resolution neuer to decline from the truth not to suffer that vpon any occasion whatsoeuer any thing should bee discoursed therein but that which eyther I my selfe haue seene or possibly could vnderstand to be true Wherein although I haue found many difficulties and vsed great labours aswell through the ignorance of the people who being not able to tell me any other name of the Cittyes of the cuntries of the fieldes of the Riuers of the hilles but onely the barbarous names of them they made the certaine knowledge of those places wherein these battells were foughten to be very difficult vnto me As also because it was very requisite that I should haue an eie to the seuer all qualities of dyuers nations who are sometimes giuen to lying and by whom many thinges are wont to bee spoken and many thinges concealed for their owne particular respectes Notwithstanding I haue endeuored by all the best meanes I possibly could to discharge my duty therein ouercomming these such other difficulties with continuall conference among dyuers men in dyuers places to the end I might find them agree together in their reportes and expecting withall that Tyme it selfe would at last bring forth the truth Neither did I euer content my selfe with the first or second aduertisement deliuered vnto me but alwaies iustified the first with the last by conferring together the testimonies of both sides And lastly without regard of danger of expenses or of labour I haue enformed my self of euery particularity that possibly I could by such men as were esteemed no liers but men of great authority who were present for the most part at al these actions Which purpose and resolution of myne was greatly fauoured and assisted by three priuate extraordinary meanes First by the credit and authoritie of Theodoro Balbj and Giouanni Michele being then the right honorable Consulles in Soria for the Venetian Senate two most noble prudent and valorouse subiectes of the State of Venice who most magnificently without sparing of any costes did fauour me herein in all my other studies where vnto I applyed my selfe in those countries Secondly by the familiar conuersation which I had with one Christoforo de Buonj cheefe Interpreter to the said most honorable Lordes a person of great valour well frended and beloued among those nations and aboue all of singular faith and dexterity Thirdly by my knowledge in Phisicke which I was not squemish to practise among those people to the end I might the better without ministring any suspition to any man enter into their most secret important aduertisementes and so by this meanes to purchase familiarity in the principall howses of those Citties wherein for the space of almost seuen whole yeares together I liued and was entertayned And of thus much it shall be euen sufficient to haue aduertised the readers who without any other Apologie or iustification of mine mayrest contented and satisfied with my desyre which hath beene to represent vnto the world Accidentes that haue happened so far off so strange and so important that thereby they may reape great profit both in peace and warre Which satisfaction if I shall obtaine of their gratitude I shall thinke my selfe to haue gayned enough in lieu of all the trauelles of all the dangers of all the expences that I haue susteyned I shall rest assured that I haue not beene an vnfruitfull labourer herein The First Booke The Argument The causes that moued the Author to write this Historie The Originall of this warre The causes of the same warre Aidere beheaded Ismahel the king vseth great cruelties publisheth a new Religion and spreadeth abâ—â—ad a speech that he would passe into Babylonia Amurath resolueth to moue warre against Persia. Periaconcona beheaded New stirres in Persia wherof Vctres Bassa aduerti seth Amurath who therby is confirme in his opinion to make this warre Consultations at Constantinople of the maner how to manage this warre Amurath will not in person go with the Armie but choseth Mustaffa Bassa to be his Generall who passeth to Chalcedon and from thence to Erzirum where he mustereth and surueigheth his Armie and then departeth for Siruan Mustaffa a trueth at Charâ—â— goeth vnder the Mountaines of Chiâ—lder and there encampeth himselfe artificially The King of Persia sendeth Souldiers against the Turkes and ouer them he maketh 〈◊〉 the Sultan his Generall Tocomac cometh toward Chars he findeth out his Spies and being deceiued by his Spies he doth confidently assault the Turkes At the first Tocomac doth happely ouercome the Turkes but afterwardes he was discomfited and saued himselfe by the oportunitie of the night The particular of the Victorie Manucchiar the Georgian yeeldeth himselfe to Mustaffa and is interteined by him The warres betweene the Turkes and Persians I Write the sondry successes of the warre betweene Amurat king of Turkie Mahamet by surname caled Codabanda king of Persia both of them among the Barbarians beeing most mightie most warlike Princes A warre not onely long bloudie but also very commodious and of great oportunitie to the Christian Common-wealth for that it hath granted leisure to the Champions of Christ to refresh and encrease their forces being now much weakened by warres both Forreine and Ciuill A matter in truth rather diuine then humane there being now newly arisen among the Turkes fresh hopes of victories by meanes whereof contrary to the custome of such contentions the wrath of these two Princes was drawne in length which if they had bene conuerted against Europe might haue made our state most troublesome and turbulent These successes and all the rest that together with the like motions haue come to passe sometimes intermingling among them the priuy treacheries of the Tartarians sometimes the oppressions of the people of Drusia and sometimes also the insolencies of the Arabians I here take in hand to describe being therunto moued principally vpon two occasions The one is for that they all seeme to me of themselues very worthy to be knowne both of the men that liue at this day also of those that shall come after vs neither haue I as yet seene any man that hath made any full or true report thereof Which notwithstanding I hope shalbe herein performed by my myselfe who haue bene entertained almost seauen whole yeares during the said warres partly in Soria partly in Constantinople and by occasion of my practise in Phisicke haue bene familiarly conuersant with many Bassaes Embassadours and other great men aswel Persians as Turkes that haue beene agentes and dealers in these affaires The other is for that I doe verily persuade my selfe that I shall breede great profite and delight to all nations Christian by the reading of this history wherein they shall vnderstand how mighty the forces are of these two enimies of the name of Christ and in what termes they stand euen at this day by meanes of which knowledge it may peraduenture fall out that our Christian Princes
strong places fortifyed with munition and instrumentes of death And if there were any difficultie at all therein there were but two onely that seemed to be of any weight one was the great distance and rough passage of those places through which they were to leade their horses their Cammells their artillery and their men euery man knowing that the Country of Georgia is compassed rounde about with verie roughe mountaines and thick woods where the enemy vseth all good oportunity to lay ambushes and to worke treason against such as passe that way another difficulty was money Sinan Bassa among the rest offering to their considerations that if a man would conquere a new countrey it was necessary for the mayntenaunce of the conquest to erect Castelles and Fortresses which being leaft to the defence of valiant souldiers would require large stipends without which euery souldyer willingly forsaketh his charge Sauing these two difficulties which notwithstanding were not greatly debated but in answere thereof as much spoken by the king himselfe as was thought sufficient euery man thought the conquest of the kingdome of the Cheselbas to bee the playnest easyest promised to themselues vndoubted victory of it But aboue all other Mustaffa Bassa he that reduced the Ile of Cyprus vnder the Ottoman power infamous for the cruell barbarous vniust death of Marcantonio Bragadino the stoute and valorous Captayne of Famagosta whose name shall neuer dye in the tongues and myndes of all ages hee I say with exceeding audacitie set out great hopes of glorious conquestes not concealing the vertues of the Latines the perilles passed in the wars of the said Islande and particularly in the expugnation of the Citty preferring the armes forces and valour of the Latines before the valour forces and armes of the Georgiani and the Persians and in breefe assuring more certayne hope of this warre in Asia then of any other that could possibly be raised in Europe And in this sort were the first discourses and originalles of these motions in the East begun and practised whereby all men may see that neither zeale of religion nor any iniury receaued from the Persian Kinges but onely the ambitious desyre of Amurat to subdue a kingdome both in his owne conceyte and also by other mens relation ill gouerned by an effeminate and sottish king and through ciuill dissention brought into great danger was the first prouocation of making this warre and thereby may all Catholikes learne that there is nothing more pernitions to the Christian Common wealth then ciuill discord When they had thus concluded vpon this resolution to make warre in Persia there arose new consultations touching the manner thereof and vpon what coast they should begin their iourney that so they might expect the more honorable successe which poynt Amurat did greatly vrge protesting before al his Visiers that he would not enter into a warre vnlesse he were in great hope to beare away the promised victory Many were the propositions and opinions of the Visiers and many questions did the king propound whereunto hee himselfe did readily answere On the one side some thought that it wold be very conuenient to send the Army to Babilon and from thence to Syras in old tyme called Persepolis famous for the praye that Alexander tooke there as Q. Curtius wryteth and by that way to attempt the conquest of all Persia. Others were of a contrary mind did giue aduice that the Army should bee sent by direct course to Tauris there to erect strong fortresses and to take possession of all the country subiect round about It is reported also that some there were that thought it better to send two seuerall Armyes from both the places aboue mentioned that so bringing the enemy into a straite they might inforce him to retire and to yeeld vnto them whatsoeuer they should demand But Amurat durst not repose such confidence in his owne forces as to thinke that with his battells deuided so weakened he should be able to ouercome that enemy who had alwaies fought most valiantly agaynst the monstrous and couragious Armyes of his forefathers not without some feare also of the auncyent vertue of the Persian people whereof Fame hath euer resounded an