as God his judgment set apart wonderful and shameful it is to consider how it was by this Turkish King Mahomet so quickly taken and the Christian Empire of the East there utterly overthrown which happened on the nine and twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord 1453. Constantinus Palaeologus the Son of â—elena and last Christian Emperor being then slain when he had reigned about eight years Since which time it hath continued the Imperial Seat of the Turkish Emperors and so remaineth at this day The Potestates and Citizens of Pera otherwise called Galata a City standing opposite against Constantinople on the other side of the â—aven and then under the Government of the Genoways doubting to run the same course of misery with their Neighbours sent their Orators unto Mahomet the same day that Constantinople was taken offering to him the Keys of their Gates and so to become his Subjects Of which their Offer Mahomet accepted and sent Zoganus with his Regiment to take possession of the City Who coming thither according to Mahomet his Commandment there established the Turkish Government confiscated the Goods of all such as were fled and used the rest of the Citizens which staid with such Insolency and Oppression as that their misery was not much less than theirs of Constantinople and because it was doubted that the Genoways might by Sea give Aid unto the Citizens if they should at any time seek to revolt he caused all the Walls and Fortresses of the City which were toward the Land to be cast down and laid even with the ground Thus is the fatal period of the Greek Empire run and Mahomet in one day become Lord of the two famous Cities of Constantinâ—ple and Pera the one taken by Force the other by Composition At which time the misery of Pera was great but that of Constantinople justly to be accounted amongst the greatest Calamities that ever happened to any Christian City in the World. Mahomet had of long time born a secret grudge against Caly-Bassa sometimes his Tutor for that by his means Amurath his Father in the dangerous time of the Hungarian Wars had again resumed unto himself the Government of the Turkish Kingdom which he had before resigned unto him then but young But forasmuch as he was the chief Bassa and had for many years ruled all things at his pleasure to the general good liking of the people during the Reign of old Amurath and was thereby grown to be of such Wealth Credit and Authority as no man had at any time obtained greater under any of the Othoman Kings Mahâ—met in the beginning of his Reign before he was established in his Kingdom durst not take Revenge of that Injury as he deemed it but yet still kept it in remembrance warily dissembling his deep conceived hatred as if he had quite forgot it Nevertheless sometime for all his wariness words fell from him whereby the wary Courtiers which as curiously weigh their Princes words as the cunning Goldsmith doth his finest Gold easily perceived the secret grudge that stuck in his stomach against the Bassa and thereby divined his fall to be at hand So it hapned one day that as Mahomet was walking in the Court he saw a Fox of the Bassaes tied in a chain which after he had a while earnestly looked upon he suddenly brake into this Speech Alas poor Beast hast thou no money to give thy Master to set thee at liberty Out of which words curious heads gathâ—red much matter concerning the Kings disposition towards the Bassa This ominous surmising of the Courtiers which oft-times proveth too true was not unknown unto the Bassa himself but troubled him much wherefore to get himself out of the way for a season more than for any devotion he took upon him to go in Pilgrimage to visit the Temple of the great Prophet as they term him at Mecha which amongst the Turks is holden for a right Religious and Meritorious Work hoping that the young Kings displeasure might in time be mittigated and his malice asswaged But Mahomet perceiving the distrust of the Bassa and whereof it proceeded seemed to take knowledge thereof and with good words comforted him up willing him to be of good chear and not to misdoubt any thing neither to regard the vain Speech of foolish people assuring him of his undoubted Favour and the more to put him out of all suspition continually sent him rich Gifts and heaped upon him new Honours as if of all others he had esteemed him most Until that now at the taking of Constantinople it was discovered by Lucas Leontares that he had Intelligence with the late Emperor of Constantinople and his Letters produced For which cause or as the common report went for the old grudge that the Tyrant bare against him as also for his great Wealth he was by Mahomets commandment apprehended and carried in bonds to Hadrianople where after he had with exquisite torments been enforced to confess where all his Treasures lay he was most cruelly in his extream old age executed After whose death his Friends and Servants which were many for he was a man greatly beloved in Court in token of their grief put on Mourning Apparel so that in the Court appeared a great shew of common sorrow wherewith Mahomet being offended caused Proclamation to be made That all such as did wear such Mourning Apparel should the next day appear before him at which time there was not one to be seen about the Court in that heavy Attire for fear of the Tyrants displeasure After that Mahomet was thus become Lord of the Imperial City of Constantinople as is aforesaid and had fully resolved there to place his Imperial Seat he first repaired the Walls and other Buildings spoiled in the late Siege and by Proclamations sent forth into all parts of his Dominions gave great Priviledges and Immunities to all such as should come to dwell at Constantinople with free liberty to exercise what Religion or Trade they pleased Whereby in short time that great and desolate City was again well peopled with such as out of divers Countries resorted thither but specially with the Jewish Nation which driven out of other places came thither in great numbers and were of the Turks glady received So when he had there establisht all things according to his hearts desire he took upon him the Name and Title of an Emperor and is from that time not unworthily reputed for the first Emperor of the Turks Now among many fair Virgins taken Prisoners by the Turks at the winning of Constantinople was one Irene a Greek born of such incomparable Beauty and rare Perfection both of Body of Mind as if Nature had in her to the admiration of the World laboured to have shewn her greatest skill so prodigally she had bestowed upon her all the Graces that might beautifie or commend that her so curious a Work. This Paragon was by him that by chance had taken her
Consultation do last four hours long so long are they to continue standing without moving The Embassadors having stayed two days at Buda were by the Bassa dismissed sending with them his Checai the Steward or Governor of his House a man of great Reputation and Becram the Chiaus the same that came to meet them at Comara with a sufficient Guard and certain Janizaries sent for their more safe travelling and to provide for them from place to place all things necessary for their Diet as also for their Horses at the Turks charges And thus accompanied they imbarqued the tenth day of the aforesaid month towed up the Turks Gallies which holpen by the swiftness of the River carried them down in eight days to Belgrade where they arrived the eighteenth of Iuly So having staid at Belgrade and there leaving their Boats and taking their Coaches they set forward by Land the twentieth of the said month and with great pains travelling through Rascia Bulgaria and Thracia and passing a part of the great Mountain Scardus and after that the Mountain Rhodope so by the way of Philippolis and Hadrianople the two and twentieth of August gathered fast upon Constantinople where many of the Spahies and Chiauses of the Court with a number of the Janizaries and other Souldiers for their greater Honour came to meet them a great way without the City By whom the Embassadors honourably mounted on Horseback were by them conducted to their Lodging appointed for them about the midst of the City where the Lord Albert de Vuis the Emperors Embassador Lieger not long before inlarged having long looked for their coming now most joyfully received them It was then Friday the Turks Sabbath and a day of them above all other days in the week regarded and about ten of the Clock two hours before Noon at which time the Embassadors were no sooner alighted but that Selymus going to hear the Ceremonies of his Religion in the Moschy of his Father Solyman as his manner was sometime to do passed along before the Gate where the Embassadors lay with the whole Train of his Court and peradventure somewhat more than ordinary to shew the Magnificence of his Power and State to the end that the Embassadors above the former opinion by them conceived might hold him in the Reputation of a most puissant and mighty Monarch He passing by vouchsafed not once to give them a regard or so much as to cast his eye aside upon them although they were strangers and but even then arrived but with a Countenance as if he had known not so much as any thing of their coming held on his way as it lay But Muhamet the chief Visier Bassa with the other Bassaes and great Courtiers in most gracious manner as they passed by cast their eyes upon them all the courtesie they could then shew them Six days after being the eight and twentieth of August the Embassadors all three went to visit and salute Muhamet or as the Turks call him Mehemet the chief Visier Bassa as the manner was presenting him from the Emperor with four Cups of Silver all gilt of most fair and curious Workmanship of which two of them being greater than the other were three spans high the other two being not so high by a span but having in them two thousand Ducats of Gold beside which they gave him also a Clock being a most curious piece of Work and all over double gilt After which Greetings and Presents delivered besides the contents of his Majesties Letters they declared unto him in general points the cause of their coming and the mind of the Emperor well disposed to a Peace and what great benefit would arise thereby to both Parties and lastly turning over the blame of the late Wars and laying the fault thereof to the charge of others sweetned thereby the sower of their former dealings Neither was the Bassa likewise for his part to seek for goods words but answered them in Turkish by the mouth of Hibraim the chief Dragoman who delivered his mind to them in Latin or Italian according as the Embassadors had before uttered theirs which Parle so ended certain of the chief of the Embassadors Followers were admitted into the Divano to kiss the proud Bassaes hand The same day the Embassadors also saluted Partau the second Bassa and Ferat the third in Order and Authority To Partau they presented two Cups of Silver all gilt beside a Clock of the same making with the afore named and two thousand Dollars and the like to Ferat The next day they went to visit the other three Bassaes Achomat Pial and Muhamet presenting every one of them with two fair Cups and a thousand Dollars These were the six Visier Bassaes to Selymus then lying at Court with him men that for Wealth and Authority went before all other in the Turkish Empire as in the course of this History may appear And so having visited them in general the Embassadors to set their Affairs on foot the fourth of September closed with Muhamet to whom the ordering of Estate-matters was especially committed Yet after this first Conference because it was necessary before so weighty Affairs were broached first to do the Turk Reverence and to deliver the Presents with the Emperors Letters to him written for some few days there was not any Point at all of the Embassadors business handled Selymus not long after the Embassadors were arrived went out for his disport and pleasure on hunting so that in the mean time after the Presents were given to the Bassaes matters stood still altogether unadvanced until the 21 of September and that day Selymus being now returned from his Disport it was appointed that the Embassadors should have Audience at the Court. Whereupon they made choice out of their Followers of those that should attend upon them which were not in all above twelve persons for they to whom this Charge was committed said it was neither the manner nor yet meet that any great Train should come before so great a Prince and that they might not bring with them above that number whereupon they appointed but six a piece to attend them and of fifteen Cups of Silver and gilt being most curiously and cunningly engraven one of the fairest among the rest was given to each of those twelve to carry and they ordered to go by two and two before the rest that came after in order with the rest of the Presents which was two exceeding precious Clocks like in bigness to them before given to the Bassaes but far above them in value and 45000 Dollars for the Tribute behind and yet unpaid The greatest of those Cups was six Spans and a half and the least two Spans in height some of them being double Cups after the High-Dutch manner The Embassadors whose coming a great multitude of Janizaries attended below at the Gate of their Lodging besides made of the Spahies and Chiausies and others of good sort which were come
People which would trouble that good Correspondence which hath been so long established between Vs and our Empires And as we have cause to believe that Your Highness desires much to continue this friendship and good understanding upon what hath been wrote Vs on Your Part and to concur with You herein we desire much likewise to continue to maintain an Ambassador at Your High Port in place of the said Sieur de la Haye And since We have none of Our People that is more intelligent than the Sieur de la Haye the Son in what concerns the Affairs and Functions of this Embassy We have elected him for this employment to which we We shall willingly dispatch him if We may be assured of the good usage and kind reception which shall be given him This is that which We expect from Your Highness reserving a more particular information to be sent by the Sieur de la Haye the Son of the good Correspondence which We desire always to have and maintain with You. And hereupon We pray God That You may be most High c. as above in his Holy and Worthy Protection Written at Paris the twelfth day of Ianuary 1662. Your true and perfect Friend LOVIS De Lomenie The Viziers Answer to the foregoing Letters TO the most Glorious amongst the Sublime Christian Princes chosen amongst the Great and Sublime of the Religion of the Messiah Mediator of the Affairs of all the Nazarene Nation Lord of Majesty and Reputation Master of Greatness and Power Louis Emperor of France the end of whose days be happy The Salutations which respect Friendship and are desired from Love and Affection being premised Your Majesty shall know that the Letter which was sent to Your Friend by the Honourable du Pressoir and Fountain hath been delivered me by the Sieur Roboli Agent and Attorney of the Embassy at the High and Imperial Port the Contents whereof We have apprehended to be as Your Majesty gives to understanstand touching the intire Amity and good Correspondence Certainly Your Majesty knows that the Augmentation and daily Encrease of that Amity proceeds from the protection and honourable Observance of Conditions and Capitulations between both Parties By the Grace of the Most High GOD the Sublime and Imperial Port of the most Happy most Puissant most Valarous most Magnificent and most Strong Emperor Support of the Mussulmans My Lord whose Arms God prosper with double Force is always open for our Friends and others without any Obstacle as all the World knows and particularly for Your Majesty Who is our Friend and hath been long in Amity with the most Serene Ottoman Family whom Gâ—d establish until the day of the Ballance It being a most certain Truth that there hath happened neither on one side or other any Action contrary to the promised Faiâ—h And now since Your Majesty desires for a new Ornament of the Ancient and Good Correspondence and to the end that the Agreement and Conditions thereof be honoured as they ought that the considerable Person amongst the Nâ—bles of the Court of Your Majesty the Sieur Denys de la Haye Son of the late Ambassador a Subject of Reputation Your Gentleman of Credit whose Days may they conclude in happiness be sent to reside at this Happy and Imperial Port for Your Majesty according to the ancient custom to the end that the Intention of Your Majesty may be performed We have exposed it at the High Throne of the thrice Happy most Mysterious and most Great Emperor My Lord Who with an Imperial regard of courteous Demonstration hath accepted the said Demand with willingness and therefore in signification of his Pleasure We write You this Our present and friendly Letter and if it please God according to the ancient Custom when the said Embassador shall arrive at this High Port with the Letters of Friendship from Your Majesty he shall be honoured on the Imperial part and entertained according to the ordinary custom the Imperial Capitulation shall be renewed the Ornament of Affection on one side and the other shall be confirmed and for an efficacious Confirmation of a good Peace between both Emperors an Imperial Letter shall be sent to Your Majesty whose health be happy and prosperous From the Imperial City of Constantinople The Poor Hamet Pasha In Answer to the Kings Letters the Grand Signior made no reply but only by his Vizâ—er by reason that in all the Ancient Turkish Registers and Archives there was no example found that the Grand Signior ever wrote to any King who had not an Ambassâ—dor actually resident at his Port. But this Negotiation about a French Ambassador took not effect until some time after in which other Letters and Messages intervened as will appear by the following â—equel of this History It was now towards the beginning of Winter when the Season of the Year compelled the Turkish Fleet of Gallies to return according to custom to the Port of Constantinople The whole Summer before they had for the most part passed in some Harbour or Creek amongst the Greek Islands having afforded nothing of Convoy or succour towards the safe Conduct of the Fleet of Grand Cairo but suffered them to fall into the hands of the Enemy as before mentioned and indeed for several years the Marine Affairs of the Turks have always gone decaying in Fame and Force and the preparations of the Armata every Spring have been of Form and Course rather than with hopes of success correspondent to the expence In their return home near Constantinople they encountred a fierce storm so that three Gallâ—es were cast away at Ponte Piccolo by the Turks called Cucuccheckmage about four Leagues distant from Constantinople Howsoever the Weather clearing the remainder of the Fleet got into Port entring with Joy with Vollies of great and small Shot with Streamers flying Pipes sounding and all other sorts of their Country Musick bringing with great Ostentation a small Flyboat which had been a â—â—gornese Man of War taken by them as she was cruising singly in the Arches of Pelago which was brought in with so much Ceremony used in toaing her into Port decking her with Streamers and Pendants with such signs oâ— Victory and Triumph as if they had led Captive the whole Venetian Armaâ—a But I must not omitâ—the relation of what befel one of the Beghs Gallies designed with the reâ—t to rendezvous at Constantinople whilst she loitered amongst small Isles in the Gulâ— of Nâ—comedia It was a Gally the Commander of which had newly received as the Portion of his Wife being a Young man lately married who entertained great thoughts of raising his Fortunes by the spoils and prize he was to make At these isles several of the Officers and Levents went on shore where whilst they entertained themselves with Wine and merriment the Slaves made an insurrection in the Gally seized the Captain cut off his Head and threw his Body into the Sea and so becoming Masters
goods and Mony taken on the Martin and Hunter should be made good to Sir John Narbrough in Mony or Goods and Slaves To which was adjoyned such a submission recantation and acknowledgment for their late offence and outrage as testifyed the sorrow of their true repentance as we shall see more at large in their following Articles And now the peace being concluded Sir Iohn Narbrough returned to Malta and soon after came back to Tripoly to receive the remainder of the monies and goods agreed for the Slaves being delivered already In this interim the six Ships which had foâ—merly broken out of the harbour and sailed to the Levant hearing of the peace returned to Tripoly where great feuds and dissentions arose the Souldiery accusing Ibrahim Dei nick named Misser ogli as the beginner and Author of the War and for continuing it so long with obstinacy until they were reduced to their last extremity In fine they threatned to cut him in Peices but at length they were contented to cashier him only from his Office after which he fled into the Morea and their Vice-Admiral Mustapha Grande was made Dei in his place with whom and with the Souldiers in general now returned Sir Iohn Narbrough renewed the Articles of Peace and dated them the first of May 1676 which are these that follow Articles of Peace and Commerce between c. Articles of Peace and Commerce Between the most Serene and Mighty Prince Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Christian Faith c. And the Most Illustrious Lords Halil Bassa Ibraim Dei Aga Divan and Governors of the Noble City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary concluded by Sir Iohn Narbrough Knight Admiral of his Majesties Fleet in the Mediterranean Seas I. IN the first place It is Agreed and Concluded That from this day and for ever forward There be a true firm and Inviolable Peace between the Most Serene King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Christian Faith c. And the most Illustrious Lords The Bassa Dai Aga Divan and Governors of the City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary And between all the Dominions and Subjects of either side And that the Ships or other Vessels and the Subjects and Peace of both sides shall not from henceforth do to each other any harm offence or Injury in word or Deed But shall Treat one another with all possible respect and Friendship II. That any of the Ships or other Vessels belonging to the said King of Great Brittain or to any of his Majesties Subjects may safely come to the Port of Tripoly or to any other Port or Place of that Kingdom or Dominions thereunto belonging freely to buy and sell without the least Disturbance paying the usual Customs as in former times hath been payd for such goods as they sell And for the goods they sell not they shall have free Liberty to carry on Board their own Ships without paying any Duties for the same And when they please they shall freely Depart from thence without any stop hindrance or molestation whatsoever III. That all Ships and other Vessels as well those belonging to the King of Great Brittain or to any of his Majesties Subjects as also those belonging to the People and Kingdom of Tripoly shall freely pass the Seas and traffick where they please without any search hinderance or molestation from each other And that all Persons and Passengers of what Country whatsoever And all Monys Goods Merchandize and Moveables to whatsoever People or Nation belonging being on board any of the said Ships or Vessels shall be wholly free and shall not be stopped taken or Plundred nor receive any harm or Damage whatsoever from either Party IV. That the Tripoly Ships of War or other Vessels thereunto belonging meeting with any Merchant Ships or other Vessels of the King of Great Brittains Subjects not being in any of the Seas appertaining to his Majesties Dominions may send on board one single boat with but two Sitters besides the ordinary Crew of Rowers and no more but the two Sitters to enter any of the said Merchants Ships or any other Vessels without the Express from the Commander of every such Ship or Vessel And then upon produâ—ing them a Pass under the hand and Seal of the Lord High Admiral of England the said Boat shall presently Depart And if the Merchant Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels produce no Pass from the Lord High Admiral of England yet if the Major part of the said Ships or Vessels Company be Subjects to the said King of Great Britain The said Boat shall presently Depart And the Merchants Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels shall proceed freely on her or their Voyage And if any of the said Ships of War or other Vessels of his said Majesties meeting with any Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels belonging unto Tripoly if the Commander or Commanders of any such Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels shall produce a Pass Signed by the chief Governor of Tripoly and a Certificate from the English Consul living there Or if they have no such Pass or Certificate yet if the Major part of their Ships Company or Companies be Turks Moors or Slaves belonging to Tripoly Then the said Tripoly Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels shall proceed freely V. That no Commander or other Person of any Ship or other Vessel of Tripoly shall take out of any Ship or Vessel of his said Majesties Subjects any Person or Persons whatsoever to carry them any where to be examined or upon any other pretence nor shall use any Torture or Violence to any Person of what Nation or quality whatsoever being on Board any Ship or Vessel of his Majesties Subjects upon any pretence whatsoever VI. That no Ship-wrack belonging to the King of Great Brittain or any of his Majesties Subjects upon any part of the coast belonging unto Tripoly shall be made or become a Prize And that neither the goods thereof shall be seized nor the Men made Slaves But that all the People of Tripoly shall do their best endeavours to save the said Men and their Goods VII That no Ship or any other Vessel of Tripoly shall have permission to be Delivered up or to go to any place in Enmity with the said King of Great Brittain to be made use of as Cosairs or Sea Rovers against his said Majesties Subjects VIII That none of the Ships or other smaler Vessels of Tripoly shall remain Cruising near his Majesties City and Garrison of Tangier or in sight of it nor any other way Disturb the Peace and Commerce of that place IX That if any Ship or Vessel of Tunis Argier Tittuan or Salli or any other place being in War with the said King of Great Brittain bring any Ships or Vessels Men or Goods belonging to any of his said Majesties Subjects to Tripoly or to any Part or Place within that Kingdom The Governors there shall
sustained on either part shall be quiet taken away and forgotten and this Peace shall be in fâ—ll force and vertue and continue for ever And for all Depredations and Damages that shall hereafter be Committed or done by either side before Notice can be given of this Peace full satisfaction be immediately made And whatsoever remains in kind shall instantly be restored XXIII That whatsoever shall happen hereafter that any thing is done or committed by the Ships or Subjects of either side contrary to any of these Articles Satisfaction being Demanded therefore shall be made to the full and without any manner of Delay and that it shall not be Lawful to break this Peace unless such satisfaction be denyed and our Faith shall be our Faith and our word our word and whosoever shall be the Cause of the breaking of this Peace shall assuredly be punished with present Death Confirmed and Sealed in the Presents of Almighty God the fifth day of March Old Stile and in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand six hundred seventy five Being the last day of the Moon Zelheldga and the year of the Hegeira on thousand and eighty six WHereas there were several Articles of Peace and Commerce between the most Serene and Mighty Prince Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of Great-Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Christian Faith c. And the most Illustrious Lords Halil Bassa Ibraim Dei Aga Divan and Governors of the Noble City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary lately made and concluded by the said Lords on the one part And by Sir John Narbrough Knight Admiral of his said Serene Majesties Fleet in the Mediterranean Seas on the other part and by them confirmed and Sealed in the Presence of Almighty God the fifth day of March Old Stile And in the year of our Lord Iesus Christ 1675 6 being the last day of the Moon Zelhedga And the year of the Hegeira 1086. Since which time of Confirming and Sealing the aforesaid Articles of Peace and Commerce The aforesaid Lord Ibraim Dei being fled away from the Government of the City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary Now we Halil Bassa Aga Divan Governors Souldiers and People of the aforesaid City and Kingdom of Tripoly have Choosen and Elected Vice Admiral Mustapha Grande to be Dei of the aforesaid City and Kingdom of Tripoly to succeed Ibraim Dei in the aforesaid Government And now we Halil Bassa Aga Divan and Governors Souldiers and People of Tripoly aforesaid having seen the aforesaid Articles of Peace and Commerce which were lately made and concluded as aforesaid And having seriously perus'd and fully considered all particulars therein mentioned Do fully approve of all and every the aforesaid Articles of Peace and we and every one of us do now by these presents consent and agree to and with Sir John Narbrough Knight aforesaid for the just and exact keeping and performing of the said Articles And do accept approve ratifie and confirm all and every of them in the same manner and form as they are incerted and repeated in the preceding Articles aforesaid hereby firmly engaging our selves and successors assuring on our faith sacredly to maintain and strictly to observe perform and keep inviolably all and every the aforesaid Article and Articles of Peace and Agreements for ever And to cause and require all our Subjects and people of what degree or quality whatsoever within the City or Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary or Dominions thereunto belonging both by Sea and Land punctually inviolably carefully and duly to observe keep and perform all and every the aforesaid Article and Articles thereof for ever And our Faith shall be our Faith and our word our word and whosoever shall at any time violate and break any part of the said Article or Articles of Peace they shall be assuredly punished with greatest severity and his or their heads shall be immediately cut off and forthwith be presented unto any Officer whom the most Serene King of Great Britain c. shall Authorize to make Demand thereof It is further agreed that the Subjects belonging unto the most serene King of Great Britain c. Trading unto the Port of the City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary aforesaid or to any Port or Place of the Dominions thereunto belonging in any Merchants Ship or other Vessel belonging to the said Serene Kings Subjects shall not pay so much Custom by one per Cent. for whatsoever Goods or Merchandize they sell or buy as other Nations do for the Customs of the like Goods or Merchandize notwithstanding whatsoever is Specified in the Second Article aforesaid to the contrary And that the most Serene King of Great Britains Consul residing in Tripoly aforesaid shall have Liberty at all times when he pleaseth to put up his said Serene Majesties Flag on the Flag-staff on the Top of his House and thereto continue it spread as long time as he pleaseth likewise the said Consul to have the same Liberty of puâ—ting up and spreading the said Flag in his Boat when he passeth on the Water and no Man whatsoever to Oppose Molest Disturb or Injury him therein either by Word or Deed. These and all other preceding Articles are to remain firm for ever without any alteration and in all other particulars not mentioned in any of these Articles the Regulation shall be according to the Capitulation general with the Grand Signior Confirmed likewise and Sealed in the Presence of Almighty God at our Castle in the noble City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary the first day of May Old Stile and in the year of our Lord Iesus Christ 1676 being the twenty sixth day of the Moon Zaphire and the year of the Hegeira 1080. Halil Bassa's Seal Mustapha Dei's Seal Aga's Seal Ally Admiral 's Seal A True Coppy Examined out of Sir John Narbroughs Thomas Fowler HAving thus related the original cause proceedings and conclusion of our War with Tripoly Let us Travel to Tunis which though since the year 1655 hath ever maintained Peace with England yet the civil dissentions among themselves have administred unto us Subject of discourse and more especially since it hath some relation to Hoffse-bey whom formerly we named as Mediator of the Peace between Us and Tripoly On the sixth of September 1675. Morat Bei General of all the Land Forces in the Kingdom of Tunis dyed the most Politick and Popular Person that ever mannaged that Office his Sons Ciddi Mehmet and Ciddi Ali by the general approbation and consent of the Souldiery joyntly succeeding him in that charge But the ambition of these two young Gallants would admit no union in the Government the Elder would know no equal and the younger no superior so that it was necessary for one to govern or both to be laid aside the decision of which was referred to a full Assembly of the Turks In the mean time Hoffsey-bey Brother to Morat deceased and Uncle to the two
