Land go in or out of the City Solyman having lost all his Pieces for Battery and seeing how little he prevailed with his Field-Pieces fell to undermining of the City hoping by that means to overthrow the Walls and to make a way for his men to enter This work as the Turks chief hope was with wonderful labor and diligence attempted in fifteen sundry places which was not so secretly done but that it was by Drums laid upon the ground by Basons filled with Water and Sounds made into the Earth perceived by the Defendants and so with Countermines met withal that most part of those works were utterly frustrated and in them eight thousand of his Turks either slain or buried quick Solyman to busie the Defendants that they should not so perfectly discover his Mines divided his Army into four parts appointing them orderly to succeed one after another in giving Alarms to the Town that filling their Ears with continual noise he might keep them always occupied In the midst of the hurly burly his Mine-works went forward with all speed possible neither was he in that his expectation deceived for one of the Mines brought to perfection unperceived by the Defendants and suddainly blown up shook and overthrew a great part of the Wall near unto the Gate which leadeth towards Carinthia whereat the Turks gave a great shout as if the City had now been taken and withal couragiously stepping forward pressed in on all sides by the ruins of the Wall to have entred the breach charging the Defendants with their small Shot and Turkish Arrows as thick as Hail Who on the contrary part like resolute Men stood in the face of the breach with more assurance than the Wall it self receiving them with deadly Shot and push of Pike in such furious manner that the Turks for all their multitude unable longer to maintain the Assault began to retire Which thing Solyman perceiving sent in new supplies and so renewed the Assault before given over but with no better success than before for having received a great overthrow as Men forgetting both Duty and martial Discipline they retied not expecting any sign of Retreat At this Assault so many of the Turks were slain that the ground near unto the Town lay covered and the Ditches filled with their dead Bodies Not long after the Wall was blown up in two places more over against St. Clares Church by which breach being not very great the Turks seeking
shall either here be slain in battel or else fall into our hands as a most rich prey For mine own part I will notably provide that you shall want neither Weapons Victual or Aid during the time of this War I will open the old Armories broach my Store and bring forth my Treasures The Numidian Princes now our Friends I will without delay entertain with great pay and such Presents as shall be to them most welcome As for the Citizens of Tunes you know how easily they are to be kept in Obedience and brought on against the Enemy for a small pay and hope of reward But this one thing is it that I most earnestly require of your approved valour That you most valiantly defend the strong Castle of Guletta as the most assured defence not of this City only but of the whole Kingdom and especially of our Navy which there lieth in safe Harbor for that piece will our Enemies with all their Forces first assail Wherefore as worthy Men never to be vanquished keep that for Solyman and me so that it being vainly attempted by our Enemies and resolutely defended by you the Christian Emperor there failing of his purpose and shamefully foiled shall now begin to despair not of the taking of the City of Tunes but of his own return and safety When he had thus said the Sea-Captains answered with one consent That they would most willingly and chearfully perform whatsoever it should please him to command and in confirmation thereof promised him not to do any thing which beseemed not most valiant and resolute Men. Amongst these Sea-Captains Sinan of Smirna a Jew who had lost his right Eye was both for his age and long experience in Military Affairs of greatest account next unto him was Haidinus of Cilicia for his furiousness in fight sirnamed of the Italians Caceiadiabolo and Salec of Ionia which two had before in a great Battel at Sea slain Rodericus Portendus great Admiral of Spain and taken his Son Iohn Prisoner and seven great Gallies after these was Tabacches of Laodicea and Giaffer a valiant Captain of the Janizaries all which were notable Pyrats and then Men of great fame The strong Castle of Guletta standeth in the bottom of the Bay of Carthage upon a point of the Land where the Sea by a narrow Strait runneth on the East side of the Castle into the Lake of Tunes which being in a manner round is about twelve Italian miles over But now that Castle is parted from the Main of the West side also by the Sea that way let in which chargeable Work was by Barbarussa begun but given over again by him perswaded by some That the Sea coming in that way would in short time fill up the Lake with sand but was afterwards for all that perfected by others So that now it standeth in the manner of an Island in the mouth of the Lake divided from the firm Land by two narrow strait passages the one on the East and the other on the West yet so that it commandeth both This Castle Barbarussa had before strongly fortified both with Men and Munition as the Key of that Kingdom but now upon the coming of the Emperor he put into it his most expert and resolute Captains before named well foreseeing that in the defence thereof rested the safety of his Navy which then lay within the Lake as in a most sure Harbour and also the greatest hope he had for the holding of the City of Tunes whereon depended the whole State of that Kingdom The Emperor lying at Anchor with all his Fleet near unto the shore gave general Commandment That his Souldiers should with as much speed as was possible be landed with the long Boats which was so orderly done that the Moors terrified with the hideous cry of the Souldiers making toward Land and not able to abide the showers of small Shot were easily beaten from the shore whither they were come down in great multitudes and so suffered the Christian Souldiers to land quietly The first that landed were the Spanish Companies after them the Italians and last of all the Germans whom Vastius General of the Army caused presently to encamp themselves straitly commanding that no man should straggle from the Camp farther into the Land until the Horsemen and great Artillery were all landed The Emperor himself bearing Victory in the chearfulness of his Countenance landed also In the mean time certain Companies were sent out by the General to view the places nigh hand and to seek out the Cisterns and Fountains of fresh Waters thereabout which sometime served the famous City of Carthage with whom the Moors but especially the Numidian Horsemen a swift subtle and painful kind of Souldiers oftentimes and in many places suddenly skirmished and though they were but naked men yet taking all the advantages they could of the places to them well known with their Arrows and Darts furiously assailed them unawares and overloaded with Armor sparing no mans life that fell into their hands Among whom was Hieronimus Spinula a Ligurian Captain who overthrown by a Numidian Horseman had his Head cut off and carried away by the same nimble Horseman before he could be rescued The like mishap befel Fredericus Carectus a noble Gentleman who going with Vastius to view the places thereabouts was fast by his side suddenly slain with a small shot All which nimbleness and fierceness of the Enemy could not for all that stay the Emperor but that he would needs with a small Troop of Horsemen in Person himself take view of the places thereabouts even in the sight of the Numidian Horsemen which were in every place to be seen pricking up and down the Country in Troops although he was many times requested by his grave Counsellors to leave that Service for his inferior Captains and not to expose himself to so great danger both of his Person and of the common safety Vastius had now brought on the Army near unto the Castle of Guletta still casting up a rolling Trench as he came nearer thereunto thereby to keep his men out of the danger of the Enemies shot which work was not done only by the Pioneers and Gally-Slaves but by Souldiers of all sorts yea many of the Captains themselves laid their hands to the Spade and Mattock for why the Emperor was there a continual Beholder and chearful Commender of every mans labour and forwardness and the busie Enemy was ever ready to take the advantage if any thing were by negligence omitted oftentimes sallying out even unto the very Trenches of the Christians there giving unto them proud words of defiance When the Army was to be martialled and every Commander to be appointed to the place of his Charge in this Siege of Guletta the Count of Sarne a man famous both for the honour of his house and for the good Service he had lately done against the Turks at Corone requested of Vastius the General to have
it could could it long feed them Wherefore unto this expedition we have determined with the first of the Spring to send a most strong Fleet and even now we have already commanded all our Sea Captains and Adventurers which acknowledge our command to be there present with their Ships The King of Algiers will be there the Garrisons of Alexandria are in readiness so also is Dragut with his appointed Fleet. As for our own it is by mine own appointment rigged up unto which Fleet I doubt not but that all the strength of the West will give place Which thing worthy Captains we speak trusting upon the help of Almighty God and Muhamed his great Prophet with your known and approved Valour Now remaineth only that every one of you think with us how this War may best be mannaged and so to refer your devices unto us which that you may the better do Lo I here deliver unto you the situation of the whole Island and project of all their Fortifications which we have received of most expert and skilful Men. Solymans purpose thus made known and the matter well considered after that they which best knew the strong places and manners of the Malâ—aeses had declared their opinions what they thought to be most expedient it was decreed That they should with all speed set forward wherefore Victual and other things necessary for such an expedition being with wonderful celerity prepared they expected but Wind. Of these things Iohn Valetta a Frenchman Grand Master of Malta and of the Knights of the Order being both by Letters and Messengers advertised for he had always fit Men his Intelligencers at Constantinople who warily noted the purposes and actions of Solyman was not afraid but knowing that of God depended the Victory and that Men were to watch labour and foresee he assembled a Council of his Knights and in few words spake unto them in this sort What Solyman prepareth most noble and valiant Knights and what a great War he provideth against us you with me of late right well understand wherefore it is needless for me to use any long Speech with you concerning that matter The Enemy is known his insatiable ambition is known his strength is known and his mortal hate against us and the Christian Name is sufficiently known Wherefore let us all as one first â—econcile our selves to God and then provide all things as shall be needfâ—l for the War. In brief noble Knights to reconcile our selves unto God and to appease his displeasure two things are of us to be performed whereof the one consisteth in amendment of Life with a holy Conversation the other in the religious worshipping of him with a firm and constant trust in his help with Prayer which is called Godliness By these means our Ancestors obtained many Victories against the Infidels in the East Neither is it to be doubted but if we shall in these things joyn together we shall also frustrate all the force and fury of this proud Tyrant But forasmuch as God usually helps them which labour and take pains and not the negligent and sloathful we must of necessity joyn unto them those helps which both our profession and the course of War requireth which partly consisteth in our selves and partly in the other Christian Princes For Victual Armor Mony and other such things as in Wars are requisite we will so provide that no Man shall justly complain that we spared either cost or pains I will pour out all my store neither will I for desire of life refuse any danger As for the Christian Princes I cannot perswade my self that they will lie still in so fit an opportunity and in so great a danger not of our estate only but much more of their own Verily I will not spare to exhort every one of them both by Letters and by Messengers which in part we have already done and I doubt not but we shall have aid enough from the Pope the Emperor and the King of Spain such is their Christian Zeal and they I hope shall move the rest As for you the Princes and very Light of this sacred Order and the rest of our Brethren most valiant Knights I am well assured you will so fight for the most holy Christian Religion for your Lives and Goods and for the glory of the Latine Name against a most cruel Tyrant the rooter out of all true Religion of all Civility and good Learning the Plague of the World hated of God and Man as that he shall feel the sting of the Cross which he so much contemneth even in the City of Constantinople yea in his Houses of Pleasure For we shall not have now to do with him in the Island of the Rhodes far from the help of our Friends from Asia from Europe from Egypt enclosed with our Enemies both by Sea and Land but in the Eies of Italy and Spain in places strongly fortified from whence the Enemy may easily be circumvented which that it may so fall out let us not cease to pray unto Almighty God and to crave his ready help When the Grand Master had thus said all that were present promised with one assent rather to lose their Lives than in any part to fail the Common Cause or to come into the power of Solyman After that publick Prayer and Supplication was made in every Church through the Isle and three Colonels chosen out of all the Knights one an Italian sirnamed Imperator another Borneas a Frenchman and Quatrius a Spaniard the third all advised Men and most expert Souldiers who should with all diligence provide all things necessary for the War. By whose appointment the Suburbs and Trees which might any way be hurtful to the fortified places were overthrown the Fortifications were throughly viewed the Garrisons strengthned and all manner of Provision most plentifully distributed and Letters from the Great Master sent unto the Great Bishop and other Christian Princes requesting their aid against the Common Enemy Messengers were also dismissed into divers places to certifie both the Knights of the Order and others of the Turks great preparation Solymans Fleet departing from Constantinople the two and twentieth day of March in the year 1565 kept a direct Course towards Peloponesus and so came to Methone where Mustapha Bassa one of the Turks greatest Captains a Man of seventy five years and General of the Land Forces mustred the Army wherein were numbred seven thousand Horsemen of them which are of the Turks called Saphi out of the lesser Asia conducted by the Governour of that Country and two Lieutenants of Cicilia five hundred and of the Island of Lesbos now called Metylene four hundred he had of the Janizaries four thousand five hundred led by two Colonels appointed by Solyman for that the chief Captain of the Janizaries which they call the Aga never departeth from the City but when the Sultan goeth himself Besides these was a certain kind of Men amongst
being in readiness and orderly disposed as soon as they understood that seven and twenty of the Turks Gallies had put into the Haven Marzasiroc and were there landing their Men Gyon Admiral for the Order a valiant and couragious Knight marched thither with five hundred Harquebusiers to have skirmished with them but as soon as the Turks saw them coming they retired again to their Gallies On the other part where the other Fleet lay two hundred of the Turks going on shore met by chance with Riverius a Frenchman and eight Knights more who having his Horse killed under him and one of his Companions slain fell with the rest into the hands of the Enemy Whilst these things were in doing a certain Christian Mariner fled out from the Turks to the City Melita who discovered the Enemies purpose telling them That the Turks by the appointment of Mustapha had determined to have landed the greatest part of their Forces presently to have besieged some strong place had not Pial Bassa the Admiral exclaimed aginst it doubting to be left too weak at Sea saying plainly That he would attempt nothing before the coming of Dragut who was every hour expected For Solyman had expresly commanded that they should do nothing without his Counsel so great an opinion had he of his Policy and Valour But whether this report was true or otherwise the Turks for all that returning with their Fleet to the Port Marzasirock landed twenty thousand Souldiers and five Field Pieces and so intrenched themselves This done Pial Bassa with seven thousand went to view the Castle of Saint Michael but for fear of the great Shot durst not to come nigh it nevertheless they of the Town sallying out couragiously skirmished with the Turks in which conflict Curfelinus sirnamed Parda accompanied but with one Spaniard so furiously assailed the Enemy that he took from him one Ensign and slew one of the Sanzacks a great Commander with divers others When Piâ—l was come again into the Camp the General began to consult with the other Captains whether it were better to lay Siege to the Castle of Saint Elmo or to the Town of Saint Michael in conclusion it was agreed upon that they should with all their Forces besiege the Castle of Saint Elmo And going up the Hill to view the Castle they were incountred by the Garrison Souldiers in which Fight some few were lost on both sides Thus by degrees things growing hotter and hotter the Grand Master thought it good to certifie Garzias of Toledo Viceroy of Sicily how things stood that he might the sooner rig up his Fleet to come to their rescue Wherefore he commanded one Gally to put out of the Haven by night and to pass over into Sicily with Salvagâ—s one of the Knights sent thither on Message In the mean time the Turks cast up a Mount to have battered the Castle of Saint Elmo and beaten the Gallies in the Haven Major and so to have opened a way for their Fleet to have entred but they were not able long to keep that Mount for they had scarcely well ended the Work but it was forthwith by the continual thundring Shot out of the Castle beaten down again which thing greatly abated the Turks Courage About that time Ochial came to the Fleet with six Ships drawn out of them which were left for the defence of Alexandria and in them nine hundred Souldiers The Turks beaten from their first Mount cast up another on an higher ground whereon they placed three great Pieces of Ordnance wherewith they annoied not only the Haven wherein the Fleet of Malta rid but the Castle of Saint Angelo also the Great Masters Sâ—â—t and with a rolling Trench drew nearer and nearer unto the Castle of Saint Elmo which although they had at first in vain attempted hindred by them which were in the Castle yet at last with much labour and travel they brought it to perfection for the Turks in that kind of work still performed by their multitude are accounted to excel others Wherefore in short time they planted their great Ordnance in such sort as that they might batter both the Castles of Saint Elmo and Saint Michael There was in the Turks Camp a Gentleman of Spain but then a Slave unto a Turk who understanding the Enemies purpose for the besieging of the Castle of Saint Elmo by a Christian Fugitive advertised the Great Master thereof Whereupon he forthwith sent Cerda and Miranda with two Companies of Spaniards into the Castle who were afterwards a great strength unto the Castle and hindrance unto the Enemy At length came Dragut Governor of Leptis long looked for of the Turks with thirteen Gallies and in them a thousand and six hundred Souldiers after whom followed ten Galliots from Bona and in them two Companies In the mean time Salvagus the worthy Knight sent before into Sicilia came to Messana and having certified the Viceroy of the state of Malta was by him commanded to return to Malta in a Galliot conducted by two Gallies of the Great Masters which having brought him near unto the Island returned again into Sicilia but he with his Galliot not without most manifest danger in the third Watch of the night brake into the Town through the midst of the Enemies Fleet with the loss but of one of his Followers Where having delivered unto the Great Master what he had in charge from the Viceroy he was the same night sent back again by the Great Master into Sicilia to certifie the Viceroy That he had need of more Aid requesting him with all speed to send him some Supply whereby he might the better hold out against the force of so great an Enemy Salvagus discouraged neither with the labour nor the danger presently committed himself again to Sea and in short time arrived in the Port of Siracusa where finding the two Gallies we before spake of he sent them to Malta as he had in charge with four hundred Souldiers among whom were divers Knights of the Order and certain skilful Canoniers willing them to shun the West part of the Island whereas they must needs come into the Enemies sight and to pass by the East end thereof which was further about but safer and turning Southward to land in the Port Miliare and from thence by the low places of the Island to convey the Souldiers by night to the City Melita which was but four miles off from whence they might easily pass to the Castle of Saint Michael This order taken he went to Messana and there declared to the Viceroy the danger of the War with the small number of the Defendants requesting of him a thousand Footmen which with those already sent he thought would suffice to hold out the Siege until he with his whole Fleet might come to relieve them But whilst these things were slowly provided which with much difficulties and delay could hardly be brought to pass the Christian Princes as it were sleeping