immortall and glorious report Neyther did he make slender accompt of the Georgiani the most antique tributaries and confederates of the Persians by whose onely assaultes his Army could not but suffer many inconueniences and sundry trauelles forsomuch as if they should assaile his battels behind or on both sides the Persians should set vpon his forefront though they were many in number and fenced with artillery yet being ill planted and in such difficulty as they could not vse their Artillery it would be a very easy matter to defeate them And therefore he did firmely resolue with himselfe to send one onely Army and with vnited forces to seeke the ouerthrow of his enemy And thus preferring his strong hope to conquere the countrey of Siruan in Georgia and the chiefe Citties of Media the Great before the difficultie of making warre vpon the coast of Siras reposing great confidence in the notable helpe that was promised him by the Cumani in Tartaria called Precopenfes he confirmed his counsellors the Bassaes in the same opinion and withall discouered a matter which to all of them but especially to Sinan seemed most strange namely that he was determined not to go in person with his Army about this enterpryse but was minded to send one of his worthiest Captaines in his steed The respectes that held Amurat from going himselfe with the Armye were many but principally the Falling sicknesse wherewith hee was troubled the zeale hee did beare to the kingdome fearing greatly and that not without good cause least his sonne being in fauour with the people might peraduenture vntimely be aduaunced before him and the danger that he suspected at the handes of the Christian Potentates While they were thus in parlee about this expedition and Sinan Mustaffa and some other Visiers made meanes to bee sent as Vicegerentes and soueraigne ministers of their Lordes designement he dispatched away sondry postes and light-horsemen with order to the Bassaes Gouernours of Van of Babilan of Erzirum in the borders of Cappadocia Armenia the greatter that they should by often inroades spoyle the townes and castelles of the Cheselbas and euery way doo them what harme they could Which was presently put in execution by them all and specially by the aboue named Vstref Bassa of Van who besydes the burning of dyuerse townes brought many a soule into slauery and in the countryes aswell Tributary as subiecte to the Persians made many incursions and wrought much annoyance Through these and other lyke iniuries theyr myndes were greatly incensed with anger and theyr wrathfull hartes filled with a most ardent desyre of reuenge and whiles with shame enough they romed vp and downe dayly sharpening their
that had passed and stayed waiting till the fight was at hottest and the medley at the thickest that so the flight of his enemies might breed the greater disorder seeing at length that his people could no longer endure the fury of their enemies rage euen as though it had lightned and thondred and as though the earth had beene shaken with such cries and exclamations as the Turkes vse in their assaults for the more terror of the enemy exciting his army he ran as it were headlong vpon his aduersaries and with greater cruelty renued the terrible battell The Persians did couragiously sustaine this vnexpected fearefull assault and seeing the night now very neere approching rather then they would suffer the disgrace of a shamefull and ignominious discomfiture with vnexplicable signes of valour in that little tyme of day-light that was leaft them they continued their manifold slaughters vntill at last being fauoured with the darkenes of the night they resolued to withdraw themselues with as little losse as possibly they might Mustaffa neither could nor durst any longer pursue them but was constrayned by night to returne to his pauiglions The Persians for their partes did with all diligence dispatch men in post to the King being at Casbin aduertysing him aswell of the successe of the battell as also of the greatnes of the Turkish army and likewise what they were determined to do that they might annoy it By the Turkes also there were presented to Mustaffa who had already sent away Postes to Amurat fiue thousand heades which by their colour countenaunce and beardes be wrayed themselues to bee Persians and 3000. Persians aliue Mustaffa did greatly reioyce at the victory and to make it seeme the greater seeking by all meanes to conceale his owne losses and mynding to make the issue more dreadfull that so he might rayse a greater terrour by the fame that should thereof arriue to the enemy he caused the heads of those three thousand that were brought before him aliue to bee presently cut from their shoulders and vsing a most straunge Arte to breede terrour in the Persian he gaue order that of those heades there should be framed a bulwarke in those fields for a most horrible and vncouth spectacle The same day that Mustaffa the Turkish Capitayne employed himselfe about this barbarous cruell worke there came vnto him certaine messengers frō Manucchiar the yonger son of the Georgian widdow called Dedesmit who being brought into his pauigliō told him that with his good fauour and licence Manucchiar their Lord and maister came to salute him to offer himselfe vnto him as his obedient and deuored seruant At which newes Mustaffa redoubling his ioy gaue commandement that all the Bassaes Capitaines of the hoast with all solemne pompe with trumpettes drommes peales of Artillery and with all other signes of magnificall and ioyfull entertainement should go forth to meet the said Manucchiar and to accompany him to his presence which they did accordingly and encountring him with all signes of honour conducted him with an infinite traine to the great pauiglion of Mustaffa who also caused him to bee saluted againe with an other peale of ordinance and Arquebuseshot and with a second reply of trumpets and drummes Manucchiar dismounted from his horse and although against his will he beheald the strange and vncouth pile of heades all pale and filthy to looke on and indeed imagined what the matter meant all which Mustaffa himselfe discoursed at large vnto him from poynt to poynt notwithstanding before all other thinges hauing done his due reuerence to the said Mustaffa and according to his degree placed himselfe next to his syde after he had presented him with such giftes as his countrey yeelded hee gaue him to vnderstand That for the honour and estimation which he bare to the Turkish valour he was alwaies deuoted to the house of the Ottomans and as he had oftentymes desyred to spend his goodes and lyfe in their seruice so at this present being moued by his auncient desyre allured by the strange fame of this victorious and wonderfull army and stirred vp by a particular fantasy to learne the paynefull and harde preceptes of Arte Military vnder such a Captayne being a maister of other captaynes hee offred him all deuotion and seruice more then euer he had done heretofore and himselfe hauing nothing in the world more deere vnto him consecrated his owne lyfe to his commandementes desyring that the same might be emploied in the conflictes of warre vnder his banners among warriers and souldiers of same and renowne therefore he besought him that hee would accept of him in the name of Amurat whose obedient vassal he vowed himselfe to remaine for euer Mustaffa did gratiously receaue all this discourse of Manucchiar and hauing shewed him againe the pyle of heades together with his battelles armour and prouision of war told him That as all these forces are the gift of god who alwaies fauoured the righteous counselles of the Ottoman kinges an impudent speech too bould vnbrydeled in such sort that they lord it ouer all the world euen to the astonishment of all that liue in the world at this day so had he for his parte chosen the better parte in comming now to yeelde himselfe to submit his obedience to his king although it had beene good if he had do one it before And as concerning the desyre which hee had to bee his companion fellow in these warlicke affayres he did very frendly accept of his comming promised him all good entertainment and assured safety And so in exchange of the presentes which he brought him hee apparelled him in cloth of gold honored him with a battell-axe and target wrought with gold ammell neuer permitted him to go from his pauiglion without a traine of his slaues But to the end that from thinges vnknowen and principles not vnderstood the course of my history proceed no furder for that in certaine strange and important successes the readers will be desirous to know the seuerall nations scituations Citties riuers mountaines counties Dukedomes kingdomes and prouinces it shall not be amisse in a distinct booke by it selfe to declare what these enemies are against whome the Turkes make warre and to describe what and how great forces they haue what kingdome they possesse what prouinces are subiect vnto thē their worship or religion their kind of gouernment their wepons their manner of fight their forme of battell their reuenues their expenses and to be short whatsoeuer els shall bee necessarie to bee knowen and so with greater perspicuity to proceed in the continuation of our interrupted history The end of the first booke The Second Booke The Argument The birth of Mahamet and his proceedinges The Testament and Death of Mahamet The Originall of the Persian and Turkish Sectes The errors of Iouius and others touching the Originall of the Name of
