two one proffited so well in the exercise of armes and also in gouernance that the Turcke had him in great estimation And in Albania the whiche is that part of Macedonia that lieth toward the weste and stretche the oute frō Durazzo to the ancient Citie Appolonia the langage of the Albaneses is propre to them selues and dothe differ from the speche of all those people that dwell aboute them for neither the Greeke ne yet the Schiauonese vnderstandeth it and we are not certaine in what sorte nor by what meanes they fyrste arriued in those partes ne yet of their ancient originall althoghe it be sayde that this nation with diuerse others came oute of Scithia Asiatica from that ancient Citie Albania not farre from Colchide and so went on wandring to seeke newe habitacions and seates and fynally occupied that parte of Macedonia whiche beareth their name aboute the tyme of the losse of Constantinople the prince of their contrey happened to dye whose name was Camusa whoe beinge discended of christian parents became so beastly that of his owne acorde he lefte the christian faythe and embraced the folisheand beastly religion of Mahometh but hauinge smalle affiance in it euen as he had raishely forsaken Christe so vnaduisedly refused he Mahomet he and retorned to the religion of his ancestours willing althoughe he had no great affiance nether in the one nor other rather to dye beringe the name of a Christian then of a Mahometiste vnto whome George Scanderbag succided in gouernaunce as lawfull heire whoe was discended of a noble parentage in his contrey and when he had haunted the warres along time he became an excellent and famous Captaine and spent the reste of his lyfe in the defence of the Christian religion when Mahomethe vnderstode the deathe of Camusa he sent one of his Bascias with an armie to Valona whiche standeth vpon the sea bancke and althoughe it be but a litle Towne it hathe a suer and a goodly hauen from whence in to Italie the passage is but shorte and withoute daunger and manye yeres before that tyme it was possessed and holden by Baiazithe and when he died they threwe from them the Turquishe yoke but Amorathe within shorte space after toke it againe and from thence for the was it contynually holden by the in fydels to the greate reproche and dishonour of the Christian princes and to the greate terrour of all Italie it is possessyd euen at this daye by the infidels when this Bascia had broughte his people to valona he assayled Scanderbeg whoe althoughe he dyd alwaies worthilye defende him selfe and his people and diuers tymes with his power had encountred the Turckes and departed from them alwayes with the victorie yet notwithstandinge he sent for ayde to the kinge Alphonso of Aragone then kinge of Naples and obtained of him dyuers bande of men at armes well furnished in euery respecte whiche passed in to Albania by the waye of Durazzo not farre from the Cytye of Croia and with the helpe of George Scanderbeg they defendyd that contre for alonge tyme from the Tyrannie of the infydels when Calixto the Romishe Byshoppe vnderstode the danger that Scanderbeg was in Scanderbeg was in weinge his power w t the vnspekeable power of his enemye he wolde not se him wāte but supplied him with a great some of money to entertaine his souldiours and with these aydes he de fendyd y ◠contrey of Albania very skylfully and valiantly In this meane time their was a practize discouerid y e whiche a Nephewe of his his brothers sonne whoe hauing intelligence with Mahometh agreed with him vp oncertaine condityones to sleye his vncle by treason or els if he coulde by any meanes bring it to passe to delyuer him on lyue in to Mahomethes handes when this practeze was discouered by one of the menagers of this same he laid handes on him and so caused him to be examined in the which he confessyd the whole wherupon he thought it not conueniēt to shed his owne bloude but banished him sending hym with his processe to the king Alphonso whoe commaunded to put him into the Donge on called Miglio there to continewe during his naturall lyfe And whileste Scanderbeg lyued he defended Albania from the tirany of the infydels fyghting onely for the zeale he bare to the Christian religiō caused his subiectes to perseuere in the faith of christe and his worde notwithstanding the contynuall inuasious and courses that his enemies made vpon his cotre impouerishing his subiectes vtterly spoiling y ◠laborers of the earthe lainge waste a greate pece of his contrey bringing it into vnspekeable miserie and calamitie whē Mahometh vnderstode the death of Scanderbeg he sent forth with his armie in to Albania and toke the citie of Croia with all the reste of the contrey except those places that the venetianes held aboute that tyme after the taking of Constantinople he dyd maruelously vexe the religion of Rhodes both by sea and land but the greate master of the Hospitall of Iherusalm vnto whome the Isle dyd appertaine with his souldiours defended it cōtynnally euen to these our dayes and whan Calixto the gre at Byshope was called vnto for ayde he put his Nauie of Shippes Galleys to y ◠sea sent them to Rhodes vnderthe conducte of y ◠patriarcke of Aquileia who being in those seas had often to doe with the Turckes toke and drowned manye of their Galleys and fustes drowned and slewe their people and departed alwaye from them with the victorie when he had taken from the Turkes y ◠Isle of Salaminā whiche in ancient tyme was called Lēno and also that that is called Tasso w t the Isle of Nēbro and certaine other litle Isles nere vn to them he went and spoyled all alonge the sea coastes from helesponto euen to the confynes of Egipte to the great impouerissing of the inhabitants there of holding them in contynuall doute and feare and it semed that if he mought haue contynued he wolde with time haue greatly preuailed but as sone as Calixto was deade he departed from thence with his Nauie in to Italie leauing Rhodes with all others places that y ◠Christianes possessid in those partes in great peryl And in Acarnia which lieth in the myddeste betwene Epiro and Boetia and is called at this daye the Duchie and the Dispotto which then raigned in Acarnama and Epiro whiche at this daye is called Arta which begynning towarde the weste at the permontories of Acrocera doe stretch oute toward the easte to the baie Ambrachio whiche at thys daye is called y ◠golfe of Arta this Dispotto being maruelously vexed with Mahomethes souldiours and being desyrous to purchase some forien amitie by meanes of the king Alphonso he toke to wyfe a daughter of y e lord Iohn Vnitimiglia a Captaine of great fame that came into Italie with the king Alphonso of Aragone to the winning of the
