to content himself with some Pashalick of a higher and more eminent degree but apprehensions and jealousies of their dangers and his own natural Ambition soon stitled those considerations resolving to continue his Charge in opposition to all the difficulties and dangers he might encounter And perhaps he gave himself the same counsel which the Vitellian Souldiers did to their General Nihil atrocius eventurum quam in quod sponte ruant moriendum vict is moriendum deditis id solum referre novissimum spiritum per ludibrium contumelias effundant an per Virtutem Men who must die whether they yield or are conquered by force have the same Fate all the difference is that the one dies with valour and reputation the other with reproach and cowardice But to execute this stout counsel with prudence and wisdom he conceived it necessary if possible to reconcile the sincere friendship of Samozade the Reis Effendi or Chief Secretary of State a person the best practised of any in the Affairs and Negotiations of the Ottoman Empire and one much in the esteem and favour of the Queen Mother and in order thereunto treats him with more familiarity and condescension than was ordinary or by many judged agreeable to the Greatness of a Grand Vizier for always when he came into his Presence he arose up calling him secretly Father Tutor and Companion in supporting the Burden of the weighty Government and such other Compellations as the Grand Signior vouchsafed only to the Vizier for though this Reis Effendi was of the greatest abilities and this present Vizier the most youthful and unexperienced of Latter Times yet it may be accounted one special mark and token of his prudence in knowing how to elect so useful a friend and of his policy in procuring his sincere faithfulness towards him and making him really his own To which end he conversed much with him communicated all his thoughts freely demanded his advice received his private entertainments and in fine was wanting in no points of affable courtesie and compliance whereby he might create him his own contenting for some time himself with the name of Vizier though the other as one who best knew how to mannage it enjoyed the power The Chief Officers of the Seraglio instigated by the Queen Mother to diminish something the power of the Vizier put often the Grand Signior in mind as a matter agreeable to his dignity to have a regard to his Government which caused him more frequently than his humour served to betake himself to his Chiosk over against the Viziers Gate to make his usual observations and perceiving some Christians to enter the Court with red Calpacks or Caps and yellow Shooes prohibited to Christians by orders of inferiour Magistrates but never until now thought worthy the Imperial Observance immediately called for the Subashee or Constable of Constantinople and from the Window commanded him with great fury to enter the Viziers Court and such Christians as he should find there with yellow Shooes and red Caps he should first beat and then send uncovered and bare-footed home The Subashee armed with a power in this matter as high as the Viziers entered his house without Complement or Licence and encountring first the Kapikahya's or Agents of Moldavia and Valachia negotiating the Affairs of their Prince and Country he rudely layed them down and without respect to their Persons or Office beat them on the seet tore off their red Stockins and Caps and sent them home with their heads and feet bare derided by the people and lamenting the affliction of that Tyranny to which they were subjected This inhumane treatment of persons in a manner sacred was seconded by publick Proclamations strictly prohibiting all Christians from wearing red Caps yellow Shooes scarlet Vests and the like and Janisaries from the use of Hanjars or Daggers and silk Turbants upon pain of death which Order was so strictly enjoined that the corners of every Street were furnished with Officers to observe and punish such who were found to offend The Grand Signior himself judged also the Execution of this order of that importance as to deserve his own proper care and inspection wherefore walking abroad as his manner was in disguise with his Executioner at hand encountred in the Streets an unfortunate Bridegroom an Armenian who that day on priviledge of his Espousals had adventured to dress himself with yellow leathern Socks nothing was or could have time to be pleaded in his behalf before the fatal Blow was struck which sent him to his Grave instead of his Nuptial Bed This fury continued some few days with much rigour and strict observation but afterwards growing cold again all care was neglected happening herein as commonly it doth in all things which have no other foundation than humour and fancy But this inspection into petty matters did not so much disturb the thoughts of the Vizier as did the power and greatness of Mortaza the Pasha of Babylon by the Turks called Bagdat a person of an undaunted Courage and great Conduct whom he had hitherto suffered to live contrary to the true knowledge of his interest and the Rules his Father had left him wherefore he resolved to renew his design and attempts against his Life one I remember was in December of the past Year when in our Journey to Adrianople we met a Messenger on the way who amongst other Discourses informed us that he was then going to Babylon for confirmation of Mortaza and as a testimony of the G. Signiors favour and good will towards him he carried him a Sword and a Vest of Sables we immediately and that truly guessed for what Present the Sword was sent for in some Months after the Chaous-bashee or chief of the Pursuivants returned without delivery of his Present For the wise Mortaza was so justly jealous that he would not so much as admit him to his presence but returned him again with his Sword and Sables for those who were more easy and credulous and who believe to die by Command of the Sultan to be Martyrdom and the only Crown of all their merits and deserts and knowing that he could not long subsist in opposition to so great an Enemy he contracted an Alliance by Marriage with a Daughter of one of the Gordean or Curdean Princes and in Dowry had one of the strongest Forts of those Mountains delivered into his hands The Vizier finding himself thus foiled in his occult Artifices began publickly to profess his enmity and therefore in the first place perswaded the G. Signior that the long continuance of Mortaza in that Government beyond the usual term so opulent and powerful and of a spirit so ambitious and rebellious could not but prove dangerous to himself and in time give him confidence of competition for the whole Empire which hazard to prevent with most prudence and advantage there being a present occasion of good Souldiers for relief of Candia Mortaza and his Complices
Government was assailed on all sides both at home and abroad Various were the Counsels and Proposals in what manner to proceed in times of such emergency First it was resolved to proclaim a War both against the King of Persia and the Rebels in Asia and that whosoever took of the Grand Signior Pay from one Asper a day to a higher value should be in readiness to serve in the War upon penalty of losing his Estate of being accounted a Rebel and his wife and children sold for Slaves But the more sober and moderate sort judged it policy to take off Abassa by sending him a general Pardon with a concession of all his demands upon condition that he should turn his Arms upon the King of Persia who was the common Enemy of their Country and Religion but the Janisaries would by no means assent to this agreement with a person to whom they bore a more inveterate hatred than to the Persian himself as he did also to the Janisaries For that he might better justifie his pretence of revenge he declared That being one day in a Mosch at his Prayers the murdered Osman appeared to him and taking him by the hand said My faithful Mussulman since thou art the most generous of all my Slaves I command thee to revenge my death with the blood of sixty thousand Janisaries and Spahees good Fortune shall accompany thy Arms and Victory shall crown thy labours During these intrigues and difficulties of reconciliation Abassa spoiled the Lesser Asia and the Persian King conquered the City and Province of Bagdat or Babylon took Kur Asan Pasha an old Souldier Prisoner possessed himself of Mosul and Leska on the Persian Sea and meeting no considerable opposition he divided his Army into four parts The first was dispeeded into Mesopotamia commanded by the King himself The second made Incursions into Palestine The third infested the Coast of the Black Sea and the fourth marched towards Mecha with hope and design of sharing all the parts of the Eastern Empire Ali Pasha who opposed the King in Mesopotamia was slain and his Army wholly defeated so that the Province became a prey to the Enemy the success in Palestine was equally fortunate by the revolt of Damascus a place of great riches and importance the Coast of the Black Sea was grievously infested and a Port taken near to Trapezond and little opposition being made at Balsora the Town was taken by that Army in their March towards Mecha and the parts of the Red Sea where they rendered themselves Masters of Medina the City of their Prophet Mahomet To repair these losses and to encounter numbers so strong and valiant in all parts the Vizier was dispeeded with a powerful Force to the Town of Bagdat but by reason of Mutinies and Tumults amongst the Souldiery matters found not the success expected and the Garrison making valiant and vigorous Sallies against the imbecillity of the Turkish Souldiery which were always most obstinate and stout to oppose their own Commanders obtained an advantage in every Attempt by which discouragement many forsaking their Colours the Siege was raised with dishonour and the interest of the Turk impaired and almost irreparably lost in those Provinces This News arrived at Constantinople that the Camp was risen and fled by night that they were forced to burn their Tents and Provisions and to break their great Artillery and cast them into the Euphrates that the miseries in the Army had been such by Famine and Pestilence and want of all Provisions and Ammunition that the like was never known that the Vizier had beheaded three of his Pasha's that so he might cast the whole blame upon them and that now retreating with his Army into the Turkish Dominions the Persians pursued them in the Rear and for ten days did execution on them making the best use they could of their Victory which relation silled the hearts of all people with sadness and disordered the Counsels with confusion The cause of which ill success according to custom being imputed to the General he was deprived of his Office and sacrificed to the fury of the Janisaries These troubles were increased at Constantinople by the Addresses which the Prince of Transylvania made unto the Port by his Kapi-Kahya or Agent representing to the Grand Signior That he wanting Heirs Male to succeed him in his Principality the States at a Diet had with common consent elected his Lady for his Successour and therefore desired consirmation from the Port in excuse of her Sex he alledged the urgent necessity of the present times which perswaded rather to admit of the Government of a Woman than that his Principality should for want of an Heir fall into the hands of the powerful Family of Austria To make good this demand Duke John of Weymar and Count Mansfelt arrived in Silistria to whom the Prince of Transylvania joyned his Troops and Morteza Pasha of Buda wrote to the Port that he was marching towards Valz to meet the Prince and confer with him concerning these designs The Emperours Resident at Constantinople greatly exclaimed against these proceedings which something troubled the Counsels of the Turks who in that conjuncture were unwilling to give beginnings to a new War so that besides fair words they promised to write such Letters to the Pasha of Buda as should give a stop to the Investiture of the Princess but to say truly the Instructions given were in such ambiguous terms that they in essect lest the whole matter to the discretion of Morteza to act as he judged most agreeable to the state of Affairs on the Frontiers and security of the present Peace Thus did the Turkish Court seek to ward off the blow of a War with Germany and yet secretly nourished and encouraged it by giving Orders to the Pasha of Buda to take up his Winter-quarters with the Prince of Transylvania and to follow his directions but yet so to govern matters with caution as not to engage too far on uncertain grounds or doubtful hazard but to embrace Propositions of Peace if offered with honour and security In prosecution of these Rules Morteza observing that Weymar and Mansfelt having united their Forces with Gabor had formed a considerable Army and were able to sight with Wallestein General of the Imperialists joyned also his Forces to theirs judging it a prudent and politick design to wage a War at the blood and expence of others With these encouragements and with the favour of a good opportunity the Confederates fell upon the Army of Wallestein near the River Gran who not being able to withstand their force and fury was put to flight and pursued in the Rear with great slaughter and endeavouring to pass the River on two Bridges of Boats were closely followed by the Princes Forces who gaining the pass put the whole Army into great amazement and resolved to pursue them to the Gates of Presburg or Vienna Notwithstanding this success the Prince of Transylvania
four Sisters of the Grand Signior's and for that reason were powerful and employed in the principal Offices of State and commonly drew contrary to the opinions of the Mufti and Chimacam which two last were not well accorded between themselves for that the latter encroached on the Office of the Mufti to the great scandal and discontent of all the religious and literate men in the whole City howsoever they both joyned in consultation by what means they might best secure themselves and the Government from the lusts and evil designs of this quadruple Fraternity but their wisdom and interests were too weak to contrive remedies against such high oppressions for besides the violences daily practised by the Brothers the extravagant humors in the Sultan himself added to the disorders of State and increased the discontents and dissatisfactions of the people for though Morat was naturally endowed with a good wit and parts was stout and of a good courage yet as his perpetual debauchery in Wine rendred him in appearance but of a weak understanding mixed with much levity so it caused his accessions of the Falling sickness to which he was subject to return often whereby the strength of his brain was daily weakened and impaired he was negligent also in the performance of those Ceremonies which his Ancestors were accustomed to observe nor did he live with that gravity and regular course which is agreeable to the Grandeur of so great a Prince for sometimes he would go out of his Seraglio with no other Attendance than of three or four men which were for the most part Buffoons Players upon the Gittern and Eunuchs and with no better an Equipage would he sometimes be seen on Horse-back or in his Boat rowed on the Bosphorus with six Oars only by which actions and other mean sallies of Youth he created such a contempt towards his Person that evil men grew factions and weary and entred into Conspiracies against his life whilst the good men feared and presaged the ruine and downfal of the Empire for neither justice nor order nor obedience prevailed no Offices were conferred for Merit but by money or some other unlawful means there remained no Counsellors of true faith and integrity nor Souldiers almost either of experience for Sea or Land-adventures The people being burdened by double Taxes and Imposts were mutinous and ready to take the least fire of Rebellion the Souldiery were disorderly for want of Discipline and their constant Pay the Pasha's of remote Provinces grew insolent taking upon themselves rather an absolute than a depending Soveraignty In short all things looked with that black appearance that nothing seemed to keep the frame of Empire together but only the expectation of good success to the Army in Persia the which as it depended on uncertain events so the Ottoman Monarchy was then shaking and stood tottering on its deepest foundation Wherefore all people being intent to hear of good News from Persia were much pleased to understand that the Vizier having by advantage in the last Engagement laden his Army with Plunder and Spoils was now preparing to besiege Bagdat for whose good success Prayers were daily made in the Moschs and the Schoolmasters surrounded the streets with their young Scholars singing out Prayers with the Amen at every period according to the custom of that Country The Vizier marched towards Bagdat and began to besiege it about the 10 th of September in order whereunto he amassed great abundance of all sorts of Provisions and made his Magazine of them at Mosul two thousand Camels each laden with two Sacks of Cotton every Sack being of about ten foot long were carried to the Siege for shelter of the Souldiery and to fill the Ditches The Vizier having passed part of his Army over the River Tigris the rest with the Cannon remaining on the hither side he dispatched Nasuf Pasha of Aleppo with six thousand Spahees to take a view of the place and discover the Avenues unto it in his way thither he met with eight thousand Persian Horse sent to reinfore the Garrison which he valiantly engaged but being dangerously wounded was forced to retreat with the loss of almost half of his men part killed and part taken those which were carried Prisoners to Bagdat were treated with all civility by the Governour who gave them a view of the Garrison which consisted of twenty thousand effective men shewed them their Stores and Provisions and that there was scarce an unuseful mouth in all the City to devour them Notwithstanding this disaster at the beginning the Vizier nothing dismayed proceeded on his design spending the whole month of September in making his approaches In the month of October he mounted eighteen Pieces of great Cannon which for the space of twenty five days battered continually the Curtain between the two Bastions on which were four Pieces of Cannon not perceived by the Turks there was also a deep and large Ditch not discovered by them for that it was planked over with Boards and covered with a green Turff so that it appeared like a plain and firm ground the broach being made and seemingly undefended the Turks resolved to make an Assault wherefore the Vizier on the 20 th of November commanded the Spahees under the Conduct of the Beglerbei of Anatolia accompanied with Pasha's Sangiacks and other persons of note as also with Janisaries to the number of thirty thousand to enter the breach which being performed and great numbers crowding on the Turff the weight of them pressed down the Planks and therewith the whole Engine giving way five or six thousand were in a moment taken as it were in a Pit-fall and swallowed up without any possibility of succour to be yielded from their Companions After which on an instant there appeared fifteen thousand men on the breach and on the Bastions which with their Cannon and continual Vollies of Musket-shot so galled the Spahees that they broke their main Body and killed the Beglerbei of Anatolia with other persons of note and quality and made the whole Army to retreat Two days after this disgrace the Vizier raised the Siege and marched towards Mosul and the Persians encouraged with this success pursued the Turks with eight thousand Horse assailed the Rear-guard of the Enemy and though the conduct and care thereof was committed to the charge of the Pasha's of Aleppo and Damascus yet the Persians killed three thousand Turks and had defeated the whole Rear of the Army had not the Spahees turned their Horses and withstood the shock with great Valour Notwithstanding this dishonourable Retreat the Vizier lost not his courage or hopes of taking the Town in order unto which he appointed all things necessary to renew the Siege again in the months of September and October following for that the foregoing months are either too rainy or too hot in those Countries to undertake a design or enterprise of that nature he fortified all the small places in those
longer to be governed by a Woman or a Child but by the most brave Prince that ever swayed the Ottoman Scepter and thereupon for the future resolved upon an impartial submission and obedience unto him To encourage them in which and to reconcile their spirits and affections to him Morat oftentimes assembled his Souldiery at Ackmeidan where he exercised with them shooting with the Bow at Marks and at Rovers rewarding those who shot best with adding an Asper a day to their Pay besides which he distributed six thousand Hungars amongst them to demonstrate that wise Princes are used to mix Lenitives with their rigour These Mutinies and Seditions in the Capital City encouraged rebellious Spirits in divers other places so that a certain bold and audacious Fellow drawing a number of Miscreants after him possessed himself of the City of Prusa another of the same temper called Elia Pasha made himself Master of Magnesia where he committed all the outrages which Enemies inflict on a conquered People and being about twenty four miles distant from Smyrna so assrighted the people of that place who were Merchants and such as lived by Trade that they fled with their Wealth and such things as were portable left they should be exposed to the robbery and spoil of Thieves and Rebels But the Beglerbey of Anatolia suffered not Elia to reign long in his lust but giving him Battel in those Plains wholly defeated him and sent twenty of the Heads of the chief Commanders to the Sultan for a Present and pursuing Elia and the rest of his Army to Magnesia besieged him in that City The Grand Signior being advised hereof and fearing left the Siege should take up too much time and move other ill humors in that Country dispatched Orders to offer Terms and Conditions of Accommodation with Elia which were secretly treated and great promises made him of favour and rewards from the Grand Signior The easie Fool accepted the Conditions and embraced the promises and leaving his City of Magnesia proceeded confidently to Constantinople to receive the gracious rewards of the Sultan for his past Services At his Entry into the Seraglio in place of the Kapislar-Kahyasee or Master of the Ceremonies he was received by Officers with a Cord in their hands who bestowed on him the gracious reward of his Masters ultimate favour These Rebellions were no sooner suppressed in Asia but that other Mutinies of the Janisaries for want of Pay began at Buda in Hungary where they threw stones at their Aga and pursued him to the very Palace of the Pasha electing another into his place They also cut in pieces the Governour of Pest and bestowed his Office upon his Lieutenant To remedy these disorders and extinguish the Mutiny the Grand Signior sent Commissioners to examine the matter and to render him an account of the grievances and demands of the Souldiers but they fearing to be surprised with some severe acts of Justice prevented or forestalled the inquiries of the Commissioners by acknowledging their fault and demanding pardon with surrender of four of the Ring-leaders to punishment declaring That by their seducement and evil perswasions they were debauched into that disorderly course of proceedings the Sultan accepted the submission and all things were quieted in Hungary Howsoever new troubles arose in Moldavia for that People being oppressed over-much by their Prince Alexander made an Insurrection against him and drove him out of the Country who for refuge fled to Constantinople And the people desirous that one Bernoschi a Polonian by Nation might be put into his place to obtain his Confirmation he came to the Port and offered himself before the Grand Signior but Morat suspecting that to obtain the Principality for himself he had secretly instigated and nourished the late popular Commotions caused his Head to be cut off in the publick Divan Amurat had now born to him a seventh Daughter by his Slave called the shining Star and though he was much troubled that she had not brought him forth a Son and Heir yet so much was she beloved by him that he resolved to create her Queen had not his Mother declared against it as a thing not usual for any Woman to be honoured with that Title before she had supplied the Inheritance by the Birth of a Male Child And that he might now totally extinguish the fire of Sedition amongst the Souldiery he caused Ferdum Efendi and Saluc Aga two prime Chiefs of the Spahees with eight principal Janisaries to be put to death after which severity fearing another Insurrection he passed the Water and retired to his Seraglio at Scutari where he fortified himself It happened about that time that a Turk Woman a Slave was found aboard a French Ship ready to sail from Constantinople which the Turks highly resented and aggravated the crime so much against the French Ambassadour that they imprisoned his Son then embarked and would have confiscated the Vessel and her Lading In those days the Christian Ambassadours resident at that Court kept better Union and Correspondence amongst themselves than they do at present so that all of them as concerned joyned together to represent before the chief Ministers that such a fault merited not so grand a forfeiture for that it was most probable to have been committed without the privacy either of the Ambassadour or Commander of the Ship The Ambassadours then resident were Sir Peter Wych for England the Sieur Marcheville for France and Pietro Foscarini for Venice at whose warm and urgent instances the Turks condescended to release the Vessel and the Goods laden upon her with free liberty to depart Howsoever it being represented to the Grand Signior by the Captain-Pasha who is Admiral of the Seas that one Baldasar an Armenian by Nation but Dragoman or Interpreter to the French Ambassadour was a principal Instrument to move the Ambassadours to unite in this pretence and being observed to manage the Interest of his Master with warm and earnest sollicitations the surly Sultan grew so angry that one of his own Slaves should presume to manage a dispute with him in fury and rage commanded that he should be immediately empaled and that he might be assured that his Sentence took effect he would see him with his own eyes on the Stake before he would pass the Water to his Seraglio at Scutari The resolution was so sudden and the Execution so speedy that there was neither ear lent to hear nor time given to mediate in his behalf and the act being performed complaints would not serve to redress a tyrannous action now past remedy and not to be recalled wherefore as the Ambassadours were forced to acquiesce and patiently endure the affront so if they would have resented it they could scarce have found one amongst their Interpreters of so bold a spirit who durst have opened his mouth after so terrifying an example The truth is the Dragomen or Interpreters to Ambassadours at Constantinople are required to be