for Cowardise than Courtesie as also that it much more concerneth your State than him and that therfore you ought no less than he to desire that all causes of unkindness might be cut off and order taken that in so great and mutual goodwil there should be no falling out by new quarrels dayly arising the only remedy thereof is if you shall deliver unto him the Island of Cyprus the cause of all these grievances Now it beseemeth you for your great Wisdom to make small reckoning of so small a matter in comparison of the Favour of so great a Prince which if you willingly of your selves yield unto him you shall right wisely provide for your Affairs and have him so great a Monarch always your Friend and Confederate whereas if you shall shew your selves obstinate and not to yield to this his so small a request his purpose is by strong â—and not only to take from you the Island the cause of the War but also to prosecute you with most cruel War both by Sea and Land. And thereupon I take God to witness all the blame of the calamities to ensue of so mortal a War to be imputed unto your selves at the worthy reward of your wilfulness and breach of Faith. Which said he in the name of Mahâ—met the Visier Bassa told the Senators That he was right sorry that this breach was fallen out betwixt the Emperor Selymus and them and that although he doubted not but that they would right wisely consider of all things yet he could not for the good Will he bare unto them but admonish them of such things as he deemed for them both profitable and wholesome and therefore did most instantly request them and withal advise them not to enter into Arms against so mighty a Prince neither wilfully to plunge themselves into such dangers as they could hardly or never find the way out for that their strength was nothing answerable unto his and that the event of that War would be unto them deadly and therefore he took God and the love he bare unto them to witness that he had in friendly sort forewarned them of their harms and advised them for their good Giving them further to understand that Selymus did nothing but thunder out most cruel Threats against their State which his indignation was raised of the manifold complaints brought against them to his Court at Constantinople Selymus his Letters answerable to his Embassadors Speech was also full of false surmised grievances he complained That the Venetians had in warlike manner entred into the Frontiers of his Empire in Dalmatia and there had done great harm that they had put to death certain Turkish Pyrates whom they had taken alive that their Island of Cyprus was an Harbor for the Pyrates of the West and that from thence they robbed his peaceable Countries and surprised his Subjects travelling that way for Devotion unto the Temple of Mecha or otherwise about their Affairs And that therefore those causes of discord might be taken away and the hindrance of Traffique removed he required them to yield unto him the Island of Cyprus which if they refused to do he would by force of Arms take it from them and by force of strong hand cause them to do that which they might the better have done frankly and of their own accord and further to make them understand how far the Turks did excel all other Men in Martial prowess As for the League before made betwixt his Father and them he said he had renewed the same not because he had any liking thereunto but because he had as then set down with himself for a while in the beginning of his Empire peceably to endure all things The Venetians for that they knew the Embassadors errand before his coming having now read his Letters gave him such answer as they had before resolved upon which was That the Venetians had at all times inviolably kept their Leagues with the Othoman Emperors and had in regard thereof let slip many opportunities and fit occasions for them to have augmented their Dominions in That they could without any danger to themselves have destroyed the Turks Fleet both at the Rhodes and Malta and other places also but that they more regarded their Honour and alwaies thought that nothing better became great and magnificent Princes than to perform their Faith once given and in all their actions to be like themselves And therefore had dissembled and put up many grievous and bitter indignities lest they might be thought to have first broken the League That they had never passed their own Bounds or invaded the Turks only to have taken order that no Pyrates should at their pleasure roam up and down the Seas Now whereas all Duties being on their part sincerely and most religiously kept Selymus complained himself to be wronged whereas he himself had done the wrong and had contrary to the League denounced War against them expecting nothing less siththence that they could not by the power of the League they would by force of Arms defend that Kingdom which they by ancient and lawful right possessed delivered unto them by their Ancestors That God in whose help they trusted would weigh in indifferent Balance all Mens Words and Deeds whom they took to witness that they were the Authors of Peace and Selymus the cause of War and that the â—ame God would be now present unto their just complaints and forthwith after with his power to take revenge on them which falsifying their Faith and Promise given and violating the sacred League had enforced them to take up most just and necessary Arms which they would with the same Courage mannage that they had taken them in hand With this answer the Embassador departed let out by a secret Postern for fear of the People who having got knowledge of the matter were in great number assembled to the Court-Gate muttering among themselves that it were well done to rend in pieces that accursed Turk the Messenger of his faithless Master Which outrage it was thought they would in their fury have performed had not such as by the commandment of the Magistrates guarded him better assured him of his safety than either regard of Duty or the Law of Nations he by the way as he went still storming and swearing by his Mahomet to be of that so great an indignity revenged This answer of the Senate unto the Turks Embassador concerning War was of some well liked and highly commended as full of Honour and Valour Others deemed it too sharp liking of nothing that was said or done to the further incensing of the Turkish Emperor being of opinion that they might have of him obtained a more indifferent Peace by Courtesie than by Rigor As for the decreed War they utterly disliked forasmuch as all Wars were woful but especially those that were to be maintained against them that are too strong for us In such diversity of opinions it appeared That
the Senate should of that so honourable a Decree reap such commendation as the Event thereof should afford than which nothing is more unreasonable if things fell out well then it was wisely and worthily done if otherwise than was it like to be reputed a foolish rash and woful resolution The greater the danger was now feared from the angry Turk the more careful were the Venetians of their State wherefore they forthwith sent Messengers with Letters unto the Governors of Cyprus charging them with all carefulness and diligence to make themselves ready to withstand the Turk and to raise what power they were able in the Island not omitting any thing that might concern the good of the State and at the same time made choise of their most valiant and expert Captains both by Sea and Land unto whom they committed the defence of their dispersed Seigniory with the leading of their Forces Hieronimus Zanius was appointed Admiral Lucas Michael was sent into Crete Fransciscus Barbarus into Dalmatia Sebastianus Venerius into Corcyra all Men of great Honour Experience and Valour Other meaner Captains were also sent with less charge into the aforesaid places as Eugenius Singliticus a noble Gentlemen with a thousand Footmen into Cyprus who had also the leading of all the Horsemen in the Island after whom Count Martinengus promised to follow with two thousand Footmen more The strong Cities were now by the Venetians in all places new fortified Armor Ordnance and Victual provided and whatsoever else they thought needful for defence of their State. And forasmuch as they well knew they had to do with too mighty an Enemy they by their Embassadors sent for that purpose earnestly solicited most of the Christian Princes to joyn with them in League and to give them aid against the common Enemy who as he was too strong for any one of them so was he not able to stand against their united Forces But the Emperor Maximilian excused himself by the League he had not long before made with the Turk for eight years which he said he might not break yet he had before his Eyes a most pregnant example what small reckoning the Turk maketh of his Faith and League which he without any just cause had broken with the Venetians The like excuse used also Charles the French King and Sigismund King of Polonia who both seemed to be very sorry for that the Venetians were fallen out with the Turk but could not help them for that they were in League with the Turkish Emperor Nevertheless the French did them the Courtesie to offer himself to be a Mediator if they so pleased betwixt them and Selymus The young King of Portugal Don Sebastian pretended also for his excuse the great Plague which had but a little before raged in his Kingdom and much diminished his People as also that he was to maintain Wars by Sea against the Turks in the East-Indies to the no less benefit of the Christian Common-weal than if he should aid the Venetians in the Pope Only Pius Quintus then Pope and Philip King of Spain with certain of the Princes of Italy namely Philibert Duke of Savoy Guido Udebaldus Duke of Urbin Cosmus Medices Duke of Florence and the Knights of Malta promised them aid which they afterward most honourably performed Selymus of himself angry with the Venetians and firm in his resolution for the Conquest of Cyprus was upon the report of Cubates his Embassadors bad entertainment at Venice further enraged he deemed the Maiesty of the Turkish Emperor contemned and himself in the person of his Embassador disgraced seeing that they whom he had thought would have yielded unto any thing rather than the League should have been broken had sent him such a short answer and so contemptuously used his Embassador unto whom they had not afforded so much as common Courtesie It did not a little move him also that the Venetians had in their Letters sent by his Embassador omitted the glorious Titles usually given the Turkish Emperors wherefore in some part to satisfie his angry mood he caused Marcus Antonius Barbarus the Venetian Embassador and all the Christian Merchants of the West throughout his Empire to be clapt up in prison and their Ships staied under an arrest And setting all other things apart set himself wholly for the preparing of such things as should be needful for the intended War. But forasmuch as the Island of Cyprus was the Prey whereafter the greedy Tyrant so much gaped and for which the bloody Wars betwixt the Turk and the Venetians with their Christian Confederats presently ensued it shall not be from our purpose to spend a few words in the describing thereof as the Stage whereon the bloody Tragedy following was as it were acted as also how it came first into the hands of the Venetians and by what right of them so long possessed although it be in some part before declared until it was now by Selymus the great Turk against all right injuriously demanded and at length by strong hand by him wrested from them This Island lieth in the farthest part of the Cilician Sea it hath on the East Syria on the West Pamphilia Southward it regardeth Egypt and Northward Cilicia now called Câ—ramania It is worthyly accounted amongst the greatest Islands of the Mediterranean containing in circuit four hundred and twenty seven miles and is in length after the description of Strabo an hundred and seventy five miles and in breadth not above sixty five It aboundeth with Corn Wine Oyl Cotton-Wool Saffron Hony Rosm Turpentine Sugar-Canes and whatsoever else is needful for the sustentation of Man whereof it sends forth great abundance to other Countries of whom it craveth no help again It was in ancient time called Macaria that is to say Blessed The People therein generally lived so at ease and pleasure that thereof the Island was dedicated to Venus who was there especially worshipped and thereof cally Cypria Marcellinus to shew the Fertility thereof saith That Cyprus aboundeth with such plenty of all things that without the help of any Forraign Country it is of it self able to build a tall Ship from the Keel to the top Sail and so put it to Sea furnished of all things needful And Sextus Rufus writing thereof saith Cyprus famosa divitiis paupertatem populi Romani ut occuparetur solicitavit ita ut jus ejus Insulae avarius magis quam injustius assecuti scil Cyprus famous for Wealth allured the Poverty of the People of Rome to lay hold upon it so that we have rather covetously than justly got the rule thereof In the heart of the Island standeth Nicosia sometime the Regal and late Metropolitical City thereof And in the East end thereof Famagusta sometime called Tamassus a famous rich City the chief and only Port of all that most pleasant Island Other fair Cities there be also as Paphos Amathus now called Limisso and Cyrene This Island of it self long time maintained the
Battel it was as he said the part of wise and worthy Commanders to moderate with reason their happy fortunes for that thereunto were incident many accidents whereby their former felicity might be disgraced they had already run alongst the Enemies Coasts spoiled the Frontiers of his Countries and were with much honour and great spoil in safety returned having encreased the Turkish Empire with many strong Towns of the Enemies the Island of Cyprus was with wonderful good fortune brought under the Turks obeisance the Enemies great provision at Sea frustrated in such sort as that having lost divers of their Gallies they were never yet able to draw their Swords they had with their Fleet at their pleasure roamed up and down the Adriatick and displayed their victorious Ensigns almost unto the very City of Venice What could they then devise or wish for more honourable or glorious than with the safety of their Fleet yea without any loss at all to have performed so great matters Now the three general Commanders of the Enemies Fleet to be so at discord among themselves as that they were ready to fall in sunder of themselves who now upon the approach of Winter and for want of Victual must needs in few days return home with their Fleet never after to meet again with the like strength at Sea and therefore to what purpose were it by force of Arms and uncertain Battel with danger to seek for the sovereignty and command of the Sea which would forthwith of it self without any danger fall unto them Neither should they by the doubtful Victory so much encrease their Honour as by the uncertain event of a Battel blemish the same if any thing should fall out otherwise than well And that therefore they should do well to take heed that in seeking to augment their former Victories they hazarded not their Honour already gained but wholsomely delay the War and keep themselves in safety with their Fleet within the Gulf and not to go out at the Enemies pleasure but when they should see good themselves as such time as the Enemy was not so well provided so should they as he said without any great labour or danger attain to the full of their own desires Partau Bassa was of opinion That the Christians would not at all offer him Battel which opinion the Christians had also of him and in this question for giving or not giving of Battel seemed neither to approve nor dislike that Chiroche had so gravely spoken but as a Man indifferent and loath to encur any blame shewed himself ready either to stay or to set forward as should be thought best by the greatest part But Haly Bassa a Man of an hotter spirit and the great Champion of the Turks could not endure to hear of any delay but of present Battel The pleasure of Selymus the hope of Victory the remembrance of the displeasure Pial Bassa had the last year incurred for not giving the Christians Battel enduced him now in no case to refuse Battel but forthwith to go out of the Gulf and to accept thereof if it were offered In which his opinion he was the more confirmed by the relation of Caracoza a famous Pyrat and of great account among the Turks who in a swift Galliot taking view of the Christian Fleet had reported it to be much less than indeed it was deceived as was afterward thought by not taking full view thereof by reason of his posting haste or else blinded by the Island which lying behind the Fleet suffered him not perfectly to descry the same Upon which report there was great rejoycing amongst the Turks who now after their accustomed manner dreamed of nothing but Victory and Spoil So that Haly vainly perswaded that his Fleet was both the greater and stronger would now needs fight in hope that the Christians upon first sight of the Turks Fleet would either retire and save themselves by shameful flight or else in adventuring Battel at so great ods by their foolish hardiness receive a notable overthrow This opinion of the Bassa was also not a little confirmed by the perswasion of Cassanes Barbarussa his Son Uluzales and Chais-Beg Governour of Smyrna all Men of great mark and experience especially in matters at Sea. And although Partau the other Bassa stood wavering as a Man in doubt and Chiroche Governour of Alexandria with Carabuzes Governour of Silicia and Mechmet Governour of Euboea Men of no less worth than the other upon better consideration were of a quite contrary mind for not giving the Christians Battel yet such was the authority of Haly or rather his opportunity forced to his own Destiny that his opinion prevailed so that now out they needs must and fight Albeit the two other Espials sent out after Caracoza and having more perfectly viewed the Fleet returning with speed told the Bassaes as truth was That the Christians very strong and well appointed were coming with Ensigns displayed of purpose to fight and that their Fleet was in number much greater than was before supposed With which news so far contrary to their expectation the Bassaes were exceedingly troubled and demanding whether the formost Gallies were all Venetians or not and being answered that they were intermixt some Venetians some Spanish and of the other Western Countries they began to doubt the worst and became exceeding pensive Nevertheless knowing themselves to be of all things well furnished having now victualled in the Bay of Corinth and there also taken in twelve thousand Janizaries and Spahies drawn out of the Garrisons of Aetolia Acarnania Peloponnesus and the other Countries thereby all resolute Men and four thousand other common Souldiers and that they could not now with their honour shrink back they held it still for the best to hold on their former resolution for the giving of the Christians Battel Yet before their setting forward calling together the Captains and chief Commanders of the Fleet Partau the more to encourage them spake unto them as followeth We are to fight said he Fellows in Arms with that kind of Men whom our Ancestors have driven out of Euboea the Rhodes Mitylene Peloponnesus and Tripolis and we our selves but yesterday out of the famous Island of Cyprus whose Cities and strong Towns in number infinite our Emperor hath as the rewards of his Wars whom we have always vanquished as well by Sea as by Land and shall it then now repent you that you in this War embrued in the Christian Blood have sunk or taken many of their Ships and Gallies That you have carried away great and rich Spoils That you have taken whole Islands and Cities at the first assault That we have by proof shewed unto the World what force is in the Turk to subdue strong Cities and Towns And what little power is in the Christians to defend the same What direction brought us Victory before the same shall also at this present give us the like Not to speak of that that we far
