Religion inhabiting the City of Smyrna the Renowned where live Men and Women and Families much Peace be unto You from the Lord of Peace and from Me his beloved Son King Solomon I command you That the Ninth of the Month of Ab which according to our account answered that Year to the Month of Iune next to come you make a Day of Invitation and of great Ioy celebrating it with choice Meats and pleasing Drinks with many Candles and Lamps with Musick and Songs because it is the day of the Birth of Sabatai Sevi the High King above all the Kings of the Earth And as to matters of labour and other things of like nature do as becomes you upon a day of Festival adâ—rned with your finest Garments As to your Prayers let the same Order be used as upon Festivals To converse with Christians on that day is unlawful though your Discourse be of matters indifferent all labour is forbidden but to sound Instruments is lawful This shall be the method of your Prayers on this day of Festival After you have said Blessed be thou O Holy God then proceed and say Thou hast chosen us before all People and hast loved us and hast been delighted with us and hast humbled us more than all other Nations and hast sanctified us with thy Precepts and hast brought us near to thy Service and the Service of our King. Thy Holy Great and Terrible Name thou hast published amongst us And hast given us O Lord God according to thy love times of Ioy of Festivals and times of Mirth and this Day of Consolation for a solemn Convocation of Holiness for the Birth of our King the Messiah Sabatai Sevi thy Servant and first-born Son in love through whom we commemorate our coming out of Egypt And then you shall read for your Lesson the first second and third Chapters of Deuteronomy to the Seventeenth Veâ—se appointing for the reading thereof Five men in a perfect and uncorrupted Bible adding thereunto the Blessings of the Morning as are prescribed for Days of Festivals And for the Lesson out of the Prophets usually read in the Synâ—gâ—gue every Sabbath you shall repeat the Thirty â—irst Chapter of Jeremiah to your Prayer called the Mussaf used in the Synagogue every Sabbath and solemn Festival Instead of the Sacrifice of Addition at the returning of the Bible to its place you shall read with an audible Voice and clear Sound and with hâ—ly Harmony tâ—e Ninty fifth Psalm And at the first Praises in the Morning after you have sung Psalm Ninty one and just before you sing Psalm Ninety eight you shall repeat Psalm One hundred thirty two but in the last Verse where it is said As for his enemies I shall clothe them with shame but upon himself shall his Crown flourish in the place of upon himself you shall read Vpon the Mâ—st High after which shall follow the One hundred twenty sixth Psalm and then the One hundred and thirteenth to the One hundred and Nineteenth At the Consecration of the Wine upon the Vigil or Even you shall make mention of the Feast of Consolation which is the Day of the Birth of our King the Messiah Sabatai Sevi thy Servant and first-bâ—rn Son giving the Blessing as followeth Blessed be thou our God King of the World who hast made us to live and hast maintained us and hast kept us alive unto this time Vpon the Eve of this Day you shall also read the Eighty one Psalm as also the One hundred thirty two and One hundred twenty sixth Psalms which are appointed for the Morning Praises And this Day shall be unto you for a remembranee of a solemn Day unto eternal Ages and a perpetual Testimony between me and the Sons of Israel Audite audiendo manducate bonum Besides which Order and Method of Liturgy for Solemnization of his Birth he prescribed other Rules for Divine Service and particularly published the same Indulgence and priviledge to every one who should pray at the Tomb of his Mother as if he had taken on him a Pilgrimage to pray and sacrifice at Ierusalem The Devotion of the Iews towards this pretended Messiah encreased still more and more so that not only the chief of the City went to attend and proffer their service towards him in the time of his Imprisonment but likewise decked their Synagogue with S. S. in Letters of Gold making for him on the Wall a Crown in the Circle of which was wrote the Ninety one Psalm at length in a fair and legible Character attributing the same Titles to Sabatai and expounding the Scriptures in the same manner in favour of his appearance as we do of our Saviour Howsoever some of the Iews remained in their Wits all this time amongst which was a certain Cocham at Smyrna one zealous of his Law and of the good and safety of his Nation and observing in what a wild manner the whole People of the Iews was transported with the groundless belief of a Messiah leaving not only their Trades and course of Living but publishing Prophecies of a speedy Kingdom of rescue from the tyranny of the Turk and leading the Grand Signior himself captive in Chains matters so dangerous and obnoxious to the State wherein they lived as might justly convict them of Treason and Rebellion and leave them to the mercy of that Justice which on the least jealousie and suspicion of matters of this nature uses to extirpate Families and subvert the Mansion houses of their own People much rather of the Iews on whom the Turks would gladly take this occasion to despoil them of their Estates and condemn the whole Nation to perpetual Slavery And indeed it would have been a greater wonder than ever Sabatai shewed that the Turks took not advantage from all these extravagancâ—es to drain the Iews of a considerable Sum of Money and set their whole Race in Turky at a Ransome had not these passages yielded them matter of pastime and been the subject of the Turks laughter and scorn supposing it a disparagement to the greatness of the Oâ—toman Empire to be concerned for the rumours and combustions of thâ—s despised People With these Considerations this Cocham that he might clear himself of the blood and guilt of his Countrymen and unconcerned in the common destruction went before the Kaddee and there protested against the present Doctrine declaring That he had no hand in setting up of Sabatai but was an enemy both to him and his whole Sect. This freedom of the Cocham so enraged and scandalized the Iews that they judged no Condemnation or Punishment too severe against such an Offender and Blasphemer of their Law and Holiness of the Messiah and therefore with Money and presents to the Kaddee accusing him as disobedient in a Capital nature to their Government obtained sentence against him to shave his Beard and commit him to the Gallies There wanted nothing now to the appearance of the Messiah and the Solemnity of his Coming
the Romanists have judged the Afflictions and almost Subversion of the Church of England to be a token of God's desertion and disclaim of her Profession forgetting the Persecutions and Martyrdoms of the Primitive Saints and that the Church of God is built in Sorrow and established with patience and passive Graces but these men rather than want an argument their malice will use the weapons of Infidels to oppugn the truth And on this ground the Turks so horribly detest and abhor the Iews calling them the forsaken of God because they are Vagabonds over all the World and have no Temporal Authority to protect them And though according to the best enquiry I could make that report is not true That they permit not a Iew to become a Turk but by turning a Christian first as a nearer step and previous disposition to the Musselman's Faith yet it is certain they will not receive the Corps of a Renegado Iew into their Cemeteries or place of Burial and the Iews on the other side disowning any share or part in him his loathed Carkass is thrown into some Grave distant from other Sepulchres as unworthy the Society of all Mankind CHAP. IV. The Power and Office of the Mufti 's and of their Government in Religious Matters THE Mufti is the principal head of the Mahometan Religion or Oracle of all doubtfull questions in the Law and is a person of great esteem and reverence amongst the Turks his Election is solely in the Grand Signior who chuses a man to that office always famous for his Learning in the Law and eminent for his vertues and strictness of Life his Authority is so great amongst them that when he passes Judgment or Determination in any point the Grand Signior himself will in no wise contradict or oppose it The Title which the Grand Signior gives unto the Mufâ—i when he writes to him is To the Esad who art the Wisest of the Wise instructed in all Knowledge the most Excelent of Excellent abstaining from things Vnlawfull the Spring of Vertue and True Scilence Heir of the Prophetick and Apostolical Doctrines Resâ—lver of the Problems of Faith Revealer of the Orthodox Articles Key of the Treasures of Truth the Light to Doubtfull Allegories strengthened with the grace of the Supreme Assistour and Legislatour of Mankind May the most High God perpetuate thy Vertues His power is not compulsory but onely resolving and persuasive in matters both Civil and â—riminal and of State his manner of resolves is by writing the question being first stated in Paper briefly and succinctly he underneath subscribes his sentence by Yes or No or in some other short Determination called a Fetfa with the addition of these words God knows better by which it is apparent that the Determinations of the Mufti are not esteemed infallible This being brought to the Cadee or Judge his Judgment is certainly regulated according thereunto and Law Suits of the greatest moment concluded in an hour without Arrests of Judgment Appeals or other dilatory Arts of the Law. In matters of State the Sultan demands his opinion whether it be in Condemnation of any great man to Death or in making War or Peace or other important Affairs of the Empire either to appear the more just and religious or to incline the People more willingly to Obedience And this practice is used in business of greatest moment scarce a Visier is proscribed or a Pashaw for pretence of crime displaced or any matter of great alteration or change designed but the Grand Signior arms himself with the Mufti 's Sentence for the nature of man reposes more security in innocence and actions of Justice than in the absolute and uncontrollable power of the Sword. And the Grand Signior though he himself is above the Law and is the Oracle and Fountain of Justice yet it is seldom that he proceeds so irregularly to contemn that Authority wherein their Religion hath placed an ultimate power of Decision in all their Controversies But sometimes perhaps Queries are sent from the Grand Signior to the Mufti which he cannot resolve with satisfaction of his own â—onscience and the ends of the Sultan by which means affairs important to the well being of the State meet delays and impediment In this case the Mufti is fairly dismissed from his infallible office and another Oracle introduced who may resolve the difficult demands with a more favourable Sentence if not he is degraded like the former and so the next untill one is found apt to Prophesie according to what may best agree with the interest of his Master This Office was in past times esteemed more sacred by the Ottoman Princes than at present for no War was undertaken or great Enterprize set on foot but first like the Oracle or Augur his Determination with great Reverence was required as that without which no blessing or success could be expected but in these days they are more remiss in this manner of Consultation sometimes it is done for formality but most commonly the Prime Visier conceited of his own Judgment and Authority assumes the Power to himself and perhaps first does the thing and afterwards demands the Approbation of it by the sense of the Law. And herein the Mufti hath a spacious Field for his Interpretation for it is agreed that their Law is temporary and admits of Expositions according to times and state of things And though they Preach to the People the perfection of their Alchoran yet the wiser men hold that the Mufti hath an expository power of the Law to â—â—â—rove and better it according to the state of things times and conveniences of the Empire for that their Law was never designed to be a clog or confinement to the propagation of Faith but an advancement thereof and therefore to be interpreted in the largest and farthest fetched sense when the strict words will not reach the design intended So it was once propounded to the Mufti what rule should be observed in the devotion of a Turk carried Slave into the Northern parts of the World where in Winter is but one hour of day how he might possibly comply with his obligation of making prayers five times within the twenty four hours viz. Morning Noon Afternoon Sunset and at an hour and half in the Night when the whole day being but of one hour admitted of none of these distinctions for resolution of which the Mufti answered that God commanded not things difficult as it is in the Alchoran and that matters ought to be ordered in conformity to time and place and making short Prayers once before day then twice in the hour of light and twice after it is dark the duty is complied with Another question of the same nature was proposed to the Mufti concerning the Kiblah or holy place of Mecha to which they are obliged to turn their faces in their Prayers how at Sea where they had no mark especially bad Geographers as commonly the Turks are it is possible to comply
four hundred years The next day after having buried the dead and cleansed the City they gave thanks to God with publick Prayers and great rejoycing The poor Christians before oppressed now overcome with unexpected joy welcomed their victorious Brethren with great joy and praise and the Souldiers embracing one another sparing to speak of themselves freely commended each others valour Eight days after the Princes of the Army meeting together began to consult about the choice of their King among whom was no such difference as might well shew which was to be preferred before the others And although every one of them for prowess and desert seemed worthy of so great an honour yet by the general consent of all it was given to Robert Duke of Normandy who about the same time hearing of the death of the Conqueror his Father and more in love with his Fathers new gotten Kingdom in England in hope thereof refused the Kingdom of Ierusalem then offered unto him which at his return he found possessed by William Rufus his younger Brother and so in hope of a better refusing the worse upon the matter lost both After whose departure Godfrey of Buillon Duke of Lorain whose Ensign was first displayed upon the Walls was by the general consent both of the Princes and the Army saluted King He was a great Souldier and indued with many Heroical Virtues brought up in the Court of the Emperor Henry the Fourth and by him much employed At the time of his inauguration he refused to be crowned with a Crown of Gold saying That it became not a Christian man there to wear a Crown of Gold where Christ the Son of God had for the salvation of mankind sometime wâ—rn a Crown of Thorn. Of the greatest part of these proceedings of the Christians from the time of their departure from Antioch until the winning of the Holy City Godfrey by Letters briefly certified Bohemund as followeth Godfrey of Buillon to Bohemund King of Antioch Greeting AFter long travel having first taken certain Towns we came to Jerusalem which City is environed with high Hills without Rivers or Fountains excepting only that of Solomons and that a very little one In it are many Cisterns wherein water is kept both in the City and the Country thereabout On the East are the Arabians the Moabites and Ammonites On the South the Idumaeans Aegyptians and Philistians Westward along the Sea-coast lie the Cities of Ptolemais Tyrus and Tripolis and Northward Tiberias Caesarea Philippi with the Country Decapolis and Damasco In the assault of the City I first gained that part of the Wall that fell to my lot to assail and commanded Baldwin to enter the City who having slain certain Companies of the Enemies broke open one of the Gates for the Christians to enter Raymond had the City of David with much rich Spoil yielded unto him But when we come unto the Temple of Solomon there we had a great conflict with so great Slaughter of the Enemy that our men stood in blood above the ancles The night approaching we could not take the upper part of the Temple which the next day was yielded the Turks pitifully crying out for mercy and so the City of Jerusalem was by us taken the fifteenth of July in the year of our Redemption 1099 thirty nine days after the beginning of the Siege four hundred and nine years after it fell into the bands of the Sarasins in the time of Heraclius the Emperor Besides this the Princes with one consent saluted me against my Will King of Jerusalem who although I fear to take upon me so great a Kingdom yet I will do my devoir that they shall easily know me for a Christian King and well deserving of the Universal Faith but love you me as you do and so farewell From Jerusalem Whilst these things were in doing at Ierusalem such a multitude of the Turks and Sarasins their Confederates now in their common calamity all as one were assembled at Ascalon a City about five and twenty miles from Ierusalem to revenge the injuries they had before received as had not before met together in all the time of this sacred War. Against whom Godfrey the late Duke and now King assembled the whole Forces of the Christians in those Countries and leaving a strong Garrison in the new won City set forward and meeting with them joyned a most dreadful and cruel battel wherein as most report were slain of the Infidels an hundred thousand men and the rest put to flight The Spoil there taken far exceeded all that the Christians had before taken in this long Expedition Godfrey after so great a Victory returning to Ierusalem gave unto God most humble thanks The rest of the Princes returned either to their Charge as did Bohemund to Antioch Baldwin to Edessa Tancred into Galilee whereof he was created Prince or else having now performed the uttermost of their Vows returned with honour into their own Countries This was of all others the most honourable Expedition that ever the Christians took in hand against the Infidels and with the greatest resolution performed for the most part by such voluntary men as moved with a devout Zeal to their immortal praise spared neither life nor living in defence of the Christian Faith and Religion all Men worthy eternal Fame and Memory Not long after ensued a great Pestilence the ready attendant of long war and want whereof infinite numbers of People died and among the rest Godfrey the first Christian King of Ierusalem never to be sufficiently commended who with the general lamentation of all good Christians was honourably buried in the Church of the Sepulchre of our Saviour on the Mount Calvary where our Saviour suffered his Passion in which the Christian Kings succeeding him were also afterwards buried He departed this life the eighteenth of Iuly in the year of our Lord 1100. when he had yet scarce reigned a full year year 1100. Whose Tomb is yet at this day there to be seen with an honourable Inscription thereupon After the death of Godfrey the Christians made choice of Baldwin his Brother Count of Edessa who leaving his former Government to Baldwin sirnamed Burgensis his near Kinsman came to Ierusalem honourably accompanied and was there by the Patriarch on Christmas-day with all Solemnity crowned King in the year 1101. year 1101. He aided by the Venetians and Genoways at Sea and by Bohemund King of Antioch by Land took from the Infidels the City of Cesarea Stratonis standing upon the Sea-side and overthrew certain Companies of the Aegyptian Sultans at Rama But understanding that the Christian Princes of the West were coming to his aid with a new Power he glad thereof went to meet them and safely conducted them to Ierusalem alongst the Sea-coast by the Cities of Berythus Sidon Tyre and Ptolemais all yet holden by the Enemy At which time the Turks at Ascalon having received great aid from the Arabians and Aegyptians invaded
and that most part of their Victuals were therewith spoiled With which unseasonable rising of the River the Christians not a little troubled by commandment of Pelagius the Popes Legate gave themselves to fasting and prayer by the space of three days But the Wind falling the fourth day and the River again decreasing they gave themselves more earnestly to prayer than before thanking the Almighty that as he had put them in a great fear so he had in mercy again comforted them Now with long lying began Victuals to grow scant in the Sultans Camp so that he was glad to send away half of his Army up again into the Country of Caire At which time also it chanced as if it had been in an extream and common danger of the Mahometan Superstition that Embassadors sent from Corradin Sultan of Damasco and Ierusalem unto the Princes of the Christian Army came to sue for Peace both for Himself and his Brother the Egyptian Sultan promising in regard thereof again to restore unto them the Holy Cross and whatsoever else himself his Father or Sultan Saladin had before taken from them of which their Offer most part of the Army liked well saying That they had therefore taken up Arms for the recovery of that which had been before gotten and gained by the Valour of the worthy Christian Captains and had of late been taken from them and to blot out tbe Ignominy of the loss thereof to the end it should not be said that they could not leave whole and entire unto their Children what their Fathers had got when they had the keeping thereof neither having lost it be able again to recover it that all these things being restored there rested not any further occasion of War or let to stay them as most victorious Conquerors to return home Nevertheless Pelagius Pope Honorius his Legate for Innocentius in the preparation of the Wars was before dead at Pelusium with King Iohn the Masters of the Knights Hospitalers and Templars the Duke of Austria and the Germans were of opinion to the contrary alledging That this Sacred War was undertaken generally against the Infidels and for Religions sake against the Mahometan Superstition whereof the Kingdom of Egypt was the chief Seat and stay and that therefore they ought especially to impugn that Which perswasion together with the Authority of the Perswaders so prevailed that the Sultans large Offers were rejected and so the Embassadors dispatched without any thing obtained of that they came for Whereupon Corradin fearing that the Christians would at length come to Ierusalem as the place they most desired and doubting how he should be able to defend the same forthwith rased the Walls thereof and the more to deface it overthrew and pluckt down most of the goodly Houses and other stately Buildings therein sparing yet the Tower of David and the holy Sepulchre which he is said to have done at the humble Request and Intercession of the Christians of divers Countries which yet dwelt there mixt with the Turks and Sarasins Whilst the Christians thus lay at the Siege of Damiata the Plague began to rage in the Camp whereof so many died that it began to repent the great Commanders of the Army that they had so much hearkned to the perswasion of the Legate a man making no profession of Arms rather than to the sound Advice of others who by long experience taught the sudden alteration of matters of War would willingly have accepted of the Sultans large Offers so began Pelagius the Legate to be generally evil spoken of There were now already six months past since the beginning of the Siege and the Sultan lying in sight had not with him so great an Army as before but only the flower and choice of his people having as we have before said for want of Victuals sent away the rest up again into the Country now it fortuned that the Christians as men weary of the long Siege stood not so carefully upon their Guard with Watch and Ward as before but gave themselves more to ease which the Sultan perceiving drew nearer to the Town in hope under the covert of the silent night to send new Supplies unto the besieged which Companies by him appointed for that Service couragiously set forward in hope to have deceived the Christian Sentinels and so indeed came near unto the Town unseen or discovered and now the foremost of those Companies were already entred the Town when the Christians perceiving them and raising an Alarm put themselves in Arms and so furiously assailed the hindermost of them and in such sort that they which were before within and those that were but now entred fearing lest the Enemy in that hurly burly should pell mell enter in with the rest shut them out of the Gates exposed to the butchery where all were presently cut in pieces The Christians encouraged with this Victory the next day leaving a great part of the Army before the Town to continue the Siege presented themselves before the Sultans Camp to give him battel who for all that well considering that the loss of a battel might endanger the whole State of his Kingdom would by no means be drawn out of his Trenches but lay still wherewith the Christians especially the French-men in the first charge naturally furious greatly encouraged attempted to have forcibly entred their Rampiers but not with success answerable to their courage For the Egyptians perceiving the small number of their Enemies notably repulsed them and in fine inforced them to retire having lost Gualter one of their chief Commanders with divers others yea King Iohn in assailing the Camp lost many of his men and grievously burnt in his face hardly escaping himself with life After which discomfiture they resolved not to think of any thing else but of the Siege and above all things to provide that no Succours should be brought into the Town They in the City more straitly beset and besieged than before and now brought unto extream necessity and famine and out of all hope of Relief assembled themselves to consult of their Affairs and what were best for them to do in so dangerous a state some one or other of them by night or otherwise secretly flying into the Camp. And that more was the City had undoubtedly been yielded by the greater part had not the chief Commanders within mured up the Gates and commanded that none of the Inhabitants upon pain of death should come upon the Walls or Rampiers to the intent they should not get out or cast themselves from above the Walls into the Ditches The chief Commanders and Captains went here and there up and down the City to search and view all things especially the shops and store-houses where finding small store of Wheat they divided it in small portions among themselves the common people enforced with want eat whatsoever came to hand were it lawful or unlawful or forbidden by their Superstition wholsome or unwholsome good