men of Learning Courage and Courtship their studies ought to endue them perfectly with the Turkish Greek and Arabick Languages with some knowledge also of the Persian and with good Elocution and readiness of Tongue their constancy and presence of mind is always necessary at their appearance before those Grandees or Great men who are ever proud haughty and arrogant in all their expressions and ways of Treaty the which they commonly manage towards Christian Ministers with the same respect which we use towards our Servants or our Slaves And therefore by reason of this and other Presidents of like nature Dragomen have been always timorous in representing the true sence of the Ambassadours and Consuls at least have so minced and tempered their words that they have lost much of that vigour and accent which is necessary to inculcate perfectly a business into the Understanding of a Turk especially if you intend to incline him to Reason and Justice Wherefore it would be an excellent Qualification for an Ambassadour himself to understand and speak the Turkish Language or at least to have a young man by his side of the English Nation educated in the Turkish Court who should be ready to explicate those matters which are too thorny and prickly for Subjects of that Country to handle Had all the foregoing Troubles Mutinies and Misfortunes encountred the spirit of an easie and a gentle Sultan certainly the Fate of this Amurat had been the same with that of Osman who retiring within his Seraglio could never have appeased the seditious humor with all the concessions he could give to an unreasonable multitude but being a resolved and busling Prince he at first gave some few steps backwards as if he would yield somewhat to the impetuosity of that Torrent which he could not resist yet it was only like a Ram who retires that he may butt with the greater force Howsoever the Politicians and sober men attributed the true cause of all these Commotions in the Souldiery to have no other foundation than the ill success and miseries which attended the War in Persia for the way being long and the Countries hot barren and for the most part void of all comfort the Souldiers abhorred the fatigues and march thither and hated to consider that they should be made a Sacrifice to the lust of voluptuous Ministers who to gain Estates and Riches out of those Monies which were designed to carry on the War did not care whilst they lived at ease and in delights what labours wants and dangers attended the Militia These considerations made likewise some impression in the Sultan who therefore inclined to hearken unto those Propositions of Peace which were brought him by an Ambassadour from Persia and being accompanied with very great Presents the Peace was clapt up and concluded on a sudden But as things quick in their birth and production are not long-liv'd nor long durable so this Peace was broken the same year with an inconstancy equal to that inconsideration with which it was agreed and signed For no sooner was the News hereof flown into the Eastern World than the Great Mogol dispatched his Ambassadour with Letters to the Grand Signior perswading him to make War again with the Persian promising to assist him therein by stopping up the passage of Nachivan which is a City in the Lesser Armenia built upon the River Aranes and is the common Road into the Indies the which motion as it was pleasing to Morat so being accompanied with Indian Curiosities and Presents of an inestimable value the Ambassadour was graciously received and treated with such Feasts and Entertainments as are not usually known amongst the Turks and returned again with Letters giving hopes that he would speedily take an occasion to break with the Persian But those who had experienced the difficulties of a War with Persia and observed that in the present Conjuncture of Affairs it might be more easily and with advantage waged on the side of Hungary endeavoured with many pregnant arguments to perswade the Grand Signior thereunto giving him to understand that Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden being victorious over the Emperour in Germany had taken many Towns and Cities of great strength and having overthrown him in divers Battels had slain or taken his best Captains and most Martial men of Valour and that other Christians who were desirous to abate the pride of the Austrian Family were ready to embrace the same Conjuncture whereby they might entirely shake off the yoke and servitude to the Imperial Tyranny These advantages being well represented took place easily in the mind of Morat so that he dispatched express Orders to the Pasha of Buda to assemble his Forces and put all things in a readiness on the Frontiers in compliance with which though the Pasha set forth his Tents and made great appearance of a March yet some secret designs caused him to move slowly and to affect a Peace rather than a War so that receiving an Ambassadour from the Emperour at Pesth he readily admitted him and gave him safe conduct and Convoy unto Constantinople at which time Advices coming that the Great Gustavus Adolphus was slain and that the Affairs of the Swedes went backwards and unsuccessfully in Germany altered all the measures of the Ottoman Counsels and though Ragotski endeavoured all he was able to foment the differences and encourage the Turks to a War having besides other specious pretences an Army of thirty thousand men in a readiness to joyn with the Turks against the Emperour howsoever the Turks looking on the condition of the Swedes as desperate and the proffers of Ragotski to be uncertain and of no true foundation and the state of affairs amongst themselves to be turbulent and unsetled gave a kind reception to the Emperours Ambassadour and signed the Agreement for continuance of the Truce By this and other actions of like nature Ragotski lost much of his esteem with the Emperour and the Grand Signior the first always looked on him as an ambitious Prince exciting the Turk against him and ready on the least occasion to enter his Country with fire and sword the other looked on him as a false Friend who never made proffers but those which squared with his own designs and interest and particularly he had disgusted the Port by presuming to instate one Mathias in the Principality of Valachia and to eject another constituted there by Authority of the Grand Signior called Stridia Bei or Lord Oysters because his Father was a Fisher-man and gained a good Estate by the Trade of Oysters howsoever it being the Grand Signior's pleasure to ordain such a person to that Office it was a presumption and a bold piece of Usurpation in Ragotski to dispose of that Government by virtue of his own single Power howsoever the Grand Signior to avoid contention with the resolved spirit of Ragotski confirmed Mathias upon condition of a double Tribute paid for the Investment to the Principality But besides
farther consideration to attack them in their own Camp and force them to sight of which the Poles being well advised placed several-Pieces of Artillery and lined all the Hedges and Ditches with Musquetiers where the Turks were necessarily to pass drawing out their whole Army into Batalia the Turks who hastened the nearest way to charge the Enemy fell into the Ambush where having lost about five hundred men they began to make a stand and to consider of some more advantageous way to their design Wherefore Abassa taking another course which he judged to be free from all concealed dangers ordered the Tartars to charge the right Wing and the Moldavians and Valachians the left of the Enemy and he with his Turks would fight the main Body The Tartars with great resolution performed their part and had wholly deseated that Wing had not Wisnovitzki with some Troops and a Train of small Artillery come in seasonably to their succour the Moldavians and Valachians sought so faintly against the Enemy whom they considered to be Christians Brothers and Neighbours that they soon turned their backs and fled but were not far pursued by the Poles Abassa receiving this repulse sounded a Retreat and immediately repassed the River Tyr and marched with all the haste he was able stopping no where until he arrived at Rinzur about thirty English miles from the place of the Fight and arriving at length on the Banks of the Danube he gave licence to his Souldiers to disperse into their Winter-quarters in the mean time Abassa dispatched Advice to the Grand Signior of the Particulars of the Fight and of his great Victory by an entire defeat of the Polish Army The Grand Signior believed the report which none durst to contradict and which was confirmed by the rumour of an Ambassadour coming from Poland For the Poles being at that time engaged in a War with Moscovy and apprehensive of another with Sweden judged it not seasonable to provoke the Turk but rather by way of Accommodation dispeeded an Ambassadour with a train of three hundred men to make complaints against the late Acts of Hostility committed by Abassa as if he had moved his Arms without the Orders or knowledge of the Sultan About that time that the Ambassadour approached near to Constantinople the Grand Signior had another Son born but of a weakly and sickly temperament howsoever great joy was expressed and all the City was enlightned with Torches Bonsires and Fire-works and that the Grand Signior might evidence his Greatness and Magnisicence to the Ambassadour he took this occasion of the Birth of a Son to make a solemn Entrance into the City and to make the greater show he armed all the Citizens and Inhabitants Before the Grand Signior would grant Audience to the Ambassadour he ordered that Abassa should treat with him and understand his business and desires Abassa carried himself high in the Negotiation he pretended the damages and charges of the War the demolishment of certain Palancas which were the places of Refuge for the Cosacks and the Tribute of ten years past with security of payment for the time to come The Ambassadour positively refused to hearken unto any terms about Tribute and that for other matters the Presents which he had brought to the Grand Signior would reasonably answer His Presents were A Coach lined with Velvet with six very fine Horses A Bason and Candlesticks of Silver richly gilt Four Clocks ten Vests of Sables six Quivers of Arrows with some Hunting Dogs Being at length admitted to Audience and thereunto conducted by the Aga of the Spahees and the Chaous Bashee the Grand Signior asked the Ambassadour which was not usual For what reason he was come thither To which he answered That he was come to bring his Majesty advice of the Coronation of his King and to establish a Peace if his Majesty should judge fit to accept thereof To which the Sultan replied That all Christian Kings ought either to receive the Ottoman Laws or pay him Tribute or try the sharpness of his Sword And taking a Cemiter in his hand which hung by him he drew it half out and said With this I will subdue my Enemies and though my War in Persia continues I do not fear to undertake another in Poland To which the Ambassadour returning a modest Answer was dismissed of the Royal Presence And now the Grand Signior to put a good face on the business and to make the World believe that he designed what he spake he proclaimed a War with Poland and ordered his Tents to be carried abroad supposing hereby to draw the Poles to his own terms of agreement and in pursuance hereof he mounted on Horse-back and rode in state through the City his upper Vest was made after the Hungarian fashion lined with Sables in his right hand he carried a Quiver of Arrows in his left two drawn Swords on his Turbant he wore a large Plume of Feathers encompassed with a Circle of Diamonds and in this manner entring his Tents he proceeded to Adrianople But before his departure the Count Puchen Ambassadour from the Emperour arrived with other sumptuous Presents offering Incense and gifts of Peace at the Throne of this Greatness But before we relate the transactions at Adrianople and the success of affairs at that place let us recount several dismal accidents at Constantinople The Grand Signior returning by Sea from a place called Stravosta in the Bay of Ismit anciently the Bay of Nicomedia where he had for some time held his Court and great Divan he was followed by several Vessels appointed to transport the people in one whereof were ninety five persons embarked all of them Pasha's Aga's and chief Officers of the Court the Vessel was over-set by a sudden gust of wind and all the people drowned excepting three Sea-men which saved themselves by swimming More considerable were the mischiefs by fire For on occasion of some Fire-works made in one of the Grand Signior's Chiosks or Houses of Pleasure the fire took so siercely on the Tavan or wooden Works of the Sieling that it endangered the whole Palace and had consumed all but that many hands and active men gave a stop to the farther progress This fire was but the fore-runner of a greater which began the 16 th of September in that part of the City of Constantinople which is called 〈◊〉 being between the Wall and the Port where live Taverners Butchers Fishmongers and others who sell provisions The fire took first in one of those Houses which had been a Tavern and are Buildings only made of Deal-boards and Timber which combustible matter flamed out so violently that it took hold on all the Houses round and was so quick in its motion as if it had taken by a train or that some wicked people with Fire-balls had employed themselves in the mischief the fire took its course against the wind burning on one side and the other to the Historical Pillar and to
beginning of the month of August the Turkish Army passed the River Euphrates by means of a Bridge which was not so well built but that it sunk under the weight of Horses Camels and Baggage by which disaster many perished in the water which great rains had swelled above the bounds of its Banks As this numerous Army proceeded so all petty Princes applied themselves to perform their Homage amongst which one Tarpos a King of the Arabs came with his Wife Mother and Son to prostrate himself before the Sultan he was entertained in the Tent of the Favourite who being always in company with Morat was never suffered to separate from him and his Tent more for ostentation than to serve his occasion Tarpos being admitted to Audience was received with respect and a favourable countenance and presented with a Vest of Cloth of Gold lined with Sables and a small Purse of Gold in recompence whereof the Arab Prince returned certain choice Horses and two Leopards In like manner the Georgians and Mengrelians who are Tributaries to Turk and Persian and commonly incline to the strongest side whose Nations we have described in the present State of the Ottoman Empire would not be wanting at this time to bring their Tribute of eighty thousand yards of Linen-cloth which they pay every three year with some Children of both Sexes chosen out of the comeliest and most healthful amongst them At Mosul the Army lay encamped for some time where was a general Rendezvous and confluence of people from all parts and every thing ordered and modelized for a War Severe Discipline was kept amongst all Offenders were impaled flead alive their bowels ript out and thrown into the publick ways nor did Takers of Tabaco escape with less punishment than the rest In the mean time Wine was forbid to his whole Camp unless to himself and his Favourite being a Royal drink and when the chief Physician commended the admirable virtue of Opium advising Morat to use it in the place of Wine he enjoyned him to make his words good by his own example and thereby forced him to take so much that he was overcome and died by swallowing too great a quantity From Mosul the Army marched in due order to Babylon where the Great Vizier arrived with thirty thousand men about the 19 th of October but by reason of the great weight of Artillery and the many impediments which attend such vast numbers the Grand Signior came not thither till the 5 th of November and on the 9 th the whole Turkish Army presented it self before the Walls of Babylon Babylon the ancientest City of the World reported to be built by Nimrod on the Banks of the River Euphrates and afterwards beautified and enlarged by Semiramis the Wife of Ninus is recorded in History for the vastness thereof to be one of the seven Miracles of the World Afterwards the furious Inundations of the River and the Iron teeth of devouring time and the subjection thereof to the Macedonian Empire did much eclipse the glory of that City and caused Seleucus Nicanor one of Alexander's Captains to build a new one where the Tigris and Euphrates meet forty miles more Northwards than the old Babylon which he therefore called Seleucia after his own Name In the year of our Lord 753. Abugiafer Almansor an Arab King enlarged this City to the Eastern side of the Tigris as being less subject to the Inundations of the River giving it the Name of Bagdat or the place of Gardens but his Son Almolied being more pleased with the Western side encouraged people to build the stateliest Palaces and best Fabricks near the place where he delighted to keep his Court so that the River Tigris divided the City The which with the Country thereabouts was subdued by Solyman the Magnificent and afterwards in the Year 1625. it was recovered by Abas King of Persia until at length in this of 1638. it was vanquished by the mighty force and prowess of this Magnanimous Sultan as we shall now understand The numerous Troops of the Ottoman Army covering all the Plains a general Council of War was called of the chief Commanders of the Janisaries and Spahees especially of such who had been practised in the Sieges of the strong Fortresses in Hungary After some debate and long consideration it was agreed That the City should be battered in three places One Battery of twelve Pieces of Cannon commanded by the Great Vizier was to be erected against the Bright Gate the second against the Dark Gate of ten Pieces of Cannon under the Command of the Captain-Pasha and a third of eight Pieces directed against the Gate of Persia under the Government of Chusaein Pasha Beglerbei of Anatolia The Grand Signior in the mean time habited like an ordinary Souldier that he might be the less exposed to danger visited all Posts and places encouraging them with his words and presence protesting that he would not change his Cloaths for ever in any place but within the Walls of Bagdat In the space of three days the Trenches were opened the Batteries raised and the Cannon planted and Morat having made Korban gave fire to the first Cannon with his own hand as he had brought the first Basket of Earth to raise the Works The Defendants within consisted of eighty thousand fighting men with which they made frequent Sallies of four and five thousand men at a time who being retired were again seconded by another of the like number which put the Turkish Camp into much confusion and into danger of having their Trenches levelled and their Cannon spiked but the Turks valiantly fighting the slaughter proved bloody on both sides and being guided rather by the bravery of their courage than by Art or Experience in War they carried their Works forward to the very brink of the Ditch having an Italian and a Candiot for their chief Enginiers who though they were not persons of that ability as our modern times have produced yet they were such as for want of better served the presented occasions where force and numbers with small additions of Art were the most available For in this Siege the Sword was more exercised than the Spade or Matock and there was more need of Arms than Works for the constant Sallies kept the Turks always watchful and imployed and perpetually disturbed them until at length they were forced with great labour to raise a high Circumvallation with a very deep Ditch defended by several Redoubts whereby the Besieged being kept in their numbers decreased by former Sallies and their courages abated by despair of Relief they began to grow cold in the Acts of Bravery and to reserve their men for the ultimate and last efforts of defence In the mean time the Turks plied their Batteries so hotly that in a few days the Walls were laid open almost fifty paces wide In this condition the Defendants having no other refuge than some small Retrenchments which they had