with the Sterns of their Gallies toward the Land and their Prows towards the Sea. At the Southerly coming in of the Bay standeth an Hill which the Inhabitants call Albus On the top whereof the Enemy had placed six great Pieces of Ordnance wherewith to keep the Christians from entring that way So had they also upon the point of the Main which as we said runneth out from the Town and upon St. Bernards Rock planted other great Pieces of Ordnance to defend that passage also The Christians coming unto the mouth of the Bay there lay with their Fleet divided into four parts but yet doubtful what to do for beside that the entrances of the Bay were but narrow they were also far more dangerous to be entred by reason of the great Ordnance planted upon them Nevertheless the Venetian Admiral in hope of good success and loath to let the fearful Enemy so to escape out of their hands would fain have perswaded the General with his whole Fleet to have entred the Bay and there in the Harbor to have oppressed the Enemy which he shewed to be no hard matter to do for that the Enemy was too weak in strength and could not be from Land relieved In which doing they should indeed overthrow but one Fleet but in the overthrowing of that one cut in sunder all the Sinews of the Turkish Empire by Sea and raising a Tumult in the Bay and filling all with a general fear should undoubtedly at the first onset put the Enemy to flight Which done what should let but that carrying about with them the terror of the Victory they should with their victorious Fleet take from the Turk all the Islands of the Aegeum That truly and wisely it was said of Themistocles That whosoever had the command of the Sea must needs also prevail in the rest and at length carry away thâ— Victory by Land also It was as he said the part of good Chieftains not to be wanting unto themselves when occasion was offered besides that they were the same Turks whom they had but the year before vanquished and what had that one year either taken from them or given unto the Turks Or what should they fear six Pieces of Ordnance mounted upon a Hill who if they should undertake the Battel were not to fear the great store of Ordnance in 260 of the Enemies Gallies and Galliots I my self said he will be the Guide and Leader in whatsoever shall seem most difficult and dangerous and will in person my self be the first that shall enter the Harbor and adventure the first danger Great Victories he said were not to be gained but with great adventures and that therefore the matter were to be hasted before more aid should be sent unto the Turks Wherefore they should as resolute Men attempt that the Turks thought the Christians durst not to have attempted and with the same courage break into the Bay wherewith they had but the year before broken the strength of the same Enemy and by the power of God carry away another notable triumph of the vanquished Turks who overcome in a second Battel at Sea must needs depart with all their maritime Territories With evil liking of the Spaniards was the Venetian Admiral heard and Don Iohn the General deeming both the time and place unfit for the attempting of so great an exploit rehearsed on the one side the strength of the Enemy the disadvantage of the place the difficulty of the Battel with the manifold and great calamities received by the overhasty and rash attempts of their Enemies That the Enemies strength was not to be so much deemed by the eye or by report as by reason and that many in seeking to encrease their former glory had in so doing overthrown the same That the Christians in entring and adventuring the Harbor should on the one side be beaten with the Artillery from the Hill and on the other with the Artillery out of the Castle of Modon and that it was not like that Uluzales should if need were lack aid from Land who but the other day had sent great Troops of Horsemen to have kept the Christians from watering That a matter of so great importance was by Euscarinus his leave not rashly to be taken in hand upon an heat and hautiness of Stomack but upon a grave and mature deliberation for if they should in a place of so great disadvantage hazard the fortune of a general Battel it should seem that either he knew not that kind of fight and force of the Enemy or else would make the Bay of Modon more famous by the overthrow of the Christians than was the Curzulari by the slaughter of the Turks Then what a shame would it be if they which were about to oppress the Enemies Fleet should themselves be overthrown and that in their own device He had rather as he said preserve his own Fleet than to take 600 of the Enemies Gallies and to account the same for a greater honour Which he determined not for that he would not have any thing done but that unripe occasions should not be too much hastned and as it were thrust headlong forward whereas time would give opportunity for the overthrow of the Turks Fleet so that they ran not blindly on headlong and that in future time the Venetians would rejoyce that they had so moderated their desires The Christians he said had sufficiently prevailed if those things should fall out well which were warily and advisedly considered and resolved upon The matter thus on both sides debated and nothing done they returned with the Fleet into the Port of Navarinum This proceeding as it diversly moved the Spaniards and the Venetians so brought it forth divers Speeches every Man speaking in favour of his own Nation The Spaniard openly vaunted That he had most providently resolved for that how dear the Counsel of the Venetian Admiral would have cost if it had been followed the thing it self as he said shewed by the extream danger thereof presented not in the doubtful opinon of Men but laied open before their Eies The Venetians on the other side more desirous of Battel the nearer they had seen the opportunity to have prevailed upon the Enemy the more impatiently they endured so assured a Victory to have been let slip out of their hands and thereof spake accordingly The Christians lying at Navarinum consulted of many things what they were best to take in hand and resolving at last by Sea and Land to besiege the Castle of Modon which kept the passage into the Bay and defended the Turkish Fleet they returned again thither and landed 7000 of their best Souldiers to besiege the Castle And at the same time appointed the Galleasses with certain Gallies to batter it also from Sea which the more commodiously to do they joyned two of their greatest Gallies together side to side which they made fast with Masts and strong Ropes and so boorded them clean over whereon
them in all he might Who for all that gave small credit unto those promises for that with the like they had been oftentimes before deceived And therefore as trusting most unto their own strength they with all carefulness and expedition entertained more Souldiers of whom some they put into their Fleet the rest they placed in their Garrisons in Crete in Dalmatia and their frontier Towns in Epirus Neither were the Turks then idle as the report went yet were they thought to manage that War with greater fame than strength for they had of purpose given it out That they would the next Spring with divers Armies invade the Venetian Territories in Crete in Dalmatia in Epirus yea and in Italy it self and with their innumerable multitude both of Horse and Foot so overwhelmed the Venetians that they should not be able possibly to hold out This and more too they bravely vaunted of but indeed Uluzales coming to Constantinople had brought his Fleet so shaken and so weak as that it seemed not possible but in long time to be again repaired and furnished with Souldiers and Mariners in stead of them that had been lost some in â—ight but more by the contagiousness of the Infection But howsoever the matter stood the Venetians careful with the expectation of great matters and in small hope of good success comparing their own strength with the strength of the Enemy yet were they no less discouraged with the delays and cross dealing of the Confederates than with all the provision of the Enemy It stuck in their minds how that the Spaniards at such time as Cyprus might have been defended delaied their coming so long that Nicosia being lost it was time to return neither could they forget that lingering delay to have been the cause of the great mortality amongst their Men dying in the Fleet at Iadera They remembred also that the commodities which of so notable a Victory were most plentifully to have been reaped were by the slender prosecuting of the same so sparingly taken that the former dangers still remained And that Don Iohn who ought by appointment to have been at Corcyra in the beginning of Summer was scarcely come thither in the later end of August And that he in the third year of this War at such time as their Fleet was with great labour and charge again repaired would not or listed not to adventure to have again overthrown the Enemies Fleet but in the very action to have always trifled away the greatest part of Summer before his Spaniards could set forward and when he might safely have come to Cerigo to have called back Fuscarinus and the rest then facing of the Enemy and even ready to have given him Battel It was then secretly suspected the Spaniards to have staied of purpose and to have dallied on the time that the Venetians having spent their Forces might be the more exposed and subject to their injuries It stuck fast not in their minds also but even almost in their eies what things had happened of former times in their Confederations with that Nation they were grieved in the space of three years an hundred times twenty hundred thousand Ducats to have been to little or small purpose spent in that War Besides that they doubted lest the Flemings with their Confederates should so intangle the King of Spain in defending of his own Territories as that he should not be at leisure to send any aid into the East in which case what hope or help were they to look for How should they then defend the rest of their Seigniory in the East How should their empty Coffers suffice to maintain so great Armies both by Sea and Land as might withstand so puissant an Enemy Long were the discourses and effectual the perswasions that the Venetians had amongst themselves to induce one another and all in general more circumspectly to consider not only what had already passed or was presently in hand but also more warily to foresee what would be the course and what the event of a matter so important and betime to break off the Confederation which they had always found to have stood them in small stead In revolving of these things only one remedy seemed most effectual for the curing of their afflicted State which was by desisting from War to conclude a Peace with the Turk howsoever which they were the rather in good hope to obtain for that divers Speeches concerning the same had passed at Constantinople and were from thence again reported at Venice All Men thus inclining to peace the Senate referred the proceeding therein unto M. Antonius Barbarus their Embassador who all the time of these Wars had lien in safe custody at Constantinople willing him therein to use the help of the French Embassador who had always been a perswader of Peace Selymus having got the Island of Cyprus and divers other places from the Venetians and yet well wearied with the harms and losses he had himself received both by Sea and Land was also desirous enough of Peace So that the French Embassador might as it was thought have got a reasonable and indifferent Peace if he had but expected the opportunity of the time But he whether moved with the common harms or some other secret causes to him best known in making too much hast and seeming too desirous of Peace much hurt the common cause of the Venetians which he most desired to have furthered Selymus having found him resolved with Mahomet the great Bassa what he would have done who at such time as the same Embassador came unto him about the matter told him That he had himself many times moved yea and so far forth as he might importuned his great Lord and Master for Peace but could never find him willing to hear thereof until that now at length overcome and wearied with the continual solicitation of such as might do most with him he had yielded thereunto So the thing that Selymus himself undoubtedly desired that the crafty Bassa seemed him with most difficulty to grant rather upon the instance and contemplation of them that laboured for the same than for any desire he had thereunto of himself For certain days at the first the French Embassador was most courteously heard and the Bassa with fair and cunning Speech promised that the matter of pacification should easily and in short time be compassed and so at their first conferences things passed rather in general terms than that any conditions of Peace were particularly agreed upon only this was on both parties consented unto That the Venetians should send their Embassador of purpose for the full concluding and confirming of the desired Peace Which charge was by the Senate committed to Iacobus Superantius in whose wisdom and valour they had reposed great hope and confidence He was no sooner come to Constantinople and the Turks delivered of the fear of the Christian Sword by the dissolution of the confederation but that all things were
in the manner and certain others in the habit of Ianizaries Nevertheless Amurath shortly after recovered again and to appease that Rumor of his Death openly upon their Sabbath which is the Friday rid from his Palace to the Temple of Sophia where I with many others saw him saith Leunclavius his Countenance yet all pale and discoloured This year also hapned such a chance as had like to have raised new Wars betwixt the Turks and the Venetians which forasmuch as it is worth the reporting I thought it not good in silence to pass over The Widow of Ramadan Bassa late Governour of Tripolis in Barbarie with her Son her Family and a great number of Slaves of both sorts being about to depart from Tripolis to Constantinople had rigged up a fair Gally for the transporting of her self and her Substance reported to be worth eight hundred thousand Duckats upon which Galley for her more safety she had joyned two others as Consorts Thus embarked she came to the Mouth of the Adriatick where sailing by Curfu she was by force of Tempest driven into the Gulf of the Adriatick At which time one Petrus Emus one of the Venetian Senators with certain Gallies had the charge for the keeping of that Sea against Pirats and all other Enemies whatsoever He hearing of the Turks coming into the Gulf without delay set upon them and being too strong for them took them all and having them now in his Power exercised most barbarous Cruelty as well upon the Women as the Men for having slain the Men in number two hundred and fifty and the Son of Ramadan in his Mothers lap he caused the Women being before ravished to have their Breasts cut off and afterwards to be cast over-board into the Sea being in number about forty The Brother of Emus chancing upon a beautiful Virgin was by her most earnestly intreated to have spared her Honour and the rather for that as she said she was a Christian taken Prisoner about twelve years before in Cyprus since which time she had lived in most miserable Captivity among the Turks and being now fallen by good hap into the hands of a noble Venetian was in good hope to be set at Liberty inviolated which she most humbly besought him for the love of God to do and not to imbrue his hands with her guiltless Blood or to dishonour himself by forcing of her But all she could say prevailed nothing with the cruel and unbridled Youth who after he had at his Pleasure abused her cast her with the rest into the Sea. It is thought that Emus suffered this so great an outrage and so far unbeseeming the Honour of the Venetians to be done to the intent that none should be left alive to bewray the greatness of the Booty or of the Villany there committed which was nevertheless God so appointing it revealed by one of the Turks who saved by a Surgeon of Crete which knew him and afterwards coming to Constantinople openly declared the same With the odious report whereof the Turks were so enraged that in every corner of the City a man might have heard them threatning unto the Venetians most cruel Revenge yea they had much ado to hold their hands from the Bilo or Governour of the Venetian Merchants in Constantinople and to forbear to spit in his Face as he went in the Streets At that time was one Iohan Franciscus Maurocenus or as they commonly call him Moresin Bilo at Constantinople who understanding that Amurath in his Rage was about to â—end one of the great Gentlemen of his Court whom the Turks call Zausii the great Turks usual Ambassadors to Venice about that matter found means to have him stayed at Constantinople and another of less Authority sent to expostulate the matter with the Senate and in the Name of Amurath to require to have the Offendor punished and the Gallies with the Slaves and Goods restored so should the League betwixt him and them continue firm whereas otherwise he should be constrained by force of Arms to revenge the Wrongs done to his Subjects This Message being by the said Messenger delivered at Venice the Senators after diligent Examination of the matter returned this answer That the Widow of Ramadan with her Family coming to Zacynthus an Island of theirs was there honourably entertained and presented with certain courteous Presents but departing thence and coming to Cephalenia another of their Islands her People running on Land contrary to the Conditions of the League made spoil of whatsoever they could light upon sparing neither Man nor Beast of which their Insolency their Proveditor understanding and making after them found them in Arms within the Gulf and coming near unto them was neither by them saluted as the manner at Sea is neither was any top-sail struck in token that the command of that Sea belonged unto the Venetians all which they ought by the League to have done for which their outrages and proud Contempt their Proveditor had taken so sharp a Revenge nevertheless they promised in that case to do what beseemed them in Reason and Justice to do for the satisfying of his desire With which so reasonable an answer Amurath seemed to be well contented but being indeed loth to intangle himself with Wars against that mighty State at Sea his Wars against the Persians being not yet finished yet shortly after Emus was for his dishonourable and cruel dealing with the Lady and her Family worthily condemned and beheaded and the Gallies with all the Goods and Slaves restored This great Woman had in those Gallies four hundred Christian Slaves all which upon the taking of the Gallies were as the manner is set at Liberty for whom the Venetians made Restitution of as many others of the Turks Ramadan Bassa the Husband of the aforesaid great Lady was Governour of Tripolis in Barbary and of the Country thereabouts who having Wars with one of the barbarous Kings of the Moors went out against him with all his Forces wherein were certain Companies of Ianizaries sent by Amurath from Constantinople Now in this Country as in many other places of Africk are great and desart Sands over which whosoever is to pass must provide himself both of Victuals and skilful Guides without which they are not without danger to be passed Ramadan with his Army unprovided both of the one and the other having entred these Desarts was at length brought to that case that he could neither go forward neither without loss of his men return Yet at length he retired and got home but not without the loss of some of his People and the manifest danger of his whole Army for which his improvidence the Janizaries fell into such a rage that not respecting the honour of the man or regarding the displeasure of their Sovereign they fell upon him and slew him At which their Insolency if Amurath did wink and pass it over unpunished let no man marvel for why the