joyful news of the recovery of the Imperial City was in short time carried unto Michael Paleologus the Greek Emperor at Nice who at the first believed it not as thinking it scarce possible so strong a City to have been by so weak a power surprised whereas he himself not long before was not able with a right puissant Army and much other like provision to win the Castle of Galata over against it But afterwards assured of the truth thereof with his Hands and Eyes cast up towards Heaven gave most hearty thanks to God therefore causing Hymns and Psalms of Thanksgiving to be solemnly sung in every Church with all the other signs of Joy and Triumph that could be devised So setting all other things apart he wholly busied himself in making preparation for his going unto Constantinople now once again the seat of the Greek Empire wherein and in travelling having spent many days he at length with the Empress his Wife and Andronicus his Son then but two years old as if it had been in solemn Procession on foot entred into the City by the Gate called the Golden Gate and so after Prayers and Thanks given went to the Palace prepared for him near unto the Tilt-yard for the other Imperial Palaces of greater beauty sometime the stately dwellings of the greatest Emperors of the Greeks had now of long during the Reign of the Latines lien ruinous or altogether defaced And shortly after because vertue and true desert should not want their due honour he caused Alexius Caesar by whose means the City was recovered in solemn Triumph in his Robes of Honour with a Crown upon his Head not much inferior unto the Imperial Crown with great Pomp to be carried through all the City and farther commanded that his name for one year next following in all solemn Prayers and Hymns of Thanksgiving should be joyned with the name of the Emperor himself And yet not thinking to have done him honour enough caused his lively Image afterward to be most curiously made and as a Trophie to be set upon a fair marble Pillar before the great Church of the Holy Apostles in perpetual remembrance of him and what he had done for the delivery of his Country which shortly after overthrown by an Earthquake was by his Son again restored Now was this great and famous City sometime the Beauty of the World by these strange and fatal mutations wonderfully defaced and brought to great desolation in every place was to be seen great Heaps or rather to say the truth great Hills of Rubbidge the eternal Witnesses of the ruin thereof the Houses stood some quite fallen down some ready to follow after and some other great and stately buildings now the small reliques of great Fires for the great beauty thereof was before at such time as the Latines took it most defaced by Fire who all the time that they had it ceased not night and day to destroy some part or other of it as if they had known they should not long keep it neither did this last Fire raised by the Greeks themselves to terrifie the Latines a little deform it for which cause the Emperors chief care now was to cleanse the City and in the best sort he could to reform so great a confusion of things not to be all at once amended first beginning with the Churches which ruinous or ready to fall he repaired and next to that filled the empty houses with new Inhabitants And albeit that the chief of the Latines were together with the Emperor fled and gone yet was most part of the Artificers and Tradesmen of the City Venetians and of them of Pisa mingled together unto whom also to joyn the Genowaies and so to fill the City with Latines he thought it not altogether safe although that by them he reaped great profit wherefore he assigned unto them the City of Galatia now called Pera on the other side of the Haven for them to inhabit granting them great Privileges and every of those Companies to be governed by a Consul or Potestate of their own As for the Imperial City it self he stored it as near as he could with Natural Greeks born Now although all things went as Paleologus the Emperor could himself have wished yet could he not rest so contented for fear lest those which now did eat their own Hearts and with great grief smouldred their anger should at length as the rightful Heirs of the Empire by him usurped break out into open force and so breed him great troubles yea and perhaps work his confusion For such is the tormenting state if usurping Tyrants never to think themselves safe so long as any one liveth whom they may suspect Wherefore at once to rid himself of this fear he thought it best so to dispose of the Children of the late Emperor Theodorus Lascaris as that he should not need of them to stand in doubt to take them out of the way besides that it was a thing odious he saw it like to be unto him dangerous Mary and Theodora two of the Eldest Daughters being before by their Father married unto two great Princes one the Despot of Epirus and the other Prince of Bulgaria with whom he had much before to do and of them yet stood in some doubt but these were safe enough out of his reach Other two young Sisters there were in his custody Theodora and Irene with their Brother Iohn the only Heir of the Empire Theodora he married unto one Belicurâ— a Gentleman of Peloponesus and Irene to one Vigintimilio of Genoa both Latines men of no great Birth or Power such as he needed not to stand in doubt of These two Ladies the Daughters of so great an Emperor as was Theodorus thus basely bestowed remained only their Brother Iohn the only Heir of the Empire then but ten years old whom Peleologus long before even in the beginning of his Reign had sent unto Magnesia there to be safely kept far off from the Court for fear lest in his right and quarrel some discontented persons desirous of innovation should now begin some new stirs dangerous unto his Estate Which indignity done unto the young Prince Arsenius the Patriarch put in trust by his Father for the bringing of him up took in so evil part that he forsook the Court with all his Ecclesiastical dignity and as a man weary of the World retired himself unto a little Monastery of Pascasins in the Country there to spend the rest of his days From whence for all that he was after the taking of Constantinople from the Latines almost against his Will drawn thither by Paleologus the Emperor and made Patriarch thereof there together with so great an honour to find his greater discontent For Paleologus the Usurper altogether unmindful of his Faith so solemnly before given for the safety of the young Prince and the restoring unto him of his Empire and now fully resolved to establish unto him and his Posterity
further pursuit of the Emperor and the other flying Greeks In which doing many of them inclosed by the Turks were of them taken Prisoners unto whom all the Emperoâ—s Treasure became a Prey also and whatsoever honourable Ensigns of the Empire else that were found in the Emperors Tent yea the Imperial Crown it self richly set with Pearl and precious stones was there taken also which they say Chalel putting upon his head pleasantly scoffed at the Greek Emperor that but late before wore it After this Victory the Turks with great pride spoiled almost all Thracia in such sort as that the people for two years together durst scarcely go out of their strong walled-Towns to plough and sow their Land which exceedingly grieved both the Emperors the Father and the Son for in their own Power they had no great confidence God having as it were taken from their people both their hearts and courage so that all their hope was to entertain foreign Aid the miserable shift of the great distressed Ones wherein also they found many difficulties and lets whilst they considered the greatness of their Charge their Coffers being then if ever empty by reason their Territories were so long and grievously by their Enemies wasted yet need admitting no Law Andronicus the old Emperor was glad to send to Crales Prince of Servia his Son-in-Law to pray his aid But in the mean time he making no hast as men in relieving others commonly do and the misery more and more increasing it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Philes Paleologus the Emperors near Kinsman to undertake the protection and deliverance of his Prince and Country and was afterward for his great valour by the Emperor worthily made Lord great Martial of the Empire This Philes of whom we now speak had all his life time been brought up in the Court and was for his upright dealing and integrity of life beloved of all men but specially of the old Emperor his Kinsman whom he with like affection honoured but was a man altogether unskilful of the Wars as being by nature of a weak constitution of body and so very sickly and withall more given to devotion and the service of God than the Affairs of the World oftentimes spending most part of the day at his Prayers in the Church He now grieved to see the perplexed Emperor and the misery of his Country requested of him that he might with some small power and som few Captains of his own choice go out against these proud Turks hoping as he said by Gods grace to revenge the wrong by them done and to return to him again with Victory Unto which his request the Emperor easily yielded saying that God was just which delighted not in many legs neither in the greatness of any mans strength but in a contrite heart and humble mind not so giving his help unto Michael the Emperor his Son for the offences of his Parents as happily he might unto this so upright and devout a man regarding more his integrity of life than his skill in Arms for turning me about I have seen in this World said he I have seen the swift not to gain the prize neither the valiant the victory wise men to want bread and men of understanding wealth the simple to gain favour and the subtil to fall into disgrace such alteration worldly things in time find So the Emperor as is aforesaid yielding to his request furnished him with Mony Horses and Armour and such a convenient Power as he himself desired Which he having received first of all incouraged his Captains and Souldiers with all manner of courtesie and kindness giving unto them Mony Horses Armor Jewels yea sometime he gave unto one his Purse unto another his Cloke his Rapier or some other such thing as he had about him to encourage them in their forwardness after that he perswaded them to an honest and temperate course of life and valiantly to play the men promising according to their deserts to reward every one of them the War once happily ended and before his setting forth understanding by his Espials that Chalel with a thousand Foot and two hundred Horse was forraging the Country about Bizia he hasted his departure that so he might by the way encounter them laded with the Spoil of the Country and so setting forward came the third day to a little River which the Inhabitants call Xerogipsum and there in a great Plain near unto the same encamped Where after he had set all things in order fit for Battel he with chearful Speeches as a great Commander encouraged his Captains and Souldiers leaving nothing unsaid or undone that might serve for the animating of them to fight But he had not so lien two days but that his Scouts about midnight coming in brought him tidings that the Enemy laden with Spoil was even fast by at hand who by the rising of the Sun were come within sight and had themselves a far off also discovered the Christian Army all glistering in bright Armor Wherefore staying a while to prepare themselves for Battel and first of all compassing themselves round with their Waggons and other carriages they bestowed in them all their Captives fast bound together with the Booty they had taken and afterwards as the manner was casting dust upon their Heads and their Hands up towards Heaven they came on And now the Christian Army came on forward also Philes still encouraging both the Horsemen and Footmen and right well conducting them as the time and place required So it fortuned that he that had the leading of the right Wing of the Army gave the first charge upon a Squadron of the Enemies and at the first onset unhorsed one of the Enemies and by and by after him another But having his Horse sore wounded under him he hastily retired out of the Battel which somewhat troubled the Christians and encouraged the Turks who now with a barbarous outcry began most fiercely to press upon the retyring Christians Pâ—iles in the mean time with many cheerful words and comfortable perswasions still encouraging them to play the men and with his Eyes oftentimes cast up to Heaven with tears running down his face most heartily besought God the giver of all Victory no longer to suffer those his Enemies and the Ministers of his Wrath to triumph over his People as did also the poor Captives that lay bound doubtfully betwixt fear and hope expecting the event of the Battel The Christian Footmen at the same time encountring hand to hand with the Barbarians assailed them and were assailed slew of them and were themselves of them slain so that there was a cruel Fight made on both sides But Philes with the multitude of his men having almost incompassed the Barbarian Horsemen with a Company of his most valiant Souldiers broke in upon the side of the Enemies Battel and so made way through the midst of it and so troubled the Turks as that they
Constantinople which so small a request he not only denied me but hath ever since taken me for his mortal Enemy But this and many other things else let pass I have now another request unto him by you which is That he would give me eight thousand Duckats to content my Souldiers withall who of long have from place to place roamed up and down with me following mine uncertain Fortune Which granted I will no more be unto my Grandfather troublesome but dismissing my Forces hold my self right well contented Having thus said he rose out of his Seat and taking them apart one after another courteously discoursed with them and so filling them with great hopes sent them away who departing from him and coming into the City became as it were the open Proclaimers of his Praises enflaming the people with a greater desire of him than before Which the old Emperor hearing and perceiving almost all his Friends in the City to be in heart revolted from him and withall fearing to be of them in some sudden concourse slain was therewith exceedingly vexed Yet he thought it best before any such thing should happen to prove their minds and to hear the Counsel of the Patriarch and Asanes and the other Bishops also unto whom being by one of the Senators called together he declared his mind as followeth Were I assured that having deposed my self of the Imperial Dignity I should my self live in safety and see my people well governed I would I should never be of the Company of the Faithful if I did not by much prefer a pleasant quiet contented life before an Empire For if a man would seek for the pleasure of the mind what can be more pleasant than to be disburdened of all Cares and free from such dangers as attend high Estates But if for my sin and the sins of my people as also for the sin of mine Ancestors the Vengeance of God in manner of a violent Tempest raging against us subverteth our Empire and I yet but a Youth by the help of God reformed and quieted the State of the Empire grievously troubled with Discord in the Church and the often invasion of the Enemy and taught by long experience know not how in so great hurle and tempest which way to turn my self How can I with safety commit unto my Nephew so great a Charge who as yet is both an unstayed Youth and so careless of his own good as that he knoweth not how well to govern his own private affairs For giving over his Power to young unskilful men and having flung away his Imperial Possessions amongst them he himself liveth in penury and want neither regardeth any thing more than his Dogs and Kites of whom he keepeth few less than a thousand Currs and as many Hawks and not much fewer men to look unto them Wherefore unto such a man how may I safely commit either my life or the administration of mine Empire by God committed unto me But I will never witting and willingly cast away either my Subjects or my Self For my Nephew I have loved not only more than my Wife and Children but to say the truth more than my self also as you well know how tenderly I have brought him up how carefully I have instructed and advised him as purposing to have left him the Heir and Successor both of my Wisdom and mine Empire that so he might the better please both God and man. But he contemning my good counsel hath spent whole nights in Banqueting and Riot and Brothelhouses where he hath also slain his own Brother and to be brief he hath risen and lifted up his hand against me his Grandfather and a Grandfather that had of him so well deserved attempting such a Villany as the Sun never saw Wherefore you ought also to hate and detest his wickedness and to rise up to restrain his impudent Disloyalty and by your Ecclesiastical Censure to denounce him unworthy of the Empire and the Communion of the Faithful as one separated from God that so ashamed and corrected he may lovingly thither return from whence he is shamefully departed and again be made Heir both of mine Empire and staidness for there is no man alive whom I had rather have promoted unto the Empire so that he would hear my Precepts and obey my Counsel As for the conclusion he used in his former Speech it was altogether feigned crafty and malitious for you have heard how many Reproaches he hath given me in all that Speech wherewith his conclusion agreeth not but the more to stir up the hearers thereof against me did of purpose so conclude his Speech Upon this most of the foresaid grave and learned Bishops agreed that the young Emperor should no more be named in the Prayers of the Church until he had better conformed himself Howbeit the Patriarch and some others secretly favouring both him and his proceedings liked not thereof and therefore saying nothing thereunto returned home unto their own houses But meeting once or twice afterwards in the Patriarchs house they there conspired together against the old Emperor with whom also divers of the Nobility consented and thereupon an Oath was conceived in writing whereby they bound themselves to continue constant in that their wicked Resolution Whereupon about three days after the Patriarch causing the Bells to be rung and a great number of the common people flocking together pronounced the Sentence of Excommunication against all such as should in their publick Prayers omit the name of the young Emperor or refuse to do him all Honour due unto an Emperor Which thing not a little grieved the old Emperor as appeared by his Speech in saying If the Doctor of Peace be so mad against us in hope of Reward promised by my Nephew that casting off all shame and gravity he doubts not to be the Author of Sedition who shall repress the rash attempts of the vulgar people against us if we respect but mans help for the Patriarch so much as in him lieth is I see the murderer of us So the Bishops of the contrary Faction moved with the notable impudency of the Patriarch excommunicated him likewise as he had done them with his mad Followers as the Authors of Sedition and Faction and incited with Bribes to the troubling of the State for which cause also he was by the Emperors Commandment committed unto safe keeping in the Monastery called Manganium But about two days after the young Emperor came to the Walls of Constantinople to know how his Grandfather had accepted the Messengers sent unto him earnestly requesting that it might be lawful for him alone to enter into the City to do his duty to his Grandfather But neither he neither his words were any whit at all regarded but was by such as stood upon the Walls himself with stones driven away who could not abide to hear him speak but shamefully railed at him saying All his talk to be nothing else but deceit and fraud and
professors of any Religion at all Mahometes and his two Consorts as men of this profession travelled up and down the Countries of Pontus and Cappadocia where Achomates commanded and so to the City of Amasia receiving for their merry glee by the way as they went the Alms and Devotion of the foolish Country People And being at the length come to Amasia upon a solemn Holyday they awaited the coming of Achomates to the Church who passing by staid a while listening attentively unto their pleasant and alluring Harmony which was for that purpose most curiously and skilfully before devised and by them both with their instruments and voices performed When they had ended their Musick and according to the manner of their idle profession expected his devotion Achomates being a man of a spare hand commanded five Aspers to be given them in reward which is about six pence of our Mony. Mahometes disdaining his Brothers base reward as a sign of his miserable disposition would in no wise discover himself as he had before determined but taking horse returned with speed to Magnesia from whence he wrote taunting Letters unto his Brother Achomates scoffing at his good Husbandry no praise to a Prince and in contempt sent him back again his five Aspers which thing Achomates took in so evil part as that he was never afterwards friends with him The report of this Fact was in short time dispersed throughout all parts of the Turkish Empire divers men diversly deeming of his purpose therein Not long after Mahometes had in this sort plaid with his Brother Achomates he attired himself with certain of his trusty Followers as if they had been Seafaring men and with a small Bark came to Constantinople and there landing as Adventurers from Sea took diligent view both of the imperial City and of the City of Pera standing opposite against it curiously noting how all things were by his Fathers appointment ordered and governed It hapned whilst he was thus staying at Constantinople that Bajazet had appointed a solemn assembly of all his chief Bassaes at the Court which Mahometes was desirous to have the sight of as also of the fashion of his Fathers Court but as he with his Companions pressed to have entred in at the Court Gate they were by their base Apparel taken of the Porters to have been rude Mariners and so by them kept out Wherefore consulting what to do in that case he went and presently bought a most beautiful Christian Captive Boy and the next day coming again to the Court with two of his Companions as if they had been Adventurers at Sea requested to be let in for that they had brought a Present for the Emperor So finding means to be admitted to the presence of Bajazet one of his Consorts as if he had been a Sea Captain boldly stept forth and with due reverence offered the Pesent unto the Emperor which he thankfully took and in token thereof gave him his hand to kiss and commanded a rich Garment wrought with Gold to be given unto him with two others of less value unto Mahometes and his Fellow supposed to be the said Captains Followers who all this while stood a far off as if it had been for reverence of the Emperor but indeed for fear to be discovered As these counterfeit Guests were returning from the Court in their Garments of Favour they hapned to meet with three Courtiers which knew Mahometes who dismounting from their Horses had done him Honour and due Reverence as to the Son of the great Emperor had he not by secret signs forbidden them as one unwilling to be known When he had thus seen his Father the Court and the Imperial City he went again aboard and so with speed returned to Magnesia The report of this his doing had in short time filled both the City and the Court and was at last brought to Bajazets Ears which raised in his suspitious Head many a troublesome thought greatly fearing that in these slie practices lay hidden some secret and desperate Conspiracy dangerous to himself and his other Children Wherefore after long discourse had with the three great Bassaes then of his secret Counsel concerning the matter to rid himself of all fear he resolved in any case to take him away And therefore caused them in his name to write unto Asmehemedi a gallant Courtier and alwais near unto Mahometes to poison him with a secret Poyson for that purpose inclosed in those Letters sent unto him with promise of great rewards and preferments for that his service to be afterwards received from the Emperor charging him withal that if he could not effect the matter he should so conceal it as that Mahometes should have no distrust thereof the least suspition whereof would tend to his utter destruction This Asmehemedi for some unkindnes bare a secret grudge against Mahometes which Bajazet knowing of made choise of him the rather and he on the other side partly to perform the old Tyrants command and partly to revenge his own private wrong vigilantly awaited all opportunities to bring to effect that he had in charge At length it fortuned that Mahometes having disported himself in his Gardens of Pleasure and being thirsty after his exercise called for drink Asmehemedi alwaies at hand in a gilt Boul fetcht him such drink as he desired whereinto he had secretly conveied the deadly Poyson sent from Bajazet Mahometes having drunk thereof in short time began to feel himself evil at ease and presently sent for his Physicians who thinking that he had but something distempered himself with drinking too much cold drink in his heat perceived not that he was poisoned until that within six dais after he died Of whose death Bajazet advertised could not abstain from mourning although he himself had been the only Author thereof and the more to manifest his heaviness commanded all the Court to mourn with him and Prayers to be made in their Temples after their superstitious manner and Alms to be given to the Poor for the health of his Soul. His dead body was afterwards carried to Prusa and there honourably buried with his Ancestors Asmehemedi the Traitor in reward of his unfaithfulness towards his Master was by the commandment of Bajazet cast into Prison and never afterwards seen being there as it was thought secretly made away Now had Bajazet but three Sons left Achomates Selymus and Corcutus Achomates Governor of Amasia was a man both politick and valiant but much given to pleasure and delight him Bajazet and most part of the great men of the Court favoured above the rest of his Brethren except such as were before corrupted by Selymus Corcutus for his mild and quiet nature was of most men beloved but not thought so fit for the Government of so great an Empire especially by the Janizaries and Souldiers of the Court for that he was as they thought altogether drowned in the study of Philosophy a thing nothing agreeing with their