of his languishing condition like a true Penitent made many protestations and vows against it forbidding the accursed poison to be received within the Walls of the Seraglio howsoever his kind heart could not possibly withstand the temptation of a Banquet to which his Pot-companions did sometimes invite him amongst which the Great Vizier would not be wanting also to please and cajol the humor of his Master with the liquor that he loved But his chief and constant Camerades in drinking were his Persian Favourite and Mustapha Pasha of Bosna one educated in the Seraglio promoted to the place of Selictar Aga to whom he gave the stately Palace of Ibrahim Pasha on the Hippodrome together with his eldest Daughter in Marriage These two stout Sons of Bacchus perswaded the Grand Signior to appoint one solemn Drinking-day in time of the Biram which is the great Festival of the Year and introduced by their Prophet in imitation of our Easter Morat being at this time possessed with the spirit of debauchery accepted the motion and invited the two Drunkards to dinner with him The Persian provoked his pleasure of drinking by salt Meats and by peppered and spiced Dishes the sort of Wine they most used was a sweet Malvoisia sometimes twisted and encouraged with the strong Waters called Rosa Solis of which they sucked so long and with such excess that falling under the force of it they were insensibly carried away to their several beds This dissolute repast became fatal to the Grand Signior for a fire being kindled in his veins and bowels he fell into a violent and continued Feaver The Physicians being called were fearful to administer Remedies lest proving unsuccessful their lives should pay for the ineffectual operation at length they agreed to let him blood but this hastened his death For he died the fourth day of his Feaver being the 8 th of February in the seventeenth year of his Reign and the one and thirtieth of his Age having ruled in the height of all disorders and irregular excesses which his youthful years enabled him to support With his death all his thoughts and designs of making War against Christendom perished having sworn after his return from Persia to reduce all his neighbouring Countries to the Mahometan Law He was of a most cruel and implacable disposition having amongst his other Acts of Tyranny imbrued his hands in the blood of his two Brothers Orchan and Bajazet as also strangled his Uncle Mustapha whose innocent weakness had been sufficient to secure his life against any but the most horrid Monster of humane Tyranny He left no Son for though he had divers they died in their infancy notwithstanding which his Kindred were so detested by him that he envied the descendence of Monarchy on his Brother Ibrahim who was preserved by a strange providence from his fury often saying that he wished that he might be the last of the Ottoman Line that the Empire of that Family might end with him and devolve unto the Tartar He was certainly the most absolute Prince that ever swayed the Ottoman Empire but of no Religion seldom fasting in the month of Ramasan contemning and laughing at the Santones and others of their Religious Orders He was very inquisitive into all Actions of the City for which he maintained his Spies and oftentimes took his rules and measures from discourses of people concerning his Government He was a great Dissembler ready active and revengeful covetous to extremity having left fifteen millions of Gold in his Treasury which was empty when he entred upon the Soveraignty In short he was so bad that he had scarce any allay of Vertue being so great a Tyrant that at length he became his own Assasinate and fell unlamented by all but the two Companions of his bestial excess The End of Sultan Morat's Life Sultan IBRAHIM Emperour of the Turkes Anno Dom. 1640 I That of Ottman Blood Remain Alone Call'd From a Prison to ascend a Throne My Silly Mind I Bend to Soft Delights Hating th'unpleasant thoughts of Nauall Fights Till Mad With Wanton Loues I Fall at First Slaue to My Owne Then to My Peoples Lust THE REIGN OF Sultan Ibrahim TWELFTH EMPEROUR OF THE TURKS Sultan Amurath or Morat after a Feaver of eight days continuance caused by an excess of Debauchery in Wine having on the eighth of February 1640. according to the New-Style expired his last Breath His Mother called Kiosem comforted her self with the thoughts that her Son Sultan Ibrahim still lived and was the sole Surviver and undoubted Heir of the Ottoman Family to whose Succession that She might make the more facile and undisturbed Entrance She consulted with all the Viziers requesting their consent and assistance in the lawful promotion of her remaining Son to the Throne of his Ancestors For She had understood that Morat who always abhorred the ill-shaped Body and weaker mind of his Brother envied him the Dignity of the Ottoman Scepter and therefore had bequeathed the Succession to the Tartar having in the heat of a Debauch and fumes of his Wine compelled his Pashas to swear to the performance of his Testament Wherefore the Queen assembling them together with gentle words desired them to remember That Ibrahim was the lawful Heir and their true Emperour that the Tartar Han was a Stranger odious to the Souldiery and not beloved by the People that an alteration of this nature could never be contrived and executed without danger to the Actors and that they to whom She assured the continuance of the same Honours and Offices in reward of their constant Allegiance would be in hazard of losing all by the coming of a Foreign Prince who having Confidents of his own to prefer and grand necessities to satisfie would make bold even with Estates and Provinces to prefer his Favourites his Kindred and Country-men and establish the firmness of his Government on their ruine Yet setting aside those considerations touching their own safety and interest She promised That if they would reach out their hands unto her Son for to lift him unto the Throne he should acknowledge his Empire from them and accordingly love tender and esteem such faithful Subjects The Viziers after some reflections on the tye and obligation which Sultan Morat had caused them to make to him declared and published it to be unlawful and void protesting that they were resolved to maintain inviolable the Allegiance they owed unto Sultan Ibrahim descended from the Ottoman-bloud which they reverenced and adored with an awe equal to the religious esteem which their Forefathers had of it and therefore with one voice they cryed out Let Sultan Ibrahim live Herewith the Council breaking up the Viziers accompanied with all the Officers and Attendants of the Seraglio went with Shouts and loud Acclamations to the Prison of Ibrahim to salute him Emperour for he poor Prince had now for four years remained a sad Recluse in a dark room where he had received neither light
treated by the Venetians and that they gave the first Assault upon them because that they were called to the assistance and service of the Grand Signior The Fleet and Land Forces being already put to Sea the report and opinion still continued that the War was designed against Malta wherefore such as apprehended the hazard and were acquainted with the difficulty of such an enterprize began to inform the Grand Signior how impossible it was that this action should be accompanied with good success To which arguments he made no other reply than by a seeming obstinacy resolved with the Ottoman Sword to cut all those knots and difficulties which opposed him in the work At length one Salee Efendi a Preacher who had obtained some more than ordinary esteem with the Grand Signior advised him that before he commenced a work of that importance he should inform himself of the true state of that place from a certain Aga who was lately returned from Malta The Grand Signior being very willing to hear any thing of this nature called the Aga who related to him how impregnable both the City and Castle were how the Knights were provided against all Assaults that the Island it self is only a Rock not containing Earth enough for an Army to intrench that the approaches must be made by the Pick-Axe and Mattock it being all Stone In short it was not a place to be taken in one Summer and the Winter coming on it affording no shelter nor provisions of it self was not capable of relief in Seas so stormy and from Countries so remote without hazards losses and frequent Shipwracks Ibrahim who had designed all along to make War upon Candia seemed little concerned or moved at this Discourse The Gallies and Ships which were now all in a readiness being come forth to the Seraglio point the Grand Signior entered his Grand Chiosk situated on the Bank of the Sea where the Selictar Aga General and all the Chief Commanders came to perform the usual Ceremonies of Obedience and Duty before their departure At this solemn Assembly the Grand Signior declared that his intentions were to make War upon the Infidels according as every one should understand by his respective Commissions which should now be delivered unto them That he expected the highest demonstrations of Courage in them imaginable and what was agreeable to the Conductors of the Ottoman Armies That reward and punishment were in his hands and that he resolved to dispense them according to their merits That they should not doubt of all due assistance and succours for he had so well contrived and so justly fitted all his measures that he was allready provided of Men Timber Ammunition and money sufficient to maintain and carry on this War for seven Years At which they all gave a shout and declared that they were ready to spend their Bloud and Lives in Execution of his Commands Whereupon every one received a rich Coftan or Vest and the General a Scimitar set with Diamonds who being a young Man of about 26. or 27. Years of Age had a Council of six graver Pasha's allowed him and then the Commission for the War was brought forth sealed with Orders not to open it until they were past the Dardanelli Hereat the noise of great and small shot from the Gallies and Ships resounded through all Constantinople and the Commanders repairing to their Vessels the Assembly broke up and every thing was put in a posture to make Sail. It was now the last day of April 1645. old style when the Fleet first broke ground which consisted of 73. Gallies besides the 8. Gallies of Barbary 2. Mahons or Galleasses one great Gallion called the Sultana 10. Ships of Alexandria 2. of Tunis and 10. of English and Dutch Ships which coming to Constantinople for Trade were there pressed into the Service with about 300. Saiks and Caramussals which carried Souldiers Provisions Ammunitions and Utensils for War Their Militia consisted of 7000. Janisaries 14000. Spahees and about 50000. Timariots and other Souldiers with about 3000. Pioniers these all were to Rendezvous at Scio where they arrived the 7th of May. But before their departure from Constantinople the Bailo Soranço or the Venetian Ambassadour thought fit in Complement and for discovery to make a visit to the Captain Pasha by whom he was received with frank courtesy and assurance of Friendship so that though he suspected the worst yet could he collect no certain assurances of Peace or War however he advised Signior Cornaro then Governour of Candia that though he could not certainly penetrate into the bottom of the Turks design yet he apprehended that the storm might fall on that Kingdom understanding that the Captain Pasha was not well inclined towards the most Serene Republick wherefore he ought to be watchful and circumspect yet with as little demonstration of jealousy as was possible so that if the Turks should there arrive he should afford them all conveniencies of Watering Provisions and other refreshments The Fleet being departed from Scio for Napoli di Romagnia the Northern Wind so freshned and blew so hard that the Gallies were separated and forced to put into divers Ports and the Saiks and Caramussals to Anchor at Micono and Tino At the latter of which belonging to the Venetians they had licence to Water and were refreshed with such Provisions as the Island afforded and now after this slurry of Wind the Fleet being again united they were seen off at Sea from Cerigo an Island of the Venetians at the Mouth of the Archipelago and sailing towards the Channel of Braccio de Maina and the next day 9. Gallies a Gallion and a Brigantine made towards the Isle of Cerigo and sent a Letter ashore by a Boat to the Proveditor from the Pasha of Rhodes demanding their usual present of Coffee and Sugar which was given them they assuring all friendship and real good intentions towards the People and Dominions of Venice But in the mean time a Satia laden with Armes and Ammunition from Venice bound for Retimo unhappily falling into the Turkish Fleet was intercepted by them and taken which unmasked all the design and made the Turks appear in their true colours notwithstanding all their religious Protestations and outwardly fair Comportment the usual disguise of the Mahometan sincerity Towards the end of May the Turkish Fleet was discovered from Carabuso a small Fortress of the Venetians some distance off at Sea standing to the Westward which gave some jealousie to them at Candia and being compared with some precedent Acts as that of sounding the depth of water about St. Theodoro with a Brigantine which is a small Rock lying off of Canea which pretended to come from Sancta Maura with Turky Merchants afforded undeniable grounds of assurance to those in Candia that the War was designed against them howsoever the Ottoman Fleet rendezvousing again at Navarino a place far distant from Candia altered their apprehensions at Venice and elsewhere of this War
which was to continue for the space of ten years longer his Mother who was the first Sultana assisted with the Counsel of twelve Pashaws took upon her self the Regency and in the first place resolved to continue the War against the Venetians which Ibrahim intended to conclude having engaged himself far in a Treaty of Peace with the Bailo or Ambassadour which resided at the Port for that Republick Whilst these matters were transacting and preparations making to prosecute the War the malignant humours of the Empire began to ferment unto that degree as affected the Body Politick at first with unnatural heats which soon afterwards proceeded to a Feaver and then to a dangerous Convulsion The ill-affected Part was the Militia which is the heart and principal of the life of that Government For the Spahees and the Janisaries being the Horse and Foot entred into a desperate controversie The first judged it their Duty to revenge the Death of their Soveraign Sultan Ibrahim and in order thereunto demanded the Head of the Great Vizier as the Chief Authour and Contriver of the death of his Lord and Master The others being conscious to themselves of having by their Armes carried on the Conspiracy not only declared their resolutions to defend the Vizier but owned that what he had acted was by their order and at their request and instigation The Spahees being highly provoked with this declaration swelled with anger and malice against the Janisaries and both sides being equally proud and rich could not bear each others reproaches The Spahees being Men of Estates in Land looked on themselves as the Gentry and to have the greatest share in the concernment of the Empire The Janisaries living regularly in their Chambers or Martial Colledges looked on themselves as the better Souldiers and the more formidable Party and the truth is both of them were proceeded to that height of Command and Authority in Government that had they not been suppressed by the cruel hand and bloody disposition of Kuperlee as shall be more largely related hereafter this Empire was then in danger of falling into as many Divisions as there were at that time Pashaws or great Captains The cause hereof proceeded from the warlike disposition of Sultan Morat who being the most Martial Man of his Age preferred none but Men of great courage and such as had signalized their valour by undoubted proofs And such Men as these he loaded with honour and raised them to the highest and most eminent charges in the Government But Morat dying soon afterwards these Great Men had time to enrich themselves during the gentle and easie Reign of Sultan Ibrahim which being seconded by the Minority of this Young Sultan their pride knew no bounds either of Modesty towards their Commanders or Reverence towards their Sultan Hence it was that the Souldiery dividing so great a Sedition arose amongst them that at last they came to blows resolving to decide the controversie by the Sword But the Quarrels of Turks amongst themselves not being commonly of long durance the Care and Vigilance of the Magistrates prevented all open defiance in the Field but yet could not so pacifie their Animosities but that several Skirmishes or Rencounters passed between them in the Streets wherein the Spahees were always worsted and at length were forced to abandon the City scarce daring for some time to owne the name of Spahee within the Walls of Constantinople These disturbances gave the Venetians some hopes to accomodate their Peace with better advantage but the Reply to this Proposition was more fierce and positive than ever and so ill resented that the Bailo going from his Audience was on the 27th of April seized on and with all his Retinue clapped into Prison and Chains being sent to those Castles which are scituate on the Bosphorus in the middle way between Constantinople and the Black Sea But this furious severity by the intercession of other Christian Ministers continued not long before the Bailo received more gentle Treatment by the Sacrisice which the Turks made unto themselves of Grillo his Interpreter who being called down from the presence of the Bailo was immediately by two Officers strangled and his Body thrown out at the Window of the Castle the which act though it may seem unjust and barbarous to us hath yet been frequently practised amongst the Turks being to this day their common use to threaten the Druggermen or Interpreters which is the cause that they often mince or wholly alter the sense or meaning of their Masters on those occasions when words are spoken by them ungrateful to the Turks The Turks bearing this disdain to the Venetians laboured to re-enforce their Armies in Candia and supply them with Ammunition and Provisions and though the Venetians lay before the Mouth of the Dardanelles to intercept all succours which might be carried thither yet the Turks notwithstanding their Divisions having recruited their Fleet with forty Gallies and ten Great Ships broke through the Venetians and in despight of them convoyed five Gallies laden with Souldiers and Ammunition and landed them safe at Canea and about the same time six Gallies and ten Ships of Barbary entered into the Port of Suda The General which commanded in chief was named Chusaein Pasha a Person of great courage and experience he had for some time besieged the City of Candia but for want of Men and Ammunition was forced to rise from that place and retire to Canea and Retimo whilst in the mean time the Candiots received recruits of Men and supply of Provisions improving their leisure time to fortifie their Town with such works as rendred it almost impregnable and made it become the Wonder and Discourse of the World after some years succeeding Nor was the War only carried on in Candia but also in Dalmatia Morea Bosna and Albania For Foscolo the General of Venice designing to force some Corn from the Parts of Castel-nuovo he landed some Men there but was so ill received by the Turks that he was forced to retreat unto his Vessels with great disorder and no less dishonour But he had better fortune in the Parts of Bosna where he repulsed the Enemy to the very Gates of Sarsay the Capital City of that Province and took upon composition the Fortress of Risano which is scituate between Cataro and Castel-nuovo but at length the Turks receiving an additional aid of fifteen or sixteen thousand men the Venetians were forced to quit their new Conquests and retire into their own Country During the time that these Affairs were in agitation the young Emperour was proclaimed and his Inauguration celebrated with the usual Ceremonies but with rejoycings and hopes extraordinary who being yet scarcely arrived to eight years of Age many mutinies and troubles arose in divers Parts of the Empire as in Damascus Syria Anatolia and other Countries where the Pashaws refused to pay in the customary Taxes and Tribute declaring that they would keep the money in their hands during
Court. So that Orders were sent and often repeated unto the Captain Pasha that he should spend no longer time in Rhodes but that in despight of all difficulties he should immediately proceed to Candia and fight through the Venetians in case they remained in the way to interrupt his passage but theCaptain Pasha notwithstanding these Orders and Menaces which accompanied them could not perswade himself to the hazard of a Battel till at length the season of the year spending and being wearied in the Port of Rhodes he resolved to adventure abroad but instead of going to Candia he plundered the Islands as he passed and returned to Constantinople with 40. Gallies where he hoped with the booty he had plundered to appease the anger of the Divan against him but this Sacrifice did not much avail for he was not sooner arrived than his person was seized and Goods sealed up for the use of the G. Signior the which Seal his Sons broke open and taking with them the richest and most considerable part of their Fathers Estate laded it on one of the Gallies and fled therewith into Foreign Parts little regarding that danger in which they had left their Father to perish During which time the Venetians still maintained their Guards on the Coasts of Candia not suffering any Recruits of Men or Provisions for War to be transported thither so that if the Turks designed to prosecute this War it must be by new Forces and such as were able to encounter the Marine Power of the Enemy the which being resolved upon by the Council a heavy Tax was laid on the people to carry on the design which they not willingly supporting made a publick Insurrection in the City and at the same time also the antient quarrel between the Spahees and Janisaries began again to ferment which troubles being added to a Rebellion raised by the Pasha of Aleppo who increasing in strength and number came marching towards Constantinople put that great City into a horrible fear and confusion ANNO 1654. THE Venetians judged that these troubles would naturally produce some advantage to them and much facilitate the Peace which they had long desired but as Seditions among the Turks are always too violent to continue so these discontents evaporated in a short time and new resolutions were taken to prosecute the War in Candia for notwithstanding that Monsteur de Ventelay Son to the French Ambassadour mediated with agreeable prudence to compose matters in order to a Peace yet his endeavours were all insignificant for neither had Signior Capello Audience granted him nor that liberty which was promised before his Arrival the Turks still insisting on the surrender of Candia would not understand any terms which did not entirely invest them in that Conquest To effect which by force which could not be performed by composition the Pasha of Buda was Elected for Captain-Pasha or Commander in Chief of the Seas and Orders given to equippe a new Fleet of Ships and Gallies for transporting the succours of Men and Provisions to Candia where Chusaien Pasha the General being wearied with his long Siege of the Town withdrew his Men at some farther distance for their better refreshment for they wanting all conveniencies in their Trenches began to Mutiny and to refuse the performance of their duty until the General satisfying their pay and dispensing liberally Largesles to the Officers gave them new encouragement and satisfaction with which being a little enlivened Chusaein sent a Herald with a defiance to those in the City challenging them to sight a pitcht Battel with him but the Christians refused the offer thinking it more prudence not to accept than loss of honour to deny an Answer to the Challenge Then the Turks sought some means to effect their design by treachery to which end they treated with a certain Captain for delivery of one of the Gates of the City which he promised to do unto the Turks but gave Advertisement unto the Governour The Pasha the night following advanced with some Troops hoping to find one of the Gates opened to him but instead thereof the Defendants having prepared a Mine to receive them sprang the same so opportunely that it carried away the most of those who were engaged in the design and therewith their hopes of becoming Masters speedily of that impregnable Fortress Wherefore they resolved for a while to repose and attend those succours which were now preparing at Constantinople The Fleet being put into a readiness the Souldiery departed with their usual hopes of success but meeting with their Enemy again at the Mouth of the Dardanelli the Fight was furious and hot for a long time between them but concluded to the disadvantage of the Turks who there lost 6000. Men two Gallies three Ships and a Mahone howsoever they broke through the Venetians and landed 12000. Men in the Isle of Candia The News of this defeat and the confirmation thereof by the wounded Men which were landed at Constantinople made a great noise amongst the people Howsoever the Turks persisting constant to their intentions of prosecuting the War sent Orders to the Captain-Pasha again to sight the Venetians so soon as the Fleet was resitted and restored to a condition to engage in another Battel but the Venetians scarce gave them the leisure to repair before they attacked them again whereby they put them to such disorder that they were forced to take refuge in the first convenient Port where having attended a favourable Wind they hastned to Constantinople and from thence were dispeeded into the Black Sea against the Cossacks who very much infested those parts The Captain Pasha being arrived extolled his own great services and adventures and on the contrary vilified the Great Vizier disparaging all his actions as mixed with weak counsels and prosecuted with cowardice or want of true resolution the which took such deep impression in his absence having none to answer for him that all being given for granted which was alledged against him orders were dispatched to Candia by an Officer to take off his head in whose place this Captain Pasha succeeded Amidst of all these combustions of War the mediation of Peace was carried on by the French Ambassadour For though Signior Capello was actually Resident on the place qualified with the Character of Bailo for the Republick of Venice yet the Turks would scarce vouchsafe to treat personally with him and indeed his sufferings by imprisonment and other barbarous usages had affected him with such a melancholy as rendred him uncapable for some time of administring publick Affairs for having lost his reason by giving way to sad and black thoughts he laid violent hands on himself by wounding himself in two or three places of his Belly but the Wounds proving not mortal he was in a short time restored again to a sound estate both in Mind and Body as I shall some few years after have occasion to relate from the words of his own mouth which he was pleased