their fleete on the great sea into the Channell of the riuer Fasis by the coast of the Albanians leading Abdilcherai the Tartarian into Seruan and by these two straites carrying all their Army as in fit places it shall be set downe As ye walke towardes the North on this syde of the lake Essecchia which perhaps is the marish called Lychnitis there standeth the Cittie Basacchiuc with certaine other Townes and Citties for a long time subiect to Basacchiuc being a Lord of that name Who was allwaies more rusticall and vnciuill then all the rest as one that dwelt far out of the ordinarie waies by which the Turkish Armie made their iourney and by that meanes neuer endured the like troubles and inconueniences that others did so that in all these stirres and hurly-burlies among his neighbours withdrawing himselfe into these fortes made and framed by nature he sat as it were in a watch-tower to behold the accidents of this doubtfull warre Which rest certainely he had not so quietly enioyed if the Tartarians had not fayled in their promises made to Amurat whose breach of promise did in deede frustrate and thwaâ—t many important enterprises and singular conquestes that Ofman the Bassa had plotted in those quarters Now the Sonne of Leuent called by the inhabitantes there Schender and by vs Alessandro surnamed the Great and brother of 〈◊〉 hath his state betweene Reiuan Siruan wide of Tomanis and though it be accounted among the Georgian States yet is it situate rather in Armenia the Greater in the borders of Atropaiia then in Iâ—eria This man in steed of armes hath continually vsed prayers and presentes and as he that more then all the rest lay open to the passage through Siruan and dwelt neere to Reiuan and Teflis he was likewyse subiect to the Persian fury yet for all that he handled the matter so well with the Turkes on the other syde that by his rich and liberall gifts in steed of armes and wepons euen in the greatest heates of this warre he kept himselfe equally vntouched and free from the violence both of his foes and frends His cheefe pallace is Zaghen fruitfull of silkes he hath also Grin and diuers other villages townes he surpasseth at this day all the rest of his neighbour Georgians in riches money enloyeth withall greater tranquilitie and quiet then they all He was in tymes past greatest affected to the Crowne of Persia but since the tyme that Tamas sought by vniust and vnlawfull meanes to depryue him of his state and in his rowme to substitute his brother Ixis who being become a Persian and hauing giuen himselfe to Tamas and to Satan like a wicked wretch gaped after it aboue all thinges in the world he then began to repose small confidence in the Persian succours and resoluing with himselfe to remaine a Neuter he followed the campes of the conquerours and fauoured the Ensignes and name of those that were mightiest And in this case standeth the state of Georgia at this day But the countrey of Siruan which on the West is ioyned with this Prouince whereof wee will make but a briefe discourse hath also on the North syde the Albanians and a little beyond them some wandring and vagabound Tartarians called Pericorschi betweene Caueasus the riuer Volga whereupon it may be that the Tartarians are comprehended vnder the name of the Volcenses on the East it hath the lake if with Polycletes we may so terme it or rather as other call it the sea of Corazan on the South syde Armenia and more toward the South and southeast Media the greater The Metropoliticall citty of Siruan is Sumachia situate betweene Derbent and Eres and as Derbent lyeth in the way for the Scythians so doth Eres make way for the Armenians and Medes to enter into the country that is subiect to the said Citty All Atropatia was subiect to the Persian King and was obedient to him being induced thereunto first by Aydere and afterward by Ismahel Sofi sauing onely that it seemed the people of Derbent did ordinarily loue rather the fame and renowne of the Turkes then the gouernement of their natiue Prince sticking also to the auncient religion which Aidere shooke and Ismahel subuerted The whole countrey is fruitefull and watred with Araxis and Cirus and other riuers that are famous euen in antique writers and principally Eres which yeelded in tymes past great store of those fine white silkes commonly tearmed by the marchantes Mamodean silkes whereof at this day there is not to be found no not a very small quantity by reason of the monstrous ruines and ouerthrowes that haue happened in those countreys The king of Persia maintained in Derbent and Eres after the naturall Lord was driuen out of them by Ismahel certaine gouernours with the tytle of Sultans and in the Citty of Sumachia one onely Gouernour with the tytle of Chan who ruled both ouer Sechi also ouer the other Citties that were subiect to that iurisdiction But Derbent as we haue already written eueÌ„ as it was the last citty on that side which was subdued by the Sofi made more resistance then all the rest in receauing the superstition of the Sofiti or Cheselbas insomuch that Aidere left his carcase vnder her walles euen so though at the last it was ouercome yet did it alwayes remaine most affectionate to the first faith opinion that it held when the law of Mahomet had not yet tasted of the Schisme of the Sofians howbeit it could neuer fynd opportunity to receaue the Turkish captaines into her and so vtterly shake-of all obedience to the Cheselbas Betweene Seruan and Tauris is situate the countrey of Caracach fertile and rich in corne and cattell very commodious for the feeding of Beastes in situation not greatly subiect to windes by reason that it lyeth rather alow then aloft but yet pleasant and temperate and it seemeth that this countrey on that side bordereth vpon the Atropatians and the Medians where the Cittie of Tauris standeth euen at the rootes of the mountaine Orontes which according to Straboes opinion is a portion of Taurus Of this Cittie we haue sufficiently spoken in this History much more largely in the Letter which in manner of an Appendix wee haue added in the end of this worke for the more manifest declaration of our opinion touching the recognition of this place the reading wherof may peraduenture more distinctly expresse the Geography of these countries And now taking this Cittie of Tauris for the middell or as it were the Center in a circle wee will also vse it for an obiect in all the considerations which very briefly wee shall heere ser downe All those that come from Van or from the Lake of Vastan and make their voyage towardes Media doo arriue at Tauris trauelling alwaies by East or by East by North being nyne dayes iourney or thereabouts and leauing Coy
the two Georgian Brethren the Widdowes sonnes who as we told you before were sent by Mustaffa to Amurath expected the end why they were come to the Court. As touching Alessandro he perswaded himselfe that no wrong should euer be done vnto him to whom by the course of his age the gouernment of his kingdom belonged or rather who alreadie was put in possession thereof by his Mother and besides that was in a great hope that some means should be deuised how he myght be established confirmed therin after a more sure and safe maner and that Manucchiar his brother should be honoured with some other Office worthy the magnificence of Amurath Wherein although he had some litle kind of doubt that troubled him yet did he euer carie a constant resolution that he would not in any case chaunge his Religion nor staine hys conscience wyth so fowle and infamous a blot On the other side Manucchiar the yonger Brother who the last yeare had followed the Campe of Mustaffa and had shewed some good tokens of manhood with an expresse kind of Militarie vertue that he might the rather enter into the gouernment of his Mothers State induced therunto by the flattering desire of Rule was vtterly resolued with himselfe to do any thing so that he might not liue as a priuate souldier but rather to take from his brother his birthright and enheritance and with the vtter losse of his countrie-Religion wherein he was borne to purchase a vyle and base kingdome yea and rather then he would liue inferiour in dignitie to his brother he would make himselfe the slaue of Amurath and the Deuill Neither is their opinion false peraduenture that thinke this agreement and conspiracie to haue beene secretelie contriued betweene him and Mustaffa vtterlie to disgrace and ouerthrow his Brother Hereupon they were both examined which of them would be content to submit hymselfe to the Religion of Mahamet whereunto Manucchiar aunswered that hee would so doo and beeing become the vassall of so great an Emperour would desire no other thing but to manage his owne State in his seruice and vnder his protection Whereas on the other side Alessandro although he should be depriued of his State which alreadie hee had begun to gouerne yet would he not consent to the vyle and infamous chaunge of his Religion but remayning constant in his former fayth he onely desired that as a priuate souldier and bereaued of that inheritance whereof Nature and God had caused him to bee borne the lawfull successour he might not be denyed at the least to goe and lyue in his owne natiue Countrie and so to be buried neere vnto the Ashes of his predecessors promising withall at all times all obedience to Amurath and loue to his brother The Turkish king willed Manucchiar therein to do as he himselfe thought good For that for his owne part he did greatlie feare least Alessandro by some treacherie myght depriue him of his lyfe and so succeeding in his former place might make that State more rebellious then euer it was before Howbeit for somuch as Manucchiar consented vnto it he was also to content himselfe withall and to commit the custodie of that State to such care as Manucchiar should take for the preseruation of himselfe Heereupon Manucchiar was circumcised and had the name of Mustaffa gyuen him wyth the title of Bassa and Gouernour of Altunchala and of all his Mothers and Brothers Countries for the which there were great signes of ioy ouer all the Serraglio and hee beeing thus created a Turke had his Brother Alessandro committed vnto him and they both returned into their owne Region But in Prrsia in the pallace of Casbin many consultations were had in this meane time For Emanguli Chan gouernour of Genge perceiuing himselfe to be in great daunger of loosing his beloued and honorable gouernment by means of the late sacke and spoyle of his Cittie made by the Tartarian and taking occasion of those plottes that were dayly in contriuing to sende people into the confines of Siruan to the ende that Osman Fassa shoulde not intend his new works and withal if it were possible shuld be hunted out of Demir Capi and out of all that prouince he purposed with himselfe to make an offer to King Mahamet that he should bind himselfe vpon paine of his head to defend Siruan and not suffer Osman to attempt any newe buildings or further conquestes in that Region and therein wrought so much with the King that his request was not denyed him Whereuppon the charge of the gouernment of Genge guarding the Prouince of Siruan from the forces of Osman was frankly committed vnto him Neither were his offers extended any further For the Persian King knew wel ynough that if the Tartarians or the Generall Mustaffa should come thither hee should stand in need of greater prouision and stronger defences And therefore he gaue order to Emir-Chan gouernour of Tauris to Tocomac Gouernour of Reiuan to Serap-Chan gouernor of Massiuan and to diuers other Captaines that were neerest that at euery instance and request of Emanguli-Chan they should be ready if need so required with their power to resist eyther the Tartarians or the Turkes when they should enter into the countrey of Siruan Neither did Emanguli forget to solicit the sonne of Sahamal who succeeded in the Lordship of Brus that he would ioyne himselfe with him and they two together woulde take occasion to reuenge the grieuous losses that they had receiued of the Turkish army and especially to chastise Osman Bassa as hee deserued for the death of Sahamal his father Howbeit the saide sonne would not by any meanes endaunger himselfe neither durst in any wise shewe himselfe an open enemie and persecutor of the Turkes but was content to beare the losse of his father in such sort as he thought most behoouefull for the preseruation of his owne estate And this was the prouision that was made for the securitie of that Prouince concerning which euerie man almost was of opinion that Mustaffa should not returne thither againe but they knew well that hee shoulde chieflie be employed about the strengthening and assuring of the conquestes of Georgia and therefore there was no further prouision made there But the King turned all his counsels and cogitations to send people towards Teflis for he knew of a certentie that either all the Turkish Armie or els some great bande of it shoulde come to bring succours thither or els it must needes come to passe that the Fort should fall againe into the hands of the Georgiani About this matter was the King verie busie and intentiue when as Simon the Georgian who was sometimes imprisoned at Cahaca of whome we made mention before and being throughlie enformed of all thinges that had happened thought with himselfe that hereby he might take opportunitie to obtaine at the Kinges hand such helpe as hee had long desired and purchase those honours