Magno Cancellario Reis Mehmet Effendi cum Selectissimo Domino ab Intimis Secretis Alexandro ex Prosapia Scarlati Mauro Cordato altè memoratae suae Sultanicae Majestatis Plenipotentiariis Commissariis Extraordinariis Legatis ad Tractatum Constitutionem Negotii Pacis perfectâ Authoritate destinatis ac deputatis Mediationem inter Serenissimi Potentissimi suae Regiae Majestatis Magnae Britanniae Praepotentum Generalium Statuum Nederlandensium Hollandiorum Illustrissimorum Excellentissimorum Plenipotentiariorum Eorundem Extraordinariorum Legatorum Domini Wilhelmi Lord Pagett Baronis de Beaudesert c. Domini Jacobi Colyer c. ab utraque autem parte ad Pacem Inducias propensio inclinatio adhibita fuit attamen non facile fuit intra breve tempus sublatis difficultatibus res universas convenientes amicitiae vicinitati perfectè debitè in bonum ordinem redigere sed ne interrumperetur continuatio horum almorum Tractatuum quinimo deinceps perficiatur ad finem deducatur hac intentione utrinque per mutuum consensum id est à Die 25 Decembris anno 1698. à Nativitate Domini Dei Jesu Christi in futuros duos integros annos inter altè fatos ambos Magnos Dominos fiant Induciae in quibus almus hicce Tractatus in bonum ordinem reducatur atque inter suam Czaream Majestatem Moscoviticam Sultanicam Majestatem Turcicam Deo Altissimo secundante Pax perpetua aut in sufficientes annos Induciae concludantur vetus Amicitia restauretur Proinde in hâ—c constituto determinato unanimi consensu desinat omne praelium bellum pugna conflictus utrobique amoveantur tollantur hostilitates à Subditis suae Czareae Majestatis Moscovitis Cosaccis ac aliis Confiniis Musulmannicis Crimensibus atque reliquis suae Sultaniâ—ae Majestati subjectis Terris Subditis nulla incursio hostilitas fiat neque clam neque palam ullum damnum inferatur Pariter ex parte suae Majestatis Sultanicae adversus partem suae Czareae Majestatis nullius ordinis Exercitus potissimùm verò Crimensis Chanus omne genus Tartarorum Hordarum penitùs ullas incursiones faciant nec ullum damnum palam aut clam in Civitatibus Oppidis subditis Territoriis suae Czareae Majestati perpetrent Et si qui clam vel apertè motum aliquem dispositionem hostilitatem ac incursionem contra hanc constitutionem conditionem quae nos inter confecta est fecerint ex quacunque demùm parte tales contumaces reperiantur apprehendantur incarcerentur sine remissione indefense puniantur Hâc itaque praefatâ ratione tempore colendi observandi hujus Armistitii conflictatio hostilitas absolutè amoveatur tollatur ac ab utraque parte ad concludendam Pacem perfecta propensio plena inclinatio adhibeatur Crimensis Chanus ex munere suae erga Imperialem suam Majestatem Turcicam obedientiae subjectionis huic Paci adjungatur Quae omnia ut ab utraque parte acceptentur observentur quoniam altè memoratae suae Sultanicae Majestatis Plenipotentiarii Legati Commissarii vigore suae facultatis Authoritatis Turcico Sermone scriptum legitimum firmum Instrumentum ex eoque Latino Serâ—one propriis manibus Sigillis firmatam Copiam dederunt pariter ego facultatis Plenipotentiae mihi datae vigore manu propriâ subscriptum Sigillo firmatum hoc Scriptum Ruthenico Latino Sermone copiatum tanquam firmum legitimum Instrumentum tradidi Scriptum in Carlowiz Ann. 1698. Mense Decem. Die 25. A COPY OF THE Turkish Treaty WITH THE MUSCOVITE It is God the most Powerful the most Iust who brings all Things to pass In the Name of God the Merciful always Compassionate THE Reason of the making this Writing Refulgent in Truth and the necessity of the Description of this Instrument stamp'd with Reality is this The War betwixt the Sublime Empire of Mustapha by the Concessions of the Plenitude of the Eternal Confirmations of the Incorruptible Lord Creator and the Immortal Maker of most Freewill the Lord God whose Glory be extoll'd beyond Similitude or Equality and by the Grace of the most Honour'd Mecca and the Servant of the most Illustrious Medina Defender and Rector of the Holy Jerusalem and other Blessed Places Sultan of the two Earths and King of the two Seas Lord of Potent Egypt and the Abyssine Provinces and Arabia the Happy and the Land of Adenum and Caesarean Africk and Tripoly and Tunis and the Island of Cyprus and Rhodes and Crete and other Islands of the White Sea and Emperor of Babylon and Bosnia and Laxa and Revanum and Carsia and Erzirum and Sehresul and Mussul and Diarbekir and Rica and Damascus and Aleppo and Sultan of the Persic and Arabic Irachian Region and King of Ghiurdistania and Turchistania and Daghistania and Trapezuntum and Emperor of the Provinces of Rum and Zulchadria and Maras Emperor of the Regions of Tartary of Circassia and the Abastans and the Crimea and Desti-Capzac Emperor of the East and West and Anatolia and Rumelia Possessor of the Royal-Seat of Constantinople and Protected Prussia and Defended Adrianople and besides of so many the most large Provinces and of â—o many Climates and Cities and most Celebrated Governour Sultan of Sultans King of Kings most Serene most Potent most August Lord our Emperor the Refuge of Musulmen Sultan Son of Sultans Son of Sultan King Mehmet whose Empire God perpetuate and establish his Government to the Day of Iudgment And the most glorious amongst the principal Christians Director of the great Affairs of the Christian Commonwealths Adorn'd with the Robes of Greatness and Majesty Conspicuous with the Power of Greatness and Glory the Czar of the Muscovite Regions and Lord of all the Ruthenic Provinces and Possessor of the Lands and Cities Subject to them the Sublime Czar of Muscovy Peter Alexovic whose End let God crown with Salvation and Righteousness considering this War for some Years has been the Occasion of Calamity to the Subjects on both sides with an Intent that it might be chang'd into Friendship and Kindness that Affairs might be put into better Order and the State of the Servants of God might be reduc'd into a better Condition in the Congress of Sirmium in the Confines of Carlovitz upon Treaty with the most Illustrious and most Excellent amongst the Christian Grandees Lord Procopius Begdanoviz Vosniziri Plenipotentiary Commissionated by the Czar and Ambassador Extraordinary and Privy-Counsellor and Lieutenant of Bolchia Design'd and Deputed by the said Czar with full Powers to Treat and Conclude a Peace and the most Illustrious and most Excellent amongst the Christian Grandees William Lord Pagett Baron of Beaudesert c. and Lord Jacob Colyer performing the part of Mediators with great good Offices and Diligence Deputed so to do by the most Glorious amongst the most Illustrious Christian Princes and the Resort of
Christians taken and sacked The Turks for fear forsake the Castle of Boulouvenar The Turks fled out of the Castle of Boulouvenar surprised and overthrown Moyses by Basta overthrown flyeth unto his strong Castle of Solomose He with his Wife and Family flieth unto the Turks Basta besiegeth the Turks in the Castle Solomose The Castle of Solomose by the Turks yielded up to Basta Basta's Admonitions to them of Transilvania The Answer of the Transilvanians unto the Admonitions of Basta New Enterprises by the Rebel Moises in Transilvania He with Ensigns display'd entreth into Transilvania Wiscebourg besieged by Moises Wiscebourg yielded to Moises Moises in great favour with Mahomet A General besieged loseth his Reputation Basta prayeth Aid of the Governour of Cassovia The Vayvod of Valachia sendeth Aid to the Relief of Basta Moises raiseth his Siege The Bassa of Temeswar calleth home his Turks out of Transilvania for the repressing of the Haiducks Claudinople besieged by Moises Claudinople yielded to Moises Moises sendeth for his Wife and Family to Temeswar The Janizaries of Temeswar refuse to deliver Moises's Wife and Family The Valachians by Moises put to flight Moises with his Army by the Valachians overthrown and himself slain Moises's Head upon a Lance set up at Carolstad New Rebels in Transilvania discomfited An honourable Present by the L. Basta sent unto the Emperour County Solmes surprising Wiscenbourg is himself taken Prisoner A great Army of the Christians The Turks Army of 100000 men in Field The shameful â—light of certain of the Garrison Souldiers of Pesth unto the Turks at Buda Pesth victualled The Suburbs of Alba-Regalis by the Christians sacked and burnt Anoâ—her Convoy of Victuals by Land put into Pesth The Castle of Adom upon a vain fear forsaken by the Haiducks who had the keeping thereof Sultan Mahomet among his greatest Pleasures perplexed Mahomet in vain seeketh to makePeace with the Rebels in Asia Mahomet seeing his Offers rejected by the Rebels of Asia covertly seeketh for Peace with the Christians The Letters of Achmet Bassa to Collonitz concerning a Treaty of Peace to be had The Emperour advertised of the Turks motion for Peace giveth order to Collonitz for the entertaining thereof The Turks unreasonable demands break off all the Treaty of Peace A notable Enterprise of Collonitz upon the Avaunt-guard of the Turks Army Collonitz in good time relieved by the Haiducks The Turks Affairs and Designs made known unto the Christians by Saxar Beg by them taken Prisoner The Negligence of certain Christian Souldiers forgetful of divers Duties The great and brave Indeavour of Collonitz to have obtained the Victory over the Turks A great and rich Booty lost through the negligence of the Christians The Lord Russworm General of the Christian Army by his Espials certainly informed of the estate of the Turks Army The Turks overthrown by the Garrison of Strigonium The Turks defeated by Collonel Sultze The General of the Christian Army providently fortifieth upon the River of Danubius The Turks assailing one of the Forts of the Christians with loss repulsed The Turks made a Bridge over the River of Danubius A great Ambush laid for the intercepting of the Turks The Turks falling into the Ambuâ—h laid for them by the Christians receive a notable overthrow Sultan Mahomet much troubled in his Affairs The doings of the Rebels in Asia The great City of Tauris besieged and taken by the Persian King. Sultan Mahomet perplexed with the evil Success of his Affairs falleth to his superstitious Devotions A great fight of a Flemish Ship with the Gallies of Amurat Rais. The Turks in a Skirmish by the Christians overthrown Eghty Italian Renegades hanged The Turks Army greatly diminished and discouraged The Christians with their Army follow the Turks The Christians resolve to give the Turks Battel The Turks seek to draw the Christians into the danger of their Ambush A Conflict betwixt the Turks and the Christians The Turks refuse to come to a general Battel with the Christians Erasbles what manner of Souldiers they are among the Turks Collonitz in governing about to surprise the Turks with loss repulsed and himself indangered The Bridge of Lamascin taken and broken by the Governour of Stiria The Christians offer the Turks Battel The Turks â—â—â—use to â—â—â—ept of 〈…〉 them 〈…〉 The great Bassa having victualled Buda secretly by Night riseth with his Army and retireth out of Hungary The Christians after the departure of the Turks resolve to besiege Hatwan Hatwan taken and dismantled by Maxamilian the Arch-duke in the year 1594. Hatwan again fortified by the Turks Hatwan besieged by the Christians Grasold General of the Italians slain The Turks in Hatwan crave Parley Hatwan yielded unto the Christians The Lord Russworm breaks up his Army and sendeth the Ensigns gained from the Turks for a present to the Archduke Matthias Insolent Souldiers justly punished The Souldiers of the Regiment of the Reingrave evil billited by Extremities driven to provide for themselves The Peasants of Austria seek by force to stay the Passage of the Souldiers of the Reingraves Regiment into their Country The Churles of Austria overthrown Divers happy Conflicts of the Christians with the Turks and Tartars Beged Bassa thinking to have surprised the Lord Basta is himself by him surprised and overthrown Bethlin Habor chosen chiâ—f of the Rebels in Transilvania Basta's scornful Answer to the Messenger of Bethlin Basta sendâ—â—h for new Supplies unto the Emperour for the keeping of Transilvania Zellaly cometh into Bosna By Policy overthroweth Zeffer Bassa the Governour and possesseth it himself Sultan Mahomet sendeth for Zellaly to come unto him to Constantinople Zellaly refuseth to come to Constantinople at the great Sultan's sending for Commissioners appointed to confer upon a Peace to be made betwixt the Christians and the Turks The Causes which moved the Turks to encline to Peace The Bassa of Buda faileth to meet the Christian Commissioners according to his Promise An evil Presage of the future Peace The Christian Commissioners courteously entertained at Buda A Truce for twelve days agreed upon betwixt the Turks and the Christians Presents by the Turks given to the Christian Commissioners The true and just Commendation of the Lord Nadasti The Death of the Lord Nadasâ—i The Turks overthrown by the Vayvod of Valachia The small time of Truce yieldeth great contentment both unto the Christians and Turks in Hungary The Death of the Great Sultan Mahomet Mahomet why he was not regarded of his men of War Mahomet's Issue Mahomet how he lieth buried at Constantinople The Turks bury not in their Churches neither within the Walls of theirCities but in the Fields Achmat by excessive bounty procureth the favour of his great Courtiers and men of War. Achmat Crowned Emperour of the Turks at Constantinople Achmat removeth his Grandmother from dealing with matters ofState 1604 The Turks diversly conceited of their new Emperour The Treaty for Peace in Hungary continued The Turks honourably feasted by the Christianâ— near Pesth The Turks by Treachery seek
THE TURKISH HISTORY WITH Sir PAUL RYCAUT's CONTINUATION Mahomethes Quartus Magnus Turcarum Imperator Qui nunc Regnat Anno 1687. Sold by T Basset at the George neat S t Dunstans Church in Fleet street THE TURKISH HISTORY FROM THE ORIGINAL of that NATION To the GROWTH of the Ottoman Empire WITH THE LIVES and CONQUESTS OF THEIR Princes and Emperors By RICHARD KNOLLES sometime Fellow of Lincoln-College in Oxford WITH A CONTINUATION To this Present Year MDCLXXXVII Whereunto is added The Present State of the OTTOMAN EMPIRE By Sir PAUL RYCAUT late Consul of Smyrna The Sixth EDITION with the Effigies of all the Kings and Emperors Newly Engraven at large upon Copper The First Uolume LONDON Printed for Tho. Basset at the George near St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet MDCLXXXVII The AUTHOR to the READER THE long and still declining state of the Christian Commonweal with the utter ruin and subversion of the Empire of the East and many other most glorious Kingdoms and Provinces of the Christians never to be sufficiently lamented might with the due consideration thereof worthily move even a right stony heart to ruth but therewith also to call to remembrance the dishonour done unto the blessed Name of our Saviour Christ Iesus the desolation of his Church here militant upon Earth the dreadful danger daily threatned unto the poor remainder thereof the millions of Souls cast headlong into eternal Destruction the infininit number of woful Christians whose grievous groanings under the heavy yoke of Infidelity no tongue is able to express with the carelesness of the Great for the redress thereof might give just cause unto any good Christian to fit down and with the heavy Prophet to say as he did of Jerusalem O how hath the Lord darkned the Daughter of Sion in his wrath and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel and remembred not his footstool in the day of his wrath All which miseries with many others so great as greater there can none be the Prince of darkness and Author of all mischief hath by the persecuting Princes of all Ages and antient Hereticks his Ministers labored from time to time to bring upon the Church of God to the obscuring of his blessed Name and utter subversion of his most sacred Word but yet by none no not by them all together so much prevailed as by the false Prophet Mahomet born in an unhappy hour to the great destruction of Mankind whose most gross and blasphemous Doctrine first fantasied by himself in Arabia and so by him obtruded upon the World and afterwards by the Sarasin Caliphes his seduced Successors with greater Forces maintained was by them together with their Empire dispersed over a great part of the face of the Earth to the unspeakable ruin and destruction of the Christian Religion and State especially in Asia and Africk with some good part of Europe also But the unity of this great Mahometan Monarchy being once dissolved and it divided into many Kingdoms and so after the manner of worldly things drawing unto the fatal period of it self in process of time became of far less force than before and so less dreadful unto the Christian Princes of the West by whom these Sarasins were again expulsed out of all the parts of Europe excepting one corner of Spain which they yet held within the remembrance of our Fathers until that by their Victorious Forces they were thence at length happily removed also after that they had possessed the same above the space of 700 Years In this declination of the Sarasins the first Champions of the Mahometan Superstition who though they had lost much yet held they many Kingdoms both in Asia and Africk taken for the most part from the Christians arise the Turks an obscure and base People before scarce known unto the World yet fierce and couragious who by their Valour first aspired unto the Kingdom of Persia with divers other large Provinces from whence they were about 170 Years after again expulsed by the Tartars and enforced to retire themselves into the lesser Asia where taking the benefit of the discord of the Christian Princes of the East and the carelesness of the Christians in general they in some good measure repaired their former losses again and maintained the state of a Kingdom at Iconium in Cilicia now of them called Caramania holding in their subjection the greatest part of that fruitful Country still seeking to gain from the Christians what they had before lost unto the Tartars But this Kingdom of the Turks declining also by the dismembring of the same there slept up among the Turks in Bythinia one Osman or Othoman of the Oguzian Tribe or Family a Man of great spirit and valour who by little and little growing up amongst the rest of his Countrymen and other the effeminate Christians on that side of Asia at last like another Romulus took upon him the Name of a Sultan or King and is right worthily accounted the first Founder of the mighty Empire of the Turks which continued by many descents directly in the Line of himself even unto Achmat who now reigneth is from a small beginning become the greatest terrour of the World and holding in subjection many great and mighty Kingdoms in Asia Europe and Africk is grown to that height of pride as that it threatneth destruction unto the rest of the Kingdoms of the Earth labouring with nothing more than with the weight of it self In the greatness whereof is swallowed up both the Name and Empire of the Sarasins the glorious Empire of the Greeks the renowned Kingdoms of Macedonia Peloponesus Epirus Bulgaria Servia Bosna Armenia Cyprus Syria Egypt Judea Tunes Algiers Media Mesopotamia with a great part of Hungary as also of the Persian Kingdom and all those Churches and Places so much spoken of in holy Scripture the Romans only excepted and in brief so much of Christendom as far exceedeth that which is thereof at this day left So that at this present if you consider the beginning progress and perpetual felicity of this the Othoman Empire there is in this World nothing more admirable and strange if the greatness and lustre thereof nothing more magnificent and glorious if the Power and Strength thereof nothing more Dreadful or Dangerous Which wondering at nothing but at the Beauty of it self and drunk with the pleasant Wine of perpetual felicity holdeth all the rest of the World in Scorn thundering out nothing still but Bloud and War with a full persuasion in timeâ— to Rule over all prefixing unto it self no other limits than the uttermost bounds of the Earth from the rising of the Sun unto the going down of the same The causes whereof are many and right lamentable but for the most part are shut up in the Counsels of the Great as that for me to seek after them were great Folly Yet amongst the rest some others there be so pregnant and manifest as that the blind
four hundred years The next day after having buried the dead and cleansed the City they gave thanks to God with publick Prayers and great rejoycing The poor Christians before oppressed now overcome with unexpected joy welcomed their victorious Brethren with great joy and praise and the Souldiers embracing one another sparing to speak of themselves freely commended each others valour Eight days after the Princes of the Army meeting together began to consult about the choice of their King among whom was no such difference as might well shew which was to be preferred before the others And although every one of them for prowess and desert seemed worthy of so great an honour yet by the general consent of all it was given to Robert Duke of Normandy who about the same time hearing of the death of the Conqueror his Father and more in love with his Fathers new gotten Kingdom in England in hope thereof refused the Kingdom of Ierusalem then offered unto him which at his return he found possessed by William Rufus his younger Brother and so in hope of a better refusing the worse upon the matter lost both After whose departure Godfrey of Buillon Duke of Lorain whose Ensign was first displayed upon the Walls was by the general consent both of the Princes and the Army saluted King He was a great Souldier and indued with many Heroical Virtues brought up in the Court of the Emperor Henry the Fourth and by him much employed At the time of his inauguration he refused to be crowned with a Crown of Gold saying That it became not a Christian man there to wear a Crown of Gold where Christ the Son of God had for the salvation of mankind sometime wâ—rn a Crown of Thorn. Of the greatest part of these proceedings of the Christians from the time of their departure from Antioch until the winning of the Holy City Godfrey by Letters briefly certified Bohemund as followeth Godfrey of Buillon to Bohemund King of Antioch Greeting AFter long travel having first taken certain Towns we came to Jerusalem which City is environed with high Hills without Rivers or Fountains excepting only that of Solomons and that a very little one In it are many Cisterns wherein water is kept both in the City and the Country thereabout On the East are the Arabians the Moabites and Ammonites On the South the Idumaeans Aegyptians and Philistians Westward along the Sea-coast lie the Cities of Ptolemais Tyrus and Tripolis and Northward Tiberias Caesarea Philippi with the Country Decapolis and Damasco In the assault of the City I first gained that part of the Wall that fell to my lot to assail and commanded Baldwin to enter the City who having slain certain Companies of the Enemies broke open one of the Gates for the Christians to enter Raymond had the City of David with much rich Spoil yielded unto him But when we come unto the Temple of Solomon there we had a great conflict with so great Slaughter of the Enemy that our men stood in blood above the ancles The night approaching we could not take the upper part of the Temple which the next day was yielded the Turks pitifully crying out for mercy and so the City of Jerusalem was by us taken the fifteenth of July in the year of our Redemption 1099 thirty nine days after the beginning of the Siege four hundred and nine years after it fell into the bands of the Sarasins in the time of Heraclius the Emperor Besides this the Princes with one consent saluted me against my Will King of Jerusalem who although I fear to take upon me so great a Kingdom yet I will do my devoir that they shall easily know me for a Christian King and well deserving of the Universal Faith but love you me as you do and so farewell From Jerusalem Whilst these things were in doing at Ierusalem such a multitude of the Turks and Sarasins their Confederates now in their common calamity all as one were assembled at Ascalon a City about five and twenty miles from Ierusalem to revenge the injuries they had before received as had not before met together in all the time of this sacred War. Against whom Godfrey the late Duke and now King assembled the whole Forces of the Christians in those Countries and leaving a strong Garrison in the new won City set forward and meeting with them joyned a most dreadful and cruel battel wherein as most report were slain of the Infidels an hundred thousand men and the rest put to flight The Spoil there taken far exceeded all that the Christians had before taken in this long Expedition Godfrey after so great a Victory returning to Ierusalem gave unto God most humble thanks The rest of the Princes returned either to their Charge as did Bohemund to Antioch Baldwin to Edessa Tancred into Galilee whereof he was created Prince or else having now performed the uttermost of their Vows returned with honour into their own Countries This was of all others the most honourable Expedition that ever the Christians took in hand against the Infidels and with the greatest resolution performed for the most part by such voluntary men as moved with a devout Zeal to their immortal praise spared neither life nor living in defence of the Christian Faith and Religion all Men worthy eternal Fame and Memory Not long after ensued a great Pestilence the ready attendant of long war and want whereof infinite numbers of People died and among the rest Godfrey the first Christian King of Ierusalem never to be sufficiently commended who with the general lamentation of all good Christians was honourably buried in the Church of the Sepulchre of our Saviour on the Mount Calvary where our Saviour suffered his Passion in which the Christian Kings succeeding him were also afterwards buried He departed this life the eighteenth of Iuly in the year of our Lord 1100. when he had yet scarce reigned a full year year 1100. Whose Tomb is yet at this day there to be seen with an honourable Inscription thereupon After the death of Godfrey the Christians made choice of Baldwin his Brother Count of Edessa who leaving his former Government to Baldwin sirnamed Burgensis his near Kinsman came to Ierusalem honourably accompanied and was there by the Patriarch on Christmas-day with all Solemnity crowned King in the year 1101. year 1101. He aided by the Venetians and Genoways at Sea and by Bohemund King of Antioch by Land took from the Infidels the City of Cesarea Stratonis standing upon the Sea-side and overthrew certain Companies of the Aegyptian Sultans at Rama But understanding that the Christian Princes of the West were coming to his aid with a new Power he glad thereof went to meet them and safely conducted them to Ierusalem alongst the Sea-coast by the Cities of Berythus Sidon Tyre and Ptolemais all yet holden by the Enemy At which time the Turks at Ascalon having received great aid from the Arabians and Aegyptians invaded