to utter to me on his death-bed and the day before he departed this life ANNO 1655. THE Great Vizier after all his evil insinuations against Chusaein Pasha fell very sick and insirm so that the Court considering him as a person uncapable of farther service cast their eyes on the Pasha of Aleppo who being a daring Martial Man was esteemed to be the better Chief in such a hazardous War which for being on the Sea was unusual and displeasing to the Turks Against him nothing could be objected besides his rebellions and contrariety to the Government but hereunto it was presently answered that the extravagance of his humour proceeded only from his Ambition of being Great Vizier which when he had attained that thirsty desire of Glory which he exercis'd for acquiring this office would be busied in thoughts to advance and improve his honour in actions beyond his Predecessours Letters being arrived at this Pasha's hands which called him to Court to accept this charge did secretly please the humour of his haughty spirit howsoever he remained for a while in some suspence and irresolution not being assured whether some deceit might not be concealed under this specious appearance of Preferment But considering that the way unto gains and advantage was by daring adventures he resolutely accepted the proffer and put himself in his March towards Constantinople with a glorious Equipage of forty thousand Men thinking therewith to make good his retreat and secure his person in case that deceit were discovered which he rationally suspected Being arrived near unto Constantinople he received from the Great Signior several messages of kindness and a good welcome and was accordingly received into the City and invested in the office with all the circumstances of favour and honour imaginable Having thus taken possession of his charge he promised the Grand Signior that he would employ all his endeavours to restore the decayed Estate of Affairs and reform the Government And as an earnest thereof he began to remove such Ministers from the Court which were suspected by him and to render himself the more absolute he cut off several others whom he imagined might in any wise disturb or controul him in the management of his Affairs After which he dispatched his orders to all Maritime Towns of the Empire to sit and make ready what Gallies and Ships were possible to be provided intending thereby to set out the greatest Fleet that ever was seen in the Levant but to compleat this work two great difficulties arose The first was to find a wise and well experienced Commander and the next was in what manner to perswade the Spahees and Janisaries to embark for they having heard and seen in what manner their Companions had perished in this miserable War absolutely refused to go and though the Animosities of these two orders of Souldiers were irreconcileable one to the other yet in this common Cause being united they raised so horrible a Sedition that they assaulted the Mufti in his very house and pursued him within the Gates of the Seraglio with a thousand reproaches and injuries as an Author of evil Counsels and a Disturber of the common Peace and quiet of the Empire Nor was it possible to appease this Tumult but by anticipating to them four months Pay with which their minds being made more pliable they gently yielded to Obedience and suffered themselves to be embarked for Candia Zarnozau Mustapha was made Captain Pasha or General of the Fleet which was very numerous and well equipped consisting of sixty Gallies eight Mahones thirty great Ships of War and sixty one Gallies belonging to the Beys After having remained three days at the mouth of the Dardanelles near the Castles they went out in this order The Beys Gallies were the first then followed the Ships next the Mahones and the Rear consisted wholly of the Grand Signiors Gallies The Van of the Fleet being the Beys Gallies which are always the best manned and provided were ordered to attack the main Body of the Christian Fleet for that being seconded with the Ships they would be able to sustain the shock until the Mahones could come up which were directed against the starboard Wing of the Enemy composed of Galleasses The Venetians though much inferiour in number yet as great in courage gave evident signs of their desire to fight with hopes by Gods Blessing to obtain a Victory The Venetians whilst the Turks passed remained still with their Anchors apique which the Turks interpreting as a token of their courage and boldness were so daunted that they began to ply towards the Coast of Greece but being forced to pass under the Guns of the Venetian Admiral they were so ill treated by his Broadsides that they were discouraged from making a second charge The Ships and other Vessels fared little better being forced to pass under the Guns of the Enemies Fleet. The Captain Pasha attempted to pass on the Coast of Anatolia with his lighter Gallies but being hindred by a strong party of the Enemy he was forced to follow the rest of the Fleet taking his Course with them by the Coast of Greece In this Charge one of the Turks Mahones was sunk and two disabled But the greatest Fight happened between a Squadron of the Turks Ships and four of the Venetians which had been hard put to it had not the Captain Mocenigo come in to their assistance howsoever the Venetian Captain of the Ship called the Crown was slain by a Musket shot In short the Christians boarded the Turks with so much vigour and resolution that they took several of their Ships and mixing with the thickest of their other Vessels they put many ashore and others escaping in their Boats left their Slaves and Gallies to the disposal of the Enemy so that the Venetians obtained that day a hundred brass Guns with a signal Victory having had no other important Loss unless the Ship called the David and Goliah which being overpowered was burnt by the Turks The People of the Turks who were in daily expectation to receive intelligence of a success agreeable to so great preparations were much troubled to hear the news of the Defeat given to their naval Forces of which miscarriage the World dividing it self into different conjectures the most part especially those of Constantinople attributed the misfortune of all to the ill Government and want of experience in the General Wherefore to appease the People especially the Merchants who were weary of this marine War from whence they reaped nothing but losses of their Ships and Goods It was thought fit to enter into a Treaty with Signior Capello the Venetian Bailo concerning a Peace but he having his Commission taken from him for the reason beforerelated his Secretary Ballarino supplyed his office and in order to an accommodation had two Audiences with the Great Vizier to whom and to others of the Divan he made Presents of rich pieces of Cloth of Gold in the name of the Republick Howsoever
the Turks thinking it dishonourable to accord unto other terms than the intire resignation of Candia proceeded in their preparations as formerly at which the Merchants and Tradesmen at Constantinople received such matter of discontentment that in tumults they cryed out for Peace at the Gates of the very Seraglio and behaved themselves with that insolence that the Janisaries were called to drive them from thence by force of Armes howsoever this Tumult and Riot of the People ended not without the Life of the Great Vizier to whose fury he was made a Sacrifice And though his Son appeared at the Gates of the City with forty thousand men to demand Justice on the Murderers of his Father yet the People were so far from being dismayed thereat that their fury and rage encreased to a greater height and required the Authority of the Divan to keep things from running into the inconveniences of a Civil War ANNO 1656. THese disorders induced the chief Ministers to enter into another Treaty with Ballarino proposing to withdraw their Forces from Candia and make a peace upon the payment of ten millions for the charge of the War and to incline the Venetians hereunto the Turks gave severe orders to their people living about Corfou to molest the Inhabitants of that Island with all acts of Hostility imaginable and farther published that their intentions were to set out a more numerous and stronger Fleet than any which from the beginning of this War had failed on the Seas and in order thereunto great numbers of Slaves consisting of Cossacks and Moscovites were bought of the Tartars and transported to Constantinople The Venetians were not in the least affrighted at these boastings of the Turk but on the contrary knowing that their Affairs in Candia were well secured and provided gave orders to Ballarino to desist from farther Treaties and to procure his Licence to depart And the Turks to evidence their intentions to prosecute the War entered into Canea with twenty eight sail laden with Armes and Provisions on which also were fifteen hundred men By this conveyance was sent a Janisar Aga with Orders from the Grand Signior to constitute Chusaein Pasha in the place of Captain Pasha or Admiral of the Seas but he judging this to be a design or lure to draw him from his Post or Office wherein he was more strong and secure acknowledged the honour of the employment but framed excuses to continue his Seat and place of Residence which the Chief Ministers were forced to accept it being a conjucture more seasonable to dissemble than to resent his refusal Whilst new preparations were making against Candia so horrible a storm of Mutiny and Sedition arose at Constantinople as constrained the Grandees of the Council to quit for the present all thoughts of providing for the War against the Enemy that they might defend and save themselves from the fury of their own People For the Spahees and Janisaries joining together pretended to reform the abuses of the State to perform which in a furious tumult putting themselves in Arms they ran to the Divan where they deposed the Great Vizier and discharged divers other Officers of their employment The Mufti was constrained to fly to Jerusalem and the Queen Mother scarce remained secure in her old Seraglio And to so great a height their Rebellion proceeded that they proposed even to dethrone the Grand Signior himself And having thus cast off all respect and duty to their Prince they entred the Imperial Palace and forcing the Guards broke up the Treasury and carried two millions from thence Amidst of this horrid and affrighting Confusion Merchants and well-meaning Citizens remained in the most astonishing apprehensions imaginable for all Laws being broken and Justice unregarded the whole City laid open to be pillaged and sacked by the licentiousness of an unbridled Souldiery For several days the Offices both of the Mufti and Great Vizier remained vacant by reason that the two Factions of Janisaries and Spahees could not agree upon the Election At length the most seditious amongst them wearying out the others with Quarrels and Contests advanced a Fellow of no understanding or reputation to the eminent degree of Great Vizier in which condition he remained not long For the fire of the multitude being with time quenched and the popular heat abated this new Vizier was displaced all things returning to their usual Channel and Authority to its Fountain And that matters might more easily be restored to their ancient order the Grand Signior called for the Pasha of Damascus to receive the Dignity of Great Vizier for he being a Person of eighty years of Age and of long experience in Affairs having managed the most weighty Charges of the Empire was looked on by all as the most proper person to compose and heal these great distempers in the State and this was that famous Kuperlee who was Father to him who succeeded him in this Office The Pasha of Silistria was also constituted Captain Pasha and Chusaein was confirmed in his Government of Candia And now the bright Beams of Justice and Government having dissipated the storms and fury of popular sollevations the Grand Signior in Person mounting his horse accompanied with his principal Ministers of State visited all the Parts of Constantinople where making Inquisition for the principal Leaders and Fomenters of this Rebellion he seized on some and without further process boldly executed them in the face of the People But before things were reduced to this condition four Months were spent in this horrid Confusion and what is most strange this Great Empire for so long time remained without a Pilot tossed on the Waves of popular Commotions all which served to give ease and respite to the Venetians in their War but not to operate towards a Peace so resolute were the Turks in their design of making an entire Conquest of Candia For having again Equipped a most formidable Fleet consisting of 60. light Gallies 28. Ships and 9. Galleasses they attempted to make their way for Candia and therewith to fight the Venetians in case they should oppose them in their Voyage to which they were the more encouraged upon sight of the Venetians who appeared at the Streights of the Dardanelli with no more than 29. Gallies and some Boats or Brigantines howsoever the Turks were not so confident in their numbers but that they judged it requisite to fortify themselves with two Batteries one on the Coast of Anatolia and the other on the European shore whereby they imagined that they might cause the Venetians to give way and open a passage to their Fleet But notwithstanding the continual shot which the Turks made upon them they still kept their Station from the 23th to the 26th of June when the Wind coming about to the North which was favourable for the Turks to Sail out and to bring them nearer to their Enemies they began gently to approach and the like the Christians endeavoured being desirous
Prince taking thereby from the People the free priviledge of Election Commanding them to accept him without farther dispute or repugnancy It is uncertain whether Berclay designed the Principality to himself by any instance he made to the Turks or whether his Election proceeded meerly from the Vizier himself yet this is certain that returning home Berclay applyed himself to establish his own Dominion and to disappoint the designs of his Predecessour and his party The Turks being satisfyed with this submission with the subjection of several places of importance with deposing of Ragotzki and establishment of a new Prince began to disband a great part of their Forces and the Great Vizier with the remainder returned towards Constantinople supposing the fire of this War to be totally extinguished In this condition of repose matters continued for about the space of two Years when Ragotzki impatient of his losses and of the exchange of his publick State to a private condition inveterate in his hate towards his Rival and Competitor resolved to tempt fortune once more and make his ultimate Assay either to establish himself in his Principality or at least to render himself equal with other mortal Princes in the Grave and so relying with much confidence on the zealous affection of his Subjects and the promise of powerful Adherents he once again justled himself into the Government by the expulsion of his Rival whom he could not behold with other than with an emulous and unpleasing eye Berclay perceiving himself thus ensnared neglected and persecuted by all parties represented these innovations to the Ottoman Port with the most aggravating circumstances imaginable beseeching them to afford him aid and vindicate their own honour in maintenance of him whom they had constituted a Prince and was a Creature formed by their own favour The Turks immediately touched with the sense hereof Issued out Orders to Ciddi Ahmet the new Pasha of Buda Commanding him without delay to gather what Forces he could to interrupt the designs of Transilvania and to put matters unto a stand until a greater Army could fecond him under the Command of Ali Pasha appointed General for this Expedition The Pasha of Buda readily obeyed and assembling what Forces he could in Hungary and joining with the Pasha of Temiswar passed the Danube and with a very considerable Army entered Transilvania Ragotzki undaunted at the near approach of his Enemy boldly entered the Field with his Forces and joined Battel with them in the Month of May 1660. between the Cities of Clansemburg and Giulia Alba. At first the Christians endeavoured to have intercepted the Enemies passage by some Ambuscado or stratagem of War but the Turks still advancing were at length met by the Van-Guard of the Christians to assistance of which several Bodies following one after the other it became a general Engagement of both Armies in which Battel Ragotzki gave his usual proofs of valour declaring by his actions that he was resolved to die or to Triumph But being at length wounded in four parts of his Body and his Army over-powered with numbers he was forced to yield the Fortune of the Day to the Turks leaving 8. pieces of Cannon and his Standard in their hands and the greatest part of his Army being either killed or taken he himself with a few of his Attendants recovered Varadin where after 18. Days distemper of his Wounds he expired his unquiet and troubled Soul This was the end of that vain Icarus who attempted to fly with feigned Wings and borrowed Feathers this is the fate of ambitious Spirits whom Pride elevates and exhales like a vapour unto that height until it dissolves them into Showers or precipitates them into the abysse of all Confusion This George Ragotzki was of a tall and well proportioned Stature black Hair and a frisled Beard his Eyes quick and lively of an active Body and healthy Constitution his Spirit was high and great which betrayed him to extravagancies his Comportment was generous and courteous towards all which rendered him exceedingly beloved and esteemed by his Nobility he was free in his Speech and eloquent in his Expressions prudent in his Counsels and Enterprizes had not the quickness and vivacity of his Soul made him something rash and violent in his Attempts he was of the Protestant Religion leaving behind him a Widow and a Son of hopeful and happy endowments After the Death of Ragotzki it might well be expected that these storms of War should be dispersed and that Transilvania should at length enjoy the Sun-shine and calmer Weather of Peace and Repose But Ali Pasha General of the Turkish Camp being by this time arrived the Confines with his powerful Army resolved not to return empty or in vain without advantaging the Ottoman Interest and making some satisfaction towards the expence and trouble of so great an Army Wherefore taking pretence against Varadin for receiving Ragotzki after his Defeat abetting his party and following his Interest designed to summon that important Fortress to surrender which is situated at the foot of those Mountains which open a passage into Transilvania The Inhabitants of Varadin terrified at the approach of this formidable enemy dispatched a Messenger to the Emperour imploring with most effectual Arguments his Sacred Protection and powerful Assistance against the Common Enemy to Christendome representing to his Cesarean Majesty how that the Turks in their Capitulations with him had agreed to build or erect no new Fort on those Frontiers and whereas it was the same thing to force and usurp a Fortress already made as to form a new one the taking of Varadin was to be esteemed a real violation of the Articles of Peace That his Majesty would be pleased to reflect on the fatal consequences which the loss of Varadin might prove to Hungary as well as Transilvania being that Gate which obstructed cuts off all intercourse between them and Germany These considerations with several others were exceeding prevalent in the Imperial Council so that it was resolved that General Souches should prepare his Army and put all things in readiness to afford the assistance which was desired supposing that with the German Regiments and Hungarian Forces might be formed an Army of about 25. thousand fighting men But in regard in those instructions given to Souches there was a Clause that he should be careful not to engage his Forces in any attempt where the event might be doubtful he assembled the principal persons of that Country and the Militia to consult whether succour and relief might be given to Varadin without hazarding the Army in a doubtful and a dangerous adventure in consideration of which point a true computation being made of all the Imperial Forces they were found much inferiour to that calculate which was made of them at Vienna For that since Tockai Zatmar Kalo and other places belonging to the State of Ragotzki had been Garisoned by German Souldiers there remained not of them above 4000. effective