that he had long expected For hee deemed it a verie likelie and reasonable matter for the King to desire and wish with all his heart that hee carrying the name of a famous Captaine throughly acquainted with al the aduantages that might be taken in Georgia to the great losse and anoyance of the Turks would offer himself to go into that prouince and there gathering his souldiers together with a soueraigne authoritie ouer all that people to defend those cities that were yet vntouched far better than his brother Dant could doe and in another maner a sort than he also could to trouble and offend the Turks which must needes come that way to succour Teflis Neither did hee protract the time long after he was entred into this cogitation but with conuenient speed dispatched his supplication to the King wherin he declared his request reproouing his brother for his cowardise flight promised to perfourme greate matters himselfe This Simon in the time that he remained prisoner at Cahaca entred strait familiarity with Ismahel late son to King Tamas deceased who as we told you before was sent thither by his father to be safelie kept in this mutual familiarity there passed such enterchangeble offices of loue betweene them that as Ismahel shewed himselfe louing and affectionate to the conditions of Simon so much did Simon for his part shew himself dutiful deuoted to the vertues magnanimity of Ismahel wherby there arose an extraordinary loue of the one towards the other which coÌ„tinued in such sort that Simon I know not by what sophistry deluded or by what flattery enticed was perswaded by the Persian prince to forsake his religion and to follow that barbarous superstition What might be the reasons that were able to change the mind of Simon being before so constant and so wel instructed in the Greek-Christian faith for the maintaining wherof he had chosen to liue depriued of his libertie and estate it can not bee so precisely declared but it seemeth there were three principall and powerfull respectes that wrought this vnexpected noueltie in him Namely the perpetuall imprisonment which he knew hee could not auoyd as long as he continued of that mind the friendship of Ismahel friendship I say that oftentimes changeth mens natures much more their opinions and thirdly the great honours that Prince Ismahel did dayly promise him whensoeuer it should happen that hee were named King While they were thus mutually affected one towards another it happened that King Tamas died and Ismahel being accompanied from Cahaca to Casbin was with meruellous pompe saluted King of all his father dominions Among all the rest whome the King full dearely beloued hee could not forget but preserue in memorie the vertue and fame of Simon who was already according to the Kings pleasure circumcised and made a Mahometan yea and in such sort did he remember him that hee was most desirous to bestowe greater honours and rewardes vpon him than he himselfe could request But sudden and vnexpected death lighting vpon before he was aware of it was the occasion why Simon remained without any aduancement and yet so greatlie contented as his recouered libertie could breed contentment in him Notwithstanding among the many varieties of his thoughts did Simon long time wander being after the death of Ismahel shreudlie destracted in his mind coursing and discoursing with himself whether it were better for him either to remaine still in Casbin and to stay the comming of the new King or els to resolue vpon departure and so to returne to his forsaken faith and wasted Citties But in the end after many consultations hee concluded that it should bee more safe and commendable considering the state of his affaires to stay for the new King and vnder his protection and fauour to find some means that he might berestored to the dignity and rule that was vsurped vpon him rather than to flie away alone and hauing no stay to leane vppon to seeke for quarrels and contentions with his brother yea and peraduenture to purchase himselfe a bitter death And therefore he did willingly maintaine himselfe in Casbin looking and hoping that the chaunge of his schisme for so it is rather to be accounted than a religion his imprisonment endured his libertie recouered his fame of great valour his present necessitie his deuotion and obedience to the king manifestlie declared should deserue at the new kings hands some honour and reward or at least if it would please him to commit any charge of the warre in Georgia to his care a constant and assured protection of him And therefore when Mahamet was now established in his kingdome and was certified of the losse of Teflis Simon besought him of lawfull leaue to returne vnder his protection into his own ill-defended countrey offering himselfe withall to venture vpon any perill or trauell whatsoeuer and promising that he would neuer either feare any great enterprise or auoyd any base exployt so that he might know he might do good seruice to Mahamet With great satisfaction did the King consent to the requests of Simon and named him the Chan of all that kingdome which hee possessed before by the name of a Christian and with all diligence was he sent with Aliculâ—-Chan into Georgia for the endammaging of the Turkish Armie and defence of his neighbour Citties And to them both were deliuered certaine peeces of Artillerie that were taken at the rocke or Castle of Eres when Caitas Bassa was slaine as in the booke next going before we haue told you and besides the Artillerie there were assigned vnto them fiue thousande Horsmen that were leauied out of the Citties bordering vpon the one and the other Media Simon afterwardes comming to Georgia where hee was greatlie welcommed and honoured pressed about three thousande Souldiers out of all those countries both of his owne and of his neighbours signifying vnto them all though with a false and impious excuse that he was now become a Persian not because he preferred the faith and lawe of Mahamet before Christian Religion but onely because he might bee deliuered of his imprisonment and imploy his forces in the seruice of our Sauiour and onely Prophete Christ Iesus and so by that meanes also maintaine his owne estate And in this order were the affayres of Georgia assured and strengthened after the best maner that might be But now was the new season of the spring in beginning and euery man prepared himselfe to the discontinued trauels of the warres begun And nowe were there met together in Erzirum out of all the woonted prouinces all the souldiers withal were gathered together all the Engines all the Moneys al the prouision of corne Barley and Rise and all other things necessarie for the sustenaunce of Cattel Souldiers Aegypt also had sent thither her squadronst whereof notwithstanding little more than the one halfe arriued at Erzirum partlie by reason of
not relieued Great was the marâ—el the griefe and the anger that Forâ—â— conceiued vpon these newes and minding to haue a full certaintye thereoâ— hee called vnto him all suche as were the Messengers of this misfortune and of them receiued a cleere and an expresse information of euery particular so that in briefe hee was generallye certified that Mustaffa the two Capigi and the Chiaus hauing put themselues on their iourneye towardes Teflis with the treasure assisted with the company of fiue hundred of his Souldiers in the midway had met with his Cosin Simon by whom after hee had setled himselfe to make some long discourse with him he was sharpely reproued that so prophanely hee had abandoned the sacred name of Christ that he was not onely content to liue in Turkish impiety but also that he dâ—â—st impugne the champions desendor of the Christian faith and that hee woulde become a sâ—aue to another for a filthie superstition and impietie raised and sowen with venerous and pestilent doctrine by a Prophane and heathen Prophet that is dead abandoning and forsaking the religion of that God which is the onelie true and one God in Trinitye And that with these and such like speeches which very eloquently and with great zeale flowed from the mouth of Simon he was persuaded to relinquish that infamous and wicked slauerie and in any fitte occasion that God who is most mercifull towardes sinners and offendors should minister vnto him to reuenge the oppression that Amurath had vsed towards him and openlie to declare to the whole world that he scorned and renounced the Diabolicall pompes and infernall riches of the Tyrant thereby disclosing himselfe to bee indeede of greate courage and a true Christian. His cosin not ceasing in the meane time to repeate often vnto him That God would not faile in peculiar and familiar manner to take knowledge of his Actions and to fauour them yea and at all times to sende vnto him all happie and wished successe whereas on the contrarie side if he would not resolue with himselfe so to doe hee might well bee assured that after manye labours and trauels which hee should indure for the seruice of Amurath he should obtaine none other recompence but a harde and infamous captiuitle and in the endesome fraudulent and treacherous death Vpon which woordes Mustaffa beeing throughly moued he caused the two Capigi and the Chiaus to be apprehended and presentlie beheaded and so Simon and hee besides the bande of their kindred hauing solemnely vowed a perpetuall confederacie strict frindship to bee inuiolablie kept betweene them deuided the treasure and withdrowe themselues to their wonted passages there to annoy and endomage whosoeuer shoulde be sent for the soccouring of Teflis These and such other particularities when Ferat vnderstoode being all in a furye and inflamed with rage he did sweare that he would not returne to Erzirum vntill all the Country of Mustaffa were put to fire and sworde but yet in the meane time he bechought himselfe that vrgent necessity did shrewdly vrge him to send conuenient strength to the place that was in daunger and for that purpose made choyse of Hassan Bassa who alreadie in the last yeere of the Generall-shippe of Mustaffa had very couragiously conueighed the sayde succours and taken Alyculi-Chan prisoner To him therefore did the Generall assigne fourtye thousande Duckates with other prouision necessarye for that enterprise and for suretie appointed him fifteene thousand persons of the best choyce and valour in all the Armye In tenne daies space Hassan