our selves to danger and peril With these and such like Speeches he so moved the mulâ—itude which commonly conceiveth most Courage upon the greatest uncertainties that they desired that they might fight saying That they would wash away that foul disgrace with the Blood and Slaughter of their Enemies For why they wanted not Weapons Courage or Hands as they said to do it withal For all this the graver sort of the Counsel without whose consent the Master might in such cases do nothing thought it not good in so dangerous a time to adventure any great part of their Forces which they should afterwards want for the defence of their City The Turkish General deceived of his expectation and perceiving that the Rhodians would not be drawn forth to Battel at Sea withdrew his Fleet twelve miles off unto a place called Villanova where casting Anchor and landing his men he burnt the Corn all thereabouts which was now almost ripe but forsaken of the People as a thing desperate as for the People themselves they were all fled and had retired themselves either into the City of the Rhodes or else into strong Castles in other places of the Island At the same time certain Troops of Horsemen sent forth to have skirmished with the Turks that were burning of the Corn were by a Messenger sent from the Great Master commanded to retire for the provident General sought by all means to reserve his Souldiers for greater dangers which he justly feared in the expected Siege during which time he shewed himself a most politick Captain and brave Souldier he would many times by day eat his Meat with his Souldiers as one of them and most part of the night keep Watch himself walking up and down resting himself when he was weary upon some Stone or piece of Timber or other homely seat as it chanced In time of Assault he was always more forward and adventurous than the grave Counsellors wished fearing neither Shot nor Enemy yet did he always more commend discreet Counsel grounded upon Reason than prosperous Actions commended but by their events And that which a man would wonder at amongst so many cares in midst of such divers and dangerous chances he carried always such a Grace and Majesty in his chearful countenance as made him to be of the Beholders both reverenced and loved All the time he could spare from the necessary Cares of his weighty charge from Assaults and the natural refreshing of his Body he bestowed in Prayer and serving of God he oftentimes spent the greatest part of the night in the Church alone praying his Head-piece Gorget and Gantlets lying by him so that it was often said That his devout Prayers and Carefulness would make the City invincible The six and twentieth day of Iune early in the morning news was brought into the City from the Watch Tower standing upon St. Stephens Hill about a mile from the City That a most huge Fleet was descried at Sea making thitherwards all alongst the Western Coast of Lycia This bad news much troubled the City although it was not of most men unexpected all places was filled with tumult and hurly burly every man measured the greatness of the danger by the measure of his own fear and such a pitiful cry was in every place as in usual in Cities presâ—ntly to be besieged Hereupon publick Prayers were made through all the City and every man with great Devotion besought the God of Heaven That as it was his pleasure that the Rhodians should at that time be the Champions of the Christian Religion so he would give them Strength and Victory against their Enemies and to turn the calamities of War upon the Enemies of his Name Their Devotion ended the Gates of the City were shut up and People from all places ran unto the Walls great Flocks of Women Children and aged men not able to stand without a Staff going forth of their Houses to gaze upon the dreadful Fleet wherein was above two hundred Sails as is reported filled the Streets the tops of the high Towers and Houses The foremost of the Fleet was the Admiral of Calipolis to whom Solyman had committed the charge of all his Navy and to assail the City by Sea the Rear-Admiral was Cara Mahometes an arch Pyrat who was afterwards slain with a great Shot out of the City The Vice-Admiral in the middle of the Fleet with a great Squadron of Gallies having a fair Westernly wind struck sail directly before the mouth of the Haven which was on both sides defended with two strong Towers well furnished with great Artillery and began to row toward the City whereupon an Alarm was raised the Trumpets sounded and many hasted unto the Bulwark which defended the left side of the Haven which the Enemy seemed to direct his course unto and was indeed more subject to danger than the other But the Turk seeing himself in danger to be sunk with shot from the Bulwark was glad to get himself farther off unto the rest of the Fleet the Rhodians from the Walls with loud outcries scornfully deriding him for his foolish attempt This great Fleet in exceeding bravery and triumph passing by the City in sight of the Rhodians standing upon the Walls with Ensigns displaied did not more terrifie them than they were themselves terrified to behold the strength of the City and the chearfulness of the Defendants But passing on they came to the Promontory which the Inhabitants call Bo about three miles distant from the City Eastward Which small Harâ—â—â— being not able to receive so great a Fleet many of the Gallies were inforced to ride it out at Sea where they were by Shot out of the City oftentimes indangered and inforced to get them further off Whilst the Enemy was there landing his great Ordnance and other Instruments of War prepared for the Siege chusing a place for his Camp transporting his Land Souldiers from the Main into the Island viewing the strength and situation of the City and in what place he might with most ease assault the same the Rhodians in the mean time were not idle but sunk divers deep sounds in many places of the City near unto the Walls to discover the Enemies Mines and fortified their Bulwarks with great Rampiers in which work every man put too his helping hand without respect of Age or Calling The Grand Master about that time sent Lodovicus Andugus one of the Knights of the Order into Spain to Charles the Emperor and Claudius Ducenvillus another of the Order also to Rome to the Cardinals and Italian Knights of the Order and from thence into France unto the French King with Letters craving the aid of these Christian Princes for relief of the City by Sea and Land besieged But all in vain for they carried away with the endless grudge one against another or respecting only their own States returned the Embassadors with good words but no relief At this time Prejanes Governor
out but was presently taken with a Bullet and slain which mischance when it might seem of right to have terrified the rest from attempting the like did indeed the more incense them so that when they saw the Enemy exceeding busie in filling the Ditch they resolutely set down to offer themselves to most assured death rather than to fall into the hands of the merciless Enemy agreed to sally out by night and to meet with his designs Whereupon an hundred part Knights part other Souldiers sallying forth caused the Enemy to forsake the Ditch and betake himself to flight of whom they slew about fourscore and lost of their own ten men amongst whom were Ioannes and Manicrinus two Knights whose heads the Turks the next day set up upon two Spears upon their Trenches that they might be seen by the Christians The same day they of the City of Melita at night made at one instant a number of fires and as if it were in triumph discharged great Vollies of small Shot with many other tokens of joy which as well the besieged as the Turks thought verily to have been done upon discovery of the Christian Fleet or else the landing of such Forces as were come to remove the Siege whereas indeed it was neither but done only to shew their chearfulness and to keep the Turks in suspence with the novelty of the matter who for all that were not slack in their business but with Earth filled up the Ditch at the Castle Bulwark whereby it came to pass that they could not be hurt by the Flankers made in that place to scour the Ditch but might thereby as upon plain ground without stay pass unto the Wall now opened and overthrown with their continual battery and with two great Pieces which they had planted upon a high Mount which they had newly cast up on the right hand the Bulwark Savoire they began to play upon the Castle and at the first shot shot into the Loupe where Franciscus Castilia commanded Ioannes Bernardus Godinetius a Spanish Knight was there slain with a small shot The same day Franciscus Aquilates a Spaniard one of the Garrison-Souldiers perswaded by fear and hope in dangers two evil Counsellors fled out of the Town St. Michael to the Enemy perswading the Turks Colonels to give a fresh Assault assuring them that they should without doubt win the Town because there was but 400 Souldiers left alive in it and they as he said almost spent with labour and wounds all the rest being dead Which the Turks hearing and seeing fair breaches both in the Walls of the new City and of the Castle of St. Michael wide enough for Carts to go through they determined with all their Forces to assault both places at once and to prove if there were yet so much strength left in those Holds as again to repulse them so the 7 th day of August at one instant they assaulted the new City at the Castle Bulwark and the Castle St. Michael at the breach with such a multitude that all the Earth seemed to be covered with men round about The thundring of the great Ordnance the noise of the small shot with the clattering of Armor and noise of Trumpets Drums and other War-like Instruments with the cry of men on both sides was so confused and great as if Heaven and Earth should have been confounded together Which when the Knights in the City Melita heard and saw the Heavens obscured with smoke fearing that the Turks as at the Castle St. Elmo would never give over the Assault until they had won both the Town and the Castle presently all the Garrison-Horsemen issued out of the City and to avert the Turks from the Assault set upon those Turks which lay at Aqua Martia who all surprised with sudden fear fled the Christian Horsemen hardly pursuing them with bloody Execution and they in their flight pitiously crying out upon their Fellows for help Whereby it came to pass that they which were assailing the City and Castle to rescue their discomfited Fellows were glad to give over the Assault so with great slaughter foiled on both sides by the Christians they returned to their Trenches when they had lost about fifteen hundred at the Assault beside them which were slain in the chase by the Horsemen of Melita Of the Defendants of both places were slain above an hundred and almost as many wounded This fight endured about five hours Valetta delivered of so great a danger that day and certain others caused publique Prayers to be made and went himself with the multitude of the Citizens to the Church to give Thanks to Almighty God for that Victory Whilst these things were in doing Garzias the Vice-Roy was advertised from Calabria that certain Ships laded with Men Victual and other provision necessary for the Wars were coming from Constantinople to Malta wherefore he forthwith sent Alâ—amira and Gildandrada two Noblemen with five Gallies to meet them who being come within thirty miles of Malta met with no such Ships but only one Frigot and a Galliot the Frigot they took but the Galliot escaped to the Enemies Fleet at Malta Mustapha the Turks General now thinking no man so strong which might not with continual labour and watching be wearied and overcome resolved not to give unto the besieged any time of rest but commanded his Souldiers again to assault the breach at the Castle of St. Michael where they were by the valour of the Defendants with no small slaughter quickly repulsed neither did the Bassa give so many assaults for the hope he had to win those places but rather to perform the duty of a valiant General and to satisfie Solymans pleasure who had expresly commanded either to win that Island or there all to lose their lives He also sent a Galliot in hast with Letters to Solyman wherein he shewed him the state of the Fleet with what difficulties the Army was distressed what small hope there was of winning the places besieged how well the Christians were provided with many other such things In the mean time those two Gallies of Malta which we have before spoken of departing from Messana came to Syracusa where they stayed a day The next day after in going out of the Haven they met with one of Malta in a small Boat coming from Pozalo sore wounded he being demanded how he was so hurt told them That landing by night with his Boat and one Companion he was requested by two Sicilians which dwelt there to rest there that night which they doing about midnight five Turks brake into the house upon them killed his Companion carried away the Sicilians and he wounded as he was hardly escaped by the benefit of the night moreover he said That the Sicilians had told the Turks that two Gallies were come into that Port with Souldiers and other War-like Provision bound for Malta Whereby the Knights perceived that their coming would be discovered unto the Enemy
Leo the X. 1513. 8. Hadrian the VI. 1522. 1. Clement the VII 1523. 10. Paulus the III. 1534. 15. Julius the III. 1550. 5. Marcellus the II. 1555. 22 days Paulus the IV. 1555. 4. Pius the IV. 1560. 5. Pius the V. 1566. 6. Dissimilis patri Selymus regalia Sceptra Corripit et dira concutit arma manu Faedus cum Venetis frangit quid faedera prosunt Armataque manu Cypria regna rapit Instravit tumidum numerosis classibus Aequor Ut Naupactiacas nobilitaret aquas Unlike his Father Selymus fills the Throne Breathing where e're he march't Destruction His sacred League with Venice basely brakes And arm'd with power the Syrian kingdomes takes With a stupendious Fleet covers the Sea To be a Witness to his Infamy Muldavum faeda mulctavit morte Dynasten Et magni fines prorogat imperij Obruit Hispanos multa vi Punica regna Destruit et regnis adijcit illa suis. Sed nimis in venerem pronus vinoque sepultus Extremum properat praecipitare diem And to his Throne to add Moldavia Their noble Vayvod butcherly do's slay And when the Spanish powrs were overthrown They and the Tunis Scepters were his owne But spent with wine with women and with play Th' effeminate Prince Spur'd on his fatall day The LIFE of SELYMUS The Second of that NAME Fifth Emperor of the Turks SElymus the only Son of Solyman then left alive by Letters from Muhamet Bassa understanding of the death of his Father hasted from Cutai a City of Galatia not far from Ancyra towards Constantinople and coming to Scutary was from thence by Bostanges Bassa of the Court conducted over the Strait to Constantinople where by him and Scander Bassa Selymus his Son in law and then Solymans Vicegerent he was conveyed into the Imperial Palace the three and twentieth of September in the year 1566. and there possessed of his Fathers Seat was by the Janizaries there present saluted Emperor He was about the age of forty two years when he began to Reign a man of an unconstant and hasty disposition wholly given to wantonness and excess so that he never went to Wars himself but performed them altogether by his Lieutenants contrary to the charge of Selymus his Grandfather given by him to his Father Solyman whereof he was never unmindful The next day he came abroad and shewed himself in his Majesty and in the Temple of Sophia after the manner of the Turkish Superstition caused solemn Prayers and Sacrifices to be made for his Father which done he gave unto the Janizaries a Larges of 100000 Sultanines with promise to augment their Wages And all things being now in readiness for his intended Journey he with a goodly Retinue set forward from Constantinople the seven and twentieth of September and the twentieth of October a little from Belgrade met the Army coming from Sigeth gallantly marching under their Ensigns with the dead Body of Solyman whom the Souldiers generally supposed to have been yet living but troubled with the Gout to have kept his Horse-litter as his manner was to travel Selymus alighting came in his Mourning Attire to the Horse-litter looked upon the dead Body of his Father kissed it and wept over it as did all the other great Bassaes also And that the death of Solyman might then be made known to all men the Ensigns were presently let fall and trailed upon the ground a dead March sounded and heavy silence commanded to be kept through all the Camp. Shortly after Selymus was with the great applause of the whole Army proclaimed Emperor his Ensigns advanced and every one of the great Commanders of the Army in their degree admitted to kiss his hand So marching forward he returned again to Constantinople the two and twentieth of November but thinking to have entred his Palace which they commonly call The Seraglio he was by the discontented Janizaries but now come from the Wars prohibited so to do they with great Insolency demanding of him a greater Donative together with the confirmation both of their ancient and new Priviledges before they would suffer him to enter Against which their great presumption the Visier Bassaes together with the Aga opposing themselves and seeking by all means to appease them were by them fouly entreated and well rapped about the Pates with the stocks of their Callivars but especially the two great Bassaes Muhamet and Partau as the chief Authors that their Lord had dealt no more liberally with them With which so sudden and unexpected a Mutiny of his best Souldiers Selymus not a little troubled and calling unto him the Aga or Captain of the Janizaries demanded of him the cause thereof who with tears trickling down his cheeks for grief told him That it was for mony Which by Selymus noâ— promised unto them together with the confirmation of their Liberties and the Aga with fair words and heavy countenance most earnestly intreating them not to blemish the ancient Reputation of their wonted Loyalty with so foul a disorder nor to oppose the life of him their loving Captain unto the heavy displeasure of their angry Sultan and farther assuring theâ— that he would not fail them in the least of his promises but content them to the full of their desires the Mutiny was at length appeased the insolent Janizaries again quieted and Selymus into the Seraglio received Howbeit Muhamet chief of the Visier Bassaes for certain days after went not out of his Palace neither came as he was wont into the Divano but kept himself close for fear of some greater mischief from them This Tumult thus overpassed and all again well quieted Selymus with all Royal Solemnity buried his Father in a Chappel which he after the manner of the Mahometan Kings had in his life time most stately built with a Colledge and an Hospital Where fast by his side is to be seen the Tomb of Roxolana his best beloved Wife and of certain others his murthered Children and by him hangeth his Scimiter in token thaâ— he died in Wars an Honour not otherwise â—ranted to the Mahometan Princes The Reveâ—â—es arising of the Country about Sigeth of late â—on â—â—om the Christians at the time of his deâ—â—h were given to the Maintenance of his Hâ—â—â—es by him built of devotion which for 〈◊〉 Magnificence thereof exceed all the rest â—efore bâ—ilt by the Mahometan Kings and â—â—perors except those which were the Buildiâ—â—s of Mahomet the Great and Bâ—jazet the Sâ—cond It was by many thought that Solymâ—â— was in good time by death cut off as purposing that year to have wintred in Hungary and the year following to have done great matters against the Christians both by Sea and Land. year 1567. The great Army of the Turks thus drawn out of Hungary by the death of Solyman in some part asswaged but altogether appeased not the endless Troubles of that unfortunate Kingdom Maximilian the Emperor on the one side and Iohn the Vayvod of Transâ—â—vania with the Turks Captains on the
willed them to sit down by him telling them that he was sent from Heaven to purge the World from evil and to prepare the Law of God to expel Cydan out of his Kingdom and to restore Peace unto the World wherefore he advised them not to have any commerce with Cydan nor to assist him in any sort They observed many marks upon his body he had one blue Tooth all the rest being white Hair upon either Shoulder a red Circle in the Palm of his right-hand and the proportion of a Spur upon his right foot Having gotten some Victories against Cydan and taken the Town of Morocco in the end his devillish Art failing him he was slain as you have heard Such were the Affairs of Africk in the Realms of Fez and Morocco But in Algier a wonderful drought had caused cruel Combustions it had so devoured the fruits of the Earth before their Maturity as there followed a wonderful Famine throughout the whole Land. The Turks attributed the cause of their Misery sometimes to their Sins then to the coming of the Moors who had been expelled out of Spain as a pernicious Vermin and sometimes to the licentiousness of Christians which lived in those Places Wherefore in the beginning of May this Year the Judge of the Town ordained That all the Turks should make their devout Prayers to Mahomet their Prophet to obtain Rain so necessary in that Country that the Moors should depart the Town within three days upon pain of death and that all the Christians as well free as bond-slaves should cause their Heads and their Beards to be shaven this was speedily executed for the Turks Decrees require a prompt Obedience But the miserable Moors which could not get out of Algier within their three days prefixed detained either by Sickness or some other Impediment were all cut in pieces For thirteen days there was nothing seen within the Town but Processions of Turks without Turbants crying and howling after their manner to obtain Rain from their false Prophet but he which commands Sovereignty over times from whose hand proceeds fair Weather and Rain and which makes the Earth fruitful held the Pipes of Heaven yet stopped to open them at more religious and holy Vows than the superstitious Clamours of these Infidels For Bernard Murroy of the Order of the Redemption of Captives hearing that the Turks meant to revenge their Miseries upon them and to ruine a little Chappel which the Christian Slaves had in the Prison for the pious Exercises of their Religion obtained by the means of Bius Consul of the French in Algier permission from the Dovan or Turkish Judge to make Processions and to pray unto God to send them the dew of Heaven which was so necessary for them All the Christian Slaves which were Prisoners continued their Devotions for the space of five days but on the fourth day being the Eighth of May there fell such abundance of Rain upon Algier as these poor Christians seeing their Prayers heard in the midst of the Enemies of their Faith gave infinite Thanks unto God for his great Mercy and Grace These miserable Christian Slaves were still detained in Irons and cruel Servitude by this Accident This Murroy of the Order of the Redemption of Captives accompanied with two others of the same Order had redeemed to the number of one hundred thirty and six but when he was ready to embarque them their evil Fortune would have it that the Gallies of Genoa running along that Coast landed some men near unto Algier where they took the Bassa's Son of that Town with many other Turks and amongst this number a Virgin of Algier of a very noble Family and of as rare a Beauty for the misery of these Slaves for that when as the Bassa's Son and the others were redeemed by a Frigot which the Father had sent the fair Algerian Virgin was still detained by a Captain of the Genowayes who had retired to Calvy an Island adjoyning there to satisfie his Desires with more ease upon the frail and fading perfection of this fair Slave which had deprived him of his Liberty In the mean time the Bassa of Algier seeing his Son returned with the other Turks and not the Algerian Virgin commanded that the hundred thirty and six Slaves should be put again into Irons with the three religious men which had redeemed them Thus this feminine Beauty or rather the Passion of this Genoways who holds the Possession so dear makes a great number of Christian Souls to suffer by insupportable Servitude howsoever they of his Nation flattering his disordered lust say that his Desire to win her to God and to make her a Christian caused him to keep her so carefully These suffered in Algier the loss of their Liberty but a Capuchen Friar a Florentine by Nation endured at Tunes the loss of his Life by the Cruelty of the Moors chased out of Spain and retired into those Countries This religious Man being a Slave among the Turks attended daily from Florence or from some other place money to redeem his Liberty but it happened one day disputing in a Barbers House with a Morisque concerning Christian Religion the Zeal of his Faith transported him so far as to say among divers Turks That his Religion was better than that of Mahomet's These Words took criminously in that place were reported by the Morisques to the Cadi or Judge of the Town whom they prest with such horrible Clamours and Cries as he pronounced Sentence of Death against this Capuchen He was delivered unto them and they stripped him naked leading him with Infamy through Tunes some spitting in his Face others casting Dirt at him and so they led him out of the Town where they tied him unto a Post and they being cruelly incensed by a Speech which a Morrabour or religious Turk said unto them That he among them that gave him not one Blow with a Stone should be no good Turk stoned him to death where afterwards they burnt his Body and threw the Ashes into the Wind. The Martyrdom of this Capuchen was followed by the constant Confession amidst the violence of Torments of a penitent Renegado a Florentine by Nation and Captain of the chief Gally of Chio Four French-men being Slaves in the Island of Chio in the Patron or chief Gally belonging to the Bey or Governour of the Island they resolved to recover their Liberty with the hazard of their Lives to return into France and carry into some Port of Christendome that Gally being the best appointed in the whole Haven They drew unto their Party the Captain which commanded being a Florentine Renegado Their Enterprise should have been executed when as they should go to Land to cut Wood. But whether that the Scribe were treacherous to his Companions or transported with some rash Indiscretion being on Land he spake these Words aloud the which overthrew both the design and them that projected it Ho