felde were of great iudgement whose good order dyd not à litle preuaile in that behalfe Besyde this it was not only an armie of trained souldiours that discomfyted the Samnites not farre from the Citie Suessola where they slewe an exceding great number of them and toke 40. thousande sheldes which were of the men that were slaine and also 170. standardz Cornetts and Euseignes as wytnesseth Liuie in his vii Booke of his first decade but that also the Iudgement of the Consul dyd muche preuayle in that behalfe who when he sawe the great number of his enemies coÌ„maunded his souldiours to holde them within his campe whervpoÌ„ the Samnites presuming conteÌ„ned the enemie and neglicted order and dispersed them selues all the countrey ouer to prouyde them of corne and other victualles and lefte theyr campe vngarded in effecte which when the consul vndestode he exhorted the souldiours to behaue them valiantly and immediatly went forth of his campe and assayled the campe of his enemyes and in the first charge he slewe the greatest number of them as they were in their tentes and lodgings and then commaunded to set all theyr Cornetts Enseignes and standardz vpon the trenches of theyr campe which he had taken from them and then lefte for the gard of the campe two legions with commaundement that on payne of death no man shoulde take any thing of the spoyle of the campe vntyll his retorne whervpon he marched on with his armye in order towarde the enemy and sent his horsemen before him who charged the negligent and vnprouided enemyes being dispersed all ouer the felde and vtterly destitute of order so that they fled with great confusioÌ„ and feare not knowing whyther it were best to fle wheÌ„ this was done the counsul retorned to the campe with great victorie and then gaue the spoyle of the campe of the enemyes to his souldiours In lyke sort was the perfecte order of L. Scipion counsul no lesse helpfull to his armye when that he defeicted the mitghty army of Antioche kyng of Asia vp on the Ryuer Phrigio neare to the Citye Magnesia as wytnessyth Liui in his fourth decade and vii Booke And in lyke sorte dyd the indgemeÌ„t of AlexaÌ„dre the great helpe his souldiours iÌ„ the battayle that he fought with Darius in the which with a smale number of trained souldiours he defeicted 6. hundred thousand Persians as witnesseth Blondo in his x booke de La institution de La chose publique In the lyke sorte was the iudgment of T. Quintius Flaminius helpful to his trained atmie wheÌ„ he dyd ouerthrowe Philippe the Macedone prince besyde Scotusa in Gretia slewe viii thousands of his souldiours and toke fyue thousand of them prisoners as witnessyth Plutarck in his Boke called the seconde part of his lyues in the lyfe of the same Flaminius Besyde this it was not onely the continuall exercise and disciplyne of the souldiours of Scanderbeg that gaue vnto the Turckes so manye ouerthrowes as are declared in his Commentaries althoughe they were becomme throughe their continuall exercise as it were inuincible but his great iudgement in the arte of the warres was a greate parte of the cause therof for he knewe when and howe to take the aduantage of his enemye Also to coÌ„me to oure age in the battayle that Frauncys the fyrst of that name Frenshe king fought at Marignian with the Suysses where great skyll and valiantize was showed on both partes yet was not the victorie wonne alone throughe the discipline of the souldiours but also throughe the iudgement of the conductours The lyke may be sayd of the battayle that the Countie de Augimen fought at Serizoles wyth the Marques of Guasto in the yere of oure Lord. 1544 The lyke of the battayle of Pauie betwyne the aforesayd Frenshe kinge and the Duke of Burbone lieutenante of the Imperiall armie Also the lyke of the battayle betwyne Charles the fyrst and the Duke Iohn of Saxon the Lansgraue of â—esse in Almaigne What shulde I saye any more to proue this to be true the histories doe all affyrme that the vnderstandinge of the generall doth greatly helpe to the obtayning of the victorie and withoute it a trayned armie is but as a man mayned in comparison of a maÌ„ that hath all his liÌ„mes souÌ„d and perfecte and of all the victories that I haue here spoken of and also of all those that I haue red of besydes those that I haue seen I haue not founde one gyuen by vntrayned souldiours Wherfore no armie may be called perfecte that wanteth these two kindes of men in it which is the general of perfecte iudgement the souldiour brought vp in discipline Vigetius sayeth in his .28 chapiter of his fyrste Booke of arte of the warres that the Epirotes and Macedonines people of great power adorned with many victories and also the Thesalique nation who brought vnder theyr yoke the Persians euen to the confynes of India besydes these Lacedemonies Athenies Marsians and Samnites The Datianes Medes and Thratianes which were so warlike that it was sayd amonge them that Mars whom the hethen call the god of battayle was borne in theyr countre all these nations dyd the Romanes throughe their perfecte discipline bring vnder theyr rule Also Vigetius saithe in his fyrst Boke and fyrst chapter of the arte of the warres that the great number of the Frenshe shoulde haue denoured the smale number of the Romanes had not ben theyr discipline only besydes that it had not ben possyble for the Romanes to haue resysted the populouse mighty nations of the Germanes but only by theit disciplin moreouer they shulde not haue ben able to encouÌ„tte the lustie puisante nations of Spaine had not ben their discipline yea by what meanes preuailed they against the wise and welthy Affricanes but only throughe discipline by what meanes brought they vnder yoke the mighty and subtill nation of Grekes but only by their discipline The noble Emperour Frederick Barberouse being entred Italie with his armie to chastize the Millaneses for their rebellion wolde in no wise offer warre to his enemies vntill his souldiours had fworne vnto him to obserue the discipline of the warres Paulus Iouius saith that the Hungarians so longe as they dyd obserue discipline were well able to defende their owne gaue the Turcks sondrie ouerthrowes Valâ—ius Maximus in his second Boke calleth discipline not only the foundatioÌ„ of the Romane Empire but also the preseruatioÌ„ maintenance of the same for in dede it is a harde matter to ouerthrowe a worthy generall hauinge an armie of well choseÌ„ souldiours obedient well exercised in the feates afore meÌ„cioned doe knowe what the weapons are worthe that they beare being well furnished and well instructed in order knowing the coÌ„moditie therof so longe as in battayle they doe obserue it for it is an impossibilitie to gyue any great ouerthrowe we to meÌ„ that obserue their order in the which they are plased doe vse their weapons accordingly Wherfore