place appointed for the meeting between the Embassadour and the Pasha was a certain Chiosk or Garden house belonging to an Eunuch the Aga of a Seraglio at Pera where both parties being met the Pasha declared that the Grand Signiors desires were That a Peace should be concluded on the Ancient Capitulations and that by him these Orders were to be carried unto Algier from whence he was advised that the Algerines were ready to accept those Articles if one of his Majesties Ships singly appeared about the Treaty so that the World might not esteem their condescension to proceed from Force and Compulsion Hereof Advices being sent into England a Peace ensued in some Months after but what faith these Insidels kept will be related in the Sequel of this Story the memory of which is engraven with the Point of a Diamond and the Losses which ensued thereupon to the Exchange at London deserve a particular Treatise which in the mean time many Families retain in a sad remembrance In May Advice was brought to the Lord Ambassadour how that the Anne a Frigate of his Majesties Royal Navy commanded by Captain Jonas Poole which had convoyed the general Ships to Smyrna in her passage homewards stopped at the Morca and came to an Anchor near a place in that Country called the Black Mountain commodious to Wood and Waterin to which end were landed threescore men armed with Swords and Firelocks these made havock of the Woods on all sides loading their Boats away as fast as they could and not only so but set great Trees on Fire which in that dry Season of the Year dispersed it self far and wide which being seen at a distance in the Night alarmed the people of the Country so that the Begh or Governour came down with some Force to discover the matter supposing that some Malteses or Venetians might be landed At the approach of this Body of Turks our Men quitted the Woods and shifted away as fast as they could to their Boats of which thirty eight escaped the rest falling short were intercepted by the Turks and eleven of them were killed and eleven taken Captives and of the Turks two Aga's and two or three others had the fortune to fall by some Musket-shot from our men whilst in this confusion they endeavoured to defend themselves On the news hereof our Lord Ambassadour represented the whole matter to the Vizier declaring That it was lawful according to our Capitulations to take refreshments and supply our wants in any part of the Grand Signiors Dominions and that therefore he demanded Justice on the Begh of the Morea and restitution of the Captives But the Vizier understanding that some Turks were killed in the skirmish lent not so ready an ear to these Complaints howsoever to be acquitted of the Ambassadours solicitations referred the business to the Examination and Justice of the Captain Pasha but it falling out that at that time the Consul and Merchants at Smyrna had an unhappy difference with the Captain Pasha which shall in the next place be related was the Cause that all Applications to his Favour and Justice were suspended and a slow progress made towards obtaining the liberty of those poor unfortunate men Howsoever some months after it happened that the Begh of the Morea being removed from that Government and coming to Constantinople with his whole Estate brought with him the eleven Englishmen which he had taken and offered them to sale unto the Ambassadour who considering that they were Englishmen and such as had been enslaved in actual service of their King he esteemed himself obliged both in Charity and Honour to redeem them But the Case appeared too foul to demand their Liberty by strength of the Capitulations for besides that the cutting Wood in places inhabited without permission is a Robbery and a Crime in its self not to be maintained by the Law of Nations the killing of a principal Aga and wounding others might sufficiently warrant the Turks without any Breach of Peace to detain these men as lawful Captives Wherefore the Lord Ambassadour deeming it unseemly that those who had served in his Majestics Navy should be condemned to the Turkish Gallies disbursed fourteen hundred Lion Dollars which was demanded for them which was afterwards repay'd him by his Majesty and having cloathed and provided them with necessaries for their Voyage conveyed them with the first occasions into England The difference between the English Nation and the Captain Pasha which impeded the Liberty for some time of these Captives had its Original at Smyrna where some English Merchants making Collation one Evening in a Garden were assaulted and beaten by certain drunken Levents belonging to a Gally then in Port in whose Company was a Portuguez Slave The News hereof flying to the Frank Street put all the Neighbourhood into an uproar so that divers people with such weapons as came next to hand in a sury went in pursuit of the Levents and unhappily meeting one drew him into the English Consuls house where they treated him with such blows as abated much of the heat and fumes of his Wine during which disturbance and confusion the Portuguez slave found an opportunity to make his escape The Consul knowing it some advantage in Turkie to complain first sent to the Kadi giving him to understand the ill usage of four of his Merchants whose names he gave in writing by the unruly Levents whilst they innocently and without injury to any divertised themselves in a Garden to which for the present little more was given in answer than that on a farther examination of the business the Consul should receive Justice In the mean time the Turk who had been beaten in the Consuls house resolved not to leave the Gate till he had received satisfaction for his blows and the others that were his Comrades demanded their Slave from the English which was lost by whose means and assistance as they pretend he had made his Escape The matter came now to high Demands on both sides which the Kadi either not being desirous or not of sufficient Authority to compound the Gally departed without any agreement and the complaint was carried by the Turks to the Captain Pasha who then being with his Fleet at Mytilene with little other thoughts or business was glad of this occasion to get money and therefore suddenly returned the Gally again with Orders to bring before him the four Merchants whose names he particularized to make answer to their accusation of having beaten his Levents and contrived the escape of the slave The Consul and Merchants being affrighted by this Message and Command of so great a Personage endeavoured with money to accommodate the business by force of which it was at length taken up costing in all the summ of Dollars two thousand seven hundred or thereabouts The which passage may serve for an example to such as live in Turkie that all troubles of this nature are best compounded for at first for at
and Fields But others who judged with better foundation did conceive That the Grand Signiors choice of other places of Residence rather than his Imperial Seraglio proceeded not so much from his own unsetled humour and course of living as from an apprehension of some Designs and mutinous Treasons of the Janisaries against him for to speak the truth since the death of Kuperlee the Militia began again to be corrupted and if we may believe the opinion of the most principal Turks the Vizier undertook this War to employ the busie spirits of the Souldiery which began to grow resty and insolent through idleness and by that means secure his own life and establish his Condition and Fortune The Equinoctial being come the Grand Signior would not have one days longer patience for though the Season was wet and rainy yet the Tents were pitched and though the Wind was so violent and forcible as overturned almost the whole Camp yet no difficulties and inconveniences of Weather could give one hour of intermission to the Sultans desires Wherefore on the 9th of this Month the Grand Signior departed from Constantinople attended with his Court his principal Officers of State and with what part of his Army was then in a readiness to march The magnificence of the show they made was according to the usual solemnity yet worthy the sight of a Stranger and perhaps not incurious to the Reader in its Relation First marched with a singular Gravity the several and distinct Orders of Civil and Military Officers in their proper Habits and Caparisons the Santones in their wild dress followed by the Emirs or such as are of the Kindred of their false Prophet The Great Vizier and Mufti rode in rank together the Vizier on the left hand the most honourable place amongst the Souldiery being the side to which the Sword is girt as the right is of greatest esteem amongst such as are of the Law being that hand which guides the Pen The Trappings of the Viziers Horse were plated with Gold and before him were carried three horse-tails called in Turkish Tugh and behind him came about three hundred and fifty Pages all Young men well mounted and armed with Jacks and Coats of Male Next followed the Minions of the Court or Seraglio viz. the Paicks with Caps of beaten Gold and embroidered Coats the Solacks with Feathers armed with Bows and Arrows these two last are of the highest degree of Lacqueys which more nearly attend the Person of the Grand Signior These were followed by nine led Horses of the Grand Siginor richly adorned with precious Stones and Bucklers all covered with Jewels of an unknown value Immediately before the Person of the Grand Siginor was led a Camel carrying the Alcoran in a Chest covered with cloth of gold The Grand Siginor himself was cloathed in a Vest of cloth of gold lined with a Sable incomparably black held up from the sides of his Horse by four Pages his Person was followed with great numbers of Eunuchs and Pages with long red Caps wrought with gold about the head carrying Lances and Mails with two locks one on each side of their head which are worn by such only as are of the Royal Chamber after these crowded great numbers of Servants with the chief Comp. of Spahees commanded by the Selict ar Aga in number about 1800. And in this manner and order they marched to their Tents The Tents were raised on a small Hill as may be judged about four miles distant from Constantinople and about two thousand in number ranged at that time without order only the Grand Siginor's seemed to be in the midst and to over-top all the rest well worthy observation costing as was reported one hundred and eighty thousand Dollars richly embroidered in the inside with gold and supported by Pillars plated with gold Within the Walls of this Tent as I may so call them were all sorts of Offices belonging to the Seraglio all Retirements and Apartments for the Pages Chioskes or Summer-houses for pleasure and though I could not get admittance to view the innermost Rooms and Chambers yet by the outward and more common places of resort I could make a guess at the richess and greatness of the rest being sumptuous beyond comparison of any in use amongst the Christian Princes On the right hand hereof was pitched the Grand Viziers Tent exceedingly rich and lofty and had I not seen that of the Sultans before it I should have judged it the best that my eyes had seen The ostentation and magnificence of this Empire being evidenced in nothing more than in the richess of their Pavilions sumptuous beyond the fixed Palaces of Princes erected with Marble and Mortar On the 16. of this month the Aga of the Janisaries first raised his Tents and began his march the next day followed the Grand Siginor Vizier and other Officers and Spahees At which time all Asta was full of Souldiers flocking from all parts of the East as from Aleppo Damascus Arabia Erzirum and Babylon so that for a long time Boats and Barks were continually imployed to ferry the Souldiery from Scutari into Europe and the High-ways Villages and all parts of the Road towards Adrianople were filled with Souldiers as if all Asta had issued out to devour and inhabit the German Possessions And for greater expedition in the March of the Army Proclamation was made of a general Rendezvous at Sophia at the Biram then within three weeks time where they designed to soil their Horse and refresh themselves before they fell in carnest to their business But before the Grand Vizier departed from Adrianople to prosecute a War in Hungary against the Emperour he called Siginor Ballarino to his presence as if he would treat with him of matters tending to an adjustment with Venice when at the same timo he had 20000 men in a readiness at Scutari to march into Dalmatia and to joyn with other Forces in Bosna and Croatia but this dissimulation and appearance of Treaty served only to discover on what Terms a Peace might be obtained in case Affairs in Hungary should be so pressing as to require an application solely of Arms to that Country Not only had Signor Ballarino Affairs of publick trouble but likewise something touched him of private concernment in his own Family where the Turks I know not upon what information coming to search found in his house two figures one of a man and the other of a woman made of linen cloth stuffed with Wool and Cotton the which were interpreted by the Turks to be Images of Sorcery and Inchantment one representing the Grand Siginor and the other his Mother were designed in a secret manner by thrusting Needles and Pins into those parts where the heart and liver is to cause those whom they represent to dye with macerations and consumptions according to the Inchantment of Medea In jecur urget acus And this suspicion was augmented by the reports
at the door of the Tent at which the Young man being surprized sent to find out him who fired it which happening to be a poor Jew was condemned immediately by the Grand Signiors sentence to receive eighty blows on the soals of his feet but as report went this young Favourite not appeased with this slender punishment obtained the Sultans command to put him to death But to return to the Turkish Camp The Vizier was astonished to understand that Kanista was besieged and wondred much at the rashness of Serini in attempting a work so difficult without probability of success howsoever being advised that the Garrison was ill provided of Victuals and Ammunition he gave order for its supply In order to which eighty Carts laden with Provisions convoyed by a considerable number of Turks were conducted by way of Sigeth but being interrupted in their passage by Serini's Souldiers were routed put to slight and their Provisions taken In the mean time the Besieged made many vigorous Sallies and some not without loss to the Christians and to defend themselves the better uncovered the tops of their houses and made their Lodgings under ground secure from Granadoes or shot of the Enemies Batteries On the other side the Ammunition and Artillery from the Emperour came not so timely as was expected nor were the Bomboes and Granadoes so artificially made but that many of them spent themselves in vain the Succours likewise of men fell very short of the numbers promised and Souldiery being drawn from their Winter-quarters before the colds were past or the pasture grown began to murmur but nothing discontented them so much as want of Pay the just complaint of Souldiers which discouraged them more than the difficulty of their adventure against all which Serini provided as much as he was able out of his own Purse continuing the Siege more out of reputation than probable hopes of success for his Army was at least diminished two thousand in its number of which four hundred Hungars and two hundred Germans were lost in the first Assaults made upon the Suburbs and the rest perished by sickness and the vigorous and frequent Sallics of the Enemy Howsoever Serini seemed not to doubt of the success if he could but be for some time secured from the advance of the Vizier who now began to draw his gross and numerous Army out of their Winter-quarters into the open field and therefore with the other Officers before Kanista signified their advice to the Emperour and General Council of War That it was necessary that the Imperial Army should be as early in the field as the Ottoman and for the more methodical government of Affairs that the Army should be divided into three Bodies one to recruit the Forces before the Town a second to march to Osek and hinder the Enemies passage over the Dravns and a third to take the field and apply assistance where it was judged most useful This counsel being well accepted by the Emperour Orders were immediately issued forth to General Montecuculi to begin his March with design to obstruct the Turks passage over the Dravns for that the success against Kanista was of that high importance as might justly require the imployment of all the Christian Forces in its concernment Wherefore one Post was dispatched after the other to Montecucli to sollicite his speedy March and to give a stop to the Viziers progress But he answered That he attended General Sporch whom he every day expected to joyn with him but this Answer proving by the effect to be nothing more than a present excuse gave occasion of sulpicion and produced that discontent in the minds of the most zealous as spread a rumor through all Germany much to the disreputation of 〈◊〉 Time thus being protracted and no Forces appearing to recruit the Leagure at length advice came to the Generals when they were just going to dinner that the Vizier with a most numerous Army was within three Leagues of the Town For the Bridge of Osek was against the common opinion again rebuilt planked and compleated with new Timbers in the space of forty days many hands making light work which when first founded was the work of six years which Expendition was the more remarkable in regard that this Bridge was not formed out of the ruines of the old nor founded on the same ground but new framed out of the Woods with as much comliness and order as besits a Bridge of that nature and length passing over a wild Marsh or Fen. The news of the Viziers so near approach was strange to Serini who by the calculation made of his March did not yet expect him for several days but the Vizier apprehending the straitness in which Kanista might be leaving the gross of his Army made more expedite Journies with a Body of twenty thousand Horse which not being unknown to Serini his daring spirit was once resolved to give him Battel in which opinion was also Count Strozzi but Olach dissenting and refusing to ingage his Forces the Siege was raised and all the Forces with good order retreated to Serinswar where they arrived the day following leaving to the Enemy a great quantity of Powder Match Shovels twenty Carts of Meal and two Iron Guns broken No Pilgrim ever followed his way with more devotion to the sacred Shrine than the Vizier was willingly led in pursuit of his Enemy to the Walls of Serinswar being the place to which his intentions inclined as the beginning and consummation of the War Over against this envied Fort there is a little Hill strong by Nature incompasled with a narrow Ditch yet not so narrow as that a Horse can leap over it nor yet so shallow as to be forded This Hill Serini proposed to the rest of his Collegues or Coadjutors viz. Olach and Spaar as a place commodious to incamp their Army because lying open to the River could easily be relieved and would serve as a Redoubt or Out-work to the Fort in which upon all extremities they might find Sanctuary and refuge But the apprehension of the Viziers Numbers and his near approach had made that impression of fear in their minds that no safety seemed to remain unless they could see the River Mura between them and their Enemy Nor was Serini more successful in his perswasions to assault the Enemy whilst they were wearied with their March and busied in extending their Tents the other Generals being of opinion that it was too great a hazard for them alone to venture their Forces in so unequal a Combate but they ought rather to expect Montecuculi by the addition of whose Forces the lot of War would be less hazardous if not wholly certain In this manner great Enterprises have been disappointed which have wanted only resolution to make them successful Fortune being commonly favourable if not a servant to bold and daring Spirits the disunion also of Generals hath been the overthrow of the wisest Counsels and Wars
drew after it that deadly War in which the Emperour unwillingly engaged against the Ottoman Power and caused him freely to intimate unto Serini his desire rather to see that Fort demolished than the Peace interrupted to which Serini yielding no Ear drew upon himself the deserved displeasure of his most gracious Prince who permitted the act of his obstinacy and disobedience to become a just snare to his own folly But perhaps that displeasure which was Justice in the Emperour might be Envy and emulation in his Ministers who beholding with jealous Eyes his actions and succesies the Winter before which enraged his Enemies and exalted his name to that glory in all the Courts of Christian Princes that the Pope honoured him with Medals of Gold the King of Spain with the Order of the Golden Fleece the French King as a demonstration of his esteem with a Token of ten thousand Crowns and Cardinal Francis Barberini with a Pension of eight hundred Crowns a Month and all other European Princes at least made the most part applications to him by Congratulatory Letters admiring his Virtues and applauding his Successes permitting their Gazets and Diurnals Weekly to divulge and publish his praises From whence may rationally be collected the true occasion of that Envy which by cold assistances and slow succours obstructed as well the taking of Kanisia as the valiant defence of Serinswar which was decryed not only as a Fort erected without due and mature consideration but without art or regular proportions which might render it tenable accusing at the same time as well the rashness and temerity of Serim's Counsels as his want of judgment and experience in Military Affairs But to leave now the sad subject of the Christian misfortunes occasioned by their own quarrels and dissentious which the Grand Enemy of Gods Church always endeavoured to sow for advancement of his own Kingdom Let us cast our Eyes on the other parts of unhappy Hungary The Siege of Kanisia being raised and Serinswar taken and demolished success had swelled and puffed up the minds of the Turks to a height that nothing seemed difficult or impossible to their desires On the other side controversies and delays gave that advantage to the Enemy that nothing could be expected but losses slaughter and in the end a total ruine But God who pittied the miseries of poor Christendome cast his Eyes of mercy on the Frontiers of the upper Hungary granting some more happy successes to the Christian Armes conducted by the Valour and Fortune of Count Soisé a French Gentleman who having the Command of an Army distinct from that of Montecuculi began his first attempt and enterprize upon Nitra where several persons of Quality and Officers of the Turkish Army were assembled to consider of the affairs of War Soise having taken his convenient measures and made his due approaches began to batter the Walls a great part of which in a short time he shook so shroadly that he opened a very wide breach and continually plying Granadoes into the Town so assrighted the Besieged that immediately they offered a Parley which Soisé accepted and the rather upon advice that Varadin Solnoc Temiswar and the places adjacent were collecting Forces to raise the Siege and relieve the Town entered into Treaty and concluding upon Conditions the Town Surrendered and the Turks marched out with their Colours folded and Muskets under their Arms leading their Horses had Convoy as far as Chomar Soisé having obtained this success entered into Consultation about recovery of Newhausel but having not Forces judged sufficient to attempt the difficulty of that place he turned his endeavours and designs upon Lewa or Leventz but in the way thither he was casually engaged with a Body of fourteen thousand Turks and Tartars who were marching to the relief of Nitra and fell in unawares upon his Rereguard whereupon Soisé commanded the Regiments of his Major General Guarnieri and of the Colonels Caprara and Zeitsch and the Horse and Dragoons of Brandenburg then marching in the Van to face about and Charge the Enemy which they performed with that Courage and Vigour that they routed and pursued them as far as the River Giava At which place Soisé Encamped with his Army and in an advantagious situation made a line of Circumvallation about his Camp strengthening it with some pieces of Cannon The Turks having recovered a convenient Retreat upon the River remained opposite to the Christians and having there reinforced themselves with additional Recruits returned again to give them Battel and in three places with extremity of fury and despair assaulted the Christian Camp Fortune for a long time remained doubtful on both sides till at length the admirable resolution of the Christians overcame leaving a thousand Turks extended on the place many were drowned and the rest fled leaving a rich Booty for reward to the Conquerours The Christians in this manner being successful resolved not to check the current of their Fortune but without delay proceeded to Lewa which having been for some time battered with great Guns surrendred it self to the mercy of the Conquerour in which was found a considerable quantity of Meal and twenty great pieces of Artillery In the mean time the difference between the King of France and the Pope on occasion of the insult offered at Rome by the Corst to the Embassadours House and Person being this Year composed those Forces of the French being in all about 3000. Horse sent first into Italy to avenge this affront under the Command of the Count Coligni were ordered to pass into Hungary by way of Venice to the assistance of the Emperour to which several Gentlemen Voluntiers of the same Nation joining themselves formed a Body of 4000. Horse well appointed valiant and desirous of action The Pope also whose words expressed and breathed out nothing but holy zeal against the common Enemy promised a supply of 10000. Foot and 3000. Horse which were to pass by way of Trieste into Croatia according to the promise and assurance of the Nuntio at Vienna for acknowledgment of which religious and considerable succour Count Leslie was dispatched from the Imperial Court in a private Character to pass those Offices of grateful acceptance as were due to so high a merit and sense of the Christian Cause But scarce was Leslie arrived at Venice before he understood to his great admiration that the holy Army was by Order of the Pope disbanded for which no other cause was assigned than only that at Rome it was seriously debated and in the end it was concluded that the expence was too great to be charged on the Ecclesiastical State and that the Souldiery also were themselves unwilling to be so far separated from their own Country all which at Vienna were understood to be frivolous pretences and the causes thereof attributed to the sinister Offices of a person ill affected to the Emperours Interest by which the Pope and Don Mario his