Bassa wente and came from Teflis In whose iourneye too and fro the Georgians made manye skitmishes with them wherein there were slaine of the Turkes sometimes tenne and sometimes twenty and sometimes their mules and sometimes their horses were taken from them but no matter at all of any great moment After this the Generall elected one Resuan Bassa to bee Captaine of six thousand Souldiers to goe to Altuâ—â—hala Carachala and other places and villages of Mustaffa the late rinegato nowe become a rebel to the Turkes and relapsed to the obstinate religion of the Greekes Which Râ—suan withoâ— any long stay ouerr anne all his Territorye but an his townes and his lands and committed vncouth outrages euen vpon the poore insensible trees Resuan brought home with him manye Captiue soules with much Corne and Cattell and to bee breefe wheresoeuer hee 〈◊〉 hee wasted and destroyed like a Tempest whatsoeuer was before him and if in any place he seemed to be any thing fauourable and his fury pacified it was because there was no resistance made by any vpon whom he might exercise his forces The Generall was nowe also retyred to Ardachan and thither came Resuan to meete him with his foresaide booty But because there remained nothing else to bee done in those quarters and the winter persuaded their returne they remoued from Ardachan and by the way of Olti retyred to Erzirum from whence all the souldiers were licensed to departe to their seuerall places of aboade and an Arz or Memoriall sente to the King of all the Actions that had beene performed principally of the good enterprise of Hassan Bassa who for the same was nowe also once againe honoured by the King with cloath of gold and a battell axe and Target al guilt And this end had the troubles of the yeere 1583. of mans saluation beeing the seauenth yeere of this warre All the rest of the yeere 1583. the Generall wintered at Erzirum and afterward sent out his ordenary commandementes ouer all his accustomed Cities to summon the souldiers against the next spring of the yeere 1584. appointing the taxes and tenthes to bee somewhat greater then they were woont to bee and gathering together a greater number of piâ—ners enginers theÌ„ euer had been gathered heeretofore and withall published a rumor abroade that they shoulde goe to Nassiuan and there doe great matters At the reporte whereof the Persians were much mooued and began to cast many thinges in their heades about in Glad they were for the vnion and amitye lately concluded betweeen the two Cosâ—â—s Simon and Manucchiar for nowe being againe reclaimed and become a Champion of his former saith we may cal him no longer Mustaffa the name that he had giuen him by Amurath at his Circumcision but Manucchiar whereby hee was Christened by the Priestes at his Baptisme And they wel hoped that by the diligence of them both the way of Tomanis would be sufficiently kept guarded or at the leaste that which they were not able to doe the rest of the Persian Captaines woulde performe for their partes But aboue all others the king who was nowe arriued at Casbin and had vnderstoode the confirmation of the vnhappy successe at Reiuan and the newe preparations of the Turkes beganne to thinke vpon further matters and entred into many discourses with himselfe all entermingled with a very great feare of some strange
aduise taken howe and where the Forte shoulde be erected for the defence of the countrey But after many discourses at laste it was concluded that a Castell shoulde bee builte not in that place but a little furthers and that for this reason because Tomanis standing â—â— good long waye on this side the Straite if they shoulde builde the Forte there then coulde they not make that passage safe and 〈◊〉 and therefore it was needefull for them to proceede further euen to the very much of it and there to plant the Fortiesse And so the Armye marched forwarde a certaine fewe Miles vntill beeing arriued at the very issue of the narrowe passage they found the Ruines of another casted and neere there unto they stayed themselues This stoepe heade long Castel was compassed round about with a very thick wood of beeches pineaples other trees which hindred all discouerie of anything 〈◊〉 off so that it was not coâ—â—nienâ— to founde such a Castle there from whence their Ordinaunce coulde neither auayle them to whom the defense thereof should be committed nor eâ—dommage those that shoulde come to offende it And therefore the Generall commaunded that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with vncouth outrage shoulde fell the the 〈◊〉 and with shaâ—pe instrumentes â—ewe downe the Pyneapples the Fyâ—â—es the Beeches and the Elmes and making way through thicke and thinne should laye it out for a broade streete and an open Champayne that before 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 for a thousande dangerous treacheries In verie short space 〈◊〉 the trees layd along on the ground the place made light some and open and a very commodious situation prepared for the foundation of a Castle The plot of the olde ruyned Castle was compassed about with a wall of a thousande and seaâ—â— to hundred yard 〈◊〉 and in the 〈◊〉 thereof was 〈◊〉 a Toâ—re 〈◊〉 of a strong keepe fundrie lodginges and than the 〈◊〉 and two hundred 〈◊〉 of Ordinance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vpon the 〈◊〉 we Walles 〈…〉 〈…〉 they did not as yet shewe 〈…〉 〈…〉 well prouided of Cattell and other ritch and plentifull booties which was a great reliefe to all the Souldiers Afterwardes the Generall sent Resuan beeing nowe the Bassa of Natolia and the Bassa of Caraemit to conueigh the succours to Teflis with tweentie thousande persons in their companie the most choosen and best armed in all the hoast who marching all closely together in the directe way within one dayes space arryued at the sayde Fort wherein they placed their Garrison and chaunging the Gouernour thereof substituted in his rowme one Bagli beeing then vppon this occasion onely called a Bassa Whiles Resuan lay thus encamped vnder Teflis Daut-Chan the brother of Simon who as wee tolde you in the beginning of this warre at the comming of Mustaffa into Georgia had fledde out of Teflis and abandoned the Castle came nowe with all his Familie to offer himselfe for a subiecte and a deuoted vassall to Amurath promissing that hee would followe the Turkish Armie and employe all his forces and all his wits in the seruice thereof and therefore besought him that he would vouchsafe to cause him to bee receyued with all good entertainement being nowe come with a trustie and assured hope to finde peace and safetie among their weapons and vnder their lawe and religion to enioy a quiet and peaceable life Resuan entertayned them all with great promises and large assurances of all good successe according to their desires and necessities In the meane while newes were brought to Simon that Generall Ferat staying at the straytes of Tomanis withall his Armie had sent Resuan Bassa to succour Teflis and withall it was tolde him by certayne false and lying Spies that Resuan was gone not with twentie thousande persons but with a far lesse number of people then indeede hee was At which good newes hee tooke courage to encounter Resuan and setting vppon him to ioyne a bloudye and mortall battell with him Which his resolution hee caused presentlye to bee put in practise for without any further delaye beeing accompanied with fower thousand Georgians partly Subiectes of his owne and partly of Manuâ—chiar with all speede possible hee wâ—nte against Resuan But whiles Simon was going thitheâ—wardes Generall Ferat either because he was falsely informed that there were a greater number of Georgian Souldiers or else because without any other aduertisement he was of himselfe affraide that the Enemies Army was bigger then it was had alreadie by chauncâ— dispatched away the two Bassaes of Caramania and of Maras with tenne thousande persons to the end that ioyning themselues with the Souldiers of Resuan they shoulde bee somuch the safer and stronger at all aduentures Nowe Simon came vpon Resuan being encamped with six thousand Souldiers onely at the roote of a certaine Hill on the backeside whereof were all the rest of his people neere to a certaine water and presentlie made an assault vppon him The Souldiers behinde the Hill beeing aware of Simons approch were readie all at once with their weapons to annoy Simon who nowe was exceeding sory for his error in beleeuing the false newes and repenting himselfe that hee had assaulted his Enemies hee perceiued that hee was vndoone But when hee sawe that â—y â—light hee coulde not but encrease his griefe and make the issue more lamenâ—able and miserable with those fewe Souldiers which hee had hee endured the fury of the populous Armye of Resuan and on both sides there was ioyned a moste cruell Battell Wherein on the one side you mighte haue seene a straunge and vn-vsuall valour and on the other a tumultuous super-fluitie of a multitude that in the encounter were rather sore wounded then able to carrie away the Victorie Howbeit in the end the huge number of the Turkish swordes and Speares did ouercome the small number of the Georgians and the Barbarian fires and Artillarie did bring the Christian forces to an vnhappye estate But Simon himselfe whose Horse in the Medley was quite thrust thorough fell downe headlong to the grounde and his guilt Torbant with his Golden Horne from his Heade and in his fall was verie neere to haue been taken prisoner Which misfortune as it happened to his Lieutenaunt and to his Generall and to many other his followers so must it needes also haue lighted vppon him if hee had not beene relieued by an vnexpected and as it were a meruailous fauor For whiles the battel was euen at the greateâ—â— heat betweene them Resuan discouered the two Bassaes of Caramania and Maras who as wee told you were newly sent by General Ferat to succor him but both by the said Resuan and also by the rest of the Turkish armie were indeed thought to be Persians Wherupon they were incontinently surprized with a sodaine feare insomuch that all of them waxing fainte and hanging in suspence the victory which before was â—ure their owne became nowe very doubtfull and the Turkes themselues