lesser for that he commaunded them before hand to flee with their goods and cattell into places of force and securitie so that the Turckes founde them selues greatly deceaued and abused the same nighte they lodged vpoÌ„ the syde of the ryuer called Mathia and rested them as thoughe they had ben at home in their countrey but Scanderbeg enemye of all sluggishenes the daye folowinge aboute nonne came with his 7. thousand horsemeÌ„ to a mountaine whiche ioyned to the plaine where they encamped then with certaine of his Captaines went vp to the toppe of the hill to consyder and beholde in what strengthe his enemyes dyd lye and whether he moughte haue anye occasyon to assayle them vpon the sudden When Scanderbeg was vpon the heighte of the mountaine he sawe the Turckes lying withoute garde vnder the trees in shodowe and in their tentes for it was in the hotest tyme of the sommer and in the myddest of the daye wherfore he departed from the mountaine and went to horse with all his souldiours and began to ryde in greate hast towarde the Turckes met with their scoute and slewe them immediatly al sauing one who with the spede of his horse escaped to y e campe crying in this sorte Scanderbeg is bere Scanderbeg is here But ScaÌ„derbeg in person folowed him and coulde not ouergett him for that he had so muche grouÌ„de before him at the first Then ScaÌ„derbeg coÌ„maunded to sownde the alarme with all suche instrumentes as they had and then gaue in vpon them with suche force vnprouided as they were that in the fyrst charge he put them in suche disorder and flyghte as was meruelouse to se so that he slewe of them there 30. thousaÌ„d vpon the place and all y e euer y e Sangiacho Amesabeg neuewe to Scanderbeg rebelle against him coulde doe or saye coulde not staye them from ronning awaye wherfore in the ende thys same Amesabeg with Mesithebeg bothe Sangiachi w t 500. Turckes moe were taken prisoners and Isaach the Bassa with suche scatered Turckes as were lyuing fled and was folowed for a certaine tyme and great execution done vpon his people After this Scanderbeh deuided the spoyle to his souldiours acording to his acustumed order there were slayne of his souidiours 60. This done he retorned to his confynes and made acourse into the countre of his enemies and sacaged it burned a greate parte therof and retorned into his countre with an exceding great boutie safely gaue thancks to God for his great victorie The Turcke rested not for this but sent newe bands to garde his confynes with two other Captaines y e one of them was named Hannebeg and the other Sinanbeg with expressed commaundement not to deale with Scanderbeg nor to enter his countre onles they receaued froÌ„ him other commissyon and this he dyd for that he sawe he coulde not ouercome Scanderbeg and therfore he determyned to proue yf he moughte preuayle against some other princes wherfore he toke in hand fyrst the enterprise against the Imperiall Citie of Constantinople in shorte tyme toke it flewe the Emperour therof with an infinite number of Citizens and other Christians then conquered al his state in the yere 1453. After this he went against the afore named Dispotto of Seruia a prince of great welthe possessinge a maruelous masse of golde and siluer by meane of certaine mines that he had not withstandinge he chased him oute of his countre in the yere 1459. After this he went against the kinge of Bossina and toke him caused him to be sawed a sonder in the middest and toke his state Then Scanderbeg beholdinge the great prosperitie of his enemye in the preiudice and subuersion of the Catholique faithe threating also to take the countres of dyuerse Christian princes determined to goe and encouÌ„tre with the two Captaines aforesayd In this meane tyme the ambassadours of the pope Pio the. 2. and of the kinge Ferrante kinge of Puglia and of Scicile passed the Fero and went to Scanderbeg saying moste noble prince we gyue thyne excellentie to vnderstande in the behalfe of oure lordes and Masters that the Duke Iohn soÌ„ne to the king Renato of FrauÌ„ce is comme with a great power of Frenshe men into the kingdome of Sicille against your deare frinde the king Ferrante and there are reuolted against the kinge takinge parte with the aforesayde Duke the princes of Taranto and Bossano with the greatest part of the nobilitie of that kingdome and he hathe entertained in his paie y e CouÌ„tie Iames Piocinino with all his regiment so that his armie is very great and stronge and he hath alredie conquered the whole kingdome sauinge onelye Napls Capua Auersa Gaieta Troia and Barletta where the king is nowe straitely beseeged and in daunger to be taken and the power of the pope and y e kinge can not passe ouer to succour him wherfore the popes hollynes and oure kinge also desyre your highnes in most ernest wise that it maie please you to comme into Puglia in his fauour and when the ambassadours had this sayde they presented vnto him the popes bulles w t the kinges letters wherin there was conteyned y e lyke of that which they had declared by mouthe Then Scanderbeg beinge greatly affected towardes the popes hollynes and the holly catholique churche of Rome and for that also he was entred into great fryndshippe with the kinge Alfonso father to Ferrante fermer and tributarie to the aforesayde Byshoppe he determyned to ayde him with all his power possyble and so after great entertainemeÌ„t made to the ambassadours he licensed them in very cortese sorte and forthe w t sent one of his chiefe Captaines his Nephewe named Cairo Stroisio a man of great vnderstandinge and worthines with 500. chosen horsemen who passed the sea and landed in that parte of the countre that yet helde for the kinge Ferrante where he dyd great good by meanes of his worthines In the meane tyâ—e Scanderbeg made a treues forone yere with the Tâ—â—cke by meanes wherof he had as good oportunitie as he coulde haue wyshed for so muche as shortely before the ariuale of the ambassadours aforesayd there came a messager from y e Turcke to demauÌ„de peace of Scanderbeg but he was departed w toute grauÌ„t therof for he was fully determyned to deale with the Turckes Captaines that laie vpon the confynes but as sone as he vnderstode of this he sent his curreuers after the ambassadour and caused him to retorne and then concluded the aforesaid trewse After this he committed his state into the handes of his welbeloued wife and others his most faithful frinds and appointed to defend them a worthie Captaie with sufficient number of souldiours and when he had hired a greate number of shyppes and galleys and other vesselles for y e sea he caused his armie to embarcke in them beinge well furnished of horses and coursers of greate price and with aboundance of virtuall