of troubles and other inconveniences seemed thankfully to receive her and though he was a man of ninety years of age and had long since forgot the solaces of the bridal Bed yet according to the custom of Marriage with a Sultana he was ingaged to divorce his former Wife with whom he had past the summer and winter of his age and as a constant Husband was still uxorious in his love So that in the midst of Wars where some found Graves others found Marriage-beds and reason of State found a Vacation to conjoyn Mars and Venus without interruption of ruder Enterprises The Great Vizier after his defeat marched to Stultweissenburg or Alba Regalis to recruit and refresh his Army and expect the Recruit of the Pasha of Aleppo who was said to bring with him about eight thousand Souldiers From Stultweissenburg the Turks with the gross of their Army returned to Strigonium and here the Vizier not unmindsul of the shameful flight and rebellious return of the Princes of Moldavia and Valachia to their own Countries without his order or permission sent one Messenger after the other in great haste and fury after the Turkish manner to recal those Princes to the War and that laying aside all excuses whatsoever they should immediately with what Forces they could collect repair again to the Camp The Princes weary of the War and fearful of the Viziers evil intentions to take away their lives endeavoured to excuse their flight alledging that their People would not obey or follow them to the Wars in any considerable numbers and that now it being the end of the Summer new Levies would be of great expence and of little benesit and disenable them from paying their yearly Tribute of which notwithstanding their consumption of Treasure in the last Expedition they were like to find no ease or relaxation though a burden too great for their harassed and impoverished Country to support But these excuses were no arguments to resolved Turks so that Commands came doubled and trebled one after the other full of threats and menaces to march forward with what Forces they could collect the Messengers assuring them That there was no design prepared against them by the Vizier but what was friendly and of good intention At length the Princes not able to remain longer without a censure of Rebellion to the Port with heavy hearts and light purses set forwards with about fifteen hundred men apiece sending before such sums of Money and Presents as they hoped might mollifie and prepare their access to the Vizier whilst they themselves marched slowly to afford longer time to the operation of this Physick The Prince of Valachia had intrusted about forty thousand Zaichins to an Officer of his called his Vestiario or Master of his Wardrobe whom he had sent before him therewith to make his access easie and safe to the Vizier of whose faith that he might assure himself the better he made him swear before the Holy Altar and take the Communion thereupon that he would be faithful and active in this Negotiation The Vestiario thus departing added to his religious Vows common promises and protestations but no sooner was he a few miles distant from his Master before he tired in his Vows and altered his road from the Vizier to the way leading to Constantinople declaring as he went That his Prince was become Rebel and was fled and that he not to be Partner in his perfidiousness was hasting to Constantinople there to give evidence of his faith and submission to the Turks This unexpected news coming to the Prince caused him to despair of all security and reconciliation with the Vizier and force him by flight to make good the words of his treacherous Servant so that taking with him his Wife and remainder of his Wealth passed through Transylvania with much difficulty and at length arrived within the Emperours Territories resolving to exchange an inconstant and dangerous Principality for a more secure and private course of life But this impious Greek did not rest quiet with his ill acquired Estate without receiving disturbance from the Boiars or Nobles of the Country and Stridia Bei the new-made Prince justly accusing him for having robbed the Publick Treasury extorted from him the sum of 150000 Dollars towards his Investment in the Principality and ease of the Country which was now wracked for payment of old debts and the growing charges of the new Prince And thus much of the Princes of Moldavia and Valachia At Strigonium great were the Consultations what course was to be taken The Christians were now Masters of the Field and the Turks discouraged and now the Summer was so far spent that it was too late to think of recovering their reputation that year with the hazard of a Battel So that at length it was resolved to unite the shattered Forces of Chusaein Pasha lately defeated by Count Susa to the Army of the Vizier and attend to secure Oywar or Newhausel with Provisions Ammunition and Reinforcement of that Garrison whereby this War might conclude with some Trophies of advance and inlargement of the Ottoman Borders which in all their Wars is the design and Maxime of the Turks So that marching thither they gathered and collected all the Provisions possible and having supplied the Garrison they returned again to Strigonium with all expedition retaining still impressions of terrour from the late ill success And that they might march with less impediment they sent their Artillery and heavy Baggage down the Daenube such was the fear of the Turkish Army at present that it is supposed had the Christians eagerly pursued their Victory they had not only defeated the whole Turkish Force with little opposition but also without any impediment marched to the very Walls of Buda But what infatuation soever blinded the Christian Counsels little or no advantage was taken as if the design of the Emperour had only been to repel the Enemy from his Borders or that he feared to irritate the Turks with a too inveterate and pertinacious prosecution of his Victories Instead of which the Vizier making some Overtures of Peace and evidencing the reality of his intentions by his Presents of a Vest of Sables and a Horse richly furnished with which he flattered and caressed the German Resident the Articles were accepted and embraced at Vienna with much greediness and the Peace almost wholly concluded and clapped up in a moment to the astonishment of the whole World But as matters of this nature cannot succeed without just and due considerations so on both sides certain causes concurred which inclined and disposed things to an accommodation For on the Turks part there wanted not such in the Ottoman Court who emulous of the Grand Viziers fortune and charge endeavoured to remove him from the favour of his Prince by accusing him in many particulars of negligence and imprudence in the conduct of his Affairs To answer which his return with the Olive-branch of
side had no other Argument than his Baratz or Patent from the Tefterdar or Lord Treasurer which was so prevalent and of that force with the Kadi joined with the fear and favour he bore towards the Emin that it was judged by him to stand in ballance with all the other Imperial Signatures and therefore left the business which was as much as the Customer desired undecided making a Declaration that the reasons on both sides were so forcible and the arguments so equal that he concluded it more proper that a matter of so great importance should be reserved for the determination of more powerful and eminent Officers The matter standing thus doubtfully the Emin conceiving it too great a pawn to detain so great a quantity of Cloth for a difference only in the Custom delivered to every man his consignation reserving only fifty Bales to make himself good on the judgment and commands he expected shortly in his favour The difference being now referred up to the Court the Lord Ambassadour received the just complaints of the Consul and Merchants for redress of which abuses his Excellency dispatched my self then his Secretary and Druggerman to the Vizier at Belgrade attending the advice of the German Ambassadours entrance into the Frontiers The Vizier having heard the difference was ready to have passed sentence in our favour had not the Tefterdar the only Advocate for the Customer from whom the Original of our Evils was derived put an unhappy obstacle in the course of our Negotiations pretending that therewerd antient Tefters or accounts amongst his Books which mentioned two and a half per Cent. at Scanderone and three at Aleppo and though it was urged to the contrary that we never had to do with the Registers of the Treasurers nor had managed any Apalto or Farm of the Grand Signior but our Capitulations are our Law and Rule and our Commands Registred in the Reis Efendi's or Secretaries Office than which we never had nor could ever acknowledge any other Canon yet the Vizier over ruled our reasons and we were forced to submit until the Tefterdar took his leisure to examine and consult his Books The Vizier and his Army being then upon their return we found no opportunity to renew our sollicitations until we came to Nissa where the Army had two days of repose and there again as in other places before we urged the Tefterdar so importunately that at length we compelled him to acknowledge to the Vizier that our affairs were not registred in his Office So that now we took liberty to declare our reasons to the Vizier which we drew from our Capitulations the antient Hattesheriff of Aleppo the Vizier and his Fathers own Commands and Copies of others of the like tenour not omitting other Arguments and Evidences which rendered the business not a little clear and apparent to the capacity of the Vizier who thereupon reprehended the Tefterdar for seeking by his Command to introduce an innovation contrary to our Capitulations and promised us Commands in our favour but we replyed that we had already Commands and the Grand Signiors own Royal Signature on our side and that our Ambassadour had not sent us so many days Journey to seek another which perhaps would as ill be observed as the former But it was the punishment of the Customer which the Ambassadour expected who against so many clear evidences durst proceed to the violation of them all Many other words were added pertinent and forcible to the present purpose To which the Vizier answered that he was now upon his Journey where business of this nature was ill dispatched And therefore ordered us to proceed to Adrianople where he should have more leisure to consider what was sit to be done in order to justice and satisfaction of the Ambassadour Hereupon I left the Army wherein I was much incommoded and proceeded with all haste to Adrianople where the Great Vizier in some days after me arrived and there we renewed our wonted endeavours and sollicitations that we might come to an end of this business and that justice might be done us But the Vizier willing to gratify the Tefterdar was not forward to pass his Sentence but put us again off to Constantinople where the Books should be perused that were laid up amongst the Registers of the Divan For that this matter was a concernment of the G. Signiors in determination of which he ought to be tender and considerate That for sending for Ibrahim Aga the Customer which was one of the principal of our demands to answer for the injuries he had done our Nation he was already ordered to appear at Court where he should be ready to stand to judgment for what the Ambassadour should object against him and this had been the answer which was contrived to be given to the Ambassadour himself in case he had as once he designed appeared at Adrianople in person on this occasion The Vizier arriving at Constantinople some few Months after The Lord Ambassadour obtained Audience of him on the 15 th of October pressing still for justice against the Customer of Aleppo but nothing thereof could be procured besides a Command for restitution of the fifty Bales of Cloth detained in the hands of the Emin upon the pretence before related and that the payment of Customs should be regulated after the rate of three per Cent. according to the antient usance For putting this Command in execution an Aga was ordered to be dispatched for whose service herein the Vizier allotted a thousand Dollars should be paid him which though an extravagant reward yet to put an honour and authority on the business and not to displease the Vizier it was granted to him and so he was dispatched the 25 th for Aleppo But the troubles of our Merchants at Aleppo ended not here For the-Tefterdar greatly enraged to see his designs against us to have no better issue thought to trouble us by a new invention of prohibiting the Scale of Scanderone to all English and other Christian Vessels and that the Factories should be transferred again over to Tripoli in Soria a place formerly frequented by our Merchants but by reason of the danger and inconvenience of that Port the Trade was transported to the Scale of Scanderone This alteration the Tefterdar pretended to have been granted to the Merchants at their carnest Petition and promise to the G. Signior of payment of 13000. Dollars Yearly for discharge and maintenance of those Guards which were requisite in that place for safety of the Coast and defence of the Caravans which pass with Merchants goods to Aleppo but time and corruption of the Ministers had deprived the Grand Signior of the benefit of that duty And this he urged with the greater instance and eagerness knowing that the Scale of Scanderone being prohibited the Hattesheriff whereon consisted the priviledge of the Merchants and their sole security must consequently fall and they forced to a new agreement On this occasion our Lord
active in the War passed over to the Isle of Candia resolving by strength and dint of Sword to force that strong City to obedience the main Bulwark of Christendom situated at the entrance of the Archipelago of the success of which famous Siege we shall have occasion to discourse more at large and more particularly hereafter in order unto which the Great Vizier on the last day of this Year went in Person to take a view of this City and having surveyed all sides of it apprehended that the Siege would be long and tedious and therefore returned again to Canea to take those measures which were requisite for an Enterprise of that weight and consideration In the mean time the Princes of Christendom being for the most part either in that discord amongst themselves of which the Turks have always made their advantage or else living in parts remote did not consider Candia as a Bulwark to their Dominions and therefore rendred little other assistance to the Venetians than good words and vain wishes for their success and Victory The Popes Forces only under Command of Muzeo Mattei which were in Dalmatia were transported to Candia and five hundred Foot belonging to the Grand Duke of Toscany came into their places for defence of that Country The most Christian King in return to the Embassy of Venice performed by the Cavalier Alvise Sagredo remitted to that Republick an hundred thousand Crowns and Cardinal Barberini at his expence supplied four thousand Measures of Corn. But the present Conjuncture did not seem to smile on the Venetians for all the Gallies belonging to Spain and Italy as well as those of Malta were employed in the transportation of the new Empress Margerita of Austria The Pope was infirm and distracted with his own domestick Affairs The Emperour was a young Bridegroom and besides the Diversion which a Wife gave him from Cares he apprehended that he might speedily receive some disturbance from the Princes of the Rhine and from Sweden in the Dukedom of Bremen The King of Spain was a Child of five years old labouring at the same time under a war with Portugal and threatned by the more powerful Arms of France on the pretence of Flanders Besides all which the Turks were as well in quietness amongst themselves as they were at peace with all other Princes so that we may expect that the force and power of the Ottoman Empire should now be turned like a Torrent to overwhelm this spot of land which seemed to be so scituated as well to resist the Waves of the Seas as the inundation of this mighty and Martial People Anno Christi 1667. Hegeira 1078. AT the Beginning of this year the Winter and Cold which chilled and benumbed the Earth encreased the heat and gave vigour and action to the Tartars who made such an unexpected incursion into Poland that they carried with them near a hundred thousand captived Souls as they were numbred before Jash in their return home The Polanders awakened hereat but ill advised resolved on a Treaty where there was more just cause for an open War and in order thereunto dispeeded an Ambassadour to the Sultan to expostulate the reason of this Breach of Peace and require justice and satisfaction on those his Subjects who had contrary to the Articles of Peace committed such actions and outrages of open hostility or at least that the Turk would not take upon him to abett the cause of the Tartars whilst the Polanders took just revenge for their late injuries The Ambassadour with this message put himself in a readiness and with a retinue of about two hundred and fifty persons begun his journey towards the end of April and on the second of May crossed the River Niestro which divides Poland from Moldavia where he was received by two of the Boiars or Moldavian Noblemen and thence conducted to Jash where the Prince of that Country resided The Ambassadour expected the Visit of the Prince according to Custom and Articles of Peace but the Prince being either forbidden by the Port or rather out of an ignorant stiffness and pride omitted to pass the Civilities of that Office but yet supplied the Ambassadour with plenty of Wine and Provisions which the Polanders enjoying freely dispensed perhaps more easily with other neglects and omissions which concerned formalities and ceremonies The ninth of June the Ambassadour arrived at Adrianople and thence was called to Demitochum a City about a days Journey distant where the Grand Signior for the sake of his hunting and divertisement remained under Tents as the most convenient lodging in that Season of the year the 25 th the Ambassadour had his first Audience with the Chimacam at which thirty five of his Retinue were vested with Coftans nothing passing but the usual Ceremonies and Complements The 28 th he had Audience of the Grand Signior but first made tender of his Presents as followeth A Crystal Cup in a Case of Gold adorned with Rubies and Diamonds 2 Baskets rarely woven with a very fine Rush. A Clock A Cabinet of Ebony supported with four Eagles made of Silver in which also was a Clock with a perspective Looking-Glass 2 Silver Cups of considerable bigness 2 Silver Flaggons A Gun which discharged twenty times 2 Spotted Dogs 4 Mastiffs 100 Ells of Holland These Presents preceding made way for the Ambassadours Audience at which he declared That the Commission from his Master the King of Poland was to make Complaints unto his Majesty of the grand Incursions the Tartars had made into Poland without any reason or cause of War and that therefore his Master did expect from him as from a just and vertuous Prince a permission for revenge and satisfaction of his injuries to enter Tartary without assuming it as any ground of Breach or Infringement of that Peace which he held with him or else that he would by his authority enjoin the Tartars to restore their Captives and their spoils and render them a reasonable satisfaction The Grand Signior returned no reply hereunto but referred that to be done by his Chimacam silence being esteemed some part of his Majesty and State which he seldom breaks but with few and haughty words This Ambassadour was a man of a bold and daring Spirit a fit Orator for such an Embassy had not his immoderate Covetousness the vice and folly commonly incident to Old Age much eclipsed many of those Vertues of which he was Master He was also a Man of a violent temper feavered to a madness in the height of his Choler which strangely betrayed him to many undecencies in his Language and Comportment For at his Audience with the Chimacam when he came to receive the Grand Signior's Answer his words were vented with that heat and so like to menaces that the Turks taking exception thereat returned his course Speeches with the like Dialect at which the Ambassadour swelled with that indignation and anger as became not the Moderation and Gravity of his Office
discouraged considering that if the ground was unsecure and unstable at that distance what abysses and chasmes must there be prepared to make them graves under the Walls or entrance to the City To second and justifie this Gun-powder Plot the Christians made two Sallies one by the Savoyards under Command of Colonel Profito Torse who issued forth from the Revelin of Betlem and made great slaughter of the Turks with Granadoes on the side of Panigra another was performed by Colonel Arborio and Colonel Marini accompanied with Count Brurasco Captain of the Guards to Marquess Villa who assaulted two Redouts of the Turks and forced them to flight and afterwards with some loss retreated victoriously to their Works In like manner Colonel Frigeri Commander of the Fort St. Demetrio made a Sally on Catirgi-Oglé near the Lazaretto and with some loss returned triumphant About this time arrived at Standi the Captain-General Francesco Morosini who after some Consultation disarming his Fleet of about a thousand men entred with that Succour into the Town and yet fitted out a convenient Squadron of Gallies and Galleasses to rove in the Archipelago to hinder the Enemies Succours and Recruits which were designed for Candia In this interim the Turks repaired the old Battery against the Lazaretto and laboured continually in their Galleries and subterranean Works so that by that time that the Christians had sprang five Fornelli upon them towards the point of the Half-moon of Mocenigo the Turks had advanced so well towards the Borders of Panigra that they sprang two Mines but these being but the first proofs or essays of this kind of invention reverted on themselves with the loss of two hundred of their men and again fired a third with little success which the Christians answered to better purpose blowing up sixty or seventy Turks Wherefore the Turks made a farther tryal of two Mines by the Half-moon rather to their own loss than to the damage of their Enemy In all the month of July passed not a day without some considerable action sometimes to good sometimes with bad success to both Parties every day Mines were sprang on both sides destroying the Lines and overthrowing the Galleries but the main force and heat of the War as it were concentring it self towards the Quarters of Panigra to defence thereof the Engineer Castellan as freely as couragiously proffered the use of his Art and the hazard of his Person In which whilst he imployed himself and endeavoured to cleanse the Galleries of their rubbish which the Enemies Mines had thrown down the Turks threw such quantities of Bomboes and Stink-pots into those Caverns as made the stench thereof so suffocating and noisom that two Officers were choaked or smothered that went to view the place and Lieutenant-Colonel Cavalli and the Engineer Castellan himself were brought away half dead poysoned with Sulphur and pestiferous smoke to purifie which Grota nothing could render the air more wholesom in expulsion of the preceding vapour than the smoke of Juniper and burnt Aqua vitae which being made use of with good success the Christians fired two Mines which opened so dreadful an abyss as served for the grave of great numbers of Insidels During this time of daily rencounters arrived the Auxiliary Gallies from the Pope and Malta commanded by Prior Bichi and Bali del Bene as also the Gallies of Naples and Sicily commanded by Gianettino Dorta and the Duke of Ferrandina of whom the Captain-General would have borrowed some Forces to have served at Land but their Commissions it seems or their courages were too strait to afford any such Supplies being designed to cruise in the Archipelago only the generous Chevalier d'Harcourt with ten other Camerades that were imbarked on the Gallies of Malta agreed to enter the Garrison having come with no other design from France than to offer themselves in defence of the Christian cause and in a time of Peace when their Prince had no need of their assistance and service to give the World true evidences and proofs of the value and greatness of their souls In all Enterprises this Person worthily descended of the House of Lorrain was a Companion to Marquess Villa and one day venturing on a design to disturb the Enemies approaches was shot in the face with a Musket-bullet of which wound recovering some time after he with his Companions returned to France having like Gavaliers Passant acted the parts of true Chivalry But neither did the Prior Bichi Commander of the Popes Gallies nor Doria Admiral of those of Naples act agreeable to the bravery of those French Gentlemen for they not only denied as we have said to land a small number of their men but as if they came only to make them a visit sent this short Letter of Advice dated the 24 th of August in these words The Auxiliary Gallies are obliged to depart this night and to return to Suda where they are to remain until the expiration of that time which is appointed for them in these Seas Prior Bichi likewise sent word to Marquess Villa That he judged it fit to depart by reason that no action presented for them to undertake to which the Marquess replied That he who seeks may find and that such opportunities never offer to those who endeavour to avoid them Doria also to colour his excuses said That his Orders were not to land men unless the Town were in the extremity of danger of being taken to which Villa replied That he could not well be assured in what condition the Town was since he never vouchsafed to set his foot ashore or conceived a curiosity of seeing the greatest and the most famous Siege that ever was in the World In short these Holy and Catholick Squadrons departed without contributing any assistance to the Christians incurring thereby the severe censure of the Commanders in chief with the anger and disdain of the Souldiery The Venetians have always thought it Policy to maintain an Agent in the Ottoman Quarters perhaps with design to afford them Intelligence or to be ready to apply Terms of Peace in times of most urgent necessities According to which Rule Signior Giavarina was sent to Candia upon the Venetian Armata now governed at Sea by one Pasqualino with Instructions to treat with the Vizier and perhaps to grant him any thing besides Candia though without this nothing could come either welcome or satisfactory to the Turks Howsoever to introduce him into the Camp a white Flag was displayed on the side of the Lazaretto which when the Turks perceived they flocked in great numbers to know the mystery of this Signal of Pacisication And though nothing appeared besides a Letter directed to the Great Vizier yet they hoped it might portend something of Treaty which in the end would produce a Peace and a conclusion of their labours before the Winter surprised them in their colder Lodgings The Vizier having read the Letter had his thoughts