the shore they encountered the Turkish Horse-men yet notwithstanding Montano commanded they should finish their landing leaving twenty men for the Guard of every Gally This Fort of Agliman is seated upon a little pleasant Hill which looks towards the South It extends from the Hill unto the Sea-shore the form is oval that part which is next to the Sea is altogether Meridional and the other which riseth upon the top of the Hill looks towards the North. The Walls are built of good Stone and Lime the which are five Fathom high and one broad Within there was a Wall drawn from the East to the West which divides it into two unequal parts the which they enter by a Port set in the midst The Circuit of the Wall is fortified with eight Towers whereof five be whole and three are but half Towers those which be whole are of a square form and have five fathom in breadth on either side the half Towers have the same greatness on the one side and half as much on the other their height exceeds not the Wall unless it be that which is built on the top of the Hill which is raised about eight foot above the Wall. Within the place were above three hundred fighting men with store of Victuals Munitions for War and many pieces of Ordnance without there were an hundred Horse scouring up and down for the Guard of the Place and within the Port there were two Gallies a Caramousal and a Greek Brigandine with some hundred and fifty fighting men The Order of the Combate was divided after this manner by the Seignior Montano General at Land. For the principal Port and that of the Retreat he sent two Companies of Foot which were those of the Admiral 's Gally of the Captains Gally and of S. Stephen with the Petards all under the charge of the Earl of Candale who leading this forward discovered a Corps de gard of Turks Horse and Foot together whereof he presently advertised the General sending him word That he would march on towards the Fort and if the Turks came to charge him he would cut them all in pieces Many advised him to return to the Gallies but Montano allowed the Resolution of the Earl of Candale who past on without Charge untill he came within one hundred and twenty Paces of the Wall where he was charged before by the Musket-shot of the Fort behind by the Gallies and in flank by them of the Mountain with such horrible howling and crying out as the Marriners which carried the Petards being wonderfully amazed and terrified let them fall to the Ground and fled away The Baron of Mont Terault and Tiel a Souldier of Langueza took them up They continued their way untill they came within fifteen Paces of the Walls whenas twenty Turks sallied forth with a shew to make Head against the Earl of Candale's Troops but seeing themselves too weak they fled presently again back to the Town The Earl advanced to enter with them but the Port was so soon shut as they were in wherefore they must of force set the Petard to work But whilst they were making it fast unto the Gate there fell a shower of great Stones upon the Troop wherewith Don Pedro de Medicis who would needs be present was overthrown and half slain Callonge Mont-terault La Tour Davanes and Deltour had taken upon them the Charge of the Petard every one carrying a part to put it speedily in Execution Whilst they were thus busied to force the Port the Serjeant-Major came unto the Earl of Candale and told him that there was a Troop of three hundred Musqueteers come to charge him these were two Beys which came out of the Gallies with their Troops by reason of the bad Guard which the two Companies that Montano had left to hinder their Landing had kept The Earl of Candale had left part of his Troop with the Petard and turned Head with the rest against these Beys to charge them but they had no meaning to fight but only to make a shew and seeing they should be forced if they staid longer they took their way towards the Mountain and in their Retreat made many shot The Christians pursued them not holding it fitter to return to the Petard the which played so happily as it made a Breach capable for three men to enter in front The Squadron of the Knights of S. Stephen commanded by the Commissary Lenzoni and the Company of the Gallies of S. Mary Magdalen with two Ladders were to assault the High Tower. The Company of the Admiral-Gally with one Ladder had Charge to force the Port of the Retreat and the Company of the Gally of S. Iean was to fight with the Gallies and Vessels in the Haven all these Troops being led by the General Montano and by Captain Alexander of Tarentum Serjeant-Major marched in order towards the Fort. But the Petard having effected as we have said the Earl of Candale entered first with all his Troop and suddenly ran unto the Port of the Retreat there to apply a Petard the which also very fortunately made a Breach The Turks amazed at the noise and forcing of their Gates fled unto their Walls some retiring into their Towers and others into the Barricadoes which they had made in the Street At the same instant they planted two Ladders on the lower part of the Town somewhat near adjoyning to the Sea whereof one was broken with the loss of them that were upon it by the other notwithstanding that the Turks Horsemen charged them behind a good number of Christians got up to the Walls making their way by their Arms whilst that the rest put the Turks to rout having taken their Cornet they forced the rest for to flie unto the Mountains The squadron of Knights with the Company of the Gally of Saint Mary having had a longer way to march came not to the Tower upon the Hill until that after the Petards had wrought their Effects so as the Turks being retired thither they found very great resistance besides the attempts of the Enemies Horse which charged them behind thrice they planted their Ladders against the Wall and could not make them hold Wherefore the Commissary Lanzoni having performed as much as a brave and resolute Man could do in that Extremity resolved to leave that Place and go unto some other where he might be more necessary but being the last to make the retreat he was shot through with two Musquet Bullets and suddenly slain The Company of the Gally of Saint Iohn vanquished the two Gallies in the Port whereof Inghirami the Admiral at Sea went to take possession as soon as they had given him a sign having the other two Vessels at Liberty Within the Fort in the Towers and at the Barricadoes the Combat was hot and dangerous the Turks had despair and the advantage of the place on their sides The Christians thrust on by their Valour and
constant Resolution prest them on all sides there was nothing to be seen but Blood wounded or dead men but much more of the Turks side than of the Christians In the end after a Combat of four hours the Turks fainted some were taken many were slain and the Christians obtained an absolute Victory but as it could not be made without loss of their Enemies who made great resistance so there were five and fifty Christians wounded of which number De Vic a French Gentleman was one who had a Musquet shot through his Thigh going to charge a Troop of Turks which were retired into a Tower and some Gentlemen were slain among the which was young Boissierre a French Man whose Valour in this Action made them that saw him fight so generously conceive a certain hope that he would have proved a valiant Captain if Heaven had lent him longer Life The sorrow for his Death was general as well among the Italian Troops as among those of his own Nation Vernegue and Villandre two other brave French Gentlemen were also slain The dead and the wounded were carried unto their Gallies they emptied the Fort oâ— all the Artillery Munition for War and Victuals the Trophy of forty Florentines Heads was beaten down and all the Houses set on fire Agliman being thus ruined they shipped their Booty with three hundred and fifty Turkish Slaves having freed about two hundred and forty Christians which were in Irons The two Turkish Gallies were drawn out of the Port and carried away with eight other Vessels In this Triumph as the Admiral Inghirami bent his Course towards Ligorn upon the way a Turkish Caramousal came into the midst of the Fleet as into a Toil it prepared to defend it self the Patrons Gally invested it but not without loss for the Turks made so great resistance as there were above fourscore Christians hurt or slain the Earl of Candale fighting alone at the Prow of the Gallie by the Permission of the General But this Caramousal being taken and the Florentine Mariners entered it split and sunk suddenly The great Dukes Gallies encountered some other smaller Vessels the which they took and afterwards arrived happily at their Port. The twelfth of August following Octavio of Arragon General of the Gallies of Sicily by the Commandment of the Duke of Ossunna Viceroy in that Realm parted from the Haven of Palermo with eight Gallies well armed ad manned to sail into the Levant His first touch was upon the Island of Cerigo where he understood that the Admiral Bassa of the Sea was gon from Constantinople with thirty Gallies bending his Course to the Island of Negropont whereas sixty others attended him in the Haven and moreover that the Gallies of Rhodes prepared to go and joyn with him all which Naval Fleet was to fall upon Soria against the Turks Rebels Notwithstanding these News Octavio continues his Course unto the Island of Nicaria where he understood by a Greek Vessel that the Turkish Admiral meant to send twelve Gallies to Rhodes to guard certain Vessels of the Fleet which came from Alexandria by the Channel of Samos True it is that of twelve which were together when they parted two were sent by the Bey or Captain which commanded them into the Island of Chio so as there remained but ten together Octavio resolved to charge these ten causing his Fleet to row that Day and almost a whole Night as secretly as they could along the Shore of the firm Land of Natolia and at the break of day he arrived at the Cape of Corvo twenty Miles from Chio from whence he sent his long Boat to discover But in the mean time he himself espied the ten Turkish Gallies not far from him at sight whereof he ordered his Gallies for Battel with such Diligence as at Sun rising he was about the Enemies Gallies and had invested them At his first approch he discharged all his Ordnance and then with his Admiral-Gallie he joyned with the Turks Gallie which carried the Standard the Spaniards entered slew and massacred all that made resistance the Combat began at the Prow from whence they went to the Poop whereas the Bey or Commander of the ten Gallies stood whom they forced to yield In the mean time the other Gallies of Sicily charged the Turks so furiously as they took five all great Vessels carrying Lanthorns two fled towards the Land hoping to save themselves but the Turks had scarce liesure to leap to Land and to flie into the Country abandoning their Vessels to the Spaniards who pursued them the other three Gallies having gotten some advantage escaped by flight so seven only came into the Spaniards Power in the which they had a very rich Booty freeing above a thousand Christian Slaves which were at the Chain and by a strange change of Fortune putting into their Places the Turks which had inchained them Among the most remarkable of the Prisoners were the Commanders of the ten Gallies called Sinan Bey of Grigna in the Island of Cyprus the Bey of Alexandria Son to Pial Bassa who was defeated in the Battel of Lepanto by Don Iohn of Austria and some Beyes or Captains and Patrons of Gallies This Summer the Emperour Matthias being gon to an Assembly of the States at Presburg in Hungary in the mean time Sigismund Battori who had been Prince of Transilvania and so great a Terror and Scourge unto the Turks as he made Sinan Bassa having an Army of one hundred and fifty thousand Men to flie thrice within ten days from before him and would never endure the sight of him he having but forty thousand Men in his Army But afterwards being the Author of his own Misfortunes and Miseries by his inconstant Humors he came and lived a private Life at Prague and there died of an Apoplexy At the Estates of Presburg they consulted of the fortifying of their Frontier Towns and manning them with good Garrisons knowing the Infidelity of the Turks and doubting they would not observe the Truce But there was some question in the Assembly touching the Admissions of Germans into their Garrisons for that the Hungarians maintained they had a decree to the contrary and yet they could not defend themselves without the assistance of Germans but in the end it was concluded That the Germans should be admitted equally with the Hungarians into their Garrisons but all other strange Souldiers should be excluded The Turks in the mean time had burnt and spoiled many Villages in Hungary and Transilvania carried away many Christians captive and committed many other Acts of Hostility so as all Men feared a new War in Hungary but by the Providence of God it was diverted For Sultan Achmat marching toward Transilvania with a mighty Army hearing upon the way that Bethlem Gabor was acknowledged Prince under his Protection he turned head toward Constantinople But rather for the Affairs of Asia whereas the Rebels of Natolia had spoiled and burnt
is a Prediction of some great Troubles and Alterations For either the opening of this Book in the Womans hand doth foretel our falling away from the first intent of our Law whereat these armed Men departed as confounded with the guilt of their own Consciences or else it signifies some other Book in which we have not yet read and against which no power shall prevail so as I fear our Religion will be proved corrupt and our Prophet an Impostor and then this Christ whom they talk of shall shine like the Sun and set up his Name everlastingly Hitherto the Company was silent but hearing him speak so boldly they charged him with Blasphemy and knowing their Law which makes all Blasphemy capital they presently condemned him and having the Beglerbegs consent and Warrant they put him to death As their Rage against him was violent so their Execution was extraordinary for they neither cut off his Head nor strangled him as they usually do to Malefactors but they tortured him by degrees for stripping him first naked they gave him an hundred blows on the soles of his Feet with a flat Cudgel until the Blood issued forth the poor Priest crying continually on the Woman that opened the Book After which they took a Bull 's Pizzle and beat all his body until the Sinews crack'd and in the end they laid him upon a Wheel and with an Indian Sword made of Sinews they brake his Bones to pieces the poor Man crying to the last gasp O thou Woman with the Book save me and so he dyed At which time there was a fearful Tempest The Beglerbeg sent certain Spahies to the Port of Sidon to imbark for Constantinople to the end they might advertise the Emperour of these Tidings Sultan Osman from the first entrance into his Reign was freed from all Cares of foreign War or intestine Combustions for he had that happiness being himself very young and not able to Govern so potent an Estate as by the Counsel and Assistance of Halil Bassa his Grand Visier he had forced the King of Persia to demand a Peace and to pay the Tribute which had been formerly promised His Rebels in Asia were all pacified and the Truce with the Emperour which had been somewhat interrupted by misinterpretation or the practise of bad Ministers was newly confirmed a little before his coming to the Crown onely Moldavia had been the Theatre of War for some years where his Father had exercised his Arms and imployed his Forces to advance whom he pleased to be Vayvod of that Countrey against another party that was supported by the Polonians as you have formerly heard Michna Prince of Valachia being made Vayvod of Moldavia by Achmat and the Polonian party wholly overthrown in the Year 1616 he enjoyed it not long but whether he dyed of a natural Death or fell into disgrace with the Grand Seignior I do not read yet I find that after him there was another Vayvod or Prince of Moldavia who is yet living but in disgrace with the Sultan his Name is Casparo Gratsiani and to the end you may understand that the Turks never respect the Birth and Quality of any Man in their Advancements I will relate what this Man was from the mouth of him that knew him very well This Casparo was born at Gretz a Town of great strength belonging unto the Arch-dukes of Austria by the which a Branch of that House is distinguished from the rest and whereof the Emperour now reigning is the head but being a Man of small Fortune and little expectance in his own Countrey he went to Constantinople and put himself in Service with Sir Thomas Glover before that he was Ambassador for his Majesty to the Grand Siegnior under whom he learned both to write and read the Turkish Tongue After which he came with him into England and there by his recommendation was imployed to Constantinople for the redeeming of young Sir Thomas Sherley who was then a Prisoner among the Turks Having performed his Charge orderly and being come to Venice with the young Knight hearing that Sir Thomas Glover was sent Ambassador to the Grand Seignior he left Sir Thomas Sherley and went to Constantinople to his old Master where he was imployed yearly to buy or exchange Christians for Turks carrying the Christians into Italy and so returning Turks for them About the end of Achmat's Reign arriving at Constantinople with a Ship full of Turks which he had exchanged he acquainted the Bassa Visier with the good Service he had done unto the Grand Seignior who demanding of what Countrey he was and his Breeding asked him if he would undertake a Service which should be for his Advancement which was to go unto the Emperour to reconcile all Difficulties concerning the Peace wherein he carried himself so discreetly as Commissioners were appointed who concluded all Difficulties as you have heard But before his return home the Grand Seignior was dead yet he pressed the Bassa for the performance of his Promise desiring him that he might be made Vayvod of Moldavia which the Bassa effected but the Presents he gave advanced him more than his Merits Since he grew into some disgrace so as the Grand Seignior making choice of another Vayvod gave Charge to certain Capigies to go into Moldavia to strangle Casparo and that they should take four hundred Turks upon the Frontiers to assist them But Casparo having good Spies at Constantinople who advertised him of their Design resolved to prevent them wherefore taking some Troops with him he met them upon the way and cut them all in pieces then returning to Yas he slew one thousand Turks After which he fled into Poland with two thousand Horse from whence they write that he hath made divers Incursions into Moldavia and committed great Spoils upon the Turks being assisted by the Cossacks and keeps possession of the Countrey although there be another Vayvod made by the Turk Sultan Osman seems to be much incensed against the Polonians as well for this support as for former quarrels making it his colour for the levying of the greatest Army that hath been seen since that Solyman went unto the Siege of Agria consisting as it is said of three hundred thousand Men having drawn down all his Forces out of Asia God knows where he will imploy it but it is much to be feared that he will make use of this division betwixt Christian Princes who should unite their Wills and Forces to oppose them against the common Enemy of Christendom who watcheth only to get an Advantage little regarding his Word and Promise The Turk having no imployment for his Forces by Land sent threescore Gallies to Sea to make some Enterprise upon the Christians They came into the Mediterranean Sea and having coasted the Island of Sicily they sent twenty Gallies to land in the Kingdom of Naples where they surprised the Town of Manfredonia and spoiled it carrying away fourteen or fifteen