the hed not onely of Gretia but also of the greatest part of the worlde had at that tyme fallen into hands of the most cruell and Barbarouse natione of Turques had not ben Tamerlano a parthian borne who with a great power entred y e lesser Asia and assailed it with such furie that he coÌ„strened Baiazith to abandone Constantinople and to passe with his armie in to Asya for the defence therof And hauing nowe occasion to speke of the actes of Tamerlano and his people I haue thought it not inconuenient to make some litle digressyon and to declare from whence this puissant captaine had his original and by what meanes he dyd attayne to the hygh and supreme degre of honor in the which he then was when Baiazith was chiefe prince and king of the Turkes thys Tamerlano was borne in Parthia of base and simple parents he was exerised in armes euen from his childehed and did so profyte therin that it was harde to saye which had greater place in him eyther strength and lustines of his bodye or els his wisdome and other vertues of the minde so that amonge the souldiors he was had in great reputatyon and honor in such sort that a great multitude folowed him and cheifely those which were most experimented in the warres and thus in shorte time he became prince of a mightye armie both of horse men fotemen whoÌ„ he had gayned to folow him by his vertue good dysposytion and lyberalytye by whose aide he fyrste delyuered hys contrey of Parthya from the bondage of the saracenes and then became prince therof after that wyth greate violence he assailed the contreis neare vnto hym and in fewe yeares possessyd them and broughte to his obedience Scithia Asyatyca Iberia the Albaneses the Persyanes the Assyrianes and Medes aâ—d last of all he broughte vnder his yoke Mesopotamia and the greater Armenia and then passed ouer the floode Euphrates aboute the yere of our Lord 1390. with a farre greater army then was that of Dario or that which Xerse broughte into Grecia for it is sayde that he had in his campe 400000. horsemen 600000. fote men with whom he assayled the lesser Armia vpon whose confines Baiazith the Turke king of Asia encountred him with a mightie power both of horsmen fote men and trusting in the vertue and discipline of his people whose labour he had a long tyme vsed w t great felicitie did not refuse to accepte the battayle notwithstandyng he knewe him selfe to be farre inferiour in number Then these two mightie princes approching the one towardes the other so neare as they mighte discerne the one the others order omitted no time but ioyned in battayle in the which for the greatest parte of the day there were flayn great numbers on both sydes and thei fought wyth such assuraunce nether parte geuynge place to the other that it was harde to saye where the victorie should incline tyll at the last the Turkes beyng werye and not able to endure the force of the Parthians who continually supplied their squadrones with freshe bandes soughte to retyre them selues in order tightynge continually in their retreicte but the Prince beynge ware hereof commaunded certayne great troupes of horsemen to geue charge vpon them who charged them wyth suche force that they disordered them and then the Turkes began to flee leauyng the victorie to theyr enemies and Baiazith fought valiantlye a longe tyme in person tyll he had lost a great multitude of hys people and also laste of all his horse was stayne vnder hym and then was taken and presented to Tamerlano who commaunded him to be encheined and ledde him with him thorow out al Asia for a spectacle and it is sayde that whylest he did dine and fuppe he had him alwayes tyed vnder his table lyke a dogge and so fedde him and when he went to horse he caused him to be brought and to sit him downe vpon his knees elbowes And thus vsed him in stede of a block to go to his horse on And thus he helde him prisoner during his life in most miserable calamitie All those which at any time haue written of Tamerlano haue greatlye commended hym for the discipline and order which he obserued in the conducting of his armyes for they declare that euery occupation had hys streate appoynted him in the campe wherein he might vse his exercise euen in lyke order as it had bene in a famous citie there was in it greate abundaunce of all thynges for the commoditie of man which proceded of hys seueritie and iustice for he woulde not leaue vnpunished the ieast violence that was committed not so much as the takyng away of one handful of grasse agaynst y e owners good wil whereupon it folowed that he had as great abundance of all necessaries in his campe as if it had bene in great faires and markettes brought thither voluntarilie from the countreys aboute him as he passed his seueritie also was such that it helde hys Souldyours so wythin the bandes of modestie that there was neuer sene nor head any kynde of sedicion amonge them and they saye further which is greatlye to be merueyled at that he neuer fought with man but he had the victorye ouer hym so that he neuer tasted of Fortunes bitternes Thus when he had spoyled and conquered all Asia euen to the floode Nilo had taken by force Emirua Antiochia Sebastia Tripoli and Damasco with a greate number of other cities moe and put the inhabitantes of them to the sworde caried away theyr spoyle and consumed them into ashes leauing them desert and plained to the grounde Then entred he into Egypte where he gaue many ouerthrowes to the Soldanes people and constrained them to flee beyonde Pelusyo and wolde haue folowed them hade not the scarcenes of victuales ben for it was not possyble for him to prouide cariage for to transporte sufficientie of victual for the norrishing of so populouse an armie as his was throughe the sandie and deserte contreis his corrage was suche that he delighted cheifely in those enterpryses which semed most difficile to be acheued in the opinion of others as it cam to passe in the taking of Damasco where a numbre of the defendants conueyed them selues oute of the towne into the castle where in there owne opynyon in the common opynyon of others they were safe consyderyng the naturall force of the seate and also y e artificisalâ— force of the place notwithstanding being desyrouse to auoide the miserie and trauaile of a sege and to saue their liues they gaue out a token signifiynge that they were desyrous to talke with him and vpon condicion to yelde him the place but he refused vtterly to heare of any appoyntment although his captaines woulde gladly haue persuaded him there vnto but went and considered thorowly the seate and force of the place and seyng the walles to be such that no ladder might attayne the heyght of