the Earth by Assistants about him two other Cavaliers were wounded with Granadoes and the Cavalier Feuillere who carried the Standard of Malta was shot into the Eye with a Musket The Proveditor General Corndro serving at the repair of the Breach was so wounded in the Belly by a Granado that his Bowels burst of which he died in three hours and with a piece of the same Granado the Count Vignole a French Gentleman of great Valour was likewise slain And so hotly the Turks plyed this Breach that from the 28 th of May to the 2 d of June they sprang five Mines which brake all the Palisades of the Christians the which the Turks seconded with that fury and mettle as if they intended to win the place and make an end of their work before the arrival of the Forces expected from Christendom And this Post was now grown so dangerous and weak that the Captain General the Marquess of Montbrun and all the chief Officers took up their Quarters at this place where his Excellency kept an open Table and the Marquess took up his Lodgings at Night that so the other Officers might have no excuse on account of attendances or orders to abandon these Quarters The Princes of Christendom all this time forgot not their besieged Brethren in Candia Popo Clement the IX pressed the most Christian King to make ready his succours in due time who had already himself prepared all things and elected the Duke of Beaufort his General of all the Forces by Sea whether of French or other Nations This Duke like a couragious and brave Prince thinking it little glory to command at Sea where the Enemy was of an inferiour and unable Force to encounter him did therefore desire Licence from his King to make tryal of his Fortune in the Field where he might evidence his Valour in the face of the Infidels and signalize his Fame either by Death or Victory The King unwilling to hazard so worthy a person of his bloud out of his due Command in the rank of an ordinary Souldier at first denied his requests but the Pope interceding for him whose General he was with holy Arguments and devout Contemplations of Martyrdom and Glory of dying for the Christian Cause at length obtained a concession from the King who of himself was flexible to so pious a request esteeming it unholy to deprive his Kinsman either of the Palm of a Martyr or the Lawrel of a Conqueror The Summer being come and all things provided the Duke ascended his Ship at Tolon a City in Provence the 6 th of June New-style with about seven thousand Land Souldiers commanded by the Duke of Navaille with the Marshals Lebret and Golbert and several other Worthies and Heroes of undaunted Courage and arrived before the Town of Candia the 19 th of the same Month having casually encountred together in the Seas on the 17 th with fourteen Sail of Venetian Ships laden with Horse and Ammunition to mount the Troops and relieve the Town which happy encounter and speedy passage seemed a happy Omen of the future success The appearance of this succour seemed to the Besieged as sent from Heaven and administred unto them new hopes and courage and the salutes passed between the Town and the Fleet with the usual Ceremonies and all the imaginable testimonies of joy and triumph No sooner were they arrived than the two Generals with other principal Officers immediately in their Shallops took the best view and survey they could of the Enemies Camp and the Condition of the Besieged in which whilst they entertained themselves they espied a small Vessel making towards them with S t Mark 's Colours in which was the famous Engineer Signior Castellano dispatched by the Captain General Morosini with an exact plat of the Town and disposition of the Turkish Camp which being particularly viewed and considered it was evident That if the Turks should make some very forcible Attempt before the new Forces could be landed as it was very probable they might they would put all in hazard of being lost wherefore the Captain General pressed to have some succours immediately supplied to be assistant in that case of extremity To which the Duke of Navailles immediately consented and landed himself that Night in person with sufficient Force to mount the Guard on the Breach of S t Andrea whose first Retrenchment was continually battered by the Turks and though there was a second Retrenchment in hand yet time being required for compleating thereof that part of the Town would be reduced to its ultimate hazard for should the Enemy spring a Mine which they feared was already formed under the present Work it would lay all open and naked without other Fortification The Duke being ashoar was received by Morosini with all demonstrations of Civility and Respect due to a personage of his Quality and Employment and with a welcome suitable to the present extremity of his Affairs all Ceremonies and Complements were soon passed over the urgency of matters not permitting them time to be long impertinent so that falling into the Discourse of the common safety it was resolved that the succours should be immediately landed which was performed with that diligence and expedition that in two days the whole Army came safe on shore excepting only some few cut short by shot from the Enemies Camp On the 23 d the Generals and other Officers held a Council of War amongst whom was also the Marquess of S t Andrea and did unanimously conclude that the Town was no longer tenable or to be maintained unless by some extraordinary enterprize attempted on the Enemy and by some furious Sally performed with resolution and stratagems of War in order unto which it was resolved That the 27 th should be the day of sally both with Horse and Foot and that the Fleet not to lose their part in this action should play with their great Guns on that side of the Turkish Army which lay incamped on the Quarters of St. Andrea All the Forces were landed on the 26 th and the whole night following was spent in preparations for the next days sally the Army being drawn up made four Batalions the first called the Admirals commanded by the Sieurs Martel Vandre and Gravier the second was the Vice-Admirals commanded by the Sieurs de la Mothe and Planta the third was the Rere-Admirals under Command of Chevalier de Bouillion Gabaret and the Chevalier Dailly the fourth was the Batalion of the Sieur d'Almeras commanded under him by the Sieurs Panetier de la Rogue Fontier Bitault and the Chevalier de Nemond and on the left hand of these aforesaid Batalions the Guards of the Duke of Beaufort were disposed The Duke of Beaufort unwilling to be a Spectator in this glorious Action without bearing a part in his own person after he had given order to the Fleet to accost the shore on the side of St. Andrea as near
they are dispatched or that things are duly prepared for their departure Twelfthly That all Commissions given by one side and the other be revoked and that whosoever shall after the space of forty days commit any Act of Hostility against the tenour of these Articles of Peace shall be punished with capital punishment Thirteenthly That so soon as an Ambassadour from Venice shall arrive at the Port all Slaves or Prisoners of War taken under the Venetian Colours shall be sreed and released Fourteenthly That what depredations shall be made at Sea or Land after these Articles are subscribed and before the publication thereof shall be faithfully made good and restored Fifteenthly That a general pardon be given to the Subjects of both sides who have acted contrary to their Faith and Allegiance during this War Sixteenthly That in Virtue of these Capitulations the former Articles be likewise confirmed which were made in the Year 1571 and that no Tribute or Present be demanded from the Port unless as hath formerly been paid for such Islands as the Venetians hold in the Archipelago Seventeenthly That of these Articles two Copies be made one in Turkish with its Translation into Italian subscribed by the Vizier and sealed with the Grand Signior's Signet and the other in Italian under-wrote by the Captain-General and sealed with the Seal of the Republick These Articles being signed the Hostages were given both on one side and the other Those given by the Venetians were Faustino da Riva Lieutenant-General Giovanni Battista Calbo Commissary and Zaccaria Mocenigo who had been Duke of Candia Those given by the Turks were Belir Assan Pasha Mahomet Aga of the Janisaries and Gurgi Bei Testerdar or Treasurer During this Siege of the Venetians side there were killed and wounded thirty thousand nine hundred eighty five of the Turks one hundred eighteen thousand seven hundred fifty four The Batteries which the Turks raised against Sabionera and St. Andrea consisted of fifty nine Pieces of Cannon carrying from fifty to an hundred and twenty pound weight of Bullet The Storms which the Turks made upon the Town were fifty six The Combats under ground forty five The Sallies made by the Venetians ninety six The Mines and Fornelli sprang by the Venetians eleven hundred seventy three by the Turks four hundred seventy two The Venetians spent Barrels of Powder fifty thousand three hundred and seventeen Bomboes of all sorts by the Venetians of fifty to five hundred weight were forty eight thousand an hundred and nineteen Granadoes of Brass and Iron an hundred thousand nine hundred and sixty Granadoes of Glass eighty four thousand eight hundred seventy four Cannon-shot of all sorts two hundred seventy six thousand seven hundred forty three Pounds of Lead eighteen millions forty four thousand nine hundred fifty seven Of Match pounds thirteen millions twelve thousand five hundred What quantities the Turks might consume of Ammunition is not certain only it is observable That the Brass taken up in the streets which came from the Enemies Bomboes was so much that whole Ware-houses were filled with the Metal and so much sold as yielded many thousand of Crowns The Articles being subscribed and Hostages given the Captain-General attended with all application of mind and industry imaginable to imbark the Men and Ammunition committing in the mean time the care of the City to Cornaro the Proveditor of the Fleet. During these days that all things were providing in order to a Surrender there was great silence in the Turkish Camp and no disorder in the City the Souldiers on the Ramparts and the Turks in their Trenches saluted each other with civility and entertained communication and discourses together with friendship and freedom of several passages relating to their War nothing of quarrel or scuffle or rude words happening out between them in all the term of the twelve days The Vizier sent divers times civil Messages and Presents of refreshment to the Captain-General and Marquess St. Andrea which they returned with equal respect and generosity and so excessive were the Turks in these offices that the Venetians began to be jealous left under this mark and guise of courtesie some fraud or design should be covered according to their own Proverb Chi ti fa piu carezze che suole ó ti ha engannato ó enganar ti vuole In short all things were dispatched with that diligence and care that on the 27 th of September the City was consigned all the Inhibitants departed thence not one remaining in the City except only two Greek Priests a Woman and three Jews In this manner the whole Isle of Candia the cause and occasion of all that Blood and Treasure that was spilt and exhausted in twenty five years Wars fell at length to the fortune and increase of the Turkish Empire with its most impregnable Fortress of the World strengthened with as much Art and Industry as the humane Wit of this Age was capable to invent after a strait Siege of two years three months and twenty seven days For the space of twelve days allotted for the Surrender being expired on the 〈◊〉 th of September being Friday the great Cross erected on the Wall was after midnight taken down and advice given to the Venetians so soon as the morning dawned that the Turks did that day attend the Surrender which was accordingly performed by the Principal Citizen about nine of the clock of the same morning who offering the Keys of the City to the Great Vizier in a Bason of Silver on the breach of St. Andrea was by him presented with a Vest of Sables and five hundred Zechins in Gold and to his Servants were given two hundred To Morosini also a Present was offered worthy his Quality but he refused it saying That he would never give a seeming occasion to the malicious World to slander him with the least appearance of having sold his important Charge Whilst these things were transacting on the breach some of the most cowardly and disorderly amongst the Janisaries pressed forward to have entred by force in violation of the Articles so lately agreed and confirmed but some of the Garrison not yet imbarked keeping themselves still on the Guard repulsed the most forward in the Riot by killing three or four of their Companions which disturbance and insolence of the Souldiery when made known to the Vizier he assembled the disorderly together and first upbraiding their cowardise who durst not enter in the time of War would now counterfeit Valour in the time of Peace sentenced fifteen of them to be impaled on the breach which piece of Justice and Gallantry was immediately executed This rumour being appeased the Topegibashee and Gebegibashee or the Generals of the Ordnance and Arms took quiet possession of the Forts and Cannon of the City and whilst the Turks entred over the breach the Christian Army withdrew and imbarked themselves as fast as convenience and decency would permit who after the departure of the French and
were designed these being judged sufficient though not to conquer yet at least to repress the Incursions and amuse or keep the Armes of the Enemy employed For at the Ottoman Court the face of all things was become serene and calm no Seditions of great men nor discontents of the people nor black and cruel designs of State disturbed or clouded the splendour of the Solemnities or the brows of the great Statists but all matters ran in an uninterrupted course of Joy and Festivity The Sultan who in his actions shewed himself a most benign Prince sparing and compassionate of the blood and misery of his Subjects hath since his arrival to a mature Age exercised a wise manner of Government severe and just and yet void of the cruelty and tyranny of his Ancestors under whom the trading Christians enjoyed the priviledge of their Capitulations with more justice and less frequent Avanias The Vizier also and other great Officers being sensible of the benefit which Trade begat treated Merchants with more gentleness and respect than in former times their Ships not being forced on every occasion into the Grand Signior's service but rather perswaded to it by rewards and fair promises otherwise than in the times of former Viziers and it is to be wished also that the like might be said under the Government of those which are to succeed though if we look forward to the years 1678 and 1679 we shall find the Scene of things altered and not only Merchants but even Ambassadors and the Representatives themselves remain under sad discouragements Amongst these joys and gentle ways of Government the manner of this Court was much altered the Divan had not for two months space been opened for business to the great prejudice and interruption of Justice Wine that great abomination to the Turkish Law which four years past was by the Imperial Decree forbidden under pain of Death and a thousand Execrations and Curses was now the common Drink and divertisement in fashion used immoderately by all excepting the Grand Signior the Mufti and Reis Effendi the Vizier himself having been excessively intemperate therein had extinguished the natural heat of his stomach which could be warmed by no less heat than what proceeds from Aqua Vitae by which debauchery and indisposition all businesses were slowly and negligently dispatched and according to his example the Officers and Ministers acted in their Affairs which in former times being always dispatched by nine a Clock in the Morning that became now the time and hour of rising The Grand Signior himself though not taught by his Attendants to drink Wine lest it should perhaps betray him to some actions dangerous to them gave himself to Amours for falling in love with a Polish Woman lately captivated at Kemenitz he made her his Second Hasakee or Sultaness for having had the good fortune to bring him a Son that honour was the reward of her fruitfulness and that he might give other testimonies of his favour he cast his eyes on a poor Chinganee or Gipsy Boy who with singing and dancing so pleased him that he gave him six purses of money containing three thousand Dollars with Horses and Servants and took him into the Seraglio Amidst these Delights the Grand Signior gave order to the Vizier not to speak to him of three things Neither of returning to Constantinople nor against his Favourite nor against his Hunting in other matters he might use freedom Another alteration of a better nature with reference to Learning and Knowledge seems also remarkable in this Court for the Grand Signior having been some years past presented by the Dutch Resident with twelves large Volumes of the new Atlas upon an accidental sight thereof was so pleased that he commanded it should speedily be translated into Turkish to which Work Dr Alexandro Mauro Cordato the Viziers Interpreter who succeeded in the place of Panaioti deceased was nominated but he finding it too unweildy for him desired the assistance of a French Jesuit then at Scio skilful in the Turkish and Arabick Languages who was immediately sent for and therein employed and though it is thought that this business is above their Element and that it will soon cool and be neglected yet it seems to be the first step which the Turks have made unto Learning and therefore is the more observable And now the Festivals beginning on the 16 th of May we must for some days lay aside all business and observe with what order and form these Solemnities were performed In the first place On this day the Grand Signior with the young Prince his Son went to their Tents which were pitched very sumptuously in the Plain near the City and indeed were truly stately and magnificent all the great men as the Vizier Mufti and others having their Pavilions erected amongst which was raised a very stately Throne with a Canopy of Cloth of Gold extended under the shady leaviness of two tall Elms which set off with many Lamps in the Night represented a very pleasant and glorious Scene On this Seat of State the Sultan placed himself in the morning being accompanied thither by all the Pashaws then present and by the Representatives of those who were absent who according to their Degree in order kissing his Vest delivered in a Silk Purse a Note or Schedule of their Presents which were afterwards put into the Tefterdar's or Lord Treasurers hands to see and compare them with the particulars received which were so great and considerable that they far surpassed the Charges and Disbursments of the Solemnity Opposite to the Tents were several poles fixed between which at Night were hung Lamps of several shapes which being varied every Night made a very pleasing and magnificent Object by light of which in the Evening were exercised several tricks of Activity as Wrestlings Dancing and Singing and sometimes were acted Turkish Comedies which consist only of Farces and some ridiculous Dialogues and at last the divertisements of the night concluded with Fire-works which were so many that as reported 240 men were employed for four months time in the making of them and yet there are better made in Christendome only one seemed to excel the rest being a sort of Rocket which went up very high without any tail of fire like the common ones carrying only a small compacted Globe of red fire like a Star and making no noise in mounting but raised to its height breaks These were the pastimes of the Night in the day time all the several Arts and Trades some one day and some another passed before the Tents every one offering their Presents as they passed representing by some kind of Pageant and Procession their diversities of Trade this continuued for fifteen days On the 25 th of this instant May was a solemn Cavalcade in which marched the Janisaries with all their chief Officers Chiauses and Mutafaracas c. And of the Great Men the Vizier Mufti and Kul-ogli the Favourite the first on