divided the Spoil betwixt them finally That in what sort soever the matter past they held them insupportable to all men but especially to themselves The Turks threatned to take their just Revenge the which being impossible to effect in the Country of the Vscoques for that by the Letters of the Commonwealth of Venice their Passage was stopped they resolved to be revenged upon their Subjects and recover a part of their Goods which they had lost Finally they prepared to come into the Gulph of Venice with a mighty Army the which without doubt had brought that State into great Extremities and been very prejudicial to many Provinces of Christendome But for that the Insolencies and Thefts of the Vscoques had like to have ingaged the Venetians in a dangerous War against the Turk with whom they were in League it shall neither be unpleasant not unprofitable to make a little Digression and shew what these Vscoques were About the Year 1550 there assembled together in certain places near the Sea belonging to the Princes of the House of Austria People who were cruel violent and infamous from divers parts of the Country of Chimâ—ra Dalmatia and the other Confines of Hungary and such as had been banished from the State of Venice whose delight was only to live upon Spoil and Blood. All these Thieves being thus gathered together whom they called by a general Name Vscoques as enemies to all Art and Industry to live honestly by their Labours retired themselves into a desaâ—t Country receiving no Pay from the Princes of Austria who command there Being thus by their natural Inclination given to Spoil adding thereunto the spur of Poverty nothing moved them to stay in those places but all liberty was left them to rob and spoil whereupon they applied all their Minds and Forces so as having made certain light Foists they began to make Courses at Sea with the most barbarous and impious Cruelty that ever was practised amongst the Scythians Tartarians or any other inhumane Nation whatsoever And for that it is an ordinary course for any one that will commit a great Villany to seek out some goodly Pretext to cover it so they concluded among themselves to shadow their Insolencies and Thefts with a colour to go against the Infidels wherefore in the beginning there were no Merchants were they Turks Jews or Subjects to the Turk although they were Christians but if they entred into the Gulf either to traffick or to furnish Venice with Provision and Merchandise they were taken by them their Goods divided amongst them and they forced to pay a great Ransome or to dye miserably All the Ports of the State of Venice both of Istria Dalmatia and the Islands from whence they received their Victuals and Provision were soon after shut up by these Pyrates who not content to spoil the Turks which trafficked no more by reason of their great Dangers and Loss allured by the rich Spoils which they took and the desire they had to encounter them they began to set upon the Venetian Ships forcing the Merchants whom they took to confess by Torments that the Goods belonged to Turks although in effect their chief Booty came from Christians Having drawn many unto them of their own Humours and thinking their Spoils at Sea not sufficient to satisfie their covetous Desires nor the Presents which they were to give to others to be favoured and supported in the Courts of Princes they stayed not long before they entered with all violence into the Turks Country through the Venetian Territory to whom they were as hurtful as to the Turks from whence they carried away rich Spoils and many Prisoners There was nothing that was precious rich or good but was subject to the insatiable greediness of those pittiless Thieves and Pirates if passing by Sea they came near unto the Maritine Coasts Whereupon grew the great Complaint you have heard made by the Turks threatning to be revenged upon the Estate of Venice for the insolency of the Vscoques which afterward bred a cruel War betwixt that State and the Arch-duke Ferdinand of Grets now Emperour who seemed to support them thereby to ingage the State in a War with the Turk But for that the Success thereof doth not belong to our History we will leave it to them that have written it at large On the fifteenth of November this year Sultan Achmat Chan having lived thirty years and governed that great Empire of Turkey fifteen died When he came to the Empire he was but fifteen years old He was of a good Constitution well complexioned and somewhat inclined to be fat strong and active which appeared by his Exercise in casting of a Horse-mans Mace of nine or ten pounds weight wherein he exceeded any one of his Court in memory whereof there are two Pillars set up in one of the Courts of the Seraglio at Constantinople with an Inscription as marks of his Dexterity He was by nature ambitious and proud which some hold qualities befitting his great Estate He was not so cruel as many of his Predecessors but he was much given to Sensuality and Pleasure for the which he entertained three thousand Concubines and Virgins in a Seraglio being the fairest Daughters of the Christians His Mother was a Christian of Bosna or of Cyprus and therefore it is thought he was somewhat favourable to Christians He was much delighted in Hawking and Hunting and namely for Hawking he kept in Grecia and Natolia 40000 Faulkoners who attended his coming and kept his Hawks in their several places of Charge and had good yearly Pensions Neither were his Huntsmen much fewer in number or of less Charge As the Turkish Emperours are bound by the Law of their Religion once every day to practise some manual Trade so Mahomet his Father gave himself to the making of Arrows and Achmat to the fashioning horn Rings such as the Turks wear when they draw their Bows This they do in the morning after they are ready and have said their Prayers then they call for their Exercise but it is only for form for they scarce make an Arrow or a Ring in a whole year Christian Princes at the same time with Achmat. Emperours of Germany Rodolph the Second 1577. 35. Matthias 1612. Kings Of Great Britain King James Of England 1602. Of Scotland 1567. Of France Henry the Fourth 1589. Lewis the Thirteenth 1610. Bishop of Rome Paul the V. 1605. Nought but affliction thundring out of Heaven Makes men on earth to any goodness given Nor longer than she thunders any fear That any heav'n holds any Thunderer So Mustapha while heaven restrain'd his state And held him fetter'd in his brothers hate To vertuous actions did his studies drive Was curteous pious and contemplative But when his brother could no longer live And liberty did to him power give Then pride and tyrannie his horses were And drive him alwaies past heav'ns love or fear Greatness on Goodness
answered expectation For these Misfortunes abroad and intestine Troubles at home with Pestilence and Famine which at the same time greatly afflicted the parts of Constantinople whereby an hundred thousand People died abated the Mettle of the Turks and caused them to take new Measures in all their Determinations and for that reason Ambassadors were sent both to Vienna and into Poland to renew the Articles of Peace and so to confirm the League that whilst the Sultan was imployed in his Wars with Persia and the Eastern Countries nothing should intervene from the Western Parts to trouble or obstract his Progress or recal him from his Enterprise For now the Rebellion of Abassa joined with Bechir Pasha of Bagdat growing daily more considerable and his strength increasing to that condition that he was able to keep the Field in despight of the Grand Signiors Forces he adventured to quarter within five days March of Constantinople and at the same time Letters coming from Hafish Pasha General of the Army in the Province of Bagdat that the King of Persia was entred into the Dominions of the Turk with a powerful Army a general Consternation seized the whole Turkish Court the wisest and stoutest having occasion to call up for all their Wisdom and Courage to assist at a Time when the 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 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 dispatched 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 greviously 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 Garison making valiant and vigorous Sallies against the imbecility 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 filled 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 Successor and therefore desired confirmation 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 Iohn of Weymar and Count Mansfelt arrived in Silistria to whom the Prince of Transylvania joined his Troops and Morteza Pasha of Buda wrote to the Port that he was marching towards Vatz to meet the Prince and confer with him concerning these Designs The Emperor 's 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 Princes But to say truly the Instructions given were in such ambiguous terms that they in effect left 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
Swords and confirmed their obstinacy in Religion with a Miracle as if the division of Christian Princes which in late Ages have frustrated the holy designs against this common Enemy had been an effect of their Prayers and a Concession of Divine Providence to their daily Petitions So now the Transilvanians being divided great numbers of them revolted from Kâ—menius to Apafi which not only weakned but discouraged the Christian Army with fear and confusion amidst of which Ali Pasha took his time to assault them not far from Clâ—diopolis and being assisted by the advantagious conjuncture of the present opportunity so wholly discomfited them that he killed and took 50000 persons which was the Issue of the present union and the exclusion of Kemenius who was now forced to abandon Transilvania and seek his refuge in Hungary Howsoever Kemenius could not here rest satisfied but revolving in his mind certain ways to recover his Principality obtained from Montecuculi some German Troops with which and with his own scattered Forces which at length he had collected into a Body he resolved to try his Fortune once more with the Turks and joining Battel with them not far from Preâ—burg he â—ought with a resolution becoming the desperateness of his design either that day to Die or to Triumph The Fortune of that days conflict remained a long time doubtful so equal they seemed on both sides to be in their Courage in their Force and in their Conduct until at length the advantage of the Turks number prevailing Kemenius was forced to a disorderly retreat and afterwards to a confused flight in which being by one of his own Soldiers knocked from his Horse was trampled under foot the greatest part of his People remain'd a Sacrifice to the enraged Weapons of the Turks Apafi's party being greatly encouraged with this success joining with a body of the Turks laid Siege to Claudiopolis the Court of the Transilvanian Princes now Garisoned by German Soldiers and Governed by David Retani a right valiant and trusty Soldier who omitting nothing which might conduce to the defence and maintenance of the Town either by his care or valour made many successful Sallies upon the Enemy and tired and wearied them out in their Siege until at length General Schenidau then in Hungary gathering what force he could which were not above 6000 Men marched with all haste possible to the relief of Claudiopolis the report of whose approach arriving the Turkish Camp before his Person or Army and the common rumour and fear augmenting much their number the Turks were so terrifyed hereat that in haste and disorder they forsook their Siege after three Months continuance leaving great quantities of Victuals behind for want of Carriages and Beasts of burden Schenidau having gained this success and honour with so much facility he reinforced the Garison and returned with Triumph home carrying with him great Booties of Cattle and other spoils of the Enemy The defence of this place was accounted almost miraculous for besides that the Fortifications were after the Ancient Model it was unprovided of Cannon and other warlike Ammunition and therefore we are not to pass by the Governour Retaâ—i without due Commendations whose valâ—ant and generous spirit with courage equal to his diligence knew how to fortify and to defend his Walls For out of the Town Bells he founded his Artillery he daily wearied the Enemy with Sallies surprised one of their Batteries which most annoâ—ed the City composed the Mutinies of the Citizens wiâ—hin and in short against the Opinion of all he defended and maintained it in the possession and right of the Emperor Claudiopolis being thus relieved the Turks stomached inwardly the disgrace and yet thought it prudence for the present to dissemble and therefore upon some addresses made for Peace from Transilvania and certain Propositions tendered by the German Resident the Vizier counterfeited his inclinations thereunto so far that he prohibited all farther Acts of Hostility upon the Frontiers Notwithstanding which the rumour at this time running of a Combination of all Christendom against the Turk with Men or Money forwarded by the endeavours of the Pope and the contrivances of Venice encreased the former jealousy and caused the Skirmishes on the Frontiers to be more hot and frequent And the Vizier being froward and cholerick and by nature jealous matters had immediately proceeded to an open rupture had not the German Resident by his Moderation and Prudence represented affairs in the smoothest guise of Peace and delayed the War rather than composed it so that this whole Summer was spent in disputes messages and debates on both sides The Vizier designing this War in his Eye and desirous to comply with the vagrant humour of his Master who was weary of his Seraglio at Constantinople resolved to transfer the Turkish Court to Adrianople so that toward the end of Iune they entered their Tents without the City But before they could dispose their affairs for to depart the Plague which is the Epidemical Disease of this Country and the common distemper of the Summer Season began to break forth and diffuse it self through all parts of the City that in a short time the Keys of many Houses were brought to the Grand Sâ—gnior for want of Pretenders and Heirs surviving to possess them In greater Houses of Pasha's and others where have been a Hundred and fifty persons scarce five have remained alive for burial of the others what the fury of that Mortality might be was best conjectured by the daily account was kept of the Corps carried out of the City by the Gate only of Adrianople which for some Weeks amounted I speak moderately to Twelve or thirteen hundred a Day it being observed amongst the Turks when above a Thousand in a Day are carried forth Dead by that Gate that then Prayers are to be made to Almighty God to withdraw that heavy judgment At which time the Greek and Armenian Patriarchs are likewise desired to offer up their Devotions and intercede with God for mitigation of the Pestilence and the same Day in a Field called Okmaidan do all assemble though divided apart to pray against the common Calamity it not seeming vain to them that every one should call upon his God. Nor did the Plague rage only in the City but the Ships and Turks Saykes were infected in parts remote on the Black Sea and the Propontis so that above a Hundred Sail were reported to be lodged at several Ports for want of Seamen to navigate them home The Camp also where the Grand Signior and Vizier remained was not exempted from this common Contagion for the necessary intercourse between that and the City communicated the evil equal unto both strowing the ways with dead Bodies in that manner as represented a passage conducting to a Coemetery or Charnel-house rather than to a Martial Camp or Court of a Great Emperor This mortality hastned the Grand Signior with his
his Life so long as he acted nothing contrary unto his which he confirmed by Vows and all imaginable Protestations encouraging him to proceed forward to his Government with those cheerful Words and Assurances that Solyman Pasha taking his farewel with more ease of mind and confidence of Life departed Adrianople in three days after his designment to the new Office But not many days Journey had he advanced into Asia before the Grand Signiors and Viziers Commands overtook him altering his design for Damascus and instead thereof ordered him a Pilgrimage unto Mecha and exile into the remote and desert parts of Arabia until he should be thought worthy to be recalled by that power which banished him In like manner some few days after the Mufti being on a Friday seated in his place in the Mosch of Sultan Selim a very noble and famous Fabrick and attending there the Grand Signiors entrance that he might begin his Prayers was unexpectedly whispered in the Ear that he should retire and give place to another Mufti which immediately he obeyed and in four hours departed Adrianople being banished to Gallipoli for his Friendship as was supposed to Solyman Pasha and for not passing the Fetfa for his Death according to the will and desire of the Grand Signior During the Transaction of these affairs in divers parts the Wars against the Venetians were carried on faintly the Gallies had no other design or employment than to transport recruits of Men and Ammunition to Canea that so the Turks might rather keep the ground that they had gained in that Island than add thereunto by new Conquests until such time as that being freed from other Wars they might have leisure and opportunity to attend unto that alone Accordingly the Captain Pasha set forth at the usual Season from Constantinople and arrived at Scio with twenty three Gallies besides his own called the Bastard-Gally or Admiral the advice of which coming to the Captain-General of the Venetians he hastned thither with all his Fleet to besiege him in the Port but this seeming after some days a tedious work and what might lose too much time he resolved to depart from thence and so leaving a sufficient Guard before the Port he set Sail with two Galleasses thirteen light Gallies and seven Auxiliaries for the Coast of Rhodes where his Brigaâ—tiâ—es advised that the remainder of the Turkish Fleet were Anchored and were taking aboard two thousand Soldiers for reinforcing Canea but before the Venetians could arrive intelligence was given them by the way that the Turks were loosed from Rhodes and were Anchored under the Island of Patmos wherefore altering their course they steered for Nio and there watering their Vessels sailed near to Nixia where the Van-guard discovered five and thirty Gallies of the Enemy which had made prize of a Tartana laden with Provisions designed for the Venetian Fleet and having taken out her lading had set her on fire The Venetians having their Enemy in their Eye gave them chase until the Evening when the Night coming on put an end to the pursuit but keeping their course towards Candia they had sight again of them the next Morning and coming nearer the Turkish Admiral put forth his Flag of Defiance as if he intended to come to a Battel but the Wind blowing hard and the Sea increasing both Fleets were separated until the Morning when the Venetians discovered certain of the Enemies Gallies to Leeward of Milo where bearing down before the Wind upon them five of them ran ashore one was sunk and four were taken by the Venetian and Maltese Gallies three of which fighting with great Courage and Valour killed divers brave Cavaliers of one and the other Country The men which ran the Gallies ashore at Milo did it with design to secure themselves in that small Fort which the Turks possessed in that Island but they were not able to withsâ—and the valour of the Venetians who having first recovered the Cannon of the Gallies which were ran ashore with their rigging and what else was useful they set the Hulls on Fire and immediately entering the Port the Captain-General landed two hundred select men and veterane Soldiers to besiege the Fortress giving Orders to one Manolacchi Macchiotti who was well acquainted with the Turkish Language to summon them to a Treaty the which they readily accepted and were received to quarter at discretion of the General the next Morning they were brought down to the Sea-Coast to the number of about nine hundred amongst which there was a Janizar-Aga a Bey of Rhodes and three of Constantinople besides Captains and other persons of condition and quality These Prisoners being divided into several Gallies and Ships the Venetians departed and cruising about the Coast of Candia to hinder the importation of all succours they encountered with Antonio Priuli with a good Squadron of Vessels under his Command THE HISTORY OF Sultan Mahomet IV. THE XIII EMPEROUR OF THE TURKS The Second BOOK Anno Christi 1662. Hegeira 1073. AT the beginning of this Year the People of Algiâ—r sent Messengers and Presents to the Grand Signiors Court then at Adrianople complaining against the Actions His Majesties Fleeâ— under the Command of the Earl of Sandwich had done against their Town and Castles pretending those Forts to be the Grand Signiors and the Affront offered to him as willing to interest him in thier Quarrels and Piracies And that thier Addresses might be more graciously received they brought with them certain Presents which tho in former times were Yearly were now only as their Affairs required and on this occasion were doubled for besides their Presents to the Ministers and Officers of State they brought to the Grand Signior a Ship made in Silver beset with Emrods Rubies and other Stones fourteen young and hansom Boys and a Neger Eunuch for the Seraglio But the Earl of Winchelsea His Majesties Embassador there Resident being then at Court had so well prepossessed the Vizier with the Ground and Reasons for the War that the complaints of Algier were judged in no wise touching the Ottoman Interest or the breach of Peace any Impeachment of the good Correspondence and Friendship which then intervened between the King of England and the Grand Signior But their Presumption to search English Ships and take out Strangers Goods was objected as an Argument of their Disobedience and Rebellion contrary to the Grand Signiors Capitulations which also was aggravated by their ill Treatment of the Grand Signiors Pasha whom they had beaten imprisoned and cast out of all Power and Authority which severe Reprehensions so terrified and discouraged them that they not only desisted from their Pretensions against the English but began to fear lest the Power and Interest of the Ambassador at Court should contrive some mischief to their own Persons Soon after this the Vizier esteeming it necessary towards his better establishment to gratifie the City of Constantinople and the Grandees of the Empire by the