effeminate People resting for the most part upon forraign Strength had purposed himself to invade the Kingdom and so if possible he might to joyn it to his own For colour whereof it was pretended that the Sultan contrary to his faith before given had secretly sought to joyn in League and Amity with Noradin the Turk King of Damasco The chief stirrer up of the King unto this War was one Gerbert Master of the Templars who in respect of the aid by them of his order to be given had obtained of the King after the Victory gained to have the City of Pelusium with all the rich Country about the same given unto him and his Brethren the Knights of the Order for ever upon which hope he contrary to the mind of many of the Knights for the furtherance of that War gaged his whole Wealth and Credit with all the Treasure of his House So all things now in readyness for so great an Enterprise Almericâ—s with his Army set forward in October and having in ten days passed the sandy Desert came to Pelusium which City he after three days Siege took by force and put to the Sword all them that were therein without respect of Age Sex or Condition which City he according to his promise before made gave unto the Templars After that he began also to besiege Caire at which time his Fleet sacked the City of Tapium In the mean time Sanar the Egyptian Sultan considering the danger he was in to satisfie Almericus his greedy desire offered to pay him twenty hundred thousand Ducats to withdraw his Forces and forthwith sent him one hundred thousand for the ransom of his Son and his Nephew taken Prisoners at Pelusium and for the rest to be paid within five days after he gave two of his Nephews Hostages Nevertheless the payment he deferred from day to day of purpose in the mean time to raise the whole power of Egypt also to receive aid from the Turks by Saracon which he daily expected of whose speedy coming Almericus understanding left part of his Army at Pelusium and with the rest went to have met him but missing him by the way Saracon with his Turks came in safety to Caire unto the Sultan as he had desired Wherefore Almericus dismaid with the multitude of two so great Armies now joyned together retired back again to Pelusium and there taking with him the Garrison before left returned home to Hierusalem having in that expedition begun with the breach of Faith laid the foundation of the ruin of his Kingdom as in few years after it by proof appeared by the evil Neighbourhood of the Turks by that means brought down into Egypt Saracon the Turk after the departure of Almericus easily perceiving a most fit time and opportunity to be offered for him now to obtain that which he had in vain before both sought and sought for encamped with his Army near unto Caire and notably counterfeited himself of all others the most devoted Friend of the Sultans so that betwixt them two passed all the kind tokens of Love and Friendship that could possibly be devised the Sultan oftentimes feasting the Turk and in kindness likewise being feasted of him but at length going as his manner was unto the Camp to visit him he was by the Turks slain So Saracon having brought to pass what he desired and entring the City with his Army was by the great Caliph from whom the Egyptian Sultans as from their Superiors the true Successors of their great Prophet Mahomet took their Authority appointed Sultan the first of the Turks that ever enjoyed the same which Royal Dignity he had not possessed fully a year but that he was taken away by death In whose stead Saladin his Brothers Son by and by stept up who altogether a Martial Man not regarding the reverend Majesty of the Caliph as had his Uncle Saracon and all the Egyptian Sultans before him with his Horsemans Mace struck out his Brains and not so contented utterly rooted out all his Posterity the better to assure himself and his Successors the Turks in the possession of his new begotten Kingdom and after that divided the great Treasures of the Egyptians among his Turks to encourage them the more to follow him in his Wars against the Christians This glorious Kingdom so much spoken of in Holy Scripture and renowned of the Learned Historiographers of all Ages after the Ruine of the Roman Empire was sometime part of the Constantinopolitan Empire and a notable Member of the Christian Common Weal until that about the year of our Lord 704 the Egyptians weary of the Pride and Covetousness of the Grecians revolted from them unto the Sarasins whose Superstition they also received and so under the Government of the Sarasin Caliphs the Successors of the false Prophet Mahomet lived about 464 years until that now being invaded by Almericus they prayed aid of Noradin the Turk Sultan of Damasco who to their relief sending Saracon with an Army repulsed indeed the Christians but oppressing their liberty took to himself the Kingdom which he left unto his Nephew Saladin in whose Posterity it remained until it was from them again taken by the Circassian Slaves the Mamalukes under whose servile Government it was holden of long time till that by the great Emperor of the Turks Selimus the first it was again conquered and the Mamalukes utterly destroyed In the Government of whose Prosperity the mighty Emperors of the Turks it hath ever since remained as part of their Empire until this day as in the process of this History God willing shall appear year 1170. Saladin thus possessed of the great Kingdom of Egypt and all things set in such order as he thought best for the Newness of his Estate with a great Army entred into the Land of Palestine in the year 1170. and there besieged Daron which Town he won and overthrew such as were sent by King Almericus to have relieved the same with which small Victory contenting himself as with the good beginning of his rising Fortune he returned back again into his Kingdom yet was his Army so great and populous as that the like Army of the Turks had never before been seen in the Holy Land. Wherefore Almericus considering in what great danger he stood his Kingdom now being on both sides beset by the Turks sent out his Embassadors unto the Christian Princes of the West to crave their Aid for the defence of that Kingdom which their Fathers had won and for the same purpose went himself in Person unto the Emperor of Constantinople of whom he was Royally entertained and afterward sent back loaded with the promises of great matters as were also his Embassadors from the Princes of the West All which for all that sorted unto nothing but vanished into smoke The year following viz. 1171. Saladin besieged Petrea year 1171. the Metropolitical City of Arabia but hearing that Almericus with a great Power was coming to
now in a readiness for the firing of the Mine it was thought good by general consent that an assault should also at the same time be given unto the City and thereupon every Regiment was by lot appointed which part of the Wall to assail which they all with great courage undertook In the heat of which Assault the aforesaid undermined Tower with some part of the Wall the Timber whereon it staied now burnt fell down with a great fall laying open a fair Breach for the Christians to enter wherewith the Turks dismaied forthwith craved to come to parl which granted they for safeguard of their lives yielded forthwith to give up the City and to restore to the Christians the Holy Cross with two thousand Captives and two hundred Horsemen such as they should require of all them that were in the power of Saladin besides 200000 Constantinopolitan Ducats to be by him given to the two Kings for the cost by them bestowed in the Siege For payment whereof the Turks in the City were to remain as hostages under the safe keeping of the Christians so that if all the Covenants aforesaid were not within forty days performed by Saladin they should all for their lives be at the Kings mercy So was this strong City after it had been almost three years besieged delivered up unto the Christians the 12 of Iuly in the year 1191. The first that entred were the Germans of Austria year 1191. who as if they had been the only men by whose Valour the City had been won at their first entry presumptuously advanced their Ensigns upon the top of the Walls to the great Offence of all the rest of the Christian Princes but especially of King Richard who not unworthily for his Princely Courage was commonly called Richard Cueur de Lyon not brooking so proud an indignity caused the Ensigns of Leopold their Duke to be pulled down and foiled under foot which shortly after gave him occasion of Repentance as shall hereafter be seen The two Kings possessed of the City divided the same with all the People and Spoil thereof betwixt them without regard of the rest of the other noble Christians that had sustained the whole travel of that long Siege for which cause most part of them seeing themselves so deluded withdrew themselves from them and with one consent sent them word That they would forsake them except they were made partakers of the gains as they had been of the pains Which the two Kings to content them promised they should howbeit they delayed so long their promises that many worthy men constrained by Poverty departed discontented from them into their Countries But long it was not that this one City so lately gained could contain these two great Kings whom two large Kingdoms could not retain in peace For albeit that they were in body together present and in one and that a most honourable action combined yet were they in hearts far asunder and their secret designs much different envy and distrust still reviving unkindness past and ministring new matter of greater discontentments King Richard according to his noble nature was of nothing more desirous than to have the War continued until they had made a full Conquest of Syria and the Land of Palestine and for that cause requested the French King to bind himself together with him by solemn Oath there to stay yet three years for the regaining of those Countries But he in mind long before estranged from King Richard and in his deep conceit plotting matters nearer home better fitting his purpose would by no means be perswaded so to do but still found one occasion or other for to colour his departure And shortly after as the French Chronicles report falling extreamly sick he requested King Richard and the other Christian Princes to come unto him unto whom being come he in few words declared his purpose of return as followeth I cannot my Lords longer endure the inclemency and intemperature of the Air in this extream hot season If my death might profit the Christian Religion or any one of you or the Christian Commonweal there should be no distemperature whatsoever that could separate me from you or withdraw me from hence But more may the life of one absent serve and profit you than the death of him present I must of necessity depart yet at my departure I will leave you five hundred men at Arms and ten thousand Footmen the Flower and Choice of all the Forces of France under the conduct of my Cousin Odo Duke of Burgundy unto whom I will give Pay and Entertainment with a continual supply of all things for them necessary This excuse of the French Kings King Richard could not take in good part but said That it was apparent to all men that he abandoned the Wars in Syria to return into France for no other end or purpose but the more easily to invade the Provinces of Guien and Normandy now disfurnished of their Garrisons and so subiect to his malice Which point he so urged that the French King could have no leave with his Honour to depart until such time as he had by solemn Oath bound himself unto King Richard not to attempt any thing either by force or fraud against him or any thing of his until â—ifty days were expired after King Richard his return home which how well it was by the French King observed I leave it to the report of the Histories of that time And so the French King not to be intreated longer to stay leaving behind him the aforesaid number of men he had promised embarking the rest of his Army and accompanied with three tall Ships of the Genowaies his Friends and Ruffin Volta their Admiral departed from Ptolemais to Tyre the first of August and two days after loosing thence sailed alongst the Sea-coast of Asia and cutting through the Mediterranean arrived at length in the mouth of the River of Tiber and from thence went to Rome where after he had visited Pope Celestine and the famous places of that most Renowned City he returned again to his Fleet and so by Sea arrived in safety in France having in that great expedition so honourably by him entertained performed nothing answerable to that the World looked for After the French King followed Leopold Duke of Austria with his Germans and not long after him the Venetians also with them of Pisa and Genoa Of whose departure Saladin understanding and that the Christian Forces were thereby much empaired refused either to pay the Mony or to restore the Prisoners as was promised at the giving up of Ptolemais threatning moreover to chop off the Heads of all such Christian Captives as he had in his power if the King should shew any extremity unto the pledges in the City Nevertheless shortly after he sent his Embassadors with great Presents unto the King requesting a longer time for the sparing of his pledges which his request together with his Gifts the King refused to
having raised a most puissant Army of two hundred thousand fighting men and aided by the Armenians and Georgians passing over the Mountain Amanus into Syria not far from the City Hama met with Melcenasar the Egyptian Sultans Lieutenant with a mighty Army whom he overthrew in a great and mortal Battel wherein forty thousand of the Egyptians are reported to have been slain and so drave him quite out of Syria sending Molais one of his Captains with part of his Army to puâ—â—ue him who never left him until he had chased him over the desart Sands into Egypt The victorious Tartar after this Battel took the City of Hama where lighting upon the great Treasures of the Sultan he bountifully divided it together with the Spoil amongst his Souldiers reserving nothing thereof unto himself more than a Sword and a Casket full of secret Letters The Egyptians thus put to flight he without resistance took in most of the Cities of Syria with the City of Ierusalem also which in many places by the Turks and Egyptians defaced he again repaired and together with the Temple of our Saviour gave it to the Armenians Georgians and other Christians repairing thither out of Cyprus Crete and other places to inhabit And having himself honoured the holy places with great gifts returned with his Army to Damasco which was forthwith delivered unto him But lying there with purpose in Autumn following to have gon into Egypt and to have utterly destroyed that Kingdom he was certified of new troubles arising in Persia and some other parts of his Empire for repressing whereof he with the greatest part of his Army returned himself into Persia leaving one Capcapus Governour of Damasco who after the overthrow of the Sultans Army had revolted unto him and Molais of whom we have before spoken Governour of Ierusalem commanding them at his departure to re-edifie the City of Tyre and to send Embassadors unto the Christian Princes of the West to joyn in League with them for the more sure holding of those new gained Countries And so Tyre was indeed repaired as he had commanded and delivered to the Christians with a convenient Garrison for the keeping thereof but the Embassadors coming to the proud Bishop Boniface the Eighth then Pope whom of all others it beseemed to have furthered their buisiness they could of him obtain nothing but returned as they came For he at the same time fallen out with Philip the French King thundering out his Excommunications discharging his Subjects of their Loyalty and so much as in him was depriving him of his Kingdom had given the same unto Albertus Duke of Austria whom he had declared Emperor whereof arose great troubles Besides that he being of the Guelphes Faction was not in any thing more careful than of the utter extinguishing of the contrary Faction of the Gibellines especially of the most honourable Family of the Columnij of whom some he had slain some he had deprived of their honours some he had imprisoned and driven other some into Exile so that thus wickedly busied for the maintenance of his own proud Estate he had no leisure to further the good of the Christian Common-Weal which his intollerable pride and forgetfulness of duty long escaped not the revenging hand of God being when he thought least suddenly taken prisoner at his Fathers house in the City of Anagnia where he was born by Sara Columnius his mortal Enemy whom but lately before redeemed out of a Pirats Gally the French King had sent for that purpose with one Longaret or as some call him Nogaret a French Knight by whom the proud Prelat brought to Rome in the Castle of S. Angelo within five and thirty days after most miserably died in his madness as some report renting himself with his Teeth and devouring his own Fingers This worthy Tartar Prince Cassanes by whom the Christian Common-Weal might have again risen in Syria and the Land of Palestine had not the pride of the great Bishop and the dissention of the Christian Princes hindred the same was as Aitonus writeth who was present in this War following his Uncle the Armenian King a man of a very short Stature and exceeding hard Favour but with Valour Bounty and other Vertues of the Mind plentifully recompencing what wanted in the Feature of his Body After whose departure into Persia Capcapus Governour of Damasco considering that the power of the Tartars there left was not great and that no aid was to be expected from the other Christian Princes of the West to recompence his former Treason of revolting from the Sultan with a new revolt from the Tartar rose up into open Rebellion drawing after him not only the City of Damasco but the greatest part of Syria also Whereof Molais Governour of Ierusalem understanding was about to have gone against him with his Tartars but advertised by his Espials that Capcapus in this his Conspiracy had compacted with the Egyptian Sultan also perceiving himself too weak to withstand so great a power retired with his Tartars into Mesopotamia there expecting new Supplies both from Cassanes and the King of Armenia Of whose departure out of Syria the Egyptian Sultan understanding came directly with his Army to Ierusalem which he took being forsaken of the Inhabitants and prophaned the Temple sparing only the Sepulchre of our Saviour at the humble suit of the Religious making there a greater shew of Devotion than of Cruelty After that he won all the other lesser Towns which the Tartars had either kept for themselves or given to the other Christians and utterly rased all the Forts of the Hospitalers and Templars which valiant men without other help for the space of almost a year held out against the Tyrant in which time most of them were honourably slain the rest that were left alive being taken by the Enemy had nevertheless leave given with bag and baggage in safety to depart having before by solemn Oath for ever abjured the Country of Syria and so these worthy men the great ornaments of the Christian Common-Weal the Hospitalers and Templars which to the utmost of their power had by the space of three hundred years right worthily defended both the Christians and the Christian Religion against the Infidels in Syria and the Holy Land were now for ever driven out thence about the year of our Lord 1300 year 1300. to the great dishonour of all Christendom Wherefore with them now taking our leave of Syria and the Holy Land leaving the same in the possession of the Egyptian Sultan and the Mamalukes although it were shortly after like enough to have been again recovered from them by the Tartars had not the death of the great Tartar Prince Cassanes and their domestical troubles letted we will again return to the troubled Affairs of the Turks in the lesser Asia whither the course of the time had somewhat before called us with the occurents thereof more proper to our purpose and the argument we
solemnly kept by the space of nine days Thus at length having passed through the troubled State of the Greek Empire during the long Reign of the old Emperor Andronicus the considerate Reader may easily see the causes of the declining and ruine also of this famous Empire and how that the Greek Emperors troubled with their tempestuous Affairs nearer home in Europe yea in the very Imperial City it self and in their own Palaces were not at leisure to look over the Strait into Asia but glad to leave their Territories there unto the weak defence of themselves At which time and even in the midst of the aforesaid trouble Othoman on the one side with great industry laid the Foundation of his Empire in Phrygia and Bithynia now the greatest terror of the World and then did those things which we now have of him written The other Princes of the Turks also the Successors of Sultan Aladin at the same time on the other side alongst the River Meander encroaching on as fast until that at last amongst them they had thrust the Greek Emperors quite out of Asia and in fine became themselves together with the Greek Empire a Prey unto the Othoman Kings as in the process of this History shall more at large appear But again to return unto Othoman himself who all this while that old Andronicus the Greek Emperor was thus troubled had with his Son Orchanes sought by all means on every side to inlarge his Kingdom the Garrisons by him left in the two late built Castles near unto the great City of Prusa under the Charge of the two valiant Captains Actemur and Balabanzuck as is before declared having now continued there certain years had by shutting up the passages and spoiling of the Country brought the City into such distress and penury that many of the Citizens and other the poor Christians fled into the City there died of Famine The rest now out of all hope to be relieved by the Greek Emperor not then able to relieve himself came to Composition with Orchanes for Othoman was then sick of his old Disease the Gout covenanting with him that they might in safety with life and liberty depart and so much of their Goods as they themselves could carry and so yielded to him the City Which conditions as most write were on the Turks behalf well and faithfully performed yet some there be that report them to have been in most part by Orchanes broken Thus was Prusa one of the greatest Cities of that part of Asia yielded unto the Turks in the year of our Lord 1327. and was afterwards by Orchanes made the Royal Seat of the Othoman Kings About this time or very shortly after Othoman in the eight and twentieth year of his Reign died at the age of 69 in the year of our Lord 1328. and lieth buried at Prusa where his Tomb is yet at this day to be seen in a certain Chappel of an old Monastery in the Castle standing in the midst of the City covered with a Mantle of green Chamlet and a little Tulipant or Turkish Hat such as he used to wear lying over his head differing from those which the Turks now wear especially the better sort of them so great that they can therewith scarcely come in at a door There is also another Monument of him to be seen at Suguta fast by the Sepulchre of his Father Ertogrul there made by his Sons in remembrance of him whereof some have reported him to have been there buried Howbeit the Turks themselves generally suppose the true Monument wherein he is interred to be at Prusa as is aforesaid He was wise politick valiant and fortunate but full of dissimulation and ambitious above measure not rash in his Attempts and yet very resolute what he took in hand he commonly brought to good effect to all men he was bountiful and liberal but especially to his Men of War and the poor whom he would many times feed and cloth with his own hands Of a poor Lordship he left a great Kingdom having subdued a great part of the lesser Asia and is worthily accounted the first Founder of the Turks great Kingdom and Empire Of him the Turkish Kings and Emperors ever since have been called the Othoman Kings and Emperors as lineally of him descended and the Turks themselves Osmanidae as the People or Subjects of Othoman or Osman for so he is of the Turks commonly called NOte That in the reckoning up of certain of the great Christian Princes and Prelates of the same time at the end of every of the Turkish Kings and Emperors Lives the first and greatest number following their Names sheweth the Year of our Lord wherein such an Emperor King or Bishop began to Reign or Sit and the number following how long he reigned or sate As for example Andronicus the elder began to Reign in the East in the Year of Grace 1282. and reigned 43 years and so of the rest Wherein we seek not the exact Computation unto a month or day as not much material to our History or any part of our purpose but only the reasonable view of the great Princes of the forepassed Times as they lived in Ages together Christian Princes of the same time with Othoman Emperors Of the East Andronicus Paleologus the elder 1282. 43. Andronicus Paleologus the younger 1325. 29. Of the West Albertus of Austria 1298. 10. Henry of Lucelbourg 1308. 6. Lewis the Fourth of Bavaria 1314. 32. Kings Of England Edward the First 1272. 34. Edward the Second 1307. 20. Edward the Third 1327. 50. Of France Philip the Faire 1286. 28. Lewis 1314. 2. Philip the Long. 1316. 5. Charle the Faire 1321. 7. Of Scotland John Baliol. 1292. Robert Bruce 1306 24. Bishops of Rome Boniface the VIII 1295. 8. Benedict the XI 1304. 2. Clement the V. 1306. 11. John the XXII 1317. 18. †ORCHANES OTOMANI II SECVNDVS TVRCARVM REX ANNO 1328. Suscipit Orchanes desuncti Scepâ—ra Parentis Major ut ingenio sic magis Arte valens Bithynos Phrygiamque domat Prusamque Superbam Et populos late Marte farente premit Sic laetus tantis Asiam turbasse ruinis Transit in Europam Callipolimque capit Rident interea Groeci sua damna sed ecce Dum sua contemnunâ— in sua fata ruunt His Fathers glorious Race now being run The politick Orchanes mounts the Throne Bithynia Phrygia Prusa farr and neare All by his prosperous Armes subjected were Proud of his Asian spoiles his Banners spread\ To Europe â—re the beauteous Nicomede Meanwhile the Greeks th' impending Tempest scorne And are by th'mighty Torrent overborne The LIFE of ORCHANES or URCHAN Second King of the Turks AFTER the death of Othoman his two Sons Orchanes whom the Turks call Urchan and Aladin his Brother having with great Solemnity enterred their Father at Prusa immediately summoned a Parliament whereunto both the Brethren came accompanied with the chief of their Nobility This Parliament was called especially
all hope have with a notable Slaughter overthrown them vanquished them and put them to Flight Neither is there any men in the World whom they more fear and stand in dread of than you whom though in number but few they have by their dayly Slaughter and Losses learned no less to fear than if you were many And noâ— to trie the uttermost of their power they are come with their innumerable Legions but are not for that of you any thing the more to be feared than before seeing that we all bear Arms under the conduct of the most mighty God and are by dayly Victory long Expeâ—ience and approved Valour taught what we are to dare besides that the greatest part of their Army is of common Souldiers Slaves or rude Country Pesants or men by force by them compelled more than the Janizaries are no good Souldiers among them the rest as men enforced serve them for fear and against their Wills and they by their Cowardise brought into that Bondage and Slavery What Greeks Macedonians or Sclavonians soever are sent to their Aid for asmuch as they are not yet revolted from the Christian Faith deem them not to stand for them but for us they long for us the Revengers of their Wrongs and for you as victorious Conquerors in this War they have given unto the Turks their Names but unto us their Hearts and Power and pray heartily for our Victory wherefore you ought so much the more valiantly and couragiously to fight by how much greater you see the Victory the Honour the Prey before your Eyes We are not to fight for other Mens Houses and Altars but for our own so our present necessiâ—y requireth in such sort that if we our selves deliver not our selves and bear our selves upon our wonted hope and valour we shall this day be enforced to endure the greatest misery that men may possibly First the loss of our Goods and Substance the Captivity of â—ur Children the deflowring of our Daughters the ravishing of our Wives the slaughter of our Parents the burning of our Houses and Churches and that which worse is than all this the scorn of our Saviour Christ Iesus and his Saints whose images you shall see in despight broken or dragged in the dirt or moulten and converted into other prophane uses all Religion trodden down and God himself if it were possible with violence and despair driven out of our Hearts if we stand not manfully unto it as becometh worthy Champions God is able with his little Finger if he so will forthwith to destroy all the Turks in the World but seeing he hath committed unto our right Hands the defence of his name he first maketh proof of our Courage and Valour that finding the same faithful and ready he may strengthen and defend it with his own right Hand He never yet forsook any faithful or devout man neither will our Saviour Christ be wanting unto you if you be not wanting to your selves in the power of his Name which is above all Names he shall â—read down his rebellious Enemies and exalt the Righteous that put their trust in him Moreover the causes that they and we combat for are divers and our hopes much stronger They fight for their Prophet a most prophane man Author of all Impiety for Spoil and Prey for the destruction of Nations and Countries for other Mens Kingdoms for the inlarging of their Dominions and Territories for worldly Praise and Glory But we contrariwise bear Arms for the Saviour of the World for our Faith and Religion for the Christian Common-Wealth for our Native Country for our Wives and Children for our Fortune and State than which nothing can be more excellent more commendable or honourable What reward is laid up for them in Heaven which have worthily protected or delivered their Country or laid down their Lives in defence of their Faith and Religion Neither having often proved are we ignorant that God will never forsake them that honour fear and serve him Whereby fâ—llow Souldiers you may plainly perceive how far your hopes are beyond theirs Believe our Saviour promising unto you an eternal reward and shew your Fidelity and Valour unto God and your Country together Wherefore seeing without the power of God we can do nothing before the signal of Battel be given I beseech you Collonels Captains and Lieutenants by your effectual and Christian Exhortations in your Regiments and Companies to encourage your Souldiers valiantly to fight the Lords Battel and for the present every man by taking a little Earth in his Mouth to prepare himself according to the necessity of the time as it were to the receiving of the Lords Supper so having cleansed your Souls embrace you one another plight your mutual Faith with your right Hand and a Kiss and make a perpetual Covenant among your selves none of you to forsake one another in this holy Battel but for your Religion and Country valiantly to fight it out even to the last man. And a little refreshing your selves with a short repast as you stand upon the signal given thrice calling aloud upon the mighty name of Christ Iesus fight with the like Valour and Courage so near as you can that he in the Agonie of Death fought for your Redemption and Liberty which that you will willingly do I request and charge you this for our Saviours sake for the Love of our Country and for the Faith you owe both to God and Man. I also pray and beseech you so to fight as men resolved either to gain a most glorious Victory whereof I doubt not or else if it should otherwise chance this day to purchase unto your selves a blessed life in the Kingdom of Heaven not to sup in Hell with the Turks but with the blessed Wights in Heaven for Christ Iesus our Saviour will be alwaies present with us who believe me and so hope will this day not only deliver us out of the Hands of the Turks but to our immortal Glory lode us with the rich Spoils of our Enemies and so in safety bring all home again with much Ioy and Triumph The Bassa on the other side likewise encouraged his Souldiers putting them in remembrance of their former Victories exhorting them not to degenerate from their worthy Ancestors and themselves by whose great Valor the Glory and Empire of the Turks had been so mightily increased and unto whom their great Prophet Mahomet the Interpreter of the gods had foretold the Empire of the whole World to be by all the gods allotted and had by divine inspiration prophecied that antient and stately Nation in time to become the terror of the World the scourge of the Wicked and Commander of all Nations He farther declared unto them what an increase of Kingdoms they had got in that short time since which they first passed over into Europe and filled them with the hope of a great Spoil promising unto them that should in the Battel valiantly behave themselves not only the