and Animosities of the Christians In like manner the Marine Affairs of the Turks this year afforded little worthy of observation unless it were That the Captain Pasha was employed with about thirty Sail of Gallies into the Black Sea for transporting of Ammunition and Provision to those Forces in Ukrania but he returned not with an equal number of Gallies with which he departed having lost five of them by storm and then arrived at Constantinople on the 26 th of October called by the Greeks the Feast of S t Demetrius and by the Turks Cassim-gheun a day which is commonly remarkable for Storms at Sea of which the Turks and Greeks are so apprehensive or superstitious that on that day or near that time either before or after until the storm hath vented its fury and taken its course they will not adventure themselves unto the Sea upon the most pressing occasion or hopeful inducement whatsoever And here I judge it requisite to conclude this Year with two matters very observable relating unto Trade The first is with reserence unto the Genoueses who in the Year 1666. first sent their Ambassador Signior Durazzo with many Presents and great Magnificence to conclude a Peace with the Ottoman Empire with the sole design and intention of Trade which having been established on no other foundation at the beginning than that of their Temins and the Fabrick of their own Cloth when the first failed as it did in two years after and that their Cloth turned not to account but was out-sold by the English and Dutch then their Trade began to decay or rather never came to perfection like the fruit of a young tree which buds fairly and produces fruit but hath not strength to digest or bring it to maturity Even so it was with the Genoucses who having been at the charge of an Ambassadour Extraordinary and setled a Resident at Constantinople and a Consul at Smyrna and all the other Formalities of Trade wanted that nourishment thereof from their own soil which produces the true and natural fruit of Commerce which is gain and profit and being out-done by other Nations in shipping there could little or no benefit be expected from their own Navigation in the Levant For these reasons their Trade failing the Duties of Consulage on Goods appointed to maintain the Officers and desray the publick Expences were consequently wanting so that the Count Fieschi Rosident for that Republick at Constantinople finding himself in great distresses and necessities and unable to maintain himself and his Attendants agreeable to his Character and Quality often advised his Prince and the Senate of the unhappy state of their Affairs desiring from them either to provide a Supply agreeable to the occasions or to recal him from that Office where he could no longer live in that Honour required This importunity produced the exchange of Officers and the Mission of Signior Giustiniano to reside at Constantinople and Signior 〈◊〉 at Smyrna the first of which some few days after his arrival being unfortunately killed with a Carabine in his Chamber at Consiantinople as before related the Office of Resident came to be still continued in the person of Fieschi who remaining without provisions necessary to maintain his degree and the annual Presents expected by the Turks which they esteem as due as their Income and as part of their Revenues was forced to take up money on Pawns and his own credit at the Interest of 20 25 or 30 per cent according as his necessities increased and the apprehensions men conceived of an insufficiency and hazard in their security was the cause that the debt which in the beginning was inconsiderable increasing with Interest upon Interest came at length to the Sum of sixty or seventy thousand Dollars which the Republick of Genoua attributing in a great measure to the ill Conduct of Fieschi and judging the greatest part of this debt to be feigned sent another Resident called Signior Spinola to succeed him in his Office who arriving at Smyrna in the month of May of this present year on a stout Ship hired of the Venetians and under the notion of a Man of War accompanied with a Merchant Ship and a new Consul the old one dying the year before setled there such Orders as were judged necessary for the government of their Affairs But before these Genoueses arrived a report had fore-ran them from Ligorne and other parts that their Ships brought great quantities of false Gold and false Pieces of Eight the which coming to the cars of the Turks Commands were provided against their arrival to search their Ships and try their Monies to which the Genoueses not condescending Arz or testimony was made thereof by the Kadi unto the Grand Signiors Court In the interim whilst this Arz went up and the answer expected the Genouese Resident designing to proceed forward on his Voyage to Constantinople demanded the Kadi's Moraselau or Ticket of Licence for the Man of War on which he came to pass the Castle for that Ship had entred within the Port. The Kadi judging it necessary that both the Resident and Ship should attend the arrival of the answer from above refused to grant this Licence whereupon the Resident all in a rage imbarked himself and immediately set sail and having a fair Breez out of the Port gently slided along by the side of the Castle without any stop or interruption This affront being put upon the Kadi greatly displeased him so that calling the Lieutenant and Gunner of the Castle into question and not admitting of their Plea that the Ship was a Man of War and the person thereon a Resident both which were priviledged and both going up to the Grand Signiors Court were to answer there for what was laid against them but this I say not being admitted for reason the Kadi committed them both to Prison from whence with some charge afterwards they released themselves The new Resident being arrived at Constantinople the Creditors of Count Fieschi demanded payment of the debts owing to them which was given in to amount to sixty thousand Dollars and so much was to be paid before Fieschi should be permitted to depart or at least that part thereof being satisfied in hand the new Resident Spinola should give security for payment of the remainder the which he refusing to do as not owning the accounts which Fieschi had given in in regard he judged them to be composed of extravagant Interests and to arise on charges not allowable by that Republick who after the death of Giustiniano disowned Fieschi for their Minister hereupon great disturbances and commotions arose amongst the Creditors some of which being in great Power as the Janisary-Aga and others Sequestration was laid on their Man of War so that she was toaed away to the Arsenal and there laid up and attached for payment of the debt which arising on the account of the Publick the Goods of the Common-wealth was justly esteemed liable to the Sequestration
a confirmation of the same for his Son ibid. Revan betrayed by the Governour Emir Gumir to the Turks 57. recovered by the Persian pag. 59 S. SElictar Aga who 19. he is made Great Vizier ibid. gains a Victory over the Persians 26. besieges Babylon but is beaten off 28 29. he returns to Constantinople and is deprived of his Office pag. 32 Serches Pasha vid. Selictar Aga. T. TArtary the King thereof treacherously slain pag. 65 Tauris taken by the Turks from the Persian 15. utterly destroyed by them pag. 58 Pirates of Tunis infest the Seas 16. See Algierines V. VAlona the Venetian Admiral takes fourteen Algierine Gallies in this Port pag. 73. which boldness the Venetians are glad to make amends for to the Port pag. 86 Van besieged by the Persian pag. 62 THE TABLE TO THE Reigns of Sultan Ibrahim and Sultan Mabomet A. ABermont the Captain of the French Man of War whereon Monsieur de la Haye arrived at Constantinople incurs great danger of his life and wherefore Page 193 Achmet Great Vizier deprived of his Office and strangled 33 Aleppo the Merchants thereof more subject to troublesom Avania's than others and an instance given 116 Alexandria a Plague there 11. the Alexandrian Fleet encountred by the Venetians 101. taken by the Malteses in 1673. 304 Algierines make complaints at the Port of the English Fleet commanded by the Earl of Sandwich but find no encouragement 87. they make a peace with the English 113. the Articles signed by the Grand Signior 129. they are carried by the Author to Algier with a relation of two pleasant passages in his journey ibid. 130 131. they except against an Article of the Peace and send a Letter to his Majesty whereupon the War breaks out asresh 133 134. the inconstancy of their Government 133 Colonel Anand an English-man and one Stefano Cordili made Plenipotentiaries to treat with the Great Vizier about the surrender of Candia 273 Michael Apasi constituted Prince of Transylvania by the Turks 80. his Letter to the Earl of Winchelsea English Ambassadour at the Port 98. he is beloved of his people 146 Asac besieged by the Turks in the year 1641. but not taken 6 7. again besieged in 1642. and then taken being abandoned by the Inhabitants 9. After it had been sacked by the Moscovite in 1674. the Turk rebuilds it 313 Asan Pasha of Aleppo rebels and marches towards Constantinople 56. he joins battel with the Great Vizier and discomfits him 57. he is treacherously strangled by Mortaza Pasha 58 Asan Aga the Mosayp or Favourite his story 123 Austria spoiled by the Turks in 1663. 141 B. BAkockza taken by Count Serini 147 Ballarino Secretary to Signior Capello the Venetian Bailo supplies his Office 50. his sorrowsul Letter to Senator Nicolo Contarini 102. his Character 103. he is suspected by the Turks to use Sorcery 121 Balsora its Pasha rebels in 1667. and is forced to slee into Persia 230 Baltagibashee what 124 Cardinal Barbarini bestows a pension of eight hundred Crowns a mon h upon Count Serini 160. he supplies the 〈◊〉 with four thousand measures of corn in their Wars in Candia pag. 228 Barcan taken by Count Soisé and burnt 166 Girolamo Bataglia and Francesco Bataglia Proveditors General both killed at the Siege of Candia 249 Duke de Beaufort the Popes General at Sea desires of the King of France his natural Prince leave to try his fortune by Land at the Siege of Candia 263. he is killed there 267 Beker Pasha of Rhodes strangles the Pasha of Cyprus 11. made Captain Pasha 12. put to death by order of the G. Signior 15 Belgrade here the Great Vizier had his Winter-quarters the sirst year of the Hungarian war in 1663. 145. resides there the second winter after the peace made 176 Signior Bembo obtains a Victory over the Turks at Sea 54 Sir Tho. Bendish Ambassadour at the Port his Expedient for obtaining redress of wrongs offered to the Merchants 18. he opposes the forcing of English Ships into the Turks service against Candia but without effect 40 Berclay made Prince of Transylvania 73. the Transylvanians depose him 78 Berzenche taken by Count Serini 147 A Blazing-star seen in most parts of the known world in 1664. and particularly in Turkie with their opinion what it portended 177 Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburg assist Candia with three thousand men 252 C. CAiro a Rebellion of the great Beghs there 153. another 330 Caminiecz taken by the Turks in eleven days 300. blocked up the Poles 311. but the Siege raised by the Turks 313 Candia the Isle how it became the possession of Venice 23. what the occasion of the Turks making war against it 13. the beginning of the war 20. The Turks Sea and Land-forces at first employed in it what 21. what the preparations of tho Venetians 22. The Turks land in this Isle pag. 24. what supplies the Venetians had towards this war from Christendom 25 Candia the City first besieged in 1647. by the Turks who were then forced to raise the Siege 28. besieged a second time in 1650. and again beaten off 41. 〈◊〉 a third time when the Turks losing three thousand men at one assault again drew off 43. this war carried on fainlly by the Turks for several years 85. prosecuted asresh in 1666. 221. what aid the Venetians then had from Christian Princes 227. the Fortisications of the Town described and what Quarters were possessed by the Besiegers and Besieged 332. the History of the Siege continued uninterruptedly from 232 to 254. and from 262 to 277. its Duke killed 253. large succours sent thither from France 263. the Garrison makes a notable sally but with bad success 266. French Officers slain in this sally 267. the French depart 268. a Council held to consider of the state of the Town 270. the result of the Council to enter into a Treaty with the Vizier 273. the conditions of peace 274. the Town delivered to the Turks 277. an account of the number of the slain on both sides the batteries storms sallies c. 276. what a sad spectacle of desolation at its surrender 278 Canea taken by the Turks 25. they land here forty thousand fighting men 26 Antonio Capello Commander of the Venetian Gallies 23 Gio. Capello made Doge General of the Sea 25. what his Armata ibid. Signior Capello Bailo at the Port imprisoned 45. his ill usage casts him into a deep melancholy 48. his Commission taken from him 50. he dyes at Constantinople but his Corps conveyed to Venice 104 Casimir King of Poland resigns his Crown and how affairs then stood there 297 Chirfaleas a couragious Captain 145. is slain near Serinswar 158 Chusaein Pasha General of the Turks in Candia 39. is made Great Vizier but to reside still in Candia 42. is discharged from the Office of Great Vizier 47. is put to death by the Great Vizier Kuperlee pag. 58 Chusaein Pasha of Buda besieges Leventz 162. is routed by Count Soise 164 Another
1677. Containing the Reigns of the three last Emperours viz. Sultan Moral or Amurat IV. Sultan Ibrahim and Sultan Mahomet IV. his Son the XIII Emperour now Reigning By Paul Rycaut Esq late Consul of Smyrna in folio 33. The present State of the Ottoman Empire in three Books containing the Maxims of the Turkish 〈◊〉 their Religion and Military Discipline Illustrated with divers Figures Written by Paul 〈◊〉 Esq late Secretary to the English Ambassador there now Consul of Smyrna The fourth Edition in 〈◊〉 34. The present State of the Greek and Armenian Churches Anno 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Written at the Command of His Majesly by Paul 〈◊〉 Esq late Consul of Smyrna and Fellow of the Royal Society in 〈◊〉 35. The Mevoirs of Philip de Comines Lord of Argenton containing the History of Lewis XI and 〈◊〉 VIII Kings of France with the most remarkable 〈◊〉 in their particular Reigns from the year 1464. to 1498. Revised and Corrected from divers Manuscripts and ancient Impressions by Denis Godesroy Counseller and Historiographer to the French King and from his Edition lately Printed at Paris newly translated into English in octavo 36. A Relation of Three Embassies from his Majesty Charles the Second to the Great Duke of Muscovy the King of Sweden and the King of Denmark performed by the Right Honourable the Earl of 〈◊〉 in the year 1663 and 1664. Written by an Attendant on the Embassies in 〈◊〉 37. Il Nipotismo di Roma or the History of the Pope's Nephews from the time of Sixtus the Fourth 1471. to the death of the late Pope Alexander the Seventh 1677. Written in Italian and Englished by W. A. Fellow of the Royal Society The second Edition in 〈◊〉 38. A Relation of the Siege of Candia from the first Expedition of the French Forces to its Surrender the 27 of September 1669. Written in French by a Gentleman who was a Voluntier in that Service and faithfully Englished in octavo 39. The Present State of Egypt or a new Relation of a late Voyage into that Kingdom performed in the years 1672 and 1673. By F. 〈◊〉 R. D. Wherein you have an exact and true account of many rare and wonderful particulars of that Ancient Kingdom Englished by M. D. B. D. in octavo 40. The History of the Government of Venice wherein the Policies Councils Magistrates and Laws of that State are fully related and the use of the Balloting-Box exactly described Written in the year 1675. by the Sicur Amelott dela Houscaie Secretary to the French Ambassador at Venice in octavo 41. An Historical and Geographical Description of the great Country and River of the Amazones in America with an exact Map thereof Translated out of French in octavo 42. The Secret History of the Court of the Emperor 〈◊〉 Written by Procopins of 〈◊〉 faithfully Englished in octavo 43. The Novels of the famous Don Francisco de 〈◊〉 Villegas Knight of the Order of St. James whereunto is added the Marriage of Bilphegor an Italian Novel Translated from Machiavel faithfully Englished in octavo 44. The History of the late Revolution of the Empire of the Great Mogul together with the most considerable passages for five years following in that Empire with a new Map of it to which is added an account of the extent of 〈◊〉 the Circulation of the Gold and Silver of the World to discharge it there as also the 〈◊〉 Forces and 〈◊〉 of the same and the principal cause of the decay of the States of Asia By Monsieur F. 〈◊〉 Physician of the Faculty of 〈◊〉 Englished out of French by H. O. Secretary to the Royal Society in two Parts in octavo 45. The Amours of certain Great Men and famous Philasophers Written in French and Englished by J. D. in octavo 46. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Seeing and 〈◊〉 are two things a pleasant Spanish History faithfully translated in 〈◊〉 47. The History of France under the Ministry of Cardinal 〈◊〉 viz. from the death of King 〈◊〉 XIII to the year 1664. wherein all the Affairs of State to that time are exactly related By Benjamin 〈◊〉 and faithfully Englished by Christopher Wase Gem. in octavo 48. The History of the Twelve 〈◊〉 Emperours of Rome Written in Latin by C. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 newly translated into English and illustrated with all the Casars Heads in Copper-plates in octavo 49. The Annals of Love containing select Histories of the Amours of divers Princes Courts pleasantly related Ry a person of Honour in eight Parts in octavo 50. A new Voyage into the Northern Countries being a description of the Manners Customs Superstition Buildings and Habits of the Norwigians Laplanders Kilops Borandians Siberians Samojedts Zemblans and Istanders in twelves 51. 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The Voyage of Italy or a compleat Journey through Italy in two Parts with the Character of the People and the Description of the chief Towns Churches Palaces Villas Gardens Pictures Statues Antiquities as also of the Interest Government Riches Forces c. of all the Princes with Instructions concerning Travel By Richard Lassels Gent. who travelled through Italy five times as Tutor to several of the English Nobility Opus Posthumum corrected and set forth by his old Friend and Fellow-Traveller S. W. Never besore extant in twelves 55. A Relation of the French King 's late Expedition into the Spanish Netherlands in the years 1667 and 1668. with an Introduction discoursing his Title thereunto and an account of the Peace between the two Crowns made May 2. 1667. Englished by G. H. in twelves POETRY and PLAYS 56. 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as consisted with their security and from thence with their great Guns to annoy the Enemies Camp as much as was possible came that night on shore resolving to fight in the Head of the Forlorn Hope from which hazardous adventure no intreaties or counsel of his friends could prevail to disswade him The Forlorn consisted of 400 men on the head of which marched fifty men with hand Granadoes flanked with three Troops of Horse Commanded by Count Dampiere the Regiments of Guards with four Troops of Horse for their Wings flanked also with three Regiments of Foot followed the Forlorn The Reserve consisted of the Regiments of Harcourt Conti Lignieres Rosan Montpesat and Vendosme slanked with four Troops of Horse under Command of the Count Choiseul which placed themselves on a rising ground to hinder all Communication between the Vizier whose Camp was before S t Andrea and the Janizar Aga who lay before Sabionera Between the first and second line were placed fifty Musketiers of the King to be assistant on occasion and the other Troops of Horse were to take the left hand along the Trench leading to the Sabionera the Regiment of Montpeyroux was to mount the Guard on the Fort of St. Demetrius to secure the Retreat if occasion should require In like manner five hundred Pioniers were ordered to level the Trenches of the Enemy on the Quarter of St. Andrea whilst the Body of the Turks Army was imployed in repulsing the violence of the Sally Things being disposed in this manner and the morn approaching the Forces marched out by the Gate of St. George with all silence possible covering their Matches that the fire might not alarm the Enemy the Onset was to begin with the dawning of the day and the Signal was to be given by siring of the chief Mine Royal which being large and furnished with a great quantity of Powder might as was supposed make way to the slaughter of the Turks whom the Christians might sind terrified and disordered by such an unexpected accident This Mine was reserved for the last extremity but being low was full of water so that the Powder was stowed on floats and rafts to support it but yet received so great a damp and moisture that when they came to spring it the Powder took not fire which was the first disappointment of this Enterprise Though some are of opinion that the Mine was so vast and contained such a quantity of Powder that the Engineers were timorous to spring it lest it should reverse on the Besieged as well as take effect on the Enemies Camp But be it how it will a quarter of an hour before day the Generals expecting no longer the Forlorn Hope which lay within half a Musket-shot of the Enemy assaulted two Redoubts took them and put them all to the Sword with the like courage the other Regiments entred the Line and making themselves Masters of the Trenches after much blood and slaughter and storming a Fort on which was the Battery directed against St. Demetrio possessed themselves of it and therewith of a great Magazine of Powder belonging to the Enemy spiking all the Cannon that were found therein The day by this time being clearly broken out discovered the action so that the Turks with all expedition put themselves into a Body on the Hill near New Candy from whence observing and contemning the small number of the Christians came thundring down in great numbers to regain their Trenches The Duke of Navailles perceiving his Forlorn hardly beset came in to their assistance with two Regiments of Foot and two Troops of Horse which behaved themselves with that gallantry as ingaged the Turks again to quit their Trenches But whilst success seemed thus to smile on the Christians the Magazine of Powder which was newly won containing an hundred thirty four Kintals of Powder by what accident is not known took fire and blew up all into the air by which many were destroyed and wounded especially of the Batallion of the Guards with many Officers This fatal blow quite turned the Scale of Fortune For the Souldiers hearing the dreadful clap and feeling as it were the Earth to tremble under them supposed it to be the eruption of some Mine near them with which they were so amazed that they began with confusion to disperse to the right and left and put themselves into shameful flight In like manner the Forces near the Sea sensible of the blow began to retreat and abandon their design which no perswasions of their Officers or other incouragement could animate them to prosecute but that the faintness of a second Attempt an infirmity recorded of ancient Times to be incident to the nature of the French Nation prevailed upon their spirits beyond any possibility of arrest so that in a disorderly manner they fled into the Body of the first Battalion where being now united with the Reserve they for some time sustained the shock of the Enemy until other Bodies of the Turks from New Candia and St. Andrea over-powered them with greater multitudes so that then they wholly abandoned the field and every one as well as he could sought his Sanctuary and refuge within the Precincts of the Fortifications Howsoever Choiseul and Lebret each of which had a Horse killed under him incouraging their Troops disputed the case yet longer and still with other Officers made head upon the Enemy but at length with the Duke of Navailles and several other Gentlemen who made their way through the Enemy with their Swords they were forced to retreat honourably into the Town The Duke of Beaufort was said to have laboured much in resisting the shameful flight of his men and venturing his Person into danger from whence he resolved never to retreat was overwhelmed with unequal numbers and so fell amongst the common heaps but his body though much sought after being not found it was believed rather that he perished by that fatal Magazine of Powder which blowing up affrighted and disordered the whole Christian Army But not only did misfortunes attend the Land-Forces but the Fleet at Sea shared in the disasters For some few days after the wind blowing hard from the Sea caused the Ships to ride at a distance from the shore The whole Fleet consisted of eighty Ships small and great fifty Gallies and six Galleasses being the whole Force of that Year from France Italy and Malta All which being at Anchor in due order as near the shore as was safe or convenient made many shot into the Turks Camp but with little execution during which Action the Santa Teresa a French Ship of seventy Brass Guns blew up and her whole Company lost being about three hundred men of which seven only were saved the Admiral of France being near to this Ship received five shot from her which passed through her and by the Splinters and fall of Timbers the Vessel called La Reale had six Cavaliers killed and forty Souldiers Slaves were killed and wounded