in the Garden according to his usual Custom throwing them one on the other into the Water the Queen grew so furious that she could not contain longer from venting her Anger in unhansome Terms and jealously against the Nurse and her Son. At which the Sultan being much displeased and being ill-natured if we may speak boldly of an Emperor took her Son which is now Sultan Mahomet out of her Arms and with some few Curses swung him into a Cistern where he had been certainly drowned had not every one in that instance applied themselves to save him at which time he received the Mark or Scar he wears at this day in his Forehead All thâ—se Matters served for farther Fuel to nourish the implacable Spirit of the Queen which the Kuzlir Aga well observing judged it prudence to give way to her Fury and so begged his Dismission from the Court together with his Slave and Son and that having visited Mecha according to his Law he might enjoy a Râ—tirement in Egypt which is the Portion of banished Eunuchs The Queen easily consented hereunto nor was it difficult to procure the Licence of the Sultan who was as easily perswaded to any by those who were about him wherefore the Eunuch having provided to be gone shipped himself with his great Treasure on the Fleet which was now designed and ready to depart for Alexandria which consisted of three Ships one a great Gallion and two others of lesser Burthen and seven Saiks these having at the beginning of their Voyage found contrary Winds put into Rhodes from whence loosing with more favourable Weather they unfortunately met with six Malta Gallies exâ—ellently well manned and provided The Admiral Gally immediately Boarded one of the Saiks and took her manned only by Greeks by whom they were informed of the Condition Quality and Cargo of the greater Ship which gave Heat and Resolution to the Souldiery In like manner with little Opposition the Gallies called the St. Iohn and Ioseph possessed themselves of one of the lesser Ships which being laden only with Timber brought from the Black Sea to build Ships at Alexandria was of little value having forty Turks aboard eight Women and a Child which sucked at the Mother's Breast In the mean time the three other Gallies called the St. Mary St. Lorenzo and Victory attacked the great Gallion and having cast their Iron Graples into the Ship with the Motion of the Ship the Irons gave way and broke only that of the St. Lorenzo held fast so that the whole force of the Ship both of small and great Shot was poured in upon the Gally to their damage and loss of Men. In the mean time the Admiral Gally came in to their Assistance and Assaulting the Ship on the other Quarter made a Diversion of their Men and having thrown in their Graples they scaled the sides of the Gallion as if it had been a Fortress where being entred they remained for some time at handy-blows with the Turks but at length all the Gallies coming to their help having made an end of subduing the other Ships the Turks were forced to retire under Covert of their Decks which they defended still with singular Valour wounding the Christians with their half Pikes through the Gratings But in fine the Captains of the Gallies perceiving that this was not the way to compel them to a speedy Surrender ordered several Musquetiers out of every Gally to fire in at the Windows and loop-holes of the Ship by which having killed their Commander in Chief their Valour and Constancy began to fail and desirous to save their lives with loss of Liberty and Estates they cast down their Arms and begged Mercy In this Engagement were killed the Captain of the St. Mary and seven Cavaliers of which sive were French one Italian and one German the Admiral himself and the Captain of his Gally were both wounded seventy nine Souldiers and Mariners killed and an hundred thirty two wounded Of the Turks it is not certain how many fell in regard as they were killed according to Custom they cast them over-board the Eunuch himself though always educated in the softness of the Seraglio and in the Conversation of the Female Court yet in the end concluded his days like one of the Masculine Sex fighting valiantly with his Sword until overwhelmed by his Enemies by which it is observable that those Persons lose not their Courage with their virile Parts for it hath been known in former days how that Eunuchs have been Generals in the Turkish and other Armies and conducted their Affairs with admirable Courage and Success The Prize which the Christians had gained in this manner was very considerable for besides the Gold Silver and Jewels which were the Treasure this Eunuch had amassed in the Reign of three several Sultans they gained three hundred and fifty Slaves besides thirty Women some of which were young and Virgins so that there was not a Souldier or Seaman who had not a considerable share of benefit proportioned unto him With this Fortune towing their Prizes they in a short time came to an Anchor in the Port of Calismene in the Island of Candia called anciently Phenice on the South-side of the iâ—Iâ—land remote from all Venetian Garisons and where as it is reported they were supplied with no Provisions excepting a small quantity of Bisket which was furnished by a Country Fellow who for that very Cause was shot to Death From hence the Gallies departing arrived in Malta with their Prizes where they were received in great Triumph The young Son of the Eunuch for so we call him was reported to be a Son of the Grand Signior sent into Egypt to be Educated and was accordingly saluted treated and reverenced by the Grand Master the same Opinion was dispersed and confirmed in all parts of Europe and the Errour for many Years maintained at the Expence of the Religion until the Boy growing up to a good Age and not judged worthy of a Ransom or enquiry after by the Turks it was thought convenient for him to put off his State and Greatness and become a Fryer and I think a Dominican and this is he who now goes under the name of the Padre Ottomano The News hereof arriving at the Ottoman Court Sultan Ibrahim was transported with Anger threatning Destruction and Ruin unto Malta besides he shewed a most inveterate Passion against the Venetians for not guarding the Seas from his Enemies and for relieving them in their Ports In which Rage and Fury he put his own Captain Pasha to death and Summoned the Christian Ambassadors braving them all for the little respect was shown to his proper Shiping and in short was angry with all but reserved the Effect of his Wrath to be poured on the Venetians to which this Accident administred the first Original and will afford us ample matter of Discourse in this ensuing History For the Grand Signior first made his Complaints against Venice to their
shall be sufficient for me to declare here in brief terms how this Kingdom became the Patrimony or Possession of Venice In the Year 1204 a Sale thereof was made to this Republick by the Marquess Bonifaccio of Montferratto by an Instrument sealed the 12 th of August at Adrianople and signed and delivered in the presence of Marco Sanudo and Ravano du Verona Ambassadours in the time of Enrigo Dandola Doge but the People of this Island not consenting unto the sale opposed themselves against it until the Venetians by force of Arms procured their Obedience and confirmed their purchase by a double Title Hereupon such noble Citizens as adventured their Lives in this acquisition obtained the Estates of the Rebellious Greeks being obliged in proportion to the Lands they held to maintain Men and Horse at their own Charge and are therefore called the Feudatary Cavalry So that the whole Country is divided into three parts viz. the noble Venetians or Cavalry secondly the noble Candiots or Colony which were Infantry that came to inhabit from Venice and thirdly the Greeks or Natives of the Country which never rebelled but took part with the Venetian State the first two speak Italian and are of the Roman Church the others speak Greek and conserve the Right of that Religion The Ottoman Fleet now touching the Shoar at Gogna took Livery and Seizin quietly of that flourishing Isle of Candia where they Encamped a while to refresh their Forces and prepare all things in order to their Conquest In the mean time the news hereof alarmed all Venice and not only hastened them in the expedition of their Fleet but warmed their applications to all Christian Princes from whom they craved help in the general defence of Christendom which some at first imagined would have been granted as it was once in the time of the Holy War or that those whom the Declaration of a common Crusada or Devotion or sense of Religion could not move yet at least the consideration of their Countries Defence or the maintenance of a Bulwark of Christendom might perswade to wage Arms against the Turk as a Common Enemy but what cold Apprehensions the Christian Princes entertained hereof both the faint Supplies and Assistances they administred and their bloody and vigorous Wars one against another have abundantly testified to the fatal loss and ruin of that Country And though in the beginning there were better hopes by means of the Pope's earnest intercession with all the Princes of Italy to whom he shewed a fair Example by uniting his own Gallies with the Venetian Fleet and amongst the rest prevailed also with the Republick of Genoua to employ their Gallies in this Noble Enterprize which tended to the Glory of God and the common Safety and Preservation of Italy yet that Leaven of vain Punctilio's which hath so often betrayed the Christian Cause to the advantage of the Turk gave a stop for some time to these Proceedings For before they would enter into Arms they desired the Genoeses that the right of bearing the Flag should first be determined in favour of their Admiral before that of Toscany or Malta And though the Pope to take away this occasion of dispute proposed to have no other Flag worn besides his own under which all Italian Princes without impeachment of their Honour as Auxiliaries and Military Adventurers might promiscuously wage War yet this could not appear satisfactory to the Genoeses who not only took this occasion to demand the precedency before Toscany and Malta to which the G. Duke who was not inferiour in State and superiour in Title and the Malteses who time out of mind and by Decree of Charles the Fifth claimed Precedency on the Seas before them would never assent but also thought fit to avail themselves in this Conjuncture to obtain from the Pope the Grant of a Royal Court and that Treatment which is given to Kings or Crowned Heads But because these Demands seemed to contain those Difficulties in them which could not be granted without the manifest displeasure of other Princes the Pope resolved to afford what assistance he could from himself and therefore granted a Levy of a thousand Foot out of his own Dominions with free liberty to buy what Ammunition and Provisions were to be found in the Ecclesiastical State with imposition of a double Tithe or Tenth on the Goods and Dominions of the Clergy so that these Succours of the Pope and the Auxiliary Forces of Naples Toscany and Malta under the Command of Priâ—â—e Ludovisio General of the Church being united to â—he Venetian Fleet did speedily compose a most puissant and formidabâ—e Force however by â—eason of Dissentions amongst the Commandâ—rs and other Misfortunes derived from thence to the Christian Arms nothing succeeded forâ—unately this Year For the Turks having gâ—iâ—ed their landing at first without opposition overthrew the Christians in several small Skirmishes and afterwards forced Canea the second City of that Island which they took with much blood and slaughter of the Christians The Turks having made so successful a progress this first Year year 1646. as to possess themselves of one of the most considerable Cities took Courage to proceed in their Conquests in which they had the fortune to make themselves Masters in the next place of Retimo in defence of which the General Andrea Cornaro lost his Life by a Musket shot Nor more successful were the Venetians this Year at Sea for what with Quarrels among the Commanders and with their coldness and negligence in their Business they suffered the Turkish Vessels to pass freely without giving them that interruption which was very facil to Men resolute and concerned Nor was the opportunity which presented to ruine the Turkish Fleet made use of then lying half disarmed and ill provided at the Isle of St. Theodoro which is a Rock opposite to Canea where at that time it is believed they might all have been burned had the occasion been improved agreeable to that Advantage which then offered so that towards the latter end of the Year the General Molino returning Home either by reason of some distemper or by revocation from the Senate which seemed to be ill satisfied with his ill Fortune or his ill Management of the Publick Affairs he was dismissed from his high Charge And Gio. Capello Procurator of St. Mark was constituted in his place This Year was remarkable for the ruinous Differences between Sir Sackvile Crow Baronet our King's Ambassador then residing at Constantinople and the Turky Company The Original of which seemed to arise from the Civil Dissentions at Home for so unhappy were those Times and so ill affected were English Minds with Rancour and Malice against each other that this Leaven of Discord could not be confined within the Banks of Great Britain and Ireland but seemed to disfuse it self over the Seas and as a Contagion infected the Minds Goods and Interests of the English to what Quarter or Climate soever they were transported In
for that Presents and Purses of Mony came not in so plentifully as at first and on the contrary feeling the Spring of the Levant Companies Treasury still to run fresh and quick their Inclinations towards the Ambassador grew more cold and faint his Agents were not admitted so readily to Audience as formerly nor his Petitions and Addresses received with that candor as when Mony and Interest made their entrance easy in the mean time the Merchants were heard with great patience their Cause and Complaints esteemed reasonable and in short Sir Sackvile Crow was dismissed from Constantinople in a manner not usual for Ambassadors nor agreeable to that Quality and Character and was succeeded by Sir Thomas Bendysh who was Authorized and constituted in that Embassy by Commission from his Majesty King Charles the First of ever blessed and glorious Memory year 1647. Gio Capello being constituted General in the place of Molino as we mentioned at the end of the preceding Year departed from Venice early in the Spring having under his Command fifty Gallies six Galleasses and forty Ships of War and four Fire-ships besides other Vessels which are necessary Attendants on so great an Armata which grand Preparations raised the Minds of the Christian World to expect the abatement of the Ottoman Pride and other Effects equal to the magnificent Ostentation and triumphing Glory of this mighty Power But God who gives not always Success to the Powerful nor the Battel to the Strong was not it seems so well satisfied for the Sins of Christendom as to judge it worthy to be delivered from the Scourges of its Grand Oppressor Whilst Capello remained with the best part of the Fleet at Candia Tomaso Morosini Admiral of the Ships shewed himself in a Bravado with twenty two Sail before the Castles of the Helleâ—â—ont called the Dardanelli defying the whole Turkish Power with Colours flying and Drums beating nor did they dare to answer the bold Challenge until in a dead Calm some few light Gallies presented themselves in a seeming Battel with whom for want of Wind the Ships were on the disadvantage and rather received Prejudice than gave it so that both sides were contented with the Action Morosini withdrew from that Station and returned to his General at Candia to whom having joined his Forces he earnestly perswadâ—d him together with the Proveditor Grimani to engage the Turkish Fleet which they assured him was much inferior to them both in number of Vessels and in Skill and Courage of the Combatants and that the Success of this Year consisted in the cutting off the Enemies Succours which was their sole Relief and Dependance without which they could not longer maintain the Ground they possessed but must deliver up that and themselves to their pleasure But the cautious General would not assent to this Resolution judging it over-rash and precipitate for that the Fortune of Candia and other Isles of the Archipelago was not to be hazarded on the Success of one Battel During which Dispute and irresolution of Affairs the Turkish Fleet consisting of three hundred Sail arrived at Canea where they landed forty thousand fighting Men which turned the Scale of the War and rendred the Turks so powerful as not ever more to be expelled or their Off-spring extirpated from the Confines of that Island By this time the Pope's and Malta Gallies were come to their Assistance and united with the Venetians so that Capello setting sail from the Port of Suda resolved to engage the Enemy at St. Theodoro which was effected accordingly though with little Success for the Turks had fortified themselves and secured their Gallies with that advantage that they could not be assaulted without great hazard of the Christians and when they endeavoured to burn them their four Fire-ships took fire too soon and proved of more fear and astonishment to the Turks to whom this Invention was as yet unknown than of real dammage After this the Venetians returned again to Suda where having intelligence that thirty Turkish Gallies with Men and Provision which they had collected in several parts of the Archipelago were on their Voyage to Canea Capello preparing to intercept them with a Force of Galleasses and Gallies and leaving Grimani and Morosini to command the main Body of the Fleet he in Person bent hiâ— Course towards Cerigo In the mean time Mustapha Pasha departed from Canea in order to his return to Constantinople with fifty seven light Gallies two Ships two Galleasses and many Saiks but meeting in his Passage with a hard storm of Northerly Winds he lost seven of his Gallies and several other Vessels so that he resolved to divide his Fleet and send part of them to Scio and himself with the other part to make for Negropont This Fleet was followed by some other Vessels under the Command of Mahomet Celebee Brother of the Pasha of Algier who being as far in his way as the narrow Streights of Andra he was there stopped by the Fury of the Northern Winds which are the Master-Winds of those Seas and by the impetuous rage thereof was carried to the Island of Zia where having given Licence to the greatest part of his Souldiery to Land they carelesly strayed abroad and without suspicion of Surprize merrily passed their time in eating and drinking In the interim advice hereof being carried to Tomaso Mororosini then with some Ships in the Port of Milo he immediately without loss of time applied himself to assault the Turks and being followed by the Proveditor Grimani he took two of their Ships whilst Mehmet Celebee with about two hundred of his Men betook themselves to the weak shelter of an old demolished Fort and afterwards surrendred themselves to the discretion of the Conqueror Morosini and Grimani encouraged with this Success resolved to pursue the Enemies Fleet in order unto which Morosini first putting out to Sea was instantly carried away by a fierce gale of Wind towards Ambro and separated from the rest of his Fleet and thence again was tossed by the impetuosity of the Storms unto Rafti of which Mustapha Pasha having Intelligence made haste to attack this single Vessel with forty Gallies giving order to the Bey of Rhodes to lay him aboard with fifteen Gallies the strongest and best armed of all their Squadron Morosini nothing dismayed bearing the same constancy of Mind in the midst of his Enemies as at a distance boldly shewed himself on the Quarter Deck encouraging his Men with his words and by his Example to Actions worthy their Religion Faith and Country for which they contended The Turks continued for some time to batter the Ship at a distance with their Cannon but with little dammage to the Christians who returned their Shot to better advantage Hereby the Turks perceiving that Blows given so far off did little Execution resolved to Board the Vessel and subdue Her by force of Arms and being come to the side of the Ship the Souldiers were fearful to enter suspecting
Fleet for defence of Candia Foscolo who had been General in Dalmatia being sent thither with title of Generalissimo in the place of Mocâ—nigo But these Dissentions amongst the Turks according to their usual Custom lasting not long before they came to a Conclusion year 1651. by the entire destruction of one of the Parties the Chief Ministers began to reassume again the thoughts of prosecuting the War in Candia and to send Recruits to reinforce the Army under the Command of Chusaein Pasha who was returned with new Forces and Courage to assault the City of Candia At this time a certain Greek pretending to be a Person of Quality and discontented with the Turks fled from them to the Christians where being received with all kind and obliging entertainment he had thereby liberty of seeing and visiting all the Fortifications of the Place After he had observed and discovered as much as he desired this traiterous Fugitive fled again to the Turkish Camp where he revealed what places were most strong or best fortified and where the Town was weakest and most easily to be assaulted The Venetian General being awakened at this Discovery and considering the numbers of his People to be few in respect of the Enemy and that the Outworks could not be maintained without a more numerous Garison he resolved to destroy some of those Forts and accordingly blew up with Mines four Bastions which being at a distance could not be relieved without much danger The Turks hereby making conjectures of the weakness of the besieged cheerfully assaulted the Fort of St. Demetrio thinking to carry it without much trouble but contrary to their expectation they encountred so bold a resistance that they lost three thousand Men on the Place At Constantinople they were still so intent to carry on this War that having prepared and laden on the Fleet great quantities of Granadoes Bomboes and Mortar-pieces with other Fire-works the Captain-Pasha with hopes agreeable to his Force set forth to Sea with eleven hundred Sail consisting of Gallies Ships Galleasses Saiques Brigantines and smaller Vessels with resolution to engage the Venetian Fleet whose Commanders also were equally desirous and ready to consent with them to a Battel On the 7 th of Iuly the Venetians being at an Anchor in the Port of St. Ermina discovered the Turkish Fleet to which as they were much inferiour in number so they were superiour to them in the agreement and experience of their Commanders The Turks having passed forward on their way the Venetians pursued them and the better to draw them to a Battel Mocenigo ordered two Ships commanded by Barbaro and Dolphino to cross the Turks at the point of the Island and his Vice-Admiral Bataggio with four Ships to engage the main Body of the the Turkish Fleet to whose assistance many other Vessels coming in he so rudely treated several Gallies that they were forced to seek harbour in the Port of Chios now Scio with the loss of Mahomet Pasha of Anatolia who was sent to succeed in the Office of Chusaein Pasha the General of Candia but Night coming on the rest of the Fleet retreated to the Isles of Naxia and Paros On the tenth day the Turks having watered their Fleet gave a signal of defiance to the Venetians by discharge of two pieces of Cannon and the Venetians accepting the Challenge both Fleets gave a furious charge one to the other but the Turks were not able to withstand the Courage and Skilfulness of the Venetians for the Captain-Pasha having lost many of his Men and the Poop of his Gally being carried away with a Cannon-shot the whole Fleet was put into Disorder and then unto flight so that the Gallies began to employ themselves in toaing the Ships But one of their Mahones being separated from the rest was assaulted by two Galleasses and some Ships and finding none to come in for Succour the Captain was killed with four hundred Souldiers and two hundred were taken Prisoners In the mean time Mocenigo the General gave chase to the Gallies which two to a Ship were toaing the heavier Vessels as fast as they could but being hardly pursued were forced to cast off the Hauser and shift for themselves as well as they were able The Turkish Ships seeing themselves thus abandoned fired whole Broad-sides upon the Enemy but the Venetian Gallies leaving their own Ships astern that they might pursue their advantage Querini boarded a Great Galleass called the Soltana upon which were three hundred Souldiers who offered to surrender upon promise of Quarter for their Lives But the Christian Souldiers heated with fight and not then understanding any thing of Conditions desperately boarded the Vessel whereby the Turks being reduced to an extremity of despair gave fire to the Powder and therewith carried as well the Vanquishers as the Vanquished into the other World. According to this example four other Vessels burnt themselves one of 60 brass Guns and three others of 40 to 44. Fifteen Vessels of the Starboard Wing saved themselves by good sailing Of the Larboard Wing Captain Nicolo a Renegado with his Ship was taken by the Admiral of the Galleasses likewise another Great Vessel by Lazaro Mocenigo and another by Proveditor Melino In short there was not one Vessel which remained in sight of the Venetians which was not either taken sunk or burnt Notwithstanding all which considering the Vessels which were escaped and the 3 thousand Men which the Turks had landed at Naxia in order to their being transported unto Candia the Victory seemed to be very imperfect wherefore the Venetians attending another encounter with the Turkish Fleet did happily meet them in a few days after and being encouraged with the late Success as the Enemy was low in their Spirits and Resolution they bravely attaqued the Turks and took 39 Gallies 23 Ships three Galleasses together with the three thousand Souldiers which were then embarked from Naxia Those which escaped took Refuge in the Port of Rhodes After this great loss the Turks entertained no great Designs of the Conquest of Candia but only to conserve Canea and the footing that they had won in that Island nor did ever the Turks after this dare to stand a formal Battel with the Venetians at Sea but rather contriving to escape than to fight did ever after build light Gallies for transporting of Men and Ammunition with intention to wage their War only at Land and not at Sea it being a saying ever after common in their Mouths That God had given the Sea to Christians and the Earth to the Turks To these ill Successes abroad were added great Dissentions at Home for the mutinous Spahees in Asia having united into a strong Body marched towards Constantinople to join with their other Brethren in those Parts The Janisaries on the other side not less diligent to oppose their Enemy to revenge the Outrages committed on their Brethren whom the Spahees had ill-treated having cut off the Noses and Ears of several of