before indeed begun in the time of Amurath the first his great Grandfather as is before declared but by him greatly augmented and the policy of that State whereby it hath ever since in his Posterity flourished even by himself plotted For the better establishing whereof in his own House and to cut off all occasion of fear as also to leave all such as might have the heart to arise against him naked and bare of Forces to resist but especially the other ancient and noble Families of the Turks still secretly repining at the great honour of the Othoman Kings he as a man of great Wisdom and Judgment to keep them under in the beginning of his Reign by manifold favours began to bind unto himself men of strange and forreign Countries his Servants and by ordering of his most weighty Affairs by their Authority so by little and little to cast off the service of his natural Turks they in the mean time little or nothing at all looking into this his practice And whereas the Othoman Kings his Predecessors had for the most part or rather altogether raised their Ianizaries and other Souldiers of the Court of such Children of the Christians as were taken in the Wars he seeing by experience how serviceable those new kind of Souldiers were began forthwith to plot in his head how to make himself an Army altogether of such able persons his own Creatures and so to bring in a new kind of Warfare wholly depending of himself And to that end by his Officers appointed for that purpose took from the Christians throughout his Dominions every fifth Child the fairest and aptest of whom he placed in his own Seraglio at Hadrianople and the rest in other like places by him built for such purpose where they were by sufficient Teachers first instructed in the Principles of the Mahometan Religion and then in all manner of Activity and Feats of Arms. Of these when they were grown to mans state he made Horsemen gave them great Pensions and sorting them into divers orders appointed them also to guard his Person honouring the better sort of them with the name of Spahi-Oglani that is to say his Sons the Knights and of these he began to make his Bassaes his Generals of his Armies and the Governors of his Provinces and Cities with all the great Offices of the State. The rest and far the greatest part of these Tribute Children taken from their Christian Parents and not brought up in the Seraglios he caused to be dispersed into every City and Country of his Dominion in Asia there for certain years to be brought up in all hardness and painful labour never tasting of ease or pleasure out of which hard brood so enured to pains he made choice of so many of the most lusty and able bodies fittest for service as he thought good who kept in continual exercise and by skilful men taught to handle all manner of Weapons but especially the Bow the Peece and the Scimitar were by him as occasion served added to the other Ianizaries and appointed for the guarding of his Person calling them commonly by the names of his Sons The remainder of these Tribute Children as unfit for the Wars he put unto other base Occupations and Ministeries But unto those Martial Men of all sorts so by him ordained he appointed a continual pay according to their degrees and places and by great benefits and liberties bestowed upon them bound them so fast unto him as that hâ— might now account himself to have of them so many Sons as he had Souldiers For they together with the Christian Religion having forgot their Parents and Country and knowing no other Lord and Master but him and acknowledging all that they had to come and proceed of his free grace only remained ever bound and faithful unto him and so kept others also as well the natural Turks themselves as the other oppressed Christians within the bounds of Obedience and Loyalty A great Policy proceeding from a deep Judgment first to weaken the Christians by taking from them their best Children and of greatest hope and then by them depending wholly of himself to keep in awe and dutiful Obedience his natural Subjects also having them always as a scourge ready to chastise the Rebellious or Disloyal Now the other Othoman Kings and Emperors the Successors of Amurath keeping this custom and also increasing it one after another have thereby not only kept the Empire still in their House and Family where it was first gotten but also so maintained the Majesty of their State as they are of their Subjects feared obeyed honoured not as Kings but as Gods. For the natural Turks their Subjects losing courage continually and daily growing more base and dastardly by reason they are not suffered to practise the knowledge of Arms and the Souldiers in whose power all things are knowing nothing of their own but holding and acknowledging all that they have to come of their Lord account them as Lords and Kings of all ruling much after the manner of the Pharaohs the ancient Kings of Egypt who were absolute Lords and Masters both of the publick and private Wealth of their Subjects whom they kept under as Slaves and Villains And hereof cometh it to pass that the better part of them whom we call Turks but are indeed the Children of Christians and seduced by their false instructors desire to be called Musulmans that is to say Right Believers holding it a reproachful and dishonourable thing to be called Turks as it were peculiarly and above other People For that they knowing right well that there is not one natural Turk among all those that bear Authority and Rule and are had in greater Honour and Reputation than the rest such as are the Men of War and Courtiers but he is born a Christian either of Father or at the least of his Grandfather avouch those only to be Turks which live in Natolia all of them either Merchants or of base and mechanical Crafts or poor Labourers with the Spade and Pickaxe and such like People unfit for the Wars the rest as I say holding it for a Title of Honour to be descended of Christian Parents Yea the Grand Seigniour himself although by the Fathers side he be come of Progenitors such as were natural Turks born yet many of them had Christian Mothers which they accounted in the greatest part of their Nobility and Honour Thus by the Wisdom of Amurath was the order of the Ianizaries and other Souldiers of the Court greatly advanced though not by him begun and the politick state of the Turks Kingdom to say the truth quite altered the natural Turks more than the Sultan himself now bearing therein no sway but only these new Souldiers all of them descended from Christian Parents and by adoption as it were become the Sons of the Turkish Sultans and under them commanding all by whom they have ever since managed their estate and by their good service
to decline as all worldly things have but their time one Isaac whose Father Emperor of Constantinople the Constantinopolitans had for his evil Government slain flying to Trapezond took upon him the Government of that City with the Countries of Pontus and Capadocia and many other great Provinces and was at first called the King of Trapezond but after he was well established in that Government both he and his Successors took upon them the Name and Title of Emperors which they maintained equally if not better than the late Constantinopolitan Emperors and therefore are of most accounted for Emperors He that then reigned was caâ—â—ed David Comnenus which most Honourable Family of the Comneni had long time before reigned in Constantinople and out of the same were many other great Princes descended which ruled in divers places of Macedonia Epirus and Graecia Mahomet coming to Trapezond laid hard Siege unto the same by the space of thirty days both by Sea and Land and burnt the Suburbs thereof as he had before at Sinope The fearful Emperor dismayed with the presence of so mighty an Enemy and the sight of so puissant an Army offered to yield unto him the City with his whole Empire upon condition That he should take his Daughter to Wife and deliver unto him some other Province which might yield him such yearly profit as might suffice for the honourable Maintenance of his State. Mahomet perceiving the weakness of his Enemy by his large Offers refused to accept thereof and attempted by force to have taken the City which not sorting to his desire the matter was again brought to parle where after long debating to and fro it was at last agreed upon That the Emperor upon the Faith of the Turkish King for his safe return should in Person meet him without the City if happily so some good Attonement might be made betwixt them Whereupon the Emperor following the Turks Faith before solemnly given for his safe return as was before agreed went out of the City to meet him in hope to have made some good agreement with him but as soon as he was come out Mahomet according to the damnable and Hellish Doctrine of his false Prophet That Faith is not to be kept with Christians presently caused the Emperor to be cast into bonds and so to be detained as Prisoner Which when it was bruted in the City the Citizens utterly discouraged without farther resistance yielded themselves with the City into his Power Mahomet now Lord of Trapezond entring the City took Prisoners the Emperors Daughter with all the rest of his Children and Kindred and all such of the Nobility as he found in the City whom he caused forthwith together with the Emperor to be sent by Sea as it were in Triumph to Constantinople Of the rest of the Citizens he chose out so many as he pleased for his own Service and appointed eight hundred of the Christian Children in whom appeared most towardliness to be brought up for Janizarâ—es many also of the other Citizens were sent into Captivity to Constantinople the beautiful Women and Virgins he divided amongst his Friends and Men of War certain chosen Paragons of whom he sent as Presents to his Sons After he had thus taken his pleasure in the City and left none there but the basest of the people he put a strong Garrison of his Janizaries into the Castle and a great Garrison of common Souldiers into the City appointing his Admiral to Govern the same The rest of the Emperors strong Towns discouraged with the taking of Trapezond and the miseries thereof in short time submitted themselves unto the Turkish Thraldom wherein they have ever since most miserably lived So Mahomet in the space of few months having reduced that Empire into the form of a Province returned in great Triumph to Constantinople when he had in this Expedition subdued Paphlagonia Pontus and a great part of Capadocia with some other Provinces near unto the Euxin Sea. When he was come to Constantinople he sent the Emperor with his Children Prisoners to Hadrianople But afterwards understanding that the Persian Queen the Wife of Usun-Cassan sought means to get some one of her Uncles Children whom by the Power of her Husband she might if it were possible advance unto her Fathers Empire he sent for David the woful Emperor to Constantinople and there cruelly caused him with all his Sons and Kinsmen to be put to death and to the uttermost of his Power rooted out all that most honourable Family of the Comneni excepting George the Emperors youngest Son who at his first coming to Hadrianople turned Turk whose Sister the Emperors Daughter Mahomet afterwards took to be one of his Concubins This Christian Empire was by the Turkish Tyrant Mahomet thus miserably subverted and brought to nought in the year of our Lord 1461. The year following which was the year 1462. year 1462. Mahomet having Intelligence that Wladus Dracula Prince of Valachia his Tributary was resolved to cast from him his Obedience and to joyn himself unto the Hungarians his mortal Enemies thought it best to prove if he could by policy circumvent him before he were altogether fallen from him For which purpose he sent Catabolinus his Principal Secretary unto him to bring him unto the Court promising him greater Favours and Promotions from the Emperor than he had as yet at any time injoyed And by the same trusty Messenger he commanded Chamuzes Bassa Governor of Bidina and the Country lying over against Valachia on the other side of Danubius to do their uttermost devoir for the entrapping of Wladus promising him great Rewards if he could bring the matter to effect Whereupon Chamuzes devised with the Secretary that when he had done his Message to the Prince and with all his cunning perswaded him to take that Journey upon him he should secretly before hand give notice unto him of the certain day of his return back again from the Prince at which time it was like that Wladus would in courtesie of himself bring the Secretary well on his way being a man of so great Account in the Court or at leastwise not refuse so to do being thereto requested by the Secretary at which time the Bassa secretly passing over Danubius with certain Troops of Horsemen and lying close in ambush upon the way should suddenly set upon the Prince and so either take him or else kill him The Plot thus laid and every circumstance agreed upon the Secretary held on his way and coming to the Prince forced his wit to perswade him to go to the Court sometime cunningly extolling the great opinion that Mahomet had of his Fidelity and Valour and otherwhiles feeding him with the hope of greater Honours and Princely Preferments he was to receive at the Emperors hands But when he had said what he could he obtained no more of the wary Prince but good words again and that he would in courtesie conduct him on his way to
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
part Mariners able Bodies who in the time of the Siege did great service encouraged by their Sea Captains the Island People which repaired into the City served to little other purpose but to dig and carry Earth unto the Rampiers and the Citizens except it were some few of the better sort were for the most part weak and of small Courage not able to indure any labour or pains and yet hardly to be kept in order and governed great speakers but small doers greater in shew than in deed The Great Master having carefully provided and ordered all things needful for the defence of the City and fearing nothing more than the faint Hearts of the Citizens caused them all to be called together for incouragement of whom he spake unto them as followeth Valiant Gentlemen and worthy Citizens we hear that the Turk our mortal Enemy is coming against us with a huge Army raised of divers Nations from whose natural cruelty and wonted perjury except we defend our selves by force one and the self same danger is like to befal me my Knights and you all For we have with common consent and hand grievously spoiled him both by Sea and Land and you are by booties taken by strong hand out of his Dominions inriched and at this day we keep his People in grievous servitude and he ours but he injuriously and we most justly For his Ancestors weary of the dark Dens and Caves of the Mountain Caucasus their natural Dwelling without Right Title or Cause incited only with Covetousness Ambition and the hatred of our most sacred Religion have driven the Christians out of Syria and afterwards oppressed the Grecians in Grecia where not contâ—nted to have destroyed the People with one simple kind of death as Barbarism is ever cruel and merciless they have with most exquisite and horrible Torments butchered many thousands of that Nation All whom this wicked proud youth whose mischief exceedeth his years an evil Neighbour to all men not contented with the Dominions of Arabia Syria Egypt the greatest part of Asia and of many other places more seeketh in Tyranny Murther Spoil Perjury and Hatred against Christ and Christians far to excel and forceth himself to the uttermost of his power to take from us our Islands and to subdue the Christian Countries that so at length being Lord of all and Commander of the World he may at his pleasure overthrow the Christian Cities kill the Christians and utterly root out the Christian name which he so much hateth For the repulsing of which intollerable injury we have especially chosen this Island of the Rhodes for our dwelling place because the same seemed more commodious than any other for the annoying of this barbarous Nation We have done what in us lay holpen by you we know by proof your great Valour and Fidelity which we now have not in any distrust Wherefore I will not use many words to perswade you to continue in your Fidelity and Loyalty neither long circumstances to encourage you to play the men sithence worthy minds are not with words either encouraged or dismayed But concerning my self and my Knights of the Order I will speak a few words I with them with whom as I hope the Christian Princes and other my Knights of the West will in good time joyn their Forces are most ready and prest to defend your selves your Children your Wives your Goods the Monuments of your Ancestors and sacred Temples dedicated to the service of our God. Which opinion that it may remain firm and fixt in your minds if nothing else my Faithfulness in your Wars my Body not yet altogether spent but able enough to endure pains and travel the Nobility of these worthy Knights of the Order their Love towards you and their Hatred towards your Enemies were sufficient to confirm but beside this the strength of this City which this noble Order hath with infinite charges so notably fortified with Ditches Walls Towers and Bulwarks against all the force and fury of Artillery is such as that no City may worthily be compared much less preferred before the same It is wonderfully stored with all kind of Weapons and Warlike Provision we have laid up plenty of Wine Flesh and Corn in vaults so that neither wet Weather nor Worms can attaint the same of Wood and wholesome Water not to be taken from us things necessary for men besieged we have plenty and able men enough for the defence of the City All which things promise unto us assured Victory and such end of the War as we wish for Besides this Necessity which giveth Courage even unto Cowards will enforce us to fight Yet standeth on our side true Religion Faith Conscience Devotion Constancy the Love of our Country the Love of our Liberty the Love of our Parents Wives Children and whatsoever else we hold dear Whereas they bring with them the proud command of their Captains Infidelity Impiety Unconstancy a wicked desire of your Bondage of your Blood and the Blood of your Parents Wives and Children Out of doubt beloved Citizens our good God will not suffer so many good vertues to be overcome by their foul vices Wherefore be you in mind quiet and secure and trouble not your selves with forboding fear of your Enemies only continue in the Fidelity and Loyalty which you have always kept inviolate and unspotted toward this sacred and honourable Fellowship in most dangerous Wars and hardest chances of Fortune and if need shall so require with couragious band shew your Valour against your Enemies and make it known unto the Spaniards French Italians Hungarians and English That the Rhodians are of power to daunt the Turkish Pride and to avert their Fleets and Armies from Italy which they have so many years threatned with Fire and Sword and will no doubt thither with all speed hasten and come if that which my mind abhorreth to speak they should here prevail Neither will his ambitious youth in Courage Falshood and cruelty exceeding Hannibal imitate him in that that having overthrown the Romans in the great Battel at Cannas knew not to use his Victory but he will presently with more than Caesars celerity bring forth the Treasures his Father got in Egypt and with great Fleets and huge Armies invade Apulia Calabria and Scicilia from whence he will forthwith break into France and afterwards into Spain and other Christian Countries raging through them with all kind of cruelty But I am carried away further than I purposed and than need is For your Fidelity and Valour most worthy Citizens to endure the Siege and repulse the Enemy is such as needeth not my perswasion and of greater resolution than that it can be shaken with the dangers incident to men besieged yet the greatest and most forcible miseries of all which is Hunger and Thirst I assure you you shall never feel which pinching calamities for all that some People in Faithfulness Courage and Valor nothing comparable to you have nevertheless most
other Kingdoms and Territories whereof I am Emperor the most mighty Monarch Sultan Solyman Son of the great Emperor Sultan Selym who have power from God to rule all People with a Bridle and strength to break open the Gates and Bars of all Cities and strong Places Inâ—o whose mighty hand are delivered all the ends of Worlds none excepted I the Ruler of the East from the Island of Tsein unto the farthest bounds of Africa whom God hath appointed a mighty Warrior in the edge of the Sword amongst whose most mighty Kingdoms the impregnable Castle of Cesarea is reputed for the least and in whose hereditary Dominions the Kingdom or Empire of Alexander the Great is accounted of as a trifle with me is the strength of the whole World and vertue of the Firmament Forasmuch as thou King Ferdinand which art the mighty Lord of Christendom and the chosen Vessel of the mighty Christian Faith created and elected Emperor of the Roman People of Bohemia Vandalia Crabatia and many other Countries King and Lord c. Not long since sent unto our Court which is the refuge of all Kings the protection and sanctuary of all that flie thereunto and the Throne of Grace for all Princes of these times which repair unto it one Augerius Busbeck thy faithful Counsellor and Embassador with Letters of consideration to renew with us a Peace and to enter into a farther league and bâ—nd of Amity Which Letters bear date the year from the Prophet Jesu upon whom and our Prophet Mahomet rest the brightness and peace of God 1562 the first day of June requesting of us That granting you Peace for eight years we would not with any Hostility hereafter molest your Cities Castles Countries or Subjects but to suffer them to livâ— in secure Peace and Tranquility c. Unto which your petition we answer you That from henceforth for the whole space of eight years shall be betwixâ— us on both parts to be continued a new true and firm League of which agreement peace and confederation these shall be the conditions First That you our beloved shall be bound to send yearly to our Court as a Pledge of this League thirty thousand Hungarian Ducats with that remainder which you owe unto us for the two years last past For which we promise unto you that we from henceforth during this eight years League will take no part either by way of hostility or friendship with King Johns Son forasmuch as belongeth to his hereditary Countries whether they be in the hither part of Hungary or on the further side of Teisse All which for all that by Law of Arms belong unto us And the same King Johns Son in the time of this eight years League shall be also bound in such sort to perform unto us his obedience as that from henceforth it shall not be lawful for him to use any War or Hostility against you neither to trouble your Subjects with Fire or Sword nor to surprise your Cities Castles or Towns or by violence to take away or exact of your People or Subjects their Sheep their Cattel their Goods Mony or Revenues We also our selves shall have no right nor take occasion to drive away your People to burn your Countries or carry away any Captives but rather in this eight years space religiously keep Peace and Concord with you And under these câ—nditions of Peace shall also be comprehended Michael Balaschus Nicholas Batho with all their Goods and Territories and divers other such like which shall be subject unto you and King Johns Son. To be brief if happily any of yours or King Johns Sons Subjects shall have now before in time of War thrust one another out of his Goods Lands or Possessions whereof new quarrels or discord may arise we will and decree that all such controversies quarrels and claims shall be deferred until this definite time of the League expired Beside if by chance any dissention shall hâ—reafter arise betwixt us about our jurisdiction which can by no means be composed and ordered we will that yours shall in the mean remain as yours and ours as ours all contention and enmity set apart also many Towns situate here and there by Danubius and Tatta shall be suffered to use the same Law which they did in former time so that the Souldiers which are yet in Garrison in the Castle of Tatta shall have no right to infest or vex those Towns situate near unto Danubius Furthermore if after this Peace concluded any of your Noblemen or Gentlemen shall fortune to have any of our Noblemen by revolt or other occasion whatsoever Captives they shall dismiss them and set them at liberty to return unto their Friends freely without hurt or ransom that so the Concord and Peace begun betwixt us may be the more firmly kept and our Subjects live in more security All and every one of these things we grant and promise to be of us from henceforth until the end of the aforesaid eight years without all fraud or guile religiously observed and kept and for that purpose have caused these our Letters of this Peace and Confederation to be published from our Royal Palace And moreover have not only provided that the Copy of the same should together with our edict be proclaimed to all and every the Generals Captains Lieutenants of our Armies both by Sea and Land in all the parts of our Empire and to all our mercenary Souldiers but have also straightly commanded that it shall be firmly and sincerly kept We will also that this agreement of Peace and Amity shall comprehend and concern our two chief Governours or Vayvods of Vallachia and Moldavia so that none of your People of Hungary Crabatia Sclavonia or other your Countries or Islands whatsoever shall in any sort be molested or grieved by our Subjects And if it shall fortune that some shall on your part out of their Castles set upon our Subjects or by force take away their Goods the same Men shall in any case be bound to make thereof restitution Also if any shall flie from us and carry away with them the Mony or Goods of their Masters whom they served or if the like shall be done by any of yours flying to us then the same Goods on boâ—h parts are to be of right demanded and recovered again and the Fugitives to the example of others to be corrected and punished forasmuch as fugitives Goods of right appertain unto their Lords and Masters Furthermore it shall be lawful for your Captains and Commanders to fortifie or build Castles Cities or Towns in the Borders of Hungary and to put into the same Victual Armor and such like but so that they do none of these things out of their own limits And during the time of this League it shall not be lawful to take or carry away any of your Subjects Prisoners either into Hungary or in other places of your jurisdiction which for all that if it shall by any chance happen that
to honour them with their Presence to the Palace putting themselves in readiness betimes in the Morning and taking Horse set forward toward the Court. The formost were they that did bear the Present in their hands the people of the City in every Street flocking together in exceeding multitudes to behold them as they passed and verily there had been seldom times seen the like Embassage in those parts for besides the Fame that was blown abroad in every quarter That they were Men sent from one of the greatest Princes in Christendom the diversity of their Attire so few as they were more than any thing beside did represent the Majesty of the Christian Emperor to them that gazed upon his Embassadors and their Train the people conceiving thereby that he was Lord and Ruler over many Provinces and Countries For they that were Hungarians belonging to the Bishop of Agria the chief Embassador being attired in long and sober Garments of very fine Purple-Cloth having their Shoos pieced over the soles with Iron-Plates and half their Heads shaven seemed to differ from them but little but on the other side the High-Dutch attired in black with their Velvet Caps and short Clokes laid with Silver Lace and long Breeches little less than Rutter-wise and Chains of Gold about their Necks appeared very strange and uncouth to the Turkish people so accompanied in this honourable wise the Embassadors entred the first Gate of the Great Turks Palace This Gate is built of Marble in most sumptuous manner and of a stately height with certain words of their Language in the front thereof ingraven and gilt in Marble So passing through the base Court which hath on the right side very fair Gardens and on the left divers Buildings serving for other Offices with a little Moschy they came to the second Gate where all such as come in riding must of necessity alight here so soon as they were entred in at this second Gate they came into a very large Square Court with Buildings and Galleries round about it the Kitchins standing on the right hand with other Lodgings for such as belonged to the Court and on the left hand likewise Rooms deputed to like Services There are moreover many Halls and other Rooms for resort where they sit in Council handling and executing the Publick Affairs either of the Court or of the Empire with other matters where the Bassaes and other Officers assemble together Entring in at this second Gate in one part of the Court which seem'd rather some large Street they saw the whole Company of the Solaches set in a goodly rank which are Archers keeping always near unto the Person of the Great Turk and serving as his Footmen when he rideth they use high Plumes of Feathers which are set bolt upright over their Foreheads In another place there stood the Capitzi in like Array with black Staves of Indian Canes in their hands they are the Porters and Warders of the Gates of the Palace not much differing in their Attire from the Janizaries who stood in rank likewise in another quarter And beside all those with many more that were out of order as well of the Court as of the common people those Knights of the Court which accompanied the Embassadors thither with other great Ones also of like degree were Marshalled all in their several Companies And among the rest the Mutfarachaes Men of all Nations and all Religions for their Valour the only free men which live at their own liberty in the Turkish Empire stood there apparelled in Damask Velvet and Cloth of Gold and Garments of Silk of sundry kinds and colours their Pomp was great and the greater for the Turbants that they wore upon their Heads being as white as whiteness it self made a most brave and goodly shew well worth the beholding In brief whether they were to be considered all at once or in particular as well for the order that they kept as for their sumptuous presence altogether without noise or rumor they made the Embassadors and the rest of their Followers there present eye-witnesses both of their Obedience and of the great State and Royalty of the Othoman Court. Passing through them the Embassadors were led into the Hall where the Bassaes and other great Men of the Court were all ready to give them Entertainment they of their Train being at the same time brought into a Room that stood apart under one of the aforesaid Lodgings all hung with Turky-Carpets Soon after as their use and manner is they brought in their Dinner covering the ground with Table-Cloths of a great length spread upon Carpets and afterward scattering upon them a marvelous number of wooden Spoons with so great store of Bread as if they had been to feed 300 persons then they set on Meat in order which was served in 4â— great Platters of Earth full of Rice-pottage of three or four kinds differing one from another some of them seasoned with Honey and of the colour of Honey some with sour Milk and white of colour and some with Sugar they had Fritters also which were made of like Batter and Mutton beside or rather a dainty and toothsome morsel of an old sodden Ewe The Table if there had any such been thus furnished the Guests without any Ceremony of washing sate down on the ground for Stools there were none and fell to their Victual and drank out of great earthen Dishes Water prepared with Sugar which kind of Drink they call Zerbet But so having made a short repast they were no sooner risen up but certain young Men whom they call Giamoglaâ—s with others that stood round about them snatcht it hastily up as their Fees and like greedy Harpies ravened it down in a moment The Embassadors in the mean time dined in the Hall with the Bassaes. And after dinner certain of the Capitzies were sent for and twelve of the Embassadors Followers before appointed to do the Great Sultan Reverence by whom their Presents being already conveyed away they were removed out of the place where they dined and brought on into an under Room from whence there was an ascent into the Hall where the Bassaes were staying for the Embassadors who soon after came forth and for their ease sat them down upon the Benches whilst the Bassaes went in to Selymus who before this time had made an end of Dinner and was removed in all his Royalty into one of his Chambers expecting the coming of the Embassadors All things now in readiness and the Embassadors sent for they set forward with their Train and came to the third Gate which leadeth into the Privy-Palace of the Turkish Emperor where none but himself his Eunuchs and the young Pages his Minions being in the Eunuchs custody have continual abiding into which inward part of the Palace none entreth but the Capitzi Bassa who hath the keeping of this third Gate and the Cesigniers that serve in the Turks Meat with the