of Corintho and besegid it bothe by sea and land when Mahomethe was aduertized of the arriualle of the venetianes and of the great daunger that Corintho was in he put his Nauie to the sea and embarqued his armie gyuinge them commission to haste with all celeritie toward Corintho as sone as the infidele armie was landed in Morea they assailed forth with the walle of Esmilia and laide their batteries to it whervpon the Christianes not beinge able to stande to the defence therof gaue it ouer to the enemies and retired to their campe the which as sone as the Turckes Captaines espied they forthe with cut throughe the walle and entred marching on with their armie towarde the enemie who refused not y e battayle but marched also towarde them and withoute delaie ioined with them in battaile which contynuinge for the space of certaine houres was bothe terrible bloddie and in the ende the Christianes being werie and not able to endure the force of the Turckes whoe contynually supplied y â— fighte with freshe and reposed squadrones in the place of the weried and spoyled began to retire toward the sea thincking to saue them selues by fleing to their Nauie and brake their order and being folowed by the Turckes horsemen were slaine and taken in great numbre and loste also their artillerie munition and cariadge and in this sort was the sege of Corintho raised and then with great triumphe retorned the infidels to Constantinople leading with them the Christian prisoners enchayned as sone as they were there arriued they caused a great number of them with great crueltie to be cut in peces in the market place the reste they lad with them lyke flockes of shepe throughe the Townes of Asia solde them for slaues in euery place y â— they passed by The Venetianes beinge greatly discoraged throughe this defeicte and fearing that they had procured to them the Turcks indignation by y â— meanes of the soodden warres which they had made vpon him wherupon they addressed them forth with to the pope â— sent their Oratours to Rome to desire and solicite thâ— pope with greate instance to make warres vpon thâ— Turcke and to haste the iorney into Asia declaring vâ— to him that if he deferred the tyme Mahometh shoulde haue good commoditie to take all the townes in Gretiâ— that were in the possession of the Christians and cheifely those that were vpon the sea coaste by meanes wher of they shoulde not be able to maintaine any Nauie vp on that coaste hauinge no hauens nor goolfes at their commaundemente the Byshoppe althoughe he knewe that to be true which they said being very sorie to consider the peryl wherin they were dyd put them in good hope that he wolde acomplishe their request althoughe in dede he sawe no meanes howe to doe it for that he coulde get no aide from beyonde the mountaines for as much as the case eas such that after that the councell of Mantoa was licensyd all Europe was fylled with diuision and priuate innimities and regarded not at al the good determination of y e generall enterprise against the infidels agreed vpoÌ„ at Mantoa for in Almanie there was warres betwene the Duke of Bauera and the Saxons and ether parte employed their frindes and by that meane drewe to them the greatest parte of Almanie The Emperour pretending to succide in the roiall seate of Hungarie his Nephewe Laodislao kinge therof wolde not endure that the king Mathias should possesse it wherfore he emploied all his force against y â— Hungarianes The Frenshe kinge beinge much offendyd with the pope for that he crowned and admitted to the seate Royall of Pulia the kinge Ferdinando a bastarde sonne of the king Alsonso not regrading at al the righte that the kinge Renato of Angio his cosen had to the afore saide kingdome dyd not onelye refuse to send aide to this generall enterprise but threatned the pope continually to send his armie into Pulia The Inglishe men whiche were neuer wonte to fayle in anye enterprise agaist the enemies of the Christian faithe being sore vexed with Ciuile warres hauinge two kinges liuing at once which soughte no meanes but onely howe the one mought chase the other oute of the realme the people beinge deuided y e one parte fauoring henry their auncient kinge the whiche by Edward Duke of yorke was chased oute of the Realme the other sorte soughte â—o maintaine the partie of kinge Edwarde vnto whom y e Duke of Burgonie gaue aide and Loise the Frenshe kinge aided the kinge henry whose sonne with y â— counte of warwicke entred England gaue battaile to kinge Edward In Spaine the citie of Burcelona in the conâ—rey of Catalonia reuolted against their prince the king Iohn of Arragone kinge of Nauarre and were ayded maintained against him by the kinge of Castilia on the other syde the Frenshe kinge gaue ayde to the kinge Iohn of Nauarre to recouer againe his righte who was encamped before the citie with his power and for y â— that god wolde not that anye parte of Europe shoulde be at quiete he sturred vp in Fraunce the Duke Iohn sonne to the king Renato of Angio who passed into y â— kingeâ—ome of Naples with a greate Nauie of Galleys shippes and while he was there he so practized that he diuiâ—ed the whole force of Italie the one parte therof fauoâ—ing the house of Angio and the other parte the house of Aragone so that in those warres all the nobilitie of y â— kingdome as men oute of their wittes deuided them selues into sondrie factiones not onely they of the kingdome but of all the states of Italiâ— The Venetianes Genoueses with diuerse other princes fauored the parâ—ie of the Duke Iohn The pope and the Duke of Mylâ—ane discouered them selues in the fauour of y â— king Ferâ—ante and sent him diuers bandes bothe of horsemen â—otemeÌ„ The florentines althoughe generally they were â—nclyned to fauour the Frenshe partie by meanes of â— league made betwene the house of Angio and them and were bounde to the kinge Renato yet notwithstanding being gouerned by the appetite of their rules they were perswaded that it was not good for them to take parte in so gerat warres and to enter into newe charges but to stande as newtres but in dede they showed â—hem selues fryndes to the house of Aragone whervpon forthwith they cassed many of their bandes with the lorde Simonetto one of their chiefe conductours and permitted them to serue the kinge ferrante thus secretly they ayded the partie of Arragone wherupon the pope beinge empeched by meanes of these emotions determined to defer the purposed enterprise against the Turcke vntyll suche tyme as the deuisiones and tumultes of Europe and chiefly those of Italie were appeased wherupon he departed from Siena rteorned to Rome purposing to acquiet and redresse the temporall state of his church which was maruelously disordered shaken by