important places the which Marquess Villa performed accordingly in the night preceding the first of Iune with much order and care for first he caused the Artillery to be withdrawn with the Mortar-pieces Ammunition and Provisions of War and placed in the Fort of Mocenigo then he caused half the Army to work in filling the Trenches whilst the other half remained in form of Battel and two hours before day blew up the Fort which having done they marched in three Bodies to the City to the great joy and satisfaction of the Turks who on that occasion made a day of Festival These particulars of Action having passed under the Conduct of Marquess Villa without any signal Victory or advantage over the Turk administred subject to such who in the parts of Christendom were emulous of his glory and envious of his eminent charge to give liberty to their tongues to disparage the management of his Affairs as not agreeable to that high expectation of success which the World conceived thereof when he first entred on this imployment But here it is observable at what rate men who lye soft and warm in their beds at home unconcerned in the dangers labours and hazards of those who live and act abroad can make their reflexions and pass their censures on active and ingaged men not considering the state of affairs the uncertainty of Succours in so long and distant a tract of Sea as passes between Venice and Candia subjected to Winds and a thousand Casualties nor yet the numerous Troops of the Enemy nor the Puissance of â—hat Empire which for its Power Richess and the Valour of its Soldiery may be esteemed the most Potent and considerable of all the Monarchies and known Kingdoms of the Universe But what conjectures soever envious men might make of the Conduct of Marquess Villa yet the Senate of Venice appplauded his labours and owned his services as being such which having merited the admiration and esteem of all the World did in a particular manner challenge their thankfulness and acknowledgments About this time the Gallies of Malta arrived at Candia where some dispute arising touching the place of precedence in the Fleet which the Venetians denied to them they deparâ—ed thence with some dissatisfaction and returned to the Westward to transport the young Empress out of Spain into Italy And now intelligence coming to Candia by divers Letters that the Great Vizier was departed from Adrianople with a numerous Aâ—my and was already arrived at Thebes where a general Rendezvous was appointed of the whole Army with resolution to be transported from Malvoisin to that Island the Venetian Generals and Commanders in chief concluded it necessary if possible to hinder their passage and rather to fight them at Sea which was their more propitious Element â—han to attend their Landing where they would be forced to dispute with unequal numbers and on disadvantageous terms Accordingly the Captain-General reinforced his Fleet with two thousand Foot and a thousand Horse under the Command of Count Licinio Martinoni appointing the Rendezvous to be at Argenâ—iera to which place also Marquess Villa repaired touching by the way at Milo for refreshment of his Horse it being an Island abounding with Herbage the Captain General being for some days detained at Standia by contrary Winds a Consultation was held for the more advantageous management of the War aâ—ter which the whole Fleet making Sail was on August the ninth scattered by a furious storm and not being able to recover Santoxini they by good fortune fetched Stampalia an â—sland abounding with generous Wines excellent Fruit Partridges and other Provisions at length after various fortunes arriving at Andâ—a which is a great and populous Island another Council of War was held where it was again concluded That all care was to be taken to intercept the Succours which the Enemy daily sent to Candia to which end the Cavalier Grimani Captain of the Galleons was ordered to cruise about the Coast and hearing that twelve Turkish Ships were lading Provisions in the Gulf of Velo he repaired thither and had the good â—ortune to take them with all their lading but the other Squadrons missed of the like success for notwithstanding the care and vigilance which was used all matters seemed to succeed prosperous â—or the Turks and adverse to the Christians the designs of the first having an issue agreeable to their intentions whilst those of the latter were always disappointed either by Naâ—ure or by Fortune or rather by that secret hand of Providence which had allotted that Island for a Prâ—ze to the Ottoman Arms. By this time the Turkish Army being at their Rendezvous at Thebes the Great Vizier prepared to imbark and considering the difficulty of the passage thought it prudent first to make new Propositions to Signior Ballarino before he entred on this hazardous attempt supposing perhaps that the rumour of this March might have affrighted the Venetians to a Surrender of that Kingdom that they might spare the blood and charge of that War which afterwards ensued wherefore Ballarino being called from his House at Constantinople began his Journey towards Thebes on the twenty fifth of August accompanied by a Capugibashee and three Janizaries and in twenty three days arriving at Thâ—ssalonica now called Salonica he fell sick of a violent Feaver caused by that agitation of body in his Travels to which he was unaccustomed and for want of that sleep which he used to take after his slender dinner passing the rest of the day and night in continual watchings at first he felt only some little alterations which he hoping might pass over resolved to proceed on his Journey notwithstanding the perswasions to the contrary of Signior Patavino his Secretary with whom I was well acquainted and ever esteemed for an honest and a worthy Person but he continued resolute to proceed fearing leâ—t his delays by the way should lose him the opportunity of that moment of Treaty which was impossible afterward to be retrieved for in his Journey he would often reason in this manner If I should stop here what censure would the World pass on me I may possibly excuse my self but in the mean time the Vizier may ingage too far in his design and frustrate all those methods and foundations which I have laid towards a Peace and then if I live I shall be over-burdened with the reproaches of the World for having abandoned the grand incumbance in its ultimate necessity which is charged upon me which will be a more sensible afâ—liction than the agony of death My sickness will be esteemed by many to be rather dissembled than real The dead man lives in the memory of his faithfulness and constancy and the living man dies in the indelible characters of his cowardise and misfortune These were his own words And thus â—ravelling forward his Feaver daily increased to that excess that on the sixth day he was forced to stop at a City called Isdino where having
advanced with Two thousand Five hundred Men to Vitrovitz a Place about a League distant from the Camp expecting Four hundred Men more under Command of the Bei of Gradisca with design to force their way into Buda To prevent which the Duke detached Four thousand Croats under the Command of Count Transmandorf to march against them and ordered the German Forces to stand all Night to their Arms to avoid a Surprise Transmandorf marched until seven a Clock in the Morning always a-trot and having about that time met the Pasha of Marotz he immediately engaged with him and charged him so furiously that after some small Resistence the Turks fled of whom about a Hundred were killed in the Pursuit and several Prisoners taken After which Success Transmandorf returning back to the Camp fortunately Encountred the Governour of Gradisca with his Four hundred Men who going to joyn with the Pasha of Marotz of whose ill Success he had as yet received no Intelligence was engaged and defeated by him upon the first Charge or On-set and had all been cut in pieces had they not been favoured by the shelter and thickness of some neighbouring Woods On this Occasion the Croats took fourteen Colours with several of their Cymbals and Trumpets and twenty Prisoners They lost only fourteen of their Men and had the Pillage of the Camp with great store of good Provisions with which they feasted themselves and nourished their Horses And now let us leave the Duke of Loraine for a while before this City employed in an Enterprise which could not be effected until two Years afterwards thô all that time a constant course of ill Fortune ran against the Turks And let us see what Preparations were making at Venice and recount the Actions and Atchievements which this Republick carried on this Year against the Turks pursuant to the Proclamation of War lately published The Doge of Venice called Marco Antonio Gustiniano who entred upon the Governmernt the 26 th day of April of this Year year 1684. together with the Council made choice of these General Officers for carrying on the War Namely Francisco Morosini Captain General Dominico Mocenigo Proveditor General of Dalmatia the Prince of Parma General of the Infantry Alessandro Molino and Antonio Bembo Captains extraordinary of the Ships Paulo Michiel Matthew Pisani and Iohn Morosini Commanders extraordinary of the Galeasses and General Strazoldo quitted the Imperial Service for that of the Republick The whole Venetian Fleet consisted of Sixteen Gallies six Galleassas and sixteen Sail of Ships to them were joyned five of the Pope's Gallies and seven of Malta and four Gallies belonging to the Great Duke of Toscany With part of this Fleet the Captain General Morosini put to Sea from the Coast of Italy on the 10 th of Iune for the Island of Corsu where the general Rendezvous for the whole Fleet was appointed At this Place a Council of War was called where all the General Officers were present together with the Proveditor General Cornaro and General Strazoldo and by them it was unanimously resolved to Attack the Island of Santa Maura This Island of Santa Maura was formerly joyned to the Continent of Greece and reckned amongst the Western as those of the Archi-pelago were amongst the Eastern Islands it was anciently known by the Name of Leucas and was part of the Kingdom of Ulysses It was once a Peninsula adjoyning to Epirus by a narrow Isthmus of Land but at the great Charge and Labour of the Inhabitants of Corinth it was cut off from the Continent and made an Island It is near the Morea at the entrance into the Gulf of Lepanto where was fought that famous Battle in the Year 1571. Sultan Mahomet the Son of Sultan Amurath took this Island from the Venetians in the Year 1457. But with the Aid and Assistance of some Vessels from the Pope King Lewis the 12 th of France and the Knights of Rhodes it was after a bloudy Fight recovered out of their Possession in the Reign of Bajazet the II in the Year 1499 Benedetto Pesaro being General But the Year following a Peace being made it was restored to the Turks conditionally That the Island of Cephalania should remain to the Venetians for ever This Island being the chief Harbour at present and Refuge of all the Pyrates and Corsairs of Barbary which much infested the Gulf and rendred the Navigation very unsecure and which hindred the Venetians from being the absolute Masters of those Seas this Enterprise was resolved to be the most necessary and methodical in order to more important Adventures Accordingly on the 19 th of Iuly the whole Fleet together with Tartanas and Felucas carrying Land-forces set Sail from Corfu and the next day arrived at Little-more then Cannon-shot distant from Santa Maura where they cast Anchor and landed their Forces which consisted of two Battalions of the Pope's and of Malta Six hundred Men each and Eight hundred Men drawn out of other Troops Amongst those of Malta were a Hundred Knights who clad in their Coat-armours of red Sattin with the white Cross of their Order made a splendid Appearance The next day the whole Fleet entred the Port of Demata which lies to the Eastward of the Town and is capable to receive great numbers of Vessels and the Captain General Morōsini went in Person on shoar taking a view of the several Posts in which the Forces had lodged themselves and of that particularly called Chiche which was a House of Pleasure belonging to the Aga's Son possessed by Captain Manetta But before Morosini thought fit to commit any Act of Hostility he sent to Summon the Place and in a Writing set forth the Cause and Reasons which moved the Venetians to raise a powerful Army against the Turk who had violated the Peace by harbouring the Corsaires of Barbary and practised other Hostilities against the Subjects of that State And that in case they did not Surrender up their Town and Island the next Morning he would proceed to force them and make use of the Priviledge and Power of a Conqueror To which the Governour returned no other Answer Than that God would punish the Venetians for violating the Peace and making an unjust War upon the Grand Seignior Whereupon the Admiral-Flag being spread which was the Signal of Battle the Gallies and Galleasses made above Twelve hundred Shot against the Town which did great Damage to the Houses and Fortifications and entirely ruined one of the Moschs Nor were the Turks idle but fired continually thô with no great hurt for their Cannon being mounted too high did not hinder the Forces of the Pope Malta and Toscany from possessing themselves of the Suburbs nor the Batteries from raising which by direction of Lorenzo Venier plaid on the Walls with good Success and did great Execution and the Bombs which were thrown into the Town put all the Defendants into a Consternation For on the first of August
of Boiaria and Antivari the Turks were so confounded thereby that they knew not where to apply themselves until at length some Venetians Landing near Antivari were Attacked by one Ahmet Aga the Son of the Governour of that place whom they repulsed with much Vigour and killed Ahmet upon the Place and stranded a Brigantine belonging to Castel Nuovo on the Shoar But the grand Design and Enterprize of this Year being the Siege of Negropont the whole Venetian Fleet with the Gallies of the Pope and Malta having made their general Rendezvous in Porto Poro on the 19th of Iune Old Stile weighed Anchor directing their Course towards the Archipelago The Fleet was divided into three Squadrons one Commanded by his Excellency Veniero Captain Extraordinary of the Ships another Squadron consisted of Gallies under Command of the Governour of the Condannata or of such who are Condemned to the Oar whose Post was to keep to Windward of the Fleet. The third Squadron was Commanded by the Doge himself who with the remaining part of the Galleasses Gallies Galleots and Ships were to take their Station to Lee-ward besides which a Squadron of Ships with 13 Christian Corsairs making in all 26 Sail were dispatched before with Orders to advance as far as the Dardanelli and give a stop to the Captain Pasha who upon the News of this powerful Fleet durst not adventure Abroad but kept within the Reach and Covert of the Castles For indeed the Turkish Fleet which for many Years past had not been of equal force to engage the Venetians was this Year also much weakened by the want of Eight Gallies which the Captain Pasha had dispatched to the Black Sea for relief of their Saicks against the Cossacks who much infested that Coast and for want of forty Galleots which were remaining on the Stocks in the Arsenal at Constantinople having neither Slaves for the Oar nor Soldiers for Fight and Defence nor Seamen to Sail and direct them Nor was the Captain Pasha of sufficient force to give Convoy to the Fleet expected from Egypt consisting of nine great Soltanaes and diverse Saicks laden with Ammunition and Provisions of which tho' the Grand Seignior had great want and had dispatched divers Commands unto Alexandria to hasten their Voyage yet the fear they had of being intercepted by the Venetians was a sufficient Defence for them against the reiterated Commands of the Port. This Squadron of Ships coming to Anchor before the Mouth of the Dardanelli kept the Turkish Fleet within the Castles whilst the Doge advanced with the main Fleet towards the Island of Negropont in the Form and Manner before described The Island of Negropont is the most considerable of all the Isles in the Archipelago the ancient Name of it amongst the Greeks and Latines was Eubaea it had also other Names as Macris from the narrowness of the Channel which passes between the Island and the Main Land Abantias and the People Abantiades the chief Town was Chalcis now named after the Denomination of the Country Pliny calls the Island Asopis and Strabo Ocha it had also the Name of Ellopia from Ellope the Son of Iupiter This Island as believed was once joined to the Main Land but separated from thence by some Earthquake and now adjoyned by a Bridge it is 365 Italian Miles in compass 90 Miles in length and 40 in breadth The City of Negropont anciently Chalcis is situated on the Euripis which is a narrow Channel that in a wonderful manner Ebbs and Flows seven times in 24 Hours The Walls of the City are about two Miles in compass but the Suburbs are much larger and more Populous by reason of the many Greeks and Iews which Inhabit therein The Captain Pasha is the Chief Commander thereof but commonly governs by his Deputy There is a Bey also belonging to it a Man of great Power by reason that he draws from thence a Yearly Revenue for Maintenance of a Gally This Island of Negropont formerly belonged to the Venetians and to this Day the Arms of St. Mark remain over one of the Gates of the City when Pietro Zani was Doge it was given by the Emperour of Constantinople to the Venetians in recompence and reward of some good Services performed by that Republick towards him or rather because he could not defend it he gave it over into the Hands of a good Ally But in the Year 1469 Sultan Mahomet being desirous to joyn that Pleasant Isle to his other Conquests endeavoured to make a Bridge for the more easie Transportation of his Troops into the Land but being repulsed by the Inhabitants and the Bridge overthrown the Turks were forced to betake themselves unto their Boats and Vessels Howsoever in less than a Month afterwards the Turks returned before the Place with 300 Sail and then having formed the Bridge as was intended Mahomet himself came with an Army of 120000 Men and Attacked the City which was Fortified after the manner of those Times and defended by a Garrison of 24000 Men under the Command of Giovanni Bondulmiero Ludovico Calvo and Paolo Erizzo The Turks raised several Batteries in different Places against it by which they made such large Breaches that they made four terrible Assaults thereon in which above 40000 Turks were Slain and the Enemies bravely repulsed but at length being overwhelmed with Numbers and tired with a long Siege the Guards which defended the Porta Bureliana conveyed themselves secretly away and abandoning their Post they entered the Gate without much opposition killing all the People who passed the Age of 20 Years Calvo was killed on the Place and Bondulmiero in his House Erizzo having Intrenched himself in some fast place defended himself Valiantly and at length surrendred on Conditions of Life but the Turks maintained them not but caused him to be Sawn in two His Fair Daughter chose rather to die by her own Dagger than to give up her Chastity to the Lust of the Turks The Turks having remained Masters of this City ever since the Year 1469 it came at length to be Attacked in hopes of Recovery in this Year 1688 in order unto which the Captain Extraordinary Veniero was appointed with nine Ships belonging to the Republick a Fire-ship and a Palandra to guard the Channel of Negropont and to hinder the Turks from bringing Succours to the City to which also seven Gallies were added under Proveditor Pisani At the same time also several light Gallies were ordered to scower the Channel of Volo and hinder all Succours from passing on that side All the Land Forces being Embarked upon the Ships Gallies Galleases Galleots Palandras and other Vessels the Venetian Fleet weighed Anchor on the 7th of Iuly from Porto Poro and Sailed with a fair Wind directing their Course towards the Island of Negropont but by what Misfortune not known a great Ship called the Smyrna Merchant ran upon a Rock which being high and easily seen it was suspected to