passed among the great Bassaes there was not any man found that made any account of that defect but all with one accord without farther respect sought to set forward the ambitious desire of their proud Lord and Master At last after long consultation and large discourses it was agreed upon by the great Bassaes Mahomet Sinan and Mustapha That it would be better and less danger to attempt War against the Persians than against the Christian Princes Mustapha amongst the rest preferring the Valour of the Latines whereof he had made good tryal especially at Famagusta before the Armies and Forces of the Georgians and Persians Whereby it is apparent to the World that neither the zeal of their Religion nor any injury receiv'd from the Persian King but only the ambitious desire of Amurath to subdue a Kingdom both in his own conceit and other mens relations evil governed by an effeminate and sottish King and through civil dissention brought into great danger was the first provocation of making this War. Upon this resolution there arose new consultations touching the manner thereof and upon what coast they should begin their journey for the more honourable success thereof Which point Amurath greatly urged protesting before his chief Counsellors that he would not enter into that War except he were in great hope to bear away the Victory Some thought it most convenient to send the Army to Babylon and from thence to Syras called in old time Persepolis the chief City of the Country of Persia others there were that gave advise that the Army should be directly sent to Tauris there to erect strong Fortresses and to take possession of all the Country round about it and there wanted not some as it is reported that thought it better to send two several Armies for both the fore-named Places and so by bringing the Enemy into a straight to enforce him to yield to whatsoever should be of him required But Amurath durst not repose such Confidence in his Forces as to think that with his Battels divided and so weakened he should be able to conquer that Enemy who had always most valiantly fought against the monstrous and puissant Armies of his Ancestors and therefore firmly resolved with himself to send one only Army and so with his united Forces to seek the overthrow of the Enemy And so preferring the strong hope he had conceived to conquer the Country of Siruan and the chief Cities of Media the great before the difficulty of making War upon the Coast of Scyras reposing also great hope in the notable help that was promised him by the Tartars called Praecopenses he confirmed the great Bassaes his Counsellors in the same Opinion and withall discovered unto them a matter which to all of them but especially to Sinan seemed most strange namely that he was determined not to go himself in Person with his Army but to send one of his worthiest Captains in his stead The Causes why he so did were many but especially for that he was troubled with the falling Sickness and feared greatly and that not without good cause lest his Son Mahomet being much favoured of the People might peradventure in his absence be untimely advanced to the Empire beside the Dangers that he suspected at the hands of the Christian Potentates and withall perswaded it to be unto himself a great Honour to perform those things by his Servants which had in those Countries been unfortunately attempted by his most noble Predecessors in their own Persons While they were thus consulting about the Expedition and the great Bassaes Sinan Mustapha and others made means to be sent as the Sovereign Ministers of their Lords Designment he dispatched away sundry Posts and light Horse-men with order to the Bassaes and Governours of Van Babylon and Erzirum in the Frontiers of his Dominions that they should by often inroads spoyl the Towns and Castles of the Persians and by all means to do them what harm they could Which they were not slack to put in Execution and especially Vstref or rather Husreve Bassa of Van who with often Incursions did much Mischief as well in the Countries Tributary as subject to the Persian King. A forcible preparative for greater Troubles to ensue Now in these great Preparations for the Persian War which for many years after notably exercised the greatest part of the Turks Forces to the great quiet of the Christian Common-wealth Stephen Bathor the late Vayvod of Transilvania but now by the Commendation of Amurath become King of Polonia in the beginning of his Reign by his Ambassadour the great Lord Iohn of Syenna entred into a strong League and Confederation with the great Turkish Sultan Amurath at Constantinople Which for that it sheweth in what Terms that famous Kingdom then and yet standeth with the Turks great Empire and withall containeth Matter well worth the Christian Consideration it shall not be impertinent to our purpose omitting the long and glorious Stile of that barbarous Monarch serving to no other end but to shew the greatness of his Power plainly to set it down as it was on his part at the same time by him confirmed The League betwixt the most puissant and and mighty Princes Sultan Amurath the Turkish Emperour and Stephen King of Polonia agreed upon and concluded at Constantinople in the Year of our Saviour Christ Jesu 1577 and of the Prophet Mahomet 985. I Sultan Amurath the Son of Selym Chan the Son of Solyman Chan the Son of Selym Chan the Son of Bajazet Chan the Son of the Great Emperour Mahomet Chan c. Prince of these present times the only Monarch of this age of power able to confound the power of the whole World the shadow of Divine Clemency and Grace Great Emperour of many Kingdoms Countries Provinces Cities and Towns Lord of Mecha that is to say of the house of the glory of God of the resplendent City of Medina and of the most blessed City of Hierusalem Prince of the most fruitful Country of Aegypt Imen Zenan Aden and many other such like In most loving manner declare That the most Glorious and Renowned Stephen King of Polonia Great Duke of Lithuania Russia Prusia Masovia Samogitia Kiovia Livonia and many other Countrys moe Prince of the couragious followers of Jesus Governour of all the affairs of the people and family of the Nazarets the welcomest cloud of Rain and most sweet fountain of Glory and Vertue eternal Lord and Heir of the felicity and honour of the aforesaid noble Kingdom of Polonia unto whom all the distressed repair for refuge wishing a most happy success and blessed end to all his actions offering unto us many Religious vows and Eternal praises worthy our perpetual Love and most Holy League and with great Devotion performing these and other like Honours as for the dispatch of his Letters to our most Glorious Court for the new confirming of the most sacred League and Confederation with us sending the Honourable Lord John
of Syenna his most faithful Counsellour his Embassadour to our Imperial Court declaring his Love and Integrity and purging himself of all the suspicion of Hostility hath requested the League and Confederation to be renewed At whose instance we have given these our Letters confirming the said League of Peace and Confederation Wherein we command That none of our Counsellours Beglerbegs Sanzakes Generals of our Armies Captains or Servants shall do or on my behalf presume to do any hurt unto the Kingdom Countries Cities Castles Towns Islands or whatsoever else to the Kingdom of Polonia belonging And in like manner that none of the Nobility Generals Captains or others whatsoever belonging unto the King of Polonia shall dare to do any harm unto my Kingdoms Cities Castles or Towns confining unto the Kingdom of Polonia In brief my will is that he being a mortal Enemy unto my Enemies and a fast Friend unto my Friends shall do no grievance or harm unto any my Subjects or things whatsoever unto my jurisdiction belonging So in like manner commanding also that no hurt by any means or for any occasion be done by our people unto the Subjects or whatsoever else unto the Iurisdiction of the King of Polonia appertaining The Creatures Embassadours Messengers and men of whatsoever condition else shall on both sides freely without lett or trouble come and go without any harm receiving either in their persons or goods It shall be lawful also for the King of Polonia his Subjects to seek throughout our Empire for any the Polonian Captives taken before the time of this League and the same so found if they have not received the Turkish Religion but still remain Christians to redeem without the contradiction of any man. And that whatsoever shall be taken and carried away after the confirmation of this League shall be all again freely and without any thing paying delivered and restored That the Merchants on both parts may freely Traffick with all kind of Merchandize in the Black and White Sea as also upon the main and so paying their usual and lawful custom to be in nothing wronged or molested If any of the Polonian Merchants shall die in our dominion the goods of him so dead shall not be embezled but kept in safety until his brethren or other his friends shall come with the King of Polonia his Letters Upon the shewing whereof having also our Letters mandatory the goods shall be forthwith restored unto the dead mans heirs In which sort also my Merchants shall be dealt withal if any of them shall chance to die in the Kingdom of Polonia If any wrong be done within the limits of mine Empire unto any belonging unto the Kingdom of Polonia after the date of these Letters confirming the League the doer of the wrong shall by my commandment be sought out and being found shall be punished and the wrong done without any delay or contradiction forthwith recompenced And the like Iustice to be also on the behalf of the King of Polonia administred If any debtor shall depart out of mine Empire into the Polonian Territory wheresoever he shall chance to be found by his creditor he shall be brought to the Iudge of that place to be examined and whatsoever it shall be proved him of right to owe the Iudge of that place shall according to the equity of the cause make the creditor to be satisfied But if the debtor cannot himself personally be found no other man shall by reason of another mans debt be taken detained or molested Neither shall the innocent be troubled for the guilty in either or both our Kingdoms In brief upon whatsoever conditions and capitulations the League of Peace and Confederation was in the time of my Father my Grandfather or great Grandfather of famous memory made with the Kings of Polonia upon the same conditions and capitulations be it now made also Whatsoever hurt-hath hitherto been done to either part by reason of the disagreement of the Governours and Captains shall all be on both parties neglected and forgotten Also after the time of these Letters confirming the League and Confederation Whereas the King of Polonia shall in time pay a certain summ of money used to be paid unto the Tartars the Tartar Chan and his Son Mirzeleby their Princes shall restore the same again and not to dare to suffer his Armies by any means to hurt the Polonian Territories So that on the part of the Tartars and their Armies no harm shall be done unto the Kingdom of Polonia neither on the part of the Polonians to the Territories of the Tartars And if any harm shall by the Tartars be done in the King of Polonia his Territories it shall by my commandment be again restored And so likewise on the part of the Palatine of Moldavia or the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Moldavia no harm shall be done unto the Countries subject unto the King of Polonia but if any be done and certainly known to be by my Commandment again recompenced On the part also of the King of Polonia and his Subjects whatsoever harm shall be done unto the Territory or Subjects of the Moldavian Palatine or Tartars the harm so done to be recompenced and the doers thereof punished Also that all such Fugitives as having done any notorious Felonies or other Villanies in Moldavia and so are fled into Polonia shall at my request or at the request of the Palatine of Moldavia be restored and in no case denied That all the Polonian Captives within my dominions yet professing the Christian Religion may by the King of Polonia his Subjects be redeemed not paying any more for them than their Lords and Masters payed every such Master of the slave taking his oath that he cost him so much But such Captives as have received the Turkish Faith to be forthwith set at liberty And so the Turks slaves in the Kingdom of Polonia to be likewise manumised That our Embassadours on both sides so long as we are in League and Amity may freely come and go and not be stayed in any place and being willing to meet together may at their pleasure so do And being entred into the confines of either part to be forthwith by some good and faithful guide appointed unto them conducted unto the place they are to go unto And this to be on both sides kept No man to dare to hurt or stay any Merchant having paid his thirtieth part or lawful custom If any of our Subjects shall have any suit with any of the King of Polonia his Subjects the Iudges shall without delay be bound to administer Iustice. All Thieves and Robbers shall be diligently sought out and being found to be severely punished and the goods taken away without impeachment to be restored unto the right owners their Heirs or to the King. The Sanzakes of Silistria and Bolograve the Customers and Water-bayliffs shall not suffer any man but Merchants and such as are sent in our service to pass over the
Children and the best of their Substance some to Hatwan some to Buda and now hearing of the approach of the Christian Army set Fire on the Town and fled The Christians immediately entring did what they could to quench the Fire and saved a great part of the Town so leaving there a convenient Garrison he hasted with speed to Blavenstein which the Turks did also set on fire and betook themselves to flight The Christians coming thither the next day after namely the fourth of December found a great part of the Town yet unburnt wherein they left a strong Garrison and from thence marched to Sallek which Town they also took being forsaken by the Enemy and put thereinto a good Garrison The General was of nothing more desirous than to have prosecuted this so happy a course of Victory but such was the foulness of the Winter weather that he could not travel with his great Artillery without which no great matter was to be done against the Enemy still keeping himself in his strong hold And his Army in that wasted and forsaken Country began now to feel the want of Victuals so that many had withdrawn themselves out of the Army unto their dwelling Places At the same time also the Lord Palfi going to Dregel and Palanka and finding them forsaken by the Enemy furnished both Places with Garrisons of his own Men. Certain other strong Places were also this Month recovered from the Turks as Ainacke Sollocke Westke and others and so much Territory gained by the Christians as was in circuit thought equal with the lower Austria The joyful News of the aforesaid Victories with the recovery of so much of the Country and so many strong Towns and Castles made great rejoycing both at Vienna and Prague for which cause publick Prayers with Thanksgiving to Almighty God were made in both Places with many other tokens of Joy and Triumph both there and in divers other Places of the Empire Yet were not the dead Bodies of the Turks slain at Alba-Regalis buried whereof rose such a loathsome and noisome smell that no man could abide to come near the place to the great trouble of the Inhabitants thereabout At length certain Turks out of Buda and Alba-Regalis to the number of three hundred and fifty met together to have buried those loathsome Carkasses Upon whom it chanced a Captain of the Hussars to light with his Horsemen who fiercely assailing them left most part of them there dead for others to bury and carried away the rest Prisoners The Bassa of Buda had caused Murat Sanzack of Palotta to be strangled for that he suspected him to have had Intelligence with the Christians in whose room he placed another who coming with 600 Turks to take Possession of the Preferment was by the way set upon by Peter le Hussar with the Garrison Souldiers of Pappa and Thurne and slain with most part of his Followers 35 of them were taken alive with all the Sanzacks rich Furniture To end this year withal the Turks in Garrison at Petrinia Siseg Castrowitz and other Places thereabouts met together in number about 3000 who the 19 of December passing over the River Sauus began to spoil the Frontiers of those Countries But before they were gon far they were so incountred â—y the Lord Graswin and the Borderers thereabout that five hundred of them were left dead upon the Ground divers of good account taken Prisoners and almost all the rest drowned in the River so that of all them that came over few escaped with Life In the latter end of this Month great numbers of Souldiers were taken up in Saxony and other Places of Germany whereof some were sent to Prague and some to Vienna in Austria and in Hungary the Christians increased their Strength with new Supplies In Austria also a new Army was raised and two and twenty great pieces of Artillery sent down the River of Danubius to Comara and new Preparation made in every Place for the next years Wars year 1594 Amurath the Turkish Emperour going out of the City of Constantinople Ianuary the 11 th to muster the Army he had prepared against the Christians for this year was suddenly overtaken with such a Tempest of Wind and Rain that it overthrew his Tents his Chariots yea his Horses and Men had much ado to withstand it Wherewith he being as with an ominous prodigy exceedingly troubled returned with his Army into the City and oppressed with Melancholy cast himself down upon his Bed as a man half sick Where falling asleep he dreamed he saw a man of an exceeding Stature standing with one of his feet upon the Tower of Constantinople and the other over the Streight in Asia who stretching out his Arms held the Sun in one of his Arms and the Moon in the other whom whilst he wondered at the Monster with his foot struck the Tower which forthwith fell down and in falling overthrew the great Temple with the Imperial Palace Amurath awaked as he thought with the noise and much troubled with the Dream for the Turks are in such Vanities very superstitious sent for all his Wizards and Interpreters of Dreams to know the meaning of this his so strange or rather so melancholy a Dream Who hypocritically answered him That forasmuch as he had not with all his Force as a Tempest impugned the Christians their great Prophet Mahomet threatned by that Dream to overthrow the Tower the Temple and the Imperial Palace that is to say the Religion and Empire of the Turks Which vain and feigned Interpretation so much moved the superstitious Tyrant that he swore from thenceforth to turn all his Forces upon the Christians and not to give over War until he had done what he might to subdue them This the Turks Dream with the Interpretation thereof and the solemn Vow he had made for the Destruction of the Christians was publickly read in the Churches of Transilvania and many godly Exhortations made unto the People to move them by Prayer and all other good means to avert that so threatned Thraldom Of the rich spoil taken from the Turks in the late Victory near unto Alba-Regalis the Christian Captains made a Present for the Emperour and the Arch-duke Matthias his Brother which they sent by the Lords Gall and Brun and was by them presented unto the Emperour and his Brother the eleventh of Ianuary at Vienna in order as followeth First went the Master of the Ordnance of Rab on both sides attended upon with the other Officers of the Artillery after them were drawn thirty great pieces of Ordnance taken in the Battel After these Pieces followed three Turkish Horses with rich Saddles and Furniture studded with Gold the Stirrups and Bridles being of Silver gilt and most curiously wrought after them were carried 22 of the Turks Ensigns three of them were very rich and the other right fair Then followed the two Ambassadors aforesaid with each of them a gilt Mace in
was easily to be gathered how bloody a siege this was unto the Turks forasmuch as all those Bodies were the Bodies of men of good account and place for the Bodies of such common Souldiers as were slain they still threw into the River running by The Fort newly built upon the Bank of Danubius much troubled the besieged Turks in Strigonium because nothing could without danger of it be sent up the River for their Relief Wherefore they by fit Messengers sent word out of the Castle to the Admiral of the Turks Gallies lying below in the River That he should at an appointed time come up the River with his Gallies as high as the Fort and on that side at leastwise to make shew as if he would assault it at which time they of the Town would be likewise ready to sally out and to assail it indeed on the other side by Land. The Admiral accordingly came up the River with his Gallies and by discharging of certain great pieces made shew as if he would on that side have battered the Fort but was so welcomed thereout that he was glad with his rent Gallies quickly to fall down the River again further off out of danger But whilst the thundering shot was thus flying too and fro towards the River they of the Town sallying out assaulted the Fort on the other side toward the Land and that with such desperate Resolution that some of them were got up to the top of the Rampiers and there for the space of two hours maintained a most cruel fight wherein many of them were slain and wounded and the rest enforced with shame to retire The Christians thus still lying at the siege and intentive to all Occasions partly by their Espials and partly by such as they had taken Prisoners understood that a new supply both of Men and Victuals was shortly to be put into Strigonium and therefore sent out certain Companies of Souldiers who lying in two convenient Places the one upon the River the other by Land might intercept the said supply Both which Places were before by the provident Enemy possessed who suddenly assailing the Christians coming thither and fearing no such matter slew some of them and put the rest to flight who nevertheless in their retreat brake the Bridge which the Turks had made of Boats under the Castle of Strigonium over Danubius Of which Boats some were carried away with the Violence of the Stream and of the rest thirty fell into the hands of the Christians without loss of any man more than five who making too much haste out of a little Boat fell into the River and so perished In this time Fame the fore-runner of all great Attempts had brought News into the Christian Camp That Sinan Bassa the Turks great General was coming to the relief of Strigonium of whose Power divers diversly reported But the greater part doubting the worst and weary of the long Siege and of the Calamities incident thereunto added still something to the last report to make the danger of longer stay to seem the greater certain it is that the News of the coming of so great and puissant an Enemy raised many a troubled thought in the Minds of so great a Multitude Now were the besieged Turks in great wants in Strigonium as appeared by Letters intercepted from the Sanzack to the Bassa of Buda declaring unto him the hard estate of the besieged and humbly craving his promised help without which the City could not for want of Victuals possiâ—ly be defended by the fainting Souldiers above three days Which Letters being read in the Camp caused great Preparation to be made for the continuing of the siege and the withstanding of the Enemy whose coming was every hour expected All this while the great Ordnance never ceased on either side whereby many were slain as well of the Christians as of the Turks and amongst others many of the Canoneers But forasmuch as the rife Fame of Sinan Bassa's coming increased daily and the Christian Camp possessed with a general fear gave unto the wise just Suspition of some great Mischief likely to ensure Matthias the General entered into Counsel with County Ferdinand Hardeck the Lord Palfi the Lord Vngenade President of the Counsel for the Wars and Erasmus Eraun Governour of Comara What was the best to be done in so dangerous a time Who with general consent agreed betimes before the coming of Sinan to raise the siege and to remove with the Army into some place of more safety Which their determinate Resolution the day following being the six and twentieth of Iune they made known to the other Princes and great Commanders in the Army who wonderfully discontented therewith especially the Germans both openly by word and solemnly by writing protested against the same as most dishonourable and altogether made without their Knowledge or good likeing To whom the President of the Counsel for their further Satisfaction declared That the Enemy was coming with a very great Army and even now at hand whose strength encreased daily and with what Power he had purposed to assail them in their Tents was uncertain besides that it was manifestly know unto the World how that in the former asâ—aults they had lost many of their best Souldiers beside others that died in the Camp and that the Place wherein they lay encamped was subject to many dangers for which so urgent Causes the General had resolved to raise his siege and before the coming of so strong an Enemy to remove his Army into a place of more safety Which Reasons for all that did not so well satisfie the German Princes and Commanders but that they still urged their former Protestation requesting his Excellency to have them excused before God and the World if they yielding to his Command as to their General did that which they thought not altogether best and which they would not otherwise have done For the more Evidence whereof the said German Princes and great Commanders caused their said Protestation to be solemnly conceived in Writing which they affirmed with their Seals and subscribed with their own hands in order as followeth Francis Duke of Saxony Augustus Duke of Brunswick Sebastian Schlick County Wig and Malâ—zan Ernestus of Aâ—â—tan Henry Phlugk Iohn Nicholas Ruswormb Henry Curwigger Heerrath Iohn Oberhausan Henry Rottcirch Melchior of Nothwith But the Arch-duke with the rest constant in their former Resolution first sent away the great Ordnance and raising the siege the 28 th of Iune followed after with the whole Army passing over Danubius not far from Kokara doubtfully expecting what course Sinan the great Bassa who was then reported to be even at hand would take Yet before their departure they set the old Town on fire and raised the Fort St. Nicholas before taken from the Enemy which they had once purposed to have kept This unexpected departure of the Christians much gladded the besieged Turks who for want of Victuals had not been able long
Ferat Bassa he who sometime had the leading of Amurath's great Armies against the Persians who now departing from Constantinople came to Belgrade in April and there took the charge upon him Where at his first coming in the night time all the Ropes and Cords of the Tents were suddenly cut in sunder and so the Tent let fall about his Ears which some supposed to have been done to his Disgrace by the procurement of Cicala Bassa before by him wronged or as others thought by the insolent Janizaries who disliking of him did it in despight wishing rather to have been led by Mahomet himself Now at his coming the Famine which the last year began amongst the Turks was grown exceeding great not at Buda and Belgrade only but even generally in most places of Hungary possessed by the Turks insomuch that the Tartar Women that followed the Camp were fain to roast their own Children and eat them This Famine was also accompanied with a most terrible Plague whereof great numbers of the Turks and Tartars died daily so that of fourscore five thousand Tartars which came the last year into Hungary now remained scarce eight thousand the rest being all devoured with the Sword Famine and Pestilence Great were the harms the Turks still daily received from the late revolted Countries of Transilvania Valachia and Moldavia the Christians of those Places seeking by all means to annoy them Michael Vayvod of Valachia not contented with that he had already done but entring into the Turks Frontiers surprised Scihmele together with the Castle wherein he found fourteen field pieces amongst which were two which had upon them the Arms of the Emperour Ferdinand and other two having upon them the Arms of Huniades which Pieces he afterwards sent as a Present to the Transilvanian Prince After that he took Orosige a famous Port-Town the dwelling place of the Turks great Purvâ—yor for Butter Cheese and Honey and such other Provision for the Court wherein he found such store of the aforesaid Provision as might well have sufficed eight thousand men for a whole year and still prosecuting his good Fortune took from the Turks Kilec and Galempe with the strong Castle of S. George commonly called Grigio and at length besieged Laganoc With the beginning of the Spring came Matthias the Arch-duke and General of the Christian Army from the Assembly of the Nobility of Hungary at Presburg to Vienna and so from thence to the Emperour his Brother at Prague who appointed him General of the lower Hungary and Maximilian his Brother General of the upper Country giving them for their Lieutenants unto Maximilian the Lord Teuffenbach and to Matthias the County Charles Mansfelt by him sent for out of Flanders and after created one of the Princes of the Empire Iohn de Medices who was yet in Hungary he made Master of the great Ordnance with charge to fortifie Komara which he so well performed as that it was thought nothing in strength inferiour to Rab. All this while the Emperour ceased not by his Ambassadors and Letters to sollicite the Christian Princes for the repressing of the common Enemy to put to their helping hands and so much prevailed with them that out of his own hereditary Provinces and from other Princes his Friends he had this Spring raised a right puissant and strong Army for the defence of Hungary which how it was raised and from whom it shall not be much from our purpose briefly to remember as the chief strength under God whereby the Christian Commonweal was this year most notably defended Out of the higher Saxony came a thousand two hundred Horse-men and out of the lower Saxony six hundred from Franconia a thousand Horse-men from Suevia four thousand Foot-men out of the County of Tirol as many from Bavaria three thousand out of Bohemia two thousand men at Arms six hundred light Horse-men and six thousand Foot-men from Silesia a thousand five hundred Horse-men from Lusatia five hundred Horse and a thousand Foot from Moravia a thousand Horse and two thousand Foot out of Austria two thousand Horse and six thousand Foot from Hungary five hundred Horse-men and a thousand Foot from the Nobility of Suevia and Franconia four thousand Foot from the King of Spain out of the Low-Countries under the Conduct of Charles County Mansfelt two thousand Horse-men and six thousand Foot unto these the Bishop of Rome added two thousand Horse-men and eight thousand Foot the great Duke of Florence sent five hundred Horse and three thousand Foot the Duke of Ferrara a thousand five hundred Foot-men the Duke of Mantua a thousand Foot and the Duke Venturee five hundred Horse All which being put together fill up the number of fifteen thousand nine hundred Horse-men and fifty thousand five hundred Foot. Which notable Army raised from the power of divers Christian Princes and conducted by worthy Chiestains had by the goodness of God much better Success this Summer against the ancient Enemies of Christendome than had the like Army the Year before as in the process of this History shall appear Among the worthy Commanders that were in this puissant Army Charles County Mansfelt the Son of Peter Ernestus the old County from his Youth brought up in Arms was by the King of Spain at the request of the Emperour sent with the aforesaid Forces of two thousand Horse and six thousand Foot out of the Low-Countries as a Man for his approved Valour and Direction fit to manage these dangerous Wars against the Turk under Matthias the Arch-duke as his Lieutenant-General who having raised the appointed Forces for most part Walloons departed from Bruxels about the midst of February and by the way taking his leave of his aged Father at Luxenburg and travelling through Germany came in March to Prague where he was by the Emperour and the Arch-duke his Brother most honourably entertained and shortly after with great Solemnity created one of the Princes of the Empire His Forces following after him were by the way stayed partly by the Inundation of Waters the Rivers they were to pass over at that time rising to an unwonted height partly by the Jealousie of some of the German Princes who denied them Passage through their Territories untill such time as that the Emperour by his Letters had opened unto him the way which Princes for all that stood upon their guard and so gave him Passage Now ran great Rumours of the wonderful Preparations of the Turks as also of the Christians Fame after her wonted manner increasing the report of all things above measure which caused the Turks with exceeding care to look to the Fortification of their frontier Towns especially of Rab and Strigonium as did the Christians to the Fortification of Komara and Altenburg In the mean time many hot Skirmishes passed between the Christians and the Turks especially in the late revolted Countries of Transilvania and Valachia wherein the Turks were still put to the worse to the great discontentment