Rain the Turks call these People Euruchs and are Shepherds who with theiâ— Wives Children and Cattel Live and Inhabit where they most delight or like the Shepherds of Ancient days remove their dwellings to those Places where they find most plenty of Water and Pasture Amongst these Cots so soon as I alighted â—rom my Horâ—e I was received and saluted by the Aga or Chief with great Humanity and Kindness for so soon as he understood who I was and that I was imploied in publick Affairs he presently placed me under some neighbouring Trees and called for Carpets and Cushions to sit on which were more Fine and Rich than agreed with the outward appearance of Men wholly unaccustomed to a City-life After some Discourse had with me which I remember to have been very Courteous and Inquisitive of my Condition and Business he provided Provender for our Horses and in a short time ordered Bread and Eggs to be brought for to stay my Stomach supposing that hard Travels had sharpened my Appetite About an hour after that he invited all my Company and then we fed very plentifully of several Dishes which the good Houswives had dressed within the Precincts of their poor Tents whilst the Shepherds had in the Field killed a fat Kid and were then roasting it whole at the fuel of a Tree which they had fell'd this Roast meat they cut into quarters and with Bread and Salt put it into a Linen-cloth delivering it to one of my Servants for our Breakfast the next morning Having thus well refreshed my self with the Charity of these good Shepherds I arose with the Moon about eleven a Clock at Night but before my Departure I demanded what I had to pay to which the generous Shepherd replied That my Acceptance was a sufficient Payment for that all Men were obliged to be Civil and Hospitable to Men who travelled the World like me for publick Service and withal desired me to speak well wheresoever I came of such poor Men who led their Lives in the Fields wâ—o were instructed in these Principles viz. to hurt none and to be humane and helpful to all Mankind In a few days after my Arrival at Smyrna I imbaâ—ked on the Bonaventure Frigat Commanded by Capt. Berkeley afterwards Sir William Berkeley and shaping our course first for Tripoli in Barbary we came to Anchor before the Town the 29 th and immediately going ashore we were conducted to the Presence of the Pasha of that Country whom I acquainted with the occasion of this Address delivering into his hands two Copies of the late Treaty of Peace one confirmed by the Hand and Seal of His Majesty our Gracious Soveraign and the other of the Sultan both which he received with singular Respect and Reverence promising to maintain the Peace sacred and inviolable and so being dismissed fairly from him we speedily repaired on Board and setting Sail again that Night with a prosperous Gale we anchored in the Bay of Tunis on the second of September and the next day being landed we in the first place made our Addresses to the Dey who bears the Office of Prince or Governor in chief tho in the Arabian Language the word signifies as much as Uncle to whom I tendred the Confirmations of Peace in the same form and manner as before at Tripoli the Dâ—y received them with Respect and Honour promising to continue the Peace that part which was from our King he received himself but that which was from the Grand Signior he advised me to deliver to the Pasha for coming from his Master it might more nearly concern him than any other the Pasha having seen and read the Hattesheriff returned it again to the Dey to be placed amongst the Records and Registers of the Divan and so making a Visit to all the great Men in Power giving them notice of our Business that so none might take Exceptions or judg themselves neglected for want of Addresses we the same Night departed from Tunis and proceeded forward in our Voyage to Algier But before we arrive there I have time to acquaint the Reader of the Pestilential Fever which then affected our whole Ship. When we departed from Smyrna we had fourteen Sick of the Autumnal Distemper but before ten Days we had ninety five out of a hundred and sixty Men which lay Sick on their Beds and Hamocks and we feared so general a Weakness that we should not have had Strength sufficient to have Sailed our Ship for I think there was scarce any amongst us in perfect Health But God shewed his Strength in our Weakness so that in ten Days having buried nine of our Men he was pleased with the change of our Climate to renew our Health and in Answer to our Prayers as it were by a Miracle to restore us to all the Health and Strength and Comfort that we could desire At Algier that Den of Thieves and Harbour of Faithless Men and all Impiety we arrived the 10 th of September where immediately with assistance of the Consul we designed to render the Confirmations of the Peace unto the Divan then the supreme and Absolute Power But whilst we imagined the Peace firm and improbable that those Articles which were concluded and agreed but the last Year should so easily and soon be forgotten we found the Scene of Affairs greatly altered and fears of an unexpected Rupture for the Ships of Algier roving in the Seas had lately sent in nine small English Vessels without a Pass from the Duke of York for want of which they pretended by a new Agreement they ought to be prize of which six by means of the Consul being released three only remained under Detention at our Arrival when immediately we applied our selves to Shaban Aga a Spanish Renegado then Cape or Chief of their confused Divan to him we first disclosed the import of our Message and shewed the Confirmations of our Peace subscribed by the King of England and the Grand Signior After he had read them a Divan was called and the Confirmations openly published at which time it was assented and agreed that the Articles ought to be maintained and the Peace continued but to have this established by firm Authority it was farther referred to the Great Divan which is a Grand Assembly of the People who usually meet together every Saturday of the Week In the mean time having had an Acquaintance formerly with the Pasha of this Place sent hither by the Grand Signior we were desirous to make him a Visit the better to discover in what nature they Honour and own the Ottoman Port but before we could be admitted to his Presence we were obliged to demand License of the Divan which they granted with some unwillingness and with the cautâ—on of two or three Witnesses of our Discourse 〈◊〉 were scarce welcomed into the Room and the usual Salutations passed before we were interrupted by the Officers and not suffered to proceed so little esteem they made of the
Opinion began so commonly to take place as if this People resâ—lved never to be undeceived using the Forms and Rules for Devotion prescribed them by their Mahâ—mâ—tan Messiah Insomuch that the Cochams of Constanâ—â—nâ—ple fearing the danger of this Errour might creep up and equal the former condemned the belief of Sabatai being Messiah as damnable aâ—d injoyned them to return to the ancient Method and Service of God upon pain of Excommunication The Stile and Tenour of theâ—r Letter was as followeth TO you who have the power of Priesthood and are the knâ—wing learned and mâ—gnaâ—imous Gâ—vernours and Princes residing iâ— the City oâ— Smyrna may the Almighty protect you Amen for so is his will. These our Letters which we send in the midst of your Habitations are upon occasion of certain Rumours and Tumults câ—me to our ears from that City of your Hâ—linesses For there is a sort of men amongst you who fortifie themselves in their Error and say Let such an â—ne our King live and bless him in their publick Sâ—nagogues every Sabbath day and also adjoyn Psalms and Hymns invented by that man for certain days with Rules and Methods for Prayer which ought not to be done and yet they still remain obstinate therein And now behold it is known unto you how many swelling waters have passed over our Souls for his sake for had it not been for the mercies of God which are without end and the merit of our Forefathers which hath assisted us the foot of Israel had been rased out by their enemies And yet still you continue obstinate in things which do not help but rather do mischief which God avert Turn you therefore for this is not the true way but restore the Crown to the ancient custom and use of your Forefathers and the Law and from thence do not move We command you That with your Authority under pain of Excommunication and other Penalties all those Ordinances and Prayers as well those delivered by the mouth of that man as those which he injoyned by the mouth of others be all abolished and made void and to be found no more and that they never enter more into your hearts but judge according to the ancient Commandment of your Forefathers repeating the same Lessons and Prayers every Sabbath as hath been accustomary as also the Collects for Kings Potentates and Anointed c. and bless the King Sultan Mahomet for in his dayes hath great Salvation been wrought for Israel and become not Rebels to his Kingdom which God forbid For after all this which is past the least motion will be a cause of jealousy and you will bring ruine upon your own persons and upon all which is near and dear to you wherefore abstain from this man and let not so much as his name proceed out of your mouths For know if you will not obey us herein which will be known who and what those men are who refuse to conform unto us we are resolved to prosecute them as our duty is He that doth hear and obey us may the blessing of God rest upon him These are the words of those who seek your peace and good having in Constantinople on Sunday the 5th of the month Sevat under-wrote their names Joam Tob Son of Hanania Ben Jacar Isaac Alnacagua Joseph Kazabi Menasse Barudo Kaleb Son of Samuel Eliezer Casti. Eliezer Gherson Joseph Accohen Eliezer Aluff During the time of all these transactions and passages at Constantinople Smyrna Abydos upon the Hellespont and Adrianople the Iews leaving their mercantile course and advices what prices Commodities bore and matters of Traffick stuffed their Letters for Italy and other parts with nothing but wonders and miracles wrought by their Messiah As that when the Grand Signior sent to take him he caused all the messengers immediately to die upon which other Janizaries being again sent they all fell dead with a word only from his mouth and being desired to revive them again he immediately recalled them to life but of them only such who were true Turks and not those who had denied that Faith in which they were born and had professed After this they added that he went voluntarily to Prison and though the Gates were barred and shut with strong Locks of Iron yet that Sabatai was seen to walk through the streets with a numerous attendance and when they laid shackles on his Neck and Feet they not only fell from him but were converted into Gold with which he gratified his true and faithful Believers and disciples Some Miracles also were reported of Nathan that only at the reading of the name of any particular Man or Woman he could immediately recount the story of his or her Life their sins or defaults and accordingly impose just correction and penance for them These strong reports coming thus confidently into Italy and all parts the Iews of Casal di Monferrato resolv'd to send Three persons in behalf of their Society in the nature of extraordinary Legates to Smyrna to make enquiry after the truth of all these rumours who accordingly arriving in Smyrna full of expectation and hopes intending to present themselves with great humility and submission before their Messiah and his Prophet Nathan were entertained with the sad news that Sabatai was turned Turk by which information the Character of their Embassy in a manner ceasing every one of them laying aside the formality of his Function endeavoured to lodge himself best to his own convenience But that they might return to their Brethren at home with the certain particulars of the success of these affairs they made a visit to the Brother of Sabatai who still continued to perswade them that Sabatai was notwithstanding the true Messiah that it was not he who had taken upon him the hahit and form of a Turk but his Angel or Spirit his Body being ascended into Heaven until God shall again see the season and time to restore it adding farther that an effect hereof they should see by the Prophet Nathan verifyed now every day expected who having wrought Miracles in many places would also for their consolation reveal hidden secrets unto them with which they should not only remain satisfied but astonished with this only hope of Nathan these Legates were a little comforted resolving to attend his arrival in regard they had a Letter to consign into his hands and according to their instructions were to demand of him the grounds he had for his Prophecies and what assurance he had that he was divinely inspired and how those things were revealed unto him which he had committed to Paper and dispersed to all parts of the World. At length Nathan arrived near Smyrna on Friday the 3d of March towards the Evening and on Sunday these Legats made their visit to him but Nathan upon the news of what success his Messiah met with began to grow sullen and reserved so that the Legats could scarce procure admittance to him all that they could do was to
of their Ships besides several others which were put ashore and strand by four Maltese Corsairs who entered into the Fight being called at a distance by the sound of the Cannon About that time also a Turkish Gally was surrendred by the Industry and Ingenuity of the Slaves who having secretly boared some holes in the bottom of the Gally and plugged them up afterwards so as that they might let in the Water or stop it when they pleased it happened that the Gally being near the Rock which is called Polycandro they secretly drew out the plug whereby so great a Flood of Water on a sudden came in that the Gally being ready to sink the Turks affrighted forsook the Gally to save themselves on the Rock leaving the Slaves in the Gally to shift as well as they could The Slaves being thus freed of their Masters the Turks plugged up the holes again and clearing the Gally of Water rowed away and delivered themselves into the hands of the Venetians upon which advice the Captain General dispatched the Captain of the Gulf Lorenzo Cornaro with two Gallies to that Rock where they became masters of all the Turks except two who threw themselves into the Sea preferring Death before Slavery In the mean time the Duke of Savoy recalled Marquess Villa who was his Subject from Candia the reasons for which was attributed to an appearance of Breach with Geneva the Switzers and the Valtelines who were his Subjects or rather to the ill Offices of those who envied his preferment being desirous to have him recalled from a place of so much honour and reputation In obedience to this revocation Marquess Villa taking his leave of General Cornaro returned from Candia as far as Zant where meeting the new Captain General Francesco Morasidi and being by him assured That the Pope and Senate of Venice representing the difficulty of Affairs in Candia and the present urgency and necessity for his presence there had obtained License from the Duke of Savoy for his continuance in that employment upon which assurance Marquess Villa took a resolution to return again to Candia being accompanied with a strong Squadran of Vessels carrying considerable quantities both of Amunition and Provisions The History of the famous Siege of Candia On the 27 th of April the Forces from Egypt under the Command of Messir Bey appeared in the field and on the 5 th of May N S. the General of the Janisaries incamped on the right side of New Candia that he might better view and survey the ground near the Lazaretto year 1667. At the beginning of the New Moon of this Year's May being the 12 22 th day of the month publick Prayers being first made through the most principal places of the Empire for the success of the Ottoman Arms and so solemnly continued every Monday and Thursday for the space of a year the Great Vizier first appeared before the renowned Fortress of Candia and began the memorable Siege of that City which for the space of twenty five years preceding had been the subject to which the special care and expence of Venice and the Art of the most subtle Engineers of the World as far as humanely was possible did concur to render it the most impregnable Fortress of the Universe The Town was fortified with seven great Basâ—ions viz. the Sabionera Vetturi Iesus Martinengo Betlem Panigra and St. Andrea these were all incompassed with a large and deep Ditch of which were the Revelin of St. Spirito the Revelin of Panigra flanked to the right with the Half-moon of Mocenigo next hereunto was the Revelin of Betlem bordering on the Work of St. Maries which to the left had the Revelin of St. Nicholas and this adjoyned to the Fortification of de Palma next whereunto was the Revelin of Priuli with the Redoubt of Crepa-cuore and over all was the Royal Fort of St. Demetrio which commanded the Work of Molino and Sabionera unto the very Sea. Marquess Villa at his last return was chiefly intent to strengthen the Fortifications and repair the Out-works especially that of St. Andrea which was almost ruined and the old subterranean Traverses were so full of water and the old Galleries so high that the Enemy could easily pass under them all which he repaired and amended in a short time In confidence of gaining this strong Fortress the Turks demolished New Candia situate about two miles from the Old which the Vizier now pointed out to them as a better Seat and incouraged them to win and inhabit it so that 14 24 th of May the Turks incamped over against St. Maries along the Valley of Gioffiro with the sound of their Drums and Trumpets and firing great Guns and Vollies of Muskets Their Forces at first consisted of about forty thousand fighting Men and eight thousand Pioniers but soon afterwards increased to seventy thousand and so for the most part were maintained during the Siege The first Traverses began from the side of St. Maries and were carried to the Sea the Great Vizier took his Quarters over against Panigra the Janisar-Aga against Martinengo and other Pasha's between that and Betlem On the other side the Pasha of Romelia incamped against the Lazaretto and Catirgi-Oglé Pasha of Canea against Sabionera Achmet Pasha Vizier of the Camp and Zagargibashee Major General of the Janisaries who had the reputation of old souldiers and good Enginâ—ers were ordâ—red to inlarge and lengthen the Traverses on the side of the Half-Moon of Mocenigo Quarters being thus assigned they raised three Batteries the first against the Bastion of Martinengo and the right side of the Work St. Maries a second against Panigra and soon after a third against the Half-moon and Bulwark of Betlem from whence they continually thundered with their great Cannons shooting Bullets of sixty ninety to an hundred and twenty pound weight Nor were the Besieged within less industrious or wise in the disposition of their Affairs for Marquess Villa took his Quarters at the entrance of the Bulwark Iesus Proveditor Barbaro at Panigra the Proveditor General of the Kingdom at Martinengo the Duke of Candia Francesco Battaglia in the Fort of Sabionera and other Officers between the Curtains of St. Andrea Betlem and Sabionera Things thus disposed on both sides many and various were the valiant Assaults and Sallies the Traverses extraordinary the Rencounters bloody the resistance vigorous not known or recorded in any Siege before which though they can never be fully expressed or particularly denoted yet I should do injury to the ashes of those Heroick Christians who so freely entred the List and on this Theatre of the World sacrificed their lives in defence of Christendom should I not signalize some of them of divers Nations for their Prowess and Valour And here pardon me good Reader if I come short or fail in this relation where many of unparalleled Valour and Vertue dyed obscurely and unknown and the numbers of others so great that to specifie them
of old Bizantium and the Mother-Church belonging to the Patriarchal See of Greece is still conserved sacred and separated for use of Divine Service of the Revenue of which Mahometan Barbarism and Superstition hath made no Sacrilegious Robbery but maintained and improved and added to it in that manner that the Income may equal any Religious foundation â—f Christendom for when I had the Curiosity of procuring from the Registers of that Church distinctly all the particular Gifts Benefices Lands Monies at Interest and other Endowments belonging thereunto and offered according to my ability something considerable to have a true Copy of the Riches and annual Rent of the place the Keepers of those Lists would persuade me whether out of ostentation or scruple of sin to make one of my Faith acquainted with the particulars of their Religious offerings that the Wealth Rent and Account of all those Royal Endowments are so many that as they are distinctly set down fill a Volume and the knowledge of them is the study alone of those who are designed to this service but in general I am given to understand by those who magnifie not matters beyond their due computation That the Revenue amounts to about One hundred thousand Zechins a year which proceeds not from any Lands or Duties raised without the Walls of the City but all from within the Sultan himself being a Tenant to that place paying or acknowledging a Rent of One thousand and one Asper a day for the ground which the Seraglio stands on being in times of the Christian Emperours some part of the Sanctuary or Gardens dedicated to the use of that stately Temple which the Turks esteemed Sacrilegious to separate intirely from the holy service to which it was assigned though the admirable situation thereof rendreth it unfit for other habitation than the enjoyment of the Sultan and did therefore think fit to oblige the Land to a Rent adding the odd Asper as a signification that the thousand Aspers were not a sufficient consideration for the use of the Church Lands and might therefore be augmented as the piety and devotion of succeeding Emperours should move them It is reported by the Turks that Constantinople was taken upon Wednesday and that on the Friday following which is their Sunday or Sabbath as we call it the victorious Sultan then first entitled Emperour went with all Magnifieent pomp and solemnity to pay his thanksgiving and devotions at the Church of Sancta Sophia the Magnificence so pleased him that he immediately added a yearly Rent of 10000 Zechins to the former Endowments for the maintenance of Imaums or Priests Doctours of their Law Talismans and others who contâ—nually attend there for the education of youth teaching them to read and write instructing them also in the principles of their Law and Religion Other Emperours have since that time erected near unto it their Turbem or Chapels of Burial in one of which lies Sultan Selim sirnamed Sarbose or the Drunken with his one hundred Children and therewith have conferred a maintenance of Oil for Lamps and Candles which burn day and night and a provision for those who attend there in prayer for their Souls departed to which opinion the Turks as I have said already are generally inclinable though not preached or enforced on any man's belief as an Article of Faith. Over and above this expence there is daily provision made for relief of a multitude of poor who at certain hours appear at the Gates of the Temple and receive their daily sustenance whatsoever advances as yearly great Sums are laid up in the Treasury is numbred with the Riches of the Mosch and remains for the service of that place as for the reparation or building thereof in case of fire or other accidents Besides the sumptuous Edifices of the body of the Royal Moschs there are annexed unto them certain Colleges for Students in the Law called Tehmele out-houses or Kitchens where the poors Meat is dressed Hospitals called Timarhanelar Hans or Houses of Lodgings for Strangers or Travellers publick Fountains Shops for Artizans and whole Streets of low Cottages for habitation of the poor whose stock reaches not to a higher Rent All these Appendages bring some Revenue to the Mosch which is constantly paid in to the Rector or President thereof called Mutevelli but because this is not a sufficient maintenance there are divers Lands Villages Mountains Woods and whole Countries assigned to this use called Wakfi which are hired out at certain Rents for the behoof and benefit of the Moschs some Rents being paid in Corn others in Oil and all sorts of Provisions and out of every new Conquered Countrey some part thereof is assigned to the use of Moschs of modern Fabrick as now from the Countrey gained lately about Newhausell which as I am informed from those who gave in the account to the Grand Signior there are 2000 Villages which pay Contribution to the Turk are assigned certain Lands for encrease of the Rent of the Moschs built at Constantinople by this present Queen-Mother which Rents are sometimes raised by the way of Tenths or Tithes not that the Turk makes Tithes a duty or Rule for the maintenance of persons places and things consecrated to Divine Service but as they find it a convenient and equal expedient in some Countries for leviation of their Rents Such Countries and Villages as these which are called Wakfi are greatly blessed and happy above others in regard that the Inhabitants enjoy not onely particular privileges and immunities from thence but freedom likewise from oppression of Pashaws and the Turkish Souldiery in their march or of great Persons in their journey or passage from one Countrey to another who out of reverence to that lot to which they are separated abstain from all kind of disturbance and abuse towards that people Other Moschs of inferiour quality founded by private persons and the consents of Dervises and other Orders which cannot have their Revenues in Land like the Moschs of Royal Foundation have their Estates in Money bequeathed by Testament or by Gift of the Living which being lent out at eighteen in the hundred per annum produces a constant Rent and though Interest for the most part is â—orbidden by the Mahomitan Law yet for the uses of Moschs and support of Orphans it is allowed in all other cases is Haram and abominable And because the taking up of Money upon Loan is in some manner necessary and conducing to the better subsistence and being of Trade and that men will not lend without a consideration or benefit the usual manner is to borrow Money for a certain time and in the Writing or Obligation to acknowledge the receipt of as much as the Principal and Interest may amount unto and oftentimes double of the Capital summ which being delivered before witness in a Bag or in Gross the Creditor declaring the summ to be so much therein contained and the Debtor acknowledging it the Testimony is valid when