some of the Soldiers standing up to the Middle in Water remained exposed to the Enemies shot who guarded the Traverse which being thus sustained for several Hours above 1000 Soldiers with divers Officers lost their Lives amongst which were Lieutenant Colonel Slade and the Captains Pini Pipam and Gilinon and of the Stranger or Foreign Troops several were sorely wounded amongst which were General Spahar and the Prince of Hermanstadt who were the Principal Officers appointed to direct the Assault Nor were the Losses on the Sea-side less than those on the Land. For the Gallies appointed to make the Diversion were so droven by a Storm of Wind into the Current that it was impossible to save themselves but by coming to an Anchor just under the Town from whence they received many Cannon-shot Antonio Nani had his Main-Mast disabled by a Shot of 1000 weight Gredenigo received the like which carried away all his Poop besides other Damages The Gally of Pizzamanâ— was strook with a Stone-Bullet of three Fathom and a half in Circumference which had almost sunk the Gally Alvige Foscari received a Shot of 50 weight in the Midship of the Gally and another which carried away his Rudder George Marin had the Poop of his Galley carried away and he himself wounded in the Throat by the Splinters Nor did it pass much better with the Captain of the Gulâ— by a Shot on the Lar-board side of the Galley by which he received much damage In this manner the Gallies drawing off at a farther distance and the Land Soldiers desisting from their Attacks all hopes of taking the Town began now to fail so the Commanders assembling at a Council of War where every thing was debated and the impossibility considered of making another Assault in regard to the Fleet which as we have said was much endamaged and the Camp much diminished by Sickness Slaughter and Departure of some of their Troops and the Season of the Year advanced to the beginning of Winter so that it was judged impossible longer to maintain the Siege But because much Blood and Treasure and the time of a whole Summer had been consumed before that City a Retreat from which would look something shameful before the Turks and make an ill noise and report over all Christendom it was proposed at a Council of War not wholly to quit or abandon the place but to remain before it during the Winter Season in order unto which it was projected to draw a Line of Circumvallation from one Neck of Land to the other which was not above the space of an Italian Mile and the Mould or Soil being all Earth it might easily be effected the which being fortified with a Ditch and Palliâ—adoes Redoubts and Cannon might make a sufficient place of defence for the Soldiers and convenient Quarters might be made for them out of those Timbers and Planks which they had saved from the Ruines of the Suburbs of Negropont And that they might be in a condition all the Winter to endamage the Town and hinder the Turks from repairing their Breaches the Mount of Muslekat and the Hill of Vilibaba were to be strongly fortified with Cannon In fine all things were proposed and provided as far as Humane Reason could contrive for security of the Camp and Maintainance of the Soldiery and for Provision and Sustenance they promised themselves sufficient from the Inhabitants of the Islands besides those which might be brought from the other Isles of the Archipelago These Matters being thus proposed and projected in the Council of War where Enquiry was made into the Miscarriages of the late Assault which was made appear otherwise than was represented it was ordered that the Cannon which were nearest to the place should be drawn off and the manner contrived how it might be executed and the Night following they began to draw off the covered Cannon which lay under the Works the which Attempt was the most difficult of any To prevent which the Turks all that Night assaulted the Bonnet with quantities of Granadoes and Sacks of Powder but a valorous resistance being made by the Defendants the Turks were repulsed with great loss so that the Night following all the remaining Cannon were drawn off and secured In which Work Silvester the Admiral of Candia having been very active and adventurous as he had been in many other doubtful and hazardous Attempts the Doge honoured him with a Gold Chain and Medal as an evidence of his good Services and of the Esteem he entertained of his Personal Courage and Conduct Had the Project of Quartering all that Winter on the Island succeeded it was very probable and with good reason it might have been rationally concluded that the City would have been obliged to yield before the Spring but the Foreign Troops being acquainted with the Design began to mutiny and loudly to declare That they would not Winter on the Island it being one of their Capitulations of Agreement when they first Enrolled themselves for Soldiers that they should at the Season when Armies usually break up their Camp be provided with warm and convenient Quarters and with the Spring return again into the Field To force the Soldiers to an Obedience in this particular was not esteemed adviseable but to try how far soft Terms and perswasive Arguments might prevail upon them several Noblemen and chief Commanders were employed to incline the Wills and Consent of the Soldiery thereunto but the Plot was deeper laid for tho' the Commonalty only appeared openly therein yet it was well known that their Officers had the chief Hand in the Design and instigated their Soldiers to act that part which was most desired by themselves But what was most prevalent with the Council of War was the Report made by Sergeant General Hor That the Soldiers in the advanced Lines were so far set on a Resolution to Abandon the Siege that in case it were not done above 100 of them would desert and fly to the Enemy Whereupon the Doge took a Resolution before other Misfortunes arrived to comply with the Soldiery and as a beginning thereof to embark all their Sick and Wounded Men and Baggage and that the Enemy should not discover the Design it was ordered That the Cannon which were not drawn off from the Lines Bonnet and Batteries should continue still to play upon the City After which by degrees â—ll the remaining Cannon was shipped and many of their Horse embarked and all things put in order for an entire Desertion of the Island and Siege which when the Grecian Inhabitants observed who had taken the part with the Venetians against the Turks full of Fear and terrified Consternation came running to the Shoar petitioned to be carried off to the Christian Coast to avoid the Fury of the Turks for performance of which all the Boats and Vessels of the Island were taken up at Freight for Service of the Army and Transportation of the Islanders of
which several of them were cut off by the Turks before they could reach the Vessels on which they intended to embark The Turks seeing their Enemies draw off and commit themselves unto the Seas had cause sufficient to rejoyce as the Christians had to be sad and dejected when the Rear of the Army was forced to beâ—ake themselves to a precipitate Flight with some Confusion and Disorder Howsoever they all got Aboard on such Vessels as they could at first come unto so that the lighter Vessels were overcharged with Soldiers and with Islanders until such time as at the adjacent Islands where Vessels usually Careen they could more orderly dispose their Companies and repart them by a more commodious and proportionable share unto every Ship Galeass and Gally From this place Orders were given by the Doge unto Venier Captain Extraordinary to pass into the Archipelago to collect the Contribution of the Island Admiral Zaguri was dispatched with four Ships laden with Provisions and Bisket to furnish the Fortresses of that Kingdom The Vessels laden with the Horse were ordered to disembark them at the first Shoar and thence to march by Land to Napoli di Romania Some other Companies were Landed at the Fortress of Termizi All the Foreign Troops were put into Winter Quarters in divers parts of the Morea Other Companies and Troops Embarked on the Squadron of Ships commanded by Captain Pisani were Transported to Modon Navarin and Patras from whence Pisani had Commission to Sail for Zant and Corfu and thence to carry all the Provision and Ammunition which had been brought thither from Venice for Use and Refreshment of the Army All the Galeasses were ordered unto the secure Port of Varvaronda under Cranidi in Romania The Regiments of Brunswick Wirtemberg and Hesse having compleated their time stipulated for Service were discharged and permitted to Sail for Venice Thus all the Troops being dismissed and sent into their Wintet Quarters the Doge intended himself to Land at Napoli di Romania but being taken short by the Wind he could only fetch the Port Tolon where the next Day he Landed and went to Napoli di Romania but an ill condition of Health caused partly by the Hardships of the Siege but chiefly by the Troubles and Affliction of Mind for the Loss and Disgrace he had sustained before the City of Negropont a great cause of which being attributed to the Miscarriage of some Officers who performed not their Duty in the last Attack he ordered a Process to be made against them and their Tryals to be managed at a Counsel of War. But here we will leave the Venetians for this whole Winter and return to the Wars in Hungary transacted in the Year 1689 at the end of which we shall recount all the Actions performed by the Venetians during that Campaign But Procurator Girolamo Cornaro was more fortunate and successful in Dalmatia and Albania where he Commanded the Venetian Army For having Landed his Forces at Scardâ—na on the 24th of Augusâ— they speedily marched towards Clin with design to invest that place and on the 27th the several Troops took their Posts and began a Line of Circumvallation fortifying the same with several Redoubts The next Day Summons were sent to the Garrison which being answered with Vollies of small and great Shot the Night following the Trenches were opened and in the Morning the Cannon and Mortars began to play upon the Town with great execution In the space of two Days a considerable Breach was made in the first Wall which the Besieged labouring to repair the Cannon quickly ruinâ—d their Works So that by the 1st of September the Venetian Trenches were advanced so far and the Breach made so wide that it was resolved to give an Assault which was accordingly executed on the 2d of this Month and performed with such Resolution that the Venetians notwithstanding the Vigorous Opposition of the Enemy mounted the Breach on which having lodged themselves obliged the Defendants to retire within their second Wall or Retrenchment On the 3d and 4th several new Batteries were raised from whence the Enemy was greatly annoyed and a Bomb falling into their Magazine of Powder blew up and killed many of the Inhabitants however the Defendants still continued to maintain their Castle and the Lower Town with great Resoâ—ution At length it being obsâ—rvâ—d by General Cornaro that one side of the Town was naturally fortified by Water without other Guard or Defence he ordered that the Regiments of Corbon and Sebenico should pass over and streighten the Enemy on that side the which they chearfully performed for most of them being practised Swimmers they carried their Swords naked in their Mouths and swam over to the other side which when the Turks observed fearing to have their Retreat cut off from the Castle they quitted the defence of the Breach and retired some within the second Retrenchment and others into the Castle Thus the Venetians without farther opposition entered the first Retrenchment where they found some pieces of Cannon 50 Horses two Camels some Mules 100 Head of Oxen some Corn and a good quantity of Hay The Venetians having gained the first Retrenchment appointed Marquis Borro and Francisco Grimani to maintain the Ground they had gained which they performed by throwing up Earth for shelter of their Men whilst on the other side they cut off the Pipes and ruined the Aqueducts which conveyed Water to the Castle The want whereof and the blowing up of the Magazine of Powder greaâ—ly sunk the Courage of the Defendants howsoever the Venetians continued still to throw their Bombs and Fire into the Castle and batter the Walls of it with their Cannon by which they had now made the Breach so wide that an Assault might be made thereon But the Proveditor-General well considering that the Turks could not long subsist without Water deferred for some few Days the Assault until he saw the Effects which the Extremity of Thirst would constrain them unto the which speedily happened out according to expectation For on the 12th of September the Defendants spread a White Flag on the Walls desiring to Capitulate and that in the mean time a Cessation of Arms should be granted Hereupon the Pasha of the place sent out two Aga's who being conducted to the Tent of General Cornaâ—o they offered the Surrender of the Town and Castle upon License given them to march out with their Arms and Baggage as is usually granted to Valiant Soldiers But Cornaro answer'd That their Behaviour had not merited such kind and honourable Usage And growing angry at their Discourse he told them plainly That he expected they should immediately yield at Discretion without farther Argument or Capitulation The Turks astonished at this peremptory Resolution desired time to propose the same to the Garrison and to the Inhabitants but no more time would be allowed than four Hours during which in case
yielded up and the same Day the Turkish Garrison was by agreement Transported into Anatolia and Disbarked at Chisme as the Turks call it being the nearest Land unto the Island With this News the Turks were affected with a most Terrible Consternation and then those two long Words might have been said of them Consâ—ernabantur Constantinopolitani The News was so surprizing at first that no Man would believe it but various and frequent Reports confirmed the Truth thereof and tho' to the great Mortification of the Turks the News came confirmed from all Hands yet the Turks comforted themselves with the Thoughts that that Island could not remain long in the Hands of the Venetians The Sultan howsoever cheared himself up with better Successes by Land and gave order to the Grand Vizier to fight the Germans upon what Terms soever should be offered but the Vizier returned for Answer That his Forces were so weak this Year for want of the Asiatick Troops that he was unable to fight the Christians which if he should attempt to do he should undoubtedly Sacrifice all to the Ruine of the Musselman Cause and Destruction of the Ottoman Army For the truth was the Grand Vizier had then but a very small Army consisting of 11000 Janisaries and 6000 Albanians under their General Mehmet Oghla an Albanian together with 20000 between Spahees and Segmen with some Troops belonging to Pashees and 7000 Tartars Besides which Money was all this Year very scarce Asia was all in Confusion and in want of every thing so that it was no wonder that the Number of true Janisaries should be no greater in the Field for Kara Mustapha when he went against Vienna had no more than 14000 and the famous Sultan Morat when he went against Bagdat had no more than 16000 which would not appear strange in case it were considered that in the whole Empire the entire number of Janisaries consists not of more than 40000 truly Lawful and Legitimate Janisaries three parts of which in the times of Peace are lodged in Garrisons as Candia Negropont Rhodes Cyprus and in other Islands as also in Greece which are parts of the Morea and on the Confines of Persia where the most considerable Numbers are lodged to which may be added Caminieck Osi Asack in the Black-Sea as also in Dalmatia Bosnia and other Confines With this Answer of the Grand Vizier to the Sultan and representation of the present State of the War the Grand Seignior yielded to the Urgency of the Times and permitted the Vizier to return to Adrianople and the Soldiers to their Winter-Quarters the which was done with so much Precipitancy that the Motion looked more like a Flight than a Retreat The which News being on the 18th of October brought to Adrianople all things looked very melancholy and the People began to droop with sad Countenances the Grand Vizier returning back with Shame and Silence when on the 15th of the Month all things appeared in a most Tumultuous manner at Adrianople and particularly in the chief Mosch there called Sultan Solim in which at all times of Prayer there is a great Concourse of People and those of the best sort and of the greatest Officers of State having their best and most sumptuous Palaces near thar Mosch which is the finest and stateliest part of all the City It was now early about the time of Morning Prayer or so soon as the Sabbana Maaz was ended People being still upon their Knees with much Silence and Devotion as their custom is when a bold Turk well Learned and of a smooth Tongue mounted the Pulpit having several Complices attending beneath to defend him in case any Attempt should be made upon He began with a daring Speech to inveigh against the Government crying out Musselmen or Believers YOU are all at this time obliged to stand up for the Faith for your Country and Government You cannot but be sensible that the Christians Attack us both by Sea and Land That we have a Sultan who Attends to nothing and a Great Vizier who is not Acquainted or Practised in Affairs either Civil or Military Wherefore let us all run to the Gate of our Mufti and there cry out and exclaim for a Change of Government Do you not observe what a Capricious Fool we have for a Vizier how Obstinate and Ignorant and how he daily commits a thousand Follies Whilst all People were attentive to hear him two Aga's belonging to the Chimacam being near the Gate of the Mosch and over-hearing the Discourse run away with it to the Chimacam their Master who immediately without any delay or stop in a trembling manner mounted on Horseback and taking with him his Servants Officers and Janisaries all Armed and Commanded by the Lieutenant-General of the Janisaries ran to the Mosch and made this Seditious Preacher to be seized which caused great Confusion and Noise through the whole City for appeasing which the Chimacam took a large Turn through all the High Streets of Adrianople At that time it happened that a certain Pasha arrived within a few Hours of Adrianople who had been Banished by Command of the Sultan for many Robberies and Thefts he had committed in the Publick Treasury his Name was Benli Husaein Pasha whose Head he took off as he did in like manner and at the same time the Head of one Musa Aga and threw them both into the first Court-yard of the Seraglio before the Gate of the Divan declaring that these two were of the Seditious Mutineers who had raised the Tumult in the City which terrified a little for the present which when the Chimacam perceived he was encouraged to proceed and took 11 Officers who were Ring-leaders of the Sedition whose Heads were heaped up together before the Divan-Door and their Bodies thrown into the Cannels in divers parts of the City Amongst these was an Officer of the Grand Seignior's Stables called 〈…〉 Talking Mutinous Fellow as also a Fooâ—â—ish Astrologer with 22 others who were one Night all Strangled and their Bodies thrown into the River Tonâ—â— which runs near to the Grand Seignior's Palace at Adrianople and in this manner the Chimacam prevented a Mutiny and quashed a Rebellion which was rising to a dangerous height Howsoever the People murmured but durst not speak so Audaciously as before After these Tumults were over at Adrianople People began to discourse of Prodigies strange Sights and Apparitions and among others a Report was at Constantinople That an Owl was seen at Noon-day sitting on the Old Pyramid in the Market-place which as was reported fell down of it self that Night and next Morning there was found within the Basis of the Pyramid a piece of Wax on which was inscribed in Greek Characters these Words After 300 Years this Monarchy will suâ—fer Great Destruction and Ruine both by Enemies at Home and Abroad And this City will be Infested by Pestilence and by Earthquakes reduced to a Heap of Stones All these Stories and