And in the end when it was plainely perceiued that neither Religion nor Loue nor Iustice nor Reason could remooue his coueteous minde from his vsuall cruelties and rapine a great number of such as were moste vexed and molested by this newe Tyrant beganne daily in close and quiet manner to goe to Constantinople make humble petitions to the king that hee would bee pleased to displace so cruell and vniust a wretch as thought it lawfull for him to drinke vp the bloude of their poore families without any cause or offence at all Neither were these complaintes made once or twice by one or two alone but oftentimes and by manie seuerall persons soe that generally in the Courte there was no talke of anie thing else but onely of the villanies and mischiefes that were reported of the Eunuch At the last Amurath seeing that these publike exclamations wente dailie so farre that it was nowe a shame for him to let them goe any further withoute due punishment hee resolued with himselfe to call him to the Courte and hauing sent vnto him certaine Capigi and Chiaus hee admonished him sondrie times to returne home But the Eunuch whome it highlie grieued to forsake so fitte an occasion of enriching himselfe did still delaye his returne and beganne to alledge newe-coyned excuses for his longer stay Which when Amurath vnderstoode thinking rather that he was mocked thereby peraduenture also entering into some suspition of some publike alteration in those quarters with a newe deuise hee determined to prouide for so greate a disorder and by punishing the mischieuous nature of the coueteous Eunuch in some parte at the leaste to satisfie the people that were in a mutinie and to pacifie their pittifull exclamations and complaintes There satte at that time amonge the chiefe Bassaes of the Courte one Ebrain by Nation a Sclauonian and of a place called Chianichie a shorte daies iourney distante from Ragusa a yoonge man of the age of two and thirtie yeares or thereaboutes of verie faire conditions and of reasonable iudgement vpon whome Amurath him self had heretofore determined to bestow his own daughter for his wife and to make him his sonne in law Whereof before this time there had beene diuers treaties and speeches And therefore nowe beeing minded to remooue the Eunuch from his Office and to satisfie the Citie and hauing no other person to whom he thought hee might better committe that truste and beeing also willing withall to minister occasion to his saide sonne in lawe to make monie and enriche himselfe hee was resolued to send him as General Syndic and soueraigne Iudge into Aegypt giuing him in particular charge that hee shoulde remember howe wickedlie his predecessor had dealt before him so that all the whole Territories of that huge and large Citie were come vp euen vnto the Court to exclaime againste his Tyrannie and coueteousnesse And so this newe Bassa tooke his iourney towardes Aegypt although there ranne before him a greate rumor of his comming and of the greate authoritie wherewith hee was sente At which reporte as the Aegyptians rested contente and ioyfull so the Eunuch waxed verie sad and sorrowfull and did verilie perswade himselfe that this alteration coulde not but engender some strange issue effect against him Which opiniō did so much the more deeply settle it self in his mind for that he did not knowe one trustie person in all Aegypt of whom hee might hope for any helpe and protection in case that Ebrain Bassa shoulde driue him to any streighte Whereupon aduising with himselfe to prouide better for his owne affaiers and safety of his life hee was resolued not to stay for the arriuall of the Visier but departing out of Aegypt with great care and circumspection he trauelled towardes Constantinople in hope to appease the kings wrath or at leaste by the mediation of bribes and by the intercession of the Queene to finde him of a more mild and placable disposition then hee should finde Ebrain who without doubt would not haue spared any extremitie or cruelty to bereaue him both of his goods also of his life Thus the craftie Eunuch departed from Aegypt and put himselfe on his iourny towardes Constantinople vsing greate diligence and care that hee might not meete with Ebrain who beeing alreadie certified by many Aegyptians of the escape of Hassan gaue speedye aduertisement thereof to Amurath at Constantinople to the ende hee mighte take suche order as was conuenient Amurath hearing this and hearing withall that hee kept not the highway that leadeth ordinarilye from Memphis into Thracia feared leaste hee might flie to straunge Princes and particularly suspected that beeing arriued in Soria he would passe into Persia to the Soffian king and so worke him double and treble dommage as one that had already gathered a huge treasure and hauing liued in the Court knew the most secret affaires therof learned althe priuy deuises and fashions of the Serraglio Wherupon with all diligence hee dispatched his Imbrahur Bassi whome wee may call the Maister of his horse with fortye of his Capigi all Gentlemen vshers and Officers of the most secret and neerest rowmes about him with charge and commandement that if hee met with him he should bring him aliue to the Court vsing all the assistaunce and aide of his people that might bee requisit and for that purpose deliuered vnto him very effectual large letters written after the best manner that is vsed in the Court The kings Messenger with his appointed traine departed and without any extraordinarie enquiry after the Eunuch hee founde him in Soria encamped in the plains of the Apameans neere to the citie now called Aman but in times past Apamea the Principall Citie of that Countreye where the Riuer Orontes with his pleasaunt course watereth the greene and beautifull hilles and from thence running along to the Walles of Antiochia dischargeth it selfe afterwardes into the Siriac Sea neere vnto Seleucia Pieria which nowe they call Soldin Assoone as the Eunuch vnderstood of the comming of the Imbrahur he gaue order vnto his gard of slaues which in great number with speares and Arcubuses did ordinarilie keepe his pauilion that they should not grant entertainement into his Tent to any other but onely to the Imbrahur himselfe in all rigorous manner to keepe the rest of the Capigi from comming in This order was giuen in verie good time For assoone as the Kings Officer had discouered the Tentes of the fugitiue Bassa in all haste hee ranne towardes the same and seeking out the greatest among them wente presently thither to enter into it with all his followers But the slaues beeing in Armour opposed themselues against them and permitting the Imbrahur to passe into the pauilion entertained the rest of his traine without The Imbrahur read vnto him the commaundement which hee had from the king to bring him to the Court and instantly moued him that without any
the gathering together of their new men they discouered new difficulties For then they perceaued manifestly that to hire souldiers either from Heri or from Gheilan it was denied them by Abas and Amet-Chan and that the Turcoman nation which might haue been the readiest and neerest at such a neede for the late death of Emir-Chan and for the succession of Aliculi were growen very contumacious so that neither the King nor the Prince nor the presidents and gouernours of the kingdome could tell on which side to tourne them At the last foreseeing the safegarde of the Common wealth they determined to draw the Turcomani to a reconciliation hoping that if they should promise them any honest satisfaction for the wrong wherewith they challenged themselues greeued for the death of their captaine they would become more tractable to do them seruice in their common necessities And therefore the king sent letters to the heades captaines of those nations principally to Mahamet-Chan and to Calife the Sultan wherein declaring plainely vnto them the perill of his honour and the libertie of that whole kingdom he shewed vnto them that all his hope of ridding Persia from that yoke and setting free all those people which in all ages heretofore had beene so faithfull and frendly vnto them was reposed onely in their aide and assistance and that their onelie Armes was hable not onely to mainetaine but also to encrease the renown of valour in the Persian nation which estate as in yeares forepassed it wrought enuie and terrour euen in the farthest and most remote peoples of all Asia so at this present if it bee not succoured and releeued standeth in termes to become a most miserable spectacle to all the world And that therefore forgetting all thinges that are past as being doone not to worke any shame or scorne to their nation but onely for zeale and loue to the kingdome they wold demand such satisfaction as they would require for hee would bee ready to agree to any iust request they should make With these and perhaps with more affectionate and passionate letters were the wrothfull Turcomani inticed to the reuenge of the iniuries which they had receaued by the Ottoman forces To which Letters they were not a whit slacke in framing an aunswere but readily wrote back that they would come vnto hym and put in execution whatsoeuer for the common necessitie he should command Now they had already craftely concluded among themselues that they wold not suffer any other to sit in the ranke of their Captaines in the rowme of Emir-Chan lately deceased but onely the young Tamas the Kinges thirde sonne Which conclusion they had plotted to themselues with a resolute mind to cause him to bee accepted for King at Casbin in dispight of the king himselfe and of the Prince Hamze nothing regarding that by this action farre greater seditions would arise in Persia then euerwere yet heard of but onely being wholly bent to reuenge the sole death of one onely Emir-Chan So vile and so base an account did they make of the honour of their naturall King and of their auncient religion that before such matters of so great respect and importance very audaciously I will not say temerariously they preferred their owne priuate reuenge and chose rather to become most bloody and cruell against those to whome they were allied in religion in blood and in countrie then against their common enemies With this malitious and fraudulent reasolution to the nomber of tenne thousand vnder the conduct of two Captaines Mahamet and Calife they went to the king in all reuerence and offred all readinesse to bee employed in the enterpryse whereunto they were called The old credulous king not suspecting any mischeefe plotted by these rebelles was greatly comforted at their comming And although by some of his Sultanes that had felt some inkling of this conspiracie he was aduised to deale circumspectlie and warilie with them and especially not to trust them with any secret or to let any matter of importance to be in their defence yet did he thinke euerie hour to be a thousand till he had made them satisfaction hoping thereby that if they had conceaued any mischeefe in their mindes they wold lay it aside and being pacified by his amiable and courteous entertainement yeeld themselues in very truth faithfull and obedient vnto him And therevpon being more constant then hee was in this his imagination whiles hee bestowed good wordes and giftes among them at the last hee demanded of them what Captaine they wold nomiâ—ate in the rowme of Emir-Chan promising vnto them and peraduenture as some say with an oath that whomsoeuer they desired if possibly it might be they stould be satisfied Herevntoo the dissembling Mahamet-Chan made answeare that their desire was principally to doo him pleasure and seruice of whose bounty and good inclination they did so well hope as that he wold not appoint any person but such a one as should be valourous noble and deere and acceptable vnto them The King stayed not from giuing them presently to vnderstand that so hee had determined to doo and frankly declared vnto them that finding Tamas his thirde sonne to bee without any