to another where the Mahometan Religion is professed under pretence of preaching and propagating their Faith and thus they travel upon Charity of their Monasteries and Alms of others into Persia China and the Dominions of the Mogul by which means they become the best spies and intelligencers of any that are found in the Eastern parts of the World. I remember at Adrianople to have seen the ruine of one of these Monasteries situated on a pleasant Hill and in good Air that oversees the whole City and Plains round about which upon enquiry I understand was demolished by the famous Visier Kuperli because it was discovered to be a Rendezvous of the lewd Women of the Town and a Stew where the young Gallants debauched the Wives of the richest Turks to whom their Husbands had given liberty in honour to the Sanctity of the place to be often present at the devotion of the Dervises but their way of practice being too publick and scandalous the Foundation of their House by the order of the Visier was razed to the ground CHAP. XIV Of the Order of Religious Turks called Ebrbuharee THis Order of Ebrbuharee was first instituted by their Founder and Institutor Ebrbuhar from whom they have their denomination who herein followed the Precepts and Rules of his Master Nacksbende from whom in like manner the Order of Mevelevee or Dervises are derived for the better understanding this sort of people the Reader may take this following as an authentick discourse relating to their Manners and Original which I shall deliver Verbatim as given me in writing by one esteemed Learned amongst the Turks and was a Hadgi or Pilgrim and made it his business to inform me of this Sect. Sultan Bajazet said he in the year of Mahomet Nine hundred and eleven erected a Mosch and Convent in Constantinople dedicated to this Holy Emir Ebrbuhar that is the Race of Mahomet upon whom rests the mercy of the Creatour This man both extrinsecally as to appearance in the World and intrinsically as to his devout Soul was famous and renowned for the Miracles he worked on which Fabrick Sultan Selim afterwards bestowed a Fountain of Water This Ebrbuhar Scholar of Nacksbende taking into his company the assistence of Abdulla and Ilahi and Vefa Preachers and Heads of other Convents came out of Asia to propagate their Doctrine in Europe Their actions were governed with Meekness Gravity and Silence and laying aside all superstitious Worships they exercise themselves in pious actions their discourses amongst themselves were nothing in relation to the things of the world but of Matters relating to a future life These poor Religious fast for the most part on Mundays and Thursdays and both they and those devoted to their order abstain from all Meats that carry with them any fetulent or ungratefull smells and in this manner these devout people exercised in abstinence and a moral life and swallowed up or transported with the illumination of God and attending to their daily prayers Commemoration of God's mercy and other offices of devotion acquire a holy disposition and preparation for Celestial glory As to the Holy Emir Ebrbuhar whose Mysterious life may God sanctifie to us he was nourished with Bread made of Barly Oil of Olives Hony and Grapes and abstained from all things of a strong scent or savour he eat but three times a year giving himself continually to Fasting and Prayer he was a man of great Sanctity full of Divine Revelation his attractive vertue was gratefull to all to his Feet from divers Countries were many diseased persons brought which afterwards returned sound and healthfull to their own homes all which is the relation of my Doctour and great admirer of the Mahometan Religion In commendation of the Religious of this Order are these Verses in the Persian Tongue Gher hakiki iahi der geâ—an bulendi Nakschibendi Kiun Nakschibendi that is If thou wouldst find in the World one accomplished as a true Heroe make thy self a Nakschibendi who is the true pattern of a Servant of God. And notwithstanding this great pretended purity and sanctity of these men they are yet by the generality esteemed Hereticks in the Mahometan superstition because they judge themselves not obliged to the Pilgrimage of Meâ—ha by reason of their pretended purity of Soul and Seraphick Raptures which elevate them above the World and enable them in their very Cells to be present or have a clear Prospect into their Holy Mecha CHAP. XV. Of the Nimetulahi ONE of those who are accounted in the number of Chalvetti â—s the Nimetulahi they had their beginning in the Hegiâ—a or year of Mahomet 777 and their denomination from one of that name famous for his Doctrine and severity of life in the time of Sultan Mahomet Son of Bajazet called by the Turks Ilderim or the Son of Thunder He was an excellent Physician and renowed for his vertues amongst the vulgar for better knowledge of his Life and Doctrine the Reader may take notice what one of this Order related to me in admiration of his Master He was one said he who preached and published the Truth mortifyed his Body followed not the affections of the carnal Appetite knew the intrinsick nature and quiddity of all Creatures rendred continual Prayers and Praises to his Creatour and so long resigned himself entirely to speculation until he arrived to the ravishment of Ecstasies and Raptures in which he oftentimes obtained the happiness to discourse with God. He eat of all those things which God made lawfull for humane nourishment without observation of Fasts or strictness in Diet but day and night continued his Prayers and Devotions while he slept he extended not his feet like the Beasts of sense who eat Corn and Hay in the Stables sometimes the fear of God made him tremble and his countenance became melancholy and affrighted with the apprehension of his Majesty And to this perfection none ever arrived nor to that intimate knowledge of the Divine Secrets The Professours of this Order assemble every Monday night to praise the Unity of the Divine Nature and Celebrate the name of God with Hymns and Songs Those that would initiate themselves into this Order are obliged to make a Quarentine first remain fequestred in a Chamber for the space of forty days with twenty four drams of Meat a day during which time they see the Face of God the sublime Paradise and praise the Creatour and Framer of the Universe at the expiration of their term they are taken forth by the rest of the Fraternity who taking hands Dance in a Morris in which Vagary if any Vision appear to the Novices from God they throw thâ—ir Cloaths behind them and fall flat with their Faces on the ground like men astonished or struck with an Apoplexy untill such time as their Prior or chief of their Order coming and making Prayers for them they return by degrees to their sense again and taking them up with their eyes red and
accompanied his Pipe with Tears and Sighs He was an excellent Musician and a deep Philosopher endued with those supernatural vertues as enabled him to work Miracles clear and notorious to all the world he was an Hermite called in Arabick Abdal went with his head bare and his body full of wounds without a Shirt or other Cloathing besides a Skin of some wild Beast thrown about his Shoulders at his Girdle he wore some fine polished Stone on his Wrists instead of Diamonds and Stones of value he wore counterfeit Jewels which carried a luster and fair appearance with them this man was called Sanâ—one Kalenderi who was continually singing Arabick Sonnets and according to them Musical Airs making also harmonious compositions so artificially that he seemed another David But how strict and sober this Santone was his Disciples or Proselytes are of another temper being wholly given up to jollity and delights they banish all kind of melancholy and sadness and live free of cares passions or torments of the mind and have this saying amongst them This day is ours to morrow is his who shall live to enjoy it and therefore studiously attend to lose no moment or least part of their pleasure but consume their time in eating and drinking and to maintain this gluttony they will sell the Stones of their Girdles their Earings and Bracelets When they come to the house of any rich Man or person of Quality they accommodate themselves to their humour giving all the Family pleasant words and chearfull expressions to persuade them to a liberal and free entertainment The Tavern by them is accounted holy as the Mosch and believe they serve God as much with debauchery or liberal use of his creatures as they call it as others with severity and mortification And the Turks say That in the Hegira 615 the Christians became Masters of Ierusalem by reason that the Institutour of this Order of the Kalenderi who had a chief hand in the Government of the City was found drunk when it was assaulted CHAP. XVIII Of the Edhemi THE original Founder of this Order was one Ibrahim Edhem concerning whom the Disciples themselves or Followers recount things very obscurely and tell us Stories that his Father was a Slave and Abasme by Nation and went one day under the Fort Horanan to discourse with Ibnimâ—lik King of Cairo that he was a man very comly facetious and sober in his carriage always desiring to please God continued in the Moschs reading the Alchoran and in prayer day and night with his face prostrate on the ground and often repeating these words O God thou hast given me so much Wisedom as that I know clearly that I am in thy direction and therefore scorning all Power and Dominion I resign my self to the speculation of Philosophy and a Holy Life His Servants seeing this his devout way of living applied themselves to the imitation of his Austerity and abandoning all greatness and vanities of the World applied themselves to solitude and mortification their superfluous Garments they bestowed upon the Poor giving to those whose necessities required them Their food is Bread made of Barley and Pray frequently with Fasting and their Priors apply themselves to a faculty of Preaching Their principal Convents are in Cities of Persia especially Chorasan Their Cloathing is of a course thick Cloth upon their heads they wear a Cap of Wooll with a Turbant round it and about their necks a white Linen Cloth striped with red In the Desarts they converse with Lions and Tigres salute them and make them tame and by the miraculous power of Divine assistence entertain discourse with Enoch in the Wilderness This and many other wild discourses they make of this Edhem but because there are but few of this Order in Constantinople being most appropriated to Persia I could not receive so particular an account of their Rule and Institutions as I have done of others CHAP. XIX The Order of Bectash THE original Founder of this Religion is of no ancient memory or standing nor had his Birth or Education amongst the Santones of Arabia from whence most of these superstitious pretenders have had their beginning but one of those that was an Army-Preacher that could fight as well as pray of whom my Learned Hogia gives me this account In the time says he that the Warlike and Victorious Sultan Amurath passed with his Army into Servia and overcame Lazarus the Despot of that Countrey and slew him in Battel Bectash was then a Preacher to Amurath who amongst other his Admonitions forewarned him of trusting the Servians but Amurath out of his couragious spirit relying on his own Wisedom and Force admitted a certain Nobleman called Vilvo upon pretence of doing him homage to approach near him and kiss his hand who having his Dagger ready and concealed stabbed Amurath to the heart and with that blow made him a Martyr Bectash knowing that this treacherous death of his Prince must needs also be the cause of his for being so near his person and prophesying of this fatal stroke sought not to prevent it but made preparations for his own death And in order thereunto provided himself with a white Robe with long Sleeves which he proffered to all those which were his Admirers and Proselytes to be kissed as a mark of their obedience to him and his Institutions from this action the custome hath been introduced of kissing the sleeve of the Grand Signior The Religious of this Order wear on their heads white Caps of several pieces with Turbants of Wooll twisted in the fashion of a Rope they observe constantly the hours of Prayer which they perform in their own Assemblies they go Cloathed in White and praise the Vnity of God crying Hu which is may he live and by these means obtain the Grace of God. This Santone hath many millions of Disciples and Followers now all the Janizaries of the Ottoman Porâ— are professours of the same Religion This Bectash at his death cut off one of his sleaves and put it upon the head of one of his Religious men part of which hung down on his shoulders saying After this you shall be Janizaries which signifies a new Militia and from that time begun their original institution so this is the reason why the Janizaries wear Caps falling behind after the manner of Sleeves called Ketche This Hagi Bectash was a person exceedingly attractive in his conversation holy to admiration a Man of great Worth and Majestick in his comportment he was buried in the City Kyr where they have many Convents and Religious followers who always praise and adore God and thus far my Hogia informs me But whatsoever he says this Order is the most abhorred in the World by the Kadizadeli because that Bectash left it to the free will of his Disciples either to observe the constant hours of prayer or not by which great liberty and licentiousness is entred amongst the Ianizaries who are Souldier-like not over zealous or
consenting and contenting himself to see another man enjoy her before his face which condition the Law requires as a punishment of the Husbands lightness and inconstancy and as an evidence to shew that though the Turkish Law is very indulgent and open in the free choice and enjoyment of Women yet that it punishes such as unadvisedly frustrate the solemn points thereof with remarkable notes of infamy and disgrace Notwithstanding some afterwards repenting of their Divorce have been contented with the condition and have chosen some handsome Youth to enter into the Bed of their Wife It is a merry Story that is told of one who in this case being put to a great streight resolved to call the first man he conveniently met to this Office that so as one unknown his reputation might be the less concerned the man he first lighted on happened to be a Kaickgee or Boat-man who it seems so well satisfied and pleased the Wife that she afterwards renounced all interest in her Husband and resolved to adhere to her new Lover of whom she supposed she had sufficient proof and acquaintance with already to esteem a better Husband than her former There are but few amongst the Turks though some are found who so heartily repent of their Divorce and so fond of their separated Wives as to be contented to take them with the foregoing Condition for it is reputed a kind of an Abomination and when they would signifie any matter far alienated or estranged they call it Ouch Talac something so divided and separated as to be a Sin and Prophanation so much as to covet or desire it CHAP. XXII Of the other parts of the Turkish Religion Of Circumcision CIrcumcision is not reckoned amongst one of the five Points which constitute a true Mahometan believer but 't is onely as we have said before proposed as a tryal and proof of man's obedience to the more necessary parts of the Law. This Rite of Circumcision is not received by them as an Article or Precept delivered expresly from the Alchoran but by tradition and ancient practice and use amongst the Arabians before the time of Mahomet derived originally from Ishmael or Esau whose Progeny they are and from thence give themselves the name of Ishmaelites The Arabian Doctours affirm that Mahomet himself was born with his Navel cut and naturally circumcised perhaps to equal the same Story which the Jews report of Moses and some others of the Patriarchs and it seems in those Countries where Circumcision is in practice that it is not unusual for Children to be so born who are therefore called Sons of the Moon on whom the virtue of the Moon hath more than ordinary manner of influence Credebant siquidem Arabes quod ille qui sub lunae radiis nasceretur contrahi perinde ac circumcisum praeputium The Turks never circumcise their Children untill the age of seven years and upwards and then they do it by a Barber or Chirurgion it not being esteemed a matter appropriated to the Office of the Emaun or Priests for as we have said before they make no such distinction as Clergy and Laity I mean as to any spiritual Character of Priesthood for a man may cry upon the Steeple to day and like their Pastour be the first to lead his Congregation to their Prayers and expound the Alchoran in the Pulpit and next day be expelled his Parish and become free to any other secular Employment or Profession They observe some Ceremonies amongst them on this occasion often differing according to the Countrey and place but commonly the child is set on Horseback in his best Cloaths attended with his School-fellows and Companions who with loud shouts repeat some words in the Alchoran and being brought home and the act of Circumcision performed he is carefully attended for his Cure and in the mean time there is a Feast or Banquet prepared for the Guests those who of riper years become Mahometans in some places are carried about the Town on Horseback with a Dart in their left hand pointing to their heart signifying that they will rather suffer themselves to be passed through with that Instrument than renounce that Faith they then profess And this Circumcision is an admission and introduction of them into the number of the Faithfull as it is amongst the Jews and Baptism with the Christians CHAP. XXIII Of the five necessary Points which are required to constitute a true Mahometan Of their Washings THough Mahomet saith in the Alchoran that his Religion is founded in Cleanness and that it is half of his Law yet much before Mahomet's time Washings were observed according to the same prescriptions by the Arabians who descending from Ishmael maintained by tradition the practice of Washings and he had no other share in this invention than that it was enforced by his Authority on the Professours of his Sect. The Turks are certainly a very cleanly people in their exteriour manner of living as in their Washings relating to their holy exercises and duties they are very precise and superstitious some of them believing that the very water purifies them from the foulness of their sins as well as from the uncleanness of their bodies There being three sorts of Washings observed by them The first is called Abdest which is a preparation for their Prayers entring the Mosch or reading the Alchoran they first wash their hands and armes then their neck their forehead the crown of their head their ears their teeth the face under the nose and last of all their feet but if the weather be cold not convenient to uncover them it is sufficient if they make some evidence thereof by any other outward signification The second is called Gusul which is the cleansing of the Bath after copulation or nocturnal pollutions untill which time a man is called Giunub that is his prayers are accounted abominable before God and his Society to be avoided by Men. The third is Taharet which is a Washing after the ease or evacuation of nature to this homely office they design the three last fingers of the left hand and upon this account they call Christians Taharatsis which is as much as one defiled and impure for want of this manner of cleansing And washing is so usual and frequent amongst them both before and after Meat as hath caused a common Proverb amongst them That God hath created Meat that men may have occasion often to wash their hands Secondly Of their Prayers After their Washing follow their Prayers which Mahomet to recommend to his Disciples the force and virtue of Prayer calls it in his Alchoran the Pillar of Religion and the Key of Paradise and enjoined the performance five times in the space of twenty four hours viz. between the day breaking and Sun-rising called Sabanamesse Secondly at Noon called Vlemanasee Thirdly at the middle hour between the Noon and the setting of the Sun called Kindinamasee Fourthly at Sun-setting called Acshanamasee Fifthly at an hour and half
proceeded from Mahomet himself in the second year of his Prophetick Office which he did not assume untill he fully had compleated forty years having before in imitation of the Jews Fast of Ashura Levit. 16. ver 29. in memory of the overthrow of Pharaoh and his Host in the Red-Sea enjoyned to the Arabians the same time of Abstinence but afterwards apprehending it dishonourable to be beholding to the Jews for the invention of a Fast instituted the Ramazan the time of which is governed by the course of the Moon and falls out commonly ten days sooner than in the preceding year so that this Fast with time comes to run through all the Months and is more easie to the Turks when it happens in the short days of the Winter rather than in the Summer when the days are long and hot which become tedious to the ordinary sort of people who for necessity are forced to labour and yet for the quenching thirst dare not refresh their mouths with a drop of water Fourthly Of their Zacat Which is another necessary point to the constitution of a Mahometan which is the bestowing Alms according to certain rules prescribed by four principal Doctours of their Law the word Zacat signifies as much as Encrease because the Alms procure the blessing of God and multiply the store of the Mercifull According to this command every man is obliged to give one in a hundred of all their Estate to the relief of the poor and though this Precept is enjoined as an ingredient to constitute a true Mahometan yet covetousness and Policy so much prevail with the Turks that the Rich are both unwilling to part with so much of their Estate and fearfull to evidence their Wealth by a true calculate according to the Zacat so that the Poor are the best observers of this injunction the Rich conceiving it superfluous and never intended by God to make the performance of Religion a snare to their Estates Fifthly Of their Pilgrimage to Mecha Which is enjoyned to every one who hath Riches and Freedom from great Offices and Charges of Government to perform it being a Type or signification of their passage out of this world into the next The number of those who yearly undertake this Pilgrimage is uncertain though most commonly are registred from divers parts where the Mahometan Religion is professed above Fifty Thousand Souls these Pilgrims depart about the latter end of May from Constantinople and meet with those from Anatolia Caramania and others of that quarter of the World at Damascus those from Persia assemble at Babylon those of the parts of Egypt at Grand Cairo and all unite upon a Mount not far distant from Mecha where they observe divers Ceremonies as making Corban or Sacrifice which they do by killing Sheep and sending part thereof as Presents to their Friends and distribution thereof amongst the Poor They also here strip themselves of their Garments and being covered onely with a Blanket go in procession through the Mountains in signification that they must now leave all their sins and affections of the World behind them Here also they leave their Christian Slaves that so they may not prophane the Holy City with the Uncircumcised The chief Commander over the Pilgrims for amongst so considerable a number of people there must be rule and Government is appointed by the Grand Signior and is called Sur-Emini by whom he sends 500 Zechins an Alchoran Embossed with Gold carried on a Camel and as much black Cloath as serves for Hangings for the Moschs at Mecha and this is yearly presented from the Sultan to that place when the new Hanging is set up that of the former year is pulled down and is by the Pilgrims torn in pieces some getting more and some less carry any rag of it home as a Relique and token of their Pilgrimage which serves them in place of the Caabe to which they turn their faces at the time of Prayers The Camel which carried the Alchoran at his return home is decked with flowers and other ornaments and having performed this holy Journey is ever after exempted from all labour and service CHAP. XXIV Of the Bairam and Ceremonies used at that time by the chief Officers to the Grand Signior THE Bairam is the Feast of the Turks of which there are two in the year one immediately following the Fast of Ramazan as our Easter doth the Lent which is called the great Bairam the other is the little Bairam which happens about seventy days after the former at which time the people for three days cease from their labour present one the other rejoice and take greater liberty than at other times which no question but was invented by Mahomet for relaxation of the bodies and minds of his Followers as well as in imitation of the Christian Feasts The Bairam is then conceived to begin at the first appearance of the new Moon after the Ramazan which is sometime deferred a days time if the weather prove cloudy that the Moon is not visible if longer the Sky be obscured according to the course of nature it is presumed that the Moon is begun and so their Feast begins also which is published at Constantinople by the discharge of the great Guns at the point of the Seraglio upon the Sea-shore at which time the Lights or Lamps on the Steeples of the Moschs are extinguished or omitted to be lighted and Drums and Trumpets are sounded in all publick places of the City and Courts of great Persons so that every one betakes himself to Mirth or Pastime as his own inclination or convenience leads him But that which will be most curious to the observation of the judicious Reader is the relation of the Ceremonies used in the Seraglio at this Feast by the several Officers of State to the Grand Signior and to one another which are so formal precise and constant to the least motion of every Member of the Body as will clear the Turks from that opinion which passes of them in the World of being rude uncivil and void of all Ceremony or Courtship in their comportment and behaviour which according to the best information I could procure is for the most part in this manner The Antiport leading to the Lodgings of the Kapa Agasi or chief Eunuch who commands the Pages being adorned with rich Carpets Cushions and other Furniture after their fashion on the Vigil or Eve before the Bairam all the Prime Officers of State belonging to the Empire then at Constantinople assemble themselves at the Grand Signiorâ—s Seraglâ—o three or four hours before day where as soon as day breaks the Grand Signior mounted on Horseback passes through the midst of them and goes to the Moschs of Santa Sophia where having said his morning Prayer he returns again to the Seraglio Being returned he enters the Hasoda or Royal Chamber and setting himself in his Seat of State having the chief Eunuch of the Pages on his left hand the Sons of