Governour had in seventy five Waggons trussed up a wonderful deal of Wealth which he had there gotten in the time of his former Government to have been together with himself with a strong Convoy conducted to Belgrade Of this his purpose the Hungarian Heidons lying at Lippa and Ienna having Intelligence lay in wait for him upon the way and in his passing by set upon him where in a sharp conflict they overthrew the Convoy and slew the Bassa whose Head they sent for a Present to the Princess at Alba-Iulia and took the Spoil of the Bassa's Carriages wherein was taken a wonderful Wealth for in one of those Waggons is reported to have been found twenty thousand of Hungarian Duckats In this absence also of the Prince 10000 of the Rascians revolting from the Turk came and offered their Service unto the Princess whereof she by Letters with great speed certified the Prince her Husband who thereupon hasted to dispatch with the Emperour and having procured both from him and the Pope the Promise of some Aid to be afterwards sent him took of him his leave and being honourably accompanied departed from Prague to Vienna where he arrived the eleventh of March sitting in a princely Chariot drawn with six most beautiful Horses the gift of the Emperour At his coming thither he was met by the Nobility of the Country and by Aldobrandinus the Pope's Nephew who presented him with three goodly Horses for Service richly furnished Him the Prince took into his Chariot and so accompanied entred the City where he was with all due Honour received and joyfully entertained and so brought unto the Emperour's Palace where by the learned Students of that University was for his Pleasure acted before him the notable History of Ioshua Having stayed there three days and purposing to have in his Return visited his Mother-in-law at Greies in Croatia News was brought him That the Turks and Tartars by the setting on of Stephen Bathor his Uncle were about to break into Transilvania Wherefore changing his purpose he departed thence to Presburg and so with all speed kept on his way towards Transilvania where he to the great joy and comfort of his Subjects in general arrived in safety in the beginning of April In this while many hot Skirmishes passed betwixt the Christians and the Turks in the Frontiers of their Territories and now the Plague and Famine which had of long raged in Constantinople and other places of the Turks Dominions began to asswage Of which so great Calamities as had devoured many thousands of his People the Turkish Emperour finding himself somewhat eased forthwith caused the continuation of his Wars against the Emperour and the Transilvanian Prince to be three days together proclaimed in Constantinople and a great Army to be raised to be sent into Transilvanian and Hungary giving it out that he would with that so puissant an Army in Person himself come into Hungary At which time it was also reported That he had already sent his Tents and other his necessary Provision before to Hadrianople for now was nothing more odious in the Turk's Court than the Name of the Transilvanian Prince Of all these things was not the Emperour ignorant as fully thereof certified both by Letters and Espials as also by the uniform Confession of such Turks as were daily taken Prisoners For which cause he also with as much speed and care as he could provided for the raising of his Army as he had the Year before as also for the levying of Money and provision of all things necessary that the Enemy at his coming might not find him unprovided Neither spared he to pray Aid of the other Christian Princes his Neighbours especially of the Polonian whom he had divers times sought after to have drawn him into the Confederation with the other Christian Princes against the Turk To which purpose he now also sent unto him the Bishop of Preslaw and the Lord Poppelius his Ambassadors as did the Pope also send unto him the Cardinal Cajetane his Legate and the Princes Electors also their Ambassadors unto whom the Polonian gave good hearing and good words but would not by any means be perswaded to break his League with the Turk or to afford any Aid unto the Christians altho the Cardinal with many pregnant Reasons shewed him what small assurance there was in the Turk's Leagues and how dangerous it might be to his State if the Turk making Peace with the Emperour should turn his force upon him which it was like enough he would as knowing no man longer for Friend than stood with his Profit beside the immortal Blemish of his Honour by dissevering himself from the Union of the Christian Princes to hold Friendship with the Turks and Infidels But all this and much more to no purpose so resolutely was the Polonian set down for the keeping of the Turks Favour So that of all the Christian Princes so near unto the devouring Enemy none stood the Christian Common-weal in less stead than he Which for all that most men imputed not so much unto the King as to others about him especially to Zamoschy the great Chancellor by whom that State was most swayed who was not only supposed but openly reported to have secret Intelligence both with the Turk and the Tartar. All this while the Lord Palfi Governour of Strigonium ceased not with continual Inroads to vex the Turks even to the Gates of Buda as did also the other Christian Captains in other places of the Turks Frontiers in Hungary Near unto Buda were two great Country Villages for most part inhabited by Christians who having given their Oath of Obedience unto the Turk lived a miserable life for the payment of an excessive Tribute yearly These poor Christians weary of the Turkish Thraldom and the continual spoil of their Labours by them of Strigonium by secret Messengers requested the Lord Palfi of Mercy to carry them with their Goods and Cattel away into some other place of the Christian Territory that so they might yet live amongst Christians as he had but a little before done for them of old Buda Unto which their so reasonable a Request the Christian Governour charitably hearkened willing them against a certain appointed time to put themselves with all their things in readiness There was of these Christians about 755 Families who with their Wives and Children and such trash as they had pack'd up into eighty Waggons drawn with fourteen or sixteen Oxen a-piece at the appointed time about mid-night committed themselves with all that they had unto the conduct of them of Strigonium sent out of purpose for them by whom they were in safety brought to Strigonium Amongst them were many rich men who brought with them good store of Coyn with an exceeding great number of Cattel Unto these new-come Guests Palfi assigned certain Fields betwixt Strigonium and Vivaria on the North-side of Danubius where they so commodiously lived as was possible in so troubled an Estate
were returning home behold contrary to all hope Rab one of the strongest Fortresses of Christendom three Years before betrayed unto the Turks by County Hardeck was now by the Wisdom and Valour of Adolphus Baron of Swartzenburg the Emperour's Lieutenant in the lower Hungary again recovered to the great grief of the Turks and wonderful rejoycing of the Christians in such sort as followeth This noble Gentleman the Lord Swartzenburg of no less Courage than Experience then lying at Komara and still in doubt lest the Turks so near unto him at Rab should attempt something against him and his Charge provided for his own defence all that Winter-time with a strong Garrison keeping continual Watch and Ward altho it were as then no time for the Enemy with any Army to keep the Field So Winter passing and the Spring approaching it fortuned that the two and twentieth day of March about seven a clock in the night the Gates being shut were heard near under the Walls of the Town two men who by their Speech seemed to be Italians with great instance requesting for the safeguard of their Lives to be let in for fear of the Enemies Pursuit which by one of the Sentinels was forthwith reported unto the Governour who doubting it to be some subtil practice of the Enemy commanded them there to take their Fortune until the Morning at which time they were received into the City and being brought before the Governour prostrating themselves forthwith at his Feet pitifully requested him to have compassion of their Misery and to comfort them with his charitable Relief that so they might at length return again into their Country who at the first asked them What Country-men they were and from whence they came at that time of the night Whereunto they answered That they were Italians and that they had but even then escaped out of the cruel hands of the Turks at Rab. But desiring to know of them some News they after their manner humbled themselves shewing by their Gesture not to know any Yet would he needs understand of them the Particularities when and how they were taken by the Turks and the means they had used to escape out of that cruel Servitude in all order as had befaln them Where the younger of them beginning told him That now almost two years ago at such time as the Christians were overthrown by the Turks under Agria and every man in that confusion then seeking the best and nearest way to save themselves they having by flight now escaped the greatest danger of the Enemy and so travelling over the Country towards Vienna were to their great Misfortune by an hundred Turks come out of Rab to scour the Country and to seek after Prey taken Prisoners and as Slaves committed to the Chain where they had almost two years until now with great Patience served These two Fugitives by their outward appearance seemed to be men of good Spirit and Valour which caused the Governour the more desirous to know of them the means they had used for their escape So the younger proceeding in his Tale gave him to understand of the whole matter telling him That they had been three Months before still carefully devising how to recover their lost Liberty which now seemed to make some offer of it self unto them for that since the time that the Emperour's Army rise the last year from before the Town they were not kept so strait or looked unto as before but lay as men by the Turks not much regarded which caused them the more cheerfully to take the offer of the time and to resolve either the sooner to dye or to set themselves at liberty And that so one day as they were carrying certain Munition from the Palace of Giaffer Bassa for the Souldiers they secretly conveyed three pieces of Cord of some reasonable bigness therewith by night to let themselves down from the Wall and so make their Escape which stoln Cord that it should not be seen and so their purpose suspected they buried in the ground But the Night being come for them to effect in what they had so long desired and they roming up and down in the dark and still finding one let or other they were enforced for that time to stay and to deferr it until the night following which being come and choice made of a most convenient place they made fast the Cord above and so thereby slid down first the elder and then the younger who not knowing how to swim was yet by the good direction and help of his Fellow conducted over unto the farther side of the broad and deep Ditch and that so in the night so dark as that one of them could hardly see the other they were come by chance to Komara thinking to have taken the way to Vienna The Governour thus fully instructed of their Escape demanded of them further how the strong Town of Rab was by the Turks governed and guarded who told him very evil and with small care especially since the Departure of the Emperour's Camp and also that four Gates of the Town were filled up with Earth which if they were broken open would all fall into the Town-ditch and so further them that would attempt to enter with divers other Particularities Whereof the Governour having well considered thought with himself that if by some ingenious Device he might by night with some good strength upon the sudden enter the Town it might happily be so again recovered Upon which so great a designment he thought good to consult further with the Lord Palfi whom he requested in all haste and with as much Secrecy as was possible with 1600 Foot and as many Horse as he could make to come unto him to Komara Who upon this Advertisement staid not but presently giving order unto his men set forward by night and the 26 th of March before day with 1400 Foot and 120 Horse arrived at Komara where they were all joyfully received and the Gates after they were entred again fast shut and so kept for fear of the Enemies secret Spies of whom no man can be too wary be he never so wise Now whilst these Souldiers were refreshing themselves in the mean time the Governour with the Lord Palfi discoursed to the full concerning the intended Enterprise which resolved upon they found themselves upon the view of their men to have 2600 Foot of the Garrison Souldiers and 300 Horse all good and courageous men and well appointed for the intended Service who there staying two days after their coming and many of them in the mean time after the manner of their Religion confessing themselves and receiving the Sacrament were become so courageous as that they doubted not in the Quarrel of the Christian Religion to encounter a far greater number of the Turks than themselves And the more to stir them up the Lord Palfi at the same time delivered unto them a notable Speech not for all that telling them whither they were
to go but That they were his Christian Souldiers and Brethren under his leading both of long and late time who never by him deceived of their wonted Pay at such time as it was due would not now as he hoped forsake him And albeit that he well knew them to have deserved at his hands a greater Contentment nevertheless being himself deprived of his Revenue by these late Wars and his Possessions subject every hour unto the Incursions of the Turks could not therefore according to his Desire and their Deserts shew unto them the great good Will he bare them yet now and even presently was come the time wherein they might not only abundantly inrich themselves but also adorn their Heads with an immortal Crown of Glory and make themselves for ever famous by performing the most happy and glorious Exploit that ever was by valiant Souldiers attempted or atchieved in that part of the World. And to the intent that they might know how dearly he accounted of the Life and Honour of every one of them he would therefore himself with the Lord Swartzenburg of whom proceeded all that fair Device and new Stratagem be present with them in the Action and that therefore they were not to think that they were led forth to any private danger farther than their Commanders themselves whose Folly were to be accounted great if rashly and upon no good ground they should adventure their Lives and Honours together whereof they ought not now to doubt having by a thousand Proofs known how much they had been of them always regarded And that therefore it behoved them so much the more to shew their Valour in this piece of Service undertaken for the great benefit of the Christian Commonweal and the Honour of Christ Jesu unto whom they were with one accord to make their Prayers with his mighty hand to strengthen their Hearts and with glorious Victory to bring to happy end the intended Exploit against his Enemies to the honour of his Name and the advancement of the Christian Religion and Faith. At the end of which Speech all the Souldiers cried aloud That they were most ready to do any their Commands and to follow them whithersoever So order was taken that within three hours they should every man be prest and ready with their Arms according to their places and so having well refreshed themselves about eleven of clock the seven and twentieth day of March they in good order began to set forwards toward Rab. But for that the multitude of Souldiers oftentimes giveth the Enemy warning of that is intended against him Palfi gave order to one Iohn Stroine his Serjeant-Major to follow fair and softly after him with 1700 Horse and Foot which he well performed and so upon the break of the day they began to draw towards Rab and there lay close in Ambush all that day until night about seven miles short of the Town refreshing themselves in the mean time with plenty of Victuals which they had brought with them from Komara Night the favourer of Deceit being come in two hours March they began to draw near to Rab and there staid about five hours from whence they sent before them a French Engineer a man of great Judgment with thirteen others before rewarded with 1500 Duckats having with them four Petards Engines of Force to blow up into the Air any thing whereunto they be fastened be it never so great and weighty where by good chance they found the Draw-bridge down and the Portcullis up for that the Turks then casting no Peril expected every hour for certain Waggons with Provision from Alba-Regalis By which good hap the Christians unperceived coming to the Gate and thereunto fastning their Petards in good order gave fire to the same which presently took not hold yet were they not far gone but that they were by a Sentinel descried who demanding what they were was presently answered by the violent Engines which in a trice tore in sunder the Gate with some part of the Wall and of the Fortifications near unto it When now the Watch but all too late began to give the Alarm and the Christians in the foreward thrusting presently in took the Gate none of the Turks yet coming to the defence thereof or to hinder them from entring The first that appeared were 200 Turks which with their wonted Cry Alla Alla in such hideous manner as if they would therewith have rent the Heavens would have staid the Christians from farther entring but were themselves over-charged by 300 which were already entred At which time also the Bassa came on with more than a thousand following him and that with such Courage and Fury as was never greater to be seen in any Turk where after a most terrible Fight maintained by the space of two hours the Bassa himself being slain the Turks began a little to retire whereby a thousand Christians more had leisure to enter when straightway after came Giaffer the great Bassa with above a thousand tall Souldiers following him all the Inhabitants also of Rab running after him and that with such force that they constrained the Christians to retire unto the Gate whereby they entred Who resolved rather honourably to die within the Town than with dishonour to be forced out there with incredible Courage sustained the greatest Impression of the furious Enemy where was to be seen the true Christian Valour for the performance of so great an Exploit well worthy of eternal Memory But this Bassa also the other being dead of a Wound in his Neck encountered by the Lord Swartzenburg after he had in that sharp Conflict shewed great tokens of his Valour was there at length slain also both whose Heads struck off were for a Present afterwards sent to the Emperour at Prague with all the particularities of the whole Action But now the Turks perceiving that all their chief Commanders were slain retired most part of them into the City some 300 of them crept underneath one of the Bulwarks where stood certain Barrels of Gunpowder which they desperately set on fire and so together with themselves blew up three hundred Christians that were above upon the Bulwark the greatest loss the Christians had in all that Victory who were otherwise supposed not to lose therein above two hundred of their men Thus the Turks discomfited and altogether full of fear losing both their Force and Courage fled in every place before the Christians they in every corner making of them a most horrible Slaughter The Turkish Women all this while out of their Windows and other high places ceased not to cast down Stones Timber and such like things upon the Heads of the Christians whom they thought by all means to annoy and to help the Turks The bloody Execution continued all that day until night the Christians still finding one or other hidden in the most secret places of the City upon whom to exercise their Wrath who ransacking also every corner thereof
make the Vayvod to understand how highly the great Sultan was displeased with him put himself upon the way with six hundred Janizaries towards Hadrianople with purpose there to winter until the Spring and so to expect the coming of the rest of the Army that so with the same united unto the Forces of Mehemet Saâ—ergi who the last year besieged Veradinum â—e might in the Field appear more terrible unto his Enemies The Christian Emperour also at the same time rested much discontented that his People in so fair a way for the winning of the Castle of Buda had yet failed thereof the Wallons laying the fault upon the Lords Swartzenburg Palfi and the rest of the Commanders that it was not won for that when they as valiant men offered to have done therein the uttermost of their Devoir their Leaders had made choice by the Spade and Mattock rather than by the Sword to perform the same But Michael the Vayvod seeing the Turks not a little dismayed with the sacking of Nicopolis began afresh to their greater terror and hurt to make new Inâ—odes upon them in such sort as that he was entred an hundred miles into their Territory against whom Mehemet Satergi as yet the Turks General in Hungary coming with his Forces he again retired carrying away with him the spoil of the Country by him wasted They of Buda in the mean time fearing some sudden Assault to be given upon them and suffering within great want of Victuals expected long to be relieved both with Victuals and other Neceâ—saries understanding yet withal that the grand Seignior had caused it to be given out in Constantinople That he was raising a great Power of his best and most expert Souldiers and had therefore sent for unto the Court all his old men of War such as had served in the Wars of Persia to be now again employed in Hungary Where the Turks in the mean time providing to relieve the distressed City of Buda both with Men and many other Necessaries certain resolute Hungarians understanding by their Espials that one of the Turks Bassaes with 3000 Souldiers was coming thither to increase the Garrison laid themselves close in Ambush in a place whereby the Turks were to pass where they had not long stay'd but that the Turks as men without fear disorderedly passing by were by them with such force and fury assailed that in a moment when they least thought they were overthrown and put to flight with the loss of many of their Horses much Money and Jewels and many Captains there taken Prisoners the Bassa himself with much ado hardly escaping into the City But shortly after 400 Christians scouring the Country about Buda and having taken a good booty of Cattel and other Pillage returning loaded with the Prey were by the way assaulted by the Turks and inforced to forsake the same and to fight for their Lives whom for all that they notably repulsed with the slaughter of divers of them and so again recovering their Booty returned with Victory And about this time or not long after in the upper Hungary a great power of the Turks and Tartars having foraged a great part of that Country and done the Christians great harm came before Cossovia making shew as if they would even presently have besieged that City which put the Inhabitants in such a fear that many of them without farther Delâ—beration fled forthwith as fast as they could into the Mountains thinking themselves more safe there than in the City Nevertheless by the persuasion of George Basta the Emperour's Lieutenant in those Parts 2000 valiant and expert Souldiers staid there with him expecting what the Turks would do who approaching the Walls demanded of them in the City a great Sum of Money by way of Contribution threatning otherwise the utter Ruine and Destruction thereof Which their proud Demand was by Basta stoutly rejected and they with the loss of a great many of their Lives inforced to get them farther off Wherefore seeing themselves not able to prevail against a City so well provided they for fear by night rise and departed quite another way than that whereby they came doing great harm still as they went. The free Haiducks of Valachia also a warlike kind of People living for the most part upon Prey and willing to shew some token of their Hatred toward the Turks by certain Bridges passing over the Danubius encountered with the Bassa of Natolia with a great Power whom they overthrew with much slaughter of his People and the loss of his Brother there slain also and so afterwards over-running the Country did there exceeding harm and took the same Bassa's Son Prisoner Thus passed the Winter with many light Skirmishes and Incursions in divers parts of Hungary and other the frontier Countries which had done great harm had it not been before-hand wâ—ll provided for by the Imperials who in most places strengthened with new Supplies stayed the fury of their barbarous Enemies Maximilian the Arch-duke in the mean time coming from Prague to Vienna found himself there to have in his Camp but four and twenty thousand Foot and ten thousand Horse ready against the next Spring divers of the German Princes this year not sending thither any Aid at all by reason of their Troubles nearer home with the Spaniards in the lower side of Germany which made him the more to dread the Enemies coming who he knew after his accustomed manner would that Summer appear in the Field with a far greater number But to have holpen this want the great Duke of Muscovy about this time by his Ambassadors amongst other things requested leave of the Polonian for forty thousand Horsemen to pass through his Country which Horse-men he had determined as he said to send in aid of the Emperour against the Turk which his Request the Polonian would by no means grant as dangerous to his Estate Wherefore the Muscovite offended with the Polonian sent other his Ambassadors unto the Emperour by Sea who embarqued in an English Ship in the Port of S. Nicholas and sailing about the Kingdoms of Sweden Norway and Denmark after long trouble at Sea at length arrived at Stoad and so from thence by Land travelling to Hamborough Lubeck and Maidenborow and in every place honourably entertained came at last unto the Emperour into Bohemia then lying at Plisena for that the Plague was then hot at Prague where they having with great state delivered their Presents and Letters of Credence unto the Emperour had Audience and were by him most honourably used Yet the Polonian having thus denied the Muscovite Passage suffered the Turks Ambassador who called himself Gabriel a Jew to pass through his Country unto the Emperour to intreat with him of a Peace to be made betwixt him and the Turk Which Gabriel coming to Prague as Ambassador from the great Turk and having no Letters of Credence to shew for his Negotiation for that they were as he said upon the way taken
to the Arsenal he called the Visier Bassa the Admiral and the great Treasurer before him where it was concluded to make ready at least an hundred Gallies for the preparation whereof sixty thousand Chequines were then delivered the Visier promising to furnish the rest of the whole charge with expedition of his own purse and to take it up upon the King's Assignations Whereupon the Grand Seignior with great content did vest them as a mark of favour and gave present Commission to the Admiral to be ready to depart by the midst of April following and for his better strength he gave a command to send for Aids to Tunis and Algier which was thought requisite because it was reported that the Prince Philibert of Savoy then Viceroy of Sicily had in readiness sixty Gallies and six Gallions at Messina which force was doubted would be employed to give Succour to the Emir of Sidon or to revenge the attempt and late sack of Manfredonia so that they were with all expedition rigging and preparing the Armado in the Arsenal and for provision and prevention of the worst there was ordained twelve small Gallies and the ordinary Fleet of Frigots to keep the black Sea from the incursion of the Cossacks And though it was given out that this Army was only prepared against the Emir yet many that understood the secrets of that Empire knowing it to be too great did believe it should be sent to prevent a general revolt which was then murmured and suspected in Asia About this time contrary to the counsel and will of all his Ministers the Grand Seignior married the Grand-child of a Sultana Wife to Pertau Bassa only for her Beauty without any Pomp which was ill interpreted in that Court his Ancestors of late years not usually taking Wives especially of a Turkish race for respect of Kindred This and other inconstancies with extream Avarice made him odious with the Souldier and his daily haunting the Streets on foot sometimes disguised with a Page or two prying into houses and Taverns like a petty Officer increased his contempt even in the City Secret Order was given about the same time to Diac-Mahomet the Bassa of Canisia and to Gelut-Emirze a Tartarian to unite themselves with Bethlem Gabor against the Emperour of Germany But the Bassa of Buda did advertise the Grand Seignior that Bethlem Gabor had concluded Peace with the Emperour which news did greatly displease him being ardent in the desire of War. The Peace between the Grand Seignior and the King of Poland was not yet fully concluded but Ambassadours were weekly expected at the Port from Poland and other places to hasten a full consummation thereof Amongst which Sir Thomas Roe Knight Ambassadour in ordinary from his Majesty of Great Britain to the Grand Seignior arrived there the first of Ianuary and had his first audience of him speedily when he made this Speech unto him in English which immediately followeth MOst High and Mighty Emperour his sacred Majesty the King of Great Britain France and Ireland my most gracious Lord and Sovereign according to the antient League of Friendship and Amity of long time begun and continued between the most noble Ancestors of your Majesties and in his Royal Person confirmed by his sundry Ambassadors and Letters both to your renowned Father and your Imperial Majesty being fully determined on his part to maintain and inviolably to hold a fair and good Peace and Correspondency with your Majesty hath commanded and sent me with his Letters of Credence and friendly Present to reside as his Ambassador in your Royal Court Not doubting but your Imperial Majesty will accept them and receive me his unworthy Servant with your wonted Honour and Favour and that you will give Credit unto me in divers matters of importance which he hath commanded me to deliver in his Name comprehended in five Articles written in this Memorial And that you will be pleased to do therein according to the Royal Friendship of his Majesty and your Princely Wisdom and Iustice. The particulars whereof I desire your Majesty to read and consider at your ease and leisure and to afford me your Royal answer his Majesty resting assured he shall receive Content and Satisfaction worthy his Royal Friendship The Letter of Credence sent by Sir Thomas Roe IAMES by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Christian Faith against all those that falsly profess the Name of Iesus c. To the most High and Mighty Prince Sultan Osman Han chief Lord and Commander of the Ottoman Kingdom and Empire of the East sendeth Health and Greeting WE doubt not but you received our Letters sent you by our Subject John Chapman whereby we signified unto you our Royal Pleasure to recall and discharge our Ambassador Sir John Ayre from his Employment and Residency in your Court whom we desired you in your Frincely Favour to dismiss for our especial Service and to receive the bearer of our said Letters as Agent to remain in your Protection for the better support and maintenance of our Subjects which do trade and abide in your Dominions and for the advancement and continuance of the mutual Commerce and Friendship which hath been a long time contracted between your Predecessors and ours until the arrival of our Servant Sir Thomas Roe of whom as then we made choice to send unto your Port as Ambassador as well to propound unto you divers things necessary for the general Peace as to reside in your Court for our particular Service Notwithstanding lest the said Letters should not come safely to your Royal Hands we have thought sit again to make known our purpose of recalling our former Ambassador Sir John Ayre and to desire you to discharge and dismiss him from your Port and to receive and admit in his room our trusty and well beloved Servant Sir Thomas Roe one of the principal Gentlemen of our Court and of our Privy Chamber whom we have now expresly sent and whom we authorise under our great Seal of England as our Ambassador to reside at your Port and to negotiate in our Name and in the behalf of our Subjects abiding within your Kingdoms of whose Fidelity and Discretion as we are well assured so we doubt not but he will give you good content in his Demeanour and Negotiation with you We have also thought fit to put you in mind of those common Rovers upon the Seas who are Enemies to the Laws of Nations and spoilers of the quiet and peaceable Merchant by whom Amity and Friendship is maintained between Kings and Princes That you would please to exercise your Great and Mighty Power to chastise and destroy them as Traitors to your Honour and infringers of the sacred and publick Peace In full assurance that you will extend the same good respect unto us as your Royal Ancestors have done unto our most renowned Predecessors whereby that antient League and Commerce may be