spoyled all the contrey and wolde not suffer the subiects of Caromano other to sowe and plowe the grounde orels to doe anye thinge in the feeldes that moughte befor their commoditie whervpon they that dwelled vpon the plaine were in suche distresse that of their owne acorde they reuolted from Caromano for the greatest number and became subiectes to Baiazithe when the springe of the yere was cōme Caromano consideringe the inclination of his people and being in feare to be forsaken of his souldiours or els to be delyuered by them into the hands of Baiazithe obtaine of the Soldane of Egipte Caribeio a man of much fame and worthines a great sume of money and also certaine bandes of Arrabianes he sent into all partes of his dominions for such ayde as there was to be had and ioyned them all with his armie and made it of as great number as he coulde and determyned to se howe fortune wolde fauour hym and rather to Hazard the battayle then to gyue place to his enemie and in tyme to be delyuered by his owne mē into the handes of his enemyes whervpon beinge furnished with all necessaries he toke the feelde and chose a place of great strengthe and apte for the seruice of horse men when Baiazithe vnderstode that the enemey was come to the feelde and in campe he sent to all his garnisones commaūdinge them to repare vnto hym wyth spede with them to bring their whole furniture and when he had taken reuewe of them he marched to the feelde and put his souldiours in battayle and then marched towarde Caromano and when he came w tin sighte of him he sent his vauntgarde toward his enemie some thinge spedyly to begyn the battayle and he in person dyd conducte the battayle and folowed the Vauntgarde he also was folowed by the rierewarde and all his bagagers and when he came where the enemies were they refused not the battayle he came towarde them in good order and ioyned with them and notwithstanding that the force of Baiazithes people was greate and that a troupe of ten thousand horsemen of his went and serred them selues and with great furie assayled the enemies perswading them selues that in the first encoūtre they woulde disorder them but the Ciliceanes recauid theyr charge with great assurance in suche sorte that there was not one of them that gaue one fote of grounde to his enemie After this when they were entremelled there began a very braue and blooddie fyghte men fell downe dead and hurte contynally on bothe sydes and their places were alwaies supplied with freshe men and in this sorte they contynued for the greatest parte of the daye with great assurance nether partie gyuinge place to the other so that it coulde not be Iudged on whiche parte the virtorye shoulde lighte for the battayle contynued doubtefull euen to the darcke night Abraham Caromano shewed that daye of what value he was for in his order he shewed him selfe a Capten of great Iudgement and afterward in his fyghte he shewed him selfe a valiante and stoute souldiour and laste of all by the prouidence of god his tyme beinge at hand seinge his people to gyue place beinge charged by a greate numbre of his enmies whose force they were not able to endnre be thruste on spedilie towardes them with his garde a good number of other of his souldiours and gaue in vp on them in suche sorte that he perced euen in to myddest of their squadrone and beinge knowen by the enemies was by thē forth with enuironed and charged on euery syde with suche furie that they slewe his horse vnder hym where vpon he was constrayned to fyghte on fote in the whiche he behaued him selfe so nobly that w t his owne hande he slewe dyuerse of those which assailed him in the ende throughe the great losse of his bloude which contynually fell from him throughe his dyuerse and sondrie woondes whiche he had receauied in the battayle not beinge able to endure anye longer fell downe deade in the place as sone as his people vnderstode of his death they were so amazed and discouraged that immediatly they dysorderid them seules and lefte the fyghte scatteringe them selues all the the feelde ouer hoped to make flighte their sauetie but being folowed by y e Turckyshe horsmen the greatest number of them were slaine and a great parte of the rest were taken on lyue and delyuered to Baiazith when he had in this sorte obtained so greate a victorie he determyned forthewith to vse the same whervpon he began to occupie the reste of Cilicia campestre and marching on ouer all the contrey the cities and fortellezes yeldyd vnto him enerie where as he came withoute makinge anye resystaunce and hauing in shorte tyme broughte vnder his obeisance all that contrey that Caromano possessed in Cilicia he deuised then with his Captaines what was beste to be done fynally it semed beste in the opinion of euery mā first or he toke in hand to passe the mounte Tauro and so to goe on to conquere that which Caromano possyd in the lesse Armenia and Capadotia to possesse the other Cilicia called Thrachea to the ende to leue no enemie behinde thē y e mought empeche them whervpō he caused to moostre and paie his men and then gaue them a litle tyme to repose that done he vnited them and sent them towarde Setalia which is a Citie in that prouince then newlye inhabited a citie of greate traffique maruelously well inhabited by meanes of the decaie of the trade that was in Delo whiche in tyme passed was a Citie of the greatest traffique of all Asia and chiefely for the great number of slaues that then were there boughte and solde which were in nūber in maner infinite wherof it grewe into prouerbe marchantes make your voyage to Delo and there vnshippe for whatsoeuer is broughte thither is redie money when the traffique of this Citie was decaied the whole traffique and trade of marchandize was put ouer into Setalia and throughe the greate repaire of marchauntes it was become the cheife and beste in habited Citie of the lesse Asia in so muche that the sea coaste all there aboute losynge his olde name is called the golfe of Setalia euen at this daye vpon the whiche golfe directly ouer againste the Isle of Cipres standeth a noble Citie and a popolouse called Scandoloro the lorde wherof beinge a Turcke borne and all wayes in doubte of them hath euer ben an enemie to y e house of Ottomano and also to Caromano and confede rate with the greate maister of Rhodes and the King of Cipres dyd preserue his state vntyll that daie standing as a newter betwene them both but whē he sawe Baiazith come vpon him withe so populouse an armie vpon the sodden Iudginge him selfe not of power to witstand his force for all the power that he was able to make did not excede the number of xx M. men on horsbacke