charge and being desirous to geeue them a Captaine that might please them to the end they might rest more assured of the good will which hee bare vnto them and haue a good ostage in pawne thereof hee had made choise of his childe Tamas to be the successour of Emir-Chan and that if it so pleased them they might accept of him and with one accord endeauour themselues to conquer those odious walles of the Forte which with so great ignominy and reproach of all the Persian Nation was there erected by the Turkes As soone as Mahamet-Chan heard the resolution of the king who beesides all expectation offered thus to gratify them and voluntarily of himselfe without any suspicion at all yeelded them the meanes whereby they might put in execution the worke which they had maliciously contriued against the peace and liberty of the kingdome hee became more ioconde then he was wont to be and outwardly shewed himselfe readie for whatsoeuer the King would commaund him and yeelded also in the names of all the rest large promises of fidelity and obedience so that the matter might be perfourmed for which he had now giuen his word The king who longed to see the houre wherein this assault should be begunne as a matter no lesse desired by euery man then necessary for all the more he was aduised and counselled by his Sultans and the Prince not to deliuer his sonne Tamas into their handes and the lesse they feared that the king would haue committed such an errour but rather beleeued verily that the king would haue made the conspiracy which they had reuealed vnto him to bee capitall and matter of treason in the Turcomanni the more resolute and vnwise hee was and therevppon very secretely and as it were by stealth aswell
was certified of the malignant intent of Aliculi and of the designementes which many of the Sultans had lately contriued together to betray the Prince aliue into the handes of the Turkish Captaine Of which suspition Amze being greatlie affraide hee durst not onely not trust himselfe to perfourme those battelles that hee had detremined to perfourme but quite abandoning all this noble and honourable enterprise hee wholly employed all his care and studie for the safe custodie of his owne person and so left the triumph of the matter in the power of the Turks And thus those great hopes and expectations which the Persians had conceaued of compassing verie famous exploytes against their enemies did not onely prooue vaine and come to no good issue but contrariwise by this discouerie they were conuerted into moste daungerous disturbances and all Persia thereby endured sundrie alterations and reuolutions of most important consequences For both Aliculi-Chan and his Complices were pursued by the Prince as Rebelles and Traytors and also Abas Merize of Heri was manifestlie discouered for a wicked and treacherous contriuer of his brothers death Whereupon the common mischiefes were encreased more then euer they were before and the publike calamities yeelded greater hopes to the Turkes then they had euer conceaued and fostered in all this warre Besides these designementes there were others also that contrarie to all expectation came to the like infortunate issue laide and plotted by Simon in Georgia who by the direction of the Persian Prince had vnited together his Neighbours the Georgians for the accomplishing of most noble and honourable enterprises And the designements of Simon were these That at such time as he thought most conuenient for sending fresh succours vnto Teflis in Georgia he meant himselfe in person with the companie of seuen or eight thousand Georgians and with a number of horse-loades of money if not true loades indeed yet seeming in apparance so to bee to present himselfe vnder the Fort of Teflis and to the Turkish Bassa Gouernour of that Castle to deliuer a counterfeit commaundement wherein it should appeare that King Amurath did giue the Bassa to vnderstand that by Simon being now conuerted to the Turkish Religion hee had sent fiftie thousande Chechini and other muntion for the Souldiers and that he had also giuen vnto Simon full commission and authoritie at his pleasure to manage and dispose of that Fort and therefore that hee should entertaine Simon and giue him credence therein This his defignement Simon put in execution hoping thereby without force of Armes and without any other inconuenience to make himselfe Lord and Maister of that Castle But the Turkish Bassa although both the forme and the tenour and the Seale of the commaundement were verie like to the ordinarie maner of the Court wherein Simon had vsed greate care and diligence and although he thought it also verie likelie to bee true because he was reuolted to the Turkish religion as hee had fayned in the counterfect commandement and that for all these causes he ought to receaue and entertaine Simon into the Fort Yet Simon wanting one speciall thing which in such like cases is a matter of greatest importance he was deceaued in his expectation and with great shame and derision forced to retire and so to auovde the Artillery that by the direction of the Bassa rayned like a Tempest vppon his Souldiers Nowe the thing which Simon wanted was a certaine token deliuered to the Turkish Bassa when hee was first appointed Gouernour of that Castle For to euerie one that is left as Lieutenant in such Fortes ordinarilie in this warre with all secrecie and straitest conditions of allegiance and fidelitie there is deliuered a Counterfect of the Marke which shall be vsed by him that the next yeare following shall be receiued with succours into the Fort. Which beeing required of Simon by the Turkish Bassa Simon knewe not what answere to make and because he could not so doe he was disconered to be a treacherous deceauer and for such a one was he presentlie pursued in such and so eager maner as people included within a castle wall could in so sudden an occasion vse against him And in this sort did all the designementes and hopes of the Persians vanish to nothing and the reporte published in Italie and particularlie in Rome of the taking of this Fotte was quite dashed and found to be false for that the fortunate Turkes remained in quiet possession of the Countreyes which they had conquered WheÌ„ the Turkish General had placed his succors in the Castle of Tauris leauing for the custody thereof Giafter the Bassa with his former companies hee returned towardes Erzirum hauing first caused a Fort to be erected at Chucchiue Tauris a place neere vnto Tauris another at Coy and a thirde at Cum which sometimes belonged to Ebrain-Chan now prisoner at Erzirum as we tolde you before And in euerie one of the saide Fortes he left a necessarie number of Souldiers with sufficient munition and maintenance for them Hee sent also afterwardes to Teflis in Georgia the succours which they there had long expected and desired and without any hinderance or difficultie verie willinglie receiued because the counterfeyt of the Marke was well knowne vnto them which before to Simon was both vtterlie vnknowne and also greatly hurtfull But the Persian Prince hauing hunted Alyouli-Chan out of the quarters of Tauris thought himselfe wholly deliuered from the greate feare of treason and rebellion wherein he liued and therefore in as great haste as hee could he put himselfe on his iourney towardes Genge In which place hauing gathered together a good number of Souldiers hee determined to remooue thence and to stop the succours for Teflis and so to procure the vtter ouerthrowe of the conductors thereof Hee had alwayes found Emanguli-Chan to be both faithfull and wise and in him he reposed an assured confidence for perfourming of any enterprise that he had in his hand and communicated with him euery deuise that he had conceaued in these warres And therefore hee made heade and ioyned with him and lodging most familiarlie within his Citty hee stayed there for the setting in order and disposing of his foresaide designment being verie desirous not to suffer this season to slip without signification to the world of some notable noueltie which might be correspondent to the fame that of matters passed and perfourmed the yeare before was now spread and published abroad ouer all the world But when he was euen at the verie fayrest to put this his desire in execution and when least of all hee feared any treacherie or treason vppon a sudden in the night time he was miserablie stricken through the bodie by an Eunuch of his that guarded him and so the most reâ—plendent and bright shining lampe that euer was in Persia was vtterly extinguished What was the occasion therof and who procured his death diuers sundry are the opinions of men
in Soria wherewith they measure Corne. It is a little bigger then the bushell of Padua that is fower bushels and a halfe Venetian measure Malan B. a Citie in Parthia Mar delle Zabacche B. in old time called Palus Moeotica A. the Fennes of Moeotis Mar di Bachu B. in tymes passed Mare Caspium and Mare Hircanum A. It is also at this day called the Sea of Corazum Mar Maggiore the great Sea And Mar Nero the black Sea sometimes called Pontus Euxinus A. Mar Morto the dead Sea sometimes called the Lake Asphaltitis A. Marant B. a Citie neere to Armenia in the confines of the Medians or rather within Media Maras B. a Citie in Cilicia called by Bellonius and Ortelius Maronia A. Marmara B. a Citie vpon the Sea-coast of Thracia Masandran B. a Citie in Hircania Massiat B. a Citie in Parthia Masul T. a man cassiered or depriued of his Office in English Iack out of office Mecca B. a Citie in Arabia Foelix where some think Mahamet was borne and where he is also buried Mengrellia B. sometimes the Region of Colchos A. famous for the golden Fleece Meschita B. the place where the Barbarians do meete together to say their prophane prayers in English a Temple or a Church Miana B. a Citie situate in the borders of Media the greater of Persia and of Parthia It is peraduenture so called by the Riuer that is neer vnto it whose name is Miana Miriza and Mirize P. the title of a Prince in Persia. The Kings chiefe Lieutenant Moldauia a Region in Dacia Mordar P. a Chaunceller The Turks call him Tescheregi Mucaren the first moneth of the Turkish yeare much agreeing with our Ianuary Mufti T. the chiefe Priest Mustaed-Dini P. the same which the Turkes call Mufti The chiefe Priest N. NAplos B. in old time called Napoli A. in Samaria peraduenture it was in time past Nephthalim A. Nassiuan B. a Citie in Media the greater or els in the confines of Media and Armenia Some think it to be Nasuana and others take it to be Artaxata A. Natolia in the opinion of Bellonius comprehendeth all the Regions of Phrygia Galatia Bithynia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magnesia Cappadocia and Comagena Neneruan B. a place in Armenia bordering vpon Georgia Nisabul B. a Citie in Aria Nisaur B. a Citie in the confines of Parthia and Hircania Nosul T. a Taxe or collection of Corne. O. OLti T. a place belonging to the Turkes betwene Erzirum and Ardachan P. PAngiazar B. a Citie bordering vpon Hircania and Media the greater Passin Look Hassan-Chalasi Persiani The Persians They are