to keep the business in suspence than to come to an open rupture with them and rather than to use long discourse to them or perswasions to little purpose to write them this short Letter the superscription of which was to Ramadam their Governour in Chief and to the rest of the Divan WE are sorry that there should be still one difference in our Treaty relating to the search of Shipâ— and delivering up Merchants Forreigners and Strangerâ— goods This is an Article which the King my Master did not think you would have insisted upon because it was granted to others who were Uâ—uâ—pâ—rs and his Subjects and therefore did not impower me to conclude with you in it Howsoever I shall acquainâ— the King my Master of your earnest Desiâ—es and Resolves in this Business and doubt not but what is Iust and Reasonable will be assented unto Wherefore in the mean time we must desire you whilst his Royal assent is expecting to your proposals that the Peace may continue on the same Terms that it now stands Let your Friend and Kinsmâ—n comâ— abâ—ard as is desired and he shall be welcome and we shall protect him to the uttermost of our power And on this Promise and word of ours yâ—u may rely on as of a Christian and a true Englishman Our desire also farther is that the Lord Obryan may remain in the Consuls House until such time as his Ransom comes And so we wish that a hearty and long Peace may be continued between the two Nations Given aboard the Plymouth Frigat November 25 1660. Winchelsea Upon delivery of this Letter it was concluded that the former Articles should stand in force only that difference about searching our Ships should remain in suspence and be specified as not fully agreed on Howsoever they would search our Ships and it should not be accounted a breach of our Capitulations until the King should intimaâ—e his dislâ—ke thereof And that when Notâ—ce should come from his Majesty to Algier that he approved not thereof then it should be lawful for both sides to break into Acts of Hostility This moderate course we thought to be less prejudicial to us for the present than an open and sudden War For by this means we gained the releasement of two small English Ships which their Men carried in thither and had time to give notice to our Merchants in all Ports and places of the true state of our business with Algier On the Twenty-seventh of November we departed from the bay of Algier with a prosperous and steddy Gale steering N.E. and N. N. E. for Messiâ—â— from whence we intended to dâ—spatch Letters unto all places rendring advices to his Majesty and the Merchants of the State and Condition of our Affairs and Negotiation at Algier And whilst we pleasantly sail'd with a prosperous wind on a sudden a cry was made of Fire in the Ship which astonished us all with a great amazement For the Cooper it seems going into the Steward's Room to stave a Cask which formerly had some Brandy in it by chance a Snuff of the Candle fell in at the bung which put the whole Vessel into a Flame But the same Man immediately stopping the Bung soon smothered the Fire and therewith extinguish'd thatand our fears As to other Matters our Voyage to Messina was speedy and happy for we arrived there on the Second of December Some Days passed before we could get pratick for having touched at Algier a place always suspected for the Plague great scruple was made of admitting us to free converse in the Town Until the Lord Ambassadour gave under his Hand and Seal an assurance of the Health of our Ship on confidence of which we received Pratick and the Palace called Paradise where commonly the Vice-Kings are lodged was appointed to receive his Excellency and his Retinue and the Furniture thereof ordered by D. Francisco de la Villa Padierna a Spaniard who was Stratago which is as much as Commander in chief of all the Castles and Forts in and about Messina So soon as his Excellency landed this Stratago made him a Visit and at his departure left his Guard with him in a Complement but in the mean time the Iurati who were six in number chose as I think every year or every third year by the Citizens for Government of the City were wanting in the like civility towards our Ambassador four of which are chosen out of the Burgers and two out of the Gentry for they took no notice of him nor sent him any message until the hour that he was about to depart when his Excellency refused to receive their visits excusing his neglect of attendance to matters of Ceremony at a time when business urged his departure whence this omission on the Jurats side proceeded may in probability be deriv'd from the antipathy they have to the Spaniards and their Government always running contrary to that unto which they find the Spanish Ministers most inclined During our abode at this place his Excellency having returned his Visit to the Stratago accompanied with D. Ioseppe de Luna a Cavalier of Maltha and having wrote a Letter to the Conde de Ayala then Vice-King of Sicily residing at Palermo he gave advices unto all places of the doubtful state of our affairs with Algiers that so Ships might be cautious of that people and how they adventured themselves abroad without Convoy and having compleated these Dispatches we again returned aboard on the ninth of this Month when the Stratago abounding in all points of civility sent an honourable present of all sorts of fresh provisions aboard Ship and soon after came himself in person to bid Farewel to his Excellency At his coming aboard we gave him nine Guns and at his going off fifteen and so soon as our Anchors were away and our Fore-top-Sail filled we bid adieu to the Town with twenty one Guns more which they returned by firing all the Guns of the five Castles under command of the Stratago which is an honour they seldom pay to any other than the Generalissimo of Spain the Vice-King and the Popes Admiral We had so fair a Wind and so prosperous a passage that we arrived at Smyrna on the 14 th of December where we found the Prosperous and Smyrna Factor the Merchants Ships which we had lost in the Storm happily arrived Here we remained for some days to order and settle several affairs according to Instructions given by the Turky Company And on the sixth of Ianuary being Sunday and Twelfth-day we returned aboard to prosecute this Ultimate stage of our Voyage to Constantinople our Frigat the Plymouth Anchored near the Town within the very Port of Smyrna from whence sailing with a fresh Easterly Wind from the shore we were carried without the Port and out of command of the Castle where the wind sailing and being wholly calm we Anchored until the next morning when with a gentle gale at South-East we proceeded forward and
People which like a Spark that causes the Conâ—lagration of a whole City may breed those inteâ—tine Civil distractions which may prove of more danger and ruin than the former War. It will not be necessary to speak much of the Hollanders in regard that though they have a Resident there they are scarce taken notice of as a Nation different but depending on the English. These foregoing words of Holland have been liable to censure amongst the Dutch but for my Apology therein I have thus much to say That though the Assertion may seem strange in these our Times yet when it was first wrote which is now above seventeen Years past it might have past for Current Truth Distingue tempora bene doces When I came first into Turky which was in the Year 1660 there were very few of the Dutch Nation then in Turky and their Trade very inconsiderable At Aleppo they had no Consul till some Years after my arrival Levinus Warner Resident at Constantinople sent his Brother first to that place but before that time they always lived under the English protection At Smyrna they had no other for their Consul than one Evan Ogle a Greek of whom either the Dutch or Turks took little notice having recourse very often to the English Consul for his Advice and Assistance At Constantinople for many Years the Dutch lived under the English Ambassador which was the occasion of those differences debated in the Divan between ours and the French Ambassador Likewise Levinus Warner a German born lived for some Years in the House of the English Ambassador until afterwards that by the Lords the States he was promoted to be their Resident at the Port. All which happening in so short time after my arrival in Turky it will not appear strange to considering Men that the Dutch Nation should not at that time by the generality of the People though the Ministers of State might know otherwise be distinguished from ours or their Puissance and Greatness so well understood as it is at present The Heer Colyer formerly Resident but now dignified with the Title of Ambassador at the Port and the several Consuls in their respective Factories being much respected and esteemed And these are all the Nations considerable with whom the Turk hath occasion to Treat or that fall under his Cognisance of Business When the Grand Signior hath occasion to write unto any of the Christian Princes he commonly uses these Expressions at the beginning of the Letter To the Glory of the great Princes of JESUS Elected by the Reverend Senators of the Religion of the Messiah Composer of the Publick Affairs of the Christian Nation Patron or Master of a Courteous and Modest Train Lord of those Ways which lead to Honour and Glory whose End may it be happy c. CHAP. XXII The regard the Turks have to their Leagues with Foreign Princes AS the Christian Religion teaches Humility Charity Courtesie and Faith towards all that are within the Pale of Humane Nature to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Turkish Superstition furnishes its Followers with Principles not only to abhor the Doctrines but also the Persons of such whom they term not Believers The sordidness of their Blood and ungentleness of their Education makes them insolent and swelled in Prosperity and their Victories and Spoils upon Christians render the Arms and Force of other parts contemptible in respect of theirs Upon these Considerations of the vileness of Christianity and scorn of their Power they assume this into a Maxime That they ought not to regard the Leagues they have with any Prince or the Reasons and Ground of a Quarrel whilst the Breach tends to the enlargement of their Empire which consequently infers the propagation of their Faith. Many and various are the Examples and Stories in all Ages since the beginning and increase of the Turkish Power of the Perfidiousness and Treachery of this People that it may be a Question Whether their Valour and Force hath prevailed more in the time of War or the little care of their Faith and maintenance in their Leagues hath availed them in the time of Peace Thus Didymotichum in the time of Peace under Amurath third King of the Turks whilst the Walls and Fortifications were building was by the Asian Labourers which were entertained in the Work and the help of other Turks which lay near in Ambush surprized and taken So also Rodestum in the time of Peace by command of Amurath was by Eurenoses assaulted and taken by strategem So Adrianople in the Reign of the same Emperor after Peace made again and Assurances given of better Faith was by the Art and Disguise of Chasis-Ilbeg pretending to be a discontented Captain and a Fugitive from the Turks by fair Speeches and some Actions and Skirmishes Abroad gained such confidence amongst the credulous Greeks as enabled him afterwards to set the Gates open to Amurath's Army which after some Conflict was taken and never recovered again by the power of the Greeks It is an old and practised Subtilty of the Turks immediately after some notable Misfortune to entreat of Peace by which means they may gain time to recollect their Forces and Provisions to prosecute the War. It is notable and worthy of Record the Treachery of the Treaty used the Year 1604 begun in the time of Mahomet the Third and broken off by Achmet his Successour The Overtures for a Treaty were first propounded by the Turks and Commissioners from the Emperor appointed and met the Turks at Buda twelve days Truce were concluded for consideration of the Articles and Presents sent by the Turks to the Emperor to persuade of the reality of their Intentions Mahomet dying Sultan Achmet renews his Commission to the Bassa of Buda to continue the Treaty whereupon the Christian and Turks Commissioners have another meeting at Pest where whilst the Christians were courteously treating the Infidels in Tents near the Town and they to create in the Christians an assurance of their faithful Dealings were producing Letters from their Sultan and Prime Vizier filled with Oaths and Protestations as by the God of Heaven and Earth by the Book of Moses by the Souls of their Ancestors and the like that their Intentions for Peace were real and meant nothing but what was honourable and just At that very time the Turks of Buda conceiving that in the time of this great Jollity and Confidence the Walls of Pest were neglected and slightly manned issued out in great numbers to surprize it the Alarm of which ended the Banquet and the Turks finding Matters contrary to their Expectation returned only with the shame of their Treachery It is no wonder the Disciples should in a Point of so great Liberty and Advantage follow the Example and Doctrine of their Master for the like Mahomet did when overthrown and repulsed at the Siege of Mecha made a firm League with the Inhabitants of strict Peace and Amity but the next Summer
Christian Captain contendeth with a Turk his Prisoner for his ransome 250 a. is afterward slain 252 b. Mustapha the supposed Son of Bajazet raiseth Rebellion against Amurath 173 a. being in fear flyeth 174 a. is shamefully hanged ib. b. Mustapha the younger Soâ— of Mahomet raiseth new Troubles against Amurath 175 b. is betrayed and strangled ib. b. Mustapha Bassa sent by Amurath against Scanderbeg 206 b. being aâ—â—aulted in his Camp flyeth ib. b. desirous to redeem his former disgrace craveth leave of Amurath to enter into Epirus and obtaineth it 212 b. Amurath's Letters of advertisement to Mustapha ib. b. fighteth with Scanderbeg the second time 213 b. is overthrown and taken Prisoner ib. b. and afterwards ransomed 214 a. Mustapha Bassa perswadeth Solyman to the besieging of the Rhodes 383 a. upon the evil success of the siege falleth into disgrace with Solyman 393 b. in danger with Pyrrhus Bassa to have been executed 396 a. made Governour of Caire ib. b. by Solyman sent as General of his Army to Malta 536 b. landeth at the Port Marza-Siroc in the Isle of Malta 538 a. besiegeth the Castle Saint Elmo ib. a. assaulteth the Castle ib. b. in vain giveth a second assault 539 a. with loss assaulteth it the third time ib. b. in most furious manner battereth it by the space of eighteen days and assaulteth it the fourth â—ime 540 a. with great fury giveth the fifth and most terrible assault unto the Castle 541 a. with all his Army giveth the sixth and last assault 542 a. winneth the Castle ib. b. exerciseth most barbarous cruelty upon the bodies of the slain Knights ib. b. in vain assaulteth the Castle Saint Michael 546 b. at one time assaulteth the new City and the Castle Saint Michael 547 b. he by Messengers certifieth Solyman of the success of the siege 548 a. leaveth nothing unattempted 549 a. at once assaulteth the Towns Saint Angelo and Saint Michael and in both places notably repulsed ib. b. giveth a fresh assault and entreth the new City 550 a. with a great slaughter driven out again ib. b. desperately assaulteth the Town of Saint Michael 551 a. repulsed raiseth his siege 552 b. put to flight by the Christians ib. b. having lost above four and twenty thousand of his Turks at the siege departed from Malta ib. b. he with Pial Bassa impugneth the Counsel of Muhamet the chief of the Visier Bassa's and perswadeth Selymus to invade Cyprus 567 b. for his hatred against the Christians made general of his Army for the invasion of Cyprus 572 a. his Letters unto the Venetians in the Isle of Cyprus ib. b. he landeth his Army in Cyprus 573 a. besiegeth Nicosia 572 a. in vain perswadeth them of Nicosia to yield 575 a. he encourageth his Souldiers and giveth a most terrible assault ib. b. winneth the City 576 a. besiegeth Famagusta 576 b. raiseth his siege 577 a. returneth again to the siege 584 a. after many assaults hath the City by composition yielded unto him 586 b. shamefully and contrary to his faith before given murthereth the valiant Governour Bragadinus 587 a. tyrannizeth upon his dead body ib. b. by Amurath made General of his Army against the Persians 657 b. cometh to Erzirum 658 a. mustereth his Army in number an hundred and ten thousand strong ib. a. relieveth his Soldiers distressed by the Persians 659 a. maketh a Bulwark of the Heads of the slain Persians ib. a. he surveyeth his Army at Archicheleck and lacketh forty thousand of his men 660 a. fortifieth Teflis ib. a. loseth ten thousand of his forragers 661 a. revengeth their deaths ib. b. his notable answer unto his mutinous Soldiers ib. b. loseth eight thousand of his men in passing the River Canac 662 a. famine in his host ib. b. he fortifieth Ere 's ib. b. sendeth Osman Bassa to take in Sumachia and Derbâ—nt ib. b. relieveth his distressed Garrison at Teflis 663 a. his Army in great misery in passing the streights of Georgia ib. a. cometh to Erzirum and dischargeth his Army ib. b. maketh preparation for the next years Wars 666 b. assembleth his Army at Erzirum 667 b. in three and twenty days fortifieth Chars ib. b. sendeth succor to Teflis ib. b. returneth to Erzirum and there dischargeth his Army 668 b discharged of his Generalship and called home to Constantinople 669 b. maligned by Sinan ib. b. dealeth warily with the Messengers sent of purpose to have strangled him 670 a. appeaseth the displeasure of Amurath ib. b. dieth suddenly 672 a. Mustapha Solyman's eldest Son in great estimation with the People 512 a. sent Governour into Caramania ib. b. maligned by Roxolana ib. b. in danger to have been poysoned 513 b. sent for by his Father and warned of his present danger 514 a. conferreth with his Doctor ib. b. troubled with his melancholy dream 515 a. cometh to his Fathers Tent ib. b. in the sight of his Father most cruelly strangled ib. b. his Son Mahomet strangled also ib. b. a Proverb taken from his death 517 a. Mutius Tortona a Spanish Captain raiseth a mutiny in the Christian fleet at Paxo 591 b. Tortona and his Antient hanged ib. b. Muzalo by Theodorus the Emperour appointed Governour to his young Son John 77 a envied by the Nobility is traiterously murthered in the Church 78 a. N. NAdasti his great Vertues 834 a. Nassuf the Great Visier his fall foreshewed 921 b. the whole course of his Life and Fortune described 922 a. his Throat cut ib. b. his great Treasure 923 a. another discourse of the manner of his death ib. a. Naupactum otherwise called Lepanto in vain besieged by the Turks 281 b. yielded to Bajazet 312 b. Neapolis the first Regal Seat of the Othoman Kings 99 b. Negligence severely punished 529 a. Neocastrum built by Mahomet the Great 230 b. Neritos now called S. Maura taken by the Venetians 315 a. Neuhuse hardly assaulted and valiantly defended 865 b. distressed ib. b. yielded to the Rebels 872 b. restored to the Emperour 880 a. Neusol surprised by and recovered from the Haiducks 860 b. by them again taken 863 a. Nice taken by the Turks 99 a. recovered again by the Christians 125 b. again surprised by the Turks 126 b. by Orchanes made the regal Seat of his Kingdom 128 a. Nicholaus Catalusius Prince of Mytilene turneth Turk and is executed 248 a. Nicholas Karetschen corrupted betrayeth Giula to the Turks 557 b. the Traitor justly rewarded ib. b. Nicephorus Botoneatus displaceth his Master the Emperour Michael Ducas and taketh upon him the Empire 8 b. Nicomedia yielded unto the Turks 127 b. Novigrade yielded unto the Christians 724 b. O. ODenburg besieged by the Rebels and by Basta relieved 165 a. Osman proclaimed Sultan 949 a. his Oath to Bethlem Gabor 952 b. greatly inraged at the Emperour 964 b. taketh a Wife contrary to the will of his Council 965 b. desirous of Peace with the Polack 969 a. strangled by Daout Bassa 970 b. discourse of his Life and
by the general consent of the Mamalukes chosen Sultan of Egypt 362 a. maketh great preparation against the Turks and seeketh to entrap them 365 b. his devices discovered ib. b. he fighteth a great battel with Selymus and is put to the worse 367 a. raiseth new Forces at Caire ib. b. fortifieth Caire 368 b. fighteth a great battel in the City 370 b. overcome flieth 371 a. driven out of Caire raiseth new Forces in Segesta 372 a. distresseth the Turks in passing the Bridg made over Nilus 373 a. giveth a notable attempt to have gained the Bridge ib. b. repulsed and put to â—light 374 a. taken and brought to Selymus ib. a. tortured and shamefully put to death ib. a. Totisa yielded to the Turks 865 b. Transilvania miserably distressed 840 a. the troubles secretly maintained by the Nobles ib. a. new Troubles 843 a. the Rebels surprised and slain ib. a. the miserable State of that Province 843 b. new Troubles raised 901 b. Transilvania given by Solyman to the Child King John's Son 483 b. Trapezond yielded to Mahomet the Great 245 b. Treachery of the Polonian General 936 b. Tripolis in Barbary besieged by Sinan Bassa 509 a. battered ib. a. the weakest places thereof and fittest to be battered by a fugitive Christian discovered to the Turks ib. b. upon hard Conditions yielded to the proud and faithless Bassa 511 a. Troubles in Moldavia 902 a. new Troubles 908 b. in Transilvania 910 a Tumult at Pera 933 b. Tunes besieged by Lewis the French King 83 b. yielded to Charles the Emperour 449 b. by him upon an easie Tribute again restored to Muleasses 451 a. again yielded to the Turks 620 b. Turks their original Beginning diversly reported 1 a. descended from the Scythians 2 a. the causes why they left their ancient and natural Seats in Scythia to seek for other in Countries more Southerly ib. b. where they first seated themselves in Asia after their departure out of Scythia ib. b. their first Kingdom erected in Persia by Tangrolipix their first Sultan 3 b. the Turks first called into Europe by the Catalonians 106 a. they differ not from the Persians about the Interpretation of their Law but about the true Successor of their false Prophet Mahomet only 314 b. They raise an Army 804 b. cowardly retire for fear of the Christians 805 a. carrying a Convoy of Victuals to Buda overthrown by the Christians ib. b. the Convoy recovered by the Turks 806 a. again taken from them by the Christians ib. a. overthrow the Garrison of Pesth ib. a. bathing themselves at Buda by them of Pesth surprised and slain ib. b. seeking to surprise Palotta are overthrown 807 a. three of their Spies taken ib. b. overthrown by Collonitz ib. b. together by the ears among themselves 811 b. defeated by Collonel Sultze 823 b. again overthrown 825 b. their Army stealeth by night out of Hungary 828 b. overthrown by the Vayvod of Valachia 834 a. the manner of their burials 836 b. treacherously seek to surprise Pesth 838 a. seek in vain to surprise Lippa 842 a. overthrown by them of Pesth 843 a. their unreasonable demands for Peace 848 b. troubled with Civil Wars 857 b. betrayed by the Haiducks 864 a. thinking to surprise others are themselves surprised 877 a. repair to Buda in Multitudes 882 a. their Army for Transilvania 917 a. threaten War in Hungary 920 a. their courses there 923 b. defeated at Vasselloy 932 a. the Greatness of their Empire and their beginning 955 a. Turqueminus chosen Sultan of Egypt 111 b. Tzihanger refuseth the noble Mustapha his Brothers Wealth and Treasure offered him by his Father Solyman and for sorrow killeth himself 516 a. V. VAcia shamefully betraied by the Haiducks 558. b. Valachia spoiled by the Tartars 847 a. the Vayvod expelled his Country by Battori 901 b. Valachia when first spoiled by the Turks 140 b. invaded by Mahomet the Great 247 b. oppressed by the Turks 737 b. in great Troubles 798 b. Valmes fortified by Mahomet the Great 274 a. Valetta the Grand Master of Malta advertised of Solyman's purpose for the Invasion of him and his Knights 536 a. his effectual speech unto his Knights ib. a. his great preparation against the Turks coming ib. a. his whole strength 537 b. he certifieth Garzias of Toledo Viceroy of Sicilia of his Estate 538 a. sendeth a new supply into the Castle of S. Elmo â—wice before assaulted by the Turks 539 a. disappointed of a supply to have been brought him by his own Gallies ib. a. his Letters to Garzias the Viceroy of Sicilia 540 b. he sendeth three of his Knights to know the sâ—ate of them in the Castle S. Elmo 541 b. encourageth his Soldiers after the loss of the Castle 542 b. his Christian-like Letters to the Governor of the City of Melita 543 a. his resolute answer to the Messengers sent unto him from the Great Baâ—sa ib. b. he receiveth a small supply from Sicilia 544 b. maketh hard shift to send News of his distress to the Viceroy of Sicilia 546 a. his comfortable speech unto his Soldiers at such time as the Turks were entred the new City 550 a. his great carefulness 552 b. his Letters to the Grand Prior of Almaine concerning the manner of the Turks proceedings in the Siege of Malta 553 a. Venerius the Venetian Admiral and Barbadicus their Proveditor perswade the rest of the Christian Confederates to give battel unto the Turks at Lepanto 590 a. coming to the relief of Don John is encountered by Partau Bassa 595 b. in danger ib. b. at the request of the Spaniards displaced but not disgraced 601 b. The Venetians with a great Fleet spoil the Coasts of Lycia Pamphilia and Cilicia 13 b. in the division of the Greek Empire amongst the Latines had for their share all the rich Islands of the Aegeum and Ionian with the famous Island of Candy or Crete 59 a. enter intâ— Confederation with other Christian Princes against the Turk 265 b. they with their Confederates do the Turks great harm 277 b. receive a great overthrow from the Turks at the River of Sontium 282 b. their Merchants in Syria imprisoned by Campson Gaurus the Egyptian Sultan 321 a. their Senators diversly affected towards the Confederation with the Emperour and the French King against Solyman 467 b. they refuse to yield up Cyprus unto Selymus demanding the same 569 a. make great preparation for their own defence and crave Aid of the other Christian Princes 570 a. what Princes promised them Aid ib. a. weary of the delays and cross dealings of the Spaniards their Confederates conclude a Peace with Selymus without their Knowledge 613 a. Veradinum besieged by the Turks 773 b. relieved by the Lord Basta 774 a. Vesprinium taken by the Turks 721 a. Vesprinium yielded to the Rebels 864 a. Ufegi Bassa taken Prisoner 340 a. put to death ib. b. Vicegrade taken by the Christians 752 a. Vicegrade yielded to the Turks by the Haiducks 859 a. Victor Capella