them were slayne the Bassa was hurte in the righte arme with an arowe and for that it was late he with drewe him selfe with certaine with him in to a secrete place But Scanderbeg being aduertised her of went the nexte morning to the place where he was and then Assambeg came forthe to him withoute anye weapon and vsed so good wordes towarde him that he merited pardon After this the Bassa Iussubeg toke in hand to encoūtre Scanderbeg with an armie of .18 thousand Turckes and came neare a place called Scopia notwithstanding he had not so euel happe as the infortunate Assambeg had for Scanderbeg passed on and mette him vpon the waye as he was comminge and charged him vpon y ◠sudden and put him and his people to flyghte Yet notwithstandinge the vaine desyre of fame and glorye stirred vp the olde Carazabeg which had ben a companion with Scanderbeg in the warres of Natolia and other places who had done the Turcke great seruice wherfore he went to the Turcke and so perswaded with him that in the ende he obtained license to chose as manye souldiours as he wolde to take with him whervpon he chose 30. thousand horsemen and made him redie to goe to seeke Scanderbeg and to assayle him vpon the suddē but Scanderbeg beinge aduertised hereof went against him passinge thorowe the two countres of Dibra vntyl he came to the confynes of Triballe where it was certified vnto him that Carazabeg must passe as sone as he came there he was ware of 4. thousande Turckes which Carazabeg had sent before to discouer his passage but comminge into the bosome of Scanderbegs armie the greatest number of them were immediatly slayne which when the Bassa vnderstode he was excedingely sory and chiefely for that he was so discouered more then for the deathe of his souldiours Then this subtill olde Ruter sent to Scanderbeg a messager requiring him to fyght with him like a prince in appointed battayle and not vpon suddennes in suche sorte lyke a stradarolle and thefe seking alwaye to take the enemye vnprouided But Scanderbeg beinge as circumspecte as he and knowing well the decepte of y e olde man who wolde seme to blame that in an other man y t he him selfe wolde faynest haue broughte to passe yf y t by anye meanes he moughte Scanderbeg sent him aunswere saying I wyll aunswere the olde folishe followe well ynoughe Then whiles Carazabeg dyd consulte of the matter acording to the maner of olde men Scanderbeg with his armie in very good order came and assailed the armie of Carazabeg with suche force and noyse y ◠it was not possyble for one of them to heare an other by meanes of the great rayne and winde that then was Scanderbeg coulde not folowe the chase acordingely as he was wonte to doe althoughe he handelled them very rudely But Carazabeg beinge greatly ashamed and confounded toke the shortest waye to Constantinople where he was not a litle rebuked of the great Turcke and also mocked after that by meanes of his fryndes he was well commended of that Tiran for that he had passed the iorney wyth lesse charges and spoyle of hys people then anye of the reste of his Bascias had done brought away his people with lesse slaughter When Mahomethe sawe that he coulde by no meanes obtaine his purpose against Scanderbeg he then determyned to proue whether he mighte deceaue him or no wherfore he determyned to sende to him for peace to the ende that he might procede against other princes in the meane tyme withoute lett of Scanderbeg wherfore he sent an ambassadour to him with a letter and great presentes besyde the clothe of golde and sylke y ◠he sent him who receaued the ambassadour with his letter in very cortese sorte The tenour of his letter was The lorde Mahomethe the mightie kinge and Emperour of all partes of the worlde from the Easte to the west to the noble prince Scanderbeg greating we gyue thy worthynes to vnderstande that notwithstandinge the great offences that thou hast cōmitted against oure house and state yet when I call to mynde and consider the great trauayles and paynes and the worthy and excellente actes that thou hast so faithfully wroughte for the conseruation encrease and honor of oure state whē thou were oftage with oure father Amorathe and didest eate his breade in Andrinople and were more fauored and honored in his courte then any other Sangiacho Bassa or good seruante that he had I can not but forget all the aforesayde offences wherfore I gyue the to vnderstande that I haue determyned to pardon the all offences and to becomme thy frynde and to make a perfecte peace with the vpon this condition that y ◠wylte suffer that my people may passe safely thorowe thy coūtre to make warres vpon the Venetianes my enemies and in consideration herof I wyll franckly gyue the all that that thou possessyst in Albania which of righte did appertaine to my father and from henceforthe I wyll call the prince of the Epirotes and wyll doe the all the pleasure and honor possyble I wyll also that for performance of this peace thou send me Iohn thy sonne whō I wyll vse as thoughe he were myne owne sonne and moreouer for that that I doe desyre to se the personally for the great fryndshyppe that hath ben of a longe tyme betwene vs maye it please the to comme and visyte me that we maye reioyse togyther and god doth wel know the great entertainement that I wyll make y ◠I wolde also that thou woldest graunte that the marchauntes of myne Empire moughte safely passe thorowe thy coūtre and I wyll graunte the lyke to the marchauntes of thy countre and thou mayest credite my seruante ambassadour Mustaffa the bringer herof and whatsoeuer he shall saye vnto thee I wyll performe from Constantinople the second of May. 1461. When Scanderbeg had redde this letter he smyled and then talked a great tyme with the ambassadour by him wrote aunswere to the Turckes letter in this sorte The souldiour of Iesus Christ George Castrioth sometime named Scanderbeg prince of the Albaneses Epirotts to the moste excellent prince of the Turckes Mahomethe sendeth greating By thyne ambassadour and letter I haue vnderstode the mynde of thyne excellentie in certaine pointes whervnto I aunswere firste that the Venetianes besyde all other fryndshippes that are betwene them and me by the which we doe estime here oure states as one are so honest good Christianes and doe so well obserue their promises that althoughe there were none other hande of oure Catholique faithe vnder paine of greatter excomminycation that Christianes shoulde not wyllingly permitte the hethenes to anoye Christianes I for the aforesayde vertues goodnes that is in them maye neuer condiscend to this firste demaunde for so muche as I am not retorned to y e Christian faithe to stande a cursed nor hurte such as be faithfull As touching