also called Aggiami Cheselbas Sofiani Persiani of the Prouince of Persia Aggiami of the Region Azemia or Aggiamia Cheselbas of the Redd-marke which these people weare in their Turbantes and Soffians of the Sofi who is their chiefe Gouernour Peruana-Giol T. the lake of Sclaues It is in Armenia Phasis A. a Citie in Colchis called yet at this day Phasis and Fas. Porta a Gate but principally in this Historie it is taken for the Court of the Turkish Sultan because all his Counsailors and chiefe Gouernours of his kingdome do vse to sit in the Gate of the Emperours Court to heare and dispatch causes aswell priuate as publike Portugall in old time called Lusitania A. R. RAfadi B. a man of a false Religion of a false faith Rama a Towne in Palaestina which Castaldo calleth Lidda Peraduenture it was that Rama A. which mourned and wept for the great slaughter of the holie Innocents Math. 2. Ramadan T. one of the solemne feastes of the Turkes It is also the proper name of a man and the name of a Moone For as we haue twelue Monethes with their seuerall proper names so haue the Turkes their xij Moones with their seuerall proper names also Reiuan B. a Citie in Armenia It may be it is Terua in Ptolomie But I do not altogether agree with him in that point S. SAffetto B. a Citie in Galilie inhabited by the Iewes Saha or Shah P. the great King or Sofi of Persia. Saitan-Chalasi B. the Castell of Satan or the Deuils Castell in the confines of Armenia and Georgia Salmas B. a Citie betwixt Tauris and Van but Southward to them both Sancazan B. a place neer to Tauris famous in this Historie aswell in respect of some battells there foughten as also of the death of Generall Osman who died there Sangiacco B. a Lord or a kind of Captaine Sardar T. Captaine of the Iannizzaries Captaine of the Armie and properly the Generall Saru B. a Citie in Media the greater Sasuar B. a Citie in Parthia Sciam B. the Citie of Damasco Look Damasco Scutar and Scutari B. sometimes called Chalcedon A. a Citie in Asia right ouer against Constantinople Some do erroniously call it Chrysopolis A. Sechi B. a Citie in Atropatia bordering vpon Georgia Seida and Seit B. in old time called Sidonia A. a Citie on the Sea cost in Drusia Sembran B. a Citie in Parthia Semitarra B. a Scimitarre a long crooked Sword A Faulchon Ser B. a Riuer sometimes called Cirus A. that watreth the South part of Georgia Sessa Look Tocca and Turbante Siec B. an old wise Religious learned and prudent man A man of good and holie life Siliurea a Citie in Thracia called Sâ—lymbria Which the Persian calleth Selimbria and Nicolo Nicolio Seliurie Sinibra or Simbra In Ptolomie A. It is now called Erzirum fower daies iourney distant from Trabisonda Siras B. some call it Persepolis A. and some Ciropolis A. It is the chiefe palace of the Region of Persia. Siruan and Siruania B. sometimes called Media Atropatia The Hebrewes called it Madian A. Siuas B. in old time Sebastapolis A. a Citie in Natolia Soffi and Sofito P. an auncient word signifying a wise man learned and skilfull in Magike Naturall It is growen to be the common name of the Emperour of Persia. Soffian B. a place neer vnto Tauris It may be perhaps the auncient Soffia Soldin B. a Citie vpon the Sea-coast of Soria destroyed long ago It was called in old time Seleucia Pieria A. within fiue miles whereof the Riuer Orontes dischargeth it self into the Sea But Castaldo in his description of Asia doeth not describe it in deed as it standeth Soria B. in times past the Region of Syria A. Spahini T. a companie of Turkish Souldiers so called Spaoglani B. a companie of foote-men inferiour in degree to the Iannizzaries Stambul by the Turkes and Arabians so called in steed of Constantinople Subassi B. The Lieutenant or Captaine of a Garrison or Guard Sultania a Citie in great Media Sultano or Sultan B. a Captain A great Lord It is verie often vsed for the Emperour of Turkie as Sultan Amurath the great Turk Amurath Sumachi and Sumachia B. the chiefe Palace of Atropatia Sunni B. a man of sound faith and sincere opinion in matter of Religion Sur B. a Citie vpon the Sea-coast of Soria in old time called Tyrus A. T. TArtari
and Tatar B. the Tartarians inhabiting Scythia and Sarmatia Tatar-Chan B. the chiefe Lord or Gouernour of the Tartarians He is called the great Chan of Tartaria Tauris and Taruis Read the Letter to S. Mario Corrado in the end of this booke Techisnandan B. Certain Mountaines in Caramania Deserta Teflis and Tiflis a Citie in Armenia but belonging to the Georgians Teftis T. a Processe or Bill of complaint put vp by the Plaintife Teracan B. a Citie in Parthia Tocca B. the round Roll which the Barbarians vse to weare on their heades It is also called Sessa and Turbante Tomanis a Citie in Armenia but belonging to the Georgians verie famous for the notorious treacherous straites that are neer it Trabisondo B. a Sea-coast Citie vpon Pontus Euxinus called in old time Trapezuntium A. Triala B. a place in Armenia renowmed for a number of Churches there which held of the Romish Religion Triala B. a Sea-coast Citie in Asia and 〈◊〉 Triala B. a white Roll which the Barbarians were vpon their heades Look Tocca Turbat B. a Citie in Parthia Turcoman a Citie betwixt Tauris and Casbin Turcomanni a people mingled among the Turkes and Persians Turcomania the greater of old called Great Armenia A. Tursis B. a Citie in Parthia V. UAn B. a Citie in the Martian Marish Visier B. a chiefe Counsailour or Gouernour generall of the State of Turkie Vlac and Volacchi T. Postes or Currors to run of a message in hast Vlu-Bassi B. the Captain of a certain number of Souldiers but not so high in degree as an Aga is Z. ZAffo and Giaffa B. a Citie by the Sea-side in old times called Ioppa A. Zagatai B. certain Tartarians comprehended vnder the name of the Sogdiani Zaghen B. a City in Armenia inhabited by the Georgians Zaini T. a noble companie of valiant Souldiers Zanga B. a Citie in great Armenia Zante B. an Island in the Ionian Sea called in old time Zacynthus A. Zine B certain festiual signes and shewes of publike ioy Zuiria B. a Region lying at the rootes of Mount Caucasus towards the Hircanian Sea and was called in old time Albania A. FINIS The warre in Persia commodious for the state of Christendom The causes that moue the author to wryte this historie A peace betweene Tamas Soliman the conditions thereof Soliman Selim dead Tamas dyeth Tamas leaueth eleuen children Tamas his last will The simulation of Ismahel Why Mahamet was called by surname Codabanda Mahamet lo ueth not the charge of a king Abas Mirize Mahamets sonne in Her Emir Hamze Mahamets sonne Ismahel called to Casbin to be crowned king of Persia. Stirres in Casbin Periaconcona sister to Mahamet Aidere Ismahel yet elder in yeares then they The singular boldnesse of Aidere Aidere procureth to bee made king be fore Ismahel The subtilty o Periaconcona to entertayne Aidere Aidere stalled king in Casbin Aidere acknoledging his publike derision ssieth all fearefull among certaine women Aidere beheadded by Sahamal his vncle The head of Aidere throwne among the conspirators Ismahel putteth to death many kinsfolkes and frendes of his dead brother Aidere Euery man bewaileth the cruelty of the new king Ismahel Ismahel publisheth a new superstition New publike griefes new deathes happening by occasion of Ismahel The Califfe of Casbin depryued of his eyes by the commandement of Ismahel A rumor spread that Ismahel would passe to Babilon with an army King Ismahel suddenly perished the manner of his death Periaconcona parleeth with the captaines of Persia. The answere of the Captaynes to Periaconcona Amurat at the stirres in Persia entreth into mind to make warre vpon them An auncient custome of the Turkes Amurat intentiue to the matters of Persia. Mahamet Codabanda resolueth to come and be crowned King Periaconcona beheadded New stirres and mischeefes in Persia. Sahamal the Georgian flyeth from Casbin into the mountayneâ— Leuentogli desyrous of innouation The people of Seruan euill affected towardes the new king Vstress the Bassa of Van aduertyseth Amurat of the stirres in Persia. Amurat is confirmed in his opinion to make warre Amurat in peace with the Christian Princes Amurat in peace with the Christian Princes Amurat taketh counsell of his Visiers Turkes make no accompt of breaking Promisse Mahamet the Visier aduiseth to make warre The generall conclusion of them all Two difficulties found in the resolution to make warre The difficulties aunswered Mustaffa Bassa the infamous hath great hope in this warre Mustaffa preferre th the valour of the Latines before the valour of the Georgians Persians Discord dangerous to a common wealth Amurat protesteth to the Visiers that of this warre he would both reape profit and honour The opinion of some touching the manner of the warre The opinion of others A third opinion The deliberation of Amurat Amurat goeth not in person to this warre and the reasons why Order giuen by Amurat to the borderers to annoy Persia. Vstref doth much harme to the borderers Mustaffa elected Generall of the Turkish Campe against the Persians A. 1577. Mustaffa at Chalcedon Mustaffa at Erzirum The muster of the army in Erzirum The Aâ—esâ— potamians The Assyrians and Babilonians The Sorian The Natolians The Iewes Philistims The Caramanians The Grecians The Constantinopolites The men of Erzirum Voluntary men little inferior to the number of stipendaries but better armed Places that sent no souldiers this yeare to the warres of Persia. 500. peeces of small artillary with Mustaffa 500. peeces of small Artillary with Mustaffa Many loades of money Taxes and Tenthes for corne and cariage Trabizonda but 4. small daies iourney distant from Erzirum Mustaffa departeth from Erzirum to the ruines of Chars An excessiue raine Somefall sicke Mustaffa departeth from Chars The mountaines of Chielder The artificiall manner of encamping which Mustaffa vsed The King of Persia moued by the fame of this expedition made against him dissembleth his hatted toward the Sultans Tocomac generall of the Persians Order giuen by king Mahamet to Tocomac Commandement giuen ouer all Persia to gather men against the Turke The places whence the souldiers were gathered The disobedience of many Embassadors from Georgia The army of the Persians â—x thousand and no moe The manner how the Persians are armed their conditions Tocomac with his host commeth toward Chars Tocomac sendeth spyes The errour of the Persian spyes Tocomac falleth into the same errour that the spyes did Tocomac commeth boldly to assaile his enemyes The Persians obtaine a happy and fortunate victory Mustaffa is moued against the Persian conquerors and succoureth his owne people The Persians endure the assault The Persians retire through the benefite of the night Mustaffa returneth to his rentes The Persians newes to Casbin Mustaffa sendeth postes with newes of the battell to Amurat. 5000. heades and 3000. Persians aliue presented to generall Mustaffa The arte of Mustaffa his cruelty A bulwarke made of heades Embassadors from Manucchiar the Georgiano Manucchiar honorably receaued by Mustaffa The speech of Manucchiar The aunswere