Fortifications on that side the City all the rest of the Countrey thereabouts being a dead Plain or Level At this place remains no other Antiquity besides the ruins of two ancient Chapels built of Brick in the form of a Cross one of which the Greeks hold in great devotion and report to be the place wherein St. Paul preached often to the Philippians and with that opinion they often resort thither especially on the Days of Devotion to say their Prayers The Walls of the City are likewise very ancient over the Gates of which is writ something in the Greek Character but Time hath so defaced it that to me it seemed no longer legible And so ignorant are the Greeks also even such as were born in that City and are Priests and Colories which are the strictest sort of Religious Men amongst them who have nothing more to do than to attend to their Office and Studies that they cannot give any reasonable account of the original of that City who it was built by or any thing else of the History of it and with much admiration they hearken to us when we tell them any thing what our Books relate concerning it From hence I departed towards Sophia passing in this Journey the Montes Haemi called by the Turks Capi Dervent which is as much as the Gate of the narrow way the ascent thereunto is rugged and sharp commodious for Robbers who there have such Caves and places of refuge that they defie very considerable Forces that are sent against them On the top of this Hill is a Village of Bulgarians where the Women used to the diversity of Travellers are become free in their discourse and only entertain strangers whilst their Husbands are in the Field or with their Cattel or fly away for fear of some injury from the Turks Descending hence is a very narrow inclosure on both sides being environed with high Mountains and Woods which is a shady and melancholy Journey for the space of two hours to this place the Heydouts or Heyducks as that people call them frequently resort in great numbers out of Transilvania Moldavia Hungary and other parts which taking advantage of these close Woods discharge Vollies of Shot on the strongest Caravans and rolling Stones from the Mountains in the narrowest passages do as much execution as with Cannon for as I have understood in one of those Dervents for there are many of this nature in the Journey to Belgrade 18 Thieves onely killed above 300 â—erchants who far security united together and their whole Baggage and Goods became a prey to the Robbers In these places thus fortified by Nature the Inhabitants resisted the force of the Grecian Emperours and killed Baldwin Earl of Flanders after he had subjected the City of Constantinople Amongst these Bulgarians is a sort of people which they call Paulines who had in former times strange confused notions of Christianity pretending to follow the Doctrine of St. Paul used Fire in the Sacrament of Baptism and preferred this Apostle before his Master Christ but there being some Roman Priests in those parts that observing the ignorance of these poor people and their willingness to be instructed took the advantage and reduced them all to the Roman Faith to which now they are strict and superstitious adherers Through those narrow Dervents before spoken of we arrived after three days of weary Journey at Sophia a place so wholly Turkish that there is nothing in it that appears more antick than the Turks themselves it is situated in a pleasant Plain or broad Valley between two high Mountains the highest of them wearing a snowy head in the heat of the Summer Solâ—â—ice which is the reason that that City is cool and wholesome but of a subtile penetrating Air being supplied with admirable waters of easie digestion which come pouring down in great abundance from the Mountains and supply the Town with plentifull streams in all parts of it and are said to be waters of those Fountains which Orpheus delighted in There are besides these cool Waters certain Baths naturally hot to which the Turks resort very frequently being of the same nature and virtue with ours in England From this place we made nine long days Journey to Belgrade in which passage there is nothing more memorable than the desolation of the Countrey and being there arrivâ—d we pitched our Tent in the Camp where after six days we marched back with the Army to whom nothing could come more joyfull than their return home and the conclusion of the War by which may be observed in some manner how far the nature of the Turks is degenerated from the ancient warlike dispositon of the Saracens CHAP. XII Of the Turks Armata or Naval Forces HAving particularly run over the Force of this formidable Enemy and scourge of Christianity by Land we are now to take a view according to the true method of this Discourse of the strength of their Fleets and Maritime Forces which though to a Nation situated on the Continent are not so necessary or prevalent to defend themselves from their Neighbours or transport their Power and Conquests into other Dominions as they are to a People whose Habitation is encompassed by the Sea yet certainly a Prince can never be said to be truly Puissant who is not Master in both Elements for not to expatiate on the common Theme of the Riches and Power which arise from Navigation it is sufficient considering how often the mighty force of the Ottoman Empire hath been foiled and baffled by the small Republick of Venice for want of true knowledge or success or application of their minds to Maritime Exercise to demonstrate of what efficacy in most designs is a well provided and regulated Fleet. The Turks are now very much weakned in their Naval Forces since the War against Candy and are so discouraged in their hopes of success at Sea that Ships and Galeasses called by them Mahumes are wholly in disuse amongst them whether it be that they want able Seamen to govern them or that they despair of being able to meet the Venetians in open Sea for which those Vessels of Battery are onely in use they are fallen into a fancy of light Gallies a sign that they intend to trust more of their safety to their Oars than their Arms of which in the year 1661. after the loss of 28 well-provided Gallies wreck'd with their Men in the Black Sea the Visier Kupriuli built thirty others for reparation of that loss but of that green and unseasoned Timber that the first Voyage many of them became unserviceable for the Leaks and the rest at the return of the Fleet in the month of October following were laid up amongst the old and worn Vessels It may seem a difficult matter to assign the true reason why and by what means the Turks come to be so decayed in their Naval Forces who abound with so many conveniencies for it and with all sorts of materials fit for Navigation
also made a Detachment of some Regiments to hinder the run-away Tartars from attacking the Imperialists in the Flank whilst he assail'd the Turks year 1686. who were reputed to be Twelve thousand Men Commanded by the Vizier himself The Action was so bravely perform'd that the Van-guard of the Turks was beaten and foreced to retreat to a Place where their Infantry lay under covert supported by Six hundred Ianisaries with Thirty Field-pieces which were discharged with terrible Fire and Smoke upon their Enemies but the Christians having receiv'd their Fire with undaunted Constancy and Courage they assail'd the Turks and Tartars with such bravery that they put them to flight In this last Encounter above Three hundred Ianisaries were kill'd upon the Place all their Artillery and Baggage taken with their Timbals which they sound before the Pashas and many Colours together with Five hundred Horse and Two thousand Beasts of Burden laden with Baggage and Provisions and all this on the Christian side with the loss only of a Hundred Foot Soldiers and about Fifty Horsemen After which Veterani returning to the Camp before Segedin where Te Deum was sung some Prisoners were releas'd to carry the Intelligence of these Successes into the Town And thereupon a Treaty being desired and Hostages given it was agreed That the Soldiers of the Garrison only should have liberty to march out with as much Baggage as every Man was able to carry upon his Shoulders and to be conducted in safety as far as Temeswar Thus Segedin being taken great quantities of Provisions were found therein which served to augment the Loss and increase the terrible Consternation in the Turkish Army and in the Court and in all parts of the Ottoman Dominions Nor did the Turks Misfortunes of this Year's Campaign end here nothing being able to withstand a victorious Army Prince Lewis of Baden divided his Army into two Bodies the first he Commanded himself and march'd towards Darda which is a Fortress built by the Turks and serv'd to cover the Bridge of Esseck the other Detachment was committed to the Conduct of Count Scaffemberg with Orders to Attack Zyclos the which he so well executed that in five or six Days he took the Place the Soldiers and Inhabitants Surrendring at discretion In the Town were found Twelve Pieces of Cannon with stores of all sorts of Provision and Ammunition The Men were made Prisoners of War but the Women and Children were dispersed into several Cities and Towns under obedience of the Emperor After the taking of Zyclos the Count of Scaffemberg joyn'd again with Prince Lewis who was now come before Darda on the first of November where he understood the two Pashas who had layn encamp'd on that side with about Two thousand Five hundred Men were already pass'd the Bridge of Esseck and that the Garrison of Darda had abandon'd the Place and march'd the same way carrying their Cannon and Provisions with them and to hinder the pursuit of their Enemies after them had beaten down and burnt a great part of the Bridge behind them The Fort and the Bridge being both possess'd without any opposition Prince Lewis burnt about Six thousand Paces more of the Bridge notwithstanding the Cannon-shot which they fired continually from the Town of Esseck without any great loss or damage to the Imperialists or the People of the Country which came in to their Assistance so that by what one side and the other had done the Bridge was totally ruin'd Prince Lewis having put a good Garrison into Darda march'd to Zyclos and thence to Kapeswar which he took upon Conditions that the Garrison should march out and be conducted in safety as far as Sigeth There were in that Town Twenty four Pieces of Cannon planted and the Magazines well stor'd with all sorts of Provisions and Arms. In this glorious manner did this Campaign end in favour of the Christian Arms And now it being time for both Armies to retire into their Winter-quarters the losing Party had leisure to lament and quarrel and lay the fault on each other and the victorious Party to rejoyce and triumph And so it was for by this time the news of the loss of Buda and the several Victories gain'd by the Christians being come to Constantinople it struck all sorts and conditions of Men with a wonderful Consternation and Astonishment and yet under this Affliction and pressure of heavy Taxes they behav'd themfelves with much Humility and Resignation of Mind to the Will and Pleasure of God acknowledging all these Miseries which had fallen upon them the flights and turning of their Backs to their Enemies the loss of their fortify'd Towns and the Slaughter of their brave Soldiers and valiant Men of War to be all the effects of the Divine Anger and Vengeance upon them for their Sins The Imaums or Parish-Priests the Shecks or Preachers in their Moschs the Religious Men such as the Dervices Kalenderi Nimetulahi and others made diverse Processions exhorting the People as they pass'd to Repentance and Amendment of Life and particularly to lament their Sins of drinking Wine and unnatural Lusts the common Wickedness and Vices of the People And for better observation of their Law which had been much neglected it was commanded on pain of Death strictly to observe the Ramazan which is the Month of Fasting during which Month no Man is by their Law in the Day time till Night comes to tast Bread or drink Water Every Friday in that Month the Mufti and Kadees clothed in penitential Habits were oblig'd to visit all the principal Moschs of the City and to make Prayers for turning away the Anger and Displeasure of God But the People and Soldiery were of another Temper being inclin'd to enquire after the Cause and Grounds of all these Evils Slaughters and Confusion The News of taking Buda and putting all the Garrison to the Sword which as reported consisted of Eight thousand Men besides Women and Children had fill'd all Constantinople with a most wonderful Consternation the common sort of Shopkeepers and Handycrafts-men ran to Coffee-houses and Places of publick Meetings to hear the News and Particulars of what had pass'd The Kadees who were Lawyers and Judges and the Otorack Ianisaries who are like the Milites immeriti or Soldiers with dead Pay caball'd every Day together without the knowledge of the Grand Seignior which so soon as he came to hear he was affrighted not knowing what might be the issue of such seditious Meetings and thereupon doubling his Guards in the Seraglio with Bostangees who are Gardiners and stout able Men he sent to know the meaning of such numerous Assemblies to which answer was made That seeing to their Grief the extream Ruin and Danger then threatning both the Person of his Majesty and the whole Empire they thought it their Duty as Loyal Subjects and Slaves and true Musselmen and Believers to consult together what Advices and Expedients
such that he could Reign no longer he desired he might come and see them and recommend himself and Children to them for that as he had been merciful to them and not touched their Lives so that they would prove kind and compassionate to him and his This design could not be executed without entrusting it first to the Pages who were to be Actors in the Tragedy and they not being all faithful alike some or one of them made it known to the Chimacam who immediately charged the New Kuzlir Aga and Bost angibashee to set Guards at the Doors of the Brother's Apartments between whom and the Pages there hapned some Scuffle The new Ianisar Aga had also received Orders to attend with his Ianisaries before the Gate of the Seraglio and matters being in this manner secured the Chimacam went himself to the Grand Seignior and admonished him not to precipitate and engage himself in such a rash and odious Attempt which the Ianisaries who were attending at the Gate would most certainly Revenge without any Regard or Reverence to his Person The Grand Seignior had been a little Rough before with the Chimacam but the armed Force being near so affrightned him that he began to Treat the Chimacam with milder Terms Howsoever his Children were removed from the Seraglio and the Guards doubled which were set upon his Brothers From that time the Grand Seignior lost all his Authority for the Chimacam came no more near him and order'd the Bostangibashee not to suffer him to stir out of the Seraglio so that all the Liberty and Divertisement he had was to pass his time in a Kiosk or House or Pleasure near the Sea. Howsoever the Grand Seignior to make Trial of his Authority sent a Hattesheriff or Royal Command to displace the Segmen-bashee but it proved of little effect for the Chimacam received it and said t is very well but laid it by him and that was all Solyman the fourteénth Emperour of the Turks made sultan october y e 30. 1687. THE REIGN OF SOLYMAN The Fourteenth Emperor of the Turks year 1687. BY this time the Army was come near to the City the Vizier in Person as far as Ponte Grande which is about Twenty English Miles distant from Constantinople And about ten a Clock that Night the Ianisar-Aga entred the City with ten Chambers of Ianisaries And now did the hour fatal to Sultan Mahomet approach for about two a Clock in the Morning of the 29 th of October the Bostangeebashi and the Kuzlir Aga by Order of the Army came to Sequester and confine him to his Chamber He asked why and what Hurt he had done They told him That he had Reigned Forty years which was the Life of a Man and might content himself with that for that few of his Ancestors had ruled so long Then did the Chimacam the Mufti Nakib Effendi who is principal of the Green-heads or Mahomet's Kindred with the Kadeleskers or Chief Justices with the Chief Men of the Law meet together and held a Council before Day at St. Sophia This Nakib Effendi had been a Kadelesker but a few Days before for the former Nakib died of a Fright taken at the appearance of some Ianisaries before his Door which he apprehended came to seize him After they had ended their morning Prayer about break of Day they went together from the Mosch to the Seraglio and entring in they asked for Sultan Solyman who was brought out to them and then the Nakib Effendi whose Office it was as being the Head of the Race of the Prophet placed him in the Throne and prayed that he might be prosperous and increase the Honour of the Empire and kissed his Hand as did also the Mufti the Chimacam and the others The Sultan laying his Hand on his Breast bowed and thanked them year 1687. after which Ceremony they all retired and afterwards about nine a Clock Proclamation was made in the Streets That Sultan Mahomet being deposed for his ill Government Sultan Solyman is made Emperor in his place The next Day being the last Day of October the Chimacam the Chiausbashee year 1687. and other great Men went to meet the Grand Vizier at Daout Passa a place distant about two English Miles from Constantinople but the Chiausbashee was arrested not that the Soldiers had any thing against him but only that they might make room for him who officiated in that charge in the Army The first of November the Grand Vizier made his Entrace into the City with a Solemn Cavalcade year 1687. accompanied by all the great Men of the Empire both Civil and Military The Mufti riding on his Left-hand he went to the Seraglio where he alighted and taking the Standard of the Prophet he went with it to theGrand Seignior who arising from his Throne went three Steps to meet it and took it from the Vizier and gave it to the Selictar then the Vizier gave him up the Seal also which being with his Brother's Name he kept and returned him a new one with his own Name The Solemnity being over the Vizer went to a great Palace lately Ibrahim Pasha's near the Ianisaries Chamber which was provided for him and the Chimacam Kupriogli remained in that where his Brother and other Viziers had formerly resided And now it might have been thought that all Seditions and Mutinies amongst the Soldiery would have ended at this Period But it seems the Storm was not half over for it remained that the Authours of these Troubles who had been guilty of so much Blood and death of their Officers should at length turn their Fury against each other◠and so it happened For the Spahees meeting at Atmeidan or the Hypodromo and the Ianisaries at Etmeidan demanded their Pay and that Regeb Pasha should be delivered to their Hands The next Day being the 4 th af November Regeb Pasha was strangled and his Body exposed before the Seraglio in the Square of Santa Sophia and laid on an old Matt for three Days It is believed that thô the demand of his Life proceeded from the Soldiery yet that it was a contrivance of the Vizier not only in Revenge for procuring the Command sent to the late Solyman for his Head but out of fear of his Person who was known to be a Subtle and a stout Man. The same Day Cochiuck or little Mahomet a Pestilent Fellow and chief Head of the Mutinous Spahees with seven other Ringleaders in all the Seditions was lodged in the great Palace of the Hypodromo and when he went abroad was always attended with a numerous armed Guard whether out of State or Fear is not well known having a confidence in himself and his Merits and good Services he had done for the Soldiery adventured to perswade them to a quiet and an orderly behaviour and to content themselves for the present with three Pays and to have a little patience for the rest and for their Donative until Money
this Year year 1687. the Senate ordained three days of solemn Devotion to implore the Divine Blessing on the Arms of that Republick which was performed with many Processions expence of Lamps and Wax and with many Vows and Prayers of the People So soon as the Season became Ripe and fit for Action it was resolved by the Captain General the Cavalier Francis Morosini with the Universal consent of all the Commanders at a Council of War held the 21 st of Iuly to enter the River of Patras and accordingly the whole Fleet with the Vessels which transported the Land Forces Provisions and Ammunition loosed from Glimino on the 20 th of Iuly and made a glorious appearance in those Seas being composed of Twenty six Gallies six Galeasses besides Eighty seven Vessels of other sorts that is to say Ships Pinks Petaches and such like who were all Commanded by the Governour Zaguri This Fleet Sailing all that Night with a prosperous Gale on the 21 st in the Morning came in sight of the Castles and Fortress of Patras at appearance of which the Turks being much alarum'd came down in great numbers and pitched their Tents some on the Top of a Hill and others on the side of the main Castle The better to discover the State and Condition of the Turkish Camp the lighter Vessels were Commanded to Coast along the Shoar by which and by some Spies it was known and advised in what manner their whole Camp was disposed a Detachment of which under shelter of a Trench which they had thrown up fired many Vollies of Small-shot against the Vessels which coasted along the Shoar but proceeded no farther to annoy their Enemies than unto the end of their Line which when the Captain General observed and the difficulty of Landing near those places he enter'd into the River of Rumelia which in like manner he found to be guarded by great numbers of Turks and a Trench like the former cast up near the Castle The General Konismark of whom with due Honour we have made mention in the Transactions of the last year was embarked on the Admiral Gally with the Captain General to have the better convenience to consult and confer together was of Opinion that notwithstanding all the Preparations the Turks had made near the Castle and that the Seraskier of the Morea was encamped near the Town of Patras and two other Pashas not far distant from thence and the Banks along Guarded by Parapets or Breast-works yet that the most fit and commodious place to Land was in the River of Patras it self which being agreed the Troops were disposed in an extraordinary manner of Military Discipline and order'd speedily to Land which was done with great Resolution The first to set Foot on the Shoar were the Germans who were on followed by all the other Troops without any hindrance or obstruction from the Enemy at their Landing because the place being in some manner guarded and defended by a Morass or Wet-ground the Turks thought themselves on some kind of disadvantage in case of an Attack The Troops being landed and drawn up in Battalia the Germans led the Van and marching with great bravery to the Right were charged by a strong Detachment of the Turks whom they received with such Vigour that they caused them to Retreat and afterwards betake themselves to a shameful Flight This first step being thus fortunately begun gave Courage to the Christians and Resolution to the Captain General Morosini to fall on the Seraskier in his Camp before he was reinforced by more Troops which daily joyned with him At first landing all the Venetian Army consisted of no more than Nine thousand Foot and Thirteen hundred Horse those Forces having been much diminished by the Fatigues of the last year and the Sickness of their Winter-Quarters but now being recruited by great numbers of Levents and Greeks who as Volontiers came over from Zant and Cefalonia the Army became numerous and capable to undertake any Enterprize But to facilitate the Designs it was adjudged necessary to cut off all Communication between the Castles the which was no sooner ordered than put in Execution by the entrance of divers Gallies which by favour of the Night adventured to pass the Dardanelli or narrow Passages into the bottom of the Gulf without any other hurt or loss than of four or five Men at the Oars by a Cannon-shot the which Gallies were followed by a Galleot and three Felucas Commanded by Magnar a Knight of Malta This unexpected appearance of the Venetian Colours within the Dardanelli as it struck a great Terror and Amazement to the Turks being a Streight which they thought impossible to be passed by any Vessel whatsoever so it gave the Christians a Resolution to Attack the Seraskier who according to a Report of certain Prisoners taken in a Boat passing from the Morea to Rumelia side lay not far off encamped with an Army of 10.000 Foot and 4000 Horse and that a Reserve of 5000 Foot more and 1000 Horse lay quartered about five Italian Miles from thence The Gallies within the Gulf made great Triumph with their Flags and Streamers and made themselves Masters of Fourteen Galiots or Brigantines which had long served for Capers or Picaroons to Rob and Plunder in those Seas This Success enlivening the Spirits of the Christians it was resolved at a Council of War to March by the side of the Hill to attempt the Seraskier's Camp as a way the least incommoded by the Enemy's Cannon and where was place sufficient to draw up the Battalions in good order In pursuance of this Resolution on the 24 th of Iuly by break of day General Konismark drew up the Army and disposed them in order of Battle and advanced boldly on the Enemy who consisted of Ten thousand Foot and Four thousand Horse And in the mean time the Captain General with some light Vessels directed the Galeasses to destroy a Battery of the Enemy erected near the Sea-side and to drive out of a Trench two Troops of Turkish Horse a Marine Regiment was landed under Command of Captain Negro who in a short time made themselves Masters of the Battery on which were divers Pieces of Cannon two whereof were of Brass The Seraskier enraged at the loss of these places and seeing the Enemies Troops advance upon him feared to be assaulted in the Rear or surprized in their Trenches to prevent which he made a Detachment of some of his best Troops to meet the Enemy and Skirmish with them in which Action thô the Turks seemingly shewed Resolution yet they did it in that loose manner running at first as it were on the Face of the Enemy and then turning their Backs as if they designed thereby to disturb the good Order of the Christians who still maintained and kept their Ranks with a Regular steddiness and still advanced forward to come unto their desired Engagement At length about three a Clock in