Countries near Corinth Not long afterwards the Despots of Greece yielded it up to the Republick of Venice who defended it for some years until overpowred with the force and numbers of Mahomet the Second were at length compelled to give it up to his Tyranny Since which time it hath ever remained in the Hands of the Turks until this year of 1687 when God favouring the Christian Arms in this as well as in other parts was pleased to restore this City to the Venetians the ancient Lords and Possessors of it The Albanians encouraged with these Successes and the Flight of the Turks pursued after them and falling on their Rear seized on their Baggage and all their Beasts of Burden such as Horses Camels Mules and Asses carrying away Men Women and Children Captives with great Droves of Cattle to the City of Megara These happy events were followed by the Surrender of Castle Tornese at the first Summons made by Captain Negro upon no other Conditions than that they should save their Lives and have License to carry away all their Goods and Baggage which was freely granted to them with Vessels to Transport them to Smyrna But before their departure about an Hundred and fifty Turks Inhabitants of that Castle voluntarily declared themselves Christians and were desirous of being Baptized amongst these were many Families of the Gastuni who having a Territory of their own containing some Hundred of Houses and Cottages desired all to be received into the Bosom of the Christian Church all which were in a Solemn manner Baptized together to the great Confusion and Displeasure of the Mahometan Professors The Report of these Successes year 1687. with the appearance of so great a Fleet at Corinth struck all the Inhabitants of the Morea with such Terrour and Consternation that they voluntarily submitted themselves to the Venetian Government as namely Misitra Saritenea Idrapolica all which places were abandoned by the Turks Only Salona a Town well peopled and Situate in a rich Soyl which lies within a small Gulf so called sent two Turks to the Captain General to offer a Tribute to him provided they might live under their own Laws and Government but this seeming a ridiculous Proposition under their present Circumstances it was absolutely rejected Whereupon the rich and ruling Turks of the City with fear and precipitation removed their Goods and Families and Fled and the City yielded it self to the power and under the subjection of the Conquerour And so successfully had all things proceeded through the course of this Campain that besides the Cities gained with very little Blood as before related Three hundred Pieces of Cannon most of Brass were added to the publick Stock besides Thousands of Slaves Ammunition and Provisions All things thus falling at the Feet of the Venetians the Land Army both of Horse and Foot encamped near Corinth under Command of Count Conismark whilst the Captain General with the greatest part of the Armado coasted round the Morea to visit and strengthen the places newly reduced and especially those parts which are bordering on the Gulf of Egena In the mean time many Families of Greece which had for a long time been oppressed by the Tyranny of the Turkish Government made their Petition to the Captain General that they might be transported to some Country under the Venetian Dominion where they might enjoy Freedom and Security both in their Religion and Estates Morosini considering well that the multitude of People is the Riches and strength of a Country and that the Morea being almost emptied of People and desolate by the Flight and Desertion of the Turks easily condescended to their request and accordingly dispeeded the Proveditor Pisani with four Gallies and some other Transport Vessels to carry away the People of which many Thousands with their Baggage and Cattle were Embarked and Landed in divers parts of the Morea where those Families are at present setled The Successes of the Venetian Arms had now gained such Reputation in all parts that Mitra a strong and considerable place submitted and followed the Fortune of other places for the Turks therein at the first appearance only of Polani the Proveditor of Sarnata with some Marine Forces displaying their white Flag enter'd into a Treaty and gave Hostages for performance of Articles the which was foon performed and the place yielded to the Conqueror The Surrender of this City produced many other happy consequences one of which was that thereby Napoli di Malvasia became greatly streightned and all hopes of Relief and Succour cut off when on any occasion it should happen to be distressed And now to terrifie and amuse that Garrison year 1687. and the Inhabitants who by the numbers therein and the Situation of the place were very strong and able to make a considerable resistance Captain Venier who was newly returned from blocking up the Turkish Fleet at Rhodes many of which Ships were come from Egypt laden with Rice and other Provisons for Constantinople was order'd to appear before the Town with his Squadron of Ships and some Corsairs whom he had accidentally met with in the Seas to which the Capt. General joyning some of the lighter Gallies caused such an appearance to be made something terrible to the People of Malvasia as might give them an Alarum and Prepare and dispose them to a Surrender The Venetians Sailing with a prosperous Gale of Fortune resolved if possible to Crown the Atchievements of this Campain with the glorious Conquest of that ancient City of Athens in order to which design thô the Season of the year was far spent yet the Captain General leaving a strong detachment at Corinth gave Orders to the remainder of his Fleet to Sail to the other side of the Isthmus which is the full compass and circle of the Morea and in his way coming before the Walls of Malvasia he sent a Summons to the Turks who maintained the Peninsula of that strong Fortress but they returning a proud Answer and shewing a resolution to defend themselves the Captain General was pleased to bestow certain Bombs and Cannon upon them which ruined a part of the Town and did some damage to the Castle but having a design upon Athens he thought not fit to Land his Men but to proceed forward to Port Leon year 1687. where being arrived on the 20 10 of Sept. both Horse and Foot were immediately Landed and took their March in an orderly manner to the Walls of Athens Port Leon is so called from the Image of a Lyon erected on a Pedestal at the bottom of the Port and may be about six or seven English Miles distant from Athens So soon as the Turks of that place had the News of the descent or landing of the Venetinn Troops they abandoned the City and Houses thereabouts and full of fear and amazement fled into the Castle Which according to the usual Custom being summoned to Surrender on fair and
was sent for by the Grand Seignior to head the Army in Hungary having been recommended by some Favourites to have been the wisest and most experienced General in the Empire but the trial shewed him to be a Man rather of the Pen and good Language than of Arms. But to speak more fully and pertinently concerning the Negotiations of the Polish Envoy at Adrianople he was lodged at Demerdesh about an English Mile from the City in a poor Village without Ceremony or any great Equipage he had a Coach with six Horses in which was a French Jesuit His Business was declared rather to be designed to the Tartar Han who was at that time at Adrianople than to the Grand Seignior and accordingly had Audience of him In the first place it was observable that during the time of his Audience with the Tartar Han the Polish Envoy kept his Cap off until he was bid to sit down and be covered after a few words ofComplement he arose up and delivered his Letter The Han asked him whether he had any other Letters for him to which he replied no. He asked him from whom that Letter was he answered from the King his Master The Han asked him whether he had any thing to say to him by word of Mouth to which he answered no for that all was contained within the Letter The Han spake in the Tartar Language and the Pole in his own The Audience ended the Pole arose kissed the Han's Vest retired backwards with his Face towards the Han which is a part of respect amongst Turks and Tartars and most of the Eastern People all which was over in less than half an Hours time The which Passage seemed very Mysterious and not well understood from whence and from whom this Envoy was sent but being gone out of the Presence of the Han the Negotiation appeared to concern War and Peace and a Treaty proposed to be held in order thereunto between the Turk and Taâ—tar on one side and of the Emperor King of Poland and the Venetian State on the other Hereof intelligence was given by my Lord Paget Monsieur Heemskirk and Heer Colyer to the Emperor Venetians and all the Allies whom it might concern the which seemed very strange that such a Negotiation should be set on foot unknown to them or to the Mediators of the Peace the which was still more surprizing when the Orders for such a Treaty given to a Polish Minister were disavowed and unexpected by the Emperor and the Venetians and what made the Business the more doubtful was That this Envoy brought no Letters for the Mediators from any of the Allies or Princes concerned nor did he admit of any Salutes from the Foreign Christian Ministers for tho' my Lord Paget had his Secretary Mr. Coke and the Ambassador Colyer had his Chief Interpreter upon the Place yet the Pole would admit of none of their Addresses or Visits but adhered close to the French Ambassadors with whom he had long and frequent Conferences This unusual way of management of Treaties gave just reason of suspicion to all Persons that this Negotiation was nothing but an Artifice of the French to bring Poland into a separate Peace with the Turk which perhaps by the Cunning and Crafty Insinuations of the French might have succeeded had not the Pole too earnestly insisted on the Surrender of Caminieck into their Hands with all the Provisions Arms and Fortresses and with the Uâ—i Possidetis which was a Term at that time and during the late Treaty mortally hateful to the Turks Had not that Term I say been unluckily started it is very probable that the Turks would have accepted of a separate Peace with the Poles And moreover this particular Article would go down the worse in regard that the Turks had lately repaired that strong Fortress and supplied it with all sorts of Provisions and of all Parts had made it almost impregnable And another Difficulty was That Poland was not willing to Surrender some small Places which they had taken on the Frontiers of Moldavia by which it plainly appears That all this Treaty was nothing but an Artifice of the French to amuse the Turks and try if possible by some Overtures of this Nature to bring the Poles into a separate Peace The Cham of Tartarâ— being a Chief Actor and designed to bear a principal part in this disguised Treaty finding that hereby he began by his Friendship with the Polish Envoy to lose his Credit and Reputation and that his good Friend the Grand Vizier tho' newly put into Place was tottering and near being Deposed and to be himself commanded to return into his own Country he hastned away this supposititious Envoy all he could and accordingly by Order of the Grâ—nâ— Seignior he was dispatched away with somâ— Indignity and Disgrace neither the Tartar Cham nor the Grand Vizier daring to open their Mouths in his Behalf or to mention any of the Conditions he had proposed for a Peace And such a Perâ—on must have been endued with a good Stock of Confidence and Impudence to manage a Business of the highest Importance on such weak Grounds as he had to pretend especially at a time when all the Grand Officers of the Empire were upon their Change. But such as speak most favourably of this Business say That this Polish Envoy or Agent was not sent to make a separate Peace but to prepare things in order thereunto by advancing their Conditions on which the Port might afterwards treat with the Emperor and the Venetians sending their Ministers into Transylvania with Powers to that purpose but all this came to nothing as will appear by the sequel of this History In the mean time all things were in great disorder in the Court between those Officers who live within and without the Seraglio to make up these Differences The Grand Vizier with the Tartar Han Tefterdar Pasha and Janisar Aga and some others held a Council in the Month of February where it was resolved To move the Grand Seignior to remove the Kuzlir-Aga and the Haznadar-Aga and to that end the Vizier made Talkish to the Grand Seignior and the other Arz for removal of those Persons who were Mutinous and Intriguing in Matters of State. Upon this Complaint the Grand Seignior grew very angry and told the Vizier That the Kuzlir-Aga deserved indeed to be punished for recommending him the Vizier to that high Office adding That he was neither a Fool nor a Child to be governed by other Mens Humours and that the Report was false That the Kuzlir-Aga medled in Affairs of State. The Grand Seignior showing in this manner some Displeasure against the Vizier who had now but little Support besides the Tartar Cham it was insinuated to the Sultan That it was improper for two Princes to live in the same City and that it had never been the Practice of former times for the Cham to reside at the Port there to
known to the Turks and other Nations of the World. It being now resolved on all sides to make the Peace the Mediators who were to manage the Treaty were nominated and appointed and the most proper Persons esteemed to be the Ambassadors from England and Holland both of which having never been Engaged in the War on any of the sides but had always been true and ancient Friends to the Port the Turks could have no Objections to alledge against either nor had the Christian Princes any cause to suspect the Faith and Friendship of two such Ambassadors whose Offices and Persons were acceptable to the Turks and not displeasing to the Christians The Names of these Ambassadors designed to this so Necessary and Most Honourable Employment were the Lord Paget Ambassador for William King of Great-Britain and the Heer Colyer Ambassador for the Lords the States of the United Provinces All Matters being now ripe for Action and a willing mind for Execution the Turks moved with their Camp on the 11th of Iune 1698. commanded by the Grand Vizier the Grand Seignior still remaining behind in his Tent and with them also moved the two Ambassadors with their Equipages And to put every thing into a good posture and a way of Dispatch the Lord Ambassador's Secretary was dispatched away a second time as he had been the first on the 10th of May for Vienna from whence he returned on the 5th of Iuly to Sophia where on the same Day he there met with the Lord Ambassador Paget to whom he Communicated the good News of the Happy Inclinations of the Emperor and that Court towards the Peace But that no delay should be made therein the same Secretary was again dispatched away to hasten the Emperor's Ambassadors to the Place appointed and agreed upon for the Treaty and to procure and bring with him Passes and safe Conducts for the Turkish Plenipotentiaries who were the Reis Effendi Chief Chancellor or Secretary and Maurocordato who was the principal and first Interpreter to the Grand Seignior These two Persons together with the Lord Paget and the Dutch Ambassador set out from Sophia before the Camp on the 15th of Iuly and on the 24th they had passed 10 Hours beyond Nissa and on the 31st they arrived happily at Belgrade The Ambassadors remained at this place for the space of two Months that is of August and September the which passed soon away in regard that the Expectations of Peace had so filled Mens Hearts that nothing was heard in all Places but the Voices of Peace and Joy in all their Quarters At length the Month of October being entered the Proclamation of Neutrality was first published at Peter Waradin to the great Pleasure and Satisfaction of all People both Christians and Turks and afterwards at Belgrade On the 9 19th of October the Lord Paget and the Dutch Ambassador left their Camp near the City raised on an Eminence where was a good Air and a good Prospect over the Countries round about and upon the same Day early in the Morning they passed the Save a River which runs from Bosnia and falls into the Danube at Belgrade where it loses its Name In passing this River this Order was observed First went an Allai-Bey or the Marshal of the Show with about 50 Horse Then 60 Chiauses on Horseback A Guard of Janisaries being about 330 Men all on Foot. An Aga belonging to the Ambassadors with his own Servants and six Domestick Janisaries After which followed two Flags one with the English Coat of Arms and the other was a large Red Cross in a White Field Thenfollowed the English Ambassador's 6 led Horses covered with very richFurniture followed by the Gentleman of the Horse to my Lord Ambassador attended by a Giovane di Lingua or a young Druggerman or Interpreter Then came up the two Interpreters attending His Excellency the Lord Ambassador on each side of his Horse and they attended with two Heydukes in their own Country Habit and on both sides 10 Chiohadars or Servants who carry the Cloaks or Vests of the Great Men in White Vests with their Carbines on their Shoulders The Brother to the Lord Ambassador road afterwards with six Chiohadars Then followed the Secretary and Doctor with two English Gentlemen one from Aleppo and the other from Tripoli Also six Pages with the Lord Ambassador's Coach with a Turkish one which went before the Common Servants who marched all on Horseback two and two At their Passage over the Bridge of the Save which was lined with Janisaries three Guns were fired from the Castle and the Gallies Saicks and the Frigats as they passed fired each a Gun. About half the way to Semblin the Chiaus and others whom the Vizier had sent along with them made a Halt and having wished a good Journey to those whom they conducted returned back About an Hour after these Matters had passed the Dutch Ambassador followed and was used with the same Civility as those preceding The Emperor's Ambassadors because they sent Passports to the Turkish Ambassadors Signed by the Emperor's Hand desired to have others Signed by the Sultan But because it was considered that this exchange of Passports would take up a great deal of time the Mediators found out and agreed upon this Expedient That the Proclamation being made in both the Emperors Names no Passports should be delivered either from the Germans to the Turks or from the Turks to the Germans but that a Pleni-power should be given to the Midiators to grant Passports to People who were going up and down within the Limits of Neutrality agreed on both sides So the German Ambassadors resolved to go to Carlowitz within three Days time tho' their Wooden Houses were not arrived as yet The Mediators also agreed upon the same and to place themselves so that their Doors might be over against each other at a good distance whereby the Turks remained wholly on the Belgrade side and the Germans towards Peter Waradin The 11 21st the Venetian Ambassador arrived at Futack but the Muscovite Ambassador after their unthinking manner came directly the same Day to Peter Waradin without giving the Governour Notice of his coming by which Neglect of the Moscovite no Salutes were passed on him of which he complained to the Governour but that was easily answered by saying That he knew nothing of his coming down the River and therefore hoped to be excused In fine To Accommodate this Matter it was agreed That the Boats of the Moscovites should remove from the place where they first Landed and by a Signal given by the Ambassador's Trumpets the Guns should be fired which was done both from the Castle the Town and the Fleet. On the 15 25th of this Month of October the Turkish Ambassadors arrived at two Hours distance from the Tents of the Mediators but both sides having considered that the Days being short and that at such a distance from the Quarters of the Plenipotentiaries much time would be spent and lost in
going to and fro it was concluded That the English and Dutch Ambassadors should go to Carlowitz and the Germans and Allies should take their Quarters about half an Hour above them towards Peter Waradin and the Turks about a Quarter of an Hour below towards Belgrade Upon the Arrival of the Mediators at Carlowitz they were received by the German Horse and Foot and a Captain-Lieutenant and a Standard with 50 Horse and also with another Captain-Lieutenant and an Ensign with 70 Foot which were appointed to each Ambassador for the Mediators Guards The Turkish Soldiers were at the Right of the English Ambassador and at the Left of the Dutch. On the 20 30th the Plenipotentiaries were showed to each other and shortly after the Conferences began but first the Preparations were making for building the House for Conferences But in the mean time to supply that Convenience a great Tent was rais'd in the midst of that void place which was between the Tents of the Mediators where it was farther ordered That instead of Chambers for the several Parties there should be Tents pitched on both sides Some Points were here projected to be agreed on as Preliminaries regulating the Ceremonies of the Congress about which the Poles gave some trouble at the beginning who seemed rather to hinder than to forward the Peace for the Disputes they made upon nothing took up seven Days time the which being at length overcome On the 6th of November N. S. all the Preliminary Points were adjusted and agreed by all the Allies which tended chiefly to prevent and avoid all Contests about Precedence and the disannulling all useless Ceremonies during the Congress as well as those Impediments which might cause Confusion and Disturbance The Articles for Facilitating the Negotiation were these I. TO take away Notifications and Visits of Ceremony and Precedence II. That every Plenipotentiary shall advance his own Business without being obliged to stay for one another which in that case is to be put into the Hands of the Mediators until the time that the General Subscription is made III. That noPlenipotentiary shall hinder or delay the Progress of the Treaty but that every one shall endeavour to assist each other in removing the Difficulties which obstruct the way IV. For confirming the District of Neutrality and covering the several Ambassadors and their Retinues from Insults and Wrongs both during their Abode at the place of Treaty and their Departure thence V. And for keeping the Train and Domesticks of each Ambassador in order and that no Disturbance or Quarrel might arise between them it was Ordered VI. That a Prohibition should be given to every one to stir Abroad at Night and that whosoever should be caught Abroad after the Sun was Set should be kept in the Custody of the Guards until Morning and then to be delivered into the Hands of the Ambassador to whom he belongs to be punished The Points were Signed and Sealed by the Ambassadors at Carlowitz the 26th of October or the 6th of November N. S. On the â— 13 of November the Ambassador from the Emperor appeared in the Camp of Carlovitz as also did those from the Sultan who placed themselves on both sides not far from the House appointed for the Conferences to be held and not far from the Places where the Mediators had their Lodgings in which void Places several Magnificent and Stately Tents were erected at which about nine of the Clock in the Morning the Emperor's Ambassador arrived being attended with four Coaches of State and a Numerous Retinue And in the first place they went to the Tents of the Mediators where at the same time appeared the Turkish Ambassador attended with a very stately Retinue of Cavaliers well mounted on Horses of the finest Shapes that could be found in all Quarters of the Eastern World and besides their Cloathing which was very rich they made as beautiful an Appearance as the Germans had done before them And both Parties at the same time presented themselves before the Mediators in the Tent appointed for the Conferences Where after the Salutations and Complements on both sides sufficiently Courteous and Obliging they took their Seats in the middle of the Tent purposely set and laid for them one directly against the other in such a manner that no Person could take Exception against his Place or Seat appointed for him This being agreed and setled the first Conference began which was to determine this Great and Solemn Peace which was the first of this kind that ever passed between the Christians and the Turks not but that several Treaties and Conclusions of Articles had passed before but not on such equal Terms and with so much Honour and Deference given to Christian Mediators which will be recorded in all Ages to the Glory of William the Third King of Great-Britain and of the States-General His Worthy and Wise Allies Nor will it be less Memorable in Honour of that Noble and Ancient Family of the Lord Paget who with the Heer Colyer Ambassador from the Lords the States-General of the United Provinces bore so great a share in this Everlasting and never to be forgotten Treaty The Tent appointed for this Congress had four Doors which fronted each other at one of which entered the Imperial Ambassador and at the opposite thereunto entered the Turkish and at the two others which were likewise opposite entered the Mediators The Imperial Ambassador was Named the Most Excellent Lord the Count of Ottingen And on the Turkish side was the Reis Effendi which I take to be principal Secretary of State with us Behind the Emperor's Ambassador the Secretary of the Embassy was placed as also at a small Table behind the English Mediator was placed the English Secretary And behind the Ottoman Ambassador the Turkish Secretary called Mauro Cordato by Extraction a Greek and of that Rite or Religion he stood a while behind the Turkish Ambassador upon his Legs but afterwards was ordered to sit on the Ground after the Turkish Fashion both which Secretaries took the Minutes or Protocollo of what was propounded or what passed The Doors of the Tent was on all sides guarded equally by Germans and Turks and both filled up the Doors of the Tent amongst which were many Commanding Officers who had room sufficient to see every thing that passed The Conferences began commonly about ten a Clock or half an Hour past ten in the Morning and lasted until half an Hour past two in the Afternoon And then ended the first Day of Conference On the 4 14th the Imperial Ambassador dispatched a Messenger by way of Peter Waradin towards the Places where the Regiment of Corbelli and the two Battalions of Anhalt and Turcheim were Quartered which were setled there for Guards near to the Congress as also for the same reason had appointed 200 Horse of the first Rank and 100 Foot of the second Likewise the Turkish Ministers remanded to Belgrade as many of their People as they
Achmetes Bassa Governour of Cyprus slain by the Ianizaries Another Insolency of the Ianizaries Busbeq Legationis Turciâ—e Epist. 3. Hassan Bassa the Queens Eunuch sent to Caire to govern there Ebrain Bassa in speech to Mary Amurath's Daughter The wariness of the crafty Eunuch The Eunuch cast in Prison at Constantinople and his evil gotten Goods confiscated The Drusian People what they are The Country which the Drusians inhabit Five chief Rulers or Governors among the Drusians Three of the Drusian Lords met Ebrain at Ierusalem with rich Presents and a great train of Men. Serafadin cometh with Presents to Ebrain A Letter of Man-Oglies to Ebrain Bassa Ebrain burneth 24 Townâ— of Man-Oglies Veis Bassa and his Son discomfited by the Drusians Ebrain sendeth for Harquebuzes to Man-Ogli The notable dissimulation of Ebrain Bassa Emir Ebne-frec enticeth Man-Ogli's Macademâ— or Lieutenant to come to Ebrain The Macademo by the Commandment of Ebrain flain quick Ebrain notably dissembleth with Ebne-Mansur Ebne-Mansur in Chains sent to the Gallies The rich Presents given to Amurath by Ebrain Io. Leunâ— sup Annal. Turcicorum pag. 95. The Land of Iurie much troubled with the Arabian Theeves and Robbers The Subbassi of Bethlehem flain quick The number of Osmans Army The most insolent Speech of the Souldiers of Constantinople and Graece unto Osman their General Osman wisely appeaseth his mutinous Souldiers The Turks rejoyce upon the discovery of Tauris The Persian Prince over-runneth the Vauward of the Turks Army Osman sendeth two Bassaes with 14000 Souldiers to overtake the Persian Prince A great slaughter in the Gates of Tauris The Description of Tauris The Castle of Tauris built in 36 days Eight Ianizaries with certain Spaoglans found strangled in a Bath at Tauris The Misery of the Taurisians Eight thousand Turks slain The Bassa of Caraemit slain by the Persian Prince and his head cut off Giaffer Bassa of Tripolis an Eunuch made Governour of Tauris Osman the General depaâ—â—â— from 〈…〉 come 〈◊〉 Sancazan The Battel of Sancazan Twenty thousand Turks slain Osman the Visier and General dieth at Sancazan The Turks Army discharged at Van. The Miserie 's the Turks Army endured at Tauris Ten thousand Turcomans offer their Service unto the Persian King. The Turcomans forsake the siege and fall into Rebellion The Turcomans discomfited and Mahamet Chan and Calife the Sultan beheaded Giaffer Bassa sendeth to Cicala Bassa for Aid The return of Soria six hundred thousand Duckats Ferat departeth from Constantinople and cometh to Sivas The Glory of the Persian Kingdom overthrown by Rebellion and Discord Aliculi and Emanguli Chan perform nothing against the Turks as was by the Prince expected Ferat putteth Succours into the Fort at Tauris The Persâ—â—an Prince slain by one of his Eunuchs The Castle of Koppan in Hungary surprised by the Christians Aly Bassa of Buda strangled by the command of Amurath Sinan Bassa again received into Favour Sigismund the Polonian King's Letter unto Amurath * The Turks desire to be called Mussulman whiâ—h in their Language signifieth a true believer Amurath 's Answer unto the Letters of Sigismund Genge taken by Ferat The Ianizaries in a Tumult at Constantinople Great harm done by Fire in Constantinople Sinan Bassa of Buda invadeth the upper part of Hungary Sinan overthrown Nicholaus Reusnerius Epist. Turciâ— lib. 12. pag. 42. Amurath 's Letters unto the Queen of England * September The Polonian Cossacks invade the Tartarians and Turks The Reasons wherewith the Visier Bassaes perswade Amurath to make War. The Causes why Amurath would not suddenly resolve upon War. Eight seâ—â—â—al Opiâ—â—ons of 〈◊〉 Visier 〈◊〉 â—â—â—cerniâ—g the War to be taken in hand The first Opinion and Reasons of them that would have the Wars renewed in Persia. The second Opinion for making of War upon the King of Fez and Morocco and the Reason thereof The third Opinion concerning the Conquest of Malta The fourth Opinion For War to be made against the King of Spain and the Reasons thereof The fifth Opinion for the Invasion of the Venetians and the Reasons why The sixth Opinion for the attempting of Italy and the Reasons thereof The seventh Opinion for War to be made against the Polonian and the Reasons thereof The eighth Opinion for War to be made against the Emperour and the Reasons thereof Amurath resolveth to make War upon the Emperour with the Reasons moving him thereunto The Persian Hostage dieth in the Turks Court. Wihitz the Metropolitical City of Croatia yielded to the Turks The Christians overthrown Certain vain attempts of the Turks Turopolis spoiled by the Turks The Castle of St. George surprised by the Turks The Emperour prayeth Aid again of the German Princes Divers Inâ—ursions of the Turks into the Frontiers of the Christians in Croatia and Hungary The Emperours Letters unto Amurath The Emperours Letters to Sinan Bassa Sinan Bassa his Letters to the Emperour * Which is the 16 th of March in the year of Christ 1593. The threatning Letter of Hassan Bassa of Bosna unto the Abbot of Siseg * The Hungarian Bannes are Noblemen in Power much like unto the Turks Bassaes. Hassan Bassa invadeth Croatia Siseg besieged by Hassan Bassa A great Battel betwixt the Turks and the Christians Siseg relieved Eighteen thousand Turks slainâ— News of the overthrow of the Turks at Siseg brought tâ— Buda The proud and blasphemous Denuntiation of War given out by Amurath against Râ—dolph the Christian Emperour Siseg takeâ— by the Turks Sinan Bassa besiegeth Vesprinium Palotta yieldeth unto the Turks Alba Regalis besieged by the Christians Sabatzka taken by the Lord Teuffenbach Filek besieged by the Christians Filek taken by the Christians Setschine Blavenstein and Sallek abandoned by the Turkâ— The Turks in burying their dead slain by the Christians A great Tempest at Constantinople Amurath dreameth A fair Present of the spoil of the Turks sent unto the Emperour Novigrade besieged by the Christians Novigrade yielded unto the Arch-duke The Sanzack of Novigrade hanged at Buda Certain Castles of the Turks upon the Borders of Stiria taken by the County Serinus Hatwan besieged by the Christians The Copy of the Letters of the Lord Teâ—ffenbach to Matthias the Arch-duke General of the Emperours Army against the Turks Strigonium besieged by the Christians The old City delivered by the Rascians unto the Christians The Castle assaulted The Rascians rise up against the Turks Five thousand Christians lost at the siege of Strigonium The Arch-duke sendeth Aid to the siege of Hatwan Strigonium assaulted Strigonium sore battered The new built Forâ— hardly assaulted by the Turks The Arch-duke raiseth his siege and with his Army passeth the River Five thousand Turks slain Hatwan in vain assaulted by the Christians Teuffenbacâ— giveth over the siege of Hatwan A Diet of the Empire holden at Ratisbone for the withstanding of the Turks The Emperour grievously complaineth unto the Princes Electors and States of the Empire of the Infidelity of the Turk and craveth their Aid Sinan Bassa with an Army of 150000