for serre fol. the. 20. page the. 2. platane for plantane fol. 22. page the. 2. their for there fol. 22. page the. 2. vere for vexe fol. 23. page the. 1. Salaminan for Salamina fol. 23. page the 1. promountories for promontories fol. 24. page the fyrste ransom for rauÌ„some Of discipline and wherin it concisteth The trained souldiour is to be prefarred to the vnskilful The choise of the souldiour and what is to be required therein The obedience of the souldiour The exercyse of a souldiour Suimming Necessarie The vse of the weapon The necessitie of Armour Order of great importance Examples of strange punnishements for breche of order Seueritie in punishment very expedient The order of passing the pikes What kind of people are to be banished oute of an armie or campe Other enormities râ—dressed by Metellus What a legion iâ— A generall must be void of ambition and rashenes Terentius wilful and withoute skill Emilius most valiante and coragious His aunswere to Lentulus before his death Note the arrogancie and wilfulnes of Minutius Fabius exortation to his souldiour Minutius acknowledgethe his folly The benifite of discipline The incoÌ„moditie that commeth by the seruice of staungers Andre Dorie Marques Brande Hadington 1 Cor. 3. Subtillitie of OttomaÌ„ no the firste prince of the turkes Oreano the second Amorath the third Amorathe the fyrste turke that inuaded Gretia Roâ—aâ—yâ— percel of Thratia The two coÌ„treis called Misianowe Seruya and Bargarya named Bayazithe the 4 prince of the turkes made the second warres in Gretia Baiazith besegithe Constantinople Digreâ—â—â—â— The atmie of Tamer lano The batel betwene tamerlano baiazith Disciplyne of Tamerlano Damasâ—o Tameriano deliteth in difficile enterprises Pollicie of Tamerâ—â—o The custum of Tamerlano in the beseeging of townes great crueltie of Tamerlano Tamerlano lykned to Aniball Diuine iustice Calapinâ— the 5. king Defeict at Michopolli moises the 6. Kinge Mahometh the 7 kinge â—morathe the 8. King Amorathe taketh Sckyauonia Amorathe taketh to wife the daughter of the dispotte of Seruia Seruia taken by Amorathâ— lyberalitye of Vauioda Caromano prince of Cilicia the seat of Pelonesso Amorathe passethe with his armie into Hungarye the Cardinal Saint Agnolo sent into Almaigne Battaile betwen vaiuoda and the belagarbei of gretia Brute in Turchie Trewes betwene the hungers the Turckes Note the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of the Pope An other iorney against the Turcks Mysya nowe called Burgaria Note this opinion opinion of Vaiuoda Vaiuoda perswaded the kinge not to accepte the battaile Amorathe Battell betwine Laodislao and Amorathe the bastias enforce Amorathe to staie souldier like handlyng the excuse Vaiuoda â—aodislao sâ—aine Cardinali S. Agnolo slaine Vaiuoda prisoner Answer of Amorathe A notable consideration of an heathen prince Amorathe in priuate estate Mahometh the 9. prince The turkishe costume victorie dearly bought OpinioÌ„ of Vaiuoda Treason of Dispot to Ambition of Mahometh Besilia where the battayle was foughte Note the place of the general of the armie Amorathe restoreth Mahomth againe to gouernement vnspeake able cruelti of Mahomethe The numbre of Gianizaries augmeÌ„ted by Mahometh Discourse of Mahameth Ambassadours sent by the princes of Gretia to the pope other princes of Europe The maruelouse segeand expugnation of ConstaÌ„tinople A brydgeof a meruelous length Fasting of the Turckes Great negligence of the Greks The firste assaulte Great iudgement of mahometh The secoÌ„d assaulte The third assaulte Iohn Iustiniaâ— the assault reuiued The death of CoÌ„stantine the emperour â–ª Two noble souldiers The death of Giustinian Vnspeakeable wickednes Wante of prouideÌ„ce the ruine of all countreis and states Vnspeakeable crueltie of Mahometh Aspres siluer money of the turkes 50. amount to the value of a ducat Calibasso put to deth by the commaundement of mahometh Thomas paleologo tributarie to the Turcke Thomas paleologo reuolteth Esmilia Peloponesso in leÌ„gth 175. miles in circuite it is 5505. myles Peloponeso nowe called Morea Temple of Mynexua the lord of Athenes a florentyne borne Athenes renderid to Mahometh Albaneses discendyd from the Scythianes Camusa Scanderbeg to king Alphonso of Naples Callirio the Byshope of Rome A practizâ— discouerid Dispottâ— of Acarnamia betraied Answere of the Dispotto of Seruia Laodislaâ— Zilugo slayne Of ciuill warres in Seruis Carafagio in Almaigne Blasphemy of an empudent papiste Iohn Vaiuoda Mahâ—meth before Belgrado in campe Order of Mahometh Great coâ—fusien amonge the Turckes Another armie in Morea The seeâ—e of Trebisonda Mitilenâ— besegyd taken by Mahometh Manoesy Tributa ries to the Turcke Late wyse Nota. Warres betwene the venetianes the Turckes Esmylya Battayle betwene the venetianes the Turcke Europe fylled with warres The popes liberalitie Pio the second pope of that name died Enia takeÌ„ by the venetians Great preparation of Mahometh Euboica anciently called Negroponte beseged by the Turckâ—s Mahometh a noble Captaine Souldiours of anoble minde Vnspeakable crueltie Negrâ—ponte takeÌ„ by Mahometh Ponâ—o Eusino Practize of Mahometh Caffa beseged Caffa yelded to Mahometh Scutarâ— besegyd by Mahometh Iohn Gernoi Greate charges of the Venetianes Scutari gyuen to Mahometh Bailo an ambassadour lidger that hathe power of lyfe Rodes by Mahohometh be segid Rodes assaulted the xx of Iuly Strange adâ—enture The christian zeale of the king Ferrante Rhodes de lyuered from the seege of the enemies The head of Ottranto Ottranto beseegyd The duke of Calabria before Ottranto Mounte S. Agnolo Baiazithe the 10. king The determynation of GeÌ„ma Note this acte Gemma defeicted An offer of the king Ferrante Ottranâ—o straytly besegyd by the Duke of Calabria Promise euel obserued Baiazithe encreasyth the nuÌ„ber of bothe his fortmeÌ„ horsemeÌ„ Ambassad froÌ„ Baiazithe to Ferrante Caromano prince of Cilicia The voiage of Baiazithe Tarso besegyd by Baiazithe Policie of Byiazithe Caromano ayded by the Soldain Caribeio The battayle betwene Baiazithe Caromano The death of the noble prince Caromano Ripe iudgement of Baiazithe Setalia Scandaloro Agrement betwene Baiazithe and the prince of Scandaloro Baiazithe retorned to Constantinople The voiage of Baiazithe against Caromano Diadaro a name of honour appertainiÌ„g alwaies to the admiralles of Alexandrie Note this battayle betwene Baiazithe the great Diadaro Admiral of Alexandriâ— The great diadaro an excelleÌ„t Captaine Good prouideÌ„ce of Baiazithe DigressioÌ„ Note Alchoran a Boke wherin are conteyned the cheife pointes of the Turcke his Religion Practize of Baiazithe to betray Corfu Baiazith in Valachia The seatâ— of Mancastro Baiazithe besegeth Moncastro in very good order Great cortesy of Baiaziih Batolo an ambassadour that coÌ„tynueth in a place Consul is a secretari and determynethe the differâ—ces betwene the marchaÌ„ts that are al of one contrey Lepanto taken Modon be segyd by Baiazithe Great wante of vnderstandinge of the Modoneses Corone de lyuered vp to Baiazithe Nota. Mitilene besegyd by the frenshe The porte is a passag betwene Europe Asia not much vnlyke the escluse of oye Baiazithe departeth from Andrinople The batâ—tayle betwene Baiazithe Selim. Sadi is an officer that determineth differences