all things might be secured before Malvasia four Gallies were appointed to remain there under the Command of Frederico Bembo and Colonel Fabio Lanoia to maintain the first Fortress and Colonel Carlo Montanari the second with their respective Regiments All things being thus ordained and agreed the Doge weighed Anchor in the Night and endeavoured to get out but the Winds being contrary he was forced to return back again to an Anchor as the like happened also the next Day not only by contrary Winds but by some Misunderstandings between the Vessels of the Van-Guard But what was worse than all the former Misfortunes the Doge was seized with such a violent Fever as confined him to his Bed in which the Physicians discovered very dangerous Symptoms of a long Distemper Moreover some unhappy Reports were then flying abroad That the Captain Pasha was come out and roving upon the Seas in the Archipelago with 14 Gallies 31 Ships including those of Barbary and 18 Galleots with design to raise Catach or Contributions from the Islands But no great credit was given to that Report by reason that the Season of the Year was so far advanced that it seemed rather time to lay up Vessels in Harbour than to begin a new Expedition Howsoever the News hereof and the Distemper of the Doge increasing which the Physicians termed a Relapse and therefore more dangerous declaring also that the change of Air would be the most proper Remedy for the Disease it was resolved That the Charge and Command of the Fleet should be committed to the Conduct of that Wise and Prudent Cavalier Cornaro the Proveditor-General of the Seas whose Vice-Admiral was Carlo Pisani and Rear-Admirals Bartolmeo Gredenigo and Giovanni Pizzamano to whom also the Galley of Ludovico Balbi designed for Dalmatia was joyned together with the Gallies of Malta which being according to the Season of the Year recalled home the Admiral with that Squadron sailed with the Venetians esteeming it a great Honour to accompany the Doge on that occasion so far as his Way and Course would admit In this manner the Doge whose Illness increased set sail the 15th of September and directing his Course towards Venice came the next Day in sight of Coron and passing at no great distance from Modon they Anchored that Night at Prodano and the next Day in the Road of Zant where having remained all that Day they Anchored the next Day in Port Viscardo upon the Island of Ceffalonia and the following Day at Corfu We omit all the Ceremonies which passed between the Armata and the Officers of the several Cities and Countries by which they sailed as also the short stay made at Casopo where Prayers and Money were offered at the Miraculous Image of our Lady for the Health and Recovery of the Doge and here it was not far from the Rock of Iasseno that the Gallies of Malta taking their leave of the Venetian Fleet returned to their own Country From Casopo they came to the Entrance of Cattaro where they had intelligence that Alexander Molino Proveditor-General in that Province was returned from Narenta having failed of the Design he undertook in those Parts by reason that the Morlacks had not executed his Orders On the 28th they came in sight of Ragusi from whence the Senate sent off five of their principal Gentlemen to Complement the Doge but by reason of his Indisposition they were introduced to the Presence of the Lieutenant-General to whom with sensible Expressions of their Sorrow for the Indisposition of His Most Serene Highness they declared the great Honour and Deference they conserved for the Most Serene Republick of Venice being extreamly sorry that they should be deprived of the satisfaction of laying themselves at the Feet of His Highness After which they made their Presents of all sorts of Refreshments such as Confects Fowl Fruit Wax Herbs and Ice with whatsoever else might be acceptable at Sea. The 1st of October they Anchored before the City and Castle of Spalato the strongest Venetian Garrison that is on the Dalmatian Shoar commanded by Bartolmeo Gritti who with the Archbishop attended with many Followers came to the side of the Ducal Galley where they were received by the Lieutenant-General And here it was thought fit to pass the Quarantene which is observed with indispensible Rigour by all Vessels coming from the Levant for which this being esteemed a commodious place Orders were given for fitting and preparing the Lazaretto and to provide it with all things necessary and with faithful and diligent Guardians And here it was that the Doge having all things fitly accommodated for him went ashoar to enjoy something of Repose and Rest being much weakned by his Sickness and Fatigues of his Voyage From hence was dispatched an Express to the Senate to give them notice that the Doge resolved to make his Contumacia at that Place and was already entered into Quarantene In answer unto which the Senate dispatched their Ducal Letters to signifie their Pleasure that the Doge might continue to finish his Quarantene at Spalato to which end the Prior and Overseers of the Health were dispatched from Venice to take care that all things relating to that Matter should be performed with due Care and Punctuality and accordingly all things were inspected by them whether of Goods or Merchandize and nothing of rigour omitted with the least respect to the Person of the Doge or his Retinue At the beginning of November News was brought to Spalato That the Proveditor-General Molino had succeeded in his Design against Trebigne having possessed himself in that Country of 10 Towers of which he had demolished seven and retained three into which he had put some Forces which might serve to incommode the Turks in their Excursions During the time of this Qâ—arantene nothing passed at Spalato but only Triumphs and Festivals for the Successes of Prince Lewis of Baden against the Turks and for the Election of Cardinal Ottoboni to the Papal Throne under the Name of Alexander VIII Letters also were brought from the Ports of Malvasia of the 4th of October That the General of the Seas Cornaro departed from thence the 23d of September with the Gallies under his Command having left four Gallies behind for Guards under Rear-Admiral Bembo and 10 Ships under Marco Pisani and that since the Departure of the Doge about 30 Persons had made their escape out of Malvasia declaring the great Misery which was in the City besides the raging Diseases of Fluxes and Convulsions In performance of the Quarantene the Month of November passed and an entrance made into the Month of December by which the Doge being returned to a better State of Health and all the Gallies well refreshed and in a good Condition and supplied with Provisions come from Venice and all things put into a Posture for Sailing Prattica was given to the whole Fleet that is a
Bâ—theim Ban of Croatia Dalmatia and Sclavonia marched from the River Unna and Costannizza with the Land Militia and arrived on the 19th at three a Clock in the Afternoon before the Turkish City call'd Brunzein Maidan where having taken a Survey of the Ground the following Night the Trenches were opened And On the 20th they began to â—ire their great Guns and to throw Bombs unto the City The Garrison and the Inhabitants defended themselves bravely for tho' they were twice Summoned they refused to Surrender saying That the Place was a Magazine belonging to the Sultan which therefore they were obliged to maintain to the last Drop of their Blood The Place was also of greater importance by reason of the Iron and Copper Mines which arose in the Neighbourhood our of which they forged Mortar-pieces and great Quantities of Iron Bullets The Besieged defended themselves very valiantly for the space of two Hours but at last the Pallisadoes being pulled up or cut down the Walls of the City were forced and taken and above 500 Men and Women were put to the Sword amongst which there were two Chief Commanders and a third Chachilovich by Name was taken Prisoner together with many principal Persons more of both Sexes Within the Town the Besiegers found great quantities of Bombs of which some were of 200 weight with store of Brass of rare and cunning Workmanship together with other very rich Booty of all which having Plundered the Inhabitants and carried away all that was worth the taking they burned the City and Suburbs to Ashes with the Houses that were in the Neighbourhood with the loss only of about 40 Men. The other Successful Enterprize was executed on the 19th of October by General Hofâ—kirken against Giula of which the General himself gave this Narrative in a Letter to the Duke of Croy sent him by an Express in this manner General Hoffkirken's Letter to the Duke of Croy. THIS Morning I fell upon the Turks and Tartars very early when they least expected me and having at the first onset forced them to retreat beyond the first Palanca I caused the Dragoons with 500 Horsemen to alight from their Horses and with their Swords in their Hands to pass the Ditch The Enterprize was bold but vigorously executed The Turks were very strong their Force consisting of 40 Troops of Horse 1200 Ianisaries with 2800 Tartars newly arrived to Convoy Provision into that Fortress but being on the other side of it they were so hotly attacked that they were driven to the Castle and upwards of 1000 of them were killed and 2500 Horses and Camels taken from them All the Provisions which should have been brought into Giula were yet lying in their Mosques within the Palancha together with some thousands of Measures of Corn which came laden on Camels were burn'd in the fight of the Turks and thereby all their cost and labours lost which were designed to sâ—pply that Place with Provisions Had I come but â—ight Hours sooner I had also met with the Tartars marching to Debrezin howsoever I am now preparing to follow them and hope to come up with them to morrow or the day following The Tartars returning homewards to Budziâ—â—k and passing through Walachia they entirely ruin'd and destroyed the Country But before we end this Year and the Accidents which happened therein we are to take notice of another terrible fire at Constantinople For as there happened one before in the Month of May last past so now another broke out on the 26th of August more grievous and terrible than any had done for many years before The former Fire in May began at Balata as we have related but that in the Month of August broke out at Odun Schelesi or the Wood-wharf being the common place where all the Timber for building Houses and Ships is laid and in which are many hundreds of Chambers of vast bigness for receiving all sorts and sizes of squar'd Timber with millions of Boards and other Timber fitted for building the Damage of which amounted to an incredible sum and was of such a general terror and consternation that had it happened at the time when Belgrade was last besieged the People for very affrightment would have fled from Philopopolis and Adrianople and at Constantinople it self the People were possessed with such a Panick Fear that thousands of Families were ready to abandon the City and to fly into Asia for a quarter part of the City was burn'd down and to encrease this terror amongst the People it was given out that the Germans were coming upon them with a very numerous Army And it is here very observable that about that time things being in a doubtful condition and no news coming from the Army nor from Belgrade the Grand Seignior in a most furious rage swore that if that City were lost he would take off the Heads of the Grand Vizier and of Osman Pasha the Chimacam who affrighted with this Menace fell sick and died with fear The Eunuchs also in the Seraglio took the confidence from hence to speak against the Government exclaiming openly that if such Miscarriages were permitted in and amongst the Principal Officers the Sultan would be forced to quit Europe and take refuge in Anatolia But when the news came that the Siege of Belgrade was raised the Anger of the Sultan began to abate and to be appeased against the Chief Officers and then the language of the People changed its tone and praised the Officers who but a few days before they had cursed and condemned to utter Ruine saying that the raising of this Siege was a Miracle of God who had heard their Prayers which brought a vast Confluence of People to their Mosches to give Thanks to God and to make Corban as they call it which is a kind of Sacrifice offered in this manner they who are of the richer sort kill Sheep and Lambs and having prepared them they cut them in pieces and give them to the Poor which is a great Charity and Relief to them and this in such cases of Joy and Thanksgiving is the most Solemn Act in all their Religion The Turks before this Action were grievously dejected and cast down but were again revived by the news that the Siege of Belgrade was raised To these Misfortunes and Miseries the raging Pestilence of this Year contributed very much of which thousands of People died in all parts of the Ottoman Dominions and thus the Turks had three Judgments of God upon them this last Year namely Fire Sword and Pestilence And this is all that passed this Year of any moment for the Venetians had neither done nor attempted any thing and the Turks having lost nothing took courage against the next Year to be early in the field with a far greater Army than they had this and likewise at Sea with a stronger and a more numerous Fleet having 20 Sail of Stout Men of War in the Archipelago already fitted from
yielded up and the same Day the Turkish Garrison was by agreement Transported into Anatolia and Disbarked at Chisme as the Turks call it being the nearest Land unto the Island With this News the Turks were affected with a most Terrible Consternation and then those two long Words might have been said of them Consâ—ernabantur Constantinopolitani The News was so surprizing at first that no Man would believe it but various and frequent Reports confirmed the Truth thereof and tho' to the great Mortification of the Turks the News came confirmed from all Hands yet the Turks comforted themselves with the Thoughts that that Island could not remain long in the Hands of the Venetians The Sultan howsoever cheared himself up with better Successes by Land and gave order to the Grand Vizier to fight the Germans upon what Terms soever should be offered but the Vizier returned for Answer That his Forces were so weak this Year for want of the Asiatick Troops that he was unable to fight the Christians which if he should attempt to do he should undoubtedly Sacrifice all to the Ruine of the Musselman Cause and Destruction of the Ottoman Army For the truth was the Grand Vizier had then but a very small Army consisting of 11000 Janisaries and 6000 Albanians under their General Mehmet Oghla an Albanian together with 20000 between Spahees and Segmen with some Troops belonging to Pashees and 7000 Tartars Besides which Money was all this Year very scarce Asia was all in Confusion and in want of every thing so that it was no wonder that the Number of true Janisaries should be no greater in the Field for Kara Mustapha when he went against Vienna had no more than 14000 and the famous Sultan Morat when he went against Bagdat had no more than 16000 which would not appear strange in case it were considered that in the whole Empire the entire number of Janisaries consists not of more than 40000 truly Lawful and Legitimate Janisaries three parts of which in the times of Peace are lodged in Garrisons as Candia Negropont Rhodes Cyprus and in other Islands as also in Greece which are parts of the Morea and on the Confines of Persia where the most considerable Numbers are lodged to which may be added Caminieck Osi Asack in the Black-Sea as also in Dalmatia Bosnia and other Confines With this Answer of the Grand Vizier to the Sultan and representation of the present State of the War the Grand Seignior yielded to the Urgency of the Times and permitted the Vizier to return to Adrianople and the Soldiers to their Winter-Quarters the which was done with so much Precipitancy that the Motion looked more like a Flight than a Retreat The which News being on the 18th of October brought to Adrianople all things looked very melancholy and the People began to droop with sad Countenances the Grand Vizier returning back with Shame and Silence when on the 15th of the Month all things appeared in a most Tumultuous manner at Adrianople and particularly in the chief Mosch there called Sultan Solim in which at all times of Prayer there is a great Concourse of People and those of the best sort and of the greatest Officers of State having their best and most sumptuous Palaces near thar Mosch which is the finest and stateliest part of all the City It was now early about the time of Morning Prayer or so soon as the Sabbana Maaz was ended People being still upon their Knees with much Silence and Devotion as their custom is when a bold Turk well Learned and of a smooth Tongue mounted the Pulpit having several Complices attending beneath to defend him in case any Attempt should be made upon He began with a daring Speech to inveigh against the Government crying out Musselmen or Believers YOU are all at this time obliged to stand up for the Faith for your Country and Government You cannot but be sensible that the Christians Attack us both by Sea and Land That we have a Sultan who Attends to nothing and a Great Vizier who is not Acquainted or Practised in Affairs either Civil or Military Wherefore let us all run to the Gate of our Mufti and there cry out and exclaim for a Change of Government Do you not observe what a Capricious Fool we have for a Vizier how Obstinate and Ignorant and how he daily commits a thousand Follies Whilst all People were attentive to hear him two Aga's belonging to the Chimacam being near the Gate of the Mosch and over-hearing the Discourse run away with it to the Chimacam their Master who immediately without any delay or stop in a trembling manner mounted on Horseback and taking with him his Servants Officers and Janisaries all Armed and Commanded by the Lieutenant-General of the Janisaries ran to the Mosch and made this Seditious Preacher to be seized which caused great Confusion and Noise through the whole City for appeasing which the Chimacam took a large Turn through all the High Streets of Adrianople At that time it happened that a certain Pasha arrived within a few Hours of Adrianople who had been Banished by Command of the Sultan for many Robberies and Thefts he had committed in the Publick Treasury his Name was Benli Husaein Pasha whose Head he took off as he did in like manner and at the same time the Head of one Musa Aga and threw them both into the first Court-yard of the Seraglio before the Gate of the Divan declaring that these two were of the Seditious Mutineers who had raised the Tumult in the City which terrified a little for the present which when the Chimacam perceived he was encouraged to proceed and took 11 Officers who were Ring-leaders of the Sedition whose Heads were heaped up together before the Divan-Door and their Bodies thrown into the Cannels in divers parts of the City Amongst these was an Officer of the Grand Seignior's Stables called 〈…〉 Talking Mutinous Fellow as also a Fooâ—â—ish Astrologer with 22 others who were one Night all Strangled and their Bodies thrown into the River Tonâ—â— which runs near to the Grand Seignior's Palace at Adrianople and in this manner the Chimacam prevented a Mutiny and quashed a Rebellion which was rising to a dangerous height Howsoever the People murmured but durst not speak so Audaciously as before After these Tumults were over at Adrianople People began to discourse of Prodigies strange Sights and Apparitions and among others a Report was at Constantinople That an Owl was seen at Noon-day sitting on the Old Pyramid in the Market-place which as was reported fell down of it self that Night and next Morning there was found within the Basis of the Pyramid a piece of Wax on which was inscribed in Greek Characters these Words After 300 Years this Monarchy will suâ—fer Great Destruction and Ruine both by Enemies at Home and Abroad And this City will be Infested by Pestilence and by Earthquakes reduced to a Heap of Stones All these Stories and
Nefiran which is the Militia of the Eastern Countries and like one Man to rise and joyn themselves against the Enemy Besides which many other things were to be done both by Sea and Land and that with all Expedition in regard that the force of the Rebels growing daily greater their Power would with much more difficulty be subdued And in regard there was a necessity of putting the Fleet to Sea with all expedition all other Affairs were laid aside until that was dispatched which was performed after the Biram and then about the beginning of May the Sultan began his March towards Hungary at the Head of his Army when several were of Opinion that due care should be taken to suppress the Rebels in Asia but the Sultan would hear of nothing more than to raise the Nefiran of the Country upon them which are a sort of Soldiers like our Trained-Bands and not better exercised in the Wars The Sultan who intended to have brought this Year 80 or 100000 Men into the Field against the Emperor was contented to fall short at least 10000 Men of that Number which he had the last Year And in regard the Asiatick Soldiers could not or would not leave their own Country to attend the Armies in Hungary the whole Army of the Turks did not amount to more than 50000 Men and scarcely to that neither considering the Diversions made on one side by the Persians and by the Muscovites on the other wherefore considering these Difficulties and Distresses all the Ottoracks were called to the Wars being in the Nature of Milites immeriti who after their long Services in the War have liberty given them to withdraw to their own Homes with two Pence or three Pence a Day which is called a dead Pay and of these there may be about 40000 Men which may be some Addition to the Number oâ— the Turkish Army and with these the Turks were now obliged to help themselves But to understand more distinctly the Transactions and Progress of all the Turkish Affairs both by Sea and Land for this Year following In the first place we are to take notice That in the Month of March of this Year 30 Frigats were dispatched for Asac which soon afterwards were followed by eight Gallies As to the Land Matters March the 28th the Grand Seignior and Grand Vizier made their Alloy to their Tents which were pitched as usual at Daout Pasha but that being very early in the Morning the Show was but indifferent The Grand Seignior was dressed in the manner as when he made his Entrance The Valide followed about two Hours after with great Attendance Mezzo Morto the Admiral having left the Bastarda Gally behind him sailed out of Port the 6th of April and the Grand Seignior and Grand Vizier marched for Adrianople where they arrived the 17th of this Month. The 23d of this April being the Day of the Great Biram News was brought of the Birth of a Daughter Born to the Sultan in the Seraglio whereupon the Chimacam to show his Respect and Duty to the Grand Seignior caused four Days of Rejoycing to be proclaimed but on the 24th Day a little after Midnight there happening a very great Fire the Rejoycings were forbidden and recalled The Fire began without the Gate of Tophana the Wind at N. E. which being very fierce and strong soon reduced all that Quarter into Ashes where it continued burning till Five in the Afternoon of the 25th during which time 3000 Houses were computed to have been Burnt and amongst them all our Merchant's Houses excepting one who had the good Fortune to be saved But God be praised not much of our English Goods were burnt About the beginning of Iune of this Year the Marquis de Lore arrived at Constantinople in Quality of Ambassador Extraordinary from the French King He was brought as far as Tenedos by a French Man of War of 60 Guns and from thence by a Tartan he was Transported to Constantinople from whence on the 12th of this Month he was carried to Adrianople and thence without loss of time he followed the Camp which had marched thence the eighth of Iune The 23d of this Month Tekely was Commanded by the Grand Seignior to follow the Camp but his Princess remained at Constantinople both of them being in great Necessity to live being only allowed five Dollars a Day besides some small matter arising from the Imposts of Wine which the Grand Seignior permitted them to bring in The Beauty of this Lady could prevail little either for her self or Prince for I have heard That she was a Lady of a very hard Countenance and her Air and Carriage in no wise engaging The Turkish Army being arrived at Belgrade they began to move on the 30th of Iuly and that Day to pass the Danube when publick Prayers were begun at Constantinople and Adrianople for their Successes and Blessings of their Army which was this Year esteemed very powerful and designed as the common Report was against Transylvania But whilst the Turks marched full of hopes of Success with a great Army supposed to consist of 100000 Men their Boldness was much tempered by the News of the Surrender of Asac to the Muscovites after 57 Days Siege and the Advices wanting 16 Days it was said That the Tartar Han arrived two Days after the Surrender tho' had he come sooner he could have done nothing for it was so closely Besieged that the Turks themselves were of Opinion That all the Succours sent thence namely from all parts of the Turkish Dominions would not have been able to effect any thing Neither were the Gallies which were with five more than the 13 sent the last Month able to approach the Place by some Leagues Hereupon the Corn at Constantinople was risen 50 per Cent. and the People were so apprehensive of a Famine in all the Dominions of the Turks that in case the Muscovites should make any Progress they should not know which way to proceed At that time Mezzo Morto with the Turkish Fleet was still at Scio intending about the middle of this Month to Sail from thence he had with him about 40 Sail of Ships besides Gallies the Venetians were not very strong nor did either side endeavour to engage But the most important Design of this Summers Campaign was laid in Hungary and Transylvania where the Sultan fixed his greatest hopes and both Sides intended to do their best and to bring things to a decisive Action to perform which His Electoral Highness of Saxony having fixed the Imperial Camp at a Place called Olasch on the 30th of August N. S. giving out as if the Design was to Besiege Temeswaer and thereby to draw the Enemy into a Necessity of Sallying out and coming to a Battle that they might be better able to relieve the Place to which end the Turks having passed the Danube the nearer to approach their Enemies made two Days March one after the other by