Preparations in order to the Siege of Negropont The Venetian Fleet â—aile â—owards Negropont 1688. July 〈…〉 Negâ—opont Turkish Strength in â—â—gâ—opont The Doge and General Officers take a view of the Country The Christian Troops advance The General of Malta receives Audience of the Doge 〈…〉 Tuâ—ks 〈◊〉 Venâ—tiaâ—â— The Town Invested August 1688. August The Seraskier at Petra Thâ— Venetian Camp 〈◊〉 with Sâ—â—â—ness Negropont a Fruitful Country The Temper of the Inhabitants The Turks show themselves The Tuâ—ks Attack the Malteses A Fort near the Mills taken The Turks recover it The Doge resolves to Attack the Turks in their Trenches The Manner of their Trenches The Turks Sally 〈◊〉 Colonel Gaspar an Athenian killed The Turks Attackedin their Trâ—â—ches They quit them and fly A terrible Slaughter Girolamo Garzoni 〈◊〉 The Venetians Mastâ—rs of the Turks Trenches Suburbs Aug. 21. The 〈◊〉 of the Turks 〈◊〉 Turks Sallâ— agaâ—â— General Konismark sâ—ck Septemb. A brave Offer made by an Engineer The Venetians repulsed A remarkable Passage 1688. Septemb. The Venetians again repulsâ—d The Difficulties of taking the City Tâ—e Venetians discouraged General Kenismark 's Dâ—aâ—h The Generals of the Great Duke and Maâ—ta desâ—re leave to return hâ—me The Venetians take a Bâ—nnâ—â— from the Tâ—rkâ— and again â—reven 〈◊〉 of it 〈…〉 Tuscany dâ—part Sâ—câ—ness in the ChristianCaâ—p The Turks Sally October Basignani the Engâ—nier fails in his Dâ—sign and is killed The Dâ—gâ— sick 1688. October The General of Malta departs Chief Officers killed Prince of Brunswick and General Hor command the Army The Council of War advises an Atâ—ack The Preparations made for it Octob. 12. An Assault made And mosâ— carried Many Mâ—n lâ—â—t Great misâ—ortunes The Lossâ—s sustained by the Gallies Octob. 13 A Counsel of War râ—solves to desist from the Attack A Proposal made to stay all the Winâ—er in the Island Some Cannon drawn off Octob. 15. The Foreign Troops mutiny and will not Winter on the Island The Siege â—aâ—sed Some disorder Octob. 22. Orders given to the Admirals and places appointed where to disbark the Soldiers Novemb. 1688. Novemb. The Doge Lands very sick Cornaro marches against Clin. Septemb. The Venetians storm the Breach 1688. Septemb. They bcome Masters of the first Retrenchment The Turks in want of Water They Capitulaâ—e They Surrender at Discretion Cornaro designs against Narenta October 1688. Ocâ—ober 〈◊〉 Nariâ— Tâ—e Morlacks waste the Counâ—â—y The Fleet of Ships sâ—opt by contrary Winds Cornaro returns to Spalatro 1689. January 1689. January February Sighâ—t 1689. February Canisia refuses to surrender The Turkish Ambassadors desire Audience The Solâ—mnity observed at the Audience The Emperor seated on his Throne They are admitted to his Presence The Amâ—assâ—doâ—â— râ—â—urn 〈◊〉 Audiâ—nâ—â— A Treaty begun The Turks submissive No sâ—â—p made to a Conclusion of Peace by reason of the Demands made by the Turks Their hopes in the French promises The Germans blaâ—ed for nâ—â— making a 〈◊〉 The French encourage the Turks to continue the War And endeavour to draw the King of Poland from his Alliance The Poles cold in their Actings The Emperor encourages the Bulgarians and Rascians And makes Preparations against the Turks A 〈◊〉 in Asia The Fate of Yeghen He kills the Pâ—â—ace of Tartary The Father meditates Revenge The Grand Vizier favours Yeghen Yeghen commits all sâ—â—ts of Outrages Commands 〈◊〉 fâ—om thâ— Part to tâ—ke Yeghen 〈…〉 He 〈◊〉 into Albania Mamâ—â—â— Bei 〈◊〉 his Heaâ— Disorders in Asia by Yedic Defiance given to Yedic A Party of his Soldiers defeated Yedic marches to Prusa And defeats the Pasha Declared King of Anatolia besieges Angora Angora pays a Ransomâ— The Râ—bels 〈◊〉 all Oâ—â—ers of Grace The Nature of a Tefâ—ish Pasha The Teftish engages Yedic aâ—d defeats him Regeb Pasha made Gâ—neral in the place of Yeghen whose Nephew is put to Death The Grand Seignior marches to Sophia April An Earthquake abâ—ut the time of the Grand Signiors Departure 1689. April May. Plots of thâ— French discovered 1689. May. The â—rench Banished out of the Empire Pr. Lewis coming to the Army encourages the Soldâ—ers June 1689. June 〈…〉 Turks 〈…〉 Lâ—wis Hassan Pasha Palanca Veterani anâ— Piccolomini jâ—â—n with Pâ— Lewis Fetislau taken by Tekeli And possess Orsoua 300 Heydukes killed by the Turks The Croats defeat a great Body of the Turks A compleat Victory Corbelli Summons Fechedebator Fechedebator is surrendred July Pr. Lewis encamps near the River Morava The Turks retrâ—at 1689. August The force of both Armies The Germans coâ—temn their Enemies The Grand Vizier goes not to the War. A Mutiny prevented â—n the Turkish Camp. Heisler demolishes Orsoua Countermanded by Pr. Lewis Heisler sick Herbeville ordered to recover the place He defeats a Party of Turks And Retires from Orsoua August 27 th and 28 th A Bridge made over the Morava The Designs of the Turks Pr. Lewis resolves to Attack the Scraskier Hiâ— Marâ—â— He advances towards the Turks The Turks dâ—feated Coâ—sultations to Assaâ—l◠〈◊〉 Enâ—mâ— The Turks attack the Christians Are beaten retreat 1689. August They quit thâ—ir ground Some German Soldiâ—rs kill'd Another Attack on the Turks The Turks fâ—y to Patoschin They abandon their Camp. The Germans possess it Râ—turn 〈◊〉 to Goâ— Septemb. 〈◊〉 Lewis Writes to the Vizier 〈◊〉 of Canisia and Great â—â—â—adâ—ne 〈◊〉 1689. Septemb. Pr. Lewis marchâ—s to Nissa Pr. Lewis marches towards Nissa Bridges broken and others made Septemb. 24 Pr. Lewis engages the Turks near Nissa Pr. Lewis Atâ—ack◠〈◊〉 Turks The Turkish Horse in disorder Duke of Croy succours the right Wing The Turks put to Flight The Christians gain an entire Victory The Victory wonderful The Christians eâ—ter Nissa It is fortfiâ—d for Winter Quarters Mustapha Pasha Palanâ—â— A Party of the Germans nâ—ar Sophia October The Turkish Court in great Confusion A General Council of the Tuâ—ks called at Sophia 1689. October The Grand Seignior consents to a Peace The â—â—ws of a 〈…〉 the Turks hinders the Peace Thâ— Ambassaâ—â—â— proâ—eâ—ds to Vienna The Campagne ended Designs to surprize Tekeli Orsoua and Fetislau burnt Pr. Lewis maâ—â—hes to Widin The Horse pass the Bridges and â—nter the Enemies Camp. The Turks makâ— a stâ—nd bâ—fore Widin The Turkish Cavalry put to flight and the Army defeated and Widin taken The Turks reâ—use to dâ—lâ—vâ—r the Castle of VVidin The Castle of VVidin surrenders The Soldiers and People march out Widin a 〈…〉 Châ—istians Wâ—nter Quâ—â—ters pâ—ovidâ—d for the Soâ—diâ—râ— For Winter Quarters Picolomini reinforced Count Picolomini maâ—â—hes towâ—â—ds Pristina and Clina They conclude a Treaty with the People And Kazianech â—â—feat a Party of 300 Turks Mamut Pasha encampâ—d in a Valley with 10000 Mâ—n flies upon a Report that the Christians â—ere marching against them Are pursued by the Hussars The Antient Seat of Ladislaus Cziacchy pluâ—â—ered and burnt Piccolomini 〈…〉 to Kazianech Piccolomini sick ye marches towards Prisseren Novemb. And to Panni The Commander of Pyroth defeats 1500 Turks The Imperialists defeated near Dragoman Piccolomini comes to
Majesty of a Kingdom as then when Richard the First King of England passing that way with his Fleet for the relief of the Christians then distressed in the Holy Land about the year 1191 was prohibited there to land and certain of his People by force of Tempest there cast on Shore were by the Cypriots either cruelly slain or taken Prisoners which barbarous violence King Richard took in so evil part that he there by force landed his Army and rested not until he had taken Isaac the King Prisoner and subdued the Island The King he sent in Chains of Silver to Tripolis there to be kept in close Prison the Kingdom he kept a while in his own hand which not long after he gave or as some say exchanged with Guido the titular King of Ierusalem for which cause the Kings of England for a certain time afterwards were honoured with the Title of the Kings of Ierusalem This Kingdom by many descents came at length to Ianus Son of King Peter who in the year 1423 was by Melechel a Sultan of Egypt taken Prisoner but afterwards for the ransom of an hundred and fifteen thousand Sultanins was set at liberty and restored to his Kingdom paying unto the Sultan and his Successors a yearly Tribute of forty thousand Crowns This Ianus left a Son called Iohn who after the death of his Father married the Daughter of the Marquis of Mont-Ferrat after whose death he married one Helena of the most noble House of the Paleologi in Grecia by whom he had one only Daughter called Carlotte but by another Woman a base Son called Iames. This King Iohn was a Man of no Courage altogether given to pleasure and according to the manner of his effeminate education shewed himself in all things more like a Woman than a Man which Helena his Wife a Woman of a great Spirit quickly perceiving took upon her the Soveraignty and whole Government of the Realm gracing and disgracing whom she pleased and promoting to the Ecclesiastical Dignities such as she best liked abolishing the Latin Ceremonies and bringing in them of the Greeks and took such further order as pleased her self in matters of State concerning both Peace and War her Husband in the mean time regarding nothing but his vain pleasure whereby it came to pass that all was brought into the power of the Greeks the Queens Friends Now the Queen her self was much ruled by the Counsel of her Nurse and the Nurse by her Daughter so that the People would commonly say The Daughter ruled the Nurse the Nurse the Queen and the Queen the King. The Nobility ashamed and weary of this manner of Government by general consent of the People sent for Iohn the King of Portugals Cousin-German whom some call the King of Portugal to whom they gave Carlotte the Kings Daughter in marriage with full power to supply that want of Government which was in King Iohn his Father in Law. He taking the Authority into his Hands quickly reformed the disordered Kingdom as well in matters concerning Religion as civil Policy The Latin Ceremonies were again restored and the Government of the Daughter the Nurse and the Queen brought to an end But the mischievous Daughter doubting the Countenance of the young King perswaded her Mother as she â—endred her own Life to poison the King. Which thing the wretched Woman by the consent of the Queen Mother as was reported in short time performed and so brought that noble Prince well worthy longer life unto his untimely end whereby the Government was again restored unto the Greek Queen who in the name of her weak Husband commanded again at her pleasure But above all the Nurse and her Daughter insulted upon the young Queen Carlotte which she not well brooking grievously complained thereof to Iames her baâ—e Brother requiring his help for redress thereof who not long after slew the Nurses Daughter not so much in revenge of the wrong by her done unto his Sister as to prepare a way for himself for the obtaining of the Kingdom grieving inwardly that she or her Husband should be preferred before himself Which thing Helena the Queen quickly perceiving perswaded the King her Husband to cause his base Son to enter into the orders of Priesthood and so to become a Churchman thereby to cut off all his hope of aspiring unto the Kingdom which the King at her instance did and made him Archbishop of Nicosia In the mean time Carlotte by the perswasion of her Mother and the Nobility of the Country married Lewis Son to the Duke of Savoy who being for that purpose sent for came with all speed to Cyprus After that the Queen-Mother and the old Nurse desiring nothing more than to revenge the death of the Nurses Daughter upon Iames now Archbishop devised first how to thrust him out of all his â—piritual Promotions which were great and afterward quite banish him the Kingdom Hereupon the Queen wrote Letters against him to the Pope to have him disgraded for that he being a Man base born with his hands imbrued with innocent Blood was unworthy of holy Orders Which Letters by chance came to Iames his hands who inraged therewith accompanied with a number of his Friends and Favorites suddenly entred the Court slew such of his Enemies as he found there divided their Goods amongst his Followers and as King possessed himself of the Regal City In this Broil the Greek Queen Helena died and shortly after her Husband also All things being thus in an hurly and out of order certain of the Nobility for redress thereof sent for Lewis the Husband of Carlotte as for him to whom that Kingdom in the right of his Wife most justly belonged who upon his arrival was of all sorts of Men joyfully received and welcomed as their King. Iames the Usurper understanding before of the coming of Lewis and perceiving the inclination of the People towards him fled with divers of his Friends to Alexandria to crave aid of the Egyptian Sultan in whose Court he found such Favour as that he was by the Sultans commandment Royally apparelled and honoured with the Title of the King of Cyprus which he promised for ever to hold of the Sultans of Egypt as their Vassal and Tributary At which time the Sultan also by his Embassadors commanded Lewis to depart the Isle who by all means sought to have pacified the Sultan declaring unto him his rightful Title yet offering to pay unto him the wonted Tribute and to allow unto Iames a yearly Pension of ten thousand Ducats during his life But all in vain for Iames still present in the Sultans Court and wisely following his own suit at last concluded with the great Sultan who thought it more honour to make a King than to confirm a King and receiving of him a great Army returned into Cyprus where in short time he so distressed Lewis that he was glad to forsake the Island with his Wife and to return into his Country
attempt on the Island of Scio. About the middle of August the Turkish Forces began to arrive at several Quarters about Belgrade where the 14th at Night all was in Alarm by a Turkish Gally which took Fire by the Negligence of the Men and having much Powder and Ammunition aboard blew up to the terrible affrightment of the Turks in Belgrade who apprehended that the German Army was already under the Walls of the City tho' at the same time they were no nearer than Peter Waradin within the Retrenchment of last Year where finding their Troops increase but slowly from other Quarters they resolved there to remain Encamped and act upon the Defensive On the 8th of September the Day before the Vanguard of the Turkish Army appeared in sight of that Retrenchment a most Terrible Storm happened which carried away the Tents of the Imperial Army sunk several of their Ships broke their Bridge of Boats and drove five Ships of the Fleet down to the Islands All which they had much adoe to repair and bring in order again before the whole Turkish Army came to assault them for the Grand Vizier having received a positive Order from the Sultan to Attack and Fight the Imperialists whereever they could meet with them in compliance therewith Decamped on the seventh Instant from Salankement and marched directly for Peter Waradin And On the ninth some of the Van-guard appeared in sight of that Place the Grand Vizier with the Body of the Army then Encamping at Carlowitz three Hours distant from the Imperial Army On the 10th the whole Army came within half an Hour of the Imperial Retrenchment the Foot taking their Quarters next to our Front and the Horse placing themselves to the left of their Foot and on the left of these were Camped the Tartars Their Fleet consisting in 110 Ships came likewise within Cannon-shot of the Imperial Ships and cast their Anchor there being posted in a Line of Battle The whole Day the Hussars were Skirmishing with the Turks and Tartars and on the 11th it was thought the Turks would have Stormed the Imperial Camp wherefore all was prepared to receive them They appeared with 3 or 400 Ensigns or Companies within 800 Paces of the Retrenchment but behind the Earth of a Ditch which they had made and which covered them so well that the Imperial Guns could but little annoy them On the 12th the Turks begun to fire from all sides on the Imperial Camp with their Great Guns Their Fleet also advanced higher up and fired furiously on the Imperial Ships and on the Bridge but were answered as hotly both from the Imperial Ships and from the Batteries on the Shore Two Waggons with Ammunition were set on fire by a Shot of the Turks and about 30 Men were thereby Killed or Burnt Count Solms Major of the Regiment of Cuirasses of Count Herbersteyn was also Killed with a Cannon-Bullet On the 13th the firing both by Water and by Land was again renewed The Attack made by the Turks seeming to be a formal Seige both of â—eter Waradin and of the Imperial Camp they having either on their Ships or Batteries upwards of 500 Great Guns continually firing tho' with little damage to the Germans The Design of the Turks being to ruine the Imperial Bridge This great Shooting continued at the same rate the 14th 15th 16th and 17th which last Day the Turks not only threw Bombs out of three Mortar-Pieces into the Imperial Retrenchments but also from the Point of the Island with two Mortars into Peter Waradin and carried more Guns on their Batteries But the Night betwixt the 17th and 18th the Turks were pretty quiet but after Break of Day they again fired more hotly than ever and shewed themselves beyond the Imperial Retrenchment but being briskly Attacked by the Hussars they were droven back to their Camp. The Turks also drew a new Parallel-Line 60 Paces nearer to the Imperial Camp and were very busie to close the said Line with their Line of Communication On the 19th in the Afternoon the German Right Wing fired with Great Guns and Musquets from an Eminence on the first Lines of the Turks and annoyed them very much so that a great Alarm arose amongst them and the Turks came running from all sides with Horse and Foot to strengthen and assist their Left Wing That Evening the Brandenburgh Foot consisting of six Battallions arrived in the Camp which were received with three Salvo's of the Guns from the Castle and the Batteries on the Water-side This Reinforcement being arrived the Turks seemed less brisk in their Attack but that which most incommoded them was That the Governour of Titul surprized and took 25 Turkish Ships laden with Provisions for their Army and sunk two or three of their Frigats That the Tartars having at the Request of the Grand Vizier swam over the Donau near Cobila where indeed they had taken about 1000 Horse and part of the Imperial Baggage were overtaken in their Retreat by General Bassompiere who cut down above 1500 of the Tartars amongst which was the Han's Son and that thereupon the Tartar Han fell out with the Grand Vizier and Commanded his Troops consisting of 7000 Tartars which remained to prepare for their return Home notwithstanding the Grand Vizier continued his Endeavours against the Imperial Retrenchments and Peter Waradin and the Bridge till the 13th of October but seeing that they lost more than they got at this sport and that also because the six or seven following Days of great Rains the Turkish Soldiers were up to their Knees in the Water in their Approaches which caused Numbers of 'em to Die having also been several Days without Bread by the taking of the abovesaid Ships and not knowing when any would arrive the Grand Vizier on the 13th at Night caused all the Guns from the Forts and Batteries to be carried off and Shipped on their Gallies and thereupon quitted at once all his Approaches Guards and Retrenchments and marched back with the whole Army to Salankement leaving nothing in his Camp but some few Shovels and three Dead Bodies neither could the Germans follow them their Horse being Encamped on the other side of the River and the Retreat of the Turks not having been perceived till the next Day when immediately upon the discovery some Horse were sent after them which returned with some stragling Turks only the rest of their Army having passed the Save and broke their Bridge down after 'em And thus the Turks ended thisCampaign but the Germans had the good fortune to joyn the City of Giula to their other Conquests Towards the end of this Month of September News came in an unexpected and astonishing manner to Adrianople That the Venetians had Surprized the Island of Scio and in a few Days without much diâ—â—iculty had made themselves Masters of the whole Island At first both the Castle and the Forts Capitulated and on the 19th all was